In the dead of the night, the phone rang.
Jostled from a deep sleep, Ren tried to ignore it. Maybe it was only a dream, an imagined annoyance. Maybe if he just lay still and pretended that it was nothing, the ringing would stop.
No, it wasn't. Someone really was calling at this hour.
At his side, Ao groaned in annoyance. Ren fully sympathized. They both had to rise early for work, and having their rest disturbed would put them off for the rest of the day. At their age, a full night's rest was more important than ever.
Still, the phone continued to ring.
"Should I…?" Ao muttered sleepily. Ren shook his head.
"I got it, I got it," he muttered as he gingerly eased himself up. Oof. His back was not happy with him. Neither were his knees. Sitting on the side of the bed, he tried to smack some feeling into his legs as he glanced at the bedside clock. 2:43 in the morning. This was criminal.
Yawning, he groggily slid his feet into his slippers and limped his way over to where the phone hung on the wall. His daughters often teased him for holding onto such a relic. It was 2033, they would say. He had his smartphone, didn't he? Just use that!
Well, that was youthful foolishness talking. Relics such as these had carried their family through the Impact days. The simpler things were, the more reliable.
Still, he found himself seeing their point. At least with a smartphone he could have simply plucked it off the nightstand instead of having to get up.
Lifting the phone from its hook, he brought it to his ear and mumbled, "Ah, hello?"
"Mr. Ren Horaki?"
Immediately the sleepiness vanished, to be replaced with wary anticipation. The caller was a young woman, but the formality in her tone put him on guard. No one that professional-sounding ever called at this hour to bear good news.
"Who is this?" he said in a guarded tone.
"Mr. Horaki, my name is Doctor Ayala Obasohan, of the Human Instrumentality Research Center."
The HIRC? Ren knew of it, of course. Everyone knew of it. The facility that had been constructed over where Tokyo-3 had once stood, intended to uncover the mysteries behind the Third Impact and the Human Instrumentality Project that it had birthed.
But even beyond that, it held a much more personal connection to Ren, and not a positive one. As a former employee of NERV, he had actually been offered a job once the facility was up and running, one that he quickly shot down. He wanted nothing more to do with that place. For all he cared, it could keep its secrets.
"I told you people, I'm not going to work for you," he said. "I want you to leave me alone."
"Sir, this has nothing to do with that. Actually, we have some good news for you. You might want to sit down."
Good news? Ren's brow furrowed. What news could they possibly have-
Wait.
Ren's shaking hand groped around until he managed to grip a nearby chair and dragged it over to plop down onto. Then he held the phone tightly to his ear with both hands. "Did…Did you…"
"We found something that we think belongs to you."
The phone slipped from Ren's nerveless hands, and, in a panic, he hastily snatched it back up to return to his ear.
"Sir?"
"Where…" Ren Horaki breathed. "Where is she?"
…
Seven days ago…
Dazed and naked, a girl walked her way across the shore.
Overhead, the sun kept its burning eye fixed upon her, its oppressive heat evaporating the moisture on her exposed skin. The tide against the shore was piercingly loud, every wave crashing like the pounding of a metal drum. Birds were calling in loud, obnoxious voices, birds that the girl did not recognize. The sand beneath her bare feet felt sharp and hot.
Still, she kept walking. What else could she do?
She felt…strange. Sick, and yet strong. Exhausted, and yet revitalized. She wanted deeply to just curl up on the ground and go to sleep, and yet every muscle in her body twitched with giddy energy. It was enough to keep her going, as she headed for-
Where was she going?
The girl paused. She looked up at the towering cliffs to her right. They definitely looked like the cliffs back home, the ones that lead to the bay where Tokyo-3 sat. But how did she get there?
The last thing…what was the last thing in her memory? She remembered the screams. Her sisters screaming, Dad yelling at them to get down, to find cover. They were at home, preparing…preparing to leave the city because…
Sirens wailing, warning that the city was under attack. The same that guarded against Angel attacks. But these were no Angels. Outside, the chopping of helicopter blades and the grinding of military treads could be-
The girl shook her head. What happened next? Everything was such a muddled blur in her memories.
Concussive blasts shake the whole apartment building down to its foundations. Nozomi screaming as the windows blew in. what was going on? Why weren't they being lowered into the ground? Why hadn't there been an evacuation order?
Growling, she clutched at her head. It hurt. Remembering hurt, but she couldn't stop now, couldn't stop until-
Pen-Pen panics, screeching as he flees down the hall. Run after him. Dad yelling to stop, but she can't. Major Misato had asked them to take care of him! They couldn't just let him get hurt!
And then…
And then…
Touji striding confidently through the smoke and dust, his body whole again, wearing that self-assured grin that she had come to love about him. But hadn't his family already left?
He stops over where she's crouching with Pen-Pen struggling in her arms. Smiling, he reaches down for her hand.
He came back for her! He really came back!
Joyful at seeing him again, she reaches up to take his hand-
And now she was on the beach.
Though the hot sun beat down on her bare skin, she couldn't seem to stop shivering. Hugging her arms tight to her body, she forced herself to keep moving forward. Just beyond those rocks
She stared.
The…The general shape of the place was at the very least similar, but the city was gone. Neither Tokyo-3 nor its wreckage inhabited the bay any longer. In its place was an absolutely massive complex of gleaming glass and steel, one that began high on the hill and stretched far over the surface of the water itself, at the center of which was a gleaming blue pyramid that extended higher than any skyscraper.
The girl felt weak in the knees. Where was she? What was this place?
So stunned was she by the facility that now sat in place of what once was her home that she didn't hear the soft footsteps through the sand behind her until she heard a young woman said in a soft, gentle tone, "Excuse me, Miss?"
The girl cried out in surprise and spun around. The sudden motion twisted her legs out from under her and she fell, landing in a heap onto the beach.
Terrified, bewildered, and utterly lost, the girl stared up at three strange people. One was a bespectacled young black woman with braided hair tied into a neat bun, one who wore an open white lab coat over a crème blouse, a blue tie, and a black knee-length skirt. On either side of her was a middle-aged blonde white man and a stocky, dark-haired white woman, both wearing what looked like grey security uniforms with matching caps. The girls' eyes darted to their belts, where sleek, black pistols sat in holsters.
