Chapter 15 "Hidden truths"
Part 3 "The world in flames"
It was 4pm in the morning and Ritsuko still haven't closed an eye. She is 100% sure that she had consumed at least 2 mL of coffee without also going to the bathroom. Usually for her it was another day at the job but this time was different.
What she was searching was more important than resting. After so long she has finally the chance to revisit the case 'Shinji Ikari'.
Now that's he is unconscious she can do her studies without raising any suspicion to him, although she is pretty sure that he has some suspicion about her. She could read that in his face every time they talk.
Nevertheless, she had managed to put the scanning machines that she wanted without to much drama but it did take 2 hours to set them up. She had connected the scanning machines with the Magi in order to find the truth of this mystery.
It took another 2 hours to analyse his brain and get the results she wanted. Each period of his life was sent to Ritsuko in badges of information. The first badge of information was memories of his childhood (where he lived and with who after his abandonment from Gendo, stuff that Ritsuko already knew about). But the second badge was when things started get weird.
It showed stuff which looked similar to stuff that things he had done up until now. He piloted the Eva just like what he do now but his character was the exact opposite of what he showed to everyone. Instead of the calculated and determine Shinji she used to see the video showed a shy and lost Shinji, the kind of personality that will fit much closer to his age. She saw how he fought the angels with the other pilots and saw the faces of people which she knew.
"So a different dimension,huh?" Thought Ritsuko. "If someone had told me that back in high school would have called him a joker but now after all I have seen and witnessed I don't think that is impossible to exist multiple worlds. But the big question is how did he get here?"
After seeing Shinji fighting all the angels Ritsuko checked carefully his next actions. She witnessed more of his personal traumas until she saw the attack of the Japanese army to Nerv's headquarters.
"It seems that SEELE decided to put us down . Make sense, from their perspective we are just tools to enhance their plans and from the moment we lose our usefulness to them they drop us out for good."
Ritsuko saw how devastated and broken Shinji was left in middle of this and watched as he descend to madness. She saw how Shinji decided to end humanity and how each person transform into the orange liquid known as LCL. As the footage of the human instrumentality was about to be uploaded on the computer smokes were coming from the machine as it started to overload.
It took her some hours to fix the problem and continue her research upon the third child's story.
The third badge of information was small or rather it was self-explanatory since it stuff which Ritsuko has seen and experience already. Ritsuko didn't need to see more.
"So that's was secret all along third child? Are you planning to do the same thing to us or are you just want to stop us? Either way your very existence is another problem to worry about I need to inform this to the Commander." Thought Ritsuko to herself as another wave of thoughts came to her head. "If I had to guess she also knows about his true identity hence why she has gave her aid to him most of the time. But then again what mother wouldn't tried to aid her son in time of danger. But this raises another question: Why a similar thing happened to Asuka as well? I have never the Eva be so awaken as before. Also, I have seen Rei disappear from time to time and she been acting weird from the moment Shinji arrived here. All facts indicates to Shinji but that doesn't explain what was the beam light was all those months ago nor the angel's behaviour. Something much greater is behind this and it gives me chills every time I think about it."
And so for the rest of the night Ritsuko kept working on the computer to see how many scenarios can be accore now.
From the moment that he learnt about Kōzō's abduction Kaji knew that this was going to be a trap from SEELE to remove him from their path. Hopefully, Kaji didn't came unprepared, he had brought with him enough flack grenades and enough ammo for an escape or at least this what he believed.
When he entered the damm building he managed to knock out most of the guards and continued forward with ease. After playing some more hide and seek with enemy he finally arrived at the place which the held Kōzō hostage.
The old man was tied to a chair and four guards guarded him. Kaji first destroyed the light on the seeling making the room darker than before,he then attack the one from his position knocking him unconscious. Unfinished, the others took notice on what was happening. Two of them went searching for the other one and the last one stayed to guard the hostage. Kaji then, attacked them from behind struggling one and shotting the other one in the neck . The kills were quick and fast, without any of them having a time to react back. The last one started to banic, he relentlessly firing in the dark without a clear goal. Most of the bullets flew to the wall but one of them did hit Kaji in his left shoulder. But that didn't stop Kaji from knocking that one as well.
He then proceeded to free Kōzō.
"You should have let me to die here now you will be dead man within seconds." Said the old man.
"I could have done that but I have a code of honour and I don't like leaving friends behind." Replied Kaji
"Ha, both of our sides will be in war and yet you still save me regardless and still calling me a friend."
"This isn't about the war this helping another fellow human ."
"Even if this human is helping the end of this world ?"
"Don't worry, I haven't finished with you and Gendo yet, you will two pay for your crimes letter."
"Hmm, you are good man Kaji, try not to die out there." Said Kōzō as he left.
After Kōzō's departure Kaji took care of the wound and proceed to his escape. He could hear the story of the soldiers footsteps coming to his way. Fortunately, for Kaji he had found the perfect escape . He went into the vents and tried to make as little noise as possible.
After a while he spotted one soldier searching the place and for some reason he felt a sense of cold fear in the area as something very unatural was approaching the scene.
"What... what.. what are doing here? The commander said that you will remain in your room." Said the soldier.
Then a cold voice was heard.
"Your commander is fool who doesn't know WHO is really in charge of this place." Said as the voice as it was choking the soldier.
"I... am...so..rry..I.. won't... do ... this... again.."
