Chapter 29 – Ghost In The Machine Part III: Force Restart
"Now you are going to tell me everything you know..."
Rei stared back at Dr. Akagi with wide eyes, unable to speak. "Wh- wh- what do you mean?" she stammered after a moment of hesitation.
Dr. Akagi glared at her, dropping her cigarette to the tile floor and stomping it out beneath her shoe. "You tell me?" she hissed. "What do these visions mean and why are they there?"
Rei felt like she was going implode. She wanted to get up from the cold chair she was sitting in and bolt for the door but her legs wouldn't move. Her entire body was beginning to shake uncontrollably. This woman was loyal to Commander Ikari, she'd tried to kill her just like her mother had, and now she'd discovered her secret... "I- I- I d- don't know..." she stuttered, looking down at her feet.
Dr. Akagi folded her arms and crossed her legs. "You're lying, Rei," she bit out with a blank, analytical expression. "I can tell that you're lying."
Rei glanced at the door to Dr. Akagi's office. She wanted to bolt but she knew that if she did that it wouldn't be long until she was caught. After that, Commander Ikari would definitely become involved if he wasn't already... That thought, that he might already know something was amiss utterly terrified her. She turned back to Dr. Akagi, trying hard not to turn into a shaking mess. "D- does Commander Ikari know about... what you've seen?" she asked.
Dr. Akagi shook her head. "No," she replied evenly. "I have not yet informed him of my findings."
Rei felt a momentary relief knowing that he was not privy to the information as of yet. "Do you intend to tell him?" she asked.
Dr. Akagi glared at her. "Only if you cannot explain yourself," she returned. "Certain things that I've seen would make me... reluctant to inform him. I can assure you this conversation will remain private."
Rei took this information in. "I see..." she murmured softly, looking down at her lap and fidgeting with the ends of her school uniform's skirt.
"Dr. Akagi's harsh expression softened slightly. "Can you tell me why there are memories in your files that never occurred?" she pressed.
Rei felt the urge to vomit. The knowledge that Dr. Akagi had seen... everything, everything that she'd ever gone through in the past timeline up until now was sickening. She knew that she had to explain herself, otherwise she most likely wouldn't survive the day, but... how could she even begin to explain her unique situation? "I... I don't know..." she murmured weakly.
Dr. Akagi sat in silence for a moment. "Can you attempt to?" she asked, her tone becoming softer, almost... caring.
Rei met the doctor's gaze. Even though her expression was still clinical there was a worry held within her eyes, an apprehension. It almost looked like Dr. Akagi wasn't sure that she was ready for whatever she might hear. "Even if I explain it... I do not think you would believe me..." she replied.
Dr. Akagi's brow furrowed. "After what I've just seen, I doubt anything you'd say would surprise me," she replied.
Something about how the doctor said that told Rei that she would still find the truth to be shocking. This was it... she had no choice but to try and explain it, otherwise Commander Ikari would surely replace her. "I've... I've lived... before... this life..." she replied uneasily.
A rather sober expression washed over Dr. Akagi's face. "I know this," she stated in a sympathetic tone. "I know that my mother... she killed the first Rei Ayanami."
Rei shook her head and drew a deep breath to calm herself. Though being reminded of that memory churned her stomach she couldn't let herself linger on that point. Dr. Akagi did not yet understand... "That is not what I'm speaking of..." she replied, still unsure of how to put it all into words.
Dr. Akagi's eyes widened. "Then... what do you mean?" she asked, staring at her with a look of morbid curiosity.
Rei drew a deep breath and dug her fingers into the sides of her skirt to keep from shaking. "You've seen... everything... in my memories... yes?" she inquired nervously.
Dr. Akagi nodded. "This is correct," she stated.
Rei shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She had to tell her, there was no other option. All she could do was tell the truth and hope for the best... "Certain... events were different than you remember them, correct?" Rei pressed.
"Yes," Dr. Akagi replied evenly though Rei could tell that she was anxious for her to get to the point.
Rei took a deep breath and let it out. "I've... lived the events of the last few months before..." she replied. "Things have been different, but... much has been the same."
Dr. Akagi looked puzzled, fearful even. "How is that possible?" she pressed, her tone becoming a mixture of frantic and frustrated. "Elaborate, Rei."
Rei fought to control her breathing. "You saw everything, right?" she blurted out, her stress beginning to overwhelm her. "You saw... the commencement of the Third Impact?"
"I did," Dr. Akagi replied after a moment of deafening silence.
Rei closed her eyes. She had nothing left to hide and no way to hide it even if she did. She felt so... naked and exposed. She hated it. All she could do was continue her explanation as her fragile grasp on her composure continued to ebb away. "During Third Impact... I met Dr. Yui Ikari," she spoke. "I was scared. I was going to die and I didn't want to die, not again... She... sent me back."
There was another deeply uncomfortable pause. "How is that possible?" Dr. Akagi asked.
"I don't know..." was all Rei could whimper in reply.
"Are you telling me that you've... traveled through time?" Dr. Akagi, sounding audibly shocked.
Rei leaned over to stare at her knees, bringing her arms tight around her chest. She just couldn't stop shaking... Time travel was one way to look at her situation, to describe Yui-sama's gift, but... it wasn't quite right. Traveling through time would have meant that things would have happened exactly as they had before, there would have been no unknown Angels or excursions to aircraft carriers. No, that wasn't an accurate assessment, but what was then? "It's more like... I traveled between worlds," she returned, her breathing becoming fast as her anxiety continued to spike. "This world is... different from the one I first... lived in. You've seen that."
"I've seen that," Dr. Akagi stated, sounding equal parts fascinated and nervous. "But how did it come about?"
"Yui Ikari... she... somehow she saved me. She caused my consciousness to awaken in this world after Unit 00's accident," Rei replied, tears welling up in her eyes. Why hadn't she planned for this moment? She was so afraid of what would happen once she'd told Dr. Akagi all of her secrets.
"I don't understand," Dr. Akagi returned, sounding truly lost. "How is that possible?"
"I don't know..." Rei whimpered.
"Are you trying to tell me that Yui Ikari is the one responsible for this?" Dr. Akagi asked.
The dam broke and she could no longer remain composed. "I don't know!" Rei cried, bringing her hands to her head and digging her fingers into her hair. "I don't know! I know it's illogical but everything you saw really happened to me! I swear, that's what happened!"
She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Rei, calm down," Dr. Akagi said.
Rei recoiled from the touch and curled further into herself. She didn't want to be touched, especially not by her, a person that despised her, not when everything she'd ever kept inside was pouring out. Knowing that Dr. Akagi knew everything, had seen everything, made her feel violated. It felt like all she was doing now was just... torturing her. She squeezed her eyes shut. "Please, I don't know why or how this happened to me!" Rei sobbed, her voice coming out choked and hoarse. "I've told you the truth! These things you've seen really happened to me and I don't want the Third Impact to happen again! Please, don't tell Commander Ikari about this! I don't want to be replaced! Please, just leave me alone!"
Ritsuko sat watching Rei sob. She was kind of amazed, she'd never seen Rei display such raw emotion ever. It was actually kind of shocking, almost as shocking as what she'd just told her. Sitting there, looking at this... poor girl, sobbing and holding her head was... painful. After seeing what she'd seen, what she'd seen herself doing to her in those memories, she could completely understand why she was terrified.
