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In the last chapter Kaji and Misato are witness
to a mass purging of SEELE agents by an unknown sniper. SEELE
however realizes that this was a work of OMBRA, an organization
they themselves founded but was supposedly disbanded ten years
ago.
Kaji in the meantime also decides to quit
his career as a spy whilst he was still ahead, but his choice
came a little too late as no less than four SEELE agents are
sent to terminate him. Fortunately for him, Angela saves him
from retirement and proceeds to send him off to Canada and
then Switzerland, to Antrum-4, one of several OMBRA controlled
underground bases.
Shinji defeats the 14th Angel; Zeruel. This
however, comes at a high price as Shinji is now in a coma,
resulting from a massive feedback. In the battle, Asuka found
herself humiliated by Shinji as he saves her from her own
foolishness. But at the end of it, Hikari confronts Asuka,
and helps her see how wrong she was in blaming others. Asuka
also comes to realize that she has a better reason to pilot
Eva rather than the one she has been using for years now.
What are OMBRA's plans? Will Shinji recover
from his severe injuries? Will we find out yet the truth about
Conrad? Will we find out who wields the power of OMBRA? Will
I ever shut up and just get to the point?
Some answers are yes and some are no.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 2005 Italy,
the town of Ardea
It has been two days after the convoy ambush
now. Angela had found an old abandoned house on the borders
of the town to shelter in. For two days now, she has hiked
from the ruins of the city of Latino, thirty-three kilometers
away, carrying with her the small child. She wiped a cold
sweat off her forehead as she glanced out of the window out
to the sea. The redness of the setting sun filled the room.
She still remembered when only five years ago, she wouldn't
have been able to see the sea from here.
The child lay at a corner, in a makeshift
bed made out of rags. He was asleep now, but she still remembered
when he first found out from her that his mother and father
were dead. He'd cried himself to sleep then. That was only
on the first day though, he still did that even now, but at
lest he left it until they were settled down in a place for
the night. During the daytime, he'd hike along side her in
the easy parts, whilst during the hard parts she would carry
him on her back. Luckily, he wasn't heavier than the backpack
Angela was trained to carry over long distances. Angela stood
up from the old creaking chair and settled her H&K LR
Sniper Rifle by the wall as she stretched to get rid of all
the aches and pain. She winced as she still felt the pain
from her bandaged face. The cut the SEELE agent had made on
her face hadn't been too deep, she could still use her left
eye, but there would definitely be a permanent scar there.
It was a strange sight, herself in a country-style dress she
stole off a laundry line a near Latino, whilst her face was
bandaged like she'd been in a brawl, and of course, she was
still wearing her steel-capped army boots. No wonder that
old store-keeper in town was looking at her funny, it couldn't
be helped though, she had to go in town for provisions and
she certainly couldn't go wearing black army fatigues covered
with blood. It was a good thing that she always kept some
money with her even when she went out on missions.
Tomorrow they would try to reach what was
left of Ostia, a whole twenty-five kilometers away, from there
they would bypass Rome and head up to lake Bracciano. She
knew that SEELE would not give up on their search, she'd already
had to avoid several searching teams. If SEELE was powerful
enough to enlist her help through the UN, then it meant that
reporting them to the UN would be out of the question. The
airports of Rome would be obviously guarded, so they were
also out of the question. They would not expect her to head
further north by foot. She had some contacts at Bracciano,
whom she hopes will be able to help them evade the SEELE agents.
In truth she could have made it much further than this alone,
but the child slowed her down a lot. More than once she had
thought to leave him to one of the families inhabiting the
area, but she had made a promise to take care of him to his
dying mother, and anyhow, she knew they would have found him
eventually if she would have done that. Angela turned over
to the boy and exhaled, she resigned herself to the fact that
she had made a choice, the right one, and was now stuck with
the boy whether she wanted it or not. She kneed down over
his sleeping form, lowering a hand to brush aside some of
his hair.
Angela: Why…? Why do they want you dead?
Year 2015
Tokyo-3, NERV ward
Asuka sat silently in a chair besides the
unconscious Shinji. She looked up from her book and gave a
quick glance across the bed. She was still there, exactly
in the same position she was before. Rei was seated similarly
in chair on the other side of the bed. She too was reading
a book and hadn't looked up from it for over an hour now.
It was a little unnerving in the way she could seem so shut
off from the world, however, Asuka now knew that contrary
to what she had previously thought, Rei took in everything
that happened around her.
She had first protested when Hikari had first
dragged her here. She couldn't bare to watch Shinji like this,
knowing that at any given time, it could be her in the bed
rather than Shinji. The book Asuka was reading had been already
here when she arrived. She didn't know who'd left it there,
but it seemed like the only thing that she could do to fight
off boredom. Not long after, Rei had made an appearance. Entering
the room, she glanced over to Asuka one to simply acknowledge
her presence, then sat down and begun reading her own book
that she had brought along. They'd been sitting here ever
since, watching over Shinji. Asuka was worried that Rei would
ask her what was she doing here, but she never did, it was
almost as if she already knew, although even Asuka, couldn't
force herself to accept the real reasons.
