Disclaimer: Neon Genesis Evangelion is Owned by Gainax. Buy the DVD's of
the Series and the Movies from them. I did, and it was worth every dime.
I don't own anything except my DVD's, and this is done for my own
satisfaction.
Episode 2:11 Testing the limits.
Takes place after 1st season, and the End of Evangelion Movie.
Presumed date is Monday June 13th, 2016
Recovery teams started to clean up of the battle site early the next morning. Almost all personnel were excused from their normal duties, to participate in the cleanup. Shinji, under Misato's orders, stayed home, slept in, finally waking up just before 11 o'clock.
Shinji awoke leisurely that morning, and went downstairs for a late breakfast. He was pleasantly surprised to find both guys still here, as well as Hikari and her sister Nazomi. Shinji smiled when he saw that 12- year-old Nazomi had attached herself to Kensuke, who seemed oblivious to the female attention.
"Shinji, you're awake. Great. I saved you some breakfast," Hikari smiled.
"Thanks Hikari, you didn't have to do that," he said, sitting down, as Hikari brought out the eggs and bacon she had prepared for the others.
"I was cooking anyway, and I thought you deserved a bit of a break. You had a pretty busy weekend."
"Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "I guess I did."
Shinji ate the wonderful breakfast that Hikari had made, and kept complimenting her so often as to how great it was, that she started blushing and looking down every time she walked by him.
"Does anyone know where my clothes from the wedding ended up?"
"Yeah, they had to cut them off of you at the hospital. Your jacket's history," Kensuke said.
"Damn. I don't suppose anyone picked up my wallet or my cell phone?"
"No we didn't. Its probably at the hospital though, so you could go get it today."
"I don't think so Kensuke. I'm pretty sure my battle with the Legion trashed the hospital," Shinji looked sad.
"It did more than that. There's a huge desolated area almost a mile west of the hospital. There isn't a single building left standing."
"Did anyone get hurt?" Shinji asked.
"Not a one, they all made it to the shelters."
"So what's on the agenda for today?" Toji asked.
"I don't know. I need to contact Misato and find out what she wants me to do," Shinji said.
"So, back to the same schedule you had at NERV HQ?"
"I guess. Actually it'll probably be a little more like Ayanami's," shrugged Shinji.
"Here Shinji, use my phone," Toji said, handing his unit over to Shinji.
"Thanks Toji," he mumbled around a mouthful of eggs.
Shinji flipped open the phone, and quickly dialed in Misato's number. She answered on the second ring.
"Is he up yet Suzuhara?"
"Yes, I am Misato," Shinji laughed.
"Shinji? What are you... oh, you're phone. It's still at the hospital. Damn, well, stop by Communications and pick up a new one. After you've done that, I want you to come down to Command."
"Sure thing. I've got a stop to make first though. How soon do you need me?"
"Whenever you're ready. I'm not going anywhere. Toji is a little upset about not getting a honeymoon, but he understands. And, I'm going to make sure I make it up to him," Misato said. Shinji would almost see the leer she had to have on her face.
"Okay Misato, I'll be there within the hour. Bye."
"Goodbye Shinji, see you soon."
"So, Shinji, what does Misato want you to do?" Toji asked, taking his phone from him.
"I've got to pick up a new phone, and then report to Command."
"No problem. Want a ride?"
"Yeah. But can you take me out to the airfield first?"
"Sure, wanna check out the EVA?"
"Yeah, among other things."
"Okay. Well, let me know when you want to leave, and we'll head out."
"Thanks, Toji, I want to take a shower first, and then we can head out."
Thirty minutes later Toji was pulling into the Airfield, and, at Shinji's direction, he moved past the parked vehicles to the EVA. There were several people gathered around the EVA, led by Doctor Akagi.
"Hello Shinji," she said.
"Hey, Ritsuko. What are you doing."
"Just a standard diagnostic of the EVA. As much as we can at least. All the custom equipment for working on the EVA's was destroyed with the Geofront."
"Found anything?"
"Yes. The Entry Plug is not accessible. We lifted the rear armor plate, to release it, and the skin of the EVA has grown over the plug. It's completely encased in the unit. I can't be sure, but I'd bet that over time it will be absorbed entirely by Unit-01."
"Hmm. Okay. Weird."
"I'd like to schedule some experiments between you and Unit-01. We don't have the simulation bodies or plugs anymore, and with the Entry Plug inaccessible, we can't take it out for a sync test, and so we'll just have to experiment with different techniques. Is that alright?"
"Sure, Ritsuko, I don't see a problem with that. Misato wants me to stop by the Command Center, but I can come back here in a couple hours I guess. What would you like me to do?"
"I'll have everything set up by the time you get back, so you don't need to worry about anything."
"Thanks. Later Ritsuko," he waved, and turned back to Toji.
"Thanks for dropping me off here, Toji. I'll be home when they're done poking and prodding me."
"Okay, Shinji, are you sure you don't need a ride back?" Toji asked.
"Nope, I've got that covered," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a set of BMW car keys.
"Asuka's BMW?"
"Yeah, I didn't think it would be right to just leave it here. No matter how much I wish it weren't true, she's gone, and I think she won't be back for some time. I'm going to keep her car for her, and return it to her when she comes back."
"You seem pretty sure she's coming back," Toji commented.
"She is, Toji, she is. You wouldn't believe me if I told you how I know that, but you'll just have to trust me for now," Shinji grinned.
"Okay, Ikari, keep you're secrets if you have to," Toji said.
"Just for now, Toji. Someday soon you'll hear the whole story, I promise. I just need to think some things over before I'm ready to tell anyone. You can go ahead and go back to the house, I'll be home after a while. Tell Hikari not to wait dinner on me."
"No problem Shinji. You take care of yourself. Later," he said, hoping back into his SUV, and pulled out of the airfield, probably heading for home.
Shinji found Asuka's BMW easily enough. She'd left it inside the hangar where her F-22 had been stored. He went into the Pilot's Ready Room, and found her locker. There, hanging within, was the beautiful red dress she'd worn at the wedding. Shinji took it off the rack where she'd hung it, and sat down on the bench, holding it close to his face. It still smelled like her. The Lavender and Rose perfume she wore on special occasions, mixed with her own feminine odors.
