Problem Twenty: Can you catch a dream?
- Edited by Tibures
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Seele the super secret organization with plans to end the world, meet together in their standard fashion of nearly 12 floating rectangles, their number, and 'Sound Only'. In addition, like most meeting of this super secret organization, the mood is far from good.
Seele 12, "This is ludicrous! The commander of NERV on the front page of every paper!"
Seele 07, "Ludicrous, that's putting it lightly!"
Seele 02, "Everything we have worked for destroyed."
Seele 05, "Ikari must be dismissed, now that he's publicly known."
Seele 03, "He should be executed!"
Seele 08, "There's a great idea, maybe we can do it on the six o'clock news."
Seele 03, "Don't mock me!"
Seele 08, "Then think before we speak.
Seele 09, "Shut up, both of you!"
Seele 03, 08, "What was that!"
Seele 09, "You heard me."
Seele 10, "I'm telling you it was the Americans they did this."
Seele 04, "There you go blaming the Americans again."
Seele 10, "I'm telling you there always up to no good."
Seele 11, "I just saw on Dateline that there going to do a special on Ikari."
Seele 10, "See, stick that in you pipe and smoke it, the Americans are all over this."
Seele 04, "Oh please, it means nothing."
Seele 05, "He should be fired!"
Seele 02, "How are we going to complete instrumentality?
Seele 04, "We can make it a primetime special."
Seele 10, "That sounds like something an American will do."
Seele 04, "Will you get off the American crap!"
Seele 06, "The whole world knows of Adam, with the evidence they have the UN will chicken out and run just like they did in Africa, Millions died their after Second Impact."
Seele 07, "The only reason why so many died was because they tried to take charge with their old fashioned 'Pussy' mentality."
Seele 11, "I don't know what is worse the fact that the world knows of the Angel's or the fact we got caught with a pants down."
Seele 02, "NERV was caught with their pants down not us."
Seele 01, "Enough!" The Black rectangle labeled 'Seele 01' disappears and in its place appears Keele Lorez. "This fighting will get us nowhere but were we started." All of the Seele members mumble among them selves before Keele speaks to them with a commanding voice. "We must find out who made us look like fools. With Ikari in Antarctica, things should cool down…"
Members of Seele begin to laugh at Keele's shameless pun, but like most evil men it sound of that of a bunch of evil men.
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In total darkness, this is Rei's new world; she sits inside an entry plug with her plug suit on and with a faint hum in the background to keep her company. The silence is broken by a radio transmission coming in.
It is Misato, who merely whispers in a peaceful tone "Anything yet…"
"No, ma'am…"
Rie closes her eyes as hard as she can and grips the butterfly control sticks tightly. Her head twitches a bit and her Sync clips that now have cords running out of them, in to the Throne of Souls, faintly glow. Most cannot see the change that Rei has just noticed. Her sight remains in darkness, but it is not total darkness as she sees random colors hidden with in. Slowly she opens her eyes and with it comes vision. However, the vision she has is not of her body, but of the Evangelion Test room. She looks around to see the similar white steals wall, she can even tell where some have been replaced when her Evangelion when berserk. She looks to the windows to see Misato in uniform, and Asuka in her plug suit looking up at her with a smile.
"Asuka… Asuka is smiling…"
When everyone hears what Rei just said people on the Test control room cheer. Ritsuko, who stands beside Maya, sighs and looks up to see that the upgrade is working. Asuka jumps for joy and she and Misato share a hug, before she goes over and grabs a head seat.
The Technician has little choice but to give the headset to the second child as she goes to speak with Rei. "Isn't it great! You can see!"
