Chapter 3: To Build a World with our Hands
…The NERV special will be arriving shortly, all employees please ensure that your security cards are at the ready, passengers without cards will be withheld from boarding. Please step behind the yellow…
Four figures passed through various stringent security checks before entering the bright blue train. On stepping inside, the three head technicians were surprised to see their Major near passed out on one of the seats.
Cicadas chirped, the birds sang…the air was heavy with the scent of a fresh day. Sadly, none of the morning's vibrancy had rubbed off on the NERV employees.
"Good morning Major." The three chanted, trying there best to get the words out without falling asleep.
"Guh, huh wha…oh, good morning. What are you guys doing here." Mumbled a barely moving Misato.
"We were called for duty last night as well, I think the Panama project's been postponed." Hyuga said whilst smiling bashfully.
"Don't you have a car Misato?" Ritsuko asked as she sat down beside the good major. Hyuga Maya and Shigeru all found seats opposite them.
"Oh, morning Rit-chan, yeah…well you know how it is, after last night Edward suggested that I take the train."
"And you agreed." Ritsuko was taken aback by her friend's submissiveness.
"No." grumbled Misato, her form slumping again.
"…he stole my keys."
Last night, towards the end of the festivities, deputy commander Fuyutsuki had announced that the top NERV personnel were required to come to work early next morning. This resulted in the usually packed NERV special to be completely deserted as the lower level employees all had a well-deserved sleep in.
Maya stared silently out the window as her two superiors continued with their morning banter. Outside, neo Tokyo passed them by in all its beauty.
"I wonder how it got this way."
"Huh, what are you talking about Maya?" Aoba asked as he looked out in the direction of her gaze.
"Neo-Tokyo, well it wasn't like this when the third impact happened, and…i-it just happened to be like this afterwards."
"That's not true Maya, much of the city is still under construction, it wasn't exactly like this." Interrupted Hyuga as he looked over Aoba's shoulder.
"That's not what I mean. It was all destroyed before the third impact, afterwards it was all…fine, we didn't have to rebuild most of the city, it was just…there."
"We don't discuss these things to often."
The three jumped at the stern tone of the Major. It seemed her and Ritsuko had abandoned their chat for this one.
"Major Katsuragi's right. Till date we've found no scientific explanation for the restructuring of the world post third impact. We just grew to accept it."
"Oh."
Maya's tone was a little let down. Ritsuko's words seemed to have put a sudden end to all their conversation. After a small expectant silence the five resigned themselves to watching to lush green meadows that were the Tokyo outskirts whiz past them.
They were all snapped out of their small moment of thoughtful introspection by the steady slowing down of the train.
Far ahead, massive re-enforced doors slid apart to allow the train to pass into the NERV compound. Due to various changes, NERV had been transformed into a vast spread of buildings and laboratories above ground rather than below, the main reason for this being the lack of a Geofront.
Also, NERV was now responsible for much of the municipal maintenance of Tokyo-3 and most of Japan, thus a new need for transparency had arisen. The compound was now littered with several administrative offices and what not among the usual research and development stations.
But some parts of NERV still remained subterranean …
Stepping of the train, the five were made to move through yet another set of security checks before getting on a small bus that had been waiting for them.
"You have to admit though, the new NERV's got a much more…I don't know…lively feel to it." Misato said as she threatened to lie down on the last seat of the bus.
"Sure, but where you and I work it's the same as always." Ritsuko quickly replied.
The others sighed in agreement as the bus continued its journey towards a small building in the heart of the compound.
Brrrrrring…
Misato's phone went of was they were getting off the small shuttle.
"Major Katsuragi speaking."
She answered the call while slipping her clearance card through the censors with the others and entering the heavy elevator doors that had opened before them. The building was actually simply an elevator station that transported NERV employees to the lower levels.
"Oh, good morning deputy commander Fuyutsuki…yes…yes the children are currently at school…yes…"
The group hustled out of the cramped space as the elevator finally reached its lowest level. As they walked towards their work area they passed by a large golden plague they had seen many times, it read:
New Central Dogma, NERV
"…yes, I'll send for the children after school's over…yes sir…it shall be done sir…goodbye sir."
