Chapter 11: A Fallen Angel

Disclaimer: I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion. It belongs to Hideaki Anno, Gainax, and Tatsunoko Productions. I only own the characters I made up.

Everything's sore. The doctor's been needle happy ever since I agreed to be her guinea pig. Everyday, she would take so much blood out of me that at one point, I was afraid I'd die from blood loss. Obviously, that didn't happen. Still, I felt like shit due to the lack of blood.

There were other tests Ritsuko would put me through. She would stick me in machines which scanned my body for whatever the doctor was looking for (the whole process literally took hours). I would perform physical activities while the doc scanned my vitals, specifically my brain. The most laid back test overall were the harmonics tests, though they were slightly different. In a regular harmonics test, I would just sit in Unit-01 for an hour trying to stay connected with it while scientists monitor the activity. This time around, it was only Ritsuko and her assistant, Maya, monitoring my progress. The harmonics would also take up to three hours! Three hours of doing absolutely nothing but sitting in one spot! Ritsuko later explained why she increased the amount of time I stayed in Unit-01. She wants to know why I can pilot an Eva.

You see, according to Ritsuko, it should be impossible (or at least it should be incredibly difficult) for me to pilot an Eva. The U.N. constantly monitors any child with even a small chance of becoming a pilot. The doc didn't get into the details, but from what I gathered, only children can pilot Evangelions; even then, it's only children with a "unique" connection to the machines that are capable of getting them to move. Because of this, the amount of potential pilots in the world is painfully small. Yet here I come, a literal alien, able to pilot Unit-01 with only a few weeks of training. That. Shouldn't. Happen. So it makes sense that Ritsuko would want to find the "why" in my situation.

I understand her obsession on that point, still, doesn't mean I have to like it. Especially because anything related to Unit-01 doesn't help me in the slightest when it comes to returning home.

Right now, I'm in Ritsuko's office, waiting for her report. She better come up with something this time. It's been literally weeks since I agreed to be her test dummy. She must have enough data to come up with an answer. Right?

I hear the door behind me open, so I turn to see Ritsuko. Her hair's a bit. . .disheveled, and her glasses are crooked. She immediately straightens herself out, an attempt to look somewhat presentable. She takes a seat at the desk in front of me as I anxiously wait for her answer.

"Well?" I ask.

"Well, you were somewhat correct," she tells me, a slight grin on her face. "We detected slight traces of. . . 'radiation' coming from your body. When excavating the area where you were first found, that exact same kind of energy was discovered."

"So it's possible to do something akin to a 'reverse image search' using that energy?" I ask with restrained enthusiasm.

"Interesting analogy," points out the doctor. "Yes, it's possible to find where your universe is using our machines to scan for that same energy found in your body." She holds up her hand to stop whatever response I was gonna give. "But, getting there is another task entirely."

I nod, understanding what she means.

She leans forward, like she was preparing to for a long explanation. "Tell me Michael, what do you know of multiverse theory?"

I put a hand to my chin, attempting to recall anything I learned on the subject. "Depends on which theory you're talking about." The doctor gestures for me to continue. "Well, there are two theories I know about. The first one is the most famous, as it's constantly used in all shorts of media. It's known as the Many-Worlds Interpretation. It argues that in quantum mechanics, objects can exist in multiple places at the same time. But these same objects can appear in different states depending on a number of factors, or in short, probability. So jumping from that point, it makes sense that the universe itself acts similar to objects in the quantum realm. That our universe is only one of many universes which all exist simultaneously, but each are slightly different. For example, in this universe you're female. But, since it only takes one chromosome to determine one's sex, there's chance you would have been born male. So in another universe, you exist as a man."

I take a short break to prepare myself for another long winded explanation. "The other theory is known as the Bubble Universe theory. It states that since the universe is constantly expanding, it's possible that the expansion could create 'pockets' or 'bubbles' in space-time. Inside each of these 'bubbles' exists a region of space which can be interpreted as a 'separate' universe. Because of how these 'bubbles' were formed, the laws physics could differ from one 'bubble' to another. So technically, it isn't really a multiverse, more like an apartment complex. The universe as a whole, being the apartment, and the 'bubbles' being the rooms inside.

Ritsuko nods. "That's very good. I didn't know you studied such concepts."

I shrug slightly. "Didn't have cable for most of my life, so I was limited on what I could watch. Found a science channel and memorized most of the facts."

That seems to get a chuckle out of her. "I see. Anyway, based on the information available, I hypothesize that you and I exist within a Bubble Universe."

"What makes you say that?"

"First, it's the simplest answer," she explains. "If we assume you were pulled from a wormhole, then it means you were simply transported here from a different part of the universe. Mathematically, that's more likely to happen then if were you pulled from an entirely different universe. Plus, the amount of energy to travel from one point of the universe to another is relatively smaller than traveling to a separate existing universe. Understand?"

I nod. "Yeah. Being from a completely different universe complicated things, so you have to hope the Bubble Universe theory is sound."

She gives an impressed nod. "Jumping off from that point, I can also say that we live in a Bubble Universe by comparing physics. Michael, are you aware you don't have an A.T. Field?"

I raise an eyebrow, slightly confused at what she just said. "Umm. . .yeah. Why is that odd? Don't only Angels have A.T. Fields?"

She shakes her head. "No. Not a lot of people know this, but every living thing on Earth has an A.T. Field. It is the Angels who are the only creatures able to manipulate their own field due to their S2 organ. You see, an A.T. Field is what allows plants and animals to retain their form. Without it, there is no life."

