Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Crossroads ❯ Revelations I ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Crossroads
A Neon Genesis Evangelion and Rifts crossover


Neon Genesis Evangelion is used without permission. It is copyright by
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Mechanoid Invasion®, Rifts®, Megaverse®, RECON®, and After the Bomb®
Are registered trademark owned and licensed by Kevin Siembieda and
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Nightbane(TM), Nightlands(TM), Heroes Unlimited(TM), Villains Unlimited(TM),
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by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books, Inc."... and are also used without
permission. Please don't sue me; I am a poor college student! If you sue
me I won't be able to waste my money on your wonderful products! 8^)


Hello again, and welcome to chapter 3 of my humble little fanfic!
I guess if you are still reading it, you find it to be at least a
little palatable! 8^) Well, enough of my rambling, on with the fic.
When we left, Shinji and Asuka had just had their asses handed to them
by the 7th Angel, good old Israfel. Unbeknownst to them, or anyone else
in Nerv for that matter, the battle had been observed by Kyle and
Ferris, who had discovered that the same boy who had stumbled into
their camp just a few hours earlier was now piloting one of the robots
which had just been so soundly defeated. A new predicament indeed.
What does the future hold for them on this new world? Lets find out,
shall we?


Chapter 3: Revelations I


Alister was asleep; he knew this with a certainty. He also knew
where he was, a dream. Or, more accurately, his dream pool.
Regularly, this would not upset him in the least. While not his area
of expertise, he did have some knowledge and the ability to exert
control over what transpired here. What set him on edge was the fact
that he had no real control over the dream he was currently in.

The dream itself was taking place in some sort of compartment.
It had seats along both sides of it as well as windows through which
light was flowing in. By the appearance of things, the compartment was
moving and it was close to sunset. After a few moments of quiet study,
the mage sensed another presence.

:Who's there? Show yourself.: The wizard called out in his
mind.

:Do not be afraid, I come in peace and mean you no harm. I am
here to speak with you.: a voice seemed to echo back.

:Show yourself then. I will not have a conversation with an
apparition or a will-o'-the-wisp.: He replied.

"There, is this better?" said a young man's voice, in an amused
tone.

Alister turned and saw the voice's source. Whatever it was, it
was indeed wearing the body of a boy just into his teens. Dressed in
black slacks and a white shirt, he was lounging against the wall of the
compartment, sitting on one of the benches. He had a mop of unruly
gray-white hair and blood-red eyes. However, apart from his eyes,
there was nothing really unusual about him. "Yes, much better. Now,
what do you wish to talk to me about?"

"I wish to speak of where you are, and it is most important that
I do. Important because of what you are as well as what you guard,"
the entity replied. (Authors note: Remember, as a magic user and a
denizen of a world where the supernatural is common place, Alister is
more than able to tell that the gray-haired youth is not what he
appears.)

"You mean my magic? What of it? Besides the obvious, what has
that to do with this? As for 'what we guard', I assume that you mean
the case. Do you know what it is?" Alister said, still suspicious of
the creatures supposed benevolence.

The 'boy' nodded his head. Alister was about to start asking the
figure more pointed questions when he held up his hands. "Peace,
peace. All will be made clear with time, but I will tell you what I
have been allowed for now. There is little that I am being allowed to
tell you but I will shed what light I am able. Firstly, the Earth that
you are now on is a closed world. That is, none are supposed to be
able to enter or exit via dimensional transit or phenomena of any kind,
either technological or magical. You and your companions were able to
weaken this protection enough to slip through because of the artifact
you carry. Next, the fate of this world hangs in the balance of the
events that are transpiring at this place, and you and your friends
could tip this delicate balance in a great many ways. I would advise
you to tread cautiously, think carefully on your actions before
committing yourselves to them, and be guarded in your actions.
Finally, not only this world's fate hangs in the balance of these
events, but yours too. Old evils are stirring. What I cannot do is
tell you the purpose behind these trials, nor give you advice on the
path to follow; this decision is yours alone to make. I also cannot
reveal to you the nature of the artifact you hold, this is for you to
discover. Our time is at an end, wake and go with God."


