Hey guys, back again. Sorry for the delays.
As promised, I will always update.
Warning, there's some modified lore in this chapter that fans may or may not like.
Here is Chapter 33: "The Fifth Player"
"There are many players on the board. SEELE, Gendo, governments, the Angels."
"And now us."
- Shinji and The Broken Man to Ritsuko.
"Will she be okay?"
The words came from the woman and the boy, one vocal and physical, the other a language of pure thought.
Ritsuko looked to Shinji with a worried expression. Yet the boy only blinked up at her, having asked the Broken Man the same question.
In time, she will be. Old Man Shinji thought. The words came sorrowful and filled with regret, a man whom had had no other choice.
You're sure? I... I swear I could hear Rei screaming... what the hell was that? What did you do to her? Young Shinji thought warily.
The boy could not say that he fully understood it, only that he had felt it. A tremor across his mind when Ritsuko had been shown her old fate. The tremor that had brought Rei to her knees and ultimately to seizure.
Young Shinji had sensed rather than seen it, had known that Rei was hurt.
I used Lilith's power. The chain reaction was... violent. You've no idea what it's like to hurt the ones you love. I wish there had been a better way. But what's done is done.
Rei... ahhh why do we always end up hurt?! It shouldn't be this way... how many times do we have end up hospitalized?! The boy thought with a flicker of anger.
Then, almost if he was taking a deep regretful breath, Old Man Shinji spoke via thought.
Rei will survive. In time, she will recover.
"He says that she will recover" Young Shinji said at last.
The two of them, Ritsuko and Shinji, stood in her apartment. Very little time had passed here in the real world, and Shinji knew from experience that the Other Place was a strange phenomenon that left an odd sensation in those whom had witnessed it.
Ritsuko glanced at her phone and paused at the drops of blood on her fingers. She had had a nosebleed after only a few minutes in that strange vision.
"I gotta get back to Misato's. There's a few things he wants you to do, I know it's frustrating, but we don't time have to explain it all." Shinji explained.
He glanced at the clock in Ritsuko's kitchen and winced at the time displayed.
"Can't believe I'm doing this... is he really... I mean... whom am I talking to?" Ritsuko said, slowly coming to terms with the reality of the situation.
"You're talking to Shinji Ikari." the boy said simply.
Ritsuko nodded, and though she had taken in a lot of information and revelations, she listened to what she had to do. There would be a proper time and place for the rest.
Later
The boy moved through the warm night air, just another lone figure out at night in this strange city where Angels lay siege occasionally.
Shinji couldn't say if the night life had been affected by the wave of people whom had left after the incident with Zeruel, but to him moving around at this hour was unnatural. He crossed the street and noticed a passerby glance his way, before moving on.
Up close, his youth made him standout at this hour.
You're being quiet, boy.
Thought that would make you happy.
No. If you have something to say, just say it. Easier for both of us.
Shinji considered that. He crossed a street, thankful for what businesses were still open at this hour and the steady source of light they provided.
Can't you just read my mind or something? The boy thought.
Doesn't work like that. I tried to keep very clear boundaries between us. 'Walls' that keep you being 'you', and me being 'me'. With a bridge to connect the two.
A bridge? So that's how we 'talk'. Humph. That didn't stop the 'bleeding effect' for all those years. Shinji thought, slightly bitter. He felt himself start to scowl, but then stopped himself.
He was being a child again, thinking everything was about him and his own problems. 'This' was bigger than him, bigger than whatever the hell had been his life. Whatever his opinions on the Broken Man, their job took priority.
Yes. I messed up. There were... cracks in those walls. I'm not as good as Lilith was.
You had 10 years to train with her-
Lilith had millennia of experience and wisdom. Along with an intelligence inherited from beings that you cannot even imagine. Learning from her was like an elementary school student studying with a PhD graduate.
The Broken Man appeared beside Shinji. Another mental project that followed the boy.
"Comparing us is like comparing you to Ritsuko. Think you could write the software that runs in the Eva? Or the Magi? Think you could modify it without breaking it?"
"... okay. I get your point" Shinji said. He sighed and shook his head.
"And you're avoiding the question. What's wrong?" the Broken Man said.
Shinji slowed for a bit but kept walking. He was nearing Nerv's apartment complex, the familiar building appearing to hide in the night.
"Everything we did today. We... we hurt Rei. And Ritsuko... you... it's almost like you were manipulating her." Shinji said slowly, voice low.
The boy considered his words carefully before continuing.
"I know she did bad things, and Gendo used her the way he used everyone. But then you… we… we had to break her to show her the truth. And the way you were acting… her entire life was open to you… and you used that."
"I am not our father, Shinji." the Broken Man said suddenly. Hollow eyes suddenly growing livelier, an emerging fire. Yet it was cold and raw, not the fiery of a youth but the steel of a man.
Shinji glanced at the mental projection. Unsure eyes facing the Old Man.
"You're right. I manipulated her. I broke the lie Ritsuko was telling herself. And I did it to open her eyes. To give her the chance to change. But I'm not Gendo… you have to believe me… I know the line I walk." the Broken Man said.
"In your timeline. Mari… and the day by the river with Akane." Shinji said softly, voice low and careful. Careful when treading this territory.
The memory was one Old Man Shinji carried with him like a wound. One that ached and disfigured him. When his daughter had made him admit that he had not loved the woman he was sleeping with, that he was using that woman the way she was using him. That little voice, that inner demon, that had taunted him for it. An imagined Gendo that had haunted him from beyond the grave.
"Our father has been haunting me for so long now. There are days where I hate him even more for that. I've had to scheme like he did, and our mother too I suppose. Difference is, I know that 'this' isn't about me."
If the Broken Man had been Gendo… he would have taken my body for himself long ago. My father wouldn't have thought twice about it, not if it meant reaching his goal. He'd have sacrificed me like any other pawn. The boy thought somberly.
"… You helped her. In the end, that's the difference. The harshest truth is better than the sweetest lie." Young Shinji said softly.
"I'd like to think so."
And me… you tried to help me too. I just didn't listen. Not for a long time. The boy thought, mixed feeling of shame and guilt in his chest.
They made it back to the apartment. Shinji closed the door behind him as he entered, making sure not to make a sound, before heading back to bed for the second time that night.
Meanwhile
Nerv HQ
Ritsuko drove into her parking space, the tires of her car stretching to a halt in a fashion that would have made Misato proud. Exiting, she made her way through the lot and into the building.
She pulled out her phone as she made her way to the elevator and used her ID card for clearance.
"Yes. This is Dr. Ritsuko Akagi, I'm calling in to check on the status of a patient. Rei Ayanami, she would have been put into the system recently. She has Eva pilot status and thus is to be immediately helped and put into the highest priority."
"… yes ma'am. We're going to need verification. Please provide a Nerv ID number?" the nervous hospital clerk on the other end of the line said. No doubt quite surprised to have such an eventful evening in a notoriously empty shift.
Ritsuko provided her ID number, the Nerv/government issued ID that granted special access and privileges during emergency situations, all whilst riding the elevator to the lowest level.
"The patient was put in primary care twenty minutes ago, she's been stabilized and is currently under observation. From the signs it seems she suffered a seizure. That is all the information available at this time" the hospital clerk said.
Ritsuko listened carefully as she moved down the hall, before taking a sharp turn to a concealed door. She used her ID card again to open the elevator that lead to the very lowest levels of the complex, the hidden parts of the facility that only a select few were even aware existed.
"Thank you, please keep me updated." Ritsuko answered back into her phone. She hanged up before the hospital clerk could respond. And made her way to the hidden lab.
…
The lab was eerie in its silence as Ritsuko turned on the lights. The room seemed to come to life with the lights, with its various computers and scientific equipment littered about and a massive LCL tanker emerging into existence from the dark.
Ritsuko gasped at the sight of it.
