Asuka was sparring, trying to let off some steam, as they say, wearing her karate gi and shouting a kiai, she kicked her training dummy's head with all her might, wishing that it was the Third Child's face she was attacking right now.
But try as she might, she couldn't get over the fact that that weak looking boy had not only managed to defeat an Angel technically by himself, he also managed to control his EVA with no prior formal training. Something that she took years before she even managed to synchronize with her own EVA.
"Damnit!" she whispered, leaning against the practice dummy, trying her hardest not to cry. Not to reveal any more weakness, even more so to herself, but could not stop her frustration. "It's not fair." She whispered to no one in particular.
"It's not fair, is it?" Misato asked, watching Shinji pack up his things that he left in the train station that he left behind in the hurry to seek shelter when the last Angel attacked in this vicinity.
"What is?" Ritsuko asked her.
"Him being in the EVA." Misato answered a thoughtful expression on her face as she rested her chin on her hands that was clasping on the steering wheel. They would need to pass by a garage to have her car fixed, but Misato was trying hard not to think she may not even manage to pay for the repairs this time around. "I can see it in his expression. He's reluctant to do this…"
But if Shinji had truly felt that, he was certainly not vocalizing it. And he even went to the opposite direction of her expectations. For no sooner than he regained consciousness, he made it a point not to mingle with the rest of the Freeden pilots, despite the fact that Kouji, Ayato and Garrod were making an effort to become his friend. Asuka, as soon as she got over her own worries for him, seemed to be setting herself up as his rival as an EVA pilot, seeing as Rei showed no interest on the matter. But Shinji also ignored that, which was probably the reason why Asuka seemed so angry whenever he was near her vicinity.
"But we need more pilots." Ritsuko pointed out, wondering why they even started this conversation.
Misato threw her hands in the air, exasperated by her friend's pragmatic view on the world in general. "Because!" she managed to say when she suddenly realized something.
… Shinji was nowhere to be found.
Shinji afterwards did not understand why he followed that boy who beckoned him to use the back door of the store without any second thoughts on the matter, nor does the reason why he should care. But as that same boy's knuckle connected to his jaw and Shinji landing roughly on the floor seemed to have snapped him out of the mental limbo he was currently in.
Another boy, probably a friend of his, with glasses immediately winced with obvious sympathy at Shinji's current plight. "Nothing personal, buddy." He said, in an apologetic tone.
"Oh, shut up Kensuke!" The other boy snapped in obvious annoyance. "He had it coming!"
"That's a nice way of thanking someone, Touji." Kensuke said, miffed by his attitude. "If I hadn't hacked my dad's files you wouldn't even manage to identify him."
The taller boy called Touji only glared at Shinji. "I can't believe that stupid EVA pilot is this wimp!" he bit out. "I was hoping he'd be the type of guy who'd destroy things without looking!"
For some reason, the word "EVA" seemed to bring out a small flame in Shinji. He realized he was being blamed for something the giant robot did. "I have no choice. They made me pilot the stupid thing!"
Touji's eyes flared, as he grabbed Shinji by the collar and raised his hand to punch him again when a stronger hand took a firm hold on his wrist.
Touji and Kensuke looked up at Domon Kasshu's frowning face as he tightened his hold on the former. Touji shouted in pain, but lets go of the EVA pilot immediately.
"I don't have time for this bull." Domon said to the two students as he released Touji. "Go home."
Touji shot one look of hatred at Shinji as he and Kensuke ran from the alleyway.
Rain immediately knelt near Shinji, studying the bruise on his face. "Are you alright?" she asked in concern, Shinji with all his strength pushed her away from him and ran back in the store, bumping into Misato who was also just on her way to door, and blindly ran towards the entrance, into any direction that he could think of. That man with the red cloak, who helped him, was staring at him in disgust…
… Just like his father…
"Shinji!" Misato called out, following the boy, without sparing a glance at the other two.
Rain frowned at Domon. "You were glaring at him too, aren't you?"
A snort from her partner. "Maybe," Domon said.
"Domon!"
"Anyone who can't even defend themselves does not deserve any sympathy."
"You don't mean that." Rain said, trying hard not to envision him in his happier days, when his shame and anger towards his brother didn't change him so much. "I don't believe you think like that."
"Then maybe you should change your evaluation on my character." He snapped as he stormed off.
Rain shouted, clearly annoyed at his uncalled for attitude. "You jerk!"
Misato was surprised to see Shinji sitting quietly on his bed in the room assigned to him by Jamil back in the ship, just as Ritsuko told her. The boy really had nowhere to go, nor does he have the necessary money to even leave. Haruka was kind enough to inform her of his safe return. Then again, it was her job.
