Disclaimer –
The original story Neon Genesis Evangelion, its characters and all other trademarks are used without permission. The originals are mine, and will be named in the author notes of the first chapter they appear in. I will be making no profit from this story.
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Evangelion Chronicles
by Room3
Chapter 02 - Aftermath
The Angel stared passively as the rubble where its enemy laid buried. Minutes passed and nothing happened. Then it turned and began moving in the direction it had been before it had been distracted.
- - -
Hope for the survival of the pilot had faded as the minutes had passed and no signs of life were visible from the command centre. Maya closed the small video window she'd been watching Shinji on, fighting back the sobs which threatened to rack her body. Shigeru and Makoto just looked at their consoles, their faces blank, each trying to figure out just what to do next. Captain Katsuragi stared at the floor beneath her feet, silently cursing the Angels for having taken another life and renewing her vow to destroy them, no matter the cost. Ritsuko had backed up against the wall behind her and, leaning against it, was pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to keep back the tears she felt burning her eyes.
The sound of stone hitting stone filed the soundless chamber and all eyes turned to the main screen in time to see a purple arm shoot out from under the rubble and grasp the Angel's ankle.
"Has he woken up?!" Akagi gasped, staggering towards the main screen.
"Unknown!" Maya yelled back. "We're still not getting any signals from the entry-plug!"
- - -
The Angel turned to face whatever was restraining it and watched as Unit 01's head and shoulders rose from the rubble, an unearthly growl filling the street. One of the Angel's clawed hands reached out to grasp the Eva, but the robot intercepted it, grasping its wrist and crushing it. A howl unlike anything anyone had ever heard echoed through the deserted streets.
The purple machine released its grip on the Angel's ankle and flung it aside, sending the black and white figure tumbling into a high-rise office block, shattering windows and bending the buildings internal framework.
The Evangelion got its feet, fragments of what was once the multi-storey car-park tumbling to the street. Once upright it stared at the Angel for a moment, then its mouth opened and a deafening roar issued forth, before it charged at its enemy, smashing it back into the building it was pulling itself free from hard. The impact ripped the structure free of its foundations and it slid across the city streets for a while before the superstructure collapsed and the building fell apart in a cloud of concrete, metal, glass and dust.
The Eva stared intently as the dust disapated, leaning forward and apparently panting. Two glowing discs appeared and a breeze began to blow. At first gentle, it quickly increased in ferocity until it passed gale force strength. Unit 01 brought its arms up to shield itself from not only the wind itself, but also the debris that was being flung at it and growled again. As the wind whipping at it became even stronger, the purple robot was forced to take a few steps backwards as the wind tried to topple it. The Angel took a couple of steps forward, causing the Eva back further.
Throwing its arms out and its head back, the Evangelion roared mightily and charged at the Angel, completely ignoring the incredibly powerful currents of air directed towards it. Once close enough to the black and white giant it threw its fist forward. An orange glow, appearing like some kind of film, intercepted the punch. Growling, Unit 01 pushed harder, straining the glowing field and tearing through. The Angel went to take a step backwards but it was too late and the Eva's clenched fist smashed into its face.
As the wind began to die down, the Angel's undamaged arm reached up and it took hold of the Eva's throat once more. Seemingly calm, the robot gripped the arm and twisted it hard, breaking the limb. Pulling back its fist, the robot released its hold on the Angel's arm. Tickles of liquid could be seen running down the giant's face, its colour unclear due to the lack of lighting.
The air around the pair began to spin and a tornado formed, quickly hiding them from view.
- - -
"Detecting an energy build up from the target," Makoto reported, still stunned by the Eva's performance. All eyes but his had remained to the main screen. He turned his view back as the spinning mass of air began to glow.
"It's going to self-detonate," Misato stated calmly. "It knows it can't win." Akagi looked at her. She was about to say something when a blinding light filled the command centre and the chamber shook.
Maya blinked her eyes to clear the spots as she hid her face in her hands. Confident they had gone, she looked around her. At first she was worried that the flash had damaged her eyes as everything had a red tinge to it, but she quickly realised that the emergency lighting had kicked in. Remembering what had just happened, she looked up at the main screen. The image was distorted and the signal poor, but she could just make out the back of the Eva, stood where it had been before the blast. As the image cleared, the robot turned to face the onlookers before kneeling down and bowing its head, shutting itself down.
A beeping from her console caught her attention, and Ibuki looked down to see that the telemetry signals had returned. As she informed her superiors, she reopened the video window to the entry-plug and sighed as she saw the boy. He was still breathing; unconscious, but breathing.
"Pilot status?" the blonde doctor asked, her eyes on the main screen.
"Unconscious, but he's alive," Maya replied, checking the physiological signals she was receiving. Her brow furrowed slightly. She blinked then looked again at the physiological data she was receiving. Must have been my imagination, she mused.
"Captain Katsuragi, begin the retrieval operation," Fuyutski ordered from his position, getting to his feet.
"Yes, sir," the lavender-haired woman responded, saluting him before issuing the necessary orders.
