Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Headhunter ❯ Firefly.Redux ( Chapter 6 )

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

Headhunter

Chapter 5

Firefly.redux

“Should we prepare Beth and Mary, Major?” Barnes mumbled biting his cigar between his lips, blowing smoke out of his nose.

“Exosuits...” Misato chuckled. “I still can't understand why you have to give names to everything.”

“Ex-o sounds too depressing, reminds me too much about when woman's dump me like wet rag...” He said and breathed smoke.

“Wonder why, you are so people caring guy.” Shinji said smiling.

“Yeah, and I have testament done all ready. It says that my playboy magazines belongs to you lieutenant.” Barnes said grinning. ”Don't want any corporate ass hole lawyer to get their hands on them...some are even classics.”

“You really know how to flatter someone.” Shinji said dryly.

“And you are so optimistic.” Misato said. “Doesn't the fact that you named them after ladies remember you about anything?”

Barnes looked at Misato and then to roof. “Yeah, only the bad ones...maybe I rename them...” He took cigar out of his lips and shook some ash out of it while same time thinking. “How about Barbara and Alecia?”

“How naming them after sex dolls ease your longing?” Shinji asked amused. Good thing he had been with Misato these years. Couple years before he would have been embarrassed as hell if somebody would have talked about this.

“They don't walk away with your money, that's good enough for me.” Barnes shrugged.

“Speaks voice of experience.” Shinji chuckled.

“Actually, Aida could...” What Barnes was about to say stopped suddenly. As loud alarm klaxon's began to ring. “What now, we have only been in route about 15 minutes or so?” he grunted.

“Can't be the daggers...” Misato wondered. “We can't be near Io yet.”

“And who raider is stupid enough to try go toe-to-toe with frigate against cruiser?” Shinji asked.

“You never know. You know, I was once...” He began but stopped as loudspeakers came to life.

“Attention! All crew! Major Katsuragi report to bridge at once!” Huyga shouted out of the loudspeakers. “This is not a drill! All crew is to take cover immediately until further notice! Repeat this is not a drill!”

“Sounds like some serious shit...” Misato muttered and walked towards the nearest com. System.

She pressed the button on it and barked. “Hold on I'm coming there!”

“Roger!” Huyga's voice crackled.” Ma'am you have better get here quick!” Huyga said. “I think this is...it.” He closed the channel. From background Misato could hear pulse rifles coming silent. Soldiers who had been practicing must had noticed the alarm lights. Misato had bad feeling what Hyuga had clued. But let it be. She heard Shinji to giving order to Barnes.

“Sargent get you marines hell away from outer hull.” Shinji thought for a while. ”On the second thought get your asses straight to crew quarters, if hull is breached its going to be chilly in here.”

“You heard the man! Move like you got the purpose!” Barnes roared, and his voice echoed trough the hall.

Marines began to rush around, collecting their weapons and heavier backpacks. “Leave them!” Barnes ordered. “Its useless to hold a rifle if attack comes from outside! If it even is one.”

“Any idea what it is?” Shinji asked when he and Misato began to run towards door.

“Sounded like bad news.” Misato answered, quickening her pace. “We better get over there...” She muttered as hangar's doors opened when they approached. “Let's run, elevators aren't quick enough, and there is so short distance.

“Guess we'll do that.” Shinji said as they turned to hallway.

Trough a 'short' run of hallways and steel doors, and stairs they began to reach the bridge. Shinji got reminder that this was like a training exercise except that it was much more of dog's agility track than a real training obstacle course. Misato noted that Shinji wasn't even breathing heavily. Misato was breathing little faster than normally. “Looks like I've gained few extra pounds after last time I did this run.” She shouted mid of his run.

“That's what beer and unhealthy living does to you. Maybe you should cut down for a little.” Shinji suggested.

“Now let's not get too touchy on that taking-care-each-other part.” She said. “And by the way how is you smoking?”

“How should it be?” Shinji answered surprised. “I quit smoking almost three months ago.”

“I don't believe it!” Misato shouted. “What did you use? Nicotine gum or something?”

“Nothing, I just stopped.” Shinji had really wondered how it was so easy as Ritsuko and Misato had been struggling with it years, and he managed to stop without greater problems. He didn't ever get any real trouble but tar beginning to build up inside his lungs was giving him little trouble, so he quit.

They run for a while and stopped when they reached the door leading to command deck. “Besides I like the way it tastes-and I have bleed for getting it here. I have BTW another shipment coming.” She took couple breaths and stroked her jacket.

Shinji looked at her her for a moment. “Done yet?”

“Yeah, lets see what is our poison today...” she said as they stepped inside the command center.

Like all ships, except cargo ferry's, command center was inside deeper hull, and images of surroundings was relayed to ship with cameras and sensors. Bridge was on skeleton crew, as only Hyuga and Shigeru were present.

They were sitting on their consoles in large U shaped room. Computer control tables were in the back of the room near giant screen. It didn't go far by old navy control decks except where there was glass window were a screen, as various other monitors. Control consoles were about fifteen feet from the main screen in them were only one keyboard. As one table concentrated on one system, and as automatic kept all other systems going two men could maintain it perfectly. behind consoles were ship commanders chair and on sides more consoles in case of emergency. Normally this side would have been full of crowd. Some data screens where Misato didn't pay attention where flickering and showing data around her. Instead of bubble shaped room what was usually creme white this bridge was in normal shade of gray. And it had a decent lighting. Small table what usually was used as spending time still had some warm coffee in mugs.

Misato walked pass the chair and to operators. She was too restless to ever sit in one place.

”What do we got?” She asked leaving only couple feet of them both, Shinji standing next to her.

”We have some sort of thermal anomaly coming straight at us.” Shigeru answered stationing the table in left side of Huyga, leaving a pass in middle of console rows leading to screen.

”Do you have visual confirmation?” Misato asked.

”No.” Hyuga answered we thought first that it was a meteor but...” Shigeru stopped and looked at the information screens.

”What is it?” Shinji inquired.

”We have something in camera one.” Huyga said and switched to big screen before them, without different order.

In wide screen were shown image of space around them. Middle of stars something without a form was sliding. It was almost completely melding the background and Shinjii could barely separate it.

”What the hell is that? Some kind of radiation field?” Shigeru wondered.

”Don't know maybe...” Huyga stopped and looked at his own data consoles information screens. Console begun to beep menacingly. Hyuga looked nervous.

”That doesn't sound good...”Shinji added worried.

”Major...” Hyuga said his voice shaking. ”I think we should evade..and if possible give even brighter alert than red...”

”You mean...?” Misato let question hanging in the air.

Hyuga looked at her but didn't answer. He was afraid that his suspicious were true

”We are detecting a heat signature, very feint. And there is a plasma core's radiation coming inside the...” Shigeru was beginning to brief her as Hyuga didn't answer and stopped when wide screen finished what he was about to say.

Image in screen began to change. From foreseen figure it began to change part by part it came to visible-but it was still hard to spot. Red-darkish color was rendering it perfectly. It seemed like a raptor flying high in air, ready to dive at its prey it was, maybe at length same size as the drop ship, but it seemed to have more mass.

There was no doubt: It was a Predator.

What Shinji could tell about it, it seemed like a W letter. Center hull was reaching outwards in a sharp edged wedge. Its wings were lower, arching under the wedge, they were broad and Shinji wondered was under the wings maybe hidden weapons. Its rear was sleek like a birds tail.

Shinji but noted how it flied, or glided. Its wings seemed to cutting vacuum around it like water.

It seemed like it didn't have even engines, maybe some ancient force of blood lust and excitement drove it forward. That imagination quickly died out as he saw its engine fire, flowing from distance. Its moving around like that made gave shinji cold shivers, he also thought what pilot on the other end thought.

Misato and Hyuga weren't so enthusiast, neither was Shigeru. Misato almost immediately got pale, she knew instantly what was coming at them. ”You...” Misato voice wasn't particularly loud, in fact it wasn't louder than breath, but there was so quiet that even it seemed loud. In her mind flashed Images of his fathers death.

Alarm klaxon were ringing, and lighting was almost non existent. Other were gone, first there was a alarms then gunshots...next thing she knew was that his father was carrying her, shotgun hanging on his side. He was reassuring that they would get to safety. Misato would have objected normally being carried but she was still weaken by the hit on her head, in explosion what Predator had caused coming on board.

They were making their way to escape shuttles. When corridor was again to bend they saw shadows.

They stopped immediately to watch scene. Shadows were looking gigantic. Other was a human, and other was looking strong and its head seemed odd. Human screamed, trying to shoot the monster.

Monster shadow was quicker. It took its sword out ducked and plunged towards human. Light went out she couldn't see shadows struggling anymore. Misato heard sounds...first some kind of battle cry by predator, then gunshots...next came crunch, and a cry of pain.

Clang. Rifle hit the floor.

Lights came back. Tho shadows appeared again. They were no like joined to gether. Soldiers shadow was now slumped, and he was barely moving. Something sharp came out of his back. Predator draw its sword out of the other shadow. And let the body hit the floor. It bended over and light on the next hall were flashing again, leaving them both to dark.

Roar echoed trough the steel walls, a victorious roar.

Her father lowered her to floor. He asked did she remember the other route to shuttle. Misato was stiff her heart was beating faster and faster as she tried to look over his fathers shoulder to the corridor. She didn't saw anything but heard much more. Predator as cutting something...

Misato's father shake her hard. She was forced now to look at him He repeated the question. Misato nodded. He told her to go there, not to look back or stop. ”One more thing...” He said when he load the shotgun. He looked at her like the way he used to before her mother and his father had divorced. ”I love you.”

Single tear rolled over Misato's cheek as she looked at him. He had said it many times, but now it seemed like he meant it, not jut to make her feel better, or ease his guilty conscience.

”Now go!” He said as he turned and ran to way where shadow had fought. Misato obeyed for a while, but then lights came back on, and by curiosity she turned.

Now he saw again two shadows. Predators still was bend over and her father stand holding his shotgun. When predators head turned it saw his father and raised its sword. Misato's Father shot.

Predator cried out pain as sword was shot out of its hand. Predator didn't stopped it again plunged and other two shots seemed to separating something from it. Lights went out.

Misato walked like hypnotized. She walked to place where shadows were struggling. He could hear again sounds as they were wrestling and something seemed to hit walls. Again one shot, what lighted the surroundings showed her two shadows for short time. Predator grunted. She could hear her father gasping as he was struggling with the monster. On that terrible moment she thought more than she ever had. Why no one was here, why doesn't they come, she had heard his men to praise him but nobody was here. Why did they let them die?

Lights flashed again. Shadows were in stalemate. But there where Human shadows was grumbling was Predator shadow stalwart. Her fathers shotgun was almost pointing at himself. Predator twisted harder, taking the shotgun out its way and a hiss came out as its wrist blades thrust out. She looked as shadow fist struck forward making contact with another shadow. Then again the horrible noise what comes when blade cuts flesh and muffled cry of amaze and pain. Misato's father dropped the shotgun to floor, but he managed to still talk. ”What...agh..areh..you..?” he panted.

Predator was silent. Then it clicked something, finally answering. ”Hunter.” Its voice seemed to be synthetic but not like computers, more hoarse. Shadow play showed how predator drew its wrist blades out of his body, and he fall backwards taking couple of steps first.

Misato wasn't in control anymore she just walked and looked behind the corner to corridor.

And hoped that she would never had.

Silver masked figure what was only resembling human distantly had killed her father. Over the corridor where lights were flashing was another body, soldiers. Head was almost severed, her father had interfered predators work, it had almost cut it away and head was just looking at her with lifeless eyes. It in unnatural pose as soldier body was on its back, but head was had been all ready turned backwards. Blood drifted from soldiers neck. But then her attention focused back to predator.

Monster was in some kind of armor, silver colored. Breast plate was little wearied, and it had markings on its mask. She couldn't read it. Its skin was mixture of green and yellow. It had strong looking nails on its finger, and thick black shoulder length hairs was being wore in braids. Predator was bleeding. It's breast armor was in bloody red and from its thighs and arms where bleeding green blood, it was on the walls too. It was clicking again and had lowered its leg over her fathers corpse...next to wound in his heart. Predator crouched. It took its sword from the floor, on hand where her father had shot. It was bleeding but seemed to work. Then it took firmer grip on the sword and reached Misato fathers neck.

Misato let out a whimper. Was it out of fear she didn't knew, but less than a second Predator raised its head and its equipment let out a strong hum. Blinding laser dots focused on Misato, burning her eyesight, but she didn't care. It moved to her fore head, she saw predators other shoulder a cannon in ready.

Predator was ready, but didn't do anything. Just stared at her crouched over, sword on bleeding hand. It rose up continuing to look at her. But shutting down its shoulder cannon. Then it spoke. That voice she never forget. Or wanted. In lonely years of her whole training she forced her to remember the voice as it was only thing for connecting her to enemy.

”Your father.” It grumbled. It voice was rough and low. Tone was unclear that Misato couldn't determine was it question, but she nodded. Then predator did something what Misato never thought it would. It backed away, and pressed its head down, letting down series of clicking. Next there was electrical zap and predator vanished. Misato never saw it again. But she could feel that it was still there.

