Chapter 51

Inside of the NERV Command center, Sawyer Dell had just arrived.

He stood staring at the officer at the terminal with his mouth open and his face etched in pain.

"Are you sure?" he asked in a low sad voice.

The officer seated at a terminal took a deep breath as he said. "Commander, I'm sorry but after that, we lost Unit 1's signal. It's gone, sir. Major Ikari's vitals went silent."

"No, it can't be!" Sawyer yelled out. "It can't be."

"I'm sorry, sir." The officer said. "Unit 1 is gone."

"No…." Sawyer said as he shut his eyes, turning his back. "Not Hope. No."

Turning around again, he slammed his fist onto the desk and shut his eyes again, his other hand turning into a shaking fist at his side.

He took a deep breath as he looked back to the monitor that showed the live visual of the large orange lake in the desert.

"Commander Dell, relay from General Ikari."

"Patch her through." Sawyer said in a low voice as he sat down in a chair and put on a headset staring at the monitor.

The image of General Ikari came on; she looked like she was inside of a helicopter, her face looked sad as she said. "You know. Don't you, Sawyer?"

Sawyer nodded as he looked back to her. "Yes."

"Sawyer, the mission is over. We've been successful. I'd like you to accompany me when I go to tell Souke and Reina about Hope." She said sadly.

"Of course, General." Sawyer said.

"I'm going to fly to the lake first. I have to see it for myself, then I'll be at the command center." Asuka said flatly.

"Okay, General." Sawyer said.

"Sawyer, I'm sorry." Asuka said. "Thank you though for loving her as much as you did. Thank you for opening her heart again and making her believe. I'm glad that her last days were with you."

Sawyer nodded as he said. "Thank you, General."

"Ikari out." Asuka said as the monitor blinked off.

Sawyer took a deep breath as he leaned back in the chair. He looked towards the monitor and then got up out of the chair.

He walked out of the command center and outside to the desert.

He stood looking out into the barren landscape of the Sahara and put his hand over his eyes, his fist shaking at his side.

He breathed out as he shut his eyes.

The pain in his heart was like nothing he had ever experienced before and as strong as he was, he couldn't help from having a tear come out of his eye.

"I've lost you." He said aloud.

Standing outside in the sands of the Sahara, he dropped his hand to the side and looked out into the barren desert.

Shutting his eyes, Sawyer listened to the winds and thought he heard someone say to him.

"Go to her."

Sawyer shook his head as he looked ahead into the desert.

Taking a few steps forward, he took a deep breath, sank to his knees, bowed his head and allowed the pain in his heart to surface.

I've lost you.

His heart began to break at the thought of never seeing her again.

Another tear rolled out of his eye.

He had loved her so much and he was amazed that in the short time he had known her how he could fall in love so deeply and so quickly.

He couldn't believe that this mission was to be her last and yet, it was the fear that he had all along.

Perhaps that was why they had a romance like that.

It was so passionate and wonderful but it was only to last a short while.

It was enough to give them both what they needed happiness for the hell that was to come.

Now she was gone.

She had died a hero and had done what she said she was going to do.

For the hope of the world, Hope Ikari gave her life.

No, it's unfair. He thought to himself. It's not right.

"Go to her, Sawyer. You know where to go."

He thought he heard something; he raised his head and looked,

Staring.

Wondering.

Slowly he stood up and looked out into the desert.

It wasn't as if someone was speaking to him, it was like a voice in the wind, barely audible but the words could be heard.

"Go."

Sawyer took another look into the desert and then ran as quickly as he could. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him across the desert sands to the large orange LCL lake.

When he arrived he was out of breath and he was sweating profusely, he bent down putting his hands on his knees.

He looked into the calm of the orange sea and then he saw it.

A ripple.

Another ripple

A bubble,

Then,

A drop.