Alister's eyes opened and he began to take in his surroundings.
It was night, but there was a fire smoldering nearby, so they must have
reached safety. He was lying down on a cot, but he was not alone on
it. He carefully looked at the sleeping form of Melissa, curled almost
protectively around him, and laughed quietly. Then, with care so as
not to wake his wife, he stood and stretched.

["So, you're finally awake? Have a nice nap?"]

Alister looked over to the smiling face of the wolften Ferris who
was holding out a canteen to him. The mage gratefully accepted it and
took a long drink while Ferris patiently waited. After Alister had
cleared the dryness from his throat, he said ["Yes, very. How long have I
been out?"]

["About a day and a half now. Hector said to let ya wake up on
your own and figured it would be soon so I kept some grub warm for ya.
Still got some stew on the fire."]

At the mention of food, Alister's stomach growled loudly.
["Spoon it up my friend, I'm so hungry I'd even eat Kyle's cooking."]

Ferris chuckled as he put some of the thick stew into a bowl.
["Don't worry, I cooked today so at least the foods edible."]

While Alister put on some clean clothes he asked, ["So, did the
CS try to follow us?"]

["Nope. But this world, 'nother earth, is plenty fucked without
them."] Ferris handed the mage the bowl and a chunk of trail bread.
Alister began to eat without anymore preamble. ["Yay, we even made
contact already too."] Alister stopped eating and looked quizzically
at his friend. ["Wasn't our fault,"] the Wolften shrugged, ["kid
walked right into camp."] Ferris proceeded to tell the other about
their first encounter with the young Ikari, from Shinji's arrival to
the battle between the robots and the monster(s) as well as their guess
on the boy's involvement. ["We haven't seen hide or hare of him
since, but Anika planted a tracker on his shoe, so we can at least find
him. In fact, Kyle, Anika, and Melissa were planing on paying him a
visit soon as you woke up. Kyle is really... on edge about the
situation and wants to make sure the kid ain't gonna turn him in..."]

While Ferris was relating the events of the last day, Alister had
finished his first bowl of stew and started on his second. As he ate,
he thought about his dream and the warning it contained. ["Is this boy
what we are to be wary about?"] The mage sighed with exasperation.
Ferris was used to this. Mages were generally very enigmatic;
they tried very hard to be, and Ferris respected that. Hell, Alister
was an open book compared to the mages in the town where he grew up,
much less his own father. Ferris eventually broke the silence between
them, ["So, how you feeling?"]

["Strangely refreshed and no longer hungry."] Alister put down
his empty bowl. ["In fact, I feel more then awake and refreshed enough
to finish your watch if you want some rest."]

["If you're sure you want to, I got no problem with it."]
Alister nodded his reply and began to put on the light armor he
wore under his robes. Already, he was getting lost in contemplating
this new situation.

Ferris, accustomed to Alister and the way he operated, leaned
against a tree and continued his watch, mimicking sleep.


Although not the first to wake, Melissa was the first awakened.
After that, no one else needed to be. Her joyful scream was more then
enough to wake the rest of the group.

["Alister! You're OK!!"] the young woman yelled as she threw
herself into the arms of the aforementioned.

While defiantly the most happy about the mages recovery, she was
not the only one thrilled. Those still asleep quickly woke and covered
their friend in backslaps and hugs. After a few minutes of this,
everyone, accept Melissa, stepped back to give Alister some breathing
room.

["I certainly didn't mean to worry everyone this much,"] the mage
chuckled, ["and Ferris has already told me what transpired while I was
asleep. However, there is much more going on here then what is
apparent..."] Alister then proceeded to tell them about his dream.

After Alister had finished his story, Kyle stalked off towards
his 'mech, mumbling about how little profit there was in saving the
world. The others chuckled and nodded their agreement. (Author's
Note: Most Rift's parties save the world at least once during their
adventuring career, more often three to five times and the Megaverse
once or twice to boot. Rift's Earth can be a very dangerous and chaotic
place. That is why most adventuring groups try to be armed for dragon
or demon lord. At least.)