"Yes…"
As Rei and Asuka talk, mainly Asuka but anyways, Misato steps back to see Ritsuko going over her data. "Good, Job…" With a simple nod, Ritsuko takes a sip of coffee. "Know what are we going to do about Shinji and Yukari…"
The subject has Ritsuko spit the coffee back into her mug she looks to Misato cleaning her face. "What can I say, I put Shinji on Lexipro. That is the strongest antidepressant I can put him on. I can't give him anymore, Anti depressants interfere with the system matrix, and if I out him on to much he will never sync with an Eva." Not happy with the answer Misato turns and looks at Unit Zero, Ritsuko does the same as she tries to take another sip of her coffee. "And Yukari she is just broke or something, her synaptic nerves are firing at a hundred times faster then a human."
Typing away beside Ritsuko, is Maya, who pears up to the two officers with a thought on her mind. "It's like a over-cloaked processor that overheated."
"Good analogue, Maya." Ritsuko pats her student on the head. "I liked Hyuga's…" She turns to Hyuga who looks up knowing what she wants.
"A blind cat on crack running into a wall."
Ritsuko smiles at the comment. "He's right, ever since her last sortie, she can only stay awake for about four to five hours tops, her problem solving and memory parts of her brain have some much unneeded firings that there is not for her own thoughts."
Misato looks to her feet somewhat disappointed with something. "There goes my idea for round the clock watches for the pilots."
"Don't feel to bad, some one likes you…" Ritsuko walks over to Misato patting her on the back. "It's the first time both the Commander, and Vice Commander have left. Lets not forget the shiny new metals you got today." She chuckles a bit before going to a microphone. "Okay Rei, that's good for know you can shut down know."
At first, there isn't a replay but when Ritsuko is about to repeat her self Rei whisper a response. "Yes, Ma'am…"
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At Misato's Apartment, Yukari Ayanami lays half on the coach and half on the floor sleeping beside her is Servo. Its been a two weeks since the Mana Kirishima incident, and none of the pilots have been to school since. All with different reason, but for Yukari she has the most unique. The sound of movement in the kitchen awakes Yukari but all she does is open one eye and look to see Shinji rummaging in the fridge. She closes her eyes with her mind empty of thought.
Awoken again, this time Shinji is standing over top of Yukari with two bowels in his hand. With a pleasing smell coming from what's in his hand, Yukari rolls off and stretches on the ground before sitting on the floor. Shinji sits down handing her a bowl of rice with garlic and diced chicken.
"Thank you…" Yukari removes the chopsticks in the bowel and begins to eat. After a few bites, she looks up to Shinji smiling. "This is really good!"
Returning her smile with one of his own, Shinji begins to nibble on his food. "How are you feeling? You have been out of it for sometime."
Taking a second to finish eating Yukari answers the question. "Not really, I think I did something I shouldn't of, a couple of weeks a go…"
Nodding his head as he chews Shinji give a small chuckle. "That makes two of us…"
"Sorry…" Yukari bites her upper lip knowing what Shinji was talking about.
With a wave of the hand, Shinji shrugs off the apologies. "Its okay, I'm feeling better my self. I think that stuff Doctor Akagi gave me helped out a lot."
"That's good…" Yukari picks out one of her diced chicken meat and puts it in front of Servo, who instantly wakes up to eat the gift from Yukari. "Modern medicine got to love it. I'm glad at least one of us is better."
Shinji looks up to Yukari well aware the feeling. "Really, Yukari… I mean you worry so much some times I hope me being a dope not making not feel well."
'Dope' Yukari nearly drops her chopsticks at the sound of the word. It nearly takes ten second to just remember what the word meant. When it does come to mind Yukari begins to feel sleepy. "Err… My brain is broken or something…"
"Haha…" Shinji watch Yukari hit her self in the head and shaking it from side to side. "You care so much about everything, I'm sure your just stressed out."
"No, you don't get it…" Yukari points to he head as if Shinji doesn't know where the brain is. "I can't remember things, I can't think right, its not all there like it used to."
Shinji smiles as he goes to his knees tapping on Yukari's head. "Well that's not right." Yukari grabs Shinji's hand think he has found something wrong. "The hamster stopped spinning."