Suddenly Rei lifted her head and turned to
face the door. Asuka was about to ask what was wrong when
the door opened with a small hiss. Misato entered the room
trying to keep a straight face, but both girls could see that
she was not bring pleasant news.
Asuka: …
Rei: …
Misato: Asuka… Rei…
Asuka: H…how is he Misato…?
Misato: I just came from talking with Ritsuko,
she said that he sustained severe damage to both his brain
and nervous system. However, we can repair the damage and
have him up and about in a week…
Rei ( knowing better ): But…?
Misato ( nervously ): But… we aren't
able to repair all the effected cells and he might retain
some damage to his brain and nervous system…
Asuka: …
Misato: Asuka, you better go home now, you
too Rei, it's getting late.
Asuka: But…
Rei: Yes Major…
Misato: Come on, Asuka, you can come back
some other time.
Asuka: …
Switzerland, Antrum-3
Kaji entered a large room, which seemed to
be the command center of this large complex. Several technicians
were working on various things at their posts. Some turned
and had a good look at the new comer, but generally though,
they ignored Kaji's presence. Danielle indicated to him to
follow her. After only a minute they reached an observation
post, from which the entire command center could be seem from.
Already there, were two men and a woman. The woman was lean
and of average height, seemingly in her late twenties. The
two men were both in good shape and surprisingly fairly young.
One of them, black hair, pale green eyes, was obviously a
scientist of some sort as he was wearing a lab coat similar
to the ones Ritsuko always wears. The others were dress in
a similar style the rest of OMBRA , and if their color coding
was anything like NERV then other man was their security chief.
He wasn't too tall, but in Kaji's mind he had a constitution
of a barrel, he had brown hair and black eyes. If they did
use the same color scheme, then that would make the woman
their Commander? How can someone so young in charge? Now that
he thought about it, she seemed strangely familiar.
Danielle: Mr. Rouji Kaji, I'd like you to
met Dr. Peter Mitcham our resident head research director.
This is Lieutenant Colonel Kelven Aleksandrovich, our security
chief. And of course, Commander Loren Boucien, she's the boss
around here.
Then it hit, the name, the face, the…
body… Standing at five foot four, black hair and black
eyes, the woman now standing in front of him was one he once
knew very well.
Kaji: Loren?!! Is it really you!?!
Loren: Oh hi Kaji, long time no see…
|
Dr Mitcham seemed like a pleasant man
as he smiled and shook Kaji's hand with a firm grip.
Colonel Aleksandrovich, however, maintained a poker
face but shook his hand too none the less. When it came
to Commander Boucien, Kaji hesitated a little, it was
hard to believe that this woman, only a little younger
than he was, had so much control of such a powerful
organization. He decided at that moment, that he had
made a serious mistake in his career choice. Sensing
his hesitation, Loren looked at him quizzically, but
reached out and shook his hand with a smile on her face.
Loren: What's the matter Kaji? Something
wrong?
|
|
Kaji: Oh… nothing… it's just that...
you're… you're their Commander???
Loren: Ah… yes, that tends to puzzle
some people even around here.
Kaji: It's been… quite a while…
Loren: It's been over ten years, last I saw
of you was when we finished high school.
Kaji ( grinning the usual 'Kaji' grin ): Ermmm…
hey… weren't you going to be an artist?
Loren: Well… I met the right people and
just fell into this position. By the way… why don't you
drop by my office later so we can catch on some of the old
days…?
Kelven ( in monotone ): I see you two know
each other pretty well…
Both Danielle and Peter were groaning whilst
sporting the 'here she goes again…' look.
Kaji in the meantime found himself horrified
at the prospect that he would be now working for his high
school 'girlfriend'. Not to mention the fact that she hadn't
changed a bit, as happy and smiling as ever, which could only
mean that she must have kept the other side of her personality
too. He hoped to god that this wasn't the case.
Peter: Well, if you don't mind now, Loren,
I must be getting back to the labs now. The first trial for
Project-023 is on in fifteen minutes.
Kaji: Project-023?
Peter: Oh don't worry about it, maybe I tell
you some other time. Well, I really must get going now…
pleasure to meet you Mr. Kaji.
Kaji: Err… yes… see you around Doctor…
Loren ( suddenly all serious ): So Kaji, I
sure you'll find that joining us was the right thing to do.
Dear god… it's the other side of her
personality he thought, this version of Loren could give Gendo
a run for his money. If it weren't for the fact that he was
once in love with her more happy carefree side (and the matter
that she was great in bed), he wouldn't have even touched
her with a ten-foot pole. He was in fact, in a way, quite
scared of her.
This was primarily due to the fact that she
was, in all honesty, born with an utter lack of conscience.
She did have the ability be kind and gentle, but at the same
time, be as cunning and manipulative as any man could get
and she wouldn't see anything wrong with exploiting anything
to her advantage. She had no qualms with killing someone if
their death were to serve a purpose. Now that he though about
it, she was like a young, female, version of Gendo with some
actual charisma. It now occurred to him that Loren had probably
been hired on the basis of this (in his mind) very disturbing
quality.
