Disclaimer: See chapter one

Chap. 29

Ayanami residence

Ayanami Rei sat in a chair stationed by the window. Her pose was very identical with

her usual sitting posture in school. And like school, her thoughts weren't as serene. In

fact, she had been more troubled than she had ever been. She knew what was coming.

She knew what would happen. Soon enough, the Commander would initiate his final

phase in the Human Instrumentality project. And once that is done, her life, her very

existence, along with the rest of the world, would be no more. She had been raised, bred

for this sole purpose. But she was different now. Now, she wanted to live as she does

now. To learn more about...life itself. She once thought that Eva was her link to people.

But now, she had a new link, a link that Shinji, her brother had shown her. Brother...

The azure haired girl soon blinked and turned an eye toward the door. She had felt it a

while ago, but decided now to give it some attention. A serious tremor in the Force.

Such wavelength of energy only meant one thing.

Knock, knock...

Rei simply remained motionless; not even answering the knock of what was soon to

be a frustrated Second Child.

"We need to talk now, First."

Rei still made no move and soon the door creaked open. Asuka peered inside and after

seeing Rei sitting there, growled.

"You could have answered, you know."

Rei finally turned her head fully, "What do you want, Sohryu?"

Asuka glared briefly, but stopped suddenly after taking her first step. Her eyes began to

cycle around the room slowly and Rei understood why. Asuka was just remembering

what happened the last time she was in her house. Though the place was clear, Asuka

remembered every detail vividly. Especially the floor she stood on. The blood...the

slump of a body falling...followed by the soul searing scream that echoed from her lips...

"Why did you do it?" Asuka asked softly. "Why did you let me kill you?"

Rei simply answer in her usual monotone, "It did not matter. I knew that I would simply

be replaced like my predecessors."

Asuka wasn't surprised by this. The day before, both Rei and Misato had already

informed her of Rei's origins. But that wasn't what was occupying Asuka's thoughts

right now.

"You didn't answer the question."

Rei turned her head back toward the window. Her answer was unsatisfactory to both

Asuka and herself as well as indirect. It wasn't like her to answer that way. But perhaps

she was used to thinking that way and answering that way. But not anymore. She was

different now.

"I wanted...to help you."

"Help...me?" Asuka gasped as her head snapped up to look at Rei. Pride began to

surface as Asuka took in her words.

"I never asked for your help, Wondergirl."

"But you needed it." was the simple response.

Asuka was stunned again, because she knew that it was true. Whether she wanted it or

not, Asuka had needed help. And out of all people, it was her azure-haired rival to

provide it. Asuka wanted to be angry, but found it unable to do so. This in itself was

strange. In the past, she would have exploded, ranting about how she was the great

Asuka Langley Sohryu and didn't need help from anyone. Perhaps it was where she

was or perhaps her experience with the Dark Side, or perhaps it was even how hollow

her ranting would be if she did, but whatever it was, she didn't allow her anger to

control her...yet. Frustration will have to do.

"You didn't have to stand there and let yourself get slaughtered like a dumb sheep just

to...help me."

"It is my purpose. We are fellow pilots, are we not?"

"Is that why you did it?" Asuka questioned, feeling her frustration grow into anger.

"Because we're pilots?"

"Yes." Asuka was about to burst when Rei continued, "And Shinji...would have been

sad."

Asuka paused after that. Shinji had tried to help her too, but she stabbed him instead.

Truthfully, Shinji had always tried to help her since the day they met. And she had

always been…ungrateful. She had slapped him, abused him, and ridiculed him. And he

always took it and continued on. Even after his training with Qui-Gon, that fact

remained unchanged. In fact, he had tried even more, calling out to her when she was in

her coma. Both him and Rei. Perhaps…it was time to stop.

"You really care about that baka, don't you?"

Rei turned to her once again and answered simply, "He is my brother."

Asuka shrugged and stood by the window, next to Rei, "Okay, fine then. I guess I

can...cool down on you two a bit." She whirled to Rei, "But don't think that changes

things. I'm still the best Eva pilot there is."

Rei nodded and said nothing more.

==============================

Highway

It was a new record for Misato. This was the first time she drove on the highway at

normal speed. Normal as in really normal and not her usual break-neck speeds. She

figured she take it easy now. This whole time had been draining on the violet-haired

major. She was still in her position in Nerv and hasn't seen or heard of Commander

Ikari. She assumed that once the angels was gone, he would come for her. But that

hasn't happened. In fact, he's gone absent even to his second-in-command. The only

reason, she assumed, she was still alive was that either she still has a use or that he's so

wrapped up in something else that he's too busy to care. Either option didn't bode well

with her. Sighing, she tried to dismiss those thoughts with some positive ones.

