Record That
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN EVANGELION, NOR ANY OF THE SONGS! DON'T SUE ME!
Chapter 4: Notes
"There's something following me, and it looks just like me! It was the thing that sent that angel flying, and the thing that didn't let you turn the music down! It attacked a girl in the streets while I was waiting for you! They both disappeared when I approached to stop it! It's been antagonizing me ever since I first set off here! And I'm scared it's going to kill you, Ms. Katsuragi before it gets to me!"
Shinji said that all in what seemed like one breath. The kind of panicked speech that only one in danger would talk in. Gendo didn't exactly know what to make of it. His son didn't seem like he was having a mental breakdown. It only appeared as if he was just scared and crying out for help, but from what exactly had yet to be determined. Because despite his frantic state, what he said was utter insanity.
How could something like he just describes even exist? Not only that, why would it attack Rei? This thing sounded like it was just after Shinji. As if it knew him and was doing everything it could to intimidate the boy. Making him feel helpless, up until the right moment to attack. This thing, whatever it is, was unpredictable and was a great possible threat to the scenario. Or maybe even a good possible reinforcement. Though, that opportunity had yet to make itself apparent.
"What the…" Misato asked.
She didn't finish her sentence, meaning that she most likely had noticed something. There was a long moment of silence, until out of nowhere, Misato screamed in terror. If it hadn't been for the amount of screams and lives that Gendo had heard and seen ended over the years. He would've jumped, but not now. Not while there was the possibility of someone watching him.
Not to mention, it was time to see if Shinji was telling the truth.
"What's going on!? Captain Katsuragi, what's happening!?" Gendo Ikari shouted over the phone.
Another long period of silence, his shouting caught the attention of a few other people in the Central Dogma. Meaning they all got to see his reaction, when he heard this over the phone.
"Come together, right now, over me. And you. And all of NERV, and let's not forget SEELE."
That last word caught him off guard. As he never expected that to ever come out of his child's mouth. Except, it wasn't Shinji's voice, it was a near perfect replication of it, but Gendo could hear something in it. Something incredibly faint, yet foreign to the teenage boy, and it wasn't just because it sounded mature and confident.
The phone then hung up abruptly. Suddenly, the censors on the big screens went berserk. As the angel seemed to have disappeared, not even struck and sent flying like it previously did. The creature simply up and vanished. The generals and staff all quickly focused their attention back to the finding of the giant alien. And it didn't take long to long until they found it closer to the city.
Gendo, then realized just how much power this thing had. It not only knew of the existence of SEELE, it knew where to place the angel. This thing presumably had knowledge of many aspects of Tokyo-3, as well as NERV. Because the thing placed it right on top of N2 mine, exactly what Gendo expected the generals to use as their last resort.
Except, now, the thing wanted them to use it, and it didn't take long for Gendo to figure out why.
"It's…It's right on top of the N2 mine!" The younger general from before shouted.
"And all our troops are kilometers away! Quickly, activate it!" Another one added.
"Wait! I have it on good authority that there are still civilians in the area!" Gendo tried to warn them.
All he got was stern looks, as if he was the one making the mistake.
"Duly noted, Commander Ikari. We'll make sure to log that in our report about you."
The older general thought that would intimidate the commander. Nothing that this old man could say would intimidate him. Gendo was simply concerned about playing into this thing's hands. While the foolish generals thought nothing of it, just some freak occurrence. Maybe even a power that the angel had.
Soon, a bright light flashed across the screen. As the N2 mine exploded with the angel at ground zero. The mushroom cloud began to form and Gendo began to form a plan. One where he knew he could gather as much intelligence on this thing as possible. Thus, perhaps getting an edge on it before it even made its first big move.
He turned around and made his way to one of the descending platforms. As he passed a surprised Fuyutsuki on the way, Gendo simply gave him an order as he walked past. Without even looking his colleague in the eyes.
"Take over for me."
It took a while for the older man to respond.
"Uh…yes, sir. Wait, don't you wish to see the results?"
Fuyutsuki knew what Gendo was about to say, but he was one for keeping up formalities. While his former student couldn't care less. Especially in the phase of a new scenario.
"We already know what's going to happen. Inform Dr. Akagi, to meet me at the entrance once she's finished all necessary preparations. Don't bother with the strange occurrences surrounding the angel. I'll be the one to explain that and in the meantime."
As the mushroom cloud slowly began to disperse. Cameras zoomed in to reveal that the angel was injured, yet still alive. To the ire, surprise and horror of some, while expected from others.
"Accept whatever formalities they would've given me. And when they start to complain, tell them that I'll put it down in my report about them."
"Yes, sir." Fuyutsuki responded.
Even in the face of a serious situation, Fuyutsuki could find some humor in it. Especially within the cold calculated insults of Gendo Ikari.
"I…why?"
"What do you mean, why?"
Shinji sobbed a little bit more.
"Why am I like this?" he asked.
A brief silence.
"What do you mean, like this? You should already know." the girl responded.
"No…No…You don't understand."
