/The Last Exodus/
- Lawless Priest -
an old debt +
Karou sat in his empty cell, quietly waiting for his capturers to make their appearance. He knew that they would come eventually after they let him 'stew' for a bit, but he didn't care. Patience was a tool that he had learned long ago during his captivity at the hands of SEELE.
Amid the numerous test and trails that filled his days at their hands the platinum haired pilot was quick to find the infrequent periods of solitude to be a blessing. It was during those times that he was able to look within himself, to continue the search that for the past five years had consumed his subconscious thoughts.
He knew that somewhere within the locked and forgotten areas of his soul were the answers he sought, but gaining access to them would be a trial in of itself. But Karou of the sea shore had plenty of time to devote himself to his goal and one day he planed on unlocking the key to his true freedom and a future thought by many to be impossible.
SEELE would become a problem of course, and even Ayanami might try to stop him, but it had to be done. No matter the cost to himself, Karou knew what he had to do. And he was so close. Behind the emotionless mask she put on for the world, Rei had her own hidden objectives that she was willing to die for and he didn't begrudge her that, but he wouldn't allow her to interfere in his own affairs.
His goals were just as important to him and possible the world. Whether they agreed with it or not.
It was the sound of metal sliding against metal that alerted him to the other's presence. They had come at last, bringing a smile to the young man's face. It was so easy to make him smile and Karou had no qualms about expressing his emotions, as was his nature.
"Pilot Nagisa." that simple statement was the only greeting the taller newcomer gave as he addressed the ex-SEELE Eva pilot.
"King Ikari." Karou replied in kind. He couldn't help but think of how fun this would be. 'I wonder what I can learn from this man. What he says and what he doesn't say, both should give me a picture of his own motives. Ha, I guess SEELE taught me well.'
"There is much we need to discuss." The gruff man said as the scant light in the room faded with the closing cell door's echo while the two... 'talked'
And Karou found that he was not disappointed.
/TLE/
"So you were able to save the towns people after all, even with the olds against you?" Major Katsuragi asked Shinji's team when they reported to her office looking every bit the determined military leader in her close fitting black uniform and tan trousers, with her infamous red bomber jacket to complete the look, even though many of the male members of Sentinel were still mourning her change from the usual short skirts she wore to the current more business oriented attire.
"Yes, Ma'am. They had no where else to go and we didn't believe they would be safe staying there so... " Shinji trailed off while Toji and Kensuke waited patiently behind him for her response. They hadn't predicted how well she would take to them having brought back a little over two dozen civilians to a supposed secret base, unauthorized.
It could easily go bad for them.
"I understand Lieutenant Ikari," the Major stated calmly and the three young soldiers let out relived sights "but I want you to be aware that I'm holding you responsible for them if something unexpected happens." she continued, catching them off guard.
"Uh.. Hai, Ma'am. I understand." Shinji didn't really like the sound of that but what could he do? Truly, he should have expected she'd do something like this.
"Good, you guys did well. I suppose that a few days leave is appropriate after such a mission." The older woman said with a warm smile on her gorgeous face as she dismissed the three. Of course this derailed any further thought processes from two thirds of the Three Stooges, causing Shinji to have to drag the two love sick fools out of the smirking Major's office by the scruff of their collars.
"So, what do you guys want do now since we're off duty?" Suzuhara threw out as he straitened his ruffled coat collar out while he lead his two buddies down the hall.
"I want to check on the civilians, you know, make sure they're settled in first and all. They've had it really rough so far. I... I want to do want I can to help them out." Shinji put in as he headed off to find those in question.
"You know that was a great way to kill my buzz there Ikari."
"Yeah, but you know you're coming too Toji, so quit your whining. Besides, we all know the Lieutenant here just wants to see his new girlfriend." Aida pointed his thumb at the grimacing Ikari's back as they walked.
"Oh, of course! How could I have forgotten Ken my friend? Who am I to deter our love struck comrade here from the pleasure of catching a brief moment with his beloved." Suzuhara replied in an overly mockingly, understanding tone.
"Cut it out you two." Shinji tried to make that come out like anything but the whine that it was but fell far short of his goal as his 'friends' laughed at his expense. It always ended up like that no matter how much he tried to change it.
But it just was the way things were between the three of them. Kensuke and Toji had been his closest friends since he meet them when he was young growing up within the some times harsh militarist environment of Sentinel and the Outer Rim. They had been there for him when he needed them. Neither of the three had any living family, having all lost them in the many skirmishes during the Hell Spawn War. So they all knew how the others felt when it came to the subject of family and loneliness and were quick to call on each other for help.