"Doctor Akagi," the commander continued. Ritsuko looked up at him. "Have the Magi run a full analysis of the battle, include all sensor data as well as a diagnostic of Unit 01. Bring it to my office when it's ready." Akagi nodded. "Lieutenant Hyuga, inform the infirmary that the third-child will require their services. I want him to have a full physical, just to be on the safe side."
"Yes, professor," Makoto replied.
- - -
"How's the diagnostic going, Maya?" Dr. Akagi asked her assistant as the door to her office slid closed behind her. The petite brunette was sat at her desk, tapping at the keyboard in an apparently random fashion. She blinked as she looked up, her eyes tired from keeping up with the stream of data being relayed to her screen.
"Not too bad," the lieutenant replied, taking the opportunity to stretch her arms out over her head. Feeling her sinews crack, she collapsed into her seat with a sigh. "The Magi still can't find anything wrong with the data recorders though," she added as her superior took her seat at her own desk. Ritsuko nodded as she processed what Maya had just told her. There had to be something wrong with them. Why else would every one of the dozen or so internal recorders in Unit 01 show nothing but static for the duration of the battle?
"Have you tried using data retrieval?" the blonde asked, lost in thought.
"Running it now," Maya nodded.
"Are the repairs to the Eva finished?" Ritsuko asked.
"There weren't any needed," her assistant replied.
"How's that possible?" the doctor asked, her tone almost unbelieving. "We all saw the damage the Angel did."
"I know, but I looked it over myself," Ibuki informed her. "There were no signs of the wounds the Angel inflicted." She sighed and ran her had through her short hair. "I take it the clean-up is finished?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Finally," Akagi answered tiredly, leaning her elbows on her desk and rubbing her eyes. "Katsuragi can be such a pain sometimes." Maya smiled, the captain was well known around headquarters for her perfectionist nature. "Any word on Shinji?"
"Not yet," Ibuki replied sadly. "Makoto's going to wait in the infirmary until he wakes up. It's not as if he has anything else to do, with Rei being in there as well."
Ritsuko activated her computer and logged on to check the analysis of the data gathered during the battle the day before. Although she struggled not to, she yawned as the figures appeared on screen. She blinked and tried to focus on the screen, but her eyes kept going blurry. Leaning her head back to look at the ceiling, she hissed as the muscles in her neck cramped.
She was about to massage the tender spot when she felt another pair of hands on her neck. Looking back, she saw her assistant stood behind her. She smiled her thanks before bowing her head and letting the brunette's hands work at the sore spot. Sighing, she closed her eyes as the hands moved down her neck and began to work the kinks out of her shoulders.
"You should take it easier," Maya told her softly, her fingers kneading the knotted muscles. "If you get yourself too worked up, you'll be no good to anyone." The doctor reached up and laid one of her hands on top of Ibuki's, stopping the massage.
"You know what, Maya? You're absolutely right," she said, opening her eyes and looking up. She leaned forward in her seat, quickly turned her computer off and stood, turning to her assistant. "The data will still be here tomorrow. Let's get out of here." Maya smiled and wandered slowly over to her own desk, shutting down her laptop. She grabbed her jacket from where it hung on the back of her chair.
"Where to?" the brunette asked her superior, a soft smile on her lips.
"I believe I still owe you dinner, don't I?" Ritsuko asked. Her assistant nodded. "Then come on. I know just the place."
- - -
Shinji blinked as he opened his eyes, the overhead strip light blinding him momentarily before his eyes could adjust. For a few moments he just lay there, his mind blank, as if conscious thought had yet to return to him. He blinked again.
Where the heck am I? he thought, realising that the ceiling was unfamiliar to him. Sitting up, he hissed as his chest began to throb. Looking around himself, he realised that he was in some kind of medical centre. How'd I end up in here? he wondered, rubbing his forehead and finding it bandaged. He licked his lips and grimaced at the disgusting taste that filled his mouth.
He looked over to the door as he heard it slide open. A bespectacled man who was dressed in a beige outfit and looked like he was in his late twenties walked in. I know him, the boy thought, trying to remember where from. Makoto. That's it, Makoto Hyuga.
"How you feeling, Shinji?" the lieutenant asked, walking over to the stool beside the bed.
"Confused," Ikari informed him, lying back down. He stared at the ceiling for a few moments. "What happened? How come I'm in here?"
"You mean you don't remember?" Makoto asked as he sat down, surprised.
"I remember…" the third-child started, trailing off. "I remember getting into the entry-plug and the Eva being launched." He paused, blinking. "Then the city," he continued, his speech punctuated by gaps as he tried to recall the events. "A black and white figure. Pain. Wind." He brought his hands up and covered his eyes, sighing sadly. "Everything else is just a blur."
"That black and white figure was the Angel," Hyuga told him. "And Unit 01 defeated it, we're not just sure how."
"What do you mean?" the boy enquired, sitting up again. He winced as he felt the pain in his chest again.
"You were knocked out and we lost the telemetry from the Eva," the technician explained. "The unit was buried in a collapsed building. Then it just got up and attacked the Angel."
"It did? By itself?"
