Geofront, AEL Headquarters
October 26, 2041
1226 hours

"This isn't the first time I've been down here, but damn if this view isn't awesome." – Shephard remarked, glancing at the forest below them as the car glided down one of the roads spiraling around the Geofront's inner circumference, from the top of the cavern to the bottom. These were actually the main transit lines down into the Geofront, requiring only a car and about an hour's worth of driving at highway speeds. Beelining via elevators might have been faster and cost less in the way of battery charge, but elevators required power and were subject to gravity in case of a malfunction.

Granted, it wasn't like they didn't have safety mechanisms in case of a blackout, but most people would understandably be nervous about being suspended several kilometers above the ground, with no way up or down.

The man only took his eyes off the way he was going to spare a look at the rearview mirror's reflection of the two teens sitting behind him. – "What do you think?"

Kaworu shrugged. Rei, as usual, remained silent.

Shephard sighed. – "Not feeling talkative, I see. Still in a bad mood that she turned you down?"

That got a reaction. – "She didn't! / I did not." – the two answered simultaneously, which got a snicker from Shephard.

"Cool it, I'm just pulling your leg."

Kaworu shook his head in mild annoyance. Having to hear the same from Asuka was bad enough, but it seemed like the apple didn't fall far from the tree. In fact, Shephard ironically seemed less mature than his daughter. Living together with a good-humored person wasn't unwelcome, but the man seemed to have an innate skill to frustrate others for his amusement; Kaworu believed he once heard Kensuke referring to such people as 'trolls'... not that he knew where did that term come from.

With that said, Kaworu also remembered the haunted look in Shephard's eyes from that time in the kitchen. Eyes that told a much different story than that of a jovial guy without a care in the world.

Attention jolting back to the present, Kaworu looked at the rearview mirror, but Shephard was minding the road once again. He was about to dismiss that he thought he heard something from him, when he heard it again. Only it wasn't coming from the adult.

It was Rei, eyes closed but lips moving. Kaworu initially though she was trying to say something, but quickly realized she wasn't addressing anyone in particular. She was whispering indeed, her lip movements occasionally gaining a quiet tone as if she was trying to whisper and sing at the same time.

"I bring truth and understanding to your darkest fears... ascension to your destiny is drawing near... taste the wrath of my swift sword, legion of the night... immortals come to rule the earth on beams of light..."

Twenty minutes later, Kaworu was mildly vindicated for the earlier ribbing when Shephard literally walked into Hyuga, almost knocking the smaller man over.

"E-excuse me, sir!" – the tech apologized, pushing his crooked glasses back into place.

"Nah, I wasn't looking where I was going. Sorry. Going somewhere?"

"No, no, I was just... delivering some reports."

"Sounds familiar. With all this tech around, you'd think paperwork is a thing of the past." – Shephard joked.

Hyuga nervously nodded. – "Seems like some things never change."

"Like you being scared of me?"

"I'm not scared! I'm just... you know... government official looking for things to ruin our day with? No offense." – he added quickly.

"None taken, I hear you." – Shephard leaned in conspiratorially and lowered his voice. – "Fucking commissars are a pain in the ass. And you didn't hear that from me."

"O-of course." – Hyuga replied uncertainly, slightly caught off-guard by the shockingly straightforward statement. – "To be honest, you're not quite what I expected."

"What did you expect, then?"

"I don't know... I guess... I thought you'd be more serious."

"Like?"

"'Yes, sir! No, sir! Can't have any fun with a stick up my ass, sir!' Something like that."

Several people nearby turned around in surprise at Shephard's sudden laughter rippling down the corridor.

Even Kaworu's mouth curled up into a smile, until he realized Hyuga was addressing him now. – "By the way, Nagisa-kun... did you have anything to do with Adam being so busy lately?"

"I... don't think so. Why?"

"There's a lot of network activity between him and external nodes. His core is also giving off an active reading all the time. I traced some of his connections, and... well, for lack of a better term, he's reading."

By this time, Shephard has gotten his mirth back under control and was paying attention once more. – "Reading? As in, reading books?"

"Digital ones, yes."

"Maybe he's just bored."

Hyuga shrugged, his earlier nervousness gone, now that he was in home field. – "Could be, but the sheer number of books he's going through is unusual. I mean, over a dozen per hour. And after reading each one, he locks out external debugger access for a few minutes, so we can't tell what he's doing. He even rebooted himself a few times."

"Did you ask him?"

"We did. Said he's 'optimizing' and when we asked why, he said because Nagisa told him to."

Everyone present looked at Kaworu, who visibly squirmed under the sudden attention. – "I didn't say anything like that."

"So the kid's ride doesn't work right now?" – Shephard asked, turning back to Hyuga.

