Initial Perturbation Chapter 12: asynchrony, an evangelion fanfic

I do not own the characters of Neon Genesis Evangelion, nor any other aspects of it. Not even the rotten bits that nobody is willing to touch and are past their useby-date.

Rating: T - a fair bit of swearing (this should probably be rated higher)

Initial Perturbation

CHAPTER 12 - asynchrony

"Doctor Akagi."

"Sub-Commander."

"Please, take a seat. Tea? Coffee?"

"Coffee, please. Cream and sugar."

Fuyutsuki poured from his percolator, put a carton of cream onto his desk and moved the sugar bowl closer to the scientist. She added generous helpings of both, and took a long sip from the Nerv-issue 16 oz mug. "Ah. That's not bad, Kouzo."

"One of the perks of being a party to the second most powerful organisation on Earth. This shouldn't take too long."

Ritsuko held the cup at mouth-level. "That's a relief. Things haven't been getting any less hectic around here."

"No. So, how is the Nephilim trade these days?"

Ritsuko spat out her coffee and bolted upright. "What the hell!"

A corner of Fuyutsuki's mouth quirked into a grim smile as he took out some paper napkins to soak up the 'spill'. "Gendo and I have you under constant surveillance. You, because you're one of the few who we can't trust the MAGI to keep track of. I saw your little exchange with Agent Kaji."

Ritsuko closed her eyes and bowed her head. "What has the Commander got planned for me?"

"I haven't told Ikari. Yet."

The woman with the mole like a tear looked levelly at the Professor. "Why?"

"I want to know what you're up to first."

The Doctor set the mug onto the desk and crossed her arms about her chest insecurely. "I'm...trying to preserve Rei II."

Fuyutsuki frowned. "Why? I thought she was irreversibly damaged."

"Wounded sir, not 'damaged'! And I never said the nerve damage was irreversible. Given time, I could repair it. Ikari knows, but he needs his Eva pilot clone immediately. Never mind that she might developed into an individual as human as any of us."

"But what good would restoring the body be? The last time I checked, we were hardly lacking for spares."

"Memory resides in the body, sir, i.e. the brain. As such, so does personality. Rei II could live again if Rei's generic soul reenters that body."

Kouzo leant back in his seat and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I see." he said, as if given the news that her budget had to be extended. Ritsuko watched as the older man considered her revelation.

"A real person, you say?"

"Sir..."

"A real person like Shinji Ikari? Another broken mind to go with a broken soul."

"Sir...!"

Professor Fuyutsuki stood up and turned away from her, hands clasped behind his back. "That's all, Doctor. I'll let you know what I will report to the Commander...when I know myself."

"Yes sir."

A seedy bar, a darkened phone booth.

"I'll need another couple of days."

(What! Why!)

"It seems I'm double-booked. Professional hazard."

(Dammnit, that's not good enough!)

"Calm down. Surely you can hold out another few days."

(A lot is happening here right now. This can't wait. The damned fool has been wandering around my labs too much lately.)

"...I see. I'll see if I can move a small hill in lieu of that mountain."

(Fine. I'll see if I can get you a pickaxe and shovel.)

Asuka slung the red shoulder bag on at the Horaki family front door. "Thanks Hikari. I owe you one."

Hikari smiled a big, genuine smile. "I thought it was more than one by now? It's our honor, Asuka. We, this whole city, owe you so much."

The redhead frowned slightly. "Is that why you let me stay?"

Hikari grinned cheekily. "That, and you're easier to keep under control in class if I've got something to blackmail you with."

Asuka shrieked. "Ah! You dirty bitch! Now I know why I'm going home!"

The brown-eyed girl tilted her head. "You're welcome to stay, you know."

Asuka nodded. "I know, but I gotta be there. Home, and all that."

"Sure. But send Shinji over here to cook for me when he's back."

"No way! I'm not sharing!"

"Oh come on, I share my house, my room, even my playstation with you...how about some of your boyfriend in return?" Hikari grinned evilly. "I'd settle for just one bit..."

"You pervert! I bet that baka'd love it too. Boys are so primitive."

Hikari blushed. "I suppose so..." she sighed.

Asuka smiled at her friend. "You'll get a boyfriend, Hikari."

"Yeah...eventually..."