That's when a large smile plasters her face. "But you don't seem to have that problem. Here you are, a living creature without an A.T. Field to keep it stabilized. You shouldn't be possible according to our laws of physics, so you must come from a place where the physics are different. Where life evolved without the need for an A.T. Field. Since I know the physics are different where you're from, then I can knock out another theory, that the universe is just eternal expansion and nothing else. And another thing-"

Ritsuko just kinda drones on for a few minutes. I tune her out for risk of my brain exploding. But she made her point. We are living in a Bubble Universe, and since we know that, we are better prepared for creating a passageway.

"So, basically you're saying you're confident you can find a way for me to get home?"

She finally snaps out of her excited rambling and begins to focus. "Yes. It will be difficult, but we'll be able to find your corner of the universe. The problem comes from actually getting there. But based on the data available, that should no longer be a problem."

Good. Though. . .I got another question.

"One more thing. Is it possible to say that a fictional world could exist within a Bubble Universe, like a book or a tv show."

God that sounds stupid when I say it out loud.

Ritsuko's eyes widen slightly, obviously not expecting me to ask something so. . . ridiculous. "I suppose it's possible. If the universe really is never-ending, then there's a chance you might find a world resembling that of something found in fiction. Why do you ask?"

Already came up with an answer for that. "I don't know. Guess I thought it would be nice to be transported into one of my favorite animes or something equally stupid."

Ritsuko's wearing an amused expression at my childish answer. Honestly, being transported to a place like Pokemon wouldn't be half bad.

"I see," the doctor gets out of her chair. "Well, that's all the information I have for you today. I can gather more data tomorrow if you're free then. Other than that, we're done for today."

I nod then get out of my chair. "Okay. Till next time."

I exit Ritsuko's office and make my way out of the Geofront. Looking at my phone, I see it's two in the afternoon. Testing ended earlier than usual, but I'm not complaining. Still, I wish Ritsuko gave me some concrete answers. The best I got was that we might be able to get me home, assuming the Bubble Universe theory is correct. The only thing concrete I got was the radiation Ritsuko found inside of me.

Though, I guess it's nice I got some kind of answer. The Bubble Universe theory kinda explains why I'm in a world that shouldn't exist. But, something's still bothering me. If this world's physics are really different from my world's, even if it's by a little, I think should've experienced some negative side effects. Ritsuko says life here physically can't exist without an A.T. Field, so me existing here should cause some kind of problem. Yet, I feel fine. Why is that?

I continue to be trapped in my thoughts as I make my way to a train station. I feel tired as I enter one of the trains, which comes as no surprise. After all the tests I was put through, I'd be amazed if I wasn't tired. Seeing as no one's on the train, I decide to get a bit of shut eye.

Hope Ritsuko comes up with something more concrete.

I wake up to the sounds of two familiar voices entering the train. Scanning the area, I spot Toji and Kensuke standing in the train aisle, soaking wet. They eventually spot me and come over to where I'm sitting.

"Hey Michael!" greets Toji. "You got stuck in the rain too?"

I raise an eyebrow. "It's raining?" I take a look out the window and see storm clouds in the sky, showering the whole city with water. "Huh. Guess it is."

"You didn't notice?" he asks.

I shake my head. Typically rain puts me to sleep. I guess the sound it makes causes me to feel relaxed.

"I'm guessing you got caught up in the storm." I say.

Kensuke nods. "Yeah. The storm just snuck up on us when we got out of school. We had to hide in the nearest train station."

"When the storm didn't let up, we decided to hop on a train," Toji adds. He groans as he takes a seat next to me. His head's leaning back as he puts his hand on his face. "This sucks! No trains stop anywhere near where I live, so I'm gonna have to walk home!"

"Yeah, same here." Kensuke adds.

They're both being ridiculous, and I let them know it. A little rain isn't gonna kill anybody. Before they can respond to my comment I told them they can stay at Misato's place until the rain settles down. After all, it's just a short walk from the next train stop. Toji and Kensuke seem wary of going to Misato's place for some reason, but they eventually decide to take my offer.

Minutes pass and we begin talking about our day. Toji asks me where I've been, he and Kensuke rarely sees me at school. You see, when I agreed to go through with Ritsuko's tests, I had to skip school on some days. So I rarely had time to hang out with Toji and Kensuke. I explain to Toji I was busy doing "Nerv stuff" and that was enough to satisfy his curiosity. But Kensuke, hearing my response, was constantly digging for information on what I was doing at Nerv. I was able to masterfully deflect most of his questions without revealing why I was really at Nerv. I'm not sure if it'll be a good idea to let either of my friends know I'm practically an alien.

After the train arrived at our stop, we got off and ran to Misato's apartment. It's raining pretty hard, so we're all soaked to the bone by the time we reached the apartment. When we enter the place, all of us are out of breath. I start laughing at how displeased both of my friends seem to be after having to run through the rain. After I was done laughing at their expense, I went to fetch some towels to dry ourselves off.

"Glad you find this funny," mutters Toji as he takes a towel.

I throw a towel at Kensuke so he can try himself off. I then shrug at Toji while wearing a smile. "It's not my fault your reactions are funny."

I notice Kensuke wandering around the apartment. "Hey Michael, is Misato home?"

"Probably," I respond. "Probably in her room sleeping."

Most likely nursing a hangover.

"We'll then, we should be quieter," Kensuke says in practically a whisper. "She probably had a rough day."

I deadpan. "Seriously?"

"She's a hardworking woman. She deserves some peace and quiet."

"When did you become so chivalrous?"