Putting her cell phone back in her pocket Misato looked back at all the expectant faces of the others.
"Ah, we better get cracking…we've got a lot of work to do today."
Clouds brushed against the lush green plains. Low hills rose and fell beyond. Lighting his third cigarette, Edward leaned back against the side of the black sedan and marveled at the scenic beauty of the Lower Yangtze Valley region. He wore simple back pants and a white shirt under his red NERV jacket with his badge stitched to his collar…his usual uniform.
'Still on call' he thought craning his neck as he checked if anyone had emerged on the other side from the front seat of the car. As he turned he saw the compound wall behind them, UN markings about it every few meters. Seeing no one emerging from the car in the near future, Edward went back to gazing at the countryside and his cigarette.
Their current location, the UN Asian headquarters, was located five miles northeast of the city of Shanghai. It lay between the two cities of Nanjing and Shanghai in the Jiangsu province south of the Yangtze River. He had come as Yui's escort; she was here to give her presentation on the green Eva project. The project had been ongoing since the Eva's were commissioned over six months ago. Today Yui was merely giving the UN a status report and future plans for the extremely successful project.
Clang
Edward turned slowly to see a figure emerge from the front seat of he car. Standing up, deputy commander Fuyutsuki smoothly pocketed the cell phone he'd just been using.
"Grim news Edward." He said facing the young captain.
"What is it this time?" came an exasperated reply
"The Panama project's been preponed by a week, I've just informed Major Katsuragi."
"What!! That's crazy, why would they do that?"
"The funds went dry so the French contractors packed up and left. We're going to have to finish the project on are own, thus it was preponed to allow its completion on schedule."
Edward let out a sigh,
"You know I still don't see why we have to use the manually piloted Evas for this kind of stuff."
"You know all too well why, the auto piloted Evas are used only for raw work; security, lifting heavy objects etcetera."
Edward nodded,
"Right, well we can have the Evas transported to Panama within six hours. I can take them down there as soon as required."
"That's all right. It will be better if the children travel along with their Evas."
Nodding in agreement, Edward pulled out his phone and made a few calls.
"Hello, yes this is Captain Edward Valcos of NERV speaking, I need a pick up at about…"
Turning away from the captain, Fuyutsuki bent down and peered into the back seat of the sedan. He smiled as he gazed upon Yui's sleeping form as she sat, head back against the rest, flash cards littered every here and there.
"I've made all the arrangements, I'll take a car to Shanghai after were done here, from there it's a jet to Tokyo and a chopper straight to HQ."
Fuyutsuki nodded as he stood up once again. Acknowledging the deputy commander's approval, Edward spoke again…he had a lot he had to get of his chest.
"Hey Kozo."
"Yes Edward."
"Why am I accompanying Yui, doesn't commander Ikari usually do that, I mean he usually goes with her alone, why have you and I been dragged along?"
Fuyutsuki walked around to the other side of the car and leaned against it beside Edward.
"Security"
"Wh-"
"The Fujian uprising is still pretty heated. The Republic of China is still unwilling to come to terms with the Peoples Republic. Thought the fighting is far away, there have been several incidents of attempted bombings and terrorism. You're here as Yui's personal escort."
"Great, I'm a glorified bodyguard."
"Hm, that's one way of putting it. Gendo was just accompanying her in the beginning, but after last nights news he called me along. We were to make a stop here so Gendo could have his say…but again, due to security reasons I was disallowed from accompanying him."
They were currently at the head office for the UN in Asia, after this they would go to the sub-office of the UNDP for Yui's presentation.
"You think he'll get his way."
"What?"
"You know, you think the UN committee will swing his way."
"I doubt it Edward, I doubt they'll even grant him audience, the officials here will probably turn him down right away. You've read their file haven't you?"
"I read it on the plane yes." Edward replied.
"It speaks for itself, I doubt anything Gendo can say will make the UN change its decision."
"It will clash with the commander's plans…won't it."
Fuyutsuki was silent for a long time…a very long time.
"I'm quite sure his plans are the root of this entire outburst."
The silence crept in once again; neither said a word as they both went back to gazing into the distance.A train could be heard in the distance as Edward lit his fourth.