The LCL tanker, the holding chamber of all the Rei iterations, was flashing a warning to the console screen. And inside, the Rei clones, all of them, floated aimlessly throughout the tanker.
Rei iterations 3 through 100, all of their lay eyes open, and with bits of foam floating from their mouths. The girls lay with strange empty eyes, yet their limbs were bruised from an earlier bout of convulsing.
Ritsuko watched them, took a deep breath, and turned to the console. Life support system was active for every single one of them.
The Broken Man had been right. The Rei clones had had something like a seizure, and the ones here had been saved by the tanker and its technology. Now that she had confirmed their survival, she knew what she had to do.
She dialed the number for the man she hated most in the world, Gendo Ikari.
…
Elsewhere
"Dr. Akagi, I trust you have a reason for calling at this hour? And on my personal line." the man said sternly. He had woken from bed at, he checked the time to see 3:23 a.m. displayed at him and scowled at his phone.
The never-ending job of a director of a massive organization.
"Sir, there's been an incident" Ritsuko answered with a surprising amount of calmness. The man couldn't put his finger on it, but that seemed different.
"Go on" he said calmly. His voice flat and devoid of emotion. A feat he had gained from years of answering to SEELE.
"It's Rei. The entire collective. They all suffered a seizure. I received an alert from the lab's life support systems and went to investigate." Ritsuko said over the line.
Gendo was taken aback. Even here, in his own home, he didn't lose his cool. But he paused. Uncertain thoughts creeping onto him, and he felt his chest tighten the way it did when something unexpected happened.
In less than a second, he calmed himself and started planning out movements to make. How long before SEELE knew? What would they do about such news and how would he respond? Would there be need of a response? Theories crossed his mind as to what had caused it, Dr. Akagi's theory about the continued death of Angels and perhaps something more.
"What of iteration 2? The current model?" Gendo asked simply. Voice calm and controlled, his mind racing yet outwardly in complete control.
"She's been hospitalized. I suspected something was wrong when I got the alert, and I sent an ambulance to her apartment." Ritsuko answered.
Quick thinking. Good. Gendo thought.
"I see. I will join you shortly." the Director of Nerv said. The man dressed and departed.
Nerv
Gendo entered the lab and found Ritsuko tinkering with the computers there. The woman looked tired, obviously having gotten little sleep.
He looked to the tanker and observed the Rei clones. They had hurt themselves apparently, bruises from where they had convulsed, and traces of foaming at the mouth.
"They'll live" Ritsuko said in greeting.
Gendo turned to her saying "I trust you have a handle on this. Rei is very important to the project."
Ritsuko looked up from her screen.
"I do." the woman said.
Gendo watched her and decided that she seemed different somehow. Perhaps he was pushing too hard, it wouldn't do for him to lose control of Dr. Akagi while she was still needed. A lighter touch was required.
"Hm. You did good." Gendo said, allowing his mask devoid of emotion to unfold. A faked hint of fondness finding its way into his tone.
He removed the tinted glasses from his face, and looked at his lover, for lack of a better word, and strode forward. The stiffness he carried with SEELE and Nerv lowering as joined Dr. Akagi at her computer.
Eyes just like her mother's. Among other things. Gendo thought.
"Truly, I am impressed." he said, putting a reassuring hand in hers. His glove fingers brushed across hers.
The best lies are the ones with truth interwoven with them. A real fondness for another woman, simply re-directed as needed, and he genuinely was impressed with her actions.
Ritsuko paused, taken aback at the show of emotion.
"Thank you, sir" She answered slowly. She faked a satisfied smile and turned back to the computer screen for cover.
She wasn't like Gendo or the others. She couldn't lie on his level, but she could dodge and play along. The Broken Man had warned her that would happen.
"I am authorizing you any resources you need. This takes priority. Tell no one of your real work." Gendo said.
"Yes sir" Ritsuko said firmly. She met his eyes and nodded the way she had before, playing the role of another pawn in a game above her head, a naive dreamer whom had believed a lie.
Gendo removed his hand from hers and put his tinted glasses back on. The mask refolded, the stiffness returned, and he turned away. Gendo the cold-hearted director once again.
"One more thing. Have you examined the primary subject?" Gendo said suddenly.
Ritsuko frowned at that.
…
Lowest Level
The steel doors opened with a heavy screech. Gendo and Ritsuko stepped inside the chamber, with its massive walls and ceiling looming over them.
Lilith lay before them, she was the size of an Evangelion. Crucified and held prisoner, with half her torso missing. The Second Angel, the 'primary subject' and source of Nerv's LCL, hung from her cage. The recovered Spear of Longinus was impaled deep into her chest, placed with care so as to not pierce the Angel Core, an insurance policy.
Gendo strode forward devoid of emotion, in contrast Ritsuko hesitantly followed her eyes watching the Giant nervously.
The director of Nerv took in the sight of his subject, before slowly reaching into his coat pocket. He pulled out a printed scan of a picture drawn by a child years ago.
Shinji's drawing, the one that had shown Lilith herself impaled and crucified. Another prediction that come true from the boy. The drawing been perfect, down to the angle of Lilith's head slumping to its side in her torment.
It's different now… her head moved. Gendo thought. An observation that Ritsuko noticed in turn.
"How-" the doctor began.
"Rei. Whatever happened to her." Gendo said simply.
He stepped forward, printed drawing in hand, and as he did so… he felt it. Gendo froze mid-step, the body of the Second Angel loomed over him. His breathing slowed, and a chill went down his spine.
Gendo breathed calmly, but his hands gave him away, his fingers twitched in a hand tremor at the sensation.
He was being watched.
Through the eyes of Lilith's faceplate, Gendo was aware of it. Deep red eyes that were staring right at him hidden by their visor.
He adjusted his glasses and walked along the edges of her prison. He pushed the fear out, and calmly watched her. A man whom met the gaze of an Angel with no hesitation.
Lilith's eyes followed him. Gendo could see the glint of red visible in the dark, moving in time with his steps.
Ritsuko forgot to breathe, her eyes wide at the figure above them.
Is… is she awake? Does she know what we did to her? Ritsuko thought, feeling like all the blood in her body had gone cold. To be in the presence of a near God-like being that was held prisoner.
"Lilith has been allowed to develop too far. She will need to be weakened again. Get the Current Rei operational. And prepare a dummy plug in reserve." Gendo said calmly.
The man left the Angel to her fate, sparing no glances on his way out. Ritsuko hurried after him.
Morning After
Shinji was up early as always. He had already showered, brushed his teeth, put his contact lens on, and was working on breakfast when Misato walked into the kitchen.
"Up again so soon? Damn, you're making all the adults look bad" Misato said, yawning at the sight of him fully dressed and setting the table.
"I'm used to it" Shinji answered curtly.
No comments or remarks. She doesn't know about last night. the boy thought.
"Hey, I heard you were doing really well at the sync test" Misato said suddenly. She put a hand on his shoulder to stop him, just for a moment.
Shinji turned to look at her, more surprised than anything else.
You're always in such a hurry these days. Misato thought.
"Yeah, Asuka and I are back in Eva Team One. She's gotten a lot better too" Shinji said.
"Asuka is Asuka. Prodigy and all." Misato said in agreement.
"She's better than me" Shinji said with a shrug.
Misato frowned at that. Their sync records showed otherwise, but she smiled and nodded along. The boy was kind, a feat she thought Asuka herself could learn from.
"Don't talk about me like I'm not here" Asuka said yawning, the German girl emerged into the kitchen as she spoke.
Misato glanced her way adding "nothing but good things."
"Uh-huh" Asuka said clearly not believing them.
"Listen, I was thinking we should celebrate. For Shinji- for both of you. You've both improved a lot and lately things have been harder. Maybe you deserve that." Misato said. She looked between Shinji and Asuka, Eva Team One.
Asuka sat at the table waiting for her breakfast impatiently, and Shinji served her with remarkable politeness. The stark contrast was amusing to say the least.