Still Misato sometimes hate it whenever her friend was right. Ritsuko has this annoying habit to gloat whenever her logical mind kicks in any situation outside work.
She stared at the boy under her care, and for a brief moment, she saw herself hunched in that position, trying to block everything away in her small space. Trying to remain in station, while everything else was moving on, leaving her behind… it was a rather unpleasant memory… no matter how happy she was now, that part of her life will always be there to haunt her.
Misato sighed as she closed the door instead and went for the bridge. She was never good with this. Shinji would have to come in terms with this in his own way, just like she did.
"That's strange. I wonder if it's malfunctioning." Toniya murmured as she bent over to check the keyboard.
A sharp remark from Sara, "All systems are in perfect running condition and have its maintenance check for the last hour." Toniya inwardly cringed. She was a good friend and all, but Sara always takes offense for even joking that she made a slip up in her daily rounds of re-checking all the ship's weapons, supplies and whatnot for the trip ahead.
Toniya the wondered if that was reason why Sara was always so short tempered.
But whatever that energy signature is suddenly disappeared, and the blonde woman wondered if she just imagined it.
Except that Tifa suddenly burst into the bridge, gasping for breath, her face flushed from her exertions. Shouting a warning "Look out!"
As soon as her words left her mouth, the ship suddenly lurched sideways in the water. From the horizon, something flickered brightly against the bright sun, and then just as quickly vanished.
"What the hell!" Toniya shouted, forgetting to stop herself from saying unladylike curses in front of Tifa.
"It is an Angel," Misato said, frowning at the sudden appearance. How come NERV never gave the warning in time?
"Codenamed Armisiel." Ritsuko said, showing the still photographs from the satellite, before it was destroyed a few seconds later, a simple looking Angel that seemed to be made of light in shape of a ring. "We deduced from our calculations that an all range attack from our three EVAs should do the trick."
"You're just using the EVAs?" Amuro asked.
"Unfortunately, we received specific instructions from the mayor of this city not to use it as a battle zone." Misato said, looking grim, arms crossed over her chest trying not to voice her vexation.
Ritsuko continued in that professional tone. "We will move the EVAs to a relative safer area and then have them all used their firepower in a synchronized manner to weaken the AT Field. Around that time, we'll send Shining Gundam or Mazinger Z to finish it off."
"Sir?" Misato asked. Jamil gave a slight nod. "I suppose five units would be enough then." He admitted. "But I am sending extra units to help with the firepower."
"Yes," Ritsuko piped in before Misato could reply. "RahXephon would do just as well."
This made Haruka, who was silently watching the scene, look up in surprise. "Ayato?" Misato asked slowly.
"Yes. It seems its energy based weapons were quite similar to the Angel's." Ritsuko said, "at least from Magi's calculations. So it's not a leap of logic that its weaponry can harm it somewhat."
"Sounds like a plan." Misato murmured.
"Then we should make preparations." Jamil replied.
"Are you alright?" Misato asked Haruka. Her friend looked unusually pale. Haruka made an embarrassed laugh and told her that she was doing quite fine, even though her voice sounded forced.
Unfortunately, Misato would have to take her job as a first priority. She will have to ask her friend later.
"Seven versus one, huh?" Asuka said in mock horror, as the six mentioned mecha, with Ryouma's Black Getter as their leader, were at the outskirts of the city an hour later, awaiting word from the Freeden to commence the attack. "That doesn't sound fair."
"Well, we hit it as hard as we could, right?" Kouji replied. He and Tetsuya had tossed a coin on which Mazinger pilot should be in the mission. He always knew he was the luckier one, he thought with a grin.
Ryouma, Rei and Domon never said much, but that was to be expected. But for some reason, Ayato felt a sense of conflict from EVA-01's pilot. He tried calling him, but he received no reply. Even as Asuka was confidently saying through their speakers that they could finish this mission in time for lunch.
Then Ryouma's gruff voice. "We're given the order to attack."
"Fire at the same time, everyone." Asuka shouted, as the three EVAs grabbed their palette rifles, bazookas, positron rifles. RahXephon willed out its energy bow, as the other three mechas fly towards the sky, attempting to attack Armisiel from all sides.
The Angel deftly put up its AT Field just as the rains of firepower from the ground reach it. And trying to keep Mazinger's Breast Fire and Black's Getter beam at bay. Shining wield out it's giant beam saber, and join its two companions in the fray.
"Damn it!" Asuka shouted, exasperated that the new one was taking quite a punishment "The Angel's AT Field isn't weakening!"