I hear a door slide open. Looking for the door making the noise, I spot Asuka peeking out of her room. I can tell she's still wearing her school uniform, but it's slightly loose, suggesting she's changing. My eyes don't dwell too long on those details for I notice her expression. She's pissed.

"What are these two creeps doing here?!" she asks, loudly.

"Shhhhh! ! !" Kensuke and Toji say simultaneously.

"Don't 'Shhh' me!" she points to Toji and Kensuke. She then looks at me. "Answer the question!"

I roll my eyes. "They couldn't make it home in the rain, so I invited them here to take shelter."

"Yeah right," she response, obviously not buying the truth. "Well I'm changing in here, so no peeking or else you're all dead!"

She slams the door. Toji makes a comment about Asuka being a snake, to which I said was too nice a comparison. Kensuke throws his two cents in by pointing out the obvious, that the redhead's full of herself. They continue their rant, not noticing Misato's door opening. When the door fully opens, the sound of it stops their rant dead in the tracks.

"M-Misato!" says Kensuke timidly, as if it were the first time he met Misato. "Did we wake you?"

The woman's fully dressed, so it doesn't seem likely. She confirms my suspicions by shaking her head.

"No, I was already awake. Just was preparing a few things." She takes a look at me and raises an eyebrow. "Where were you this morning?"

"I was at Nerv, like I practically am every other day," I respond.

She sighs. "You need to tell me where you are at all times. I worry you know."

"Okay MOOOM," I respond sarcastically. She pauses for a moment before rolling her eyes.

"You're such an ass," she says much to my amusement. "Just a reminder, you have a harmonics test this evening." She then raises her voice slightly. "Hey Asuka, you hear me?"

"Loud and clear," the girl responds while still in her room.

"Actually," I point out. "I already did a harmonics test today."

Misato nods. "Makes sense. Guess it'll just be me and Asuka at Nerv today." She opens the front door. "See you later."

Before she can leave, Kensuke stiffened, like he just remembered something important. "Oh! And congratulations on your promotion!"

Misato gives Kensuke surprised expression. She lets out a small smile. "Thank you for noticing." The door closes.

I give Kensuke a questioning look. "Promotion? What promotion?"

The brunette looks at me as if I'd suddenly grown horns. "Don't tell me you didn't notice! She's just been promoted to Major!"

I raise an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

"Her badge changed," Kensuke responds as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "It's got two stripes, meaning she's now a Major."

"Interesting."

"Honestly, how can you not notice?!" Kensuke scolds me.

"Yeah," Toji chimes in. "She works hard for both you and Asuka yet she doesn't get one bit of appreciation."

"Oh come off it," I tell Toji while rolling my eyes. "Don't pretend you noticed Misato was promoted."

Asuka exits her room, wearing casual clothing. "What you are three idiots talking about?"

We all turn to the redhead. Each of us with varying reactions to her presence.

"None of your business," I tell Asuka, getting the desired reaction.

"Hmph! Whatever!" She walks to the front door. "Stay out of my room. If I found out you perverts went in there, you're all dead!" She slams the door.

Damn drama queen.

"So, y'all want to go to arcade?" I ask Toji and Kensuke.

"How can you think of going to an arcade at a time like this!" Kensuke practically yells at me.

"So. . .that's a no?"

"We need to do something to celebrate Misato's promotion!"

I raise an eyebrow at the brunette. "Kay. . .what do you suggest?"

Kensuke adjusts his glasses as a big grin covers his face. "We plan a surprise party. With cake, drinks, the whole package."

"That's a great idea!" says Toji, immediately on board with Kensuke's plan.

I let out a sigh. "Seriously?"

Toji and Kensuke nod while a serious look paints their face. I decide to give in and agree to the party idea. I have nothing better to do anyway.

"Whatever. I'll make the cake," I inform them.

Toji raises his eyebrow. "You know how to bake a cake?"

"Not really," I respond while walking to the kitchen. I then pull out my phone and head to the internet. "But I can look it up."

Eventually getting the oven ready, I gather the materials needed to bake a cake. I instruct Kensuke and Toji to go to a store to gather some party supplies. Things like plastic cups, plastic silverware, and other party essentials. When they return later with the materials, we got to work setting up the decorations. They're all crudely done, but its to be expected. This is all in the spur of the moment.

Still not enthusiastic about this party. But, it'll be interesting to see Misato's reaction.

When the cake's done baking, I put some frosting on it and add some last minute decoration. The cake's "decoration" just consisted of the words "Congratulations on the Promotion" written in kanji. Kensuke said I spelled "congratulations" wrong, which I responded with "well then, you should have told me before I stopped caring". Moments later, the front door begins to open.

"Get into positions!" Kensuke says barely above a whisper.

Me and Toji do as he says and head to the living room. I grab the cake and put it on the dinner table on the way there. All of us stand underneath a banner with "congratulations" written on it. We all have noisemakers in our hands, waiting for the perfect moment to use them.

I hear Misato and Asuka having a conversation as they enter the hallway which leads to the living room. Though, I can't hear what they're saying. As soon as they enter the living room, Toji and Kensuke yells "surprise" while using the noisemakers. Misato's shocked, not expecting this at all. Asuka looks dumbfounded as well.

The newly promoted Major shakes off her shock and smiles. "What's this all about?"

"Well. . .We wanted to congratulate you on your promotion," starts Toji. "So we decided to throw you a party."

"Aww, thank you," she responds. She then spots the cake. You can practically see her mouth watering. "Did you buy that?"

"Actually, Michael made it," Kensuke answers.

Dammit, man! I thought we were friends!