"Maybe. But it seems strange. The city is still recovering from the last Angel attacks." Shinji said.
"If you're offering. We never did get that steak dinner. Only noodles." Asuka said glancing up at Misato with a smirk.
Before Misato could answer, the doorbell rang.
The three of them looked up. Strange, it was too early for any kind food delivery. Misato waved them off and went to answer the door.
Asuka glanced at him and gave him an annoyed 'knowing' look.
"You made it back. Had a fun night out?" she said almost teasingly. She looked him over, mockingly judging him.
Shinji faked a smile and nodded. "Thanks for covering for me." he said in a lowered tone.
Asuka rolled her eyes but nodded. Whatever their strange relationship was, he was grateful for her help.
Pay attention The Broken Man stirred.
Shinji moved to take a seat at the table, and out of his peripheral vision he saw Misato at the front door.
His temporary guardian gasped in the distance and stepped back as she opened the door.
Gendo Ikari stood in the doorway to their apartment.
Shinji froze, and Asuka spoke. He pretended to listen to her, but in truth he focused on the edge of his sight and listened.
"Hello- gah…. Sir" Misato said in a surprised tone.
"Captain Katsuragi. Good day. May I come in, I need to speak with my son" the Director of Nerv said.
Misato was about to protest, when Gendo simply walked around her and stepped inside.
Asuka and Shinji looked up from the breakfast table, the German girl crossing her arms at the sight of the man.
Gendo Ikari strode through Misato's apartment, black clothes standing in contrast to the light and vibrant apartment. Misato followed after him, but he ignored her.
Shinji waited, his heartbeat seeming to grow frantic in his chest, before he breathed, and it calmed.
"Sir, this is my home!" Misato said, scowling at the man as he emerged into the kitchen.
Gendo glanced around the kitchen, with its freshly set breakfast table, home cooked food served, and signs of life and living. His own private lodgings were stale and lifeless by comparison.
Asuka eyed him coldly.
"Pilot Sohryu. Katsuragi. Kindly give my son and I the room" Gendo said flatly, expression hidden behind tinted glasses.
Asuka rose to her feet about to mouth off, but Shinji put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.
"Don't get involved" he whispered to her.
"You're letting him walk over you… and us. Stop being a wimp." Asuka whispered through gritted teeth.
If Gendo heard them, he hadn't seemed to care.
Misato narrowed her eyes and said "… is that an order… sir?" The words left a bitter sour taste in her mouth.
Gendo turned to her, his movements stiff and cold, his expression hidden, and answered.
"Yes."
Their gazes met, Shinji's father and his guardian. Tension filled the room, and for a moment Shinji thought Misato would refuse. That she would tell Gendo to get the hell out of her apartment or physically kick him out, but in the end… Misato cursed under her breath and shook her head.
Misato strode forward and grabbed Asuka.
"But this is your home?!" Asuka protested, even as Misato gently pulled her away.
"I know. Just come on" Misato said, scowling and not even bothering to hide it. Her eyes met Shinji's as they left the kitchen.
I'll be nearby. If anything happens. Her expression seemed to say.
Shinji watched her go and nodded reassuringly.
The women left, disappearing out into the hall, and Shinji was left alone with his father. Asuka's complaints could be heard all the way until the front door closed.
The tension never quite faded, it lingered in Misato's kitchen.
Father and Son eyed each other, and the air seemed to still. Neither breathed. The two of them had little interaction despite their jobs, and they had not truly spoken since he had returned from the memories of the Broken Man.
The last time they had talked had been at Yui Ikari's grave. When Gendo had tried to slap him.
"I've received reports of your piloting progress. Impressive." Gendo said at last. Voice empty and flat.
"Why are you here?" Shinji asked, ignoring the comment.
"The last time we spoke, we left on… strange terms" Gendo said.
"That's a word for it." Shinji said coldly.
Gendo paused, seeming to consider the situation. Calculating a response.
"I apologize for trying to strike you. That was in poor taste." Gendo said simply. The words left his mouth, but they had no feeling to them. An empty apology is worthless.
"Why are you here?" Shinji said coldly, repeating the question. He leaned back into his chair, coolly watching his father.
Gendo reached for a chair across the breakfast table from him.
Watch his hands.
Shinji did as he was asked, his eyes flickered to the white gloves Gendo wore. Flat, no indents.
There's nothing there. The boy thought.
Then he still hasn't done the surgery. The Adam sample remains in lock up. The Broken Man thought.
Not yet. The boy thought.
Gendo took his seat, seemingly oblivious to the inspection.
This was strange for Shinji, his father in Misato's apartment, in this kitchen where he made meals for the people whom he considered his family.
"Those contacts. You don't need them. My reports say that your eyes are in perfect health. It seems childish" Gendo said changing the subject. The man glanced pointedly at the brown contacts lens and Shinji met his gaze without hesitation.
Funny from a man whom hides from the world behind tinted glasses Shinji thought.
"I'm 14" the boy answered with a shrug.
Gendo made to speak again, but Shinji interrupted him.
"You don't care about me. Stop pretending."
The words brought Gendo to a stop. The director of Nerv shifted in his seat, considering that.
"Is that what you think, boy? After everything I have given you." Gendo said sternly.
Giving me to SEELE? To Dr. Page and her medicine? The boy thought.
"The ward?" Shinji said with a bitter laugh.
Gendo tilted his head at him. Expression blank.
"Yes, the ward. And your medical expenses. Your education. Your allowance funds. This very home. Misato's guardianship, I allowed that." Gendo said coolly. His voice betrayed nothing, but Shinji could read the body language.
The twitch of the eye behind the tinted glasses. He could read people better these days. Another perk from the Broken Man.
Gendo was mocking him.
Shinji scoffed.
"Because I had a use for you. Your words, remember?" the boy said harshly. Throwing Gendo's own words back at him months later.
He balled his hands into fists, before lowering them under the table.
Gendo caught the movement.
You're antagonizing him. Stop letting your emotions control you. You're making it worse- the Broken Man stirred.
No. I'm playing my role. The angry little boy. Shinji answered the Broken Man, his thoughts surprisingly calm.
The Broken Man paused at that, perhaps even impressed, and let him continue. For Young Shinji, the emotions had been real once and that was enough to work with. He'd gotten a lot better at lying.
"Remarkable memory." Gendo commented flatly. Unfazed by any bitterness the boy may have had.
"Why. Are. You. Here?" Shinji said for the third time.
Silence filled the air. The Director of Nerv did not like this tone. From a teenager no less, but it was to be expected from his 'son' given their history.
Gendo let the silence drag. Interestingly, Shinji didn't look anyway. An observation that Gendo would remember.
"Last night. There was an incident." Gendo said at last.
"And incident?"
"Involving Rei" Gendo answered simply.
Play it natural. Act as if you were learning this for the first time. The Broken Man stirred.
I know. The boy thought.
"Rei?" Shinji said, his eyes widening. He leaned forward in the chair, letting his real emotions of worry and panic fill him up again. Redirecting his real feelings from before into the here and now.
That was the thing about lies, the best ones have a truth interwoven among them.
Gendo eyed him from behind his tinted glasses. The man watched his son's every reaction. Every twitch of the face, every nervous gesture from his hands.
"She had a seizure. That's the second time she's had one" Gendo continued coolly.
Second one? Shinji thought. His mask faltered, genuine surprise mixing with his faked one, but he held it together and played onward.
"What's wrong with her?" Shinji asked breathless.
"I have no idea. She's in a coma of sorts but stabilized. How strange that she has always been healthy save for these two incidents." Gendo said. The man shifted his gloved hands together, folding them under his chin. Deep in thought.
Does he know? Shinji thought.
He suspects. The Broken Man answered.
"Why are you telling me this?" Shinji asked slowly. A confused expression emerging on his face.
To gauge your reaction Gendo thought.
"I felt I should inform you." Gendo lied.
"… thanks" Shinji said slowly, narrowing his eyes. An empty gratitude is just as worthless as an empty apology.
