TRUE WAR

CHAPTER 20

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…)

TERMINAL DOGMA

Up until now, Shinji had still nurtured the hope that somewhere inside his father, that there might be even a trace of parental love for him. Now, staring down the cold steel barrel of a gun that hope died a violent death. Time seemed to slow, as the tendons in Gendo's hand tightened, finger applying pressure to the trigger. A single shot rang out. To his shock, the feel of a bullet impacting never came; instead, the hoarse sound of someone yelling in pain filled his ears, drowning out the reverberations of the gunshot. Unfortunately, he was unable to celebrate this sudden reprieve, as he was violently hauled up to his feet by the throat. The sharp edge of a combat knife was held against his neck, as a number of heavily armed men stormed into the room, two splitting off from the main group to carry Aya off to safety.

"There's no escape. I suggest you release your hostage and come quietly." Shinji recognised the voice as Kaji's. He tried to say something but the arm around his neck tightened, making his breathing difficult. His captor pressed the knife deeper into his throat, blood seeping out and running down from the cut.

"I'm impressed Mr. Kaji." Gendo said his voice full of sarcasm. "I didn't think that you would work out our location so soon." Shinji just managed to shift his head enough to see the man nursing a bloody hand and his mangled gun lying on the floor close by.

"It wasn't that hard. There are only two people I know that could have supplied the access pass for Central Dogma to Shinji – that's either you or Keel." Smoke flowed from the barrel of his gun. "But your plan to hide here has a fault – you have no way out."

The sleeper backed towards Gendo with Shinji as his human shield. As Kaji's team edged forwarded, he warned them. "He'll bleed out before he hits the floor."

"Stop it! Let him go!" Freed from her bonds, Aya's screamed plea echoed through the chamber. A member of the security team quickly restrained her, preventing her from doing anything that could upset the delicate situation.

"Be reasonable. You are surrounded, trapped and out numbered. You have no chance for escape." Kaji tried again to get Gendo and the sleeper to surrender.

"Do you really think that I didn't anticipate this scenario?" A wicked grin appeared on the former NERV commanders face and then a semi transparent blue dome shield appeared around him, leaving the sleeper to fend for himself. A trigger happy security member fired a single round at the shield; it hit dead on, and was deflected by the dome which showed a hexagonal pattern.

"You have proved yourself useless now." Gendo spoke to the sleeper.

"What! We had an agreement!" Anger and disbelief filled his voice.

"I never agreed anything to. I merely stated what was possible. I never said that I would act on those possibilities."

"You bastard!" The sleeper hurled Shinji to the ground, rendered unconscious by the impact. He whipped a gun out from his waistband and fired directly at Gendo but the bullets were deflected like before. Kaji took advantage of the distraction and fired, the bullet tearing through the sleeper's shoulder, causing him to topple forward. Half of the security team moved in, securing the sleeper and Shinji. The other half along with Kaji moved in to encircle the dome that shielded Gendo. Aya rushed over to kneel by the still form of the EVA pilot. Ripping a portion of her shirt, she applied pressure to the bleeding cut in Shinji's throat.

"Humans are always so predictable…" A strange male voice spoke. A figure began to rise out of the floor within the dome. The figure produced a blue aura similar to the protective shield.

"What the hell… It can't be possible…" Kaji stared in disbelief at the new player now standing next to Gendo.

"You look well Mr Ryouji." Karou spoke nonchalantly. "Congratulations on your promotion to Head of Section Two. I can see that you still take your job very seriously." The angel of free will seemed amused by the amount of fire power pointed in his direction. His eyes then fell on Shinji and Aya nearby. "You will have to excuse for moment Mr. Ryouji. There's an old and very dear friend here that I must see again." Then, as if the barrier wasn't there, Kaoru stepped forward and through, towards Shinji and Aya.

"No don't! Stand down!" Kaji ordered his men who prepared to open fire. "There's no point. He could kill us all in an instant." They all watched helplessly as the angel approached. Too preoccupied with an unconscious Shinji, Aya failed to see him come up.