Misato gives me a devious look. "Let's add that to the list of things you need to make me everyday."

I groan as I glare at her. "That ain't happening anytime soon."

The smile on Misato's face says "Oh? Wanna bet?"

Dammit.

Asuka decides it would be a good idea to invite Hikari over. Toji was dreading this due to Hikari being. . .well, Hikari. Since the redhead was inviting the class rep over, I asked her to also invite Rei. Why I asked her to invite Rei is beyond me. Guess in the end it didn't matter, Asuka told me Rei immediately declined the invitation. Should have expected that. Though, her being here would have made this party bearable.

The party officially begins when Hikari arrives. This "party" just consisted of us eating food and talking. The talks usually involved Asuka or Hikari pushing one of Toji's buttons and Kensuke attempting to hold his friend back. For Misato, it was an excuse for her to start drinking and not have anyone say anything about it. I hold back a groan when I realize I'm gonna have to clean up the mess a drunk Misato can make.

As the party continues, everyone begins to talk about mundane things. They take about school or homework, with Misato occasionally making an inappropriate joke. Even though I know everybody here, I literally can't think of anything to say to them. I'm not much of a talker, especially when I don't know exactly what to talk about. It's one of the main reason I don't enjoy parties. I just feel like an outsider looking in. The situation would be slightly more bearable if everyone was more quiet. But, then the party would be boring. I let out a sigh as I eat a piece of my cake.

"You're pretty quiet," Misato whispers to me.

I glance at her then chuckle. "Yeah? How is that odd for me?"

"Well your friends are busy having fun while you seem to be keeping to yourself," she points out.

I grunt. "Just not use to parties. Never know what to say."

Misato laughs which gets me to look at her inquisitively. "What's so funny?"

Misato pulls herself together while drinking her beer. "Nothing. You're just so cute when you worry."

I scoff at her comment. "Shut up."

"So, why were you really at Nerv," asks Misato which causes me to pause. "I know you weren't there just for a harmonics test."

I think for a moment. Scanning the room, I see Asuka and the others not paying attention, so I guess it's okay to talk about. "I was trying to find a way home."

Misato gives an unreadable expression at first, then it switches to worry. I hate that look. "Oh. Any luck?"

I let out a sigh. "Not really. Just found some radiation which might help. Until Ritsuko comes up with something else, I'm stuck here."

Misato remains quiet for a good minute. I go back to eating some food, believing the conversation is over. She speaks up again, this time in an even softer tone.

"Michael. . . are you happy here?"

I almost choke on my food. Her question caught me completely off guard. I take a moment to think and. . .well, I'm not exactly miserable. I'm hesitate to use the word "happy", but. . . I guess the word "comfortable" works. Yeah. I feel comfortable in this world. A bit too comfortable.

. . .

Is it wrong to feel like this? I mean, I belong home not here! I don't care how comfortable I feel here, I need to go back to see if Shane's alright. Wait. . .I've been here for a while. Oh shit! He must be worried sick. He probably thinks I'm dead! Shit! How did I let time fly by so-

My inner rant stops at the sight of Misato. She's waiting for my answer. She's hoping. . .no, begging I'd say that I'm happy here. But, I can't say that! Not with what's on my mind.

I shrug and say "I guess so," while giving my best false smile. Odd. First time I've done that in a while. Feels like a lifetime since I felt the need to do that. Anyway, my words and my actions seem to calm her nerves. Don't think I'd ever forgive myself if I made her feel like shit again.

Misato suddenly tenses up as soon as Asuka wonders out loud where Kaji is. Apparently, the redhead invited him over.

As if to answer Asuka's question, someone knocks on the door. Asuka went over and opens the front door, revealing the man in question. Asuka's mood immediately soured when she realized Kaji wasn't alone. He has his arm around a casually dressed Ritsuko. I can see Misato's mood also sour at this sight which gets me to laugh. I'll bother her about that later.

The two visitors joins the party with the rest of us. Kaji commends Misato on her promotion while the woman tries to not look absolutely disgusted in the man's presence. Ritsuko subtly asks if I'll be able to do some testing sometime tomorrow. I tell her no, since she seems too eager to pick me apart (knowing her, she'd probably do so literally). Though, our conversation did reveal something interesting. Rei is on a mission with Gendo which involves her going to Antarctica. Well, I guess that's why she couldn't come to the party. Still, it sucks she didn't come. The girl barely has any time to relax, which is a shame.

A smile makes its way onto my face as I look at a piece of untouched cake.

Wonder if Rei has a sweet tooth.

"You found the story unpleasant?"

"Not really," I explain to Rei while leaning back in my chair. "I liked the story, but the ending made no sense!"

"How so?" she questions.

I let out a sigh as I lean forward in my chair. Rei and I are talking about the book I finally finished reading, Phantom Ties. We've been spending most of our time at school, focusing on certain aspects of the story in that book. More specifically, the ending. It's just sooo frustrating! I spent weeks learning new words just to finish the book, and I'm rewarded with some cryptic, bullshit ending!

"Like I said, the ending makes no sense!" I explain to Rei. "Throughout the whole story, Itsuki questions which world is real and which is a dream. Then halfway through the story, it's hinted that something else is going on. But in the end, none of that shit matters! The ending doesn't give any answers to Itsuki's questions. Instead, there's some needless religious symbolism combined with a cluster fuck of an ending!"

Rei blinks a few times before responding. "I agree the book's ending can seem. . .unusual. The vague wording and the sudden religious imagery makes everything seem chaotic. I can see how one can become frustrated after reading such a thing." A pause. "Perhaps the point of the ending was not to answer any questions proposed by the reader. Perhaps its purpose was to show the answers and the questions do not matter."