What Rei had told her kept ringing in her mind. What the blue haired girl had told her did indeed sound completely crazy but... after what she'd seen it actually did seem like the truth. No, it had to be the truth, otherwise Rei wouldn't be so utterly distraught. Her thoughts drifted to what she'd seen from Rei's memories regarding Gendo. If... if things were playing out similar to this... other timeline that Rei had experienced, he was plotting to initiate the Third Impact using Rei as a trigger. If that was the case then Rei was correct and he would most likely have her killed and replaced if he found out. She'd seen first hand... how he dealt with obstacles. The sight of her own lifeless body on the floor in Terminal dogma was rather haunting... "I... I won't tell him, Rei," she replied softly.
Rei stiffened and after a few seconds she relaxed a bit. "You won't?" she asked meekly, still cradling her head in her hands.
Ritsuko forced a smile. "How would I even explain it?" she countered softly. "If what you say is true, then I doubt he would believe it anyway..."
Rei seemed to relax after a moment of pause and sat up, wiping her eyes and sniffling, regarding her with a perplexed expression. "Wh- what do you mean?" she stammered.
Ritsuko sighed. "The only way he would believe the things you're telling me would be if I were to show him everything I've seen," she replied. If she were to do that, she would probably put herself at risk. Considering what she'd seen, and if it applied to her own reality, she shouldn't put as much trust in Gendo... for anything.
Rei immediately began to shake again and her tears resumed. "Please, don't show him..." she murmured between renewed sobs. "Don't show him..."
Ritsuko frowned. "Please, calm down Rei," she spoke softly but it seemed to have no effect. "Rei, I need you to calm down," she stated more firmly after a moment.
"I can't..." Rei whimpered. "I know how you think of me... I know you... hate me..."
Ritsuko could feel the pain and angst that those words carried. Perhaps there had been a time when she actually had hated her. There had certainly been moments since she'd known Rei where she'd felt threatened by her, thinking that she could never acquire Gendo's attention because of her. There had been moments where she'd thought Rei was nothing but a thoughtless, emotionless drone... but she'd been wrong on all those counts. It hurt to think that she'd spent so much time feeling jealous, feeling inferior, to this... sad little girl before her. It made her realize just how wrong she'd been in the past. It made her realize how... much of a fool she'd been, just like her mother before her... "No, Rei," she replied softly. "I don't hate you."
Rei looked at her with a stunned expression, her eyes full of pain and confusion. "You... don't?" she asked.
Ritsuko shook her head. "No... I don't," she replied. "I'll admit I used to dislike you, but I never hated you. I was just... I had my reasons. Now, and over the past few months, I've seen that my feelings were... misplaced."
Rei's lip quivered and her tears continued to fall. "Please don't lie to me," She whimpered hanging her head. "I know you... hate me. I know you wish I wasn't alive..."
Ritsuko felt genuinely offended by that statement and she reached out and grabbed Rei by the collar. "Stop it!" she hissed. It may have been true once but it wasn't true now. "Pull yourself together!"
Rei froze in her grasp and said nothing, simply staring at her with fear in her eyes.
Ritsuko's expression softened and she loosened her grip. Rei really was just a scared little girl right now... "Rei, calm down," she said after collecting herself. "I'm not going to hurt you, okay? I just... want to wrap my head around what you've just told me, alright? Can you do that for me?"
Rei nodded after a moment, her breathing beginning to slow. "Yes, Dr. Akagi..." she replied, her tone of voice still very fearful.
Ritsuko thought hard on what to say next. No matter what, she needed to gain a better understanding of what it was she'd seen, that Rei had... experienced. If those memories that Rei assured her were real had any bearing on the reality in which she lived then she needed to know. "Do you think that Commander Ikari is planning to initiate the Third Impact?" she asked softly.
Rei seemed to calm down just a little bit, having something to focus on, and she nodded her head in the affirmative. "I do," she replied softly.
"Why?" Ritsuko asked.
Rei dug her fingers into the hem of her skirt once again and tensed up. "He... wants to use me... to reunite with Dr. Yui Ikari," she replied. "That is the ultimate purpose of my creation... to execute his version of the Human Instrumentality Project."
Ritsuko eyes widened. "His version?" she pressed.
Rei nodded and fidgeted in her seat. "Yes. I believe his version differs from what the committee wants," she replied. She paused for a moment and drew a shaky breath. "This is why they... convinced the Japanese military to attack NERV in my... in that other reality. Regardless, the end result is the same. They also desire Third Impact..."
Ritsuko's stomach churned. Deep down... she'd suspected as much. She knew that Rei was an artificial creation born from the flesh of Lilith, that she'd always known, but this... with this revelation it all made sense. It explained why he'd done, or tried to do, so much to keep Rei from forming social bonds or developing a personality. To him, she was just a tool, the automaton she'd once despised. It also explained why he never noticed her, why he'd... used her mother until it had broken her. This new knowledge filled her with such hurt. To think that he was using her, giving her vain hope that they might share something intimate with his praise of her work, knowing he'd never reciprocate her feelings hurt. It made her want to hate him... but tender feelings are not easily dispensed with.
There was also the horror of finally understanding what the Human Instrumentality Project was really about. Those old bastards on the committee that oversaw NERV honestly intended to end the world... She understood now that, if something wasn't done, the Third Impact was inevitable, but what could be done? If she were to raise concerns of any kind she would put herself at risk. She could only imagine would could happen if the Japanese government caught wind of what was happening right under their noses... "This is... a lot to take in," Ritsuko replied. "You understand that, right?"
Rei seemed to relax just a bit more. "I do..." she replied just above a whisper. "I understand..."
Ritsuko waited a moment before speaking again. "You said you didn't want to follow through with your role in Commander Ikari's plans," she said. "Is this correct?"
Rei nodded her head and remained silent.
Ritsuko took a deep breath and swallowed the growing lump in her throat. It was so difficult to say what she wanted to, what she had to in order to move forward. Those words, that burning question tucked behind her teeth meant that she would have to admit to herself that everything she'd ever done for NERV and for Gendo had been for nothing. Even so, pride and unrequited feelings were not worth holding them back. "Do you... have a plan to prevent these events?" she asked softly.
Rei looked at her with a nervous expression. She looked apprehensive but also curious. "Y- yes..." she replied after a moment.
Time to bite the bullet and resign herself to the harsh decision she had to make... "Might I ask... what that plan might be?" she inquired.
For the first time since the conversation with Dr. Akagi began, Rei actually felt a glimmer of hope. At the start of it she had thought for sure that Dr. Akagi was going to turn her over to Commander Ikari, that she was going to be replaced. She'd panicked. She'd nearly imploded, only brought back to reality when Dr. Akagi had forced her to focus on what she was saying. She still found it hard to believe that she didn't despise her, but she had sounded genuine in telling her what little she had about herself. It was... strange that the doctor was opening herself up to her just a little bit, but that wasn't what instilled an ember of hope within her. It was that she... was asking her if she had a plan to stop Commander Ikari's schemes.
She had to admit she was still a bit wary, but what other option did she have but to continue telling the truth? If Dr. Akagi was her foe, then any misstep would lead to her to certain doom and if she was... actually on her side, she would owe it to her to keep speaking the truth. What a strange thought it was... thinking that Dr. Akagi could actually be an ally in her struggle. "I'll admit... it's not the most direct plan," she replied, after taking a deep breath to calm her nerves and ease the shaking in her limbs. "But it is the only option I believe has a chance of success..."
Dr. Akagi nodded. "So... what is it then?" she asked.