Her fathers head moved a while but it stopped. A spark of hope in her died as quickly as it started.

Soldiers head began to move too. And suddenly it vanished. Only ripping sound remained her about the soldier what she never knew. Then she saw only blink of spine instead of twisted head. She heard steps backing away to deeper in the corridor... Misato surrendered to her feelings completely and and ran to her father. ”Daddy!” she called and knelled to him. Crying like she had never cried before...in her awakened self hate as she remembered how she had thought how everything would work out if her father would die, and her mother could be free...now it was true. Long from that moment she thought it was her fault. Middle of her weeping she saw it.

Necklace what his father wore was gone. Silver cross what she sometimes wore, when her parents were together, she received it from her father so that she could return it to him after long journey. The predator had took it. It had murdered and robbed her father, for pleasure or just for game. She didn't care.

She screamed. Out of anger this time. On that endless night she promised to herself that she would make her fathers murderer pay. From that on she abandoned all her dreams and concentrated on one thing revenge.

Going trough academy, and getting combat experience, making mistakes. That was her new routine. On that Journey her life had changed a lot. Meeting her ex lover, who still was constantly on his mind, and foster son, son of the most powerful man in the universe. And her foster daughter killed by other monsters. Losing so much, and here she was! Meeting her Nemesis again...everything else but ready.

”Misato?” Voice called like trough her dreams fog by hang overs. She woke up slowly. Shinji was next to her, he had grabbed her shoulder, and was looking at her worried. ”Are you all right?” Shinji asked. Misato had been like a statue, just looking at the ship. Shinji never had knew how to make her feel better, and just had tried not to mention predators when she was around. This time it failed.

”Huh?” she blinked sleepily. She squeezed her eyes open and close for couple of times and came to realize that she was in command deck, not in ghost ship. ”Everything is fine...” she said confident.

Shinji looked at change in her face. They were long as they were thinking something. When she 'woke' she seemed cold. And was looking intensely Predator ship in screen. She put her hand to her chest, as feeling something what wasn't there. ”You sure?” Shinji wanted to make sure.

”Whats the status of the predator vessel?” She asked sternly with out answering. She cleared her mind and began to think as she had been trained to.

”Its slowing down, but course is directed straight at us.” Hyuga informed now more steadily than moment later, but he was still afraid. Misato's reaction didn't actually make any of them more sure of victory.

”Assume red alert status.” she ordered. ”Be prepared to lock down every section of the ship, if the Predator comes aboard.” She regret putting word if on it, and gritted her teeth. 'It's there. It's coming' She thought. But he didn't want to kill every hope in her crew, not yet.

”Attention all crew! We have a Predator ship in bound! All crew evacuate all outer decks and relocate to crew quarters on four! This is not a drill!” Shigeru yelled to com. System microphone.

”How are the guns?” Shinji asked again thinking that this predator had come in bad time.

Shigeru looked at his data feeds. ”Forward mass drivers aren't responding, their magnet fields require too much power.” Shigeru took another look and continued. ”Same goes for launcher system.”

”Does it know?” Misato's voice seemed tight and angered.

”Impossible to say. Its systems are too well protected, we can't even check out its speed, or drivers license.” Hyuga said hopelessly.

”God dammit, you fucker...” She squeezed her fist so hard that knuckles began to turn white. ”Is there anyway to get that thing down?”

”God's miracle...we are out of those.” Shigeru answered.

”There is no time for begin to dance naked and hope for salvation.” Misato grunted.

”Miracles are what people make happen.” Shinji quoted Misato.

She looked at him and smiled weakly, seeing her teachings were beginning to carry fruit.”You are learning. Think!”

”I say we evade.” Hyuga suggested.

Misato wasn't pleased as he gave up so easily. She frowned and looked at Shigeru.

”If it really wants there, it gets here too. I vote for evade. Ayanami has besides ordered not to engage, so we would be following orders.” Shigeru said simply.

In misato, anger was boiling. Just as before..they wouldn't fight. They would let go, hiding among letters. Well she wouldn't. ”Else?” She grunted, more hostile than she meant.

Shigeru was startled but began to line out options carefully. ”Guns are out except couple light mass drivers, but it isn't in their firing sector. Only thing left is to contact it...” He was unsure how major would react.

Misato snorted. ”And what do you suggest we say?” She released her fist and nodded towards odd ship what was displayed on the screen.

”Well...” Shinji thought best to interfere. ”How about...'could you evade? Please?'”

First Misato glanced at him coldly but then let it go and grinned knowing that shinji was right.

She couldn't chance the facts. ”I guess we evade.” she turned at her head to screen. 'Son of a bitch...wait when I see you next time.' she let her anger to go as she accepted that she could do nothing.

”Turning 40 degrees to starboard.” Shigeru confirmed. ”Lets hope this works...” He added darkly.

All in the deck remained to wait what was about to happen, Misato disappointed, operators relieved. Shinji wasn't actually thrilled when it had appeared but was ready to fight. Hoping that he wouldn't - It was predator after all.

- - - -

To her luck, Asuka saw it before it saw her. Giant cruiser what separated from the space. Not only because it was so big but it was slowing down and increasing speed rabidly, twitching. Out of curiosity she decided to go closer, she wouldn't find ship what was doing that.

She looked at the gauge what was telling was they seeing her or not. Cloak was doing its job fine. With luck, she would have silhouette and scan before they could detect her. This was about to be the finishing touch to her great day...first Praetorian prize, and now a ship scan. 'Father and Thaarn will be happy...if they know what it is..' she thought herself, playing thoughts how predators usually celebrate anything.

She seemed to be out of luck. She could have stayed out of its sensors, but then she did a mistake pacing speed with cloaking current. She cursed herself as she know that now she was somewhat visible interference.

Next thing she knew was gauge beeping and telling with few symbols. She read couple of them but and understood. It said 'being scanned'. ”Oh great...” She yelled. ”That ends my intend for hiding...”

Next time it beeped again with stronger sound. One look about symbols foreign to ordinary girl. Told her everything she had to know. ”There we are!” She said cheerfully. Stronger scanner sweep had recognized her heat signature. ”Have to be real dumpkopf if you don't know now...” She muttered.

Disappointed she decided to satisfy long range scan. She too look about the guns. To her amazement they were off line. Only couple turrets was working, and they seemed to be light mass drivers.

”Lets stop doing this...hope you like what you see.” She grunted and turned off her cloaking field.

At the same time she did gauges beeper seemed to crack. Symbols said, 'positive ID' ”Oh really!” she grunted. ”Like I wouldn't know...” she changed systems from stealth indicator to scanners, and began recording, playing in her mind what crew was feeling when they saw her in all dressed up, coming at them.

When she came near it, she saw its name. ”Solaris..” Asuka didn't recall any memory about that name. It looked like Costanoga cruiser but it was much bigger, at least two times. Maybe three. It had weapons enough to spare. Most notably four turrets at the bow.

There was a time when she had admired human tech, never even dreaming anything like she was piloting. Especially Costanoga class cruisers were her favorite, it had used more German engineering than any other space ship what she was proud of, like always she had kept German quality above everything else. But today, even finest German equipment didn't made her blind from admiration. She automatically compared it to predators own, and had to admit that they were completely beyond comparison. When compared to ship designs, Behemoth before seemed little non-saying. Big dark hull in form of a brick, which got thinner in the middle, but was thicker from beginning and the end. Armor plates gave it a sensible form. With out them this giant would have been a hedgehog. At the bow was needle looking spikes, they blighted light in gaps. She guessed that it was some kind of sensor array, though she never understood why they put light on there, especially when Thar's had told her that extra attention was a bad thing.

Not that it could stay hidden. Asuka noticed the plasma core it was carrying. It wasn't advanced like hers, big and clumsy and it's frequency was jumping all around. It was as it advertised for being found. ”Who Baka is messing with your reactor? Clowns...” laughed. Energy pulses were like a beacon served well like beacon, and guns were out. Like begging being attacked. To her this was a typical shark-whale encounter. And she would do like a shark, avoid the whale.

”Take a deep breath ladies and gentlemen, Asuka Soryu is leaving the building...” she grinned remembering her final thing what she usually did with victory mark. 'those were the times...' she sighed when she began to move away.

- - - -

”Major...” Hyuga said in confused tone.

”Yes, hyuga?” she replied.

”The predator...it's disengaging.” Hyuga said amazed.

”What?” Misato cried out in surprise. ”Are you sure?”

”Yes...” Hyuga said and showed in big screen as falcon like ship began to turn away, to left on their point of view.

”It's changing course, and backing away from us...” Shigeru said equally confused.

Misato wasn't believe her eyes. Her nemesis was fleeing, for all these years it had been out of her grasp, and now it was getting away.

”Maybe it isn't looking for a fight.” Shinji thought out loud. ”We are big prey after all...”

Misato frowned. ”More likely it's toying with us...and looking nice place to burn hole in the hull.”

Shigeru did couple quick keystrokes on his console. ”Not today. I think Lieutenant is right, it's increasing speed.”

”Looks like we made it.” Hyuga said not trying to cover his relief.

Misato took a deep breath. She had to accept her loss- wanted or not. Universe wasn't smiling her today, like it had ever. ”All right switch status to green...” She was interrupted by signal voice from Hyuga's console. ”What was that?” she asked sharply. She didn't' want any surprises today.

”It's just aiming verification, ma'am.” Hyuga calmed. ”Predator just crossed shooting sector.”

Misato chewed her lip. ”It's still in range?”

”Just barely.” Hyuga answered. ”I'll continue evading...”

”No.” Misato said coldly. ”Shoot it.” She whispered.

Shigeru, Hyuga and Shinji turned to look at their superior. She had pressed her hand again to her chest, squeezing her fist harder. They could see her eyes being closed, and her lips were tightly pursed together. She lifted her head and opened her eyes a little.

”What are you doing?” Shinji asked like he didn't know. He guessed. Misato was settling the score.

But this was the wrong place and time.

”I'm not letting it go...” She grumbled emotionally but then began to act cooler.”It has acquired our silhouette and system data. It will tell its buddies, and they'll return in greater force to party.” Now she opened her eyes completely. She looked at the operators. ”What are you waiting? I gave you an order.” she reminded.

”We acting along with orders. Company representative has ordered us not to engage.” Shigeru said sternly, while hyuga was more uncertain.

”She seems to be absence. I have reassessed the situation. Blow that bastard to kingdom come.”

Misato said harshly.

”Ayanami could court marshal us!” Hyuga yelled. fear of being sentenced to convict worker won his fear of being disrespectful to his major.

Misato was in rage. 'They are all alike...they don't even care...' she thought. ”I'm right here, right now. And don't be afraid about corporate pen rollers...” she put fists on her hips, showing intentionally or unintentionally her gun, M-4A4. It was shining from its holster under her jacket.

”Now blow that shit to pieces!” she yelled.

”Misato. Let it go.” Shinji said calmly. ”no point to sacrifice lives for one predator.”

If misato wasn't angered enough she was beginning to get that limit up. She wouldn't have believed that shinji would do this, and turn against her. He should understand. She gave him a deadly glare what was almost broking Shinji's composure but he was staying calm. Misato responded calmly.

”Lieutenant.” She said icily. ”You are not to question my authority for this ship. If you have issues with my command, I suggest that you include them in your after action report.”

”I was just...” He said but didn't get any further.

”How ever...” Misato raised her voice and even Shinji seemed to jump when he heard it. ”...for now I strongly advise you lieutenant Ikari not to interfere this engagement.”

”Misato, this isn't...”

”I'm your CO.” Misato cut him again. ”Do not address me by first name.” she retorted. ”Am I understood?”Shinji did nothing but glared at her. After moment he answered.”Understood....Major.” he talked like he did in hangar but this time tone was cooler, lacking casual earlier.

Misato glared back at him but said nothing. She turned to operators who were expecting that Shinji would get trough to her. But now that hope was dead. They didn't leave on their amazement but obeyed orders as they were given. They turned to their consoles. ”Target: Unknown. Hull integrity: Unknown. Preparing mass drivers fourteen., twelve, and ten.” Hyuga said silently.

”Target locked....” shigeru confirmed. ”I think...” he added not too hopefully.

Misato was instead pleased. she was close for getting her pay for her suffering. 'Now its happening...'”Fire!” she ordered.

Shinji looked at side screen and saw how led representing solaris's weapons at mid hull blinked.

Shinji felt light tremors climbing from floor to his back. ”We are in deep shit now...” he muttered.

Hoping that predator's ship wouldn't live up to its look.

Misato heard it but didn't care. ”It will be over soon...” Misato grinned as she looked at the screen how Predator falcon shuddered as series of dark blue rays struck it.

- - - -

Asuka was in midway getting away from Solarises's shooting sector when it hit her.

Suddenly her ship trembled. She wondered what had hit her, but then another barrage struck at her harder, making her ship to spun around. Something hit her right wing and it wasn't a meteor. When she managed to get her ship in control, it hit her again.