"Ach! First you talk about stealing Shinji for a night of gourmet debauchery, now you're blushing at the thought of holding a boy's hand. The Japanese!"

Asuka moved closer to the girl and took her in a warm hug, which the slightly built japanese girl returned tentatively. "Thanks for everything, Hikari."

"You're welcome."

Asuka grinned as she let herself out. Hikari chuckled as she heard the german depart. "Hey, you. Big ape man. Make yourself useful and carry this. Don't even think about talking, I don't feel like teaching you all the words with more than two syllables right now."

When Asuka got home it was still before noon. Two plain-looking sedans and a discreet motorcycle (at a distance) had escorted her. There was no freedom for the only active Evangelion pilot now.

She opened the door with her key. Light filtered through the windows; she could pretend she wasn't the sole inhabitant.

"Squaw!"

"Pen-Pen? Ach nein, Misato hasn't fed you? Scheisser. Hey, leave my bag alone! There's no food in there...get your beak outta my skirt you hentai! Gott, even their pets..."

Asuka extracted the penguin from the otherwise compromising position with a forceful hand and carried him, struggling in protest, over to his food bowl. Setting him down and keeping him there with a withering glare, she went to the fridge as the avian stood dutifully and expectantly.

"Ah hell, only frozen left. Hold on a few more minutes, Pen-Pen." Asuka shoved the fish into the microwave. Pen-Pen watched her suspiciously.

The microwave beeped. "Oww...scheist. Ah, hot! Ahh! Mrrrrrrr..." Somehow, Asuka got the part frozen, part exploded fish to Pen-Pen's bowl. He attacked with gusto, and Asuka sat down on the floor next to him as she watched him eat.

"What would you do without me, huh kiddo? How did you survive before me and Shinji came, huh?" she said idly, lightly stroking his slick back feathers.

"On a pretty high-malt diet, I guess." came a sheepish voice.

Asuka did not look up. "Isn't that animal abuse, Misato?"

"Hey, he got instant ramen too. If it's abuse to him, was I abusing myself too?"

Asuka snorted. "Hnh. We'd all be sick if Shinji didn't live here, huh."

Misato knelt next to the girl in her crumpled nightie. "I guess so."

"So where is he?"

"Somewhere near Osaka, we think. Kaji's gone to have a look."

"And why are you here?"

"So we have a tactical officer if we need to sortie. I can't leave Tokyo 3 anymore than you can."

"That didn't stop Shinji."

"It would now. I doubt even the Commander could smuggle one of you out now."

Asuka stood up. "Where's Rei?"

Misato sighed and stood up too. "Somewhere in Nerv. Intensive care, they say. I haven't been able to see her."

Asuka stomped her foot in frustration. "She wasn't even in the battle! Something stinks."

Misato nodded. "Things are pretty screwed up right now. Nerv is hiding a lot from us, Asuka. I'm not even sure how deep the rabbit-hole goes. The Angels? Second Impact? I don't know. But I will find out."

Asuka nodded. "Do that. And have a shower. How long were you asleep?"

The purple-haired woman shrugged helplessly at the teenager. "I'm not sure. I'm glad you're back Asuka. Someone will need to keep the house clean for when Shinji gets back."

She dashed into the bathroom and deftly latched the door before the red storm hit.

"Here, let me carry that."

Shinji took the picnic blanket from Ami with one hand and hefted the basket with the other.

"No-no, Shinji. I'll do it."

"Please, I can help."

Ami looked at him. "You can carry the blanket, then." she said, taking the heavier basket for herself.

"I...can manage..."

"I know, you're so big and strong." Ami said as if talking to a toddler. Her eyes took on a vague look, a focus beyond what was there. Shinji sighed internally. It was becoming clear to him that he wasn't necessarily what Ami saw when she looked at him.

They left the shabby apartment and walked along country lanes amidst gently rolling hills covered in grass and crop fields. Shinji, city-boy that he was, looked wonderingly at the small herds of cows they occasionally saw as they walked. 'If I point them out, will she call them 'moo-cows'?' he wondered.

The came to crest a hill overlooking the edge of woodland. Ami chose a grassy patched and put the basket down. "Here, I'll spread the blanket." she said, proffering her arms.

Shinji grinned falsely. "No, it's alright. I'll do it."

