Not as Expected

by 049 Faithless Observer

With MESSIAH and NERV's succesfully blunders now known, another organization attempts to butt in on the Anti Angel market with Jet Alone. Will Yumi be able to stop it or will hope vanish in a nuclear meltdown? And what with Shinji? R&R Re rated for now.

2. Aftermath

As usual I don't own EVA or anything to do with it.

As authors note I'd like to say I really enjoy trying to come up with massively different EVA stories if your going to do fanfiction I feel you should always try to do something that thought improbably the characters will at least react to realisticly. So please tell me if anyone seems too out of character, obviously Shinji is a lot different but certain parts of his character will begin to show through he's not some bad ass hero at leastnot all the time.He's just a kid who's a little more prepared this time to be a savior. Well R&R

Chapter Two: Aftermath

The Mark Strife by dint of its unusual configuration was unable to drop back into the GeoFront with any sort of speed, which left Shinji with no choice but to bring the machine down slowly. It seemed ridiculous that the most powerful weapons ever built would have to do something as undignified as crawl down a shaft, but what could you do?

'We should head over to that weird pyramid, that's most likely the Command center and would probably be the best place to stop.' Shinji decided as the Strife continued its slow progress downwards. He could have used the vernier jets again but they had already done enough damage for one day. It wouldn't do to wreck somebody else's base.

'So that was an Angel?' Shinji thought as he sat back in the Divers Seat within the control pod. 'Didn't seem all that tough, that field can be disrupted from continuous pressure, makes close combat the best form of attack, but I bet I could kill it with sustained beam fair if I tapped into the grid.'

He shook his head, "Man what a sheep screw, eh?"

There was a surge of shifting thoughts and emotion, readable only to Shinji as the Mark Strife replied in its own way, that was not language.

"Hmmm, Yeah I don't like it either, we had to really go all out to get that field to go down. Which reminds me can you release the weapons safeties next time I prefer to have my options open."

-Slight irritation and protest-

"Fine be that way." Shinji chided.

-Consideration, acknowledgement-

"That's good, if another of these things comes along we'll be ready . . . After all, we're here to protect the world right, that's why MESSIAH built you and trained me."

-Thoughtful agreement-

Shinji shrugged as they finally reached the sharp slope of the lift system that led from the Cage up to the launch shafts. Their progress was a little easier here as they could simply slide down the rails causing only minor damage. "You know if we stick around here we'll have to get you equipped to marry with their launch system.

-Indifference-

"Yeah sure, I just think you liked the dramatic affect of those flames." Shinji laughed.

- . . . -

That only caused Shinji to laugh harder as the massive war machine made its way towards the NERV pyramid at the Center of the GeoFront. He came to stop near one of the access doors on the ground level that lead out into the man made forest that surrounded the building. A squad of very nervous looking armed guards stood in front of the door, they must have been observing the Strife return. Shinji shrugged as he opened up an external com link.

"I'm coming out, I would like it very much if you wouldn't shoot me as the Mark Strife's automated defense systems would likely be very pissed." The cockpit assembly ejected exposing the Diver Pod.

Shinji pulled himself out and used a series of exposed handholds to drop down to the machine hand before it gently lowered him to the surface.

The guards surrounded him almost instantly, Captain Katsuragi stood behind them, her own .45 caliber semi auto drawn and at the ready.

"Hey Shinji." She said, "I hope you don't mind but we need you to come with us."

Shinji shrugged, "Not at all Captain, I understand, its your job I don't hold it against you."

She nodded, "Good." One of the Guards came forward with hand cuffs.

"Uh uh uh uh uh . . . You can keep the guns or you can use the cuffs, one or the other." Shinji said simply.

Misato sighed as the Section Two agent looked confused, "Fine, let him go without them." The Agent withdrew and the group headed back inside, half the Guards in front and half behind with two flanking him on each side. Misato stood on his left glancing at him every few seconds.

"So . . . What is that thing?" She asked.

"That thing is my Bonded Mark Unit, the Mark Strife." Shinji replied not really answering the question at all.

"I see . . ." Misato replied politely.

They ended up in front of a pair of overly elaborate Oak doors, two men stood Guard "The Commander wants to see you, in here please." One of them ordered.

Shinji was pushed inside and the door shut behind him. Shinji looked about, "Well hell you old fart, you sure have good tastes in decadence." Shinji commented as he walked hands in pockets toward the distant desk where his father sat hands steepeld before him. The older Ikari didn't comment as his son came right up to the desk, and then as a supreme insult to the man behind it, sat down cross legged on the desk itself, knocking papers to the floor.

It was by supreme force of will that Gendo didn't shoot his son right then a there.

"I would like to know, Shinji, what that machine is, who built it, why are you piloting it, tell me now." Gendo ordered.

"Uh, you forgot the magic word." Shinji commented cheerfully, "Though being the great guy I am I'll tell you anyways, partly because I want to see the look on your face and partly because I was ordered to tell you if you asked." Shinji sat back on the table, fingers pressed against his forehead as if in deep thought.

"Well then." He hopped back off the desk and snapped a solute. "Designated Pilot of the Mark Strife and operative of MESSIAH, Lieutenant J.G. Shinji Ikari reporting."

Gendo ground his teeth . . . "What about that machine . . . The Mark Strife." He pressed.

"Its one of MESSIAH's combat units, the Mark Strife is an all purpose combat system developed in secret as one of Earths ultimate defensive weapons. A Mark Unit . . . Forms a deep empathic bond with its pilot allowing it to track them at all times, that's why when I summoned it the Mark Strife translated to my position . . . Do you have any coffee?" Shinji asked.