Rei drew a deep breath once more and steadied herself, trying her best to exorcise the fear she still felt. If Dr. Akagi could be an ally, how she reacted would determine that. "I believe... the best way to avert Third Impact is to... change Commander Ikari's mind on the matter," she replied. "If he no longer wishes for it, perhaps he will stand against the committee..."
Dr. Akagi's eyebrows lifted and she looked at her with an incredulous expression. "How?" she inquired.
"Despite appearances, Commander Ikari cares deeply for his son. If the bond between him and Shinji becomes strong enough, he may reconsider his plans," Rei stated softly in response.
Dr. Akagi's lips parted and Rei stared back at the faux blonde amid the tense silence that befell the room. Then, she watched as Dr. Akagi's chest began to pulse, her lips curled upward, and bitter laughter began to pour out of her. The doctor rested her forehead in her palm after a moment of this and sighed. "The man intends to end the world, Rei, to resurrect his dead wife," she replied. "Why do you think he'd change his mind because of his son?"
Rei frowned. That was not the reaction she had expected, but... Dr. Akagi at least seemed receptive. "I do not see any other viable way..." she murmured. "I will admit that the odds are... rather long."
Dr. Akagi scoffed. "I would agree... considering the kind of man he is," she remarked, her expression turning sour.
Rei needed to know. She needed to know. She needed to know if she could actually count on Dr. Akagi to help her. "Does this mean that you'll... help me?" she asked timidly.
A lopsided grin formed on Dr. Akagi's face. "What choice do I have?" she replied flatly. "After what I've seen through your eyes, I can't just... let it happen again. I don't want to see Third Impact come to pass."
An enormous wave of relief crashed over her and Rei breathed a shaky sigh. She looked down at her feet and brought her hands to her chest to still her racing heart. "Thank you..." she murmured.
There was a long pause before Dr. Akagi spoke again. "So... what now?" she asked. "We've established that you've somehow managed to slide between realities and your parent reality is very similar to this one. Considering what has transpired in this reality, do you have any predictions for what might come next?"
Rei took a deep breath. It was still so difficult to remain calm around a woman that had in her original reality attempted to kill her... Still, she had to focus on the conversation at hand. She pondered that question in great detail. It was late October, and despite the number of Angels having been increased in the reality that she now inhabited... this was around the time when the Angel that had infected Unit 03 had arrived... "What is the status of Unit 03?" she asked.
"Nearly operational," Dr. Akagi replied evenly. "Currently undergoing final testing in Nevada. Why?"
Rei frowned and fidgeted with the end of her skirt. "Is it scheduled to be transferred?" she inquired.
"As far as I know, there are no such plans," Dr. Akagi replied.
Rei fidgeted uncomfortably. It was so uncomfortable, knowing that the person across from her had seen her memories, her most private thoughts, the essence of what made her herself... It made her feel queasy. "If it is... an Angel will infect it," she replied.
"Is there anything that can be done to prevent this?" Dr. Akagi inquired, her tone quavering just a bit, making Rei think that she was a bit unnerved.
Rei shook her head. "I doubt that there is," she replied. The memories of what had happened when Unit 03 had been... destroyed by Unit 01 and the dummy plug flashed before her eyes. The idea that it may not be transferred at all was... relieving. "But... the Dummy System was what destroyed it before."
Dr. Akagi shifted in her chair and brought a hand to her face, cupping her chin. "I see..." she replied. "But you do understand that I can't delay the Dummy System past the imposed deadline. I do need to keep my head after all..."
Rei grit her teeth and clenched her fists, staring down at her feet once more. She didn't want to see Shinji put through the torture of seeing his friend killed by his Evas hands again. The thought that that might still happen upset her greatly. "Please... delay the installation of the Dummy System onboard Unit 01..." she murmured softly.
Dr. Akagi said nothing for an agonizing stretch of moments. "Why?" she replied. "If what I've gathered from your own memories, Shinji-kun refused to fight against the infected Unit 03. He would have been killed if not for the Dummy System..."
Rei looked up at Dr. Akagi, and clenched her fists at her side, her ire riled. "I won't let that happen again," she replied firmly, perhaps aggressively. Tears welled in her yes again, threatening to fall and she began to shake again "I don't want him to have to bear that burden again..."
Dr. Agaki frowned. "How will you prevent that?" she replied.
"I will find a way," Rei declared firmly as her vision fogged over, the tears falling at the thought of Shinji being in pain again. She didn't want him to ever feel that hurt again. "I swear, I will find a way..."
Dr. Akagi's face took on a look of surprise that faded into a warm, understanding smile. "You... care a lot for Shinji-kun, don't you?" she replied.
Rei nodded and squeezed her eyes shut. She hated weeping in front of this woman. Even if she had agreed to help her, it still made her feel desperately vulnerable... Even so, she couldn't stop herself from replying truthfully. "I do..." she replied, glaring back at the faux blonde despite her tears. "He's my best friend..."
Dr. Akagi's smile widened and she reached out and grabbed her hand. Rei stiffened at the act. She wanted to recoil but... she couldn't bring herself to. "I understand," she returned. "I know that he is a good friend to you. Perhaps... I could make the excuse that there are... programming issues, to Commander Ikari."
Rei breathed a heavy sigh but her tears didn't stop. Instead, they picked up in intensity. Perhaps it was that relief she felt so viscerally throughout her body. "Thank you..." she murmured, looking down at her feet once again, a truthful and vulnerable smile working its way across her lips.
Ritsuko sat across from Rei watching her weep openly, taking in the scope of what had just transpired between the two of them. She knew that after what she'd seen and what she'd just talked about there would be no going back to the previous paradigm that she'd lived under the illusion of. This said, there wasn't much left to be said at present. She'd gained the understanding that she'd desired from seeing Rei's memory files and... she had to live with the outcome of that. That said... the conversation they'd been having was probably best ended for now. She needed time to process the things she'd heard and seen after all... "I think... we should talk more at a later time," she stated softly. "Lets meet again soon, okay?"
Rei looked up at her and wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded gently. "Okay..." she replied timidly, turning away from her.
Ritsuko smiled softly. She felt so guilty for despising this... honest human being for so long. Maybe... maybe one day she might be able to make up for that... "Rei, look at me," she said softly.
Rei turned her head to face her, her expression rather pensive, still nervous and full of apprehension. "What is it?" she asked nervously.
Ritsuko needed to reassure this... poor little girl before her. It was time to really swallow her pride and let go of the jealousy she felt towards the blue haired girl. She didn't want to become like the... vision of herself that Rei had actually experienced. Compounding this, it was also a necessity. If the two of them were actually going to work to prevent the Third Impact, they needed to be able to trust each other because they certainly couldn't trust anyone else... "I'm sorry..." she said softly, bowing her head. "I'm sorry if I ever caused you pain. I don't want you... I need you to let go of your fear of me..."
Rei regarded her with wide eyes and after a moment she hung her head once more. "You don't need to be sorry..." she whimpered. "It wasn't you... It was the Dr. Akagi in the timeline I came from that hurt me... I... don't blame you..."
Ritsuko smiled at the innocence of that statement. How did she ever hate this girl? She was such a kindhearted person deep down... Still, Rei's words were doing nothing to alleviate her guilt. "I know that," she replied. "And I... I don't want to hurt you like she did."
Rei regarded her with a nervous, timid expression before hanging her head. "You don't need to apologize..." she murmured.
Ritsuko's pained smile grew. Even if she couldn't dispense with her feelings for Gendo, she could at least try and be there for Rei... She reached over and grasped the azure haired girl's hand. "Then I won't apologize," she replied. "I'll just try to be... your friend from now on..."