Kaji: I take it I didn't get much of a choice
in the matter.
Loren: Did you have a choice? Let's see…
SEELE wants you dead. NERV wants you dead. You stay with us.
You stay alive. It's as simple as that.
Kaji: …
Loren ( smiling ): You have your own part
to play Kaji in our organization now. Kelven will brief you
on your new role, now if you will excuse me, I have matters
to attend to.
Kaji turned to face the OMBRA security chief.
It seemed to him that Lieutenant Colonel Aleksandrovich was
the same type of person that would be employed in NERV's Section
two. Now that wasn't something out of the ordinary. But Loren…
what was there to say? Nothing could have prepared him for
her.
Kelven: Come with me.
Danielle: That's it then, I guess I'll be
seeing you around.
Kaji: Yeah, see you around…
Oh well, he thought, I guess it's better than
the alternative…
Commander Ikari was seated in the dark confines
of his office, standing next to him as always, was Sub-commander
Fuyutsuki. Currently, the Commander was going through the
reports of the recent battle. The costs and expenses to repair
all the damage caused was tremendous. The Evangelions especially,
were heavily damaged, though their regeneration would have
to be prioritized. Silently, Dr. Ritsuko Akagi entered the
office, bring in further reports.
Ritsuko: Well, this is the last of them.
Gendo: I trust you have already begun the
regeneration process.
Ritsuko: Yes, all three units will be operational
in four weeks. Of which the most heavily damaged is Unit-01.
All the circuit nodes in Unit-01 will have to be completely
striped and rewired, they are too far damaged to repair at
all. Unit-00 will be fully repaired in a week. Unit-02 will
take about two.
Fuyutsuki: How are the pilots?
Ritsuko: Both the 1st and 2nd are uninjured.
The 3rd however, has suffered severe trauma and is now in
a coma. He will be out for about a week, but it is unsure
on how long will it takes for him to fully recover or whether
he will be able to pilot again.
Gendo: You will train the 4th in the eventuality
that the 3rd will not be able to perform his duties anymore.
Ritsuko ( thinking ): All ready to discard
Shinji when he's not useful anymore I see.
Ritsuko: Understood.
Gendo: You are dismissed.
Without another word, Ritsuko depart the room.
The two that remained, stayed silent for another few minutes
till one of them finally decided to speak his mind.
Fuyutsuki: Ikari, about that situation before
the 14th Angel…
Gendo: Yes…?
Fuyutsuki: Angela Lervino… you know something
about her that I should know about?
Gendo: …
Fuyutsuki: I can tell that you know her or
at least, about her…
Gendo: There is nothing that you need to know.
Fuyutsuki ( in an obvious tone of total disbelief
): I see…
Gendo: …
All of a sudden, the Supreme Commander of
NERV released a sigh, something that was considered a rare
event by those most around him, but served to relieve them
with the fact that he was indeed after all, only human. It
did however signal something that the Commander rarely did.
He was reconsidering…
Fuyutsuki: …?
Gendo: Federico Lervino.
Fuyutsuki: …??!
Gendo: He was the lead man responsible in
designing the Geo-front.
Fuyutsuki: Her father?
Gendo: Yui knew him… she… approached
him to lead the project.
Fuyutsuki: …
Gendo: He was terminated after completing
his project to prevent outside knowledge of this installation's
total layout.
Fuyutsuki: ?!?
FLASHBACK
Milano, Italy, 2000
It was a typically a hot summer night in
the city of Milano. At a large villa out of on the borders
of the city, was party was in full swing. The atmosphere was
one of happiness. Friends of the family and relatives helped
celebrate the completion of Ferderico's largest architectural
project. It was not long from since the party had started
when a large black limousine pulled up in the driveway.
Yui: Come on, can you at least act nice
for once?
Gendo: …
Yui: Well… fine… do what you
want but at least please promise me you won't go and pick
a fight again will you? Please…
Gendo: … I…
Yui ( in a sweat irresistible voice ):
Please… for me?
Gendo: …alright… I promise…
Yui: Good! Now there, you see… you
can be nice when you want to…
Gendo: …
The couple then walked slowly into the
interior of the villa, where they promptly find another pair
awaiting them in the reception area. The two in question are
Federico Lervino and his young daughter, Angela who was at
the time, only fifteen.
Federico: Yui! It's good that you could
make it! I was afraid that you would not have been able to
come after all…
Yui: Oh I'd never miss your party for the
world Federico! The least I could do for an old friend. And
who is this pretty lady?
Federico: Ah this is my darling treasure,
my daughter Angela.
Angela: Father! Stop that you're embarrassing
me!
Federico: But I'm only speaking the truth
dear, you are the most precious thing to me in the world.
Anyway, Angela, say hi to an old friend of mine.
Yui: Please to met you Angela.
Angela: Please to me met you too ma'am.