"Would you mind if I had a look?" he asked politely, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. She whipped her head around to who it was. Before she could say anything, Karou had placed his other hand on Shinji's forehead.

"It seems the stress of the situation has taken its toll." Aya flinched when his hand emitted a blue aura.

"What are you! What are you doing to him!" she demanded, her voice full of concern.

"You need not worry Ms. Kojima. Shinji and I are friends" He reassured the woman. "I sense a number of injuries and his mind is tired. I'm using my life force to help heal him." His explanation didn't make sense but Shinji's stirring seem to provide some truth to his words.

"Well…" Karou removed his hand. "It seems you have changed. This will be interesting." This brought a smile to his face.

Aya ignored Karou's ranting. "Shinji! Shinji!"

"He'll be fine but still needs to rest." He stood and returned to the protective dome.

"What are you doing!" Gendo almost yelled, still nursing his bloody hand. "This was not…"

"What I did will not interfere with your scenario." Karou emphasized the word, voice dripping with contempt for the man. Gendo shot one of his trademark life threatening glares which he perfected during his time at NERV. Kaoru laughed, not in the least bit intimidated. "Looks like that will give you wrinkles."

"We have an agreement."

"No… It's more a mutual goal." He brushed his hands and straightened his clothes, before turning around to face Kaji and his men. "I must leave Mr. Kaji. Be sure that Shinji gets plenty of rest."

"What do you want? What are you playing at?" he demanded.

"I just want things to be fair…" Karou's manner changed and his eyes began to burn. "… For when I take him from this world, humanity will have nothing left to complain about." He waved his hand, the dome started to shrink on it self and its occupants disappeared with it.

With the immediate threat gone, Kaji ran over to Aya and Shinji. "Aya listen to me." She ignored his request and continued to stoke Shinji's damp sweaty hair.

"Aya!" He grabbed her arm this time which caused her to look his way. "We're going to take you and Shinji to get checked out." He pointed to welts around her wrist where the rope held her together.

"You must not tell anyone what happened here. Do you understand?" She looked at him with confused and almost frightened eyes. All she could do was nod her head numbly.

NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOLDING CELLS

The dull ache from the bullet wound bullet wound didn't bother the sleeper as he was helped by a couple of Section Two agents along a corridor. Chains bound his wrists and ankles. Their clanking sound was the only thing heard as they walked. Another two agents, one in the front and the other following up the rear accompanied him as well. Security had been tightened considerably as a result of yesterday's failed attempt on Shinji's life.

They stopped by a steel door and the lead agent opened it with a swipe of his access card. It revealed an interrogation room with table and two chairs in the middle. One of the chairs was already occupied by Kaji.

The sleeper was led to the other chair. Kaji waved the security escort away. Two styrofoam cups with their contents producing steam laid on the desk before the head of Section Two. Nothing was said between the two for a while. The sleeper watched the steam flow from top of the cups and disappear into the air.

"Ain't you going to drink yours?" he asked. It bothered him that Kaji had two cups. One was his and the other was possibility for him.

"I didn't know if you preferred tea or coffee." Kaji slid both drinks across the table towards the sleeper. He eyed the cups and then looked back up at Kaji.

"I'd prefer something a little stronger."

"I'm sure you would. After all, being undercover in a bar for such a long time has probably given you quite a few bad habits."

"So you know…"

"It wasn't hard. After Aya arrived here, I've had eyes on her bar."

"I don't think she or Shinji would appreciate that."

"You're probably right but I never lied about anything."

"No you just didn't tell them the truth."

"Just like you haven't been telling the truth about yourself." The sleeper had to admit that Kaji did have a point. It was hypocritical of him to criticise the man before him for something that he had been doing for such a long time.

"Now… should I call you George or by your real name?"

NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOSPITAL WARD

Everyone watched Yui hold Shinji's hand as he slept. Almost a month ago they were all here. Except that time the circumstances were far more life threatening. The doctors only reported a severe case of exhaustion and stress plaguing the young man. They were amazed that all of his wounds had healed completely shortly after being brought in by Kaji and his team.

"When can we see him?" Asuka was growing tired just watched from behind the glass.

"The doctor said only one person at a time. He needs his rest." Misato answered her question. She decided to remain standing and was leaning against the window into Shinji's room.

"I can't believe that it was Shinji's old man that did this!" Touji voiced his frustration aloud. His sentiments were shared by everyone in the room.

"Try to keep it down." Said Mana. "I know it's hard but we are still in a hospital."

"I'm sick of you telling everyone to shut up!" Asuka fired at the green eyed pilot. She needed to vent her anger on someone; Mana just happened to be a convenient target.

"Don't pull that shit with me!" Mana spat back. "You've been on my back since I arrived here. What's your problem or were you just born a bitch?"

"That's enough!" Misato's voice boom before the cat fight could really begin. She calmed herself before continuing. "We can't afford to start fighting with one another over petty school yard things. We have to work as a team or everyone dies… That includes the ones that are closest to us." She finished and saw Shinji begin to stir. Yui reacted accordingly.

Rei reached the intercom button and pressed the speak button. "Is he waking?"

(Yes! Can someone get the doctor?) Her mother replied. Rei left the room to find the doctor but forgot to turn off the intercom.

Shinji slowly raised his free arm to rub his eyes. He tried to move his other hand but soon felt the warmth of someone holding it. He finished rubbing his eyes and opened them to see his mother standing over him.

"Mom?" he croaked.

"It's alright, Shinji." She reassured him. "You're safe. The doctor will be here soon to look in on you."

"Aya… father…" he croaked again as his eyes fought against the fluorescent lights of the room.

"Aya is safe. She's in the next room." Yui didn't know what to say about his father. She had her own demons when it came to Gendo as well. The door opened behind them and the doctor entered with one other.

"It's good to see you kiddo." Aya said with a warm smile.

"Aya… Are you…" he tried to sit up but was quickly and gently held down by his mother and the doctor.

"Just lie down for a moment Mr. Ikari." The doctor said. "You have been through the wringer lately, so I'm just going to do some routine checks on you now." He picked up his wrist and began measuring his pulse.

"Your wrists…" Shinji saw the bandages around Aya's wrist.

"Just some minor cuts." She reassured him. "It's nothing major. I'm more worried about you. How are you feeling?"

"Weird…"

"What do you mean by weird?" Asked the doctor as he finished taking his pulse and pulled a small light from his pocket to check Shinji's pupil reactions. "Are you in any pain or discomfort?"

"I'm actually not. That's what's weird about it." Shinji was accustomed to waking in a hospital with a few aches and pains. It didn't bother him and actually reassured him that he was still alive. Yui and Aya looked at one another. Before going to Shinji's room, Aya managed to get Yui's attention and they briefly spoke about what happened inside Terminal Dogma. She asked Aya not to mention anything about Kaorou's appearance.

"Can you sit up?" asked the doctor, wanting to check his breathing. Shinji simply nodded and sat up without any assistance. As the doctor began monitoring his breathing, Shinji tried to piece together the events that put him in the hospital bed.

'There was father… he had a gun… and then there was someone else… That's right! The guy who took me and Aya! He said something… It sounded familiar… that voice…' It then occurred to him.

"Shinji? Sweetie? What's wrong?" Yui began to worry when she noticed that the spaced look in her son's eyes had been replaced by an icy glare

"What happened to the other man?" his voice had a sense of urgency to it, almost like a demand. "There was another. Where is he!"

"He was apprehended by Section Two. I believe Kaji may be questioning him at the moment." Yui answered trying to calm him down.

"I have to see him!" Without hesitation, Shinji ripped off the bed sheets but was stopped short by his mother, the doctor and Aya.

"You have to rest." She pleaded with him. "Kaji will be able to handle everything."