"Oh…" At first Yukari takes it seriously, as she leans back taping her head with her chopsticks. Then it dawns on her that Shinji just made a joke; she looks to see him rolling on the ground laughing. "Hay… you dope."
Still laughing Shinji doesn't bother when Yukari hits him with a coach pillow. "You know… if it wasn't for a 'sister' like you I don't know were I would be."
"Be where…" The two stare in silence and just when Yukari realizes what just happened Shinji begins to laughter again. "See my brain is broken!" Just as fast, Yukari awoke she begins to fall asleep. She sits on the coach putting her empty bowel on the end-table. "I'm so, sleepy all this talking took a lot bro…"
Shinji stands taking her and his bowel. "Yukari…" With all her strength, she looks up with a smile. "Sweat dreams."
He stands there for a moment as he watches Yukari sleep. Shinji then notices PenPen at his side looking at Yukari and Servo sleep. "She's so kind." PenPen shakes his head and points to the bane of his life since she moved in, Servo. Shinji looks at the cat as it sleeps on the arm of the chair next to Yukari. "Oh, come on you two are good friends."
With an evil glare, PenPen flicks Shinji off with his middle claw and walks away not liking the comment made. Shinji goes into the kitchen just as the door opens to the sound of Misato entering. Diligently the young pilot pulls a beer from the fridge putting it on the table just as Misato sits down.
"Hey Kiddo…"
With a smile, Shinji turns to make her a bowel of food. "How was Rei activation test?"
"Well it took us nearly two weeks but we finally got her to see." When Shinji turns, he sees Misato has already downed the beer and is looking at him expecting another.
"That's good." Slowly Shinji puts together Misato's dinner and places it in front of her. "I'm going to go to school tomorrow."
Misato looks up to Shinji worried about the idea. "You do know that, that girl is there."
Looking at Yukari, Shinji can only smile. "I cant runaway forever."
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The ring of the school bell the following day has students rushing to get to class. Kensuke and Touji sit with Hikari next to them as students fill in. All three gasp when Asuka, Rei, Yukari, and Shinji walk in. Everyone is happy to see the pilots as they walk in Yukari gives a silly smile as she comes in getting a small laugh from everyone. All but Mana Kirishima is happy, she sinks into her seat diverting her eyes from the pilots as they take their seats.
Shinji sits in his seat; not giving one glance to Mana who looks away visibly upset with her self. After Hikari call the class for the teacher, Yukari goes to sleep, Asuka, and Rei, sit next to each other. Shinji just works ignoring the fact that Mana is even there. By lunch everyone in the class have been thrown off by what is going on. Touji and Kensuke are first to speak with Shinji as he goes over to them to eat. Yukari does awake and watches as Mana leaves, wanting to follow but is stopped when Shinji calls her over. Once all are sitting, Kensuke is first to speak.
"Hey Shinji did you see your dad on the News!"
"Yes…"
Kensuke leans in. "Did you know about second impact not being a…"
"Yes."
Deflated by Shinji's quick answer he is unable to think of what to say. However, Touji has more of a 'man's' question to ask. "What the hell happened to you and Mana?"
"We broke up…" Shinji voice is deadly cold as he eats his bento. "Conflict of interests…"
"Oh…"
By the sound of Shinji's tone, both Touji and Kensuke wish not to continue on the subject. Hikari however walks over and sits down in between the three stooges with her lunch. "Hey Yukari where's all the energy."
Yukari sits half asleep as she eats. "Lost it, in a stupid act of genius."
A lackluster answer given, Hikari turns to Shinji. "I hope you are feeling okay, all of you have been out for so long."
With a smile and nod, Shinji continues to eat. With that being the best Hikari can get, she looks to Rei, and Asuka who eat together. She walks over to them casually. "Hello Miss. Souyu, Ayanami."
Asuka looks to the class rep with a smile. She takes Rei's hand moving it to face Hikari, with that Rei is able to look up to Hikari. "Hello, Miss Horaki…" Asuka goes back to her food.