Were they the ones who had attacked her home? Were they here to finish the job?
"Miss, are you okay?" the black woman asked.
The girl cringed back. "Don't hurt me," she whimpered. "Please. Don't hurt me."
"Nobody's going to hurt you," the black woman said. She glanced over to the guards and gave them a small signal for them to step back. Then she knelt down in front of the girl. "Don't worry. We're friends. You're safe."
Safe? Not very likely. "Who…Who are you?" the girl whispered. God, she felt so tired. "Where's my family? What happened to Tokyo-3?"
The woman's eyes widened at the mention of Tokyo-3, but she quickly regained her composure. "That's going to take some explaining. But I promise you…Miss?"
The girl slowly shook her head. Too much. It was all…
"Miss?" Now the woman's voice sounded so far away. "Are you all right?"
…too much…
Everything finally caught up to the Hikari Horaki, and the world went dark.
…
Faces and shapes melded together, dancing a waltz of nonsense. Music, noise, screams, laughter, and other noise blended into the symphony for the dance. The crimson eyes of Ayanami emerged through the storm of color, staring solemnly before bursting into orange. Somewhere over the chaotic din, she could hear her father calling out to her, calling out somewhere for her to-
Hikari's eyes opened to be greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling.
Softness. Warmth, but not the oppressive heat of the sun. Warmth of a bed. She was lying in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room.
So weak, though. She felt just so weak, so tired. Hikari glanced this way and that. Around her, odd machines hummed and beeped. Around her bed was a hanging curtain. A hospital room. Why was she in a hospital room?
Something prickled her left arm. Lifting it, she saw a needle attached to a tube sticking out of her flesh, one taped to her arm. The tube was filled with some kind of transparent liquid and led to a clear hanging bag.
An IV drip? Why? Did she lose blood or something? Hikari let her arm fall and stared back up the ceiling.
Then the curtain opened, and in walked a curly-haired nurse. She took one look Hikari and her eyes went wide. "Oh," she said. A small smile curled the edge of her mouth. "You're awake!"
Hikari's brow furrowed ever so slightly. "Who…?"
"Doctor, she's up!" the nurse called over her shoulder.
In bustled the young black woman that Hikari had seen earlier. "Well, glad to see you awake," she said as the nurse began to examine Hikari. "How do you feel?"
Frankly, Hikari had felt better, but she wasn't interested in that. "Where-" Then the cotton in her mouth choked out the words and began coughing.
The woman held a lidded plastic cup of water with a straw to Hikari. "Drink slowly," she said. "We've replenished most of your fluids, but I know your throat must be dry."
Dry. That was a vast understatement. Hikari tried to obey and not inhale the water, but she was just so thirsty.
"But to answer your question, you're in the Human Instrumentality Research Center," the woman told her as she drank. "My name is Doctor Ayala Obasohan. I'm one of the researchers here."
Hikari stared at her from over the straw. Exactly none of that made any sense.
She managed to finish about two-thirds of the water before she was too tired to continue. She laid back into her pillow. "Please," she whispered. "What happened? Where's my family?"
Sighing, Dr. Obasohan placed the cup on a nearby table. "All of that is very hard to explain. But we will make every effort to find your family. But we'll need some help to do so. What is your name?"
Hikari blinked. Should she trust this strange woman? Should she hide who she was?
Screw it. "It's…Hikari," she said. "Hikari Horaki."
Nodding, Dr. Obasohan began to tap onto some kind of digital pad. Then she paused.
"Wait," she said. "Hikari Horaki? That's who you are?"
Hikari nodded.
"Wow," Dr. Obasohan said. "There's a big check mark off the list."
"Huh?"
Smiling, Dr. Obasohan reached over to give Hikari's hand a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry about it. Just know that we've actually been looking for you for some time now. And I do think we'll be able to find your family."
"What?" Hikari struggled to get the torrent of questions that she had out of her mouth. "Why? Where? J-Just…what's going on?"
"Hikari, I promise you that we will answer all your questions when you're feeling better," Dr. Obasohan promised. "Right now, I just need you to rest. But you are safe. We want to help you."
"I…I…" Hikari blinked back tears. "Okay." She snuggled down into her blanket. "Okay."
…
"Are you sure it's her?" Dr. Nemo asked.
Ayala nodded. "Positive. Visual confirmation is identical, and DNA is a perfect match. It's her."
Dr. Nemo was one of the research heads at the Human Instrumentality Research Center. An older woman with thin, grey hair and a faced lined more by harsh experience rather than age, she was easily one of the most brilliant people that Ayala had ever met, and her knowledge of the workings of Third Impact were unmatched.
Of course, there was a very good reason for that, something that everyone knew and nobody had the nerve to actually bring up. So, it was kept as an open secret that was never to be broached.
"Hmmm," Dr. Nemo said, staring through the observation glass at the mountain-sized block of frozen LCL and the…thing that it contained. "She's rather late."
"Well, it's not like we still don't have people regularly returning from Instrumentality," Ayala pointed out. "At least forty percent of those who entered are still unaccounted for, and LCL concentrations remain high in many areas."
"Yes, thank you, I am aware," Dr. Nemo said wryly. "But I meant for a Tokyo-3 girl. People from ground zero tended to come back pretty quickly, to their regret."
Ayala repressed the urge to inquire into Dr. Nemo's own experience with doing just that, or to ask her if she had ever met Hikari Horaki.
"Well, her family certainly did, at least," Ayala said. "We managed to locate them in Germany. Should we contact them?"
"Hmmm? Ah, no. Not just yet. Give it a day or two. Better get the girl acclimated to her new reality first. Nineteen years lost takes some readjusting, and her body still hasn't fully recovered from reconstruction." Dr. Nemo reflexively went to her mouth, no doubt to retrieve the cigarette that would certainly be there were such things not strictly banned down in Absolute Dogma. Sure enough, upon finding none, her eye twitched in irritation and she let her hand fall. "Besides, I still have some questions for her."
