The Child of Love 2: End of the beginning
Neon Genesis Evangelion is brainchild of Hideaki Anno, and the property
of Gainax. The Child of Love is the idea of Axel Terizaki, I'm just
carrying on his legacy. I might also occasionally poke fun at other Eva
fanfics and anime shows. This fanfic is not making any money, so suing
me is pointless, sue Axel instead, he's the evil mastermind =)
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
Chapter #4:0 And so it begins/There is a hole in your mind
Ikari/Katsuragi residence
"Don't leave me...don't leave us..." Asuka begged as she ran after
Shinji down a multi-door hallway, with Teri in her arms. Strangely, she
was in her plug suit. Asuka opened one last door, which opened to a
white room.
In front of her, a woman in hospital gown stood in the middle of the
room. Asuka's mother, carrying a toy doll, faced her with a smile. Asuka
hugged Teri closer, and took a step back.
"Like mother, like daughter," the woman said, smiling.
"No!" Asuka shouted back, "I'm not crazy! I'm not like you! I'll never
be like you!"
"Are you sure?" the woman asked.
"Yes! I care for my daughter! I will be there for Teri-chan!"
"Are you sure?" the woman asked, again.
"Shin-chan loves me! For real! He'd never leave us!"
"Are you sure?" the woman asked, again.
"My life is fine! I am I! Not you!"
The woman said nothing this time; instead, she just pointed at Asuka
with one hand. Asuka looked down to Teri, but she wasn't there anymore.
Instead, Teri had been replaced by a toy doll, just like the one Asuka's
mother was holding. Asuka looked back up, only to see her mother in a
plug suit very much like hers. Blood drained from the young girl's face,
and she dropped the doll. It seemed to take forever to fall, and when it
did hit the ground, it made an unnaturally loud sound...
BAAAM!
Asuka snapped out of her dream, and looked around. Outside her window,
the busy sounds of construction could be heard. She got out of bed, and
walked out the room. Asuka walked quietly into Teri's room, only to find
her awake and sucking on her pacifier.
"Hi, Teri-chan," Asuka said as she picked up her daughter, "what are you
doing up? Can't sleep either?" Teri giggled through her pacifier, happy
to see her mother; happy to see that she had no tears on her face.
"Let's get some fresh air," Asuka put a little pink jacket on Teri, and
took her out onto the porch. The night sky was clear, and stars
glistened in their domain. The moon was also up, its crescent form
illuminating the night sky with a soft glow. A distance from them,
Tokyo-3 was bristling with lights and activities, despite the time of
day. Reconstruction of damaged buildings from the last attack was being
done all day and all night, in an attempt to finish as soon as possible.
Just a few blocks away, repairs were being made to several damaged
buildings. Stray fires from the last Angel attack had grazed some nearby
buildings.
"Damnit," she said, holding Teri up to see the view, "when are they
gonna be finished? Who is responsible for..." She trailed off, "this..."
Behind her, the porch door slid open and Shinji stepped outside.
"Asuka-chan," he said gently as he draped his brown jacket on her back,
"you shouldn't be out like this, you might catch a cold."
"I'm fine Shin-chan," she replied as Shinji embraced her from behind, "I
just needed some air."
---
Satori residence
Takuma stood out on his porch, too. He also couldn't sleep. So instead,
he spends his night imagining himself, in his Eva.
Stomping the construction sites to bits. After a while, he leaned back
and look at the moon. Its blue glow triggering a thought in the boy's
mind.
"I wonder if Rei-chan could sleep," he said to himself.
---
Ayanami residence
Rei turned over in her bed, sleeping peacefully. She had no problem
ignoring the chaotic sounds of construction close to her home.
---
Ikari/Katsuragi residence
After a little while, the door slid opened again, and Misato stepped
onto the porch.
"Shinji-kun," she said as she put her jacket on him, "you'll catch a
cold."
"Thanks, Misato-san," he said. Not saying anything else, they admired
the night's beauty. Then the door opened again, and Pen Pen stepped out
onto the porch. He passed another jacket to Misato.
"Put this on, Misato-san," Pen Pen said, "or you might catch a cold..."
"Thanks Pen Pen," Misato said as she took the coat, "that's very nice of
you."
"No problem," said the penguin, "if you'll excuse me, I have a report to
finish." Pen Pen went back inside, the door slid shut behind him.
"Goodnight," said Misato, suddenly she realized something. "Did he just
talk?!" she shouted.
"What's wrong, Misato-san?" said Shinji, turning to face her.