"Yeah. We were all pretty surprised," Makoto related, pushing his glasses back on to the bridge of his nose. "Once the Angel was gone, it just knelt down and shut itself off. Then we got the telemetry back and you were still unconscious."
"How long have I been out?" Shinji asked.
"I'd say it's been about thirty hours, but that's only a rough figure." Ikari opened his mouth to speak, but the words died in his throat as the door opened again.
"Ah good, you're awake," the doctor said as she made her way over to the bed. "We were beginning to worry," she added, trying to reassure the boy; his file said he didn't like medical professionals. "How do you feel?"
"A little tired," Shinji said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"He's suffering from some memory loss," Makoto told the doctor.
"Well that's only to be expected considering the cranial trauma he suffered," she replied calmly. "I'm afraid there's no way to tell whether or not you'll get those memories back."
"That's okay," Ikari replied, shrugging. "I'm not sure I want them back."
"Lieutenant," the doctor said, turning to Makoto, "I believe you were to report in when he woke up."
"Oh yeah," Hyuga smiled. "I'd best go do that," he added, getting to his feet and making his way to the door. "It shouldn't take long. I'll see you soon," he added, stopping in the doorway as he spoke before allowing the door to close behind him.
"Now," the doctor said, pulling a small flashlight out of her pocket, "I just need to run a few quick tests, Shinji. It should only take a couple of minutes."
- - -
"You've created a public relations nightmare," Lorentz Keele's voice intoned over the telephone. "It's going to take a lot of work to repair Nerv's image," he complained.
"I know, Lorentz," Fuyutski sighed, the fingers of his right hand fiddling with the phone cable. "But if we stress what would have happened without the Eva, we should be able to handle the fallout."
"What about the injured?"
"Well, technically, the Tokyo-3 administration is responsible for their welfare," Kouzou answered, leaning back in his chair. "We did warn them that the battle might spread from the areas they choose to evacuate. In the eyes of the public, they're the ones at fault."
The elder man's sigh could be heard clearly over the phone. "At least there were no fatalities," he said. "We should be grateful for that much. Have you any idea what happened yet?"
"Not yet, no," Fuyutski informed him. "The data recorders onboard were affected as well. We're running a diagnostic to see if there's a fault somewhere, and Lieutenant Ibuki's seeing if the data was somehow erased after the battle."
"What about the Angel?"
"I'm afraid there's not enough left to analyse. The explosion did its job to perfection."
"I see. And what of the pilot?"
"I received word that he'd woken up a few hours ago," the professor replied. "Unfortunately he won't be able to tell us anything. He's suffering from some short-term amnesia brought on by a cranial trauma he received during the battle." Fuyutski pulled a file folder across his desk as he spoke. He leafed through it for a few minutes before closing it and pushing back to its previous position. "I've decided to enrol him in the local high school," he said, his fingers drumming on the desk.
"And why are you doing that?"
"His psychological profile indicates that he needs contact with people his own age," Kouzou related. "I'll let him have a few days rest first, allow him to settle in."
"I see. And the first-child?"
"I'm afraid there's no change in Rei's status as yet," the professor sighed. "But the doctors assure me it's only a matter of time until she recovers."
"How much time though?"
"I wish I knew, old friend." Fuyutski paused for a moment, his eyes glued to his desk. "Oh, and I've also enrolled her in the school as well. She needs more social interaction."
"That I am not so sure about, but it can wait for another time," Keele said, his tone slightly agitated.
"I'm sure it will," Kouzou agreed. He looked up as his door opened and Ritsuko walked in. "Is there anything else? I've got a meeting."
"Nothing that can't be dealt with later," Lorentz replied as Akagi made her way to the professor's desk and sat down in the empty chair in front of it. "Oh, and by the way, I'll be coming to Japan in the next month or two. Some contracts or some such thing that need me to be there."
"We'll have to meet up then," the commander of Nerv said. "It's been too long since we've spoken face to face."
"Yes it has. The committee will be meeting on Friday."
"Very well. Until Friday." The line went dead with a click and Kouzou put the handset back on its cradle.
"Chairman Keele?" the blonde doctor asked. Her superior nodded. "I suppose he had a few choice words to say."
"That's one way to put it," Fuyutski replied.
"Did you tell him about the spontaneous tissue regeneration?"
"No," the grey-haired man said, shaking his head. "I don't think that's something he needs to know about."
- - -
Rolling on to his side, Shinji looked at the clock beside the infirmary bed he lay in. He blinked a couple of times before his tired eyes focused on the numbers. He sighed heavily and turned his head away from the glowing digits.
It's gone four and I still can't get to sleep, he thought sadly. He rolled onto his back and stared at the dark ceiling overhead. He couldn't really see it, the dim glow of the clock and the light coming from under the door weren't sufficient. Sighing again, he sat up and rubbed his eyes. "This is pointless," he muttered softly.
Kicking off the covers, he swung his legs round and put his feet on the floor, jumping a bit at the touch of the cold surface. Leaning over, he swung his hand around until he found the slippers Makoto had brought him the afternoon before.
