Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ CHANGING DARKNESS ❯ Number 5 ( Chapter 5 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Steve VADER 
A quest for information, a new Angel, and some Rei cooking. Mmmmmm...yummy.
Anime/Manga: Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Sci-fi / Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.28.2003 | Pages: 11 | Words: 6.6K | Visits: 1.9K | Status: Completed
A quest for information, a new Angel, and some Rei cooking. Mmmmmm...yummy.
Anime/Manga: Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Sci-fi / Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.28.2003 | Pages: 11 | Words: 6.6K | Visits: 1.9K | Status: Completed
CHANGING DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT
Book 1: Changing Darkness
Chapter 5: Number 5
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Shinji entered the class and looked around. As soon as he spotted Hikari, he decided to go to her desk.
"Morning Inchou."
"Morning Shinji."
"Ahm......I wanted to ask you....."
<Damn, that's harder than I thought. To make a decision is one thing, to go the entire way is another matter altogether.>
"Yes?"
"Do....do you want to go to the movies with me?"
Hikari was more than surprised and asked with a shocked expression on her face:
"Do you want to ask me out on a date?"
"Yeah,.........I guess so. I mean I like you, so it is ........"
"You...like me?"
Shinji blushed and answered: "Yes, I do."
"When and where?"
"What?"
"When will we go on the date and where do we meet?"
"Does that mean that you'll come?"
"Sure, why not? There is nobody else that would ask me out and I can't say that you don't look some kind of cute."
"Thanks. How sounds Saturday at 18:00? We could meet at the mall, go to the cinema and after the film we can eat
dinner."
"Sounds good to me."
In the background, a large frown formed itself on the face of Touji Suzuhara.
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<Time to play teacher.>
He entered the classroom and stopped in front of his desk.
"Rise. Bow. Sit."
"Thanks Miss Horaki. Today we will learn about maths and geometry."
A collective moan from the entire class aptly revealed what they thought about the prospect of learning such things.
"I think you underestimate me. I will not stand in front of the class and tell you some things that you don't want
to hear. Open your laptops. You will find a new program called 'Gunner'. Open it and look at the screen."
The students did so and were surprised. On the screen was an image that reminded many students of a computer game.
"This program is easy. You command a gun and fight against different targets. These targets will be very slow in the
beginning and will get faster with every level. Each level consists of 5 targets. You cannot simply click with the
mouse on the target. You have to enter X and Y coordinates to move the gun to the desired position.
That means you have to spot the target, analyze its course, calculate the intercept vector, enter the information and
destroy the target. The entire game is on a 3 dimensional environment, so don't forget that the targets will not only
move left and right, but forward and back as well.
The faster you manage to finish all 8 levels, the more points you get.
After you have finished these levels, you can move on to difficulty level 2, where you can click directly on the screen
to move the cannon.
But the targets are way faster and much more maneuverable, so don't expect a decreasing difficulty."
"And after we've finished?" asked one of the students.
"If you are able to finish these tests, you have to wait until three other students finished as well. As soon as a group
of 4 students were successful, you can open the game 'Homeworld' which is also newly installed. Set up a multiplayer
game and use the 'Battleground' scenario. Is there anybody who already knows the game?"
"Yes."
"Then please tell us what kind of game this is."
"It's a strategic space simulation where you can manage resources, build ships and fight against each other.
We can use different tactic settings and formations. The entire game has a 3 dimensional environment, which makes it
hard for a classical 'fortress' strategy as it can be often seen on normal strategy games. It's an old game from the
90s, and.."
"That's enough. Thanks. Now, let's get started."
He walked behind his desk, sat down and booted up his own laptop.
<So, this should ensure that I can work undisturbed the entire morning. I seriously doubt that anybody will complete
the 'Gunner' simulator. That's an advanced learning program for ongoing weapon operators of capital ships. Hehehehe.>
"Mission complete."
"Hmh?"
"Mission complete." repeated Ayanami.
"You have already finished all Levels?"
"Yes."
"Since I think that it will take some time until someone else will finish it, feel free to use the higher difficulty
levels as well."
"Ryokai."
<How the hell did she do that? Even I needed 2 fucking hours to complete that shitty test in the first run.
And she did it in less than 10 minutes???>
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3 hours later, Shinji finished the test as the second one.
"Finished."
"Good. Since all these other loosers are still on the first levels, feel free to use the game in a match against
Ayanami."
"Yes Sensei."
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After lunch break the test continued and no other student was able to finish it.
Finally the school bell that signaled the end of the school day rang and rescued the students from further humiliation.
"Ikari, please stay for a talk. The rest of you, see ya tomorrow. Ayanami, I'm impressed, you did quite well today."
"May I ask what the purpose of these tests were? Mathematics and geometry were only the first level of difficulty,
the second was reaction and the other levels also required different abilities."
"To see if you are able to function in another environment than usual, and what kind of talents you have."
"I don't understand your answer."
"Given time, you will. Sayonara."
"Sayonara."
After Rei left the class room, he faced Shinji.
"Care to tell me what your problem is?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean your attitude towards Ayanami. It can't be the fact that she kicked your ass in Homeworld, because you were
already pissed before."
"Well, I talked to her as you suggested."
"And?"
"She asked me why I abandoned my father."
"Oh."
<Damn. That bastard gave her a worse brain-washing than I thought. Poor girl.>
"And as I explained that I couldn't have done that, she accused me of lying. She's nothing more than a stupid doll,
a doll owned by my father. I can't stand her anymore."
"Tell me, have you questioned yourself as to how she could get the idea that a 4 year old leaves the father?"
"No. Not really."
"You know that she was raised by your father?"
"Yes. But I don't know why he raised her instead of me. Maybe to be able to screw her."
WHAM! The open hand of the teacher connected at full force with Shinjis face.
Shinji began to sob. "W....why?"
"Do you know that reality depends on the point of view?"
"N.....no, not really."
"A human tends to take everything that is presented in a logical way as reality. When a scientist says that it is
impossible to exceed the speed of light you take this as reality because he has scientific and logical proof for that."
"Sure. It is impossible, so it is reality."
"False. It is possible, and this is my point of view. In my reality the light barrier can be broken. So we have 2
different realities. Which one is right?"
"If you can break light speed, you are."
"Can you break the light barrier too?"
"No."
"So in your reality it isn't possible."
"I think I begin to understand."
