Disclaimer: You know the drill. If not, check chapter 1

Chap. 14

Nerv HQ, one week later.

The technicians were busily working on the repair of Eva 01. The giant bio-mecha was locked down in the deck. White straps covered the head like bandages, keeping the purple monster under control. As the work continued, Dr. Akagi kept a close watch on it, not wanted a repeat performance or even worse. Misato came up beside her.

"So what's the status?"

Ritsuko kept staring up at the machine, "Nothing. We were lucky even to have been able to freeze the Eva."

"The pilot?"

Ritsuko looked down slightly, "...Nothing. I'm sorry."

"Are you?"

Ritsuko turned her head to see Misato's face was stern. "What does that mean?"

Misato kept her eyes locked onto hers, "There's a lot more to this than meets the eye and you know about it. You said the Eva had awakened. You also said that it was free from its bonds. Bonds of what? How could it awaken?" She narrowed her eyes, "What really is the Eva?"

Ritsuko frowned inwardly, but kept her face straight. "Misato, there are a lot of things about this project that you don't know about. And I afraid I can't tell you any of it."

"Shinji is stuck in this thing and all you can tell me is you know why, but you don't want to tell me?" Misato questioned.

"That's right." was the cool response.

Slap!

Ritsuko reeled her face back in pain from Misato's slap. Misato looked at her in anger, but said nothing and simply turned around. Ritsuko rubbed her cheek slightly as Misato stormed out of the bay, their friendship now seemingly evaporated into thin air.

'I'm sorry, Misato.'

****************

Where....am.....I....?

Child...

What....is...this....place...?

Third...Child.....Shinji....

Who....are.....you...?

***********

Streets of Tokyo-3

Asuka had just left the school and was heading back home. It was unusual for her to walk home alone, but Hikari had to leave right after school and Asuka really had nothing else to do. As she walked, her thoughts drifted back to the battle. It really steamed her how Shinji once again defeated the angel whereas she was defeated. It didn't make sense. She was trained as a pilot from the start. Her skills in the Eva were superior to the others. So why was it that that baka always succeeds and I do not? Asuka grew angrier. He even ran away from it. So why did he come back? Just to show her up? Just to try to prove that he was better? He isn't better than me!

"Pilot Sohryu."

The quiet call broke Asuka's line of thought. But upon turning and seeing Rei come up behind her, her anger resurfaced.

"What do you want, Wondergirl?"

Rei stared at her neutrally, but her voice was almost uncertain, "To...talk."

Asuka half-blinked, "Well, will wonders never cease. But I don't have time for you right now, so why don't you go back to your commander?"

Asuka began to turn, but the First Child was far from done with her, "Why do you hate me?"

"Because you are a doll." Asuka replied carelessly. "An empty, lifeless doll."

Rei's expression shifted very slightly, "No, I am not empty or lifeless. Even you know that."

Asuka suddenly reeled on her, "How dare you say that?! Who the hell do you think you are telling me what I know and don't know?!"

Rei simply stared at the Second Child's angry display, "I simply feel...what it is."

Asuka blinked again, "Feel? What are you...oh I see. Baka Shinji's Force, right?" she scoffed.

"Yes."

"Look." Asuka growled, "I don't have time for him or you or any of these stupid stories."

"That is not true. You believed him before." Rei countered.

Asuka shook her head, "That was before. I can't even believe I fell for it that much."

Rei was silent for a brief moment, "Why do you seek to deny what lies before you?"

"I am not denying anything." Asuka growled again. "Go away."

"I can not."

"If you don't..."

"I can not because we live in the same residence."

Asuka's eyes widened and turned to see that they had walked the entire way back to the apartment. "Oh... Well, then just shut up." Asuka opened the elevator door and the two girls entered. "All of a sudden, you became all talkative."

The door closed and the elevator began to rise. "Shinji...taught me that I should...follow on my...instincts." Rei answered back.

Asuka let out short laugh, "You...instincts? Now there's a laugh."

Rei gave her a strange look, "I do not see the humor in it." The elevator began to slow down on their floor when Rei shifted her head up a bit.

"Someone's...here."

"What?"

Asuka opened the door and looked out of the elevator. In front of their door was a tall man wearing strange robes. He turned to the two girls and walked to them, moving with a grace that was unusual for a guy his size.

"Hello Mr. Qui-Gon."