"Yeah," Asuka turned to face Misato, also, "Pen Pen always talked." Teri
pulled the pacifier out of her mouth.
"What's wrong, aunt Misato?" asked Teri with a little baby smile.
Misato snapped out of her dream, her eyes wide open.
"Ack...no more beers in the middle of the night," she said, getting out
of bed. She went to the couple's door and gently slid it open. Inside,
Asuka and Shinji were sleeping peacefully, with Teri between them.
Misato smiled at the scene, and went back to her room.
Morning.
"Ohayou gazaimasu", the gang called out. Hikari, Touji, and Kensuke had
just returned from their summer vacation. They all had left of their
trip the day the 15th Angel attacked, which was 2 weeks ago. As soon as
they came back, they were told what had happened. Hikari was the first
one to enter the apartment. The moment she saw Asuka, she gave her a big
hug.
"Are you ok, Asuka-chan?" asked Hikari.
"Yeah," Asuka said, "they kept me in the hospital for almost 2 weeks,
but I'm fine."
Touji and Kensuke went up to Shinji, who was carrying Teri.
"Hey there, young father," they greeted.
"Hi guys," said Shinji, "say hi to uncle Touji and Kensuke, Teri-chan."
"Uncle?" gasped Touji.
"You make us sound like old men!" cried Kensuke. Teri giggled at their
expression.
"So how was your trip?" Shinji asked the two.
"It was ok..." said Touji, looking away.
"He's just being modest," said Kensuke, "he ran into the class rep at
the beach. Apparently, she was wearing a two-piece bathing suit..."
Touji turned red, "my little sister was well enough to go on the trip,
so I spent most of my time looking after her."
"Most of your time," asked Shinji, "not all of your time?"
"Of course not," said Kensuke jokingly, "he had to take the class rep on
long romantic walks on the beach." Kensuke looked to Touji for his
reaction on the joke.
"Well..." Touji turned even redder. Kensuke's jaw dropped to the floor.
"Hmmm...long walks on the beach," said Shinji, "I got to talk Asuka to
the beach sometime. Maybe it'll cheer her up."
"Cheer her up?" Touji looked towards Asuka, who is chatting and laughing
with Hikari, "she looks fine to me. What's wrong? What did the last
Angel do, anyway?"
Shinji quickly changed the subject, "I almost forgot, there's someone
you guys should meet."
---
Satori residence
"Good morning," Takuma said with a smile, "come on in."
Asuka, Shinji, Touji, Hikari, and Kensuke entered the boy's apartment.
"Please make your self at home," he said.
"Everyone," announced Shinji, "this is Takuma, he's the fourth Child.
Takuma, this is Kensuke, Touji, and Hikari."
"Hi, welcome to Tokyo-3," the three said. Touji casually took a step
closer to Hikari, trying to send a message to Takuma. Hikari responded
by elbowing Touji. Meanwhile Kensuke sighed, and muttered 'why didn't
they pick me as pilot?'
"Nice to meet you all!" Takuma said, offering his hand. Kensuke shook
it, while Touji passed, politely. "So, what exactly do you do here for
fun?" he asked, "I've been stuck in this apartment for the past two
weeks."
"What?" gasped Shinji, "you mean, you've been staying home all this
time."
"Well," Takuma said, "I've been cleaning this place, and getting myself
acquainted with NERV headquarter...other than that..." He sighed, "no
one showed me around the city yet."
"Well," Hikari said, "let's change all that! I know a great place we can
all go!"
"What about Teri-chan?" asked Asuka, "we can't just leave her home
alone!"
"Bring her along," Hikari replied, "come on Asuka, I'm positive this
will cheer you up."
---
AXL Game Center (didn't think I forgot about this place, did you =)
"Bonjour!" said Guillaume as the group entered the well air-conditioned
building, "it's been so long! Glad to see everyone's well."
"Je suis heureuse de vous revoir aussi, Guillaume" Asuka said.
Guillaume then saw the baby in Asuka's arms, "that's must be Teri-chan!"
Asuka smiled and held her up for Axel...I mean Guillaume to see.
"What a cute baby, she looks like her mother..." he commented.
"Of course she does," Asuka said, "she's got my superior genes."
Guillaume noticed the other addition to the group.
"And who is this?" he asked.
"Bonjour, je m'appelle Satori Takuma," the boy said.
"He's the new Eva pilot," Shinji said.
"Ravi de faire ta connaissance," Guillaume said.
"Err...ma francais n'est pas bien," Takuma stuttered.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Guillaume translated, "welcome to AXL
Game Center."
