Neon Genesis
EVANGELION
Finding Paradise

Chapter 8: Save us! / First kiss

SEELE the two thousand your old organization, with a soul purpose, to end the world. They have assembled in full; all of them encircle Gendo and Fuyutsuki. The past three Angel attacks have gone to far off schedule and SEELE needs answer.

"This is total madness, why did you not bring up this information sooner." Seele marked with the number four demands.

"The Fourth child should have been eliminated as soon as it was discovered that it was not the true child." Rumbles SEELE one.

Gendo shows no sign of worry. "Killing her would have been pointless, the child is not the problem."

SEELE three interjects. "The destruction of Evangelions Units Six and Seven is."

"Lets not forget that the MAJI has been tampered with at least three times." SEELE seven states in a cold tone to his comrades.

Once more Gendo speaks. "The human instrumentality project can not continue, in till these issues are dealt with."

"No!" SEELE one bellows. "It will continue, what should be canceled is the pathetic rescue NERV and the UNSA are doing."

"As I said before..." Gendo stares at SEELE one with disgust. "We need the fourth child and the third, both are still needed."

"The fact that ones your son has nothing to do with it!" SEELE two yells.

"The fact is, is that he is the one to be used as the messenger, him or the fourth." Gendo's words are hard to believe.

SEELE four is first to question it. "The First child was going to be our patsy, not the third..."

"That was then, but the first is unusable, she was contaminated."

"The UN is asking to many questions... We need to end this soon." SEELE nine mutters.

"Yes..." SEELE five states. "Over four million people died when Unit One destroyed Paris, France have also demanded that NERV leave their territory."

A chuckle from Gendo silences the crowd. "France is a waste of time, it would of made no difference where it hit. The fact that Evangelion Unit One has taken the S2 organ into it self..."

SEELE one interrupts. "Yes, That is disturbing..."

"Evangelion Unit One..." Bellows SEELE Three.

"A living god, which we created." SEELE Four calls out.

"What blasphemy!" SEELE Four yells.

"The time is soon to come, will you be ready Ikari!" SEELE ones, voice echoes in Gendo's ear.

"The Question should be... are you?"

Apollo Nation Space Center, after Second Impact the United States relocated NASA to Hawaii, because Florida now sits to far off the equator for space launches. There where only five Orbital lunches before NASA was cut from the budget, after the US fell in the second great depression of 2005. However, the UN came and purchased NASA from the US. After a year of negotiations NASA became the United Nations Space Association, and was the final step before the United States conceded to UN's demands and joined them under one flag.

It is here where NERV has besieged the Space Center and the UNSA work nonstop to launch the Orbital space shuttle once more. Standing beside the Loading center stands Evangelion Unit Zero its sight can be seen anywhere on the southern part of the island. In side, Rei Ayanami awaits her orders, as the loading center doors slowly open. By Unit Zero's feet stand Misato, Maya, and Hyuga; around them are a half dozen Americans in lab coats.

"Ma'am, we have decided to use Endeavor for the mission..." A nerdy man says with a stutter to Misato, who's beauty has him in shock. "Also we need to know... Which members of NERV will be sent with the shuttle crew?"

Misato shakes her head seeing that the doors are taking to long. She picks up a radio from her side. "Rei give the door some help!"

With her order given Unit Zero moves in to stand in front of the doors. Grabbing hold she grabs one door easily ripping it off its hydraulic hinges and to the side, she repeats the process to the other door. This exposes the Shuttle, her fuel tank, and boosters to the out side. It stands on the crawler ready to move. The teams of UNSA personal stand in shock, that two million dollars doors just been ripped off their hinges.

Misato turns to them as Unit Zero begins to wheel out the crawler. "That will be us three, I will be mission commander, Maya Ibuki will be flight surgeon, and Hyuga Makoto is our specialist in the Evangelion Entry Plugs."

"That only leaves us with a pilot, co-pilot, and EVA specialist."

Wasting no time, Misato goes over to a waiting Jeep. "I need then in the briefing room in one hour, we need to go over our plan, this is a rescue operation!"

Maya follows her and Hyuga, once they are in the jeep it drives off with the UNSA personnel looking at Evangelion Unit Zero slowly pulling the crawler out of the hanger. Even though its speed is slow, it is nearly triple that of the crawler on its own power.

