Evangelion is property of Studio Khara and GAINAX.

Street Fighter and Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist are property of CAPCOM.

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: SENSHI NO MICHI

Out of habit, Shinji rose early – at six AM sharp. For a moment, he remained limp in the bed, instead staring up blankly.

An unfamiliar ceiling…

Blinking slowly, the boy began to shift in the bed, trying to shake the grogginess from his limbs. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Shinji stared ahead at the cold metal wall, barely illuminated by a small light on an even smaller table beside the bed.

As he let out a sigh, the full reality of his situation washed over him, and he almost lurched back in shock, but shook his head, and let out a breath, all in an attempt to centre himself. Normally, he would have easily dropped into meditation, but the circumstances of his situation, and the sudden departure from familiar, safe surroundings were too much of a shock to the system to allow for easy detachment.

Instead, he stood up, and walked forward for a moment, idly flexing and stretching. His muscles felt tight – he had probably been sleeping at an awkward angle. To NERV's credit, their dormitories had soft beds.

It was a small comfort, given the current situation.

Searching around for the main light switch, Shinji found it next to the doorframe, and flicked it on, blinking repeatedly at the sudden flash of brightness. Glancing at his discarded watch on the table, the boy strode over, and began turning it over in his hands, unsure of what to do next. Aimless, he collapsed back onto his bed, the springs squeaking in protest.

As Shinji's fingers glided over the watch's face, he lost himself in thought.

That man – no, Father, your father – said that we'd need to pilot those things. Why? That doctor called them weapons. Do they want me and Asuka to fight? If so, what are we fighting against?

I need answers. But…I need to talk with Asuka first. She seemed withdrawn. That's not usually her thing. Come to think of it, she's been like that ever since we left the dojo, so she must have known something about this place, this NERV beforehand.

I need answers.

"ARGH!"

The sound of hard impact upon cushioned leather resounded throughout NERV's empty gym, echoing off the hard metal walls and blanketing Asuka in an echo of endless violence.

Retracting her leg back into a chamber, poised perfectly on her other foot, the girl whirled around, and with another ferocious cry, sent a spinning heel at the punching bag before her.

"HAH!"

Dressed in a red tank top and black spandex shorts, along with her trusty gloves, Asuka dealt with her frustrations in one of the most surefire ways available. Springing across the cool floor of the gym on practiced bare feet, she brought a flurry of vicious jabs and hooks to bear on the bag, letting out a small sound with every thrown punch.

Asuka wasn't sure how long she'd been at this – her knuckles were beginning to bleed, and she could already spot points in the bag where the leather was beginning to give way. Within the girl, her fiery hado pulsed powerfully, pleading for release.

No…I can't. People like these…who knows what they'd do with someone like me, or Shinji once they found out what we can really do? I'll need to talk with him, as soon as possible. Make sure the baka doesn't screw us and Gouken-sensei over by accident.

Besides, I'm not alone at the moment.

Lingering near the door of the gym, Misato watched Asuka attack the punching bag with a level of ferocity and precision unbecoming of the girl's appearance or age.

The captain had been spending her last few hours bent over paperwork and reports with nothing but lukewarm coffee for company, and when the girl had come to her at five AM, looking for somewhere to blow off steam, she'd gladly helped her out.

"EEYAH!"

Howling, Asuka bolted forward, and leapt at the bag, impacting the bag with a mighty flying side kick. Misato raised her eyebrows, taken aback. Come to think of it, that was happening a lot these days.

Her surprise only increased when the bag finally gave way, the sand spilling out and across the floor. With a frown, Misato moved forward slightly, scrutinising the redhead. Every muscle seemed to ripple with power, and sweat shone on pale skin in the artificial lighting.

This girl's pretty...intense. At least she's not mouthing off anymore…although that punching bag will be difficult to explain.

Paying no mind to the destroyed punching bag, Asuka turned on her heel, and began to advance back towards Misato, who in turn stepped back accordingly. The redhead spared the captain a mere glance before she bent down, and reached into a nearby bag she'd quickly assembled. Drawing out a large bottle of water, Asuka took a greedy gulp, wiping her brow with the back of her hand.

Slowly, the girl rose to face the captain, after zipping up the bag.