Putting them on, he switched on the small lamp sat on the unit next to the bed, grimacing and blinking while he shielded his eyes from the sudden brightness. Once accustomed to the illumination, he got to his feet and picked up the neatly folded dressing gown from the stool where it lay. Once he'd tied the cord, he flicked off the lamp and padded over to the door. He closed his eyes before he depressed the switch which would open it. He heard the door slide open and took a step forward to keep it open. Slowly he opened his eyes.
The corridor wasn't as brightly lit as he'd expected, but it was still more than the bedside lamp. Rubbing his eyes, he began to walk down the hall, only dimly hearing the door hissing closed behind him. He slipped his hands into the pockets of the robe as he walked, not really paying any attention to where he was going.
He shortly found himself in what he took to be a waiting room. There were about a dozen or so chairs dotted about, and a large window in the back wall. Yawning, he moved towards the window and sat down in a seat beside it, resting his right hand on the cold surface. Shinji shifted in the seat and rested his crossed arms on the window ledge, his eyes taking in what he took to be the view of the geo-front at night.
It looks peaceful, he thought sleepily, resting his head on his arms as he continued to gaze through the glass. His breathing slowed as he brought his feet up under him and his eyelids became heavy. After a few minutes he succumbed to the fatigue that gripped him and drifted off.
- - -
He awoke with a start, looking around with a confused look on his face.
"Sorry, kid, didn't mean to startle you," the cleaner said. Shinji looked at him, realising that what had awakened him was the noise of one of the chairs scrapping across the tiled floor. Ikari blinked a couple of time to clear the fuzziness in his vision and smiled at the elderly figure.
"It's okay," the boy assured him. "I just got lost in thought for a bit." He got up and, yawning, resumed his walk. Less than a minute later he heard voices coming from an open door. The sign on it read 'Head Nurse'.
"Any new visitors for Ayanami?" one female voice asked. Shinji recognised her voice, she'd spoken to him the day before.
"No," another replied. "Still only the professor and Hyuga. It's sad really."
"I know," the first responded. "Not that she'd know if she did. Poor girl." The voice sighed. "I hate to think what happened to her."
"It's all hush-hush," the second told her colleague.
"Is this the girl in the isolation room?" a third, younger sounding voice asked.
They must be talking about the first-child, Shinji thought as he listened. When Makoto had taken him for a walk the day before they'd passed the isolation rooms; only one had been occupied.
"Uh-huh," the second voice replied. "Rei Ayanami. She's had a couple of visits from Professor Fuyutski and the pilot rep, but no one else."
"Doesn't she have any friends?" the third asked.
"Haven't seen any," the first replied. "Nor family for that matter."
I guess I'll be working with her, the boy thought, so I might as well find out who she is. He slipped away and headed back to his room. He knew the way to the isolation rooms from the one he was in after all.
- - -
The door slid open in front of Shinji and the boy was surprised to see the light in the room was on. The quiet beeping of the heart monitor and the rasping sound of the ventilator filled the room. He padded over to the stool beside the bed and sat down before taking a good look at the girl lying in the bed.
He guessed she'd be about his height when stood up; she certainly looked about his age. Her hair, what wasn't covered by the bandages on her head, was a very pale blue, almost liliac. Her skin was also very pale, as if she'd never been out in the sun for any prolonged period. Her right eye was covered by a bandage, as was her left forearm.
Electrodes on her forehead connected her to a machine that the boy didn't know the name of. He guessed it was meant to register her brain activity, but couldn't tell whether it showed an unusual level or not. Her chest rose and fell in time to the rasping from the ventilator, the heart monitor beeping steadily.
"You must be Rei Ayanami, the first-child" Shinji said softly, looking at her face. "I'm Shinji Ikari, the third-child. I heard you got injured testing Unit 00." He yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Makoto's really worried about you," he continued, "seeing as you haven't woken up yet." He sighed heavily.
"This is stupid," he commented. "I don't even know you, let alone whether you can her me or not." He leant forward and looked at the floor. "I guess I just needed someone to talk to." Hearing the door hiss open, he turned his eyes towards it.
"There you are," Makoto said, his tone sounding slightly annoyed. "I've been looking all over for you."
"Sorry," the boy replied, turning his attention back to the girl. "I was going for a walk when I heard the nurses talking about her. How come her family hasn't come to see her?"
"She doesn't have any," the technician answered softly, walking over to the bed. "Professor Fuyutski took her in when she was a little girl.
"So she's an orphan," the third-child responded sadly. "Like me."
"We better get you back to your room," Hyuga said gently, laying his hand on the boy's shoulder. Shinji looked at him and nodded. He got to his feet. He was about to walk away when a sudden impulse gripped him. He reached down and took one of Rei's hands in his.
"Nice to meet you, Rei," Ikari said, giving the pale hand a gentle squeeze. He let it drop back to the bed and he and Makoto left the room.
- - -
"Any idea when the next Angel's due?" Shigeru asked his colleague as he sipped on his coffee. Makoto turned and looked at him, rubbing his eyes before speaking.