Far above Earth in Evangelion Unit Three Hikari and Shinji lay huddled together trying to stay warm. Using a small florescent light Hikari found in the Entry Plug Ejection survival gear they stare in to their tomb both cold and tired.

"To think it took me almost a day to figure out how to get out of that finger trap..."

Hikari whispers bring Shinji much pleasure as she tells him stories of her life. All he does is smile as they both hold each other tightly.

"When I lived with my uncle he had a daughter named Miho... she always teased me and tried to get me in trouble..." Shinji stops as he thinks back to a past that he never tried to remember. "One day on the way back from first grade, she stole my book bag... The only problem was that me and her accidentally took each others bags..." Shinji chuckles as he thinks of the past event. "She tossed her own bag into the sewer... all I could do is laugh..." Shinji sighs when he remembers what happened next. "Of course she blamed me for it and I got in trouble."

"That was mean of her..." Hikari whispers to Shinji as she rests her head on his shoulders.

"Well it didn't last long..." Shinji looks down to his feet as he whispers. "Four years later my Uncle kicked me out and I lived with my teacher till I moved here."

"You never really liked your self have you..."

Confused on Hikari's question Shinji looks over to her. "What do you mean?"

"You spent so much time moving and being yelled at or neglected you never had time to like your self."

Shinji looks back at his feet. "Not anymore..."

The mid day sun beats down on to the streets of Tokyo 3, in the high nineties most have taken shelter in the cool air conditioning, for Asuka, who sits alone in her class with so many around yet none care for her. She sits in silence as a light breeze from the open windows keeps her cool. When the day finally ends Asuka once more left to tormenting thoughts. She slowly walks back to her apartment, she stops as a entire day of holding her emotion back come to an end, with the sight of a tear striking the ground.

"Why am I here..." Asuka whispers to herself as she wipes her face.

Nothing Asuka can do can shake her pain, her love for Shinji has beleaguered her for far to long. Nevertheless, she knows that she will never have his love; his sacrifice to save Hikari was proof of that. Her will has been so shattered, that she couldn't even stand up to Rei when she yelled at her not even a day ago.

Not wanting to go back to an empty apartment Asuka turns and begins to walk a different path. 'Maybe, she's right... maybe I'm just a child...' Asuka continues to walk with her head down nothing could ever feel so painful to her as she cries in sorrow.

Unknown to her, her very thoughts blinds her from impending trouble; only a blood-curtailing shout raises Asuka's head. She looks up to see she is standing in the middle of a street, turning to the sound of the voice she sees a boy just about her age with silvery hair and red eyes running towards her with a scared look. Asuka is transfixed on his eyes until the sound of a horn form a truck, has her turn to see that she stand right in its path. As if a deer, she freezes eye widen and her breathe stolen form her lungs she stands tempting death. The image shaken, as seconds before impact the brave young man; with silver hair dives at her tackling her, everything Asuka sees collapses to darkness.

"Hey..." A sweet soothing male tone whispers.

Asuka finds the darkness slowly fades away as her head is throbbing with pain. The light that passes through her eyelids only worsens the pain.

"Hey..." Again, Asuka graced with the whispering tone of a man.

This times Asuka tries to speak but only moans in return, as the feeling in her body is that of sheer pain.

"Its okay..."

Once more Asuka pleasured with kind words, this dives her to open her eyes; her vision is first hazy and blurry. After a bit of time Asuka eyes regain their focus, to have the face of the pale skin boy with beautiful strands of silver hair gazing at her with concern.

"How are you feeling..." Unsure on why she's in so much pain Asuka can only let out a painful sigh to answer his question. "You lucky we both didn't die."

The smiling face of the boy warms Asuka's heart, as she finally gains the strength to speak. "What happened?"

The boy reaches and grabs a small damp rag and begins to dab it onto Asuka's head, a sharp sting shoots through her body. "Sorry..." The boy whispers to Asuka. "You almost got hit by a truck..."

Asuka puts all of her strength to pull her self up in the bed so she can rest on the wall behind it. She looks to see her School Uniform spattered with blood and her left taken out of its sleeve and bandaged. Asuka quickly covers her bra that exposed with a blanket.