"Ayanami was raised by your father. He was the only one that gave her information. So his reality became her reality as
well. In his reality you ran from him because you were your mothers child. He used that lie as confirmation that you are
both, useless and worthless, so that he can excuse your planned death with these facts.
So Ayanami learned that you ran away from your father. Nobody else told her otherwise, so this statement, as illogical
as it is, is her reality. She knows no other one."
"That's no reason to hit me."
"You were hit for the second sentence."
"Oh. And why?"
"Because if this would be reality it would be the worst abuse I've ever heard of. She depends completely on him.
He is the one that tells her what her life is, what her purpose is, what she has to do and how she should react.
Your accusation was totally unfair against Ayanami and absolutely uncalled for.
Because in this case you should ask me to kill this asshole and not lash out against the victim.
"I understand. I'm sorry."
"You shouldn't apologize to me."
"You are right."
"And I had a second reason to knock some sense in your empty head."
"And that would be?"
"You know that you have to work with her together? That the entire population of this planet depends on your ability
to work together as team, to stop the angels and save mankind?"
"Yes, I do."
"And then you decide to let them down because your fellow pilot talked some bullshit?"
Shinji's eyes bulges nearly out of their sockets, and he turned completely pale as he realized what he has done.
"You should cancel your demand to cease work together with Ayanami. And you should talk to her. Maybe then she can learn
another reality, and see that these 2 realities don't fit together."
"Yes, I will."
"Good. Now another topic. You're go on a date with the Inchou?"
"Yes, this saturday."
"Good luck. You may go home, and don't forget to tell Katsuragi of your changed opinion of the Eva operations with
Ayanami. Bye."
"Sayonara."
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She made her way through the labyrinth of NERV headquarters with a determined expression on her face.
<I need to get those answers and I need to get them fast. This new Sensai set a lot of things in motion and I do not
know if they are good or bad for the scenario. The scenario is my purpose, but if the rumors I heard are true, he could
be from another planet. This would indicate other kind of knowledge and maybe a change in the scenario.
If the scenario is hindered by him, I will kill him if I can. Which I begin to doubt. He is a warrior.
I know nothing of him. Knowledge is power. I have no knowledge therefore I have no power.
His influence on the third is disturbing, but his influence on the scenario could be fatal.
If the scenario changes it is possible that I may loose my purpose. Without purpose I am nothing.>
Finally she reached the bureau of the Vice-Commander. She knocked on the door and entered.
"Vice-Commander."
"What is it Ayanami?"
"I have a few questions for which I need answers. Would you help me please?"
"Yes."
"Have my duties changed?"
"No. Why should they?"
"If we really have made contact with beings from other worlds, this could change the scenario and my purpose.
I feel uneasy when I am confronted with the possibility that I am completely useless."
"Even when there is contact with other worlds, this doesn't mean that the scenario will change."
"How old was the third when he abandoned the Commander?"
"Shinji? Oh, yes I heard of the problems between you two. What is the reason?"
"I have two different versions of one event. Please answer my question and I might be able to solve these problems."
"I see. I always told Ikari that his reality can not be the reality for everyone else too."
"Please answer my question."
"Shinji was 4."
"How can a 4 year old boy abandon his father? I doubt that this is possible."
"He didn't. Gendo delivered him to a teacher and went away."
"So the third was abandoned by the commander and not otherwise."
"Correct."
"Then I have to apologise to the third. That should also solve the problems between us."
"So the problems were caused by two different versions of the past?"
"Yes."
"You know that if you apologise to the third, you also make it clear that you think that the commander has lied to you."
"No. Just that I believe in another version of one story. The fact that they weren't together anymore is reality."
"Good."
As Rei didn't leave his bureau, Fuyutsuki asked: "Something else?"
"Why do you feel uneasy when I'm around?"
"What gives you that idea?"
"That you always try to make our encounters as short as possible."
"Hm. You know how you were made?"
"Yes. Is that the reason? Because I'm artificial? Because I have no soul of my own?"
"Mostly. But also your behaviour."
"The third told me that my behaviour is not suitable for a girl of my age, and not suitable for human interaction in
general. Is that true?"
"Partly, yes. Your kind of conversation isn't what any human would call social interaction. It's just an exchanging
of facts. That repels most people."
"Because it is the way a robot would act?"
"Yes."
"I see."
"Why do you ask me these questions? Has something happened that bothers you?"
"Yes. I was compared to a robot. I didn't like it. I was told that I am unable to function in society. I was told
that most people didn't like me. That doesn't bother me, but I don't understand it."
"And why do you ask me?"
"You were always the one that helped with my curiosity. I learned 4 foreign languages because you gave me the material
to learn them. When I had some questions you always tried to tell me the answers."
With that Ayanami left the bureau, leaving an astonished Vice-Commander behind.
"Looks like things get more interesting. I wonder what this Sensai has to do with this."
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<Well, if the scrolls are correct, the fifth should make it's entrance any minute.>
He stood on a hill, overlooking the city and waited for the arrival of the 5th Angel.
<It will be interesting to see how this battle goes. Now they should be able to deploy 2 Evas, even when the pilots
don't like each other.>
Just at that moment, the sirens began to sound their warning over the entire city.
But there was still no Angel in sight. After a few minutes, a small floating point could be seen in the distance.
A point that grew larger with every passing minute until the form was clearly recognizeable.
2 pyramids with a flat intersection that was most likely the weapon. A cubicle that floated on a direct course
towards the city.
<I should get the sensors ready. I need to gather as much information as possible.>
He took out 2 antennas and hooked them up on his computer. Then he sat down and waited for the events to unfold.
He didn't have to wait for long. Just seconds later, one of the great gates opened and Unit01 was deployed on
the battlefield.
It was one of the shortest battles in history. As soon as Unit01 left the underground the Angel opened fire and hit the
Eva directly in the chest.
<Ouch! That has to hurt.>
The Eva was on it's way back as fast as it has appeared.
<That was short. 1:0 for the Angel. Let's see what my sensors are saying. Particle beam. Output 3 billion gigawatt.
Not bad, but every fighter would be able to laugh out that pathetic weapon. No chance of passing through an energy
shield. Particle beams are way too unfocused to do this. But even such a weak energy weapon is able to cut through
an AT-field. Which has the possibility to repel any attacks with weapons that uses projectiles that are made
of matter. Which no energy field is able to do. Strange.