He looked up from the dress, and saw her purse hanging there, from a hook in the back of the locker. He grabbed it, and opened it, looking inside for her car keys. No reason to use his if he didn't have to. There they were, as well as a small black wallet. He pulled it out, telling himself she wouldn't mind. In the front of the wallet was a space that had long ago been meant for whatever ID the owner might have, but now held only pictures, as they didn't have things like drivers licenses. There, in the front of the wallet, was a picture of Shinji that he barely remembered. It had been taken by their crew chief the morning after they'd qualified for VTOL Pilot flight status. He had this same picture on the mantle in his living room.
He didn't realize Asuka had a copy of it as well.
Sighing, he shook his head slightly, and put the wallet back. He gathered up the rest of her belongings in the locker, and took them out to the car, placing them in the passenger seat.
Poor confused Asuka.
Sitting down, he put the key in the ignition, and turned the motor over. He started it easily, adjusted the seat slightly, and the mirrors, and gauges, and then, finding all well, pulled out, heading for NERV Command. He still wasn't as comfortable driving cars as he was with Motorcycles, but he managed a respectable journey from the Airfield to the Command Center. Taking the Monorail down to the Parking Section, he parked the car in the space reserved for him, and entered the lift, indicating the command level. A few minutes later found him entering the Command Center, looking for Misato.
She was sitting behind her disk, with a stack of papers before her. He laughed to think of how she hated paperwork, and how she had thought that, as base Commander, she would be able to avoid it.
'Looks like the end of that dream,' Shinji thought, with a grin.
"Hey Misato," he said, waving as he walked up the stairs from the Control level to the Observation level, where Misato's desk sat.
"Hi Shinji, have a seat, I have to look at a couple of these preliminary reports, first, and then I'll be free," she said, looking up from her stack of papers.
Shinji didn't take the offered seat, but instead walked to the front rail, looking down 20 feet onto the Shepherd. This computer, the forerunner of the Magi system, was one of the most powerful computer systems on the planet. It lacked the triple redundancy of the Magi, and the Personality Matrix, but it was one powerful machine nonetheless.
A sigh escaped from Misato, and attracted Shinji's attention.
"What is it Misato?" he asked.
"Ritsuko's and Professor Fuyutsuki's initial recommendations," she said.
"Oh? What do they think?"
"Well they both take different paths to arrive at more or less the same conclusions," she said. "First: they need to do a detailed examination of you, to figure out what's going on. Both physically and mentally. Second: they want to examine the EVA. Some things have changed dramatically from the last time we saw it, and that needs to be explained. Third: if these Legion are a new attacking force similar to the Angels we fought before, we're going to need to make preparations for attacks here similar to those that occurred at NERV in Tokyo-3." She didn't mention to him Ritsuko's fourth conclusion that one EVA was not enough to combat any real threat, and they'd need more of the units. Misato wasn't sure how that could happen though, with the loss of Lilith, and Adam during Third Impact.
"So what do you want to do now?" Shinji asked.
"Now, I want to talk to you about what happened. I need to get a report about how things have changed between you and EVA, and anything else you can explain to me. We have some really big gaps in our understanding of what's going on is limited to a few minutes conversation here and there."
Shinji sighed, not really wanting to talk about it, but realizing that Misato had to know everything. "So. Where do I begin?" he asked.
"Where ever you want to. It's your story."
"Got a recorder?"
"Yeah, I thought ahead. I have an SDAT recorder right here," she flipped out the small device, normally used for recording and playing back music. "Whenever you're ready."
"Okay. Well when I finally caught Asuka, she took off, blowing me into the bog. At this point, somehow, I generated an AT field like my EVA's. As I was in the hospital I could feel the doctors working on me, and someone holding my hand. After that I kinda drifted out, and when I woke up I was in the recovery room, and I didn't hurt any more. When the EVA landed outside, I seemed to sense that it was calling for me. I just knew what to do, so I did it, and I got sucked up inside the EVA," he paused.
"Remember those times I told you about where I'd find myself on a subway somewhere, and would end up having those deep life altering talks with myself or other people?" he asked.
"Like naked Asuka, Rei and Myself?" Misato said suggestively.
Shinji nodded, "Exactly. Well when I first entered EVA, I found myself back on the train, only this time there were three Angels there. REAL Angels, not those things we fought. They called them the Watchers, and the new threat was the Legion of the Fallen, the army of Satan. They told me that God will not let them interfere with man's destiny, but they had to do something, so they sent EVA and the Lance back for me to use. If the Legion manage to kill the last humans on the planet, Lucifer will merge with the Guff, and become powerful enough to challenge God for control of the Universe. So the lives of not only mankind, but all the Universe is on my shoulders. Mine and Asuka's."
"They talked about Asuka?" Misato asked.
"Only for a moment. They said the she and I have a destiny to fulfill, and that our fates are mirrored. What happens to me must happen to her."
"And then?" she prompted.
"And then I woke up, and I was EVA. I can't describe how it feels. It's like it's my own body, and it's glorious. It's me in that armor, with the S2 engine, holding the Lance. It's more incredible than any sync test I've ever been through. I imagine it's a lot like sex."
Misato koffed.
"So when I took the Lance, I began to test out how the body moved, and it was just like I said. It wasn't an extension of my body, it WAS my body. I was EVA and EVA was I. So then the Legion appeared, and I sensed it's AT field coming for me. I attacked, lost the Lance, and got my butt handed to me. The thing started ripping and shredding me, and then it grabbed the back of my head and started to try and rip it off."
Misato nodded, hearing for the first time the details of the battle they'd missed seeing, "We saw the thing on your back from the Surveillance Satellites, how'd you finally get it off?"
"Asuka."
"Asuka?"
"Asuka. See I passed out from the pain and found myself floating in a sea of blackness. I figured I was about to die, so I called out her name. And she answered me Misato. Now I know what you're thinking, cause I've thought it a couple of times since yesterday's battle, but I know what I'm saying is true. We carried on this long conversation as that thing savaged my body, and, as I was finally giving up, and dying, she begged me to wait for her, promising that she'd come back."
