The abyssal infinity of the universe, far too vast for his limited comprehension, stared down from every direction at the less than insignificant speck of dust he was, unknowable and uncaring for what or who he was, unknowable and uncaring for what his senses could or chose to perceive.
Stars streaked past him as the galactic core grew in size until it encompassed his entire field of vision. Dust and gas enveloped him in a veil that obscured the stars he left behind, more stars appearing and disappearing in the haze until he beheld it.
A massive disk of blue-hot gas rapidly circling a spherical volume that distorted everything around it, twin columns of light radiating from the top and bottom of the sphere as the gas clad the sphere itself in a blue-white halo.
Hundreds of millions of kilometers beyond the accretion disk hung a solitary planet in space, hundreds of holes in the surface yawning at the colorful sky above them like the compound eye of an insect.
And from deep within the abyssal darkness, Kaworu felt the gaze of something far more ancient than his mortal mind could fathom.
A green eye with four pupils stared into his very soul before images flashed in his mind.
He saw himself, perched on a winged, angelic statue in a ruined cityscape. Humming a tune Kaworu heard in his childhood.
'Music rejuvenates the soul. It's the pinnacle of the civilization born of the Lilim.'
He saw himself, body radiating with an ethereal light as he floated through the air, pillars of white rock jutting out of a blood red lake underneath him.
'Such is the fate of man... of hope written with sorrow.'
He saw himself, standing naked beneath a dark and airless sky against the backdrop of an Earth with red oceans, the gray soil around him tainted red from a titanic streak of blood.
'The third yet again, is it?'
He saw himself, decaying walls of crimson-colored metal surrounding him in the darkness as he gazed up on a starry sky above.
'You would rather have a world of nothingness and abyssal cruelty than to seek change. That is just who you are.'
He saw himself, gazing across another ruined cityscape before lowering his eyes to the kitten lying motionlessly at his feet.
'Had you left it, it would have died anyway.'
He saw himself, sitting inside a horrific abomination only vaguely resembling an Evangelion, unleashing powers he had never seen before while fighting a purple Evangelion in a literal battle between gods.
'Arrogance and self-worship. You would let worlds burn to light up the pages of human history. Wars are interesting... until you have to live in one.'
He saw himself, entry plug starting up around him before he opened his eyes and looked up.
'Evangelion Mark.06... RISE.'
Then darkness befell him before he saw another image.
A titanic spacecraft, long, triangular hull plated in decayed and disintegrating golden-brown armor, large patches missing to expose a skeletal interior. A relic of a long gone era, struggling against but refusing surrender to the test of time.
On the very top of the ship's prow was a chrome silver Evangelion, standing tall like a knight in shining armor, arms crossed before its chest and blond hair falling over its cape from inside a horned helmet shaped almost exactly like the purple Evangelion in that earlier vision, except for a third eye on the forehead, just below the horn. In its hand was the double-shafted red spear Kaworu recognized from his encounter with Shamshel.
On its left stood a entity somewhere halfway between a humanoid skeleton and an insect, clad entirely in dark carapace broken only by the distinctive red orb of an Angel's core on its chest and the Angel's skull-like face on the elongated head. Four spindly arms ended in three-fingered claws, holding an ornate spear with the rear end formed into a double helix not unlike the center part of the double-shafted one Kaworu was already familiar with.
On the silver Evangelion's right stood another Evangelion, one clad in massive armor of white and red and a helmet with six eyes and a knife-like horn. Eight mechanical wings emerged from its back, each radiating iridescent blue particles as the titan floated in defiance of its weight - and in defiance of the weight of the massive cannon hung over its shoulder, that of the equally massive sword in its hands with both edges of the blade wreathed in teal-colored plasma, and that of the various other weapons attached all over its frame.
Around the three were five other Evangelions in a loose formation.
One in red armor with four eyes, a V-shaped helmet and a pair of skirt-like thrusters attached to its legs.
One in blue armor and a horned helmet not unlike the white and red one, albeit with a visor instead of eyes, a long cannon attached to one arm and a twin-bladed sword wielded by the other arm.
One almost identical to the white and red one but in white and blue, shoulder cannon swung up and ready to fire.
One in armor not unlike the red one, but in black and red instead, a pair of enormous leaf-shaped wings attached to its shoulders and pointing sideways, eight rifle-shaped objects with thruster nozzles hanging from its back.
Behind them, an entire army of deep black Evangelions, smaller humanoid machines and spacecraft of various sizes, stretching as far as the eye can see.
Before them, an equally horizon-stretching army of the diamond-shaped drones, broken up by Angels of various sizes and shapes, all thirsting for blood. And behind the Angels, a colossal humanoid made of golden crystalline matter, gleaming in the light of the star it was leaning over to stare down its prey.
'Your entire wretched existence is an affront to ours. An affront I will suffer no longer.'
Kaworu's eyes snapped open to see Rei's head looming above him, hair falling over closed eyes as she sat fast asleep with his head resting on her thigh.