Enough of that, I can analyze this data later. Now I should go to the hospital to see if the third is still alive.
If he isn't and they are unable to deploy the other Eva as well, I have a problem.
I haven't the necessary forces to take control over the entire planet. Which means that I would have to bomb over
80 percent of the planet to rubble to gain perfect control. And I'm forced to do this if they are unable
to stop the Angel.
Time to go.>
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30 minutes later, he reached the IC unit of the hospital.
<The third is still alive. Good. And they have another plan to defeat the angel. Better. Now I just have to make
sure that the third will pilot again and everything should be fine.>
He entered Shinji's room and stopped beside the bed.
"Time to wake up."
His voice, stregthened with the dark side of the force reached Shinji's unconscious mind and woke him up.
"W...wha......"
"Wake up."
"Y...yeah."
Shinji looked around and saw his Sensai. In his room. In the NERV clinic.
"What are you doing here?"
"To tell you what you have to do."
"And what do I have to do?"
"To pilot again. Today."
"No way! I nearly died, that's enough for one day."
"No it isn't. The Angel is still alive. As long as it is not terminated, you haven't done enough for today."
"Don't you have some possibilities to stop it? Why should I do all the work? I don't want to do it."
"Stop whining. I could order the termination of the Angel."
"Then do it."
"That would also mean that I have to order a total assault. Since I have not enough troops to dispatch I would have to
kill 80 percent of the population to ensure safety."
"80 percent of the population of Tokyo3? That are over....."
"80 percent of the world's population."
"NANI?!"
"To ensure immediate control over a planet, it is necessary to destroy all possible resistance at once.
In the case of this planet it will be neccessary to kill 40 to 50 percent of the population.
If I am forced to act now I would have to kill 80 percent. The difference is 30 - 40 percent.
There are nearly 4 billion people on this planet. 30 percent are 1 billion lives. 40 would be 1.5 billion.
If you don't pilot, you are responsible for the unneccessary deaths of 1 up to 1.5 billion of people."
Shinji paled and gasped for air. After a few silent seconds, he said:
"I'll do it. It's not like that I have really a choice."
"Good. I will help you to be able to finish your mission."
"So you are from another world?"
"Yes."
He went to Shinji and concentrated on the force. A pale glow soldified around Shinji.
"You will sleep now. And you will heal. When you awake, you will be able to pilot again. We will meet again after
the battle."
As Shinji sunk into sleep, he left the room.
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Shinji awoke a few hours later. Still groggy, he heard a knock on the door.
Without waiting for a response Ayanami entered his room and brought his food.
"Ayanami."
"I'm here to tell you the timetable of operation 'Yashima'."
"Lay it on the tray, I'll read it later."
"As you wish. Sayonara."
"Ayanami, wait! I want to talk to ........."
But she had already left the room.
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In the late evening, Shinji sat on a gantry that leads to the entry-plug of his Eva.
A few meters away sat Ayanami. They were in these positions for over an hour, but neither of them spoke.
<If I wanna talk to her, I should do it now. Soon the battle will begin and I should clear that problem before.
I have to trust her in this battle, I need her assistance and her help. If it just wouldn't be so hard to begin.>
"A..Aya.."
"Yes?"
"I don't know how I should begin."
"Try the beginning."
"I'm sorry Ayanami."
"Why?"
"I yelled at you. I placed my mistrust on you. Even in work. All this simply because you had no
chance of knowing better."
"I have gathered information about the incident when you were 4 years old. You spoke the truth, therefore there
is no need to apologise."
"Yes there is."
"No, there is not. In fact it is I who has to apologise."
"Why? I don't understand."
"I accused you of lying."
"Because you didn't know the truth. It wasn't your fault, Ayanami. You believed what my father told you,
you believed him naturally because he raised you. You had no chance of knowing another point of view than his.
So you accepted his story as truth. As I neglected this truth you thought that I lied to you because my story
didn't fit together with your truth. You are not at fault, my father is. You shouldn't apologise for the faults
of other persons."
"So it be."
"Why do you pilot, Ayanami?"
"I have nothing else."
"You are strong."
"Why do you pilot? I didn't expect that you would pilot again after what has happened in the morning."
"Someone knocked some sense in me."
"The Sensai?"
"Yes. How do you know?"
"It would fit into the pattern of his behavior."
"He also explained our misunderstanding to me."
"You did not apologise out of free will?"
"What? Yes, I mean, yes I did it out of free will. But I didn't get the fact that it was a misunderstanding."
"He explained it to you? Then he is a good Sensai."
"I don't really know what he is. He is a good mentor, but he definitely isn't a Sensai."
"Do you know what he plans to do?"
"Only that he has the same goals as we have. Stop third impact, ensure the survival of mankind."
"And stop your father?"
"Yes."
"You didn't object to this goal?"
"Since the plans of my father includes my death, I'm pretty happy that there is someone who wants to stop him."
Reis eyes widened, just for the blink of an eye, but Shinji spotted it.
"I don't think that I'm the only one."
"It is time."
"Yes, it is. Hope to see you after the battle."
She frowned.
"Why not?"
"We could die tonight."
"You will not die. I'll protect you."
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He stood on a nearby hill and observed the preparations for the next attack.
What he saw made a frown on his face.
<Whoever planned this operation is an incompetent fool. They've set up the Hq and the rescue units in close vincinity
to the combat units. If the Angel fires at them, the shockwave will take them out. If something bad happens so that
they need the rescue teams, they'll have a big problem.
The setup of this base in direct line of sight with the angel, without camouflage or ECM is also stupid. That's an
invitation that says: Please kill me. The fact that this camp is outside of the area that the Angel defends doesn't
mean that they are outside of weapons range.>
Sirens blared their warning call into the night as the time for the attack closes in.
At 00:00:03 the battle begun with the simultaneous exchange of fire between Unit 01 and the Angel.
And this was enough to let the initial plan fail.
The energy beams deviated each other from the destined course, so they were just close mishits.
The Angel was unaffected by this, but the camp near Unit 01 was another matter.
Communications broke down, Sensors were destroyed and the vans of the makeshift headquarters were scattered over a
150 meter area.
Rescue units, along with a large amount of backup trucks were completely destroyed.