"The prototypes have an emergency diagnostic bypass that allows us to manually control the neural interface from the control room, so we can still make it work if we have to. But it's nowhere near as effective and the final mass-production version will drop this function because it presents a point of vulnerability against cyberwarfare attacks."

"You mean a hacker could exploit it?"

"Possibly. The bypass is implemented as a non-maskable hardware interrupt, so the AI cannot countermand the order."

That last part was the only part Shephard understood. – "No giant robot uprising, then?"

"That's not possible. The core of an Evangelion is physically separated from the nervous system, so the AI is unable to take control. It can override system settings to prevent unauthorized personnel from syncing, but that's about all it can do."

"And if you connect the core to the nervous system? Can an Evangelion move by itself in that case?"

Hyuga shrugged again. – "I don't know. We never tried. But even if we were to do that, controlling a motor and controlling a muscle are entirely different things. Then there's the fact that AIs are designed for digital input and output. It's likely that, to an AI, full sensory input from an organic body would be too... alien."

"But you have the pilot wired to it when it's deployed. What about that?"

"We didn't want to risk anything unexpected happening, so we isolate the AI from the pilot too. What the neural interface picks up is loaded into a cache, from where the actual useful data is sorted out and sent ahead on the fly, while the rest is deallocated back into the heap as garbage data. Without using a cache, the interface picking up every physiological reaction in the pilot's brain caused by emotions, thoughts, etc. and feeding it to the AI would cause the AI to develop a memory leak and crash after a while, so we'd have to reboot and debug the OS every few days." – Only at this point did Hyuga catch himself and realize how worked-up he got, his earlier confidence backing right down. – "At... least... that's what we think would happen." – he finished lamely.

"You realize I didn't understand most of that." – Shephard snarked with an 'uh huh... sure...' look.

"The cache allows the AI to dynamically adjust the neural interface to the pilot." – Rei spoke up suddenly, attracting everyone's attention. – "This assisted synchronization has a higher degree of flexibility than a forced one. Automating subsystem micromanagement also frees up additional computational capacity for executing complex maneuvers. More efficient, less mentally taxing on the pilot."

"Now I get it, since you put it that way. Did you get that too?" – Shephard asked, directing the question at Kaworu. Upon seeing the teen's nod, he turned back to Hyuga. – "See? He understood that too. You just need to put it in a simpler way."

"Sorry."

"No problem. Not everyone here is a scientist." – Shephard paused. – "Well, everyone but me."

"And me." – Kaworu added.

"Right."


"So, here we are."

Kaworu looked around, noting that the firing range wasn't quite as big as he imagined. Considering that every single security guard he'd seen in the facility so far were posted indoors, it made sense. – "Is it really okay for us to be here?"

Shephard shrugged. – "Doc said so. We do have a slight bit of a problem, though."

"What?"

The adult walked to a metal table sitting in the corner and put down the bag that was slugged over his shoulder until now. Reaching inside, he first withdrew a small box, deftly working the combination lock on it before flipping the lid over, revealing a pistol nestled in a well-cushioned interior. He then reached into the bag again and retrieved a handful of ammo magazines.

"Since you two aren't part of security, you're not cleared to use their guns. So I brought my sidearm." – He made a groan of disgust. – "You wouldn't believe the number of forms and permits I had to fill out to be able to bring this in here. I know, security's doing its job, but still. It's ridiculous."

"You really don't like paperwork, do you?"

"It's hell's tinder." – the man replied simply. – "Anyway, I only have one, so you're gonna have to take turns."

"It will not be necessary." – Rei spoke up for the first time, reaching into her coat and pulling out a large revolver. – "I have my own armaments."

Shephard glanced at the weapon skeptically. – "Really now... let me take a look at that."

He already felt the weight when Rei handed the pistol over but one close-in glance was enough for the military officer to confirm that the weapon in his hand was very much a genuine one. The small seams where the parts fitted together, the manufacturer's engravings below the cylinder, it was all too detailed to be fake. Opening up the cylinder was the last proof he needed, as a fake gun would have no need to be loaded with live ammunition. And quite large ammunition, at that.

Kaworu did not understand a single word of the exchange that followed.

"I don't recognize this caliber. What is it loaded with?"

"This weapon's original chassis is that of a Mateba Grifone, carbine version of the Mateba Model 6 Unica recoil-operated semi-automatic revolver, Hunter variant. I had it converted back into a revolver."

"You had a revolver converted into a carbine converted back into a revolver?"

"Yes."

"Why? You could've just bought the revolver version."

"The Model 6 is not available with a barrel of this caliber."

"What, is it chambered for a rifle round or something?"

".454 Casull. It is also capable of chambering the .45 Colt cartridge. The largest cartridge available for the original is .44 Remington Magnum. I also possess a conversion kit for field-converting it back into a carbine, as well as an ACOG scope attachment, to form a compact, medium-range, semi-automatic marksman rifle."

