Chapter 5: Death Pt. 1

'A rabbit…what-the-FUCK-is a rabbit doing here…'

Clouds painted the green earth with shadow as they danced about the sun's rays. A family of rabbits dragged a large carrot slowly into their hole. Magnolias littered the lush meadow here and there from where he stood all the way to the azure horizon in the distance.

'Where the…'

Looking down he almost screamed. To his utter horror, he was wearing cargo shorts and a floral shirt…A FLORAL SHIRT!!!!

"Hey Valcos!!!!"

Edward jumped when he heard the words screamed. Wheeling around he came face to face with the voice's mouth.

There, standing before him in ankle deep grass stood the oddest pair Edward had ever seen. One was about his height and wore a shocking red traditional Japanese kimono, the other looked…yup she looked like a school girl.

'Wow…now that's culture shock in a nutshell…'

The man had long white hair; two tiny triangles in his hair-almost like Asuka's A-10 nerve clips-and had what Edward could only describe as claws extending from his fingertips.

"Hey stop staring ya moron!!! When are you coming back?"

Edward's mouth continued to hang open as the strange man continued to scream at him. It seemed this guy had sharpened his canines into fangs.

'Oh boy…he's one of those…'

"Hey why aren't you saying any-"

"Um…you are aware you have claws…"

Edward deftly cut in as the black haired girl smiled…she couldn't have been too much younger than the Eva children.

"Of course I have claws…what's gotten into you, you…"

"Erm…who are you????"

Edward was at sea…

"Why you…who am-"

The man had had enough. Giving up on pleasant talk he charged at Edward, sadly he didn't get far.

"Sit boy"

BOOM

The girl was still smiling after she ever so silently whispered the words. The man was somewhere near six feet under.

"Oh come on Valcos, don't you remember who we are…"

Edward stared at the girl long and hard…words failing him. Suddenly…as if someone had raised the curtains of his memories, it all came back to him…in his childhood, just after the second impact, reading old mangas, mangas about a girl who fell through a well and…

"You're…y-you're…"

The girl nodded, still beaming as Edwards's brow furrowed, this was some fucked up shit indeed.

"So…w-where am…am I?"

The girl continued to smile…

"Oh come on silly, you're in hell…you tried to save a soul…and now you've reached hell."

Edward's raised an eyebrow…

"In hell eh" he said looking around again. "You sure about that."

Edward wanted to laugh, but the girls continued smiling put him off slightly.

"OOOOOk, wha-"

But that's as far as he got. A flash of silver blinded him slightly as it cut through the girl. The girl-still smiling-slowly disappeared into the lush greenery about her. In her place stood a new figure…this one was immediately recognized.

He was exactly his height. He wore a crisp black suit, the jacket of which-buttoned once above his waist-reached all the way down to a little above his ankles. Even his shirt and tie were black. His hair was exactly the same length as Edward's except for the fact that it was slicked back. He even had the same van dyke as Edward, the same color eyes as Edward. In fact…he was Edward.

After inspecting the large hole in the ground in which the white haired man once resided the new Valcos walked up to Edward, a smirk pasted across his lips.

Edward's reaction though was far from friendly. His face contorted into a grimace, as if he'd tasted something unpleasantly bitter, his hands pointed wildly at his other's face.

"Y-you…y"

The darker Edward put up a hand to silence him…

"Now now Edward, there's no need to be scared its just-"

"No…its not that" Edward cut in as his darker self raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Its just your hair."

The black suited man stopped moving towards Edward, his eyes moving skyward rather stupidly as he tried to 'see' his own hair.

"What, what's wrong with it?"

"It's all…you know." Edward twirled his hands wildly over his head in attempts to put his hair back.

"Oh, that." The other said, "I just thought it made me look more mysterious and dashing you-"

"Oh no, get rid of it now." Edward swiftly interjected.

Shrugging the dark Edward ran his hands through his long hair and returned it to a middle parting. The hair now lightly rested on his shoulders.

