02:6 – Inner Space

Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion or any of the characters they are the property of their respective creators. Please be aware that no profit is being made from this work of fan fiction.

I woke that morning feeling somewhat light-headed, the protests from my mid-section informing me I was hungry, prompting me to get up and make something to eat. Knowing there was a synch test scheduled for today I decided that it would be a sensible idea; sitting in the plug for hours on an empty stomach was bound to effect not only my concentration but as the test usually went through lunch as well, therefore I would be feeling terrible by the time I got out. I headed out of my room and into the shower, letting the warm water wash the last dregs of sleep from my mind before returning to my room, dressing, and heading back out into the kitchen.

Misato emerged about half an hour later; she sat down at the table with a beer and began throwing it back as usual. I couldn't help but sigh at Misato's bad habits, she really does drink too much but I can't think of any way to tell her without a confrontation…shaking my head in defeat I turned my attention back to the stove and the simple breakfast I was making. I decided to go with traditional food this time; I don't feel up to making something western. I heard another door open and assumed Asuka had finally woken up. A moment later I heard her heading into the bathroom.

When only a few moments later Asuka screamed suddenly I almost dropped the pan I was holding. I carefully put it back on top of the cooker before dashing out of the kitchen, heading straight for the bathroom. As I arrived outside the door and hesitated, unsure of what to do. If I went inside without asking and she was ok she would kill me. Yet if something were seriously wrong she might not be able to answer me…I decided I would try calling out, if she didn't respond then I would gather my courage and go inside. I knocked on the door before calling out.

"Asuka? Are you ok?"

I waited a moment yet no answer was forthcoming. Starting to feel worried, I knocked again, harder this time, before calling out again.

"Asuka? I'm coming in…"

I waited no more than a moment, secretly hoping that she would reply in her usual manner, with a stream of curse words most of which would be calling me a pervert. When there was nothing but silence still I gathered my courage and stepped inside…

"Asuka are you…ah!"

Only to be met by a very much conscious and seemingly ok, almost naked Asuka…I could feel my eyes widen as my mouth opened and closed without my consent, no doubt I looked like some kind of weird fish. I was sure that I saw a twinkle of amusement in Asuka's eyes before I got a hold of myself and managed to turn away. My cheeks felt as I they were burning, I had little doubt that I was blushing heavily.

"I'm sorry…"

I held my breath, waiting for the verbal chastisement that would inevitably follow one of my apologies…but it never came. I was caught a little off guard when I heard Asuka approaching me and positively shocked when she started pushing me out of the bathroom. I actually protested slightly, although I later realised what that must have sounded like…I was protesting leaving the bathroom when Asuka was trying to take a shower and was practically naked, if that wasn't perverted I don't know what was. I don't think Asuka realised because once she got me outside she simply pulled the door closed without another word. Breathing a sigh of relief at my narrow escape and the fact that Asuka was indeed ok I headed back to the kitchen, already I could detect the faint smells of the now burning breakfast.

After Asuka joined us and we finished our breakfast we headed down to Misato's car before heading off to Nerv, the tests were scheduled to begin in just over half an hour. For some reason I chose to sit in the back this time, something telling me to stick close to Asuka. It was not long after we pulled away from the apartment that my lack of sleep caught up with me, causing me to nod off almost immediately. For once, my sleep was dreamless although at once point I was almost certain that I could feel something warm encircling my hand.

When I finally woke up, we had already arrived at Nerv, Misato already having exited the car. It was then I realised that something warm was indeed wrapped around my hand; opening my eyes I discovered it was Asuka's. I turned my head to look at her, meeting her gaze with my own. There was something there, something that I did not fully understand yet seemed almost like…no, I pushed my thoughts away from that, turning them back to the matter at hand…literally.

"Asuka…"

Her eyes shifted slightly, her look changing to a questioning one. I turned my gaze downwards slightly so I was now facing the space between us, looking at how her hand covered mine.

"…can you let go of my hand?"

She didn't react for a moment and I wondered if she had heard me…then, suddenly she pulled it away sharply as if it were burned. Not really wanting to read into it any further I simply nodded my thanks and stepped out of the car, Asuka following a moment later. The three of us then headed onto one of the many trains that lead down to the Geofront, in preparation for our synch test to begin.