"Thanks." Another clipped reply for the captain, who only nodded in response. Misato didn't like this little rapport that she had with the girl – this passive-aggressive bullshit was getting on her nerves.

"Don't mention it..." The captain broke eye contact, glancing about aimlessly as she struggled to find some way to support a conversation. "There's still time before Project E needs you…maybe you should go get some rest? You've only had about three hours sleep."

Asuka simply shrugged, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "I've done more on less."

Misato nodded, slowly, then watched as the girl toed her way into sneakers, before bending down to wriggle into a sweatshirt. "Well, if you do need anything…I'll be where you found me."

With a brief nod and a sideways glance, Asuka moved out of the gym, and began the long walk back to the dormitories. Letting out a sigh, she began to pull at the wrist straps of her gloves, loosening and pulling them off.

Giving her fingers an experimental flex, she was rewarded with a slight sting, but paid it no mind, slipping the gloves into her bag. Turning corners and walking down corridors with little care for direction, the redhead soon found herself lost – but from the signs sparsely littered around NERV, she was able to discern that she was somewhere near the Project E laboratories, and getting closer with every step.

Almost instantly, Asuka moved to turn around, but paused, sparing the map another glance.

I might as well find out what I can. At least then I and Shinji will be better prepared.

Setting her expression firmly, the girl began to stalk towards the Project E facilities with uncertainty in her heart, and fire in her eyes.

In the darkened expanse of the Pribnow Box's control centre, Maya Ibuki's brow was furrowed in concentration. The mousy technician had been dealing with this problem for the past three hours, and no matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn't get the desired result.

On the screen in front of her, the digital pinball slipped past the frantic beating of the flippers, disappearing into the abyss below.

"Oh, come on! I didn't even get to ten million that time!"

The technician groaned in exasperation, running a hand through her already messy brown hair, and then moved to start a new game. As her eyes glanced up the menu to select the option, she caught sight of her reflection in the window in front of her, as well as another one behind her, difficult to make out in the low light.

In Maya's chest, her heart froze, and she swallowed, before swivelling around and speaking.

"AkagisempaiI'msosorryIdidn'tmeantowastetimeitwasjustthatIgotboredwhilethediagnosticswererunning and – "

She stopped when she realised the person in front of her wasn't Ritsuko, but rather, a young redhead with a sceptical look on her face. Some of the colour returned to Maya's face, and she righted herself on her chair, intermittently glancing up at the new arrival.

"Hello?" The redhead tilted her head slightly as she spoke, waving a hand slowly to draw the technician's attention. Maya blinked repeatedly as she moved out of her reverie, and looked up at the girl, before speaking.

"…Hi. Um, sorry about that whole…screaming thing back there. You kinda caught me off guard..." Maya offered a nervous laugh with her apology, and the girl in front of her narrowed her eyes slightly.

"No kidding." The redhead said, before glancing ahead of Maya, into the darkened expanse beyond the windows. After a moment, she spoke, glancing down at the technician. "What's beyond there?"

Maya turned around slightly, to follow the girl's gaze, and then nodded in understanding.

"That's the Pribnow Box. It's where the Evangelion Simulation Bodies are maintained and operated."

"Simulation Bodies?" Asuka quirked one eyebrow.

The mousy brunette offered another affirmative nod, elaborating. "It's where we train the Eva Pilots themselves, via VR simulation. We can't afford to let the actual Units out for regular training routines, so…"

In the back of her mind, it occurred to Maya that she was giving a detailed lecture about the operations of Project E to someone she didn't even recognise, someone that probably wasn't even part of NERV.

Come to think of it, how did she even get in here? Crap! I had to sign an Official Secrets Act when I got the job, and I think I just violated every single clause.

With an audible swallow, Maya looked at the girl, before speaking.

"Say…you wouldn't mind telling me…who you are?"

The girl turned around slightly, raising one eyebrow.

"Sohryu. Asuka Langley."

The reply drew a squeak from Maya, who drew back into her chair.

"The Second Child! I'm sorry, I should have recognised you!" At this, Asuka narrowed her brow, gaze firm but questioning. Maya promptly quieted, unsure of what to do beneath the girl's steely gaze.

