Rage and Compassion

by Larnec

Post Apocalyptic Tokyo3. The city has been rebuilt and life has returned to normal. But does this normalcy apply to those in NERV especially the Katsuragi Household? Read and find out.

3. Warning

Thanks for the positive feedback on the re-writes. I thought about this for a few days and I've decided to give the rest of this story a full makeover. This means I will be cutting out some parts that didn't pertain to the original story as well as condensing some chapters together. I hope this will make the story better, rather then worse and offer any returning readers a new Rage and Compassion experience and any new fans an enjoyable read.

This means that the updates may take much longer since I'm going to go back through my original manuscript and pluck through it. In the meantime, I'll be working on anther project, so look for that to keep you busy between releases. The first change will be in this chapter where I am making everything past tense (one problem with the original, changing tenses).

Neon
Genesis
EVANGELION
Chapter: 3
Warning

The day had come. School at Tokyo-3 Junior High comes to an end after a hellish year. Students will soon blissfully commute to the school so their vacation can begin as soon as possible. Thoughts of freedom and the chance to sleep in until noon have erased every lecture from the student's minds. However, two students are not as joyous. They knew that the pleasure of freedom was currently out of the picture.

Once again, Misato woke up before the crack of dawn. Her goal was to complete the first of Asuka's challenges by making egg omelets for breakfast. Her work began at around 5:19am and by the time it was to wake Shinji and Asuka for school, three perfectly shaped omelets sat on the kitchen table, flanked by two cups of orange juice and a mug of Yebisu beer. Misato took a few seconds to admire her work.

"What do you think Pen-Pen?" Misato said happily to her penguin companion. "Do you think Asuka will approve?"

"WAAARRRKKK!" Squealed Pen-Pen, waving his flippers happily.

Misato smiles at the penguin. "I knew you'd agree." She pauses to take a quick glance at her watch. "I guess I better wake, the 'Angels.'" Misato began chuckling to herself over the corny joke she just made. She regained her composure and walked down the hall to wake the kids. She stops at Asuka's room first and knocks on the door.

"I'm already up Misato."

Sliding the door open, Misato peeks inside. "Okay. Breakfast is on the table."

"Did you make it?" Asuka asked as she buttoned up the rest of her jumper.

"Go out and take a look." Misato replies, a smirk etching its way across her face.

Misato moved out of Asuka's way, allowing her to the kitchen, and proceeds to Shinji's room. She was about to knock when the door slides open, startling both Misato and Shinji.

"Oh…you're up already." Misato was grasping her chest and panting heavily.

"I guess it was you making all that racket." Shinji responded with a yawn. "Don't normal people sleep until six?"

Misato grew a tad perturbed over Shinji's comment. "I was busy making breakfast for you two. It's not MY fault it took an hour to make."

"I'm just messing with you Misato." Shinji say as he walks past her a pats her on the back. "Lighten up a bit. Too much stress is not good for you."

Misato stands in silence for a few seconds. She places a hand on her forehead. God I'm getting paranoid. But I can't show any weakness. I must enforce this punishment to the fullest extend of the law. Quietly she walks into the kitchen. Quickly she notices that neither Asuka nor Shinji has touched her omelets.

"Is something wrong?" Misato inquires, generally concerned.

"Y…you made these?" Asuka gasps, her eyes wide in amazement. "They're almost perfect."

"I don't even think I could make something like this." Shinji adds.

SCORE! Her concern is quickly replaced with a sense of self assurance. "Well, are you just gonna stare at them or are you gonna try them?"

Almost simultaneously, Shinji and Asuka cut off small pieces of their omelets and slowly devoured them. As the pieces touched their taste buds, both children's eyes begin to water and their faces turn several shades of yellow and green. They both exchange glances of disgust and force their throats to swallow the pieces. Quickly, they reached for their glasses of orange juice and guzzled it down quicker than Misato could chug a beer. They both wanted to cry remembering that they had to eat all of it. Reluctantly, they began eating the rest of their breakfast.

Misato sat in bewilderment at the kids reactions. That's odd. Slowly, she took a bite of her omelet. This tastes pretty good. What could be the problem with those two? She waited until they were finished before asking for opinions.

"Well...how were they?"

"It was…interesting." Asuka strained to say, tears forming in her eyes.

"How 'bout you, Shinji?"

"It had a…unique flavor. It is quite… I have no idea." Shinji responded nearly truthfully.

Albeit skeptical, Misato turned to Asuka and asked an important question. "Did I pass your test?"

