Disclaimer: See chapter one
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Chap. 23
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Nerv
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Misato was a woman torn. She had failed to carry out the Commander's order and even
worse, now she collaborating with Kaji, not to mention Qui-Gon. This was a situation
that was bound to explode in her face. But she had to know. She had to know is she was
really on the right side. In truth, she already knew that she was a pawn in Gendo's game,
but she abided because as long as his goal destroyed the angels, it would be enough. But
now, after learning about the Eva's and the angel in the Terminal Dogma, she had much
to question. As she passed the halls, she caught sight of Ritsuko's lab door. A swell of
fury suddenly arose within her and she stomped toward it. If anything, Ritsuko knew
everything about this. And Misato was sure to get answers this time. As she drew closer,
she saw the door slightly ajar. She was ready to slam it open when she caught sound
of...weeping? Misato slowed her pace and peeked inside. There see was greeted with a
most surprising sight.
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'Ritsuko?'
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The blond-haired scientist was seated in the darkness, with only the light of the monitor
illuminating before her face. But the striking part was that it was tear-stricken, with more
flowing down from her eyes. The anger Misato felt disappeared in a flash and she moved
away from the door. Never in her life had she seen Ritsuko like that. Ritsuko was always
tough, right to the point of seeming cold-hearted. But Misato knew that wasn't truly her.
She had seen her in various different faces. But never had Ritsuko cried. Not openly.
Misato began to feel shame at what she felt earlier as well as how she treated her former
friend. 'Former...' Perhaps she had been too harsh with Ritsuko. They have had their
differences, but they remained friends regardless. Misato quietly moved away from the
door, leaving her friend to her sorrow, for now.
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'I...should talk with her later.' she thought finally.
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Shinji had just come out of school and was walking down the street. It had been a quiet
day. Many of the students were absent, due to the fact that many of them had moved out
of Tokyo-3 after the last angel attack. It saddened Shinji a bit that Kensuke was gone as
well, but he knew that it was for the best. He didn't want his friend to get hurt in the next
battle. That also reminded him of Touji, who had returned home, but he wasn't in school
either. Shinji had visited him from time to time and he even helped out a bit. But the truth
was that Touji seemed to react better with Hikari. Shinji smiled to himself. 'I guess I'll
leave them alone for now.' With that in his mind, Shinji headed for the hospital to see
Asuka. He hadn't gotten anywhere with her, but it knew it would take time. He just had
to...
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'Huh?'
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Shinji suddenly stopped in the middle of the street. Something had alerted his senses. His
eyes roved around a bit, looking for whatever had caused the disturbance. As he
searched, he noticed something was amiss. 'Where are the Section-2 guards?' Even
though they hid themselves, Shinji usually knew where to find them. But now, they were
nowhere to be found. Shinji's hand began to move to his belt. The last time this
happened, he and Asuka were attacked. This time he would be ready.
Suddenly, Shinji ducked as a dark blur swooped right over him. Shinji stood back up just
to see a figure in dark robes attack him. But Shinji was shocked to see the weapon the
attacker was using.
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A gleaming red lightsaber...
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Rei's apartment...
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The First Child sat in her room. There were no synch tests today and the Commander
didn't have anything to do with her today, so she was pretty much alone. She had
thought about seeing Shinji, but after the last encounter, she didn't know what to
think. There was still much about that encounter that she couldn't piece together. It
was as though something was trying to make sure she didn't forget. 'Forget what?' she
pondered. It was making her restless and it had to stop before it intervened with her
duties. But there was more to it than that. Unconsciously, she knelt down before her
bed and folded her legs together. Taking calm breaths, she closed her eyes and let her
mind open. As soon as it did, various images and voices entered in.
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-"May I join you, Shinji?"-
-"Darkness...grows."-
Rei almost dismissed the visions, but she decided to observe them instead.
-"What do you want, Wondergirl?"-
-"To...talk."-
The images began to speed up, almost threatening to overwhelm Rei. But she continued on as the images became clearer, but at the same time blurry. 'This is puzzling.'
-"Sohryu is right. There's no need for apologies anymore. But...it is accepted."-
-"Wondergirl..."-
At that last image, a flash of light appeared, blinding her for a moment. When the light
cleared, Rei found herself standing in the middle of a clear blue lake. There was nothing
around except for dark clouds and fog.
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"You've come at last."
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Rei turned to the voice, only to come face to face with...herself.
"Who...are you?"
The figure gave an amused look (As well as amused would look on Rei's face), "I am you."
Rei frowned, "That can not be. I am I."
The second Rei nodded and turned to the side, "Perhaps. But I am also you."
Rei looked at her counterpart, "What do you want?"
The counterpart began to move away a bit, but still answered, "To be one with you."
Rei became confused as the double continued, "I am the Rei that existed before you. The second."
