I don't own anything.
While You Were Sleeping
Chapter Fifteen: Recovery
Shinji stared around the hospital room and carefully sat up. His chest throbbed and he stared at the bandages wrapped around his torso. "Fucking bullet magnet."
"No kidding." Shinji glanced to his left and then swung his feet out of the bed.
"Just who I wanted to see when I woke up."
"The sarcasm is strong in you," Gambit said. "You don't look half bad for a corpse."
"Funny," Shinji growled. He looked around the hospital room. "Where the hell is Pierce."
"He didn't make it," Gambit said simply. He lifted something that had been lying on the table. "He wanted you to have this." Shinji's finger wrapped carefully around the knife's sheathe and his thumb ran over the initials etched in the blade. Suddenly he felt his chest tightened and he felt a prick of pain as his fingernails sank into his palms.
"Right," he managed to growl around the lump in his throat. "What are we doing at NERV?"
"We had to come," Gambit said. "Without NERV's medical facilities we couldn't have saved you. I had to take a chance." Shinji nodded his understand. He himself would have done the same for any of his subordinates.
"What's the situation here?"
"Internal cleansing," Gambit said. "Twenty people have been captures and are awaiting execution."
"I see," Shinji said as he stood up. He found a pile of BDUs in the chair next to his bed and began to change.
"Here." Shinji glanced up and nodded his thanks as he took the TACOM from Gambit.
"What about the spy?" Shinji asked. He saw Gambit hesitate slightly. Shinji's hand clenched again as he tucked the pistol into the holster under his arm and pulled on his BDU blouse over his black T-shirt. He could think of only one reason for Gambit to hesitate like that. "I see."
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Misato glanced up as the door to her office opened and a figure in urban BDUs stepped inside. "Hello Shinji."
"Misato," the younger man said calmly.
"I'm sorry to hear about Pierce."
"I don't care," Shinji said. Misato laughed weakly.
"About my condolences or Pierce's death?"
"I think you know the answer to that," Shinji said. Misato nodded.
"All Genesis soldiers left while you were away," she said.
"Gambit informed me of the situation," Shinji said simply. "I need transportation to my soldiers."
"I thought as much," Misato said, "after all, we went back on the contract, didn't we?"
"Yes you did," Shinji said. "What of Ryoji?"
"He's alive at the moment," Misato said. "Would you like to do the honors?"
"No," Shinji said. "I would like to speak with Hikari."
"You know about that?" Misato asked. Shinji nodded. "The choice is up to you. I won't interfere with anything."
"Thank you."
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Hikari looked up as the door to her cell opened. Was it finally her turn? She had heard the others. NERV didn't have time for ceremonies. She had heard the executioners moving from cell to cell and then the pathetic cries of the cell's occupants before the gunshot that ended them. Her executioner stepped into the cell's sole light and Hikari felt her breath catch. "Shinji?"
"Yes," the dead eyed man said. Hikari felt her pent up tears starting to flow freely.
"You don't understand," she said weakly. Shinji sat painfully on the opposite end of the bunk she sat on.
"Try me."
"They killed them Shinji," Hikari managed between sobs. "NERV killed my entire family! My little sisters and my father didn't do anything to deserve what they got!"
"Revenge is something I understand very well," Shinji said. "So was everything part of your act?" Hikari felt her heart wrench violently at what Shinji was asking.
"No! I love you Shinji. I kept asking you to leave," she managed. "I wanted to leave everything behind. NERV could have been destroyed and we could have been happy afterwards. You just couldn't leave this war alone, could you?"
"Why would I?" Shinji asked. "I'm just a mercenary after all. The only thing that matters to me is the profit. Thanks for reminding me of that." Shinji stood up. Hikari stared at the pistol in his hand.
"Are you going to kill me?" she asked.
"I tried," Shinji said. "I can't." He turned and walked out of the room.
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Asuka stared at the man as he walked out of the cell. She watched as he leaned back against the wall next to the door. He tucked the tiny TACOM into a holster under his arm. She stepped into the cell herself and stared at the wretched woman inside.
"You."
"Me," Asuka said.
"It's all your fault," Hikari growled. "Shinji was so close to agreeing to leave when you got him arrested. All I wanted was to live happily with him."
"I know," Asuka said as she drew her pistol. "Good bye."
