TRUE WAR
CHAPTER 17
BY WONGA316
COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
I don't own Neon Genesis or any of its characters. If you want to use any ideas in the fiction just drop me an email – NOTES
This is my first attempt at a Neon Genesis fan fiction, so please be gentle. This scenario doesn't take into account the final two movies / episodes and Touji never lost his limbs during this activation test. Some of the guys may seem OC to the die-hard fans. Sorry about this but I hope my ideas will make it worthwhile. Big thank you and applause to NateGold who proofread.
"…" Normal speech
'…' Thoughts
(…) Computer / phone / other chat (you will know what I mean…)
NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOSPITAL CONTAMINATION AREA
The steady beep of the EKG and EEG monitors sounded in monotonous counterpoint to the hissing of the respirator. Suspended in a special frame, Shinji was tended to by medical personnel in bio-containment suits. A network of tubes carried fresh blood, plasma and nutrients into his nanite-infested system. Other tubes attempted to flush out blood rendered toxic by the tiny biomechanical invaders which were systematically attacking and shutting down Shinji's vital organs. It was a quiet war being waged, and despite their skill, it was one that the NERV medical staff appeared to be losing. In the observation area adjacent to the room, Yui Ikari kept a continuous vigil.
She hadn't left the room since he was brought back to NERV. Dark circles surrounded tear reddened eyes. The floor was littered with coffee cups and trays of half-eaten food. . Nurses had provided temporary beds but she refused to sleep for long. Yui had convinced Rei to take the bed instead.
"Any improvement?" Misato asked as she quietly entered the room. Yui just ignored her, wrapping Shinji's work jacket around her more tightly. "Ritsuko told me that the first 24 hours were touch and go for him…"
"He died 3 times before they could stabilise his condition…" More tears fell from Yui. "…and I couldn't do anything… they wouldn't even let me hold him…I'm a miserable excuse for a mother…"
"Shinji is a fighter!" said Misato wiping her own tears. "He's not the type of person that would leave us like this!"
"You must be strong." Rei stated flatly. The conversation had awakened her. She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and walked to the window. "We all must, for when he returns. That is when he'll need us most."
NERV HEADQUARTERS – THE BRIG.
Asuka stared up at the ceiling of her holding cell. She looked at the bruised and swollen knuckles she sported on her right hand. "…Shinji…" she whispered to herself.
The door mechanically hissed open and Kaji appeared. "The commander has said you're free to go." She slowly got up and looked at the man.
"Has he improved?" Kaji's silence answered her question. He moved to the next cell.
"Your 24 hours are up. You can go." The usually buoyant tone of his voice was absent and he sounded flat and lifeless. A Section Two agent stepped aside and allowed Touji to walk out. He made no attempt to hide to badly battered face. He made his way out of the brig, not looking at either Kaji or Asuka. She only followed when Touji was well out of sight.
Kaji watched the non-interaction of the two. 'I should've known that Asuka would take her anger out on Suzuhara but to go as far as that… Shinji, you better come back soon, or things are going to go downhill real fast around here."
TOKYO THREE – EAST SIDE ABANDONED FACTORY
'Where the hell is he!' The man looked down at his watch impatiently. He stood in the middle of factory floor with only the pigeons and the slow creaking of exhaust fans to keep him company.
"You are two minutes early." A gruff but familiar voice said. The man quickly looked around to see where the voice came from but nothing.
"Stop playing games and show yourself!" the sleeper demanded. Slowly the owner of the mystery voice revealed himself from the shadows. He reached into the inner pocket of his coat. Taking it as a threat the sleeper quickly reached for the pistol at the small of his back.
"No need for that." The man held up a gloved hand. "Here's your payment." He pulled out a small envelope and tossed it at the feet of the sleeper. "Well, aren't you going to check it?"
Keeping his eyes on the man, the sleep slowly bent over and picked up the envelope to find a swipe card inside. "Your full payment has been made. That access card will give you access to the funds." Then without saying anything the sleeper started to walk away.
"Aren't you going to ask me why?"
"It's not my business. I don't care what a sick bastard like you thinks." replied the sleeper.
"Do you disapprove of my methods?"
"To involve innocent and good people is wrong. And that includes your son!" The man didn't reply. "I should never have freed you from that prison transport."
