Disclaimer: See chapter one

Chap. 30

Forest...

The natural quiet of the forest was a thing of poetry. Aside from the occasional bird

chirping here and there, nothing disturbed the serenity of the silence. Not even the two

Jedi who were sitting motionlessly with their knees bent forward in the midst of the

trees. They remained so still and quiet that it would have been difficult to know if they

were alive or statues. However, Shinji's breathing began to go off. It wasn't noticeable at

first, but soon it became quite evident. Shinji's closed eyes began to crease in frustration

and effort, but they finally snapped opened and the young Padawan seemed to be

panting a little. This aroused the Jedi master beside him and his eyes calmly opened.

"What is it?"

"It is nothing, master." Shinji replied and a softly ragged voice. "I'm just having a little

trouble keeping my calm centered."

"It takes time and patience." Qui-Gon encouraged. "Don't rush. Clear your mind."

"Yes master."

Shinji shut his eyes once more and Qui-Gon did the same. But he knew what the

problem was. A few nights ago, Shinji started having some terrible nightmares. At first,

Qui-Gon paid no mind to it. Dreams are just dreams. They pass in time. And it was only

one dream. But then it began to happen the next night and the one after that. After the

third time, Qui-Gon had to take note. Shinji did his best to hide this from his master,

keeping himself silent and calming down whenever he had one. But Qui-Gon could

always sense the change of mood in his apprentice. Thus, Qui-Gon began focusing their

exercises more on meditation. He had hoped that Shinji would be able to clear his mind

and dispel the dark images of the night. But it seems that those images even disturbed

him when he was awake.

-"It takes time and patience."-

Qui-Gon remarked over the phrase he just said a minute ago. That was the right thing to

say. It would take time for Shinji to put his demons to rest and reach the Force fully once

again. But it would seem that Qui-Gon would be the one to have to be patient with Shinji

and hoped he pulled through.

It might be the difference between life and death...

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

Nerv Command Room

"I ever tell you guys that I hate the night shift."

Aoba muttered that phrase as he sat along with Shigeru and Maya; the bridge bunnies, as

they were called. 'And who started that anyway?' he thought in aftermath.

"Every time you're on it." Maya answered from her terminal. "So could you stop

complaining already?"

"Sue me. I'm bored."

"You could always walk out." Shigeru suggested. "Of course, then you'd have to tell

Maj... I mean Captain Katsuragi why you decided to derelict from your duties."

Aoba simply waved his hands in defeat, "Fine, fine. I was just kidding."

"But..." Shigeru continued, a little slowly this time. "Since the angels are gone, why be

here at all? I mean, what can we do now?"

"Don't forget, Nerv still houses the Evangelions." Maya reminded them. "Those in

themselves are powerful weapons."

Shigeru nodded in agreement and Aoba simply sighed, "At least the angels are gone and

that nightmare is over."

As the three continued talking, Ritsuko listened in from behind. She wished that she

could agree with them on that part, but she knew better. She knew the truth. And the

truth was that the worse was yet to come.

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

"Gasp!"

Shinji's eyes snapped open and he quickly sat up from his bed. Slowly, he began to take

slow steady breaths, trying to calm his fear. 'The same nightmare again.' In his dream,

Asuka would be attacked by numerous opponents and be killed, Rei would scream out

as she fell into some unknown void, Qui-Gon would fall at the hands of the Sith that

attacked him, Darth Maul. And the worse part, Shinji would be left completely and

utterly alone as the darkness began to close in on him and...

Rousing himself, Shinji left his futon and strode outside. It was still night and the moon

glistened outside. Shinji lent on a tree and rested his head on it. With all that he

envisioned in his nightmare, the worse part to him was the part when he was left alone.

He had always been used to being alone. It had been his defense mechanism his entire

life. In order not to hurt others, he would stay away from others. It was also his way of

not being hurt himself. 'The hedgehog's dilemma' as Misato called it. But it was because

of this, he had always been so miserable and depressed. Now after all this time, nothing's

changed. He was still the weak little boy he was before.

"I'm so weak."

"That's not true, Shinji. You are the strongest person I've ever met."

