Spiral Life

The Chairman, along with the rest of Seele, held a copy of the critical report that would prove to be the final nail in the coffin of Nerv. "This is it. Gentlemen, we can delay no longer."

"Gendo Ikari is the false prophet."

"His pet pilot is indeed the legacy of the former priestess: a humanoid-coralian."

"He intends," the Chairman declared, throwing down the report, "to use his son as the key to instrumentality."

"–the unholy union of man and coralian."

"Yet despite the overwhelming force against him," a member pointed out, "Ikari has managed to hide this from us, and defend himself even against the Cosmic Trigger. How then will we directly attack the Command Cluster, protected by Nerv's Dogma?"

"Only one hit is needed: then the Coralian will awaken on its own. And Third Impact will begin."

"We will cut Ikari's legs out from under him," the Commander slammed his fist upon his desk. "How long till we can be ready?"

". . .a day."

". . .15 hours from now."

". . .at Eleven hundred hours, precisely"

"–And man's salvation shall commence."

Rei woke first, and kicked herself for letting them fall asleep. She looked hurriedly around the room before realizing that there was no clock in sight. She sighed and, resigned to her fate, felt for the boy sleeping next to her. She debated for a moment, simply looking at Shinji, who lay face up with his hands above his head– one of which, only moment before, Rei had been resting upon. She wanted to lie on top of him, and intertwine her body with his; and yet she didn't want to wake him, not till she could feast her eyes upon him, undisturbed, for a while longer.

Minutes later, Shinji began to stir, and Rei couldn't hold back any longer. She gently laid herself on top of him, and slipped her hands into his. "Mmhmm," Shinji stretched, pulling Rei's along with his own. "Oh. . .morning, Rei." Shinji was blushing down at the head of hair that lay on his chest.

"Am I too heavy?" Rei asked seriously.

"No, ummm...not at all." Rei had put the blanket over them both, but only up to her lower back. Shinji had a wonderful view of her back. He was almost positive that her skin was, in fact, glowing with a short of luminescence that grew brighter the darker it became.

Rei still lay with her cheek on Shinji's lean chest, so that he couldn't see her face. But Shinji could tell by the tone of her voice, that Rei shyly asked, "Have a good dream?"

"Uh. . ." Shinji didn't understand, "I don't remember."

"Do you remember me?" Rei shifted her hips against him, and Shinji became painstakingly aware of his morning wood.

Shinji gulped audibly. "From last night. . .I remember." Boldly, Shinji placed his arms on her, rubbing Rei's back lovingly.

Rei moaned sweetly at Shinji's touch, shifting her lower body again, pushing her hand between Shinji's legs and placing his penis along her entrance. "...If you want. . .me– If you want me," the words sounded painfully wrenched from Rei's mouth, "...you can have me."

Shinji didn't say anything, but quickly and smoothly flipped position so that Rei lay beneath him. "I'm ready now," Rei said heavily. She had reached down to check herself, trying to find the same spots Shinji had stimulated last time. Her eyes were closed tight in anticipation of his penetration.

There it was. 'Painful. . .tight. . .hot. . .good– so good–'

"Rei," Shinji said forcefully. "Relax." Rei had been caught up in the ecstasy of their love making, trying to feel out every sensation. She tried to loosen herself, but with each thrust she tensed again. "Ah...ah...ah–" Shinji was having a hard time keeping up his stamina, but Rei showed no sign of slowing down or wanting him to stop.

Shinji watched her: squeezing her fists and her eyes; her petit breasts bouncing up and down; and the large out-takes and in-takes of breathe every few seconds. Rei was holding her breathe, trying to shut down every operation of her body in hopes of heightening the feeling of Shinji's protruding sex. It was so much less painful than last night: so much more enjoyable. Without Shinji's notice– he was so focused on fighting back his exhaustion– she had cum at least twice.

