Hello everyone, Calborghete here, did you miss it?
Today begins another story. I hope I can please everyone and make sure we can spend more time together on this new journey we're starting today.
Don't forget to like the page on Facebook, the direct link can be found on my Fanfiction profile page, or if you prefer, search for "Calborghete" and find an image of Shinji and Asuka. On this page I will post updates and it will also be easier for you to contact me.
So without further ado, read on.
"Dialogues"
- Thoughts -
"Radio Talk"
"Self-talk."
Responsibility note:
Evangelion, its characters and setting are the property of Hideaki Anno. Any brands, films and series mentioned in this fanfic are the property of their creators.
(*)
Waves broke on the red sea, that was life in this new world, red everywhere, for many people this color had already lost its luster, its strength, but for Asuka, her favorite color, once her sign of strong pride and admiration, was now just another color.
"Recovery units approaching unit 01's sarcophagus, no sign of enemy presence."
Asuka leaned back in her seat as she looked out, she could see the large sarcophagus floating next to her, she thought about how this operation was a complete disaster, but at least they had managed to recover unit 01 from space, this was just another ordinary operation for her, but something didn't seem right.
"Baka Shinji..." The redhead thought of her late friend, many years ago they had a small relationship in the happy times of the world, but now he's gone, all that's left is this humanoid freak that was Unit 01.
Swimming to where Asuka was, Mari quickly climbed the large sarcophagus where unit 01 was resting, turning and looking up, she smiled as she thought of the future that the world now awaited, a brief glance to the side she thought of Asuka, this must all be difficult for her colleague, with a sigh she activated the communication, just like her suspicions, she could see the small emotions on the redhead's face.
"Princess, still holding on to your prince? You know he's not going anywhere." Asuka let out a long breath at the thought of Mari's provocation, but she knew that her colleague would never miss an opportunity to fill her patience with taunts about Shinji.
"We can't let this fall into NERV's hands now, we can't be too careful." Asuka says in a depressed voice.
Mari blinked when she heard this, she could see Asuka's small reactions, she could see that her colleague was crestfallen.
"I still believe he'll come back." Mari smiles, a small friendly smile, she knew a lot about EVAS and the risk of being absorbed was great, she just had to keep quiet and not reveal her cover.
"Only in your dreams, the brat is dead." Asuka said dejectedly, at least for Mari she didn't have to hide when it came to Shinji Ikari. Running a hand over her face, she thought back to the conversation she'd had with Mari before the launch.
"Let's not lose faith princess, I bet my stolen books that he'll be inside." Mari spoke with a dreamy look on her face, she knew that Yui would never let her son risk getting lost inside the EVA.
"Even if it's true, things have changed a lot in these seven years." Asuka speaks as she recovers, her mind remembering the space fight they had a few hours earlier.
"What we both had before died together with the third impact."
Mari smiled when she heard this, putting her hand over her mouth as she remembered Asuka's little battle.
"I don't think so, I remember hearing you calling for him in the battle just now."
Asuka let out a small, skeptical laugh, but it had stuck in her mind, because Unit 01 had protected her when she had accidentally called for Shinji? Why had her mind done that? But this wasn't the time for that kind of thought, she looked away and fixed her gaze on the large metal sarcophagus.
"That was nothing, just a distant memory." Asuka said dejectedly, but she quickly recovered when she saw the WILLE ships approaching, she hated showing herself inferior to others and showing emotions about the enemy wouldn't help.
"But if it's true, are you still going to punch him in the face?" Mari asked as she became provocative, she focused her eyes on Asuka's face and looked for any sign of emotion, she smiled as she saw the small, shy blush on Asuka's face, this detail would go unnoticed by everyone else, but not for her.
Asuka thought about it, a slight blush appeared on her face, too discreet for people to notice, but it was still there, her memories thinking about the memories she had spent with Misato and Shinji, all the times they had had fun playing video games in Misato's living room, all the lunches he had prepared for her, but it was all a distant memory, she focused her eyes on the large sarcophagus next to her, that was a distant memory, nothing more than that.