By this time, the group of teenagers with the baby was drawing attention
from the center's customers. Guillaume noticed this, and made a choice;
he turned around to look for someone.
"GORDON!!!" Guillaume shouted, "come here!"
(Poor guy, who the heck is Gordon anyway?)
From a little distance away, a blond man as tall as Guillaume appeared.
"Yes... I'm coming! Geez, everyone's always shouting at me..." the man
said, walking up to Guillaume.
"Close the center," Guillaume said.
"Whaaat?!" asked a bewildered Gordon, "this is our best day since summer
started! Why? Why are you doing this again?"
"We've got special guests," Guillaume said, looking over his shoulder at
the group. Gordon was on the verge of tears.
"Please...you gotta reconsider..." he pleaded, but Guillaume just stared
him down. A defeated Gordon wandered towards the main office, where the
PA system was. Asuka tapped Guillaume on the shoulder to get his
attention.
"You don't have to do this," she said, "I don't wanna cost you so much
money because of this."
"Friendships over money" he simply replied.
Asuka smiled at that.
"Err...attention all customers," Gordon announced through the PA system,
"due to special circumstances, the AXL Game Center is now closed. Please
feel free to return tomorrow, when we'll be following our normal
schedules..." the next part was almost a whisper, "I hope..."
The group stepped aside as hoards of customers left the building. Many
of them were upset, but the look on Teri's face melted their hearts into
warm and fuzzy goo. They all left smiling.
"The center is clear," Gordon said a moment later, "please enjoy
yourselves."
"Gordon," said Guillaume.
"Yes?" he was just about to leave.
"Leave the tokens."
Gordon handed over a large amount tokens, "err...on the
house...again..."
"Wow," Takuma said, "already I got free stuff, and I haven't even showed
him my NERV ID."
Guillaume led the group through the center.
"As you can see, we've reorganized and added some new games since the
last time you guys where here," he said proudly.
"I can't wait to kick your butts in CAPCOM vs. SNK 2010: Next
Generation," Asuka said to everyone.
"Unless Rei kicks your butt," said Hikari.
"Where is Rei?" asked Takuma, but no one knew the answer.
---
Dummy plug factory, NERV headquarter
The room was dark and circular in shape, with a strange glass and metal
structure in the center, attached to the floor and ceiling by twisting
tubes. The walls of the room were actually the sides of a large, LCL-
filled tank. Inside the tank, countless nude bodies floated. They were
all alike, sharing the same featured down to the genetic detail.
They were all Ayanami Rei, or at least in form. There's however, was a
different Rei in the room. In the center of the chamber, floating inside
the metal and glass structure, was yet another Ayanami.
This one was different from all the rest, in that she had a soul.
Rei opened her eyes, and watched through the ember-colored liquid, at
the countless others like herself. No, she thought, they're not me; I am
I. She watched the human shaped shells, devoid of any souls. I am Rei; I
have a soul, she thought, yet I am the second. She raised her right
hand, and checked the time on her wristwatch. Every since Commander
Ikari was imprisoned, there had been no more dummy plug tests, no more
related experiments.
No one to wake her up from her sleep inside the LCL tank, no one to
share a meal with afterwards. Yet still, she feels compelled to come
down here ever so often, and soak inside the tank. What am I doing here?
She thought, closing her eyes, I have no further purpose here.
I have no further purpose here.
Ayanami Rei, designated 1st Child.
Pilot of Evangelion Unit-00.
The key to the beginning of Instrumentality, and the Human
Complementation Project.
There is no more Instrumentality, no more Human Complementation Project.
Soon there will be no more Angels; no more need for the Evangelions.
No more need for me?
Commander Ikari no longer needs me; I've abandoned him.
Soon Vice-Commander Misato will no longer need me, too.
What purpose will I serve then?
To live, but for myself?
To act, but on my own will?
Ikari-kun no longer needs me; he has his happiness.
Takuma-kun? He needs...wants the first Rei.
But I am Rei, am I not?
The soulless shells smiled at Rei, as if trying to answer her question.
Even though I am the second...one of many, all sharing the same form. I
am unique, I am real, I possess a soul.
To serve no purpose except to live for oneself.
To act not on the wills of others but on the will of oneself.
To be needed not as a tool, but as a friend.
In other words, not to be a doll.
Rei gazed out once again, at nude forms.
What if he finds out the truth? What if he sees this?
Rei pressed the palm of her right hand against the glass, and turned her
attention to a cart in the room. On it, lay a large remote control. With
it, she could end the life of the lifeless shells.