"Good." Said the voice as it let the man breathe again."I need soldiers that obey me and act upon my orders correctly, not pathetic worms."
Kaji could feel the fear of the soldier like he was the one who experiencing this. He couldn't see the face of the person behind that voice because if he tried to much he might be seen.
"Hmm ?" For a moment the voice change it focus to Kaji's position. "Quick, search one of this pipes ." Said to the soldier.
The soldier acted upon on the voice's order without hesitation and search the place.
"There is nothing here sir."
"He got away already? "
"What do we do sir?"
"Proceed the plan of course, come on call of your other comrades this isn't the time to chase spies we must prepare for the big battle."
In all his life Gendo Ikari mostly achieve what he wanted one way or the other. He won't let emotion nor mercy get in his way to achieve his plans. He didn't care how many lives will be lost in the end the only that ever matter to him was to proceed his plan.
For him everyone plays a part in this one way or the other, they were all puppets and he was the puppet master. But things took a drastic change since his arrival.
From the moment he son appear into the game the war against the angel went into his favour. He was good, too good some can say and addition of the second child only make things easier for him. He wanted to manipulate Shinji into thinking that he cared for him and the second with having her Eva like stick in a carrot. Both pilots are shown to be independent from those fulfillments and actually show attraction for another, something that he is planning on using at his advantage.
Rei has shown to be loyal to him but her disappearance from time to time make him worried.
Technically everything should in his favour and yet he is worried that something or someone is ruining his plan.
There is something out there that isn't in his plan,he can feel it in his bones that something bigger is happening and he hasn't any control right now. Gendo hates that feeling he wants everyone and everything under his control, because if hasn't he will never see Yui again.
The one person which gave his life purpose and meaning, his one and only ..
"Commander?"
The voice of Ritsuko return Gendo into the present.
"What is it doctor?"
"There is something that you need to see this."
As Gendo raised an eyebrow on this comment Ritsuko showed him her tablet and was surprised with what he saw.
Asuka woke up late noon after what felt like 3 days nap. Even though she selpt for many hours she felt tired from yesterday work. She always knew that being a doctor was a hard thing to do but never thought that will tired her that much.
"To think that I am more from the work than from the battle makes me surprised." Said Asuka to herself.
"Oh, I hope Shinji had cooked me something good because I am starving." But as she walked to the kitchen and saw it empty from life (except Pen Pen), she remembered exactly what happened yesterday.
"Oh, right how can I forget." The thought of Shinji being on a coma gloomed Asuka.
"Ritsuko said that Shinji is in a fine position right now but that doesn't say much. Who knows how long will he be in this condition, he might be for days, months , years.." Asuka thoughts darkened as she thinking Shinji's condition. The thought of having to wait for so long made Asuka sad.
"What if he never awakes ? What will I do then? Will I move on or I will stay loyal to him? And how the hell I am gonna fight the next battles by myself? I mean Rei might be there but she isn't as strong as Shinji and who knows what she might be planning to in the end. We still haven't figured out that whole 'Adam' thing."
As Asuka was lost in her thoughts the telephone rang and woke Asuka back to reality. Asuka then immediately took out the phone and answered it.
"This is the Katsuragi's apartment, who is it?"
"Asuka is me Misato I am calling from the hospital to let you know that Shinji woke up from his coma ." Asuka could hear the tears of joy coming from the woman
"WHAT? Is this true ? Please tell this isn't one of your sick jokes Misato."
"I am not kidding Asuka I talked to him a minute ago." The thought of Misato being there for Shinji awakening before her made her bit jealous. But her excitement was to good to be conquered by jealousy.
"Ok , Misato I am coming in a minute."
"Right, I will wait you." Misato then closed the phone.
To say that Asuka was happy with those news will be an understatement. She immediately run to her room change as fast as possible and then she exited the apartment heading to Nerv's hospital.
Despite the hours that have passed since he last saw that dream he still can't get it out of his mind . He hasn't said anything to Misato nor the doctors because they will probably see this as "once in your life grazy nightmare" and won't think this to much. But Shinji believes that there is more than what meets the eye.
He always used to dream nightmares from childhood but nothing like this ever came close.
"Asuka might help on this one. She usually someone who can bring an explanation to this." Said Shinji to himself as he was starting to analyse the dream more.
"The fact that everyone were here was terrifying to say the least but what were those things in the end ? One was white pure and the other was black as the night. In way it was battle between perfection and imperfection."
As Shinji was lost in his own thoughts he heard the door opening.
"Who..."
Before he could finish he sentence he saw four armed people coming from the door with guns pointing at his head and Ritsuko being behind them.
Confused at the scene he asked:
"What is going doctor?" Asked Shinji but one part of him knew what is probably about.
"Shinji Ikari you are under arrest for high classified reasons." Said the doctor in jer usual cold voice.
Shinji didn't say anything in return, just watched as the guards grabed in less than a second.
When Asuka arrived at the hospital the first thing she saw made her completely pale. There was a group of people dragging Shinji to another part of Nerv probably. She rushed towards the doctor who were following them but Misato was the one who started the questions.
"What's happening Ritsuko? Why is Shinji dragged like a criminal"
Ritsuko could see the fires forming in the eyes of both Asuka and Misato but she didn't have the time argue with both of them.
"I will tell you." She saw Asuka grinding her teeths like a train. "But in a more private place."