Unfortunately, since they were still young men, issues of love and women weren't really in their regular bag of tricks. Their queue being more equipped for battle than relationships, so their limited experiences tended to leave them to have to fend for themselves, and usually at the cost of having to deal with the embarrassing jokes of their dateless friends.
A matter that was really starting to grate on the latest victim's nerves.
High Tech was not a term one would have used to described the halls of Sentinel HQ. It couldn't be denied that there held a sort of ramshackle, disorganized warehoused air about the military facility but compared to towns like Markir, who would have been hard pressed to find the owner of a gas powered motor vehicle anywhere among them, it was the spitting image of cutting edge.
And the number of gawking towns people staring at their new surroundings like awe struck fools was proof enough.
"Guess they don't get out much." The taller of the three observed, his gaze traveling from one startled survivor to another.
"That would probably be an understatement." Aida replied while walking up to the nearest one and began waving his hands to get their attention.
"So, what exactly are we supposed to do with them? They can't just hang around here. We were trying to better their lives not confine them." Suzuhara asked in a somber tone.
Shinji didn't give an answer, mainly because he didn't have one. He merely watched as Kensuke began giving them a impromptu tour of the place while getting some nearby off duty techs to help out.
They were farmers and shop owners whose homes and businesses were left no more than hours before in what could only be described as rubble. How could they possibly start over? How was he going to help them get over their lost? What could he do to ease their pain?
The young soldier had no more answers for these very important questions than he had for any of his more personal ones. But he had seen their pain, had shared in it, so he couldn't leave them to the winds of chance.
"First Lieutenant Ikari?"
"Huh," Turning his head to see who called him, Shinji was rather surprised to find himself sharing the company of a pretty young woman in a lab coat smiling his way.
"Oh, um, yes Ms.. oh I mean... Dr. Ibuki. Sorry. Uh... how can I help you?" he gave a nervous chuckle while he apologized, unconsciously scratching the back of his head, giving away his true feelings.
"As smooth as ever Ikari. I'm sure she'll fall to her knees madly in love with you from those oh so elegant words of yours. I most say old boy, amazing tactics, purely amazing."
He tried not to blush and elbow Toji in the gut at the same time and was rewarded with a breathless "ugff!" and the sound of someone stumbling behind him for his troubles. "Serves you right, Suzuhara." He said under his breath so only they could hear before turning his attention back to the giggling beauty before him and tried to keep the blush from returning.
Of course he failed.
Shinji just had no chance around pretty women. Nothing he ever said came out the way it was supposed to. It seemed he would be cursed to remain alone forever. His mind conviently forgetting the incident with Miss Mana, but that was probably a fluke, he assured himself. No one would ever want to be with him.
"It's alright Shinji-kun. But I need you to come with me."
"Oh... sure, Ibuki-san." He turned to his compatriot and made sure that Toji would see the townspeople taken care of for him and then headed off with the slightly older scientist.
The nervous tension filling him just wouldn't go away and it was starting to get to him but he took a calming breath and kept it to himself. 'I don't want to look like a fool in front of Ms. Maya. Or more than I already do.' He thought to himself as they continued down the hall in silence.
A silence that was helping to further the tension in his muscles.
"So.. uh... you wouldn't happen to know what I'm being called for do you, Ibuki-san?"
"Huh, oh, I'm not sure. Some members from Nerv showed up soon after you and your team returned. I'm not sure why but Major Katsuragi asked me to bring you in."
"Nerv? Why? What business would they have of me?"
"Like I said Shinji-kun, I'm not sure, but I hope something isn't wrong."
The walked on together quietly. Each lost in their private thoughts, too concern with themselves to try to converse any longer. The two were almost to the Major's office when Maya finally spoke up, snapping up to attention as if a burst of energy shot through her veins.
"The Angel! It has to be!"
"Angel? What are you talking about?"
"Don't you know?" His dumbfounded look said it all. So she went on. "There was an Angel Attack while you were out. It came from the direction of Tokyo 3. It happened probably right as you guy's were making it back."
"An Angel attack? Are you serious. It's kinda late in the day for something like that, but good for tactics I suppose. So what happen? Why did they decide to return now?"
"I don't know Shinji, but it's the only reason that I can see Nerv coming hear for. I wouldn't put it past them to know that we have an Eva hidden here."
"Hmm..." Shinji couldn't help but frown. The situation just didn't feel right. He could tell that trouble was ahead.
/TLE/
"You're asking me to what!"
"Calm down Mr. Ikari, we..."
"Don't bullshit me you lackey. Who do you people think you are to come here with this crap?"