Mari looked away, she was still waiting for Asuka's reply, but as she saw the large ships approaching them her mood quickly began to break, she hated staying at Wunder, even though she was an elite pilot she never really felt welcome, moving her hand to her neck she touched her DSS choker.
With a sad smile, she remembered that the pilots didn't have the trust of the others, they were just useful soldiers, and this made her feel down, her mind remembering the times before the third impact, people were more cheerful and happy, now they were a bunch of monsters.
"It looks like our leisure time is over."
"And when have we had any leisure in this miserable life?" Asuka spoke with mild annoyance, her mind doing the same thing as Mari's, why didn't Misato trust her? Why did she have to carry a bomb around her neck all the time? Was it because of the contamination in her eye? Or did she never really care?
Remembering the time he lived with Misato, the former cheerful woman who smiled almost all the time was now a bitter woman who showed no emotion, she was practically Gendo Ikari as a woman.
"Can the return of the puppy help us?" Mari asked out of the blue, she wanted more than anything for everyone to be friends again. Asuka listened to Mari's question and could see that she was talking to herself, but this question irritated her, because only with Shinji Misato could she become a more human person again? What did he have that she didn't? Angrily, she spoke.
"He's not coming back."
(*)
"Okay guys, watch out for the entry plug, we can use it as a spare part." Ritsuko spoke into her protective suit as she coordinated the removal of the part. Misato stood on the top staircase watching everything, her arms crossed, observing the purple giant's face, her mind recalling Shinji's last moments piloting this monstrosity, the day the world was destroyed.
Blinking as she returned to the real world, she could see her colleague giving orders to everyone, slowly the large cylinder was removed from unit 01, she felt anxious, why was that? She thought, but the answer wasn't coming.
"Why are we opening?" A random employee next to Maya asked.
"We need to know what the inside of the entry plug looks like, just as senpai said we could use it in the future for spare parts, do you think we have the luxury of producing new ones?" Said the short-haired woman with slight anger, she hated having to answer meaningless questions.
Placing the large metal cylinder on the floor, Ritsuko approached the control panel, ran her hand slowly over the cold metal, it was like being in the old days, blinking to return to the real world and with a small smile Ritsuko looked at her pupil as she approached the entry plug, with simple movements she entered the old codes and waited.
ACCESS DENIED.
"You wouldn't think they'd change the codes." With a long sigh she took an old USB cable from Maya, plugging the entry plug into her terminal the woman began to work, a few minutes passed while she typed on her tablet.
Misato approached the group as she fixed her eyes on the entry plug, she was anxious about what she would find inside, would they find Shinji's body preserved by the LCL? This anxiety was already getting frustrating, but a beep broke her train of thought.
"There you go." Said the woman as she handed Maya her things, reaching for the metal handles she turned them, liters of LCL leaked onto the floor, with a long sigh the woman peeked inside, her eyes wide at something she thought impossible.
"Misato, look at this."
Misato slowly walked over to the entry plug, looking inside she had a reaction she hadn't had for a long time.
"Oh my God." She said as she felt her body shaking, in front of her was a person she hadn't seen for seven years, in front of her was Shinji, lying with his eyes closed, his plug suit torn due to his growth, his face with a full beard showing that time had passed for the boy too.
Recovering quickly, she turned and ordered her men to walk out with heavy steps, everyone looking at her with fear and resentment.
"Seal off the area now!"
"Misato!" She called out to her old friend, but her words died in the air, she turned and looked at everyone around her, already knowing that orders couldn't be discussed, turning to Maya, she spoke calmly.
"Prepare the isolation." Said the woman as she took a deep breath, then looked at everyone and spoke forcefully.
"You heard the commander!"
