Tokyo-2, Inner District 5
October 16, 2041
0942 hours

Despite having taken place several days ago, the battle was still a hotly debated topic in class.

Not that Rei really cared. To her, what her classmates decided to chat about was completely irrelevant. There was, however, a slight aura of fear in the air; that much she could tell even without peeking into the thoughts of others. Even now, three chairs in the classroom stood empty, never to be used by their owners again due to the families of said owners having moved out of the city.

One attack could be chalked up to coincidence. Two? Not so much.

Rei didn't care about that either. If people wanted to leave, she definitely wasn't going to stop them. She didn't care enough about anyone in her class to do that.

Well, maybe not anyone.

Despite her mind having been steeled and trained to focus on command, her thoughts still wandered whenever she had nothing to focus on. And right now, her thoughts drifted towards a certain boy also absent from the class.

"Hey, you!" – she heard at the periphery of her attention, accompanied closely by the sensation of rising irritation in someone. Extending her mind in that direction, she concluded it wasn't directed at her. Therefore, she went back to her own thoughts.

At the same time, Asuka turned to Tōji with a scowl of annoyance. – "What the hell do you want?"

"Nagisa's been missing school for the whole week now. Where is he?"

"How the hell should I know?! I'm not his mother!"

"You live with him, you gotta know. Now spill!"

"Leave me alone or you'll end up worse than he did!" – Asuka shot back, her raised voice attracting some attention from the class.

"Just tell me what's going on already!"

Asuka almost leaped out of her chair before Mari's hand grabbed her shoulder and yanked her back down without missing a beat. – "Don't bother, hime. He won't leave you alone unless you tell him. Besides, I wanna know too."

The blonde made a sound halfway between a sigh and a growl before replying. – "Alright, the idiot got himself hospitalized; there, satisfied now?"

Tōji paled a bit at that. – "Crap..."

"Suzuhara, language!" – Hikari reprimanded him.

He ignored her. – "At least tell me which hospital he's in."

"What, you're gonna visit him?"

"Seeing as you won't, I'm just gonna have to do it for you."

Asuka shrugged before turning back to Mari, only replying over her shoulder. – "Suit yourself. And good luck with that, 'cause I have no idea where he is."

"Not this shit again! You just said where he is!"

Asuka's blood pressure promptly spiked back up. – "I said he's in a hospital! Are you deaf?!"

"Which one?!"

"Alright, that's it!" – This time, Mari couldn't stop the irate girl from leaping out of her chair and practically shoving her face into his as she glared him down from practically point-blank range, the whole class going quiet around them. – "I'm getting real tired of you, so let me put it in a way your flea-sized brain will understand: I. Do. Not. Know. Where. Nagisa. Is." – she growled, putting extra emphasis on each word. – "Got that, dipshit?"

Tōji narrowed his eyes. – "If you weren't a girl, I would've knocked the stuffing out of ya by now."

"Really now? Let me tell you something, then." – She none-too-gently poked him in the chest. – "I can't stand sexist guys. So get the hell out of my face before I knock the stuffing out of you."


Geofront, AEL Headquarters
1619 hours

Despite what some of her classmates thought, Rei was very far from emotionless. And right now, she felt irritated.

Throughout her life, she prided herself on her supreme emotional self-control. She mastered her mind and body to an extent other people would've admired, had they've known about it. With unparalleled precision, she was able to focus her mind on any task, utilizing her already high intelligence with maximum efficiency that bordered inhuman from the other side.

At least, that was the case until recently.

Rei never wanted it to be any different. But now, whenever she had an idle moment, her mind inevitably wandered towards him. She wanted, yearned, craved, to be with him... and the worst of it was that she didn't even know why. No one had ever managed to attract her attention to this extent, deliberately or not – and it was driving her crazy with frustration.

"Who are you?" – she whispered at the sleeping boy in front of her.

Even when she decided to humor herself and deal with the issue at hand by visiting him, it wasn't enough. Just sitting next to his bed watching him sleep wasn't enough. She wanted him to be awake, to talk to her, to reveal what she wanted to know - because there were many things about him she still didn't know. Such as why did he agree to work at the company (aside from subtle coercion by Yui). Or how was he able to hear the psychic communication of the alien entities the same way Rei herself did. Or how was he able to draw forth such an incredible power from his Evangelion.

Many questions for many things to know. Many questions for many things she wanted to know. And yet again, she didn't know why she wanted to know.

