Chapter six: Truth act ll
Shinji followed his father to Nerv, along with Misato, who insisted on coming. They entered the elevator silently, each feeling the lack of the need to speak. The silence was unnerving, yet none of them could think of anything to talk about, as this occasion felt ceremonial. He clenched his fists. He would not run away now. There would not be any turning back. He must know the truth for himself. Even if he wouldn't like it.
I must become stronger.
He gazed at his father, then Misato, both with hard eyes. They looked so different from before now. How strange, that a person can have so many sides to them. The cold white light of the elevator suddenly turned off, and the elevator came to a jolt. He let out a cry at the sudden stop. They were trapped.
"Well, it seems like someone doesn't want you to know." Gendo said with a smirk. With his bare hands and Shinji's help, they wrenched open the elevator door. They were greeted by Unit 01's menacing green eye.
"Hello, Yui." Gendo greeted casually, "What are you planning?"
Unit 01's hand grabbed all of them, and rose back to the surface. Letting them down on the geofront, she gave one last glare at Gendo before taking her leave.
"So she isn't willing to let me show you two until the appointed time after all," Gendo muttered. "How irritating. Though this proves that your mother's intentions aren't all that benign, doesn't it?" Shinji nodded slowly, still trying to comprehend what just happened. What was mother trying to do? He turned his head, and to their surprise, Rei and Kaworu walked over.
"How are you, Rei?" The commander smiled at her warmly. "All is going well, Commander," she answered. "We just had a sync test. Our scores have improved slightly."
"That's great, Rei!" Said Misato excitedly. "You'll have to work hard too, Shinji-kun." He nodded once more, but a smile formed on his face. I do belong here.
"So what activities have you been indulging in, Ayanami-san?" Shinji asked curiously.
"I have been spending time with Nagisa-kun," she said, bringing attention to the silent boy, whose smile seemed to penetrate through everyone's defenses. "He is very kind to me," she added with a slight blush to her cheeks.
"It seems to me there is quite a gathering here," a voice came from behind them. It was Ritsuko. "Shall we all have lunch together?"
Behind her, Gendo Ikari considered his options. On one hand, he could foster a sibling relationship between Rei and Shinji, and bring everyone together. But on the other hand, Seele's pilot was here, and he cannot discuss with Ritsuko about certain circumstances.
"Seize the opportunity whenever you can," Yui's face formed in his mind. "There is much to learn from every interaction."
Very well, then. He thought to himself. "That is nice. We can also get the pilots acquainted. Let us have lunch, then."
He did not miss the boy's red eyes on him. He has much to learn from him.
I will use everything you taught me, Yui, and defeat you with it.
At the cafeteria, everyone took a seat. Gendo did not miss Kaworu and Rei holding hands, and that glow in their eyes. Ritsuko and Misato discusses about the children's sync ratio casually, and something about the fourth child having an accident. No matter, he will ask the committee about that later. Shinji stares down at his food, somewhat hesitant.
"Is there something wrong, Shinji?" He asks, unsure if this is how he should phrase it.
"Nothing… it's just that I've never had a meal with so many people before. I'm just not used to it." Shinji looks up, then smiles. "Well then, I'll eat!"
As Shinji chats with Misato casually, Ritsuko moves next to him, and whispers into his ear. "Rei's sync ratio increased again. It's a good sign, probably due to Kaworu. When's my mother going to arrive?"
"Soon. They're already arranging it. Unit 02 and its pilot will come afterwards. It's too bad that there was an accident with Unit Alpha. However, they say there's actually a chance that the pilot may live. We are still awaiting news on their end."
"I see. We are really sinking deeper in this path… we mustn't let Yui's plan come to fruition. Even if it ends up with the worst case scenario, we need to have Shinji prepared, so that he will not need instrumentality."
"How's the tests on Sachiel's carcass going?" "Pretty fine. We discovered that their dna is quite similar to ours. 99.99% actually. Not very surprising considering the truth of everything."
"I guess so."
Ritsuko then goes on eating, and he takes bites out of his own also. Kaworu seems to be whispering urgent words to Rei, who nods slowly. The two then shares a knowing smile, their words unheard by everyone. Gendo Ikari wonders at this. He never realised how the Angelic children are able to love. Perhaps, it was that he never spent much time with Rei, having too many memories of the dark past, or was it that she so resembles Yui that it becomes unbearable, almost as if she is watching him now? All he knows, is that if he fails, there shall be no mercy.
Not for him, not for Naoko, not for Yui, not for Ritsuko, not for the children, and certainly not for mankind.