Shinji had tears in his eyes and his voice was heavy with emotion.
"It... It was almost to late, but, you know, just hearing those words gave me strength. She told me that she was pretty messed up, and couldn't let herself love me yet, so I had to defeat the Legion, keep everyone safe, but most of all I had to wait for her. That gave me the strength to go on. More than that, as I woke up, I discovered I could manipulate my AT field to do whatever I want. I used it to heal my body, and then called the Lance to me. That was a neat trick. Turns out the Lance, as a blessed weapon, has some form of mind of it's own, and with all the powers and abilities it has, it will respond to the call of it's true master. So it came to me, and I knew what I had to do. I turned the Lance into a sword and cut that things head off. I then destroyed the S2 unit of the Legion, and parked the EVA at the airfield. You know the rest."
Misato leaned forward and picked up the SDAT, looking at Shinji expectantly. Shinji nodded, and she turned it off.
"Okay, off the record, is there anything you want to add?"
"Nothing I can think of."
"About this conversation with Asuka. How do you know it was really her, and not some part of your own subconscious just trying to keep you motivated and alive?"
"I can't explain the feeling I got while she and I 'talked,' but I knew it was the real her. If it was just my imagination, she'd have said she loved me, but she didn't she just said to wait. So that makes me believe it was real. That, and she told me why she left."
"Really? It wasn't just that she was embarrassed or angry?"
"No. In fact, that had nothing to do with it. She knew how I felt about her before I ever told her, but it was safe as long as we kept our distances. When I kissed her she realized that we were going to end up together, and that, if she didn't get her own head and heart straightened out, she'd end up destroying me. She ran away to protect me. She didn't think at the time that she'd end up almost killing me in the process, she just needed her space."
"That sounds plausible based on what I know of Asuka's psych profile. Did she say where she's headed?"
"No, but I'd bet that she's going back home. Back to Germany, for some kind of closure. That's my best guess."
"You want to follow her don't you?" Misato smiled.
"With all my heart,' he said, looking at the floor.
He looked back up, and took a breath, "But I won't. The Angels told me I can't go to her. And if she's really gone back to Germany to defeat her demons, my showing up there will only interfere with that. I have to wait and trust that the vision I was shown was real."
"Okay, Shinji," she said, "well I think we may need to get a more detailed report later. I know Ritsuko and Professor Fuyutsuki are going to want to look over all of this in detail, so I want you to take some time to write down everything you can remember. What was said, impressions at the time, and since, and even things that seemed different or odd, that you didn't understand. I want a copy of it when its done, and I'll give one to each of the others."
"So what's next?" Shinji asked.
"Next, you get poked and prodded, just like the EVA is by Ritsuko, while I try to come up with some way to make sure we can all survive what coming. Fuyutsuki's got some interesting ideas, and I think we're going to look at using them."
She continued, "The biggest problem is manpower. We simply don't have enough personnel to undertake any project of significant size, so we may not be able to do much. This Emergency Command Center is located far enough underground that we can slow direct attacks, but they can still get through. This facility wasn't built to withstand a direct Assault, like the Geo-Front was. Also, your EVA is rather exposed in it's current location. I think the solution to both problems is the expansion of this base. To accomplish that we're going to have to organize serious manpower."
"Or some serious EVApower," he said. "I bet that I could dig and punch new caverns into the chambers down there, if you'll give me the chance."
"I'll remember you offered that, Shinji," Misato said.
"Why not. I could use the practice in the EVA, the more familiar I am with that body, the better I'll be able to use it in combat. Speaking of which, is there anyone we know of who can teach martial arts? I need to learn how to fight, and unless you know of some hidden EVA size weapons cache, I'll need some lessons in hand to hand combat."
"Hmm. Excellent idea Shinji; let me look," she turned and began typing on her keyboard. The computer beeped and a roster of names appeared on the screen before her. "Well there are a number of people who are experienced with martial arts in one form or another, but there's only one person here who's listed as a former teacher. He's been helping out at the fish hatchery since he Awoke, and lives there by himself. Here, let me print this out." She typed in another command, and her printer spit out the mans name and address, as well as a few other personal notes. Shinji glanced through the information quickly, and something caught his eye.
"What is Jeet-Kun-Doh?" he asked.
"A form of Martial arts developed by a master late in the last century."
"Really? Why not one of the older forms?"
"This form is supposed to be something of a fusion of all forms within itself. I'll make a call, and see if he's willing to take you on as a student and get back to you, okay?
"Sure Misato," Shinji smiled. "Well I think I'd better go. Ritsuko will want to poke and prod me now, so I'll see you later alright?"
"Sure Shinji, take care."
Shinji waved goodbye as he stood up and walked away. Misato happily watched him go, and then turned to the massive pile of work before her. Dropping her head into her hands she began to sob, "Why did I ever agree to be the base commander?"
Shinji showed up back at the Airfield and was surprised to see a few cables and wires hooked up to his EVA, a number of machines, probably to monitor the things the cables were attached to, and Doctor Akagi, manning the machines all by herself.
"Hey Ritsuko," he said, getting out of the BMW, and walking over to her.
"Hello Shinji, how'd your meeting with Misato go?"
"Pretty good. I got some homework though."
"Homework?"
"Yeah, I have to write a detailed report on what happened this weekend.
"Ah, that is something I was going to ask for too. Misato beat me to the punch."
"Anyway, after she told me to do that, I started back here when I remember I needed to pick up a new phone, so I grabbed one from Communications, and I spent the drive over here programming in all the numbers and calling people to give them the new one."
"Sounds good. Anyhow. I'd like to begin by placing some radio monitors on you, and then having you stand in front of your EVA. Alright?"
"Sure, not a problem."
"Great, take off your cloths."
"..."
"Okay, for dignity, you can keep the boxers."
"How generous of you Doctor Akagi," Shinji said.
"Why thank you for noticing Shinji," Ritsuko smiled.
