TRUE WAR
CHAPTER 21
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 – COMMANDER'S OFFICE
The best word used to describe the effects of Shinji's calm announcement on the people present would be 'Thunderstruck'. Misato gripped his arm tightly; unable to reconcile what she heard to how he had acted earlier. Kaji was torn between elation and consternation. Touji and Kensuke, not wanting any part of the possible fallout beat a hasty retreat, keeping a tight grip on their brewskies. Fuyutsuki finally spoke up.
"I like to speak to Shinji alone." Fuyutsuki looked at Kaji who took his queue from the two stooges and quickly exited. Misato maintained her grip on his arm, looking up into Shinji's face, trying to find some clue to this sudden change.
"It's alright Misato." He reassured her. "I'll explain everything afterwards." Reluctantly, she forced herself to let go and exited the room.
"Do you know what you are asking?" the commander asked. He had to make sure this was not a spurious decision. The consequences of such could be disastrous.
"Yes Commander. I think that for the first time in my life, I finally do." Cobalt eyes locked gazes with Fuyutsuki; volumes of information seemed to pass between them in that one look. Finally, a small smile graced Fuyutsuki's features. He stood, and extended his hand.
"Welcome back, Pilot Ikari."
"Thank you." Shinji answered, grasping Fuyutsuki's hand in a strong grip. "But before we make it final, I have a few conditions."
"Name them."
NERV HEADQUARTERS – HALLWAY
Yui and Aya walked along silently. Neither had spoken since Aya had returned from talking to George. Yui's mind was pondering the fact that SEELE knew of Shinji's whereabouts initially, but would not disclose them. This infuriated her; she had to keep reminding herself to calm down and think things through logically.
"Dude! Do you believe that?"
Both women looked up to see Touji and Kensuke having animated conversation.
"Jeez Touji… I think you might have pushed him too far." His bespectacled friend replied.
"What did the both of you say to him!" Misato ordered. She interrupted their talk.
"What does it matter what they said?" Kaji interjected, as he leaned casually against the wall. "You got what you wanted didn't you?"
"I haven't even discussed it with him yet! I just wanted that option for him if he wanted. Now he's all gung-ho. If his mind isn't thinking right, it'll have drastic consequences for both us and Shinji."
Yui decided to butt in when she heard her son's name. "What's this about Shinji?" she almost demanded.
It was one of those moments where the first to speak would be the first to cop the verbal blast. As the silence dragged on, Yui's patience wore thin.
"All of you are outside the Commander's office talking about Shinji and I want to know why!" Touji and Kensuke had heard rumours about the Vice Commander's temper when tried and it looked like they were going to experience it first hand.
She was about to unleash all of her fury, when the door to Fuyutsuki's office opened and following the Commander was topic of everyone's discussion.
GEO FRONT – NERV APARTMENTS
"Are you sure about this?" Yui inquired for about the tenth time since they had returned from the office. Shinji just calmly slipped his tea and nodded affirmatively. The others had returned to their respective homes and Aya retired to bed.
Her hand nervously scratched the surface of the dining table, unconsciously mimicking his actions when agitated. Surprised, he reached over and placed his hand over hers.
"You don't have to be worry. It'll be different this time." He reassured her.
"It's not that!" she tried to keep her emotions down. "Whenever you go near EVA you always seem to get hurt."
"That's a risk that I'll have to take." He stood; placed his empty mug in the sink and walked into the living area. Rei had fallen asleep while waiting for everyone to return. Her hands still held an open novel that she was reading.
"I'm not mad at you. I'm just worried." Yui followed him into the next room.
"I know… It's just…"
"Just what? You can tell me Shinji." He turned to face his mother. As he did Rei opened a single eye to see what was going on. She remained still so as not to alert anyone and listened intently.
"Touji helped me realise something tonight… I have to start living..."
"Living? I don't understand. That doesn't mean that you have to return to piloting." She was starting to get frustrated.