"Happy"

And without waiting for Edward to nod in agreement the darker one began walking of in the direction of a low hill as a hesitant Edward hastily followed.

"So, what are you doing here Edward."

Edward continued to kick the dirt as he followed his own self.

"Oh nothing, just chilling in hell allegedly."

The dark Edward let out a burst of laughter

"Hmmm, really…do you believe that?"

As they walked, they passed a set of broken down swings. The wood on all four of the swings was long since rotten. The rope on the second swing from the left had snapped completely. Edward stared at the slightly out of place structure as he finally replied.

"Huh…imagine that. I'm in my own sub conscious aren't I."

The dark Edward nodded as they slowly made their way onto the gentle slope of the hill. All of a sudden, without warning, the darker man suddenly sat down on the grass, giving him an odd look Edward sat quietly down beside him.

For a long time the two just sat, silent, staring out towards the horizon.

"So…um what are we doing here?"

Dark Edward gave Edward a quick smile.

"Haaaaaaa, well…as you can guess you're pretty close to the end."

Edward blanched considerably.

"Yes, uh…don't worry. You're just going to have to answer a few questions. You ready?"

Edward was still recovering from his others lighthearted comment about his very own ending…not cool…not cool at all. Nodding slowly, he readied himself for the 'questions'.

"Ok, well here they are…Edward Valcos, who are you…who are we?"

Edward raised an eyebrow.

"Think about it, the questions are many times one and the same…yet the answers are quite different…and other times they are the same."

Edward's eyebrow moved even higher.

"You know, if you were trying to be deep…well you got it all wrong. You could have said something like these questions are different but their answer is very much the sa-"

"Ok ok, you got me. Chill man…fuck, just answer the question."

Edward hurriedly nodded the other to silence. Rubbing his hands together, getting himself into a serious mindset.

"Ok…who are we…who am I? Well…well I'm Edward Valcos."

His dark self smiled back…speaking only in silence.

"…That's not right is it?…"

Silence

"…Edward Valcos is a name…it describes a man who has long hair, twenty years old, has a Van dyke…no…no that doesn't work…"

The black suited man still said nothing, only his eyes egging Edward on.

"…those things are just a small part of me…if my name was something else like…"

"Isaac maybe."

Edward irritably shrugged his own self off.

"Whatever it is, it wouldn't change who I am…if a man had long hair and was twenty and what not…he wouldn't be me…yea he wouldn't be me. So…what makes me…what makes…us?"

The other remained silent…he seemed pleased with Edward's progress.

"…W-we are creatures born from this world. W-we…I…w-we are born f-from…no. We are…we are…creations. Yeah that's it we are creations."

The other gently nodded.

"Impressive."

"No…we can't simply be creations. A machine is a creation, something created by us. But we are not the same as machines right?…right…we aren't the same."

Edward was silent for a long time. All along the other said nothing, giving Edward the time to discover the answers for himself.

Finally, after what seemed an age, Edward spoke…a look of revelation in his eyes.

"…That's it…self."

He turned excitedly towards the other.

"W-we are creations, but we have the concept of self…we have individuality…that fucking it. See, an engine is a creation…it is a machine…and so is a car. When an engine is added to a car…the engine's individuality is lost. When we enter a car we remain who we are…yeah, we can be part of greater works…but we retain our inherent individuality…that's it. We are creations who have self."

The other smiled wide. Standing up he offered a hand to Edward. Confused, Edward took the hand.

"That was good…a few holes here and there…but that's good enough for today, come on its time we got going."

Edward stood up along side his own self.

"So…where are we going."

The other almost burst out laughing.

"Hey, that was my next question…Come on its time to go…"

He replied as he watched a content family of rabbits emerge from their hole…


Crickets…crickets chirped in the silence of the night. Everyone seemed tiered yet unwilling to submit to sleep. It had been a week since the incident with the Mecha's at the Canal and by now the Panama Royal Hotel looked sickeningly familiar.