<Just great. If one of the pilots gets injured, they have no chance. The nearest medical unit is now in the
subterran Hq, and they would need more than 20 minutes until they could be here.>
Unit 01 reloaded the weapon but the power up needed time. After replacing the fuses it took 30 seconds for full power.
At 00:00:08 the Angel fired again. Unit 00 was able to deflect the beam with its shield, but this temporary
defense lasted only 17 seconds. After this, the beam hit Unit 00 directly in the chest. That begun at 00:00:25.
It took 8 more seconds until Unit 01 was able to fire again. Shinji destroyed the Angel with a direct hit.
But Unit 00 was heavily damaged. Most of the front armor has melted, and the LCL in the entry plug was boiling.
<Shit! After this hit, Ayanami is most likely injured. With no help in range, she's as good as dead. Or should I.....?
It would give me more opportunities to strengthen my influence on her and the third. Good that I have already brought
a speeder bike down there.>
Shinji ripped the armor that covered the entry plug of unit 00 off. Then he drew the plug out of Unit 00 and laid it
carefully at the ground. After this he left his own plug and ran to Ayanami.
The heat of the battered plug was enormous, the handle for the door to hot to use.
As Shinji decided that he would still try to open it, even when he burns his hands, help arrived.
"Step aside."
"Sensai!"
The Sith went to the plug and used the force to rip the door off.
Boiling LCL spilled on the ground.
"Scheisse! Ich hasse Hitze."
He entered the plug and took Ayanami in his arms, then brought her into the clear and cool air of the night.
A few meters away he laid her down to examine her condition.
<She's too hot and doesn't cool down. The plug suit doesn't cool either.
.
.
.
.
It doesn't cool?>
He depressurized the plug suit and looked at the material.
<A heat accumulating material, but no cooling. That suit grills her.>
He ignited his lightsword and cut the material off from Ayanamis body. Then he laid her down on the cool grass.
"She's still too hot."
Shinji, red as a tomato stammered: "There's a little creek nearby. I....saw it from Unit 01."
"Deep enough to submerge her in the water?"
"N..No. It looked to small for that."
"Go there and bring me as much water as possible."
"I have no bucket. How should I transport..."
"Use your plug suit."
"I....Ah...Ok."
As Shinji made his way to the creek, the main problem remained.
<She's too hot and it will take too long until the water is here. If her body temperature remains this high
for too long, she will suffer brain damage. Time to do something.>
He concentrated on the force, and the effect was instantaneously. The air that surrounded Reis body cooled down
under the point of 0° celsius. Ice crystals begun to form on her body and the grass.
On a secondary level, he cooled down her brain directly with the force.
<This should work.>
A few minutes later, a nude Shinji with a water-filled plug suit arived.
"H..Here." stammered a clearly embarrassed Shinji.
"Good."
He cooled the water down before he used it to further cool Rei's body.
Shinji looked at Rei, blushed harder and asked: "Why is there Ice? It isn't cold."
"Never ask a magician how he does his magic."
"What do you mean?"
"It is neccessary to cool Reis body down. I already treated her burnings, but the temperature of her blood is
still critical."
"Why is that so important?"
"You boil your brain, you'll becoming a babbling idiot. I try to avoid this fate for Ayanami."
"Oh."
After a few minutes of silence, Shinji asked: "How long will it take?"
"Her temperature is already on a manageable level. But not ideal."
"Will she have brain damage?"
"I don't think so."
"Good."
"You solved your problems with her?"
"More or less."
"Good."
The sound of incoming VTOLs could be heard.
"It's time for me to go. Stay here with Ayanami, and make sure that they don't get the idea to keep her warm."
"Y..yes."
"And do nothing indecent to her."
With that, he went away. Seconds later, a sound like a mix of airplane and motorbike was heard.
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Gendo looked at Akagi.
"So there will be no permanent damage?"
"No. She was cooled down in time."
"How?"
"I don't know. I heard that there were even ice-crystals on her body as she was retrieved. The only one who could
give us an answer refuses to do so."
"The third."
"Yes. He ripped the entry plug out of Unit 00 and saved her life this way. But there is no way that he could have
cooled her down. Even with the water he gathered to do so."
"They were both nude as they were found. Did he molest her?"
Akagi gasped. "No."
"Good. Dismissed, Doctor."
After Akagi has left the office, Fuyutsuki came out of te shadows and asked: "The Sensai?"
"Most likely."
"So he is sided with the children."
"That doesn't mean that he is sided with us."
"He has proven that he has power and abilities that we don't understand."
"He is still mortal. His interference was for our benefit, this time. If he hinders the scenario, he shall die."
"You hope he is mortal, you hope."
"If he is really immortal, I will incarcerate him for eternity. The result is the same."
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Shinji sat in the hospital in front of the entrance to the room where Rei Ayanami laid.
His shoulders slumped, his eyes downcast to the floor he waited for Misato to take him home.
"Hi, there. Time to go home."
"Yes Misato."
They left the hospital and entered the car. After a fast but quiet drive home they arrived at the apartment building
where they lived.
Few minutes later they entered their apartment.
"Shinji, can we talk?"
"Yes."
"It looks like that you were able to settle your differences with Ayanami."
"Yes."
"Do you think that we could do the same?"
"I don't know. I don't know how I should be able to trust you. I know that it is your job to observe me, but that
also makes it impossible for me to trust you."
"As you said, that's my job. I have to write this journal, otherwise I loose it. But that doesn't mean that we cannot
act like civilized people when we are together. I know that you won't believe me, but as I offered you to stay with me,
I didn't do it to have better opportunities to observe and control you."
"......"
"Do you know why PenPen lives here with me?"
"No."
"He was used for experiments in a science lab where I worked. As he wasn't useful anymore, they wanted to kill him.
But I was alone, so I wanted to keep him and that was what I did.
As I offered to you that you can stay with me, I was still alone. I wanted company, a friend.
Somebody that talks to me, that greets me when I come home.
But I screwed up, right?"
"Yes, you did. But that doesn't mean that we couldn't try a startover."
"So you'll give me a second chance?"
"Well, I won't trust you instantly but we could try."
"That sounds good to me."
Shinji chuckled. "The funny thing is that I always thought that you needed me to make it possible for you to enter the
apartment without getting killed by being hit by tons of empty beer cans."
"Wh...you little...."
Shinji laughed.
After a few seconds, Misato joined in and hugged him.
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Inside the hospital, a girl with blue hair laid on her bed with eyes open.