["Sso, Alister, You believe that thiss conflict Kyle and Ferrisss
witnesssed might have ssomething to do with the entity that contacted
you?"]

["I spent most of the night thinking about this, and I'm almost
certain."]

["I agree. I think that we sshould head the advisse of, whatever
it wasss, and indeed proceed with, exsstreme caution. Ferrisss told
you that Anika, Kyle, and Melissssa plan on tracking thiss boy down and
ssolidifying our arrangement with him, yess?"] Alister nodded and
Hector continued. ["In light of thiss new development, do you think it
iss sstill advisssable?"]

["We might as well. I have the feeling that we should do
something. But in order to get anything accomplished we should try to
find out more of what is going on. If this boy is indeed involved..."]

["Well then, we'll hike in after breakfast,"] Anika said.

["Just remember, be careful, I am sure that there are many
factors we don't know about."] Alister reminded them.


"All right, rise and shine!" Misato Katsuragi called out.

Asuka and Shinji groaned in unison as they rose from their futons
in unison, and prepared to go about their other routines, in unison.
In fact, over the course of the day the only things that wouldn't be
done in unison would be Shinji's cooking, Asuka's complaining and
certain bathroom activities (although they WOULD be doing things like
brushing their teeth in unison). At least, that was the plan that
Misato had presented to NERV command and had somehow got approved. She
proposed that by having perfect timing and coordination, the newest
angel could be defeated.

As the two pilots sat up and rubbed their eyes, they noticed
Misato setting up some sort of sound and light twister set. After she
finished, she turned, grabbing the beer that Pen-Pen was holding out
for her, and looked to her two charges. "Well, what do you think?"

Asuka and Shinji looked at each other and then back to the
contraption. "What is it, Misato?" Shinji hesitantly asked.

"I'm glad you asked that, Shinji. This is how the two of you
will do your synch training. Now, get dressed and eat; we have a long
day ahead of us." Misato turned to the, 'training device', and began
to chuckle into her already half-empty beer. Asuka and Shinji sweat-
dropped.


["Kyle, still got the signal?"] Melissa asked.

["Ya, that building there."] Kyle pointed to the apartment
building across the street.

["Can you tell which room?"] Melissa asked.

["Let me see if I can focus it in... hold on a sec."] Kyle began
to adjust his mirror shades.

Anika was adjusting the dials on a small readout pad that she was
carrying. ["Looks like the fifth floor, eighth door down from the
elevator or so."]

Kyle just grunted an agreement. ["Keep your com line open. If
the deal goes sour, you're coming out."]

["Hey, I'm the thiefy one here right? I can smell a trapped
apartment from a mile away. But if it makes you feel better..."] With
that, Melissa walked towards the building.


"Arrggh, Shinji, you moron! Can't you do anything right?" Asuka
yelled at the fallen boy.

"I'm sorry, but do you have to yell like that?" Shinji asked as
he stood back up.

"Well, it's not my fault that you're a putz who can't keep up
with me, or the music." Asuka rebuffed.

"What? I was right on step, you got ahead of me!" Shinji shot
back.

Misato shook her head as the two argued. They were getting the
steps down all right, but Shinji was a little too hesitant and Asuka
was too bold for them to keep in time with each other, or the music.
They only had four more days too. The doorbells buzzing interrupted
Misato's thoughts. Shinji and Asuka didn't even notice because Asuka
was to busy beating Shinji over the head with a pillow. Misato sighed.
"Asuka, stop that. I'll get the door and you two can break for lunch."

"OK" both children called, Shinji's reply much weaker then
Asuka's.

Misato walked over and open the door. Shinji stopped dead in his
tracks when he heard the voice.

"Ahh, hello. Is Shinji here?" A familiar female voice asked.

"Yes, and you are?" Misato asked.

"Just an old friend, I was in town and though I would pay a
visit."

