Chapter 3
School Ties / A Family Reunion
The next morning was similar to the day before, Shinji found Sayoko out on the balcony with Pen Pen, and then they both proceeded to make breakfast. Asuka arrived at the table dressed and ready for school. However, unlike the previous morning, Asuka didn't say a word. She was still thinking of the events of the night before. Misato, looking half asleep, shuffled to the table and sat down.
"Here's the paperwork you'll need to get into the school Sayoko." mumbled Misato as she put some papers on the table. Before anyone could reply, Misato's head hit the table with a loud thud and she was soon snoring away.
"Is she alright?" asked Sayoko, giving her new guardian a curious look.
"Yeah. You'll get used to it." replied Shinji with a sigh.
About 10 mins later the children were on their way out the door. As they walked down the street, Asuka finally snapped out of her self-imposed silence.
"Comon Fifth Child!" Asuka grabbed Sayoko's arm and pulled her off in another direction.
"We'll see you at school Baka.!"
Shinji watched them until they disappeared over the hill.
'Asuka seems to be in a good mood. I wonder how Rei is?'
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"Slow down Asuka! You're going to pull my arm out!" said Sayoko. "Where are we going anyway?"
"You said last night you wanted to be my friend. So I'm going to help you to meet people, starting with my best friend Hikari."
As they rounded a corner, Sayoko could see a girl up ahead with brown pigtails. Asuka headed right for her.
"Hikari!"
Hikari Horaki turned at the sound of Asuka's voice.
"Good morning Asuka." Hikari said with a smile, "Who is this?"
Sayoko smiled and gave a small bow. "Hello, I'm Sayoko Morisato. I'll be starting at the school today."
"Oh, then it's a good thing Asuka brought you to me." Hikari replied, bowing as well, "I'm Hikari Horaki, the Class Rep. I'll help you get situated at the school then."
"Thank-you Miss Horaki."
"You can call me Hikari."
"Ok then Hikari."
Asuka, feeling a bit left out, spoke up.
"So Hikari, where were you yesterday? I didn't see you after the sync test."
Hikari began to blush. "Oh I…. uhhh…..Had a late dinner….."
Asuka's eyes narrowed. "You were with the stooge weren't you?"
Sayoko looked at Asuka and Hikari, confused.
"Who is the stooge?" she asked.
Asuka answered before Hikari could. "Oh you met him yesterday. The stooge is the Fourth Child, the Pilot of Eva 03."
"Oh you mean Touji." Sayoko said. Then she looked at Asuka curiously. "What's wrong with him?"
"What! You couldn't tell? He's an idiot."
Hikari spoke up. "Asuka. Be nice."
"He seemed nice enough to me." said Sayoko.
"Just what till you get to know him." replied Asuka.
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"So Shinji. What is she like?" asked Kensuke Aida.
"What is who like?" Shinji asked.
"The New Eva pilot. The one from Tokyo-2."
Touji turned and looked at Kensuke.
"And just how do you know where she's from? Have you been hacking NERV again?"
Kensuke sat back and started to turn red.
"I um… Well….you know….I…."
"Don't worry." Said Shinji. "We won't tell, but you'd better stop before you get caught. As to the new girl, yes, she's nice."
"Yeah," added Touji. "From what I saw of her yesterday, She's a Goddess compared to Asuka."
"That's not very nice." said Shinji, "Asuka's not THAT bad."
"Yes she is." said Kensuke, "She's a devil I tell you. A DEVIL!"
Kensuke never saw the book that hit him. Touji and Shinji just stared at Kensuke, who was now laid out next to his desk. Shinji didn't even have to turn around to know who threw it.
"Hi Asuka."
"When your stooge friend wakes up. Tell him he'd better watch his mouth." Asuka then walked over and took her seat.
Shinji shook his head, and then helped Touji put Kensuke back into his seat.
"What happened?" Kensuke asked as he came to.
"You forgot rule #2. Look before you insult the Devil." replied Touji.
Kensuke only groaned as he held his head.
"How could I have forgotten."