<Why did he rescue me? And how did he do it? This Sensai gets more mysterious every day. Now I owe him life.
It's good that this isn't worth anything, otherwise I would come in conflict with my duties.>
After these thoughts, she closed her eyes as sleep finally claimed her.
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Preread by Ezstarius
Domo arigato
Book 1: Changing Darkness
Chapter 5: Number 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------
Shinji entered the class and looked around. As soon as he spotted Hikari, he decided to go to her desk.
"Morning Inchou."
"Morning Shinji."
"Ahm......I wanted to ask you....."
<Damn, that's harder than I thought. To make a decision is one thing, to go the entire way is another matter altogether.>
"Yes?"
"Do....do you want to go to the movies with me?"
Hikari was more than surprised and asked with a shocked expression on her face:
"Do you want to ask me out on a date?"
"Yeah,.........I guess so. I mean I like you, so it is ........"
"You...like me?"
Shinji blushed and answered: "Yes, I do."
"When and where?"
"What?"
"When will we go on the date and where do we meet?"
"Does that mean that you'll come?"
"Sure, why not? There is nobody else that would ask me out and I can't say that you don't look some kind of cute."
"Thanks. How sounds Saturday at 18:00? We could meet at the mall, go to the cinema and after the film we can eat
dinner."
"Sounds good to me."
In the background, a large frown formed itself on the face of Touji Suzuhara.
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<Time to play teacher.>
He entered the classroom and stopped in front of his desk.
"Rise. Bow. Sit."
"Thanks Miss Horaki. Today we will learn about maths and geometry."
A collective moan from the entire class aptly revealed what they thought about the prospect of learning such things.
"I think you underestimate me. I will not stand in front of the class and tell you some things that you don't want
to hear. Open your laptops. You will find a new program called 'Gunner'. Open it and look at the screen."
The students did so and were surprised. On the screen was an image that reminded many students of a computer game.
"This program is easy. You command a gun and fight against different targets. These targets will be very slow in the
beginning and will get faster with every level. Each level consists of 5 targets. You cannot simply click with the
mouse on the target. You have to enter X and Y coordinates to move the gun to the desired position.
That means you have to spot the target, analyze its course, calculate the intercept vector, enter the information and
destroy the target. The entire game is on a 3 dimensional environment, so don't forget that the targets will not only
move left and right, but forward and back as well.
The faster you manage to finish all 8 levels, the more points you get.
After you have finished these levels, you can move on to difficulty level 2, where you can click directly on the screen
to move the cannon.
But the targets are way faster and much more maneuverable, so don't expect a decreasing difficulty."
"And after we've finished?" asked one of the students.
"If you are able to finish these tests, you have to wait until three other students finished as well. As soon as a group
of 4 students were successful, you can open the game 'Homeworld' which is also newly installed. Set up a multiplayer
game and use the 'Battleground' scenario. Is there anybody who already knows the game?"
"Yes."
"Then please tell us what kind of game this is."
"It's a strategic space simulation where you can manage resources, build ships and fight against each other.
We can use different tactic settings and formations. The entire game has a 3 dimensional environment, which makes it
hard for a classical 'fortress' strategy as it can be often seen on normal strategy games. It's an old game from the
90s, and.."
"That's enough. Thanks. Now, let's get started."
He walked behind his desk, sat down and booted up his own laptop.
<So, this should ensure that I can work undisturbed the entire morning. I seriously doubt that anybody will complete
the 'Gunner' simulator. That's an advanced learning program for ongoing weapon operators of capital ships. Hehehehe.>
"Mission complete."
"Hmh?"
"Mission complete." repeated Ayanami.
"You have already finished all Levels?"
"Yes."
"Since I think that it will take some time until someone else will finish it, feel free to use the higher difficulty
levels as well."
"Ryokai."
<How the hell did she do that? Even I needed 2 fucking hours to complete that shitty test in the first run.
And she did it in less than 10 minutes???>
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------
3 hours later, Shinji finished the test as the second one.
"Finished."
"Good. Since all these other loosers are still on the first levels, feel free to use the game in a match against
Ayanami."
"Yes Sensei."
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After lunch break the test continued and no other student was able to finish it.
Finally the school bell that signaled the end of the school day rang and rescued the students from further humiliation.
"Ikari, please stay for a talk. The rest of you, see ya tomorrow. Ayanami, I'm impressed, you did quite well today."
"May I ask what the purpose of these tests were? Mathematics and geometry were only the first level of difficulty,
the second was reaction and the other levels also required different abilities."
"To see if you are able to function in another environment than usual, and what kind of talents you have."
"I don't understand your answer."
"Given time, you will. Sayonara."
"Sayonara."
After Rei left the class room, he faced Shinji.
"Care to tell me what your problem is?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean your attitude towards Ayanami. It can't be the fact that she kicked your ass in Homeworld, because you were
already pissed before."
"Well, I talked to her as you suggested."
"And?"
"She asked me why I abandoned my father."
"Oh."
<Damn. That bastard gave her a worse brain-washing than I thought. Poor girl.>
"And as I explained that I couldn't have done that, she accused me of lying. She's nothing more than a stupid doll,
a doll owned by my father. I can't stand her anymore."
"Tell me, have you questioned yourself as to how she could get the idea that a 4 year old leaves the father?"
"No. Not really."
"You know that she was raised by your father?"
"Yes. But I don't know why he raised her instead of me. Maybe to be able to screw her."
WHAM! The open hand of the teacher connected at full force with Shinjis face.
Shinji began to sob. "W....why?"
"Do you know that reality depends on the point of view?"
"N.....no, not really."
"A human tends to take everything that is presented in a logical way as reality. When a scientist says that it is
impossible to exceed the speed of light you take this as reality because he has scientific and logical proof for that."
"Sure. It is impossible, so it is reality."
"False. It is possible, and this is my point of view. In my reality the light barrier can be broken. So we have 2
different realities. Which one is right?"
"If you can break light speed, you are."
"Can you break the light barrier too?"
"No."
"So in your reality it isn't possible."
"I think I begin to understand."
"Ayanami was raised by your father. He was the only one that gave her information. So his reality became her reality as
well. In his reality you ran from him because you were your mothers child. He used that lie as confirmation that you are
both, useless and worthless, so that he can excuse your planned death with these facts.