Asuka guessed that this was mass drivers firing. When launch from all three batteries hit again she was thrown against the bench. Praetorian wound on her back began to burn as hell. Asuka swore out loud. ”goddamn...what did I do to you?”

She took a glance at her gauges. Cloak field had damaged. ”Again?!” she said agonized. ”I bet thaarn isn't going to like that.” she began to do evasive maneuvers, Seeing how arrows of accelerated metal went by as wasps.

Stealth and sensor gauge show that she had crossed shooting sector. ”Scheisse!” she cursed.

Again impact hit her hull, making her sore back to thrown against the pilot bench. Ship was holding to gether but she wasn't. ”Fucking bastards! What is wrong with you? You pretend to be mister nice guy and the shoot me in the back! Haven't innocent hunters been tormented enough?”

No one answered. She evaded series of shots and then united launch from three batteries hit again, boiling her over completely.

She felt something warm drifting along her back. Praetorian wound had opened, and begun bleeding. She managed barely to stop the bleeding and tie it up, now it had opened again. Bandage was now dropping off, and it was rubbing the wound on her back against the bench.

”Thats it!” she cried in agony. ”I'm gonna toast you!” She began to make preparations to her secret weapon-Geburtstag kerze, like she called it. They would soon have a nice story to tell their grandchild's.

Presuming any of them would live after it.

- - - -

”Why doesn't it die?” Misato frowned as looking at the screen where predator was doing evading maneuvers getting only random hits on its hull. Misato had her hopes up when ship began to roll but then was again disappointed when she saw it getting itself together, and began to evade. ”Hyuga, any data on its state?”

”Abnormal signals from its hull have ceased, but it doesn't seem to bother it. Integrity is still unknown. No breaches on the armor.” Hyuga said.

”What is that thing made of?” She asked frustrated. ”Corvette should have given up by now!”

”We are out gunned.” Shinji said. ”That was probably the reason why we shouldn't have engaged.”

”I pretend that I didn't hear that...or do I need to remind you for chain of command again?” Misato barked sharply keeping her eyes on the screen.

”No, ma'am. I was just guessing representative Ayanami's reasons for issuing order not to engage. I wasn't questioning your authority. I trust you have situation under control.” He answered monotone.

”Good.” She answered. She didn't remember the time when they had been so cold against each other.

Or more likely Shinji was. She was boiling with anger. ”Is the predator showing any sings of waking up?”

”No ma'am.” Shigeru answered. ”Predator is still backing away from us. It doesn't look like its going to counter...” He took a glance of values on his data screen. ”Wait a minute...”

”What?” Misato asked.

”Something is happening.” He pointed at the screen, where they saw Predator taking one shot at its hull, then it began to spin as being out of control. Then part of it seemed to separate from its hull.

Ship itself began to float lifelessly.

”You were saying, lieutenant?” Misato stretched her voice, getting back at shinji for he doubting her motivation earlier.

Shinji felt himself being against the wall. He had pissed off his friend and CO but something warned him that predator had something in mind. He kept thinking one thing what they had missed.

”How is predators hull integrity?” He asked ignoring Misato.

Misato perked, but now thought too that that was sensible question, and allowed it by nodding to hyuga that he could check it.

”Scanning....” He informed. Then shook his head. ”That's odd...No change. Even if it is so shielded, there should be some marks that its systems are failing but it seems still to in order....”

”What does that mean?” Misato asked.

”It's faking.” Shinji said, cutting off Hyuga. ”It doesn't have a malfunction. It's pretending.”

Misato turned, to face him. She kept her eyes fixed on young lieutenant. ”And what should we do about it, hmm?” She wasn't going to give up now.

”I just refer to possibility of a trap. Do as you want. I'm just a mere wall flower here.” 'Just the way you prefer...' he added that in his thoughts.

Misato kept her eyes on him but talked to operators, who were following this act interested. ”Is it still in range? Can we destroy it?” Misato asked.

”Considering our succes...maybe. Its now out of shooting sector. We need to move closer.” Hyuga answered.

”Do it then. Don't let it escape.” She watched shinji's reaction but didn't see any sing of change.

He had already gave up of convincing her otherwise. 'Smart move, Shinji.' she smiled to herself.

”Ma'am?” Shigeru asked.”We may have a problem.”

”What is it now?” She sounded frustrated. Enough set back for today.

”It's corporate representative, she is on com line asking what are we firing and why.”

Misato started a little and looked at shinji's with her eye corner. ”How she knows we are firing? Did any one of you leak this...” she started sounding serious, immediately suspecting Shinji. 'Killing two bugs with one stone, huh?' she thought.

Shigeru saw how situation was developing, and decided to save what he could.”None of us did that, ma'am.” He said serious. ”I know you don't believe me, but Ayanami says she felt LMD batteries firing.”

”Thats impossible. LMD's are outside the main hull, fully proofed. She couldn't known.” She said sounding almost amused.

”I felt it too...” Shinji said remembering how he had felt all the time. They were only light tremors, but he could felt them. Why they didn't?

”Well, what do you know.” Misato said sarcastically.

”Be as it may, major. Rest assured, me, Hyuga, or lieutenant Ikari had not touched on comm equipment. She is on line eleven demanding...” Shigeru started.

”Give me that!” Misato snapped and tear of head phones from Shigeru. ”Patch her trough.”

Shigeru didn't waste time but did as ordered.

Misato heard only static, but soon she heard light speech coming out. ”Major. Report immediately. You have disobeyed my orders not to engage. Cease you attack at once.” Rei's voice was calm but somewhat misato could sense little tension in it.”We have system malfunction what jammed our firing sequence on LMD's. I afraid that your order cannot be fulfilled.” Misato begin to explain.

”I'm interested to see this malfunction, as it stopped when you begin to change your course. Are you sure major that you don't want to change your tale?” Ayanami's last comment could have been sarcastic but Rei didn't use her time to that. Misato was little amazed and wondered could it be possible to sense it.

Misato how ever began her official explanation hoping it would satisfy Ayanami and give her enough to inherit her vengeance. ”The predator scanned us. I have strong reason to believe its only giving this data to others of its kind. I'm trying to prevent it...”

”Wasn't you told about my orders?” she almost whispered it.

Suddenly misato was filled with a unpleasant sensation that Ayanami knew something what she shouldn't. ”I had a reason to believe this was much serious and took liberty to revoke....”

”Where is it now?” Rei demanded and this time tension was not concealed.

”It is trying to retreat, in my believe we can...”

”Let it go.” Voice on the other end ordered sternly.

Anger burned deep down her mind. ”Excuse me?” She grunted.

Shinji heard this and thought for a once maybe this would make her back off. But then he he laughed at soundlessly to himself knowing how indomitable misato was.

”I'm giving you a direct order. Let the predator retreat. Do not open fire, and...” She interrupted Misato only to be interrupted herself.

”I didn't get that last part, too much interference. I'm sticking in my plan” she said.

”I do not hear static on my line, Major.” Rei started.

Misato tore the headphones out of her head and stomped over them. They let out a crack, and Misato thought smiling how corporate representative's ears were burning because of it. ”Well, now you have.” She turned. To the operators. ”Estimated time to firing range?”

”One minute.” Shigeru said.

Shinji decided to try once more, as feeling of trap began to be knocking his back. ”Ma'am I advise you to asses situation carefully.”

”There is nothing to reassess.” Misato was said like she talked to somebody who she had forgotten, and who seemed to spun her attention. Shinji recognized that tone at once. His father used it frequently.

”Major, I'm suspecting a trap. Predator hasn't done nothing but wait, it has just evaded everything and not returned fire. I request you to consider this.” Shinji hoped that she would even give this tactical possibility a change but no. Misato looked at side her one eye facing at him. ”You advice has been noted.” She said. ”And rejected. Status report!”

”We are in position. Predator is remaining still.” Hyuga stated.

”Fire mass drivers.” She ordered.

”Batteries armed...” Shigeru stated.

”High energy pulse coming inside the target!” Hyuga yelled, before shigeru had fired batteries.

”On screen!” She ordered.

Screen zoomed the falcon vessel. It had been on stationary but now it had straighten itself. Suddenly bright yellow light flashed out of its engines like stars. Falcon ship shot out of their view without leaving even smoke trail, or debris as momently they thought it had self destructed.

”What was that?” Misato demanded.

”Hell if I know, Predator activated somekind...like I said I don't know.” Hyuga stuttered.

”What do you know?” Misato said sarcastically.

”Not much, but predator is outta here. Plasma signature is out of sensor range.” Hyuga answered.

”Must be a rough ride...”

”Dammit all to hell!” She cursed. ”Seems like universe doesn't have sense of just.”

Shinji said nothing.

”Do you know did we even scratch the fucker?” Misato asked.

”yes we did , but you aren't going to like it, Major. It was too well shielded. It could have been just pretending like lieutenant suggested, or the light to moderate, but nothing serious.” Hyuga said agonized.

”Great. Whole thing was just waste of time and ammo.” Misato bite her teeth. ”Kuso.” she muttered.

”This isn't over yet.” Shinji stated.

”And how so?” Misato turned looking at him remembering his presence again.

”Ayanami probably wants to know why you disobeyed orders and that kind of stuff. Counting that you delayed her mission, changed course, and risked the crew for practically over nothing, makes her pretty pissed off, if one gestures face can do that.” He said looking how misato began to listen him and turned her head, not looking happy. ”In peoples language: I'd say you're fucked.” he added.

”Gives you bright change to grab some brownie points from her, hmm?” She hissed throwing her frustration at him.

Shinji was about to answer in same spirit put Shigeru stopped them. Just in time, he thought later.

”I would love to see this match but there is something what you both need to look at.” He called form console table.

”What now?” Misato turned to him her hair flaming out. Both she and shinji took couple steps to command consoles where was large picture of space shown what predators ship had occupied. Along there was small pieces of debris left from predator ship.

”Well?” Shinji asked.

”Are you now making big deal about junk fields?” Misato snapped.

”One piece is drifting here.” Hyuga said little suspicious.

”What's odd about that?” Misato asked not sure what he was getting at, she was right now thinking what to say certain blue haired woman making her way to bridge.

”Isn't it normal things just drift along with inertia?” Shinji remembered how Asuka had concentrated to space physics, as she wanted to know all about it. And she wanted him to know too, so she pressed every fact in his head. And if that didn't work, she just beat it inside his head.

”Yes but this piece is a sphere. Literally, it's symmetrical. It wasn't separated by explosion, its just too smooth.” Hyuga answered.

Misato looked at magnified image of it. Red brown colored ball, braided with brown tracks.

”What is that?” She wondered.

”It was sending a signal, but it ceased when the predator took off.” Shigeru said. ”Its picking up speed. I can't understand though where they need that kind of thing?”

”Makes four of us.” Shinji said. ”Maybe it should be salvaged, might be something important.”

”Corporation would love to see that closer.” Misato said dryly.

Sphere suddenly began to glow and after couple of seconds it erupted to flames. It was now sparkling blue white flames and soon whole sphere glowed like miniature sun. It was so strong glow that it made all of the people in bridge to blink their eyes.

”What the hell? It's on fire!” Shigeru yelled.

”How!? that is a complete vacuum, What can burn out there?!” Misato cried out.

”Major! lieutenant ! It's transmission is back!” Hyuga informed. ”It's sending it right at us!”

Sudden thought filled his shinji's head. ”What kind of?”

”Long wave and focused at the hull.” Shigeru replied.

”Shoot it down!” Shinji ordered ignoring Misato.

”What the hell are you...” Misato began.

”It's an aiming signal, goddammit! It's locking onto us!” Shinji said quickly.

”Shit!” Misato's eyes widened and she looked at the screen. If she was bitter to her crew it was gone now. ”Do it, do it now!” She shouted at the operators.

”Too late!” Hyuga cried out.

Mechanism inside the sphere took action and it plunged forward so fast that the only saw blue line coming at them. It dived out the camera view impacting giant cruisers middle hull, eating its way thought thick outer hull.

Immediately when that happened whole ship began to tremble violently. Quakes were enough strong to threw Misato and Shinji out of balance. From deepness of the ship, steel moaned like dying animal in agony, and sound of it tormented ears every one in the bridge.

Out of the hole burned by the Predator weapon, air escaped to space. It kept rushing out of the ship like soul leaving dying body. Taking with it everything what wasn't welded to walls or bolted to floor.

Ship was still like in death throes and tremors were so strong that Shinji thought for while that ship had turned upside down, but it was just him, he hadn't yet noticed it. Shinji tried to catch glimpse what was happening to others. Hyuga, and Shigeru were tightly on their chair as they had belts on them. He saw how something happened to Hyuga as bright lightning struck out of him and was gone.

All over them was smaller explosion and smoke as some equipment began to fry. Couple small screens blow out. And shinji began to think how this was beginning to resemble old Star Trek movie. Only thing missing was a officer red uniform dying when screen tore him apart, before anyone managed to ask what he was here for.

When it all was over main lighting was gone and whole deck was filled with deep red emergency lighting. Alarm klaxon began to howl deep inside the corridors.

Shinji felt on his body was anything broken. He seemed to be all right, only couple scratches and bruises. ”So much for time off in infirmary.” He mumbled and rose up. ”Everyone all right?” He asked taking support over the wall.