When we stepped off the train we separated from Misato, she was headed of for the control room while we headed towards the locker rooms. We walked in silence, I had no idea what to say to Asuka, and anyway she seemed to be lost in her thoughts. I split off from her when we reached the men's locker room, finding it empty as always…sometimes I wonder why it is that there are two female pilots but only one male. Is there something about the Eva's that makes them easier for girls to pilot? I continued with this odd train of thought as I got undressed and pulled on my plug suit, depressing the button my wrist to let it fit to my body before heading to the testing area.

I don't know what it is exactly but no matter how many times I am stuck inside here, it always feels different from being inside Unit-01. I don't feel the same sense of connection I get when I'm in my Eva; the test plugs feel almost hollow…I was pulled out of my thoughts when suddenly Misato's voice drifted across the comm., I looked up at the monitor to see her smiling at me before announcing that I was now number one.

I was shocked to say the least…never before had I been the best at anything. Always in the past I was overlooked in favour of others more talented or gifted than myself yet here it seemed I had finally found something I was good at. I was pleased by Misato's words although in truth I wished they had come from my father, as much as I still hated him I at the same time wanted him to be proud of me, to acknowledge what I had done. It's stupid really, that's why Asuka constantly taunts me about it.

The test ended not long after and as I exited the test plug, I soon found myself greeted by an angry looking Asuka. She stormed over; fire in her eyes and at once I knew something was terribly wrong. I opened my mouth to ask her but was cut off when her hand connected with the side of my face…I simply started at her then, shocked by her sudden violent action. I could already feel my cheek swelling and for a moment, I considered going to see Dr Akagi after changing. She held my gaze for another instant before fleeing, heading off in the direction of the women's locker room.

I headed back to the men's not long after, getting changed in silence. I decided that my cheek would be ok, I pressed a damp cloth against it for a little while and that had eased most of the pain. A trip to the doctor would just raise questions, ones that I didn't really want to be answering right now…I took a bus back to the apartment as Misato had to remain, she had paperwork to do as always. When I arrived I found the apartment empty, it seemed that Asuka was yet to return. Sighing heavily at the enigma that is girls, I went to my room and retrieved my homework before going into the living room and making a start.

I started dinner a few hours later. It wasn't long after I had begun that Asuka finally arrived, and Misato had finally come back about half an hour earlier. We ate in silence, none of us willing to start a conversation. I glanced over at her a few times while we were eating but she kept avoiding my gaze. To be honest I still don't know why she's so mad at me and I don't think she's going to talk to me so I can find out…I considered talking to Misato for a while but I realised it would probably end up in a teasing session and another lecture on the birds and the bees. That was certainly an experience I would love to forget…I cleaned up the plates and put them in the sink to soak overnight, I could wash them up in the morning. That done I went to bed, thoughts of Asuka still drifting through my mind.

My sleep was haunted by dreams of Asuka and when morning finally came I resolved myself to speak with her, to find out what had gotten her so mad at me…fate, it seemed has other ideas. Soon after I had taken my shower and headed to the kitchen to begin breakfast the familiar sounds of the Angel alarms flared into life and Misato immediately hurried us both out of the apartment. The tension between Asuka and I was almost palpable, she still seemed to be angry with me and I was as yet unable to fully discern the cause. From what I could tell it had something to do with the synch tests yesterday although what exactly had bothered her that much still eluded me. Despite the fact we have been living together for many months now I still find it hard to understand Asuka…I remember Mr. Kaji saying something to me about it. He said Asuka was…bipolar?

It seemed that Misato sensed the tension between us because when we reached the car she silently motioned for me to sit in the front while Asuka sat in the back. This of course meant I lost yet another chance to speak with her and I silently hoped a chance would present itself once we reached Nerv…it was not to be however because on arrival we were hurried off to our respective locker rooms, not getting a chance to speak. As I pulled off my clothes and pulled on my plug suit, I silently vowed that I would speak with her after the battle. I pressed the button on my wrist and the suit contracted, now ready I ran out of the locker room and made for the Eva cages, heading straight for Unit-01.