So Ayanami learned that you ran away from your father. Nobody else told her otherwise, so this statement, as illogical
as it is, is her reality. She knows no other one."
"That's no reason to hit me."
"You were hit for the second sentence."
"Oh. And why?"
"Because if this would be reality it would be the worst abuse I've ever heard of. She depends completely on him.
He is the one that tells her what her life is, what her purpose is, what she has to do and how she should react.
Your accusation was totally unfair against Ayanami and absolutely uncalled for.
Because in this case you should ask me to kill this asshole and not lash out against the victim.
"I understand. I'm sorry."
"You shouldn't apologize to me."
"You are right."
"And I had a second reason to knock some sense in your empty head."
"And that would be?"
"You know that you have to work with her together? That the entire population of this planet depends on your ability
to work together as team, to stop the angels and save mankind?"
"Yes, I do."
"And then you decide to let them down because your fellow pilot talked some bullshit?"
Shinji's eyes bulges nearly out of their sockets, and he turned completely pale as he realized what he has done.
"You should cancel your demand to cease work together with Ayanami. And you should talk to her. Maybe then she can learn
another reality, and see that these 2 realities don't fit together."
"Yes, I will."
"Good. Now another topic. You're go on a date with the Inchou?"
"Yes, this saturday."
"Good luck. You may go home, and don't forget to tell Katsuragi of your changed opinion of the Eva operations with
Ayanami. Bye."
"Sayonara."
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She made her way through the labyrinth of NERV headquarters with a determined expression on her face.
<I need to get those answers and I need to get them fast. This new Sensai set a lot of things in motion and I do not
know if they are good or bad for the scenario. The scenario is my purpose, but if the rumors I heard are true, he could
be from another planet. This would indicate other kind of knowledge and maybe a change in the scenario.
If the scenario is hindered by him, I will kill him if I can. Which I begin to doubt. He is a warrior.
I know nothing of him. Knowledge is power. I have no knowledge therefore I have no power.
His influence on the third is disturbing, but his influence on the scenario could be fatal.
If the scenario changes it is possible that I may loose my purpose. Without purpose I am nothing.>
Finally she reached the bureau of the Vice-Commander. She knocked on the door and entered.
"Vice-Commander."
"What is it Ayanami?"
"I have a few questions for which I need answers. Would you help me please?"
"Yes."
"Have my duties changed?"
"No. Why should they?"
"If we really have made contact with beings from other worlds, this could change the scenario and my purpose.
I feel uneasy when I am confronted with the possibility that I am completely useless."
"Even when there is contact with other worlds, this doesn't mean that the scenario will change."
"How old was the third when he abandoned the Commander?"
"Shinji? Oh, yes I heard of the problems between you two. What is the reason?"
"I have two different versions of one event. Please answer my question and I might be able to solve these problems."
"I see. I always told Ikari that his reality can not be the reality for everyone else too."
"Please answer my question."
"Shinji was 4."
"How can a 4 year old boy abandon his father? I doubt that this is possible."
"He didn't. Gendo delivered him to a teacher and went away."
"So the third was abandoned by the commander and not otherwise."
"Correct."
"Then I have to apologise to the third. That should also solve the problems between us."
"So the problems were caused by two different versions of the past?"
"Yes."
"You know that if you apologise to the third, you also make it clear that you think that the commander has lied to you."
"No. Just that I believe in another version of one story. The fact that they weren't together anymore is reality."
"Good."
As Rei didn't leave his bureau, Fuyutsuki asked: "Something else?"
"Why do you feel uneasy when I'm around?"
"What gives you that idea?"
"That you always try to make our encounters as short as possible."
"Hm. You know how you were made?"
"Yes. Is that the reason? Because I'm artificial? Because I have no soul of my own?"
"Mostly. But also your behaviour."
"The third told me that my behaviour is not suitable for a girl of my age, and not suitable for human interaction in
general. Is that true?"
"Partly, yes. Your kind of conversation isn't what any human would call social interaction. It's just an exchanging
of facts. That repels most people."
"Because it is the way a robot would act?"
"Yes."
"I see."
"Why do you ask me these questions? Has something happened that bothers you?"
"Yes. I was compared to a robot. I didn't like it. I was told that I am unable to function in society. I was told
that most people didn't like me. That doesn't bother me, but I don't understand it."
"And why do you ask me?"
"You were always the one that helped with my curiosity. I learned 4 foreign languages because you gave me the material
to learn them. When I had some questions you always tried to tell me the answers."
With that Ayanami left the bureau, leaving an astonished Vice-Commander behind.
"Looks like things get more interesting. I wonder what this Sensai has to do with this."
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<Well, if the scrolls are correct, the fifth should make it's entrance any minute.>
He stood on a hill, overlooking the city and waited for the arrival of the 5th Angel.
<It will be interesting to see how this battle goes. Now they should be able to deploy 2 Evas, even when the pilots
don't like each other.>
Just at that moment, the sirens began to sound their warning over the entire city.
But there was still no Angel in sight. After a few minutes, a small floating point could be seen in the distance.
A point that grew larger with every passing minute until the form was clearly recognizeable.
2 pyramids with a flat intersection that was most likely the weapon. A cubicle that floated on a direct course
towards the city.
<I should get the sensors ready. I need to gather as much information as possible.>
He took out 2 antennas and hooked them up on his computer. Then he sat down and waited for the events to unfold.
He didn't have to wait for long. Just seconds later, one of the great gates opened and Unit01 was deployed on
the battlefield.
It was one of the shortest battles in history. As soon as Unit01 left the underground the Angel opened fire and hit the
Eva directly in the chest.
<Ouch! That has to hurt.>
The Eva was on it's way back as fast as it has appeared.
<That was short. 1:0 for the Angel. Let's see what my sensors are saying. Particle beam. Output 3 billion gigawatt.
Not bad, but every fighter would be able to laugh out that pathetic weapon. No chance of passing through an energy
shield. Particle beams are way too unfocused to do this. But even such a weak energy weapon is able to cut through
an AT-field. Which has the possibility to repel any attacks with weapons that uses projectiles that are made
of matter. Which no energy field is able to do. Strange.
Enough of that, I can analyze this data later. Now I should go to the hospital to see if the third is still alive.
If he isn't and they are unable to deploy the other Eva as well, I have a problem.
I haven't the necessary forces to take control over the entire planet. Which means that I would have to bomb over
80 percent of the planet to rubble to gain perfect control. And I'm forced to do this if they are unable
to stop the Angel.
