A Peaceful Respite
Shinji Ikari had this dream since leaving the Eva.
He rested his legs in a white void, nothing out in the distance. There was no sound, no terrain, no music, not even the sight of a living being. Once upon a time, Shinji might have appreciated a place to be by himself. Now, it was just a desolate graveyard, worse than the stack of Angel statues beside an ocean. At least there, he could define himself in relation to an object; here, there was nothing.
"I wouldn't say nothing." A voice came from Shinji's left. He felt his hand clasped by another. "You have me, don't you?"
He blushed, turning to the side to find Kaworu. He was as Shinji remembered, ever smiling, ever elusive. Shinji looked down.
"That's right…" He said softly. "Only in here, can I see you."
It was just a dream. But Shinji could pretend it was real, within the moment, that he could see him. That he could see her as well.
"You haven't forgotten me either, have you?" Mayumi said from Shinji's right, clasping his other hand. "Lately, it feels like you're distracted…"
"…"
"Let him come to you on his own, Yamagishi." Kaworu nodded at nothing. "If he wants us, he would need to find us of his own free will."
"I'm… I'm trying, Kaworu. Mayumi." Shinji let out. "I'm trying to live, as you told me to. As Misato wanted me to. I have friends, Rei is free from Father, Asuka is now a superhero, Marie's found herself… it's been wonderful, really! I promise!"
"Is it for you? Or is it for them?" Mayumi cut to the heart of the matter. "With how things have transpired, all it seems in place for them to move on… without you."
"…"
"Oh, Shinji." Kaworu laughed. "You can never shake off that feeling of unworthiness you feel, can you? It is okay. That is why we love you after all."
With that, Kaworu and Mayumi touched their lips to Shinji's sides. He couldn't help a smile form, despite his feelings.
"I don't want to die." Shinji admitted. "At least, not on purpose. But being me… I know this happiness can't last. I have to make sure everyone's ready… if it all goes to hell…"
"Then let us be together, this time. We will accept your embrace."
Shinji knew it was a dream. They had died, fighting for his sake. He couldn't save them, only love them truly in their final moments. But he was tired. He wanted to see them, even in this false reality…
He woke up to the sound of his phone ringing.
Shinji tried to grasp at the memory, every tantalizing second of the dream he just had. They lasted but a second, and he forgot again. Another failure. Another worthless effort of him. He tried to at least make the most of his waking moments, taking the phone into his hand, and answering.
"Hello?"
"Shin-man." Touji's voice came from the other line. "There's something me and the guys are doing near the school. We have a few more hours before we leave. Wanna come?"
Shinji blinked himself awake. He remembered now. Touji, Kensuke and Hikari would be moving out of Tokyo-3. Living in the city became unsustainable after a while, so they would be moving to a camp with other refugees until their parents settled on more stable living conditions. He wouldn't see them again after today.
"I'll be right there."
He changed into more appropriate clothing, making sure to secure his camera to the hip. He then leapt through the balcony, swinging through the air.
_
In only minutes, Spider-Man reached the school.
Compared to other areas of the city, the school looked to be in almost pristine condition. Not a window broken, or a crack in the walls; it had always been given top priority over most other places, due to the ongoing education of the youth… and to ensure potential pilots would be ready to be recruited at a moment's notice.
Kensuke was disappointed to have never been considered. Until Asuka explained to him that part of the requirements to be an Eva pilot was having a mech with his mother's soul on it. Perhaps that was why he pivoted so quickly towards superheroes, real, or not.
Touji and Hikari had more mixed reactions to that prospect. Touji had never known his mother, so while it disturbed him, he wasn't all that shaken by the revelation. Hikari, however, knew stories from Kodama. She began to wonder how NERV would have acquired the soul of a random civilian caretaker.
They all agreed it was best to leave such questions in the dark, less they end up consumed by it.
Spider-Man landed to the side of the school. He ripped off his mask in time to see the others gathered next to a wall. Touji had his baseball cap turned to the side, grinning with the spray paint can in his hand; Kensuke and Hikari waved at Shinji, while Asuka scoffed to the side. Rei, as usual,, stood wordlessly by.
"Hey, Shin-man! Ya made it!"
"Took you long enough, Shinji." Asuka said. "You'd think you would be the first one here, given the subject."
"I… don't know what we're doing?" Shinji said. "What are we doing?"
"You don't know?! Ha, scheiss… someone, explain."