"Yeah…yeah. You pass." Asuka said, still trying to rid her mouth of the horrid aftertaste. "But please, DON'T make omelets again. They're not your thing."

"Then why did you say I passed?" Misato asked, a little confused.

"To be honest, your instant tastes better than this crap and if I didn't say 'yes,' you would probably continue making food like this until I did." She wiped her tongue with the palm of her hand. "And if you did that, I doubt I would live past fifteen."

"I bet Shinji liked it." She looks ominously at Shinji; nearly threatening. "Right?

Misato's serious gaze sent chills up Shinji's spine. "Well…you see…umm…it's not that…I mean…the presentation was nice and all…but…um…it just tastes…terrible." He lowered his head and covered it with both of his hands. "Please don't hurt me."

"Oh well." She sighed. "Do I at least get points for trying?"

"It was a good attempt Misato. You just didn't cook the eggs enough. They were still a little raw." Shinji commented.

Misato winked. "I'll remember that for next time."

Hearing this, Asuka dropped her head onto the table and covered it with her hands. "Dear God… save me from this hell."

After getting the dishes cleaned and the remaining toxic omelets trashed, Misato took notice of the time and began walking to the door. "I guess we'd better get going. "

"What do you mean by 'we'?" Asuka said, grabbing her bag.

"Oh, I forgot to tell ya. I'm driving you both to school. I don't want you skipping just to get out of the house. I also got permission form Commander Fuyutsuki to pick you up during my lunch break."

"Don't you mean Vice Commander Fuyutsuki, Misato?" Shinji said correcting Misato.

"He got promoted to Commander after your father disappeared." Misato corrected Shinji.

"Oh."

Misato grabbed her keys and jacket and the three leave the apartment. It was a short ride to the school by car. Misato pulled up to the main entrance and let Shinji and Asuka out.

"I'll pick you two up here at noon. Not a minute later. Got it?" She yelled from the car.

"Yes." Both Shinji and Asuka replied in unison.

Misato let a smile cross her face. "See you then." And with that, she pulled away. Shinji and Asuka stood on the curb in silence. They both had hoped to have a chance to talk to their friends on the way to school, but Misato destroyed those plans.

"I really hate her." Asuka mumbled under her breath.

"What are we gonna do? She has us tied around her finger." Shinji groaned in response.

"We just have to put up with it."

"Maybe you can think that. But I have a reputation to uphold." A now angry Asuka snapped, causing Shinji to recoil as she got in his face. "You have nothing to lose Shinji." She pointed to herself. "But I do."

Shinji reversed Asuka invasion of his personal space and shoves his face so close to Asuka's that their nose were nearly touching. "Can't you put your damn pride aside for one second? You have to face the fact that we're screwed and there's NOTHING we can do about it!"

"I thought I heard you two." Called a voice out from behind the two; causing them to pull away from each other. They slowly turned around to see Hikari standing there.

"Hikari...what a surprise." Asuka said, her face turning red from embarrassment. Rushing up to Hikari, she whispered to the class rep. "How much did you hear?"

"Everything." Hikari answerd casually. "You don't need to hide anything Asuka. Misato called me yesterday and told me about the incident between you and Shinji."

"MISATO DID WHAT!" The lion in Asuka began to show its face as she nearly sprinted to NERV just to rip Misato's head off and hang it on a pole outside their apartment.

"It wasn't just me she told." Hikari continued as she pointed behind her.

Asuka glanced over Hikari's shoulder and almost falls over at the sight. Both Toji and Kensuke were laughing a few feet from where they were standing. She did not?

"M…Misato called them too." Shinji stuttered.

Toji casually walked up to Shinji… well, walks with a small limp from his prosthetic leg. "That's right Ikari." Moving quicker than greased lightning, Toji grabbed Shinji and forces him into a headlock. "I didn't think you had it in ya, Shinji."

"Who would have thought that YOU of all people were able to put the devil in her place?" Kensuke added trying not to laugh.

"Will you two behave yourselves." Hikari commanded flashing the three stooges the 'evil eye.'

Seeing Hikari's reaction, Toji quickly let Shinji out the headlock and stood back.

"Hikari…Did Misato tell anyone else?" A still nervous Asuka asks.

"Not to my knowledge."

Hearing this, Asuka lets out a much needed sigh. "That's good. The last thing I need is for this to get around school." She pauses and directs her attention to Toji and Kensuke. "You two stooges had better not spread the word around."