"No," the bespectacled technician replied. "Why?"
"So I can book a holiday for then," his long-haired friend joked. "I'm kidding," he added at Hyuga's stern look. "Okay, maybe half kidding," he admitted as his friend continued to stare at him. He sighed. "I don't wanna have to go through that again. Talk about brutal!"
"I know what you mean," Makoto responded, turning his attention back to the screen in front of him. "But personally, I'd rather be here."
"Huh?"
"I don't think I could handle just sitting around during an attack," Hyuga replied, his hands hovering over his keyboard. "At least we're doing something, even if it is hell on the nerves."
"I guess you're right," Shigeru conceded, closing his eyes.
"About what?" Maya asked as she approached her seat; she had a thick file folder under her left arm.
"About how much of a workaholic you are," Aoba quipped before Makoto could say anything. "Don't you do anything but work?" he asked as she laid the folder down next to her console. She merely smiled.
"Actually, we were wondering when the next Angel's gonna show," Hyuga said. He hadn't looked up from his display and so had missed her grin.
"Hopefully not for a while," Ibuki replied.
"Hopefully," Makoto agreed. "At least then we'll get a chance to give Shinji some training."
"Poor kid," Shigeru commented. "Sure am glad he's okay."
"Speaking of the pilot's, Rei's improved," Maya reported, her eyes scanning one of the many reports that had been in the folder.
"Really?" Hyuga asked.
"That's good to hear," Aoba said.
"Yeah," the petite brunette responded as she began typing. "It's weird though. Her neural activity spiked about half six this morning before settling to an almost normal level."
"That is weird," the long-haired male responded, stroking his chin.
"You sure about the time, Maya?" Makoto asked, frowning.
"That's what the doctor said," Ibuki answered. "Why?" she asked, looking over at him as he leant back in his chair.
"Because when I went to see Shinji this morning he was sat with her," he informed her. "And it would have been around that time."
"Certainly strange," Shigeru remarked. "Do you think she reacted to him?"
"Could be," Maya muttered thoughtfully. "Did he touch her at all?"
"Yeah, he squeezed one of her hands before we left," Makoto replied.
"I'd better go tell …Doctor Akagi," Maya said getting up. She quietly hoped that neither of her co-workers caught her pause. She berated herself for her slip as she began to walk away. Shigeru watched her retreating form until the door to the command centre slid shut behind her.
"Wonder what that was all about," he muttered before refocusing his attention on his console.
- - -
"Where do you want this box, Shinji?" Hyuga asked the boy as he stepped in the boy's room. Ikari stood and looked around box-strewn room for a moment.
"Just leave it by the door," he said. "Thanks for your help, Makoto," he added as the technician deposited the container on the floor.
"Hey, no problem, kid," Makoto assured him. "I am the pilot rep. after all. So this does kinda fall under my job description." He took a few steps away from the door. "I'm just sorry it took so long to get the Academy to send all your stuff over. Hard to believe it took them three days to get it packed and shipped."
"They're kind of under-staffed these days," the third-child said softly.
"You miss it, don't you?"
"I guess," Ikari sighed. "It's been nice to have a place to myself these past few days, but now… This place is kinda lonely."
"That's because you're used to living in a full dorm," the bespectacled man explained. "Not to worry. Rei should be back after the weekend," he said smiling. "Not that you'll notice much difference," he muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" the boy asked. He'd heard Makoto say something, but hadn't been able to make it out.
"Oh nothing," the technician replied quickly. "Just reminding myself to do some shopping on the way home." The boy picked a relatively small sealed box off the floor and sat it on the bed. Reaching for the scissors that lay on the bedside table, he sliced it open, wishing that whoever had packed his belongings had had the presence of mind to label what was in each one.
Opening it, he found it contained his SDAT player and music collection. He looked about the room for a moment before deciding to put them on the shelf over the desk, which was against the wall furthest from the bed. Stepping over the other boxes, he carried the cardboard container to the desk and began to organise the cases.
"Speaking of school," Makoto said uncertainly a few moments later, "Professor Fuyutski's had you enrolled in the local high school."
"He has?" the boy asked, his hand resting on tape case he'd just placed on the shelf. He frowned for a moment before sighing. "I'd wondered what was going to happen about school," he said quietly.
"Does that bother you?" Hyuga asked, his concern obvious.
"A little, maybe," Shinji replied, his hand dropping into the near empty box. "To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about it."
"Well, don't sweat it, kid, the professor thought it would be best to let you settle in first," Makoto told the third-child. "You start on Friday."
"What about books, supplies?"
"I'll take care of it."
- - -
"Ah come on, Kensuke, be serious," Hikari Horaki told her friend as they walked into the classroom, her light brown hair tied in her usual twin pigtails. Her freckles were almost indistinguishable, due to the fact she hadn't gotten much sun recently.
"I am being serious, Hiki," Kensuke Aida replied in earnest, running his hand through his close cropped dark brown hair. "I'd love to get inside that robot."
"Toji," she whispered as she spotted their friend sat at his desk along the far wall staring out of the window. Taking the hint, Kensuke dropped the subject and adjusted his glasses.