Shinji pulled his clothing off, making sure to leave his boxers in place, and stepped over to Ritsuko. She spent the next couple minutes attaching sensors across his body, and then motioned him that she was ready to begin.
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked.
"Nothing right now, I want you to just take a few deep breathes while I adjust the sensors."
Shinji did as requested, relaxing his muscles, and concentrating on his breathing.
"That's great Shinji, now I want you to approach Unit-01, and try to enter it again, like you did yesterday."
Shinji nodded, and walked beneath the S2 Unit of EVA. He felt his AT field extending from his body, and when it touched the S2 Unit, a light from it stabbed down to him, and drew him into the EVA.
He blinked, and looked down to his left. Tiny little Doctor Akagi was frantically looking from one screen to another. Shinji smiled inwardly, and instinctively entered the microwave communications network.
Doctor Akagi's phone rang, and she picked it up, annoyed.
"What?"
"Talk nice or you don't get to poke and prod me."
"Shinji?"
"The one and only."
"How are you doing this?"
"I don't really know, but somehow in this form I'm able to utilize all the features that the computers of my EVA used to have when I was in the Entry Plug. There are also some other things that can only be described as the way the EVA truly sees things, and not how the computers and sensors within EVA interpret them. I can see energy fields, and aura's, and there's more here than I could ever describe. I could spend my life writing a book on this experience and it wouldn't be enough."
"Yesterday, we heard you talk using the EVA."
"Yeah, but I figured talking to you like this would be better. I don't want to scare the crap out of anyone who happens to be within hearing range. It's going to take ME a while to get used to my voice when I'm like this, and I'm the one talking. I can't imagine what its like outside."
"It's very very disconcerting. Your voice is a combination of your own and the rumble/roar that we've always heard from the EVA's"
"Yeah? That's cool I guess. So, what do you want me to do?" he asked.
Well, how about just walking for now."
"You might want to disconnect those wires," he said, indicating the cables coming from her monitors.
"Oh, that's okay. I've rigged them with quick release connectors, so as soon as you reach their limit, they'll unplug."
"Oh, okay, then, here goes," he said, standing up. He began walking forward, and planned to turn to walk down the runway. He moved his left leg forward and felt a slight pinch as one of the cables detached. Ignoring it, he moved down the runway, turned around and walked back up the taxiway. Ritsuko was busy examining her monitors, so Shinji decide to get in a little bit of a workout as long as he was in the EVA anyway, and stepped out away from Ritsuko. He bent down, and did some stretching first, and then, looking for a likely subject, saw a clearing about a kilometer away. He walked into it, crouched, focusing on pushing with his AT field, and jumped.
The jump pushed him several hundred meters into the sky, and he fell lightly back to earth a few moments later, extending his AT field to act as a cushion. The effect on the ground, when he landed, was dramatic. Doctor Akagi was shaken off her feet by the shockwave, a kilometer away.
"Shinji what was that?" she shouted.
"Uh sorry Ritsuko. I just tried to soften my landing with my AT field, and something happened. Hang on a minute, you'll have to see this."
The EVA walked away from the clearing it was in, and over to the Airfield where Ritsuko Akagi was. Bending over, the purple giants hand clasped her gently and lifter her into the air. She squeaked a little.
"You okay Ritsuko?"
"Yeah, fine, just startled."
They approached the place Shinji had landed, and Ritsuko looked impressed. The clearing now contained a deep crater where his AT field had pushed the topsoil down almost 50 feet lower than the surrounding forest.
"You did that by extending your AT field?" Ritsuko asked, impressed.
"Yeah. Guess I don't know my own strength," he said.
"Shinji, can you take me back to the Airfield? I think I want to get the data I collected back to my lab as soon as possible."
"Sure Ritsuko. You're all done with me then?
He walked back over to where he had started this exercise from and knelt down in the same pose he was in when he first entered the EVA, setting Doctor Akagi down before resting his free hand on his thigh. There was a flash and Shinji's human body was standing below his EVA once again. He wobbled and fell over.
"Shinji!" Ritsuko yelled, running towards the young man. She lifted him up from the ground, resting his head in her lap.
"I'm sorry. It's just a little disorienting you know. Like spinning around real fast over and over, and then coming to a stop. Still it was pretty cool."
"Shinji, you know that homework Misato assigned you this morning?"
"Yes?" Shinji said, pensively.
"Add this incident to it. I want to know everything about everything you just did."
"Yes Ma'am. Jeez and I thought that piloting an EVA was always more fun than School, but I having to complete a Major paper like this in one day is more than I EVER got assigned in Secondary School."
Ritsuko laughed, "Alright Shinji, I want you to go home and get something to eat, now, and call me if you notice anything that you think I might want to know about. Alright?"
"Sure Ritsuko," he said, and stood up, walking over to his clothing to get dressed. He pulled up his pants, grabbed his keys and went over to the BMW. Climbing behind the wheel, he started it up, and made his slow way home.
Pulling the car into the driveway, he drove up to the open garage door, and parked it inside. Once he'd exited the car, he walked around it, admiring the lines. He understood why Asuka liked it, but he'd never get used to something like this. He wanted his bike back.
'I'll have to see what I can do about scrounging another one,' he thought to himself.
He turned and walked into the rear of the house to find his friends gathered around the table.
"Hey, Ikari, excellent timing," Toji shouted. "Have a seat and lets dig in."
Sitting down quickly, he gratefully ate the meal that Hikari had prepared for them all, and went upstairs. He stripped, showered, and lay down on his bed, feeling elated and exhausted at the same time.
He glanced out the French doors and across the intervening space, his eyes alighting on balcony where Asuka used to sit and listen to him play the Cello. He knew she was there, even when his doors were closed and her lights were out. She had tried to hide, but he could still sense her there, in the dark. A smile touched his lips.
'I can't wait to tell Asuka," he said, and drifted off into sleep.
Next on Episode 2:12 of Neon Genesis Evangelion a two weeks have passed since Asuka fled Japan, and her trip across the Russian Steppes by horseback is taking her longer than she at first suspected, but she discovers that not everyone outside of Japan acts like the three thugs who assaulted her last time.