I give Rei a questioning look as she continues. "Itsuki had to choose which world made him feel like he had a sense of belonging. Instead of having Itsuki's questions answered, we're shown both worlds have their own negative traits, as well as their own positives. It didn't matter which world was real, what mattered was what Itsuki believed was real. What mattered, was how strong his connection was to either world. The religious imagery in the end shows that anywhere can be his paradise, if he so wishes."

That's. . .really insightful. How long has Rei thought about this story? "You've read this book more than once, haven't you?"

Rei looks to her lap, the place where the book in question rests. "Yes. For some reason, I feel drawn to the story."

"Heh. You just like the book is all." I say chuckling a bit. Rei gives a blank stare. "Oh, right! Before I forget."

I dig into my school bag and pull out a container. It's one of those special ones which keeps food cold so you don't have to worry about it spoiling. Rei has a curious expression on her face as I open the container, revealing a piece of cake as well as a plastic fork. "Saved you a piece since you missed the party."

She stares at the piece of food, then gives me a look. "There. . .there was no need for you to-"

"Naw, it was no trouble at all," I interrupt her. A genuine smile appears on my face. "It's what friends do, right?"

She produces the same expression she always uses when she doesn't understand something. Like always, that expression reminds me of a lost child. "Friends?"

"Yep," I respond. "Don't be so surprised. After all, you helped me when I needed help, and you're pretty fun to hang around. You're also someone I. . . I can always count on to listen," I pause only for a second, trying not to sound too sappy. "So yeah, we're friends."

She looks dumbfounded. "I don't. . .but. . ." Her head lowers, causing her hair to cover her face. "Why?"

She. . .Is she alright?

I'm starting to sense my classmates staring at us, which is annoying. Don't they have anything better to do?

"A-Anyway, wanna try it?" I ask as I hand her the cake. She looks as the container for a moment, considering if she should take it or not. She eventually takes the container and uses the fork inside to slowly dig into the cake. "Just some heads up, it was my first time making cake so it might not be that good. Add that to the fact it's been stuck in a fridge all night, it might end up tasting-"

My mini rant was interrupted as Rei takes a bite out of the cake I made.

"It's sweet," she says.

"So, you like it?" I ask.

She nods which gets me to smile. Then, slowly but surely, Rei begins to smile. She hardly ever does that, for some reason, it makes me happier than I have any right to be.

"JUST KISS ALREADY! ! !" yells Toji from across the classroom.

"SHUT UP! ! !" I yell back at him. Does he ever get tired of that?!

Just then, a loud wailing sound echoes throughout the whole school. I put my hands over my ears to make the noise more bearable. Sounds like it's coming from the entire city!

"What's that?!" I yell.

"Emergency alarms," Rei responds.

My phone vibrates as I receive a message. Looking at it, I know why the alarms are on. An Angel has been spotted.

Rei and I rush out of the classroom, Asuka quickly following after us. When we get to Nerv, we were ordered to get into our plugsuits and head to the Command Center to be briefed on the mission. Fully geared up, we go to the Command Center; there Misato begins to brief us on our mission. As she explains what we're supposed to be doing, things start sounding familiar. The further she goes into her explanation, the more familiar things get, and the stronger the pit in my stomach becomes. She wants us to catch an Angel falling from space, whose impact could possible destroy all of Tokyo-3.

"WHAT?! YOU WANT US TO CATCH IT! ? !" asks Asuka, obviously not liking the idea anymore than me.

"That's right," responds Misato. "The MAGI will calculate the Angel's estimated drop zone. Using your Evas' A.T. Field, you will catch it before it hits the ground."

"What if the Evas can't handle the impact?" asks Asuka.

"There will be a crater where Tokyo-3 used to be," Misato states plainly.

"What is our probability of success," asks Rei.

"Pretty low," responds the Major.

"How can you call this a plan?!" Asuka asks, rightfully frustrated.

"This plan will work," I say which gets everyone to look at me. "Okay look, we all know how shitty this plan is. But in case you didn't notice, all of Misato's plans are shitty!"

"Are you going somewhere with this," asks Misato, seemingly amused.

"I'm just saying, all your plans are bat-shit insane. But," I continue. "So far, they all have worked. As unbelievably stupid this idea of yours is, I'm certain it will work."

Misato has a smile on her face while Asuka looks dumbfounded.

"Are you serious?!" asks the redhead.

"Hey, if we fail then we're dead anyway, so what's the point in worrying," I respond.

Asuka lets out a huff as she crosses her arms.

"So, does anyone feel like backing out?" asks Misato. Me and the other pilots don't say a word. "Good. Now due to regulations, you're all suppose to write a will. Have you done that yet?"

"Like hell I'm writing a will," responds Asuka. "I'm not gonna die. Not yet."

"I have no need to write a will. There would be no point," Rei also chimes in.

This leaves only me. "Oh, where was this option all the other times I was fighting Angels?"

"So you wrote your will?" responds the Major in a playful tone.

"Naw," I tell her. "I was just pointing something out. Besides, you and I both know me writing a will is practically pointless."

Her expression changes slightly, but quickly returns to a smile.

"Okay then," she inhales deeply through her nose, and breathes out slowly. For the first time since we got here, she looks unnerved, the expression doesn't last long though. "When this is all over, I'll treat you all to a steak dinner."

"A steak dinner huh," says Asuka. "You promise you won't conveniently forget?"

Misato chuckles. "I promise."

