Disclaimer: See the Prologue


Chapter 20 – Mother and Son


Gordon and Shinji were surrounded by lots of Vortigaunts, edger to meet their saviour and the person whom he brought along.

'Wow,' Shinji thought, 'They all think of Gordon as a Messiah.'

"Brothers, please," the Chief said, "Allow the Free Man and Shinji to pass. I would like to meet someone."

They did so. Shinji, Gordon and the Chief shuffled their way past the crowd and towards another cavern. Along the way, the Chief spoke.

"This person has been with us since the start of this war. She has worked tirelessly in order for us to escape from this world and to find refuge on Earth. She has almost accomplished her task, but requires your help."

Gordon was confused. Not from the Chief speaking like that, but of everything. Were these Vortigaunts friendly at the beginning, but where just controlled by the Angel Nihilanth, who in turn was controlled by this Union. That can't be right.

"Who is this person that has been helping you?" Gordon asked, feeling like he already knows the answer.

They stepped into the cavern.

"Yui Ikari of GEHIRN," the Chief answered.

Shinji's mind snapped.

"MOTHER?" he cried.

"Yui, could you come over here please?" the Chief called out.

"I'm coming," a female voice replied. A voice that Shinji always found soothing when he was young.

The darkness of the cavern was brightened up when she stepped from the darkness, clad in a Hazard Suit. She took one look at Shinji…

"Shinji?" the woman said, in disbelief.


Accessing Past Employee Files

SUBJECT: Yui Ikari, Female, Age 27

EDUCATION: Metaphysical Biology

POSITION: Research Associate

ASSIGNMENT: GEHIRN Artificial Evolution Laboratory, Hakone, Japan

CLEARANCE: All Access

ADMINISTRATVE SPONSOR: Classified

DISASTER RESPONSE PRIORITY: Discretionary

UPDATED FILE, AS OF SEPTEMBER 13th 2000

SUBJECT: IKARI
STATUS: HIRED

Awaiting Assignment

UPDATED FILE, DATE CLASSIFIED

SUBJECT: Ikari

STATUS: Evaluation Terminated

Subject is believed to have perished during Project E

Updated Information

SUBJECT: IKARI
STATUS: ALIVE

Subject was believed to have perished during Project. Now it is known she has been alive all this time on Xen. Sustained by Xenian water, Subject had evaded Union capture and has been assisting Vortigaunts with planned escape to Earth.

Subject must be preserved alongside Subject Pilot Ikari.

No further comment at this time


Shinji was on the verge of tears.

"Mother?"

"Shinji?"

"MOTHER!"

They both rushed forward and embraced. Tears of joy spreading down their faces.

"Oh God, Shinji," she cried, "You're alive."

They pulled back to stare at one another's faces. Faces that each to them looked strange, but they didn't mind.

"I've missed you," Shinji said softly, smiling, tears still streaking down his face.

"I've missed you too, darling," Yui replied, caressing his face gently.

They then hugged again.

"I…I knew that you didn't die," Shinji whispered, "I knew…somehow that you were still alive."

Yui smiled at that comment. She then noticed Gordon.

"Gordon Freeman I presume?" Yui greeted.

"Yui Ikari I presume," Gordon replied.

They both shook hands, smiling.

"Mother of the most courageous boy in the universe may I add," Gordon also said.

Shinji blushed at the comment, before saying, "This man helped me survive."

"I saw that," Yui said.

Gordon and Shinji looked at her weird, suddenly.

"You saw what was happening in NERV?" Gordon said.

"From Evangelion Unit-01, I did," Yui answered, "I have seen everything transpire on Earth from Unit-01: The Angel attacks and even Black Mesa. And at times I have intervened during the balance of power."

She then smiled at Shinji.

"Of course," Shinji cried.

Gordon was confused.

"But how?" Gordon queried, "They say Unit-01 absorbed you, but you ended up here. How can you see out of and control Unit-01."

Yui sighed, then said, "Follow me."

Yui guided them inside the cave, the Chief accompanying them. Yui lead them through a tunnel, guided by shining Xenian crystals.

They soon came to an area where a large purple crystal, protruding out of the ground, lay in the middle of a shining pond of water.

"This is where I landed after that experiment with Unit-01," Yui explained, "This purple crystal was created by the Vortigaunt in order for me to control Unit-01 from here."

They stepped over the shallow water towards the large crystal.

"I was able to look out of the EVA and even control it in certain moments just by touching it," she explained.

She then turned to Shinji.

"Try it," she offered, smiling.

Shinji stepped forward and placed a hand on it. His eyes widened when suddenly he found himself looking over the EVA Cages from Unit-01's point of view.

'God,' Shinji thought, 'How is this possible?'

He saw that the EVA Cages had completely become an alien habitat, with greenish residue plastering the walls. He turned slightly into the control room and saw that Asuka, Rei and Misato weren't there.

'I hope they managed to escape,' Shinji thought.

Shinji let go of the crystal and fell back into the water.

"Shinji?" Gordon cried, bending down to help him up, "Are you alright?"

Shinji nodded vigorously, smiling, "That was awesome."

"Yui," Gordon said, recuperating himself from sightseeing, "We were sent here to help the Vortigaunts escape to Earth."

"I can only think of the one person who sent you here," Yui said, a serious look on her face, "We both work for him."

Gordon was shocked at hearing that.

'She worked for him too?' he thought.

"I don't agree with most of his ideals," Yui said, "But I do agree that the Vortigaunts must escape from this place before the Union arrives."

"I saw them erecting some kind of portal machine," Gordon said, "How long till it's operational?"

"It is almost completed," the Chief said, "But we need a Dimensional Crystal in order for it to function for as long as it can. Just so thousands of us can flee this place."

Yui turned to the Chief.

"Where can we find one?" she asked.

"Right near where that factory was," the Chief replied, "Luckily, thanks to the Free Man, it is no longer functional. We won't be facing any of the Union's super soldiers."

"Thank God for that," Gordon said, assuming the Chief meant the Alien Grunts, "So what are we waiting for?"

Yui and Shinji nodded.

"Let's go then," Shinji said, "We have to help these guys."

"Wait," the Chief said, "Before you go."

The Chief indicated 2 Hive-Hands on something that looked like a desk. Gordon Yui walked over and picked them up, applying them over their hands. They fitted comfortably.

"Our race's survival, and of the human race's survival, depends on your success," the Chief said, "May you prevail."

Gordon looked determined.

"We will!" Gordon said, promising, "Mark my words, we will!"