"Hmm" Gendo acknowledged.
The man rose from his seat and turned to go. It seemed their conversation was over. Whatever Gendo had hoped to gain from this interrogation, it seemed he had.
"Oh. One more thing." Gendo called, his back to Shinji as he suddenly froze in the doorway of Misato's kitchen.
Shinji looked up.
"… You claim that you saw 'nothing' from your two months spent absorbed into Eva Unit 01. Are you sure?" Gendo asked.
Shinji didn't answer.
"Did the Eva speak to you? Reach out in any fashion?" Gendo asked plainly. A scientist asking for data.
"No. I saw nothing. It hurt… for a long time. Then I woke up in the hangar" Shinji lied.
Yui… why did you not speak to your son? Or did you? Gendo thought. His expression remained hidden behind his tinted glasses.
You're wrong Old Man Shinji and the Broken Man thought. The irony of the situation brought its own dark satisfaction, but the boy maintained his mask as well as his father.
"A pity" Gendo said, never once facing his son as he spoke. Then Gendo left, the Director of Nerv disappeared out the kitchen. Moments later, the sound of the front door opening and closing echoed across the apartment.
…
Shinji breathed a sigh of relief. And Misato and Asuka came rushing back into the kitchen.
Misato strode to him immediately. She grabbed him by the shoulders saying, "did he try to hit you again?" Her eyes were ice cold, an unspoken threat for the man whom had barged into her home.
"No. He just wanted to talk" Shinji answered truthfully.
Misato started at him, before seeming to decide he was telling the truth.
"Okay. Just… be careful around your father." Misato said, breathing easier now that Gendo was gone.
She let him go, and he gestured to the table.
Asuka, seeing that he was okay, not that she'd necessarily admit to being worried about him, returned to her spot at the breakfast table and began eating again. She scowled at the whole thing. Misato wasn't too happy about what had happened either.
What a way to ruin breakfast.
Later in the day
Nerv HQ
Aoba and Maya entered the command center to find their boss already waiting for them. Hyuga was there as well, seemingly as shocked as the others, updating his superior.
They blinked in surprise.
"Ritsuko" Maya beamed in pleasant surprise. Aoba just nodded.
Dr. Ritsuko Akagi handed a stack of documents to Hyuga and nodded at Maya and Aoba.
"I'm back. The three of you performed excellently in my absence." Ritsuko said in greeting.
Hyuga hesitantly took the compliment, and Aoba just stared. Maya however smiled.
"How are you feeling? It must have been bad to make you use your sick days?" Maya asked.
"Better. And I'm back at the job. You three can leave early today. Least I can do for you covering for me" Ritsuko said.
All three of her assistants stared at her in disbelief.
"Now. I need to catch up on this backlog. Excuse me" Ritsuko said. She politely stepped past them heading for her office.
What's gotten into her? Aoba and Hyuga thought. Not believing their luck.
Maya only watched her boss go. "Glad she's feeling better" she muttered to herself.
…
Ritsuko passed Kaji's office on the way to hers and noticed that he wasn't there. The lights were off, and his door was locked.
Odd, for all his behavior Kaji was generally a model employee.
It didn't matter, she made it to her office and stepped inside. She logged into her terminal there, using the upgraded privileges Gendo himself had granted her, and started gathering the files. Working from within Nerv and following instructions she didn't fully understand but knowing that they had a purpose.
Elsewhere
Hospital
Rei Ayanami lay in the hospital. She had been stabilized yet had not woken. The room hummed from the various machines watching her vitals. And an IV bag had been prepared for her.
It made for a sad sight, the girl in the white room. For no one had come to visit her. No concerned calls, panicked parents, only a request for status reports from a powerful organization.
That was until Shinji Ikari stepped into the room.
Shinji watched over her body and took a seat beside her bed. She was lost to the world, eyes closed, skin paler than usual, and adorn in the standard hospital gown that Shinji had grown to hate over the years.
White rooms… never liked them Shinji thought somberly. They were stale and lifeless, and so he had opened the window for Rei. Letting in the sunlight and hoping it would do some good.
"Oh Rei" the boy sighed in frustration.
He took her hand in his and smiled weakly at the pulse he felt. It was surprisingly strong, whatever the doctors said she wasn't 'weak' or near death. No, this was different.
Nor Rei was gone, not truly. Instead she dreamed.
And in her dreams, she was somewhere else.
A foreign sky loomed over her. The stars were different. Not the massive array of tiny bright dots in the sky over Tokyo-03. No… the stars… they were missing.
Barely a fraction of a fraction of the stars she had read about and seen in her life. Gone were the enumerable constellations Rei had learned about from school. Gone was the moon and the sun above.
In its place was a dark and nearly empty sky. A void with glimmers of light scattered about, the stars distant and few.
As if she was peering into an early universe, a place and time where the stars were young and few. Each shined in defiance of the dark, like soldiers fighting against the lifeless and cold void, each raged on refusing to fade gently. A memory of a time long since forgotten.
She wasn't alone.
They stood over her. Strange beings of pale white skin, red eyes, and silver hair. Their skin seemed to glow. The beings stood on a platform marked with engravings, strange symbols in a foreign language that surrounded them. The markings formed a massive diagram underneath them.
An inverted Tree of Life.
And beneath that, lay an ocean of luminous fluid. It pulsed and rippled underneath the platform. Not a continuous form, but a multitude of individual lights in liquid form linked together. Souls. An ocean of joined souls.
The beings spoke in a different language.
"|_:[/\/\~/-]"
"_-{|=!::~~'|"
On and on they spoke. A language that Rei had never heard before. Until suddenly, something clicked in her ears and she understood.
"They will be our Angels. Our children. Our lasting legacy."
"Two born from one. What do we call them in the end?"
"We will name them… Adam and Lilith."
One of the beings turned, peering straight down through the tree and into the ocean below. Seeing deep into Rei's very being.
The First Ancestral Being smiled down at her.
"You will be our final act of kindness." he said.
Rei didn't understand. Whom or what were these people? Why couldn't she look away.
Was she dreaming? She wanted it to stop. Why couldn't it stop? She felt herself going on edge, felt chills run down her spine. But that wasn't right… here in this place… she didn't have a body. Not yet anyway.
How did she know that? How could she imagine an existence without a physical manifestation?
It scared her, this… remnant. Like a half-forgotten memory that belonged to someone else.
Ahhhhh Rei screamed as her head throbbed.
The dream changed. Rei gasped, feeling as if she was sinking deeper and deeper down into a body of water that sang to her.
...
Something was watching her down in the abyss.
Deep Red eyes loomed above, shining through the dark. They pierced into her very soul, each of them the size of her entire body.
It was massive. A Giant in the Dark. Towering over the shivering and whimpering Rei.
A voice called to her. Inhuman, with a low roar that sang to her. Beautiful despite its power.
"Child. Do you see me?" The thing in the dark called.
"I need help… someone help..." Rei whimpered. This sensation was new to her, a new raw fear. Fear of the unknown.
She wanted it to stop. Why couldn't she wake up? What was this nightmare?
"I hear you, child. But I can do nothing. They hurt me. I am imprisoned. Do you hear me? What are you that you can gaze upon me here?" it called.
Rei wanted to flee. To run. But she couldn't.
Then the dream changed again.
...
She was somewhere else. A place where the stars had come back. A modern sky, with familiar constellations visible away from the cities. Dawn was breaking through the night, a collage of midnight blue and yellows bleeding into the starry sky.
There was a young woman, almost twenty years old, lying beside a young man under the night sky. A camp fire was bristling nearby. A forest of trees surrounded them, and in the distance the ruins of an airplane were visible.
Rei breathed slowly, panting from the transition. It felt… nice here. Warm in a way that she had never known.
The young man grunted softly, rising into a sitting position. The blanket he had been sharing with the girl threatened to slip off the two of them, and he reached to stop it. But the woman was faster, elegant with her movements in ways that he was not.