Yui: Oh please! Just call me Yui…
The young teenager brightened up into a
smile, already making up her mind that she was going to like
this young woman. She continued on being as happy as ever,
never really paying much attention to the man behind Yui.
Federico: Angela dear, why don't you go
off and help your mother, I'm sure she had something you could
help out with.
Angela: Si papa… see you later Yui…
( Yes dad… )
Yui: See you later Angela…
The three adults watched quietly as the
girl headed off to find her mother.
Yui: Cute kid…
Federico ( turning back ): Yes… she
means the world to me…
Finally, Federico became aware of the man
standing behind Yui.
Federico: And who is this?
Yui: Oh! This is Gendo Rokubungi, my fiancé…!
Federico: Ahhh! Congratulations! I didn't
know you were engaged!
Yui: Oh yes! We're going to get married
very soon! Sorry for not introducing him before sooner, he
can be very shy at times…
Gendo: …
Federico: Don't worry about it! Well then,
pleased to meet you Mr. Rokubungi.
Gendo: Pleased to meet you…
Federico: Well then…! Please, make
yourself at home…
Federico walked quickly along the dark
back streets of the old city. He was headed towards his office.
He had been given a call and was asked to see to some files
at once in his office. He was a little annoyed at the being
woken up well past midnight. But there wasn't much he could
do about it, he was being paid handsomely for his work, enough
to settle his family for life. A little longer, he told himself.
A little longer and he would not have to work on anything
but what he wanted for the rest of his life.
It had been a whole year since Yui had
purposed the project to him, he happily agreed to it, being
that they had known each other for many years now. He was
worried however about that man that accompanied her to the
party. Her fiancé. There was something about that man
he just couldn't put his finger on. That man had a darkness,
which followed around him, like a shadow. But if he could
make Yui happy then he would be happy for her.
All of a sudden he heard a soft tapping
of footsteps behind him. Startled, he spun around quickly.
There was a tall figure of a man stood not too far from him,
having just revealed himself from a corner. It did not take
him long to recognize who it was though.
Man: If you resist, then we will be forced
to involve your family.
Federico: …
Without speaking a word, the man withdrew
a small pistol from beneath his trench coat. In the silence
of the night, the man took careful aim, as if he wished to
keep it neat with a single shot. He could have quite easily
taken the shot by now, but it seemed as if the man was waiting
for something. Federico was unimpressed. He now understood
the reason why the man was here. He was glad though, that
they decided to keep this between him and them only, and not
involve his family. Poor Yui, she had pretty much signed him
on for his own death sentence without knowing it.
Federico: So...?
Man: …
Federico: … I should have known…
Man: … yes…
Federico: I guess, you probably do this
often don't you?
Man: No.
Federico: Oh, so you just normally just
intimidate and threaten people right?
Man: If the occasion calls for…
Federico: … you're going to make it
look like an accident?
Man: A mugging.
Federico: Ah… yes… of course…
well… I suppose it's not negotiable…?
Man: No.
Federico resigned himself to the fact that,
whatever he did at this point, wasn't going to save him. By
not resisting, he would at lest save the ones he loved from
the same fate. For some reason, even though the man in front
of him was obvious a cold and ruthless killer, he knew he
would keep his word. After all, why bother with his family
if they had no knowledge of the Geo-front's plans?
Federico: Very well… I hope at that
you'll at least take good care of Yui.
Man: I will.
With those last words. The trigger was
pulled. The gun went off. Muted by the silencer mounted in
front of the barrel. At that moment, with a single shot, Federico
Lervino ceased to be.
Lowering his pistol, and concealing it
back into his trench coat, the man waked over to the prone
body and proceeded to relive the dead man of any valuables.
He then silently departed back into the shadows from which
he appeared.
END FLASHBACK
Fuyutsuki: Yui never found out…?
Gendo: Of course not. Otherwise she would
never have forgiven me...
Fuyutsuki: But Yui should have figured it
out sooner or later…
Gendo: She never did. Even if she had known,
the order came directly from SEELE.
Fuyutsuki: That's not a very good excuse and
you know that…
Gendo: It matters not anymore.
Fuyutsuki: How about the girl, Angela…
does she know you did it?
Gendo: If she did, I would already be dead.
Fuyutsuki: …
About a week later
Tokyo-3, NERV ward
Asuka and Hikari walked into the NERV ward
side by side. Throughout the whole of last week, Asuka had
come to visit Shinji once in a while after school, but every
time she came, Rei was already there. Asuka vaguely suspected
that the 1st child was there everyday. Every time Asuka wanted
to come, she had to ask Hikari to accompany her, for she absolutely
refused to come alone, almost as if she was scared to be alone
with him. Wonder girl sure didn't count as company. She cursed
herself for becoming so weak. What was she afraid off? What
was it that made it so hard? After all, what could he do to
her, as he was still unconscious.
Asuka stepped in cautiously just as the automatic
door was fully opened. Her eyes were lingering on the floor
as she entered the room. Suddenly she heard a gasp from behind
coming from Hikari, this caused her to lift her head in surprise,
only to come straight into eye to eye contact with Shinji.