"Well, your timing isn't what it could be, but what the hell,
come on in, I'll get him." Misato answered as she ushered the other
woman in. "Ohhh Shinji, you have a visitor," she sweetly called.

Shinji looked into the entranceway to see Melissa, smiling and
waving like he would imagine an old friend doing. "Hey Shinji! How
you been? I was in the neighborhood and thought I might stop by and
see if you wanted to grab some lunch and catch up on some stuff?"

Shinji was petrified. With all of the concern with the angel and
such he had put the mercenaries completely out of his mind. Before
Shinji could stammer out any sort of reply though, Misato answered the
question for him.

"Sure he can, we were just about to take a break for lunch
anyway. Just get him back in about an hour, ok?" Misato turned and
winked at Shinji.

"I... I better go change then, OK?" Shinji forced out. Shinji
turned and almost bolted to his room. As he closed the door he heard
Misato giggle, then comment to Melissa, "He's a little girl-shy, huh?"

Shinji stood there for a minute. How did they find him? Where
were the others? Seeing no escape, Shinji changed into his normal
attire and left his room. Asuka was eating in the kitchen and when he
passed she gave him and icy stare. Misato and Melissa were chatting as
he approached.

"I'm ready," Shinji said.

"Ok, be back in an hour." Misato called as Shinji and Melissa
left. Misato never even wondered why she was so quick to let Shinji
walk off with a complete stranger.


To say that Shinji was nervous as he walked down the street next
to the attractive young merc. would be an understatement. It wasn't
even the type of nervousness that he regularly had when in the presence
of good-looking woman like Misato, Ritsuko, or Asuka. No, this was the
fearing-for-one's-life type of nervousness.

Melissa looked over and seemed to take pity on the poor boy that
looked to be at his wits end. "So, been busy lately?" she asked
conversationally.

"Y... ya. I guess you could say that. Where, where are we
going?" Shinji stammered out.

"Relax, you're going to give yourself an ulcer if you keep this
up. We're going to this little park about half a kilometer from here
so that we can talk in relative private. I promise that I don't bite."
She suddenly turned to Shinji with a playful look on her face. "Least
not on a first date." She suddenly got a little more serious.
"Seriously, we just want to talk. We're strangers here and don't want
to run afoul of customs or laws... or fights between giant robots and
equally giant monsters."

"I thought you said that you didn't know about Eva?" Shinji
asked softly, his tension rising again.

"Calm down. We only just found out, and it was mostly by
accident. Ferris and Kyle saw the fight and were able to patch into
the com frequency and listen in. They figured that you were piloting
the purple one?"

"Yes, I pilot Eva 01." They had arrived at the park without
Shinji even noticing and Melissa led him to a table by the small lake
there. Shinji sat down heavily. "But why? I won't tell anyone about
you, I swear... why would I? Who would believe me if I did?"

"We didn't really think you would, but like I said a minute ago,
we need a contact of some sort. Someone to point at the pitfalls so
that we don't stumble blindly into them. Thing is, you're the only
real choice available to us."

"But why? Why me?" Shinji asked.

"Well, for starters, you already know about us. Second, Hector
and Amber both think that we can trust you. Finally, I don't know. It
just seems like a good choice. Don't worry, the most we need you to do
is provide some basic history and cultural stuff, a tour guide, that
sort of thing. It's not like we won't reimburse you in some way for
your time if that's what you're worried about." Melissa stared at the
nervous boy for a short time then continued. "Don't worry, we won't,
and wouldn't, ask you to do anything wrong. We only want to fit in and
keep our heads down till we can leave."

["Hey Melissa, mind if I talk to him for a minute?"] Kyle had
walked over from where he was standing in a nearby clump of trees.

["Sure, no problem."] She said after a moment's hesitation. She
stood and as she left, she turned to Shinji and said "Don't worry 'bout
him too much, he's a little gruff, but he's a decent sort deep down."
She then turned to Kyle, ["All yours. Play nice now."] She then
walked toward the small lake and began to feed breadcrumbs to the birds
that were clustered there.

