'Thinking'
"Sepaking"
Chapter 18: Recruitment
"This is so damn cool!" Kensuke exclaims. Misato had just told him about unit 04, all the pilots had been called in when the announcement was made. I take a look around and see Kaworu and Shinji talking, Shinji predictably took a liking to Kaworu. I obviously didn't like this development, in the series Kaworu either did legitimately care about Shinji or was deliberately fucking with him in a gambit that thankfully failed. I didn't want to take a chance on it being the latter, but at the same time it's not like I could just say "Hey Shinji your new friend is an angel, don't hang out with him anymore.".
Speaking of failed talks, I also spot Asuka. Despite it being a few days after her moving out she still hasn't spoken to me. I guess knowing what's going to happen ahead of time doesn't mean a goddamn thing if you can't act on that knowledge. Mari notices my sulking and gives me a pat on the back. "I could talk to her if it would make you feel better. And besides Asuka may have her fair share of issues but if we can get her to believe us she'll help out, if only for the glory." She whispers to me. I give a little nod of agreement.
Misato's apartment
I sit on the couch in Misato's apartment watching some documentary on life pre second impact. After the briefing of unit 04 Mari had taken off with Asuka to God knows where. Shinji and Kaworu also took off, Touji and Hikari were on a date. In between my sulking and plotting I hadn't even noticed them hooking up. Misato and Kensuke had stayed behind to talk more in depth about unit 04 and Rei was doing god knows what with Gendo and Ritsuko. An anime character known for avoiding human contact, a fiery red head who thinks she's too good to interact with people her age, an emotionless clone, and a huge military nerd yet I'M the only one without any plans, that's kinda pathetic on my part.
I hear a knock on the door, I get up to answer it and am greeted by Mari, Asuka and...Kaji? Where'd they find him? "Come on, the girls want to go on a 'day on the town' and I'm not going to be the only guy there." Kaji practically orders. So this was Mari's plan to cheer Asuka up, but why am I going wouldn't my presence just make her angry.
As confused as I was I wasn't going to disobey. I put my shoes on and follow the rest of the group out the door.
We went to a lot of different shops nothing too exciting, that is until we got to a certain clothing store anyway.
Asuka and Mari were in the changing rooms trying on who knows what. Kaji and I were stuck in the back of the store talking. "So secret agent man, has your snooping helped you learn anything about Gendo's current plans?" I ask.
"Why would you need information, you know more than the rest of us combined."
"I just know what COULD happen, to many things have changed for me to rely on that information anymore."
"Hm, well I hate to dissapoint you but I haven't learned anything that you don't already know. That's why Mari and I have decided to recruit another person to our cause."
"So that's why you called me here, you wanted me to help explain things to Asuka right?"
"Bingo."
"Oh great, this'll be fun."
Fast forward a few minutes later and we're walking down an alley. Obviously because Asuka was well Asuka I was stuck carrying her backs for her. I recgonize a familiar warehouse, oh yeah this where I first learned that Mari was a spy for the Britian government. (or would the correct way to say it be British government?) Good times.
"Where are we going, this isn't the way to Nerv HQ." Asuka complains. No one answers her. A few seconds later we're in the warehouse. I take a look around, it still only has a table and few chairs in it. "You two haven't exactly spruced the place up since the last time I was here." I say good naturedly. "Would someone tell me what's going on!" Asuka suddenly yells out. "Just hold on, we're getting to that." Kaji replies.
So Kaji, Mari, and I took turns explaining not only what happened in a previous timeline or maybe dimension, I still wasn't sure.
"So let me get this straight," Asuka starts, trying to stop her head from spinning because of everything she just heard. 'Good luck with that.' I can't help but mentally joke. "Gendo Ikari, our leader is secretely planning with help from a secret organization called Seele on killing off all of humanity by fusing them into a gigantic body of wonder girl?" she tries to swallow what was told to her. We had left out the parts about her having a mental breakdown and eventually dying, we figured if we did that well then we would have a better chance of her not having a mental breakdown and eventually dying. "Look I know it's ridiculous but I've been spying on Gendo and Seele for a while now, it's all true." Kaji tries to convince her.
She sighs, eyeing Mari and I before turning her attention back to Kaji. There was a long pause, not like I could blame her for being skeptical. "I think what your saying sounds completely ridiculous, but I'll trust what you say Kaji." she eventually replies.
I mentally sigh, I can't help but imagine a generic rpg text box appearing over my head that says "Asuka joined the party."
Now I know what you're thinking "You put a lot of effort into this story." and to that I say thank you. But I know the reast of you are thinking "A chapter that features Asuka joining the ragtag team of heroes right after a chapter that features the OC's failed attempt to get her to join the ragtag team of heroes, it's almost like this story wasn't planned at all." Yeah, hopefully this will be the last time that something like this happens since I've planned out the rest of the story (I appologize to all Rei fans in advance.)
Feel free to leave a review, Merry belated Chirstmas (or whatever you celebrate), and have a great day.