The sudden totally off topic remark was enough to make even Gendo blink. He pressed a button on his desk. "Coffee". He cut the intercom link before any questions were asked from the Cafeteria staff.

"Thank you . . . Now where was I, oh yes the Mark Strife . . "

"When did you come to pilot it?" Gendo interrupted.

"Well, I'm sure you know about the two weeks I went missing when I was seven." Shinji began, Gendo indeed know about that, he had been ready to redesign the scenario, though it looked like that probably would have been a good idea in retrospect.

"I was kidnapped by MESSIAH and given an offer I couldn't refuse, pilot a Mark Unit for them and gain some self worth, or be left to my own devices. At seven years old any kid would jump at the chance to pilot a giant robot so it was pretty much a done deal. The next seven years were pretty much as you would expect other then trips to the MESSIAH training facility every other day to go through the battle simulations with the Mark Strife." Shinji shrugged, "I suppose I should probably be pretty messed, being abandoned by my father and then affectively raised by my teachers and some Ex military nuts and scientists, but I'm pretty happy with the way I turned out . . ."

There was a soft knocking at the door. "Enter."

A rather terrified looking young woman came, her shacking sent vibrations through the tray she carried carefully. Shinji got up quickly and strode up to her taking the tray carefully he smiled warmly. "Thank you very much, I think that's everything." He brought the tray back and set it down on the desk, poring himself a cup of coffee. "Much better."

"And MESSIAH, you continue to refer to it." Gendo commented.

"Well, most of that classified, I can't tell you much about it, not even where the main base is, partly because I don't know, and partly because what I do know is classified, kill yourself before you read it. But suffice it to say MESSIAH exists for much the same reason as NERV I would assume anyways. To stop external and internal threats to humanity. Since MESSIAH exists to safe guard Justice, Freedom, and Humanity, it is a strictly reactionary force . . . we never deploy preemptively. Which makes it very fortunate for you that I was here, MESSIAH will be informed post haste of course that we should look into deploying another Mark Unit and support crew to Tokyo-3 . . ."

He sipped his coffee. "I'm afraid that's all I can really tell you, the rest is classified mostly."

"The girl you came with?" Gendo pointed out.

"Yumi Toyama, she's another operative if that's what your asking though she's still training with the Mark Ziel, she's my backup the higher ups thought I might have needed some help." Shinji explained.

"And how many of these Mark Units are there?"

Shinji shrugged, "I think that's classified, I'll tell you there's more then one but less then fifteen." He said with a shrug. "Frankly I'm not sure if even MESSIAH's command staff knows about all of them. Is that all you wanted to know?"

"Yes that is everything for now . . ." Gendo paused, he'd only once ever had to ASK someone to do something before and that had been for that woman's hand in marriage, and frankly asking his son now galled him but if there was another organization involved with such powerful weapons they needed to be drawn out into the open where they could be observed. An assassin in the shadows was far worse then an army in the field.

"Will . . . you be staying?"

Shinji closed his eyes as he held his coffee half raised. "Are the Angels a long term threat?"

Gendo nodded, "They are, we expect a total of seventeen."

"And they'll all be that tough?"

"Most likely some will be weaker . . . Some will be much stronger."

"Then yeah, yeah I suppose I can stay around, just remember I'm doing it for the people here not for you." Shinji downed the remainder of his coffee before turning around and heading for the door. He paused before opening the big oak wood doors.

"Oh yeah, I had one more message for you, from the Colonel, you should feel honored . . . He told me to tell you . . . Stop using her name you bastard."

Gendo stared after Shinji as the door opened and then quickly closed. SEELE would call for him soon, none of this had been in the scenario.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Yumi looked at her handiwork a dopish grin crossed her face. The card had been totally unadorned when she had bought it in the lobby, but now thanks to her steady hand and love of cartoon characters it sported a chibi Unit 01 and Rei both smiling with their fingers up in a V.

"This will make her feel better I'm sure . . ." She said to herself placing the card on the bedside table next to the peacefully sleeping girl. Yumi had never been truly sick in her life, though she had received injuries, and even collapsed from exhaustion on occasion, and she new she had always liked it when Shinji or her mother had come to see her in the hospital or at home. The training load as a Pilot for MESSIAH was truly brutal even for her and she took comfort where she could.

She heard a slight tapping at the door, turning she smiled brightly as her best friend stood in the door a slightly crooked smile on his face. "Shinji Sama what are you doing here so late?" She chided, and it was late, nearly three in the morning right now.

"Didn't want to sleep you know? Too worked up after the fighting."

Yumi nodded she could understand that.

Shinji's eyes roamed until they came to rest on the card. "I see you've left out a bit of your handiwork, eh Yu?" He picked the card up and looked at it, she had gotten better. He remembered when she had started, though that was back when he had first met her she just hadn't been able to give them that humorous cheery air that they needed to make people feel good.

He raised the card up, studying it and the sleeping Rei with seemingly great care, "I see an astonishing resemblance." He smirked.

Yumi giggled slightly at the compliment slash joke as Shinji replaced the card and sat down next to her. "They give you any trouble?" He asked.

"No, I think they were too busy just making sure she survived, she started bleeding again after you handed her to me." Yumi commented, worry in her eyes. "To think they would try to use a girl in her condition to pilot . . . Its . . . Just so wrong."

Shinji shook his head. "Its my fault, I kept refusing because I wanted to see my father squirm and this girl nearly got hurt for it . . . I'm the one who has wronged her."

Yumi starred at Shinji as he chewed himself out. "I was selfish and . . ."