Just being near him gave her a very strange vibe. Having known him only for a month, she nevertheless felt as if she had known him for a much longer time than that. As if... she had always known him. She first noticed it while listening to Yui tutoring him about the Evangelions during sync tests, although she deliberately didn't show it. At the time, she had no reason to trust him with her feelings – not that it was any different now. She had no reason to trust him at all – because unlike most people, Rei did not consider risking one's own life alongside her in battle as worthy of trust. In fact, Rei just plain didn't trust anyone with her feelings, Yui included.

That is why for Rei, who had always been suspicious and mistrusting of strangers, the mere thought of a random somebody eliciting this reaction grated on her nerves.

Whether he was someone worthy of her trust or not was still undecided in her mind. She knew better than to leave herself open for betrayal.

Rei was very much aware of the camera in the corner behind her and knew her presence would raise questions sooner or later. Even so, she stood up and drew the privacy curtain, as what she was about to do was not meant for others' eyes. She slowly reached up and removed her shades, folding them up and setting them down onto the bedside counter before slipping out of her coat.

The bed slightly creaked under her weight as she climbed onto it, straddling the sleeping boy before bracing herself against the bed and leaning forward so far their foreheads touched.

Then she closed her eyes and entered a domain no ordinary people could.

It was at a very young age when Rei discovered she was capable of things no one ever mentioned. At first she believed that was because everyone else had them and took it for granted... but when Yui took an interest in her sixth sense, the girl realized she was unique. Even without actively reaching out, the mere presence of other people around her felt like being surrounded by a field of burning candles, their intangible auras brushing against her mind like a warm caress. Their emotional state was also an open book to her, to say nothing of their surface thoughts manifesting as an incessant whispering that got louder the closer she was to the source. Only when she was truly alone was when she heard and sensed nothing – and when she did, Rei found the cold silence very unsettling.

She had a unique connection with people. As much as she shunned to interact with them, the truth was that Rei Ikari didn't like being alone.

She also knew that people would see her as a freak of nature if her secret were to get out... to say nothing of her occasional nightmare about waking up on a white slab stinking of anesthetic, the blinding light above failing to obscure the gleam of the metal blade as it sank into her flesh to find out what other secrets her pale body might hold inside. That was why Rei never really confided in anyone; not even Yui knew the full extent of her powers. As far as the woman knew, Rei had a passive ability to sense people. However, the truth was that some of Rei's powers were very much of the active nature – and not just her ability to influence the minds of others. She knew for a fact the Vortigaunts were aware of her nature – mostly because Rei herself sought out the enigmatic aliens before to find answers she dared not ask from anyone else.

Just like how, as she once again sought answers, she was willing to invade another's mind to get them.

As soon as she divided the veil between their hearts, Rei was immediately surprised when she felt in him the exact same psychic potential she herself possessed, albeit shriveled and dormant from lack of use. Rei herself frequently honed her abilities until she mastered both her mind and her body; to her, Kaworu felt as if he had neglected both. Yet the power was still there, waiting to be unleashed.

'Did someone successfully replicate the Genesis experiment?' she wondered. 'There were many people who left the company after mother ended the project; could someone from that group be responsible? But he's the same age as me. It couldn't have taken place afterwards. Although...' she trailed off as a new theory occurred to her. 'I heard we're researching a chemical formula that, in cell cultures, has successfully accelerated cellular division. Maybe something similar was used to speed up his physical development...?' After a brief pondering, she dismissed that theory. 'No, his level of mental development should be that of a child in that case.'

'And the atrophy of his power... he must've never used it to have reached this level of degradation. Does he even know? Or is he refusing to use it by choice?'

Having failed to arrive to a decisive conclusion, Rei proceeded deeper. She saw him silently convulsing as his Evangelion mercilessly destroyed the entity they fought a week ago.

She saw him talking to her on the school roof.

She saw him stepping off the city's PTG uplink pad and looking for the government official.

She saw a bloody-faced teenager screaming threats and obscenities as two others hauled him away while Kaworu helped a younger-looking boy up from the ground, immediately before a teacher roughly seized him by the shoulder.

She saw an eleven year old Kaworu wincing as he raised his bare foot and picked something off before continuing to climb a large pile of trash, pausing a few seconds later to yank a printed circuit board out of an old TV and shove it into the old bag hanging off his shoulder.

She saw a nine year old wrapping himself in a coat several sizes too large for him before continuing to stuff a large piece of cloth between the edge of a moldy fiberboard and the frame of the window said fiberboard was forced through, the crumbling plaster of the walls around him briefly being illuminated by lightning outside.

She saw a trembling six year old wade through waist-deep snow, scorched and tattered clothing barely providing any protection against the howling blizzard that chilled him to the bone.

Then for a fraction of a second, she saw fire before her mind slammed into the mental equivalent of a stone wall. The sudden resistance disoriented her somewhat, but she didn't fail to notice a shadow falling over her.

