Chapter 5: Sleep walking
Ritsuko's office
"Honestly Misato at this rate you'll be out of a job." Ritsuko coyly states, she had just run Kensuke and Touji through the Marduk institute and labeled them the Sixth and Seventh children." Ha Ha very funny Ritsuko". Misato dead pans before sipping on some coffee. "That's lukewarm." Ritsuko warns. Misato spits the coffee out and sets the cup back down, "Could've warned me sooner." Misato mumbles.
"Still though that Brandyn kid has been full of surprises, besides this he's also been able to synch up with Unit 01 which rejected even Rei. Not to mention the fact that he's gotten Shinji and Rei to open up, though his actual combat performance has been disappointing." Ritsuko says. "Yeah but I've been starting to worry about him, lately he's always been the first one up, plus he has rings under his eyes. I'm starting to wonder if he even sleeps at all but every time I ask him about it he just changes the subject. Your a doctor, think you could talk to him?" Misato asks.
"I'll talk to him during the next synch test. The commander would have my ass if one of our pilots were unusable due to something as simple as sleep deprivation." Ritsuko replies. "Speaking of the Commander, how did your date go last night?" Misato teased.
Tokyo 3 Highschool (it doesn't have an official name)
I walk into the classroom, my vision blurry from lack of sleep. I had just wasted another night hopelessly trying to think of a plan to beat Gendo. "He's got the damn game rigged!" I yell out in my head.
I sit down at my desk beside Rei and put my head in my hands, there has to be a way, something I missed, or- "Fifth child are you alright?" Rei's voice interrupts my thoughts. Sick and tired of hearing this question I snap, "I'm fine Rei!" I yell in an angry tone. I move my hands away from my face and see that everyone in the class (The few that didn't move away after the second angel attack anyway) was looking at me.
I look at Rei, she seems to have the same facial expression as always but I'm pretty sure the fact that one of her two friends (Kensuke and Touji are having a harder time warming up to her) yelled at her did hurt. "I'm sorry Rei, you were just trying to help I shouldn't of snapped at you like that." I apologize. "It is ok." She replies in a voice as monotone as ever. I sigh, if Rei's worried about me I must look like shit, maybe Shinji and Misato are right, maybe I should get some sleep. I take another look at Rei's face and watch as it changes into the smiling face of the Rei/Lilith hybrid. No, I can worry about sleeping once I stop Third Impact.
NERV HQ: Later that day.
"Brandyn?!" Ritsuko's voice jolts me out of my sleep. "I'm here." I say groggily. "What happened, your synch rate dropped like a rock for a second." I look around and see that I'm in the entry plug of Unit 00. "I'm sorry my mind just started wandering, it won't happen again." I say.
Ritsuko's office: A few minutes later
Ritsuko had basically dragged me back to her office after the synch test was over. "Misato asked me to talk to you." Ritsuko starts. "I already told her that I'm fine." I say before starting to stand. I try to walk out the door but stumble, I lean myself up against the wall to keep from falling. "You can't even stand, what makes you think you can take on the angels in your condition. Your a pilot now, you can't just do whatever you want, how are you supposed to save people when you can't even help yourself." I grimace at her words, they were harsh but true. Despite my intentions I've done nothing but worry everyone. She hands you a bottle of pills "Take one of these sleeping pills everyday, Rei will pilot Unit 00 until we know you won't pull another stupid stunt like this again." She tells me coldly. I take the pills, put my head down, and utter "Yes ma am."
I walk out the door and begin to head towards Misato's apartment. I pass Misato on the way, I don't want to face her so I keep walking but she puts her hand on my shoulder. "So did Ritsuko talk to you?" she asks. "Yeah, I've been relieved of duty until further notice, don't worry I won't do something stupid like this again." I reply, I tried to mask my sadness but didn't do a very good job.
Misato probably not knowing what to say just looks sad. "I'm going back to the house." I say with a fake smile. "Oh Ok, Shinji and I will be there soon, take care of Pen-Pen." Misato says with a smile that she probably only made to try to make me feel better.
I once again begin my trek to the Katsuragi household but am stopped when an alarm sounds. "An angel now?!" I exclaim. I watch as Misato starts running towards the command center and after a little bit I begin to do the same. "I may not be able to pilot but I can help them find a way to hurt that thing, I won't mess up again." I mumble under my breath.
So yeah that was my attempt at a darker chapter, I think I did a pretty good job but it's what you guys think that matters so yeah, review and stuff.