"Our duty is to bring you back to the Capital Mr. Ikari, one way or the other."
"What makes you believe I would allow you to leave with one of my men? This is the Outer Rim, Nerv's authority doesn't apply out here." An Angry Major countered back, her arms crossed before her, looking ready to do the two armored fools bodily harm if necessary. 'To believe they even have the nerve actually say that with a strait face.'
"That maybe, but we have a direct order from the King himself. Your man Ikari here must come with us. We were told it was of great importance. Lord Gendo made it perfectly clear"
"Hmpft... of course he would." Shinji snorted from his place on the opposite side of the briefing room. He knew there was going to be trouble.
Misato and Maya gave the youth a sidelong glance. They hadn't known that Shinji knew the King personally, which made this meeting all the more stranger.
"We were told to tell you that it was time to clear up an old debt."
Ikari said nothing, merely stood there with his arms crossed looking at the two Knights sent by Nerv, or more precisely through them, his blues orbs piercing a burning hole through them and the wall behind as if he was trying to send his anger all the way to Tokyo-3 as they gained a faraway glaze.
"An old debt you say?" he questioned them, but he was mostly speaking to himself.
'The Angels, it has to be. An 'old debt' indeed." One he was willing to pay for in blood.
Shinji gave a sigh as he unfolded his arms. He knew what his answer would be. He had made a promise to make them pay and here was his chance. Even if he did have to see that bastard one more time to get it done.
"Fine, I'll go. Get your stuff together, we'll leave as soon as possible." The two Knight messengers gave each other a quick look and nodded to Shinji before making their way out. And not seconds after the door slammed shut did Misato have at him.
"What the hell do you think you are doing? This is Sentinel not Nerv, Lieutenant. And if I remember correctly you are under my command not theirs."
"They'd only have sent a larger force to take me back if I had refused. That's just how he thinks."
"Just how who thinks?"
"Lord Gendo." The amount of spite and venom put into those two simple words set the Major back a bit with a frown.
'Just how far did their relationship go?' the purple haired Officer couldn't help but think.
"But why Shinji-kun? What does Nerv want with you? I thought they came for the Eva?"
"Maybe, maybe not, but you might want to keep a closer eye on it just in case." Shinji said while still staring off, never looking at either of the two older women. He had made his decision and he would see it through.
"I still don't like it. Nerv just can't come in here like they own the place."
"But what can we do Ma'am, it's not like we can fight them off? They would find out and the Capital would send an army like the Lieutenant said." Maya tried to reason out a solution but all of her scenarios kept coming back with them dead, the Eva gone and the base destroyed.
"Alright, that's it! I'm assigning Second Lieutenants Suzuhara and Aida to accompany you. I don't trust those suited bastards for one minute. You're apart of my team and I will not have you going off into unknown territory by yourself."
"Ma'am... I...?" his eyes wide, shock clearly evident on his face.
"Besides, I can't have my little Shinji-kun running off without knowing he's safe." she completed her teasing by putting him in a head lock and ruffling his hair while a giggling Dr. Ibuki laughed at his expense.
"Misato!" She was supposed to be his superior, but she acted more like an over attentive mother or older sister. Not that he was complaining. He just wished she'd stop crushing his face into her breast so often. It kinda ruined the motherly role he had placed her in.
Once again, not that he was complaining.
/TLE/
"I'm sorry to have to cut your leave off so soon, but I hope you can understand my reasoning?" Misato was saying to the fully assembled Stooges who were all packed and ready, their red and black Sentinel uniforms pressed and polished as if for inspection, gave them all a stately appeal. Even though none of them worked for the state and would fight to make sure that would never be so.
"It's cool, Ma'am. We can't have our man here go off on his own now can we?" Toji answered back. While giving the Major a stiff salute.
"Of course not, who knows what manner of trouble he'd get himself into?" Aida added while doing the same.
"Shut up you two."
"Haha, calm down Ikari, we're just joking with you."
"Alright, you three. You had better get going before those iron heads over there start to rust." Misato replied back while pointing to the waiting Knights.
Said iron heads merely frowned in indignation but kept silent. They walked away stiffly when the Stooges of Sentinel, the Defenders of the Outer Rim made off with their gear on their backs and climbed into the armed Nerv transport vehicle.
No doubt they were a little ticked at how long it took for Shinji and them to leave considering what he had told them earlier, but Mana and the survivors, but mainly Mana, had made it a point to see them off, thanking them for saving them and then throwing them a spur of the moment going away party that had to have pissed the Nervites off to no end.