The ever increasing wetness of Rei's insides was a huge help to Shinji, who felt himself nearing his breaking point. Both of them panting heavily. Shinji pulled out at the last moment, cumming on Rei's belly.

Shinji panted, spitting out all of his cum, then looked down at Rei, who looked back and forth between Shinji and her belly. His tone filled with guilt, Shinji looked away and said, "Sorry." Rei pulled herself out from under Shinji, and stood up without looking at him. "Rei, wait– I'm really sor–"

Shinji made to get up, but stopped to watch Rei's curious movements. He sat at the edge of the bed, watching Rei wipe her stomach. She turned around to face Shinji, looking him fiercely in the eyes. Shinji's eyes darted to Rei's fingers, which were dripping with his seed. She brought them slowly to her lips. She kissed, sucked, and licked her fingers the same was Shinji had, last night before she had 'touched him' for the first time.

"I think I– we both– need a shower," Rei declared.

"Or maybe just a swim in that LCL tank," Shinji responded. Rei laughed, and Shinji smiled joyfully. She began to get dressed, and he did the same.

Misato was going out of her mind. Rei and Shinji had disappeared, the Commander was hidden away in his tower, and Ritsuko had shut herself inside the magi.

"Where are you going! I need you to tell me what you and Commander Ikari have been hiding. Ritsuko!" Misato had cornered her the previous night, but the Doctor was evasive and stoic, even when Misato slapped her clear across the face.

"I'm going to prepare the Magi's defense system."

"Why? For what? Who's going to attack us!"

"It's all I have left. At the end of it all: my work is all I have– just like my mother."

"Ritsuko! How is Seele going to initiate Third Impact? Is the Commander trying to do the same!"

The surprise of how much Kaji had found out, along with Misato, struck the Doctor, even in her despair. She stopped at the service elevator to answer he former friend. She said simply, "Cosmic Trigger: Orange."

Since then, for the last 14 hours, Misato had done everything in her power to fortify Nerv and evacuate all non-essential personnel. As for the former, she found that the Vice Commander– obviously under Com. Ikari's orders– had already issued fortification plans, halting repairs, and upgrading the alert level to full battle status. But as for the latter, no one who had been on duty when Fuyutsuki's orders had been issued was allowed to leave the primary levels of Nerv.

Misato had been called by some of the Nerv staff, who had been instructed by her to go home, to the primary exit, only to be met by a wall of MP's, dressed in full tactical uniform. "What's the meaning of this? As your commanding officer, I order you tell all non-essential personnel to evacuate Nerv HQ."

"No, ma'am," an MP responded.

"That's a direct order," Misato growled.

"No, ma'am. Commander Ikari has issued an oder to keep everyone– everyone, ma'am, no matter how inconsequential– inside the base. The Geofront terrain is similarly off limits."

Misato turned in away in a rage. She looked for the nearest Lieutenant, and shouted at him, "Have the pilots been accounted for yet?"

"Ah– badah–ummm. . .Pilot Soryu is in the hospital wing–"

"I know that, soldier!"

"Yes, ma'am! Ahumm...they were last capture on the security cameras going down the elevator located at the end of hallway C in the hospital wing."

"How did they get clearance for that!" Misato asked herself, more than the Lieutenant.

"Dewey–Ma'am! Computers show it was his keycard." But Misato barely heard him; she had already begun to storm away toward the hospital wing of Nerv HQ.

Shinji and Rei had talked a lot on the way up the elevator. Shinji was eager to know everything about Rei's past, but when she suggested that he talk about himself, instead, Shinji agreed. He knew that making Rei talk about her past now wouldn't be pleasant. Shinji wouldn't want to hear about the huge role his father played in her life, and she, especially now, didn't want to think about a time or place without Shinji.

Ignorance, however, is bliss, as Rei was increasingly discovering throughout Shinji's recounting of his past. For her part, the time before Shinji seemed like a hazy dream. She never thought much with the Commander, nor did she have any complex emotions before Shinji. Rei had been content to learn and obey anything anyone told her; and anytime those thoughts or emotions would crop up, she would use all of her will to bury them back down. All they ever brought was doubt, sadness, and confusion.