Kyle sat down and looked at Shinji. Then without preamble he
said ["Twelve."]

Shinji was startled by this odd statement and replied without
really thinking. ["Twelve? Twelve what?"]

["Twelve guys, in suits, packing heat, and following you. Non-
interfering, bodyguard formation if I don't miss my guess. Formed up
around you no less. I figure it has something to do with you jockeying
that 'bot, right?"] Kyle said this casually, like he was talking to
his son about a day at the office.

["They're probably Section Two agents, making sure I'm safe and
in case I try to run away again."] Shinji answered in a whisper.

["Don't like fighting, right? Why did you come back when you
ran? They can't make you pilot that thing against your will can
they?"]

["Because there's no one else who can. Only the pilots can
synchronize with the Evangelions, and only the Evangelions can fight
the Angels."] Shinji was clenching and unclenching his hand under the
table. ["I don't like it though."]

["Well that does explain the guards. Why do you keep piloting it
then, can't they find someone else to take over?"]

["I... I... I don't know. I guess maybe because they tell me to.
It, validates my existence maybe. I just don't know."] By the end,
Shinji's voice was a barely audible whisper.

["I know that feeling."] Kyle answered. ["After my parents died
when I was about, your age I guess, I was sort of cast adrift. I
tapped out what cash my parents had saved to pay for training as a...
soldier I guess you could say, and some gear. When I turned nineteen,
I went out looking for something, anything. Answers, a purpose,
whatever. Two years I was like that, wandering from job to job, merc-
ing, guarding buildings or people, pretty much just getting by. Then
one day, I wander into this flyspeck of a town out on the ass of
nowhere and the people are getting ready to lynch this guy. Reason, he
was a mage. They found out when he cured some local kid of a fever. I
knew that I couldn't let them kill him. Just didn't sit well with me.
Apparently I wasn't the only one that thought so. Right as I'm
blasting the rope they're about to use to stretch out his neck, this
hovercycle roars in and clears the crowd from the gallows. Anyway, the
other guy and me save the mage and got the hell out of town. The mage
was Alister and the guy on the hovercycle was Ferris. We been together
ever since. It doesn't hurt quite as much anymore."] Kyle suddenly
looked directly into Shinji's eyes. ["I've talked to others who filled
that hollow with their first pay check, or a lover, or a hundred other
things. There's no easy answer if that's what you're looking for, like
I was."] Kyle chuckled, ["But hell, I'm just a mercenary. But you,
you've got some kind of mission. A purpose laid out for ya. And when
you square off against one of those monsters you're helping people.
Now I know, sometime people get hurt, friends, loved ones, some
strangers caught in the crossfire. Sometimes, they die. That's the
reality of what you do and I got the feeling no one's really told that
to you plain and outright yet, have they? Let me impart some of the
wisdom that my teacher told me before I left for my 'life of
adventure.' 'Mourn the losses, and move on. If you don't, it will eat
you up inside until you are nothing but a shell. Find your own peace,
that'll keep you sane. Choose your fights wisely, that'll keep you
true to yourself. And, there is always someone better then you,
that'll save you a lot of hassle later on. Above all, never let the
battles overshadow more of your life then necessary, appreciate every
tranquil moment, and fight hard to preserve them. *That*, will keep you
human.' Now, this last bit I found out on my own. If you ever stop
hating it, run. Run far and fast and don't look back."]

["I don't know if I understand. I want to, but I don't."]
Shinji hung his head, slightly overwhelmed.

["Good,"] Kyle answered. Shinji's head jerked up and he looked
at the other, slightly shocked. Kyle grinned and tilted his mirror
shades down a bit and winked his artificial eye at Shinji. ["If I
didn't get it on the first time through, why should you. Besides,
these are just some guidelines, not an instruction manual."]

["Thank you..."]