Rei looked up and met her gaze with a look of bewilderment and after a moment that expression faded into the makings of a grin. "I'd like that..." she replied. "Thank you again, Dr. Akagi..."
Ritsuko sat there for a moment just... taking in everything that had transpired before speaking again. She let go of Rei's hand and sat back, folding her arms across her chest. "So..." she murmured. "I suppose we're done here. For now at least."
Rei's grin faltered. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Ritsuko drew a deep breath. She was committing herself to this. She was going to do her part to prevent the end of the world and hopefully keep her head in the process. "Well, I suppose it would be advantageous for us to make a habit to convene and discuss things regarding these matters going forward," she replied with a smile. "Would you agree?"
Rei seemed to ponder this notion and nodded her head after a moment of pause. "I would agree," she replied, her voice finally starting to return to that familiar even tone she knew well.
Ritsuko nodded back. She knew it wasn't going to happen over night but... it would be nice if the blue haired girl would become less fearful around her. Then again, after seeing what she'd seen, she completely understood any apprehension she might still hold. "Alright," she said as she stood up from her seat. "I have a lot of work left to do on the Dummy System. Take care of yourself, Rei."
Rei rose from her chair and gave a curt bow before walking to the door. When she reached it she stopped and turned around, reaching across her chest and fidgeting with the sleeve on her opposite arm. "Dr. Akagi..." she murmured.
Ritsuko's brow furrowed. Rei looked like she was getting nervous again. What was she nervous about, other than the impending end of the world that was? "What is it?" she inquired.
Rei fidgeted and gave her a serious look. "Can you... promise me that you won't tell anyone about this?" she asked.
Ritsuko smiled. Yes, it was certainly going to take time to build a sense of trust... "I promise, this talk stays between us," she replied. "You have my word."
Rei looked relieved and turned for the door once again. "Alright..." she returned just above a whisper. "We'll talk... soon..."
"Indeed we shall," Ritsuko replied.
With that Rei opened the door, stepped into the hallway, and closed it behind her without another word, leaving Ritsuko alone in her office.
Ritsuko breathed a heavy sigh and moved to sit at her desk. The silence in the room was deafening, hammering home to her the gravity of what has just transpired. Ritsuko shakily pulled out another cigarette and lit it. She shook her head. Now she was the one shaking...
Now that she knew just how precarious her situation was, coupled with the situation the world at large was in, she had to figure out a way to clandestinely sabotage Gendo's schemes without getting caught. If anyone found out it could mean an attack on NERV, her death, or both, the former of the two options seeming inevitable by the looks of it. No matter what, one thing was certain in her mind...
Preventing the latter of those two future events from occurring was now her top priority...
Rei walked down the hallway away from Dr. Akagi's office, making a bee line for the nearest exit out of NERV headquarters. She was beyond relieved that she'd managed to leave that conversation alive. It had been a nearly fatal error that she'd underestimated Dr. Akagi's ability to discover the truth but somehow it had worked out in her favor. She was very grateful that it had as the alternative would most likely have been... she shuddered to think of what might have happened. Now that she was safely heading home and the adrenaline was wearing off she was feeling rather woozy. It was making it sort of hard to walk or see straight and after getting round a corner and into a new hall she had to take a pause just the breathe and focus. Going forward from this day on was certainly going to be... interesting.
Though she made a mental note never to underestimate Dr. Akagi ever again, it was quite a boon to actually have an ally in her desperate bid to defeat the commander. Though she doubted Dr. Akagi would be able to relinquish whatever kind feelings she felt towards that man the fact that she'd agreed to help her was amazing. Then again, Rei noted that it had taken herself quite a bit of time to fully relinquish the feelings of respect and admiration she'd once felt for Commander Ikari...
Of all the things of massive importance that had happened during the conversation, one lingered in her mind, that being that Dr. Akagi had agreed to delay the installation of the Dummy Plug within Unit 01. Even though there were no plans for it to transfer to Japan, she had a... gut feeling that if Unit 03 were to be transferred it would happen soon and if that were to occur then it would come infected with an Angel as it had before.
She pushed that thought out of her mind. If and when that were to occur she would face it then. If that were to happen, she would be facing an enemy that she'd fought before. As she'd told Dr. Akagi, she would find a way to defeat it without the Dummy Plug. Right now, it was best to focus on the good that had come from the conversation. She had a new, if unexpected ally in her struggles who could perhaps provide council going forward.
Rei took a deep breath and continued her walk towards the nearest exit. It was still relatively early in the day but it was best if she simply headed home. It was a half day at school anyway. Perhaps later on in the day she could go and visit Shinji.
She smiled to herself. Maybe he would come to visit her after school to bring whatever class work she'd missed...
"So... I spoke with the committee this morning. They seem concerned about the status of the Dummy System," Fuyutuski stated. "Truly, their impatience knows no bounds."
Gendo sat in his desk with the older man at his side. As annoying and frustrating as it was that the committee was impatient about that system, it was starting to run up against the original deadline. Then again, he'd brought this upon himself partially, as he had pushed to fast track the development. Perhaps it would be a good idea to visit Dr. Akagi and inquire as to the status of the project. "Indeed," he replied. "Just because it is falling back to the original time table does not give them reason to complain."
"I do have other news," Fuyutsuki continued. "From what I understand, the installation of the S2 Engine onboard Unit 04 is wrapping up. It should be active in a matter of days."
"So the Eva Series will be ready by the time of the promised day..." Gendo remarked darkly. "How convenient. It would be a shame if that project were to suffer a roadblock..."
"I agree," Fuyutuski returned. "It would certainly make the committee scramble if something were to happen."
"Yes," Gendo replied flatly as he rose from his desk. Sabotage was certainly a viable option. It could certainly give him leeway in accomplishing his designs...
"And where exactly are you heading off to now?" Fuyutsuki inquired.
Gendo breathed deeply. "Considering the situation at hand, I feel it pertinent to visit Dr. Akagi and inquire as to the state of the Dummy System personally," he replied.
Fuyutsuki chortled. "I shall leave you to it then," he replied in a sly tone of voice. "Your private dealings with the doctor don't concern me."
Gendo curled his lip at the comment as he marched out of his office. The insinuation at the heart of that comment irked him greatly. It was true that he'd... regrettably had relations with Dr. Akagi's mother in the early stages of his schemes, and it was also true that he'd grown a bit fond of his chief of scientific development. This said, he'd only committed sexual acts with the elder Akagi to keep her loyal and unquestioning. It was regrettable that she'd met her end after an unfortunate encounter with Rei's first incarnation, but he'd learned from that experience. First of all, he'd never allowed himself to speak truly openly with Rei again, and second he'd firmly drawn a line against using... salacious tactics to keep his subordinates loyal. The whole ordeal had been difficult to recover from, and Yui would certainly be perturbed if she ever were to know what he'd had to suffer to bring her back, and further dirtying his hands when unnecessary was base and foolish. "You are correct, Sensei, they do not," he replied curtly as he exited the room.
He found himself pondering just how... tangled the recent developments around him had gotten. The committee was becoming an increasing bother, the Dummy System was running up against its deadline, and the... difficulties surrounding his son continued to weigh on his mind...
It never ceased to annoy him how perceptive Fuyutsuki could be at times. It was true that he'd sent Major Katsuragi as his son's proxy to shield him from SEELE's conspiracy and the intimidation of the old men. It was also true that he'd done it out of... care rather than the security of his scenario. It definitely served to protect his scenario, but Fuyutsuki was correct in insinuating that he'd done it because of his own sense of... care for the boy.