Shinji then noticed Rei had arrived. She was sitting quietly at her chair and was already staring out the window. Shinji decided to talk to her.
Rei continued to look out the window until a voice alerted her to the fact someone was behind her. "Ayanami?"
Rei turned around. "Ikari. What do you want?"
"You weren't there after the sync test. I was wondering if you were alright?"
Rei looked a Shinji before replying. "I am fine."
Shinji started to leave. "Alright then. If you want to talk, you can always talk to me."
"I will …remember Ikari. Thank-you." Rei then gave one of her rare smiles.
Shinji smiled back, and then went back to his seat. Asuka watched the whole conversation from her seat. She almost fell over when she saw Rei smile. She was about to say something to Rei about it when she noticed Rei had gotten pale, well, paler then usual. Rei looked towards the doorway. Asuka turned in time to see Hikari and Sayoko enter the room.
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Sayoko began to feel uneasy as she and Hikari approached the door to the class. She recognized the feeling as the same when she had met Rei Ayanami. Upon entering the class, her suspicion was proven correct. Sayoko and Rei locked eyes at one another.
'I wonder….. Who you are?' thought Sayoko as she looked at Rei.
Rei got a surprised look on her face and her mouth dropped. Just as quickly, her face went back to normal and immediately began to look out the window again. Sayoko herself was shocked.
'She can hear me?' Sayoko thought. 'I've got to get a hold of Auntie about this.'
Hikari, in the meantime, stepped in front of the class.
"Can I have your attention!" Hikari called out in her Class Rep voice. "We have a new student joining us. Make her feel welcome." Hikari then turned toward Sayoko.
"Hello, I'm Sayoko Morisato. I look forward to meeting you all." She then gave a slight bow.
Hikari pointed out a seat for her next to Asuka.
Sayoko sat down at the desk. She glanced over and gave Asuka a small smile. Surprising the stooges, Asuka smiled back. Sayoko then turned on her laptop. Soon class began. It was the most boring experience of her life.
'Even Peorth doesn't talk this much.' thought Sayoko. 'Asuka was right, All he talks about is second impact. Hmm, this might be a good time to get a hold of Auntie."
Sayoko pulled out a diskette and popped it into her laptop. She loaded the file and immediately began typing commands. Asuka happened to glance over to see what Sayoko was doing. She was surprised at how fast Sayoko was typing.
'She's typing faster then Dr. Akagi.' Asuka realized. Asuka tried to read the characters displayed on the screen, but she had never seen characters like that before. That and they moved off the screen very quickly.
Sayoko, after typing for 2 mins straight, reached her destination.
Yggdrasil System – Primary Hub
Type in Login Name and password to proceed
Sayoko entered them in.
: Sayoko Goddess 2nd Class Limited
:
Identity Confirmed
Waiting for Instruction
: Goddess Communication Net
Accessing
Ready
: Contact Skuld Goddess 1st Class Unlimited Type 2
Checking…………………..
Individual is Online
Beginning Uplink
Uplink established
Security Protocol Engaged.
You may Proceed
Skuld Yes Yoko?
Sayoko I need a favor Auntie.
Skuld Ok. Why didn't you just call me?
Sayoko I'm in school.
Skuld Shouldn't you be paying attention then?
Sayoko He's talking about 2nd Impact. I already know both versions.
Skuld Of course. What do you need?
Sayoko Background information on 3 people. I don't have that high of clearance so I was hoping you'd get them for me.
Skuld You realize I'd have to go up to Yggdrasil to get it don't you? Peorth isn't the SysOp on duty right now.
Sayoko Please Auntie. I really need the info. Besides, I know you miss her. I miss her too. I'd ask her, but she doesn't return my calls.
Several seconds go by.
Sayoko Auntie? You still there?
Skuld Alright. I'll go. Who are you looking for information on?
Sayoko Ayanami, Rei; Sohryu, Asuka Langley; Ikari, Shinji
Skuld The Pilots?
Sayoko Yes Auntie. And I need them ASAP.
Skuld Alright, I'm on my way.