"Who the hell are you!" Asuka defends her self with words seeing that who ever stands in front of her has seen more then she wishes from anyone.

"Nagisa, Kaworu Nagisa..." The boy chuckles as he watches Asuka face turn all red. "I'm sorry for your cloths but I couldn't let you bleed to death in my arms."

Raising an eyebrow to Kaworu, Asuka looks down at her wound, it bandaged well yet it can only hide its sight not its pain. Asuka looks back at her savoir with some guilt for yelling at him.

"So what my I call you, my dear angel."

Not really noticing his flirtation, Asuka rests her self against the wall and lets a cool breeze brush across her face. "Asuka, Asuka Langley Souyu."

"Well miss Souyu, I'm glad your okay, I was trying to find my new school when I saw you standing in the middle of the road."

As Kaworu cleans up medical equipment, Asuka reminded on what her last thoughts were, and once the pain of depression attacks Asuka's weak mind, she begins to cry. Doing her best to hold back tears, Asuka looks away from Kaworu.

"Sorry for troubling you."

Kaworu leans in with a pleasant smile, he gently brushes Asuka's cheek. "It was my pleasure."

As he stands and Asuka notices a large gash on his arm, it has only washed off and not yet dressed. "My god your arm."

All Asuka concern receives is a smile. "Don't worry, it was worth, saving such a beautiful life such as yours."

Blushing at such words, Asuka is speechless as the boy stands and leaves the small bedroom. Before he exits, he turns to Asuka. "Don't worry about a thing, just rest you have been through a lot."

Asuka protests such help as she tries to get up. "I'm fin..." Asuka movement has only brought her more pain.

Once more Kaworu laughs. "Rest Miss Souyu, let your body heal it self."

Unable to move Asuka watches as the slender boy walks out of sight. She looks around the mostly empty room to see only moving boxes in each corner and a small window letting in a cool breeze.

On the island of Hawaii the sight of Unit Zero Moving the crawler that holds the shuttle to the launch pad is nearly over, a crowd of news agencies and civilians watch with US military keeping them on the edge of the Base. In the Observation Room, of the Mission Command building, Misato stands looking at the large crowd gathers on the outskirts of the base. Behind her stands Hyuga both wearing Shuttle crew flight suits with NERV insignia.

"The rumors have been spreading pretty fast." Hyuga states as the sun begin to set over the tropical island.

"Have NERV public relations release a statement, that we are conducting a rescue operation to save two of our pilots."

Hyuga nods at Misato's request before turns to leave. "Lets hope it is..."

As he leaves, Misato looks around at the billions of dollars used to launch the space shuttle just to save two people, who might be dead. She has been the only one that has believe that they are alive, even the MAJI gave them a seven percent chance of living before the Shuttle could reach them. Even with the odds stacked against her Misato was not about to back down. It is against her nature to do so, and she felt obligated, since these kids have saved the world more then once.

The door opens with Kaji stepping through, Misato sighs at his presence. "Am I doing the right thing?"

Kaji can only smile as he put his hand on her shoulder. "I would expect nothing less from you Misato." They both look out to see Unit Zero step back from the Shuttle, it sits ready and waiting to launch. "Your friend left another, message."

Kaji hands Misato a sheet of paper.

'They will live, and thee shall help thy, save our saviors of life.'

Misato rests her head on Kaji's shoulder, they stare at Unit Zero that is seen walking back to a safe distance.

"Its time..." Misato turns and hugs Kaji, their embraces is long before they give each other a parting kiss.

"Have fun in space, and say hi to Shinji for me."

Misato gives a thumb up before leaving the room.

'This isn't good..." Shinji thinks to him self as he rubs his fingers on the topside of the Entry Plug. All around him the LCL is crystallizing, the cold depths of space have finally reached the Plug, and it is starting to freeze the LCL closest to the top. Shinji swims back down to Hikari, the two, grab hold of each other pull each other together.

"Its starting to freeze up there..." Shinji whispers as he looks to see Hikari's face to be a little blue. "Are you okay..."

She can only smile as she hugs him tightly. "I'm fine..." Shinji grabs a blanket that was in the survival kit; he then raps it around Hikari.