"No!" Yumi almost shouted before catching herself and saying it more quietly. "You wouldn't have acted like that if you'd known about her condition, I know you would never intentionally harm and innocent life Shinji Sama, I have faith in that." She took his hand and held it tight, it was surprising how soft her skin was, it was enough to make Shinji blush as she looked seriously into his eyes. "I trust you because you are my friend, and I tell you right now that I have faith in the fact that you are good and would not harm her or anyone else if you could help it."

Shinji bowed his head low, "You really think that?"

"I do."

He turned to her a smile on his face, "I'll try my best not to betray your faith in me Yu."

'You never have . . . Shinji . . . kun.' She thought only to herself.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"Ikari, you know why we have summoned you . . . We want an answer for this Ikari!" The angry rasping voice of Keele Lorenze filled the room as the SEELE monoliths surrounded Gendo.

"I understand your anger, I did not expect this either it was not . . . Part of the Scenario . . ."

"Not part of it indeed, is that all you can say for yourself Ikari?" SEELE 04 butted in. "You allowed one of the Children to be significantly affected by an outside vector, this chain of events MUST be contained before it cascades out of control!" The voice sounded panicked even through the modulator.

Gendo hid a slight smirk, these old fools put too much faith in millennia old scripts and not enough in the hard facts. "I would like to point out that external operations are under the jurisdiction of your division." Gendo commented to SEELE 04. "But not to assign blame, I believe none of us could have predicted the existence of a fourth party in this scenario."

"Fourth, Ikari?" SEELE 01, Keele Lorenze asked, "What makes you say this is the Fourth."

"SEELE, NERV, and the UN, though they cannot stop the EVA's they are still viable threat, now we have another force not known to us until just hours ago. This MESSIAH."

"Yes, they could be a significant threat." SEELE 02 chimed in, "Do you have any plans to neutralize them?"

"Information on there abilities and displacement is virtually non existent at the moment. At this time it would be foolish to make any plans."

"Good god man, just pump the boy and the little bitch for the information!" SEELE 07 snarled bluntly, he was the muscle of the organization, in real life he was a high ranking member of the Russian Mofia who lent the firepower of a private army to SEELE's cause, he was smart enough to use diplomacy to get past the glass sealing of gang lord, but not wielding quite enough finesse to make it in things like politics.

"That would likely be futile, Shinji and Miss Toyama are most likely prepared for such an eventuality. Building tolerances to truth serums is a relatively simple process that any organization would be able to do and voice stress measurements are too unreliable for any accurate information to be retrieved, and of course there is the simple precaution on the side of MESSIAH of only giving them need to know information."

Gendo explained, "Harming them would only cause more damage, it would in fact be to our benefit to let them do as they please for now."

There was long silence before the council erupted in rage. "Ikari, that is absolutely unacceptable as you should be well aware!" SEELE 01 said anger evident in the voice.

"I would normally agree, but given the circumstances please consider the situation. SEELE has done its best to hide itself in the shadows, to run silently. Unfortunately with that kind of anonymous activity comes a certain amount of situational blindness. We never considered the possibility of this factor and so never searched for it . . . Now though MESSIAH has revealed itself, and with it exposed in the open we will be able to at very least keep an eye on them."

There was another long silence, this time of deliberation.

"Very well Ikari." SEELE 01 finally agreed. "You are to draw MESSIAH out, cooperate with them to whatever degree is practical, we must find the extent of this infestation so that we may eliminate it root and branch."

"Of course."

"We are trusting in you Ikari", SEELE 03 added.

"Do not prove our trust misplaced." SEELE 07 threatened. One by one the monoliths faded out leaving on Gendo and SEELE 01.

A holographic image played between them, a replay of the battle between Sachiel and the white armored Mark Strife. "Another organization with weapons that Rival the Angels and Evangelions? And you are certain it is not a clone of the mother or father?"

Gendo pushed his glasses up slightly, "Nothing can be ruled out as we have not yet been able to exam the machine, but I do not believe it is even related to the Angels. No AT field was manifested . . . And it has manifested abilities that no AT field should be capable of. You have seen the hangar footage I presume."

"Indeed." Keele replied, that had been part of Ikari's preliminary report.

"We believe it folded space to achieve that, this suggests the possibility that MESSIAH is far ahead of us in terms of technological development."

"Impossible!"

"No, just very unlikely."

Keele composed himself behind the impenetrable mask of his holographic monolith. "I see . . . Ikari, this factor must be neutralized, we will need to move the time scales up if we are to have the Mass Production Units ready."

"Are you so certain they will be required?" Gendo asked, betraying none of his own thoughts on the issue.

"I believe it was you who has pointed out the importance of adaptation Ikari, for now, we will send Unit 02 and the Second Child as planned, and will move up the completion dates of the Mass Production units 05, 06, and 09. We will require the dummy plug data three months ahead of schedule."

Gendo nodded sagely, "You will have it, though I can not guarantee the programs stability at that time . . ."

"We could not ask that of you." Keele admitted, "But we have little time left Ikari, the ceremony approaches." The last SEELE monolith faded leaving Gendo in darkness.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Rei Ayanami blinked a few times as she starred up at the ceiling. 'The replacement pilot must have been useable after all . . .' Her nose twitched slightly, something didn't feel right. She rolled her good eye around to observe her surroundings. She was greeted by the plain white walls of a hospital room. 'Unsurprising', she thought as the dull aching came back to her. Her entire back ached, her shoulders were stiff and sore, her stomach was on fire, the S2 core that resided within her lower abdomen was at its full potential healing the damage she had sustained from Unit 00's failed activation tests.