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Shinji winced as the gunshot rang out in the cell block. Asuka stepped out of the cell and glanced at him. Shinji didn't bother hiding the fact that tears were running down his face. "I'm sorry Shinji."
"How many times do I have to tell you?" Shinji growled. "It's not your God damned fault."
"At least once more," Asuka said. She stepped forward and hugged Shinji awkwardly.
"Thank you," Shinji said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her shoulder. He heard the door open and leaned back, wiping at the tears in his eyes. "What's the situation?"
"They're waiting for us," Gambit said. "They'll do whatever you say Skipper." Shinji reached into his pocket and tugged out a pair of small, round-framed orange tinted sunglasses. "So what do you want to do Shinji?"
"What I really want to do," Shinji said as he slipped the glasses onto his face and adjusted them absently, "is to go to war."
"Against who?" Gambit asked.
"You know who," Shinji said. He saw Gambit's face light up.
"Of course," he said. "Just figured I'd ask. Will the Lieutenant be joining us Skip?"
"That's up to her sir," Shinji said. "Although, I have a feeling we couldn't stop her if we tried."
"Damn straight," Asuka said with a smirk.
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Asuka stared at the man sitting across from her in the H-Jet. Shinji continued to check his Type 3. Around them the other Saviors turned Genesis soldiers were equally as calm. "Who are we going after Shinji?"
"Who else?" Shinji asked.
"The Saviors?" Asuka asked. "We can't take them on Shinji."
"We can take them on," Shinji corrected. Asuka scowled at him. He was playing with her.
"Well we can't win against them," she growled.
"Winning isn't everything," Shinji said. "Ever here of MAD?"
"What?" Asuka asked.
"Mutually assure destruction," Shinji said. "The enemy can't do anything if they're dead."
"But neither can you," Asuka argued.
"Doesn't matter," Shinji said. "Sound good to you guys?"
"Sir, yes sir!" Asuka scowled at the men around her.
"You can't agree with this General," she said. Gambit shrugged.
"Hate to admit it, but I'm with them," he said. "We're mercenaries, you see? War is what we chose because war is what we're all good at. Soldiers join their country's military for reasons such as pride and loyalty to country. We join our companies to fight for our loyalty to money."
"You wouldn't understand," Shinji said simply.
"I guess I really wouldn't," Asuka admitted.
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"There it is," Gambit said as he stared at the small encampment. It was barely visible from the air and even less from the ground. The H-Jet began its descent.
"Impressive," Shinji said as he glanced around the small burnt out town that had become the home of the Genesis. "Where are we?"
"No clue," Gambit said. "But Tokyo-2 is twenty clicks that way." Shinji nodded his understanding. Location really was everything after all. The H-Jet touched down and Shinji stepped out with Gambit.
"Attention on deck!" The sound of more then two hundred soldiers snapping to attention drowned out even the sound of the H-Jet for a moment. Shinji turned and glanced at Gambit.
"Don't look at me," the older man said with a shrug. "This is your show Skipper." Shinji nodded.
"As you were!" The camp came alive as everyone began moving again.
"Skipper!" Shinji turned and had to smile as Maria ran towards him. She grabbed him by the neck and gave him a tight hug. She pulled back almost as quick. "You look like shit boss."
"Right back at you," Shinji said. "You've heard about Pierce?"
"News travels fast," Maria said. "Everyone was worried about you."
"I know," Shinji said. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Better late then never," Maria said. "The rest of the platoon is getting ready for the attack." Shinji nodded and glanced back at the crew of the H-Jet.
"What about you Major?" Major Norman Husty looked around and then grinned. He carefully plucked the pins of his rank off of his uniform and tossed them at Shinji. Shinji caught them easily.
"I think I'll stick around here sir," the pilot said. "Guys?"
"Same," the co-pilot said. The two crew chiefs agreed quickly.
"Good," Shinji said. "We're going to need you guys later."
"You have a plan?" Gambit asked.
"Yeah," Shinji said. "It's a little unorthodox though."
"So are we," Maria said brightly.
"So what's in this plan of yours?" Gambit asked.
"Lots of fire and a good old fashioned cavalry charge," Shinji said.
"Sounds suicidal," Gambit commented.
"Eh," Shinji said with a shrug. "If you like it from that description, wait till I elaborate."
End
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Author's notes. Another short chapter. That seems to be all I'm good for.