"I know Misato she's on her way somehow..." Shinji whispers in to her ear as he rubs her back.

"Shinji..." Hikari tries not to cry as she tries to prepare him for the worst. "Were going to die in here..."

"Don't think like that!" Shinji shakes his head not willing to let him self think of death. "She has always come for me, I'm not going to give up..."

Shinji stops speaking as he hears Hikari cry. "I'm not going to be able to say good bye to anyone... I want to go home!"

Realizing that Hikari has never been trapped in an Eva like he has, Shinji can only hold her. "We won't die... We will not die... They will save us..."

In a crowded press briefing room full of reporters and journalists, comes walking in three members of NERV, one of them is Kaji, also to enter are two members of the UNSA. Hundreds of cameras flash as the five men take a seat. Finally one of the UNSA members stands.

"Hello, I'm John Welles, Director of the UNSA, I'm hear to address the shuttle scramble that everyone has been watching..." Before he can finish, a wave of question are asked, but he only raises his hand and waits before the pack of reports go silent. "Yesterday France was hit by a falling alien, it was a deadly encounter where nearly four million lost there lives how ever it could have been worse."

Once more, the pool of scum, and spin coats, known as the media raged for answers. Once more they must wait before a member of NERV is next to, stand. The man looks to Kaji then to his audience of scorpions. Welles looks to see that NERV is more then willing to take charge addressing the crowd. "This is Captain Hayes of NERV public relations he will address you on the alien threat."

Before they can mob the Captain, he speaks out. "Yesterday, a alien was spotted in a low orbit above Japan. Its size was big enough that if impacted it would have knocked Earth out of orbit and to our painful deaths." Kaji rolls his head at such lies but it was what working in NERV meant. "We engaged the target with the Evangelions, however in the process of the battle one of our Eva's got trapped in space..."

Once more, the pack of reports overwhelms the table with questions but one catches the captain's ear.

"Is this a rescue operation?"

The captain nods his head. "Yes we are doing our best to rescue two of our fighters trapped in space."

His answer only leads to a swarm of questions. The captain finally points to one of the reporters.

"How many died in the battle?"

"None, and we want to keep it that way." The captain states as he points to another reporter.

"How many people are trapped in space?"

Hayes shakes his head. "I already said two."

"Why save them?"

Nearly knocked off his feet by such a question Hayes glares at the reporter. "They saved our lives wouldn't you want to be save in return."

"The estimations coming out of France is nearly two hundred billion in damages, how is that going to be paid?"

"I don't know ask the Security consul on that one."

Another report stands. "How much is this operation going to cost?"

"I don't know..."

Seeing that they are overwhelming the table the reports only push harder. "Is it not true that this operation is in the price range in the billions!"

"What the fuck is you problem!" Kaji stands up with a microphone in hand. "Its your very lives they saved, yet you sit her shitting bricks over who will pay for what."

Silence is all that heard in the room as Kaji continues his rant. "You sit here, thinking your safe, but the end of the world can be brought by these monsters yet all you do is cry over money. Like the captain said, they saved our lives I think we at least return the favor!"

Kaji storms out of the room, every reporter stand in shock, as if Kaji exposed them for the dirty bastards, that they are.

With a smile, Captain Hayes looks over the stunned audience. "Any more questions?"

"No!" Asuka nearly jumps out of bed in a cold seat the sun is setting and she sees Kaworu sitting next to her.

"Its okay... its just a bad dream..." Kaworu has a cold rag and he slowly wipes the sweat off Asuka's forehead.

"Thank you..." Asuka whispers as she catches her breath.

"Its nothing, I would take you home, Miss Souyu but I don't know where that is. I couldn't even take you to the hospital I'm so new here."

"Asuka..." Asuka mutters as she sighs. "You can call me Asuka."

"Its such a pretty name you have." Kaworu once more keeps himself only inches from Asuka. "So, do you wish for me to take you home."

"No..." Asuka looks away haven been reminded she is alone. "Theirs nothing for me there..."

"I see..." Kaworu sits beside Asuka still gently wiping her face as a tear rolls down her cheek. "The pain of rejection and loneliness, is not easily quenched, my dear Asuka..."