She froze as her eye came across the first aberration, she began to dissect it fully. It was a plain card, like the ones she had seen people bring for other patience. It was adorned by two grossly distorted caricatures, one of Unit 01, and one of herself in her plugsuit. It was perhaps one of the strangest things she had seen.

"Hay, Your awake" A female voice commented from just outside of her field of view. The voices owner appeared above her a moment later. 'Who is she?' Rei did not say anything as the girl studied her for a moment and then turned to the card on the table. "What do you think?" She asked holding the card up so Rei could see it better.

". . ."

The girl cocked her head and looked right at Rei, revealing her own gray/blue eyes, and . . . The impossible four pointed starbursts of black where a normal person would have round retinas.

Rei kept starring, not saying anything. "Aren't you going to tell me what you think of it?" The girl asked worried.

Rei finally responded, "They . . . Are disproportioned."

The girl blinked and then grinned, "Well of course that's the point!"

Rei shifted a little in the bed frowning slightly.

"Why?"

The girl blinked tilting her head quizzically, "Your not joking?"

"I do not joke . . . Who are you and why are you here?" Rei finally asked, shaking her head muzzily she was still under the influence of the pain killers which slowed her thought processes.

"Oh, I'm so sorry I should have introduced myself." The girl snapped to her feet, bowing deeply with locks of her near waste length bubblegum pink hair falling over her face in a messy tangle.

"I am Ensign Yumi Toyama, operative of MESSIAH, and designated pilot of the Mark Ziel, a pleasure to meet you Miss Rei Ayanami! As for why I am here, its because Shinji Sama asked me to keep an eye on you, he was called away again to meet with the members of the NERV staff after he defeated the monster."

'Shinji . . . The Commander's son, the Third Child, pilot Ikari must have changed his mind and decided to pilot . . . I remember a little, the debris . . .' She though distantly, but her memory grew blurry right after hearing a shouted warning.

"I see . . ." Rei finally commented before shifting to fall asleep again.

Yumi nodded as she noted the way Rei had started to doze off, she must still have been exhausted. Yumi sighed as she heard the other girls breathing take on a deep steady rhythm. 'Poor girl.' She looked at the card she had left on the table. 'They are disproportioned . . .'

She took out her paper and pencil and began sketching again this time with much more care. 'So . . . Rei doesn't like caricatures lets try Manga.'

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"You gotta admit, that thing is definitely impressive." Misato commented as the Mark Strife was brought to rest in a temporary hangar space made out of the one maintenance divisions warehouses. They couldn't very well park it in the EVA cages, especially with it unable to mate with a standard lift.

"It's a black box, Ritsuko responded as she stood beside her old friend. You saw what it did in the EVA cage I don't even know where to begin on that little trick . . ."

Misato grinned weekly, "Oh, I think your just angry that it frightened you so bad." She chided, then again Misato had quite nearly wet herself when the machine had just emerged, the whole appearance had just defied reality, it came out of the wall without so much as a ripple of disturbance to mark its passing, accept of course the damaged lift cage for Unit 01 that it had displaced in its emergence and drop into the coolant, not to mention the mass of ruined catwalks that had been unable to support its impressive weight.

They both observed as Shinji emerged from the cockpit and stepped out on a catwalk, he worked his way down and toward them over the next several minutes.

"What do you think of Shinji?" Misato asked.

"Right now? Not much I'm more interested in the Mark Strife." Ritsuko replied, she was rather angry that Shinji had so far refused to lower the Strife's automated defenses, not allowing anyone to exam it closely. "You'll have to let us near it eventually Shinji this is our base!" Ritsuko had shouted angrily.

"And I wonder how long you'll have funding when the UN military find out that the Angel wasn't defeated by one of your machines." Shinji had replied.

That had been enough to make Ritsuko blanch. "You know that comment may be why he's being so cautious around you, he may be afraid you'll try to sabotage it." Misato said, half joking and half serious. She new how ruthless Ritsuko was willing to be at times, and the bottle blond scientist could be . . . Vindictive.

"Hello again ladies." Shinji said with a smile as he came up to them, hands in pockets, his silver trimmed jacket draped over his shoulders.

"So . . . Any ideas on the plan from here?"

"Well, I think the Commander is going to want to be put in contact with MESSIAH so we can start coordinating our actions to defend against the angels."

Shinji nodded, "That won't be much of a problem, I have to phone in a report anyways and this will not have gone unnoticed by MESSIAH, hell I suspect my bosses knew this was going to happen." Shinji said, a 'hey what can you do' expression crossing his face.

"That's good." Misato agreed.

"For now however as the ranking MESSIAH operative I represent MESSIAH interest in Tokyo-3 and . . . HEY HANDS OFF!" Shinji shouted at a couple of technician who been getting a bit too close to the Mark Strife.

" . . . And will be acting to set policy until High Command can send an officer from the Operators Corp to handle liaison duty." Shinji finished.

"So, when can we expect a response from your bosses?"

Shinji shifted studying the lights high above for a moment, "Hmmm, I'd say about two days, three at tops until a maintenance team can be sent out with enough equipment to handle M&R on the Mark Strife, another week to get enough equipment in to handle repair on both the Mark Strife and Mark Ziel, and two weeks to have a detachment of security forces and a Command Cadre briefed and brought in.

For now we'll have to make do with your Unit 01, and my Mark Strife, if things get too hot we can call in the Mark Ziel as well, but Yumi isn't ready for field combat yet in my opinion."

