Author's Notes: Well, not much to say here, except there are some new characters. Hope you like them! Enjoy!
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Chapter 5
It's morning in the Katsuragi household. Shinji is in the kitchen cooking, Pen-Pen is eating a bowl of fish, and the sound of water running in the bathroom indicates that Asuka is taking a shower. Suddenly, the doors to both Misato's and Shinji and Jason's rooms open. Misato is wearing her usual morning attire of too short shorts and a loose fitting shirt, and Jason is wearing a white T-shirt that goes to the waist and white boxers with red polka dots. Both of them shuffle slowly into the kitchen
Shinji: Morning, Misato.
Mistato waves Shinji off and opens the fridge and grabs a beer
Shinji: Morning, Jason!
Jason turns to Shinji and gives him a look that could scare an Eva
Jason: Do I LOOK like a morning person? Where's the coffee?
Shinji points to the coffee pot with mugs beside it. Jason walks over and pours himself a cup, adds sugar and cream and sits down across from Misato. The two of them take a swig of their drinks at the same time
Misato and Jason: YEEE-HAAAAW!
Both Misato and Jason let loose a belch
Misato and Jason: Now THAT is the way to start your morning!
Both Misato and Jason stop and look at each other
Misato: Yeibisu War Cry?
Jason: Yeibisu War Cry.
Both Misato and Jason high five each other
Asuka: Great, another one...
Asuka walks in and sits down. Shinji quickly serves them all bacon and eggs with toast
Jason: Bacon and eggs? This isn't traditional Japanese Cuisine...
Shinji: Well, I sorta thought I'd welcome you by making an American breakfast...
Asuka: WHAT? You never did ANYTHING like that for ME!
Shinji: (quietly) Well, I, Uh, thought that you'd, um, get mad if I had done that, Asuka...
Asuka: You idiot! Why I ought to...
Asuka trails off as Jason gives her a disapproving look. Jason then turns to Shinji
Jason: Thanks, Shin-Man. Tonight, I'll make a traditional German meal, to make up for your blunder. Asuka, you can tell me what to get to cook.
Everyone stares at Jason in shock
Shinji: You can... Cook?
Jason: Yep!
Asuka: I get to choose the meal?
Jason: You bet!
Misato: You can stop Asuka and Shinji from fight?
Jason: Nope! I can only be a buffer... (to himself) Or another target for Asuka...
Pen-Pen: Wark?
Jason: Sure! Here you go Pen-Pen!
Jason slides an egg and some bacon into Pen-Pen's dish
Asuka: You can speak penguin?
Jason: Uh, no... He was chewing on my pants...
---
Later that day at NERV headquarters, in the changing rooms
Jason pulls at his orange and blue plugsuit
Jason: Kinda loose...
Shinji: Press the switch on your right wrist...
Jason follows Shinji's instructions, and the plugsuit contracts quickly and Jason goes rigid
Shinji: What's wrong?
Jason: Um... Kinda tight around the, uh, crotch area...
Shinji: Oh, don't worry, it'll adjust in a bit...
Jason: Ok... But what about the super wedgey?
Shinji laughs
Shinji: You might want to adjust that manually...
---
In the Pribnow box, Shinji, Asuka and Jason are all standing in front of Ritsuko
Ritsuko: A few things before we begin. One, Shinji and Asuka, I know you had a Sync Test three days ago, but it would be much easier if we had all of your Sync Tests in, for lack of a better word, sync, so we don't have to test you on different days. Two, your sync tests will take place in your Evas today, while Jason attempts activation of Unit-14. It allows us to monitor you all easier, and we believe it could help ease any fears Jason has. Finally, there is a problem with Unit-14's language system, and it's stuck on English, and, I'm embarrassed to say, none of the personnel here can speak fluent English. So, Jason, meet your translators, Darren and Kyle Asairin.
Two men walk in. One is a little shorter than the other. The shorter man has glasses, short, blonde hair, and is wearing blue jeans and a yellow shirt that has 'Stupid Noob' written in English on it. The taller man looks almost identical to the other, except he isn't wearing glasses and is wearing a traditional NERV uniform. Both are holding laptops.
Ritsuko: Lieutenant Darren, why are you not in uniform?
The shorter man shrugs
Darren: Eh... Too formal and stuffy...
The other man bows in apology
Kyle: I am sorry, Dr. Akagi. I tried to convince my older brother otherwise, but he wouldn't listen.
Asuka: Hold on a minute! Older brother? But you're almost four inches taller than he is!
Darren smirks and walks over to Asuka
Darren: Hey, height isn't everything...