It didn't take long until he reached Dr. Akagi's office. He paused at the door and pushed the conflicted thoughts out of his mind and knocked on the door.
Ritsuko was shaken from her work by the knock on her door. She could only imagine who it could be. She'd taken a habit of locking her door after Kaji had barged in on her in the previous weeks. She hoped that it wasn't him, shuddering to think what might happen if he had been hanging around when she'd been talking to Rei. She knew he was a spy for the Japanese government, and if he'd discovered what Gendo wanted to accomplish then the JSSDF might launch their attack early, and if that were to happen then Third Impact would most likely occur as a result of the Angels. Needless to say, that would be the worst possible outcome... She grit her teeth. The weight of her newfound knowledge was already making her nervous...
She got up from her seat and snubbed the cigarette she'd been smoking before heading for the door. Upon opening the door she came face to face with Gendo. "May I come in?" he asked, cordially if a little gruff.
Normally him showing up unannounced would make her heart flutter, and it still did, but after seeing what she had, it made her feel a bit queasy as well... She nodded. "Always a pleasure," she replied. "Come in."
Gendo stepped into her office and clasped his hands behind his back after adjusting those orange sunglasses of his. "What is the status of the Dummy System?" he asked, his tone clinical and even. "Will things be able to meet the original timetable?"
Ritsuko studied Gendo's posture for a moment. He seemed rather tense but then again, he always carried himself in a rather ridged way. The warning Rei had given her of what could happen with Unit 03 if it was ever transferred rang in her mind as she formulated a response. She carefully pondered that inquiry before replying... "I believe I shall," she replied. "I've had a breakthrough today which will allow me to finalize the program. However, I believe that... there might be teething problems getting it operational in Unit 01."
Gendo's expression darkened momentarily. "I see," he replied. "What sort of teething problems?"
Ritsuko forced herself to remain calm as she formulated a response. "Unit 00 is used to Rei's psychological profile," she returned. "Rei has also spent time in combat within Unit 02, therefore I'm confident it will be accepted. Unit 01 is the only Eva she has not gone into combat on board. I don't feel comfortable rushing the implementation of the system until I can be sure it will be accepted."
Gendo regarded her with a stiff upper lip, staring down at her with a hard expression. Normally Ritsuko would have found the posture attractive, and she still did, but the worry she felt overruled that notion... "Understandable," he replied. "I suppose we will make do with Units 00 and 02 for now then."
Ritsuko couldn't help but smile, half in relief and half because she still enjoyed his praise... "Indeed," she returned. "Once I sort out any issues, I will make sure to have it operational in Unit 01 in a timely manner.
Gendo nodded, a small, understanding smile working its way onto his lips. "Right," he stated, turning for the door. "Carry on then, Dr. Akagi."
Ritsuko thought back to the conversation she'd just concluded with Rei some minutes prior. Despite his resolute and logical appearance he was still a man with emotions and burdens that he carried. If he wasn't, then he wouldn't have said to her what he had toward the end of the... timeline Rei had lived that she was now privy to before he shot her... Perhaps Rei's plan for him had some merit... It was a daring move what she was considering, but considering the dire situation she'd realized she was in, it couldn't hurt to... press things. "Have you spoken to Shinji since he was released from the medical ward?" she asked.
Gendo paused at the door and Ritsuko could have sworn she saw him flinch. "I have not," he replied flatly.
Ha... perhaps Rei was actually on to something... "Rei mentioned that he was rather happy that you were taking an interest in him," she returned. "Perhaps you could make some time for him?"
Gendo turned to her with a harsh expression. "Rei mentioned this?" he asked in an accusatory tone.
Ritsuko tensed. She couldn't allow herself to panic but she had to think of a good excuse... "I called her to NERV earlier today for tests regarding the Dummy System," she replied. It was half the truth at least... "We spoke on a number of things while she was here. She mentioned she was... happy you and Shinji were getting along better."
Gendo turned away from her and breathed deeply before stepping toward the door. "I see..." he replied. "I'll give it some thought. Make sure you don't fall behind schedule, Dr. Akagi."
Well, well... Rei's plan might really be promising after all... Ritsuko couldn't keep herself from smiling. "Yes Sir," she replied softly.
Shinji walked beside Asuka as he left Tokyo 3 Municipal Junior High, a small stack of classwork papers clasped in his hand. He was still a little perturbed that Rei hadn't shown up for school but at least he'd been assigned by their teacher to bring her the missed worksheets from the day. Probably she'd been called to NERV for something but... he missed her. He'd gotten so used to seeing her every morning before school that it felt odd to have started his day without seeing Rei. Damn... he was getting too sappy. Sure, he really, really liked her, maybe even loved her... but he was thinking like some clingy fool. He shouldn't be thinking like that. He didn't deserve to think like that. She wasn't his girlfriend anyway...
"Something on your mind, Shinji?" Asuka asked.
Shinji sighed. Talking with Asuka was much more awkward that it once had been after she'd... made a pass at him when they'd indulged themselves on Misato's beer. Still... talking with her was better than keeping things bottled up. Letting his stress, sadness, and anger boil over had nearly gotten him killed with the last Angel after all.. "It's stupid..." he replied reflexively. Old habits die hard as it were...
Asuka sighed. "You're worried about why Rei didn't show up for school today, huh?" she huffed sounding not the least bit bitter.
Shinji frowned. "How could you tell?" he asked.
Asuka lolled her head in a circle and let out a groan. "You've been brooding since this morning," she grumbled. "It's kind of obvious..."
Shinji sighed. "Fine," he huffed. "I'm worried about why she wasn't in school today, okay? Happy now?"
Asuka scoffed. "No, but at least you're being honest for once," she replied in a bitterly sarcastic tone. "Cheer up though, you got chosen to bring her the worksheets she missed today. That should give you a chance to spend a little time with your girlfriend, right?"
Shinji tensed. Considering what had transpired between himself and Asuka he knew just how... bitter she might be about things. "She's not my girlfriend!" he practically shouted on reflex. Even if he... wanted her to be that, she wasn't... "She's not my girlfriend..."
Asuka scowled and looked away from him. "Whatever you say..." she spat bitterly.
Shinji frowned. Part of him really wanted to address the elephant in the room when it came to what happened between the two of them but the other part of him never wanted to bring it up ever again... and the more the two of them walked side by side, the more the former begged for attention. "Asuka... I'm sorry..." he murmured.
Asuka looked over at him with a glare. "What for?" she huffed.
Shinji took a deep breath. "Look, I'm sorry about... what happened between us," he replied. "I know... how you feel..."
Asuka scowled and let out a vocalization of contempt, looking away from him. "It doesn't matter..." she grumbled. "It is what it is, Shinji. I'll be fine..."
Shinji couldn't help but smile. Asuka really was a resilient person, unlike him... Before he could say anything in response to her, his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and put it to his ear. "Hello?" he answered.
"Hello, Shinji," his father's voice rang in his ear.
Shinji immediately halted his walk where he stood. His father calling him never failed to catch him off guard. What could he possibly want? "F- father," he stammered. "W- what is it?"
There was a short pause. "Are things well now that you're back in school?" his father asked.
"Yeah," he replied. "Things are going alright I guess."
"I see. That's good," his father stated.