The bunch had been delayed in their return to Japan due to a security breach. Allegedly someone had broken into Misato's apartment and the ongoing investigation had held them all up. Their flight was tomorrow morning and hey all seemed to want nothing to do with sleep. All except Edward of course, he was fast asleep in his room…he'd been sent by Gendo to submit the operation reports of the Panama project to the UN headquarters in New York and had only just gotten back.

They had all gathered in Asuka and Rei's suite-it being the cleanest-and were all eagerly waiting for room service to arrive with their dinners. Most of the lights were switched off or dimmed reflecting the others dull mood.

The room was actually a two-bedroom suite, the other room used by Shinji and Touji. The two bedrooms were connected by a central room, which had a T.V, a dinner table a kitchenette…it sufficed to say that NERV were sparing no expenses on their top operations team. Though-contrary to Gendo's beliefs-they were still fairly underpaid.

Misato and Ritsuko were sitting chatting away at the table. Asuka was busying herself with the television; Touji was sprawled out on the couch behind her…messaging Hikari no doubt. Rei sat by herself in a dark corner looking out towards the veranda on the other side of the central room (just another thing…the room was attached to a private veranda overlooking the gardens…just another thing…). Shinji sat on the floor leaning against the side of the couch listening to his I-pod…yes the now obsolete S-DAT player was long gone.

Each of the children, as well as Misato were happily buzzed on beer. Yes Misato's philosophy was simple, if the children (Shinji in particular) were allowed to decide whether man emerged from instrumentality or not…then they could choose whether to drink or not. And it seemed that none of them were novices at the art…they just never appeared to do it in public.

"Hey Touji, she might get sick of you if you message her so much." Misato teased.

Touji immediately dropped the phone in surprise as he sat up straight.

"Wa-hey no, I just…I was telling Kensuke about what's going on here…I wan't talking to Hikari…n-no way, why would I do that."

"Yeah sure." Shinji cut in, taking of his earphones. "That's what you said over the past five days."

Misato giggled," More importantly, I never said you were talking to Hikari."

Seeing no escape, Touji suffered the jibes from Misato Asuka and-a few-from Shinji.

"Hey is that why you keep running of from home for long periods of time like that…you have Shinji cover for you right." Misato was loving this.

"Hell no, come on guys back off…when was the last time I left like that, come on Misato that's not fair."

"AAAAAAAAAh, no don't tell me. You pervert. You didn't force her to…you know."

Touji's face exploded in utter horror as Misato fell of her chair laughing.

"Hell no…ahh, that's low even for you devil child."

"S-so…aha…so you're still a virgin??" Misato probed as she slowly lifted herself from the floor.

"Hey what's wrong with that…so am I." A raspy voice sounded from the door of one of the bedrooms.

Every one, Rei included, turned their heads to se a very groggy Edward standing in the doorway in pajamas and a slight shirt.

"You're a virgin!!!" Asuka, Misato and the up till now silent Ritsuko yelled in utter shock.

Edward took a step back…realizing what he'd just admitted to he defended himself.

"Hey…I've had had my fair share…it's just that…well you know I've never…"

"Had sex." Misato completed while raising an eyebrow.

Edward smiled at the comment, but simultaneously his hand reached for his chest…gripping it as his smile turned to a slight grimace.

In his mind, flashes of a man and a woman…the woman's skin a slight off white…her blood a deep crimson…her screams, loud and clear.

"No I'm not." Edward whispered as the others laughs died down.

"E-Edward…you ok." Touji inquired.

Edward nodded weakly. "Yeah just fine…I need a shower."

With that the man re-entered the bedroom and disappeared from the others sights. Edward's brief performance had done enough to sufficiently kill all conversation. Misato went to the little fridge and opened another can and resumed her conversation with Ritsuko about the theft in her own apartment. The others went back to their respective activities.