Time to go.>
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30 minutes later, he reached the IC unit of the hospital.
<The third is still alive. Good. And they have another plan to defeat the angel. Better. Now I just have to make
sure that the third will pilot again and everything should be fine.>
He entered Shinji's room and stopped beside the bed.
"Time to wake up."
His voice, stregthened with the dark side of the force reached Shinji's unconscious mind and woke him up.
"W...wha......"
"Wake up."
"Y...yeah."
Shinji looked around and saw his Sensai. In his room. In the NERV clinic.
"What are you doing here?"
"To tell you what you have to do."
"And what do I have to do?"
"To pilot again. Today."
"No way! I nearly died, that's enough for one day."
"No it isn't. The Angel is still alive. As long as it is not terminated, you haven't done enough for today."
"Don't you have some possibilities to stop it? Why should I do all the work? I don't want to do it."
"Stop whining. I could order the termination of the Angel."
"Then do it."
"That would also mean that I have to order a total assault. Since I have not enough troops to dispatch I would have to
kill 80 percent of the population to ensure safety."
"80 percent of the population of Tokyo3? That are over....."
"80 percent of the world's population."
"NANI?!"
"To ensure immediate control over a planet, it is necessary to destroy all possible resistance at once.
In the case of this planet it will be neccessary to kill 40 to 50 percent of the population.
If I am forced to act now I would have to kill 80 percent. The difference is 30 - 40 percent.
There are nearly 4 billion people on this planet. 30 percent are 1 billion lives. 40 would be 1.5 billion.
If you don't pilot, you are responsible for the unneccessary deaths of 1 up to 1.5 billion of people."
Shinji paled and gasped for air. After a few silent seconds, he said:
"I'll do it. It's not like that I have really a choice."
"Good. I will help you to be able to finish your mission."
"So you are from another world?"
"Yes."
He went to Shinji and concentrated on the force. A pale glow soldified around Shinji.
"You will sleep now. And you will heal. When you awake, you will be able to pilot again. We will meet again after
the battle."
As Shinji sunk into sleep, he left the room.
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Shinji awoke a few hours later. Still groggy, he heard a knock on the door.
Without waiting for a response Ayanami entered his room and brought his food.
"Ayanami."
"I'm here to tell you the timetable of operation 'Yashima'."
"Lay it on the tray, I'll read it later."
"As you wish. Sayonara."
"Ayanami, wait! I want to talk to ........."
But she had already left the room.
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In the late evening, Shinji sat on a gantry that leads to the entry-plug of his Eva.
A few meters away sat Ayanami. They were in these positions for over an hour, but neither of them spoke.
<If I wanna talk to her, I should do it now. Soon the battle will begin and I should clear that problem before.
I have to trust her in this battle, I need her assistance and her help. If it just wouldn't be so hard to begin.>
"A..Aya.."
"Yes?"
"I don't know how I should begin."
"Try the beginning."
"I'm sorry Ayanami."
"Why?"
"I yelled at you. I placed my mistrust on you. Even in work. All this simply because you had no
chance of knowing better."
"I have gathered information about the incident when you were 4 years old. You spoke the truth, therefore there
is no need to apologise."
"Yes there is."
"No, there is not. In fact it is I who has to apologise."
"Why? I don't understand."
"I accused you of lying."
"Because you didn't know the truth. It wasn't your fault, Ayanami. You believed what my father told you,
you believed him naturally because he raised you. You had no chance of knowing another point of view than his.
So you accepted his story as truth. As I neglected this truth you thought that I lied to you because my story
didn't fit together with your truth. You are not at fault, my father is. You shouldn't apologise for the faults
of other persons."
"So it be."
"Why do you pilot, Ayanami?"
"I have nothing else."
"You are strong."
"Why do you pilot? I didn't expect that you would pilot again after what has happened in the morning."
"Someone knocked some sense in me."
"The Sensai?"
"Yes. How do you know?"
"It would fit into the pattern of his behavior."
"He also explained our misunderstanding to me."
"You did not apologise out of free will?"
"What? Yes, I mean, yes I did it out of free will. But I didn't get the fact that it was a misunderstanding."
"He explained it to you? Then he is a good Sensai."
"I don't really know what he is. He is a good mentor, but he definitely isn't a Sensai."
"Do you know what he plans to do?"
"Only that he has the same goals as we have. Stop third impact, ensure the survival of mankind."
"And stop your father?"
"Yes."
"You didn't object to this goal?"
"Since the plans of my father includes my death, I'm pretty happy that there is someone who wants to stop him."
Reis eyes widened, just for the blink of an eye, but Shinji spotted it.
"I don't think that I'm the only one."
"It is time."
"Yes, it is. Hope to see you after the battle."
She frowned.
"Why not?"
"We could die tonight."
"You will not die. I'll protect you."
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He stood on a nearby hill and observed the preparations for the next attack.
What he saw made a frown on his face.
<Whoever planned this operation is an incompetent fool. They've set up the Hq and the rescue units in close vincinity
to the combat units. If the Angel fires at them, the shockwave will take them out. If something bad happens so that
they need the rescue teams, they'll have a big problem.
The setup of this base in direct line of sight with the angel, without camouflage or ECM is also stupid. That's an
invitation that says: Please kill me. The fact that this camp is outside of the area that the Angel defends doesn't
mean that they are outside of weapons range.>
Sirens blared their warning call into the night as the time for the attack closes in.
At 00:00:03 the battle begun with the simultaneous exchange of fire between Unit 01 and the Angel.
And this was enough to let the initial plan fail.
The energy beams deviated each other from the destined course, so they were just close mishits.
The Angel was unaffected by this, but the camp near Unit 01 was another matter.
Communications broke down, Sensors were destroyed and the vans of the makeshift headquarters were scattered over a
150 meter area.
Rescue units, along with a large amount of backup trucks were completely destroyed.
<Just great. If one of the pilots gets injured, they have no chance. The nearest medical unit is now in the
subterran Hq, and they would need more than 20 minutes until they could be here.>
Unit 01 reloaded the weapon but the power up needed time. After replacing the fuses it took 30 seconds for full power.
At 00:00:08 the Angel fired again. Unit 00 was able to deflect the beam with its shield, but this temporary
defense lasted only 17 seconds. After this, the beam hit Unit 00 directly in the chest. That begun at 00:00:25.