"This has nothing to do with NERV!" He managed to break free and bolt out of the room. He ran down the long hallway, his bare feet pounding against the cold floor. It then occurred to him that he no idea where they were. Shinji had a generally idea were they could be but NERV was a big place, never the less he pushed on. He rounded a corner and slammed into another body. Papers and files flew and scattered across the floor.

"Shinji?" It was Commander Fuyutsuki.

The young man quickly regained his bearings. "Kaji! Where is he!"

"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be resting?" the Commander helped himself up and then offered a hand to Shinji.

"I have to speak to the man he caught!"

'Why would you want to do that? Are you hiding something?' "I don't think that is such a good idea in your condition and with current circumstances." The Commander choose his words carefully. "He'll be held here until we figure out what happen. You will have an opportunity to speak to him after you rest up."

"Shinji!" Misato's voice was accompanied with the sound of people following him. They had over heard everything and chased after him after he ran from the room. Seeing that he was just in a pair of patient gown pants, she quickly removed her NERV jacket and draped it over his bare shoulders. "What are you doing! She was almost berating him.

"Where is he, Misato!" ignoring her question. His mind was just focused on one thing.

"You have to slow down. You can't go running around in your condition."

"Damn it!" He had enough and started yelling. "Will everyone just stop telling me that I have to rest. I'm fine!" At the same time, everyone else arrived at the scene. Misato tried to get a hold of his shoulders but he quickly and violently slapped them away. Then someone else grabbed him from behind. Shinji reacted on instinct; he turned, tensed and raised his fist ready to deck the person but stopped when he saw who it was.

"If you are ready to fight then I suppose you should be able to handle a chat with our visitor." Said the Commander.

NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOLDING CELLS

"I don't like this. I don't want you doing this." Yui said to her son in a motherly tone while they waited outside the interview room. She was more concerned than upset about what Shinji was going to do.

"Kaji and another agent will be in there as well and we'll see everything from the viewing room." Fuyutsuki offered but it had very little effect on the uneasiness felt by the Vice Commander.

The door opened slightly and Kaji stuck his head out. "I was waiting for your arrival." He spoke directly to Shinji. "There's a couple of thing to remember when you are…"

Before he could continue Shinji pushed past him and made a beeline towards the prisoner. His mask was off and Shinji could clearly see who it was. The man looked up expecting Shinji to say something but instead a fist came flying in his direction.

The punch landed flush on his jaw, teeth and blood flying out. It sent the prisoner reeling backward onto the floor. Kaji and the other guard rushed to pull Shinji back from attacking a second time. Shinji resisted for a moment then relaxed.

"It's alright… I'm done." He assured them.

"Last time I checked, punching someone in the face wasn't authorised during a NERV conducted interview." Said Kaji. "But nonetheless it's a lot better than the usual boring chitchat."

The other guard went around the table to help the assaulted man. "Sir, he seems to bleeding quite a bit." Kaji stuck his head around to see that the sleepers lip had been cut severely with blood flowing.

"He's fine. Get him up." Shinji's voice was ice cold. For a moment, it reminded Kaji of Shinji's father. It was almost frightening. The guard looked over to Kaji and he nodded.

"I trusted you…" Shinji seethed. "I thought you were a friend."

"I did what had to be done." The man spat some blood on the floor.

"What had to be done! Did that include hurting Aya, George?"

"Don't give me that self-righteous crap! You're as guilty as I am. You have more blood on your hands than I do. Everything I did was justified. You know nothing!"

"There's nothing justified about invading someone's home and kidnapping a woman at gun point. Where's the just…"

"YOU KILLED MY SON!" George's outburst silenced and stopped everyone. He saw the look in Shinji's eyes change immediately. "Do you know how hard it was to not kill you in your sleep? I had to watch my own wife replace my son with his killer and on top of that watch her suffer and not be able to do anything. You storming in here with your high morals and beliefs is absolutely sickening! I should have slit your throat and bled you dry when I had the chance."