Ayala frowned. "You don't actually think that she knows anything, do you? I mean, I know that she was a candidate to become a pilot and knew them personally, but-"
"No, I do not, but we must cover our bases. Also…" Dr. Nemo frowned. "What's today's date?"
"Uh, November…29th? I think?"
"You think?"
Ayala refrained from pointing out that Dr. Nemo also didn't know. And it wasn't as if either of them could check, as neither phones nor watches were allowed in Absolute Dogma. "I'm pretty sure it is, yes."
"Hmmm." Dr. Nemo pursed her lips. "Well, a certain someone's birthday is coming up, and I do owe her a gift, considering how thoroughly we ruined hers that one year."
…
"Hikari?"
Hikari did not answer. She sat huddled up against the wall on her bed in the small, yet pretty, room that she had been provided with. Her legs were curled up and hugged to her chest as she stared with blank eyes at the far wall.
"Hikari, are you okay?"
Was she okay? What a stupid question. Of course she wasn't okay! How could anyone in her position be okay?
Dr. Obasohan had just gotten done with explaining to her everything that had happened and everything that she had missed, as well as all they had found out about Hikari's family. And to be quite frank, she wasn't exactly sure what to freak out about first.
Nineteen years. She had been gone for nineteen years! And in that time…actually, what did happen? Hikari wasn't sure, and she already had it explained to her twice! Something about a Third Impact and instruments and everyone in the world melting into goop. And it was all Shinji Ikari's fault? Hikari hadn't really known him as well as Touji and Kensuke did, though she did get along pretty well with Asuka. Honestly, she had a hard time picturing him being the ace pilot of a several-hundred-ton death robot, valiantly fighting off the Angels, much less as being the person to trigger the end of the world!
"Hikari, if you have any-"
Hikari began shaking. It started as a slight tremble, barely even a shiver, but she wasn't cold, and it didn't stop, only growing and growing until her whole body was rocking.
Dr. Obasohan was there, having climbed onto the bed to sit next to the girl. She gently wrapped her arms around Hikari, holding her as her body continued to convulse. "Easy, easy," she said, stroking Hikari's hair with one hand. "It's okay. It's okay."
Hikari gritted her teeth. "N-No, it's n-n-not!" she growled. "Not. Okay."
"I know it seems like that now, but-"
"No!" Hikari struggled her way out of Ayala's arms and scrambled off of the bed to retreat to the far corner of the room. "No, you don't! You don't know anything! How could you know what this is like?"
Dr. Obasohan stood up. "Hikari-"
"Nineteen years!" Hikari cried. Tears streamed down her face while her hands had curled into claws. "I've been gone for nineteen years! I missed so much! My sisters…I was the middle sister! Nozomi was just a little kid, and now she's older than me! By a lot! She has kids now! So does Kodoma! Her oldest kid is older than I am! So, don't tell me that it's going to be okay! None of this okay!"
Dr. Obasohan looked at her with grave eyes. Then she said, "I was eight when Third Impact hit, and everyone had their bodies dissolved into LCL. I came out of it earlier than most, though. About two years later."
Though she didn't stop crying, Hikari did peek up over her arms to look through misty eyes at the older woman.
"I had an older brother. David. He was fourteen at the time. And I loved him so much. He always looked after me. Our parents…we didn't have much, so our parents were always working these long hours, so David was the one to take care of me. Without him, I don't know what I would have done."
Dr. Obasohan's lips thinned out. "He didn't come out of Instrumentality like I did. I was all alone, just a little kid in one of dozens of refugee camps. Everyone there had lost someone, so we all at least tried to take care of each other. But it was so hard without him. Even when my parents returned when I was fifteen, it wasn't the same without him."
The researcher took a deep, shaky breath. "I think that's why I worked so hard to learn everything that I could about Instrumentality. I wanted to find a way to bring him back, to lead him home. That's why I joined the program, why I threw everything into decoding the secrets of Third Impact. I wanted my big brother back."
And then a smile finally appeared. "And then, two years ago, I got the call. David had finally come back. They found him wandering near our old home, in Ghana. I couldn't believe it, but it was him. I flew out immediately to finally see my big brother." She shook her head. "Except he wasn't my big brother anymore. He was still fourteen, and I…I was older. He just looked so small and so scared, so much so that I almost couldn't believe that it actually was David.
"But it was! And that's when I realized that it was my turn. It was my turn to take care of him, just like he had taken care of me." Dr. Obasohan knelt down in front of Hikari. "It hasn't been easy. He's had a hard time adjusting to, well, everything. But he's come so far these last few months. He's smiling again. He's making friends, doing well in school, everything. He's talking about going to a veterinary school, and as his big sister, I couldn't be more proud of him."
She laid a hand on Hikari's knee. "Yes, everything will be different now. But you have a chance here, Hikari. A chance so people are given. You can have your family back. And yes, it will be different, but I do know that they miss you so much. And I promise you, it will get better."
Hikari's only response was a choking sob. Then she threw herself into Dr. Obasohan's arms, hugging her tight as she cried into the older woman's shoulder.
…
Beginning playback.
With one cigarette held lightly between two fingers, her third of the day, Dr. Nemo studied the tape of Hikari Horaki's questioning.
In it, Hikari sat in a small office, across from Ayala. It was decided that she ought to be the one to carry out Hikari's questioning, as Hikari seemed to trust her.
The questioning was really only a matter of course, not even truly an interrogation. Yes, Hikari had been one of the potential pilots selected by the fictional Marduk Institute, and yes, she had been a part of the infamous Evangelion Pilots' social circle, but Dr. Nemo truly doubted that there was anything useful that could be gleaned from their schooltime memories.
Then again, apparently between running away from Misato's house and her discovery lying in an emaciated state in the bathroom of an abandoned apartment, Asuka had spent some time at Hikari's house. Perhaps there was some insight to be had.
"Well, yes," Hikari was saying in response to one of Ayala's questions. "I did know all three of them. Sort of. Actually, I only really knew Asuka. I barely ever spoke to Rei, and Shinji only sometimes."
"According to our records, you visited the apartment of Major Misato Kastsurgi on a number of different occasions," Ayala said.
Dr. Nemo's mouth thinned out. That was more than she ever did.