"We'll hold you to that," I tell her.

"I'm sure you will," she says as she leaves the Command Center.

After Misato leaves Asuka lets out what really is on her mind. "A steak dinner? Really?"

"Hey, any food not cooked by Misato is a deal in my book," I respond.

"I guess," she says, not fully agreeing with my statement. "Well, might as well figure where she's going to take us. You're coming too 'Wondergirl?'"

"No," responds Rei.

"Oh, right. She doesn't eat meat." I tell Asuka.

The redhead raises an eyebrow, then a devious smirk appears on her face. "You sure know a lot about Rei, don't you Michael."

I just groan as I slam my hand against my face.

Later on, Ritsuko provides us with more information on what exactly to do when faced with the Angel. In essence, the exact location on where the Angel's gonna land is a guess. More specifically, it a guess made by Misato's "intuition". If I wasn't certain this plan was going to work, I would have found a way to jump ship a while ago.

Asuka, Rei and I are taking a lift which leads to our Evas. Like I always do before every mission, I slow my breathing and try to clear my mind. I learned it's best to not to think too hard when piloting an Eva. The more I worry, the more mistakes I make on a mission. So my mind needs to be clear. . .even if I 'm trying to catch a living meteor.

"Hey. . .Fourth Child," says Asuka to get my attention. Though, she's whispering for some reason.

"What?" I give her a look which says I'm in no mood to talk. We're going to be catching something the size of a building which will be falling at terminal velocity. I don't want any distractions.

"You said said something weird when Misato asked us to write a will," the redhead explains. "That you writing one is practically pointless."

Is that it? "Yeah? What about it?"

"What did you mean by that?" She asks in a way which seems like she isn't interested in the answer. Though if she really isn't interested, then why is she asking the question?

I scoff. "Why do you care?"

"Don't get the wrong idea," she says while pointing at me. "It's just a weird thing to say is all."

"Rei practically said the same thing," I respond.

"You and I both know it isn't strange for 'Wondergirl' to say something like that."

I let out a sigh. She isn't going to be satisfied until I give her an answer. But I really don't want to think about this. Especially before a mission.

"I don't have a lot of possessions here, so giving them away would be pointless," I tell her. "Even if I did have anything valuable, I have no one to give them to."

"Not even in America?"

I let out a long exhale. I really don't want to talk about this. "Doesn't matter. Besides, it's not like you'd understand. The 'Great Asuka' probably has thousands of people who'll claw each other just breathe the same air as her. Heh, bet you were a real big shot back in Germany."

The redhead gives me an odd look before looking back in front of her, a scowl etched on her face. " *Sigh* You're such a jerk."

A smile makes its way to my face. "I know."

Asuka slowly breathes out as she closes her eyes. A smirk replaces her scowl as the lift comes to a stop.

"I get it, you were a nobody back in the U.S.," she tells me in a teasing tone. "But here, you're an Eva pilot. That makes you somewhat important. It also means everything you do reflects on us. So on this mission, don't screw up." Her tone becomes slightly serious, yet it still retains that patronizing attitude. "And don't die. I won't forgive you if you do."

The lift comes to a stop as she exits the machine, heading to her Eva. My eyes are wide open, trying to process what Asuka just said.

Eventually, Rei and I walk out of the lift and head to our Evas.

"Heh. She's such an idiot."

When the LCL fills my lungs, I check to see if everything in Unit-01 is working properly. The mission is pretty simple. Find where the Angel's gonna land and haul ass there. Me and my fellow pilots have to do this without umbilical cables, since they'll only slow us down. So, we got five minutes to stop and kill the Angel. No pressure.

Misato checks in over the radio, telling all the pilots to ready their Evas. I command Unit-01 to brace itself against the metal platform it stands on, similar to a track runner. The other Evas are miles away from where I am. The idea was for the Evas to surround the area where the Angel might land. It makes the probability of us actually catching the creature higher.

"Are all pilots ready," Misato asks over the radio. Me and the other pilots tell her we're ready to being the mission.

"Alright. Just a reminder, the MAGI will be feeding your Evas' data on the general impact zone. But it's still just a guess. You'll need to use your own judgement in determining where the Angel will land. Understand?"

"Yes," me and the pilots respond simultaneously.

"Okay. Disconnect the locks and the umbilical cables!" The Major commands the Nerv employees.

The locks restricting my Eva's movements become undone as the umbilical cable disconnects, leaving me with limited power. Immediately, I force Unit-01's legs to push against the ground, making it go into its first stride. My face molds into a smile as the ground shatters beneath the mech's feet due to how fast it's moving. I run past several buildings and crash through a fair few to get to my destination quicker. My eyes become as big as dinner plates as I look to the sky.

"There it is!" I report, having seen the falling Angel. The creature's still too far away to see its exact features. But it's the Angel alright, and it's moving fast!

"Damn! I'm not gonna make it!" yells Asuka.

"Neither will I," Rei reports.

Guess it's up to me. "Misato! Clear the way!"

"You got it!" The Major commands the technicians so move some building out of my path. This gives me room to move even faster, breaking the sound barrier. I start laughing like a maniac as the resulting shock wave destroys anything which dares to stand in my way. I've only moved this fast once, so to do it again is exhilarating.

Blast shields rise from the ground, creating a ramp. Seeing where Misato's heading with this, I push the Eva to its limit as it runs then jumps off the shields, practically flying to the Angels's impact zone.