He was standing next to the bed only a couple of meters away.
He looked ill, drained of life, sunken cheeks, lips unnaturally
thin. But worse of all were his eyes, they seemed dead, they
seemed to have lost any shine, any brightness, leaving only
faded darkness. She failed to suppress a gasp herself, being
stunned into a frozen state. No one moved for minutes until
finally Shinji approached her. Asuka's mind was racing, what
was happening? She kept on asking herself. It didn't take
him long to be standing straight in front of her. Asuka kept
on watching him, as if she was watching a film, this couldn't
be really, this couldn't be the Shinji she knew. Before she
realized it, she found him stroking gently across her cheek
with his hand. His skin felt warm against hers, so unlike
what he looked like. An unexpected display of affection from
him, the one who she begun to care about. She felt blood rushing
towards her cheek as she felt violated in some unknown way,
as if with that simple touch he had reached into the depth
of her soul and felt the secrets she had kept there. To make
matters worse, she felt as if at the same time it was reassuring
her that it was alright, that it didn't matter. But it did,
why couldn't he see that, why couldn't he just stay away like
everyone else? It soon became unbearable for her any further,
even though part of her welcomed his touch. She wasn't ready
for this. She wasn't ready to accept that he could care for
her as much as he did. So she did the only thing she could
think of. She slapped him, hard.
Asuka: Baka hentai!
But he did not even let out a cry as he fell
back. She noted that she was now breathing heavily, having
slapped him harder this time than ever. She couldn't think
of anything clearly, her mind was a jumble of thought, this
was not what she expected when she thought of coming to visit
him this morning. This was not what she thought she'd do to
him first thing he recovered from the coma. Asuka could easily
sense the horrified look on Hikari's face even without seeing
it.
Shinji finally let out a small groan as he
sluggishly cumbered onto his hands and knees. Slowly, he got
up again, contrary to what Asuka was expecting. Asuka was
suddenly afraid. Though she was not proud of what she had
just done, the Shinji she knew would have simply cowered into
a corner and started whimpering. In less than a minute, Shinji
was back on his feet and facing Asuka again. This back straight
and head up facing right back at her. His left cheek now sporting
several bleeding cuts. Asuka became suddenly all too aware
of the warm liquid dripping off her nail. She could now see
in his eyes, a locked mixture terrible melancholy and strangely
a look, which displayed an all too obvious haughty challenge
towards her.
Hikari: S…Shinji? Asuka stop this!
It was too much for Asuka to handle, her natural
instinct was to hurt him again, until he stayed away. Her
arm rearing backwards for another strike. However, before
she could do anything else, a pale arm grabbed hers in a tight
grip. She turned around in surprise, finding none other than
Rei. The 1st child had been in the room all along, having
never spoken up or intervened until now.
Rei: It will not make much difference…
Asuka: …!?
Hikari: …?!
Rei: You attempt to push him away with pain…
Asuka: That pervert touched me!
Hikari: Asuka! Stop that! He's finally opening
up to you.
Rei: Part of you cherishes that. But you cannot
bring yourself to return his affection.
Asuka now noticed that the outside of Rei's
lips had curled up into what seemed like a smile. The doll
was mocking her.
Rei: …however… this time you cannot
push him away…
Asuka ( turning to face Shinji ): Why!? Why
is that!?
Rei: Because… he cannot feel any pain
anymore.
Shinji: Almost correct…
Everyone suddenly turn to face Shinji who
finally decided to speak after all this time.
Gently he reached for Asuka's hand and brought
it up to his battered face. Asuka felt reluctant but did not
make any attempt to stop him. He pressed her hand against
his right cheek rather than his left to not mark it with his
blood.
Shinji: I…I can't feel anything…
anymore.
Kensuke: What do you mean he can't feel anything
anymore!?
Kensuke was seated in his place at class the
next morning. She stared incredulously at Hikari who had given
him the news.
Hikari: Shhhh!! Keep it down, Shinji doesn't
want everyone to know.
Kensuke: But…! But..!
Hikari: You remember how he went into a coma
because of the feedback right? Well, apparently although they
managed to regenerate most of the damage, his entire sense
of touch was burnt out completely. He can't feel anything
touching him, he didn't even feel Asuka slapping him…
he says it's like being permanently numb all over but even
worse than that.
Kensuke: Wait a minute! Asuka slapped him!?
Hikari: Yeah, she didn't take it too kindly
when Shinji tried to touch her cheek…
Kensuke: How could she!? After what he's done!
Hikari: I know, but she can't help it. I know
she really like him even though she can't bring herself to
accept it.
Kensuke: Nice way of showing it.
Hikari: …
Misato: Can't you do anything?!
Ritsuko: I warned you that there was the possibility
that he might have some permanent nerve damage.
Misato: Yes, but not loosing his whole sense
of touch!!!
Ritsuko: I admit that I should have expected
it, but there is nothing I can do about it! We simply don't
have the technology necessary to regenerate all the dead nerves.