"You had a son similar to the third didn't you?" this time the sleeper remained silent. "I can give back everything you had. Your family. Your life. You won't have to hide in the shadows any longer." The sleeper pulled out his weapon and pointed straight at the man's head.
"Speak of my family again and it will be the last thing you ever say." he seethed.
The man said only two words before fully revealing himself. "Third impact."
TOYKO THREE – IKARI APARTMENT
"Where is that over night bag Yui spoke of?" Aya wondered aloud as she fumbled through one of the closets. She had decided that Yui, Rei and herself badly needed a change of clothes since they'd started their bedside vigil with Shinji. A knock on the front door interrupted her search. "Who could that be?"
She went to the door and opened it. "Yes can I help you?"
"Oh… Aya!" The appearance of the older woman took Mana by surprise. "I was hoping to catch the vice commander before she went to visit Shinji."
"Mana wasn't it? I'm sorry, Yui isn't here. She's been with Shinji since they brought him in."
"I see… That's not good. She's probably worrying herself to death."
"Yeah. I came back here to pick up a few things and then go back. Want to join me?"
"Sure." Aya stepped aside and let her in. "Would you like something to drink?" she offered.
"No thanks. So this is where the vice commander lives…" Mana eyes scanned the interior. "I hear that you're staying with her while you're here."
"That's right. Yui and Rei have been very gracious hosts."
"I was wondering, Aya… could I ask you something?"
"Sure. What is it?" Aya returned to the closet and started searching again.
"Could you me tell what Shinji was like when he stayed with you?"
"What Shinji was like? I'm not sure what you mean."
"You know… general stuff. I heard that he spent the last five years with you. I would've asked one of the others but they are all busy."
"I see… well for starters it wasn't five but three."
"Three years? But didn't he leave NERV five years ago?"
"Yep. But he barely stayed with me for three. Where he was beforehand, I couldn't say. For the whole time he stayed he rarely spoke about his past. When I finally did find out, I can see why he didn't." Mana continued to listen intently as Aya resumed her story.
"I found him lying against the front door of my bar. He was freezing from the cold and burning up from the fever. I took him in and nursed him back to health. It's funny, I didn't know his name for a week until he came to and first thing he did was apologize for intruding and made his bed."
"I've noticed that he apologizes a lot as well."
"Yeah…" Aya replied half laughing. "I guess its part of his charm. Seems to be working well if it has you asking me about him." Aya shot a sly look at the young pilot.
"What can I say? I guess I'm a sucker for sensitive guys."
"I like you Mana. You seem to have a level head on your shoulders and I think you and Shinji would be good together."
"You think so!" Mana answered a little over excited. But the joy from her face soon vanished. "Do you think he'll be ok?" she asked softy.
"All we can do is hope. He's stronger than most people would guess, and everyone around here knows it. He's the only one who doesn't. When it comes down to it, though, I'd put my money on Shinji to make a complete recovery."
NERV HEADQUARTERS – COMMANDER'S OFFICE
Ritsuko and Kaji sat casually on the visitor's couch as Fuyutsuki viewed the reports. He placed the manila folder down and rubbed his face. Recent events and the contents of the report were causing a strain on the older man.
"How sure are you of this information?" he asked the both of them.
"It's only our initial findings. We have to conduct further tests but we are 90 sure it is correct." The blond doctor replied. Fuyutsuki then looked at Kaji who elaborated.
"Surveillance footage from Unit One's repair bay prior to the latest angel attack show evidence of tampering." he said.
"Just to clarify things, we are saying that Unit One was deliberately infected with the Angel nano-machines and the source of the infection was the black box recorder. Which means that someone had to obtain samples of the Angel, place them in the dummy black box and then sneak into NERV to plant it?" Ritsuko and Kaji just nodded.
"That's not the only thing. Who ever did the swap took the original black box before we had a chance to analyse its contents." Ritsuko added. "Someone is trying very hard to hide something regarding Unit One or Shinji."
"That would explain why Shinji was infected but there are easier methods of keeping someone silent." said Kaji.
"True but this way it would look like an accident. They know that we would have no choice but to announce that Shinji died in combat. If news leaked out of our EVA being infected by an Angel, it would do tremendous damage to NERV's credibility." added Fuyutsuki.
"Yes. All we can say for sure is that Unit One was deliberately infected. We can't say the reason why or if Shinji was even the intended target."