"No… That's a lie… You're lying…"

"Am I lying? Do you think that I went through eight month of reconstructive surgery for nothing? The burns from the shelter collapse practically melted my face off."

"SEELE brought you in. They gave you a new face and an identity but wanted something back in return. They wanted you to keep tabs on Shinji." Kaji deducted.

"Call it what you want. I saw an opportunity and I took it." Shinji felt physically sick, the bile rising in the back of his throat. He fled out of the interview room and into the hallway to the nearest bathroom. He locked himself in a stall and expelled what his body would allow. In the recess of his mind, was someone banging on the stall door shouting his name. It was the last thing his mind registered before blacking out on the bathroom tiled floor.

From the observation room, everyone was witness to George's revelations. Yui chased after her son when he left the room and asked Rei to watch over Aya. Her reaction was more subdued; she simply walked out and returned to the apartments. Everyone else was just left in silence to ponder their own thoughts on what had just transpired.

NERV HEADQUARTERS – COMMANDER'S OFFICE.

Fuyutsuki closed his eyes and breathed a couple of deep breaths as Kaji and Misato discussed the events during the interview with Shinji and the George.

"I can't believe that it's true…" she said aloud. "It was a bad idea letting Shinji speak to him, especially in his condition."

"Bad idea or not the truth was bound to get out and this way Shinji heard it for himself."

"Did Yui tell you how she found him!" Misato resisted her big sister urges to be by Shinji's side. She decided her time could be better spent trying to make things better for him but having to deal with Kaji on the matter was pushing her limits. "He doesn't need this kind of stress!"

"There's no point arguing on what has happen." Fuyutsuki spoke up from behind his desk. "The truth is that these events have little or no association with the latest angels."

"But Commander…" Misato protested.

"I'm sorry Major. But I don't see how a personal feud between Shinji and this 'George' character will have an impact on how we defeat the angels."

"What if Shinji really decides not to pilot again? Can we afford to lose him?"

"I have to admit, the Major does have a point…" Surprisingly Kaji agreed.

"Do we really need Shinji and Unit One?"

NERV HEADQUARTERS - EVA HOLDING CAGES

'Am I really a killer? Of course I am… That's a stupid question!' Shinji didn't know how long had been staring at the demonic head of Evangelion Unit One. He thought the loneliness of the Eva cages would help him clear his mind and properly think through recent events. He woke up in his bed, not knowing how he got there. The alarm clock showed that it was almost seven in the evening. Not wanting to talk anyone, he snuck out of the apartment.

'Father is alive… George knew who I was and works for SEELE or did he work for my father…' exhausted from mentally hitting head against a wall he rocked back on the storage crate that he was sitting on. The crate supported his body and left his limbs dangling in the air. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he failed to notice Touji and Kensuke enter the cages and cross the gantry towards him.

"If you're going to get depressed then do it properly." Touji stated and placed the six pack of beers he was carrying on Shinji's stomach.

"And it's better to do it with friends." Kensuke added, ripping a can from its plastic tie for himself. Shinji just smiled and began drinking with his friends because with everything that had occurred this was the first thing that felt normal. They didn't say a word for a while, just enjoying the silence and the company. It was finally Kensuke who spoke.

"You should have brought another pack." He finished the last of his beer and crushed the empty can.

"You're the one who gets the big bucks from NERV." Touji replied. "I didn't see you offering to pay."

"Big bucks my arse!" Kensuke grabbed himself a second. "You pilots get the danger money."

"How did you guys know that I was down here?" Shinji asked, changing the subject.

"That's easy." Touji pointed to the one of many security cameras in the hanger. "It only took Ken about ten minutes to find you." He finished his first and tossed the empty can into the Eva's cooling fluid."

"What are you doing!" the young scientist exclaimed. "I don't believe that you just did that!"

"Chill out man. I've seen techies drop all sorts of stuff when they work on my Eva and they didn't seem bothered by it."