"Oh, I understand, because you forced me to watch."
"What!?"
Shinji looked through his tear-stained eyes and spaces between his fingers. Yet, he still couldn't make the girl out.
"Yeah, I saw all of it. You make me sick, Shinji. If anything," She then sprang forward and wrapped her hands around his throat. "I should be the one doing this."
Shinji didn't fight back; he felt his breath being cut off as she crushed his windpipe. He felt like this was it, this was the death that he deserved.
Though, instead of the inevitable embrace of infinite darkness. Shinji awoke in the embrace of Ms. Katsuragi, who had sprung onto him to cover him to shield him from the blast of the N2 mine. Her intentions were noble, yet the boy didn't think of that at first. Because due to where she had landed on him, led to his head being pressed right up to her chest.
Shinji would've been laughing at how good it felt. Though he remained serious due to him realizing that he must have passed out due to the force of the blast. And in that case, what shape was Misato in?
"Ms. Katsuragi! Ms. Katsuragi! Are you alright!?
He started shaking her and she quickly awakened.
"Yeah…" she groaned. "Don't worry, it seems we're both still in one piece."
She shifted her body to look at Shinji properly, though this did mean she was now close to the boy's face.
"Sorry about the awkward way I fell on you." She smiled awkwardly.
"Oh, don't worry. I would've done the same." Shinji smiled in earnest.
His heartfelt smile made him seem genuine, causing Misato to laugh at how absurd this all was. A bit of a coping mechanism that helped her deal with what was happening. Shinji joined in a little bit, but they both soon stopped when they noticed something. They had both seen a flash and they both felt a shockwave hit them.
Yet, the car was still standing upright. Not even slightly moved down the road. They both got up and looked around, the reflection was nowhere to be seen. Not even Shinji felt its presence. Misato then went to open the door, and as she stepped outside. Her breath was taken away at what she saw.
Markings on the road indicated that the blast had moved around them. The point at which the car was completely untouched, while the grass and road showed clear signs of scorch marks. They should be beat up a bit from the blast, yet here they were completely unscathed.
"Where did it go?" Misato asked.
"It….It protected us." Shinji said.
Misato turned around and was just as surprised as Shinji.
"Why? What does it want?" She asked.
Shinji simply shrugged, with an embarrassed look.
"I thought it wanted to hurt us. Yet, I don't know how to explain this."
"Jesus Christ, add this onto the list of things I have to deal with now."
Shinji was about to ask, 'how long that list was', though he felt like that might be too impolite.
"Okay, just so I understand, let me sum this up. You're being followed by a reflection of yourself. That wants to hurt you, yet also protects you. As well as seems to know who we all are in personality and behavior. Am I correct?"
Shinji simply nodded in response.
"It also gave me the music cassettes, as it seems to enjoy them. It even forces me to understand them." Shinji told her.
"How so?"
Shinji focused really hard on this one.
"He….wants….to shoot me…..with…..Nowle….no…." Shinji's understanding of English was still limited. It seemed to only be words used in the song that he fully had a grasp on.
"How do you say 'knowledge' in English?"
"The point is made, Shinji. God, this whole situation is weird. I mean, for starters, why didn't it just give you the ability to speak the whole language?"
"We'll, like I said, the experience was like being shot in the head. Yet I was still conscious. I think it just wants to hurt me, torture me until the kill."
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry."
"Don't be sorry, please. I apologize too much, and if you start saying 'sorry'. Then I'll start saying it too."
Misato couldn't help but laugh a little at that. Shinji didn't understand at first, and was almost insulted a little.
"You're cute, you know that Shinji?" Misato said.
The boy began to blush.
"Th…thank you." he responded.
Misato came over and rustled his hair a little.
"Alright, let's get back on the road. That angel is inevitably going to start moving again."
"It's not dead!?" Shinji asked surprised.
"It takes a lot more than that to kill an angel."
"Then why did they even bother with the bomb?"
"Don't bother asking questions to people who only want to delay the inevitable."
Shinji, then inexplicably, got a chill down his spine. Misato didn't notice as she was pushing the boy back in the car. She made sure to pop out the cassette tape and pass it to him.
"How about you put on something else?" She asked.
"I don't think I should."
"Why not-Oh yeah, never mind." Misato gave an apologetic shrug. "Well in that case, chuck those cassettes out the window."
"I…..no. It's just music, but until I'm certain that thing is gone. I don't want to listen to anything right now."
"Alright, if you insist." Misato said, closing her car door and starting up the engine. "By the way, did I hear that right, you can sense the thing?"
"Um…a little bit."
"Well, anything out of the ordinary right now?"
"No, in fact, I don't understand why it's even gone. Why isn't it here to taunt me?" Shinji questioned himself.
"Don't sweat too much on it, kid. Seems like there are a lot of things that are unexplainable these days. Best not to lose your mind."
As she started to drive down the road, an old saying popped into Shinji's head.
'Take notes.'