"Morning, Toji," he said cheerfully as he sat down at his desk. Toji Suzuhara looked over at his two friends.
"Hey," he said flatly.
"How's Noriko?" Hikari asked, knowing he'd have gone to see his sister on his way to school, as she put her bag on the floor beside her desk, which sat directly behind Toji's.
"The bleeding's stopped," he replied sadly, "but there's no sign of her waking up yet." He grabbed a black hair from his head and tugged it loose, inwardly wincing as it came free. His eyes watched as it slowly floated to the ground from his fingers.
"Oh yeah. Have you guys heard?" Kensuke said, trying to divert his friend from his depression. "We're getting two new students today."
"We are?" Hikari asked.
"Uh-huh," the boy replied.
"Actually," a female voice said from behind him, "we're only getting one today. A boy." All three turned and looked.
"Morning, Miki," Hikari said pleasantly. The girl nodded to her before walking to stand in front of Toji, her bright green tipped black hair flowing over her shoulders.
"The other, a girl," Miki Sadamoto, the class representative continued, "is in hospital. Since before the incident." She smiled at Kensuke. "However, they were both enrolled at the same time, so I can see how you might get the wrong impression." Shrugging at the reddish tinge that appeared on the bespectacled youths cheeks, she wandered over to her seat near the door.
The school bell rang and there was a scrapping of chairs as the assembled students sat in their seats to await their teacher. They didn't have to wait long. Less than thirty seconds later he walked in.
"Stand," Miki commanded as he made his way to his desk a black-haired boy behind him. "Bow," she added a few seconds later. "Sit," she finished.
"Good morning class," Professor Jin Koyasu said. "Before I call the roll, I'd like to introduce a new student." The grey-haired figure looked at the boy stood nervously to one side. "He's joining us from Kyoto."
"My name's Shinji Ikari," the boy said formally, bowing to the class. "Pleased to meet you all."
"Sir?" Miki asked. Koyasu nodded and she stood up. "As class representative, I, Miki Sadamoto, formally welcome you to class 2A," she said, bowing, her green tipped hair cascading over her shoulders. "If you have any questions, please feel free to ask," she added, sitting. Please don't though, she added internally, hating the need to be nice to the newcomer as she flipped the ends of her hair backwards.
"Now then, Shinji, why don't you take the empty seat in the second row," the teacher said. Ikari nodded and walked over to the empty desk. The bespectacled boy directly behind him give him a grin as he put his bag on the floor. As the teacher began to call the roll, Shinji opened up the laptop on the desk and, pulling out the slip of paper he'd been given in the office, logged onto the system.
- - -
Shinji sighed as he drummed his fingers on the edge of his desk. How could one lesson drag on for so long? Why did the teacher feel the need to lecture them on the politics of Eastern Europe before Second Impact? How could they possibly need to know something like that? He looked at the clock over the door.
It's only been forty minutes?! he thought. But it feels like it's been three hours! He carefully cast his eyes around the classroom, to see what the others were up to. One or two appeared to be paying attention, but that was all. Some had books out, a number of girls were quietly discussing something in a magazine, a few were asleep while others were doing something on their computers.
A beeping from the laptop on his desk grabbed his attention. A box had appeared, informing him he had received a message. Curious, he opened it.
"What the…?" he muttered as he read it. It was short and to the point. 'New kid, are you the pilot of that robot? Y or N' it read. The boy frowned.
--------------FLASHBACK---------------------------------------------------
"Of course, Nerv would prefer it if you kept the fact that you're a pilot a secret," Makoto had said earlier that day. They had been talking about what could happen while Shinji was in school.
"What do I say when they ask why I keep disappearing when the Angels attack?" the boy had asked, a genuine question.
"Hmm, I don't think they've thought of that," Hyuga replied, stroking his chin. "Personally, I'd tell them the truth. But that's just me."
--------------END OF FLASHBACK--------------------------------------------
The boy's mind raged for a few minutes, thoughts running through his head so fast he could barely keep track of them. Sighing, he closed his eyes and emptied his mind. He looked at the question again, his hand hovering over the keyboard. Listening to his instincts, he pressed the relevant key and hit the reply button.
A number gasps issued from throats scattered around the room. Urgent whispers and beeping swept around the class and all conversation faded out. Looking around, Ikari found all eyes turned on him. He swallowed hard as he felt their collective stares cutting into him. Embarrassed, he looked down again and sighed.
I should have said no, he thought. The sound of scrapping assaulted his ears and, feeling a tingling sensation, he looked up and found himself peering into the expectant faces of his classmates.
"What was it like?"
"Why you?"
"What's it called?"
"Can I try it out?"
"How long have you been piloting it?"
"What was that thing you were fighting?"
"Did you get hurt?"
"How do you pilot it?"
"Who built it?
"How much did it cost?"
"Where is it now?"
"Can I see it?"
"Did you have to take some kind of test?"
"Was it hard?"
"Is it yours?"
"Where'd you get it?"
"Is it hard to control?"
"Can it fly?"
"Does it have lasers?"