Everyone started to leave the place without knowing what had happened, Ritsuko walked to Maya's side thinking about how things had gotten worse, she could see Maya moving uncomfortably next to her, looking at her tablet, she took out one of her cigarettes and smoked it.
"Don't worry about anything, we'll follow the isolation protocol."
She smoked her cigarette and scratched her head.
Maya relaxed when she heard that, Shinji had spent a lot of time in contact with the EVA and that could cause some danger, but being next to her colleague and lover relaxed her, she thought of Shinji.
"How is that possible? Wasn't he dead?"
Letting out a long cloud of smoke, she spoke as she looked up at the ceiling, leaning against the metal wall, Maya by her side waiting for her answer.
"I guess not, damn it."
"What are we going to do now?" Maya says calmly and worriedly.
"What will become of him?"
"He's screwed." Ritsuko replied calmly, but deep down she was nervous, everyone inside Wunder had a grudge against Shinji.
"I don't know what to do." Maya said looking down, being a survivor of the third impact she had seen what had really happened, but for everyone else it was a different story.
Ritsuko stubbed out her cigarette as she started walking, and Maya followed closely behind.
"Shit."
(*)
Misato walked into her room thinking about everything that had happened over the last few days, removing her gloves and glasses she looked down at her hands as she felt the anxiety take over her body, she had never expected to meet Shinji again, Ritsuko had told her that he would never come back.
"What's going on?"
Then she took a deep breath as she thought, what could she do? Would he understand the accusations against him?
"Damn it!" growled the woman as she clutched her head tightly, her mind thinking of scenarios she never thought she would think of again, calmly she spoke with her eyes closed.
"God, why did you bring him back? Why?"
Misato still had her face buried in her hands, she was thinking about everything that had happened in this hellish world, why all these feelings taking hold of her right now? Why couldn't she let this matter die? Why did Shinji have to come back to this world?
"God, why?"
Misato didn't get the answer she wanted, she took a deep breath as she thought about how things would be now, she couldn't show weakness, she couldn't be the old Misato who protected Shinji, he would have to face the consequences of his actions.
(*)
"I told you so!" Mari said, smiling as she rolled over in her bed. Asuka was trying to relax while playing her handheld game, but she couldn't concentrate right now.
"Shut up." The redhead mumbles as she loses again, each time she tries she fails, Mari realizes this, gets up and peeks over the top of the bed, she puts her arms around Asuka's face, she can see the mental conflict this is causing in her roommate's mind.
"Damn it!" Said the redhead as she focused her eyes on the game, she could feel the brunette's malicious eyes on her, it was getting annoying.
"What? Why don't you go back to reading your damn erotic books!"
Mari smiled as she ran her fingers through the thin fabric of the bed.
"I could, but that's no fun now, my mind is on the puppy, I want to know what's going to happen to him now."
"Hmfy." Asuka scoffed at the subject, but her mind was on the same level as Mari's, what would it be like with Shinji back? Would he join the crew or would Misato leave him in one of the refugee villages?
"That's not our problem."
"Princess, of course it's our problem." Mari says pensively.
"The puppy could fight alongside us, after all we have unit 01."
Asuka's eyes widened when she heard that, and she lowered her game and stared hard at Mari, her mind screaming that this was just a joke on the brunette's part, but judging by the look on Mari's face, it was serious.
"Are you kidding?"
Mari looked at her seriously, and taking a deep breath, she spoke.
"It would be good to have reinforcements, and the puppy is a good pilot."
"Have you forgotten that he caused all this shit?" She hadn't believed it herself when she was told, but Mari had lived through it. Not letting herself get carried away with the redhead's bad mood, Mari spoke while still maintaining a serious attitude.
"It was an accident, he wanted to save the blue one and he succeeded, it wasn't his fault that the EVA woke up and made an impact." Mari said sadly as she remembered.
"Who told him to be a hero, just let the perfect girl die and she'd be replaced by some Ayanami model." Asuka spoke in anger, but she knew that in those days nobody knew about the Ayanami types, and with a long sigh she touched her face.