"Sounds like a plan, now you just have to dress it up for your dad . . ." Misato was cut off.

"The Commander." Shinji stressed with a slight coldness.

" . . . for the Commander so it sounds more like a briefing for the staff meeting this evening." Misato finished.

"Yeah, I can do that." Shinji agreed before yawning, "Man I'm beat, and I'm guessing Yumi will be staying at least for the immediate future, is there anyplace we can bunk down ?"

"Well, I think it would be best if you accepted residence in one of the NERV barracks." Ritsuko suggested, "But really its up to the Commander where you end up staying."

"I guessed as much, damn I'm already missing my Sensei, curse his wrinkled ass, at least I knew where I'd be sleeping at the end of the day."

Misato and Ritsuko just blinked and left that at that.

Shinji walked past whistling to himself as he went, 'I wonder . . .' Shinji became distracted as he thought, 'Why does this rub me the wrong way? I'll have to have Strife peek in NERV's data files, see what I can see.' He kept whistling to himself all the way back to the hospital, pocketing his new NERV ID card as he walked with an easy grace from seven years of sparring, more importantly, seven years of sparring with Yumi as his opponent. She restrained herself a lot in their matches, that didn't mean much when he considered just how strong she was.

The walk was fairly uneventful, the NERV hospital was connected to the facility so he didn't have to head outside. He nodded cordially as he passed a few medics. One of them froze . . . It was the guy Shinji had nailed with the stun baton. He simply gave the man a nod and kept on his way not turning to see him rush down the hall.

He rounded the last corner and found Yumi standing out in the hallway, facing the door to Rei's hospital room. Two of the black suits that seemed to be security operatives around here stood flanking the door. Judging by their body posture they were packing something a bit heavier then handguns beneath those coats. Though nothing they had could have much affect on Yumi, or Shinji for that matter. He'd had the good sense to have a layer of ballistic cloth and tight weave Kevlar placed in his jacket lining, it would stop most small caliber bullets, at least the first time.

'Don't get hit, bullet proof just means you aren't guaranteed to need a new lung.' He reminded himself.

"What going on?" He asked Yumi.

"The Commander came along and kicked me out. I guess he wanted to talk to Rei alone."

"Wonder why?" Shinji thought about it, what could that girl want with his father?

"Maybe he just cares about her?" Yumi suggested, meeting Shinji's cold glare.

"That bastard doesn't give a flying fuck about anyone Yu, I think I've made my position clear."

Yumi backed away slightly at the venom dripping from her friends voice. "I was just suggesting it Shinji sama, after all your father can't be that bad he is a protector and ally of justice after all." She pointed out.

Shinji shook his head, "Yu . . . People aren't always like that." Shinji warned gently, Yumi lived with a very two dimensional black and white perception of the world, it made her rather innocent, but also a bit too trusting at times.

"I know", she admitted, and she did . . . On an intellectual level, emotionally . . .

Shinji stood at her side staring at the door, 'Wonder what their talking about.'

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Rei watched the replay of events again on the small video monitor the Commander had placed on her bedside. "This machine appears very formidable." Rei commented, mostly because the Commander expected it of her. That fact was self evident. "Indeed." Gendo agreed as he watched the footage begin to repeat again.

"The engagement lasted a total of thirty two seconds, during which the third angel was totally unable to counter attack . . . And . . . As you have seen the Mark Strife was able to degrade the AT field with brute force, though we believe after studying sensor data that it may have projected a powerful barrier to put continuous pressure on the AT field. This allowed it to disrupt the field by not giving the phase space a chance to reintegrate between strikes."

Gendo repeated Ritsuko's theory on how the machine had achieved its impossible victory without an AT field.

"I see . . . Will there be any changes to the schedule due to this series of events?" Rei asked mildly curious.

Gendo nodded an affirmative, "For the time being you will begin activation tests with Unit 01 instead of Unit 00 once you have recovered, we will also be increasing the number of harmonics tests. I would advise moving you to one of the NERV dormitories."

"Understood." Rei replied.

"Very good."

Rei starred at the image as it played again, she felt vaguely uneasy, the sinewy grace, the solid blue eyes, the smooth rounded lines that somehow made the machine seem both deadly and yet graceful. Some small part of her, the kernel of self around which her soul had been created felt like it had seen this before. It made her vaguely uneasy, she rubbed at her side as if expecting something to be protruding from herself.

Gendo noted her discomfort and closed the small console. "For now, just rest Rei, we will begin activation tests with Unit 01 next week.

"Yes Sir." Rei replied quietly as the Commander pushed up her pillow for her, he was always so kind to her, she felt she couldn't have a better Guardian, what more could she ask for? She was asleep in moments, her bodies energy reserves were still strained as she recovered.

Gendo wondered what Rei's discomfort had been from, perhaps he would have to ask her. As he opened the door he was met with the girl, and his son, both stood quietly opposite him, Shinji studying the Section Two agents thoughtfully.

"Hey Gendo, so nice to see you again." Shinji commented coldly.

"Why are you here?"

"I came to see Rei, she seems like a sweet kid, only mistake is getting stuck working for you. Though that's nearly an unforgivable sin in its own right."

Gendo ignored the insult. "Pilot Ayanami is resting now and must not be disturbed, you will be seeing her soon enough if you choose to stay . . ."

Shinji shrugged, it seemed to be his way. "Fine, though I don't know where me and Yumi will be staying."

Gendo pushed his glasses up slightly, "I will arrange for you to stay with Major Katsuragi, her apartment has two extra room."

