Chapter 4

New Friends / Bardiel Attacks

"What is she doing?" asked Asuka.

Hikari looked up from her lunch. "Who?"

Asuka and Hikari were sitting under a tree eating. Asuka pointed over towards a nearby bench.

"Sayoko. What is she doing with Wondergirl?"

Hikari looked over. "Well from here, it looks like their talking."

"Wondergirl doesn't talk." Asuka said, "She just sits there like a doll and does what she's told."

"Maybe Morisato is trying to make friends." Hikari replied, ignoring Asuka's comment. "I mean, from what you've said, she only really has talked to you, Shinji, and myself. Touji told me that he really didn't get a chance to talk to her."

"She's lucky about that."

"Hey!" Hikari shouted, turning to look at Asuka. "Touji is not that bad."

"I still don't know what you see in him." Asuka muttered before taking another bite of lunch.

"Well, what do you see in Shinji?" Hikari replied.

"WHAT?" Asuka screeched, "I don't like that Baka!"

Hikari smiled at her friend. "Yeah right. Sure you don't."

"I'm serious. I do not like Shinji."

Hikari let out a sigh. " You know Asuka, if you keep up that attitude, you'll end up alone."

Asuka's looked right at Hikari, her face paling a bit. "What did you say?"

"I said If you keep that attitude, you'll end up alone."

Asuka looked down toward the ground.

"Asuka?" Hikari asked, noticing her friend's sudden change of character. "What's the matter?"

"Something Sayoko said last night." Asuka replied softly, "Do I really treat Shinji that badly?"

Hikari looked away a second. She then turned back.

"Honestly Asuka, from what I've seen, you never really given anyone a chance."

Asuka thought about that for the rest of lunch.

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Sayoko and Rei sat beside each other on the bench, unsure on how to proceed with the conversation. Both poked at their food, but did not eat. Finally Sayoko broke the silence.

"Ayanami," Sayoko began, "Whenever I'm around you, I feel……. different. I've been trying to figure out why." said Sayoko

"I too feel different around you. I have not reach a conclusion as to why." said

Rei.

"You do?" Sayoko looked at Rei confused.

"Yes. I feel……. afraid of you." Rei glanced at Sayoko. "There is something about you that I fear."

Sayoko stared at the red-eyed girl for a moment.

"I'm not really allowed to talk much about myself." She finally said, "There is a lot that I must keep hidden. But I can make you a promise. I will not harm you in anyway. You a fellow pilot,and I would hope, also my friend."

Rei turned and looked at Sayoko.

"I too, am unable to tell, certain things." Rei said, "But I do believe you."

Sayoko gave Rei a smile. "Friend?"

Rei looked a little longer at Sayoko before replying.

"Very well."

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"Sooooo. You do like Asuka."

"Leave me alone Kensuke." replied Shinji.

"YOU DO!" Kensuke shouted, horrified, "How can you betray us like that?"

"Leave me out of this Kensuke, when the Devil hears about this, I don't want to be involved." said Touji.

"You just don't want to get in trouble with the Class Rep." Kensuke said with a grin. "She is YOUR girlfriend after all."

"So what?" said Touji, blushing slightly.

"So, Shinji." Kensuke began again, looking back at the pilot. "You like the Devil?"

Shinji was saved by the ring of his cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Shinji-kun?"

"Misato?" Shinji sat up quickly. "What's going on? Is there an Angel coming?"

Both Touji and Kensuke sat up straight at the word 'Angel'.

"No. No Angels. I just wanted to inform you that you and the rest of the pilots need to report to NERV right after school."

"What? How come? We had the sync tests yesterday."

"We're going to do an activation test on Unit-04. Ritsuko has gotten the S2 engine functional."

Shinji frowned. "If it's an Activation test, Why do you need the rest of us?"

"Do you remember your test in Unit-00?"

Shinji remembered that test. Unit-00 had gone berserk and he had woken up in the hospital.

"Yes."

"That's why. This is an S2 Engine. That means ejecting the power plug won't turn it off. The rest of you will be there to keep 04 under control and save the pilot, if necessary. Tell the other pilots would you?"

"Ok Misato, I will."

"Thanks Shinji-kun!"

"What's up?" asked Touji.

"We have to go to NERV after school today. They're going to activate Unit 04."

"Why do they need us?"

"Just in case something goes wrong."

"Wait!" said Kensuke. "What do you mean 'go wrong'?"

"If you have to ask," said Shinji, "You really don't want to know."

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Later, At NERV.

"Units 00 thru 03 are synced and active."