Minutes passed as Shinji sat and listened to music. His eyes moving in and out of focus Shinji caught sit of a solitary Rei sitting in the corner of the room…away from all conversation.

Resolving the tiny battle within himself, Shinji mustered up all the courage he had (plus he had the judgment augmenting powers of alcohol within him) and walked over and sat down beside Rei.

Touji continued to stick to his cell phone, Asuka continued watching T.V., Misato and Ritsuko continued talking…though their eyes seemed to dart in Shinji's direction every now and then.

Rei gave Shinji a slightly startled look before going back to staring outside. Minutes passed and the two said nothing. Shinji tried to concentrate on the sound of the T.V. but nothing was killing time the way it should…so he decided to speak up.

"Hey Rei, what's up." It was the best he could do right now.

"Nothing Shinji…I'm just fine." She replied without turning.

"Before the third impact I might have believed you. But by you're new standards you're acting quite strange."

Letting out a deep breath Rei bowed her head. She to was a little tipsy.

"Is this real?"

Shinji almost fell over…what was she saying.

"I had the soul of Lillith, after the impact…I…shouldn't be here."

Shinji was stunned…he'd really bitten of more than he could chew.

"Am I real Shinji? Or is this just some dream…do I exist…I…I'm never sure."

"Come on Rei…o-of course you exist…"

"You have parents Shinji…you came from somewhere, I…I was created…I'm…I'm a fake."

Shinji recoiled slightly. His mind spun as he tried to find a way out of this. Reis words seemed to echo in his head. Drawing blanks everywhere his mind went…he did the only thing in his mind.

Gently he jokingly punched Rei on the shoulder and smiled at the startled look she gave him.

"See, you look pretty real from where I stand."

Rei seemed completely floored by Shinji's response. The sound of a water hose spraying water was heard in the background followed by a long groan. With that Rei thanked Shinji and got up walked across the room and sat beside Asuka…who was having trouble stopping her jaw from hitting the floor.

Misato stood beside a drenched Edward fresh from he bath still holding her beer can. She couldn't believe what shed just seen. See slowly turned to Touji whose flabbergasted face slowly nodded, confirming that neither of them had been dreaming.

As if unperturbed by the others, Shinji quietly made his way to the veranda, there he stood against the railing and stared out into the vast maze of hedges that were the hotel gardens. His mind mulled over everything Ayanami had told him. What if this were just a dream? The world had rebuilt itself fairly quickly. Then he remembered what Rei had said after that.

'You have parents Shinji.'

Yeah he had parents…thoughts of Gendo and Yui quickly drove out all notions of a questionable reality out of his mind.

"You're thinking about them aren't you Shinji."

Misato walked up beside him and rested her hands upon the railing.

"Wow her tone is so incredibly compassionate, I've never hear her be that gentle."

Ritsuko whispered to the others as they watched the pair on the veranda.

"More incredibly she sounds sober…that's about her tenth beer."

Edward dryly added…which was ironic because he was far from dry and he was currently reeking of alcohol. Taking one drag of the complementary cigarette that the doctor offered him Valcos put the stick in the ashtray and stormed off towards the door.

"Aoba, where the f-…Where are you?!!!"

They watched as the man marched out towards the main corridor towards the tech's room. Once the door slammed shut, the reverted their attention to the scene outside.

"W-what do you mean?" Shinji defended.

"Oh come on, you wouldn't get this bothered by the other stuff Rei said."

Silence ensued as Shinji continued to stare out into the darkened greenery. The truth was rather uncomfortable. Shinji had been living with Misato ever since the third impact. He' been living under the excuse that it was standard procedure for the pilots to live in close proximity…but that's all it ever was…an excuse. His parents were the top two at NERV…he could go live with them and no one would raise an eyebrow…but he hadn't.

"I-its n-nothing."

Shinji finally stammered.

"Look Shinji…I'm not saying that you go live with them." Misato said while placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Just remember this." Shinji looked right into her brown eyes not flinching.