'I don't know how you're doing this, but I don't think you are supposed to be in here.' Tabris remarked edgily.

That was all Rei heard before she withdrew and broke the connection as fast as she could. Her body recoiled into a sitting position as if it was a spring, her clothes loudly rustling from the sudden movement.

'...what... was that?'

As she tried to calm her nerves, Rei realized her hand quickdrew her revolver on its own and was now shakily pointing the weapon directly at Kaworu's head. Never before did she encounter anything that upset her like that – but the shadow that lurked in the boy's mind was completely and utterly alien. At least the Vortigaunts she found common ground with – eventually – but this time, the presence felt not strange or unfamiliar, but plain wrong. Just a split-second contact was enough to trigger a primal reaction in the deepest recesses of her mind, with all of her instincts loudly screaming 'enemy' and her entire body breaking out into cold sweat.

Clenching her eyes shut, Rei reached out with her detection capabilities... and there it was. Piggybacking onto the bright red flare of Kaworu's presence was a tiny, blue light with tendrils reaching deeply into the boy's aura.

But she also didn't fail to notice the change in his presence that indicated him regaining consciousness. And sure enough, his eyes cracked open and focused on her.

The teens silently looked each other in the eye for several seconds before Kaworu quietly remarked – "...well, I didn't expect to wake up to this."

Rei slowly lowered her gun, her breathing returning to normal as she finally forced herself to calm down.

'You better watch yourself around her. She just tried to get into your head.'

Rei saw Kaworu's eyebrows creep slightly higher at that. – "Are you psychic or something?"

"Yes."

The answer slipped out an instant before she caught herself. She showed no outward sign but inwardly, she was cursing very loudly and violently at her slip-up, even though she knew very well he most likely wouldn't grasp the true implications of her admission. No, what she was upset about was the very fact that she slipped up at all. Even if it didn't have any consequences this time, what really prevented her from slipping up again and in front of someone who really shouldn't know?

In any case, Kaworu apparently wasn't asleep enough to miss what she said. – "...that was a rhetorical question."

On the other hand, there was a small voice at the back of her very self that told her she could trust him. A part of her wanted to trust him for reasons she didn't know. Normally that wouldn't fly with her under any circumstances but Rei learned very long ago that if there was one thing she could trust unconditionally, it was her own instincts. Those never betrayed her – never could betray her.

Which is why Rei chose to listen. – "Which I answered truthfully."

This time, a long silence ensued until Kaworu's brain caught up with the meaning of her words. – "...wait, you actually are psychic?"

"Yes."

"...huh." – the boy hummed tonelessly, his expression showing no surprise.

Rei raised an eyebrow at that. – "You are unusually receptive to the idea."

Kaworu shrugged. – "I'm working as a test pilot for a giant cyborg, fighting equally giant aliens. Compared to that, you being psychic ranks pretty low on the weirdness scale. Besides..." – He sighed and shifted a bit under the covers. – "I can't really afford to be excited about it. Doctor said I should try keeping my blood pressure low for a while; could burst a vein in my head."

"I see."

"Did you know that, by all rights, I shouldn't even be alive right now? Doctor's words, not mine." – At her lack of response, he shifted again. – "It's a bit funny, you know? Telling me that I almost didn't make it then expecting me to keep my cool, or else I won't make it. Scary, isn't it?"

"Are you afraid?" – Rei asked.

"Of course I am. After what happened, anyone would be afraid. I'm not some fearless tough guy or anything; it's if I wouldn't be afraid is what would be unnatural."

"You think being afraid is natural?"

"Well... I look at it this way. If I'd be dead, I wouldn't be afraid anymore. So in that sense, the fact that I'm still able to be afraid means that I'm still alive. That should count for something."

"I see."

They sat in silence for nearly a minute, Rei pondering over his words.

Kaworu's voice eventually broke her out of her thoughts. – "...are you going to keep sitting on me?"

"Are you in discomfort?"

"No, but someone might come in and misunderstand things. You know, they'd think we're intimate or something like that."

"It happened to you before?"

Kaworu shook his head – "I'm not the kind of guy who runs after girls. I'm not gay, I'm just... not interested in having a relationship. Maybe a few years later but right now, I'm not planning on dating anyone." – A moment later, Rei felt his mind silently adding 'Pity those girls in school didn't get the memo.'

'Instincts are a powerful force.' Tabris noted. 'Not that I'm familiar with the standards of what makes one attractive for your species.'

"I have been in a similar situation to yours before." – she blurted out suddenly.

"What? What do you mean?"