But then the second Rei will be the last Rei.
A thought suddenly struck the girl.
What happens if I die? There would be no return from nothingness this
time. For a long time, I longed for the return to nothingness; the day
when Commander Ikari would have no more need for me.
But now I fear it; I want to go on.
She came to a conclusion.
No, not yet.
Sounds of footsteps can be heard, as a figure emerged from the darkness.
"Rei," said Vice-Commander Katsuragi.
"..."
"Still haven't decided?"
"..."
"It's alright, Rei, this isn't an easy decision" she said, turning to
leave. "That remote will always be there," she slowly disappeared back
into the darkness, "this choice will always be yours."
"..."
---
AXL Game Center
"KO" the arcade game machine accounted, as Asuka's Athena beats Touji's
Guile for the 3rd time in a roll. Shinji held Teri in his arms, as
everyone watched Asuka triumph once again.
"Ack, you're too easy," Asuka said, "who's my next victim?"
"I think it's Takuma's turn to get his butt kicked," Touji growled.
Takuma stepped up to the controls.
"So this button's kick, and this one's punch?" he asked, "I've never
played this before."
"Just hit the buttons randomly," Kensuke said, "maybe you'll get lucky,
and perform a combo."
"What's a combo?"
"Just play."
"Don't worry," Asuka said with a smile, "I'll go easy on you."
For this game, Asuka chose Athena again, and Takuma chose Kyo.
"Round one," the machine said, "fight!"
Almost immediately, Asuka performs a Phoenix Arrow, followed by a Psycho
Sword, smashing Takuma across the screen. He didn't even have a chance
to recover before Asuka finished him off with a Shining Crystal Bit.
"KO," the machine announced, "round two...fight!"
Takuma smash at the buttons desperately, trying to make his fighter do
something, anything. Miraculously, he manages to perform the Saishu
Ketsuken Ougii (Pseudo Type Absolute Flame), catching Asuka off guard.
With a little more luck, he manages to win this round.
"Beginner's luck," she said, "this one's for real."
"Round three...fight!"
Asuka showed no mercy, charging Takuma and performing a Psycho Ball.
Takuma managed to dodge that, but gets hit with a Phoenix Arrow. He
retaliated by performing a Compose Sin. As the battle progressed, both
players' health got dangerously low. Asuka made a tactical retreat to
the far side of the screen, and prepares to finish Takuma off with a
special combo. Takuma pressed at his control furiously, trying to beat
Asuka to a combo.
"Game over," said Asuka as she reached down to the button that would
complete Athena's special combo and send Kyo to an early grave.
From the corner of her eyes, Asuka saw a reflection of someone behind
her. The image of a woman in white, carrying something in her arms,
reflecting off the plastic cover of the arcade machine.
Asuka spun around, her eyes wide open, searching for the source of the
reflection. She found no such person behind her. Shinji noticed her
confused expression.
"What's wrong, Asuka-chan?" he asked, walking up to her with Teri.
"I..." she began.
"KO," the machine announced, "Kyo wins." Takuma had managed to perform a
combo while Asuka wasn't paying attention.
"Nothing," Asuka said, "the light got reflected into my eyes, that's
all."
Behind them, Takuma danced around in celebration of his victory. Kensuke
and Touji were commenting on how unbelievably luck he was.
"I'm tired," Asuka said, taking Teri from Shinji's arms, "and it's
getting late, Let's go home."
The group bid their good-byes and thanks to Guillaume, and went home.
---
Ikari/Katsuragi residence
"We're home," Shinji called out as he, Asuka, and Teri entered the
apartment.
"Just as I suspected," Asuka said, "she isn't home." Shinji went and
check the answering machine.
"Hi, I'm going out for a drink with Kaji-kun after work. Don't wait up,
bye."
"She's not coming home tonight," observed Asuka.
---
A bar (one of those nice, classy ones)
Misato brought her glass to her lips, and took a small sip of its
contents. The savored the taste of the red wine for a moment, before
swallowing it.
"So where did you disappear to for weeks?" she asked causally.
"Top secret mission," Kaji responded, "if I told you, I'd have to kill
you."
"Very funny," Misato didn't look amused, "it's been over a month since
you got the grand tour of NERV headquarter." She took another sip of her
wine, "what are you going to tell the Ministry of Interior?"
"I was thinking something in the lines of 'NERV was going to evolve
mankind into a whole new state of being, by killing everyone, but
everything's fine now because they changed their mind'."