"I know how it feels to be distant from ones parents. It's Ok to run away from time to time Shinji. You just have to always come running back…otherwise…otherwise you'll never get anywhere."

Shinji was slightly taken aback by Misato's depth. But, all immature revelations of the major's philosophical prowess aside, her presence seemed to put Shinji at ease, he still new that one day he'd have to face his father…but somehow he felt better prepared now.

But their quiet little meeting was cut short when something rather disturbing caught Misato's eye. Hesitantly taking her hand of Shinji's shoulder Misato squinted into the darkness of the vast garden. There was no doubt.

"Get down." She whispered slowly pushing Shinji down to the floor.

Crouching down herself they slowly made their way to inside of the room where the others were looking at them rather bizarrely. Once inside the two got up and everyone waited for Misato's explanation when they received one from a different source.

Edward burst into the room his berretta 92FS in hand ; Aoba was seen running down the corridor behind him. Shutting the door as he entered he spoke.

"We've got company."

"Yeah." Misato added. "I saw at least seven in the garden…they're armed with automatics."

"We'll get lucky if there're only seven." Edward walked over to the glass doors of the veranda and slid them shut as Misato reached for her small bag beside the table…she carried her gun with her just in case.

With a light click Misato slipped the 9mm magazine into her Heckler & Koch USP. Pulling the slide back she cocked the pistol and stood beside the door.

Edward pulled his slide back, ensuring a bullet was in the chamber he faced Ritsuko as Misato spoke to her.

"I'll escort you to you're room. Get you're pistol and come back here and protect the children."

"What's going on?" Asuka demanded.

"Not now Asuka." Misato snapped as Edward gave her and the others a reassuring smile.

"We're just being attacked by a bunch of friendly terrorists nothing big."

"You guys hang tight here, wait for Dr.Akagi to return."

With that both she and Edward stood on opposite sides of the door and readied to move out. Both were looking at each other rather seriously when Misato crinkled her nose.

"Wow, you smell of beer."

Edward smiled sardonically.

"Oh really is that so, isn't that ni-just open the door." He completed as his smile vanished humorously.

Misato smiled teasingly and mouthed a three count. On reaching three she threw the door open and Edward jumped out into the corridor…a memory of his clumsy joking self. Aiming his gun down both sides of the hall he took up a sentry position beside the wall.

Once sure the corridor was clear Misato nodded at Ritsuko and the two of them set of down the left side of the hall.

"Rear lobby in five." Edward whispered and took of down the right.

The children were about to sit down ad watch T.V. to kill time when the power to the hotel was killed.

"Uh oh, what the hell do these guys want?" Touji asked.

"They're probably from those Manus guys, they must be pretty pissed that we showed them up." Asuka whispered as they all huddled around the couch, the only light coming from the bright moon.

Ritsuko pulled out her NERV card and slipped it in her door…luckily they door keys ran on back up power and it clicked open. Seeing her off, Misato silently rushed down the corridor and down the flight of stairs towards the rear lobby leading to the gardens.

The power out and been expected, but hopefully the terrorists hadn't entered the building as yet. All about her she could here rooms opening and confused people emerging from their rooms. Just as she was about to reach the entrance to the lobby a bus boy of the hotel stopped her.

"Eh a wait, you cannot go. I-"

Misato cut the man's butchery of English short by flashing the NERV badge on her jacket. Her NERV card was not on her at the moment.

Rushing into the lobby she noticed the Edward had already moved into the gardens. Running up to one of the entrances of the edge maze she met up with a crouching Edward.

"Status Captain."

"So now that you're life is potentially in my hands its Captain otherwise its 'Edward you smell of beer'…"

"Just tell me what's going on."

"The local police's coming in about fifteen minuets, but I'm not sure how efficient they are."

"Right, I saw them mostly in the maze here, the other exit's on the other side of the garden. So I guess they came in from the back. You go left an ill take the right."