"How long have you had it?"
"Did you choose the colour?"
"What's the cockpit like?"
"Is it voice command?"
"Can I have one?"
Shinji groaned and buried his head in his hands as the questions continued to barrage him.
- - -
Toji sat staring at the messages displayed on his screen. This new kid was the one piloting that thing?! And the class was acting as if he was some kind of superstar?! The kid was a menace, nothing more! Snarling, he snapped then pen he'd been doodling with in half, feeling the pieces crack as he squeezed them in his hands.
He turned his eyes to the mass of students. He's gonna pay! he promised himself.
- - -
By the time the bell rang for lunch, Shinji had managed to answer some of the questions thrown at him. To some he genuinely didn't know the answer; to others, he felt it best not to answer. And every answer led to further questions.
Toji watched from his seat, silently fuming. When the bell had sounded, a few students had wandered off, discussing the answers Shinji had given.
Enough's enough! Suzuhara thought, slamming his hand down on the desk. He got to his feet, his chair scrapping noisily across the wooden floor.
"Hey! New kid!" he called. Ikari's face appeared between two girls. "Can I have a word with you? Outside?" The boy nodded and managed to make his way through the crowd to the door, Toji a few paces behind him.
"I don't like the sound of that," Hikari whispered to Kensuke, pulling him near. The bespectacled youth nodded and the two followed the throng.
- - -
Once out in the school yard, Shinji stopped. "What did you-" he started, turning to look at Toji, but the taller youth's fist connecting with his jaw stopped him and knocked him down. The third-child looked up at Suzuhara, rubbing his jaw, whilst Toji looked angrily down at the pilot.
"Sorry about that," Kensuke said smiling. He knelt down next to Shinji. "But his little sister was injured during the battle."
The third-child forced back a snarl. "It wasn't my fault," Shinji told him, getting to his feet. "And if I hadn't piloted that thing, we'd all be dead right now!"
A growled slipped between Toji's lips and he grabbed hold of the front of the pilot's shirt. They stared into each others eyes angrily for a moment, neither blinking or backing down. Clenching his right fist, Suzuhara reached back. As he flung his fist forward, Shinji swung his left arm up, breaking the taller lads grip and knocking the fist aside. Before Toji could react, the pilot spun round and delivered a thunderous roundhouse kick to his face.
Suzuhara landed face down on the concrete. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and saw blood staining the skin. Working his jaw from side to side, he looked over at Shinji. The sun hung behind Shinji's head, hiding his face in a sinister shadow.
"I'm sorry about your sister," the third-child said flatly, appearing to be staring directly at Toji, "but I won't take that from anybody." Ikari turned and walked away, pushing through the stunned crowd of onlookers. Getting to his feet, Toji dusted himself down and watched Shinji's retreating figure.
"You okay, Toji?" Hikari asked, regaining her voice as she wandered over to him.
"Yeah," he replied rubbing his jaw.
"What the hell was that?!" Kensuke exclaimed, blinking repeatedly, as if trying to blink away what he'd just witnessed.
"Interesting," Miki muttered under her breath as she leant against the side of the school. She had been prepared to step in, but that had proved unnecessary. This new kid knew how to take care of himself, and he seemed to have a bit of a temper. Perhaps having him in the class wouldn't be so bad after all.
- - -
"So… How was your day?" Makoto asked Shinji as the boy flopped down in one of the chairs in the lounge of the dorm. The technician was on a break and had decided he should check in with him. He'd let himself in and had been waiting for the pilot to arrive.
"Not too bad I suppose," Ikari replied quietly. He thought for a moment. "Hey, Makoto."
"Yeah?"
"Could you do me a favour?"
"Depends on what it is," Hyuga replied hesitantly. It was clear to him that something had happened at school, something that was bothering the boy.
"Could you find out about the people injured during the battle with the Angel for me?" Shinji asked him. Makoto looked over at him, surprised.
"I suppose I could," the technician replied nonchalantly, shrugging. "Why?"
"Oh… No reason," Ikari replied, trying to sound casual but failing.
Makoto sighed softly. "I make no promises," he told the boy, "but I'll have a go."
"Thanks, Makoto," the pilot responded, getting to his feet. "I'd better get started on my homework," he added, heading for the stairs.
"Don't forget you've got a synch-test at five," Hyuga reminded him, heading for the door.
"I won't," he heard the boy reply before he closed the door behind him.
Why the heck would he want to know about the injured? he mused. I better tell the professor.
- - -
"At last the Angel's have returned," Keele announced to the assembled group, his elderly face twisted in to a smile that made Kouzou's skin crawl as he looked at the people that sat around the rectangular table. Fuyutski was, for once, glad of the visor that covered part of his friend's face; he didn't think he'd be able to stand the look in his eyes. As he often did at these meetings, he wondered why he had been sat directly opposite the chairman.
"Sixteen years," the blonde woman directly to the professor's right said wistfully, her deep-south American accent heavy. "At least all the investments we made have paid off," she added as he mentally identified her as Louise Daniels.