For Hikari, her own curiosity and her duty has Class officer, drives her to continue the conversation. "I hope you are both doing fine."
The question has Asuka look to Rei to see a hint of a smile. "We are going good…" A thought crosses her mind. "Hikari…" The Class rep looks to Asuka to see the kindest look ever to be on her face. "I'm sorry for knocking you over…"
The event being talked about happened months ago, Hikari has never received an apology for being pushed down and knocked out until now. "Miss Souyu, Apology excepted."
Rei gives out a sigh as she eats. "Its good to hear you speak that way." With a slight pause, Rei looks to her hand. "Where is Ayanami?"
Both Asuka and Hikari go to answer but when they look to where she was, all they see are the three stooges eating away. Stumped on how Rei knew she left Asuka looks to her. "How did you do that?"
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On the rooftops of the school grounds, Mana Kirishima sits by herself. She did not pack a lunch; she hasn't since she last saw Shinji. It has been bad enough sitting next to Shinji's empty seat but to sit next to him again has been hard for this young girl.
"Hey…"
Mana slowly turns her head to see Yukari standing behind her with a smile. Not wanting to talk to Yukari Mana looks away. She however can't help but notice when Yukari sits down beside her. The two look away from each other, only Mana has a displeased mood.
"You know… it's for the better."
"That's bull Shit!" Mana slams her hand on the concert and if Yukari didn't know better she could have sworn she punched thru it. When the two make eye contact Mana begins to cry. "Its your fault! Kaji told me about everything!"
"Oh…" Yukari puts her finger to her chin. "Look… at least you have your health…"
With Yukari seeming not understanding the pain she's in Mana turns and sits back down in a pout. "You don't get it, I love Shinji, I still love Shinji."
"Err…" Yukari stretches a little before standing. "Well I wasn't the one spying on people."
"Yes you were…" Mana crosses her arms in protest of such a thought.
"I was?"
Mana stands up and points to Yukari who seems to have a clueless look. "You tracked me, posed as me twice and manipulated orders given to me and Kaji."
"Oh yea…"
In frustration, Mana watches as Yukari scratches her head. "Do you care for anyone else but your self!"
"A funny thing about myself," Yukari looks to Mana who is smoking from the ears. "I don't know who I am, you were the spy you know my past. I have been alive for three months, and twenty-two days, and haven't learned a damn thing about myself."
Unsure on how to respond to such a statement, Mana stops pointing her finger at Yukari and sighs. "Well, maybe you need to find out a little about yourself. I mean, what good is life if you don't know your self."
This puts Yukari into thought, however usually deep thinking for Yukari will bring a useless fact, but none come. "I don't understand, just like that love stuff I don't understand something, I'm sorry…"
Mana chuckles as it dawns on her. "If you don't understand love then its no wonder you don't know how I feel." Both stop speaking as sirens go off, they run to the edge of the roof and look out to the city to see the building going into the ground. With a smile, Mana looks to Yukari. "I guess you and Shinji need to go to work."
"Yea…" Yukari stretches and yawns trying her best to fight off from falling asleep. "I almost forgot that the hole world has gone to hell thing."
As she watches Yukari run off she can't help but call out to her. "Yukari!" The girl stops and turns to Mana who waits a second to gather her thoughts. "Tell Shinji to be careful!"
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At NERV in the Command and control center Misato Katsuragi stand in full uniform not her customary civilian close. On her coaler, she shows off her Major bars. But promotions aside, she, and Ritsuko look at the Main hub at the ninth Angel, as it floats in space. Misato look over the data with a heavy sigh she looks to Ritsuko.
"We have no choice." Misato looks back to the data. "Evacuate the city, and have the pilots form here ready to sortie."
"This is insane, we don't even have a ten percent chance!"
Misato stops and looks to Ritsuko with a glare. "Those are my orders."