"None of us really talked about Nagisa." Kensuke spoke. "I can't believe we had a real live Angel as one of the Spider-Clan… he was a pretty cool guy, all things considered. We miss him."
Shinji nodded. "I miss him too."
"Much more than us." Touji said, putting a hand on his friends shoulder. "I don't understand a thing you two had, but I know that you went through a ton of shit in that Eva. We didn't talk about it for that reason. But since we're leaving Tokyo-3 today, I wanted to do somethin' special."
"Normally I wouldn't approve, but…" Hikari shook her spray paint can. "I won't be Class Representative after today. We're going to make a memorial for him?"
Shinji caught a spray paint can with his hand. He stood agape, wordlessly looking between his friends.
"You too, Rei?"
She nodded. "He was yours. It only felt fair to honor him."
He then became focused on the wall. Nothing had been written on it, nor drawn. Making graffiti tended to get you thrown in jail. Shinji had done worse.
"Yeah… thanks guys… for doing this."
"We're the Spider-Clan. We look out for our own." Touji clapped his hands. "Let's get to work. people, we don't got all day!"
And they did. There were several false starts, mostly due to Kensuke screwing up the cans and blasting paint at Asuka. Several spray paint matches happened because of that, which Hikari tried fruitlessly to stop.
Touji and Rei were the most adept at the job, already forming an outline and layers to their mural as a starting point. Shinji wasn't particularly good at drawing (or much of anything for that matter), but he found satisfaction drawing tiny pianos around the outline.
Shinji made sure to paint a black haired girl with glasses playing on the pianos. He hoped Kaworu would appreciate having a friend with him.
A couple of hours later, they had to stop their contest to get lunch. Asuka threw rice balls at Touji, who responded by challenging Asuka to a basketball game. Shinji and Hikari had to point out that he would lose that game, due to Asuka's enhanced powers.
The sad, puppy dog look that Touji gave her made Hikari feel horrible.
Eventually, the team was able to stop their antics and work together. Asuka and Rei painted a white outline of the school uniform shirt, while Touji painted black pants that came with it; Hikari took careful attention to bring out Kaworu's eyes, as Kensuke and Shinji drew a mop of gray hair. Eventually, they placed a halo on top of their figure.
It came out a ragged, zigzagging mess. An amateur project if there ever was one. But it was unmistakably Kaworu Nagisa. To them, that was enough.
"I'm going to have to take a shower, after this…" Hikari said. "But I think this came out well!"
"I'll say!" Kensuke grinned. "Anyone got a camera? I want us all to be in the picture!"
Shinji grabbed the camera from his hip. He had been saving it for their last goodbye. But this was an appropriate place as any.
"Here." Shinji said. "Why don't we all gather in a group?"
The students did. Shinji held out the camera, waiting for the right moment where the sun hit the students and the mural they made together…
"Say cheese!"
CLICK!
It came out too perfectly. Touji and Hikari holding each other. Kensuke giving out finger guns, while Asuka disgustedly glared at him while her hands were on her hips. Rei giving a subtle smile, all in front of Kaworu's visage. Shinji would remember to keep this…
"Now come on, Shinji!" Asuka took the camera from him. "Your turn?"
"W-What?"
"You knew him best. You deserve some screen action!"
"Why don't we take it with him?"
"We'll all take turns with him!"
They spent the next hour taking a variety of pictures. Shinji alone, with one or more of his friends, the mural itself; it wasn't until the sunset that they realized how much time had passed.
"It's getting late…" Touji hugged Shinji. "Thanks for everything, Ikari."
"You too." Shinji held Touji just a bit tighter. "You made living here more bearable. I hope we'll see each other afterwards."
"We will!" Kensuke grinned. "We have to! The Spider-Clan won't just vanish like that! We have too many memories to make, bad guys to fight, and… more moments we can't miss."
At the soft way he said that last part, Hikari nodded. She went and shook Asuka's hand. "Whatever you have to do, come back safe. That goes especially for you, Asuka. You're worse than Shinji about causing trouble!"
"I can't help if the planet bends for me. I'm just great that way." Asuka shook her friends hand. She also smiled, a genuine one. "But we'll try."
Kensuke approached Rei, who stared at him, confused.
"So um…" He started. "Sorry you had it bad growing up. NERV and everyone… it sounded fucked up."
"It was." She nodded in agreement. "I am not alone anymore, however. Thank you."