"Gee princess, Rei's not so bad, I bet he'd do the same if were you." Mari said dejectedly, Rei was strange, but at least she was someone at Wunder who didn't see her as a freak.
"Rei is developing well and is proving very useful here."
Asuka clenched her hands as she heard this, quickly remembering when unit 01 had freaked out and destroyed her body on unit 03's failed activation test, her gaze turned dark as she stared at Mari.
"So where was he when I needed him most?"
Mari lowered her gaze as she remembered when she accessed the reports from that particular day, she looked at Asuka and waited for her to finish speaking her grievances.
"That's something I'll never forgive! He ended the world to save the perfect girl and left me to die when I needed him most!" Asuka spoke with great bitterness, her hands white with the strength of her grip.
"He's always been selfish!"
Mari let out a long sigh when she heard that, and spoke calmly.
"Now that he's back, I think you can discuss it."
"The only thing I want from him is to punch him in the face!" Asuka spoke angrily, but deep down she wanted to know why, why he didn't save her like he saved Ayanami? Losing her anger as she took a deep breath, she slowly subsided.
"Why did he do that to me? I thought he liked me."
Mari thought dejectedly, taking a deep breath she spoke calmly.
"Maybe he still likes it, only he can say what happened inside unit 01 that day."
"What would he have to tell me?" Asuka challenged the brunette next to her, she could see that Mari had some arguments to give.
"I don't know, why did he sutck?" Mari still spoke with an innocent look on her face, she knew what she really had that day, Kaji had shown her the truth.
"Stuck?" She wanted to agree with Mari, but her mind wouldn't allow it, Shinji had left her to die, he hadn't done anything, turning around and getting off her bed, she walked to the small bathroom in her room.
"Give me a break."
Mari could see that the subject had died down, she let out a long sigh as she sat down on her bed again, she looked away as she picked up a small box from beside her, typing in a password she opened it and examined the contents, mainly old photos, smiling she looked at one she had taken with Kaji, they were both smiling as they ate a simple ramen, she missed him, but soon her eyes fell on the other, his more worn state showing his age.
Letting out a long sigh as she saw her old college days, Mari smiled as she saw the photo where she was with her best friends in this world, Yui and Kyoko, both older versions of two people she currently knew, feeling a tear run down her cheek, Mari missed them.
Asuka heard the sound coming from the bedroom, she knew that Mari had some secrets, especially one that she kept inside a small box next to her bed, even though she tried to open it to see what was inside, she never found out Mari's password.
Turning around and looking down, she looked at Mari looking at some old photos, letting out a sigh she walked outside, being able to see that there were some people in the old photo, judging it to be Mari's family, she thought of herself next, she wanted to have a family to remember, but being raised in a laboratory she didn't have that luxury.
"Who are they?"
Mari jumped when she heard this, quickly put her things away and locked the small box, then spoke as she wiped her face.
"Nobody."
"Don't give me that shit!" Asuka said annoyed as she pointed at the box.
"What the fuck! What are these secrets? What's so important about this fucking box?"
Mari closed her face in annoyance, she spoke forcefully, but kept her voice controlled.
"That's not your problem, Asuka!"
Mari never used people's names when she was calm, she rarely got angry. Mari could see that her mood affected Asuka, she wiped her face again and spoke in a softer voice.
"You have your secrets Asuka, just like me."
Asuka watched Mari put the box back in her little room, she knew that Asuka would never be able to figure out its password, she looked at her wristwatch and slightly regaining her posture walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Asuka asked when she saw Mari leaving the room dejectedly.
"I'm going for a walk." Mari said as she left. Asuka looked at the small box next to Mari's bed, picked it up and looked at the material calmly, she wondered what secrets her friend was hiding, it intrigued her.
