Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Nerferius– I think this chapter will help with some of that, except for the whole cure for the common cold thing. Sorry, but you're on your own with that one.

Chargone – I'm not entirely sure. Sometimes I write, things pop up there, it sounds good in my head. *shrug* I'm sure it means something… I think…

Chapter 7 – Start of Discovery

NERV HQ

"Whoa, looks like someone pulled an all-nighter."

Makoto turned toward the exit at Shigeru's statement as Maya strode onto the bridge of the command center. Indeed, her eyes were heavy with weariness and lack of sleep, but that didn't stop her face from flushing with embarrassment from the teasing comment.

"That obvious huh?"

"Pretty much." Makoto nodded. "What's up?

With a heavy sigh, the young scientist sat down, vaguely aware that her two compatriots were standing up from their seats for a change. "Ritsuko-sempai and I were looking over the data on the Children, given what happened during the visit."

The two nodded in understanding. "That was something, I'll say. Especially with Asuka and how she practically ran up her Eva." Shigeru's eyes went up thoughtfully. "How did she do that anyway?"

"You guys remember that special training they had with Qui-Gon-san?"

"A bit." Makoto answered. "Just that he had taught it to Shinji first, and then Rei and Asuka later on."

"He was also involved with the Invasion at some point, I think; helping the Children there as well." Shigeru added.

In truth, that was the most they all really knew about that time for sure. During the Invasion, everything had gone chaotic and the only thought at the time was survival. All three of them were in the safety (relatively speaking) of the command center and at most, they watched the battles fought by the Evas, particularly Asuka's impressive and desperate fight against the MP Evas. Beyond that, all they had were reports and separate accounts of the Children and of the Jedi Master.

"Anyway, whatever he taught them changed them." Maya continued. "Or awakened something in them; we're not sure. That's what we're trying to find out by looking over past records."

"That sounds like a lot of work…" Shigeru replied, but then followed that up with a grin. "Have fun with that."

"Hmph. I intend to." she retorted with a light snort. "What about you guys? You're not sitting around like couch-potatoes anymore?"

"Well since you asked, we're actually on security detail."

Honest surprise came over her. "Really?"

"Yeah." Makoto answered. "Misato-san wanted a few extra eyes about and we volunteered."

Shigeru snorted. "Yeah, right. More like you volunteered and dragged me along with you."

"Hey! I didn't hear you complain about it."

"Well that's because… I wanted to help her out too."

The trio became silent after the statement, knowing that the Commander had been put under more strain due to the attempted assassination of the Secretary General. Misato had gone from being hardly seen to not being seen at all. In truth, part of the reason the two Lieutenants volunteered was just to see her. And upon seeing the drained look on her face, they assured her that they would do their best.

"Yeah. We all do." Maya replied softly. Quickly breaking the tense silence, Maya turned back to the exit. "Anyway, I have some work to do, so I'll leave you guys to yours."

"Sure thing." Makoto replied with a wave. "Try not to work too hard, Maya."

"I'll try."

Both men chorused. "No you won't."

With a mental sigh, Maya exited the bridge. 'No I won't…'

Katsuragi residence

"Hey, where's Shinji-baka?"

Seated cross-legged on a mat in her room, Rei slowly opened her eyes from her meditation to look up at the Second Child. A part of her was a bit confused that Asuka was still calling Shinji that, but she understood that it was just the way she was. And she was also beginning to realize that such nicknames were no longer out of derision, but affection (except perhaps in the case of Suzahara).

"He went to NERV to drop off a lunch for Misato-san."

"Of course." Asuka half-sighed. "I guess I should have expected no less."

While all three of them were concern over the Commander, the two girls also knew that Shinji seemed to be displaying a greater degree of worry. While it is true that Shinji had lived with Misato longer than they had and was probably closer to her, they also knew that at the core, Shinji was following his nature of the Force. Qui-Gon had told them once that each of them had a certain affinity in connection with the Force.

For Shinji, it was empathy, and as such, he sensed and felt emotions stronger than they had. It also explained his personality prior to his training with Qui-Gon. Because he sensed emotions so strongly, he was also hurt by them just as badly, ergo the hedgehog's dilemma. His Jedi training had helped him tame it in a sense, but it didn't change who he was; nor was it supposed to.