That would be the best place to lodge Shinji, outside of the GeoFront so he wouldn't have an excuse to be at the facility at all times, and under the supervision of the NERV operations director. It was the best compromise that could be thought of.

It had occurred to Gendo to simply imprison Shinji but he had no clue what that machine of his was capable of, Doctor Akagi was still trying to think up ways to disable it but with no clues to go on about even something so basic as its programming language and OS there was nothing to go on for a virus and it was doubtless powerful enough to engage anything less then an EVA with nothing less then contemptible ease.

'Somebody selected Shinji for a reason', Gendo decided, 'This was meant as a message to me . . . The Colonel . . . He is dead, it can't be . . .'

"Have your report for the staff meeting this evening, dismissed Lieutenant." Gendo addressed Shinji by his claimed rank, at the moment it seemed appropriate to enforce a hierarchy.

"By your leave Commander." Shinji bowed slightly, Yumi emulated him and fallowed her superior and sempai down the hallway.

"I suppose we should go find Misato and give her the good news that she's going to have room mates . . . Hmmm . . . I wonder if she'll let us have a moving in party?" Shinji wondered distantly.

Yumi cocked her head, "Why would you need a party for moving in?" Yumi asked cheerfully, she'd never lived at more then one place in her life. The apartment she shared with her adoptive mother was all the home Yumi had ever needed.

"Its . . . Just something you do, to make your first memory in a new home a good one." Shinji replied, "I think its important to have positive memories about a place, those memories are part of what makes a house a home."

"What's the other part?" Yumi asked.

Shinji stopped to wait for an elevator, remaining silent until the doors opened. "Love."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"WHAT!" Misato Shouted as she confirmed with Ritsuko the information that the GeoFront's latest employee had just told her.

"Yes, the Commander approved it, neither of them want to live together and well, the Commander though it best that a trust worthy member of the Command staff keep an eye on him." Ritsuko explained over the phone, she was almost enjoying this . . . Almost.

"But you know my apartments a wreck!" Misato countered, she didn't particularly care about the condition of her home but she would take any excuse the could to avoid having something like this forced on her. Not that she had anything against Shinji but he seemed ready to take care of himself . . . Who was she kidding he was still a kid, she sighed, "And what about Yumi, what are we supposed to do with her?" Misato asked.

"For now, nothing, she will be enrolled with Shinji in school, and act as a back up pilot for the Mark Strife, with any luck we can convince Shinji to go through activation tests with Unit-01, but considering his behavior and attitude it looks like we may be forced to do them with Rei instead." Ritsuko explained.

"Can Rei even activate it?" Misato asked eyes widening, "I thought you said the probability was almost zero."

"Both the Commander and I have faith in her ability to do it. It is in a way fortunate as it gives us two combatants right from the start. So it kind of makes up for the failed activation tests with Unit-00."

Misato frowned, "Yeah maybe, but I don't think we deserve this kind of good carma, there's got to be a downside."

"We can deal with that when we come to it."

Misato bowed her head, "Fine, well I'm going to go get Shinji and Yumi settled, I think we all need to get cleaned up before the meeting tonight, the UN is even sending Officials, we have to look our best."

"Ok, see you then Misato, please be sure you're sober for the mee . . ." Misato cut the line with a sigh.

She looked over at her two new roommates, "So, you guys want to go get something to eat?"

Yumi nodded, "I'm starving, but I don't know if I can stay on my feet long enough to get something to eat." She said as she yawned. "Maybe we should just get take out and then go someplace where we can get some sleep." She continued eyes drooping.

"I indorse this service and or product", Shinji mumbled sleepily before falling into something similar to a shuffle behind Yumi and Misato allowing his friend to guide him as they headed back to Misato's car, he was sleeping as soon as he sat down, snoring softly.

Misato glanced back slightly surprised.

"Don't worry, he's just tired, Shinji can sleep anywhere when he's exhausted like that . . ." Yumi said grinning.

"It's ok, we'll just grab take out and he can eat leftovers when he wakes up." Misato drove her Renault Alpine back onto the car elevator.

"So how long have you known Shinji?"

"Hmmmm, I'd say since he was seven or eight."

"So you guys are good friends."

"Yep, I'm Shinji's friend an ally of Justice!"

Misato blinked at the girls demeanor, she seemed to honestly believe that line. 'Its good to know there are still kids like that.' Misato thought as Yumi began to ooh and aw at the GeoFront on the ride back up to the surface.

"Hmmm, what kind of person do you think Shinji is?" Misato continued asking, if she was going to live with these kids she might as well know a bit about them.

Yumi seemed to think hard about that. "Shinji sama is . . . Very brave, overly brave maybe he would rather hurt himself then see others in pain and he acts a little foolish at times . . . But he's a good person and he never lets a person down if he can help it, he'll do everything to help his friends." Yumi explained, "But I keep thinking . . . its like everyone is born with a weight . . ."

"A weight?" Misato asked curiously as the girl continued with her analogy.

"Exactly, a weight, and this weight is all the bad that makes up the hatred and sadness in your life. To me . . . It seems like Shinji wants to take all that weight off of everyone else and carry it on his own shoulders . . . But he can't, and he'll only hurt himself if he does. But he'll try anyways . . . I'm worried for him that he'll break under it all."

Misato looked at the girl she had previously classified as a ditz she was still looking out the window at the GeoFront as they ascended but she seemed considerably more subdued.

'There's more beneath the surface with these two.' She thought.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"This is it, I'm sorry if it's a little messy . . . Well this will be you home for now, so welcome home" Misato said smiling softly as she hit the light switch. Yumi's eyes goggled.