"Blunt," she commented, "have to give you bonus marks for your direct
approach, but have to take marks off for the fact that the JSSDF would
invade NERV headquarter and kill everyone."
"You're being too pessimistic," he smiled, "they would never dare to do
something so drastic."
"Never underestimate politicians when their own necks are on the line."
Kaji looked at Misato with his boyish grin.
"What's wrong? You're more down than usual tonight."
Misato sighed, "I never though being the Vice-Commander of NERV would be
so hard, the stress, the workload..."
"Ok, now the real reason."
"Asuka."
"..."
"She been having nightmares lately, ever since a few weeks before the
last Angel attack. I think that before it was just the stress of being a
young mother."
"But now after the Angel's 'attack'?"
"I think might be worsening into a real problem."
"Have you consulted Ritsuko-san?"
"No, not yet," Misato look down, her eyes narrowing, "but if it gets any
worse..."
"Asuka's a strong girl, and she's got Shinji-kun and Teri-chan," he
said, placing a bill on the bar, "it's getting late, let's get out of
here."
Sometime later.
Misato lay on a bed, and lit a cigarette. At the foot of the bed were
two sets of clothing, two pairs of footwear, and two pistols and
holsters.
---
Vice-Commander's office, next day
Misato slumped over her desk, hey eyes blood shot. In front of her,
stood Ritsuko, with a large folder. She placed it on Misato's desk.
"You want the weird news first, or the really weird news first?" Ritsuko
asked with a smile.
"Surprise me," Misato grumbled.
"Unit-01 shouldn't have been able to block the Angel's psycho attack
like that. If Unit-02's own AT-Field had no effect against the attack,
Unit-01's field shouldn't either. It could be due to the fact that
Shinji's synch ratio temporary sky rocketed when he was trying to
protect Asuka, we don't know."
"Well, let me guess, that was the 'weird news', but then, Unit-01 has
always been full of surprises," Misato took a drink of coffee, "remember
how Asuka delivered Teri-chan in there, all by herself?"
"Yes, I know," Ritskuo said, "Asuka still wouldn't tell me how she did
it."
"So what's the really weird news?"
"Well," Ritsuko frowned a bit, "we kind of detected another AT-Field
during the last attack...inside Central Dogma..."
"What?!" Misato jumped to her feet, "the Angel was trying to attack us
also?"
"No," Ritsuko said, "the pattern didn't belong to Angels or Evas. It was
very narrow and tightly focused, quite low on the frequency chart. We
almost missed it when we were going over the computer logs of the
attack. It could have been a system error, but we checked four times to
make sure it was not."
Misato stared at Ritsuko, at a loss of words.
"We believe the source of the field to be human," Ritsuko's eyes
narrowed a bit, "or at least something close to human."
"But human beings can't generate an AT-Field."
"We don't know that for sure," Ritsuko looked at Misato with an evil
grin, "now you get to chose between the good news and the bad news."
"What?" Misato gasped, "there's more?"
"I'll take that as 'gimme the good news first'," said Ritsuko, "we found
what caused the Sea of Dirac that swallowed 3rd Branch."
Misato put down her coffee cup, and gave Ritsuko her full attention.
"It was Unit-04's port side wing," Ritsuko began, "as you know, every
Evangelion so far has two wings. Unit-00 and 01's wings carries a
primary and a back up progressive knife. Unit-02's left wing carries a
progressive knife, but its right wing carries a large caliber flechette
launcher."
"So?"
"Unit-04's is unlikely any of the above, it's a modular design," Ritsuko
opened the folder on Misato's desk and flipped to the wing's schematics.
"A completely removable upper section, allowing quick and easy change of
the wing's payload. It's capable of holding anything from the typical
extra progressive knife, to sensor packages, or extra batteries. This
design has long since been on the drawing board, but was finished too
late to be accommodated into Unit-01 or 02."
"So what? You mean to tell me that a simple wing component caused the
disappear..." Misato changed the word, "the death of thousands?"
"Well," Ritsuko said, "that's the bad news. The current payload of Unit-
04's right wing is a complex array of computers, antennas, and field
generators. Apparently it's some sort of electronics warfare package."
"Why would someone put a electronics warfare package into an Eva?"
Misato demanded, "the last time I heard, the Angels didn't use radios!
What were those damned Americans thinking?"
"I wasn't finished, normally those things are quite harmless, but
they've been reprogrammed. Someone deliberately set the system to
generate a Sea of Dirac. How they do it? I don't know, it's suppose to
be beyond our current understanding of physics."
"So what now?" asked Misato.