"…What's this Second Child thing about?" The redhead questioned, inquisitive. It took a moment for the technician to reply.

"I – It's your title. Or designation, rather. All the EVA Pilots have them. The First Child, Rei Ayanami, The Second Child…you…and the Third Child, Shinji Ikari."

"Rei Ayanami?"

Asuka's abrupt question brought pause to the woman in front of her, who nodded again, slowly.

"She's the Pilot of Unit Zero. Our prototype model. But she's been in the hospital these past few weeks, unfortunately." Maya gazed at the ground, feeling a twinge of sympathy for the girl in question.

"Due to?"

The girl's replies were piercing and to the point, and the mousy woman felt a little uncomfortable answering them. Nonetheless, as a Pilot of EVA, she had a right to know.

"We were…um…" Maya's hands found each other, intertwining fingers awkwardly. "We were conducting an activation test with Unit Zero, but something went wrong."

Hoping the girl would leave it at that, Maya drew back in her seat, but the redhead's powerful blue gaze was still on her. After another few seconds of deadly silence, the technician felt no choice but to continue.

"The Unit went berserk…tried to cause damage to itself. We immobilised it, but not before the Auto-Eject activated. The Entry Plug ejected violently, and impacted the walls, before plummeting to the ground – a fall of around fifty meters."

As the technician in front of her went on about the accident, part of Asuka wanted to shrivel up and die. Another part wanted to break down the door to Shinji's room, fling him over her shoulder, and sprint back to the dojo, away from this institutionalised madness.

Berserk machines? Are you serious? What the hell have we been forced into?

She could only listen as the woman detailed this Ayanami girl's injuries, contusions and fractures abound. When the conversation ended, Asuka offered a small thanks, and disappeared from the Pribnow box, deciding that she'd definitely need a few more hours of sleep in order to prepare for whatever was coming next.

With her bag hefted over her shoulder, she drew it close, instinctively wanting to zip it open, and don her gloves, craving that reassuring feeling of both protection and strength. Asuka shook her head after a few seconds, cursing her weakness.

This place is already messing with me. I have to stay strong. If not for myself, then for Shinji.

Several hours later.

Having gone back to bed, Shinji had awoken at eleven AM, somewhat unused to so many hours of sleep. Stretching languidly, he made his way out of bed, and with little else to occupy his time, began moving through bodyweight exercises.

On his fiftieth pushup, there was a small beep, and the boy flinched, not dropping his form. He called out, questioning.

"Hello?"

An older male voice – still a little young, though – replied.

"Eh…Shinji Ikari? Alright if I come in?"

"Sure." Shinji replied, flattening back to the ground, and then standing up.

The door slid open with a whir, and a man dressed in NERV khakis stepped into the room. His large glasses and slicked back hair were what drew most attention, but Shinji couldn't help noticing that the man was staring. At his arms.

I'm gonna get a lot of this, aren't I? First that doctor, now you…who knows who else.

"I'm Makoto Hyuga. I work up on the command bridge…" The man made a small gesture with his hand, before continuing. "Your first activation test with Unit One is at one PM sharp, so I've been asked to show you around and get you ready beforehand. You okay with that?"

Smiling somewhat at the man's casual but polite countenance, Shinji nodded. "Yeah, it's fine."

A few minutes later, Shinji followed Makoto throughout the sprawling metallic corridors, taking in everything he could as he was guided around the NERV complex. Now that he wasn't half-asleep, and in something of a daze, he could actually focus.

"Through there is one of the elevators leading to the command bridge…" Makoto went on, gesturing to the various doors, staircases and other points of interest. "But as you can see from this sign…this is the route to the Project E department, or NERV Science. It's where we maintain the EVAs and conduct research. It's around twelve-twenty now, we'll head down there and get you prepped."

With nothing but a silent nod, Shinji followed the man, letting out a small sigh as they began to make their way through another metal maze.

Another chapter for my faithful followers. Hopefully you liked it. I'll try to tighten up my update schedule, but as the king of procrastination, it's been a little difficult so far. You have my utmost apologies. Read and review, please!

Also, holy f**kbubbles. I'm on the NGE Fanfic Rec page over at ! Thank you so much!