Shinji, on the other hand, was not ignorant during his childhood. He was acutely aware of the rumors surrounding his parents, and how it isolated him from other people, especially kids his own age, who no doubt heard of his 'mad scientist' dad and 'abandoning' mother from their own parents. His aunt and uncle, with whom he lived as a child, kept him busy with chores rather than actually 'parenting' him. They made sure his homework was done, his room was clean, and he was fed regularly.

By the time he was ten, he could cook, clean and shop for himself. So, his aunt and uncle, who by then had a child of their own, sent him to live with his teacher when he entered middle school. He was all set to live on his own in high school, when he received the letter from his father.

"That's it?" Rei asked.

"Haha," Shinji smiled for the first time during his story telling. "Not that much else to tell, really. I never had a real friend. Wasn't on or in any school committees or clubs. I spent most of my time alone."

"Doing what?" Rei interrupted.

Shinji was slightly alarmed at the sudden increase of interest in Rei's voice. "Uh. . .nothing." Rei's body reposed and she frowned visibly. "What's a matter?" Shinji asked, as the elevator opened.

Rei shook her head, shaking off her sadness, and smiled up at Shinji. They walked hand in hand out of the elevator and down the hall. "It's the same with me," Rei explained. "But all that's ov–"

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU TWO BEEN!" Rei and Shinji both turned in fear toward the end of the hall, and saw furious Misato storming toward them.

"Bwe–ah–I meanah–Wewere–" Shinji blubbered. Rei had never seen Katsuragi like this, and she was temporarily struck dumb.

"Do you even know–!"

"CAPTAIN!" Lt. Hyuga shouted.

"What is it!" Misato turned on him fiercely, but the look of terror and urgency in his eyes told her that this was the time to listen.

"You need to see this."

"Errrrr," the vein in Misato's forehead was visible. "You two!" She pointed at Shinji and Rei. "Come with me!" The pair nodded, and all four of them raced toward the bridge.

As they entered, Lt. Hyuga commanded, "Lt. Aoba, on screen."

"Roger."

"Ma'am, this is Ciudades del Cielo: a one mile radius outside Nerv's main entrance, and the whole in the Geofront made in the last encounter."

"Oh my God," Misato gasped. "This is why the Commander issued the order to stay inside Nerv." It seemed as if a storm of locust had covered Ciudades del Cielo. The streets, hills, and skies were filled with United Federation infantry, artillery, and LFOs. All of which had Nerv as their primary target.

"Lt. Colonel!" Lt. Hyuga demanded Misato's attention. She looked at him blankly. "The Commander and Vice Commander are absent. The bridge awaits your orders."

Misato snapped to attention, and an all too familiar determination passed over her face. "All non-essential personnel are to evacuate to the hospital wing. Get Asuka into Unit-02."

"Ma'am, she's still catatonic!" Lt. Ibuki interjected.

"The inside of the Eva is the safest place for her right now. Which brings me to you two," Misato turned to face Shinji and Rei. They clenched each others hands, as they listened. "Get to the prep area and get into Unit-01. Your to defend the Geofront and Nerv HQ against any attack. DO NOT engage the enemy if they don't engage you first."

"But Misato–!"

"No arguing, Shinji. This is an order!"

"I can't!" Shinji demanded, throwing off Rei's hand. "I can't kill them!"

"Dammit, Shinji! They will kill you, and Rei, and everyone here if they get a chance! Understand this, Shinji: if they breach Nerv, Third Impact will begin. They're the enemy: just like before."

Shinji was silent, and it seemed like Misato had won. But with renewed vigor, he protested, determination and absolute certainty apparent in his tone. "Before...I was killing coralians, which is just as bad as killing humans." Shinji had grabbed Rei's hand, without Rei or Misato noticing. "I can't, Misato. I won't."