Darren flicks Asuka's forehead
Darren: Pipsqueak.
Asuka's face contorts in anger and she raises her fist
Asuka: I'm going to kick your fu-
Darren: I wouldn't if I were you, pipsqueak... You might just loose the privilege to Pilot...
Asuka growls and lowers her fist
Jason: So, I take it you two are twins?
Darren: Yep!
Asuka: but, if you're both twins, how can one be older than the other?
Kyle: Well, Miss Sohyru, my brother was born approximately five minutes, thirty two seconds and fifty nine milliseconds before me, give or take a millisecond.
Jason: Wow, that's pretty accurate. You two are geniuses, aren't you?
Darren: Indeed. We both have an IQ of 281. We rival the power of the Magi together.
Ritsuko: (angrily) How dare you! The Magi's combined IQ is-
Darren: Approximately 565, while together we have an IQ of 562. I said we rivaled the Magi, doctor. I didn't say we surpassed it...
Ritsuko: How did you-
Darren: Know the Magi's IQ? We've been given information regarding all of NERV, to better help pilot Fellers here.
Kyle: I am sorry to interrupt, Dr. Akagi, but we are approximately eight minutes, fifty two seconds and five milliseconds behind schedule.
Ritsuko: Oh, shit! Hurry, into the Evas, kids. Commander Fuyutski will chew our asses off!
---
Jason is sitting in Unit-14's entry plug
Jason: So, why do I need translators?
Darren: (over comm system) Well, it's this way, kid. An error will occur if you think in any other language, it's called thought noise. It completely disables the Eva.
Kyle: (over comm) And, somehow, the language system was damaged during transport. It's beyond repair, and a spare part had to be ordered from Russia. It won't arrive for several weeks.
Darren: (over comm) Hagel Hitler! Hail Hitler!
Kyle: (over comm) Darren, that's Germany...
Darren: (over comm) I know, I just wanted to piss off Sohryu.
In the background noise of the comm system, Jason hears Asuka cussing furiously in German
---
In the Pribnow box
Maya: Shinji and Asuka are at their contamination limit, Ma'am.
Ritsuko: Ok. Keep them there and record their ratios.
Maya: Yes, Ma'am.
Ritsuko turns to Darren and Kyle. They are both sitting at the console, talking to Jason over the comm system. A laugh comes from their laptops. Kyle stand up and walks over to Ritsuko
Kyle: Dr. Akagi. We believe Jason is ready to begin.
Ritsuko: Very well. Let us begin then...
Ritsuko and Kyle walk over to where Darren is sitting. Kyle sits and Ritsuko watches over their shoulders
Ritsuko: Insert entry plug!
Darren: Roger, ejecting plug terminator.
Kyle: Inserting entry plug.
Darren: Plug received... Synapses connected.
Kyle: Filling the entry plug with LCL...
---
Jason sighs as he waits for everything to begin
Suddenly the plug begins to fill with an amber colored liquid
Jason: W-what is this stuff?
Kyle: (over comm) Don't worry, Jason. This is LCL. Once it fills your lungs, your blood will be oxygenated directly.
Jason nods and takes a deep breath, then coughs fiercely
Jason: Tastes like blood...
Kyle laughs over the comm system
Kyle: (over comm) Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Ok, this next part is going to put a strain on your brain, but I'm here to talk you through it. If you feel uncomfortable at any time, tell me, and we'll stop the activation.
Jason: Ok...
---
Ritsuko: Begin activation!
Darren: Beginning activation.
Ritsuko: Connect the main power supply and all circuits together.
Darren: The main power supply has been connected. Starting the activation system.Voltage increasing to the critical point: 0.4, 0.1, rising!
Ritsuko: Start the second phase of the activation system.
Shigeru: The pilot has commenced synchronization with the Eva.
Ritsuko: How's Jason?
Kyle: He says he's fine.
Ritsuko: Ok. Start System Phase 2.
On Darren's laptop is a display of Unit-14's neurons. All of them light up.
Shigeru: Synapses inserted. Junction started.
Darren: Pulses transmitted.
Shigeru: All circuits are operational.
Darren: The initial contact has no problems.
Shigeru: Power has been transmitted up to the brachial muscles in both arms. There are no problems with the nerve links.
Darren: Checked. Up to 2550 on the list satisfied.
Ritsuko: Status on Jason?
Kyle: He says he has a slight headache, but he'll be fine.
Ritsuko: Arrange for third connection.