Shinji's eyes went wide as he recognized the voice. He turned to the source and his

mouth opened as the ghastly image of the last angel strode over to him. His hands were

stuffed in his pockets and his face had his usual smile as he strode over to his friend and

leaned back on a tree on the opposite end.

"Kaoru? But...you...you're..."

Karou simply answered, "Well, yes and no. I'm what's left of me...connected to the

Force."

Shinji blinked and began to try and sense him. To his surprise, he discovered that it was

indeed Kaoru. The same strength of the Force was there, but without his physical body.

Was he...a ghost?

-"Our flesh...our bodies are just shells. We are all luminous beings."-

Qui-Gon's words came back to him like an ignited lightsaber. 'So this is what he meant.'

he recalled, looking over at Kaoru. 'Luminous beings.'

"Nightmares?"

Shinji snapped out of his thoughts, "Huh?"

"I assume that's why you're awake at this time with those heavy eyes." He indicated

to Shinji's eyes. "Want to talk about it?"

Shinji cast his eyes down, "It's been the same dream over and over. We're in a battle of

some kind and all my friends are getting killed or worse. And I'm left alone

with...darkness."

Kaoru looked at him sadly, "Are you worried that that may happen to you?"

"Well, why not?" Shinji replied. "Everyone that I care about always gets hurt or worse. 

Touji, Asuka, Rei...you."

Kaoru cocked his head off to the side a bit, "Shinji. Don't feel bad. You had to do what

you had to do. I knew that from the start. Leave your guilt about me."

Shinji shook his head, "But even so, there are still the others. Something is coming and

I'm afraid that I won't be strong enough to deal with it." The young Padawan slumped

and sat down on the grass. "I thought I had changed. But I haven't. I'm still the same..."

Kaoru cut him off, "Shinji." He paused in order to see if he had gotten Shinji's

attention. The brown-haired boy looked up and Kaoru continued.

"You are right. You haven't changed. You are still the same. A young man with a

tender soul and incredible strength. I know this because I have seen it. Everyone has.

Your guardian saw it. Your friends see it. Your master sees it especially. Why else would

he take you under his wing and teach you about it?"

Shinji opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Kaoru seemed pleased with

the effect and continued.

"Shinji. The Force is strong with you. As a part of it, I know that first-hand. I also

know that whatever it is that's going to happen, you will be the one to save us. You

must trust yourself and the Force."

Shinji turned his head forward and gave it silent thought. Kaoru said nothing else and

simply waited for Shinji to respond. After about a minute or two, Shinji spoke.

"Thank you, Kaoru. It means a lot."

Kaoru gave one of his genuine smiles, "Think nothing of it, Shinji. I'm just glad I can

help you again this time. I...may not be able to again."

Shinji blinked and looked up at him, "What do you mean?"

The silver-haired specter turned away, "The Force is drawing me in more. Soon, I will

be a part of it fully. When that happens, I will no longer be able to talk to you like

this."

Shinji's face began to revert to depressed mode once again, but Kaoru quickly added,

"Don't worry. I will be a part of the Force. Then I will be a part of you." Kaoru's

body began to fade away, "So don't think of this as goodbye. More like, I'll be

watching you."

Shinji stood up and watched as his friend faded away until he was gone completely.

Shinji remained in that position for a few minutes before turning around and heading

back to the hut. But as he turned, he saw the large form of his master standing silently

by the trees. Shinji looked into the eyes of the Jedi master and nodded, to which

Qui-Gon returned the gesture.

'I must trust myself. I trust myself.'

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

Katsuragi Residence...

The apartment house was relatively quiet this time as Misato and Asuka sat down for

dinner. Askua felt that she had better make dinner before Misato even entered the

kitchen. Unfortunately, Asuka's cooking skill was just as void as the Nerv captain and

she wound up making ramen instead. Once dinner was made, the two simply sat down

and ate it, without a word passing through either of them. Misato's thoughts were largely

on what Kaji had told her about Eva 01 and its being connected to Third Impact.

Overhearing the conversation between the bridge crew didn't exact help things either.