As the Major walks, away Maya lean in her seat looking up to Ritsuko. "That wasn't nice."
"Maybe she's on the rag."
Maya and Ritsuko turn to Hyuga who just said what he was thinking. "Hyuga!"
Cringing at the comment from Maya Hyuga turns in his chair. "What,"
"That was impolite!" Maya looks at her comrade with a evil stare only a woman can give. "You would know when a girl is on one her not."
Both Hyuga and Shigeru begin to laugh Maya looks around wondering what so funny. Willing to enlighten her is Shigeru. "Well, we do know one."
At the same time, Hyuga and Shigeru point to Maya. "First of the month!"
Sinking in her seat in embarrassment and with even Ritsuko chuckling at what was said. Maya's face turns red as she looks away.
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Only an hour later the pilots stand in order of designation and in their plug suits. Misato stands with her back to them with the picture of the Angel on the Main hub, being one of the ugliest Angels thus far Yukari looks away to Rei.
Rei doesn't have the pleasure of seeing the target so with a tried voice Yukari lets her in. "It's a hug glob of orange play-to with eyes super glued to it."
With no response Yukari looks back to see Misato facing her and the pilots with a serious glare. "That's our objective, This Angel's weapon is it self." The Main hub behind her lights up and shows a computer graphic model of the Angel and its flight path. Asuka, Shinji, and Yukari wince when they see it hit Tokyo 3. "The Angel intent is to fall onto us from its sub orbit altitude which will send up into sub orbit. The only way we can defend is by preventing it from striking."
"You mean shot it down." Asuka asks with a hand up to ask the question.
"No…" Misato turns to face the target. "You're going to catch it."
Not liking the thought Asuka looks to the Angel. "Your dreaming!"
Yukari begins to choke on her own breath with Shinji and Asuka right be hind her. Once recover Yukari looks up to Misato as she fakes a cough. "Crazy…"
"It's the best we can come up with." Misato looks to see most of her pilots don't like the idea. "We will be placing each Eva around the city, once we see it, the MAJI will send the information to your Eva's and guide you to the target."
Rei blind to the world but not to the chance of success of the plan, she raises her hand needing more information. "What is the dispersal based off of?"
"A guess."
Each pilot, even Rei step back a little. Even for Rei the plan seems to crazy, but it is Rei who steps forward ready to fight. "We should sortie soon."
Misato watch as the pilots follow Rei lead despite their objection. This puts a smile on her face and brings an idea to her head. "Hey you kids." The pilots turn and look to Misato. "When this is all over I will treat you all to a nice dinner!"
Each pilot but Rei smile in pleasure but once they walk out Asuka is first to complain. "That's all we get for this suicide mission."
Shinji shrugs his shoulders as the four walk, he keeps his eye on the edge of Rei's cane. Even if she holds on to Asuka to keep pace she uses the cane. "Well it may not mean much to us, but it does to her."
Yukari leans on Shinji shoulder and tries to go to sleep despite the fact they are walking. "Ah, a dinner will be good, besides I feel sorry for my sister, she has to put up with your cooking."
The gesture was to Asuka and the redhead doesn't like it as she looks to Yukari. "Shut up Dunculf!"
With a smile Rei stops, this action silences everyone as they stop and stare at Rei. "Despite Ayanami's constant annoyance, she has a point, your cooking does question my quality of health sometimes." Shinji and Yukari brake out into laughter, at first Asuka doesn't know how to respond. She looks to see Rei smiling and she smiles back just as Rei takes Asuka's hand. "It would be nice to eat out."
"Oh, come one…" Asuka tries to defend her self. "Its not my fault, it's the Tofu."
Shinji smiles at everyone putting his hand on Asuka's shoulder. "Come on, its time to play catch with a Angel."
With a snort, Asuka smiles since Shinji is confident the though also has her blush a little before she starts to walk. "I guess you can catch dreams."
Next Problem… Where is Yukari…