Misato was lied on her stomach and begin to raised to her knees and stroked her jacket like getting dust of it. She rose up to her feet. ”This is getting into a habit...” She muttered.

Shigeru moaned and blinked his eyes. ”Uh.. well that was a trip, wasn't it, Hyuga? Wish those penny- pinchers would get some paddings on these chairs.” He said trying to clear his head. He didn't hear any answer. ”Makoto?” He called and looked at his side, as his vision was getting clear. He saw how Hyuga was lying his upper body on a console, head was turned to look at him and it almost looked that he was in sleep. ”We have a man down!” Shigeru yelled as he was trying to get out his chair.

Hyuga was lying there, his other arm hanging lifelessly on side fingers half open. One lens on his glasses had broken. His ears were bleeding, between his ears and headphones began blood trickle.

Some of his head ans skin on the ears had too been burned.

Shinji get to him first Misato went to help Shigeru get out of his chair. He rushed to his friend, seeing how he was doing. Shinji took out headphones what had melted, and He helped Shigeru to pull him leaning backwards. Misato clicked the belt of and they began to prepare to move him to floor. ”Lets lift him to floor.” Misato said. And they began together move him to floor, Shinji taking his marine jacket and making it a bundle to support his head.

”How is he?” Misato asked and Shinji put fingers on his neck.

”C'mon, C'mon....” Shinji muttered as he tried to find a pulse. ”There! He is still with us, at least for now...”

”But how long...?” Shigeru asked. ”Sir, you don't think he'll...”

”No. Not yet. Just hope that he doesn't have swelling inside his skull.” Shinji said. ”I Really don't know.”

”Oh.” Shigeru answered silently.

Tense speechless felt upon the command bridge.”What the hell is going on in rest of the ship?” Misato asked out loud, trying them to get focus their attention elsewhere.

”Warning! Hull breached!.” Synthetic voice announced. ”Outer and Inner armor section breached. Artificial atmosphere voided at section twenty's deck one. Decks two and three unstable.”

”Holy hell...” shigeru whispered.

”What the fuck?” Misato cursed. ”So small charge can't get trough armor section and breach deck one!”

Same time when Misato said that shinjis vision began to blur. He felt suddenly his heart beat slower, and shivers going up his spine. His legs felt like he was lifting of the ground. His vision began to bend and when he tried to blink his eyes, it came worse.

Everything around him began to feel slower. He didn't hear alarm klaxon clearly, synthetic voice, or Misato. Finally he lost his vision to deep dark wall. He tried to move his arms to his view, but he didn't see them. He took steps forward, and felt like he was in motion, but didn't see it. He heard his own breathing. It felt heavy and sounded like gush of wind.

Next he saw a spot of light. It was coming at him, fast. Suddenly it was like the plasma ball and he tried to jump away from its path, but he was like nailed on his place. Light ball came closer, he tried to scream and get away but nothing happened. Light ball impacted at him.

It seemed to fill up his mind, intruding to his thoughts and sizzle inside his skull. It didn't hurt but it felt odd. Then he began to see again. But he wasn't in command deck anymore.

On his vision was bending from sides like a fish eye lens. He saw clearly on the middle but when walls supposed to go straight at his side, there they bended in arc around his vision. He recognized the place. It was inside the solaris. One of the level two's corridors. But he didn't control his actions. His view circled around the white corridors covered in red hue and he saw how pipes from the wall was leaking and felt how ship was trembling. Air was leaking to vacuum. Front of him he saw a door, smaller. It was beginning to bend. He didn't hear sound but saw how something invisible began to push it forward. Quickly he turned.

He began to run. He was running like his life was depending on it. He saw how smaller objects began to slip backwards. And running began to go slower, not because he wanted. Vacuum was sucking him outside. He didn't felt like he should have, no fear no strain, no feeling of being in danger, or feel of being tore backwards. Finally he saw a salvation.

Strong airlock door. It was closing. Like a beast in verge of despair, he jumped and was diving in to a closing door. Then everything blacked out.

”What are you doing? Why are you here?” Voice asked. It was a female voice, and sounded familiar, ethereal, and light.

”I....” Shinji tried to answer.

”Did you hear me?” he heard now voice that he knew. Misato. Again blinding lighting returned him to reality-now he was again in command bridge. ”I asked, what the hell you were doing?” She was holding his shoulder.

”Wha...what happened...?” He asked sleepily, and felt his forehead. It had began bleeding.

”You jumped towards the wall.” She answered she had crouched and shinji was lying his back against the wall. ”You mumbled 'have to make it' and flied to wall.” She looked at him worried. ”how many bumps did you get on your head?”

”Listen...” He said, wondering how he would tell this. ”Deck two is lost.”

”Now I know that you have lost it.” Misato replied. ”Deck two is fine, that thing didn't reached there.”

”Yes it did!” Shinji claimed. ”It's lost!”

”Calm down, It can't be. It's too well protected....” She tried to ease him.

”I'm telling you section's deck is voided!” He said. ”It's...”

”Warning!” Synthetic voice announced. ”Deck two critical. Pressurization failure imminent.”

Ship left out long agonized cry as one deck was again lost to hungry vacuum.

”Shit.” Misato cursed. ”Looks like you were right...” Misato had just one thing going on her head now. How?

”There is no time to lie here...I have to...”He began to rise.

”Hey, take it easy...” Misato hold him. ”Are you sure you can go on? You can take that time off infirmary if you don't feel up to it.”

Shinji rose without saying a word. Misato rose too. He looked at her silently. ”I'm not dead yet.” He looked at Shigeru who was staring at his friend. ”How is he?” he nodded.

”I'm not a doctor.” Misato said. ”But he could better. For now he doesn't have any immediate danger, but I think his hearing might suffer.” Then she walked to Shigeru and spoke. ”Can you get the computers back on line?”

Shigeru was silent.

”Hey.” Misato called and waved her hand on his view. ”Wake up. You can't do anything 'till we get this thing under control.”

”Sorry, ma'am...” He blinked his eyes. ”What were you asking again?”

”About the computers. Can you fix them up?” she repeated.

Shigeru sighed. ”If this would be episode in Star trek, Hell yes I could, I just pull miracle up my ass.” He smiled dryly. ”Speaking the truth, no. I can't do everything. Lets just hope that back up systems work.” He turned to his table and began to in put commands. ”Looking fine to me.” He said.

Shinji walked to almost next to him. they were all three close to touching each other.

”Emergency back up systems initialized.” Synthetic voice stated. Couple screen began to flicker and red light began to dim. After a while computers light began blip and processors began to hum.

”One thing what I like in this corporate shit is that they are like a girl scout. Always ready...or then they are just paranoid bastards.” Shigeru said. ”Right...” His hands ran in computer keyboard. ”Status report...oh hell.” Shigerus expression got darker.

”You have said that some many times that its beginning to lose its touch.” Shinji replied.

”Like said, decks two have been lost, hull is breached and we are leaking coolant to space.” Shigeru explained. ”Section twenty is our most vulnerable part. Plasma relay is habiting that place...we got so much power that we could light up geo-front platforms Christmas tree. It tore everything apart what was in main relay power grid.” He looked at lying hyuga who had testified all this.

”We'll take care of him.” Misato calmed ”Focus on this.” she ordered.”Since we aren't in pieces, we are safe then?”

”Sorry ma'am.” Shigeru nodded. ”Seems so. Plasma relay is off line thanks for security protocols.”

”Did anything came on board?” Shinji asked, seeing how misato startled when possibility of predator being on board began to be a possibility.

”Not a change sir. If something manages to come inside in that thing, it must be really small, and deals well in hot places. It wasn't a breaching pod, and even if there would be some at vicinity we would knew.” Shigeru explained. ”Glad they didn't had any more of those. Other wise corporation would have got a personal cut when middle hull had imploded.”

”Seems like that phrase of yours wouldn't have lost its touch.” Shinji replied. ”Casualties?”

”Synths. Three of them.” Shigeru said.

”Was any of them Bishop?” Shinji asked now worried.

”No, unimog workers. Bishop wasn't with them, he doesn't really like unimogs.” Shigeru said. ”Bishop was someplace else then...”

Shinji smiled a little. Being a personal android bishop didn't felt comfortable being around other who were robots both their personality and acting. ”Good. Can you locate him?”

”Bishop seemed to be in....shit.” Shigeru said and his eyes grew wide. ”They are still at level three! They are stranded! Its unstable deck, first layers are all ready grumbling.”

”They?” Misato spoke out. ”Who?”

- - - -

Hikari always had been, and if she would survive, will be a hard worker. Never had she been late on her work. Asuka always compared her to a worker ant, like that stupid fairy tale they had all been told over and over again. Of course when Xenomorphs began to appear they used rather it stopped. Now times only. 'What fucking bug you think you are?' was the common way it was used.

She never cared for swearing. She was taught, that swearing was habit of lowlife rednecks- And in her family they didn't really encourage to be a redneck, so that behavior was weeded out from her at young age. What was common to her and Asuka where both that they wanted to be something else what their parents did. At present time being in the space platform was that she felt like being a trophy. And of course both of their parents wanted her an academic career.

Maybe that why she choose to take this job. Part of rebellion, part of trauma and part of doing something what was important. Asuka had been encouraging her months do this, but not until her death it came important.

Now she think that she could actually go back to that trophy routine.

Bishop and she were minding their own business doing their job and suddenly whole world decided to screw up. Bishop was plugged to really when energy shock stroke. Sudden rush of electricity made him glow so bright that Hikari couldn't see anything else. His cry of pain was covered under noise of hull breach. Ship trembled and hikari was thrown out of balance. She saw something very bright while ships other decks were turned into a vacuum. Something dropped from the roof and hit her on the head.

Waking up wasn't like some dream. She heard noise it could have been water fall booming. No, not that it had a rhythm. It was repeatedly getting low and high. It wasn't hurting her ears, but was getting on to her head. When her earing returned to normal, she recognized it to be alarm klaxon.

She didn't open her eyes yet. She begin to lift her eye lits and when she opened them she look at total chaos.

On the walls cooling pipes had ruptured. And steam was escaping out of them. Power cords were hanging from walls were panels had been fall off. Next came the pain.

Her forehead was warm and moist from her own blood. Pain radiated all the way her temple. She was lying her face down to floor, as she saw the dark floor before her. Slowly, painfully slowly, she began to move up. She managed to push her up to his knees. All this could be divert into a word.

”Fuck...” She gasped. Knowing that now it was going to waste, nobody heard it. She began to gather strength to rise up.

”Could you...” Something clicked. And hikari lifted her head to see what was source of that sound.

It was bishop. He had halfway melted. Left eye was all white and hair had burned. Body liquids bleed from his arms and legs, plug on his neck had burned to black. He was sitting on the floor his legs spread, his arms stiff at sides. Lips barely moving. ”Could you say that again...?” He asked

Hikari watched at her friend, bishop could be called like that ”Fuck...?” She repeated asking.

”Tha-thanks.” Bishop answered stuttering. ”Now I...ah.” He gasped. ”Just sit here and wait that hell freezes.”

Hikari smiled and grimaced at same time when she began to rise up. First she straighted out her right leg and then quickly stood up. She close her eyes and felt something to crack.

”How...” Some sparks flied out from his jaw. ”a...a..re you?”

”uh.” she sighed and opened her eyes. ”My head is almost in pieces...I hope that my skull didn't crack too badly...but I don't see my brains outside even if i feel so light. I'll live.” She held her wound and tried to look forward to bishop, ”And you?”

”I....can't...move...” He tried to move his hand but could barely lift his fingers. ”I need an oil change...”

”Ah...” Hikari wipe blood from her forehead ”What the...hell happened?” She moaned.

”Plasma relay gave me an overcharge.” he shuddered as couple sparks flied around.

”How much?” Hikari asked, and walked to bishop with couple of steps crouching to him.

”Not much, just mere...” He gasped again and his voice cracked. ”one mega volt.”

”Oh. million isn't enough for you? How bad did....” Hikari began.

”My limbs aren't working. Maybe its because my neck was injured. And my spine is broken.” Bishop said calmly. ”And yes one thing.”

”What?” Hikari asked.

”It hurts...how do you human bear all this?” He asked smiling.

”Humans die when their neck and back are broken.” Hikari replied.

”Lucky you...” Bishop said dryly.

Hikari began to examine bishops wounds but they were outside of her knowledge. She couldn't do anything. ”Looks like you are going to get some time in repair depot..”

”No...I think this is it.” Bishop said.

”Don't talk like that...” Hikari said.

”Even if you make it out of here alive...I'll probably will be dismantled and replaced with another model...” He answered.

”If I can help it...no.” Hikari said sternly.

”Be careful...If wrong persons hears that you maybe diagnosed with...” He didn't said it but hikari knew what he was telling.