Darren: Up to 2580 satisfied. Approaching borderline in 1.2... 0.8...0.6... 0.5, 0.4, 0.3.
On Darren's laptop, the display of Unit-14's neurons begin to darken. Alarms begin to sound
Darren: Pulses are flowing backwards!
Shiggeru: Problems encountered on the third stage. Rejection is setting in on the nerve center elements!
Ritsuko: Stop the contacts. Break the circuits up to the sixth!
Darren starts typing furiously on his keyboard
Darren: Negative! The signal is not being received!
Inside the test chamber, the orange and blue Unit-14 starts to struggle against its restraints.
Darren: Damn it! Pilot's life signs and brainwaves are deteriorating!
Kyle: Jason! Jason! Shit! Jason's unconcious!
Ritsuko: Stop the experiment! Shut off the power supply!
Darren: Yes, ma'am... The signal isn't being received!
Ritsuko: Eject the entry plug, then!
Darren: Negative, no response from that either!
Ritsuko: Use the emergency manual ejection!
Darren nods and breaks open the emergency manual ejection case and pulls the handle... Then pulls it again and agains
Darren: I can't! What the hell?
Kyle: Jason! Stay with me, man! Come on! Stay with me! You can't die! You're too young! JASON!
---
Jason is floating in a block void
Jason: (thinking) Where am I? Am I dead?
Suddenly the void turns blood red and a shadowy figure rises up in front of Jason. A blood red Pentagram appears on its forehead.
Figure: (in a dark, evil voice) Kill them all! Kill them all! SLAUGHER! DESTROY! Damn them to Hell!
Jason: (shakily) W-what? Who are you?
The figure reaches out and grabs Jason
Jason: AHH!
Figure: (in a dark, evil voice) DIE! DIE! Burn to ashes! Surrender to damnation!
Jason: NO! Help me! Anyone! PLEASE!
A light suddenly shoots through the figure and it evaporates with a roar. From the light, a man walks forward. Jason slowly floats down and lands on an invisible surface.
Man: Jason...
Jason: It... It can't be!
Man: Jason, my son...
Jason: Father?
Jason runs to his father and hugs him
Jason: Father!
Jason starts to cry
Jason's Father: Do not cry, Jason...
Jason: I'm just so happy to see you... I can't help it...
Jason's Father: Jason, you are near death, the Eva is rejecting you...
Jason: What do I do?
Jason's Father gently ends the hug
Jason's Father: Fight it... You must tame the beast that is Eva... Find the power in your heart...
Jason: I-I don't know if I can...
Jason's Father: Then you are doomed to die... Please, do not give up, my son...
Jason: O-ok...
Jason nods and smiles
Jason: I'll won't give up, I'll fight... For you dad... Thank you...
Jason's Father: I will always be watching over you my son...
Slowly, Jason's Father and the void fade away
---
Inside the Pribnow box
Darren: What the?
Ritsuko: What is it?
Darren: The pulses stopped flowing backwards.
Ritsuko: What? How!
Darren: Whoah! Unbelievable!
On Darren's laptop, Unit-14's neurons are rapidly approaching the borderline. In the test chamber, Unit-14 stops struggling
Darren: Borderline reached, I mean passed! Sync ratio is rising! Pilot's life signs and brainwaves are returning to normal!
Ritsuko: Status on Jason!
Kyle: Shit! I don't know! Comm systems and video feed have been cut off!
Darren: Sync ratio at 100! 15, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500! How in the Hell?
Ritsuko: (thinking) Oh God, Jason...
Darren: This is unbelievable! Wait! Sync is falling rapidly! 400, 300, 200, 100, 75, 50, 35 and holding!
Kyle: Comm and video are back online!
Ritsuko: How's Jason!
On Kyle's laptop screen, Jason is lying back in the pilot's seat. He's smiling, and blood is running from his nose and his mouth
Kyle: Jason! Are you ok!
Jason nods and smiles wider
Jason: Y-yeah... I saw... My father...
Jason's eyes close and he loses consciousness
---
In a dark room, eight monoliths hover in a circle
SEELE-20: The sixth child has made contact with Unit-666...
SEELE-15: And?
SEELE-20: He is alive...
SEELE-13: So, the child experienced the flames of Hell first hand...
SEELE-16: And survived...
SEELE-14: Unbelievable... He went to Hell and back...
SEELE-20: And came back smiling...
SEELE-17: So...
SEELE-18: Is he...
SEELE-19: The one?
SEELE-20: Yes, my brothers. Next comes the first of the seven sins... Sloth... I bid you all a good day, gentleman...
The monoliths fade out