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The Angel Hails - Chapter 3:
Stigmata
"A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other."
― Charles Dickens.
Shouts from the deep, a hundred elders in black clothing.
A lone and naked eurasian man walked towards the center of the cave, the prison of the Antichrist.
The shouts grow higher as fast as they are silenced.
"The heirloom of Adam." The priest said. "The heirloom of Eve." The crowd of a hundred elders invoked in a chant.
In front of the Beast, there was a altar who carried a piece of clothing.
"The armor of Adam." The chant gets higher. "The skin of Adam."
The tall and strong lonely man dressed in the blue skin of Adam and his white breastplace.
He looked on the white flesh of the Beast and upon it's purple armor, then locked his gaze with it's crimsom eyes.
The priest baptised the man with the Beast's blood and said: "The indomitable free-will of mankind shall lead us free."
"Free."
Feeling his head being crushed, he cleaned the sweat from his forehead and neck with his shirt. He would have sat on his bed if not for the burning feeling on his chest. With his cheeks warming, he caressed the mass of purple hair.
"If you need a shoulder, know that I am here." She tilted her head up, resting her chin on the man's chest, as she locked her gaze with his eyes.
He nodded slightly. "For how long I slept?"
"A couple of hours... Shinji, are you okay?"
"The headache is pretty bad, but I am okay, Miss Misato."
He was answered with a sad smile. "Just Misato." She got up and stretched out, wearing her NERV jacket. "I will talk to the nurse and Rits, your clothes were cleaned up by the staff." She grabbed the sack with the clothes and gave to Shinji. "I will be right back."
Shinji got up and undressed the hospital gown, putting in a similar bag to the one that had his clothes. He left the blazer aside, wore the pants and the shirt, folding the sleeves and leaving the last button open.
He walked to the window, staring at the sky of the Geofront. While the Geofront itself already was a incredible feature of nature, the way it had been adapted to the human being was extraordinaire. Such was the work that Shinji found himself being bathed by natural sunlight in the subterranean, only because of the reflective mirrors built on the place.
As stained in blood as NERV is, it is refreshing to see that even them can create such a beauty. Not that made them any better, but it is hopeful to see that there is a hint of good in such a organization.
When Ritsuko entered the room, she slightly dropped her jaw when she was received by a smiling young man.
"Doctor Akagi, how are you?"
She chuckled. "You're the one who fought yesterday, Mister Ikari. Misato told me that you're fine, except for a headache."
Shinji nodded. "Why the headache? Some effect from the LCL?"
"No, what you are feeling is a phantom pain, sympathetic to what Eva 01 suffered in battle. You must take care when piloting the Eva, while your synch rate was high enough to give you the headache, going above 100% would mean real wounds. The condition was named Stigmata."
"Stigmata..." He chuckled. "Does that make the Eva a god?"
Is he aware of the true extent of the S2 engine? Does he know what it does to the Evangelion? Did he ate it on purpose? How much he knows? The façade of a mix of stoic and gentle suddenly felt way heavier. "People are supersticious, Mister Ikari, and after what you did to the Angel..." She forced a smile. "...They have a good reason to think so."
He saw the faux-blonde walk to the exit of the room. "Doctor Akagi, how is the First Children?"
Ritsuko supressed a frown. "The subject is awake and recovering from the wounds. If you don't mind, I need to go."
Shinji nodded.
After a few moments, the two of them walked the corridors of the NERV Hospital. Shinji gave some quick glances at Misato, surprised that after he gave her good teasing material she would be-
"Uhum."
Shinji looked at Misato, who bore a malicious grin. "... What?"
"You shouldn't make it too obvious, you know."
"I don't think I know what-"
"You keep asking about Rei, Jeez, you didn't even meet her and already anxious to put the moves?" She was answered by a roll of eyes. "Don't worry, I know I am the only one in your heart." She said mimicking a teenage girl with a crush, earning a small laugh.
"Lame." He raised his upper lip with his thumb. "Do you know if I can visit her?"
They stopped in front of a elevator. "I will find a way."
The door opened, the two man staring at eachother.
He looked at Misato. "Just a moment." He put his hand on the elevator so the door wouldn't close and got near the Commander.
Misato tried her best to hear the whispers that made Gendo Ikari lost his posture for a fraction of a second.
"We shall discuss this later." Shinji nodded and allowed the door to close.
"We get the next one."