"Who else is aware of this?" asked the commander.
"Just us and possibly Kensuke. He was the one investigating the black box from Unit One but I only asked him to extract the data, not to analyse." answered the doctor.
"Have a word with Mr. Aida and inform him to keep this quiet. I don't want anyone else to know. If Yui and the other find out, there is no telling what they will do. We can't have any rumours starting about this." Both Kaji and Ritsuko nodded; knowing the emotional state of the others, something like this could push them over the edge.
NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOSPITAL CONTAMINATION AREA
An awkward silence fell between Misato and Yui as they watched Shinji fight for his life. The only movement from him was the gentle raise and fall of his chest made by the tubes pushing air into his lungs.
"Did I ever tell you what happened when Shinji first arrived in Tokyo 3?" Misato said breaking the silence. "He wanted to take a bath and accidentally walked in on Pen-pen. He bolted out of there in only his birthday suit and screaming like a little girl." Misato had hoped the embarrassing moment would cheer up Yui but she remained quiet, her eyes fixed on her son.
"When Shinji was 3, we were toilet training him but the apartment we were living in had a western style toilet which was too high for him to reach. So we placed a little stool for him to stand on. One day I remember him yelling mummy, mummy, look, look! He was in such a hurry to show me that he could do it he lost his balance and fell forward into the bowl." Yui's story brought a small smile to her face and Misato smirking. "I rushed to pull him out and he was crying; I was so concerned that he could've drowned that I didn't notice that he was peeing all over my shirt." Misato was laughing when Yui finished the story and it even caused a light giggle from Rei.
"That was the morning of Unit One's first activation. I remember Rokoubungi hassling me that we were running late because I had to change and shower again." She refused to call her former husband by anything else. "That was the last time I saw Shinji and the only really clear memory I have." Her confession quickly killed what happiness was in the room.
"I always knew that Shinji was a troublemaker." Aya said aloud as she entered the room. She managed to catch the tail end of Yui's story. Mana followed her and stood next to Rei against the window over looking Shinji. "I brought some things from home. I hope it's all right." Yui just smiled politely and resumed watching Shinji.
"When was the last time you slept?" Aya asked Yui. "What 24, 36 hours? You look like hell." Lack of rest, food and constant worrying had taken its toll on the oldest Ikari.
"Aya is right. We can watch him for a while." added Misato.
"I can't sleep while he's like this…"
"I was telling Mana that all you can do is believe in Shinji. Sitting here depressed and upset isn't going to help him. I don't know what happened to him but he's fighter; he hasn't given up yet! I might not be able to help him fight directly but I can help in other ways." Everyone focused on Aya. "When Shinji wakes he's going to need some clothes. I think I'll go shopping for him. Would you girls like to come with me?" Aya asked Mana and Rei.
"You're right Aya." Yui said standing up wiping her eyes. "Misato can I ask you to watch me for me. I think I'll go home for some rest and then prepare his room." Then she walked over to the glass. "Mother is going home to get things ready for when you return. I'll be back soon." She kissed her hand and placed it on the glass.
As she was walking the vast hallways of the NERV complex the cold air was getting to her. Yui zipped up the workers jacket she had given Shinji and hung on to after he entered Unit One. Attempting to warm her hands she placed them in the pockets. Her fingers made contact with something foreign and she took it out to get a good look at it.
"What the…" her eyes widened as she read the printing on the level 6 access pass that she pulled out of Shinji's pocket. "How did he get something like this?" she asked herself. A thought then occurred to her, resulting in her sprinting down the hallway towards Section Two. It was early evening, the majority of the day shift had finished and it wasn't time for the night shift to start.
Yui hurried to the terminal dedicated to creating and administrating access passes for the whole NERV complex. She swiped the card through the reader and waited for the details to appear on the monitor. When they did, she showed no emotion except for a narrowing of the eyes and her hands clenching tightly into fists. After obtaining a gun and ammo, she silently left the building.
TOKYO 3 – CITY STREETS
Ever since Hikari had picked up Touji from the brig, she had tried to get him to open up but nothing worked. She didn't mention the baby thinking that he didn't want to talk about for the moment. She hoped it was only for the moment.
"Dr. Akagi says that Shinji has improved slightly." He ignored her and continued staring at the scenery passing by. His constant silence soon got the better of her. Hikari pulled the car over to the side of the road and pulled up the handbrake.