Kensuke's eyes widened a bit at it. The shine from the sun covered the way they shimmered. "Let's hope next time, we can really get to know each other."
There would be no goodbyes. Touji, Kensuke and Hikari took a slower path back to their homes to appreciate the city, one more time. The pilots chose not to follow. It wasn't only due to Shinji keeping his costume on; it was hard enough as it was to let go. If it continued…
"We're not going to see them again." Asuka grimly noted. "There's no way we're going to make it. I should have followed them but…"
"We will see them." Rei shook that thought from her girlfriend's head. "Everyone at NERV knows what we will be up against. We have what we need to survive. So long as we do, anywhere can be heaven…"
"… As long as we have the will to live." Shinji finished. He noted the irony in using his mother's words. "We should go. Misato called us an hour ago."
"She could wait. We needed this."
With a defeated sigh, and determined frown, the trio headed back to NERV. The final battle would come in two days.
"Hello everyone. My name is Noriko Takaya. I'm also known as Captain America."
The central NERV command staff, along with the pilots, gathered around the large computer screen. Earlier that day, Misato had attempted to interrogate the Beetle, identified as Abner Jenkins, for information. Nothing had been gained from that encounter, but good news came when Nurse Mana Kirishima provided her and Dr. Akagi with a cassette tape she received from a mysterious benefactor.
Naturally, Ritsuko deconstructed the tape and converted it into a video message for the MAGI to project.
Lt. Makoto Hyuuga raised an eyebrow at the messenger. "She for real? Who dresses up like a flag unironically? Was she some kind of propaganda icon or…?"
"No, she's real." Maya said. "I looked into her records. She fought Japan and the Nazis during World War II, and had been frozen for several years before the government managed to thaw her out."
"Clearly the ice did some damage. That uniform is tacky!"
"Children, settle down." Commander Kozou Fuyutski admonished. "Let's hear it out."
She played back the message so everyone could hear what they missed.
"I am part of a secret organization known as the Strategic Homeland Intervention Espionage Law Enforcement Division. Also known as S.H.I.E.L.D., we've known about the Committee's goals for quite some time, and have opposed them in the shadows during the Angel War."
"I never heard of them…" Aoba spat out. "Some organization. We could have used them sooner."
"Are you sure we can trust them, Katsuragi?" Makoto asked. "I mean, I'm with you no matter what, but this seems far-fetched."
"We can." Shinji said. "Marie and I met her the other day, and she helped us out. She's trustworthy."
"Could just be a trick, though." Aoba pointed out. "For all we know, this is part of a plan to throw us off our game, and you're falling for it."
"I'm not naive, but she was forthcoming about helping us. We can trust her."
"First, Shinji, you and I are going to need a conversation on things you tell me. Second, I trust these people as much as I can throw 'em." Misato shook her head. "But we're playing the rest of the message. What comes next gives us reason to accept their help."
The message continued.
"We recently received two vital pieces of intel: first, that in three days NERV will be attacked by the mobilized forces of Japanese Special Secret Defense Force. However, the second intel is more interesting: we found out that the SEELE Committee will be gathered around the NERV Germany base for an important meeting. S.H.I.E.L.D. is mobilizing a strike team to bring then under arrest."
"Wait, so this might actually be over before it begins?" Marie smiled, clasping her hands excitedly. "Sweet, we don't have to do anything!"
"There is usually a catch." Rei warned her. "Continue."
"In spite of our attempts to call them, the JSSDF won't budge on their orders. You will need to hold off the attack for as long as possible while we arrest the Committee."
Marie grimaced. "Damn. I knew it was too good to be true."
"So, we're just sacrificial lambs, after all." Aoba gave a subtle smirk. "It wouldn't be the government otherwise."
"That's it then?! We're sitting ducks?!" Makoto had to yell that out. "We can't just be betrayed like this! What do we do?!"
"It can't be the only thing right?" Shinji asked. "There has to be more?"
"Why would there be more, dumpkoff?! It's clear as day what's happening! We're just gonna die!"
"Not yet." Misato shook her head. "There's still one more thing."
"That doesn't mean you're going at it alone. I personally assigned a S.H.I.E.L.D. battalion to aid you. They should arrive in the morning, as you receive this message. You should have more than enough time to get an evacuation plan ready."
Noriko crossed her arms, in what Marie would describe was her Takaya pose. Makoto was NOT impressed, unlike the others.
"Captain, out!"