Of course, Kensuke eating a slice of said party cake in front of their faces while they made their way towards Tokyo 3 and asking repeatedly if they wanted any didn't help much. Suzuhara laughing at them the whole while probably didn't either, but Shinji decided to stay out of it. What could one man do anyway?
True they were only doing their job, but still, he couldn't help but feel a quiet animosity towards anyone who followed the man who left him on the Outer Rim as a child. Shinji knew it wasn't a coincidence that he had been found by passing members of Sentinel that day long ago. His father must have known that they would be coming that way and left his only son to be picked up and cared for by strangers in a hostile land.
It was true at the time that the Capital was anything but safe with the Hell hordes burning and murdering whatever they could all over the country side, but the Outer Rim was just as dangerous, only with far less organization considering the low population level.
But Lord Gendo knew what he was doing, willingly leaving his son to his own devices and that was something Shinji could never forgive the man for. Only for the Angels did his heart hold more rage. And they would get what was coming to them too, soon.
/TLE/
It was days later and all of those involved in Project - E and the War against the Angels, which was pretty much everyone in Nerv, was called forth to attend a gathering. The city was still recovering from the attack but repairs were coming along nicely much to the approval of the higher ups who waited patiently on the dais holding the throne.
Not soon after all who were summoned had arrived did the throne room doors open again to let in a squad of brightly polished Knights leading in a young man dressed in a dark, unfamiliar military uniform of black and red and two other young men of a similar yet different style of uniform, signifying the first to be their superior.
The guards surrounded them easily with their numbers but walked with a slight edge as if they were shepherds watching a pack of prowling wolves that had somehow snuck into their sheep pins while they weren't aware.
The first young man didn't seem all that concerned, in fact, he almost seemed to not even have noticed the Knights. His brilliant ocean blue eyes were held straight ahead, piercing the pathway to the throne as if nothing else in the room was deemed worthy enough to hold his attention for more than a fleeting glance. And the slight scowl he were didn't help his image in the eyes of those around.
Asuka Langley Sohryu was one of those and it pissed her off greatly. The imperious attitude he held as if he was a guest here and they were nothing but the hired help made her want to go over there and smack the sweat off of his pompous ass. The fact that this thought was on the hypocritical said never entered her head.
In any case, attempting anything of such a nature would have been out of line and the King and his attendants were present. Such antics would not be tolerated tonight.
"A bit stuck up isn't he?" Hikari asked at the Germanian woman's side while others murmured on the sidelines as well, the gossip wheel churning out speal at a mile per minute with the influx of these strange newcomers.
"A lot more than a bit, I'd say. Who does he think he is anyway?"
"I'm not sure. Even foreign dignitaries from opposing nations don't show up with such manners."
'This guy acts as if he's come to finish some old score or something.'
Hikari was thinking similar thoughts. 'What manner of grudge does this man hold that he would wear it so openly on his person. And in the presence of the King at that!'
The group had finally made it to the base of the steps leading up to the throne and the girls were still trying to figure the newcomer out but with no luck.
"As per your orders we have brought the one you wished to see my lord." the captain of the guards rang out as he gave a standing bow to the throne and the man seated upon it. His Majesty merely nodded and the guards backed off a bit.
The silence that filled the room was nearly deafening. The two men said not a word, their hard gazes never leaving the other as they sized each other up.
"You've grown."
It was the King who broke the barrier of sound that had encased the heavy atmosphere. And as usual, his words were few.
"Am I supposed to reply to that or do I just stand here until you're finally willing to speak your mind. But I have to say that I'm a bit surprised, the whole you being King thing and all aside, you've always been one to get strait to the point."
Amid the startled and angry cries of the bystanders, the flash of steel from the Knights, the combat stances the other two darkly dressed youths and the inquisitive frown of the two present Eva Pilots, none of which seemed to phase the young man, but it was the small smile the King wore that surprised all those present the most.
"And you always were a little asshole." Gendo replied back much to the astonishment to everyone. His Majesty never used suck language!
"That coming from a bastard like you is rather hypocritical, don't you think." The King only gave another smirk.
"I have a need for you." He replied as his voice grew cold again, his expression closing up.
"Of course you do. You never would have sent for me other wise."
"It was for the best. The situation was highly unstable. It would have been far from wise to have you along, besides you were well cared for."
"Excuses old man? Once again you surprise me." the younger of the two held an air of mock surprise as he pretended to be shocked. It didn't last long and the fire in his eyes returned quickly.
"I have no time for such, my justifications are my own, but enough, a great danger looms overhead and you have been called to attend to it. As was intended."