Even though the memory of what occurred when his father had visited him in the medical wing was fresh in his mind, there was a certain level of... distrust and tension that he had a hard time getting past. Those negative feelings were always there, licking at his heels, especially whenever they spoke on the phone... "Is there something you... want from me?" Shinji asked, his tone souring.
There was a deafening silence on the other end of the phone. "No," his father replied flatly after a moment. "I was simply checking in with you."
That... was very unexpected. "Th- thanks," he stammered.
"Very well," his father returned. "It is good to know that all is well. Take care."
"Father..." Shinji responded on reflex. It wasn't often that he... actually had a pleasant conversation with his father and as such he was reluctant to just let the call end.
"Yes?" his father replied.
Shinji paused for a moment before speaking again. "Do you... do you have any time free... to meet soon?" he asked. He knew that his father was a busy person and he doubted that the answer would be yes but... if things could actually get better between the two of them it didn't hurt to ask.
Once again, a deafening silence met his ear for a matter of seconds and Shinji worried momentarily that he'd pushed his luck too far. Then, his father spoke... "I have approximately two hours this afternoon where I can make time starting now," he replied evenly. "Visit me at my office if you wish."
Shinji flinched at how... unexpected that response was. "A- alright," he replied in astonishment.
"Goodbye," his father returned, hanging up immediately after his final words. "Take care, Shinji..."
Shinji brought the phone away from his ear, glancing between it in one hand and the bundle of worksheets in his other hand. Now he was faced with a dilemma... did he go and drop off Rei's missed classwork or did he go and visit his father? Both were very tempting options. If he chose the former then he'd potentially get to spend some time alone with Rei, maybe even confess to her if he could work up the courage... and if he chose the latter he'd have a chance to slowly mend things with his father, maybe. It should have been an easy choice but it wasn't...
Asuka stepped up to him and waved a hand in front of his face, completely derailing his train of thought. "Hello? Earth to Shinji?" she spoke in an annoyed tone of voice. "You good? Can we keep walking?"
Shinji stuffed his phone back in his pocket and regarded the fiery redhead with a lopsided grin. "Sorry..." he replied. "Just... my father called."
Asuka rolled her eyes. "I figured as much, and don't apologize. For Christ's sake, I've told you that you do that way too much," she huffed. "Let's just keep going, alright? Rei needs her classwork after all."
Shinji frowned and looked down at the ground. "My father said he could make time for me today..." he muttered, turning back to her.
"So isn't that a good thing?" Asuka returned in a perplexed tone.
Shinji's frown deepened and he stared at the papers in his hand. "Well... he seemed pressed for time," he returned softly, holding up the papers in his hand. "If I drop these off at Rei's then I might miss this chance..."
Asuka put out her hand and sighed. "Give them here, I'll take them to her," she said with a lopsided grin. "Go and see your dad, moron. You get to see Rei every day. When do you get to see him?"
Shinji absorbed those words. She did have a good point. As nice as it would be to visit Rei and make sure she was alright, and all things considered Asuka probably would prefer that he visit his father instead of Rei, she did have a very good point. He passed the fiery redhead the papers in his hand and smiled sheepishly. "Thanks," he replied.
Asuka chuckled wryly. "Don't just stand there then, get going!" she commanded.
Shinji nodded, a small smile cresting on his lips. "Alright," he replied. "See you at home then."
With that, the two of them went their separate ways, Asuka toward Rei's apartment and Shinji in the direction of the nearest descent into NERV...
Gendo scowled over his crossed hands as he sat at his desk having just finished his phone call with Shinji. Part of him already regretted informing his son of the lull in his schedule but what had been said had been said. His cursed sense of sentimentality had perhaps gotten the better of him in the moment. Then again, the memory of visiting him in the hospital wing had dictated his ultimate decision to reach out to the boy. Deep down, he had to admit to himself that that past meeting had effected him greatly. The fact that his son been so open to continuing to attempt to mend their relationship even after his hash words when visiting Yui's marker perhaps had struck him deeper than he'd initially thought.
He heaved a sigh and flopped back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling and the tree of life that adorned the ceiling of his office. He couldn't help but wonder what Yui would think of everything that had gone on between him and his son in recent weeks. She'd probably think it was a positive thing. It was a positive thing... and maybe once his scenario finally played out he would understand all the things he'd done.
One thought led to another and he despised where his stream of consciousness was leading him... that perhaps abandoning his son to focus more intently on his work had really been a mistake. He'd always thought that all he would ever do was cause Shinji pain, and that his fears over that would best be dealt with by simply sending him away. Now he finally realized just how wrong he'd been, after that meeting at the cemetery and his visit in the medical ward... and Gendo hated being wrong.
"Yui... what should I do now?" he asked to the empty room.
He thought on that for a good while before making his decision...
Asuka approached the door to Rei's apartment. She'd only been there once before but sweet Jesus she'd forgotten just how sleazy the building really was... Climbing the stairs to reach the fourth floor had been a sick game of avoiding broken glass and discarded hypodermic needles. It was disgusting. As jealous as she currently was of the blue haired girl, she definitely didn't deserve to live in such a horrid place. If it hadn't been for the drunken escape with Shinji a short time ago, she might have even asked Misato if Rei could come to live with her... She pushed those thoughts out of her mind and knocked on the door firmly. "Rei?" she called out. "Are you home?"
There was no response other than the faint sounds of construction equipment in the distance. Asuka scowled. If Rei wasn't at home then she could be waiting in this disgusting building for who could know how long... "Rei!" she shouted. "I brought your school work! Open up!"
Moments later she heard the door unlock and then she watched as the door opened slowly. Rei appeared in the doorway looking a bit haggard. "Oh... hello Asuka," she spoke, a soft smile appearing on her lips. "How are you?"
Asuka wanted to berate her for making her wait but seeing her looking so... rough made those feelings evaporate. She held up the worksheets she'd taken from Shinji. "I brought the classwork you missed today," she stated.
Rei nodded, a small smile emerging on her face. "Thank you," she replied as she reached out and took them.
Asuka wasn't sure how to respond. She wanted to know why Rei was absent from school and also... she wanted to know why Shinji had chosen the blue haired girl over her... "Can I come in?" she asked after a moment.
Rei nodded and opened the door wider. "You may," she replied softly, moving a step back and to the side of the entrance.
Asuka stepped inside with a frown and Rei closed the door behind her. Upon seeing her living quarters again, a lot of her jealousy toward Rei was immediately discarded. She honestly couldn't imagine how Rei could live where she did without going insane... "So how come you didn't show up to class today?" she asked.
"Dr. Akagi... needed me for some tests regarding my Eva," her blue haired friend replied after a pause, looking a little uncomfortable. "Nothing serious."
Asuka tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. She had expected her to have just been feeling under the weather or something. Upon thinking it over, she couldn't really recall a time when Dr. Akagi had called any of the pilots for tests alone in regards to the Evas. "What kind of tests?" she asked. "How come just you had to go and not all of us?"
Rei shifted on her feet. "I... I would rather not say..." she murmured softly.
The way she said that set off alarm bells. Why was Rei so uneasy? Whatever Dr. Akagi had called her to NERV for was definitely more than just some kind of routine test... "Come on, what gives?" she retorted, forcing a grin. "How bad could it have been, huh?"
Rei frowned and fidgeted with her shirt sleeve. "Apparetly... there was a... file corruption, in the data that was taken during... one of the tests we did for the Dummy System that Dr. Akagi is in the process of finalizing," she replied softly, nervously.