"I'm going to start living for myself and everyone I care about. For the moment the best way to do that is piloting Evangelion again. I can't say that I won't get hurt piloting but I'll do my best to come back to everyone." Yui was saddened but at the same time nearly bursting with pride. She had just witnessed the passing of Shinji the child, and in his place stood the man.
Then a pair of slender arms wrapped around him, and he turned to see Rei's face in front of him, a smile on her face. "I'm going to hold you to that, brother. Just remember, if you die out there, I'm never going to speak to you again." Yui started giggling, while Shinji face faulted.
'Rei, joking? Things were starting to look very interesting for the future.'
TOKYO 3 – CITY SURFACE
Karou stared at the pale moon and pondered. 'I wonder if they were kind enough to inform Shinji of my return. It's probably hopeful wishing. We didn't exactly leave on good terms and they all seem very close and protective of him as always.'
"Does the moon hold something of interest to our plans?" Gendo asked while changing the dressing on his hand, ignoring the pain of crusted blood being peeled off.
"Nothing particularly… Just letting my mind wander."
"Better that you focus and remain on course." He finished the poorly attempted bandage. Blood was already beginning to seep through the material, and the red lines of infection were starting to show. Gendo picked up a bottle of painkillers and tossed a few into his mouth.
"I could heal that wound on your hand. I don't know much about the human anatomy but all that blood lost and the pills you are taking must not be the best practice for treating an injury of that kind."
"You just do what is required. I don't need any further help."
The stubborn response didn't surprise the young angel and he returned to looking up into the night sky. 'I should speak to Israfel soon about the surprise we have for Shinji and his friends…'
NERV HEADQUARTERS – CONFERENCE ROOM
The next morning almost the entire staff of NERV gathered in the main conference room requested by the Commander. A temporary stage had been erected just for the occasion.
"Do you know what meeting is about?" the expectant mother to be asked Touji.
"Sort of… but I told not to say anything. Sorry babe."
"Everyone is about to know anyway so why don't you just tell us?" Asuka said, sitting next to her best friend. "What about you four eyes?" She pointed to Kensuke. "I'd bet you know what's going on."
"Hush. Someone is coming." The entrance of both commanders alerted Mana. They took their place in front of the group and everyone settled down.
"Thank you for all for attending this meeting on such short notice. I know that you all have duties that require your attention." The Commander started.
"Yeah! What's going on!" someone shouted from the group. Nobody needed to be told that the voice belonged to Asuka.
"I'm here to announce a new pilot will be joining the Eva team today."
NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOLDING CELLS
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Kaji asked.
"You know if I had a hundred yen for everyone who asked me that …" Shinji replied.
"Alright… alright…" Kaji held up his hands in defeat. They reached the last cell, which housed George. The inmate was sitting on his bed in the middle of his breakfast, which didn't look really appetizing.
"Did you sleep well?" Kaji asked nonchalantly.
"Let me guess…" He placed the food tray on down and swallowed the mouthful of food he was chewing. "It's question time again."
"Actually no." Kaji swiped his pass and entered the key code, which released the cage door. Shinji stepped from behind him and into the cell.
NERV HEADQUARTERS – CONFERENCE ROOM
The statement caused a bit of a stir from the group. Everyone began talking and asking questions except for those who were present at Fuyutsuki's office yesterday evening.
"Why weren't we notified in the usually manner? Who is this pilot to get told like this? Are we getting a new Unit with this pilot? This is highly usually." Ritsuko's questions pretty much summed up what everyone wanted to know.
"There won't be a new Unit with this pilot as you know the UN as halted all construction of new EVA units and you are gathered all here because he wanted to address all personally."
NERV HEADQUARTERS – HOLDING CELLS
"Do you want to go for a second round?" George sarcastically asked Shinji.
"No. I want to apologies for punching you yesterday. I was wrong for doing that. I let my emotions get the better of me." His apology took George by surprise.
"I've come to tell you that you are free to go."
"What! Did I hear you right?"
Shinji nodded. "You don't have to worry about SEELE either. That's all been taken care of."