Hikari nodded. "Yes. I was the class rep, and often had to deliver their missing schoolwork on days that they were absent. And, um, they were absent a lot. Also, Asuka and I would walk to school together a lot."
"You must have been close," Ayala noted.
"Pretty close, yeah," Hikari nodded. "She didn't make a lot of friends, but she seemed to like me."
Which was an enigma in itself. Asuka was notorious for her disdain of others, which included her fellow pilots back in the day. The list of people that she did show regular affection toward could have been counted in the single digits, and consisted in a very unhealthy infatuation with her handler, Kaji Ryoji, which only went to show just how skewed her standards were. Then again, there had been a lot of that going around, back then.
Even so, the almost aggressively normal Hikari Horaki didn't really strike Dr. Nemo as someone that Asuka would be drawn to.
Then again, those same fellow pilots that Asuka had once treated with such contempt were now her lovers, who she was almost slavishly devoted toward, so who could really decode that girl's fractured mind?
"Did you like her?" Ayala asked.
"I did!" Hikari said with a smile. Then, perhaps realizing how her answer could be misconstrued, she clarified, "As a friend, I mean. Um, it was pretty cool being friends with someone so important."
Well, someone had to think so.
"Did she ever speak to you of her work?" Ayala inquired.
Hikari shook her head. "Nothing classified. She made it clear from the start that she wasn't going to talk to me about any secrets. But mostly she'd, well, complain. Complain about Shinji, complain about NERV, complain about our classmates, complain about not liking Japanese food or missing a proper bed or how annoying Shinji's friends were."
Ah, Touji Suzuhara and Kensuke Aida. Dr. Nemo did have files on them both, especially since Touji was a former pilot himself, however briefly. Unfortunately, though there were records of him and his family being evacuated from Tokyo-3 prior to the construction of the HIRC, no one had bothered to keep track of them, and they were very much missing, to Dr. Nemo's annoyance.
As for Kensuke, the last she had heard he was currently institutionalized in a psychiatric facility somewhere in Italy after having literally founding an Evangelion Pilot-worshipping cult. It was a good thing that Asuka was never informed about that.
"She apparently came to you after fleeing her guardian's home at one point," Ayala said. "Did she perhaps say why?"
"Not really," Hikari said with a shake of her head. "She talked a bit about quitting. Something about her sync scores, and them not needing her with, um 'their precious Shinji around.' Her words. After that, she just played videos games all night until I made her go to bed. I did hear her crying a bit when she thought I was asleep. Either way, the next morning she was gone. That was the last I saw of her."
Dr. Nemo pursed her lips. While she, objectively speaking, knew the reason why the only weapons that they had against the Angels could only be piloted by a select group of children, she really wished that the Angels had waited just a few more years to show up so they didn't have to rely on, as previously stated, literal children for their survival. Especially the hot messes that they ended up being saddled with. Given how much they had to work around their fragile egos and massive insecurities, it truly was a wonder that humanity hadn't been ended quicker.
At any rate, Hikari at least seemed to be much saner and more reasonable than the ones they had been stuck with. Maybe it would have been better if she had been selected, and early on at that. But then again, piloting an Evangelion would probably have broken her fairly quickly, just like it did everyone. And given that literally everyone else in her old social circle were currently locked up or missing, perhaps she was the most fortunate one of the bunch.
At any rate, Dr. Nemo didn't really see any reason to keep her around much longer. She made a note to have the girl's family contacted before too long.
…
"Hikari? Oh, my…Is it you? Is it really you?"
It was all Hikari could to keep from falling out of her seat. Her father's voice sounded so…old. "Yes! Daddy, it's me!"
She was in Dr. Obasohan's office. Now that she was almost fully recovered and the questioning was done, they finally were letting her get in touch with her family.
Her father didn't respond, though Hikari could hear the sound of heavy breathing. She felt her anxiousness skyrocket. Had something just happened?
"Hello?" she said.
"I'm sorry," Dad said. "I'm sorry, it's just…I didn't think you would ever come back. It's been so long…"
Hikari swallowed. "I'm sorry, Dad. I wish I knew how-"
"No!" Dad cut her off. "No, don't apologize, don't ever apologize. It's not your fault. B-But where are you? Are you safe?"
"I am!" Hikari said, nodding even though her father couldn't see her. "I'm…where Tokyo-3 used to be. Now, there's this enormous hospital laboratory thing."
"You're at the Human Instrumentality Research Center?"
Hikari smiled. "Yes, that's what they called it! You know about it?"
"Everyone does. They actually offered me a job there, since I used to be NERV." There was a pause, and then Dad said, "But I couldn't go back."
There was just so much left unsaid in that simple statement. "Oh, well, I'm not really sure what happened. One moment we were being attacked, and the next…I was on the beach where they found me."
Her father mumbled something, and then said, "I can't believe this. I can't believe you're really back."
"I am," Hikari reassured him. Then, after a moment of hesitation, she ventured, "Um, what about Kodoma and Nozomi? Are they there? Can I talk to them?"
Despite how much she wanted to hear from her sisters again, she almost feared the answer. A lot could happen in nineteen years. Had they also emerged from…whatever the heck Instrumentality was? Were they even still alive?
Fortunately, Dad just let out a small chuckle. "Ah, well, Hikari. It's been…nineteen years. They don't liv with me anymore."
Oh. Well, that made sense.
"Oh, right. They, uh, told me that…is Nozomi really married?!"
There was a pause, and then Dad said, "Hikari, she's twenty-eight."
An image of her impish little pigtailed sister entered Hikari's mind. Nozomi. Twenty-eight and married. "Oh," was all Hikari could say.
"It's…I imagine that it's a lot to take in."
"Y-Yeah," Hikari sighed. "One moment, she's this tiny little brat, but now I have to get used to her being older than me and married and-" Then she frowned. "Wait, she was twelve, it's been nineteen years, so-"
"Well, she came out about three years after Third Impact. Kodoma and I emerged a few months before. We were so happy to see her again. And then we waited for you, but…"
A lump was forming in Hikari's throat. "I'm sorry, Daddy."
"I told you not to apologize. Please, never blame yourself."
Hikari sniffed and nodded. "Okay. Okay." She forced her voice to brighten. "But I also hear that you're a granddad now!"