He didn't have many opportunities to see her asleep before – and now that he did, Kaworu saw her in a wildly different light. When awake, Rei's expression was one of control: eyes focused on the center of attention for the calculating mind behind them, facial muscles never even twitching. Almost emotionless, except not quite; more like she just didn't care.
But now, that same face told him differently. Her mouth was still closed but her jaw muscles were relaxed, as were her brows. As much as he could see her brows from the hair fallen over her forehead and eyes, anyway. The overall result was a complete change in her appearance, almost as if she wasn't the same person. She was almost... cute. Kaworu was reminded of that fairy tale he once heard as a child, the one about the Sleeping Beauty, the brave resistance fighter and the Civil Protection officers keeping her locked up and sedated in their guard post. Though he had a lingering suspicion that that wasn't the original format of the story...
Schrödinger was also snuggled up to his side, as the teen belatedly noticed. He didn't quite know why, but the cat wasn't anywhere near as vary of him as most animals. He never really understood that aversion either; he guessed he must've smelled differently or something. In Schrödinger's case, the best guess he had was because the cat's been owned by Rei since kittenhood, so it got used to her smell – and if the two of them really were siblings, they might have smelled alike too.
Kaworu still had some doubts on that front. He didn't want to doubt Rei's words, he just wasn't sure if taking a leap of faith and believing her now would worth a potential disappointment later. Rei certainly did treat him like she treated nobody else. Clinginess in private aside (she joined him in the AEL's locker room showers all the time if no one else was around), she was always nearby, watching her surroundings from behind her shades. Almost as if she was guarding him, even though after that incident with those bullies on his first day, Kaworu didn't get into any more trouble.
That seemed to satisfy Hikari somewhat... but not Asuka, unfortunately. She somehow noticed Rei's behavior and kept pestering him about it with snarky remarks obviously intended to provoke a response. A response Kaworu kept refusing to give her... for now.
As soon as he tried to sit up, Rei's eyes instantly opened and focused on his. – "You are awake now."
"Sorry."
"You do not need to apologize."
He pushed himself off her and sat up for real this time, Schrödinger looking up at him quizzically. – "Like hell I don't. I fell asleep while you were trying to... teach me, I guess."
"I asked of you to calm yourself and empty your mind. It is only natural you would fall asleep. May we continue?"
"Okay, but..."
She raised an eyebrow. – "You have doubts."
"Well, yeah. Numbers are one thing, but I still couldn't get that color right. Pur...ple, was it?"
"Indigo." – Rei corrected.
"Right. And to be honest... I'm not sure I should be reading people's minds."
Rei nodded at his hesitation. – "Respecting mental privacy is not foolish. Yet, if you are able to sense the intent of others, you will be less likely to be caught off-guard. You are already able to sense basic concepts directed at you in particular; what we are attempting to achieve is for you to be able to detect surface thoughts passively, like I do. It will likely take time, but I believe you are capable of it. Do not try to rush it."
Kaworu started to nod when a thought popped up in his head. – "Can you see people's dreams?"
"I am able to tell when a sleeping person is dreaming, but I cannot perceive the contents themselves unless I am actively joining my mind with theirs. You may remember the time when Tabris revealed himself to me; I was doing exactly that." – She bowed her head. – "I belatedly apologize for my violation of your mental privacy."
"So... you didn't see mine just now."
"No. I was asleep myself and unable to pay attention."
Kaworu leaned back with a sigh.
"Tabris." – he asked after a moment.
"What is it?"
"Did you see my dream?"
"I did, but I cannot make any more sense of it than you do. Besides, it's just a dream; you need not care what you see, for it is not reality."
"Or perhaps we should." – Rei added. – "Your brain was in a heightened state of activity when you fell asleep; it might have affected the contents of your dream."
"Yeah. I guess we'll never know."
They spent nearly a minute in silence before Rei spoke up again. – "Have you made your decision whether you wish to stop piloting?"
"I... haven't really thought about it since then, actually." – Kaworu replied with an uncertain shrug. – "I mean, I'm just glad we both got out of it alright."
"You were still worried about my wellbeing."
"Sanada told me you went up with a broken rib. You should've let me go instead."
"I do not mean to offend you, but I am unsure you would have been able to perform the operation. There was no margin for error."
"She's right." – Tabris interjected. – "She's better than you."
"I know that." – Kaworu shot back. – "It's just... it probably hurt like hell."
"Indeed."
"Say no more. I know what it is like to fear for your sibling's wellbeing."
This time it was Kaworu's turn to be surprised. – "You have a sister too?"
"A younger one."
"Do you think... we may have to fight her?"
"No." – Tabris replied immediately. – "Armisael does not have the stomach for a battlefield. Yet if you do meet her by chance..." – The Angel's paused before continuing in a quieter, almost growling tone. – "Turn your weapons on her and I will obliterate your very soul."
"Do that and your life is forfeit." – Rei said immediately.
"I am glad we understand each other." – Tabris remarked with dripping sarcasm. – "All you need to know is that she is the very reason for my existence in the present moment. But enough of this. I am not here to entertain you with stories." – With that, he fell silent.