She wished she could say that it was over. But given events that had occurred, she could

practically feel that it wasn't. Sometimes she wished that whatever that was supposed to

happen would just come so that she can get it over with. That she could look back on it

and say, 'we got through it.' Sighing inwardly, she took a glance at Asuka. The German

red-head was once again unusually quiet as she ate her meal. 'When did all of this

happen? When did we all change so radically?' Taking a roll of ramen in her mouth, she

chewed thoughtfully. It was then that the doorbell rang. Asuka stopped eating and simply

became still and her eyes moved upward. Misato stood up to answer. 'Who could this

be?' At least it took her mind off Asuka. Seeing the girl quiet unnerved her more than

anything.

Then she turned the knob...

"It's Wondergirl." Asuka muttered quietly.

Misato had just barely heard those words as she opened the door and found the First

Child standing behind it.

"Captain Katsuragi."

Misato blinked, both at Rei's arrival and Asuka's precise guess, "Rei? What brings you

here?"

Rei's eyes lowered and she answered, "I...I did not wish to be alone tonight. I..."

Misato blinked again. 'Have I just entered the Twilight zone or what?' Seeing the young

girl talking unsteadily, she was about to let her in when Asuka suddenly turned from her

seat.

"Would you two stop standing there and come in already?"

Misato blinked again, not sure she could take too much more of this. Rei remained

where she was, awaiting an answer from her. Misato finally got over her shock and

widened the door.

"Come in."

Misato closed the door after Rei walked in, "Take a seat. I'll make you some..."

Asuka suddenly stood up and dashed into the kitchen, "No! I'll make it. Just do not come

into this kitchen."

Misato gave her a weird look and suddenly frowned, "Are you implying that something's

wrong with my cooking skills?"

"What cooking skills?" Asuka scoffed back as she soon came out of the kitchen with

some fresh ramen in a bowl. "I refuse to have to spend the night in the hospital because

someone had a taste of your food and suffer of toxic indigestion."

"Toxic indigestion?" Misato fumed. "You should talk. I've eaten some of your food.

Trust me; the only one who makes toxic things around here is you."

"Oh yeah?!"

"Yeah!"

A sudden slurp soon stopped the argument as they both turned to see Rei quietly eating

the ramen. She swallowed the food and after a minute, she took another and continued

eating. The two women looked at her dumbfounded before Asuka started laughing.

"Hahahaha!!!! See." she gloated, pointing at Rei. "That proves it."

Misato began to fume before a chuckle escaped her lips and she began laughing as well.

Rei swallowed once more and looked up at the two laughing women with puzzlement.

After about a minute of laughter, both women sat down and began to eat again.

"Hey, I have an idea." Misato announced. "I've never had a girl's day out with either of

you. How about we have one after work one day? We can shop all day long."

"Don't have to ask me twice. Hey, I can even invite Hikari."

"The more, the merrier. I can ask Ritsuko and Maya to come as well." Turning to the

silent member of the three, Misato asked quietly, "Well, Rei. How about you?"

Rei began to look a little nervous, "I...I would not know what to do."

"It's no problem." Asuka answered, much to the surprise of Misato. "We're just shopping

mostly. All you have to do is pick out some clothes. Trust me. You need it."

"I have suitable clothing, Sohryu." Rei replied

"Maybe, but you need to expand. You can't stick with the same school uniform. You

know, I may know a dress or two that would work on you."

"You...would assist me?"

Asuka couldn't believe she was answering like this. She had only meant to let the First

Child in and hoped to show a measure of civility. But instead, she had skyrocketed off

of that and was talking as though they were old friends. 'How did that happen?' She had

always seen Rei as her rival and their truce didn't change that. So what with the new

approach? Perhaps it was because everyone was feeling it. Something was going to

happen really soon. Much like their last day on earth or something. That was why, she

figured, Misato brought it up at all. She may not be Force-sensitive, but the ominous

feeling was great indeed. In this was, Misato was making a silent promise. And Rei

wasn't stupid enough not to see it as well, for Asuka felt the First Child disturbed by it

the most. Perhaps that was why Asuka had changed now. For her benefit.

"Of course. The world has to know that Eva pilots know how to look good."

"I'm...not used to so much company..." Rei answered slowly. "But I will accompany

you."