Never in her life has she felt so open, her heart was desperately trying to fill the voids her mind created. Love is all she wanted, the feeling of another against her skin, the pure yet human drive to have someone to talk to, to hold onto. Asuka's tears are held back no longer, the charisma of Kaworu is over whelming as Asuka cries.

"Its okay Asuka, you are not alone..." Kaworu brushes Asuka's hair to see her eyes. His smile is soft as he whispers to her. "I have no friends to turn to, maybe it was fate for us to meet."

"Why am I so stupid!" Asuka cries as she buries her head in her arms. "Why cant I be normal, why do I have to hate everyone..."

"T-minus one minute to lift off!" A Technicians shouts.

The Shuttle Launch Control room filled with NERV and UNSA personnel as they run about hoping to have their first successful launch in four years. Over looking them is Kaji he stands next to the UNSA director, both are fixated with the screen that showed the Shuttle ready for launch, lights shining around her, and Evangelion Unit Zero standing in the foreground about a mile from the launch pad.

"Endeavor, flight controllers, listen up. Give me a go no go for launch!" The launch direct calls out.

"Booster..."

"Go."

Retro..."

"Go."

"FIDO..."

"We are go."

"Guidance."

"Go..."

"Surgeon..."

"Go."

"ECON..."

"Go..."

"Control...."

"Go."

"Procedures..."

"Go."

"E.V.A..."

"Go."

"Cap Con..." "Ready to go!"

"Recovery..."

"We are go flight."

Everyone is ready, poised to save the lives of two fourteen-year-old kids. In the Shuttle Misato, Maya, and Hyuga all sit in their seats, wearing their space suits and all but Misato is scared out of their minds. In the front the pilot and copilot, sit ready for launch. The pilot turns to the three green astronauts and smiles.

"Get ready!"

"T-minus thirty seconds till launch!"

The Shuttle begins to moan and crick as the engines begin to warm up. Out side, the shuttle has never had such a viewing since its first launch. The crowd has gathered to watch a historic and unprecedented rescue mission.

The Shuttle begins to shake as the boosters start to fire, a roar the likes of which Misato has ever heard, drowns out all other sound as the main Rockets fire.

"We have main engines!"

The steam from the water sound buffers explode into the air and around the launch pad. Slowly the shuttle begins to lift off her cradle and into the air. In side the violence of the launch is even making Misato have second thoughts as they clear the tower with the howl of the engines and Evangelion Unit Zero in the distance. Inside Rei sits smiling as the Shuttle goes to save her friends.

"Cleared the tower, at Three zero five..."

The Shuttle makes her first roll as it begins its battle with Mother earth. Their speeds is unprecedented as they race to the heavens, nearly two minutes into the launch they are miles from the closest cloud.

"Go with throttle up!"

The two main boosters separate and the Shuttle given its last final push to free her self from the earth's bindings. The two boosters clear with no problem as they distance them selves from the speeding shuttle. Once more, the Shuttle turns as it reaches outer space she releases her fuel tank letting it fall back into the atmosphere. Slowly the engines settle and the violence ends as the Shuttle Endeavor has now reached her orbit.

In side Misato, Maya, and Hyuga hyperventilate and stare in a daze as they look into space. The three other crewmembers around them take off their helmets and float about going about there tasks.

"Major Katsuragi..." The pilot says with a muddled tone. "Communication from Mission control, at NERV headquarters."

Misato finally takes off her helmet and follows the captain to the communication panel; there she hears the familiar voice of Aoba.

"Major, how was the trip up..."

She turns to see Maya helmet off throwing up in to a barf bag. Hyuga is still dazed in his seat. "It was great no problems... What's up?"

"MAJI has just picked up a problem..." Aoba takes sometime to give her some bad news. "Unit Three is slowly falling back into orbit... You will only have two passes at it, not three as predicted before."

"Damn it... How long till estimated life support gives out."

Once more Aoba is hesitant to answer. "Pilots will start dieing in about seven hours... around the same time you will make your first pass."

In side the very cocoon Aoba speaks of, Shinji and Hikari hold each other with all their strength. The crystallization of the LCL from the cold has reached the top of the pilots seat. There light is also on its last set of batteries. All seems lost but for Shinji he has not given up hope as he tries to keep Hikari awake.

"What was Touji like... before I came around..."