"Oh! Yes! Um, Kodoma has two. There's Tetsuya, her oldest, and he's fifteen now…um, she had him a bit early, if you catch my drift."
Hikari smiled. "I do. It's fine."
"Well, they got married soon after, her and Shingo…you'll like him! Nice guy, used to work at the mall. And now they have Frederick, who's five!"
"Uh, Frederick?"
"Well, we live in Germany now, Hikari. They wanted him to have a more local name."
Frederick. A Japanese boy named Frederick. Well, it wasn't the weirdest thing Hikari was having to absorb, but it was odd.
"As for Nozomi, she didn't get married until we moved here, to Gregory! He's a local boy, works at the post office around here. And, well, they have a daughter. And, uh…"
His voice trailed off. Hikari frowned. "What is it?"
"Well, the thing is, they named her Hikari."
Hikari blinked. "Oh."
"It was meant to honor you, but I understand if it seems…strange."
Strange indeed. "Is there a word for being both flattered and just a little weirded out?" Hikari said. "Because that's kind of where I'm at right now."
Her father chuckled. "I know. It's a lot to take in."
You don't know the half of it, Hikari thought. Changing the subject, she said, "What about you?" A small smile began to form. "I hear that you're not actually by yourself right now…"
Another pause, and when her father's voice came back, it was a lot more guarded. "Hikari, how…exactly do you know so much about our family? They're not keeping tabs on us, are they?"
At her side, Dr. Obasohan leaned in. "Only what is in the public record, sir. When we set out to find you for Hikari, marriage and birth certificates came up as well. We informed Hikari of the events and nothing else, feeling that the details were best left up to you."
"Oh. Well, I suppose that makes sense…"
Hikari was impatient to get back to the meat of the matter. "But you did remarry, didn't you?"
"Well, yes I did…"
Hikari grinned. "Well, it's about time! I only told you to try to meet someone about twice a month! Um, is it anyone I know?"
"W-Well, do you remember Ao Fujiwara?"
"I…" Hikari frowned. She didn't know anyone named "Ao," but Fujiwara? That did ring a bell.
Wait. Wait, wait, wait.
Hikari took a deep breath and said, "Dad, did you really marry my PE teacher?"
Her father laughed. "Yes! Uh, we met after reconstructing, in the camp that we all formed in Tokyo-3 after enough of us came back. And, well, we hit it off. She still actually teaches youth fitness, believe it or not! But it's to kids with disabilities and…Oh, Hikari. It's so good to hear your voice again."
Hikari nodded. "I know. I know. Uh, they say I'll be able to leave soon."
"Are you coming home? I mean, to us?"
"Uh, if it's okay…"
"Of course it's okay! Everyone will be so excited to see you again. I know your sisters will lose their minds, and the kids already have heard so much about you."
"I can't wait," Hikari said with a small smile. "I really can't wait."
…
Unlike NERV, everyone knew about the Human Instrumentality Research Center. Unlike NERV, the world also knew of its importance to the survival of the human race. The more that they knew about the three cataclysms that had permanently reshaped the world, the better chance they had of preventing another one.
But like NERV, the finer details were kept from the public's eye. There were certain aspects about Third Impact known only to a select few, and those few enjoyed a level of security clearance on a level comparable to SEELE itself. Despite the fact that she was technically a convicted criminal working through her own incarceration, Dr. Nemo was one of those people.
Even so, the call that she was making from her private office required numerous security checks and clearances. It was a call that very few people could make, but even she had to wait for approval to be made in the triplicate.
Finally, the last of the security permissions were granted, and the call went through. Dr. Nemo idly wondered if it would be answered, though. Technically, the recipient didn't have a choice but to respond, legally speaking. But legalities were rarely much of a concern for her either way.
However, answer she did, and Dr. Nemo found herself looking at what looked to the world to be a sullen teenaged girl, one possessing both Germanic and Japanese features, with long reddish-brown hair worn loose and bright emerald eyes the left one having a bright red blotch around it. She wore a pretty yellow sundress and, almost humorously so, a conical party hat on her head, one that stood in sharp contrast to the resentful expression on her face.
"Well, look who it is," Asuka Soryu-Langley sneered. "You know, I was almost having a good day. Must've set off all the alarms in your crypt, just summoning you to rush in and put me in a bad mood."
Dr. Nemo resisted the impulse to smirk. "Hello, Asuka. I heard that it's your birthday."
"Yeah, it is. And it was actually going pretty nicely, in fact. I mean, it's not like we can exactly go all out in this little cage you've got us stuffed in, but we make do with what we've got." Asuka tilted her head. "But of course, you had to butt in. What's wrong, doc? Was ruining one birthday not enough for you?"
Cage. Of course she would think of the quarters that had been provided for her and her companions as a cage, never mind that they were more spacious and luxurious than most penthouses. Still, any place that you're not allowed to leave eventually begins to feel small, so Dr. Nemo didn't begrudge her that. "On the contrary, I'm calling to give you a gift."
"A gift," Asuka repeated. "Suuuuuuure you are. So, what is it? Poison apple? Enchanted spindle? Cursed rose? Because I'm warning you, anything with a True Love's Kiss clause is getting ended in like five minutes, tops."
"Those sorts of devices really seem to be more up your alley than mine," Dr. Nemo retorted. "But no, it's something that I think you will appreciate."
She clicked a button, and on Asuka's end, the image on her screen switched over to a prerecorded tape of Hikari Horaki.
For a few moments, Asuka could only stare blankly. "Uh, what?" she said. "Who the fuck is-"
"Uh, hi, Asuka," Hikari said in the recording. "I don't know if you remember me, but it's-"
Recognition hit, and Asuka sat straight up. "HIKARI?!" she gasped, saying the younger girl's name at almost the exact same time that Hikari did.
Hikari continued. "I just came back a few weeks ago, and it's been…really confusing. B-But they did say that you've been asking about me."