Not wanting to be injured any worse, Toji steps back and begins waving his hands in front of himself defensively. "We wouldn't do that." He sees that Asuka narrowed her eyes in skepticism. "I mean… Misato told us not to tell anyone. Said it would cause too much trouble."

"Did Misato tell you about the aftermath of it?" Shinji spoke with a low voice. He did not want any of the passersby's to hear what they were talking about.

Yep. Toji says folding his arms. "That really sucks. Bein' stuck in the same house as Satan's sister for a month."

Before Toji knew what happened and could defend himself, Asuka grabs him and forces him into her own headlock of doom.

"What was that, stooge?" Asuka demanded with flames flickering in her eyes.

"I said I was a jackass and I deserve to be castrated by your foot." Toji pleaded. "Please don't hurt me."

Asuka held onto to Toji for several additional seconds before releasing her grip. "You're learning." She turned and got into Toji's face. "Don't let me hear it again or I WILL castrate you with a foot of lead."

All the nearby male students cringe at Asuka's last comment.

"Will you two stop talking about mutilating the male genitalia. We are not in kindergarten." The class rep commanded vehemently. Asuka, Toji, Shinji, and Kensuke all flush at Hikari's flare-up. Asuka begins moving away from Toji while Shinji and Kensuke linger motionless.

As if she was a android, Hikari's tone reverted back to glee. "Now that that's settled, we should get to class or we'll be late." She begins walking in the direction of the school.

"I think we should do what she says." Shinji sputtered with a hint of red in his face.

Kensuke nodded slowly. "That would be the best option."

The quartet began making their way to their class, keeping a reasonable gap between themselves and Hikari. Entering the class, the group gathered around Shinji's desk and began discussing summer plans. Asuka was not all too thrilled with the subject. Why would she want to hear what fun her so called friends had planned? "So...what are you guys planning for summer?" There was a hint of sarcasm in her question.

"Not much." Hikari said sweetly in an attempt to cheer Asuka up, thought that was never an easy task. "That is, not until you and Shinji are allowed out again."

"Don't worry about us, Hikari." Shinji said with a dumb smile etched onto his face. "We'll catch up with you guys once the month is over."

Toji scoffed at the idea. "It wouldn't be the same without the whole gang. Kinda hard to make mischief with only two people."

"Toji's right for once." Kensuke agreed with a nod. "We need you to question our plans all the time. It makes doing them more fun."

This positive chit-chat was beginning to wear on Asuka's nerves. As far as she was concerned, her life was falling down the eternal toilet of fate. She swore that she would never let Misato beat her; which she had just done. "Just knock it off you two. Do whatever the hell you want until that damn bitch lets us out."

"Don't talk about Misato like that." Hikari responded sternly.

"Why not!" Asuka replied entering bitch mode. "you don't know her like I do. You've only seen her sober. She's a real ass when she gets drunk."

Shinji could see that trouble was brewing and decided to intervene. "Relax, Asuka. People have different opinions about the same people."

This enraged Asuka even more. Not only did she get humiliated by Misato, but here was the worthless piece of garbage named Shinji trying to keep her in line. Asuka was beginning to wonder why she even bothered waking up this week. "Don't give me any of that pseudo-philosophical crap."

Hikari was having the easiest time keeping her temper in check. "I know you're angry at Misato, but it was for your own good."

"What was that?" Asuka said quickly, he eyes widening like a cat's. "Who are you to judge what is good for me or not?" A though crossed Asuka's mind and her eyes narrowed to little slithers. "You're taking Misato's side."

"I'm not taking anyone's side." Hikari snapped back and poked Asuka in the chest. "You and Shinji made a mistake and you got the just sentence. You're just gonna have to live with it."

Asuka takes several steps back. Her jaw was fully slacked and she was shaking slightly. She struggled to conjure up a witty comeback, but her collection of sarcastic remarks seemed to have vanished. Instead, she walked back to her desk and laid her head down. The frustration was starting to give her a stomach ache.

Five minutes passed before the instructor walked into the classroom for the last time. Report cards were passed out and one final lecture was given explaining the importance of keeping up their studies for the next term and the looming entrance exams. Most of the students fell asleep or daydreamed. The bell to end the class finally rang and the students rushed out; everyone except Asuka and Shinji. They took their time exiting loathing them though of being trapped in that apartment for another 28 days.

Upon exiting the school, the duo instantly locked onto the blue sports car. Asuka noticed another target. Standing alongside the car leaning into the driver side window was Hikari Hiroki. Asuka's anger almost boiled over again, but she quelled it quickly and darted over to the car and patted Hikari on her back. "Hey, Hikari…"

Hikari pulled herself from the car and, surprisingly to Asuka, smiled. "What's up?"