Sayoko Say hi to Aunt Urd for me. Tell her I miss her.
Skuld I will.
Uplink Broken by Skuld
Reconnect?
:No
Waiting for instruction
: await file transfer protocol Source: Yggdrasil
Awaiting Upload
Sayoko sat back and shrank the window into the corner of her laptop. The teacher was still talking about 2nd impact. Sayoko looked at her watch.
'I wouldn't wish this on a Demon. How long can he go on?'
Sayoko looked around the room. Asuka, along with most of the class had gone to sleep. Hikari seemed to either be taking notes, or doing homework. Touji, Shinji and Kensuke were talking quietly amongst themselves in the back. Rei was staring out the window. Sayoko finally decided on a course of action. She turned on the student chat and sent a message to Rei.
Morisato Miss Ayanami?
Rei seemed to jump slightly as her screen flashed. She looked at the message then turned and looked at Sayoko. Rei then turned and typed a message.
Ayanami What do you want?
Morisato I want to talk.
Ayanami Why?
Morisato I think you know why.
Ayanami Very well. Where do you wish to meet?
Morisato During lunch.
Ayanami Alright.
Rei then turned and resumed looking out the window.
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Skuld appeared out of a fountain in Heaven. She immediately began walking towards the Main Building that held Yggdrasil. It had been many years since she had last been there. As she walked towards Yggdrasil, her mind drifted back to one of her last visits. It was not a pleasant memory.
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"What! What do you mean they're not here?" said an 18-year old Skuld. "He DIED. They should be here!"
Peorth shook her head, "We've had Yggdrasil search all over both the heavens, the earth, even Hell! Belldandy and Keiichi are just not here."
"But where else could they be? I can't believe they'd just disappear like that. They must be somewhere?" said Urd.
"We don't know where. After the plane crash, Yggdrasil lost the connection with Belldandy." Peorth shook her head sadly. "I'm sorry, she's gone."
Skuld and Urd just looked at each other. Both had tears beginning to form in their eyes. Both knew what they now had to do, but both were not looking forward to it. Peorth knew what was going through their heads, just by looking at them.
"I don't envy you. Tell Sayoko I'm sorry, we tried. And give Megumi my condolences."
That said, Peorth walked slowly back to Yggdrasil.
Skuld turned and looked at Urd. "What ARE we going to say to them?"
Urd just shook her head. "I don't know. I just……don't know."
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Skuld walked into the Yggdrasil Control room. Gods and Goddesses were moving all over tending to the day to day operations of the World Computer. Skuld could see Chronos, Erie and X working at the main controls. She immediately headed towards the Sys Ops chair.
The person in the chair was busy chewing out a Goddess.
"You're a 2nd Class Goddess and a System Debugger! It's your responsibility to make sure that your assigned area is kept free of Bugs….. Yet you decided to go to the Damn Goddess Mall?"
The goddess being yelled at cringed. "I'm sorry ma'am. It won't happen again."
"It had better not happen again. Now get to your section and help finish removing the Bugs, before that Hub crashes."
The goddess immediately flew off.
"I see you haven't lost your touch Urd." said Skuld.
Urd whirled around in the Sys Ops chair. When she saw who it was, her face went from anger to a neutral expression.
"Yggdrasil hasn't been the same since the 'second impact.'" Urd said, her voice betraying no emotion. "Hello, Skuld. What brings you here? I thought you were assigned to watch the little one."
"The 'little one' is 14 and a Class 2 Goddess now." Skuld said bitterly, "She also is working at NERV now. So I don't have to keep constant watch."
"You're still mad at me aren't you?"
"Yes"
Urd sighed. "Then, why are you here?"
Skuld handed Urd a piece of paper with 3 names written on it. Urd scanned the names.
"Alright, What's this?"
"Yoko wants the files on those individuals. And she'd like them ASAP."
"What does she want them for?" asked Urd.
"I don't know. But she never asks for something she doesn't need."
"Right." Urd got up. " Erie, keep an eye on things I'll be back in a moment."