(*)
Mari was walking through the long corridors of Wunder, she wanted to be able to calm down after having become emotional with the memories of the past, she thought about her friends, about how she had 'traveled' in time when she had been absorbed by a nucleus in the initial research of the EVA project, she herself still didn't know why this had happened.
Stopping and looking around, Mari wanted privacy to return to her more intimate work. Knowing that she would have the privacy she desired, she opened the old door, looked around the old room, and took out a device that she always carried with her.
Passing through every corner of the room, she sat down at the table and turned on a computer, smiling as she saw her files waiting to be analyzed, she began her work, with some keystrokes she waited for the secure connection, smiling openly as she saw a person on the other side, she could always count on him.
"Did I wake you up, crown?"
Kaji wiped his hands across his face, he was tired from the long day in the administration of village 03, but for Mari he would always have the time and inclination.
"No, I was enjoying the sound of the fireplace while cleaning my gun."
Mari smiled when she heard this, she quickly remembered calling Kaji, with a long breath she spoke when she saw the static on the screen, Kaji could see that this was big information, Mari was always very careful not to expose her secrets and for her to have called you out of the blue must be something big.
"What happened Mari?"
"We successfully recovered unit 01 from space, but one thing didn't go as planned." Mari spoke as she became more serious, Kaji looked at her attentively, calmly he waited, Mari took a deep breath as she spoke.
"It's happened again."
Kaji nodded on the other end of the line, he knew exactly what that was, Mari spoke more seriously.
"Shinji has somehow returned from the EVA."
"Was he like you?" The man asked as he nodded, Mari could see that he was thoughtful, but answering her initial question.
"No, somehow he kept getting older, now he's twenty-two." Mari said, remembering Sakura's story.
"Strange, you kept your 16-year-old physique when you came back, you only aged again after your return." Kaji said thoughtfully.
"I know, that's why I thought you should know." Mari said as she looked at the door, she could see a shadow passing by, but it seemed that her disguise was still safe.
"The world of EVAS is a strange one, but you did the right thing, do we have confirmation that it really is Shinji?" The man asked seriously.
"Yes, all the tests are proving it's him, no contamination, nothing out of the ordinary." Mari answered as honestly as she could.
"The only thing out of the ordinary was your age."
"Right, that was certainly something strange and new, but at least he made it back." Kaji spoke calmly, then he asked.
"How did Katsuragi react?"
Mari shrugged when she heard this, she never really liked Misato for her lack of empathy regarding her treatment of Asuka.
"That bitch didn't show anything, she put him in an isolation cell and a choker on him."
Kaji smiled when he saw Mari getting upset, and spoke calmly and reassuringly.
"Katsuragi has been through a lot, leave her to me, worry about your main goals, try not to kill her in this time."
Mari laughed at this, she knew how to control herself and now with Shinji back she would have a lot of work to do with her new 'pupils'.
"She really is your problem, but I can't promise anything." The brunette concluded as she raised her hands, but she would never do anything to betray Kaji and his trust.
"I'm worried about him, what will become of the puppy?"
Kaji lost the smile on his face.
"Let's see if I can bring him to the village, I think he'll be safe here, away from all this."
"That would be nice." Mari said as she ran a hand through her hair, she had a lot of files to go through, and with a teasing smile she spoke.
"I'm going to hang up now, you can go back to your old-age snooze." Mari said, laughing.
"This isn't Mrs. Makinami."
Kaji had a shadow of a smile on her face as she turned off the transmission, then her attention returned to the files she had managed to steal from NERV.
"Let's see what we can do in ten minutes."
(*)
Asuka was in her room, still looking at Mari's small box, she wondered if she had the right to break the lock and end this mystery, was Mari not the person she claimed to be? Was she a traitor? Asuka felt a chill run through her body at the thought of it, she put the box down and left the room, sleep or play had lost its meaning at this point.
Outside her room, she looked at the installation that was her room together with Mari, looking at the small lights that flashed next to the explosives that surrounded her, with a feeling of betrayal in her body she thought of Misato.