The roof of the Geofront blocked the Sun, the subterranean fortress having it's light from the mirror constructions built by orders and to NERV, in that way it accompanied the day/night cycle from above.
That was the light of the Geofront. A reflection from mirrors. A equal, yet of opposite angle, following the same pattern.
A knock at the door.
"Can I come in?"
The Commander? No, he had visited her earlier.
"Yes." And didn't ask her permission to enter.
It was a man around her age. He had calm and precise movements as he stood by the door. By the physical resemblance... "Pilot Ikari."
"Miss Ayanami, how are you feeling?"
Another question. She had been notified about the interation of Pilot Ikari and the Commander and the victory of Eva 01 over the Third Angel. It wasn't the first time Pilot Ikari had shown concern about her physical well-being, as it had been a reason of his to pilot the Evangelion.
"My physical recovery is going well, Doctor Akagi speculates that I will be able to return to my duties in few weeks."
He wrapped his arms around himself. "It's good to hear, Miss Ayanami." For the first time, he broke gaze, looking at the room's floor. "Today... Yesterday, I was given the choice to pilot the Evangelion. If I didn't choose to pilot it, him..." For a moment, he bit his lips and closed his eyes. "...Father would have sent you."
Rei's eyebrows lowered for a milimeter. "It is my duty to pilot the Evangelion."
"Would have piloted? If I failed to do so."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I do not understand your question, Pilot Ikari."
"Why do you pilot the Evangelion?"
"It is my duty."
His arms unwrapped his body and crossed in front of his chest. "Re- Ayanami, just... Take care, ok?"
"All the providences for the pilots's safety have been done."
"I don't mean..."
"Don't you have faith in your own father's work?"
"It is not about that!" He quickly bowed. "I am sorry, Ayanami... I thought that I would do the same, pilot just for duty's sake, pilot just for another man's plans, but there is more than that." His hands were lightly shaking, but he looked at her and smiled. "Ayanami, allow me to pilot to protect you."
Rei blinked. "I am replaceable."
"It doesn't matter." His smile grew. "I must be going, until later, Ayanami."
She nodded as he left the room.
Aside from the one man that the Commander called Keel, no one else but Pilot Ikari had intimidate him. Yet, he had given signs of anxiety throughout the conversation with her.
Thoughts invaded her mind as she tried to bury a single question: why does he care?
With her uninjured arm, she touched her cheeks. Warm.
"They're not living together?"
"No, both of them spoke so. I think it is natural for the two of them to be apart."
Misato gave a frown as she talked with Doctor Akagi in the phone. Shinji wouldn't care about the conversation wasn't for the need to distract himself.
Why she leaves me so nervous? The more obvious answer came to mind, but he had been able to keep... relative calmness in Eva-01.
"I don't like it, Rits, he is, what, Rei's age? Never been to school, now he is going to live alone? I don't think it is right."
"I am not a fan of it either, but I can't think of anything to do for him, Misato."
And why did I say such things? Uncle Kaworu only spoke of her once, why did him, Shinji Ikari, care so much about Rei Ayanami?
"You know, Section 2's job would be way easier by having NERV's staff close..."
"But that would also be easier for any murder attempts, again I-"
"...And it is good if coworkers have a good relationship."
"What are you trying to say?" Said Ritsuko, thought Shinji.
"Well, I will have him under my care."
"What did you say?!"
"Like I said, I'll take care of Shinji. I will get the permission from the brass... And don't worry, It's not like I'm going to put the moves on him."
"Of course you are not! What the hell are you thinking? You're always like that. Honestly!"
"She could never take a joke."
"How does Shinji's plan interfere with yours?"
No answer.
"It wasn't easy to explain to the old men why your son knows so much."
"It has a clear answer, Professor." Gendo put his hands on the table. "His betrayal sparked this inconvenience."
"I wouldn't call what your son wants a mere inconvenience, Ikari. The life of a member of the Committee is valuable."
"In that, Professor, I agree with the Third Children." He got back into his common posture. "Only the life of a single SEELE member has value."
Kozo frowned. "Keel."
"The Third has no use in betraying us for now... And him in SEELE would be of much help in the plan."
"And who will get his hands dirty?"
Blow past a little after the two weeks promise, heh? :P
A short chapter with mostly the task of estabilish some of the relationships.
Please leave your reviews, your criticism and suggestions are much appreciated.