"Yes Ma'am" The Admin replied.
Urd turned towards Skuld and motioned her to follow. They disappeared down a hallway.
After they disappeared, Chronos turned towards Erie.
"What was all that?"
Erie mumbled a reply. "Family reunion."
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Urd led the way down a hall and into an Office. Skuld looked around and immediately determined it to be Urd's Office. Urd walked up to the terminal and began to type in commands. Skuld looked about the office. She saw a lot of shelves full of books. One self made her stop. She walked up to it to get a closer look. On the shelf were many pictures. There was one from long ago, When Urd had just become a Goddess 2nd class, with Belldandy and Skuld standing near her. There was also a picture from the day Belldandy became a Goddess 1st class. Then there was a picture from Belldandy's and Keiichi's wedding. Right next to it, a picture of a 4 year-old Sayoko. The last picture really surprised her. It was a picture from just 8 years ago. It showed Skuld, at age 21, on the day she became a 1st class Goddess. Next to Skuld stood a 6 year-old Sayoko. Urd, noticing Skuld looking at the picture, spoke up.
"Peorth got me that picture."
"Why didn't you come?" asked Skuld, still looking at the picture.
"Because you were and still are mad at me. I didn't want to ruin your day by having you explode at me."
Skuld finally turned and looked at Urd.
"Sayoko says you haven't returned any of her messages. She misses you."
Urd looked down. "I know she does. She reminds me too much of…. Bell." Urd wiped away the developing tear. "I still miss her."
Skuld whispered a reply. "So do I. So does Yoko. But she needs her family to be around her, to support her. And you're not helping."
Urd grew silent. The silence was interrupted by a chime. Both Urd and Skuld looked at the monitor.
Personal File: Mortal, Sohryu, Asuka Langley – File Found
Personal File: Mortal, Ikari, Shinji – File Found
Personal File: Mortal, Ayanami, Rei – ERROR – File not found
Waiting for Instruction
"That can't be right." said Urd. "Are you sure the name is correct?"
"Yes, Yoko is never wrong when it comes to names."
"Well, this Rei is not listed in the mortal database." Urd said.
"Try the entire database." said Skuld. "There must be something on her."
Urd types the commands into the computer. Soon the computer came back with a response.
Personal File: Ayanami, Rei – ERROR – Protection in Place.
Urd and Skuld looked at each other.
"Skuld….."
"I know, Urd I know….." Skuld stared at the screen, "Why is her file under a Protection Program?"
"I don't know." Urd replied, "What do you want me to do? You're the 1st class here."
Skuld thought about it for a second. "Send what you have to Yoko." Skuld turned and headed towards the office door. "I'm going to talk to Kami-sama about this."
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Sayoko sat quietly waiting for Lunch to start. 5 mins before the bell rang, The small window alerted her to the fact she had a response from Yggdrasil.
Yggdrasil Download link establishing
Protocol Beta Alpha Odin established
Security Barriers at Full
Download link Established with Urd Goddess 2nd Class Limited
'Aunt Urd?' thought Sayoko.
Message as Follows
From: Urd Goddess 2nd Class Limited – Yggdrasil SysOp
To: Sayoko Goddess 2nd Class Limited
Sorry I haven't been there for you. I'm going to try better starting today. Here are the files you requested. Concerning Ayanami, suggest caution. Her file is under a Protection Program. Talk to you soon.
'Protection Program?' Sayoko thought.
Download completed
Sayoko immediately saved the information to the diskette and then logged off Yggdrasil. She then opened up the files. She quickly read through the files on Asuka and Shinji. After reading the files, She felt she could understand them more.
'We are all alike. Except I had Auntie Skuld to be there for me. They had no one.'
When the bell rang for lunch, Sayoko hadn't heard it. She was still reading the files and didn't even notice when Rei walked up to her.
"Morisato"
Sayoko jumped ejecting the disk and slamming shut her laptop.
"GAH! Ohhh Ayanami."
"Are you ready for lunch?"
"Yes…. I'm ready" replied Sayoko.