"She doesn't really trust us." Asuka walked outside, she didn't think about it often, why was it now seeming wrong? Was it because Shinji had awakened certain feelings in her? That much the redhead didn't know.
With slow steps she walked through the long metal corridors of the Wunder, the smell of metal, the texture of metal, it could be said that she could even taste the damn metal, she clenched her hands as she thought about life, then she looked at the entrance to the medical sector of the great ship.
"What am I doing?" The redhead asked herself as she continued walking, looking around, she noticed the empty room due to the time of night, putting her hands inside her red jacket, Asuka looked at the isolation room stopping outside the glass, she could see the large coffin in front of her, her mind still screaming at her to leave, but it seemed right.
Holding out her hand and opening the door, she entered the room, feeling that this wasn't a danger, it wasn't wrong, she just walked inside, listening to the sound of the machines working uselessly and wasting time decontaminating Shinji, she felt a great weight on her back as she approached the large coffin.
Stopping a few centimeters away, she looked into the metal box, she could see Shinji's sleeping face, he was the same idiot as always, just an older man, Asuka looked at the details of his longer hair, his hobo beard, but she knew it wasn't his fault.
"Idiot." Asuka said as she touched the glass, she was still looking at the peaceful features of his face, he looked so calm, so peaceful, so happy.
"Why did you come back?" the redhead said to herself as she began to remember the feelings of many years ago, all the memories of happy times, feeling a small rage take over her body at the worst memory of her life.
"Why didn't you help me!" The woman growled as she clenched her hand into a fist, she wanted to cry, but she fought hard not to, then her gaze fell back on Shinji's face as if he was going to answer her question, but nothing came, only the sound of machinery working.
"You selfish bastard!" Asuka spoke with restrained force, her mind still remembering all the feelings that surrounded the man.
On the other side of the glass, someone looked in calmly, a calm that concealed hurt and resentment, but at the same time admiration, admiration for the man who had once saved his life.
Putting on the protective blanket, Sakura took a deep breath as she entered the room, Asuka looked at the person who had entered and disturbed her moment of self-pity, seeing Sakura's face covered by the layers of protection, the redhead took a deep breath as she walked away.
"Pilot Shikinami, why are you without your protection?" The doctor asked as she approached the coffin, next to her a computer showing the status of the decontamination.
"Because there's no need." Asuka spoke as she put her hands inside her jacket again, and with slow steps she walked outside, her face showing no emotion at what she had done, but her mind was screaming.
Sakura looked at Asuka walking outside, she didn't really understand what the pilots were doing, why they couldn't cooperate like any other crew member, then her eyes fell on the man lying inside the large coffin.
There stood Shinji Ikari, the cause of the third impact, the man who had killed her father and saved her life, she took a deep breath as she stood as professionally as possible, calmly she looked at the reports, knowing that all this was really unnecessary, Shinji was clean.
Calmly, she began to do her work, completely ignoring the red light of the camera that was watching every movement in the room.
(*)
With her mind still full of the emotions she was experiencing again, Asuka walked through the corridors, she didn't even know where she was, she just wanted to walk to clear her mind, calmly she passed through dirty corridors, but one sound in particular caught her attention.
"Mari?" The redhead asked as she followed the extremely low voice, stopping in front of a door, she could hear that something was going on inside, but was it Mari? That she couldn't conclude.
"Fuck." She had a lot to think about and put in order inside her head, and that feeling she never liked, always priding herself on being able to solve all her problems, but why weren't her emotions about Shinji so easy to destroy?
"Damn it." Grumbled the redhead as she continued on her way, she just wished she could shut up those damn emotions that were screaming in her mind.
Why can't I just move on? The redhead muttered angrily, but she could only remember the happy times in Misato's apartment, the lunches, every part of her emotionless life that she enjoyed the most.
Why did you have to come back?
(*)
"Normal blood pressure..." A female voice flooded his mind, he tried to open his eyes, but his body was extremely heavy.
