The train stopped, causing the teenager to look up. They were at the central Tokyo-3 station, his stop. He stood up and made his way to the nearest exit. The crowd rushed forward, and he let it carry him out the door and onto the platform. He looked around for the welcoming party his old NERV commander had promised. Seeing nothing of interest, he started to walk off.

He stopped when a flash of red caught his eye. He turned to see a very strange group standing not too far away.

A tall brunette woman stood between two teenagers, the eye of a storm of emotion. A japanese boy stood on one side of her, his arms crossed and staring at his feet, the very picture of sorrow. The other side was occupied by a stunning redhead, dressed in a short white cocktail dress. She was tapping her foot in frustration, looking around angrily.

The teenager had just turned to continue walking when the woman reached into her pocket and took out a piece of paper. She unfolded it and held it up. It said "Benoit" in large black letters. Startled, he stopped again, and looked over the odd group again.

He noticed the woman's jacket emblem for the first time. It had a leaf with lettering, and a major's insignia on the collar. A NERV official. The unsightly bunch was more than met the eye.

He sighed and turned towards them. As he walked to his "welcoming party" (if they could be called one), he found his eyes constantly straying to the fiery redhead in front of him. He finally admitted to himself that this would be much more interesting than his old assignment.

Asuka had been standing on the platform exactly three seconds before boredom overcame her. She turned to Misato.

"Refresh my memory, Misato. What are we doing here again?"

Misato chuckled knowingly. "You'll see."

Asuka threw up her hands, giving up. She occupied herself by observing the crowd around her. She counted the number of teenage boys stealing glances at her, and smiled. But soon enough she was angry again, when she realized that all the boys looking at her quickly looked away after seeing Shinji.

She elbowed him in the ribs. "Would it kill you to cheer up, Baka? We might as well give in to the fact that Misato's not going to tell us why we're here. So smile already!"

Shinji just glared at her, before staring at his feet again.

Asuka resumed her impatient fuming. She folded her arms and tapped her foot, hoping Shinji would do something worthy of shouting at. She felt like yelling at him.

She had just started scanning the crowd again when one person in particular stood out. It was another teenage boy, watching her. But this one didn't keep looking away. She had his attention. He was walking towards her quickly, with purpose.

He stopped a number of feet in front of her. She was about to start flirting with him (hoping it would at least make Shinji uncomfortable), when he turned to Misato.

"I take it you were sent by NERV to meet me? Not much of a welcome, I have to say."

Asuka huffed. So he wasn't here for her. But if he was with NERV, then who was he?

Misato looked at Shinji and Asuka, then looked back at the new boy. She put up her hand.

"Luc Benoit. It's a pleasure to meet you. Shinji, Asuka, I would like to introduce you to the fourth child."

Shinji finally looked up to see the boy for the first time. The fourth child? He certainly didn't look the part. Where Shinji was small and thin, Luc was broad shouldered, if only of average height. He had dark brown hair, unkempt and not quite short. His NERV duffel bag was casually slung over his shoulder. He looked more like an average high school student than an EVA pilot.

He turned to Shinji. "Shinji Ikari, I presume. I'm honored to meet the second child. And of course, the son of Commander Ikari. I take it he's a bit caught up at work?"

Shinji grimaced and looked back at the ground. However interesting a new pilot may be, he didn't seem to be very interesting himself.

Asuka didn't seem to think so, though.

"Benoit. What is that, French?"

Luc smiled. "Vous avez raison, madame. Langley. What is that, German? And Sorhyu, Japanese?"

She smiled back. "You've done your research, Mr. Benoit." She winked at him. He smiled a bit wider.

"Please, call me Luc. If we're going to be fighting Angels together, you should call me by my first name." He winked back. Shinji frowned. If Luc was falling for Asuka already, his life had just gotten a lot harder.

Luc spoke up again. "Oh, and Asuka," she smiled, "I'm staying at my own place, so don't waste your time trying to flirt with me." The smile left her face, and she huffed in frustration as she folded her arms to pout.

Shinji looked up, happy for the first time all day. He smiled at Luc, who returned it with a hint of respect.