She gently pulled the blanket over them again.
"You were awake the whole time?" the young man asked with a bemused expression.
He yawned as the woman tugged him back down to join her under their blanket.
"Hey" the man protested lightly, a soft smile working its way onto his face.
"I'm cold, and your warm" the woman yawned. She snuggled up to up, breathing softly as she rested her head on his chest.
"I have to make us breakfast" the man said.
"It can wait." The woman said lazily.
Rei watched the two of them with blank confused eyes. No… that wasn't right. She was the woman… the woman under the blanket with her… with her… with the young man.
The couple laid there for a long time. Basking comfortingly in each other's warmth, the camp fire a constant but gentle light.
"You slept better" the woman said suddenly. Her words broke the silence, yet it wasn't unpleasant. It felt… 'safe' in its own way.
"Did I? Huh. That's a relief. And you?" the man said, running his hand through her hair gently.
The woman smiled at him.
"I don't have nightmares when I'm with you" she said simply.
The man paused at that, before reaching his other hand down to take hers in his. Their fingers interlocked.
"How's your arm?" she asked suddenly. She reached up to tug at the man's sleeve, rolling it back and revealing a small scar.
Round and tiny, it marked the man. The leftovers of a bullet wound.
"It doesn't hurt. Itches sometimes." The man whispered.
"… I'm sorry that happened to you" she said. She reached up and brought her lips to the wound, as if she could kiss it away. As if she could remove the blemish from his flesh.
"Hey. It wasn't your fault. It was the scavengers. They wanted the car" the man said softly. He cupped the woman's face with a gentle hand, looking her in the eyes reassuringly.
"I know. I just wish you hadn't gotten hurt." The woman said softly. She leaned her face into the man's hand, basking in its warmth.
"You saved my life. Rei-" the man started softly.
"Hey. Lovebirds, sorry to ruin the moment. But its Shinji's turn to make breakfast" a voice suddenly called.
Asuka had gotten up from the sound of things.
Shinji blinked, embarrassed at being watched.
Rei only smiled sweetly at him, bemused more than anything at his shyness regarding such matters. She sighed softly and rolled off of him, letting him get up from under their blanket. Her fingers trailed after his as he left.
"Sorry" he mouthed.
She watched him cook from her cozy spot by the camp fire and giggled, actually giggled, at the look Asuka was giving them. The redhead rolled her eyes at them, but it was all in good fun.
Shinji… Asuka… that is not… this is incorrect. Why? Why do I see this- this never happened? Rei's scrambled mind thought.
…
This dream, whatever it was, left her dizzy and intoxicated on foreign emotions. Hers and yet not hers. It bothered Rei, the warmth that seemed to awaken from deep within her chest at this dream.
A sensation she had never known. And it felt… good. A pleasant mixture of strength and vulnerably in the arms of another, a conflict of ideas she could not accurately explain.
"Ahhhhh" the girl hissed as her head throbbed again.
She tried to shout, tried to flinch and tear at her hair again… but the dream vanished as quickly as it disappeared. And thankfully… so too did the pain.
The real world
Rei opened her eyes and found herself in a hospital bed.
The room came into being and the blurred images gradually cleared, her eyes readjusting slowly to the hospital lights.
"Ah" Rei winced painfully. Her head was sore, and her body ached like it had been tossed around in a hurry.
EMTs. Rei thought absentmindedly. Logically, if she were in a hospital room then that implied that someone had taken her from her apartment and brought her to the emergency room. It must have been bad for the ambulance crews to have manhandled her so.
"Hey. Take it easy" a voice said suddenly.
Rei gasped weakly. She hadn't realized that she wasn't alone. On reflex she made to sit up and noticed that her hand was pulled out of another. Whom would take her hand in such a fashion?
"Shinji?" the pale skinned girl said. She blinked in surprise at the boy's presence.
"Feeling better?" Shinji said. He smiled softly at her and Rei tilted her head at him.
Her friend was wearing his contacts lens again, they were almost the same colors as his eyes had been before, and he was dressed in his school uniform. Offhandedly, she worried that he might have skipped class to be here.
"I am… reasonably stable" the girl said slowly.
She did a quick test, moving various muscles in her body, curling her fingers and toes, to check if her limbs were working. A procedure Gendo Ikari had instilled into her from Nerv's numerous experiments.
Shinji said nothing as she tested herself.
"You shouldn't push yourself. Trust me, it's easier if you rest." Shinji said gently.
Rei put a hand to her head. It was aching again, and for one moment she was afraid the dream would come back… but nothing happened. Whatever it had been, it was gone.
"It'll wear off in a few hours. And you're gonna feel tired, just… just don't fight it. If you need to sleep, then sleep" Shinji said. His words were soft and gentle, not pushing her to take his advice, but wanting to her to know it was there.
"Shinji. What happened to me?" Rei said slowly. Her eyes were suddenly heavy, and she felt oddly cold.
The boy sighed and leaned in to give her hand a reassuring squeeze. Rei frowned at the rush of warmth from the contact. She's didn't reject his touch and she almost trailed after his fingers when they left.
"You had a seizure." Shinji said.
Rei's tired eyes widened.
"How long I did lose consciousness" she asked, unable to stop the tremor in her voice. Rei felt her fingers twitch at the sensation, another weight adding to her chest. Fear.
"About a day." Shinji answered her.
Rei looked away. Gendo wouldn't be pleased. And more than that, the news brought a shiver to her bones. A distant memory of suffering something similar many years ago.
"I… Shinji, why are you here? Did Gendo send you to check up on me-" Rei started.
"No one sent me, Rei." The boy interrupted.
Rei opened her mouth to speak, but had trouble finding the words.
"I heard what happened, and I was worried about you." Shinji said seriously.
He laughed awkwardly and continued "it's only fair. Do you remember all those months ago when we were the only Eva pilots?"
"Yes. It was… hard" Rei answered.
"You were better than me, probably still are" Shinji said with a laugh.
That's not true. Your sync ratio has broken records as of late. And… you are better than me in many things. You have… an understanding that I do not Rei thought.
"I was always getting hurt. How many times did I end up in the hospital? And you always checked up on me" Shinji said with a low chuckle. Somehow managing to look back on those times with humor.
I was ordered to. But I do not regret coming to see you. Rei thought.
"Thank you, Shinji" Rei said slowly. A small smile threatening to emerge on her face, but the moment was ruined when her head throbbed again.
She winced, brought a hand to her head, and shuddered at the sensation. Chills slide down her spine, but the pain died down again.
Shinji watched with a worried expression.
"I know it's scary. To black out like that. To wake up feeling lost. That fear that trickles down your spine. Trust me, I know what that feels like. When I was younger, and my condition was at its worst, I blacked out too. I had seizures, bad ones. I would wake up all alone in a white room, strapped down to a bed so I couldn't hurt myself." Shinji said somberly.
Rei's eyes widened at that. That was how she felt. The sense of being lost and the fear, but she was lucky. She couldn't imagine what it would have been like to wake alone and strapped to a bed.
"But you're alive, Rei. And that's more important. Didn't let anyone tell you different. Not even the Director of Nerv" Shinji said. His voice was surprisingly firm, steady, and it made her meet his gaze unblinkingly.
Rei didn't know how to respond to that. She wished she had an answer to that, but the words escaped her. It felt… good. Good to wake to a friendly face, a friend whom had come to see her.
A friend whom knew what suffering a seizure was like.
"Are you hungry? I made some food. I know you don't like meat, but I put together some sandwiches. Hospital food is pretty bad." Shinji said suddenly. He hefted his backup up and pulled out a lunch bag.
The moment Shinji mentioned it, Rei felt the emptiness in her belly. Feeling something like embarrassed, Rei shifted uncomfortably as her stomach growled.
She gratefully accepted the food and surprised herself with how readily she ate it.