Misato ( spitefully ): Oh great, you can spend
millions to regenerate a lost arm off an Eva but you can't
help him…
Ritsuko ( annoyed ): There is quite a difference…
between both the physiology and scale of the two in question,
Major.
Misato: …
Ritsuko: I know how you feel Misato, you're
worried about him. I am too, but taking it out on me is not
going to help.
Misato: … S...sorry…
Ritsuko: Don't worry about it. I would however,
suggest you keep a close watch on him. People who loose one
or more of their senses tend to feel either a lot of anger
or depression following the incident. Knowing Shinji, he would
be the depressed type.
As usual in a dark room
SEELE 13: What is this all about?
SEELE 06: We have been informed that Ikari
has refrained from taking direct action towards Angela Lervino,
and to add insult to injuries, Lervino has intercepted our
agents when they were about to eliminate Rouji Kaji.
SEELE 01: Therefore we have taken the liberty
to take a more direct action towards OMBRA's interference…
SEELE 04: Are you intending to eliminate Lervino?
SEELE 01: No.
SEELE 13: Then what is it that you are planning?
SEELE 01: Very simple, we strike back at OMBRA.
SEELE 13: …?
SEELE 08: But how? We do not know the location
of any of their bases.
SEELE 11: Nor do we have much information
on their active agents…
SEELE 02: A few hours ago, we have successfully
located one of their bases.
SEELE 09: ?!?
SEELE 07: When do we strike?
SEELE 01: The operation is being carried out
as we are speaking.
SEELE 07: Wait a minute! How come we were
not informed of this?!
SEELE 09: That's right!
SEELE 02: It does not matter any more anyway.
As of today, OMBRA is short of one base.
SEELE 06: Who is conducting the operation?
SEELE 01: The man who will carry out the destruction
of OMBRA's base is a trusted agent.
SEELE 13: …
SEELE 08: One man?
SEELE 06: Who is he?
SEELE 01: Lloyd Dexter.
SEELE 13: Isn't he unstable? The man's an
animal, a sadist… he enjoys killing for…
SEELE 01 ( interrupting ): He is loyal.
SEELE 07: Lloyd Dexter is a madman, how can
you be sure he will not turn on us eventually.
SEELE 01: For now, all that matters is that
he gets the job done.
Shinji sat on a grassy hill outside the borders
of Tokyo-3. He watched in silence as the sun begun to set
in the distance, the red haze running across the horizon and
filtering over the landscape. He came here to escape the eyes
of others. He came here to be by himself, to embrace the loneliness
that now consumed his heart and soul. This was how he felt.
This was how he lived. He retraced his mind back to what had
occurred since his awakening.
Misato tried to be the pillar of strength
as always, but he could see through her. She was ready to
break.
Asuka has been avoiding him…
His inability to play his cello as well as
he used to, due to being unable to 'feel' the notes. Of course,
that still left him with the one of the things he could still
feel: The feeling of uselessness.
Then there were the eyes of everyone who
knew, pitying him, as if he'd lost his soul or something.
Close enough, though, it might as well as
have been his soul that he'd lost in that battle. True, Asuka
now couldn't hurt him like she used to, but now she'd always
run off whenever he'd try to talk to her. And somehow it hurt
just as much as feeling both his arms ripped off in the battle
with the 14th. Leaving him just as badly off if not worse
that before. He had been crying earlier, but he barely acknowledged
it. Now he couldn't cry anymore, he was too tired. There were
no more tears left.
He didn't feel that he could face anyone anymore.
He had lost part of his ability to 'connect' with others.
At least down to a more personal level that is. He laughed
gently at the thought. He wondered if he'd started to act
like Ayanami. Maybe that's how the others perceived him lately.
He was so distant from the rest of the world, as she was.
But he couldn't help it. Everything just seemed all so pointless
now.
Voice: Ikari
Shinji: Huh?!
He quickly turned around and immediately found
the source of the voice standing not to far behind him.
Shinji: Oh it's you Rei…
Rei: …
Shinji: What are you doing here?
Without a word, she walked over to him and
sat down next to him.
Shinji: …
Rei: I was looking for you.
Shinji: Did my father order it?
Rei: No.
Shinji: Figures. As if he would care.
Immediately after the words came out, he suddenly
remembered what happened last time he talked badly about his
father to Rei. He braced himself for the slap that was to
come…
But none came.
Rei: He does not need me to look for you.
Section two knows where you are, always.
Shinji: …
Rei: I came… because I wanted to speak
to you.
Shinji: Why…?
Rei: You feel that you have lost part that
bond that links you to others. That you, are unable to connect
with someone as strongly as you might wish.
Shinji: …
Rei: You did lose part of the bond. But you
should not let that establish itself as the end to all. Life…
goes on. There are other reasons… and maybe one day…
you will be glad…
Moments past as Shinji contemplated what she
tried to tell him. Then, he begun to laugh, it was a soft
carefree laugh, which came from the heart. There was no mockery,
there was no spite, only plain amusement. Rei watched him,
seeming that she almost expected it.