"Could I tempt you with one." Edward spoke while offering the deputy commander his pack.
"No thank you Edward, you know don't smoke."
"Hmm, yeah I know, I'm not a tobacco man either…prefer a more herbal taste…but then again, times are tense."
Words again spent, only silence found its way to their lips. For a long time neither of them even moved.
"Why am I in the loop?" Edward broke he silence again.
"I beg you're pardon?"
"Why was I informed about Gendo's plans, more importantly…why is Major Katsuragi…my superior, not informed about this."
Fuyutsuki let out a low sigh, but no reply came from his lips.
"Sir, I do not ask that Major Katsuragi be let in, I just want to know why I have been included."
Edward gave his head a flick, allowing the wind to catch his hair and take it out of his eyes. Fuyutsuki looked away from the man and replied.
"Though you are young…you have seen and been through a great deal more than most of us."
Edward continued to stare at his superior silently.
"Though the Major is more than competent at what she does, sadly…she lacks the emotional girth for such decisions."
Edwards mouth hung open…he had no excuse for this, it was true that Misato was fairly unstable outside the operations center.
"A fair point sir, but I know that's not the real reason. Emotional competence is not enough to merit inclusion into such…epic…plans."
Fuyutsuki's eyebrows arched, Edward's sudden formal tone didn't go undetected.
"You know exactly why you were included Edward."
The young captain bit back a sarcastic laugh. That's what he'd wanted, to hear the truth from his lips.
"Yes of course, how could I forget. I see now that my inclusion was not out of respect for my decisions…but merely out of pity."
Edward took a quick drag before continuing.
"I see know that I was not brought on board so that I could judge the situation fairly. But in truth it was just the opposite. I was brought on so that I could vote Gendo's way. He must have been unsure of your vote, so he brought me along so that I would surley go his way."
"Yui admires your judgment, that was good enough for me and Gendo. In the end, you did support our decision."
The comment seemed to deflate Edward just a little, but he retorted with confidence.
"Does Yui know of these plans?"
But the reply wasn't quite what he expected.
"Yes."
"Wha!!"
"She agrees with Gendo's reasoning…she thinks it's for the best."
Edward's shoulders slumped as he nodded in submission.
"You know, you've always been held in high regard in her ey- ." Fuyutsuki began but was cut off when he turned to see Commander Ikari walking through the heavy UN gates towards the car.
"We better get moving."
Nodding Edward walked around the car and held the door open for the commander. Giving the captain a curt little nod Gendo reentered the car and sat down beside Yui's waking form. Walking around and into the drivers seat Edward revved the engine and took off down the road towards the UNDP sub-office, all thoughts of the earlier conversation being forgotten…
brrrrrring
Nothing sounded more invigorating than the final bell. Children, who all day were seen fighting loosing battles with consciousness, were now bouncing off the walls…nothing said 'fun' more than he end of school after a long day. It was no less of the four evangelion pilots and their two friends.
"Ahh, come on Shinji, what do ya wana do today." Touji asked eager for a response.
"Erm…I don't know."
"Oh come on, we have to do something, I'm in no mood to go home." Kensuke whined.
The bunch continued to argue all the way down the road leading away from the school. Second child Asuka Langley Soryu had been walking behind the boys, in step with Hikari and alarmingly…Rei.
"Hmpf, I bet they're planning something really stupid…no doubt they'll try and ditch us." The fiery German whined.
"Ikari-kun wouldn't leave us." Rei added unresponsively.
"Ohhhhhhh sure, I'd expect you to defend the twerp. But then again you're right, that first child's too spineless to stand up against us."
"Oh chill out Asuka, we're all bored, they're just looking for some fun."
"Yeah well I'll tell you what I'm looking for, I'm looking for some lunch!!"
The boys suddenly turned around on hearing Asuka's sudden outburst.
"Well of course I'm hungry you morons. Shinji forgot to make our lunches…you all should be to."
Post third impact, Misato had been given a much larger apartment by NERV…just more space to junk…but also, on principal, all the Eva pilots were designated to stay with her. This placed the burden of food preparation solely on Shinji and because of yesterday's late night…he'd been unable to prepare lunch for any of them.