Unfortunately, those were scarce these days. The only one she could possibly bring up

was Asuka's return. But even then, that in itself was strange. Asuka seemed to have

changed somewhat. Not like Shinji or Rei in that they remained the way they were, but

had a different aura about them. Asuka seemed to have mellowed out a great deal. Even

though they would have an argument here and there, it was mostly friendly banter,

nothing serious. Asuka was still a firecracker, but now she was less likely to fuse and

ignite. Maybe it was all her imagination. But the changes in the Children were actually

the only thing that seemed to bring her some comfort. Reaching a stop light, Misato

braked and sat waiting for it to change. Suddenly, the left door opened and before

Misato could say anything, a man entered the car. Misato quickly reached for her gun,

but paused when she saw who it was.

"Kaji."

The eternally unshaven man smiled at her, "Hey Katsuragi. Going my way?"

Misato frowned, wishing that that she had her gun at his head, "What are you doing

here?"

Kaji placed his hands behind the back of his head and sat back, "I just thought I'd catch

up with you. We haven't seen each other in a while."

"Yeah." she scowled. "And it's been paradise up until now."

Kaji was about to comment, but the light changed and Misato drove off. Her hands were

clenched around the wheel as she drove off.

"How are you?"

Misato scowled once more, "I'm just peachy." However, she couldn't help noticing that

he didn't ask in his usual manner. It was almost as if he was...concerned. She sighed

within and continued, "It's been a long month."

"Tell me about it."

Misato turned an eye to him, "So what did you really want? You know that you're a

marked man."

"I always am. In fact, I think they were behind me before you picked me up.

"What?!" she exclaimed. The steering wheel would now have nail marks in it as she turned the corner. "Damn it, I knew you were up to something." She braked the car abruptly, "Get out."

"Misato, please." he pleaded.

But Misato wasn't going to hear any of it, "No. Get out!

Kaji held his hands up, "Okay." He opened the door and stepped out. But he turned to

her and spoke again, "But I wanted you to know that Ikari is going to move soon. I don't

know when, but it's close. His absence is only one of the clues. There are others." He

stood up out of the car, "Just watch yourself."

Misato looked forward, quickly taking in the information. Kaji was about to shut the

door when...

"Wait."

Kaji stopped and peered inside. Misato was still looking forward, but continued, "A half

a mile and that's it."

Kaji flashed one of his ladykiller smiles, "I'll take whatever I can get."

Misato shook her head as he re-entered the vehicle. The car moved off again and

entered the highway.

"So what else is there?"

'Right down to business.' "There's been a good amount of concern within SEELE. With

Ikari disappearing, they fear that he is up to something. They won't wait to start Third

Impact, so a confrontation with Nerv is inevitable."

"You'd think with the angels gone, our worries would be over." she grumbled. In truth,

she knew that wouldn't be the case. The Evangelions are essentially the most powerful

weapons on Earth. That alone would make them targets for others. But she had hoped

that it wouldn't come so suddenly.

"It's worse, I'm afraid." Kaji continued. "I did a little digging and I found out that they

want Shinji eliminated. Without him, Eva 01 will be stationary and easier to utilize."

Misato wasn't too shocked by that. Already someone had tried to kill Shinji, but failed.

It would only be natural that whoever it was would try again. But she was curious about

what they would want with the 01.

"Utilize for what?"

"Third Impact. That Eva is the key to it."

'Eva 01 connected to...Third Impact?' There seemed to be so many strings attached to

Nerv, the angels, SEELE, and the Evangelions, creating a web of shadows, deception,

and overall, power. It was far more twisted than she ever thought possible. She just

hoped that they could survive it all.

"Here's my stop."

Misato blinked and then pulled over to the side of the road. Kaji sat there a bit longer in

silence before he opened the door and stepped out. Closing the door, he bent down and

looked through the window.

"Be careful, Misato."

Misato finally turned to him and nodded, "Take care of yourself. And thanks."

============================

Forest area

'This place hasn't changed.'

The young apprentice stood before the small forest dwelling. It was a simple house,

with a small clearing in front. Shinji strode around slowly, remembering the time he

had spent here.

-"You live here?"-

 

-"Yes. It's quiet here, so your connection with the Force will be easier."-

All those days of training and quiet meditation had impacted his life in a way he never

expected. It gave him an inner strength that slept deep within himself, yet displayed

constantly. Shinji slowly moved around the house and into the back. There was a large

grassy clearing. Shinji remembered this well. It was here where the majority of his

training took place.