She kept talking, but Asuka didn't seem to hear. She lunged forward, grasping the screen at both sides. "Hold on! Hikari? Where are you? What did they do to you? How did-"
Dr. Nemo paused the video. "It's just a recording, Asuka. We obviously cannot allow the two of you to speak directly, but I was able to gain permission for this much at least. And before you ask, yes, it is her. She emerged from Instrumentality only a few days ago. We've already located her family, and she'll be flying home soon. However, she still wanted to send you this message, if you'll calm down to hear it."
"Calm down to-You arrogant cunt! You just drop this on me and expect me to be calm? How long have you been hiding her? Why didn't you tell me?"
Letting the insults of the world's most volatile convicted terrorist simply wash over her, Dr. Nemo simply responded, "I am telling you, something which, I remind you, I am under no obligation to do at all." She pointed at her chest. "I'm the one with security clearance at the Human Instrumentality Research Center." She then pointed to the seething girl on the screen. "And you're the one currently serving a life sentence. This is a favor, Asuka. One that I can rescind with a flick of a button." She then leaned back into her chair. "Now, shall I go ahead and do that, or will you accept your birthday present?"
Dr. Nemo had no doubt that were Asuka to possess the many terrifying abilities that she was rumored by the superstitious to have, she would reach across the very digital network that was allowing them to have this conversation to clamp her hands around the good doctor's throat. Certainly, the look of absolute rage and hate that twisted her eternally young features was evidence of that. Even then, Dr. Nemo did not take offense. As much as she disliked Asuka and the rest of the Pilots, she could not fault them for loathing her. She would hate herself in their position as well.
And then, proving that despite her atrocious disposition, an entire psychiatry textbook full of inadequately (and in some cases, deliberately accelerated) emotional trauma, and probably two or three personality disorders, her elongated years had come with at least some measure of maturity. The anger seemed to wither from her face, or, as was probably more likely, simply willed back into the bottle, allowing her to settle back into her seat, leaving her with a neutral mask.
"All right," she said. "Play the damn video."
Dr. Nemo nodded and restarted the recording. Hikari started speaking again.
"Uh, hi, Asuka. I don't know if you remember me, but it's Hikari. You know, Hikari Horaki? I just came back a few weeks ago, and it's been…really confusing. B-But they did say that you've been asking about me."
Now captivated, Asuka drew her legs up into her chair to tuck them in, hands grasping her ankles.
"I'm not really sure why. I mean, with everything that's happened, everything that they told me about, I just…don't know why I would be important, or why you would even remember me. But you do, I guess. So, uh, thanks."
As Hikari continued to speak, Dr. Nemo studied Asuka's face. All three of the Evangelion Pilots were deeply disturbed individuals, and yet it was Asuka, arguably the least important of the three, that Dr. Nemo found herself most interested in, at least psychologically speaking. Shinji was the most grounded, the most in-touch with what little remained of his humanity, whereas Rei was simply too unpredictable to be worth decoding.
Asuka, however, was different. She was, at least on some level, grounded in reality and capable of behaving in a sane, rational way, but she was also by far the most deluded, having acquired a massive god complex that drove her to view those outside of her social circle of three with utter disdain. Dr. Nemo found that hilarious, as she was also the only one of the three to not actually flirt with divinity. Sure, she was immortal like the other two, so her delusions weren't entirely without merit, but both Shinji and Rei had actually ascended on some level into actual godhood, as short as it was, while Asuka had been nothing more than a pile of meat at the time. Where did she get off looking down on mortals like she did.
Truthfully, having Hikari record this message was itself yet another experiment. Just how removed was Asuka from her own humanity? Would she even still care about a boringly average girl that she had sort of befriended for a few months before her death and resurrection? Dr. Nemo had always gotten the impression that her inquiries into Hikari's status had less to do with actual concern for the girl's wellbeing and more of resentment that her old schoolmates that she didn't like had all returned from Instrumentality, while the one that she was actually fond of didn't.
And yet, as Dr. Nemo watched, Asuka's face actually softened a bit, all of that salt and vinegar draining away, replaced with gentle wonder. Huh. Had she really cared for Hikari that much? Why?
"I, uh…they told me a lot of it. What happened with you and Shinji. And what happened to Rei. Honestly, none of it really made any sense, but it doesn't sound like you actually did anything wrong, so…" Hikari sighed. "I don't get it. It's all just so unfair."
Auska's lips were moving, though no other part of her face changed. Frowning, Dr. Nemo turned up the volume on Asuka's end. Nothing. She was just mouthing words. Oh well. She could play back the recording with a lip-reader on hand later.
Then Hikari managed a small smile. "They did tell me that you and him are, you know, together now. I mean, they're keeping you guys together, but you're also together together. And, well, despite everything they're saying that he did, I'm glad that happened, and I hope make each other happy."
"We do," Asuka said, her voice so low that if Dr. Nemo hadn't already cranked the volume, she would not have heard it.
"They also told me Touji came back, but that he's sort of…missing." Hikari swallowed. "I guess…well, I guess some things just aren't meant to be. Anyway, he'd be, what, basically thirty by now. So, it wouldn't work anyway."
Asuka's lip twitched.
Then Hikari brightened. "They found my family. Believe it or not, they're all okay. I'll be going to them tomorrow, though I have to admit that I'm sort of scared. I mean, they're all so much older now. What's it going to be like? Nozomi's a grown-up now! They both are! And I'm an aunt now! It's crazy!"
Wait…
Frowning, Dr. Nemo leaned in closer. Were those tears? Was Asuka actually crying?
Dear God, that alone would fuel entire academic conventions worth of debate and multiple theses for years to come!
Then Hikari took a deep breath. "Asuka, listen: I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you when you needed me. I'm sorry all of this happened. And, wherever you are, I hope you're doing well. Thank you for remembering me. Oh, and happy birthday."
The recording came to an end. And yet Asuka continued to stare at Hikari's still image. Dr. Nemo didn't move either. What was going to happen? What was Asuka going to do?
Asuka's head slowly bowed, and her breath quavered as she inhaled. "I know you're watching me," she said.
Damn. "Of course I am," Dr. Nemo said. She clicked a button, and her face replaced Hikari's on Asuka's side.
"Why?" Asuka asked. "Why do that for me? You don't even like me."