"YEEEAAAAH! ! !" I shout as I fly through the air. I prepare for a landing as the ground quickly approaches. When I land, the ground shatters beneath me, creating a creator. Other than a slight woozy feeling, I'm fine, and Unit-01's unscathed. Looking to the sky, I see now the Angel's closer than ever. It looks like an amoeba with a giant eye in the center of it. The air around it seems to distort as the creature changes into a rainbow of colors.

This thing's huge! It's bigger than anything I've seen up until now! Unit-01 and the other Eva's are roughly the size of buildings, yet this creature easily dwarfs anything in Tokyo-3 at the moment. Any enthusiasm I had up until now vanishes at the sight of the Angel. My hands begin to shake, so I have physically stop them from doing that. How the hell are we supposed to catch that?!

Despite logic telling me that it's impossible for an Eva to stop this thing, I decide to try anyway. Pushing my fears deep inside, I take a deep breath and prepare myself.

"A.T. Field! Full Power! ! !" Unit-01's invisible field of energy expands with such force, it creates a shock wave in the surrounding area. I raise my Eva's hands in the air as the Angel approaches. When the creature's field interacts with my own, I feel a sudden weight in my arms. It's heavy! Heavier than anything I've ever lifted in my life! Both my arms as well as Unit-01's buckle under the strain. Yet, surprisingly, I'm able to keep the Angel from falling. I actually caught it!

The Angel suddenly gets even heavier as it expands its A.T. Field, pushing me deeper into the ground. My bones and muscles are on fire! They feel like they're going to burn away! I continue pushing through the pain as the Angel's eye begins to glow. Before I can react, two red spears pierce Unit-01's hands.

"AHHHH! ! !" Fuck! ! ! I tighten my grip on the controls as my face twists into a snarl. I stare down the damn creature like that alone was enough to kill it. I'm no longer scared. I'm angry!

The entire area becomes engulfed in a red hue as the wind kicks up. The wind tears away the grass and the surrounding trees. The worst thing happens when Unit-01's arms burst, spraying crimson liquid everywhere. The pain become unbearable as the area turns into what looks like the apocalypse.

"I. . .I can't hold it much longer!" I report to anyone willing to listen.

"I'm on my way!" I hear Rei report. Looking in the corner of my eye, I spot her Eva in the distance.

"I'm in the area, don't screw up!" I hear Asuka add.

Unit-00 finally finally arrives! Rei expands her Eva's A.T. Field as the machine prevents the Angel from touching the ground. Rei's help lightens the load, allowing me exert myself less.

"Soryu, the core!"

"Shut up! I know that!" the redhead responds to Rei's order.

Asuka, now close enough to do some damage, expands her Eva's field as it delivers an upward palm strike. The force of the impact is enough to push the Angel back slightly. Using the Eva's free hand, Asuka pulls out the Progressive Knife and cuts through the Angel's A.T. Field. This action gets her close to the core so she strikes it. She misses.

"What the-" Asuka's at a loss of words as she sees the core moving around erratically, making it difficult to strike.

The Angel becomes even heavier, making it difficult to stop.

"Asuka!" I begin while gritting my teeth.

"I know!" she responds, frustrated.

My whole body's on fire. It hurts to much! But I need to keep going! If I stop now, I'm gonna-

Something's wrong.

It feels like all the energy has been sucked out of my body as Unit-01's legs begin to buckle. I can no longer handle the Angel's weight.

No! Not now!

"Michael's sync ratio is dropping!" I hear one of the technicians over the radio say, confirming my fears.

I check the amount of power I have left and it doesn't exactly heighten my spirit.

Forty-five seconds of power left!

"Dammit! You had to pick now to screw up?!" Asuka says with obvious strain in her voice.

"Not now! Let me think!" I respond.

Thirty seconds left!

I've got an idea, but I need to time it just right.

"Rei, I need you to hold the remainder of the weight! Can you do that?!"

She lets out a grunt, confirming she's willing to try. I let go of the Angel and Rei immediately feels the effects. Her Eva's legs begin to buckle as crimson liquid begins pouring from its body due to the strain. Meanwhile, I do my best commanding Unit-01's A.T. Field to wrap around its hands, feeding it power in the process. I start tracking the Angel's core, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

My hands are knifes! My hands are knifes! My hands are knifes!

Eighteen seconds left!

"RAHHH! ! !" I scream as I plunge Unit-01's hands through the A.T. Field and grab the Angel's core. I don't know what it's made of, but it's like I dipped my hands in molten metal! My veins actually become visible in my arms as the pain increases, causing me to think the core is somehow doing physical damage on my actual body! Despite all the pain and worry, I keep hold of that crimson orb for dear life!

"S-Soryu!" Rei grunts out.

"KILL IT! ! !" I scream at the redhead!

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! ! !" yells Asuka, ever defiant to the end. She plunges her knife into the core and it cracks. The redhead lets out a war cry as her Eva delivers a power kick to the knife's handle, causing the crimson orb to finally shatter.

As if a switch had been flipped, everything goes quiet. The red hue which was once prominent in the area disappears as the wind dies down. The Angel's once heavy body falls to the ground as if it were nothing but a blanket. My Eva's power runs out, causing it to collapse. I didn't feel the impact, probably due to how sore by body is. I don't want to move a single part of my body, so I just it in my entry plug, staring at the display screen.

"That steak dinner better be great."

Nerv staff had to remove part of the Angel almost immediately since it landed on the Evas, leaving me and the other pilots trapped. When we were removed from our Evas, we all were transported to the Nerv hospital wing. Odd, usually doctor Akagi would take a quick look at us then we'll be on our way. Pilot's don't usually go to the hospital unless they're knocked unconscious or injured. For some reason, the hospital staff were worried about us, mainly me, being infected. With what, they wouldn't tell. But apparently, having an Eva directly interact with a living Angel's core is a big no-no. That's what got the medical staff all worked up. Luckily, they found nothing wrong with us, so we were released.