"What do you need a semi-auto rifle for? Are you hunting bullsquids in your free time, or something?"

Rei didn't answer.

"But you know your guns, I'll give you that." – Shephard looked over the weapon again and pointed at the cylinder. – "And what about this? I've never seen a revolver that shoots from the bottom barrel before."

"It dampens recoil by moving the axis of the recoil force closer to the weapon's center of mass, thereby reducing the amount of torque exerted on the shooter's hand."

"Nice. With bullets like these, I'd say that comes in handy. Any other surprises in that coat of yours?"

Again, Rei didn't answer. Instead, she pulled out another revolver identical to the first and placed it on the table.

Then she discarded a pair of Micro Uzis from shoulder holsters...

...eight magazines of 9x19 mm Parabellum ammo...

...four drum magazines of the same...

...over a dozen speedloaders for the revolver...

...a couple of combat knives from her belt...

...a dozen more knives from the coat...

...three knives from each sleeve...

...two knives from each boot...

...a second belt full of throwing knives...

...a wakizashi she pulled out from behind her waist...

...four collapsible shurikens...

...two chakrams...

...several ten-round box magazines...

...a device that looked like a pistol with a very wide barrel...

...several small cylinders that looked like oversized bullets...

Kaworu just mutely looked back and forth between a blank-faced Rei and a wide-eyed Shephard as the small arsenal piled up on the table.

Shephard was the one who broke the silence, nearly half a minute after the girl finished unloading. – "I have no damn idea how did you hide all these. The knives, are already pushing it. The guns, even more so. The sword is simply crazy."

He pointed at the pistol-like device and the cylinders next to it.

"But a freaking grenade launcher? What the hell do you need all this heat for?"

"Personal defense." – Rei replied simply.

"There's enough firepower right here to massacre an entire office building's worth of people!"

"This is not all of it."

"...what."

"This is only what I carry on my person at all times. I am unable to concealed-carry all of my armaments at the same time."

"You mean there's more?"

Rei lifted the case she's been carrying the whole time. Kaworu first noticed it when the three of them got into the car topside, but silently decided not to ask. – "I require time to assemble this. You may wish to familiarize him with weapon operation until I am finished." – With that, she turned her back to the other two, put the case down onto the table and started working.

Shephard just looked at her back in disbelief before sighing. – "You've got one hell of a gun-crazy girlfriend, kid."

"She's not my girlfriend!" – Kaworu replied indignantly.

"Anyway... what do you know about gun handling?"

While the two chattered behind her, Rei's mind was working. Not just on assembling her weapon, but also on her thoughts.

'The more things change, the more they stay the same.' she mused. 'Ever since I was a child, I was always alone. In a sense, I still am. He doesn't know who we are, he doesn't know where we came from. He doesn't know anything. Yet at the same time, he is alone as well. He doesn't say it, but I can see it all the same: he can't find his place in this world. He smiles when he talks to his friends but I can always feel uneasiness in him. He feels like an outsider, looking for something he cannot find in others.'

She screwed the rifle's barrel into the frame.

'I have to help him. I can't let him lose his hope and his humanity. I can't let him become like me.'

The rifle's stock slotted into place.

'I have a responsibility now. To protect not just myself, but him as well. I will not allow any harm to come to him.'

Rei paused in the assembly to glance behind herself, at Kaworu trying to follow Shephard's instructions with the gun.

'I don't know what the future will hold... but I do know one thing. Ten years ago, someone took him from me. I don't know who, but someone did.'

Her expression hardened.

'I will not let that happen again. I don't care how many people get in my way; nobody is taking him away from me this time. I won't go through that ever again.'

Rei looked over the assembled rifle one last time to double-check her work.

'Anyone who tries to get between us...'

She loaded a box magazine and cocked the rifle before briefly glancing down the scope.

'...will die.'

Behind her, a sharp crack announced Kaworu firing his first shot.

"Whoa... I didn't know it's got a kick this strong. Can it break my wrist if I hold it wrong?"

"Nah, but it's going to hurt like a bitch all the same. You'll get used to it. Wanna try again?"

Rei looked on with a critical eye as Kaworu took aim and let off another shot. 'His lack of skill isn't faked. I will have to teach him.'

After his third shot, Kaworu lowered his weapon and Shephard opened his mouth to say something... but he didn't get the chance to do so before a very loud report boomed across the room, startling both of them. Shephard even hunched down on instinct, head snapping in the direction of the sound his military training instinctively recognized as high-caliber rifle fire.

In fact, it sounded bizarrely like the very caliber he almost got his head blown off by once, when his old drill sergeant decided that the best way to encourage his recruits into keeping their heads down while crawling through an obstacle course was to fire up a trio of .50cal machine guns with live ammo. – "What the f-?!"