Asuka's eyebrows furrowed. "Which test?" she asked, having a feeling she knew the answer already...
"The... one we performed... nude," the blue haired girl murmured.
"Ah," Asuka replied after a moment. Great, now she felt guilty for having pressed her on the matter... "That's uh... I can imagine that wasn't fun."
Rei shook her head. "It was not," she stated flatly.
Well... the atmosphere in the room had definitely taken a turn towards awkward... "Sorry I asked," Asuka apologized.
"You needn't apologize," Rei replied. "It is as it is."
Asuka frowned as she pondered how to shift the conversation away from the current subject. As much as she found it a little uncomfortable to be around Rei after knowing how Shinji really felt about her and how she probably felt about him, continuing to hang out was definitely better than going home to a potentially empty apartment. This presented no small dilemma... "Hey, there's still a lot of time left in the day," she spoke. "You want to hit up the mall or something?"
Rei looked to the small stack of papers in her hand before looking back at her. "I should probably attempt to get caught up with this, shouldn't I?" she asked, with a slight furrowing of her brow.
Asuka rolled her eyes and smirked. It really had been a while since the two of them had hung out now that she thought about it. Even if the trip was... honestly mostly for her to decompress, it really had been too long since the two of them had actually had an afternoon on the town. "Leave the stupid schoolwork here and go and come enjoy yourself a bit, Wonder-girl," Asuka chided. "Seriously, with the day you've had do you really want to hang around this miserable apartment?"
Rei seemed to ponder this for a moment before a soft smile crested on her lips She then turned, set the papers down on her kitchen counter, and turned once more to face her. "Alright," she replied.
Asuka found herself grinning back despite her... uncomfortable and scornful feelings. That grin didn't last very long though. As the two of them filed out of the apartment it faded fast, and Asuka couldn't help but wonder to herself just... how much longer she could keep those feelings inside, how long it would be until they really effected their friendship...
Shinji approached the door to his father's office nervously. He knew where it was, Misato had told him a while ago, but he'd never been there before and therefore had no idea what to expect. The hallway and doors were dark and dimly lit, creating a distinctly ominous atmosphere, one that he couldn't help but wonder had been his father's aesthetic choice. It would make sense... he did seem to relish in all things cold... Shinji put those thoughts out of his mind and knocked on the office door.
There was no response but the door seemed to give at the impact of his knuckles. He felt bit odd just barging in but... he reached down and grabbed the door handle and twisted it, stepping into the office. "Hello?" he called out.
He was struck by both the enormity and the barrenness of the office. Both the ceiling and the floor were black, adorned with some kind of strange design, walls were floor to ceiling windows on three sides except for the one he'd entered from. At the center, cast in a deep glare from the window close behind it, sat a lonely desk and his father. Shinji watched as his father stood tall and beckoned him silently with a gesture of his hand. He stepped into the office and approached the desk until he stood a few feet away. All the while his father stared down at him through those orange glasses of his. "Hello, father... you said we could... spend some time together?" he asked nervously.
His father reached up and pulled off those sunglasses of his, setting them on his desk. "I did," he replied, stepping around the desk and past him toward the door "Come."
Shinji did as he was told and followed behind his father and out of the door of the office and into the hallway. It took only a minute or so and they stood in front of another black door reminiscent of the one at the front of his father's office. His father opened it, they stepped in together, and... inside was a quite sparse living quarters.
There was still the black ceilings and floors, but this room was smaller and had blinds that were pulled down over the singular floor to ceiling window at the back of the room. There was a steel bed frame with a mattress, a kitchen and sink, a closet, and a separate washroom with a toilet... The whole setup reminded him quite a bit of Rei's apartment, if a lot less dirty and somehow... even more cold. Heck, there wasn't even a dresser or any furniture except a folding chair and a small folding table set up in the middle of the room! "Is this... your living quarters?" Shinji asked.
"It is," his father replied.
Shinji couldn't help but ask... "How come it's so... barren?" he inquired.
"I try not to burden myself with earthly attachments," his father replied. "It helps to keep me anchored to my purpose."
"You mean heading NERV?" Shinji inquired.
His father breathed deeply. "Yes," he replied flatly.
Shinji frowned. His father was Rei's legal guardian... could it be that he had her living in the kind of conditions she was living in so that she wouldn't form attachments? If so, then it hadn't really worked... He really wanted to ask him why he forced her to live there in that awful place but... bringing that up would certainly make for awkward conversation... "So... what do you want to talk about?" Shinji asked nervously.
"You were the one who asked me to spare time for you," his father replied, moving toward the closet and kneeling after opening it as if looking for something. "You decide the topic of conversation."
Shinji stood there awkwardly as he thought of what to say. It was surprisingly difficult to think of anything to talk about. "I, ah..." he stammered. "You... you seem to care a lot about running NERV. Has it always been like that?"
His father stood, a small wooden box in his hands. "Always," he replied. "It is a tremendous responsibility."
Shinji frowned. "Just like piloting the Eva..." he murmured.
"Yes," his father replied, once again moving past him and heading out the door. "Just like piloting the Eva. Come with me, and bring the chair."
Shinji did as he was told and grabbed the folding chair before following his father out of the room. He followed him back down the hallway and ultimately to his office, eyeing the box under his father's arm with curiosity. His father moved behind his desk and sat down. "Sit across from me," his father ordered in tone that was less a command and more of a request.
Shinji did as he was told. "What's in the box?" he asked.
His father opened it and set its contents on the desktop. "Shogi," he stated. "Have you played before?"
Shinji shook his head. "No," he replied. "I've never learned."
He could have sworn that he saw his father's lip twitch upwards ever so slightly but it could very well have been a trick of the lighting in the office. "I'll teach you," his father returned, his tone defrosting just a bit. "Over the years I've found enjoyment in the game, especially when accompanied with conversation."
Shinji found himself smiling. This was the first time his father had actually wanted to do an activity with him like a... normal parent might... "Alright," he replied.
His father set the board and folded his hands on the desk behind it. "Let's begin..." he returned.
It was evening now, and Asuka stepped through the front door of Misato's apartment having just gotten home from the mall. It had been enjoyable to hang out with Rei, the excursion with her had... actually helped her get past some of the jealous feelings she'd been harboring. At the end of the day, they were still friends and could continue being such. She'd enjoyed Rei's succinct observations on outfits and items that they'd looked over, the general small talk over what she'd missed at school that day, and a playful argument over vegetarianism they'd had among other things. It made her realize she'd been thinking foolishly. Shinji wasn't worth sacrificing the bond of friendship they had, even if that jealousy lingered... "I'm home!" she called out down the hall.
"Hey Asuka!" Shinji called back. "Misato-san still isn't home yet, but I'll have dinner ready soon."
Asuka snorted. "Thank God it's your day to cook and not hers," she quipped as she stepped into the kitchen. "I'm definitely not in the mood for instant shit tonight."
Shinji popped into the kitchen and moved to the fridge, a cheerful grin on his face, pulling out a soda for himself. "What would you be in the mood for?" he asked. "I don't have much a preference, I'll make what you want."
Asuka almost recoiled and just how chipper he was. It was quite unlike him and deeply unexpected. She'd half expected him to be as pissed off as he'd been the last time he'd visited his dad. "You're awful cheerful this evening..." she replied, ignoring his question. "I'm guessing things went well with your dad today?"
Shinji nodded, his smile growing if anything. "Yeah, they did actually," he replied.
Asuka's brow arched in surprise. "How so?" she asked. "What did the two of you talk about?"