'And Ayanami makes three' Misato thought. So the silent promise was made and Misato

would make sure that they would be able to live up to it. "Then it's settled. Day after

tomorrow, after our work shifts are over."

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

Fuyutuki sat quietly alone at a table somewhere in Nerv. A chess set was set up there,

but he knew that he would not play today. Ikari had vanished, more or less. Not vanished

as to say that he disappeared. He was still around; based off the steady reports and orders

he has given. But not, he was making himself visible to no one, not even his former

mentor and second-in-command. But Fuyutuki expected this. Ikari was getting ready.

The time was coming when his scenario would be fulfilled. And though the elder man

didn't agree with his Commander's ideas, he didn't have much say, choice, or option in

the matter. Ikari will initiate his own Third Impact and that will be it. But before that

happens, SEELE will try to stop him by any and all means necessary. Even if it means

destruction of Nerv itself. But either way, there will be a battle. A battle that will surpass

the ones against the angels. Fuyutuki blankly picked up a chess piece. It hurt him that he

could do anything to stop it and spare people a lot of misery and pain. Especially the

children. They've been through more than enough nightmares for even an adult to handle.

But, it was out of his hands. Fuyutuki then stopped staring out and looked at the piece he

had picked up.

Pawn...That is what we all are, aren't it? Pawns in a game of death. No say in what

happens and are merely there for strategic purposes, even if it means death. Unless...

Fuyutuki then picked up another piece and held it and the pawn together.

Unless the pawn...becomes a queen…

But that kind of move was next to impossible, he thought. A pawn would have to go

through many obstacles just to get halfway. Alone, a pawn would be eliminated. But

what if it was supported but another piece? Fuyutuki looked on the board once more and

picked the right piece for the job.

Knight...

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

"The crystal is the Force. Calmness that is centered with clarity. The Force is my

strength. It is my ally against the darkness. My strength is the crystal. It is the center of

my focus. The crystal is the Force..."

Shinji repeated these words as he sat within the middle of the hut. Qui-Gon stood

watching as the young Padawan held up several materials before him with the Force.

Mostly metallic objects, but what stood out was the piece in the center. A violet crystal

which seemed to radiate and glow. The metallic pieces float around it as Shinji

continued on.

"My strength is the crystal. It is the center of my focus."

The pieces began to close in on the crystal, encasing it.

"The crystal is the Force. Calmness that is centered with clarity."

The metal closed in completely and began to link together, forming a cylinder shape.

The Force is my strength. It is my ally against the darkness."

Shinji slowly opened his eyes and looked at what he had created. A lightsaber. His

lightsaber. The one Qui-Gon had made for him was a gift. But the Jedi master felt that

Shinji should construct his own. Shinji was clueless as to how, but he had seen the

design. All that was left was to trust in the will of the Force and bring it forth. And from

the looks of it, it came out exactly as he wanted it to. It looked similar to Qui-Gon's, but

the black cover was shorter and at the upper end instead of covering the body. Shinji

slowly reached up and tenderly grasped the weapon. It felt...right. It seemed to fit

perfectly in his hands. Shinji ignited the blade and the purple light shone forth. Shinji

waved it slightly, examining it carefully. No malfunctions or misplaced parts. It was

complete. Shinji de-activated the saber and hooked it onto his belt.

"I am ready, master."

Qui-Gon nodded, "Back to Tokyo-3 then."

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

Tokyo-3

Atop a group of building just hanging over Nerv, the dark lord of the Sith stood over and

watched patiently. With all the information he had acquired, he learned that his masters

will soon move in to crush Nerv. At that point, it was his job to make sure that the Third

Child is eliminated. Maul had learned that the Jedi apprentice had disappeared, but he

would return. Maul felt it. Normally he would have gone out and hunted the boy, but it

was more prudent for him to wait and let his prey fall into the trap. Maul tightened his

grip on his double-edged lightsaber. The Jedi whelp had marked him and he would make

sure that Shinji paid for it. The boy will fight, the boy will lose and the boy will die. But

Maul pushed his eagerness back. He knew that Shinji could not have come up on those

skills on his own. It was only logic that he was trained by a far greater Jedi. But that

means nothing to him. The master will share the same fate as the student.

All he had to do was wait...