"That's because they clean out the filters at the bottom of the tank after their shift." Kensuke rushed over to the edge, trying to see if he could still get back the can. "Do you know what sort of damage to the cooling system could be done?"

"It'll be fine." The former jock just waved away his friend's concern. "You worry too much."

"It's my job to keep your Evas running. I have to worry."

"Yeah but life's too short… After all, today could be our last."

"Don't give me that 'I'm a pilot that'll die tomorrow so I can do what ever I want' attitude."

"Would you guys be happy with what you have done in life if you were to die tomorrow?" Shinji asked causing a break in the escalating argument.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Touji asked.

"Well, fighting the Angels is dangerous and we all know what could happen." Shinji walked over next to Kensuke and leaned forward onto the railing. "Say the worst thing does happen… Would you be happy with what you leave behind?"

Both his friends looked at one another. Their eyes shared the same concern from Shinji's question. They both knew from their younger days that Shinji often raised depressing matters and it was often a sign that he was enduring much more than he could handle.

"That's a stupid question and I'm not answering it!" Touji's response caused Shinji to turn his head to face him. "No one is going die. I hate this morbid shit."

"I have to agree with Touji for once." Kensuke removed his glasses and began to clean the lens with the edge of his science coat. The last part of his comment got a strange glare from his friend. "If you are worried about that guy…"

"I'm not really scared about dying… You know it's probably the easiest thing to do at the moment. It would end a lot of problems."

"You worry too much about what has happened…" Touji was fed up with talk about death. He climbed to his feet and stretched. "If you think about the past then you won't enjoy what you have now or tomorrow."

"That's pretty insightful… where did you come up with that?" Kensuke asked truly amazed by his friend's opinion.

"I saw it in a movie somewhere. I can't remember the title but it was one of those chick flicks that Hikari made me watch with her." his anticlimactic response caused Shinji to suddenly choke on his mouthful of beer and Kensuke to shake his head in disbelief.

"I'm surprised that you even remembered that much from a movie that Hikari made you watch with her. You usually have an attention span of a goldfish." The insult spurred Touji to grab his friend in one of his patented headlocks.

"Can a goldfish do this!" He squeezed harder as Kensuke continue to struggle.

NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOLDING CELL

"Are you sure you ready for this?" Yui asked Aya for the final time.

"Yes." Aya had a determined but solemn look. "You didn't have to come. Shinji might…"

"I popped in on Shinji before we left and he was fast asleep. Rei is home as well." They walked along with empty holding cells flanking both sides. Their destination was the very last cell, the only one occupied. A pale light from within shone out and cast eerie shadows on the floor from the cell bars.

When they arrive in front of the cell door, George was lying on the bunk, his back facing the hallway. "Could you turn off the lights? It's rather difficult to get some sleep." He assumed it was a guard.

"Take as long as you need." Yui said to Aya. George sat up when he heard it was a woman's voice and looked to see who it was. For just a brief moment, Yui had to resist the urge to launch a tirade at the man who betrayed her son but realised this wasn't about her. She continued walking back, leaving the former husband and wife alone.

"I was wondering when you would come to see me?" he rubbed his eyes. "Have you come to tell me how your precious Shinji is?"

"Why?" was all Aya asked.

"Why?" her response confused and angered George. "He killed our son and you ask me why."

"You don't understand…"

"What's there to understand!" he shouted but calmed himself before continuing. "I don't understand how you could take him in like you did?"

"You assumed that I used Shinji to replace Sousuke but he will never replace my son nor will I want him to. You of all people should have known that."

"You don't understand! With his death we can be a family again. Everything I did, everything I've been through is for us." George pleaded; still believing that lies Gendo told could come true.

"Where were you when I needed you most?" Aya wiped a tear from her eye. "Is having me believe that you died worth it? Do you really think sacrificing another life to bring back another is just? I would love to have things the way they were but if the cost was destroying another family then it's not worth it!"

"This is our chance!" George rushed up to the bars and was now only inches away from Aya. "We can still do it. All you have to do is get him alone and …" he stopped when Aya reached into the cell and touched his cheek.