"Touji… I know that things are little hectic at the moment but you can't keep avoiding them."
"I'm not avoiding them." He stated.
"Well, you haven't said a word since leaving the base. What am I suppose to think?" At this point Hikari's voice was starting to break and tears began to well up in her eyes.
"I'm thinking…" Touji replied calmly. "I've been thinking of the best way to look after you and the baby."
"What… What did you say?" his reply took Hikari by surprise.
"I was actually thinking about asking you to marry me but what sort of husband or father would I be piloting Eva? I know piloting and NERV pays well but…" He was cut off by Hikari throwing herself at him.
"You mean you want to keep the baby and maybe… maybe get married." She sobbed into his chest.
"Well…Ah… only if you want to?" Hikari looked up at him and saw only sincerity in his eyes. "Baka!" she yelled thumping his chest with fisted hands. "Do you know how scared I was thinking that you didn't want to be with me?"
"Ok, Ok… Sorry I made you worry." He wrapped his arms around her and allowed her to continue releasing her frustration.
SHINJI IKARI'S MIND
Shinji was standing in the middle of a void. Everything was black; it had no end and at had no start. He couldn't even tell if he was standing or floating which disoriented him somewhat.
"Hello…" he yelled out hoping for a response but he didn't even get an echo. "Hey! Is anyone else here?"
"You can yell all you like. It's not going to do any good." Shinji turned around and saw a woman materialize from the blackness and take form.
"Eva?" Something inside him told him otherwise. "Wait! You're not her. You're…"
"That's right human. I'm an Angel and the one that's going to take your soul." She half laughed. "I must admit your efforts have been valiant up to this point but in the end you are just a human."
"Where am I?" Shinji demanded.
"You can't be that dense… but I'll show in any case." Iruel waved her hand and the blackness was replaced by a rainbow of coloured flashes.
'Hey Shinji, do you wanna kiss?'
'Welcome home, Shinji…'
'You won't die… I'll protect you.'
They continued to come. They were his memories, some good and some bad. "It's an interesting thing, the human soul. It takes a lifetime to form, but only an instant to destroy. You enjoy it while it lasts. Not many humans get to experience this before they DIE!"
Shinji felt incredibly sick. It was like all his internal organs were being torn violently from his being. His memories flickered, as his consciousness faded.
NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOSPITAL CONTAMINATION AREA
Misato was banging frantically on the glass window as she watched her Shinji convulse and shake on the bed against the restraints. Fed up at the slow response from the medical team, she bolted from the observation room and into Shinji's.
"Shinji! Shinji!" she yelled at him. His eyes were still closed and he didn't respond to her shouts. The monitoring alarms began to keen and his convulsions intensified. Then it all stopped, the shaking, the alarm, everything died.
"God, No!" The major checked his doubled checked his pulse and breathing. His skin was deathly cold and he showed no signs of life. She carefully removed his breathing tubes and began CPR.
SHINJI IKARI'S MIND
""Don't worry." Iruel said to the seemingly lifeless form of Shinji before her. "It's almost over."
"Get away from him!" Someone shouted and the Angel was hit by an invisible force causing her to fly backwards. Another female figure came running out of the shadows and immediately went to Shinji's side.
"Lilith!" the Angel cursed getting up from being knocked down. "How did you get here!"
"What did you do to him?" Lilith demanded cradling Shinji's head.
"Do I detect a hint of anger in your words? Don't tell me that you have developed feelings for this pathetic being. Oh, this is humorous to say the least!" she began laughing. "You could have selected someone who was a bit more of a fighter. He's nothing more than a weakling"
Eva gently placed Shinji's head down and turned her attention to Iruel. With lightning speed, the unwelcomed Angel felt something squeeze and tighten around her neck. It was a strange sensation because it was actually the first time Iruel was being choked. "You think you can save him by killing me?" she wheezed.
"Shinji and his friends have a saying…payback's a bitch…" A very audible crack sounded and with a sadistic smile, Iruel began to dissipate into her original form. Her cells were dead and the red glow they carried was no more. "…And so am I." concluded Lilith/EVA, a grim smile passing over her features.
Eva hurried back to Shinji who still showed no signs of life. "Shinji! Shinji!" She called out to him. There was no response.