Rei moved behind her, "That can not be. My predecessor no longer exists."
The second Rei turned back to her, "The Force is strong within us."
Rei blinked. It didn't make any sense at all, and yet it was clear as a bell. It just didn't add up.
You do not have the full knowledge to understand. Yet you do." She stopped briefly and looked up. There, a black cloud began to ooze out of the horizon. Its ominous visage caused Rei to feel...fear?
"The darkness comes closer. But you know that, don't you?"
Rei nodded. She knew she was talking about her role in Gendo's scenario of Third Impact. It was her purpose. Yet since her awakening, it had always felt...foreboding.
"Yes."
The second Rei moved next to her, standing side by side. "You must remember. You must know. You must prepare. Are you ready?"
Rei continued to look at the cloud. This...had to stop. It had to be stopped. And she had to know.
"Yes."
The moment she said that, the second grabbed her arm and began to glow in a
shimmering, almost ghastly glow. The second began to move into the First Child and
they both began to glow brightly. Rei gasped and the light began to return, but not before
hearing the words...
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"The Force is with you...always."
Rei's eyes snapped open...
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Nerv Hospital...
The machine that droned beside the prone of body of Asuka began to beat rapidly...
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Rooftop...
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Shinji was trapped. Whoever this creature was, it wanted him dead. It was as though this
guy had some sort of hatred against him. Shinji had tried to escape by leaping to the
rooftops, but the phantom menace had jumped right after him, with the same abilities.
That in itself caused Shinji to worry. Whoever this was, he had a connection to the Force.
Not just a connection, he knew how to control it. And to top it off, it was the Dark Side
that he was tapping into. Shinji couldn't run; he would just follow and hunt him down. He
knew that much. There was only one thing to do. Shinji reached into his back and pulled
out his lightsaber. He ignited the purple blade and held it forward, just as he would with
his Sakabutto. The dark warrior didn't hesitate into attack, his red lightsaber flashing
through the air. Shinji blocked, but the warrior came in again. And again. And again. And
again. Shinji was being pushed back as the dark warrior pressed on, lightsaber
hammering in on the young boy. Shinji tried hard to stop his assaults, but the creature
seemed to be blocking his attunement with the Force, slowing him down. Shinji found
himself on the edge of the roof with the dark one advancing on him. Shinji could make
out an evil glare within the black hood and the creature lunged.
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"Let go..."
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Shinji suddenly sidestepped the lunge at the last second and whirled. A purple blur
flashed and the dark warrior leaped away. He stayed back for a moment and raised a
hand to his face. During this brief period, Shinji had seen what he had done. A trickle
of blood came down from the warrior's face and into his hand. Shinji saw the instant
fury of the dark one and felt the Dark Side grow even more. With a mere blur, the
warrior leaped into the air and slashed down. Shinji barely managed to back away, but
upon landing the warrior twirled around and lashed out with a powerful roundhouse kick.
Shinji was smashed in the face and he fell to the floor hard as his lightsaber skirted
across the floor. The dark warrior looked down on the young Jedi/Eva pilot. The boy had
scarred him. And that was something he wouldn't tolerate. Spinning the blade in his hand,
he struck down on the fallen boy, red light smashing...
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...into a purple one. The dark warrior was shocked as Shinji somehow regained his
lightsaber and blocked the attack. But even more so when Shinji suddenly rolled around
and kicked him back. The dark one was furious and went in to attack, but again surprise
came when Shinji attacked first. The purple lightsaber clashed with the crimson one as
both of them slashed at each other. The dark one was shocked as Shinji fought him
evenly. 'How could this boy...wait.'
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The dark one jumped back and examined Shinji as Shinji fell into stance. But the stance
was different from the one he started with. And the dark warrior sensed more. The Force
around this boy had increase dramatically. But it wasn't the boy himself. It was
something else. As though...someone was controlling him, guiding him in what to do. But
that wasn't possible. And yet, the way the boy was fighting, his stance, the Force
signature; it was all too familiar. As though it was someone he faced before...
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The dark warrior flinched. He heard movement coming up the steps behind him. Damn it.
Nerv had sent reinforcements. He was supposed to have killed the Third Child a while
ago. But with the Section-2 agents moving in, there was no other option, but to retreat. It
had taken him too much time fighting Shinji and now he had to go. The dark one growled.
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'Another time, Jedi.'
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Suddenly he jumped off the rooftop and onto the ground blow, barely making a sound.
He then seated himself on a hidden motorcycle, gunned the engine, and zoomed away. In
all of this, Shinji still held his stance, not moving for a while. He then blinked once and
slumped to the ground. Right then, the Section-2 guards burst in. The only one there was
Shinji, would was on the ground. As they called in paramedics, Shinji whispered one
thing.
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"Ke...nobi..."