To cold to even shiver, Hikari only whispers her answer. "A goof ball just as he is now..."

Shinji looks at Hikari's smile as she thinks of Touji. "You love him, don't you..."

"Shinji..." Hikari tries to think as best she can since this might be the last she speaks. "I... did... but he and Rei..."

"Its okay..." Shinji backs away from the question. "It was a stupid question."

"No it isn't..." Hikari uses what little strength she has to pull her self up to be eye to eye with Shinji. "I might have loved him but... but I fell in love with some one else.

"Who..." Shinji whispers, with a doubtful tone.

"He's a shy boy who cant really speak for him self, but..." Hikari smiles as she stares at Shinji's eyes. "But he will always protect his friends and never betray them... He's kind and proper, yet still fun when he's brave enough to show it."

Knowing that Hikari has just described him, he gently takes hold of Hikari's cheeks with both hands. "Hikari..."

With all, there strength the two pull each other together. Shinji and Hikari lean in eyes shut as they both kiss each other. Tears float from there eyes, as there passion grows stronger, and their pain and cares slip way as love warms their bodies. Nothing could now bother them trapped inside there coffin the two young lovers kiss deeply, not even the feeling that this might be the last thing they will ever do.

The Shuttle had her belly face the stars as they approach there objective, however no one is happy.

"We are to far in..." The copilot tells Misato who floats behind him.

"Damn it..." Misato whispers as she turns to see the crestfallen looks of the other NERV members.

The pilot interjects as he points to the small dot that is Evangelion Unit Three. "Ma'am, the good news is, is that we will most likely be right on target on our next past.

Near one of the side, windows Maya and Hyuga look out to see them pass the body of Unit Three. "So close yet so far..."

Hyuga nods his head as he looks at the passing Eva. "I hope they're still alive in there..."

"They are..." Misato yells to her friends. "There alive... When's our next pass at the objective."

The Navigator slash EVA Specialist turns to her. "In about eight hours."

Walking down the streets of Tokyo 3 Kaworu walks with Asuka on his back she rest her head on his shoulders with a smile. The night air as brought cool breeze to Tokyo 3, which feel good across Asuka's scraped knees and cut arm.

"Hey, Kaworu..." Asuka whispers with a happy tone. "Where did you live before here?"

Kaworu smiles at her question, it was a small village in Osaka."

All Asuka can do is grip Kaworu tighter as she laughs. "You don't have an Osaka accent..."

"This is true..." Kaworu smiles as he makes his way up the road to were Asuka has wanted him to go. "But you just asked where I lived before Tokyo 3."

She then sees the restaurant that sells ice cream, finding that she at her destination, she points to the restaurant. "Here we are, it's the least I can do for saving my life."

"Okay..." Kaworu begins to walk to the direction Asuka has indicated. "But I already said, that just meeting you was payment enough."

"Knock that off silly." Asuka pouts as she holds back a smile. "Let me buy you some damn ice cream!"

The two enter and take a seat Asuka quickly grabs a menu; Kaworu only sits with his arms supporting his head as he light brushes his leg by Asuka's leg.

"So what it like being a Eva pilot..."

Not really wanting to talk about but also having a strong liking of Kaworu Asuka looks away. "It sucks... I... I'm, no good at it..."

"What makes you think that?"

Again, Asuka find her self in conflict over wanting to tell him but she cannot resist her need to tell him. "I'm there worst pilot I cant do anything right, and all I do is hurt people!" She once more barriers her head in her hands as she cries.

"Its okay, Asuka..."

"I'm worthless."

Kaworu takes her hands and from her face and draws them to his. With a simple kiss place on them, all of Asuka's pain seems to disappear. She stares at his crimson red eyes that seem to look straight through her. They seem to pierce her very soul as she sits in her chair.

"Asuka, you are not worthless, because I have you." Kaworu's words seem to echo in to Asuka's mind revitalizing her spirit. "You are such a fragile Lilim, I wish to share, my empathy with you..." Still dazed Asuka can only look in confusion. "Asuka, do you believe in love at first sight."