"Thank-you Maya. Ok guys. Move into position near Cage 7. If we have any problems, we'll let you in. Your orders then will be to secure the Eva, and to rescue the pilot."

"You can count on us Misato." replied Asuka.

"Right" Misato turned toward Ritsuko. "Ok Ritsuko, we're ready if you are."

"Alright, Status of S2 engine?"

"S2 engine currently offline." said Maya.

"Very well, Begin Synchronization."

"Nerve linkages connecting"

"Approaching Borderline………….. Borderline has been cleared. Eva Unit-04 is now activated."

"Sync rate?"

"Sync steady at 63" stated Maya.

"Activate S2 engine"

"S2 engine has activated!"

Inside Cage 7 Unit-04 seemed to stand up straighter and its eyes glowed white.

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Sayoko sat quietly inside her entry plug, clutching her mother's ring in her hand. She felt slightly disorientated as she synced. Soon the Plug walls shimmered, and showed the view from the head of her Eva.

'Wow!' was the only thing that came to her mind.

"Sayoko? How do you feel?"

"This feels kind of weird Dr. Akagi." Sayoko replied as she moved the Eva's arm. "It's like I'm being weighted down."

"You'll get used to it. Ok, we want you to try and walk. When you're ready, take a step."

"Ok"

Everyone in the control room watched as the silver Eva very carefully put a foot out and took a step. Soon, the Eva was walking quite easily around the cage.

"Very Good Sayoko. Even better then Shinji's first time."

"HEY!" Shinji's unhappy face appeared in the corner of the screen. "I was facing an Angel my first time! I was nervous."

Asuka's face then appeared. "Hehehe Sure you were Baka." came the German's response.

Touji's face then appeared. "Heh, Even I didn't fall over the first time."

"OK that's enough chatter." Ritsuko ordered. All the other pilots vanished from her screen. "Sayoko how do you doing?"

Sayoko turned the Eva's head toward the Control Room window.

"As I do it the more I'm getting used to it."

At that moment the alarms began to sound.

Sayoko looked around. "What's that?"

"BLUE PATTERN DETECTED. ANGEL APPROACHING TOKYO-3!" Lt. Hyuga's voice boomed throughout the cage and control room.

"Sayoko, just hang out. Units-00 thru 03 Prepare for launch!" Misato shouted as she headed towards Central Dogma along with Ritsuko and Maya.

Sayoko sighed and leaned her Eva against the wall. 'I guess I should have brought a book.'

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"Angel is approaching from the north!" shouted Lt. Aoba.

"Do we have a visual yet?" asked Misato

"Negative." Aoba replied, "The Angel is not yet visible. We have its location based upon the Magi's sensors."

From above, Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki and Commander Ikari sat and watched.

"Major. Send out Units-02 and 03 for reconnaissance." ordered Ikari.

"Yes sir." Misato turned back to the main screen. "Evas 02 and 03 LAUNCH!"

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Inside Cage 7, Sayoko heard a loud roar as the catapult fired off sending two Evas hurdling towards the surface.

"Hey Shinji! Is that any fun?" asked Sayoko.

"Yeah sure. If you like being pressed into a seat and then jerked when it comes to a stop."

"Oh."

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"Angel is to your north, grab Pallet Rifles and head in that direction. This is recon avoid contact for now."

"Right Misato. Let's go Devil." said Touji as he directed his Eva north.

"Hey!" retorted Asuka, "Who died and left you in charge Stooge! I'll take point."

"Fine, But you'll have to hurry and catch-up if you want point." Unit-03 began to pick up its pace.

"Ooooooooooo you Idiot." Asuka ran to catch-up to Touji and then passed his

Unit.

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"Damn kids." Misato muttered as she rubbed her forehead.

"Major! The Pattern! It's disappeared!" shouted Hyuga.

"What? What do you mean disappeared?"

"It's gone." Hyuga replied, "Its just not there!"

"Ok Listen up Asuka, Touji." Misato said into the com. "Proceed to last known location of the Angel. Use extreme caution."

Both pilots responded with a "Yes ma'am"

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Both Evas soon arrived at the last known location of the Eva.

"You see anything Asuka?"

"No I don't see anything Idiot. All I see is trees and more trees."

"Asuka. Touji. Continue to search with caution."

"Yes Misato."

The Evas continued to walk slowly in search of their Prey.

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"Why don't they do something. The suspense is killing me." Sayoko muttered inpatiently. " Hey Rei! What are you doing?"

Rei's face appeared on her Eva's screen.