-"Clear your thoughts. Let the Force flow through you."-

 

-"I did it. I felt it."-

 

-"Good. Very good. You've taken your first step. Now, let's try again."-

 

-"Yes Master."-

Shinji moved over to the center of the clearing and closed his eyes. The Force filled his

body like a calming music. It always impressed him how easily he was able to calm

himself here in this place. Even with all that had happened, he could reach a relative

peace here.

-"Another nightmare, Shinji?"-

 

-"Yes. I'm sorry if I disturbed you."-

 

-"Not at all. I'm here to help you, Shinji. You don't need to apologize."-

 

-"Right. I'm...Thank you."-

'I guess old habits die hard.' Shinji mused. But now was time to get down to business.

Like the others, he knew something was coming. A terrible darkness. He had to be

ready for it. Even with Eva 01, he would need more strength than he had to fight

through it. He just wished he knew what it was exactly

-"The Force is the strength and the power of a Jedi. The more in tuned you are to it, the

stronger your connection will be and the stronger you will be."-

While his eyes still closed, his hand reached and grabbed hold of his lightsaber. The

violet blade of energy sizzled out and Shinji held it forward. Letting the Force enter in,

Shinji slashed forward and turned around. He then raised it up in a high block and

twirled it in another slash, this time downward. The blade was low, yet just above the

grass to where it didn't burn it. Shinji then stood up and held it level again.

Concentration began to strain on the young boy's face and the lightsaber glowed

brighter. Shinji positioned his feet and suddenly slashed down, then upward. But during

his upward slash, his feet left the ground and Shinji went into a full forward backflip. He

twirled around in the air and managed to position his body into a diving slash. The blade

flew down quickly as Shinji touched the ground and again, the lightsaber didn't touch

the grass. Shinji stood up and held it positioned once again. He was about to initiate

another technique when he felt a tremor in the Force. It was close and powerful, but

Shinji wasn't worried. In fact, he was pleased. Finally opening his eyes, he saw the

source of the tremor. Qui-Gon stood beside the house, standing as though he had been

watching him. He could never figure out how his master does that.

"Master. You are here."

Qui-Gon strode toward Shinji and stopped right before him, "You know as well as I do

what is coming."

"Yes. I can't see through it. Nothing but darkness."

Qui-Gon nodded. It was the same with him. The usually cloudy and turbulent future was

now completely shadowed. It was as if he was blind.

"Such a time will dangerous for us."

"I came here to train and grow stronger." Shinji's head lowered, "But I fear my time will

be short."

"It's okay. You were wise to come." He then placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke

softly. "I heard about what happened to your friend. I'm sorry."

"Yeah. But something strange happened. When I...when I struck Kaoru, he...disappeared."

The Jedi master's eyes widened briefly, "He did? I have not heard that happening in

quite some time."

"What do you mean?" Shinji asked.

Removing his hand, Qui-Gon explained, "Your friend was connected to the Force so

strongly that in death, he became a part of it."

Now Shinji's eyes widened, "Kaoru's...a part of the Force?"

"I believe so."

Qui-Gon felt a slight frown on his face. Normally, he wouldn't give out this much

information to a Padawan. It could prove dangerous if he didn't understand what was

meant by the explanation. But with Shinji, it was different. Shinji had to understand

since his situation was unique. This information would be vital for him to know if any

of them were to survive.

"Master. There was another one." Shinji spoke after the long period of silence. "I think

he was a Sith."

"A Sith?"

"I'm sure of it." Shinji said. He didn't have the chance to tell his master this before and

he had to know. "He was controlling the Dark Side and using it against me."

"What did he look like?"

Shinji searched his memory, "He wore a black cloak and hood. But his face seemed to

be painted in red and black."

'So he's here as well' Qui-Gon thought grimly. He was in no mood to face that

particular Sith. Especially given their past. He might also, in part, be responsible for the

dark cloud that hung over their heads. But not him alone. No. Something far bigger.

Something that his instinct told him was generated within Nerv. Looking at Shinji, his

thoughts grew more troubled. Shinji has to understand everything that has happened to

him. Everything.

"Shinji. There is something that you must know. You remember what I told you about

the Jedi Knights?"

Shinji nodded in affirmation, "Yes. They were an ancient group of warriors that

protected the Old Republic generations ago."

"Yes. But what I have not told you is that at that time, I was one of those warriors."

Shinji blinked rapidly and gasped out, "But...then you would have to be..."

Qui-Gon turned his gaze to him, "No. I'm not immortal. But the Force has many

uncharted avenues and paths."

"Rebirth is one of them."