The video ended there. Ritsuko frowned at this. "Clever to use a tape so we wouldn't be able to track the signal…"
"I don't buy it." Asuka said. "If these guys cared, why only show up now? Why not any time sooner?! They could have helped!"
"That's why we won't trust them completely." Misato reassured. "I have a suspicion this is going to be conditional support. But we need all the help we can get to make sure we survive. As such… bring them in."
A group of men entered through the door. They had tight blue uniforms with white belts and buckles, with the eagle symbol plastered on their shoulders. That raised Shinji's eyebrows, recognizing it from last night, but he speak a word of it. Not at the moment
"Sgt. Miki." The leader, a man with dyed blue hair, saluted Misato. "Under Takaya's orders, we're under your command."
"Damn straight." Misato said. "We'll be going over battle plans for the rest of the day. Then we're going back to the simulator to focus on our team work. Any questions?"
Surprisingly, Aoba was the one who raised his arm.
"Yes?"
"Major, I know we're supposed to have a unified front…" He said. "But, aren't these guys going after the Angel under Terminal Dogma? And Ayanami, since she has the DNA? Why can't we just…?"
Maya's eyes widened in horror. "You're not suggesting…?"
Rei took a step back, trying to retreat. Asuka stepped in front of her. "You should keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you! If you so much as lay a finger on her, I'll kill you!"
"Look, I don't want to do it. Killing her would be dirty business, but it'd keep everyone here safe. Personally, I'd rather me and my colleagues get out of here alive."
"We're planning on blowing up the base if it goes wrong." Misato glared at Aoba. "But we're not going to sacrifice Rei to save our skin."
Aoba said. "Didn't know we were going to be so selfish…"
"Is it selfish to want to live? I say we let music keep going." Sgt. Miki said. "There isn't a point, anyhow. SEELE would attack the base regardless, as they already framed NERV for trying to start Third Impact. They want to get rid of the evidence. For now, we focus on keeping all of you alive."
Aoba wisely shut his mouth after that. Commander Fuyutski, who had kept silent throughout the ordeal, cleared his throat.
"If we're not going to be distracted… Let's begin."
"What's on your mind?"
Maya asked Asuka, who sat on the couch, twiddling her thumbs as she stared up into the ceiling.
"I beat my first bad guy." Asuka said. "Aside from Bardiel, I mean. I didn't get help from anyone. I made my own gadgets and I beat him… despite that Iron Bitch showing up and ruining my thunder."
"That's good isn't it?" Maya wrote into her notepad. "Despite the odds, you won. No one can take that away from you."
"In a way, it's what I always wanted… a chance to prove myself. A chance to really shine! No one saw me do it, but I proved it to myself."
"Hmhm?"
"I thought it would make me feel better."
"It didn't?"
"No, it did… for a little while. Until I slept that night, and I had another nightmare. When I was laying on the ground, watching that Beetle guy take off his helmet, I saw Rei there, wondering why I kept hurting her."
"…"
"It's either Bardiel, or Rei, or Marie… but it's never anything good."
"Perhaps it's left over guilt from your previous actions? Or anxiety over what will come in the next two days?"
"Probably both, to be honest. God, I didn't think we'd be fighting ourselves to control… what? The planet, which is currently dying because of us? It's not even money. No, it's immortality bullshit, that's all it is. All our lives turned out the way they did because of stupid men with stupid dreams and and the stupid people that let them happen. Tell me, Maya, did you think it was ever going to be this way?"
"… No." Maya admitted. "I never saw any of this coming. I always thought that the more we advance in our technology, the more we'd leave our petty grudges behind." She shook her head. "I guess I was wrong."
"We all are." Asuka shuffled into her seat. "We're not ready. None of us are. I don't care if those S.H.I.E.L.D. guys are helping us or whatever. There's just no way everyone's going to make it through this."
"That scares you?"
"Shouldn't it scare anyone? Especially you?"
"… I am, yes." Maya admitted. "I'm not always at the bridge. A lot of the time, I'm in the barracks with other employees. Hitomi and I chatted up the other day about her daughter's graduation… I'm scared of what's going to happen to her. To everyone."
"I'm… I'm scared." Asuka said tearfully. "You, Misato, Rei, Shinji, even Marie… the stooges and Hikari are safe outside Tokyo-3, with everyone else. But us? We could all die and I don't know-"
Tears welled up around her eyes.