"Hey, I have to let the nurse know you're awake. I'll be back" Shinji said.
He got up and disappeared for a few minutes. She chewed on her sandwich as he was gone. Thinking about what she had seen.
What had it been? Almost like a memory. It was still in her mind but fragmented, as if a piece of glass had been shattered and left remnants for her.
The nurse entered the room with Shinji, and he gave them privacy as the woman checked up on Rei.
Rei was told to drink plenty of water, that she'd be under observation, and that the hospital would be updating Nerv shortly. She nodded along with the nurse and was glad when the woman left her with Shinji again.
"I'm sorry. But I gotta head home. Misato's waiting for me. Before I go, here" Shinji said.
Rei's face fell upon learning that her friend was leaving, but she blinked in surprise when the boy handed her his beloved SDAT player and a pair of headphones.
"I cannot take this. It is yours" Rei said blankly.
Shinji shrugged.
"Hospitals are boring. Take it, maybe you can find a song you like" he said pleasantly.
Slowly, Rei took the music player from Shinji. But just as he turned to leave, she stopped him.
Shinji stared, breathless as Rei's eyes went blank and she held his arm by the wrist. She moved like something out a dream, she sat up and ran her hand along his arm.
The Broken Man stirred as Rei rolled up Shinji's sleeve.
She ran her fingers along the boy's skin.
"No scar" the pale skinned girl whispered. Trance like, voice like a half-forgotten dream. Still in that state, she reached forward and almost brought her lips to where the scar had been in the memory.
But then she stopped. Blinked in surprise and sat back down.
What was that? What came over me? Rei thought frantically.
"I- I am sorry Shinji! I do not- I cannot explain it" the girl stammered.
"It's okay. You just need to rest." Shinji said softly, voice trembling with emotions that were not completely his.
...
Deep in the Other Place, the Broken Man stood with sorrowful eyes and a head hung low. He rolled down the sleeve of his ragged coat and grasped the old scar on his arm.
The mark was still there from when he had been shot, just another scar on his mangled body. The Broken Man closed his eyes, remembering the ghost of a kiss on his skin. Another lifetime ago.
It nearly brought him to tears.
...
The real world
Shinji left her the SDAT player and headphones.
"I- will you come back?" Rei asked suddenly.
"Of course. We're friend, right?" Shinji said with a soft smile. Like such a question was silly to even ask.
"Right" Rei said feeling better at hearing the words aloud.
She watched him go, her eyes lingering on the door long after he had left.
Word traveled quickly that Rei had had a seizure. Misato and Asuka had been told by Shinji, but Nerv had its own form of gossip regardless. If Gendo was upset about the news, no one could say. The man was his usual cold self.
Ritsuko issued a report speculating that over exposure to repeated stresses in the sync tests had most likely caused it. Another side effect of Eva piloting, or so the idea was.
It worried Misato more than anyone. Ritsuko had had to assure her that she had re-calibrate the sync test and would personally watch over the pilots' vitals with greater care. Word traveled that Rei would be excused from tests for a few days, just to be on the safe side.
Unfortunately, it was business as usual for everyone else. The safety of Japan took precedence over all others, according to the report issued by the Director and Sub-Director of Nerv.
"Can't believe they're still making us do this." Asuka muttered under her breath. Whatever the technicians said, one of the pilots had been hospitalized and that left her uneasy.
"It's a risk we have to take. Its why we pilot, to protect everyone" Shinji said softly.
The German glanced his way and blinked in surprise at the comment. For their time working together, Eva Team One, that was the first time she had heard a definitive reason for why Shinji did what he did.
The two of them wore their plugsuits and strode into the testing chambers with little commentary.
"Alright. You two know the drill. Sync up" Ritsuko called into the comm.
Asuka and Shinji did as they were told. They went through the motions for what seemed the billionth time, entering the testing plugs and syncing so the Magi supercomputers could analyze their records.
They scored about the same. Asuka letting a smirk emerge on her face at the results.
Shinji holding at 71%. Asuka at 73%.
"Hmm. Shinji, you're slacking down a bit. We'll need to do some extra testing later. Asuka, you're improving as always. Good work" Ritsuko called into the comm.
Ha! I knew last time had to be a fluke. I've trained every day for my sync. I earned that record Asuka thought allowing herself a small amount of smugness.
"Good work, Asuka" Shinji suddenly called into her comm.
It surprised her. She paused, before answering "thanks… you… you just did need to practice more."
The words shocked Asuka more than she thought they would. Whatever she thought, Shinji had saved her life multiple times and they were a team.
After the test was over, Shinji was requested for a physical examination by Ritsuko. The doctor voice's emerging from the intercom as Asuka glanced up with a frown.
Geez. Bet his dad's mad to see such a drop. That guy's an asshat. Asuka thought with a scowl.
She changed back into her street clothes and left the girls locker room, only to find Shinji waiting for her alongside Mari of all people. The older girl was coming in for her test whilst Shinji and Asuka were leaving theirs.
But it would be a solo test with a simulator. With Rei hospitalized, and Unit 03 functional but not combat ready, Mari's tests were limited to say the least.
"How is she?" Mari was saying. The older girl stood with her arms crossed, cool expression fading under a sharp frown.
"Fine. Just tired. I dropped off her worksheets, she seemed lonely there. You know how that it is, the hospitals and their white rooms." Shinji said.
Mari nodded, oddly somber, saying "yeah… I always hated those rooms."
Asuka stopped to stare at the couple. What the heck were they talking about?
"Oh. Hey, Asuka. I wanted to talk to you too" Shinji said greeting her as she came upon him and his girlfriend.
"What for?" Asuka asked slowly.
"I think we should go visit Rei. All of us." Shinji clarified, gesturing at Mari too. For her part, Mari kept an unreadable expression on her face but did not protest.
"… why? She doesn't exactly like me" Asuka said.
In truth, Asuka did not know Rei. Not truly. That most interactions that they had, had been when during Shinji's absence after being absorbed into his Eva. A strictly work-related partnership, though Rei had followed orders without question. And before that, during their argument over how Shinji had been taken.
Shinji frowned at her. "That's not true. Rei is our friend. Even yours. You worked together when I was… when I was gone." The boy said.
Mari put a hand on his shoulder as he spoke, a reassuring gesture.
Freaking Golden Boy… just has to be so 'nice'. Asuka thought with a roll of her eyes. She sighed and shook her head.
"Come on. Misato's been saying we should do something, we could probably get her to help us. Get a free meal out of it" Shinji said looking hopeful.
Asuka sighed saying "why do you care so much?"
"Why don't you?" Shinji countered simply. There was no malice in his words, no hint of judgement or a condescending sneer. But a genuine question.
I… I don't know. Should I care more? I cared when Shinji was 'taken', but that's different. He's the other half of Eva Team One. And Rei is- I… damn it Shinji. I can be nice too! Asuka thought.
"My boy has a good heart" Mari commented, smiling softly at Shinji and Asuka.
"Fine. I'll go" Asuka said.
Shinji opened his mouth to speak, but the intercom chimed getting all their attention.
"Shinji Ikari. Please report to the examination room" Ritsuko's voice boomed out over the intercom.
"I have to go" Shinji said with a sigh. He turned to leave, giving Mari a quick goodbye hug, and she called after him saying "wait up for me. We can do something after the tests."
"Sounds good" Shinji answered with a beam.
Asuka just shook her head at them and departed. Asuka going back to the apartment, Mari to the sync test, and Shinji going to his examination.
Ritsuko turned the intercom off and stepped back from the console.
"Maya, Aoba, do Mari's sync test for me. Hyuga, log Eva Team One's results and have the Magi run a comparison on their previous records. I need to examine Shinji." Ritsuko said turning to her staff.
"Roger" Maya answered as she and Aoba moved to replace her, with Hyuga working quietly from his terminal.
…
Ritsuko found Shinji waiting for her in the examination room.
"There's no cameras active here. No microphones, I scanned the room. We can talk" Ritsuko said in greeting.