["No problem. Now I got a deal for ya. In exchange for helping
us out like Melissa was supposed to talk to you about, I'll try to help
you as much as I can with this stuff here. Hell, all of us will.
We're warriors, and we got to stick together, right?"] Kyle held out
his hand to Shinji. Shinji looked at it, an edge of metal visible
between glove and sleeve.

["Deal!"] He replied and shook the offered hand. For the first
time in awhile, things were starting to look up in his life.

Seeing that the two were done, Melissa walked over and said,

"Well, I would love to let you two stay and chat, but that Charm spell
I used can only be stretched so far, so I better get you home."

Shinji nodded and stood, then looking back at the still-seated
Kyle, he said, ["Thank you... again"]

Kyle shrugged and answered, ["No problem. Good luck."]

Suddenly, Shinji thought of something. ["So, did that feeling go
away? Did you find what it was you were looking for?"]

Kyle thought for a moment before he replied. ["I thought I did,
but I was wrong. It's still there. Not as bad as before, but it's
still there."]

As the two of them walked away, Melissa reached into the small
backpack she was carrying and produced a pair of sandwiches. "Hey
Shinji, you hungry?"

"Well, ya, I guess I am."

"Here you go then, roasted rabbit on rye. So Shinji, tell me about
this world of yours, just the normal stuff." Eating and talking they
returned to Misato's.


"Misato, why does Shinji get to go out to lunch and I don't?"
Asuka asked her guardian and roommate.

"Well, because an old friend came to get him and because we need
a chance to talk; in private. After the success of this mission, these
living conditions will be permanent. That means that Pen-Pen, Shinji,
and myself will be your roommates from this point on."

"No WAY!" Asuka stood up and screamed. "No way am I going to be
roommates with that spineless child!"

"I'm not finished yet." Misato interrupted, her voice soft but
with a definite edge. "Now, I don't expect the two of you to become
best of friends overnight, but I do expect you both to be civil to each
other. That goes especially for you. The two of you aren't enemies,
you're teammates, and if you can't learn to work together it will get
you both killed. I want you to think about that now, ok?" With that,
Misato picked up her beer and walked to the living room to watch TV.

Asuka on the other hand, screamed in frustration and stormed off
to her room, slamming the door after. A steady stream of German curses
could be heard from within.

Pen-Pen watched as the strange, hyper girl indulged in yet
another tantrum and shook his head. "Poor kid..." he thought.
Finishing his fish he went to Misato's fridge and got a beer. He then
walked into the living room to join Misato. The two sat for some time,
sipping beer in silence.

"Well Pen-Pen," Misato asked at last, "what do you think? Think
it'll work?"

"Warck..." the warm-water penguin replied.

"Ya, I hope so too."


...to be continued




Author's notes:

Another chapter done, and soon to start on the next. I hope
people weren't to put off by Kyle's attempt to be a motivational
speaker, but this will help to set the relationship between the
mercenaries and Shinji for the rest of the fic. Asuka fans, I know she
seemed a little harsh, but look at how she treated Shinji during the
training sequence of "With one Accord in a Flash/Both of You Dance like
You Want to Win!" But don't worry, Shinji won't be the only one to
have a personality change over the course of this story. As for you
Rei fans out there, I'm going to work on including her a lot more in
upcoming chapters, there was just no easy way to put her in yet. She
also MIGHT have a bit of a personality shift, but I haven't decided
yet. For those Rifters out there, Charm is in Conversion Book One
(which I highly recommend! Rules for Rifts Earth super-beings, the
first printing of WP Sharpshooter, and tons of monsters. What is there
not to like?). Stats on new Rifts stuff will be in the next fic.
Really, I promise! Scouts Honor! Finally, last but not least,
I would like to thank my prereaders:

Nevyn
Sarevock
Draven Killjoy
Josh Z
Alan Slaughter
My Mom (sorry I didn't change that occurence of the F-word Mom...)
and last but not least, my editor: Annie the Laughing Kookaburru. Thanx
Annie! See you next time.


Rough Draft v.1.0 02-09-01
Rough Draft v.1.1 02-19-01
Final Draft v.2.0 03-07-01