With that the two burst into the maze and swept about it with a speed and co-ordination rarely seen from the two.

After taking two lefts and a right without any action Misato crouched down beside the hedge wall upon hearing the soft mumble of voices.

"…jump in with the other team…" his english had a German accent. His voice extremely raspy.

"Remember, take the children alive…"

"Yes sir."

Misato crouched lower until she heard one pair of footsteps die down. The other was coming closer and closer. Waiting for her moment Misato jumped out from the cover, rolling once she finished on her knees, her gun pressed against the mans abdomen.

The terrorist was wearing crude Kevlar and army pants.

"Freeze."

The man froze, his eyes going wide under his ski mask.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

But the man wasn't ready to answer. Quickly he reached for his rifle…but he would never make it.

BLAM!!!

The grassy earth broke the sound of the cartridge falling. Not waiting for the man to fall, Misato took of along the path. All around the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard. As she ran down deferent paths at random she heard other shouts from around the maze.

BLAM

BLAM

Misato recognized the distinct sound of berretta fire. Hearing the sounds of gunfire fuelled her mind further. Feeling adrenaline poring through her blood she turned the next corner without taking cover, Misato unloaded two bullets into an unsuspecting sentry. As she ran she heard sounds of rifle fire followed by a muffled scream. She hoped nothing had happened to Edward. But her brief lapse of concentration caused her to loose her footing; tripping on her feet she hit the floor hard and rolled into the hedge wall with a low thud. As she lay on the dirt she heard the cautious footsteps of another man draw ever closer…the thud hadn't been low enough.

Slowly she looked around for her gun, she found it pretty quickly…it was about a foot from her reach along the hedge wall.

The sentry was coming ever closer to turning the corner. The German voice echoed in her ears and an idea struck her.

The terrorist rounded the corner to see a person with her legs up to her chest crying into her knees. The man slowly advanced towards the teary girl with his gun always trained on her. After getting close enough the man turned his head around to speak to his comrades.

"Hey…I think I found one of them…lets tag em' quick."

But when he turned around he found out that he was staring into the barrel of a Heckler and Koch sidearm.

BLAM!!!

The man's body went limp. Ensuring that he wasn't moving Misato picked herself up and took off…not a tear on her. She ran down the path and rounded another corner and quickly pulled back.

Bullets ripped through the hedge beside her as she took cover against it. She'd seen at least three on the other side. Taking a deep breath Misato broke into action once again. Moving out into plain view of the three she rolled along the floor towards them. Bullets kicked up dirt around her as she came close to the first man.

Using her crouched position as leverage she leapt up towards the trigger-happy terrorist. Her knee connected with his skull with efficient and considerable force. As he went down she charged the other two as she continuously fired rounds off at them. Reaching the second she ducked his firearm knocking it out of her way. Grabbing his other arm she turned him around and used him as a shield for the third.

His body spasmed as an endless spray of bullets connected with her shield cum corpse. Coming out from behind the man Misato fired off three shots at the last, the second connecting with his head.

Finishing with the two Misato returned to the unconscious first and put one in his skull for safekeeping. Finally after some more nervous running she turned the last corner to what she thought would lead to the rear exit…she was right. Facing her were about five armed men crouching behind various dustbins and a solitary shot up car.

Her eyes went wide as she saw them all ready to fire.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

Misato felt something hard connect with her abdomen. The next thing she new she was lying in the dirt under the cover of the hotels concrete perimeter wall. Above her Edward was facing her with a conceited grin across his face.

"Wasaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, look I think they have another team going up to the hotel room…but we gotta handle these guys first."

Misato smiled as she got up releasing the empty magazine to the floor. Reaching behind her she slipped in another one, cocking the gun she mouthed a three count.

"Oh bugger…you're proverbial cow jumped over the moon a while ago didn't it." Edward whispered whilst cocking his own gun.


"Wow, for two people who always seem to be taking shots at each other…they really kick ass." Touji exclaimed.