"That's up to you, but I would suggest have the wing removed."
"Do it, I want the thing taken apart and studied, can you replace it
with something?"
"I'll have the machine shops fabricate a replacement wing, for holding
an extra progressive knife."
"Good, I'll have a word with our American colleagues, maybe they can
shine some light on this. Did you tell Commander Fuyutsuki this yet?"
"No," Ritsuko shook her head, "he's in another meeting with the council
again."
"I thought he said it was a waste of time," Misato said.
"Doesn't mean he doesn't have to go," Ritsuko replied, and left the
office.
---
SEELE council chamber
"So Fuyutsuki-sensai," began chairman Kihl, "how's the weather in Tokyo-
3 this time of the year?"
"It's fine, chairman Kihl," replied Fuyutsuki, smiling.
"How is the Project progressing?"
"We're almost back on schedule," lied Fuyutsuki.
"Good, good," commented Kihl, "you are a most excellent Commander,
Fuyutsuki-sensei."
You maybe confident now, but someday you're gonna be punished for your
actions, both man thought at the same time.
God, this is a waste of time, everyone in the room thought.
---
NERV headquarter, a day later
"Just the two of us?" Takuma asked the surveillance camera on the wall.
"That's right," Misato's voice came the PA system, "we feel that Asuka
isn't ready to come back to work yet, and that Shinji-kun should stay
home with her."
"Work?" Takuma asked quietly, "it's not like we get paid or anything."
"Your NERV ID allows you to purchase almost any items at your
discretion," Rei said, standing in a booth next to his. Opaque dividers
blocked the view of nude bodies from each other.
"Come on, we don't have all day," Ritsuko said through the PA, "Rei, you
go first."
"Hai," Rei stepped out of her booth, and walked down the corridor.
Takuma closed his eyes; he was no hentai. Still, he though, I wonder
what she looks like without...
"Aaahchoo," Takuma sneezed, having been hit by a cold breeze from the
ventilation system.
Rei stopped in the track, and turn 90o to partially face Takuma.
"God bless you," she said. That's what they say when people sneezes on
TV and in books, she thought, first time I've used it, though.
"Thank you, Rei," he said, look up, forgetting were he was...
His face paled considerably, and his eyeballs left their sockets.
"Takuma-kun," said Rei, still standing there, "you are suffering from a
nose bleed."
"..."
---
Ikari/Katsuragi residence
The entire apartment was filled with the soft sound of Shinji's cello,
as he held a private performance for his beloved family. Asuka held Teri
in her arms, and Shinji performed his last piece of the day.
"That was beautiful, Shin-chan," said Asuka, "what is it?"
"Suiten fur Violoncello solo Nr. 1 G-dur," replied Shinji, as he begins
to pack away his cello. "I'm a little rusty, haven't been practicing
lately."
"Naw, you were great! Maybe someday I can go back to playing the violin,
and we can play together."
"That would be great," said Shinji.
"Hear that Teri-chan? Both of your parents play a string instrument,
maybe someday you will follow in our foot steps."
"I hope she doesn't end up being an Eva pilot," Shinji said as he took a
seat beside Asuka, "I hope she grows up in a better world then this."
"It's up to us to make it better."
---
Deep inside NERV headquarter
The former Commander of NERV sat at his small table, inside his dark
cell. He faced a blank wall beside the door, with his hands in front of
his mouth.
The door slid open, letting light into the dark room.
"Ikari, you have a visitor," a large guard said.
Ikari, thought Gendo, simply Ikari, not mister, not commander. No more
fear at the sound of my name, no more awe at the sheer power I once
held.
The fools.
"..."
"Come in, Rei," said Gendo, not taking his eyes off the wall.
"..."
"I've been expecting you," he said, still not looking at her.
"..."
"Meals have been very lonely ever since I was put here," he said with a
small grin under his hands. He turned his head slightly, and looked Rei
in the eyes.
Somehow, he knew everything.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I thought it was the best choice," the light from out side the
cell glared off Gendo's shaded glasses.
"We didn't know if you would remember him, when you didn't, I decided it
was better to leave it that way."
"So it would be easier for me to be your doll?" Rei asked, an unusual
trace of coldness lingered in her words.
"I had nothing against Takuma," replied Gendo, "he was a good child, and
you two were very close. You used to have him over all the time."
---
Ikari residence, Geofront, 2006
" Good morning, Mr Ikari," greeted Takuma as Gendo opened the door. It
was a Saturday, and Rei has just given him a call, inviting him over.