"This is a little messy?" She asked in a small voice as she came through the door half supporting Shinji in his sleep. It was early afternoon and they still had about five hours before they had to be back at the GeoFront for the meeting. "Does NERV by any chance have a HazMat team?": Yumi asked.

"I think so, why?" Misato asked as she started pushing beer cans, old take out boxes, and less mentionables from the table to make room for the take out.

"You need to have this place decontaminated it must be a biohazard to the entire surrounding area." Yumi replied.

Misato huffed indignantly at the jab at her cleaning skills. "Well, it's not like I'm home enough to clean . . . And . . . Yeah."

Yumi carried Shinji down the hall finding the two unused bedrooms blissfully clean she worked a futon out of the hall closet with her free arm, set it out in one of the rooms and laid Shinji out on it as he continued to snore.

She went back to get something to eat and ran headfirst into the apartments other residents. She blinked before looking down to stare into the face of a rather curious looking penguin.

She guffawed slightly at the site. "How cute!" She kneeled down to stroke the birds plumage.

PenPen warked at the odd girl, shook his head furiously causing his feathers to stand on end and proceeded down the hall to the bathroom.

"That's PenPen, he's one of those new hot springs penguins." Misato explained when Yumi asked about it. "I'm sorry its all take out I hope that's okay with you."

"No that's fine with me." Yumi replied as she dug into the food. Her mother had rarely had a chance to be home and cook and with the exception of nights when she'd eaten with Shinji and his Sensei she had never really had a home cooked meal. Both of them finished there food quickly so they could go get at least a little sleep. "When we get back later I'll clean up." Yumi told Misato as she went into the second bedroom with another spare futon.

"Sounds good." Misato agreed as she continued on towards her own room.

They both got a good four hours of sleep, which was better then either could have hoped for under the circumstances, before they were awoken by a shout from down the hall.

Yumi blinked as she popped her head back out, Misato waking blearily did the same as Shinji came leaping from the room Yumi had left him in.

"What's wrong Shinji sama?"

"Pe-Pe . . ." PenPen waddled out of the room, stared at Shinji for a moment and then continued back to his fridge.

Misato, even groggy laughed at the scene and introduced Shinji to PenPen, "Don't worry he's harmless." She added.

"He bit my nose." Shinji replied coldly.

"Wait, what time is it . . ." Misato glanced at her watch, "Damnit, Shinji go eat, the leftovers are in the fridge, both of you take a shower quick and put on some good clothes we need to be back in less then an hour!" Misato ran by the two children grabbing a bear on from the fridge and downing it for a slight pick me up.

"You go first Yu, I'll go grab my bag, I think I have a spare uniform for you too." He added as he headed to the door. Yumi nodded, accepting the first chance in the tub.

Misato called up Ritsuko to confirm the meeting time and place, the last thin she needed was to end up late to something like this. "And be sure to bring your preliminary report on the Readiness situation, of the intercept grid."

"Why exactly are we having this meeting again?" Misato asked, she heard heavy equipment in the background, it sounded like Ritsuko was at the sight where they were studying the remains of the Angel.

"The UN wants to know what the hell beat the crap out the Angel, they do seem to realize it wasn't an EVA. This is just the old warriors saber rattling after they couldn't handle the situation themselves, nothing to worry about."

"Ok, we'll be there soon, and that reminds me can you be sure to have Shinji's possessions brought to my place I'd rather not leave them lying in storage someplace."

"Don't worry that's already been taken care of, his things will have arrived by the time you get back."

"Thanks Ritz, see you in a thirty."

Misato placed the phone back in its cradle. "How do I look?" Shinji asked from behind her.

She turned, and her jaw almost dropped, the uniform he wore was elaborate, and more then a little graceful.

It was black with red running along the cuffs, on the shoulders, and down the front following the line of the buttons with silver trim bordering. The over shirt came down a little bellow the waist giving him a tall slender appearance, his hair was combed and he held an officer's cap in the crook of his arm. The silver bars of a Lieutenant were the only adornment to the otherwise simple yet striking ensemble.

"It looks nice." Misato said impressed, he looked the picture of an officer, if far to young, but there was something about him, like he could handle the responsibility. It made the clothes suit him rather then seem ridiculous. The same could not quite be said for Yumi.

The female version of the uniform retained the same color scheme but seemed more akin to Misato's own dress uniform by far then Shinji's did its male equivalent. The problem was that no matter how it was tailored on her Yumi was still a kid, and though she wasn't exactly lacking in proportions her figure hadn't really filled out yet either. Her own uniform despite fitting well still seemed to be half a size too big.

Her own dress cap sat a slightly off angle on her head as she saluted smartly.

"Cadet Yumi Toyama reporting ma'am." She said seriously.

Shinji smiled and saluted as well, "Lieutenant Junior Grad Shinji Ikari Reporting as well Ma'am."

Misato gave them both a salute as she grinned, "At ease." She said as she looked them both over, "Nice uniforms. You packed one for Yumi too?"

Shinji shrugged, "Well yeah, I figured she might end up hanging around for a while so I thought it best to pack for her too." He explained as Misato went to put on her own uniform. "We'll wait in the car be quick."

"Don't worry Shinji, I'll be right out just don't peak." Misato teased. She supposed she could live with these two they seemed like nice kids.

Within ten minutes they were back in the car and learned that Misato drove fast regardless of the threat level. "You know when you drive slower you get better gas mileage." Shinji noted as he gripped the door white knuckled.

"Oh this isn't that bad." Misato replied as she accelerated down the early evening streets.