George started snickering and then it grew into full laughter. During his laughs he managed to get a few words in. "Do you think that helping me get out will repent for everything that you have done to my family and me?"
"No." George stopped laughing. "I don't think that anything I'll ever do will ever make the pain I caused you to disappear but I do know that I can try and stop it from happening to anybody else. I'm not doing this for your forgiveness or out of guilt. Nor will I try to stop you from killing me if that's what you still intend to do. You are free to do what you wish. But I do have one request."
"And what would they be?"
"If you are going kill me then I ask that you do it after the Angels have been defeated. After that I won't fight or run away you have my word."
"You're piloting again!" Shinji nodded and with that left the cell.
"Your belongings are with the guard at the front. After that, he'll escort you off the premises." Kaji said before leaving the cell door open and following after Shinji.
As Shinji walked out into the hallway from the cellblock, Aya was waiting for him. The apprehensive face showed that she had overheard some of his words with her former husband.
"You didn't have to do that." She stated.
"You may have a point but if I didn't then I wouldn't feel right here." Shinji tapped his chest, pointing to his heart.
"All right, let me rephrase what I said. I totally disagree with what you did just then and what you are about to do."
"Come on, I'll walk you to the car." Shinji offered his arm like a gentleman and pickup her overnight bag. They made their way out to a waiting car with a Section Two agent as an escort and driver.
"You don't have to do this." Shinji echoed her former words. "I know how much the bar means to you."
"Someone has to make sure that you don't stray." She joked but then turned serious. "I'll only be gone for a few weeks at the most so don't do anything stupid."
"I always behave myself."
"I mean it! You're very special to me." She pulled him into a tight hug and whispered. "I don't want to lose you like…" a few tears began to spill from her.
"You won't."
NERV HEADQUARTERS – CONFERENCE ROOM
"Is it a guy?" Mana whispered aloud. 'I wonder if he's a cute as Shinji.'
"Hey Ken." Touji pulled his friend's coat to get him closer. "You don't think he's serious do you?"
"I don't know but I've never seen that look in his eyes after what you said to him."
"Damn it!" he slapped his forehead in frustration. "He's going to get himself killed because of me."
"What the hell are you two blabbering about?" Touji's actions didn't go unnoticed by the other pilots, especially Asuka. "Who's going to kill himself?"
"What? No one! Me and Ken were talking about…" Touji racked his brain for a plausible excuse. "Ah… Hyuga! Yeah… It's Hyuga."
"What about him and why would he come to you two bakas for advice?"
"Hmmm… Asuka is right. It does seem strange that he you go to you for help on something. What do you think Rei?" Hikari asked.
"I believe that Lt. Hyuga would not seek pilot Suzahara for guidance. It's more likely that the Lt. would see his superiors." She replied casually.
"Come on Rei! You have to help me here…" Touji pleaded beneath his breath.
"One doesn't gain anything from lying. Shinji would not approve of you doing this." She turned her head and a small smile appeared.
"You're not helping Ayanami…" Kensuke spoke from the corner of his mouth.
"I think something is happening?" Mana spotted Kaji entering the room from a side door and head towards the Commander. He whispered something to him before rejoining the main group. Misato forcibly grabbed him by the arm, she had her suspicions about the identity of the new pilot but wanted confirmation. Before she could ask someone stepped through the side door. Some people shuffled around to try and get a better view of the new pilot but his long brown locks hid his profile well.
He reached the podium and climbed the steps to the Command and Vice Commander. He gave a reassuring nod to the before of them before taking his place behind the microphone.
"I'm not used to speaking to such a large group of people so you will have to excuse my nervousness. I'll be brief since I'm sure you all have better things to do than to listen to me.
For those who don't know, my name is Shinji Ikari. A while ago I piloted EVA Unit One but then disappeared… Actually, that's not true. I ran away and when I did I let a lot of people down, including many in this room. I've only realised that recently."