He opened the large blanket and laid it on the ground. Ami watched in surprise. They sat down on the blanket and she opened the basket. "Thankyou, Shinji. Sometimes...I don't realise you're fourteen."

The boy looked down. "That's okay. This is new to both of us."

Ami nodded and handed him a plastic plate with a sandwich on it. "Look, I didn't even cut the crust off." she smiled.

Shinji accepted it, and bit into one. "This is nice." he said.

They sat for a while, enjoying the slight breeze on the mild day, eating. When they were done, Shinji laid back. "Ami...where are we?"

"We're a long way from Tokyo 3."

"No, really. Where?"

Ami sighed. "A short distance from Osaka. The closest to the middle of nowhere that I could manage."

Shinji nodded.

"Do you...miss Tokyo 3?"

Shinji paused before answering. "I miss my friends. I don't miss Eva, or Nerv."

"You're growing up. Shouta, you...ah. Shinji. Oh, damn!"

Shinji sat up in alarm as Ami suddenly tucked herself into a ball of misery. He froze.

"M-miss? Ami..."

Shinji stepped toward her, hovering in indecision. Finally, he knelt next to her. "Uhm...ssh...it's...okay. Shouta's here..."

He was taken by surprise as she grabbed him into a tight embrace.

After a while, Ami loosened the embrace and looked up, face puffy and red-eyed. "I'm sorry, Shinji. I know you're not Shouta. He's...gone now."

Shinji nodded, and separated himself from her. "He...was your son?" he asked tentatively, afraid to probe sensitive areas.

She sniffed and nodded. "Yes...he'd be about seventeen by now. I'm...just another second-impact story. One of millions. Another sad, pathetic story."

Shinji shook his head. "No. Just because it happened to others does not mean it's okay that it happened to you."

Ami looked at him, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "I hope he'd have been just like you." she said.

Shinji's eyes widened. "R-really?"

She nodded.

Shinji heaved a heavy sigh and looked up at the clouds. 'Like me...she would want him to be like me...'

After a glance at his haunted benefactor, he shook his head at the world. "Another sad story..."

"Touji."

The tall boy blinked, drawn from his fantasy basketball game. "Huh? Uhm, but I wasn't speaking of the devil."

"Hmph. I heard you turned Hikari down."

"Huh? Hey, now! Wait! I had to do that. It's not manly to take advantage of the situation."

Asuka raised a cynical eyebrow. "Dumbkopf! There is no 'taking advantage', just do it you moron!"

Touji sat up in the hospital bed and crossed his arms, screwing up his face into his most stubborn mask. "Don't tell me how to act, red-baron. Where's your pet-er-boyfriend, anyway? He hasn't dropped in since I've been conscious."

Asuka gritted her teeth. "Gah! Little boys like you are so pathetic! Don't you know anything! He's been kidnapped you moron!"

Touji's eyes widened in surprise. "What! Like, by mobsters trying to pay Nerv back or something? Who would kidnap Shinji?"

"How should I know, you prick? I came here to tell you! You've been out of hospital for what, three days?"

The boy nodded. "Yeah. They gave me a new eye, and a robotic hand too. Man, that was something to wake up to. And titanium bones...man, I'm like robocop now."

Asuka rolled her eyes. "Don't expect any sympathy from me, I got disembowled. And my fucking neck got broken thanks to you. Rei's even worse off, we haven't even heard what happened to her."

Touji used his prosthetic hand to rub his neck. "Man, they weren't kidding in that 'hazardous duty' clause."

"You don't hear me whining about it!"

"Shinji does enough of that for the three of you."

"Yeah, he's a real cry-baby sometimes."

"But you, when you're pissed off, you go off."

"I just don't have any problems expressing my feelings unlike you suppressed freaks."

"So we need karaoke. You need riot cops."

"Schweinhundt! Watch your mouth while you can still open it! Bastard!"

"Ho."

"Prick!"

"Slut."

"Fairy!"

"Fluffy princess."

"What!" Asuka's eyes bugged out in incredulity.

"Heh." Touji chuckled at his surprise victory. "Hey, could you tell Hikari something for me?"

Asuka narrowed her eyes. "What, you fiend?"

"Tell her...I'll uhm...get her an ice-cream when I get out."