"Asuka!" Ayato called out. And as EVA-02 turned to inquire why RahXephon was stopping the attack. It suddenly struck her that EVA-01 was rooted on the spot, pointing rifle at the sky, but seemed to be petrified, not touching the trigger. "SHINJI!"
But even Asuka's enraged shout could not make Shinji's fingers move… nor his mind to mentally control his EVA. The events this morning was still fresh in his mind. That was why he was unaware that the ring everyone thought as the Angel's true form suddenly became a line of energy, could not hear the curses and the warning of the other team. Could not register in his mind until Ayato's own cry of pain penetrated his daze thoughts.
Kouji looked on in horror as the Angel struck RahXephon, in an attempt to save EVA-01 its original target, at the chest area. He could have sworn that the giant mecha's face was contorted in pain, before it disappeared after the light covered it.
Shinji screamed in horror, realizing what he had just done, and was about to mindlessly attack it when Rei and Asuka both grabbed EVA-01's arms, forcing it to draw back. "We're given orders to keep our distance." Rei replied tonelessly, as though seeing Ayato disappear from them was an everyday occurrence.
Armisiel was deterred from attacking the EVAs by Black Getter's tomahawk boomerang, yelling at the others that Misato and Jamil ordered them to retreat.
Misato was watching this disastrous mission with a clenched jaw. But her anger disappeared when she heard a sob that was full of despair and pain. She looked back in surprise as Haruka whom she had always considered a pillar of strength, now sitting on the floor, crying bitterly as if her heart was broken.
Shinji did not even look up when Domon decked him on the cheek. Despite the pain, it did not dull his stinging regret for being so useless and helpless. And even as Domon and Ryouma were openly shouting at each other now, the latter angry at Domon for hitting a child, Ayato's scream was still ringing in his ears. The scream was so much he ran from the hangar, surprising everyone when the stoic Rei shouted out his name.
Asuka looked her drink, unsure on what she should think about this.
Rain can only sigh when Domon stormed out of the door, and never came back.
Ayato looked up from his bench in the beautiful park where one can see the Tokyo Tower from above, wondering he ended up here… in his hands was his beloved sketchbook, with his favorite model looking at the sunset.
Shouldn't Asahina and Mamoru be here by now? He wondered. He wondered why he should be staying here for so long. He wondered what time it is… it felt like he had been sitting here forever. He could see his other friends enjoying the afternoon here as well… he could see Erin and Kouji and Sayaka exchanging idle talks regarding their schools. He could see Garrod and Tifa walking along the fountain holding hands… he can even see Domon and Rain, telling an irate Asuka to concentrate more on her studies and not goof off… and yet… he felt so detached from everyone, somewhat…
"Ayato?"
He looked back in surprise, he knows that voice…
Maya Kamina smiled as she approached her son carrying today's groceries. "Shall we go back home?"
A part of him wanted to go. But a part of him was rooted on the spot.
"This is a dream, isn't it?" He heard his voice, but somehow he felt it wasn't his…
Maya smiled, as though amused by his silliness. "No child… the world where you're from… that is the dream."
"What do you mean we won't be doing a rescue operation for RahXephon?" Misato shouted, she couldn't believe what her friend was telling her.
"Our main objective is for the Angel's destruction." Ritsuko replied. "And if we do conduct a mission to save Ayato it will only jeopardize the safety of our troops."
"And leave Ayato to die!" Kouji shouted angrily.
"If that's what it takes." Ritsuko said. And seeing Misato's glare she added grimly. "That is misplaced. You know full well that Shinji is your responsibility!"
Misato's answering gesture came a few seconds later: her hand slapping hard against Dr. Akagi's cheek. Toniya instinctively placed her hands on her mouth to stop her surprised gasp.
"Do not forget your place, Doctor." Misato said coldly. The silence of the bridge was so thick Kouji could swear Tetsuya can cut it in half with his Mazinger Blade.
"I won't, Major."
Misato looked at Kouji and Ryouma, both men having determined looks on their faces. They didn't like the idea of leaving a team mate behind as much as she did. And she knew everyone else in the ship shared the same thoughts as well.
"Major," Haruka Shitow interceded, "I may find a solution to our problem…"
Misato didn't understand why Haruka insisted they talk this in private. Until she held a small CD in her hand to pass it to her as soon as Haruka closed the door of her room. "The battle was quick, but it was enough to obtain enough information on the Angel's profile."
"This came from the Commander…"
Haruka seemed to brace herself. "No, from Kaji." Seeing her friend was now narrowing her eyes she continued desperately. "I asked him personally as a friend. Don't think so badly of him."
"Haruka…"
"I just wanted him to come back safely. Please! " Misato understood, if it had been Shinji, she'd do something drastic as well.