She locked the door behind her.
"Thank you, Ritsuko" the Broken Man answered her.
Ritsuko stilled at the words. Then she turned to face him, the Other Shinji. His eyes were what separated him from the boy. It was surreal to witness, the boy's lips moved but the voice was different. Harder, and with a tone that only came with age.
"I know I've asked a lot of you. Gendo is a perceptive man, if nothing else. But did he believe you?"
"I think so. He doesn't suspect anything." Ritsuko said, still getting over the shock. Speaking with this… this Other was a strange phenomenon.
"He suspects but he does not understand. He came to visit the boy. He wanted to see my reaction to the news of Rei's incident." The Broken Man and Shinji said.
Ritsuko did a double take. It was unsettling to watch. The two Shinji(s) switching mid conversation each to talk with her.
"And... and what did he think?" Ritsuko asked.
"I'm not entire sure. He doesn't have the whole picture. No one does." Young Shinji said thinking carefully.
Seeing the look on Ritsuko's face, the Broken Man stepped in again.
"You have questions. I promised to answer them." he said.
"I still don't understand 'you'. What exactly are you? You said that you were a time traveler. That you used the Angels powers to do it." Ritsuko said slowly. Once again coming to terms with the two.
The Broken Man nodded.
"I created this timeline." the Broken Man explained. He told her the basics of the story, going over his original life where they had failed to stop Third Impact.
Ritsuko listened intently, having seen glimpses of that dead world from which the Original Shinji had come from. Her eyes widened as the Broken Man's tale grew and grew. He told her of what life was like after the Impact, how everything fell apart, he skipped his more personal matters, and when he told her of how the Angels rose again in that wasteland her jaw dropped.
"Adam and Lilith survived all that?" Ritsuko said in disbelief.
"They were the First and Second Angels. They're not like the others. They're extremely difficult to kill. Losing their bodies in the Impact didn't end them, 30 years later they both recovered." the Broken Man explained.
"God" Ritsuko hissed under her breath. That was regeneration to an absurd degree, far beyond anything the other Angels had shown. It was a process that Ritsuko fully admitted that she did not understand, and that terrified her.
And him. The Original Shinji. He destroyed an entire universe to create this one... we are all the product of his choice. The life I am currently living, that everyone on this earth is living, is all due to him she thought. The scientist in her stood in awe of that feat.
Once the Broken Man's tale was done, the compressed version, Ritsuko only stared at him further.
To kill the First Angel and steal his powers... that's bold. I didn't think something like that was even possible she thought.
"There are many players in this game, Ritsuko. Nothing is simple in this world. SEELE and my mother were the masterminds, each with their own goals.
Gendo has turned against his masters, and they suspect him. They have... an uneasy alliance.
The Japanese government, and elements of the UN, are investigating both of them. And in turn SEELE has men in their pocket." the Broken Man said.
"Three players" Ritsuko said slowly.
"Four."
Ritsuko stared at him.
"The Other Angels. Adam's Children." the Broken Man explained.
"The anomalies. Strange occurrences, and the number of Angels being wrong." Ritsuko said thinking aloud.
Shinji nodded.
"The Angels do not 'exist' the way you and I do. Yet they're not mindless. They have a language, they even have names. And they're connected via a network."
Ritsuko considered that. So, the Angels were linked in a way that Nerv had never considered. That explained somethings. If this Other was indeed part Angel himself, then he would appear in that network. A visible alteration that the Angels would not understand.
"That's why the Angels hate Shinji. I mean- the boy. You, the Young Shinji. They're... attracted to him because they know the Other is in there." Ritsuko said slowly. She spoke her thoughts openly and stammered at how to describe the phenomenon.
Young Shinji nodded.
"I didn't understand it for a long time either. The way the Angels seemed to hate me, how they always chased after me in particular" Young Shinji said.
Ritsuko went over it in her mind. During the Mount Asama incident, the Abnormal Angel had shown an unusual interest in Shinji. Then, during the blackout at Nerv that spider-like Angel had chased after him specifically. It had not cared about Asuka, Mari, or even Rei.
Then there was the breach at Nerv. Where that monstrous tank of an Angel had come directly for him, where it had dragged Eva Unit 01 away from the others and tried to starve him out. That had been one of the only instances where the Angels had shown planning and coordination.
"And Rei. That was you, wasn't it?" Ritsuko said in barely a whisper.
Young Shinji looked away, and the Broken Man answered hoarsely.
"Yes. Rei is Lilith's vessel. All of them are."
Ritsuko's eyes widened at the realization.
"Rei is a part of the Angel network" the scientist said. She got to her feet and paced around the room her mind going wild. So many revelations in such a short time.
Ritsuko went further, saying "but that doesn't explain what happened. You said that when you used Lilith's power it caused a chain reaction. A violent one. Why? I don't-"
"Because the people who built the Angels did not want them time traveling." the Broken Man answered.
Ritsuko stopped mid-breath.
The Broken Man looked back up at her. Hollow empty eyes meeting hers, they seemed to judge her for her curiosity.
"They were called the First Ancestral Race. They put limits on their creations for a reason. Time travel is dangerous. Paradoxes, erased timelines, the bleeding effect, the list goes on. I conflict with Adam and Lilith because I carry a piece of them with me. Pieces of the Original Adam and Lilith.
When I use one of their powers it becomes a contradiction. Their Creators did not want that, and so when their network shows two of the same, shows evidence of time travel, it rejects us. From both sides. I feel pain, and they feel pain.
The Second Angel winced the night I used her power, and it sent Rei into a seizure. Lilith can survive it but if I had used too much that it would have killed Rei. All of her. Blowback."
"But- but that still doesn't make sense?! It didn't care about Rei before all this? And she's an extension of Lilith. It only cared about you. How could the network be aware of time travel? Do the Angels realize what you've done? How could these- these people build safeguards like that?"
"It just is. The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you." the Broken Man answered.
Ritsuko shook her head at him. That was just- what else could she say.
"What were they like? These... First Ancestral Race?" Ritsuko said. She couldn't help herself, sitting before her in this room was a wealth of information that surpassed anything Gendo or SEELE had ever told her.
Likely more than either group had ever known. Answers to questions she had never even thought to ask. All of that information inside of a 14-year-old boy. The combined memories of an instrumentality event, with the memories given freely by the Second Angel. It was too much for a human to contain, the fact that Shinji was even alive was incredible.
Again, the Broken Man regarded her. Hollow eyes almost harsh in their judgment of her curiosity.
"They were the first sentient life in the universe. And now they're gone." the Broken Man said dryly. He spoke with finality that bordered on indifference.
"Shinji- there must be more. Lilith must have had memories of them-" Ritsuko began, eyes beaming as she leaned in wanting to know more.
"It doesn't matter. They're gone. Lilith is the closest to what they wanted, she's different than the others. That's all we need to know." the Broken Man said.
Ritsuko's a scientist. She can't help but be curious. Aren't you? Not even a little? Young Shinji thought.
Maybe once. Not anymore. the Broken Man thought back.
"Right. I'm sorry" Ritsuko said, recovering and leaning back. She couldn't lie, she was slightly disappointed.
"My point is, we're the Final Player." the Broken Man said.
Ritsuko nodded slowly.
The three of them, the Fifth Player.
"This isn't a movie. We can't just go kill Gendo, that would cause more problems. And even if I could take down SEELE in one move, it wouldn't stop Gendo." the Broken Man continued.
"And even if you could take them both down, then that still leaves the Angels." Ritsuko said in agreement.
The Broken Man nodded approvingly, he never smiled but he was impressed with how quickly she caught on.
"And it leaves the Government factions without answers."
Our lives are complicated. Young Shinji thought.
"So, we play the long game. We have to follow this through to the end, up to where they try to start an Impact Event. We can move whilst the other players fight amongst themselves. I can't predict everything, and they are not completely ignorant of my existence, but I've seen this before."