NERV HEADQUARTERS – EVA HOLDING CAGES
"What's going on!" Maya demanded as Kensuke and the other maintenance crew tried to find out what was happening.
"Unit One just activated. S2 engine is on line and launch sequence has been activated." Kensuke answered in a panic.
"Who's piloting it? I can't be Shinji."
"There is no plug in the unit." Maya looked at one of the monitors and saw the extended grey plug protruding from the base of the Eva's neck. A shiver went up her back as the eyes of Unit One pulsed. "Contact the commander and the major. Then open a passage for Unit One."
"If it's gone berserker we can't let it out of the holding cage. It'll destroy the city!"
"If it stays here NERV will be destroyed. At least we will be able to engage the unit on the city surface."
NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOSPITAL CONTAMINATION AREA
Misato's tears and lungs burned as she continued performing CPR on the young man. Her cell phone began ringing and in her rage she threw it cross the room. The minutes grew and still no improvement, it had been almost seven minutes since she had started. Her heart told her to keep going because there was still a chance but the military training told her otherwise. Painfully she stopped and collapsed sobbing into his bare chest. The medical team burst into the room, pulling with them an assortment of machines and instruments but it was too late.
"Major, please stand back. We still might be able…"
"Get away!" she shouted at the medic. "You have no right to touch him! Where were all of you when he needed you?"
"Patient monitoring system was turned on but no alert came through. We heard a commotion from the outside and rushed in here." He explained. "Please stand aside."
SHINJI IKARI'S MIND
"You can't die… Please wake up." Eva pleaded. She composed herself and placed her forehead against in an attempt to see if his soul was still intact after Iruel's attack. For the first time, tears began to well up as she detected nothing.
"No… You can't…" she whispered. "You don't know how difficult it was to get here." Her tears began to flow more freely now, each of then landing on his cheek and rolling across his face. "Damn it, Ikari, there's no way I'm going to let you leave like this. LIVE!" She placed her hands on his chest; a dazzling lattice of light scattering the darkness, as if trying to keep Shinji's soul from departing. So deeply was she concentrating that she missed the small twitch from his hand.
NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOSPITAL CONTAMINATION AREA
"Misato… You have to let us take the body…" Ritsuko told her old time friend and work colleague. The NERV scientist saw a broken cell phone lying on the floor. "We've been trying to contact you. We have a situation with Unit One. You need…"
"Shinji…" she said in a soft voice. "He has a name and it's Shinji."
"Major." Ritsuko said in a stern commanding voice. "There is nothing that you do for Shinji now. Unit One appears to have gone into berserker mode and if we don't stop it then many more people will die, just like Shinji."
"I know…." She slowly removed herself from the young man. Misato began fixing his sheets and releasing the remaining restraints. "No one is to touch him until I return with the Vice Commander."
"Major, it would be best that we perform an autopsy as soon as possible so we may know what caused…"
"If anyone touches him, I'll kill them." To prove that it wasn't an idle threat, she unholstered her side arm and cocked the hammer back. "You are not cutting him up like some lab rat!" she seethed. Her actions caused the medical team to take a step back. Ritsuko was the only one brave enough to approach her.
"They won't move him… We better head up the bridge." She said placing a comforting hand on Misato's shoulder. Ritsuko began leading her away from Shinji and towards the door when a soft coughing from behind brought the medical team up short, surgical trays dropping on the floor.
KEEL RESIDENCE
His chauffeured limousine stopped as usual, right in front of the front door. "We're home, sir." The driver announced. Keel nodded and folded his newspaper away. He exited the car and approached the door. He was about to key the access code to unlock the door when he noticed that it was already unlocked and slightly ajar. Carefully, he pushed the door open and found one of security detail unconscious in the hallway.
'He's still breathing' Keel bent over and checked his vital signs. 'His gun is also missing.'
"I used a trank on him; he should be up in a few hours." A female voice said from the shadows. "But… I can't guarantee the same with you. That depends solely on how well I like the answers I get from you about this." The level 6 access pass clattered onto a nearby table.
"Yui?" The NERV vice commander stepped out holding two guns. One was aimed directly at Keel's chest.
TO BE CONTINUED
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Apologies for delay in update. A bad case of the flu knocked us around a bit. Anyway, nothing really new to report. Just keep those reviews coming.
Wonga316