It's Evangelion Episode 2:12 On the Lone Prairie.
Episode 2:11 Testing the limits.
Takes place after 1st season, and the End of Evangelion Movie.
Presumed date is Monday June 13th, 2016
Recovery teams started to clean up of the battle site early the next morning. Almost all personnel were excused from their normal duties, to participate in the cleanup. Shinji, under Misato's orders, stayed home, slept in, finally waking up just before 11 o'clock.
Shinji awoke leisurely that morning, and went downstairs for a late breakfast. He was pleasantly surprised to find both guys still here, as well as Hikari and her sister Nazomi. Shinji smiled when he saw that 12- year-old Nazomi had attached herself to Kensuke, who seemed oblivious to the female attention.
"Shinji, you're awake. Great. I saved you some breakfast," Hikari smiled.
"Thanks Hikari, you didn't have to do that," he said, sitting down, as Hikari brought out the eggs and bacon she had prepared for the others.
"I was cooking anyway, and I thought you deserved a bit of a break. You had a pretty busy weekend."
"Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "I guess I did."
Shinji ate the wonderful breakfast that Hikari had made, and kept complimenting her so often as to how great it was, that she started blushing and looking down every time she walked by him.
"Does anyone know where my clothes from the wedding ended up?"
"Yeah, they had to cut them off of you at the hospital. Your jacket's history," Kensuke said.
"Damn. I don't suppose anyone picked up my wallet or my cell phone?"
"No we didn't. Its probably at the hospital though, so you could go get it today."
"I don't think so Kensuke. I'm pretty sure my battle with the Legion trashed the hospital," Shinji looked sad.
"It did more than that. There's a huge desolated area almost a mile west of the hospital. There isn't a single building left standing."
"Did anyone get hurt?" Shinji asked.
"Not a one, they all made it to the shelters."
"So what's on the agenda for today?" Toji asked.
"I don't know. I need to contact Misato and find out what she wants me to do," Shinji said.
"So, back to the same schedule you had at NERV HQ?"
"I guess. Actually it'll probably be a little more like Ayanami's," shrugged Shinji.
"Here Shinji, use my phone," Toji said, handing his unit over to Shinji.
"Thanks Toji," he mumbled around a mouthful of eggs.
Shinji flipped open the phone, and quickly dialed in Misato's number. She answered on the second ring.
"Is he up yet Suzuhara?"
"Yes, I am Misato," Shinji laughed.
"Shinji? What are you... oh, you're phone. It's still at the hospital. Damn, well, stop by Communications and pick up a new one. After you've done that, I want you to come down to Command."
"Sure thing. I've got a stop to make first though. How soon do you need me?"
"Whenever you're ready. I'm not going anywhere. Toji is a little upset about not getting a honeymoon, but he understands. And, I'm going to make sure I make it up to him," Misato said. Shinji would almost see the leer she had to have on her face.
"Okay Misato, I'll be there within the hour. Bye."
"Goodbye Shinji, see you soon."
"So, Shinji, what does Misato want you to do?" Toji asked, taking his phone from him.
"I've got to pick up a new phone, and then report to Command."
"No problem. Want a ride?"
"Yeah. But can you take me out to the airfield first?"
"Sure, wanna check out the EVA?"
"Yeah, among other things."
"Okay. Well, let me know when you want to leave, and we'll head out."
"Thanks, Toji, I want to take a shower first, and then we can head out."
Thirty minutes later Toji was pulling into the Airfield, and, at Shinji's direction, he moved past the parked vehicles to the EVA. There were several people gathered around the EVA, led by Doctor Akagi.
"Hello Shinji," she said.
"Hey, Ritsuko. What are you doing."
"Just a standard diagnostic of the EVA. As much as we can at least. All the custom equipment for working on the EVA's was destroyed with the Geofront."
"Found anything?"
"Yes. The Entry Plug is not accessible. We lifted the rear armor plate, to release it, and the skin of the EVA has grown over the plug. It's completely encased in the unit. I can't be sure, but I'd bet that over time it will be absorbed entirely by Unit-01."
"Hmm. Okay. Weird."
"I'd like to schedule some experiments between you and Unit-01. We don't have the simulation bodies or plugs anymore, and with the Entry Plug inaccessible, we can't take it out for a sync test, and so we'll just have to experiment with different techniques. Is that alright?"
"Sure, Ritsuko, I don't see a problem with that. Misato wants me to stop by the Command Center, but I can come back here in a couple hours I guess. What would you like me to do?"
"I'll have everything set up by the time you get back, so you don't need to worry about anything."
"Thanks. Later Ritsuko," he waved, and turned back to Toji.
"Thanks for dropping me off here, Toji. I'll be home when they're done poking and prodding me."
"Okay, Shinji, are you sure you don't need a ride back?" Toji asked.
"Nope, I've got that covered," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a set of BMW car keys.
"Asuka's BMW?"
"Yeah, I didn't think it would be right to just leave it here. No matter how much I wish it weren't true, she's gone, and I think she won't be back for some time. I'm going to keep her car for her, and return it to her when she comes back."
"You seem pretty sure she's coming back," Toji commented.
"She is, Toji, she is. You wouldn't believe me if I told you how I know that, but you'll just have to trust me for now," Shinji grinned.
"Okay, Ikari, keep you're secrets if you have to," Toji said.
"Just for now, Toji. Someday soon you'll hear the whole story, I promise. I just need to think some things over before I'm ready to tell anyone. You can go ahead and go back to the house, I'll be home after a while. Tell Hikari not to wait dinner on me."
"No problem Shinji. You take care of yourself. Later," he said, hoping back into his SUV, and pulled out of the airfield, probably heading for home.
Shinji found Asuka's BMW easily enough. She'd left it inside the hangar where her F-22 had been stored. He went into the Pilot's Ready Room, and found her locker. There, hanging within, was the beautiful red dress she'd worn at the wedding. Shinji took it off the rack where she'd hung it, and sat down on the bench, holding it close to his face. It still smelled like her. The Lavender and Rose perfume she wore on special occasions, mixed with her own feminine odors.