"Good morning, Takuma-kun," said Gendo with a small grin, "Rei's in her
room."
"Thank you sir," the boy ran past Gendo towards Rei's room. He stopped
in front of a closed door, with a Hello Kitty sign on the door. He
knocked on the door.
"I'm here."
"Come in," came the reply. Takuma opened the door and walked in.
"Hey Rei-chan, what did you want to show..." his face paled, "me..."
In front of him, was a room in incredible disorder. Clothes, books,
stuffed animals, and toys were scattered liberally around the room. The
trash basket was over flowing with litter, and the bed was beyond
unmade.
Rei looked at Takuma with a mischievous smile.
"No...not again..." Takuma said, "I think I hear my mother calling
me...I gotta go!"
Rei switch from a mischievous smile to a puppy face.
"Ack...no...that not fair..." the boy backed into the door, "I helped
you last time!"
Rei added a sad look to the puppy face.
"Pleeeease..." she asked in the most kawaii voice she could manage.
Takuma took one look at Rei, then his heart seized up and melted.
"Ok, you win," Takuma sighed.
"Thank you, Takuma-chan!" said Rei, walking over and giving him a small
hug.
"You can start by emptying my trash basket," she ordered, pointing at a
container in the corner over flowing with candy wrappers and other
items.
(Author's note: Hmmm... I guess little Rei learned the part about using
other people to do your dirty work from Gendo...)
---
Satori residence, later that afternoon
Kasumi took a can of pop from the fridge, and walked to the TV. She
slumped down on the sofa and turned on the TV. She found a channel
showcasing Japanese music videos, and cranked up the volume.
"Kasumi-chan," Seyoko emerged from her room a moment later, "can you
turn that down?" She headed towards the couch.
Kasumi responded by opening her can of pop, and taking a long drink.
"Please honey, I've got reports to finish..." Kasumi's mother slowly
closed in on the girl.
Kasumi responded by starting to sing along with the TV.
"Watashi ni kaeri nasai...Umareru mae ni..."
Seyoko closed to striking range of her intended target...
"I SAID TURN IT DOWN!" Seyoko shouted, her head growing to many times
its usual size, and having a mouth full of sharp teeth.
Kasumi flew off the couch and quickly turn the TV down.
"That's better," Seyoko said, her calm demeanor returning. Kasumi
cowered behind another sofa.
"Where is your brother? It's getting late, I hope he doesn't end up
staying at Commander Ikari's house for dinner, again."
"No, he's probably helping Rei clean up her room, again." Kasumi slowly
emerges from her hiding place.
"Speaking of cleaning, shouldn't you be cleaning your room?"
"But..."
"Have you finished your homework?"
"No, I..."
"I think it's your turn to wash the dishes this week."
Kasumi quickly retreated into her room, before her mother could come up
with anymore chores.
---
Ikari residence
Takuma collapsed on the floor of Rei's now tidy room.
"Finally..." he said, "no more..." He pulled himself off the carpet and
sat crossed legged on the floor.
"Thank you Takuma-chan," said Rei as she returns to her room. She passed
him a soda pop, while keeping one for herself.
"Please don't mess your room up like that again," Takuma begged.
"I promise," Rei said with a smile, Takuma wasn't very convinced.
"I've got something for you," Rei said, tossing her now empty pop can at
the trashcan and missing. She opened a drawer on her desk, and began to
pull stuff out.
"I just put those in there..." said Takuma as Rei messes up the drawer.
"Nope, not in this one," she said, moving on to another drawer and
messing that one up. By the time she found what she was looking for, she
had emptied 4 drawers, and created quite a mess.
"Found it!" she pulled out a small scrapbook, and sat down in front of
Takuma.
"This is for you," she said, handing the book over. He took it with both
hands, and opened it.
"Wow," he said. Inside were many crayon drawings, all done by Rei.
"That's you," Rei said, pointing to a little stick figure, "and that's
me, that's the Commander, that's your big sister, that's your mom..."
"Who's that?" Takuma asked, pointing to a drawing of a woman, with horns
coming out of her head and fangs coming out of her mouth.
"That's Dr Akagi."
"I know her, she's scary."
"Commander Ikari doesn't like her, but don't tell anyone I said that,"
whispered Rei, "it's a secret."
"Ok," he flipped through some more pages, and some stuff fell out of the
book. They were little cutouts of some of Rei's drawings. Takuma
carefully picked them up and put them back in the book.
"Thank you Rei-chan," he said, smiling, "you're the best! You're so
smart and pretty."
Rei blushed at the comment.