The Second Child rolled her eyes. "Oh great, now you're a playboy. She's gonna go nuts now. Now I won't hear about anything except your deep sparkling eyes and your 'sensitive side', you inconsiderate jerk-face. I'm going to miss all the juicy gossip for at least a month! You'd better make her happy."

"Yeah yeah. Hey, why don't you bring Shinji along. Y'know, bring his collar and chain."

"...damn you. Fine, a double-date, if he'd care to assist me in keeping your filthy mitts off my dopey friend!"

"Asuka and Shinji, sittin' in a tree..."

"Piss off, fuck-face!"

"I can't, I have no leg and must kick you. Now buzz off, you bother me."

"To get away from the fucking prick jerk-off? I'm gone! I only dropped in because I heard Rei's here somewhere. Bah!"

Touji sniggered as she left the room. "Heh, the demon made a funny."

Kaji checked his gun. The slim-line unit was made for under-cover work, with a small footprint and decisive close-range firepower. Perfect for an undercover intelligence agent. Somehow, it just didn't seem adequate just then.

He was hunting a tigress.

The Agent tucked the gun into the inside pocket of his jacket and stamped on the cigarette butt beside him on the ground. He looked down at the broken embers. 'Funny. I doubt you'll be the cause of my death. Why do I envy lung-cancer patients right now?'

The arena was set, and he had surprise on his side. Still, this was no combat situation. With the target indoors, and the primary objective with her, the gun was leverage only.

It wouldn't be as simple as a fight.

How the hell was he supposed to get Shinji out without hurting him?

Read between the lines. Get the Eva Pilot out alive. Shinji's psych could only be pushed so far before the will to pilot died. How to maneuver the boy out from the embrace of a surrogate mother?

Kaji breathed in deep, and walked to the doorway of the nondescript apartment. He pushed the unit's doorbell and stood to the side of the peep-hole.

"Hey! Rei, how are ya feeling? What happened to you, anyway?"

"I...was told I have amnesia."

"That sucks. But hey, you must remember me - I'm unforgettable!"

"..."

"Nothing, huh? What about Shinji, you must remember him. And no, you can't borrow him to get your memory back!"

"Why would I borrow the Third Child?"

"I've had requests. And if I were in your position, I might take advantage of the situation that way."

"I am not you."

"Sheesh, you're just like you used to be! A dumb baby! What did they do, reprogram you?"

"I...am not sure."

"Then you are a robot! A stupid, animated doll. A toy for someone to manipulate! Who's manipulating you, Rei? Who's your puppet master? That bastard the Commander I bet! What's he done to you? Were you becoming too normal, too human for the toymaster to like?"

"I don't know. The Commander...told me I have purpose."

"What purpose, Rei? To be the stupid doll who makes the Evangelion doll work? A puppet-master puppet?"

"...yes. The Major told me to get better. I shall become better at piloting."

"I don't believe you! You know what I think? I think you like being manipulated, to be a doll who's told what to do. Because you're too scared to be yourself!"

"If 'myself' is one who is a 'doll', am I not being myself?"

"In that case you shouldn't exist, you're nothing and you should go back to being nothing! If you think you're nothing, you are nothing! I am not nothing! I'm here, damnit, and I'll live my life just to spite you! If you fucking dare to become nothing, Rei, I'll hunt you down in hell and make you wish you'd never existed at all!"

"You...I...don't understand..."

"SCHEIST! Why the hell! They should keep you in here, or better yet put you in a padded cell! Gott, why are you such a freak!"

"I don't...understand! Why...are you being like this? Why...does it matter!"

"Why be like this Rei? Don't Shinji and I matter to you? He's been kidnapped, you know. Stolen from us, like a toy. And now you don't even remember him. I hate you, First Child."

"I...do not wish to be hated."

"Why should I care what you wish for? Maybe I should just 'forget' what you want. You'll forget it too, once the Commander wants you to. You're a robot with no soul."

"That is not true. I don't know why I can't remember. I feel...like I know you, but I don't remember. Why do I know you, but not who you are?"

Asuka stared in exasperation at the bandaged girl. "Grrrr. Damn you, Rei. When Shinji gets back, we'll see. We'll put you back together, little porcelain doll."

"...arigato."