"I am awaiting orders." Rei replied.

"I know that. Why aren't you doing anything?

"I'm am not required to be doing anything at this time." Rei said without blicking.

"Uughh." Sayoko threw her hands up in the air. "Shinji? How much longer are we going to wait?"

"To be honest, I'm not really sure." Shinji replied, "You never know when they

may decide to launch us."

"Hey down there!" Misato's face appeared on the Eva's screen. "Keep it quiet. You might miss your orders."

"Yes Misato." The three pilot's responded in unison.

Sayoko leaned forward and turned of the transmitter so she could only receive.

She then leaned back and listened to the orders being given to Touji and Asuka.

"I wonder how hard it is to sing in an Entry Plug full of LCL." She wondered aloud.

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Asuka and Touji moved quickly to the last location of the Angel, and found…….a swamp.

"Do you two see anything yet?" came the Major's voice.

"For the hundredth time Misato, All we see are trees and a swamp." Asuka said as she moved her Eva forward into the swamp.

"Swamp?" Misato asked confused, "Asuka, there IS NO swamp in your area!"

"What?"

"BLUE PATTERN DETECTED! ITS DIRECTLY BELOW UNIT-02!"

"ASUKA GET OUT OF THERE!"

The 'swamp' seemed to rise up and began to cover Unit-02.

"Asuka!" Touji ran his Unit over and began to try and help remove it. A tentacle formed and quickly swatted Unit-03 away.

"DAMMIT GET OFF ME!" Asuka gave up trying to scrape it off, turned her Rifle towards it and fired. The shots had no effect.

"DAMMIT, I'M NOT GOING GET SWALLOWED UP LIKE SHINJI DID.

SOMEONE HELP ME!"

"TOUJI! Help Asuka, Evas 00 and 01 prepare for Launch!" shouted Misato.

Touji continued to try and help Asuka but all his attempts failed, soon the tentacle sent Unit 3 flying away again. The Angel began to seep into the joints of Unit-02.

"WE HAVE CONTAMINATION! THE ANGEL IS TAKING OVER UNIT-02" shouted Hyuga.

"Eject the Plug! NOW!" shouted Misato.

"Its no good. Eva is rejecting commands" said Maya.

"ASUKA!" shouted Misato.

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Inside Eva-02, the plug had gone black.

"Dammit, Why can't I see? What is going on?" Asuka looked about.

What do you think your doing Lilim? You're not going anywhere.

"Who are you?" Asuka shouted, still looking around.

I am of Adam. I intend to return to him

"What!" Asuka shouted in horror, "You're the angel?"

That is what your kind calls us. Though our real name is ancient, far older then you Lilim have been upon this earth.

"Let me out of here!"

No. You will be honored by being allow to watch and hear the others of your kind as I defeat them. And then you will be honored as you will also become one with Adam.

"NOOOO!"

The Plug shimmered as the walls revealed the view from outside.

"Launch Evas 00 and 01! Touji, until they get there distract Unit-02. But don't damage it, we don't want to hurt Asuka."

"MISATO!"

They can't hear you Lilim.

"Misato!" came Touji's cry, "How am I supposed to distract it?"

"I don't know. Try………"

"This is Commander Ikari. I am assuming control of the mission. Unit-02 is now

Classified as an Angel. Fourth Child, You will attack the target."

"But Sir," replied Touji, "Asuka……."

"You will carry out your orders Fourth Child. Now Attack!"

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"Please Grandfather. Help Asuka. She's not really that bad."

Sayoko sat in her plug listening to the sounds of battle from overhead.

"Please help her."

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Touji took aim with his rifle.

"I'm sorry Shinji. Forgive me Asuka."

Touji opened fire upon Unit-02. All the shots were blocked by an AT-Field.

With a roar of anger, Unit-02 ran at Touji. It was a short and brutal fight.

"EJECT THE PLUG QUICK."

The back of Unit-03 was blown off as the Entry plug was ejected far from the battle. Unit-02 let out another roar and then ripped the head off of Unit-3.

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"Uni….. The Angel is heading towards the city."

"Where are Units 0 and 1.?" asked Ikari.

"Unit-00 is moving towards the Angel. Unit-01s launcher jammed. Shinji is moving towards another launcher."

"Very well. Rei."

"Yes, sir."

"You are to use the sniper gun. Try to take out the Angel from long range."

Rei hesititated, then replied "Yes, sir."

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Rei moved her Eva quickly behind the hills. She then moved slowly up the hill and peered over. She could see Unit-02 as it slowly walked towards the city. She carefully lined up her sniper rifle and took aim on the approx. location of the core.