Army and corporate psychiatrists had had always been against using bishop class android. His looks were based on man named Charles Bishop Weyland. Weyland inc. CEO, who had gathered incredible wealth. His hard work made Weyland inc so great in old times that it would have been big even today. All though people who came after him almost destroyed his work. Completed with fusion with Yutani it however manage to solve its problems, and now Gendo Ikari on lead there was no problems. Or so it seemed. Bishop androids were a growing trouble. They acted and worked like humans, and they could even alter their behavior. It was easy to learn like them. And they were sometimes too much of losing, and were sometimes considered as actually person. This affected workers efficiency, and case was named toaster syndrome.

”Yeah...I've been in rehab...of that.” Hikari said.

”Looks...like it didn't work. Now I hope that I would be an Unimog...” He answered.

”Don't bother...you are way much funner like that.” Hikari smiled.

Bishop grimaced again and took a look to roof upon them. ”We have problems. Roof might come down to us in any minute.”

”Better get away before...” She began to look around herself could she move him.

”Another problem my data banks they are corrupting...quickly. My main program is safe but...” Bishop looked up with his working eye. ”...I'm losing data on her...”

”Who?” Hikari asked.

”Shinji probably wouldn't want me to tell...but soon I won't have any data left or even memory of it...he has to know some pieces of it...its important...” Bishop looked at Hikari.

”I'll tell...but you have tell me first.” Hikari said now trying to lose every emotion of confusion so that she could hear and listen better.

”Yui Ikari.” Foreign voice answered with his lips. ”Deceased. At 20 September 2214. Accidental death. Post mo term: malfunction in cryo capsules.”

”I knew that already.” Hikari said. ”I'm sure that shinji knows too...”

”Record- - - 2214 December 18 subject Ikari, (file corrupted).” Foreign voice continued. ”Subject received treatment by doctor Eisenberg---”

”What?” Hikari's eyes grew wide. ”Original synth developer? ” Eisenbergs family had much influence on board of WY. Make sense that Gendo Ikari would want to know them. ”Which one, Senior or Junior?”

”Subject: Eisenberg, Aaron. Diagnosis. Operation possible. Doctor Eisenberg is very optimistic on upcoming Operation. He does this operation for free, as payment for Gendo Ikari's services.” Foreign voice said. ”Doctors own report follows.” Bishops voice changed again. ”Ah...Gendo.” Voice said like it was greeting a friend but it seemed also careful. ”Sorry for not meeting you in person. I've been busy.” It paused. ”And what I have understand, so have you.” Now it get darker and deeper. It seemed like a way to apologize something but it never came. ”It will require a full day...I hope you have time for that. As I all ready told you, I don't need your money.” Voice said arrogantly ”and you don't need mine. So, I will do this on condition that...(File corruption, data lost)” Message died on bishops lips.

”Damn it!” Hikari hissed. What the hell was going on? Why the hell did Eisenberg had to do with them? He had been dead, or so rumor said that he didn't make from LV-1210. ”Anything else?” Hikari tried.

”There is one...a remark...writen by Eisenberg....the very next day...so hard to see it, its slipping away from me..” Bishop said sounding like trying to remember something.

”Tell me, quick!” Hikari rushed.

”It says, 'operation success.' And 'Eisenberg...warns...'” Bishop said and then was silent. ”What were we talking about?” He asked like sudden amnesia had hit him. And looked little confused.

”We were about data what you had acquired. You really don't remember?” Hikari asked.

”I remember that I said you to listen...did you...?” He looked at hikari.

”Hmm?” She said like waking up.

”Really encouraging.” Some sparks flied around from him.

Hikari smiled. ”Don't worry I got it...lets just get out of here.”

”By how...?” Bishop asked. ”Do you intend to carry me, Hikari?”

”Hell truly freezes now. You said my name.” She noted.

”Ah...maybe a malfunction.” Bishop said.

”Or not.” Hikari said and walked to door to see it. ”Pretty thick.” She examined it.

”Its and air lock door...” Bishop said on the background. ”Leading to level two...” Bishop said sounding occupied.

”So can we...” Hikari stopped and looked at the door panels. It was sending a signal that door was opening. ”Oh hell.” Her hope changed into a fear when she realized that there was maybe a vacuum waiting there. ”Looks like this is it. Glad to know you bishop.”

”Like wise.” Bishop answered.

Door hummed and Hikari closed her eyes. She didn't attempt to flee. She knew it was in vain. Door began to open. But then nothing happened. ”Mechanic?” Light voice called. She could barely heard it.

She opened her eyes to see pair of crimson eyes staring at her. She looked at figure in white and recognized the eyes and blue hair from briefing today. ”Ayanami?” She asked, and understood only afterwards that she didn't use her title.

”You seem to be hurt.” She only commented, not responding to her. ”Why aren't you in shelters?”

”We...we didn't hear alarms here, too much noise and...” She explained. ”But how are you in here?”

”I was trying to get to command deck.” She said. ”Certain person did something unexpected.”

”Do you know what happened? I mean you are in charge, right?” This hierarchy what they had in here was sometimes getting over her head sometimes.

”To this day...I thought so.” Hikari looked at her thought that she saw something what resembled anger on her face. ”Like I said, I was. But then I was overthrown.”

”How?” Hikari asked, wondering who would have enough kick to challenge corporate princess to pissing contest. ”No matter...but what happened? We're we under attack?”

”Yes. By a Predator. It's gone now, but armor were breached and two decks have been lost.” Rei saw that Hikari looked at roof like wondering was anything there. ”Do not worry, predator has disengaged.”

”Good...last what I would have wanted would be those in here....” Hikari swallowed as other alien race came to subject.

”Any wounded than you...?” Rei asked looking to her back.

”Bishop...is in...” She started, then remembering who she was talking with. ”I have a bishop class synth with me...” He looked at his direction hoping that he wouldn't felt hurt. ”It was damaged...”

Both womans began to walk to his direction. Rei knelled and looked at him studying. ”Are you in pain?”

”Ah...” He answered and trembled.

”Enough for answer?” Hikari asked standing next to her. ”I know what you are thinking, representative.”

”Do you...” She looked at her uniforms tag. ”Mechanic Horaki?” Rei continued.

”Yes. You are going to leave him here.” She said coldly. ”Leave here to die.” She said that part more sharply than she meant. And looked at Rei intensively.

”He cannot die. He isn't a human, so there for he doesn't have rights.” Rei answered. ”Interesting that...” She continued.

”All the same.” Hikari cut her of. ”This synth has data in it that is more valuable than it seems. I strongly reject that It would be dismantled and leaved behind.”

”It shouldn't be considered a human.” Rei said emotionless. ”It is...”

”I know what he is..” She said knowing that she had all ready most likely tipped off everything what she needed to know. ”He is part of the crew, and even gets a bed in here. Still not human enough to...”

”We might succeed.” Rei cut her off. ”To get safety.”

”By leaving him...like a rag.” Hikari objected.

”By taking...him with us.” Rei said, borrowing Hikari's words. ”You have managed to convince me that he is valuable enough to be saved. Congratulations.” She smiled a little.

”What? What for?” Hikari tried to conceal the fact that she was happy for him.

”You managed to persuade me. That doesn't happen often.” She replied and crouched to bishop beginning to open his halfly burn uniform.” I'm going to sever..his..” She seemed still to be skeptic using it with androids. ”Emotion receivers. You will be numb and easier to carry.” She opened his chest and severed couple wires.

In same moment painful grimace disappeared from Bishops face and he seemed to be fine.

”I can't feel anymore.” he said now looking like ghost. ”I don't even...care.” He stopped.

”Only drawback is now that when I cut of his receiver network he can't fulfill his program, what is to not let any human to die accidentally. Should we wound seriously, he can't help us...” Rei explained.

”Well he cant help us it attached either, his neck is injured. Now we should find a way back up.” Hikari said. ”Any suggestions, representative?”

”The way where I came is shut. I barely made out. Maybe one knows the best...” She said like feeling something. ”But he cant help us. Only thing to do is to continue deeper to ship.”

”Let's hope that core's shielding is intact. Otherwise it's getting too hot up here.” Hikari said.

Both womans crouched and took bishop by arms. ”Ready?” She asked and Rei nodded. They both began to lift. Bishop was surprisingly light taking notion that he had almost completely made from metal. HE was heavy, but not so heavy than they had expected.

Bishops feet still didn't work so they had to drag him almost freely forward. They both began to sweat when they had carried him some time and steam leaking out from the coolant pipes didn't help them. ”That suit of your doesn't breathe too well, huh?” Hikari asked when they struggled forward.

”Neither does yours.” Rei answered. ”I'm feeling uncomfortable...” Her mouth seemed to bend downwards.

”We both need shower after this...” When Hikari get to drop of this sentence before them wall panel exploded. Whole party stopped and all except for bishop looked at the scene where it had exploded.

”If we make it.” Rei added.

”Ifs are getting bigger all the way...” Hikari said darkly. ”Well, lets carry on.”

They continued struggling all over for maybe half and hour soon they had seen all of it. Cracked pipes, blasted walls and almost all shades of red. Then they found they selfs near the section twenty's border. ”You still can go on?” Rei asked seeing how Hikari panted.

”Not really. Should we take a break?” She panted.

”That would be wise.” Rei answered and they lowered bishop to lie near wall.

Hikari thrown her self to wall and closed her eyes. She swallowed as feeling of thirst began to ache her. ”I should go gym more often.”

”What was your physical grade in application of this assignment?” Rei asked when she sat down the opposite of her.

Hikari opened her eyes and looked at the blue haired young woman. She saw that she was something what didn't fit in standard company worker. She was talking and seemed to not be arrogant. Usually corporate representatives won't even want to speak any real worker.

”I haven't had any flight missions last times...since I got here. Have to say that I have suffered for lack of exercise.” She replied.

”More likely it is the heat and air pressure what is giving you trouble.” Rei answered. ”Nothing to be worried about.”

”Thanks...but look at you.” She said. Nodding to her.

”Why I should look at my self? I'm the same as hour ago.” Rei said slightly feeling confused.

Hikari chuckled lightly. ”Yes you are, and that something to be impressed. Man, I'm beat and you don't seem to be much bothered by heat.”

”We are not equal.” Rei replied. ”So don't try.” she said quietly.

Hikari was stunned by this sudden cool act. But then wasn't surprised. Seemed like she had woke up Nazi what lived all in all corporate workers. ”Fine, if thats what you like it.” She said harshly.

Now it was Rei's turn to stun. She seemed like disappointed but then she turned her head away. And began to look to corridor. She seemed like she was listening something but she didn't said what.

Then she looked back at hikari with her piercing look and spoke. ”Did I do something wrong?”

Hikari blinked her eyes and looked at her. ”I thought you said I'm not worthy of your time.” She said maintaining sarcastic tone. ”Whats a matter, began to feel to low?” She asked smiling gloating.

Rei's face left out one gesture what seemed to radiate agitation. ”I meant by that last remark that we can't be compared. I'm an official, and you are worker.”

”So you are better than I?” Hikari said now lowering her tone again.

”By what degree?” Rei asked.

Hikari looked at her now again. ”By the quality of work...maybe. Corporate peoples do despise everyone who does real work.” Hikari said knowing fact really well.

”I don't.” Rei said confident.

”Sure you do.” Hikari replied. ”You said that I shouldn't even compare to myself to you. Because I'm not important.”

”Isn't that true?” Rei asked. ”I never see you much here, so I assume that you are unwanted.”

Hikari snorted. ”Thats just typical WY snob bing. When you don't roll pen, you are just a lowlife and probably a nuisance. Do You have any idea how demanding this is? No.” She shook her head.

”How you can know?” She asked. ”I have said anything like that.”

”I can read it from you. Or actually I can't. You know, I firstly thought you'd be a decent girl. But I'm glad this happened.” Hikari said irritated. ”Just proves that behind every friendly face in W-Y inhabits a Nazi.”

”Your words....” Rei said. ”Why they feel...bad?”

”What?” Hikari took again a glance from her and see something what she hadn't seen any corporate workers face. True feeling of being hurt. Normally they would just boil with anger. ”Look, Why do you think I'm not good as you?”

”Because...because you are not me.” Rei said uncertainly. ”You can't do same things that I do.”

”Thats right!” Hikari partly yelled. ”We can't all be corporates! Like we can't all be mechanics or grunts or pilots.”

”I thought I was privileged.” Rei said. ”Only best reach this point.”

”So, you think that everybody else who aren't working in W-Y are nothing?” Hikari grunted.

”Yes...No....” Rei said coming more wearied for thinking this all.

”You don't know what to say, so you don't know?” Hikari guessed, but not knowing this words affect on her.

”No. I do know.” Rei said strongly. ”I'm better. I'm wanted.” She said finally somewhat happy.

This was most stubborn case of people who had she come face with. Asuka usually just argued, but Rei was different she was certain and knew it all. ”And why is that?” Hikari asked, now instead being angry she wanted really to know why.

”I'm seen. I affect. Although others hate me because of it.” she insisted.

”Thats true...” Rei had change to nod this accepting but then hikari said more. ”Partly.”

”What do you mean?” Rei asked now her own interesting awakening when she was put ahead with Hikari's acclaim.

”Some people do dislike you because what you do, but your attitude is what makes it all go wrong. Think it, have you ever thought that I maybe not so much around, because I have shit load of work to do?” Hikari suggested.