The Broken Man moved Young Shinji's body, pointing the boy's finger to his head.
"I have knowledge that they do not." he finished.
"We make things right. Change your- the outcome. Undo all the mess the Ikari's and SEELE made. I can make it right. Undo all the things I've done." Ritsuko said.
The woman spoke more to herself than Shinji or the Broken Man. Face downcast and lost in her own thoughts.
In her mind's eye, she replayed all the experiments she had helped Gendo with. Replayed all the tests she had done on Rei, along with helping to create so many iterations of the girl, all the work she had wasted her life on towards a goal that had been lie.
"I cannot give you absolution, Ritsuko" the Broken Man said suddenly.
The woman looked up at him. She was getting better at talking to them, but her eyes betrayed her just as the Broken Man's betrayed him at times.
Vulnerability. A want nearing a need to 'undo' the things she had done in her life. A trace of guilt and shame there, perks of her personality that Gendo had taken advantage of. But the Broken Man was not his father, he didn't tell her what she wanted to hear. He told the truth.
"I cannot tell you what will wash the stains away. Everyone finds that for themselves, if they find it at all. That doesn't mean you still can't do the right thing. Maybe that's enough." The Broken Man said.
Ritsuko didn't look away this time. She held his gaze and wondered just how old this 'Other' truly was.
"Maybe. And if I wanted revenge, you said I could get that too." Ritsuko said, surprising herself with the firmness in her voice. The bits of steel edging into her eyes.
Shinji nodded.
"Glad we understand each other" Ritsuko said coolly.
They shook hands.
"Did you bring what I asked?" the Broken Man asked, their meeting nearly done.
Ritsuko nodded and reached into her purse. She pulled out two prepaid cellphones. Paid for in cash with no contracts.
She gave one of the phones to Shinji, and the boy took it. Each phone had the others number programmed into it. It wasn't perfect or fancy, but it would give them a better way to communicate long term.
Later
Hospital
"I'm really proud of you for doing this" Misato told him. She had pulled him off to the side from the others for a moment.
Shinji nodded saying "it's the least we can do."
They were in the courtyard of the hospital. Shinji, Misato, Asuka, and Rei. They had gotten permission from the staff with some help from Ritsuko, and Rei had been allowed to get some fresh air and leave her room for an hour.
A nurse stood on standby off to the side, but the woman politely kept her distance.
For her part, Rei seemed truly astonished that so many people had come to visit her. She'd been surprised that Shinji had visited, but for this... she had trouble expressing how that made her feel.
Rei was still recovering, she often brought a hand to her head and suffered from headaches.
She's seen a glimpse of the truth. Suffered the Bleeding Effect. But that's all she can take. I can't show more, or it could kill her. The Broken Man had told him darkly.
It hurt both Shinji(s) to see her like that. To know that they had been the ones to hurt her so badly.
The group made an odd sight, with the other teens gathering around the injured girl in the white garments that the hospital had given her.
"Thanks for getting the food." Shinji told Misato. Stepping away from his darker thoughts for the moment.
His guardian beamed at him and started setting the table for the group of teenagers.
"How are you doing, Rei? Feel any better getting some fresh air?" Shinji asked as he took a seat across from her. Mari sat beside him.
"I think so. I dislike the rooms here. It feels... 'better' to breathe this air" Rei said slowly.
"Hospital rooms are terrible. They suck like the life from you, sterile and white. The outside air will help. Trust me." Mari said suddenly.
Rei tilted her head at the girl. Unsure what to make of that.
Shinji watched the two.
"Just hang in there, partner. We'll be back to the Evas whenever you're ready" Mari said, surprisingly serious and less her usual care-free self.
Rei nodded at that slowly.
Whatever they were, friends or not, Rei and Mari were partners. Eva Team Two, they had worked together before and they would work together again. That had fought alongside each other. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Wow. Look at that. Asuka thought looking to the two girls.
Misato started serving them the food she'd bought. Noodles and Ramen again, with meatless plates for Rei. just like the last time they'd all gone out together.
"Thank you, for visiting" Rei said to the others.
"We're Eva Pilots. The only ones in the whole world. We gotta stick together" Shinji said before any of the others could speak.
They stared at him. Misato gave him an approving grin. It was... 'nice' for them to be together every now and then. All of them.
"Jeez. Why do you have to be serious all the damned time?" Asuka muttered shaking her head at the whole thing.
Mari only laughed, and Misato gave Asuka a cross look. Shinji took it in stride.
They shared a meal out there in the courtyard. It gave a very thankful Rei an excuse to leave her room, they compared sync records or else told stories that Rei listened to. Shinji and Misato told her that they had arranged to have her worksheets from school delivered to her room, and for an extension if needed.
Rei took all the attention awkwardly. Yet the girl seemed to breathe easier with the group, an unusual thing for the notoriously quiet girl.
When their time was up, and they were leaving, Rei turned to him again.
"Thank you. For everything, Shinji" she told him. His SDAT player was still in her pocket.
...
Only when they were on their way to the car did the mood turn sour. He was walking beside Asuka and Mari, with Misato fumbling for her car keys when it happened.
Do you feel it? The Broken Man stirred suddenly.
Shinji paused.
You have some of my abilities now. Reach out with my Angel senses. Look into their network and you will see it
Shinji closed his eyes for a second. Time seemed to stretch in that moment, and though his eyes were closed he could see… it.
The Other Place
Young Shinji stood beside the Broken Man. The two stood on a stretch of land with the ruins of a city in the distance. In this bridge between them here in the Other Place.
Shinji raised his hands as if in prayer.
He saw a network represented by a sea of threads connecting to many targets. Its scope was massive, and it did not seem to be bound by any limits, it reached out into the heavens and passed the entire planet. It was boundless, but his perception of it was not.
The closest thing he could sense… was Rei. He could 'feel' her presence in the hospital. She was tired but glad that they had come to visit her. That he had come to see her twice. He couldn't read her mind only twinges of what she felt.
Further away, two powers were near, their signatures radiated like the beating heart of a star. Adam and Lilith held prisoner at Nerv HQ.
Shinji shuddered at the sensation.
Further away even than Adam and Lilith, beyond the planet and out into space. Adam's Children moved. The Other Angels were coordinating. He could feel them moving with hostile intent.
Rage, anger, confusion, and even fear… that was what radiated off of the Angels.
I can't believe it. I can… I can sense them. Is this what you can do?
Yes. And they can sense us back. They're planning something. I don't know what, but it can't be good.
"Shinji?"
The boy opened his eyes. Only a handful of seconds had passed in the real world, but Mari had glanced back at him with a worried expression.
"Hey dummy, you okay? Take your pills today?" his girlfriend asked frowning at him.
"I'm fine. Just a headache" Shinji lied with a false smile.
Mari put a hand to his head, worried he was getting sick.
He shrugged her off gently. "Worrywart" he teased her in a falsely pleasant tone.
She scoffed playfully at him, but before she could continue Asuka called out to them.
"Hey lovebirds. We're going to get stuck in traffic hour" the German called out. Misato had found her keys and unlocked the car for them.
Shinji hurried back to the car, Mari at his side. He put on a false at ease smile, another mask to wear for the others. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that was something was happening. The Broken Man was on edge too.
Together, the Shinji(s) worried for what was coming. The Angels were out there, the Fourth Player was moving.
Bit of an abrupt end. One of the hardest things to write with recent chapters is pacing. I have so many ideas, but its difficult to put them all in a chapter so that they flow and that it doesn't get too disjointed.
That said, was this too much for one chapter? I tried to touch upon all '5 players on the board' this time.
I like writing the Shinji(s) as well as Gendo scenes, and writing them all in the same room is amazing but brings its own challenges. We also got to see Ritsuko and the Broken Man, Lilith awake, as well as Rei's own unique bleeding effect.
If there's questions about the modified lore, private message me.
Thanks for reading and please Review.
Cheers!