Shinji: …Rei… if I didn't know any
better, I'd think that you were trying to cheer me up…
Rei: Maybe I am.
Shinji: Rei… you have changed…
Rei: So have you.
Shinji: Why are you here Rei?
Rei: Because… I care…
Shinji: …!?!
To his complete surprise, the gentle blue
haired girl who now sat next to him now wore a small smile
on her face. At the same time, she was staring straight into
his eyes, as if to see his reaction to her words. Then, before
he knew it, she leaned on him, her head lay gently on his
shoulder. Shinji almost pulled a way for a moment, but she
had latched on to his arm firmly. Seeing this, he begun to
blush, whilst part of the old Shinji made an appearance. He
was nervous, constantly fidgeting, and totally clueless of
what to do next.
Shinji: R…Rei? I can't…
Rei: I know… It is pilot Sohryu is it
not? But for now please…
Shinji: …
Rei: Please… just once… let us share
this moment.
Shinji ( calming down a little ): …O…okay…
So it was that the two pilots watched sun
set in the horizon. Neither spoke a word, both possessing
a mutual understanding that there was a need for none. At
least for the moment. As the night descended, the coldness
could be felt but only one of the present, but she dispelled
it by snuggling closer to her counterpart. Even though Shinji
couldn't feel it, Rei now felt the closest to anyone she'd
ever had. The warmth radiating from Shinji's body kept her
comfortable and at ease. At the same time, Rei's actions and
movements seemed to calm Shinji, relaxing him.
Rei: I have watched you from afar for so long…
Shinji: Is that why you never speak much…?
Not coming close to anyone? Because you watch from afar…?
Rei: I observe much that is around me…
I used to not understand people…
Shinji: And now you do?
Rei: I little… but I realize now that
it is impossible for one to fully understand what drives another,
that is because of the very fact that we are individual beings…
Shinji: What made you realize that?
Rei: I do not know, but you were certainly
part of the reason.
Even though he knew Rei better than most,
Shinji still had never known that Rei felt so strongly for
him. He cursed himself for being so clueless. It pained him
to know that she has given up her hopes of ever being with
him so that he could go after the one he truly hoped to be
with. And at the same time he knew that she didn't really
go along with Asuka very well, which probably made it harder
on her. But will Asuka ever open up herself to him, he wondered.
What if she never will? Then Rei would have given up on him
over nothing… But it wasn't nothing, even if he gave
up on Asuka right now, he would never forgive himself for
not trying for the rest of is life… Rei knew that.
It wasn't as if he didn't feel anything for
Rei. It was just that he couldn't forget about Asuka. But
he went along with it none the less, leaning his own head
against Rei's. It was the first time he'd ever been this close
to a girl and didn't feel the need to run off and hide in
the deepest darkest hole in the earth. Close enough to smell
the fresh scent of her hair. Lavender. Of course. Nothing
else could take off the stench of LCL like Lavender.
Enraptured in the moment, Shinji's mind suddenly
decided to go out for a walk, ignoring his extremely timid
nature. He was doing what was to be expected from a 'normal'
boy for once. Being led by his hormones. Shinji lowered his
head even further... Until he reached Rei's lips and kissed
them. This action lasted for definitely more than a minute,
part of Shinji deciding that it 'felt' right, and the other
part afraid of what might happen when he finally pulled away.
He felt both light-hearted and deeply depressed at the same
time, it was the first time he had the courage to make an
advance on a girl but he was unable to directly feel the kiss.
He moved slightly away from her as soon as the kiss ended.
Shinji: I'm sorry…
Rei: …
Shinji: I can't…
Rei: I… you do not have to be sorry…
Shinji: …
Unfortunately the quiet moment amongst the
two was not to last, as Shinji became aware of another presence
behind them. He hastily turned around just in time to see
a white-faced Asuka standing at the edge of the foliage, without
even so much as an insult, she spun around and disappeared
quickly into beyond the thick tree line.
Shinji: Asuka!! Wait!!!
He didn't even remember getting up when he
was already chasing after her. However, he could not move
quite fast, due to the fact that he had yet to fully recover
from his ordeal with the 14th Angel. In fact he was out of
breath after only the first dozen or so meters.
Rei: Ikari…! Shinji…! Stop!
Shinji frozen as the blue-haired pilot called
out to him with his first name. He stopped and turned around,
looking at her quizzically as she caught up with him.
Rei: Shinji, please… I will go after
her…
Shinji: Huh?
Rei: Please… you must be fatigued…
you are still not well, you must go home and rest… I
will find Asuka…
Shinji: But… I have to explain! I have
to talk to her…
Rei: I will do that, I will tell her the truth.
Whether she wants to hear it or not.
Shinji: Rei…
Rei: Trust me…
Shinji: You're not going to hurt each other
are you?
Rei: No.
Shinji: …
Rei: …
Shinji: … Ok… I trust you Rei…
but you must promise me to try and keep out of a fight with
her… I don't want to of the most important girls in my
life hurting themselves…
Rei ( slightly blushing ): I promise…
now please Shinji, go home and rest.