”This ship is fully functional...” Rei began to say.

”Thus it does not require maintenance?” Hikari chuckled. ”Please. I've been working full hours here when I got here. You just knew, that this ship doesn't even move with out me here. Plasma relays don't calibrate themselves, conducts doesn't work by them selves and airlocks doesn't close correctly.”

”But isn't' the reason that you aren't good enough to do same things like I?” Rei asked.

Hikari grinned a little. ”Actually I'm good to do same things like you. Reason is that I don't want to. I want to do this. Sure sometimes I get tempted by that fat paycheck what W-Y is waving before my face, and especially corporates like you picking up me get on the nerve...but is it true that I don't do anything remarkable?” She asked. ”Now that I told you what I do?”

”No.” Rei said. ”You are correct. Work what you do is important...but why does everything overlook it?”

”Partly because of attitudes. After all it is you who do less than I.” Hikari replied.

”That is not true. If I'm facing problem of not considering your work, then you are doing same to me.” Rei answered.

Hikari thought that a while and laughed a little. ”I shot myself in the back, didn't I? So what are you doing other than rolling pen?”

Rei stared at her for awhile forming up sentences. ”I do lots of things. I try to control corporation interests like I have been ordered. And came up strategies with certain of operations up ahead.”

”Wait...” Hikari said. ”What do you mean by control? You would be in the battle field when the time comes?”

”Yes.” Rei stated. ”That is the best way how to see W-Y's interests done.”

”But...what if you die?” Hikari asked. ”It isn't like I wouldn't fight if I have to but you don't need to.”

”I...I don't have any other life.” Rei said hesitating little first. ”I must do this, I have been ordered so.”

”Yeah...” Hikari nodded. ”But you have right for civil life, outside of that.” She pointed at her uniform.

”I do?” Rei asked tilting her head. ”I have never been ordered to.”

Hikari was about laugh at first but then she saw that Rei wasn't joking. ”You are telling me that you expect that you are ordered to have free time?”

”I don't have free time. Its not necessary.” She said.

”Who tells you stuff like that?” Hikari wondered.

”CEO Ikari.” Rei said firmly. ”He knows the best.”

”You really never question his words?” Hikari asked.

”No.” Rei said that with no doubt in her voice. ”He doesn't make mistakes. He knows what is necessary.”

”But...if that is true...why are you here? In geo-front platform is many more duties what need to be taken care of.” Hikari wondered. ”Were you ordered to be here?”

Rei seemed little uncertain how to answer, but the said. ”It was my own wish to come here...he was first against it...but I worked harder to prove myself...and so I am here. I'm ordered to monitor activities and follow what is happening.”

”So, why don't you have so time for yourself?” Hikari suggested. ”It won't do much good to you, if you just chew same reports what you know by heart all ready. Have some time with your friends...”

”I don't have any...only aids...” She said.

”Let me guess you weren't ordered to have any?” Rei nodded. ”But you can talk, so why don't you have any one?”

”I...I...don't want to intrude to anyones life.” Rei objected. ”But I grew frustrated when I run idle, and I'm alone...I feel...”

”Sort of hollow.” Hikari said. ”I know. When my friend died...I felt the same. I feared everything and everyone...and some time I hoped that I had died with her.” She again returned to watch the platform form escape capsule, what was being overrun by Aliens. ”Or just died before, that I wouldn't need to feel that way.”

”You have life ahead of you. It would be useless to die now.” Rei said.

”Useless...” Hikari laughed. ”You need to relax a little bit. There is no need to be so formal.”

”You maybe right. Even I feel so...” She was again lost with words.

”Chained?” Hikari suggested.

”Yes...I don't know how to get rid those feelings...do you?” She raised her head and watched at hikari.

Hikari scratched her head. ”There is no absolute cure...but talk to people. And break some walls, we both thought each other lower and unimportant, but now I see that you do much more than glue red tape.”

”And I see that you are not a inbred tunnel rat.” Rei said smiling.

Hikari frowned. ”Do they really say that!” She yelled suddenly.

”Ummm...yes.” Rei said quietly.

”Well, next time I see them remind me to hit them with a wrench.” She answered. ”punch some sense to them.”

”I advise you not to.” Rei said. ”My opinion is that there is no point for brake good tool. I doubt that It would increase his intelligence either.”

”He? Let me guess...” She thought. ”It was Franklin who said that?”

”Correct. He has also made...suspicions about...” She seemed to flush a little ”your sexual orientation.”

”Oh, c'mon!” Hikari barked frustrated. ”That is so overused.”

”It is?” Rei asked.

”Always when poor worker girl doesn't jump with bed the first corporate official she sees, she is a lesbian, or something.” Hikari snorted. ”They just think they are gods gift to women. I think god just likes practical jokes, and most of them are here because of it.”

”I dislike Franklin as well. He irritates me, some times and asks lots of things, usually concentrating my personal life and seems to follow me every where.” Rei said. ”But he doesn't spread false rumors about me.”

”Thats because he is afraid of you.” Hikari replied. ”He just doesn't have a guts when it comes to you.”

”Am I intimidating?” Rei asked confused.

”Well, how do i would say this that I wouldn't offend you...you are sort of freaky.” She said after thinking awhile.

”I don't understand.” Rei confessed.

”Red eyes and blue hair is somebody something new...but I don't think what they really do fear about is your uniform.” She nodded at her.

”Psychologically black is more intimidating than white.” Rei objected. ”White is mark of perfection and discipline.”

”Actually when they see tag 'Weyland-Yutani' they do fear. Fear what you might do and your power.” Hikari answered. ”So its kinda psychological too.”

”But WY has done many improvements to peoples lives, most of technology wouldn't be so advanced...” Rei said wondering. ”I don't understand why they dislike their creator.”

Hikari thought again what to say. ”Weyland-Yutani is a state, inside of a state.” she started.

”They do what is their right for them, squeezing profit out of everything possible. Because of that even humans do have their 'best before' dates.”

Rei looked at Hikari her eyes now sharply focusing on her. ”That is anti W-Y propaganda that is meant to undermine our investments...”

”Was it or was it not?” Hikari said. ”But do sometimes a test. Take off your uniform, and dress in something else. Then go to meet people.”

”They do not want me among them.” Rei said firmly.

”When you cover those tags and introduce your self only Rei Ayanami, and leave corporation out of it, I don't think they dislike you then.” Hikari smirked ”But take somebody with you. You might end up to get attention from wrong kind of persons.”

”I had...that issue taken care off.” She said remembering something.

”You had a body guard?” Hikari asked.

”Personal protector.” Rei nodded. ” Times, I had to go to outside WY security net to...clear things, or when I needed to negotiate with certain terms unsatisfying the somebody else, Director Ikari hand picked a somebody from special groups, what WY has in reserve like Iron Bears....”

”I've heard them.” Hikari replied. ”Russians, almost all of them. If somebody who wasn't Russian tried to get to be one of them he had to be Rykov's personal favorite, or then hell of a soldier. They are now out of WY's Christmas card list, aren't they?”

”Almost everyone, except some who weren't in LV-1210, are now dead. General Rykov died when he encountered a Predator.” Rei said quietly.

”He didn't deserve much better. What I've heard he got what he deserved. All bunch of sadists...Psychosis is normally a burden, but I bet that in job application for them, it's a big advantage.” Hikari bite her teeth.

”I don't know if there was any mentally instable people working with them.” Rei said. ”But sometimes one or two of them were assigned to work with me. I remember a pair called Heads and Tails.”

”I really don't envy you-working with them is hardly a pleasure.” Hikari replied. ”Just because of plain curiosity, what where they like?”

”Other, who called himself heads, had eyes like mine, and gray hair. He smiled for some reason all the time.” Rei said. ”I tried to ask why, and he said that life has been good to him.”

”So, its true that sociopaths do have most of this worlds fun. Red eyed Tom Cruise from that old film...what was the name....yeah, it was 'Collateral'.” Hikari grunted. ”And the other one?”

Rei eye blinked. ”Tails? Most of people I know hardly match his height. Green eyes and red hair...”

Rei tried to remember something else. ”I would have wanted to known him better.” Rei looked at the floor.

Hikari remembered again her own red haired friend. ”What was he like? I haven't ever met a guy with red hair...most of them just dye it.”

”Like I said. When I first met him I was fourteen. He wasn't happy with his assignment. It changed. He seemed to feel sort of eased when he was watching over me.” Rei smiled. ”It was quite achievement when taking notion all what you said.”

”Seems like you wanted him around.” Hikari asked.

”He maintained his job well. In bad situations he could quarantee my security.” Rei said. ”We even talked. When he was paired with heads, he was quiet. They sometimes said couple words to each other. He didn't want any else with him.”

”At least you were safe, they didn't want lay their hands on Corporations people, did they?” Hikari said.

”Heads wasn't interested about me any way.” Rei said. ”He was more interested boys of my age.”

Hikaris face twisted a little. ”You mean he was a gay? What about the other one, was he too...” Hikari waved her arm like Rei knew what she meaning.

”No.” Rei said. ”I believe not. When I began to mature, and grow to take more responsibility, only Tails was assigned with me.”

”You seem like you would have wanted them here too.” Hikari said.

”They are death. Both of them.” Rei said. ”Tails would have been...a friend, but he is nothing more than a casualty.”

”So do you have any other friends?” Hikari asked.

”I...Think I have found something here what I have been searching for some time.” Rei smiled a little. ”I just hope he is all right at this moment.”

”Does he have a name?” Hikari thought was it somebody who he knew.

”He is lieutenant in this vessel, aiding Major Katsuragi.” Rei said. ”Shinji Ikari...” She looked at the ceiling like dreaming. ”He doesn't even know...”

”Now forgive me if I intrude, but is your interest about him social or professional?” Hikari asked hoping not be too teasing.

Rei didn't say anything but her smile didn't fade. ”I think we should carry on.” When she laid her eyes on her.

”You are probably right.” Hikari said. ”We are not too far from the section section twenty ones lift. With good luck we can get to the infirmary from there.”

Both of them began to rise and walked to near bishop. He was out of this scene, and they began to lift him again. They continued walking the corridor to the section twenty's door what joined in section 19.

”So what are you going to do when you get out of here?” Hikari asked panting when they had again continued for a good time.

”I have to take Major Katsuragi's insubordination, and to decide whether she can continue commanding this vessel...” Rei said thinking how it would affect on other crew.

”Look, about Misato...” Hikari said. ”You should know this one thing...”

”I know the case of Cygnus. About Katsuragis past.” Rei said firmly. ”She all of us should know how dangerous Predators are.”

”But maybe she didn't see it that way...maybe she thought that she was protecting crew.” Hikari resisted Rei's black and white seeing of things.

In midst of o all this bishop began to talk. ”...Predator braked trough three Costanoga cruisers. Ten corvets were escorting them, and it managed to get past of them while they were engaging enemy. Corvets moved out too quickly, and when enemy frigates managed to regroup and retaliate, they disabled one of the Costanogas escorting Katsuragis father, who was colonel at that time. Predator appeared, break trough corvet screen and burned itself way to hull. In next hour, over two dozen soldiers were severely mutilated. Only one who's body was intact belonged to colonel Katsuragi...” Bishops lips stopped as suddenly when they had began speaking.

”What was that?” Hikari wondered. ”Bishop never said that he had access to mission debriefings.”

”They are inhibited that they wouldn't tell.” Rei answered. ”As I said, I strongly consider can Major Katsuragi carry on commanding this ship.”

”What about Shinji?” Hikari asked.

”I...fail to see how this would have connection.” Rei said not knowing what Hikari was talking about.

”Misato practically raised him, after meeting him four years ago...If you began to just point fingers at her, I doubt that Shinji would be happy.” Hikari reminded remembering that soon was the memorial day. Five years after Aliens invasion in their home platform.

”He...” Rei hesitated. ”He just have to adapt with my decision. I can't overlook this ships commander work trough fingers.”

”Is it really you or just W-Y?” Hikari asked. ”Can't you...give some mercy this time.”

Rei looked at her slightly confused. ”What is this Katsuragi that makes her so...loveable?”

”Hey, haven't you looked at her? Many guys in here would give their right arm if they could just have some intimate moments with her.” Hikari said. ”Seriously I think it is that she is there for her crew, and is at the trenches. She knows this ship, and everyone who work here...she is more like big sister.”

”She seemed to forget her duties when she spotted the predator.” Rei said. ”You could be dead now.”

”Yes...I could.” Hikari said remembering that she had been more afraid for Toji than herself. ”But I'm not.”

”And that makes it right?” Rei asked. ”It's true that she would be hard to replace. But she can be. And will be.”

”You were warned.” Hikari said. ”I can't speak behalf of her...but looks like our luck is about to turn.” She nodded ahead.

There were elevator was located somebody had tried to began fix it. A marine. He had crouched under control panel and had spread his equipment all over the floor. He was too concentrated to hear two young womans to approach him.

”Hey Kensuke.” Hikari shouted.