"You know, for once I gotta side with hell girl here, I am pretty hungry."
"Wha!!!" Sinji's jaw almost dropped as Touji completely betrayed him on the spot.
"Ha third child!!! Oh how the mighty have fallen. I bet even Rei agrees with me." Asuka jibed while nudging Rei in the ribs.
The blue haired pilot was silent, but a solitary hand on her stomach was indication enough of her allegiance.
So it was agreed that they would go and find something to eat, either that or it was death…not by starvation…but nagging on Asuka's part. But all thoughts of food and merriment were thrown out the window when-on turning around-Shinji noticed a black sedan driving up towards them.
"I think Edward's come to pick us up for something."
Everyone turned around, a renewed spring in their step at hearing the news. Even Hikari seemed exited to meet the man she'd only briefly seen the other night…much to Touji's curiosity.
But once again all, thoughts of entertainment were extinguished from their minds when the car drove to a halt right beside them.
Even Rei's usually still face formed a slight frown when the man emerging from the drivers seat was not the bouncy energetic Edward they knew but a dull-slightly balding-NERV security official.
"Huh, what's this? Where's Edward?" Touji demanded.
"Captain Valcos is away on official NERV work with commander Ikari."
"He's gone with my father?" Shinji asked slightly surprised at the idea. Some how the thought of his father and Edward sitting down to have sake was plain disturbing. Then again, both his father and Edward were strange men...very strange men.
"Affirmative." The muscle replied, "The Eva pilots are requested to follow me, we must go to Central Dogma immediately…synch tests."
"What!!"
"Oh great, just like them to ruin our fun." The lot complained.
"I'm sorry, we must leave immediately."
"What about Hikari and Kensuke." Rei asked among the protests.
The guard stared at the two for a long time. The others also calmed down and looked on, demanding an answer from the official.
"It shall be a tight squeeze but I shall drop them off at their respective homes."
Shinji thanked the guard and the group stuffed themselves into the car, however unfair life at NERV may get, the pilots new better than to disobey formal orders.
The journey was-as the security official said-'a tight squeeze'. Kensuke and Shinji had bunched up in the front seat as Touji sat in the back with Rei Hikari and, to his dismay, Asuka.
"Ah, S-Shinji…you're really heavy for such a…t-thin guy." Kensuke gasped
"Come on Kensuke chill out, at least you're not sitting with-"
"Oh shut up Touji, you don't fool us, you just want to take advantage of us." Asuka quickly cut in.
"Wha!! Why would I want to be anywhere…"
The car took a left and drove down a long avenue with massive trees on either side casting cool shadows on the asphalt.
"Um, sir, Kensuke's house was a right." Shinji finally spoke after numerous prods from his 'chair-ish' friend.
"We are already two minutes behind schedule, I will drop your two friends as per their direction after you have safely boarded the train."
"Sheesh, you guys are so uptight about everything, I mean why worry so much, I don't even need synch tests I just do it to remind everyone that I'm the-HEY WATCH IT!!!"
Hikari screamed the last bit of Asuka's sentence in unison.
"Wha!!" but it was too late for Touji
SMACK!!
Even Rei took the liberty of teaching the fourth child a lesson.
"Bwa!!, Hik…Devi…REI!! What was that for." Touji screamed as Kensuke and Shinji almost caused the man to throw the car of the road because they were laughing so hard.
"You were rude." Rei replied.
"B-but, I didn't do anything…really Hikari I'm innocent." Touji screamed looking for anny support as Hikari went a bright red.
"Oh, shut up Touji…and Hikari stop deflating like that, its pathetic…I know exactly what you were trying you perv." But Touji was given no time to retort.
CWACK!!!
The whole car seemed to jump in shock.
"W-what was that." Kensuke mumbled under Shinji.
"I'm sorry sir," the man said reaching back, his arm groping the seat where Asuka had been sitting, 'had' because at present, she was sitting atop an unperturbed Rei whom she'd jumped on seconds earlier in shock.
After a short struggle, the man's hand found its target; a small handle buried deep in the cushioning of the seat. Pulling on it, Hikari's eyes went wide as a part of the back seat was dreaged open and Pen Pen's head appeared from the boot.