Shinji made sure to look around, to make sure that the phrase was thought of by him. Misato didn't even question it, as he soon had the look of relief on his face. She felt sympathy for him, but decided not to say anything, he probably had heard it all before. What good would it be to annoy him with cliche phrases?
"God dang it! The damn thing stole my phone." Misato shouted when they came to the entrance to the lift down to the geofront.
Shinji then remembered how the reflection stole Misato's phone to talk to his father. Whatever it had said, must've been personal, because apparently it didn't give it back to her. Now, Shinji was wondering if the aura of hatred it wore was only to intimidate him. And that it was nothing more than a meddlesome traveling deity.
"Looks like I'm going to have to see if the phone still works on the-"
Suddenly, the lift door opened. Misato and Shinji were hesitant at first, perhaps this was the work of the Reflection. Though, there was no other way down to the geofront that didn't involve walking. So, Misato slowly drove the car inside. Soon, the doors closed behind them and the automated voice let them know that they were now descending.
"Ugh, this damn reflection has me on edge." Misato said while groaning.
"The feeling is mutual." Shinji responded.
He got Misato to laugh a little again. Shinji was surprised every time he did this. He wasn't even trying yet was charming to her for some reason. Was this what everyone was talking about when it came to being a ladies' man? Or was he just stupidly lucky? Probably the ladder.
"Yeah, by the way. We're going to be meeting up with your father soon. He's not going to be in a good mood about this. Granted, he never seems to be in a good mood." Misato said.
Shinji simply nodded, he understood what she was saying, but didn't know how to respond. It had been almost ten years since he saw his father. Now, he was coming to him not only in a time of crisis, but with his own shadow trying to kill him.
"So," Misato started up again. "If there is anything else you'd like to tell me before we talk to him. Let me know, I know I don't look like it, but I'm here to help."
Misato's laid-back pose and awkward smile made her seem like she was telling the truth. Though, considering all that Shinji had been through. He wasn't sure what to even say. God knows he had something to talk about. Though how do you bring up what you've been seeing when you pass out?
So, instead, Shinji accidentally let a cynical side of himself slip out.
"What is this? Good cop, bad cop?" he mumbled under his breath while looking away.
"Ha, not really. I'd need my friend, Ritsuko, to pull that off."
Shinji tensed up a little bit, as he didn't really want her to hear that.
"Seriously, Shinji. Is there anything you wish to talk about? Anything at all?"
The boy sighed, and then looked Misato in the eyes. She was beautiful, yet sad. From what, he couldn't tell. He was trying to take notes, but he couldn't read minds. Frustrated, yet backed into a corner, Shinji decided to let it out.
"My entire life has been all about keeping to myself. And now, all of a sudden, I'm supposed to share my innermost feelings!?"
He intended that to be nothing more than a warmup. Just to let her know that he's not sure how to properly phrase what he's about to say. Yet, it was clear by the look on Misato's face, that she understood what he meant.
"You never know when the opportunity is going to present itself." Misato said, looking down.
Her guilty expression made the boy feel bad for her. It was subconsciously added to his list of notes about her.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
As Misato looked up, her face was illuminated by a light source. Shinji didn't bother to turn around to see where it was coming from. Because not only did it seem like she was being upfront to him about something. The light truly emphasized her beauty.
"We've all got some growing up to do. Even when we're adults. I understand that it must be hard to live out in the countryside with your Sensei. Though, please understand, it's only going to get harder. Today was a good example of it."
She almost had him, with the struggling with growing up, part. Though, when she started talking like every other adult he ever heard. Shinji didn't want to tell her what she wanted him to say. He wore it on his face with a disdainful look. One that Misato was going to apologize for, but Shinji simply looked away.
He didn't want to give her attention, when she seemed like every other person in this world.
It was here that Shinji turned around and looked at the magnificence of Geofront. He didn't have long to take it in though. Soon, an all too familiar face came up to greet him as he got out of the car. Gendo approached another beautiful woman, though she was dressed in more professional clothes.
"Rits! Commander! What are you-?" Misato cut herself off when she saw the looks on their faces. As well as remembering what had happened earlier.
"Honestly, I don't know entirely myself. Mind explaining yourselves, because what the commander here has said sounds too fantastical to be true." Rits asked.
While Misato stumbled on what words to say. Shinji started shivering as his father started into his soul. He didn't know what to do. Everything around him turned silent. It felt like all that was left in this world was him and a pair judgeful eyes, looking at him.
"It's been a while." Gendo said.
It was in this state of pure fear that Shinji lost control. He couldn't tell what he said, he seemed to black out while standing up for a good couple of seconds. When he came back, he knew that he spilled the beans. Because the next thing he saw was a concerned look from the woman that Misato called Rits.
And his stone face father asking:
"What did the girl look like?"
Sorry if this took so long. I've gotten distracted by college and new video games that I bought.
I'm not sure when I'll get the next chapter done, but don't be surprised if I abandon this story. One moment I'm loving it, the next moment I can't stand it. What is my life?
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.
And if not, sorry.
I at least hope this story made your day a little bit better.