Kensuke hit his head to control panel. ”Au.” He moaned and came to view seeing how they were dragging Bishop. An android being dragged like it was hurt. 'What a waste' he thought. Bishop hands were over their neck and hanging loosely over their shoulders. And he wasn't using them.

'Typical robot.' He thought. To him this would have been perfect opportunity to fill his hands in 'accident'. Or at least one hand, Hikari was already taken and he as funny it may sound thought her still of class rep, who was not to be touched. ”How did you know that it was I?”

”No one else has that kind of screen saver in their bypass kit.” She pointed her leg at the bypass kit laying on the floor. In there endless wave of green airdrop bombs flied trough the screen.

”I got it somewhere, don't recall where at the moment. I think it kind of suits my job description. What do you think?” He asked straighten out his glasses.

”That you have lousy imagination.” Hikari said. And looked at control panel. ”You seem to work on electronics for a chance.”

”Yeah, I would have waited but you know, that I don't really like to stay in one place for too long.”

He explained.

”Aha. What did you do this time?” Hikari asked.

”Thats so rude. Go and assumption such of things and we have known each other for...

”What did you do?” Hikari demanded more heavier tone.

”Nothing serious just began to decorate with out asking any confirmation. Sarge and Lieutenant took it way too seriously. It was about one grenade...and well Sargent told me that...”

”Stop.” Hikari ordered. ”I don't want to know, what kind of suspicions or claims he made of your potential to do anything.”

”Well you get the Idea. My point is that they took it way too seriously. And shinji too...He doubled my pain.” he shooed his head. ”Have anything to say about that?”

”It was about time?” Hikari suggested.

Kensuke snorted. ”Such an attitude. Well, this lift is about to work soon.” And when he said that lights near elevator began to came back on. ”There.” He crawled out of the panel and began to collect his things. He took his bypass kit and lot of equipment what he had been forced to carry with him. When he walked towards the lift he heard Hikari shouting at him. ”Hey, little help over here?”

”I'd like to help but my hands are full.” He answered and walked to lift.”You are coming or just stay on here looking the view?”

Hikari pursed her lips, and smiled dryly. ”Chivalry is indeed dead, right representative?”

”Indeed, mechanic.” Rei answered.

After dragging Bishop in the elevator, Kensuke pressed lift to proceed upper levels. ”What your story? How did you managed to get up here?”

”We were calibrating plasma relay when something decided to hammer us to hell and back. Alarm didn't reach up there. And you?” Hikari said lowering Bishop lying to floor.

”I was going right to bottom by elevator and start my run. Then with out warning whole ship went mad and console fried next to me.” he shrugged. ”I was about go back to crew quarters from bottom but then I stuck up here.”

”We are we going now?” Rei inquired.

”To upside, near command deck and infirmary. Other crew is crawling back from their foxholes.” Kensuke said.

- - - -

Asuka was getting closer to her signals source. It was a frigate. Bigger than a corvet, it was docked to company cargo ferry. It hadn't moved.

First Asuka thought seeing mines up ahead. But when she got closer she saw what they were.

People. Others had been killed before they were kicked out from airlock. Blood had frozen on.

Those who weren't lucky enough to be killed, had suffocated alive, and frozen to death. They were still trying to get air.

”Holy hell...” Asuka said quietly, when she looked bodies flying outside the frigate. She began to proceed to dock in the hull of the frigate, to burn hole near on of the isolated sections of it.

She crouched out of her cockpit to other parts of the frigate to find what she expected to find.

Corporate workers. Most of them killed by single shot. Those who weren't lucky enough where shot to kneecap. And then to stomach.

”Sick.” She said quietly. Then she heard something. She turned to look and saw a man.

Unlike the one who was terrified on enron this one seemed to be in good health, all though he had got some bruises on his face. He was coming to consciousness, she guessed it to be because Thaarn had handled him. He was grappling his rifle on the floor and managed to get his hand on the breech until asuka stopped him.

Shoulder cannon came out of her right shoulder and he saw him to froze as man recognized the sound. Laser reticle magnified on his face. ”That would be ill advised.” She said pretending to be friendly. ”For your own good keep your hands off your little guys appendix.”

”No... ” he stuttered and tried to blink his eyes. ”Don't...we were just having fun! We didn't do anything to you!”

”I'm sure of that.” She snarled.

Then Man saw her clearly. She didn't know was it red blood or her body what gave her in.
”Wait a minute...You aren't that thing! Your a just a kid...!” He chuckled now feeling his life eased.

”My, my.” Asuka shooed him like a baby. ”Did little man feared for a change? I bet you did.”

”Cow...” he said and grabbed his rifle on the floor. ”Lets see if you like this inside you...” He pointed the barrel and smiled widely straightening himself.

”Stay there.” She ordered. ”I'm not in mood of seeing your face anymore nearer that it is.”

”What? Does little girl fear for a change?” He said imitating her tone. He raised his rifle trying to aim her.

That enough for her. She had kept targeting triangle middle of his skull and then pressed quickly trigger button on her other wrist. Plasma shot flied trough the air, and now Asuka saw that he came to his senses too late. His skull splattered all over the walls. Asuka squeezed her eyes close as a reflex and then opened them again.

To her surprise mess wasn't bad, or more cleaner like she thought it to be. Hot plasma had burned bone and melted whole brain tissue. She looked at wall what had came all red by this. Its was steaming and bubbling as plasma had almost instantly warmed it up. Asuka thanked again her mask that it had air cleaner. Blood she could always handle but smell was something what was too much for her. Man's body wasn't any better shape. Where had once grinned ugly face was now left lower jaw and little spine.

Asuka heard cloaking field deactivating. She looked at her left and saw her teacher. He had stood there monitoring them. ”He should have consider that last one as a threat.” Thaarn grunted.

”Men of my species aren't so quick to think.” She said, and looked her teacher directly. ”My teacher.” She said and bowed. Grimacing when she felt

”My student.” Thaarn said as reply and nodded his head. ”Was your hunt successful? Did you reached what you were after?”

”That and more. How did yours?” Asuka inquired.

”Not so successful as I wished.” he said looking at corpse. ”They are no challenge.”

”I know what you mean...” She said. ”They thought that I was a kid playing a game.”

”Hmm. I don't understand why he didn't take you seriously.” Thaarn answered. ”I have to change your name.”

”What?” Asuka asked. ”Why?”

”You killed your first human.” Thaarn said. ”We can't call you a pacifist anymore.”

”eh...Thaarn...” She said now remembering what had happened moments ago. ”I need your guidance. I did something today...what I could have let undone”

Thaarn looked at her, and with out seeing her face he knew that something was wrong. ”Lets talk about it later. You have to take a trophy. It is your right.”

”Yeah...” Asuka turned back and began to crouch to inspect did he have something on his pockets.

”This guy is poor...not even money. Guess I just cut his pay roll...” She said half amused.

”His weapon is too common.” Thaarn said pointing at the pulse rifle stripped out of grenade launcher. ”Maybe this would do it. ” He walked to her and crouched to body moving his hand towards the lower jaw and back of it. then he knocked carefully the tooth what was last of the already exposed jaw. It fell of.

Asuka catch it from flight to her palm. She took it closer to her mask and look at it. ”No wonder they so bitchy. This is a wisdoms tooth.”

”Why it is in him?” Thaarn said clicking middle of his words. ”He wasn't smart.”

”It doesn't depend on how smart somebody is.” Asuka said smiling under her mask. ”It appears sometimes on some people. It causes pain and you can't get rid of it unless you rip it off. Which hurts more.”

Silver masked predator grumbled. ”I may have something what interests you. Come.” They both rose and began to walk towards frigate corridors. Unlike Corporations orderly white corridors this was a green shaded walls. Which weren't much enriched by light. When they began to reach captains cabins Asuka looked that Thaarn's hand was bleeding.

”You are hurt.” Asuka said while they continued walking.

”As are you.” Thaarn answered. ”One human had shotgun with him. I have it now.”

They reached the captains quarters and Asuka saw that door panel had been teared open by typical predator measure, by overcharging it. ”Was that the surprise you wanted to show me?”

”No.” They walked towards the door and it opened. Inside it revealed oddly lighted room. What was the fact Asuka saw was a bed, in form of heart. All sheets had been tripped over it. It seemed soft and comfy. ”You have complained about sleeping on the floor. With your wound now it would be a torment. I think this will solve our problems.”

”Why the sheets have been stripped?” Asuka asked.

Thaarn grunted and looked at her. ”You don't want to know.”

”I think I do.” Asuka said back.

”And I think still you don't.” Thaarn answered. ”But since I know you nature, look.” He pointed at the floor where was pile of pink satin sheets.

Asuka set her eyes on them and stared them for a moment. She switched on thermal view but didn't see anything. ”They look fine to me.”

”Switch to UV.” Thaarn suggested. ”And then say it again.”

Asuka did as ordered, and jumped from disgust. ”Scheisse!” She saw white stains spreading all over the sheet.

Thaarns appendixes spread to grimace behind his mask. ”Now you understand.”

”Mmm...” Asuka mumbled. ”You were right. Next time when this kind of situation cames to hand, remind me this. I'll be happier when I don't know.”

”I'll keep it on my mind. The bed is clean.” Thaarn said. He walked to near table where was bloody bundle of rags and shotgun, as well some shells. Asuka noted that he was searching from something but also saw radio what was smashed.

”What did you do to that?” Asuka pointed the radio what was maybe an old cd player, what was almost flat when something had strike from upwards.

”When I reached this room there was another body here...You don't want to know what happened before she died.” Thaarn answered still trying to find something.

”I can guess.” Asuka said darkly. ”Where is she?”

”I moved her to corridor before us. I understood that as a woman you wouldn't want to see.” Thaarn replied. ”When I came here there was music playing. Something what told constantly that somebody y had sweat dripping all over her body. And then it told to flap the wings. It was on loop.”

Thaarn's voice came suddenly harder. ”When I heard it all over again I began to grow tired on it, and tried to shut it down. It came only louder as I pressed something in accident. Finally I made end of it.”

”I never thought you would be a fan of that kind of music.” Asuka said sounding amused. ”I bet reggae would be more of your hair style but considering everything Heavy metal or Punk might be your thing.”

”You speak odd.” thaarn replied. ”Are you sure that you didn't hurt your head?”

”I guess I got some bumps on it.” Asuka answered. ”Couple hits did pressed on my memory.”

”Then it explains it.” Thaarn said surely. ”Then again, you have talked all this before strikes on your head so maybe its only getting worse.”

”What are you looking for?” Asuka said interested.

”This.” Thaarn took a cap from desk and show it to her. Asuka separated words skipper from it.

”And now you tell me something...?” He asked almost embarrassed.

”What do my teacher needs?” She said sounding semi amused.

”Is this anything what do I need to know about this?” He took shotgun from the desk and easily waved it around on his other hand.

”Where did you get that?” Asuka said looking old weapon.

”I took in fight with this crews leader. I used him typical trick what I did think would work on him. He wasn't even wondered how I would have died on shot to the head if my mask is in place. I've found this weapon in standard variant of six shots, but this feels different.” He said clicking.

”That is...” She said trying to remember old action movies what she had watched almost five years ago. ”SPAS-12. Old combat shotgun. Its been taken care of. It's kind of heavy, weights about nine pounds.”

”I feel this would my good weapon for me. Anything else?” Thaarn said looking ancient weapon interested.

”It had gas piston somewhere...there.” Asuka pointed at the small switch on it. ”It has hell of a recoil.”

Thaarn switched the piston on and before asuka had change to warn him, he fired all shots remaining in the weapon to nearby wall. Weapon jumped little upwards in giants hand as he fired it one handed. Predator was surprised that even he felt it kick. Room was sparkling and shells unloaded quickly from the gun.

”Well?” Asuka asked interested.

”Weight is...just right.” thaarn said now looking weapon with new eyes.

”And recoil?” Asuka inquired.

”My wrist...” He said thinking while. ”is fine. But I feel that its moved. Recoil will be fine. I'll take it.”

”Just be careful not to hit head with that thing.” Asuka advised. ”It will shatter them to pieces.”

”I'll make that in notion.” He said. He grabbed one of the shells from the floor and looked at it more closely. ”I'll use these...until I learn how to make these ammos my self.”

”Are you sure you will?” Asuka said.” No offense, but their weapons are different from ours.”

Thaarn noted that asuka used form 'our' of predators. ”I think you made a mistake.”

”What do you mean, teacher?”She asked shivers crawling her spine. ”Did I offend you or...”

”No, but you said 'our weapons'.” thaarn said calming. ”It's important to know who you are.”

”I know it all ready, teacher.” Asuka said firmly. ”What I saw here makes me understand what I want to be.” Asuka had been wondering how humanity was doing when she had been gone. Now she knew that it had been only coming more ruthless.

”That is not what I asked.” Predator grunted. ”It's different what you want to be and what you are. But I'm glad that you know.”

”I do.” Asuka said nodding. ”Should we lift this?”

”If your wounds are not bad, I could use a hand.” Thaarn said walking to soft bed. He put the cap, bloody bundle covering captains head, and his acquired prize, SPAS-12 to bed and he began to lift.

