Asuka said, "You know, even though they serve a different pasta every day, they always use the same sauce?"

Jenny looked down at her tray. "I heard the cafeteria hasn't changed it's lunch program in over twenty years. Maybe they're really proud of the sauce?"

Asuka groaned, "That would make sense, if this stuff didn't taste like paint chips."

She looked around the cafeteria. "Say, where's the little idiot?"

"You mean Shinji?" asked Jenny, between bites of a hotdog.

"Yeah,he's usually sitting somewhere by himself like the pathetic little nerd that he is."

"He got a special assignment. I heard one of the BAU agents picked him up."

Asuka jumped out of her chair and slammed both of her hands down on the table.

"WHAAAAAT?!"

"Not so loud," whispered Jenny, as if her being quiet would cancel out the noise Asuka was making. "People are going to stare at us. Again."

Asuka didn't care. She was in full on tantrum mode, during which almost nothing could stop her.

"Of everyone they could have chosen, they fucking went with him? Talk about nepotism!"

She kicked a chair across the floor. "I mean, I've got better test scores, better marksmanship records, and I actually have a fucking spine!"

Jenny was still vainly trying to calm down Asuka, even though she knew it wouldn't work. "You shouldn't get so worked up over this."

"Like hell I should! Say what you will about Hoover, at least he didn't hire his children."

"Because he didn't have children, on account of being balls-to-the-wall insane," muttered Jenny.

ASuka placed her hand across her chest and said, "Well I won't stand for it. If this agency has fallen so far that they want to promote a neurotic little whiner who can't even get through a make-out session without crying, it' my job to fix it."

"That's not true," said Jenny softly.

"Oh, but it is. When we were dating, I think he cried every single time we kissed. It was really depressing."

What I meant, " said Jenny, struggling to hiding her irritation, "was that it isn't your job to fix it."

Asuka gave no indication that she even heard Jenny as she stormed off, leaving her pasta behind.

I'm sorry you couldn't get through to Kaworu" said Misato. "Don't feel too bad though. The director's been trying to get him to talk for was a bit of a Hail Mary, to be honest."

Shinji laid back and rested his head against the beat up headrest. Flecks of shredded foam were pushed out and floated into his hair. He barely registered it.

"The worst part is, I'm sure he's holding something back."

"I've heard your dad say the same thing for months. That's why he won't give up."

"I just don't want to hurt him." said Shinji. "You can tell he's been through so much, and is keeping so much buried. And he's so kind. He actually want's to be my friend."

I don't see a reason why you couldn't be. said Misato. "It's like the director said, you have a surprising amount in common."

Shinji's cellphone rang. He didn't recognize the number.

He said, "Hello?"

Kaworu's calm voice answered back. "You left you badge and wallet at my apartment."

Shinji sighed in embarrassment. His first assignment was going just great so far.

Not getting a response, Kaworu said, "I found a card with your phone number on it. That's how I knew how to call you." He laughed. "Do you want to come and pick it up?"

Misato stopped the car near Metro station. Shinji got out.

"I guess. I'm a bit far away."

"No problem," replied Kaworu. "I'll come and meet you halfway. I've got it in my pocket now."

Shinji wanted to make a flippant joke like, Just don't get mugged on your way there, for the love of God, but was too nervous to say it.

Sachiel stepped off the dock and onto the boat. He wished he had his mask with him. He felt naked without it. Having his harpoon would not hurt either. Even though he wasn't assigned to kill anyone, he had grown attached to the weapon. Gaghiel turned and waved to him.

"The boat looks in good condition." said Sachiel flatly. "It should prove sufficient for dealing with the next sacrifices.

"It won't be necessary until they find you." said Gaghiel. Sachiel wasn't sure what emotion the other Angel was trying to convey.

"I have done my task. What happens next is in the hands of God."

"Just don't go down without a fight," said Gaghiel.

Shiji met Kaworu in the steps of Strathmore Hall, a performing arts center located near a Metro station.

"Thanks for doing this, Kaworu," said Shinji.

"It wasn't really any trouble at all." replied Kaworu. "I was planning to come here anyway."

"I've never been here," said Shinji. "What were you planning to do here, uhm, out of curiosity."

Kaworu smiled. "A Japanese choir is stopping by. I've been wanting to listen to them for a few months. They have a new original composition I enjoyed greatly, and wanted to hear in public."

"What's it called?"

"The name is 'A Cruel Angel's Thesis'." Kaworu laughed with a hint of bitterness. "The universe really does have a twisted sense of humor, doesn't it?"

After the show, Shinji walked with Kaworu towards his car, a navy blue sedan with gold highlights.

"Thanks, Kaworu, I really enjoyed the show," said Shinji, smiling. He felt more relaxed than he had in weeks, maybe months.

"I wish was some way for me to repay the favor," said KAworu. "I must admit, you were quite different from everyone else your father sent to mine information from me. I wish I could help you."
"I wish I could help the victims," said Shinji. "Three people are dead. They had families. Friends. Comrades in the military. THey didn't deserve what happened to them, and they will be missed by those who love them."

"The world can be a cruel place." said Kaworu, looking up at the night sky. "I think we both know that better than most. Life is often an endless struggle to relieve the pain felt by ourselves and our fellow human beings."