Rei was about to fire when the Eva turned. Her scope now pointed at the location of the entry plug. Rei hesitated. Unit-02 immediately jumped thru the air and landed on top of Unit-00. Soon Rei's plug was also sailing thru the air away from the battle.

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Asuka rocked back and forth in her seat, holding her legs tightly against her chest.

"Please. No more. Please. Let me go." repeated Asuka over and over again.

But there is still another The Angel replied.

"Eva 01 has Launched" came Aoba's voice.

"Third Child," Came the Commander's voice. "You understand the mission?"

"Yes, Commander" the word commander was expressed with a lot of hate.

Asuka looked up and saw the shape of Unit-01 heading towards Unit-02.

"No…Not Shinji. Please No."

Don't you hate him? Isn't he a Baka? A Hentai?

Asuka held her head in her hands as her words were used against her.

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Units 01 and 02 met and began to wrestle. Shinji kept trying to reach for the hatch on the back in the hope of getting the entry plug. But every time he thought he had it. Unit-02 shifted it out of his grasp. Unit-02 then picked up Unit-01 and threw it against the mountainside. Shinji tried to get up, but Unit-02 got a grip on his Units neck and began to choke him.

"Third Child. Why aren't you fighting?" asked the elder Ikari.

"Because……………….Asuka could………………still be……………..alive" Shinji gasped between breathes.

"Irrelevant. Destroy the Angel."

"No Asuka is in there."

"Irrelevant. If you do not fight, you will die."

"I WON'T HURT ASUKA"

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Asuka was stunned when she heard that.

"Did Shinji just….. Does he…… Shinji?"

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"Disconnect the Pilot from the Eva." Gendo ordered, "Prepare to activate the Dummy Plug."

"But Sir! It hasn't been tested yet." Said Dr. Akagi.

"This will be a trial run then. Activate the Dummy Plug."

"Sir, it may not work well. The connections still have errors in….."

"It is still better then the current pilot, Activate the Dummy Plug or I will replace you with someone who will."

"Yes sir."

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Shinji felt the hand tighten around his neck. Just when it felt like he could take no more. The pressure released and then the entire plug went black.

"Huh? What?" Shinji looked around.

A whirling noise started behind him and the Plug glowed red. Once again Unit-02 came back into view, still strangling his Eva. Shinji looked and saw a Dummy Plug Activated appear to his right on his screen.

He saw his Eva start to fight back.

"What! What's going on?"

He watched as his Eva grabbed a hold of Unit-02s neck and began to twist.

"Father! What are you doing? Make it stop!"

A loud bang echoed in his plug and the screen went black again.

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From the Central Dogma, Misato watched in horror as Unit-02s neck was bent towards the breaking point. She listened as Shinji pleaded with his father to stop. She turned and looked at the Commander. A smirk could be seen just under his glasses. Then the entire room gasped. Misato, her back to the screen didn't want to know what had happened. She did see the smile on Ikari's face disappear.

"I did not order the Dummy Plug deactivated. What is going on?"

Misato turned and saw that Unit-02 was once again strangling Unit-01, only this time, Unit-01 was not moving.

"The Dummy Plug shorted out. It could not handle the signals being sent into it." replied Ritsuko.

"Can it be repaired?"

"Not from here."

"Then we have no choice. Reactivate the Pilot's connections."

"We can't." Ritsuko said, "Not for another 5 minutes. The Dummy plug shorting out caused a small surge in the connections. We have to wait for it to dissipate before the Pilot can reconnect."

"……..Prepare Unit-04 for Launch." The Commander ordered.

"But she hasn't had the full training!" Misato called out.

Gendo's gaze fell on the Major.

"She has had more then the Third on his first mission." He replied coldly, "If anything, the fifth will provide a distraction so that Unit-01 can recover."

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Down in Cage 7.

Sayoko had been sitting listening to what was happening above.

'What good am I going to do? How could he treat his son like that? Is Asuka

alright?'

Maya's voice was then heard in the plug. " Sayoko, Are you ready."

"Y..yes.." replied Sayoko.

She felt a lurch as her Eva was moved towards the Launcher.

'What can I do? I can't harm Asuka. Kami-sama help me. Auntie help me. I'm scared. I don't want to hurt Asuka. She can be nice. She hasn't had a chance.'

Her Eva was now in Launching position.

"EVA 04….."

'I wish someone would help me'

"LAUNCH!"

Your wish has been approved

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