"Look…" Asuka bowed her head humbly. "I'm sorry for lashing out at you earlier."

"Don't worry about it." Hikari replied. She took a quick glance at her wristwatch. "I have to get going. I gotta get Nozumi's lunch together." She began sprinting down the street, but turns her head and waves. "I'll talk to you in about a month."

Asuka smiles for the first time in days and waves back. "I'll be looking forward to it!"

There was a sudden honk from behind Asuka. "Can we get this show on the road?" Misato yelled out the window. "I'm on a tight schedule here."

Asuka climbed into the car mumbling several German cursed and black magic invocations under her breath. Shinji was already sitting in the front passenger seat. Misato put the car into high gear the second Asuka closed the door. "Are you really in such a rush, Misato?"

Misato stayed focused on the road before here until the squelched to a stop at an intersection. "I have one hour to get you guys home and back to work. It took about twenty-five to get to your school." The light changed color and Misato rocketed off like a top fuel dragster. In mere minutes, Misato pulled up to the main entrance of the complex and let Shinji and Asuka out. "Get upstairs fast and wave from the balcony to let me know you are up there." She paused for a moment. "GO!"

Shinji and Asuka rushed into the building and leapt up the stairs four at a time; the elevator would take too long. They arrived on the sixth floor in less than a minute and singled to Misato, who peeled off the second she caught sight of the kids.

The pair entered the apartment and got straight to their own business. Shinji occupied the kitchen while Asuka hurried to her room to change. While heating up some instant noodles, it was all Misato had bought the previous, Shinji heard a rapid thumping down the hall and the sudden clonk of one of the sliding doors being slammed shut. A series of dry heaves echoed from the before mentioned room seconds later.

"Are you okay, Asuka?" Shinji hollered down the corridor toward the bathroom.

There was another hack before Asuka could respond. "What do you think? I think Misato's food is doing this to me."

Shinji walked up to the bathroom door so neither he nor Asuka had to scream. "It's probably food poisoning." He walked to the linen closet and pulled out a medium sized towel. He cautiously opened the door and stuck the towel inside. "Wet this and use it to keep your head cool. You really should get to bed while it's still in its early stages."

Asuka nearly vomited again. Just when she thought things couldn't get any weirder, Shinji goes as acts concerned for her. The fact that Shinji cared about anyone but himself was a shocker in of itself. But still, he did have a good point. She would be more comfortable lying in her soft bed then hugging the porcelain god. Her head was a little fuzzy when she tried to stand and one movement prompted another gag. Her second attempt proved more successful, mostly because Shinji had procured an empty wastebasket and held it in front of Asuka while she walked. Upon reaching the room, Shinji helped Asuka lie down and placed the bucket by her head, just in case.

It was still early in the day, but Shinji could not help but feel a little drowsy himself. He didn't sleep well the night before. Damn stress he thought while he ate his bowl of ramen. With a yawn, he dropped his bowl into the sink and wandered over to this room. "I guess a quick nap wouldn't hurt." He plopped himself onto his bed and closed his eyes…

Shinji opened his eyes and saw an endless expanse of darkness. "What the hell?" Disoriented and blind, Shinji managed to stand and stumble several yards before crashing into a solid object. "Damn. Where the hell am I? This does not feel like Misato's apartment." Shinji placed his hand on the wall and followed it for several minutes until he reached an intersecting wall. "This can't be real. It has to be a dream."

"You are correct."

The voice was low, but clearly feminine; and it scared Shinji to death.

"Who's there?" Shinji yelled with all his might.

"You were the one who halted the Instrumentality Project."

"Who are you?"

"We are one in the same." The voice spoke in a monotonous tone that would make Ben Stein sound like Martin Luther King.

Regardless, Shinji's head was beginning to throb. "What are you talking about? Why are you in my dreams?"

"You are not dreaming?"

My god… my god. Shinji's headache could not be described as a migraine; it was far worse. All he wanted to do was get a little rest to clear his mind of all the events over the last eighteen hours. But the Divine was not going to have any of that. "Look, I don't know who you are or what's going on, but if this is not a dream, then what is it?" Shinji paused for a reply. There was none. This was starting to piss Shinji off more then it was confusing him. "Hello! Are you there? You haven't answered my question!"

"I do not know how to explain the current situation."

"How can you say that since you brought me here?

"You came here on your own."

Shinji roared in frustration. "How could I have come here myself when I don't even know where I am?"