He looked up from the dress, and saw her purse hanging there, from a hook in the back of the locker. He grabbed it, and opened it, looking inside for her car keys. No reason to use his if he didn't have to. There they were, as well as a small black wallet. He pulled it out, telling himself she wouldn't mind. In the front of the wallet was a space that had long ago been meant for whatever ID the owner might have, but now held only pictures, as they didn't have things like drivers licenses. There, in the front of the wallet, was a picture of Shinji that he barely remembered. It had been taken by their crew chief the morning after they'd qualified for VTOL Pilot flight status. He had this same picture on the mantle in his living room.
He didn't realize Asuka had a copy of it as well.
Sighing, he shook his head slightly, and put the wallet back. He gathered up the rest of her belongings in the locker, and took them out to the car, placing them in the passenger seat.
Poor confused Asuka.
Sitting down, he put the key in the ignition, and turned the motor over. He started it easily, adjusted the seat slightly, and the mirrors, and gauges, and then, finding all well, pulled out, heading for NERV Command. He still wasn't as comfortable driving cars as he was with Motorcycles, but he managed a respectable journey from the Airfield to the Command Center. Taking the Monorail down to the Parking Section, he parked the car in the space reserved for him, and entered the lift, indicating the command level. A few minutes later found him entering the Command Center, looking for Misato.
She was sitting behind her disk, with a stack of papers before her. He laughed to think of how she hated paperwork, and how she had thought that, as base Commander, she would be able to avoid it.
'Looks like the end of that dream,' Shinji thought, with a grin.
"Hey Misato," he said, waving as he walked up the stairs from the Control level to the Observation level, where Misato's desk sat.
"Hi Shinji, have a seat, I have to look at a couple of these preliminary reports, first, and then I'll be free," she said, looking up from her stack of papers.
Shinji didn't take the offered seat, but instead walked to the front rail, looking down 20 feet onto the Shepherd. This computer, the forerunner of the Magi system, was one of the most powerful computer systems on the planet. It lacked the triple redundancy of the Magi, and the Personality Matrix, but it was one powerful machine nonetheless.
A sigh escaped from Misato, and attracted Shinji's attention.
"What is it Misato?" he asked.
"Ritsuko's and Professor Fuyutsuki's initial recommendations," she said.
"Oh? What do they think?"
"Well they both take different paths to arrive at more or less the same conclusions," she said. "First: they need to do a detailed examination of you, to figure out what's going on. Both physically and mentally. Second: they want to examine the EVA. Some things have changed dramatically from the last time we saw it, and that needs to be explained. Third: if these Legion are a new attacking force similar to the Angels we fought before, we're going to need to make preparations for attacks here similar to those that occurred at NERV in Tokyo-3." She didn't mention to him Ritsuko's fourth conclusion that one EVA was not enough to combat any real threat, and they'd need more of the units. Misato wasn't sure how that could happen though, with the loss of Lilith, and Adam during Third Impact.
"So what do you want to do now?" Shinji asked.
"Now, I want to talk to you about what happened. I need to get a report about how things have changed between you and EVA, and anything else you can explain to me. We have some really big gaps in our understanding of what's going on is limited to a few minutes conversation here and there."
Shinji sighed, not really wanting to talk about it, but realizing that Misato had to know everything. "So. Where do I begin?" he asked.
"Where ever you want to. It's your story."
"Got a recorder?"
"Yeah, I thought ahead. I have an SDAT recorder right here," she flipped out the small device, normally used for recording and playing back music. "Whenever you're ready."
"Okay. Well when I finally caught Asuka, she took off, blowing me into the bog. At this point, somehow, I generated an AT field like my EVA's. As I was in the hospital I could feel the doctors working on me, and someone holding my hand. After that I kinda drifted out, and when I woke up I was in the recovery room, and I didn't hurt any more. When the EVA landed outside, I seemed to sense that it was calling for me. I just knew what to do, so I did it, and I got sucked up inside the EVA," he paused.
"Remember those times I told you about where I'd find myself on a subway somewhere, and would end up having those deep life altering talks with myself or other people?" he asked.
"Like naked Asuka, Rei and Myself?" Misato said suggestively.
Shinji nodded, "Exactly. Well when I first entered EVA, I found myself back on the train, only this time there were three Angels there. REAL Angels, not those things we fought. They called them the Watchers, and the new threat was the Legion of the Fallen, the army of Satan. They told me that God will not let them interfere with man's destiny, but they had to do something, so they sent EVA and the Lance back for me to use. If the Legion manage to kill the last humans on the planet, Lucifer will merge with the Guff, and become powerful enough to challenge God for control of the Universe. So the lives of not only mankind, but all the Universe is on my shoulders. Mine and Asuka's."
"They talked about Asuka?" Misato asked.
"Only for a moment. They said the she and I have a destiny to fulfill, and that our fates are mirrored. What happens to me must happen to her."
"And then?" she prompted.
"And then I woke up, and I was EVA. I can't describe how it feels. It's like it's my own body, and it's glorious. It's me in that armor, with the S2 engine, holding the Lance. It's more incredible than any sync test I've ever been through. I imagine it's a lot like sex."
Misato koffed.
"So when I took the Lance, I began to test out how the body moved, and it was just like I said. It wasn't an extension of my body, it WAS my body. I was EVA and EVA was I. So then the Legion appeared, and I sensed it's AT field coming for me. I attacked, lost the Lance, and got my butt handed to me. The thing started ripping and shredding me, and then it grabbed the back of my head and started to try and rip it off."
Misato nodded, hearing for the first time the details of the battle they'd missed seeing, "We saw the thing on your back from the Surveillance Satellites, how'd you finally get it off?"
"Asuka."
"Asuka?"
"Asuka. See I passed out from the pain and found myself floating in a sea of blackness. I figured I was about to die, so I called out her name. And she answered me Misato. Now I know what you're thinking, cause I've thought it a couple of times since yesterday's battle, but I know what I'm saying is true. We carried on this long conversation as that thing savaged my body, and, as I was finally giving up, and dying, she begged me to wait for her, promising that she'd come back."