"The Angels." It was a statement of fact. The newcomer not even seeming to expect of care for confirmation.
"Indeed."
"Why? Why now?" his reply came out hard, with a cold edge.
"Because it was convenient."
"Convenient... is that all you have to say?" The king did not answer.
"You have your own army and means to fight them, why do you need me? I know you have pilots. And by the way you're looking rather well, Fuyutsuki-sensei."
"You as well... Ikari-kun." That of course floored the room. Even the guards holding their blades to the man backed off a bit in confusion. If what they heard was true they didn't want to be held responsible for putting the apparent 'prince' to the sword by mistake. His comrades didn't seem to understand what the deal was and looked on in confusion yet ready to defend themselves and their man.
"So, you will not do you're duty?"
"My duty... I haven't seen you in years, I almost thought you died, kinda hoped it on a number of occasions, but when we finally meet after so long the only thing you have to say to me is 'will I do my duty?'" ever word held fire and were bitten off harshly.
"You sister has no problem with the matter." The King might as well have been commenting on this month's taxes for all of the emotion he placed in that sentence.
This effect the young man leaving the room in silence as his eyes widen briefly in clear shock and then just as quickly he was past the guards and up the steps leading to the throne and had a blade, no a knife, out as if to stab his Majesty.
That set everyone into action. The Knights tried to get to him while the other two foreigners pulled out two knives of their own and waved them in the faces of the sword wielding guards like toys. But when one of the Knights got close enough to do anything, those petty little butter knives suddenly became full fledged blades that they used with the skill and assurances of men who were very familiar with their weapons.
"Die you useless bastard! Just die!" His own blade extending to its full length, the prince leapt the final feet to the King to excavate the man's insides but just as suddenly his attack was struck aside, taking the would be assassin off balance and sending him back down a few steps.
"Mother's Sword? You have it!" He called out, his eyes glued to the elegant wonder of a weapon held in his father's steady hand while the older Ikari stood in his robes and the partial he wore underneath, his hard gaze fixed on the prince.
His surprise was clear but Asuka didn't care as she pushed past the crowd full of startled nobles and other shocked military officials in her way while snatching a sword out of a nearby Knights stunned grasp. But it was no shock to her when she found Hikari at her side with a barrowed blade of her own ready to defend the King.
"Hey kid, watch yourself. Are you trying to get yourself killed?" The Majestic Knight himself, Rouji Kaji held his own katana out and ready before the young Ikari as he tried to reason with the young man.
"You must cease this foolishness, Ikari-kun. This is not the way to settle things." General Fuyutsuki added as he stepped forward as well.
"Shut up old man! This has nothing to do with you." He didn't even take his eyes off the King while he spoke, murder clear in his gaze.
"You called me here to clear an old debt and that's what I'm here to do. Your blood and the blood of the daemons and Angels who took my sister and mother from me will be all I need to end this. So quit hiding behind your lackeys and fight me like a man you bastard. I swear I'll ..."
"Please, cease at once. This is not necessary."
It was strange that words spoken so softly yet so firmly amid the cries and panic that flooded the throne room at that time could not only be heard but somehow cut through the commotion and stop all those present in their tracks.
Strange indeed but that was exactly what they did. And the frail looking young person saying them, surrounded by her own guard unit made it seem all the more unlikely.
"R.Rei...? Is... is that you?" His murderous rage forgotten, the sword wielding prince looked back at the figure in white with the hopeless mop of untamable blue hair in wonder, the desperation in his voice was heavy enough for all to hear. His blade held aloof, almost as if he had never even held it up. He looked about to drop it all together with not a care as to where it landed.
The smile, so minuscule, it might as well not even have been there, the girl gave, yet so pure in its relief, further floored the confused members of Nerv and their 'guests'. But not more so than the Prince himself.
"Hello, brother."
AN: Well... here's the new chapter. Took me awhile to get all of the scenes I wanted to show to come out and work the way I wanted them to right, but here it is. And about damn time too. Now I can work on my other stories without worry. Switching back and forth between them all doesn't really help me accomplish much.
The latest Welcome to the Real World chapter should be out soon, after I've finished editing it and what not. And yeah, yeah, Boss Ikari will be coming along right after I finished WRW. It's been awhile since I've even put any thought to that story on paper. But it'll get out.
... you can blame job hunting and Ace Combat 5, Star Ocean 3 and Killzone for the late updates. Sorry, I kinda got sidetracked. And if you have any question or comments you can send them to me at lawlesspriest hotmail . com or at evamade . org or
lawlesspriest . deviantart . com
Anyway... Long live the Smurfs!
/priest/