"Hey what's he doing here?" Shinji questioned over screams of 'see it wasn't me, you sick bast…'
"The pet was feeling unwell…so Major Katsuragi requested that I take it to the vet after transporting you."
"Oh I see, she usually bullies Edward to do such menial jobs, but now that he's not here…she's got you doing her dirty work huh." Asuka probed.
The official said nothing, a bead of sweat appearing on his forehead. Luckily the security officer was saved from any further embarrassment by the arrival of their destination…the train station.
The four Eva pilots were waved goodbye to Hikari and Kensuke…and the guard, when a thought struck Shinji.
"Hey Touji."
"Wha."
"In the back seat, Rei was sitting at the window, then Asuka then you then Hikari on the other side…b-but…Pen Pen was stuck behind Rei and Asuka…so how did Hi-"
"Ah Shinji, you put too much thought into these things…w-we have synch tests to worry about."
Touji completed after putting his arm around Shinji and nearly dragging him into the azure train.
'The world…the world destroyed…to rebuild the world…we rebuild the world…a better tomorrow…we dream of a better tomorrow…'
Rei sat quietly beside the other three pilots, her mind still tingling after synch. They all were fairly tiered. Each one of them leaned against the back rest and began submitting to a sleep a long time coming…all except Asuka of course, who believed she had done the best in today's test. 'Believed' because Dr.Akagi had stopped giving out the test results (to prevent similar nasty incidents that occurred before the third impact.)
"Ok" Misato boomed as the pilots snapped to attention. Synch tests were over but the children still needed to be de-briefed on the situation at hand.
"There's a change of plan. We're leaving tonight."
"What!!!" they all chanted…Rei included.
"You can't do that, I…we need our sleep, how can we pilot Eva I-"
"Captain Valcos and me mutually decided it was for the best, you'll be informed on the situation tomorrow on site. Don't worry, most of the stuff just needs to be put in place, the operation should take about a week." Said Misato cutting Asuka short.
"You terrorized him into agreeing with you didn't you Misato-san." Shinji groaned.
"What nonsense." Misato smiled. "Why I just…persuaded him into it, he's very considerate and respects my judgment."
"Did the 'considerate' captain return your car keys Misato?" Ritsuko jibed.
"Dam it!! Oh when I get my hands on h…"
"Now now Major."
"Huh…you're right Rit-chan…it was all for the best. C'mon you lot, lets go home, we can take m…the train" Misato finished with clenched jaw and balled fist...
As they rode the familiar train back home, Rei once again sank into her own mind.
'to dream…I have dreams…once I didn't dream…I don't remember not dreaming…I remember knowing I didn't dream…I do not remember…not dreaming…what are dreams…what am I…who…who am I…'
AN: KEEP THE REVIEWS COMING...its all we've got.
'Till date we've found no scientific explanation for the restructuring of the world post third impact. We just grew to accept it'………that line is not to cover up one of the major plot holes in the story, there is a reason for this…it shall be disclosed at a later time, that's all.
I added the relationship's etc just to get more people into this…initially it was al supposed to be left out, yes I'm shallow. Thank you for reading.
Sorry for the delay, I had to do a lot of reshuffling in the story…I just added/greatly altered one of the subplots so things had to be introduced now…other things had to be thrown out for later use etc. Next chapter will shed some light on some of the stuff in this chapter…only some…it also starts getting weird after this…really weird.
To the critics
The Fifth:
Thanx for all the constructive c. really appreciate it. And hope you don't mind 'OC's because I tend to create a lot of them to give stories some depth. I've tried to cut down on this one…but it could get out of control.
'Egad'…wow, I respect you more just for that man, classic…(not an insult in any way)
Gin:
OOOOOhhhhhhh so it's MY side of the world now is it…that's rich…not good enough for the west am I!!!
Actually I don't care, its all good for me, as long as you have anime I could go to the South Pole and live out my life.
I am honored that you are reading my story in spite…blah blah blah. If the story really doesn't interest you…you don't have to put your self through hell to read it (but its super cool that you are anyway!!!).