Shinji had tears in his eyes and his voice was heavy with emotion.
"It... It was almost to late, but, you know, just hearing those words gave me strength. She told me that she was pretty messed up, and couldn't let herself love me yet, so I had to defeat the Legion, keep everyone safe, but most of all I had to wait for her. That gave me the strength to go on. More than that, as I woke up, I discovered I could manipulate my AT field to do whatever I want. I used it to heal my body, and then called the Lance to me. That was a neat trick. Turns out the Lance, as a blessed weapon, has some form of mind of it's own, and with all the powers and abilities it has, it will respond to the call of it's true master. So it came to me, and I knew what I had to do. I turned the Lance into a sword and cut that things head off. I then destroyed the S2 unit of the Legion, and parked the EVA at the airfield. You know the rest."
Misato leaned forward and picked up the SDAT, looking at Shinji expectantly. Shinji nodded, and she turned it off.
"Okay, off the record, is there anything you want to add?"
"Nothing I can think of."
"About this conversation with Asuka. How do you know it was really her, and not some part of your own subconscious just trying to keep you motivated and alive?"
"I can't explain the feeling I got while she and I 'talked,' but I knew it was the real her. If it was just my imagination, she'd have said she loved me, but she didn't she just said to wait. So that makes me believe it was real. That, and she told me why she left."
"Really? It wasn't just that she was embarrassed or angry?"
"No. In fact, that had nothing to do with it. She knew how I felt about her before I ever told her, but it was safe as long as we kept our distances. When I kissed her she realized that we were going to end up together, and that, if she didn't get her own head and heart straightened out, she'd end up destroying me. She ran away to protect me. She didn't think at the time that she'd end up almost killing me in the process, she just needed her space."
"That sounds plausible based on what I know of Asuka's psych profile. Did she say where she's headed?"
"No, but I'd bet that she's going back home. Back to Germany, for some kind of closure. That's my best guess."
"You want to follow her don't you?" Misato smiled.
"With all my heart,' he said, looking at the floor.
He looked back up, and took a breath, "But I won't. The Angels told me I can't go to her. And if she's really gone back to Germany to defeat her demons, my showing up there will only interfere with that. I have to wait and trust that the vision I was shown was real."
"Okay, Shinji," she said, "well I think we may need to get a more detailed report later. I know Ritsuko and Professor Fuyutsuki are going to want to look over all of this in detail, so I want you to take some time to write down everything you can remember. What was said, impressions at the time, and since, and even things that seemed different or odd, that you didn't understand. I want a copy of it when its done, and I'll give one to each of the others."
"So what's next?" Shinji asked.
"Next, you get poked and prodded, just like the EVA is by Ritsuko, while I try to come up with some way to make sure we can all survive what coming. Fuyutsuki's got some interesting ideas, and I think we're going to look at using them."
She continued, "The biggest problem is manpower. We simply don't have enough personnel to undertake any project of significant size, so we may not be able to do much. This Emergency Command Center is located far enough underground that we can slow direct attacks, but they can still get through. This facility wasn't built to withstand a direct Assault, like the Geo-Front was. Also, your EVA is rather exposed in it's current location. I think the solution to both problems is the expansion of this base. To accomplish that we're going to have to organize serious manpower."
"Or some serious EVApower," he said. "I bet that I could dig and punch new caverns into the chambers down there, if you'll give me the chance."
"I'll remember you offered that, Shinji," Misato said.
"Why not. I could use the practice in the EVA, the more familiar I am with that body, the better I'll be able to use it in combat. Speaking of which, is there anyone we know of who can teach martial arts? I need to learn how to fight, and unless you know of some hidden EVA size weapons cache, I'll need some lessons in hand to hand combat."
"Hmm. Excellent idea Shinji; let me look," she turned and began typing on her keyboard. The computer beeped and a roster of names appeared on the screen before her. "Well there are a number of people who are experienced with martial arts in one form or another, but there's only one person here who's listed as a former teacher. He's been helping out at the fish hatchery since he Awoke, and lives there by himself. Here, let me print this out." She typed in another command, and her printer spit out the mans name and address, as well as a few other personal notes. Shinji glanced through the information quickly, and something caught his eye.
"What is Jeet-Kun-Doh?" he asked.
"A form of Martial arts developed by a master late in the last century."
"Really? Why not one of the older forms?"
"This form is supposed to be something of a fusion of all forms within itself. I'll make a call, and see if he's willing to take you on as a student and get back to you, okay?
"Sure Misato," Shinji smiled. "Well I think I'd better go. Ritsuko will want to poke and prod me now, so I'll see you later alright?"
"Sure Shinji, take care."
Shinji waved goodbye as he stood up and walked away. Misato happily watched him go, and then turned to the massive pile of work before her. Dropping her head into her hands she began to sob, "Why did I ever agree to be the base commander?"
Shinji showed up back at the Airfield and was surprised to see a few cables and wires hooked up to his EVA, a number of machines, probably to monitor the things the cables were attached to, and Doctor Akagi, manning the machines all by herself.
"Hey Ritsuko," he said, getting out of the BMW, and walking over to her.
"Hello Shinji, how'd your meeting with Misato go?"
"Pretty good. I got some homework though."
"Homework?"
"Yeah, I have to write a detailed report on what happened this weekend.
"Ah, that is something I was going to ask for too. Misato beat me to the punch."
"Anyway, after she told me to do that, I started back here when I remember I needed to pick up a new phone, so I grabbed one from Communications, and I spent the drive over here programming in all the numbers and calling people to give them the new one."
"Sounds good. Anyhow. I'd like to begin by placing some radio monitors on you, and then having you stand in front of your EVA. Alright?"
"Sure, not a problem."
"Great, take off your cloths."
"..."
"Okay, for dignity, you can keep the boxers."
"How generous of you Doctor Akagi," Shinji said.
"Why thank you for noticing Shinji," Ritsuko smiled.
Shinji pulled his clothing off, making sure to leave his boxers in place, and stepped over to Ritsuko. She spent the next couple minutes attaching sensors across his body, and then motioned him that she was ready to begin.