Qui-Gon bowed slightly to the red-haired girl, "Hello Asuka. Is Shinji here?"

Asuka gave a slight grimace, but quickly covered it up. "No. He's...still at work."

"Oh." Qui-Gon noticed her discomfort but continued, "Do you know when he'll be back?"

Asuka gave a meaningless shrug, "Can't say that I do?" She then noticed Qui-Gon's gaze shift toward Rei. "Oh, this is Won...Rei Ayanami, the First Child. This is Qui-Gon."

"A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Ayanami." Qui-Gon gave a bow, but his thoughts were another matter. He sensed Rei's power while she was in the elevator. It was strong, but what surprised him was how much she seemed to control it. She wasn't trained as a Jedi, nor could she have known about the Force. But the control was still present, leaving her somewhat of a mystery to him. But that'll have to wait until later.

Rei nodded back, "Qui Gon-san."

Qui-Gon returned his attention to Asuka, "Well, since Shinji isn't around, can I talk to Ms. Katsuragi?"

"Misato's still at Nerv as well. But she'll be back in another hour."

"Very well, then. I'll return then. Thank you."

Qui-Gon bowed to the two girls and walked down the stairs.

"The Force...is strong with him."

Asuka was ready to berate her, but found that she was unable to do so. Mostly because, she partly agreed with her. Qui-Gon gave off a very powerful aura. Then how come she didn't notice it before?

**********

Do not....be afraid...

Where....am...I...?

Within....Eva......Do not....fear.....I will.....protect you.

Who.....are you?

**********

Misato re-entered her apartment, still upset about her conversation with Ritsuko. Rei was sitting down near the window, staring out much like she does in class while Asuka was sitting on the couch watching TV.

"Misato, you're back early." Asuka spoke.

Misato swallowed her depression momentarily and gave a weak smile, "Yeah well. Repairing an Eva isn't my forte."

"What about Shinji-kun?" Rei asked.

Misato's smile disappeared, "Nothing yet. No one knows what happened." 'Almost no one.' she thought angrily.

Asuka sucked her teeth, "I can't believe you guys are pining over that baka. There's nothing special about him, but everyone seems to be making a fuss." She changed the channel, "Even Qui-Gon was asking about him."

Misato's eyes blinked, "Qui-Gon? He was here?"

"Oh yeah, he came looking for Shinji, but I told him he was unavailable. He said he wanted to talk to you though."

"When?"

Rei responded, "He will return in fifteen minutes."

Misato walked to the kitchen to grab a can of beer, but decided not to drink it and be sober when Qui-Gon arrived. 'What could he want to talk about? What am I worried about? He probably just wanted to see how Shinji was doing in his whatever it is that he did with him. Wait...'

Later...

"It is good to see you again, Ms. Katsuragi."

Misato and Qui-Gon stood just outside of the apartment. Misato felt that it would be better to talk to him outside, mostly because the apartment was trashed. Qui-Gon didn't mind it though, but he could see the woman beside him was greatly disturbed over something but trying to hide it behind her professionalism.

"Just Misato will do fine. I'm sorry, but Shinji isn't available or won't be for a long while."

"Is something wrong?"

Misato gave a slight wave, "No, no, everything's fine."

Qui-Gon continued to examine her face. She was now definitely holding something back and wanted to talk about it. But that would be bad considering the circumstances. He decided to try a tactic.

"I saw what happened. With the Eva."

"What?"

"I felt a surge in the Force coming from Shinji while I was re-entering the city. I saw Shinji battle the angel with a lightsaber and then devour the angel."

Misato looked away from him, but Qui-Gon could sense the change in mood. Now that she knew of what he saw, she wouldn't be hesitant to talk.

"Okay, the truth is that Shinji is not fine. He is trapped inside the Eva and we can't get him out."

"But he is not dead."

Misato grew sad, "I'm not sure."

Qui-Gon however shook his head, "No. He's not dead. I can still feel his life-force." 'But how is that? That shouldn't happen at all, not unless the bond...'

Misato gave him a quizzical look, "You...can feel him?""

Qui-Gon nodded, breaking his earlier thought, "Yes. From here, it's faint, but I can recognize him."

Misato's mind went into overdrive at the possible implication of his statement. 'If he can feel him, then maybe...' It was a long shot, but at this point, she would try anything to get Shinji back.