"Where am I?" Shinji thought as he shook his head sideways, but every movement seemed difficult, like being doped up.
"He seems to be waking up now..." Again the female voice spoke next to him, and he tried to move his legs and arms, but felt that it wasn't possible.
"Am I tied up?" The man thought as he tried to move again, but this proved to be a total failure. Slowly opening his eyes, he could see movement on the ceiling. Turning his head sideways, he tried to focus on his surroundings, but he could only see gun barrels in his direction.
"What's going on?" The man asked, his voice extremely hoarse.
Sakura looked up to see Shinji's eyes open. She leaned over to take a good look at his face, confirming that he was awake and lucid, then returned to her report.
"The prisoner is awake and lucid."
"Who is she?" Shinji said as the display in front of him changed, he could see the mirror image of her face, his eyes widening as he saw himself getting older.
"What's going on?" The man asked in fear.
Sakura didn't seem to mind, she quickly asked in the calmest voice she could manage at a time like this.
"Mr. Ikari? Can you recognize yourself?"
Feeling the anxiety getting even stronger, Shinji tried to move, but again the restraints wouldn't allow it.
"Who are you? Where am I? Where's Misato?"
Sakura nodded at this, being able to judge that he knew who it was, and turned and picked up her personal radio to speak to someone.
"He knows who he is and he's agitated..."
Knowing that he wasn't going to get the answers he wanted, Shinji tried to calm down, but something told him that it wasn't going to be good. Looking up, he could see some men in black clothes with blue scarves on their arms, all of them with guns pointed at him.
What's going on? Where is Rei? Thought the anxious man, he feared for the life of the girl he had saved in the last fight against the angel, fearing that something bad had happened.
(*)
Misato was tense, she had asked to bring Shinji to the command bridge, she wanted to be able to look into the eyes of the man who was being judged by everyone, next to her Ritsuko was typing on her control console.
"Why are you bringing him here? Do you think that's wise?"
"We have to have some confirmation, I want to be able to look him in the eye." Misato spoke with a cold voice, in front of her the Wunder panel now turned off.
"What do you think you'll get out of it? You could do that in the interrogation room." The doctor answered Sakura's words skeptically.
Misato clenched her arms as she thought about it, even she wasn't sure why this was happening, but something inside her wanted this moment as soon as possible, the sound of the door opening caught her attention, soon a bunch of armed guards entered carrying the stretcher where Shinji was, Misato didn't lose focus on his face.
Sakura opened the latches on the stretcher, freeing Shinji's limbs. Clumsily standing up, the man stood on the cold floor of the Wunder, he could see the hostile environment around him.
"Dismissed." Misato ordered the soldiers, they all looked at her doubtfully, but they knew they couldn't go against those orders, so they calmly left the room, leaving Shinji and Sakura inside.
"Misato?" Shinji asked doubtfully as he saw the woman standing intimidatingly on the upper stage. His eyes soon fell on the other people in the room, recognizing the faces of Hyuga and Shigeru just below Misato, but the look on their faces was one of suspicion.
Further down, there were other people, all of whom looked at him with anger and resentment. This frightened him very much, and soon a tightness in his neck bothered him, so he took his hand and touched the cold object to his skin.
"What's going on?"
"Is that really him?" Misato asked as she saw how Shinji had changed in this world, now a grown man and tall, his face now covered by a beard, his hair was long, but he still had that look in his eyes, the same look of the lost boy he met seven years ago.
Feeling old feelings touching her heart, Misato blinked to return to the real world, turning to her subordinate and waiting for an answer.
"Yes, the tests indicate that it's him." The doctor replied as she opened the reports.
"Misato!?" What's going on!?" Shinji spoke more forcefully, he wanted some answers, but it seemed that no one was going to give them to him.
"All right, take him to the cell..." The woman ordered, but before she could finish her orders, alarms went off everywhere.