Shinji chortled softly as he opened the can of soda, staring down at it after taking a sip. "Honestly, we didn't talk all that much, just small talk about school and the past few sync tests," he replied. "But... he taught me how to play Shogi. I'm no where near as good as him but... it's the first time he's... ever tried to teach me anything or even wanted to do something with me."
Asuka found herself frowning, thinking about her own dad... which inevitably got her thinking about her mother and... that was not a good place to go mentally. Now a new jealousy was growing. Her own father was person who she didn't see eye to eye with and probably never would... not after what he pulled when mama was... No. she wouldn't let her mind go there. It kinda made her a bit jealous. Everyone was getting their shit together and it seemed like no matter what she did she could never get the... closure that they would. It made her feel green with envy... "Well that's good I guess," she replied curtly before heading into the living room. "Let me know when dinner's ready."
"A- alright..." Shinji stammered.
Asuka didn't respond, just headed to her room and flopped down on her bed. It was best to just try not to think about how everyone around her seemed to be having things go their way except for her... She scowled up at the ceiling above her and heaved a heavy sigh. As long as she could be the best as a pilot that would be good enough.
Pouring herself into her role as a pilot had been enough for her before, it could be enough for her again...
Rei stood in front of her mirror in her apartment having just finished her nightly routine in preparation for bed. The shopping trip with Asuka had been rather enjoyable, even if she'd have preferred to have spent the afternoon with Shinji, perhaps over some tea... Her friend had been correct in her assumption that an afternoon just... doing what a normal teenager might do had distracted her from the weight of what occurred earlier in the day between herself and Dr. Akagi. She felt guilty that she'd had to lie but she'd had no choice. There was no conceivable way that Asuka would believe her secret if she were to tell her about Yui-sama's gift, and even if she did, Rei would not trust her to keep it a secret.
While out and about but she'd still enjoyed watching Asuka pick out various things to purchase even if her meager allowance hadn't allowed her the same freedom. She was just... happy to accompany her friend and give what limited feedback she had on the outfits the fiery redhead had picked out for herself. Eventually they'd left the mall and gone their separate ways with Asuka going home and Rei heading back to her meager dwelling... That walk back had been filled with numerous heavy thoughts, almost as hard to grapple with as the conversation she'd had with Dr. Akagi.
Perhaps it was the contrast between the morning and the afternoon that had spurred her to ponder the issued that now plagued her consciousness but whatever the cause was the result was a... profound understanding. Spending the afternoon with Asuka had driven home just how... unique and isolating her situation really was. Even though she had been able to spend an afternoon acting like a normal teenage girl she couldn't shake the reality that she wasn't a normal teenager despite how much she deep down wished she could be. Discarding Yui-sama's gift, her red eyes and blue hair were a testament to that irrefutable fact...
She sighed and turned away from the mirror, heading to her bed. She shouldn't be thinking about... such trivial things. She still had to contend with the rest of the Angels, however many there would be, and with thwarting Commander Ikari's schemes and those of the Human Instrumentality Committee. There might be a day where she could afford to grapple and contend with all the baggage she carried but that could only come if she and Dr. Akagi could find a way to upend the various plots.
She smiled as she laid down to rest for the night. It was still surreal that someone that she'd never expected to ever help her had listened and agreed to assist her in her overcome her plight. Time would only tell what would come of this new alliance...
Misato waited impatiently at a table of the bar she'd agreed to meet Kaji at after calling him in the morning before work. She'd wanted to have this talk earlier, as soon as she'd met with the committee, but he'd been unavailable, citing that he was busy. She probably didn't want to know what had kept him from meeting the previous day so she wouldn't ask. The only thing that mattered was she was talking to him now, just blitzed enough to talk openly but not enough to lose her wits. He was late as usual, what a surprise. She'd give him about fifteen minutes more before she'd blow up his phone though...
No sooner than she'd had that thought then the scruffy bastard came walking up to her table. "Sorry I'm late," he greeted with a cheerful grin. "Many things kept me occupied."
Misato rolled her eyes and sipped from her glass of beer. "Sure they did," she replied sarcastically.
Kaji chortled and sat down across from her. "So, now that I'm here, what did you want to talk about?" he asked.
Misato frowned, glancing around to see if there was anyone observing their conversation. Though it hadn't been outright stated, she had a gut feeling that the shady committee she'd spoken to wouldn't take kindly to her divulging what she'd spoken about. She had to be cautious...
"There's no one here who'll listen in on us," Kaji stated with a cheerful smile. "I've already made sure of that."
Misato sighed. "Of course you did..." she huffed. Sometimes she had to remind herself that he really was a secret agent.
Kaji's expression became serious. "So, I'm guessing you want t discuss the conversation you had with the board of directors, right?" he inquired.
Misato's eyes widened momentarily before shooting the scruffy man a glare. "So you know about that already..." she grumbled, taking another sip of her beer. "Why am I surprised? What was the point of meeting again?"
Kaji's serious expression remained and he leaned in closer across the table. Ugh... she hated how when he got close enough to smell his cologne... "I know that you met with them but I don't know what they wanted to speak with you about," he replied. "So... what happened?"
Misato took another sip of her beer and leaned back, recoiling from him a bit to maintain a bit of distance. "They didn't want to speak to me, first of all, they wanted to speak with Shinji," she replied. "I just went as his proxy."
"That doesn't matter," Kaji replied. "Get to the point, Katsuragi."
How forceful he was being... "The board of directors... they are, they... were asking if the most recent Angel attempted to... speak with Shinji or whatever," she replied.
Kaji glanced off to the side and scratched his chin. "Curious..." he replied. "It reminds me of Second Impact and the expedition led by your father..."
Misato took a big gulp of her beer. "Yeah," she agreed. "It definitely does. What do you make of it? Why does it matter? If we're trying to kill all the Angels what does it matter if they try to communicate with us?"
"I don't know," Kaji returned. "But it wouldn't be the first time an Angel and a human attempted communication."
"What do you think it means?" Misato asked.
Kaji shrugged his shoulders and smiled playfully. "I don't know," he replied. "What I do know is that we should try and relax a bit. It's been a stressful couple of days so let's drink to forget it!"
Misato rolled her eyes but found herself smiling back at him none the less. Maybe it was the beer she'd already consumed influencing it but these little moments of relaxation were few and far between... "Fine then," she returned. "But you're buying the next two rounds, got it?"
Kaji laughed. "Anything for you, Katsuragi," he replied.
Misato grin widened as she chugged down the remainder of her beer. It was definitely the beer talking but he really did have his charming moments despite his infuriatingly cavalier personality...
Author's Notes
This chapter certainly marks a turning in the plot. One huge plot thread has been resolved and others continue to snake across the narrative...
As I mentioned before in the previous update, the confrontation between Rei and Ritsuko that occurs in this chapter was one of the first plot points for this story that I conceptualized at the very beginning when I started writing this story. From the beginning I've been attempting to build up to and foreshadow this event and I hope it satisfies.
In regards to the other characters, it's going to be interesting seeing what happens with all of them. Things are looking up with Gendo and Shinji, Asuka is starting to slip, and Misato and Kaji... continue being Misato and Kaji. I definitly had a lot of fun writing that hillariously awkward scene between our favorite commander of NERV and his son. In all seriousness, it's nice to write them just being themselves around each other.
Looming is Bardiel... wonder how that's going to play out. The action arc is almost at a close...
As always, let me know what you think! Your support is much appreciated!
Regards,
A.F.