"Not yet they haven't," Viktor Hasan, the man from India who was sat beside her said, his hands interlaced on the table. He looked over at Fuyutski. "Nerv headquarters and Unit 01 appear to have worked as they should, but the rest…" he added, trailing off and spreading is hands.
"Only time will tell," the French voice of Jacque Bouquet, who was sat to Kouzou's left, commented. "And time is something we now have only a limited supply of."
"Indeed," Megumi Takamura from Okinawa said; she was sat beside Jacque. "I had not expected their return for another few months.
"But all is still in accordance with the Dead Sea Scrolls," Keele intoned. "Professor Fuyutski, please ensure that the projects stay on schedule. We cannot afford any delays."
"Of course," the commander of Nerv replied.
"Ah understand ya using Ikari's little boy as the pilot," the American said.
"I am. The Marduk Institute selected him as third-child."
"Such a shame, what happened to the good doctor," the Frenchman commented. "He must be pleased, knowing he is continuing his mother's work."
"I'm sure he is," Fuyutski said, although he doubted the truth of the words.
"The rest of the meeting does not concern you, professor," Keele told him.
"Of course," Kouzou responded. The chamber went dark. A moment later he pressed a button on his desk and the lights once more illuminated his office. These holographic conferences bothered him. Keele he knew was represented accurately, but the others… It was far too easy to use a fake image.
Pushing that thought aside, he picked up the memo he'd received from Lieutenant Hyuga. So, Shinji wants to know about the injured, he thought. Can't see any harm in that. I'll just have Makoto accompany him if he decides to visit any of them, just to be safe.
- - -
"This is it," Makoto said, coming to a stop in front of the door labelled '19'. He turned to his companion. "You sure you wanna do this alone, kid?"
"I'm sure," Shinji assured him quietly, nodding.
"Well, good luck," Hyuga said softly. "I'll be out here if you need me." The boy nodded and opened the door. The technician sighed as the door hissed shut behind the pilot and leant against the wall to wait. I hope you know what you're doing Shinji.
- - -
The first thing Shinji noticed as the door closed was the steady beep of the heart monitor. He padded over to the bed, his eyes fixed on the small figure it contained. He sighed heavily as he took in the casts on the young girl's legs and the bandages visible on her forearms, leaning on the railing surrounding the bed. Feeling as if he was being watched, he looked around and saw two figures on the far side of the bed. They must be her parents, he thought.
"Excuse, me young man," the man said quietly, looking confused. "Are you lost?"
"No, sir," Shinji replied. He straightened up and took a deep breath. "Mr. Suzuhara, my name is Shinji Ikari. I was the one piloting the robot that injured your daughter." He bowed as deeply and respectfully as he could.
"I see," Toji's father said calmly, his fingernails digging into his palms as he clenched his fists but kept them at his sides.
"I wanted to apologise for what happened to your daughter."
"How-how many times have you used that thing?" Mrs. Suzuhara asked, working hard to keep her roiling emotions in check.
"To be honest ma'am, I'd never seen it before the battle," the third-child answered sadly, turning to look directly at her. The woman was taken back by the sadness in the boy's eyes
"Then what happened wasn't really your fault," her husband said. Although he sounded calm, his wife knew better, that he was as affected as herself. "And things could've been a lot worse without you."
"Toji doesn't think so," Ikari commented, rubbing his chin where Toji's fist had connected.
"Toji's always been…protective of Noriko," the boy's mother informed him. "He sees it as his place to protect her." She rubbed her tired eyes, wishing she'd been able to sleep better the last few nights. "He didn't hurt you, did he?" she asked, knowing her son's temper.
"Let's just say we exchanged opinions," the boy said, a slight smile on his lips. For some reason he didn't want to tell them exactly what had happened. He didn't now why though and pushed the question from his mind.
"So that explains why he didn't want dinner last night," Mr. Suzuhara commented, chuckling quietly as he understood the boy's meaning. "Don't worry, it won't happen again," he assured him while Toji's mother looked at him, puzzled.
"I'm not," Ikari shrugged. "I can take care of myself." He took another look at the unconscious form of Noriko Suzuhara. "If you'll excuse me, I think I've taken up enough of your time," he said, bowing once more to her parents.
"Of course," Mr. Suzuhara replied. "And thank you…for your apology."
To be continued…
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Author Notes –
Well, I can't say I surprised that all of you who reviewed believed that I'd let Shinji live. As you can see, he has, but I should warn you that I have no fear of killing him, or anyone else for that matter, if I think the story needs it.
I'm issuing you guys a challenge. Each and every one of the Angels featured in this story is based a real angel I found out about online. The challenge is – Can you tell me what their names are? I've got a list of them and I'll tell you if you get it right.
Enough from me. I look forward to hearing your view on this chapter and hope it won't disappoint. I'm afraid you're probably going to have to wait about a month between chapters. Sorry about that, but this is becoming far more complicated than I imagined to would be.
Original characters –
Miki Sadamoto
Professor Jin Koyasu
Viktor Hasan
Louise Daniels
Jacque Bouquet
Megumi Takamura
Noriko Suzuhara