Misato scratched her head, "Kaji won't let me live it down after this, though. Especially when I threw that hamburger on his face before I left base…"
After an hour of looking into the data from the CD, an idea was being formed in her head though, it was risky, but it just might work.
"What! Attack the Angel at point blank range!" Asuka shouted, looking at Misato as though she had just lost her mind.
"We'll use all three EVAs AT Fields to keep the target in a stationary area, supplied with projection weapons as many as you can. Force it into a corner between the three of you. And erode it's own AT field using yours, since it has been confirmed that it is using it as it's own physical body. Hopefully, we'll weaken it enough to allow RahXephon to break free."
"No way!" Asuka said. "What if it attacks us while we're not even ready?"
"Then we'll be put out."
"And what if that Ayato guy is unconscious during that time?"
"Then we'll be put out."
"What about our chance of success?" Rei asked softly.
"God only knows. We have a small percentage, but it's not zero." Misato looked at the two girls. "If you want to leave, I'll understand."
Silence on their parts, both telling her they're committed in this mission but Rei once again surprised them when she managed to voice the obvious question. "What about Ikari?"
What about him? Misato tried not to sigh out loud, as she was troubled by that as well.
"Are we done, yet?" Touji yawned. He wanted to go back and have his sleep so he can visit his sister early tomorrow. Kensuke was beside himself, taking as many photos as he could at the glowing Angel near the port. Despite the warning the newscast was giving about the dangers of the alien attack, they still managed to sneak out of their shelters and head to this area without any obstruction. Touji was mentally kicking himself though, on how he was so easily swayed by his war freak friend when he realized that a huge shadow was looming over them. The two boys looked back in shock as a grim voice said bluntly. "You are coming with me."
Shinji stared as Rei pulled up her notebook telling him the exact details of their next mission while delivering him a simple lunch of bread and milk. "What?" he asked her, thinking it was a bad joke.
"We are to stand ready in our respective EVAs by 1800 hours." Came her prim reply. She stopped when she realized that Shinji knuckles was white, gripping his hands painfully.
"I can't… I can't!" he managed to whisper it brokenly.
Rei looked at him in puzzlement. "Why?" it was a simple question, but Shinji looked up to her in surprise. "Aren't you scared of your EVA?" he asked.
"Perhaps." She looked distracted, but she continued. "Kamina risked his life for you. Will you do nothing for him?" picking up the tray, she left the room as quietly as she had entered it, leaving him to ponder.
It worked. Shinji was leaving the room three minutes later when Domon approached him from the corridor, two boys at the tow… without any words of encouragement he pushed the newcomers forward. And without warning Touji bowed in front of him. "I'm so sorry!"
Shinji looked on in amazement as Kensuke replied sheepishly. "We didn't know until Mr. Domon told us what happened to you. We didn't mean to upset you so much."
Touji really looked apologetic as he added. "You can hit me back! Just as hard!"
Shinji looked at the two boys in bemusement, then turned away. "You really are such a violent kid." He told Touji over his shoulder.
"WHAT!" Touji shouted, forgetting Domon at the moment as he went after him. "I really mean it!" Then suddenly all three boys began to laugh, as Domon decided that he should be heading for the hangar, looking at the young woman who was enjoying the scene before her. "I'll be leaving the visitors to you, Rain. Make sure they reach back to the city safely."
Rain smiled, "Sure thing."
Misato was relieved to see that Shinji was feeling much better as Asuka was giving him the basics of firearms again through their virtual cockpits. Rei had left to suit up, since her synchronization with her EVA was slower than the other two. But she somehow felt that things are looking up.
Haruka, meanwhile, was staring at the window where the Angel was, her hands clasped in prayer. Hang in there, Ayato. We're coming…
"What is this place?" Ayato asked her. It was his room, his house... but for some reason it felt unfamiliar...
"Home, as you should be…" his mother answered him quietly." Don't worry. You are safe. As long as you stay here, you will never get hurt or hurt another person ever again. It will be just you and me… as always."
"Mom…" Ayato said slowly, walking away from her.
His mother looked at him in concern. "What is it, darling?"
"You were not here with me…"
"What are you talking about?" Maya looked confused, hurt, even. "I've always been you by your side. Whatever you wanted, I always gave it you. Whatever your dream is, I've always supported you."
"I know… I know that, Mom…" Ayato said, remembering him telling her he wanted to draw, and that she gave him the necessary items and the lessons for that… but…
All those years being alone in that house, all those years of her not attending his school activities, those family outings she could not spare the time to be with him… "Those things that you said… all this time, you were never here with me! When I needed you the most, you aren't here!"