Shinji paused for a moment, not knowing what to say. He stayed up half the night debating whether to prepare anything but his thoughts were plagued with George and Aya's decision to sell her bar and move back to Tokyo 3.
"A couple of friends finally made me realize the consequences of my actions, and that I had the ability to make a difference, so, I guess the best way to sum it up is, I'm back… Thank you…" there was another pause until few people began clapping and soon the whole conference room was filled with a roar of applause.
The commander approached the microphone. "Thank you everyone. You can return to your duties." The people began filing out of the room. A few familiar faces remained and approached the stage.
Shinji felt a pair of hands lay on his shoulders; it was his mother. "I'm very proud of you Shinji."
LATER THAT DAY
The excitement and buzz around NERV continued late into the day. Shinji had announced that he was returning to piloting and this boosted morale tremendously. As he walked around numerous NERV departments to organise his paper work, people took the time to welcome him. Yui accompanied her son and was surprised at the number of female staff members literally throwing themselves at his feet. Shinji, of course, was obliviously to this fact. The day had been long and tiresome but the worst was still to come.
"Can someone please explain why I have to do this?" rasped Shinji, exasperated.
"If you are going to pilot again then you will need a new suit. You don't think that you could wear your old one." Ritsuko answered while she finished the final checks to the machine that would take his body dimensions for his new plug suit. It mainly consisted of a glass cylindrical tube with various machine and computer components installed at the top and bottom.
"I'm not talking about that. I'm concerned about that." Shinji pointed to the row of chairs along the side of the machine, which were occupied by Misato, Asuka, Rei and Mana respectively. "And why do Maya and Hikari have to be here?"
"It takes two to properly operate the machine and Hikari is here in case of an emergency." The blond scientist replied.
"An emergency?" Shinji was really starting to worry now.
"In order to take a proper measure of you body, we use a special gel made from modified LCL. The machine reads the contours of you body against the gel to get a prefect reading. The problem is that the gel must be contained at low temperatures and the process takes almost an hour to complete. There's a slight risk of you developing hyperthermia."
"Is there anything else that I should know about?"
"That's about it." She lightly tapped her pen against her cheek as a sign that she was thinking. "Oh you do know that you'll be naked while in the tank."
A wolf whistle came from the peanut gallery behind. He didn't have to turn around or take two guesses to know who it was. "Come on, Shin-chan! Don't be shy! Take it all off!" Misato's words caused numerous laughs from the room.
"This is not funny!" he shouted over the laughter. Yui sensed the difficult time her son was experiencing and walked over to him, the strains of the day had taken a toll on him.
"Now sweetie… I know you hate being the centre of attention." She cupped his face. "But I have to admit that you look so cute when you're angry…."
He sighed defeated, letting his shoulders slump.
"Ritsuko." Yui called out to the senior scientist. "Could we reschedule? It's been a long day for him."
"I have no issues with that. What do you say Shinji?"
"Let's just get it over with. The sooner we get this over with, the better."
"Ah… Shinji…" Unknown to the both of them, a nervous Asuka had approached. "If… Ah… Do you want…? I mean… We can go if…" Both Shinji and Asuka hadn't had a chance to talk about what happened in his bedroom. The problem was that it had been so long ago that each thought the other was ignoring them. It was a difficult situation.
Yui watched both their actions, which spoke louder than any words could. She could tell that Shinji was trying to think of something to say that would allow him to retreat but still keep Asuka happy. Asuka on the other was much harder to read but her eyes gave everything away. She was very good at hiding her emotions but all you had to do was look at her eyes. They pleaded with Shinji to say something, anything that would break this speechless void that had developed between them.
"I'll go." She whispered.
"No wait!" 'Damn that sounded pathetic.' "We need to talk… if you want to wait…"
"I'll wait!" 'Damn I sound really desperate' her face lit up for a moment and she retreated back to her seat in the viewing gallery.
"You can undress behind that." Ritsuko pointed over to Hikari who pulled aside a curtained partition.