Asuka and I arrived at almost the same time and once we were both securely inside our Evas all three Eva series were launched, positioned at key points across the city. According to what I was told the objective was to surround the Angel, hence why we had been deployed in a crude triangle formation. Misato's initial orders were for us to hold back, not to engage the Angel. The Magi had yet to reach a decision and until that happened we were to proceed with extreme caution. I positioned myself behind a building and waited, most likely Rei and Asuka doing the same.

It took a few moments for the other two Evas to report they too were in position before Misato came over the radio once again with our new orders. Asuka was to engage the Angel while Rei and I supported her, it was just the kind of plan Asuka usually loved so I was truly surprised when she objected. She told Misato that I should lead rather than her; after all, I had the highest synch ratio after all. As I listened to her words pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place but complete understanding still evaded my grasp. I could hear the venom dripping from her words as she spoke, almost as if she was mocking me…

This time I won't run away!

I cut Misato off as she tried to object, telling her I could handle it. A moment later when the Angel swept by the building I was currently hiding behind I broke cover and attacked…right before all hell broke lose…

I never would have expected the Angel to disappear only moments before a great black shadow formed beneath me and began to draw Unit-01 inside. I began to call out for help, despite knowing that no one could help me. Neither of the other Evas were in range and even if they had been, they would most likely be swallowed as well. I aimed my gun downwards and fired of the remaining rounds into the inky black surface but to no avail, the shadow seemed unaffected and I continued to sink at an even rate.

Soon Unit-01 had sunk up to its chest and already I could see the shadow's surface at the bottom of the plug. I pulled my knees to my chest as I continued to cry out, even as the shadow rose up and consumed me as the last of Unit-01 was drawn inside. I heard faint voices calling out to me a moment before all communication was lost. Now, trapped inside the Angel, unable to see anything outside I switched the Eva into life support mode, the power cable already having been disconnected leaving me with little time. The energy reserves might last a few hours in this way but eventually they were going to run out and I would die, suffocated inside the entry plug of my Eva. I curled myself up tighter, trying to conserve what body heat I still retained while I silently waited, hoping that someone would come to my rescue before it was too late.

I spent the next few hours drifting in and out of hallucinations, losing myself into fragments of old memories even as I argued with a younger version of myself. For one brief moment, I thought I caught sight of a memory of my mother before it was lost in the maelstrom of sights and sounds. Waking briefly I checked the monitor on the forearm of my plug suit, already it had used over half it's reserves, checking the Eva it seemed it had also dropped to a little below fifty percent as well. Only a few hours remained now, soon the life support would start to fade and death would come to take me away from this place…

I didn't wake again for quite a while, this time my mind filed with thoughts of Asuka. It seemed that now I would never be able to find out why she was angry…never be able to explain to her why I pulled away…never tell her how I had begun to feel about her. The scent of blood filled my nostrils and at once I realised the LCL filtration system was shutting down, it would only be a little longer before I suffocated. I panicked then, suddenly driven by a fierce desire to escape from this place, a wish not to die here…it was then I felt it. A presence inside the Eva beside my own…it was familiar yet alien, comforting yet it made me afraid. As moments past it grew stronger, filling me with its power, with its rage. My mind and the Eva's were joined; it too had no wish to meet its end in this place.

Summoning our strength, we began to move, drawing on reserves we did not know we had. Once more we came alive, tearing at our prison as our AT field expanded. We could feel it; trying to resist us…we struck out at it, one arm tearing free as we ripped through the walls of our prison. Then, the other arm broke free as we began to tear it apart from the inside. Soon, the whole thing collapsed about us, peeling back like the skin of a fruit, once more opening us up to the world. We tore what remained of our enemy apart before landing upon the ground drenched in its blood. We let out a great cry of triumph and as our scream echoed throughout the city, I felt myself slipping away, the thrill of battle, the power, and the hunger drifting away from me as I returned to myself. The last thing I saw as I lapsed into unconsciousness was the faint outline of a woman, smiling faintly at me.

"Mother…"

A/N: Well, not quite a Christmas chapter but the next update none the less. The new year is going to be a really busy time for me so updates may or may not run to schedule, I will try my best to keep them at every two weeks. In addition I have a Christmas one shot planned, late not I know but will try and post it in the next few days when it's done.


Till next time,


Hououza

Chapter preread by That Other Guy