"I have an idea."

**********

Who.....are you?

Treasure....

Mom...?

Hello...my son...

Mom!

I've missed you so much.

But....how?

A long time ago. But that doesn't matter now.

Oh, Mom. I've missed you so much.

I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I have felt your pain, young one. I wish I could have been there for you.

It's okay Mom. But, it is you that was protecting me all this time. I felt you...before. Whenever I use the Eva.

I've tried everything I can to help you. I'm sorry about your friend.

It's okay. It was my fault. I wasn't strong enough.

Hmm. You've grown much Shinji. Now more than ever.

***************

Nerv…

"Misato, what's going on here?"

Misato had returned to the bay where Eva 01 was being held with Qui-Gon. Needless to say, Ritsuko wasn't exactly thrilled about him being there.

"I'm trying out my own little test." Misato answered. "It may be possible for him to communicate with Shinji."

"But he's not even authorized to..."

"I'm authorizing it." Misato was at the edge of her control and really didn't feel like talking to Ritsuko at all. She wheeled away and turned to Qui-Gon, who was already stretching out with the Force to detect Shinji within the Eva. Qui-Gon felt strange about this. The Eva itself seemed to stream with the Force, amplifying it to a degree. But it was neither light, nor dark. It was just...there.

"He's...lost...yet, he feels fine." He suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

Qui-Gon gave a strange look, "There...is another presence in there...with him."

Misato gasped, "An angel?" She turned to Ritsuko, "Has the unit 01 been infected?"

Qui-Gon waved it off though, "No, no. This feels...comfortable. Shinji is comfortable. Happy even."

Misato was now more surprised than ever while Ritsuko merely listened in quietly. "Happy...within the Eva? Can you call him?"

"I'll try." With that, Qui-Gon closed his eyes and delved further within the Eva. Within to Shinji.

**********

Shinji....

Who...Qui-Gon?

Your friend is calling you. You must return now.

But what about you. I can't leave you here.

Don't worry about me. I will always be here for you.

Mother...

Be strong, my son. My treasure. Goodbye.

********

Qui-Gon's eyes opened and he turned to Misato.

"I've done all I can. Now it is up to Shinji whether he wants to return or not."

Misato began to nod thanks when a slight whirling sound caught their attention. The repair crews all went on high alert and the others in the command booth began to jump.

"What's going on?" Ritsuko demanded.

But before anyone could answer, the entry pod suddenly ejected out and fell to the grating below. Everyone rushed to the pod and began to open it. Ritsuko, Misato and Qui-Gon stood back, letting the crew do their job. Ritsuko was afraid that the Eva malfunctioned and ejected the pod on its own. If it did, then Shinji would be truly lost within the machine. Looking at Misato, she saw the hopeful look on her face and was saddened even more by what would happen should Shinji not be there. Only Qui-Gon seemed calm in all the chaos, feeling the numerous emotions around him. The crews finally opened the pod and LCL drained out. The crew covered the exit enough so that Misato couldn't see whether Shinji was there or not.

'Please...please...'

Her tension turned to relief when one of the crew members motioned for a stretcher and the other pulled out the unconscious body of Shinji Ikari. Ritsuko also gave a small sigh of relief and moved in to check up on him. Although unconscious, he was very much alive. She nodded toward Misato, who nodded back with a smile. They then rolled the boy to the medical quarters, leaving Qui-Gon and Misato by themselves.

"I glad he's ali..."

Misato suddenly swung around and hugged the large man fiercely. Tears flowed down her face and onto his tunic as she wept with joy.

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Qui-Gon was a little surprised by the act, but returned the embrace shortly and then pulled away.

"You don't have to thank me. Shinji came back on his own."

Misato sniffled a bit before backing away in embarrassment, "I'm sorry. I guess I overdid it a bit."

Qui-Gon simply smiled, "No apology is needed either. You're just glad to see him back. As am I."

****************

SEELE committee...

"Ikari has gone too far."

"He allowed 01 to gain a S2 organ. He must be stopped, immediately."

"No, not immediately. The remaining angels still exist and the MDE's are far from completion."

"But we can not leave him be."

"It appears then that we need to watch him without his knowledge."

"What of agent Kaji?"

"No. Agent Kaji is too well known and he isn't in the position to be watching unnoticed by Ikari."

"So what then?"

"Contact Agent M."