"I don't know what I'll do if you're all gone and I'm the only one left… I can't- I don't want to be alone anymore. Not after everything."
Asuka felt a pair of arms wrap around her. Maya softly caressed her air.
"Oh, Asuka…" Maya kept a glazed look in her eye. "I'm just as scared as you are. I thought after the Angels we'd all be done and over with, but the future… it's so unclear. That makes me worried."
"I… I can't show anyone my worry… Rei's hiding it well, but I know her. She's also scared. I need her to see I'm not afraid, so she won't be. Especially since that- that piece of shit said-"
"Aoba's an idiot when he's scared. He won't do a thing to hurt you. No one is going to sacrifice Rei."
"Not even that old man? You know we can't trust him."
Commander Fuyutski. Ritsuko had told her about him, the dealings he had with the former Commander Ikari and the Committee.
"No, we can't. But you can trust everyone else. Rei isn't an asset, she's a person. No one will forget that."
"… Thank you… I can't… I can't tell Misato how I feel… She'd also worry…"
"She won't mind you coming to her. She cares about you, you know? You're a prideful and brave girl, Asuka. You throw yourself into every problem, knowing you'll come out on top because you're smart and you know it. So long as you hold on to that, you can accomplish anything. You'll make it through this. We all will."
"… By we…" Asuka chocked. "You mean you too, right? You'll survive this too?"
Maya gazed off into the wall, searching for some sort of meaning in the vast gray that dominated the room. Instead, she nodded.
"Yes. I will."
The session ended about an hour after. Asuka would no doubt be swinging back home to check on Rei. Maya would, most of the time, return home to rest.
She hadn't done that for the past month, instead turning to more… proactive nightly acts.
Asuka was not the only one affected by Bardiel's attack. Ever since they had been nearly killed by that monster, Maya came to realize that the threats would never disappear from her life; Even long past the Angels, there would always be something that jumped at her in the dark, or gave her visions of Ritsuko or Misato's lifeless bodies crumpled up into the floor.
Sometimes, she imagined Asuka's plan had failed, and Bardiel's oily body enveloping her, destroying whatever was left of the girl she came to know and burning down the rest of the NERV.
Those thoughts kept her awake at night. So Maya lowered herself to their level.
Bang! Her aim had improved, only missing the target by a shoulder. Her hands didn't shake as much as they used to. It had been easier to carry the flamethrower, a device with a practical purpose, than it was to carry a gun, a tool made with only one thing in mind. Maya practiced with it each night, trying to imagine Bardiel's head to make it easier. She still wasn't comfortable imagining a human being.
Ritsuko hadn't shown disapproval at this change, but neither did she support it. She only gave her a silent frown every night she went. The kisses they shared became more begging, as if Ritsuko thought she would keep her in the room if she tried. Maya couldn't accept it.
Bang! No matter what, she still couldn't hit the head. No matter how many times she told herself the head would be quick, something always stopped her. She had to try harder…
"Is this what you've been doing each night?"
Maya sighed. "Hyuuga. What are you doing here?"
"Feeling restless, like you are probably." Makoto walked up to her. "This isn't like you."
"I needed a change. With the coming threat, we'll need it."
He nodded. "I can see the wisdom in that. To be honest, I'm more of nerd than someone who could take charge like that."
"I don't like it." Maya spat out. "I don't like how these monsters force us to their level in order to meet them head on."
"Me too. Misato may be comfortable with it, but I'm still shocked we hacked into the actual military. It's for self-defense but…"
"Is there something you're here for?"
Maya hadn't meant to be rude, but she was trying to focus. She didn't need an interruption like Hyuuga right now.
"All I'm saying is…" Makoto grabbed Maya's arms. "You'll need some help. You're aiming it wrong."
"…"
"Didn't you listen to the pilot training sessions? Position the target in the center, then pull the switch…"
With his hands directing her, Maya aimed for the head, and it landed. It turned out that, when Makoto wasn't late, or busy being over the moon with Misato, he could be helpful. The first months they started the job, Maya wished to be closer to Shigeru, who she found more approachable and intelligent. Maybe if they had become closer, he would have given her much needed advice for when NERV came under attack. But it didn't turn out that way. Aoba drifted away, while Hyuuga stayed. He was trying. She can accept that.
As the last bullet hit, Maya and Makoto stared at each other. They knew what they had to do, in their gut.
"We won't let anything happen to the pilots."
He gulped before nodding. "We won't."