Silence befell the space again. Shinji had had it by this point. He was talking to some disembodied voice which was speaking in ambiguity. "I give up!" Shinji exclaimed turning around in the direction away from the wall. There he saw an ominous monument in the distance, just visible in some wayward beams of light. Shinji began walking toward the monolith, only to regret it. Before him was a vast sea of some orange liquid and in the distance was monstrous red cross. He saw this place only once in his real life and it was still fresh in his mind. "L…Lilith's cross. That means this must be…"

"Terminal Dogma."

Shinji spun around to face the voice that just spoke into his ear. He expected to see the vast darkness, but instead, he met the crimson eyes of another human. Her pale skin, blue hair, and distant gaze; Shinji instantly knew who was before him, but he was at a loss of what to say. Instead, they stared at each other.

"I… is that really you, Rei?" Shinji squeaked.

Rei offered no reply.

"What happened to you? Why didn't you come back after Third Impact?"

Rei remained silent.

"Why won't you answer my questions?" Shinji probed sternly. Rei was never one to mince words, but Shinji felt like she was blatantly ignoring him.

Rei didn't speak for a few seconds, but her low, monotonous voice finally produced four little words. "I am sorry, Shinji."

Rei was always one to send Shinji's head for a loop and leave him with a headache. "What are you sorry for?"

"I do not know."

Smoke poured from Shinji's ears as the gears in his head ground to a halt. Just when things he thought things could not get any weirder, reality turns around and slaps him in the face for being optimistic. "Well…" he struggled to conjure up an appropriate response. "I guess I forgive you."

Rei's face remained stoic. "Thank you." Still no expression of joy or relief.

"So… can you please tell me what all this is?" Shinji inquired in an attempt to get some answers.

"This is Terminal Dogma."

"I know that. But what is all this about me not being in a dream."

"This is your sub-conscience; it is the part of the brain where all your memories are locked away." Rei spoke like a university professor who was giving a lecture on the workings of the human brain.

Shinji was even more confused by Rei's last statement. "I thought you could only access that part of your brain while you were asleep?"

"That is true a majority of the time. But when you are in a semi-conscience state, you can dive deeper into it and learn of things you never knew you knew."

"So I'm seeing you because you are a memory?" Shinji scratched his head in annoyance.

Rei shook her head negatively. "I am as real are you are, Ikari."

Shinji released an aggravated groan and sat down on the ground and tried to rationalize the situation. She's just pulling my leg. Its been a stressful couple of days and this is my brain trying to cheer me up. Shinji scoffed at that thought. My brain has never tried to amuse me in the past. Why should it start now?

Rei could see the discomfort etched on Shinji's face, but she had something very important that she needed to share. "I know you are struggling to comprehend all that I have said, but I come bearing more vital information."

The Anger and frustration warping Shinji's thoughts faded into restlessness and apprehension upon hearing Rei's statement. "What… do you mean by that?"

Rei's facial expression creaked from a blank stare to a serious glare. "Before the year's end, a terrible tragedy will befall you."

Shinji's face lost all color and his stomach felt loaded with bricks. "What is going to happen to me?"

"I am afraid I do not know that. It was a prophecy that Adam foresaw."

Adam? Shinji did not know who Rei was referring to. The only Adam he had heard of was the man God created in his image in the Book of Genesis. Shinji decided it would be best not to worry about that at this moment; he had to think about what horrible event could befall him. But that in itself was too broad a subject to mull over. It could either be a physical attack on his body, or maybe a psychological attack like the Fifteenth Angel's on Asuka. It could even be something to someone close to him. Whatever it was, it would probably be terrible, given past experiences.

Shinji walked past Rei and sat on the ledge that circled the Sea of LCL. "I have one question for you, Rei." He cocked his head back. "Why are you here in my mind? When I stopped Third Impact, I would've thought you would return to your body as well."

"Following the deaths of Lilith and Adam, my soul had no empty vessel to return to. Therefore, Rei no longer has a human entity." Rei walked up to Shinji but did not sit down. "I am the same as you, so I felt it would be best to reside in the confines of your innermost thoughts."

Shinji looked up like a curious puppy. "What do you mean we are the same?"

"No one ever told you of my origin?" Shinji shook his head. "I was born from the same biological and genetic makeup as you, Shinji. My original body was comprised of cells taken from your father, Lilith, and most importantly, you mother, Yui Ikari. Rei stooped down and gazed blankly over the red sea. "Commander Ikari wanted a being around that would represent his late wife. That is why I came to be." She diverted her crimson eyes to Shinji. "You have never noted the resemblance between your mother and me?"