"Enemy approaching from the north!" Hyuga typed into his console, and the image quickly appeared in front of everyone.
"Units mark 04, we must retreat as we always do!" Ritsuko spoke with determination.
"They must have found out what we did in space!"
"No... let's show what we're capable of." She said with strong determination.
"Misato, we didn't do the initial tests!" Complained the fake blonde.
"Everyone to battle stations now! Let's take off!" Misato ordered as she crossed her arms, Shinji looked down as he saw the red sea in front of him, he wished he could help.
"Is that an angel?" Sakura tried to lead him out, but Shinji didn't move.
"Systems ready! Backup batteries in average condition." Voices began to flood the command bridge, Shinji looked at everyone around him as if they weren't even there, looking up as he tried to speak, but his body froze at Misato's next words.
"Mari?" The commander asked sharply, she had to get allies from outside Wunder.
"Impossible now!" Misato bit her lip as she thought about what her pilot would be doing at a time like this, but now was not the time to waste time.
"Asuka!?"
"I'm already in my EVA!" The redhead replied with determination, the same she had before the battles. Right next to her, unit 02 passed by one of the windows, and she could see all the renovations it had received in order to be able to function again.
Shinji ran to the window, Sakura thought to stop him, but she could see that he wasn't going to do anything, looking down when he heard that Asuka was alive.
"She's alive!"
Misato looked at Shinji to see how happy he was to hear about Asuka, but she had a battle to win.
"Let's take off! Get full power to the sustaining HV field generators!"
"The systems haven't been tested properly, we're not ready yet!" Tama reported from her seat; in her hands was a user manual on how the new EVA systems worked.
"Stop complaining and do your jobs!" Akagi ordered, knowing there would be no conversation with Misato, Wunder would take off and nothing would change that.
"Kaji was right about her, Misato really is a bit crazy hahaha." Koji spoke amusedly instead, he would be responsible for guiding Wunder through the air, everyone around him gave him suspicious looks, but for the older man it was never a real problem.
Holding onto the side bars, the Wunder slowly came to life, meter after meter it rose, Shinji could finally see the enemy in the background, he clenched his hands as he felt their determination as he turned and looked at Misato.
"Is that an angel?" But again he didn't get the answer he wanted, it annoyed him deeply, he wasn't going to fail her again, he had to fight, taking a determined step forward, he observed everyone looking at him.
"What the hell! Where's unit 01? Take me outside to help Asuka!"
Sakura clutched her belongings and looked around. She wished she could say something to Shinji, but decided to keep quiet. Almost everyone looked at Shinji with anger and resentment.
Misato deep down admired Shinji's bravery, but she couldn't let him enter an EVA again, so she coolly removed her glasses, looking at Shinji as if he were an insect.
"Ikari Shinji, you will never do anything else." Misato quickly turned and looked at Sakura and ordered.
"Take him to the cell."
Shinji felt as if he had been punched hard in the stomach, feeling his strength being sapped from his body, he felt all the anger of the people around him, what had happened to make everyone treat him like this?
On the one hand Sakura felt sorry for Shinji, but on the other hand she didn't, she approached Shinji, slowly she held him by the arm, she could pull him like a ventricle dummy, he had no strength left.
"What happened?" Was the only thing Shinji managed to say before the sounds flooded the room; the battle outside was raging, but all he could think of was emptiness.
Sakura led him out, slowly they entered the elevator, she looked at all the people running around in the corridors, all unaware of who this person was that she was holding, it didn't take long for them to enter the detention area.
Shinji sat on his bed, his mind still feeling Misato's coldness, why was all this happening to him?
Sakura looked at Shinji sitting on the bed with a dejected and betrayed look, she nodded to the guard locking the small room, she had to prepare for the wounded who would need her care.
Author's notes: Hello Calborghete people here... Is everyone okay? I hope so... What did you think of the first chapter? Did you like it in general, tell me in the comments, I swear I'll answer this time.
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