Watching the midnight sky Kadoma Horaki, stand on the balcony of her room staring off into the stares that hold her sister captive. It has been only two days, yet for her it is feeling like an eternity. She takes a sip from her glass of water as she grips the railing. She looks down when she hears someone at the gate of the house. She sees Rei just entering the front of the house, she stops when Kadoma's eyes fixate onto her. When Rei finally looks up she sees Kadoma gone, before she can figure out where she went the front door flies open and Kadoma runs into Rei's arms the to hold each other.

"Is she going to all right, Please Rei tell me she's going to be alright."

Rei sighs as she embraces her sister like friend back. "Don't worry she will be alright..." She just lied, yet she felt it was for the best. Rei knew the chances of them surviving where only seven percent and before she departed the aircraft from her trip home, Kaji told her that they wont get to them until the second pass.

"She will be fine..." Rei begins to cry as she thinks of what might happen.

Unknown to both Kadoma and Rei standing just across the street from their house is the mysterious shorthaired woman that has been like a ghost. She stands in the shadows visibly up set, stepping out from behind her is Rei, who also is sadden.

"We have to help them..." Rei whispers to the women in a respectful tone. She stares at her blue eyes and receives silence. "Mother... I must go..."

"I know Rei..." The woman turns to her so-called daughter, which looks nothing like her, and hugs her tightly. "I don't want to loss you, you're all I have left..."

Rei looks down as she hugs the woman back. "If I do not, there will be nothing left..."

"Go... Do what you can..." The women stands back up and she looks off into the city. "I will deal with Tabris."

"There it is!" Misato yells out as she points over the pilots shoulder.

The pilot nod in confirmation of what Misato sees. "Yep and we are right on target." He turns to his third crewmember. "Tom get these three ready for an EVA, we will be on target in twenty.

"Roger."

The pilot looks back at his copilot who begins to open the cargo bay doors. "Ready that arm, I want it in one grasp."

Slowly Unit Three with its face towards the earth comes closer to the shuttle. When the Shuttle is only a mile away from the target, its bay doors open and the docking arm comes out.

Watching from a window all Misato can do is bight her lips as the Evangelion comes directly under them. The Shuttles slows to match its speed, know parallel the docking arm reaches out and magnetically attaches in one try.

"We have capture!"

The pilot turns to Misato with a smile as he pats his copilot on the shoulders. "Okay the clock is ticking rescue those pilots!"

Misato quickly grabs her helmet and floats down to the air lock that goes into the cargo bay. Maya, Hyuga, Misato, and the EVA specialist stand ready as they go into the air lock then out in to the cargo bay. Only tethered by a thick bungee cable Misato is first to push her self off to the Eva.

Her move was unwise as she smashes into the Eva's back. This does not deter her as she gets back up and crawls to the Termination plug. As she reaches it, the others have made there way across the arm and to the Evangelion.

"Hyuga!" Misato shouts over her radio. "Get this thing open."

Swiftly Hyuga floats to a panel and on the Eva and pulls it down; he pauses and looks around to everyone. "Clear!" Every steps away from the upper back as he pulls on the ejection handle, that opens the Termination plug and exposes the Entry plug.

Everyone waits until the back is fully open before rushing to the entry plug. Hyuga goes over and once more opens a panel before calling out.

"Clear..."

This time nothing happed, once more he pulls on the handle with no response.

"Shit!"

First, to show concern is Misato. "What! What is wrong?"

"Its must be jammed!"

Misato floats over and pushes Hyuga aside as she pulls on the handle. She then looks around and goes to another panel. "How long do we have!"

In the Shuttle, the pilot watches from on of the windows. "You have an hour until we have to separate!"

With the information at hand, Misato goes to another panel and opens it. There she pulls out a large hand crank. "We will eject the plug by hand!"

She begins to franticly turn the hand crank as fast as she can. Maya shakes her head as she looks on. "We aren't going to make it..."

Hyuga steps in front of her and grabs hold of her suit. "We will make it, but not with this attitude! Now go back to the Shuttle and see if you can large cables of cargo straps and cutting tool."

Maya nods as she slowly follows the docking arm to the bay. Hyuga then turns to see the EVA specialist looking at him.

"It's not fast enough." The astronaut points to the plug as it only risen an inch since Misato started.

"Not if you stand there!" Hyuga floats over and takes over for Misato to let her rest.



To be continued...