_
Rei stared off into the now familiar ceiling.
No matter how long she gazed at it, she found no answers. Her room and house were lived in, but for how long? They were reaching the end of their days, and still there was no comfort. Even breaking Ikari's glasses long ago did nothing to soothe her fear of being treated as a puppet.
No one would kill her, that she knew. Shinji and Asuka would defend her to the death if it came down to it. She would like to think that Misato or the other Bridge Crew would do it, but Rei couldn't help but find that idea uncertain. How much did she know about them really, other than extensions of her job? Or Asuka, in Misato's case? She cared for her charges first and foremost. Anything else would be secondary.
Including her, Rei thought. That was why she was separated from them, instead of with Shinji and Asuka, correct?
Asuka had already given her a reason. That they only had two rooms available, and even Shinji's room was cramped as it was. Rei deserved better. Perhaps Asuka was right, but Rei knew how the Major felt about her. The discomfort in her eyes, in her manners, was obvious. She was more than a doll, but she still felt a wrongness from Misato, a sense that she was worth less than the pilots she did care for. It shook her from any attempt at sleeping.
She could not stay here, Rei decided. She had to leave, if only to find something to do beyond moping alone. To where, she didn't know, but she couldn't be in the room.
Picking herself up and leaving her bed, she wrapped a soft jacket over her arms to walk out the door. She shut the door, before turning left, determined to find… something. A walk through the street? A window to breathe? What would she do then?
Before any of those questions could be answered, Rei saw from the corner of her eye a narrow light. Misato's door cracked ever so slightly open.
"Why would it be open?" Rei asked herself. "Someone could break in."
As such, she put her hand on the door, opening it further.
"Miss Katsuragi?" She called out. "Where are you? Your door was left open."
A loud moan erupted from the kitchen. Rei recognized that as Misato's voice, and drew herself to it, concerned over her brother and girlfriend's guardian. Instead of finding danger, Rei felt an odd sense of relief… and disgust, as Misato held up another can of Yebisu beer, even with several already on the ground, empty or smelling. Pen-Pen couldn't help but pick at them, as Rei entered.
"Another hard day's night, eh boys? We're marching straight to war, all the world's crazy and evil and stupid ready to kill us all! I'll be missing you ever so much, my fellow comrades hic sorry, but I hope we'll meet again in the afterlife.
"Wark!"
"Shush, Pen-Pen, I'm gonna miss you so much toooooo…" Misato let out a burp. "Ha ha… 'Cause we'll all be tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling doooooowwwwnnnnnn…"
Rei slowly inched herself toward Misato. She grabbed at her shoulder.
"Katsuragi? Are you well?"
"Izzzz it you Shinji… or is… no… Rei?" Misato tried to focus her eyes on the new arrival. "Whaaaaaa are you doin' ere?"
"You left your door open. I was worried."
"Ahhhhhhhh… crappy diddle dee, just another thing, someone coulda broken in and hic stolen my beer… Gotta file paperwork on it…" Her expression became more thoughtful. "Do doorssss need paperwork?"
"No, they do not."
"Good, fuck that shit. Rei, never get to the military, the action is bad and the paperwork is so much woooooorrrsseeeeee…"
"I did not have any intentions to enter."
"You're so smaart." Misato rubbed Rei's mop of hair. "You're such a cutie too…"
"Hmmm…"
"Asuka thinks you're so cute~" She laughed. "Asuka and Ayanami sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! With the stuff you kids can do I have to be careful! You repressed teens won't do anything crazy around me!"
"… I believe you are inebriated." Rei grabbed Misato's arm. "We will take you to your room."
Pen-Pen shook his head in disbelief, as if asking what do you mean we? He pressed the button on the wall to open his room, then wadded into it, before letting it shut behind him.
"Traitor." Rei softly yelled under her breath. "Very well. I shall have to do it myself."
People would assume that carrying a grown adult woman was hard. Perhaps it was, for most people. But Rei Ayanami wasn't most people. With magnificent ease, Rei managed to drag Misato across the floor (which led to numerous little slurred words as she bumped into a wall, or a comment on the decor) and into her room. Perhaps there, Misato would find more relief.
Rei opened Misato's door, and she found a sprawled-out bed, with torn sheets, and more Yebisu cans. Some over months old.
"How does Shinji put up with this?" She admired his bravery ever more tonight. "Here we are, Major."