"Your eyes are a different colour now but they're still the same when we first met. I don't know why I didn't notice it all the time in the bar." The sadness in her voice was apparent. "There is no 'we' anymore… I made a promise to myself and Sousuke that I'd live a life that he'd be proud of so when it came time to see him again I'll be the mother that he remembers." Her last words closed one of the chapters of her past which plagued her. She removed her hand and walked away without turning back. The pleas from her former husband did nothing to sway her.

NERV HEADQUARTERS - EVA HOLDING CAGES

When the play fight finished, both combatants sat on the steel grate of the walkway trying to get their breath back.

"You know your problem…" Touji rasped between breaths. "You're not tough enough."

"Now I'm starting to think that you really are drunk." Kensuke's comment earned him a slap across the back of his head.

"I've only had one beer, idiot." He looked back at Shinji. "I don't know everything that happened to you but I know that you're not the only one to have your life messed up. Your problem is that you only concentrate on the bad things that happen in your life."

"Ah… Touji…" Kensuke was worried that his words were too harsh.

"No! I've had enough of this shit!" Touji brought himself onto his feet again. "Shinji… I can't tell how to live your life because it's your life. I see you have two choices; run away and blame the things that were out of your control in the first place for messing up your life or; start living and take control. My upbringing wasn't all peaches and roses but I didn't let become an excuse."

"What if everything you do mistake! You don't know what it's like to takes someone's life!"

"That's true. I can't say that I know what its like to kill someone but at least I can look back on my life and say that it was my choice. It was the wrong choice but mine to make and no one else."

Shinji let his friend's words sink in. 'Touji is right… All my life I've never had any control on what happens; whether I was too young or too weak at the time… You are not defined by what happens in your life but by what you do in your life…'

"Geez… did you have be so harsh?" Kensuke began to worry when Shinji started to stare off into space. "Don't worry about it Shin…"

"He's right." He looked up at his friends. "Come on, I have to see the commander."

NERV HEADQUARTERS – COMMANDER'S OFFICE

"Major… Be careful in what you say…." The commander warned his subordinate. He didn't like to discipline people for acting on their emotions. It was a good sign that NERV wasn't producing brainwashed employees but Misato was really pushing her luck.

"Look, it's late and everyone has had a long day. Why don't we continue this tomorrow?" Kaji played the peace keeper and it wasn't working particularly well.

"No. I don't think that it's unreasonable for the commander to tell us his reasons for this line of thinking."

Suddenly a knock at the door, allowed a pause in the unscheduled meeting / argument. To everyone's surprise Shinji entered followed by Touji and Kensuke. Both his friends quickly and unconvincingly attempted to hide their alcoholic beverages behind their backs.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but I think your secretary has gone home for the day so I let myself in." Shinji excused himself and surveyed the room. Fuyutsuki was standing over his desk almost face to face with Misato. Her left eye twitched a little and Shinji knew that this was a sign that she was upset about something. Kaji as usually held his ever present grin but this time it seem slightly different, like it was almost relief.

"If this is a bad time I can come back…"

"Actually… I was just about to leave." Misato quickly turned and grabbed Shinji by his arm. "Come on Shinji…"

"I wanted to speak with Fuyutsuki." His statement stopped her in her tracks.

"What can I do you for Shinji?" The commander asked sitting back down in his chair.

"Commander, I'm formally requesting reinstatement as a Pilot. I want back in."

Time seemed to stand still.

END OF CHAPTER

AUTHOR'S NOTES

For those who are confused or late readers; George and Aya were married and had a child – Sousuke. They lived a happy life in Tokyo 3 when the Angels attacked. They hid in the shelters during an attack where an Eva caused a roof collapse (I'm pretty sure thatyou see a glimpse of a collapse in the series). The collapse claims Sousuke and George. But it's revealed that George survives. SEELE recruit him and assigns him to watch Shinji.

Oh... and I'm sorry for late update….