Later on, Asuka reminded Misato on her promise to take all the pilot to a steak dinner. Misato, reluctantly, agreed to take us to a restaurant. Knowing her, she probably withdrew all the money she had available, which makes me realize something. Misato's job has shit pay.

Asuka surprised Misato and I when she suggested we should go to a ramen restaurant. The redhead's reasoning was that she knew Misato was tight on money, so a ramen place would be much easier on Misato's bank account. Also, because it's a ramen restaurant, there will be food without meat in it as an option, meaning Rei can come along. So when we invited Rei, she actually agreed to come.

I think it's some time around six or seven when we arrived at the ramen place. Everyone makes their orders, leaving me the only one who hasn't ordered anything. I don't recognize any of the flavors on the menu so I get what Asuka's getting. By that, I mean Asuka just ordered for me, getting impatient. So now I have a bowl of shark fin soup in front of me.

The next few minutes are silent due to us eating. This shark fin soup actually tastes pretty good, though I know most of the flavor's coming from whatever spice was put in it. It's a weird feeling, eating with others. For some reason, it makes me feel a sense of belonging, even though no one's saying anything. Don't really understand how that works. Guess it's something primal. A reminder of time when humans would gather around a fire for warmth and protection. Odd how something so simple can make you feel connected with others.

Still, it doesn't seem right that I feel like this. I've been away from home for months. My brother must be worried sick. To know he's home all alone makes the desire to return home even stronger. I know I can't get too comfortable here. I don't even know why I even feel like this. This world is exactly the same as my world, safe for some elements ripped straight from sci-fi. I wasn't a big fan of people back home, so what's makes this dangerous world different?

I stare at the people eating next to me. Asuka devouring her food then immediately placing another order. Rei slowly sipping the soup in her bowl and Misato wearing a defeated expression, probably worried about Asuka bleeding her bank account dry. This gets me to chuckle slightly.

"I'm gonna miss this place," I say just loud enough for only Misato to hear me. The woman looks at me questioningly. I decide to elaborate. "This world. I'm gonna miss it when I leave."

She looks shocked at first, then a warm smile appears on her face. "Really?"

"Yeah, kinda surprised myself," I look at my empty bowl while continuing to smile. "I used to dislike this world. Hell, to an extent, I still do. This world is so similar to my own, that it makes little sense why I'd enjoy being here so much. Shit, some things here are worse than back home, with the world constantly under threat and all."

"I guess I like it here so much because. . .some of the people here make it feel like a home," I continue while looking up slightly. "Made me feel like I. . .heh, I don't know. Made me feel like something."

I look at Misato with a smile on my face. "Guess what I'm trying to say is. . .thank you. Thank you for making me feel at home."

Her jaw hangs slightly as her eyes become watery. A soft smile makes its way onto her face as she wipes away any tears that may come. Before I can even react, the woman pulls me into a bone crushing hug. I was not remotely prepared for the hug, I wasn't even expecting that reaction! I awkwardly pat her back, hoping she'd eventually release me. But she keeps me in her embrace.

I never know what to do in these situations.

"Ummm. . .you can let go now. People are watching." I say as I spot Rei and Asuka staring at the situation unfolding. Rei tilting her head to the side, a sign of confusion, and Asuka holding back her urge to laugh.

Great! Never gonna live that down.

Misato starts laughing, refusing to let go.

"Sorry Mikey, can't do that. You're just gonna have to sit there and take it," she teases.

I groan. Should've kept my mouth shut.

Author's Notes: Me: For thousands of years I laid dormant. Who dares disturb my slumber! ! !

Le Guilt: Your guilt on not updating in months.

Me: . . . Oh.

Finally done with chapter 11! In case y'all are wondering, no it didn't take nearly six months to create this chapter. I was physically unable to make it. My internet was being a dick so I couldn't write or upload, so I ended up waiting for it to start working again. But when two months passed, I got guilty on not uploading anything, so I tried writing while in school. That didn't work because I was constantly looking over my shoulder, making sure no one knew I was writing. Turns out I can't write in public, go figure. Eventually, I gave up on the idea of writing at school and just sat around feeling guilty. Anyway, got the internet back up and running (sort of) so I immediately got back to writing, resulting in this chapter. Updates might take slightly. . .longer than usual, but this story won't end up being dead. I hate it when fanfic writers suddenly end their stories without even a warning, so trust me, I'll never do that. I'll let you all know if this story will die or not, I promise. But currently, it's still running strong. Kay, so enough of that. Hope y'all enjoyed the story and if you did, leave a review. I love reading those things. They're like a fucking drug to me!

(P.S. I know ya'll are probably tried of hearing me apologize every time I feel like I'm taking too long on the story. But as I explained, I feel guilty when I don't update. To keep from annoying you guys, I'll try to apologize less. Cause at this point, it feels like I'm being a kiss ass.)

Oh! Before I forget. Thomas Drovin and justsomerealguy got the name of the band from the last chapter correct. Congratulations! Gonna have to make the game harder though.

Chapter 10 Hint: The band was in one of the previous chapters, here's the hint; Terry danced into the Dairy-cartel to drink, but George (the owner) kicked him out. (Look closely at the words. What sticks out?) The name of the song is practically in the title of this chapter so it isn't really hard to guess.

See ya whenever I can post, hopefully in a week or two.