Misato was speechless. ". . .Get in the Eva. Both of you," she turned her back on the two pilots, saying, "It's still the safest place for both of you. Go, now!" Shinji and Rei obeyed, and started running toward the prep area. The Nerv Alarm sounded. "Status Report!"

"Ma'am," Lt. Ibuki supplied, "The Magi have been infiltrated."

"We'll leave that to Ritsuko. Give me cameras above ground."

"Roger–Oh. . .no." Maya puked at the sight. The guards had been killed, at close range, with some sort of blade: their guts, as well as blood, were spilling out.

"How far have they penetrated?" Misato regained. "How far!" She ordered, shaking the three Lieutenants out of their stupor.

"Two levels," answered Hyuga.

"Flood the first two levels: make them secure."

"But there might be survivors!" Maya protested.

"Roger," obeyed Aoba.

"Lieutenants," Misato said gravely. They all paid her attention. "Monitor the intruders. Once they breach level 4, seal off any entrance to the hospital wing. Arm yourselves, and give any support you can to Unit-02 and Unit-01 when the pilots get there."

"Where are you going!" Lt. Hyuga asked fiercely. Misato loaded her gun and cocked it in response. "Misato. . ."

"I'm going after Shinji and Rei. I'll make sure they get to the Eva." Misato turned and smiled at them all, then looked Hyuga in the eye. "Stay alive, and I'll do the same. Promise."

Meanwhile, Rei and Shinji had ran down the familiar routes directly to the prep area, not bothering with the sanitizing procedures or the plug suites. Shinji, for the most part, was following Rei. She knew the way much better than he did; and he had a feeling– and he was right– that Rei was taking a longer way in order to avoid running into any of the UF soldiers.

They stopped for the first time at a short of T-junction. Shinji bent over, trying to catch his breathe. " *pant* *pant* . . . Rei?"

"I'm just trying to remember. Both will get us to the Eva; but we should probably take the shorter way– we've wasted enough time already."

"But what will we do when we get there? I was serious back there: I can't–"

Rei grabbed his hand, and pulled him to stand straight. She looked at him with infinite compassion. "I know. But we can still do something. They'll use the Cosmic Trigger to attack the Command Cluster and begin Third Impact. We can stop it– together. We'll protect everyone, together."

Shinji nodded. "Which way is shorter?"

'Left," Rei answered. And Shinji set off down the left path. Almost immediately, Rei heard a *thump*, and then another sound, like a body hitting the floor. She ran to Shinji, turning the corner, but stopped at the sight of Shinji's collapsed body. Gendo Ikari was over him, holding a gun, pointing at her heart.

"Come with me, Rei," he commanded.

"I won't," Rei said, trying to show no emotion. "Orders are to scramble, for all the pilots." She added, and, against her will, she glanced down at Shinji out of concern.

Gendo re-adjusted his glasses. "Your orders have always been clear. It's time to deliver your book, Rei."

". . .I won't do what you want," Rei's confidence was growing with each word. "I will stop them by myself, so that we can all live–"

"–So that you can live, you mean." Gendo fixed his unconquerable gaze upon Rei, who lost her footing for a moment.

But she came back, raising her arms slightly, and concentrating. "You can't hurt me with that. I can stop you."

"An AT field?" Gendo was more curious, than intimidated. He pointed the gun down at Shinji.

"DON'T!" Rei was about to issue forth a gust of power, when Gendo cocked his gun. "ah. . ." Rei stopped and fell to her knees.

"Come, Rei. And don't worry. The Lt. Col. will be along shortly. She will ensure that Shinji gets to Unit-01...and Shinji will come for you."

"No. . ." Rei wept. "They'll die." Rei hadn't realized how much the Nerv personnel meant to her till now. After all, they had all helped to raise her– they were the only family she knew.

"You and he will be together. Or. . .I can kill him now." Rei, at a loss, got to her feet. The Commander uncocked his gun, put it away, and led the way.