---
Deep inside NERV headquarter, present day
"You're so smart and pretty..."
Rei opened her eyes, startled. The surge of memories, emotions,
feelings... All so warm, yet distant. One moment they were clear as
glass, the next as faint as a morning fog.
"Goodbye," Rei said, turning to leave.
"Wait, Rei," Gendo said, "I have a question."
"..."
"How is my granddaughter doing?"
Rei ignored the question, and promptly left the cell. The door closed
behind her, returning the cell to its normal state of darkness.
END of Chapter #4.0 version 2 (08/20/99)
Version 1 dated 08/19/99
Version 2 dated 08/20/99
Version 3 dated 00/00/00
Roll credits with moon and Rei backdrop, play something from Evangelion
while I talk about some things.
Author's words:
Smaller chapter this time, and maybe next time, too. Hope that's ok with
everyone. You might be wondering why Gendo's so nice during those
flashbacks. It is my theory that he became more and more sinister as
time passed, but at one time he still had a quite of humanity left in
him. It was bad when Yui died, and it became worse after, well...
*whistles* BTW, thanks to all those who have contacted me through ICQ or
e-mailed me, your responses really means a great deal to me. =) Keep 'em
coming! Oh and, IS THERE ANYONE LIVING IN CANADA? I mean, come on,
biggest country in the world, and not one fanfic reader in the same
country as me? Ok, no more insane rambling till next chapter... later
folks =)
My e-mail: damnit@intergate.bc.ca
My ICQ: 8155557
Also, please (very please) visit Axel Terizaki's wonderful, award
winning website, at: http://asukanotebook.tsx.org
He great, he wise, he Axel.
My wonderful prereaders for this chapter:
Axel, EBJ, |ncubus, and Rajen
Preview of next chapter/episode:
SEELE attacks! (No, not with the mass production Evas, those are still a
looong way off, a looooooooong way. *sinister laugh* Heeheeheehee...)
And Mygard returns as a cynical garden gnome this time.
Chapter 4 outtakes:
Number 1.
Satori residence
Takuma stood out on his porch, too. He also couldn't sleep. So instead,
he spends his night imagining himself, in his Eva.
Stomping the construction sites to bits. After a while, he leaned back
and look at the moon. Its blue glow triggering a thought in the boy's
mind.
"I wonder if Rei-chan could sleep," he said to himself.
---
Ayanami residence
Rei sat up in her bed.
"Aaachoo!" she sneezed.
Sneezing, have I done this before? It seems so familiar, yet...
"Someone must be talking about me..."
Number 2.
"Close the center," Guillaume said.
"Whaaat?!" asked a bewildered Gordon, "this is our best day since summer
started! Why? Why are you doing this again?"
"We've got special guests," Guillaume said, looking over his shoulder at
the group. Gordon was on the verge of tears.
"Please...you gotta reconsider..." he pleaded, but Guillaume just stared
him down. A defeated Gordon wandered towards the main office, looking
for help. For he knew, in a dark, shadowy corner of the well air-
conditioned and furnished office, there is a force powerful enough to
counter the great Guillaume.
"You've got to come!" Gordon cried, "he's at it again!"
"He shall not get away with this, this time," a figure said from the
shadows, its voice echoes eerily in the office.
Meanfwhile.
"Guillaume, you don't have to do this," Asuka said.
"But I want to," he replied, "you see, I'm in love with you, and even
though you're already taken by Shinji..." Guillaume gives Shinji a cold
stare, then look to Asuka with a warm smile. "I still want you to be as
happy as possible."
"You're so sweet," Asuka said, wiping away a stray tear on her face.
"Fee fi fo fun," a figure emerged from the shadows, "who dares to close
down AXL unannounced?"
It was Mygard, the evil elf in charge of the AXL Game Center.
"It is I, Guillaume."
"You dare decrease our profit for the day?"
"Yes, money over friendship...I mean friendship over money."
"You fool," boomed the elf, "I will now punish you for your foolishness,
fool!"
"Yeah...ok..."
"I challenge you to a Pokemon battle!" the elf let loose a savage battle
cry. His animal-like voice thunders through the entire center.
(Author's note: at this point, I realized the insanity of my words, and
stopped. My apologies to Monsieur Mygard: I don't know you, I have
nothing against you, it's just that I needed a name and yours happens to
be there. It could have been worst, I was thinking of the word 'gnome'
(as in 'garden gnome') instead of 'elf'. Please don't kill me...)
(
geocities.com/aa_chan01/archive) (
geocities.com/aa_chan01)