"Some boys apparently consider me sexually attractive. I had to make them aware of the fact that do not reciprocate their feelings."

"Is that why they call you Ice Queen Ikari? No offense." – he quickly added.

"None taken. I am aware of that nickname."

Kaworu nodded before something occurred to him. – "I guess this means you can read my mind?"

Rei hesitated a bit before replying, her prior misgivings still not completely abated. – "In a sense."

'We ran into each other while she was peeking at your memories.' Tabris supplied before pausing. 'I guess this means you can also hear me?'

"Indeed. Who are you?"

'You may call me Tabris. I am an Angel of the Eternal.'

Rei's eyes suddenly widened quite a bit. – "An angel? Are you..." – She hesitated before uttering – "...an angel of God?"

Tabris' response was a groan of undisguised irritation. 'By the endless universe, not THIS superstitious idiocy! I haven't been on this planet for two thousand years and you STILL haven't outgrown those beliefs?!'

Truth be told, right now Rei was probably the most confused she ever was in her life. – "...what do you mean?"

'That this isn't the first time I've heard that. And unfortunately, it most likely won't be the last time either. But to answer your question, no. I am not an agent of whatever deity you're worshiping because the Eternal is not a deity. He's just... is.'

"And God said unto Moses, 'I am that I am'. And He said, 'Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 'I am hath sent me unto you.'" – Rei whispered, a bit pale.

'Quote ancient literature all you want. Just don't make the mistake of deifying the Eternal in front of one of the more fanatic Angels; they just might kill you for it, despite acting the same themselves. Hypocrisy isn't unique to mortals, unfortunately.'

Kaworu took a glance at Rei's deer-in-headlights look and sighed before looking upwards at the ceiling. – "Did you really had to do that?"

'Is it my fault that she chose to believe in such superstition?'

"No, but you're still being an ass about it. Cut it out."

Tabris huffed. 'You Lilim are unbelievable. You have institutions for the mentally ill but you're still coddling the superstitious? That is exactly the reason why you are still confined to your own planet.'

"We are not confined." – Rei interjected, her voice a bit stronger as she recovered from her earlier shock. – "We are capable of interstellar travel."

'Wherever you have your vaunted Waygates, that is.' Tabris pointed out. 'However, what happens if you have to go to a location with no Waygate?'

"We have advanced point-to-point teleportation technology." – Rei replied, her mind flashing back to physics class in her old elementary school. – "It is how we deploy the Waygates after they are prefabricated at Bifrost Station in low orbit around Sol."

'But if you have a form of faster than light transportation that doesn't rely on fixed departure and destination points, why are you still using Waygates?'

"That method has a distance limitation of several hundred thousand kilometers." – she replied again, now flashing back to a technical article she read a few years ago. – "Beyond that, too much radiation is produced to safely transport organic matter."

'And that is why your kind is still a century too early to believe they're on the top of the world. I know about races and civilizations far more advanced than yours; all of them are extinct. You don't have the luxury of wasting time on superstitions like religion or patting yourselves on the shoulder about what you've achieved, especially not under the current circumstances. And that is all I'm going to say to you.' Tabris declared with a tone of finality.

Once again, Kaworu was the one who broke the awkward silence. – "Sorry about that. I mean, you told me before that you're religious."

"I have a question." – Rei said abruptly, stuffing her revolver back into its empty shoulder holster before nimbly getting off the bed.

"What is it?" – he asked as she snatched up her coat.

The girl hesitated before saying the thought that was on the forefront of her mind. – "Your condition... your fear... your unwillingness to enter a relationship... why did you tell me all that?"

He shrugged. – "I'm alone here all day. I just felt like talking to you." – He looked at the ceiling again. – "Besides, you have a much better bedside manner than a certain voice in my head I wasn't sure was real up to this point."

'Didn't I tell you I was real? Several times now?'

"I'm pretty sure schizophrenic people are also convinced that the voices they hear is real." – Kaworu pointed out.

"Indeed."


Chapter rewrite finished on 15/08/19.

The change in Rei's speech style that is, the way how she suddenly uses normal speech patterns while thinking – is completely deliberate, by the way. She speaks in that formal and methodical way she normally does out of choice, not because she's unable to speak otherwise. Also, take note of the color of the respective auras of Kaworu and Tabris: I wanted to make it absolutely clear that Kaworu is NOT an Angel this time. Of course, something is still up with him; keep reading to find out what.

The phrase Rei quotes while talking to Tabris is Exodus 3:14 from the Bible. It's what God replies to Moses when the latter asks for His name; the phrase 'I am that I am' (ehyeh ašer ehyeh) is considered to be one of the seven names of God by Jewish tradition and Kabbalism.