Rei lowered her rifle, her keen eye confirming to her inner satisfaction that she hit Kaworu's target dead-center with her snapshot.

"What the hell was that?" – Shephard demanded, waving away the rifle's muzzle smoke. – "Little warning next time?"

"I was not aiming at either of you."

"Considering we're all still alive, I kinda figured. That didn't sound like a peashooter. What the hell is that thing, an elephant gun?"

"It is an anti-materiel rifle."

"An anti-mat-...? Gimme that!"

Rei instantly snatched the rifle away from him. – "Mine."

"That is not a toy!"

"I know."

"Kid, I know what I heard! That's no civilian hunting rifle, that's a military-grade weapon! Where did you get that?!"

"Irrelevant."

"Like hell it is! Your mom will have my ass on a platter if she finds out you smuggled something like that into the facility!"

"Will she find out?"

"Not from me!" – Kaworu said quickly.

It was barely there, but Rei acknowledged him with a tiny nod of thanks. – "I am already proficient in the handling of firearms. I believed a demonstration was necessary."

"By shooting past my head? If you really are a pro, then you would know that you don't point a gun in the general direction of someone you don't want to shoot! That's gun safety 101!" – Shephard insisted, still a bit pale.

"I was not aiming at either of you." – Rei repeated.

"That doesn't matter! You just don't!"

"If I was intent on killing you, I would not have missed at this range."

"Have you ever shot at someone?"

"Yes."

The blunt reply immediately pulled the wind out of the adult's sails. – "Really?"

Rei nodded. – "The target had recently committed sexual assault. Killshot to the upper chest, range 200 meters, elevation +20 meters. Direct hit to the heart and spine. Zero chance of survival. Police investigation ruled gang showdown." – she listed off tonelessly, without the slightest hint of emotion.

"...are you a vigilante or something?"

"No. He was a target of opportunity." – Glancing down at her weapon, Rei wiped a smudge off of the side of the barrel with her thumb. – "In any case, I do not need to be taught."

"Then why are you even here?" – Shephard asked, spreading his arms to the sides in not entirely faked exasperation.

"Because there is no such thing as enough practice."

"That we can agree on. Let's see what you've got."


Chapter rewrite completed on 15/11/04.

Hyuga's explanation about the override function will probably fly over most readers' heads - but, since I'm studying computer engineering in university, I can explain. As a CPU generally can't afford to idle around waiting for hardware operations to finish, the way modern computer architectures (the x86 in particular) work is that the CPU just gives the order, then does its own thing in the meantime. Once the hardware finishes, it raises an interrupt request as a way of saying "yo, I'm done, pay attention to me", which causes the CPU to pause its current operation, handle the request, then resume whatever it was doing. Software can also raise interrupts, although those are usually system calls petitioning the OS for access to a system resource. Most interrupts are maskable, meaning that they have a priority rating; the CPU can ignore a new interrupt if it has a lower priority than the one currently executing and pause execution of the current interrupt if it receives a higher-priority one in the meantime, with the lower-priority interrupt going into a queue and executing when the CPU gets around to it. A non-maskable interrupt, on the other hand, cannot be ignored: it demands immediate attention and causes the CPU to drop whatever it's doing to handle the interrupt before everything else. Therefore, the override's implementation is analogous to a computer CPU having an extra pin to access its internal workings directly, without the operating system having any say in it.

The override function is functionally the same as the canon Evas' MAGI uplink. With this universe having access to computational technology advanced enough to allow the existence of artificial general intelligence, the Evas here do not require external computational support to operate, plus vital dependence on ground control in a military weapon would be a hindrance. Aside from limiting operational range, it would also be vulnerable to jamming, someone listening in, or - as those of you who watched Battlestar Galactica can attest - hacking.

The Mateba is an existing weapon of Italian manufacture, designed and built in the late nineties; in this universe, only a very small number was produced just before Second Impact, making it a highly rare collector's item. Unlike common revolvers, it doesn't have a hammer but uses the recoil force from firing it to cock itself and turn the cylinder. While it is available in multiple calibers, the .454 Casull is the largest of them all, with each bullet being just slightly smaller than an AA battery; with this cartridge, the Mateba is suitable for big game hunting and bear defense, comparable to the famous Desert Eagle in terms of power. As a bit of interesting trivia, the Mateba is what Vash the Stampede's iconic weapon was based upon, though that one was chambered for .45 Long Colt (which the Casull is backwards-compatible with).

It may not be evident, but my primary inspiration for Shephard's personality and physical appearance was Richard Dean Anderson's excellent performance as Jack O'Neill, with a smidgen of Ben Browder alias John Crichton thrown into his personality as well.