"Ayato…!" Maya gasped, trying to hold her son. But Ayato shove her away. He stared at her wildly before he turned and fled.
He could hear his mother crying in the distance. "Why? Why won't you listen to me?"
Garrod and Witz were obviously nervous with this mission, so much that when Roybea was complaining about the wait, they literally shout at him to shut up.
Amuro couldn't blame them. They're literally the ones who would be sent ahead to serve as a distraction while the stronger mechas were on the ground, to give cover to the EVAs as they approach Armisiel. They'll have to prevent making contact on the thing, which makes this mission a lot more difficult.
Shinji can only try to focus the battle ahead. This was his only chance to help Ayato… he could not give in to fear now…
I mustn't run away.
He didn't realize how far he ran, but he did anyway. Everything he see, hear… it seemed to be mocking him in this futile effort.
Then he heard a beautiful song… so peaceful... so familiar…
Mishima?
Suddenly he found himself in the park. Where he had first seen her so many years ago and fallen in love with her…
Mishima was singing, her back at him, hands clasped. She stopped, turned around, and smiled sweetly…
He felt like he was beginning to burst. "Please!" Ayato called out, "I want to return to the real world!"
"Bastard!" Kouji snarled, using Mazinger's Rocket punch to force Armisiel from lashing at EVA-00, Lexus coming behind him to offer additional firepower. The three EVAs were firing now in complete synchronization with their palette rifles from different directions.
"We can only this once, Shinji! First!" Asuka shouted. "Make it count!"
"I understand." Rei replied.
Shinji clenched his controller hard as he willed the AT Field to spread in full power…
Mishima laughed. "The real world? I wonder what that really is."
Ayato could not understand it either… but he managed to say, "I don't know. But I feel sick here. It doesn't feel real to me."
"This is the world that you desire."
"A world I didn't want."
Mishima smiled again, pleased to hear those words he just uttered, "Then what are you waiting for? Regardless what this is, no matter if you are in the Garden of Eden yourself, you must leave in your own power. In your own free will."
"My own free will?" Suddenly, it began to make sense… "I think I understand." Suddenly, he found himself sitting in the familiar throne of the RahXephon, and everything else is beginning to fade away. "Thank you, Mishima."
"Until next time, Ayato…"
"There's an energy signature coming from the Angel!" Toniya said. "I haven't seen anything like it."
Is it Ayato? Misato wondered, as Armisiel seemed to be contorting within itself in pain, before the energy it was building up inside burst open, forcing the other three EVAs to stagger back, and everyone watched as the familiar RahXephon emerged from the body of the Angel, and opened it's mouth. As the Voice of RahXephon filled the air… and obliterated Armisiel into pieces.
"Damn…" Roybea muttered.
"You got that right." Domon replied wryly.
But as soon as the Angel completely disappeared, RahXephon toppled backward and landed on the ground, Ayato finally finding peace in the world that he chose to be in.
"The conductor is impressive," Fuyutsuki commented later that day, upon watching the progress on video in the privacy of Ikari's main office in NERV that Haruka provided in exchange for Kaji's information.
"True." Gendou agreed. "But it's too soon for him to improvise."
"Hey, what's that commotion about?" Ayato asked. Even though the doctor gave him a clean bill of health, he was asked to take it easy now. But staying in his room made him restless, and he felt the urge to explore the ship again.
Kouji draped a shoulder over him. "It's to celebrate our successful mission!"
"Actually, it's Kouji's way of saying he wants to eat, but conviniently hides it as a surprise party." Sayaka teased.
Kouji looked distressed, "That's not what it is, Sayaka!"
Amuro was actually blushing as Misato, finally given in to the stress she just released, was drinking beer in total abandonment as Asuka was chattering with Garrod and Erin. Seeing that Shinji was sitting by himself on the table, Ayato decided to accompany him.
"Thanks for helping me." Shinji said, trying not to look embarrassed.
"Well, I think in light what just happened. I think you already repaid it." Ayato assured him.
They were drinking their sodas now, when Shinji asked. "So, what happened, when you were in there?" it was a clumsy way to inquire how Ayato was doing in that traumatic experience, and he winced inwardly.
Surprisingly Ayato took it literally, "I think I was in paradise." Seeing Shinji's surprised look, he mentally shook that thought away. "But I prefer the land of the living…"
"Well, there it goes." Touji said, the two boys standing near the pier, watching the Freeden disappear as it heads towards the ocean. "It's a shame I never get to talk to them more."
"Oh, SHIT!" Kensuke cursed as his friend looked at him in surprise. "I forgot to take pictures!"