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked.
"Nothing right now, I want you to just take a few deep breathes while I adjust the sensors."
Shinji did as requested, relaxing his muscles, and concentrating on his breathing.
"That's great Shinji, now I want you to approach Unit-01, and try to enter it again, like you did yesterday."
Shinji nodded, and walked beneath the S2 Unit of EVA. He felt his AT field extending from his body, and when it touched the S2 Unit, a light from it stabbed down to him, and drew him into the EVA.
He blinked, and looked down to his left. Tiny little Doctor Akagi was frantically looking from one screen to another. Shinji smiled inwardly, and instinctively entered the microwave communications network.
Doctor Akagi's phone rang, and she picked it up, annoyed.
"What?"
"Talk nice or you don't get to poke and prod me."
"Shinji?"
"The one and only."
"How are you doing this?"
"I don't really know, but somehow in this form I'm able to utilize all the features that the computers of my EVA used to have when I was in the Entry Plug. There are also some other things that can only be described as the way the EVA truly sees things, and not how the computers and sensors within EVA interpret them. I can see energy fields, and aura's, and there's more here than I could ever describe. I could spend my life writing a book on this experience and it wouldn't be enough."
"Yesterday, we heard you talk using the EVA."
"Yeah, but I figured talking to you like this would be better. I don't want to scare the crap out of anyone who happens to be within hearing range. It's going to take ME a while to get used to my voice when I'm like this, and I'm the one talking. I can't imagine what its like outside."
"It's very very disconcerting. Your voice is a combination of your own and the rumble/roar that we've always heard from the EVA's"
"Yeah? That's cool I guess. So, what do you want me to do?" he asked.
Well, how about just walking for now."
"You might want to disconnect those wires," he said, indicating the cables coming from her monitors.
"Oh, that's okay. I've rigged them with quick release connectors, so as soon as you reach their limit, they'll unplug."
"Oh, okay, then, here goes," he said, standing up. He began walking forward, and planned to turn to walk down the runway. He moved his left leg forward and felt a slight pinch as one of the cables detached. Ignoring it, he moved down the runway, turned around and walked back up the taxiway. Ritsuko was busy examining her monitors, so Shinji decide to get in a little bit of a workout as long as he was in the EVA anyway, and stepped out away from Ritsuko. He bent down, and did some stretching first, and then, looking for a likely subject, saw a clearing about a kilometer away. He walked into it, crouched, focusing on pushing with his AT field, and jumped.
The jump pushed him several hundred meters into the sky, and he fell lightly back to earth a few moments later, extending his AT field to act as a cushion. The effect on the ground, when he landed, was dramatic. Doctor Akagi was shaken off her feet by the shockwave, a kilometer away.
"Shinji what was that?" she shouted.
"Uh sorry Ritsuko. I just tried to soften my landing with my AT field, and something happened. Hang on a minute, you'll have to see this."
The EVA walked away from the clearing it was in, and over to the Airfield where Ritsuko Akagi was. Bending over, the purple giants hand clasped her gently and lifter her into the air. She squeaked a little.
"You okay Ritsuko?"
"Yeah, fine, just startled."
They approached the place Shinji had landed, and Ritsuko looked impressed. The clearing now contained a deep crater where his AT field had pushed the topsoil down almost 50 feet lower than the surrounding forest.
"You did that by extending your AT field?" Ritsuko asked, impressed.
"Yeah. Guess I don't know my own strength," he said.
"Shinji, can you take me back to the Airfield? I think I want to get the data I collected back to my lab as soon as possible."
"Sure Ritsuko. You're all done with me then?
He walked back over to where he had started this exercise from and knelt down in the same pose he was in when he first entered the EVA, setting Doctor Akagi down before resting his free hand on his thigh. There was a flash and Shinji's human body was standing below his EVA once again. He wobbled and fell over.
"Shinji!" Ritsuko yelled, running towards the young man. She lifted him up from the ground, resting his head in her lap.
"I'm sorry. It's just a little disorienting you know. Like spinning around real fast over and over, and then coming to a stop. Still it was pretty cool."
"Shinji, you know that homework Misato assigned you this morning?"
"Yes?" Shinji said, pensively.
"Add this incident to it. I want to know everything about everything you just did."
"Yes Ma'am. Jeez and I thought that piloting an EVA was always more fun than School, but I having to complete a Major paper like this in one day is more than I EVER got assigned in Secondary School."
Ritsuko laughed, "Alright Shinji, I want you to go home and get something to eat, now, and call me if you notice anything that you think I might want to know about. Alright?"
"Sure Ritsuko," he said, and stood up, walking over to his clothing to get dressed. He pulled up his pants, grabbed his keys and went over to the BMW. Climbing behind the wheel, he started it up, and made his slow way home.
Pulling the car into the driveway, he drove up to the open garage door, and parked it inside. Once he'd exited the car, he walked around it, admiring the lines. He understood why Asuka liked it, but he'd never get used to something like this. He wanted his bike back.
'I'll have to see what I can do about scrounging another one,' he thought to himself.
He turned and walked into the rear of the house to find his friends gathered around the table.
"Hey, Ikari, excellent timing," Toji shouted. "Have a seat and lets dig in."
Sitting down quickly, he gratefully ate the meal that Hikari had prepared for them all, and went upstairs. He stripped, showered, and lay down on his bed, feeling elated and exhausted at the same time.
He glanced out the French doors and across the intervening space, his eyes alighting on balcony where Asuka used to sit and listen to him play the Cello. He knew she was there, even when his doors were closed and her lights were out. She had tried to hide, but he could still sense her there, in the dark. A smile touched his lips.
'I can't wait to tell Asuka," he said, and drifted off into sleep.
Next on Episode 2:12 of Neon Genesis Evangelion a two weeks have passed since Asuka fled Japan, and her trip across the Russian Steppes by horseback is taking her longer than she at first suspected, but she discovers that not everyone outside of Japan acts like the three thugs who assaulted her last time.
It's Evangelion Episode 2:12 On the Lone Prairie.