"Yeah, easy for you to say you're the one in control." Shinji retorted as they veered back into the NERV facility and proceeded down, this time using a conventional elevator.

They arrived at the appropriate conference room with minutes to spare and quietly took seats in the second tier.

"Oh, Lieutenant Ikari", one of the NERV workers addressed him. "The UN representatives would like to hear your impressions on the situation, and would like a preliminary debriefing on the MESSIAH, if that isn't too much trouble."

Shinji nodded to the brown haired woman noting the bars on her uniform, "That would be no trouble, Lieutenant . . ."

"Ibuki, Maya Ibuki." The woman provided. "Thank you, Lieutenant Ibuki. I'd be happy to inform them of anything that's not classified."

The woman nodded before heading back up to the third tier seats, saying something to Doctor Akagi and a gray haired man with a big nose that reminded Shinji for some reason of an old bird. The room became hushed as the UN representatives, a General and two Colonels arrived. The rooms lighting dimmed and a projector at its center showed the NERV logo suspended in the air. Gods in his heaven, alls right with the world.

Commander Ikari appeared in a solitary fourth tier seat above everyone else. 'Stroking your own ego, Gendo.' Shinji thought with a little disgust.

"This meeting has been called between the UN command staff and NERV to consider the current situation after the defeat of the Third Angel, as such all parties will be given a chance to speak. Including representatives from the UN and the MESSIAH representative Lieutenant Ikari." Gendo announced coldly, there was nothing to do no but go by the book and see what could be salvaged and what would have to be changed.

"The first briefing of the evening will be undertaken by Lieutenant Ikari to familiarize us with the operational parameters of MESSIAH's Mark Strife, as well as familiarization with MESSIAH itself."

Shinji stood quietly, "Of course, Sir." The three UN representatives however reacted rather negatively.

"Is this is some kind of joke Ikari?" Colonel Melborn, the UN man who had earlier been derogatory to Gendo now turned to tear into Shinji. "Sit down kid and leave this discussion to the adults."

Shinji glared at him quietly before speaking. "How did you become a Colonel, Sir?"

The man glanced as Shinji, the room remained quiet listening to what came next. "What?"

"If I remember correctly your insignia is that of a Colonel in the UN correct, how did you achieve that rank?"

"Listen you little shit, I've seen thirty four years of service. I will not listen to some child, I demand to be briefed by a proper Officer, or representative not the Commander's son playing soldier."

The two other UN officers said nothing as they watched, General Yamada chose not to get involved, he had the experience to sense the hardness in the younger Ikari, this child had not yet seen the brutality of soldier to soldier combat, but he was far from a normal child.

Colonel Melborn finished his little speech with a slight huff. "Again Colonel I ask you, what section of the Service were you in to attain the rank of Colonel?"

The man finally relented and answered, "I served for twenty five years on the front lines, including clean up operations immediately after second impact."

"I see, then you have no excuse for acting like an idiot and a prick." Shinji replied quietly.

"WHAT!" Melborn roared rising from his seat. "I WILL NOT TAKING THIS DISRESPECT FORM AN ARROGANT LITTLE FUCK, I AM AN OFFICER OF THE UN!" The other two UN officials restrained there angered comrade.

"And I am an Operative of MESSIAH, if you acknowledge its existence then you should respect my rank of Lieutenant, so far however you have done nothing but sully the uniform you wear at this moment. If you want to receive respect then acted in a way befitting a Colonel of the United Nations."

"He's right Andrew," Yamada finally spoke. "The Lieutenant is the only one here with any right to represent MESSIAH and we can't deny the existence of this organization with one of their weapon systems sitting right beneath our very feet." Yamada turned back to Shinji.

"If you would lieutenant please continue with your report."

Shinji bowed his head slightly, "Thank you."

The proceedings took most of the evening.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The silver haired man turned back to his companion, they both stood upon a walkway over a vast expanse shrouded in darkness at this late evening. It was called the Hangar, for there was only one. And it was where giants slept.

"My contacts tell me Shinji has made quite a splash with the UN."

"It doesn't surprise me." The woman replied brushing a strand of raven black hair from her slimface and adjusting her horn rimmed glasses. "ThoughI am concerned for him, he's already sent a request for a maitenance and security detachment to be sent immediately. We can send a technical crew but I can't say I'd feel good about sending any of our security personnel."

"Its not your choice." The man replied.

"But sir!"

"We will send the third detachment with Operative Captain Tanaka in charge."

"Are you sure you wan't to send Tanaka and Rico though, they are . . . emotionally involved with both children, that is why they were reasigned."

"Perhaps but that is why we need them now, you know as well as I that man will not survive if our sole answer to a problem is wether we can kill it first. Sometimes love lets you do something that is not expected."

"Thats sounds risky."

"If you're so worried why not go, I'm sure it would make Yumi happy."

The woman shook her head, "I . . .Don't think I can face her right now."

"I see. Remember,you took her in, she learned from you, and still looks up to you. I assume you love her as much as she loves you."

"I . . . I wish I could be sure, I think I do but, I don't know if Ican love as much as she can."

The man smiled. "Remember, no matter what, mancan learn to havean infinite capacityto love and be loved in return, its what makes us despite all of ourflaws and frailties better then them."

"Do you believe that?"

"I do. She taught me that, and even after she chose him I didn't feel bitter. I suppose it iswhy . . .I could love her son in his fathers place."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

That's it for Chapter Two, coming up, Shinji learns a hard lesson about war, Rei finally has her first meeting with Shinji, and why Yumi continually referred to as being so strong are all explained next chapter. Operative in maidens clothing.