"Maybe we could try one last thing. I know agent Katsuragi's profile on the killer. I could tell it to you, and you let me know if it reminds you of anyone you know."

"It couldn't hurt, but despite my studies in sociology, I don't know many people very well."

Shinjin closed his eyes and tried to remember all of the details Misato had told him.

"The UnSub was believed to be a man in his mid thirties, who had been a newly initiated member in the last days before Seele's downfall. He probably lived near his victims,and needed to have close combat training to take down his victims. The killer had a sadistic streak, and enjoyed watching his victims die. Like most of the Angels, he is not a traditional sociopath, but his mind was molded and tainted by the teachings of :Lorenz Kihl. The Unsub was obsessed with his ideas and prophecies, and came to believe fulfilling them was more important than human life. I don't remember the rest."

Kaworu rubbed his temples. "There may be someone. Eric Benedict. He was one of the only members of Seele close to my age. He was dedicated, but he had little experience when the FBI started arresting people."

Shinji's eyes lit up. "Do you know where he lives?"

"He was relocated to northern Pennsylvania, but he moved recently to Martinsburg, West Virginia. He's been trying to get back into contact with me."

"That's pretty close to where the victims died." said Shinji, barely containing his excitement.

"It all sounds pretty suspicious when we say it out loud," said Kaworu. "Should we notify the authorities.?"

"We could, but Benedict would see them coming and put up a fight. We could take him off guard by giving him what he wants: you."

"Are you sure this is a good idea? You're only a trainee."

A rare look of confidence grew on Shinji's face. "I have firearm training and a .45 in my bag. Plus, my father technically authorized me to follow up on any leads you give me."

Eric Benedict lived in a two story house in a peaceful neighborhood. Kaworu rang the doorbell.

"You wanted to talk, Eric?" he shouted. "Well here I am."

A man with blonde hair, wearing black pants and a black shirt, answered the door. Kaworu and Shinji entered.

Benedict said, "I have something to show you, Tabris. Give me just a moment. "

Shinji immediately felt uncomfortable that Benedict was pulled out his pistol and hid it behind his back. He was not surprised when Benedict returned wearing a mask and holding a revolver.

"Get down!" yelled Shinji, before ducking behind a couch. Benedict's first shot grazed the side of his left eye, leaving a bloody gash. Shinji grunted and swallowed the pain as the second and third shots tore into the the time it took Benedict to recock the gun for his fourth shot, Shinji fired twice. Both bullets missed.

Shinji yelled,"Get in the car, Kaworu!"

Kaworu fled out the door while Benedict shot at Shinji again.

Benedict fired two more times, but both rounds sank into the couch's cushions. Shinji was glad about one aspect of his slight frame, that it made him a smaller target. Benedict growled and threw aside the gun, grabbing his harpoon. He lunged at Shinji, who deflected the strike and punched his attacker in the stomach , to no avail. Benedict turned his shoulder into Shinji's chest and pushed. Both of them went crashing through the window.

Shinji looked up and saw that Kaworu's sedan had pulled out. He kicked Benedict, who was still lying on the ground, covered in glass. The older man brought up the harpoon to defend himself. Shinji's foot snapped it in half.

Shinji aimed his pistol at his now unarmed target. He pulled the trigger, and was shocked at how loud it was. He wasn't used to gunfire this close without ear protection. He was momentarily stunned, giving Benedict time to strike. He grabbed Shinji's thin arms and twisted.

Shinji howled in agony as his right arm gave a sickening crack. Benedict threw him across the lawn. Shinji was incapacitated by the pain, so his opponent nonchalantly walked over to pick up the half of the harpoon with the barb.

Shinji looked up at Benedict. He found himself focusing on the mask. The long beak and blank eye circles betrayed no emotion. Shinji couldn't imagine the emotions someone would feel when killing someone, but the mask betrayed none of them. A white light encompassed the man's entire body.

Shinji quickly realized that it wasn't light from God, but headlights. Benedict turned just as the car slammed into him. The driver stopped as he hit him, throwing his body across the lawn. Kaworu stepped out of the car and ran to Shinji.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Shinji could do nothing but cough violently and point towards Benedict, who was rising of the ground. He rested on one knee, and his left arm hung limply to the ground.

Between gurgled breathes, he said, "My end is your beginning."

He drew the barb of the harpoon across his throat, drawing a red line.

Shinji felt pain and disgust overwhelm him, and he blacked out.

The first thing he saw when he woke up was a sterile white ceiling tile. He turned his head and was greeted by a smiling Misato Katsuragi.

"The doctors said you still need rest, but I wanted to congratulate you. Although they aren't pleased that you didn't call backup,they are impressed that you eliminated the Sachiel Killer. You did a good job."
"Kaworu helped." said Shinji softly, looking back up at the ceiling.

"He's going to be back to visit you. He's been here every day while you were asleep."

"How long..."

"About three days." answered Misato. Since then,several potential Angel cases have come to our attention. Whoever their leader was, it wasn't Benedict. We'll need your help when you recover."

Misato got up and left. Shinji sighed and kept staring at the ceiling.

To Be Continued.