"True," Dr. Nemo admitted. "I don't. But given that I am one of the very few Third Impact researchers with direct access to the world's three most hotly debated psyches, I did wonder how you would react so such a piece from your mortal life."
Asuka's head snapped up, hot fire blazing in your eyes. "You mean that was all fake?!" she snarled. "You evil, sadistic-"
"Calm down. I said that I wanted to see your reaction, not that the video was faked. It was real enough. Hikari is back, she will be going home soon, and I asked if she would like to record something for you." Then Dr. Nemo leaned back. "Besides, despite our…tumultuous history, I did ruin your birthday that one time. Consider this repayment for the transgression."
"Repayment for the…" Asuka shook her head and let out a small laugh. "Heh. Well, never thought I'd actually say this, but th-thank you."
Dr. Nemo raised an eyebrow. Tears and a thank you? She could retire with the proceeds on the paper she could write on those two events alone, were she allowed to publicly publish one.
"But could you do something for me?" Asuka asked. "Tell her, um, tell her that I said I'm glad she's back. And…good luck. And-" She winced. "Th-That I'm sorry. For everything."
And now an apology. Will wonders never cease? "I will do so."
"You better. You owe me that much, Ritsuko."
Dr. Nemo's eyes narrowed. "That's not-"
"Do I look like I give a fuck?"
Then Asuka's image winked out. Dr. Nemo stared. She had just been hung up on by a convicted criminal.
Then she started laughing. In a way, Asuka's obstinateness was almost refreshing. The tangled web of lies that was her life could be so wearisome at times.
…
As the sight of dry land drew into sight, Hikari's already tense fingers dug into the cushioned armrest of the helicopter that was taking her to her new home.
According to Dr. Obasohan, her family had originally been a part of the ramshackle survivor camps that had populated the ruins of Tokyo-3 after Third Impact, only to be evacuated along with everyone else when the UN had finally put itself enough back together to finally come investigate. And once everyone was gone, the whole city had been leveled once and for all, and the Human Instrumentality Research Center was built on its grave.
As far as Hikari was concerned, they could have it. She was quite done with Tokyo-3 and felt so glad to leave it all in the past. Apparently, her family had agreed, as they hadn't been a part of the few that had opted to return to Japan once the country had opened up again, and they were now living in Germany of all places.
Hikari almost had to laugh. Germany. Asuka would love that.
She wondered what it was going to be like in Germany. Would she have to learn the language? Presumably she ought to. Well, it had to be easier than having to pilot a giant robot to fight off invading extraterrestrial monsters! Thank goodness that was over with and she never had her number punched!
They traveled over green hills and verdant forests. However, some of the grass seemed odd, like it was of a dark red color.
Dr. Obasohan, who was accompanying her, leaned in. "That's where LCL levels are still high. We're trying to gather it all up, but it takes time, and there's so much of it."
"LCL?" Hikari blinked. "You mean, that's liquified people? That's what I used to be?"
Dr. Obasohan nodded. "All of us were."
Hikari decided to avoid those places.
And then the airport came into view, and anxiety again rushed through her. She pressed her face to the window. There was an empty helicopter tarmac right in front of them, and standing on the edge were four people.
Hikari's heart leapt into her throat. That was them. That was them!
By the time that the helicopter finally touched down, Hikari was practically bouncing in her seat. She wanted to bolt as soon as she was unbuckled, but she was made to wait until they had fully landed and her escort was already off of the helicopter. Hikari followed them down, anxiously staring through the adults standing around her toward the people at the end of the tarmac.
As soon as she was let loose, she bolted across the tarmac. "Daddy!"
Her father was already running toward her, as were her sisters. Sobbing, she threw herself into their arms.
Around her, she could hear them talking, but the meaning of the words failed to penetrate her mind. She could do nothing but cling to her father and cry.
At some point, she found herself kneeling on the ground, arms still around her father's neck, her sisters hugging her at either side. "It's really you," Dad whispered, stroking her hair. "It's really you. Oh, thank you. Thank you."
Who he was thanking, Hikari neither knew nor cared. She finally moved back from him to see his face.
She was struck by just how old he looked. He had shaved his beard, and his hair was now grey and thin, and his face worn by lines. But the smile was the same, as were the eyes.
Then she looked to her left. Even though she was now almost three times as old as Hikari remembered, she could still recognize Nozomi's impish smile. Seeing the look on her face, her previously little sister's smirk grew. "I know," she said. "Weird, huh?"
Her voice. It sounded so different from the one in Hikari's memory, and yet the element of Nozomi still remained.
She then turned to her right. Kodoma, at least, was a little recognizable. She was older, yes. Probably now old enough to be Hikari's mother, which she really didn't want to think about, and had put on a few pounds. But it was Kodoma.
"Hikari," Kodoma said. She shook her head. "You look…wow."
Hikari let out a small laugh. "Don't you dare call me a kid, or I'll smack you."
"It is her," Dad said with a laugh of his own.
That set all four of them off into a tizzy of giggles. Oh, it just felt so good to laugh with them again.
They all stood up, and as they did, Hikari caught sight of yet another familiar face.
When she had known her, Ms. Fujiwara had been a handsome woman in her late twenties. Now her hair was grey and her face visibly aged, while Hikari's sisters were close to the age that Hikari remembered her as. It was all just so bizarre.
"Hikari," she said, shifting her weight from one foot to the next. "Welcome back."
Hikari could tell that she was nervous. Which was just plain silly! Hikari was the one having to face an unfamiliar world, one where even her family had different faces. In fact, wasn't she the outsider now? Ms. Fujiwara might actually have been with Hikari's father longer than Hikari had been alive!
Now that was a scary thought.
However, for as big of a change as this would be, Hikari wanted to meet it the right way. So she stood up and formally bowed low. "Ms. Fujiwara, I apologize for being out of uniform!"
She meant it as a joke, a way to defuse the tension, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she immediately wished that she could recall them. Ms. Fujiwara was part of her family now, so what if she misinterpreted Hikari's joke as an insult, a way of saying that their relationship would never be anything beyond student and teacher?
Also, she wasn't Ms. Fujiwara anymore, she was Mrs. Horaki! Hikari had basically just told her that she didn't see her marriage to her father as legitimate!