When Ami opened to peer past the chain latch, Kaji let fly a kick at the heavy wooden door. The woman was knocked back as the chain stretched to it's limit. Kaji reached in to unlatch the chain, but Ami threw herself against the door, slamming it against Kaji's forearm. He grit his teeth after the impact, forcing his hand to unlatch the chain through the fiery pain. Ami clawed at it, deep bloody scratches. He unlatched it and body-slammed the door wide-open, knocking Ami to the floor.

"Where is he?"

Downcast, the woman on the floor pointed to the rear of the room. Shinji was crouched to the floor, cowering with his hands over his head. Kaji sighed.

"Get up. Sit on the couch."

Ami got up and pulled Shinji up to comply.

Kaji removed the gun from his jacket. He put it into his waistband. "I'm disappointed, Shinji. Why didn't you help her?"

Shinji didn't look up from his hangdog position. "What's the point? I knew you were coming. I knew Father sent someone. Of course it was you."

Kaji nodded and sat down in an opposing chair, cradling his abused arm. "You accept the inevitable. You're your father's son alright. Well, Miss Kanazawa. Here we are."

Ami nodded. "So it seems, mister Nerv. I suppose you've come to take my boy away?"

"He's not your boy."

"No? Then who's is he? That slave-driver bitch of a guardian? Maybe the supreme master of Hypocrisy, the Commander in charge of defending Humanity but doesn't have the humanity to look after his own son? I don't think he's yours, mister Nerv."

Kaji held a hand on the gun. "More so than you might think. I don't want this to end badly."

"Inevitable, don't you think? Damn you for finding us. Couldn't you just let us live?"

Shinji stood up. "Don't fight it, Mom. There's no point."

Ami looked at the boy with dewy eyes. "Shinji...I'm proud, Shinji."

The boy let his mouth curve in a semblance of a smile.

Kaji shook his head gently, averting his eyes. Shinji knelt before his surrogate mother and she held a hand on his head, mussing his soft brown hair.

"You'll...be alright without me, Shinji. I know you will." said Ami, drawing in her tears with all her strength. Shinji nodded. He stood up, and walked over to Kaji.

"You can leave her alone. She...didn't hurt me at all. Just...let her be." he said.

Kaji stood. "Go out to the car. I'll be there in a minute."

"You won't..."

"I won't. Now go. I have to speak with her."

Shinji shook his head. "I want to...say goodbye."

"Just go."

Ami stood up. "Let us say our goodbyes, don't you realize we're family? My god, don't make it any worse for him! He's known my love and care, let him let me go properley!"

Kaji's fury-etched eyes lanced into Ami's. "What gives him the right to your love and care ? Why him, of so many abandoned children after Second Impact? Why him, the one who we need?"

Ami walked forward and slapped the man, hard. "Because I'm here to give it to him!"

Kaji's expression hardened. "For Shinji's sake, I'm letting you go." he said, palming the gun.

The nurse nodded slowly. She went over to where Shinji stood, and knelt down to him. She put her hands on his shoulders as she said, "Be a good boy, Shinji."

"Y-yes...Ami...Mom."

The lady watched as the boy followed the agent, stepping through the doorway to the overcast day outside. Wind rustled through his hair as he took one last look at her, and resolutely turned away. The door closed with a click.

A nod, a look from the agent. Ami knew what the future held. Over a grassy hill behind the little house, she found them. Long grass swayed with the breeze as Ami knelt, hands on her head. The man behind her spoke in a professional monotone. "Do you have any last words?"

She paused for a moment, searching for the words. "He's a good boy. I have faith in him."

"As you wish."

Shinji sat sullenly in the back of the black sedan. Kaji had opened the front door for the boy, but he'd ignored him. The elder man had understood.

He looked at the rear-view mirror. Heavy introspection was clearly taking place behind him.

"She had a child, years ago." Kaji said.

Shinji looked up. His eyes asked more.

"She was sixteen, got pregnant by a boy at her school. Usual story. By the time she said anything, she couldn't have an abortion. Lord knows, it's hard enough to get one at any time these days."

"She was going to give the child up for adoption. So the report I read says. But she didn't get the chance. The baby died before it was born. A stillbirth."

Shinji stared straight ahead, lost in conflicting emotions.

"Second Impact took the rest of her family. I'm not saying she wouldn't have tried to care for you anyway. I'm just saying that she had her own reasons for taking you in."