"I'll try to hold them back you for, sweetie." Yui joked before retuning to her chair. Shinji trudged over to the curtain and began to disrobe. He could hear Misato complaining about something in the background.
"Where's he going? There's no point doing it behind the curtain." The mixture and gossiping smart remarks began flow between the women but then stopped. The silence began to worry Shinji. He didn't know that the positioning of the lighting showed a perfect silhouette of what he was doing behind the curtain.
"You girls should be ashamed at what you are doing." Yui's comment broke the silence. She could see the humour but still didn't like the idea of her son being portrayed like a piece of meat. Rei nodded in agreement, feeling a little upset that her brother's privacy was somewhat being invaded.
"Why not let them have this moment. I'm sure Shinji doesn't really mind." Ritsuko reasoned.
"Afraid you won't have your chance to play doctor with him, Ritsuko? Don't think I haven't noticed the way you've been eying him, too." The dry sarcasm caused the normally cool and composed Doctor to flush a bright crimson at being caught out.
"Ok. I'm done." Shinji spoke up from behind the curtain. His words snapped the women from their little fantasy.
"Just come out and walk up the steps to the top of tube. Then carefully step in. Don't worry if the gel over flows that's just normal procedure. Maya and I will do the rest."
"But… but it's on the other side of the room." The doctor sighed and approached the nervous young man. She stopped just outside the curtain, removed her lab coat and held it inside.
"You can put this on." She felt Shinji take the garment and put it on.
"Awww… This isn't fair!" Misato pouted like a little child. "Things were just getting exciting." Yui finally felt things had gone far enough. "Okay, Show's over! That's it!" Her tone was bantering, but the look on her face belied her words. With assorted grumbles and wistful sighs, the audience took their leave.
IKARI RESIDENCE
Shinji sat on the lounge with a thick blanket draped over his shoulders. He held steaming cup of tea with both hands as he tried to warm himself. A long stressful day ending with his dip in icy glop left him feeling like the on set of a cold coming on.
"Are you sure that you don't anything to eat?" his mother asked from the kitchen
"I'm fine… I think I'll finish my tea and just go to bed." Shinji replied with a slight shiver in his voice. Concerned, Yui left the kitchen and went his side. She pressed her palm against his forehead, trying to gauge his temperature.
"You're temperature is normal but you are looking a little pale." She said with a frown. "You shouldn't push yourself. You're going to get sick."
"Yes mother."
"I want you to go straight to bed."
"Yes mother dearest."
"I'll let everyone know that you won't be in tomorrow."
"Yes Mommy…."
"Don't patronise me. I'm your mother."
He looked up at her with a grin and a wink.
"You can't be that sick if you can joke around like that." She replied with a smile of her own. The phone rang and Rei went to answer.
"Hello. This is the Ikari residence." She answered politely.
"Pilot Sohryu, My brother is not feeling well at the moment and can't come to the phone." She purposely held the receiver away from her ear as she expected the usually tirade from the fiery red head.
"It's fine Rei. I'll take it." She brought the cordless handset to him while Asuka was still rambling on the other end.
(…Don't give that crap about him being…)
"Asuka." His voice stopped her abuse.
(Shinji? I… Ah…) He found it amusing that she could change from being borderline psychopath to a nervous mess in seconds
"Sorry about before. I know we said would talk but things have been a little hectic."
(Rei said that you could be sick… Is everything all right?)
"It's just been a long day." He finished with a yawn.
(Do you want me to hang up? I…) she still sounded nervous.
"No it's fine. We have a lot that we need to talk out…"
OUTSKIRTS OF TOKYO 3
Karou's hands touched the surface of the lake and it sent a ripple across, breaking its prefect image of the night sky and moon. He watched the reflection warp out of shape and then steady back again. He was at the site where Rei's self destruction created the body of water during her battle in the final stages of the last Angel war.
"It's time to wake Israfel…" The water within the crater glowed that same fluorescent blue as Karou. "I want to see how much Shinji has changed and how far is he willing to go…"
END OF CHAPTER
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Nothing new…