"Haaaaa…" Misato found herself laid over the bed. "Comfy, comfy… haaaa… I was supposed to send Pen-Pen to the Horakis today… urrrghhhh… tomorrow's going to be such a headache."
"That usually happens when you are sober."
"Sober? Riiiight…" Misato hiccuped again. "I hate it when it happens. There's usually a good dream… Freud would love dissecting it."
"I believe those are best left to yourself, Major."
"Probably, hahaha hic sorry… Hey… hey Rei…"
"Yes, Major?"
"Did you know I couldn't speak until college?"
Rei blinked. "I did not."
"Juuust after Second Impact… because everything about my life was after Second Impact…" Misato growled. "My father saved my life and I couldn't say a word…. hic, it's like I was frozen in time… the doctors had to take care of me for years… I think Fuyutski visited me once, but I don't remember… I hated it there. I couldn't move."
"… that is sad."
"Ha… maybe that's why I was so freaked out by you at first…" Rei's eyes widened at her admitting it. "You're weird… you're pale… you didn't emote… I was reminded of myself, those years ago, and I hated it…" Misato then looked away, ashamed. "But of course, you had your own problems… I should have noticed sooner. Maybe then, we… Sorry…"
"I… do not believe I would have been in a position to accept your friendship." Rei let out. "But I accept the apology."
Misato yawned. "Thanks… I really hope we all survive… hic I think I'll just sleep a bit… g' night, Rei…"
She fell to her sleep like a log. After giving it a moment of thought, Rei decided not to abandon her. Not immediately, anyway. Instead, the girl drew sheets around Misato, making sure she was tucked in right, and watched over her.
Rei allowed herself to stay that way for a while. She couldn't remember how long it had been, but her eyes were beginning to tire just as she heard the sound of rushed footsteps outside. Bringing herself out of the room, Rei turned the corner to find Shinji and Asuka just outside the balcony. Both were surprised to see her, as they entered the apartment.
"Rei?" Shinji asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I could not sleep. Katsuragi left the door open and…." Rei thought her answer. "I felt she needed company."
Asuka went over to her girlfriend, giving her a peck on the forehead. "Thanks for that. She's a real slob, especially when she drinks. Seriously, how does that woman even have a liver?!"
"That's 'cause we work to keep her healthy."
"No, you keep her healthy, Third Child. I just watch it happen."
"I wouldn't say that… you also kick and scream when you're not getting your way."
"Grrr, at least I'm not such a milk sop."
"This milk sop cleans your clothes, feeds you, and takes care of you, soooo…"
"Ha, without you, we'd all be dead, huh, Shinji?"
"Not really. I'm sure you guys would have have found a way."
"Maybe. But we are glad for your help." Rei smiled. "Do you mind if I stay the night? I just… I feel a need to have company."
Shinji and Asuka looked at each other. Then, they both smiled at Rei
"Sure thing. Why don't we huddle together, like we did with that Angel, Asuka? The one we had to do a dance routine against?"
"Don't remind me! Make sure you keep your hands to yourself, you weirdo!"
"E-excuse me, I'm not the one who crawled into bed while sleep walking!"
"Oh like you didn't enjoy that, you little pervert!"
"Wait, you were awake?!"
Eventually, the night vanished, and the sun came.
Misato woke up with a sizable headache. She clutched her head, trying to get her bearings.
"God… every time, come on." She yawned herself awake. "What was I doing last night…?"
She remembered last night in bits and pieces. Misato's eyes widened.
"Rei? She was here?"
Misato rushed to the door, briefly thrown into a daze, before she turned her head down the hallway.
Her children were in the living room. They were bundled up together, covered in layers of blankets, no doubt taken from their room. Even with the mess of bodies on top of each other, Asuka holding Rei close while her hand blocked Shinji's face, their legs all over the place, they had managed to sleep soundly through the night. Misato forgot everything, even Pen-Pen's disturbed groans, as she smiled at the sight.
This was what she fought for, Misato decided. Even if they had powers beyond her wildest dreams, even if there was only so much she could do before they were forced into the real world, she would do her best to protect them. For a little while, at least.
They worked over time.
Two days was all NERV had to come up with a strategy to defend themselves from the JSSDF. Misato and Ritsuko put together a plan and ran it through the MAGI, checking and rechecking the odds in case. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents would escort all non-essential personnel off the base three hours before the attack was supposed to happen, while Asuka and Rei would keep to their Evangelions, both because it was safest to stay there, and to fight the army.