Shinji buried his face in his hands. Kaji watched him as he drove the long, empty country roads back to Tokyo 3. Finally, Shinji spoke in a hoarse whisper. "Thanks."

Author's Rant:
-

Thanks to my faithful readers - it helps lubricate the words. This ain't no domestic noggin, this is a dry-sump, highly-strung racing unit! Which obviously hasn't been getting it's fair share of maintenance - either that or it's just too late at night...still, that just makes the Omake more random. Read on...

Special thanks to you, proof-reader Pyramid-Girl! ;-)

- Omake for Chapter #12 -
-

"B-but...why did you kidnap me?" asked Shinji of the one who had just whisked him away from Nerv.

"I wouldn't know that." said the Section 2 Agent.

"I want to find out what makes you such a good Eva pilot..." said Ritsuko with the maniacal look of a scientist on the hunt.

"Because it's such a mysterious and plot-wrenching thing to do." smiled Kaji enigmatically.

"I was bored...really bored..." Asuka whispered huskily as she loosened her blouse.

"...you are not Rei." Gendo realised as he dunked the boy into the LCL-filled lava-lamp.

"You're so kawaii, I just had to! Now, put on this liddle sailor-suit..." squealed Maya.

"...because of your sensitive bits...Er! 'Side'..." blushed Hikari.

"I'll ransom you for an Eva!" cried Kensuke triumphantly.

"To shut up your whining!" Touji growled.

"To tutor you on Second Impact. In special detail." monotoned the Sensei.

"You really do remind me of Yui..." Kouzo smiled wistfully at the thoroughly freaked boy.

"I am not sure. I have beeh experiencing strange urges that I do not understand. Please put on this black leather plug-suit." said Rei II as Shinji cowered in fear.

"I am not sure. I have been experiencing strange urges that I do not understand. Please help me put on this red PVC catsuit." said Rei III, as Shinji struggled to keep his nasal bloodvessels intact.

"I want lollies." ordered Rei I.

"I just do what the Major tells me to." said Hyuuga with a shrug.

"I need some'n to shing wif meee! Yebisieeee...an' some saki for m' boyo-friendly man." slurred Misato to the bartender.

"The Dead Sea Scrolls made me do it." insisted Keele.

"We want to look at you." monotoned Seele 02 as the monoliths leered.

"Man, I musta been so hammered..." groaned Shigeru, holding his head on straight with his hands.

"Waaarck!" Pen-Pen told him angrily, shaking the can and holding the ring-pull to Shinji's temple.

"I wanted someone to play with me! Dance, monkey-boy, dance!" Mari Suzahara huffed.

"I must unsettle your psyche. Tell me about your mother." said the 15th Angel patiently.

"You remember when Rei got stabbed by that wishy-washy lance-Angel thing? Well, this is where things get a little...metaphysical..." said the 16th Angel after a beat. "Hand me those neko-ears and the stick-on tail would you?"

"You looked too happy, kid." said Unit 00.

"Because Gendo's ignoring me now that I'm a 40-foot biomechanical robot!" Yui huffed, stamping her foot.

"I am...your mother. The next time Asuka grabs you: use the Tongue, Luke." said Unit 01 gruffly.

"Mess with MY little girl, will you!" hissed Unit 02. "Next time you do it right, got that? I want grandchildren before Third Impact!"

"If at first you don't succeed..." said the Dark Basket-Ball of Doom Angel.

"I wanted someone to hang with, and you seem the martyr type." said Lillith.

"So I can bargain with your Father to get me outta his damned glove!" explained Adam.

"To make the Commander think twice about installing a Microsoft operating system on us." explained MAGI Caspar.

"I was so depressed. Here I am, a brain the size of a universe and only one entity who's one googleplexth as depressed as me. I thought we could compare notes." moaned MAGI Marvin.

"Steve Jobs bet me I couldn't do it without OS-X installed." said MAGI Melchior. "I told him to go back to making iPods."

"Nyah?" said MAGI neko-Balthesar.

"You really are dense, aren't you?" sighed Mana.

The Ayanami Clones smiled vacantly and proceeded to shuffle Shinji into their den...

"You'll see..." Kaoru impishly whispered with a wink.

Keele sighed. "Congratulations." he muttered to the confused boy.

-fin-