With those words, Rei rushed off in the direction
Asuka has run off to. Quickly fading from Shinji's sight as
the darkness of the forest engulfed her petit figure.
Seeing there was nothing more he that he can
do, Shinji turned around and headed home. Part of him scared
to death of loosing Asuka forever, though at the same time
he trusted that Rei would keep her word, or so he hoped…
Ten minutes later…
Asuka: Huff huff huff…!!!
Asuka had finally decided to stop when she
broke out of the edge of the forest and found herself in a
wide-open field. If she had not been so upset she would have
marveled at the beauty of the night sky. The stars could be
clearly seen, as there was not a cloud in sight. There she
collapsed, weeping sorrowfully into the palms of her hands.
Her heart was full of sadness and at the same time anger.
Anger at being betrayed like that, and with that doll too.
It was all too clear in her mind now that she'd lost him,
that she was too late now…
Rei: You should not have run off like that…
Asuka spun around immediately, recognizing
the voice, the anger flare like nothing before, she was practically
on the verge of physically attacking the other girl.
Asuka: What are you doing here bitch! Have
you come to gloat!?
Rei was noticeably out of breath, having struggled
to catch up with Asuka, but still, her face betrayed no emotions.
Although currently attempting to clear her eyes of her tears,
Asuka noticed this. Even though she knew it was to be expected
of Rei, she was still thought that she would do more than
just stand there and breath heavily. She shivered as she suddenly
felt a strong cold breeze pass by them.
Rei: No. We need to talk…
Asuka: …?!
Roughly 5,500kms away
The Hawaiian islands
After Second impact, what remained of the
privately owned island of Niihau or better known as Kauai
was sold to a little known pharmaceutical company named OBERON
under the pretenses that they would be establishing a new
medical research center. The island was renamed Paniau after
it's only mountain peak, of which now forms most of the island
which was still above sea level.
What is a little bit less known was that OBERON
is one of many puppet companies under the control of OMBRA.
Paniau was the site of one of the most advance medical research
center in the world, but was also the site of Antrum-6, a
massive underwater complex of which the world had never seen.
Here, OMBRA was able to research and develop technologies
related to the ocean. Its residents comprise of some of the
finest in the fields of marine biology, marine engineering,
or even undersea geology. However, one of the most important
roles of Antrum-6 was as a launching base for a mass mining
operation of the sea floor. Officially, sub-oceanic mining
is prohibited by international laws unless a permit was approved
and the facility periodically inspected by UN officials. But
since Antrum-6 officially did not exist, there was no need
for one. As such, Antrum-6 provided over twenty-five percent
of all the raw materials for OMBRA's manufacturing plants.
The massive complex was connected to the research
center on Paniau by a tunnel, which extended over thirty kilometers
further out into the ocean depths. It sustained a permanent
population of 1,200 men and women from all over the globe.
At the same time, like all the OMBRA bases, Antrum-6 was design
to be a formidable fortress. Formed out of interconnecting
hab-domes, Antrum-6 sported twenty meters thick walls reinforced
by ceramics and an interweaving lattice made out of the latest
in carbon polymers. A hidden fleet of armed ships, VTOLs and
submersibles were ready to respond to any threat, not to mention
the arsenal of surface to air missiles and torpedo launchers.
All in all, Antrum-6 was well protected by anything but the
most determined assaults. However, this was not going to be
the enough.
It took a lone man to infiltrated Antrum-6,
killing mercilessly everyone in his way. His aim, the geo-thermal
power plants that supplied the base with power. It had taken
him only a hour and forty minutes, by then he had already
departed from Honolulu on a flight to New York, but not before
detonating enough concentrated C5 on the vents to permanently
turn the lights off for the entire base. Even the back-up
generators failed, them too having been tampered with by the
same man. Suddenly, due to the act of a single saboteur, the
multi-billion dollar fortress became totally defenseless.
The observation satellites were cut off, their advance detection
gears rendered useless. Not before long, two unseen crafts
far above, dropped their payload of a N2 mine each, which
each honed onto specifically targeted co-ordinates.
Both N2s detonated simultaneously from opposite
flanks of Antrum-6, the blast itself instantly pulverizing
twenty percent of the base, however it was the shock waves,
which were to do most of the dirty work. An invisible wall
of water rippled across the ocean, crushing every living thing
in its path, any undersea drivers unlucky enough to be nearby
were turned into jelly, their bones and organs crushed to
a pulp. Even the massively thick walls buckled under the force,
the tinniest crack was enough to cause the water pressure
to flatten the man-made structure. Finally, the battered walls
of the hab-domes gave away and imploded one by one, their
occupants perishing along with their life's work. Of the population
of 1,200 men and women, a measly two dozen survived the strike.
As a finishing touch, the N2 mines also created devastating
tsunamis, which proceeded to wash away the surface facility
on Paniau therefore killing nearly everyone there too. The
tsunamis then went on to strike several nearby-populated centers,
where many more thousands were killed or rendered homeless.
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