It took 8 more seconds until Unit 01 was able to fire again. Shinji destroyed the Angel with a direct hit.
But Unit 00 was heavily damaged. Most of the front armor has melted, and the LCL in the entry plug was boiling.
<Shit! After this hit, Ayanami is most likely injured. With no help in range, she's as good as dead. Or should I.....?
It would give me more opportunities to strengthen my influence on her and the third. Good that I have already brought
a speeder bike down there.>
Shinji ripped the armor that covered the entry plug of unit 00 off. Then he drew the plug out of Unit 00 and laid it
carefully at the ground. After this he left his own plug and ran to Ayanami.
The heat of the battered plug was enormous, the handle for the door to hot to use.
As Shinji decided that he would still try to open it, even when he burns his hands, help arrived.
"Step aside."
"Sensai!"
The Sith went to the plug and used the force to rip the door off.
Boiling LCL spilled on the ground.
"Scheisse! Ich hasse Hitze."
He entered the plug and took Ayanami in his arms, then brought her into the clear and cool air of the night.
A few meters away he laid her down to examine her condition.
<She's too hot and doesn't cool down. The plug suit doesn't cool either.
.
.
.
.
It doesn't cool?>
He depressurized the plug suit and looked at the material.
<A heat accumulating material, but no cooling. That suit grills her.>
He ignited his lightsword and cut the material off from Ayanamis body. Then he laid her down on the cool grass.
"She's still too hot."
Shinji, red as a tomato stammered: "There's a little creek nearby. I....saw it from Unit 01."
"Deep enough to submerge her in the water?"
"N..No. It looked to small for that."
"Go there and bring me as much water as possible."
"I have no bucket. How should I transport..."
"Use your plug suit."
"I....Ah...Ok."
As Shinji made his way to the creek, the main problem remained.
<She's too hot and it will take too long until the water is here. If her body temperature remains this high
for too long, she will suffer brain damage. Time to do something.>
He concentrated on the force, and the effect was instantaneously. The air that surrounded Reis body cooled down
under the point of 0° celsius. Ice crystals begun to form on her body and the grass.
On a secondary level, he cooled down her brain directly with the force.
<This should work.>
A few minutes later, a nude Shinji with a water-filled plug suit arived.
"H..Here." stammered a clearly embarrassed Shinji.
"Good."
He cooled the water down before he used it to further cool Rei's body.
Shinji looked at Rei, blushed harder and asked: "Why is there Ice? It isn't cold."
"Never ask a magician how he does his magic."
"What do you mean?"
"It is neccessary to cool Reis body down. I already treated her burnings, but the temperature of her blood is
still critical."
"Why is that so important?"
"You boil your brain, you'll becoming a babbling idiot. I try to avoid this fate for Ayanami."
"Oh."
After a few minutes of silence, Shinji asked: "How long will it take?"
"Her temperature is already on a manageable level. But not ideal."
"Will she have brain damage?"
"I don't think so."
"Good."
"You solved your problems with her?"
"More or less."
"Good."
The sound of incoming VTOLs could be heard.
"It's time for me to go. Stay here with Ayanami, and make sure that they don't get the idea to keep her warm."
"Y..yes."
"And do nothing indecent to her."
With that, he went away. Seconds later, a sound like a mix of airplane and motorbike was heard.
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Gendo looked at Akagi.
"So there will be no permanent damage?"
"No. She was cooled down in time."
"How?"
"I don't know. I heard that there were even ice-crystals on her body as she was retrieved. The only one who could
give us an answer refuses to do so."
"The third."
"Yes. He ripped the entry plug out of Unit 00 and saved her life this way. But there is no way that he could have
cooled her down. Even with the water he gathered to do so."
"They were both nude as they were found. Did he molest her?"
Akagi gasped. "No."
"Good. Dismissed, Doctor."
After Akagi has left the office, Fuyutsuki came out of te shadows and asked: "The Sensai?"
"Most likely."
"So he is sided with the children."
"That doesn't mean that he is sided with us."
"He has proven that he has power and abilities that we don't understand."
"He is still mortal. His interference was for our benefit, this time. If he hinders the scenario, he shall die."
"You hope he is mortal, you hope."
"If he is really immortal, I will incarcerate him for eternity. The result is the same."
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Shinji sat in the hospital in front of the entrance to the room where Rei Ayanami laid.
His shoulders slumped, his eyes downcast to the floor he waited for Misato to take him home.
"Hi, there. Time to go home."
"Yes Misato."
They left the hospital and entered the car. After a fast but quiet drive home they arrived at the apartment building
where they lived.
Few minutes later they entered their apartment.
"Shinji, can we talk?"
"Yes."
"It looks like that you were able to settle your differences with Ayanami."
"Yes."
"Do you think that we could do the same?"
"I don't know. I don't know how I should be able to trust you. I know that it is your job to observe me, but that
also makes it impossible for me to trust you."
"As you said, that's my job. I have to write this journal, otherwise I loose it. But that doesn't mean that we cannot
act like civilized people when we are together. I know that you won't believe me, but as I offered you to stay with me,
I didn't do it to have better opportunities to observe and control you."
"......"
"Do you know why PenPen lives here with me?"
"No."
"He was used for experiments in a science lab where I worked. As he wasn't useful anymore, they wanted to kill him.
But I was alone, so I wanted to keep him and that was what I did.
As I offered to you that you can stay with me, I was still alone. I wanted company, a friend.
Somebody that talks to me, that greets me when I come home.
But I screwed up, right?"
"Yes, you did. But that doesn't mean that we couldn't try a startover."
"So you'll give me a second chance?"
"Well, I won't trust you instantly but we could try."
"That sounds good to me."
Shinji chuckled. "The funny thing is that I always thought that you needed me to make it possible for you to enter the
apartment without getting killed by being hit by tons of empty beer cans."
"Wh...you little...."
Shinji laughed.
After a few seconds, Misato joined in and hugged him.
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Inside the hospital, a girl with blue hair laid on her bed with eyes open.
<Why did he rescue me? And how did he do it? This Sensai gets more mysterious every day. Now I owe him life.
It's good that this isn't worth anything, otherwise I would come in conflict with my duties.>
After these thoughts, she closed her eyes as sleep finally claimed her.
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Preread by Ezstarius
Domo arigato