Shinji blushed for some reason he could not explain. "Um… I cannot say I have. I do not remember my mother all that well and my father destroyed all photographs of her."

"I see. He was afraid you or someone else would see the resemblance and begin to question him."

"But what was all that for? Why did he go through all that trouble just to make a clone of my mother?"

"The commander's ultimate goal was to begin Third Impact and combine all humanity into one entity, allowing him to be reunited with Yui again. That is where you come in."

Shinji swallowed nervously. "Me?"

"Commander Ikari chose you to pilot Unit-01 not because you were the only one who had the ability to, but because Unit-01's pilot would be used as the medium during Third Impact" Rei finally sat down and pulled her legs up against her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "He purposely abandoned you in order to make you hate the world and, most of all, hate yourself so that when the time came you would want to live in a perfect world."

"So he did use me…" Shinji never thought he could feel any more hostility toward his father, but this new revelation stuck a nerve that his father had somehow avoided; and it made Shinji sick."

Rei glanced at Shinji and, for the first time, felt pity. "I am sorry you had to learn of this in such a fashion."

"Don't worry about it, Rei. I'm actually somewhat happy to know this now. Besides my father, were you the only who know about his agenda?"

"Yes. The Commander even hid this from SEELE."

Several moments pass while Shinji struggled to process the vast information he had accumulated today. What happened in the past with Third Impact was no longer a concern to Shinji. What mattered more to him at this time was Rei. He could not help but feel sorrow for what she had endured throughout her life. These new revelations did raise a new light on how he saw Rei as a person. "So my father created you from my mother. If we look at in that sense, one could say that you and I are related."

"I believe that is a proper assumption. I believe I am what you call a sister."

Shinji chortled softly. "I never thought I would hear that from you." He let out a loud sigh. "So that is why you came into my body."

"Correct."

Shinji turned his head so he and Rei met eyes and flashed a loving smile. Rei recoiled at the gesture, having never been shown any affection beyond that of coworkers and friends. She could feel her heart begin to beat at a more frantic rate and her face began to feel warm. In seconds she was wrapped in a firm embrace from Shinji.

"Thank you Rei." Tears rolled down Shinji's cheeks. "Thank you for telling me all of this. I'm just sorry that you didn't have a chance to live your own life. You missed out on so much."

Rei was dumbfounded. She felt like she needed to respond in some way, but she was unsure of what action to take. Is this what it means to be loved? Rei pondered that though while Shinji held her. If this was love, she began to regret missing out on it. It was an emotion that roused her senses in ways that piloting the Evangelions could never have.

"Are you okay? Are you upset?" It was all she could say.

Shinji broke the embrace, but kept his hands on Rei's shoulders. "A little. But I'm mostly happy. I'm happy that I actually have someone I can turn to in times of need."

"I am glad you see me as a person who can assist you in that way." She managed a faint smile. "But I believe you should begin trusting people you have on the outside."

"I can't talk to Misato, let alone Asuka, like this." He let his hands fall from Rei and turned away. "They wouldn't understand."

"I think they will. Just give them a try…"

Shinji turned to argue, but the world went black and he soon found himself staring at the ceiling lamp in his room. The sun was beginning to set and his room glowed a dark shade of orange. He sat up in his bed. "I cannot believe that just happened." He got out of bed and inched his door open. Asuka was in the front room lying on a pillow on the floor watching TV. "If Rei wants me to talk to the people out here, I'm forced to talk to Asuka." Chills ran up Shinji's spine at the thought. But who else could he converse with? As long as they are subject to Misato's punishment, only Asuka would be around. I guess I have no choice. At least I start with the most difficult person. Everyone else will be a breeze after Asuka.

To Be Continued

Neon
Genesis
EVANGELION
Chapter: 4
Simulation

(A/N) Damn this was hard to write. Initially, I wanted Rei to emerge as a human, but after looking over a few post 3I stories, that scenario seemed to be used quite often so I wanted mine to be unique. I just hope it didn't confuse you TO MUCH. Hell, it was confusing to write.

I apologize for the LONG gap. Old readers should be able to see the changes I made in this chapter. I expect all my updates to be spaced by a few months. I hope you can all stand the wait. I want this story to be the best it can possibly be, even better than the original. That said. The next chapter was originally part of two, but I'm going to combine them for more structure. So I can say expect it up by the New Year. Christmas break will be my best chance to get some work done. See you then and remember...

Read and Review.