Rei kept looking at Kaworu silently before she got up and went to her dresser, returning with a sealed envelope she dropped onto Kaworu's lap.
"Take this. If I am killed or otherwise incapacitated over the course of my duties, open it."
"What is it?"
"A key to many answers." – the girl replied cryptically. – "Hide it well, for its contents are meant for you and you only."
"If I read this, Tabris will know too." – he pointed out.
"Acceptable. Do not share it with anyone else, however. In the wrong hands, it may have catastrophic consequences for many. But for now... let us return to your training."
Gehirn Industries Automated Mechatronics Research and Development Division
Polygonus colony, Proteus system
3325 hours, local time
"So she just blew you off?"
"Yup. Said I'd need something other than a piece of junk for a car. Never mind I bought it new only three years ago... bitch."
"Man, what's up with chicks these days? All take and no give, like the whole world revolves around them."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
A quiet whirring broke the conversation, both guards going silent and standing straighter as the motorized wheelchair rounded the corner and headed directly for them.
"Morning, sir." – one of the guards said when the wheelchair stopped next to them and turned to face the door.
"Morning." – the occupant of said wheelchair replied absently before snapping his finger at the door. Immediately the card reader chimed affirmative, even though he didn't even bother getting his access card out.
There wasn't much need for it, anyway. Practically every single guard knew his face, so he didn't need to carry credentials. Plus he had complete access to everywhere, thus letting security log his movements was the only reason he would've needed to identify himself – which he just did, in his own way. Said way frequently left new personnel scratching their heads in incredulous confusion as to how he did it, some speculating that the security system had an AI that recognized him. The experienced ones just sighed and decided not to even bother.
As withdrawn as he was, he still found their bafflement amusing.
The automated door lowering shut behind him left him in darkness for a few seconds before he snapped his finger again.
Clicks and whirs of computers starting up sounded from the darkness before rock music came through wall speakers, giant flat displays and hologram emitters coming online to illuminate what the sign outside stated was Private Laboratory A-42, accompanied by a name pretty much no one outside the company knew.
Even though he was pretty much their equivalent of the goose that laid golden eggs.
"Good day, young master." – A three-dimensional figure of a man with slicked-back hair and leather garments decorated with feathers materialized over the nearest hologram emitter. – "Later than usual, if I might add."
"Logistics finished boxing the AEL's A-type equipment, so I thought I didn't need to come in early." – Rolling to the middle of the lab, he reached into a side compartment of his wheelchair and pulled out a pair of gloves with spindly components and wires sticking out all over, sliding them on. Both gloves gave a small chirp before a holographic keyboard materialized in front of him, a password window showing up on the lab's central display. – "Did I get any mail?"
"Two, actually. The first is from Dr. Adler from the Trident team. His people ran the simulations and it seems your prediction about the autobalancer algorithm was right. They're patching it right now, but would like you to double-check whether it can affect the frame's microgravity maneuvering, just in case."
He nodded to himself. – "Alright. Start the sims and load the data, I'll look at it. What about the other mail?"
"It's from your father."
He blanched. – "What is it?"
"'New correspondence from AEL arrived today. Get to it.' That is all."
"...fine. I'll look at Adler's data later."
Tapping his fingers on the ethereal keyboard, he typed in his password before tossing the acknowledgment window aside with a hand gesture. It finally stopped on another display to his side, just behind a hologram emitter displaying a bulky, vaguely humanoid shape with two enormous protrusions reaching directly upwards from its shoulders, along with various diagrams captioned F-type Concept.
"You know, Loki..." – he murmured while reading. – "I'd really appreciate it if they would show me what exactly I'm working with, instead of only telling me the physical dimensions of the mounting points. Would make my job of designing things for it much easier."
"Or maybe you just want to know how someone built a bigger robot than you." – the AI replied dryly.
"I'm serious."
"Of course you are. Would you be that serious when talking to other people, I wouldn't have to sit here listening to you all day."
"Aren't you supposed to be my research assistant?"
"Supposed to? Yes. Actually is? More like your butler. Or babysitter, if you wouldn't be 15."
"Still older than you."
"Har har."
"Now seriously... I can tell roughly what the gear they're having us build go on just by looking at the specifications, but that's not telling much by itself. Like, how they managed to come up with an internal superstructure that can operate at that scale without collapsing under its own weight and what kind of OS they are using to coordinate movements. If I just had one glimpse at the schematics, I could integrate my own designs better."
"Better question is, why do they need our help if they already have the industrial infrastructure to build something like that?" – Loki pointed out. – "If anything, they should be the ones helping us."
"That's presuming they built it themselves instead of outsourcing the frame to someone else. You know, to try to save money."
"That's not how it works."
"I'm an engineer, not an economist!" – He sighed. – "Whatever... let's get this over with."
Chapter rewrite finished on 16/03/24. Special thanks to Gregg Landsman for his permission to use a certain line from Nobody Dies in this chapter.
This chapter is quite reference-loaded. I promise it will all make sense eventually.