Asuka had protested, until Misato showed her the designs for the prototype Eva series she and Makoto had uncovered. Asuka agreed without question.
The Bridge Crew would perform their usual duties and man the stations, as they always had. They were technicians, not fighters; it was the best place for them. Meanwhile Spider-Man and Black Cat would remain in Terminal Dogma to stop any intruders from finding Lilith. It was essential to the operation that not a single strand of DNA from the Angel fell into the wrong hands.
The pilots had trained and fought as hard as they could to fight. There wasn't more Misato could do, but trust in them. She had an important job to do, anyway.
"No turning back now, Major." Fuyutski told her. "We're going to be facing the Committee."
Misato nodded at him. "That we are."
"Let's hope it's not too late…" Ritsuko said quietly. "We might not have another chance."
She had been in the inside the conference room only once, when Shinji had returned from the 12th Angel. The Committee had wanted to interrogate him over the nature of the Angels, but Misato kept them at bay and took it all for him. Even before she realized the truth, she knew they weren't trustworthy. Mangers rarely are, after all.
The three adults entered the dark room. There were no windows, only dim lights, and a table a size too large; Fuyutski pressed a button on the side of it, familiar with the routine.
"Calling SEELE. Report."
No response. He quirked his eyebrow.
"Report."
Nothing.
"It's not like them to be tardy…" Ritsuko frowned. "Where are they?"
Fuyutski kept trying, being louder. "We have news of the Angels' defeat, come in!"
Suddenly, a burst of static came from the microphones installed around the table. A light erupted from the end of the table, projecting an older man, who wore a visor over his eyes, sitting motionless. Only his upper torso could be seen.
"Ah, Chairman Lorenz." Fuyutski said. "We were wondering when you would contact us."
The man said nothing. With his eyes blocked from everyone in the room, they couldn't tell what to expect.
"Chairman? We are pleased to report the Angels are dead."
Lorenz opened his mouth. A single red strand poured from his mouth.
"Chairman?"
With a sudden jerk, the old man collapsed from Fuyutski's view. Soon, other projections of light emerged, showing the other members of the Committee. They were all screaming.
"OH GOD, MAKE IT STOP!"
"WE APOLOGIZE, W-WE CAN CUT A DEAL!"
"SEELE WILL LIVE ON, SEELE WILL-"
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!"
"IMMORTALITY IS AT HAND! IMMORTALITY IS AT HAND!"
"AAAAH!"
They had made an enemy beyond their weight class, Misato and Ritsuko surmised, and lost. They could see through the pre-recorded holograms how one member was torn through the stomach; another had their neck violently snapped; as another was dragged to the ceiling and crushed under sounds of broken glass; they all died in gruesome, horrible pain, not an ounce of mercy spared for them.
The sounds of metallic whirling and wails of agony were all that would be heard. The adults had their own reactions to the shocking sights, none pleasant.
"Oh God!"
"What the hell?!"
"This can't be…!"
Ritsuko recognized the metallic whirl right off the bat. How could she forget one of her designs? It was only inevitable when, as soon as the projections died, only one remained. Keel Lorenz, the leader of SEELE, one of the richest men on the planet, and architect of one of the most insidious plans the world had ever seen, was quietly shoved to the side, as the true mastermind made her way to greet them all.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Naoko Akagi spoke to them through the hologram. "We had to clean up house as it were, before we began the final phase of our master plan. I guess you could say…"
At the horrified gasps of all in the room, Naoko allowed herself to smirk in triumph.
"The die is cast."
Author's Notes:
Well, here we are.
On the one hand, a lot of you are probably disappointed that SEELE got dispatched so easily, and I'm sorry for that. It would be pretty cool to have them as the final boss, given they're responsible for nearly every bad thing that's ever happened in the series. I've seen fics like Going Another Way that do a fantastic job of building to that.
On the other hand… well, in a way I like this more. SEELE was always a means to an end, villains that provide context to the fights and drama of Evangelion rather than being fleshed out characters in their own right. I wanted the final battle to be between our heroes and enemies they've fought before, and had personal connections with. In that sense, the finale needed to have Naoko has the villain. She, more any villain in this fic, has the claim to be Shinji's arch enemy. It's them who will fight to determine the fate of the future, to see what legacy they will leave behind.
Also, I changed the title to the chapter. I readjusted the last chapter accordingly.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, THE REVENGE OF THE SINISTER SIX!