"Why do you ask?"

Giving the azure-haired girl a shrug, Asuka replied. "I was hoping for a short spar with him before I head out to meet with Hikari. Guess that's out of the question now."

Rei nodded minutely, but became immediately aware of a shift in Asuka's focus. And true enough, the Second Child continued on. "You should come with me."

A single blink, but it was enough to betray her surprise. In all honesty, it shouldn't have been much of one, as Asuka had been doing such things at random moments nowadays. But despite the changes in her life and the growth she undergone, there were still some things she wasn't quite used to yet.

Asuka asking her out on outings were one such thing…

"I would not want to impose of Horaki-san…"

Asuka cut her off with a wave. "She won't mind. Besides, it'll be fun. I've been saying you need to get out more, and a girl's night out is the way to go."

One thoughtful moment later… "Very well, then."

Laughter…

That was a sound she had not expected to hear as Ritsuko entered the commander's office. Upon gazing inside however, she could see why. At a smaller desk that was stationed closer to the window area, Misato was merrily chuckling, with her hand ruffling the head of a flushed Third Child and a small meal was set between them.

"Hey. I'm not disturbing anything, am I?"

Turning to her, Misato grinned. "Just the most wonderful break ever, thanks to my little Shin-chan here."

"Misato, please…" the boy moaned.

Ritsuko however, just couldn't sympathize much with the boy; not if his embarrassment brought Misato back to her old cheery self; a self she hadn't seen for quite some time. She couldn't help but give a little smile herself at the sight.

"So what's up?" Misato asked, stretching her arms forward. "I could hope this is a friendly visit, but I know you all too well."

"I did want to see how you were doing, but yeah, there is something I wanted to talk about. Nothing serious, at least not yet." Her gaze turned to the Third Child. "Actually, since Shinji is here, we might able to get a few answers."

Shinji's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Answers?"

"Maya and I had been looking over the bio-data of the Children after Asuka's little performance during the visitation of the Secretary General. What we found was truly remarkable; her very cell structure was in a state of hyper-activity."

"Hyper-activity?" Misato asked

"I don't fully understand it myself." The science advisor replied, staring out of the glass in thought. "I've never seen anything quite like it. But I do know that whatever it is, it wasn't done artificially." Her gaze lowered and trained back on Shinji. "Shinji, perhaps you could tell us… just what Qui-Gon did with you three, exactly?"

Shinji gave her a thoughtful glance and then went into a simple version of the Jedi training that he and the girls had undergone. Both women listened patiently to him; Misato, having known all of this already and Ritsuko, noting everything being said. As far as she knew, their training was one part physical and one part mental. It wasn't hard to comprehend; in fact, its simplicity surprised her, but at the same time, didn't really give her anything to go by. However, it was enough to confirm one thing; Qui-Gon had known what they were capable of from the start. She would have to make a note to speak to the Jedi master should she have the time or chance.

"And that's it?" Ritsuko questioned once he was finished explaining. "Nothing else?"

"Nothing else."

Her eyes become thoughtful once again. "So I was right. It's something internal; an awakening of some kind; something about Shinji and the girls that make you three… unique."

"Is that so much a surprise?" Misato cut in. "After all, they were chosen to be pilots."

"True." Ritsuko didn't add in that manipulation was in a good part of the selection process. And also, given Rei's origin, such a connection shouldn't have been possible. And yet... "But this seems to go beyond that. Anyway, it's something we're looking into and I thought you should know about it."

"Well, thanks for the heads-up." Rising up from her seat, Misato stretched out again. "Now, if you two will excuse me, I have a nightmare of paperwork to get back to." Ruffling his head again, Misato smiled at the young man. "Thanks for the meal, Shinji-kun."

Clearing up the table, the boy returned the smile. "You're welcome."

"Thanks for stopping by, Ritsuko."

"Sure thing, Misato." she replied. As the two headed for the door, Ritsuko added. "Try not to work too hard."

Sitting down at her official desk, she gave a heavy sigh and waved. "We both know that's not going to happen. But thanks anyway."

The two stepped out of the office and began to go their separate ways. Or at least, Shinji was, Ritsuko remained still in place for a moment and then turned to the departing Third Child.

"Shinji; do you have a moment?"