"Oh!" she said, clamping her hands over her mouth. "I'm sorry, didn't mean it that way! I-"
Then everyone burst out laughing, including Ms. Fujiwara…or however she was going to be referred to now. Hikari breathed out a sigh of relief. Her joke had landed. Whew.
"Well, normally I'd have to write you up," said her new stepmother. "But given the circumstances, I think I can let it slide." She smiled, and held out her hand. "Also, you can just call me Ao."
Hikari hesitated, and then reached forward to accept her hand. "Um, please don't take this the wrong way, but I might be physically incapable of doing that."
Another round of laughter. "Well, it's either you call her by her old name, which isn't correct," Nozomi said. "Or you call her Mrs. Horaki, which is just weird. So, you might as well just get used to 'Ao.'"
Hikari took a deep breath. "I'll try," she said. "I mean, let's face it: this is not the weirdest thing I have to get used to."
Then her father raised his head to focus on Dr. Obasohan, who was standing nearby, clearly wanting to not intrude.
"I'm s-sorry," he said. "Hello?"
"Oh, that's Dr. Obasohan!" Hikari said. "She was the one that found me, and she's been helping me ever since. You know, the lady you talked to on the phone?"
"A pleasure, sir," Dr. Obasohan said, holding out her hand. "Hikari has been wonderful, and I'm glad that she was able to find you again."
There was a moment of hesitation, and then Dad took her hand and shook it. "With your help," he said. "Thank you for bringing her back."
Dr. Obasohan smiled. Then she turned to Hikari. "Well, I guess this is it. You got a long road ahead of you, but it seems that you'll be in good hands."
Nozomi cleared her throat. "Uh, define good." Kodoma jabbed her elbow into her sister's side.
Though she had only known the woman for a few days, Hikari found herself getting misty-eyed. "Thank you," she said, moving in to hug the doctor, which was warmly returned. "Thank you so much."
After finally bidding farewell to Dr. Obasohan, Hikari found herself heading to her new home with her family surrounding her on all sides. As they walked, she found that she wasn't quite so scared about the future facing her. Yes, she had so much to learn and so much to catch up on. There were in-laws, nieces, and nephews to meet, new friends to make, and nineteen years of tumultuous events for her to learn.
However, at the very least she didn't have to face that future alone. Dr. Obasohan was right. It was okay to allow herself to be the one that was taken care of.
…
"You know, that was a surprisingly nice thing that you did," Ayala noted.
"What was?" Dr. Nemo said.
"That message you had Hikari record for Asuka Soryu-Langley. Wouldn't have expected it from you."
Now that Hikari had been returned to her family and Ayala returned, it was back to business as usual, which mostly consisted of unraveling the secrets of dead monsters and living legends.
Dr. Nemo shot her a look. "I am almost offended," she said. "Are you implying that I am incapable of altruistic behavior?"
"No, but I wouldn't expect it toward any of the Pilots," Ayala said. "Your disdain of them is legendary."
"Heh," Dr. Nemo chuckled. "Well, I at least acknowledge that it's at least a little unfair. Plus, it also is very much mutual and very much justified on their end, and we're both very satisfied with the arrangement."
The two were once again in Absolute Dogma, where the Human Instrumentality Research Center's most…sensitive asset was kept. Franky, Ayala hated being down here. The HIRC was full of dead monsters, and she had long lost her fear of those inhuman corpses, but this one remained unsettling on a level that she felt was impossible to overcome.
Naturally, it was where Dr. Nemo spent most of her time.
Ayala hesitated, and then ventured, "Forgive me for asking, but why do you dislike them so fiercely? I mean, I know they caused Third Impact, but with you it seems almost…personal."
"You have to ask?" Dr. Nemo snorted in disdain. "As much as he despises the bastard, Shinji takes after his father in the worst possible ways. Asuka was always an insufferable brat, but now she had an unearned god complex on top of it all. And the less said about that one," here she gestured toward the frozen monstrosity before them, "the better."
Dr. Nemo was quite aware that she had just revealed information that violated at least two of the NDA's that she had been forced to sign. She also didn't care. Let them come down here and take issue with it. It wasn't as if everyone didn't know already.
Sure enough, Ayala didn't react to learning of Dr. Nemo's personal connection to the infamous Eva Pilots. "Still, you seem to feel at least a little responsible for them," she pointed out.
Dr. Nemo's worn face twitched. "Yes, well, Dr. Frankenstein also felt responsible for Adam," she murmured. "And we all know how that ended." She shook her head. "Enough. You're dismissed, doctor."
Ayala nodded. She turned and left, leaving Dr. Nemo alone with the monstrosity.
Back in the old NERV headquarters, Terminal Dogma had been the deepest, most secret part of the whole installation, the place where its darkest secret had been kept. There, the imprisoned body of Lilith, the second Angel, was crucified, waiting for one of her kin to find her and bring about a new age, which was what ended up happening.
Absolute Dogma was even deeper than that. A cylindrical hole hundreds of meters down and dozens in circumference, it was a metal sheath to hold the casket to a god. In its center was suspended a solid cylinder of frozen LCL, encased in transparent aluminum and reinforced with steel, one larger than any skyscraper, practically mountain-sized.
And contained within that mountain of ice was Lilith's dismembered corpse, forever frozen in an imitation of Gendo Ikari's little doll, Rei Ayanami. Within it also resided the essence of Adam, Lilith's counterpart, now both of them sealed away, hopefully forever.
But despite its appearance, what the corpse did not contain was the essence of Rei Ayanami herself. That had been expelled, and now resided secretly with Asuka Soryu Langley and Shinji Ikari. Undeservingly so, Dr. Nemo felt. If she had her way, Rei would have remained embedded in Lilith's bloated form.
Dr. Nemo stared into the lifeless crimson eyes of Lilith's decapitated and bisected head, those gargantuan lips frozen into a mocking smile that Rei herself would never have been capable of. At the very least, Rei had enough wherewithal to enact Third Impact on her own terms, screwing over Gendo in the process.
Still, she supposed that it was fitting that Gendo Ikari's genocidal son and the pale imitation of his wife would be condemned to spend the rest of eternity together. She hoped that they made each other miserable.