"Hey!! Get back from that window." Ritsuko warned.

The children were still sitting around the couch, none of them seemed to perturbed by the gunfire. It was nothing new to them. Ad as it would seem in hindsight…Touji should have listened to the good doctor.

With a crash of glass the child was sent flying across the central room as two guards burst feet first through the glass doors after rappelling down the walls from the roof. These guards were dressed in full uniform…almost like SWAT units.

Ritsuko rolled over behind the couch. Getting back up she unloaded at least five rounds…most of which found their target.

Ritsuko turned around as the children scampered about the couch…shaking slightly but still unfazed. On turning the doctor faced another man. She raised her gun to shoot but she never got there.

A silent 'pif' was heard as his silenced weapon went off. Ritsuko quickly retracted her arm as her gun was shot right out of her hand.

From the right Aoba and Hyuga burst into the room, sidearms searching for targets.

Pif Pif

Aoba and Hyuga screamed as bullets effortlessly tore through their arm and foot respectively.

"Ok, nobody try to be a hero." His Japanese was slightly broken…his voice raspy. Reaching to his two-way on his shoulder he barked out a few orders in English.

"Area secure, contain the children."

Four other guards burst in from the veranda window. And surrounded the children.

"Just co-operate with them." Ritsuko spoke gently.

"That's right…listen to he good do-"

Movement at the door interrupted the raspy voice, immediately he grabbed the doctor and moved behind the bedroom door out of sight.

Edward burst into the room and ducked beside the couch. Using the shattered pieces of glass on the floor he was able to se reflections of the whole room, including the area behind him. Jumping up he squeezed of five shots. The four guards fell limp to the floor.

Edward raced across the room towards the children. As he passed the veranda opening his eyes caught a reflection of the door of the bedroom right behind him.

The man, still holding Ritsuko smiled. Squeezing the trigger he had no doubt it would find its target…even if it were hurtling through the room.

Edward slammed hard into the floor as the bullet ripped through his neck.

Ritsuko and the children ran towards the fallen corpse after the doctor was released from the man's grasp. They surrounded the body; Asuka's eyes wide with horror…Rei's eyes were unusually teary.

The man stood facing the mourning group his back to the door. He felt good about the days work…

His conceited smile was slightly worn down when he heard the sound of running footsteps. Gracefully turning gun in hand he faced his assailant…

But Misato already had a running start…

Pif

BLAM

Misato fell to the floor beside the couch as the man felt the bullet tear a hole in his shoulder. Using what strength he had left within him he quickly retreated to the ropes in the veranda.

"Interesting." He whispered wincing slightly at the unfamiliar pain rippling through his shoulder.

Misato picked herself up…ensuring that she was ok she picked her gun up ready to chase the man down. But her movements were stopped by the sound of dry sobbing…it was then that she saw the unmoving body of Edward Valcos…


earlier that day…

U.S army research outpost Alaska…

"…glad to hear it…I had to pull some strings to get it to ya. Yes…yes the paoff was good."

Major Turner spoke into the receiver while admiring the silver briefcase on his desk.

"..n-no I haven't seen the results, we put them on a disk and sent them straight to you. Yeah…yeah…yeah always. Yup it's been my pleasure. No thank you…goodbye."

Putting the phone down the major felt good about the days work. The payment was of course…worth it all. Ordering himself a hot cup of coffee Chris Turner placed his legs up on the table and put on his headphones and started listening to some old…old country music. He never sae the terrorists run up over the hill towards the outstation…the terrorists with massive rocket launchers and RPGs…


Wow that's a long chapter. Hope you guys enjoy. Now things are gonna start getting messed up so you have to pay attention to everything…everything.

I've seen a lot og guys put this on alert lists and Favs…super cool…thanx…and please REVIEW…I need the inspiration.

To the critics

Fifthman:

See…making this a new chapter was kinda a necessity. I hope I fleshed it out good. Thanx for all the reviews…keep em comin.!!!