Asuka had left her own prize on the ship, and was in her thoughts rubbing her hands to see her teachers face when she would show her own achievement.

They struggled with their burdens back to section where she had burn the hole to the wall. They spend some time thing how they would get their own spoil of war trough the hole. Afterwards they managed to turn bed vertically so that it fit trough. When it was inside their ship, asuka turned back and clicked trying to imitate predator language.

”Yes, sounds.” Thaarn said. ”Some of the crew is alive. Raider crew that is.”

”Should we turn back and hunt them?” Asuka said, both anger in her voice and memories to strike back.

This wasn't gone un noted by thaarn. ”No. They are armless and cowards. Humans are coming this way...They may handle them.”

”We still have time.” Asuka said, felting was her shoulder cannon ready if it would be required. Then she took support from the wall and all seemed to go dizzy.

Thaarn took couple steps and looked now closely wound on her back. ”This is...praetorians wound!” He raised his voice surprised. ”You..have...?” He asked almost confused.

”heh...I ruined the surprise.” She straightened up. ”I would have told it on the ship, that I made most of my hunt.”

”Truly.” He said dryly. ”I should have been with you. You are too young to fight with guard...”

”Everything went fine.” Asuka objected. ”I'm...uhh...” She shooed her head like she tried to shake feeling of nausea out of her.

”You are not in danger, child.” Predator calmed. ”Guards venom is only meant to make you weak, it's wonder you didn't pass out.”

”Would you please stop calling me child...” Asuka said. ”I'm nineteen soon...”

”I don't accept human age standards.” Thaarn said looking his student being clawed by nausea.

”Can you walk here, or should I carry you?”

Asuka smiled behind her mask. ”I remember a fairy tale about princess carried by prince in shining armor from castle guarded by dragon...I used to hear it a lot.”

”Its good to remember stories.” Thaarn said.

”I hated it. I think it was bullshit, I just hate that 'damsel in distress' plot. Its so goddamn boring.”

”I stand corrected.” Thaarn replied. ” Can you walk up to our ship?”

”Yeah....” She said taking couple hazy steps towards him and managed to get over to ship. Thaarn carried away the bed rest of the way by himself.

Thaarn looked at the cockpit controls of the ship. He saw that Cloaking field was damaged and grumbled irritated. Getting ship again to be fully unseen would be behind hard work. Input coordinates to home dock, what was located far from there. Far from Earths solar system. Still not near predators home world, but away from here. He Walked back to the floor what predators usually used for resting.

Asuka had immediately took new bed to use. She was lying on her stomach and had even closed her eyes. ”Aah..” She moaned. ”I haven't been in such a comfy bed for month...When do we reach haven?” She asked opening her other eye and looking at her teacher.

Thaarn began to take mask away from his face. In their ship middle of all glow of graffiti were gases what made predator easier to breathe. His mask let out a shrunk as tubes separated from it.

Under the mask came out her teachers face. For human unprepared it would been ugly. But asuka had been with him for five years. She had gotten use to it. To her squid like face didn't seem hostile, or terrifying, but it was something what she had afraid at first. Appendixes around the mouth moved and she saw his jaws moving. ”We'll be there tomorrow.” He looked at Asukas back what showed half broken net suit and well torn back. ”First we should heal ourselves.”

Asuka shuddered a little as she knew what was coming. She didn't resist, she had felt sore for almost four hours

Thaarn began to make preparations for healing liquid. He put a small device on the floor and crouched to reach it better. When he pressed button on it suddenly small device changed into form of plate. He took something out of his healing comp, what was a thick gray bar. He crushed it on his palm, and dropped pieces of it slowly to plate. Next he began to pour a powder over the pieces.

Flame ignited burning it by blue flame. Thaarn slipped now blue liquid over the burned matter. Flame burned it to one. Next there was only smoldering coal, what waited to be used.

Asuka prepared her self mentally and physically rite coming ahead. It was student-teacher centered. They would heal each other, thus feeling each others pain. Then they would know their limits.

She climbed up and stripped the net suit to floor. She began to prepare to take out her black top what was self made. She began to slowly lift it and grimaced in middle of the way when bloody wound began to separate from fabric.

Predators didn't wear any bra, as female hunters were rare and they liked more to use additional armor covering them. And Asukas own had all ready wore out long ago. She had been with out them since. First she felt it odd as she had orderly wear them being in space station, and the in training what had started in early age. She had begin developing at early too. She was first one who had breasts on her class. She was bothered by looks and made this clear if anyone tried to come near her. Shinji was the only who wasn't been turned away, but she tolerated him as he seemed to be only one who even tried to be shamed when he was looking at Asuka's chest instead her face. In some way he was only one who's attention she did want. Others were just interested getting in her pants. All though she had to slap him when she saw Shinji daydreaming about it. But in the end he was only saying sorry, not giving anything back. And that was maybe angering her most. But he just wasn't going to make it out with out her, and she didn't lose her hope...before the station. Shinji abandoned her, just like the others. 'Coward for all eternity...' She thought sarcastically.

Asuka wrapped her arms around her chest to cover her naked breasts, It was maybe nothing more but instinct, as she hadn't ever even thought thaarn as a perv. And if he had been she would be little unmatched. Thaarn always said to her that she would never be as strong in static as other hunters, but her strong suits were more endurance and agility. But in her situation but wouldn't help much, as she was wounded.

”You are not freezing.” Thaarn said as he looked at Asuka who seemed to be like trying warm herself as she tried to avoid his eyes.

”Well, I...” She didn't know how to explain this to him with out swallowing her tongue.

”You are...” She tilted her head a little. And began to feel little warmer they before.

”You are embarrassed? Why?” Thaarn had noted flush of blood in her face as it revealed her five spots what had left by a little skirmish.

”It's because I'm a woman.” Asuka said and nodded towards him.

”I knew that you are human female.” Thaarn asked still being a little lost.

”And you are man, do you follow?” Asuka continued, lowering her voice a little.

Now Thaarn understood what she was meaning and was actually amused. He clicked something and talked more lighter tone. ”I thought we talked this clear...I wouldn't ever lay my hands on you. Honor codex forbids me.”

”Take no offense, teacher.” Asuka said humbly. ”But it's still a kind of difficult to me...get undressed around unknown men...”

”You have known me for five years.” Predator spoke looking still at her face. ”Isn't it enough?”

”mmm...in my society nakedness is shameful, and I feel vulnerable...I don't really know how to explain this to...”

”Yautja.” thaarn grunted, saying his species name. ”I think I understand.”

Asuka got bit more comfortable. ”You do?”

”I'm sure you have been in your own society center of unwanted attention. You are beautiful, for human, I realize that.” Thaarn said.

”That's true, I was.” She remembered all remarks, and all love letters if they could be considered like that. She had also heard boys talking behind her pack making bets who of them would knock her under himself.

”And for some reason, you think I'm one of them. That I want to harm you or perhaps it is that you are under my mercy.” Thaarn said reassuring. ”And you don't like to be ordered around.”

”Well maybe...but its just because I'm...” Asuka started to defend herself.

”May I finish?” Thaarn asked patiently.

”Sorry, teacher.” She said remembering that conversations between her and Shinji usually ended by Shinji's apology.

”I'm not like humans. And I wouldn't use anything what you reveal to me against you. I know that You maybe here part of revenge. And I can't change you mind as it seems to feed your skill. But you have to stop comparing me to humans, as our ways are different.” thaarn had said this again and again for many times but now asuka was paying attention to it.

”It's difficult...you seem...” She tried to find words. ”I thought you were savages who won't think anything but killing...I have heard...”

”I understand that your previous teacher has hate for some one of us...” Thaarn continued. ”And I'm sure she will never forget it. If she has argue with one of she can come and deal with as our codex has been written.”

”I think she just hates everyone of you not regarding who you are and where you are.” Asuka said.

Thaarn clicked his tongue and looked confused. ”Why?”

”Because she thinks that you enjoy what you are doing....We do enjoy it, don't we?” She asked like a confirmation.

”Didn't you?” He asked darkly ”Didn't you like the feeling for once being on upper hand, For once being there when no-one wasn't, for once doing something?” Thaarn said it like it was personal. ”For once being right place...”

”I did.” Asuka nodded.”I really loved that feeling, the bastard is dead, and I killed it! I'm not a victim! I won it by myself, with out help!” She said squeezing her hands to fists. Like Thaarn she was now being intoxicated by personal hate. She rubbed her head by remnants of praetorians venom running in her veins.

”I think they are beautiful.” Thaarn said as he was watching his student in claws of emotion.

”What?” Asuka said raising her eyes to him who was pointing his bleeding hand to her chest.

Asuka had in her emotions exposed her naked chest to him. She drew her arms closer and but when they were again about shield her breasts she stopped, and begin to think what her teacher had said about time before.

It was lack of trust what was in between them, and it that she may had been humanizing him too much and associating him to her own experiences of men. As for her only 'real' man who she had knew was Kaji, who was playful, what Thaarn wasn't. And another was afraid little boy who asked apologized his mere existence, and then was perverted bunch of boys who she never had trusted.

Thaarn wasn't resembling any one of them. So she decided to see what he was.

She lowered her hands to her sides and looked her bare chest. It was a while she had been viewing her like this. Her breasts were rising in rhythm of her breathing. Their bearing had lowered a little but otherwise they weren't anything to be shamed of. In her teenage years she didn't enjoyed the attention what she was having from wrong kinds of person and would have wanted to tear them of. Being middle of Predator horde she had just almost forget about them.

She smiled and tried to calm down. She looked at her teacher and said. ”Do you by the way know what I should say to that?” She spoke quietly.

”I think it would be 'like what you see?'” Thaarn answered guessing.

”You have gone out...if pre...” She stopped as she knowing their real name. ”I mean Yautja's have dates.”

”When I spend my time with you, and go out to trips as hunting I see many things.” Predator answered. ”Should we begin?”

”Yeah.” Asuka walked forward and sat to floor. ”Which one goes first?” She asked.

”You wounds are worse. I'll treat you first and then you do same to me.” He said taking a smoldering mass glowing blue in his palm. He grimaced a little when he took burning mass to his hands. ”Turn around.” He said.

Asuka obeyed and showed her wounded back to him. Nasty looking wound had four claw marks coming all they way her shoulders. Thaarn pressed her palms against them and began slowly to fill bared flesh with burning matter.

”AAAGH!!” Asuka creamed between her teeth what she had bitten tightly. She smelled her own flesh again burning, but not like first time it wasn't burning to reach her bones, but was just boiling on the surface. She began to sweat, and swallowed gasping from pain. She trembled as it began to let go but continued to pant. She pressed almost to floor, only hanging from her hands to it. She was close to the foll that she could almost see it from the fog covering it.

”Can you go on?” Thaarn asked looking his student back , and listening her panting and moaning.

There were had been four tall claw mark was now black stripes and reddish skin around the scars.

”uuuh....” Asuka moaned and struggled to get up. ”I think...” She said and turned back to watch him. She looked drained up and five nail marks on her cheek were now more clearly seen. ”I have only one wound left...” She begun to show her left thigh, where acid had eaten trough her trousers, around it was clean and round burn wound. ”I didn't get burn so badly...most of acid just drop to ground.”

”What did you do?” Predator asked wondering.

”I shot it with my other wrist. It's arm came off, I hit it on the arm pit.” She remembered hearing Guard Alien roaring from pain again.

”In arm pit is the only place where bone is not so thick. Middle of its skull is another, but...” Thaarn stopped like he expected asuka to know what he was about to say.

”hmmm...” asuka tried to remember. Then her eyes got clearer. ”But if you hit there whole load of acid load will explode to your face.”

”Very good.” Predator said. ”Many young hunters had killed them self by striking to main vein on its skull, and dying as acid washes over them.”

”That's how I remember.” She said feeling satisfied herself. ”by own expirieeeEEHsH!” She gasped.

Thaarn had used this opportunity and spread burning healing liquid to her thigh. Asuka gasped for air and her eyes seemed to blow out of her head. ”au...” She whispered.

”How do you feel?” Thaarn said looking his student trembling and biting her teeth tightly together.

She bathed allover of sweat, and she shake feeling dizzy.

”Better than last time.” she said. ”This time I didn't faint. I think I'm getting used to this...” She shooed her head and blinked her eyes.

”You shouldn't.” Predator grunted. ”Letting your guard down may kill you.” He showed her left wrist. Asuka saw big black ball in his wrist just where his gauntlets begun.

”Wov. How did you get that?” Asuka asked mazed wondering how whole wrist hadn't severed.

”Letting my guard down.” Predator said turning his head away. ”Embarrassing to have these kinds of mistakes by this experience.”

”It happens.” Asuka said soothingly.

”I should be example for you, child.” Thaarn looked at her again. ”I took that wound by my own stupidity...”

Asuka smiled and replied. ”Now I have two reasons to be amazed. Not many teacher I knew admit that they were wrong, they rather taught lessons wrong than giving up.”

”I trust, that honor codex binds you too. Don't tell anyone.” He said in harder tone. ”I have my reputation to look after.”

”And...” She said rather pleased that she found hided pride in him too. ”...If father asks?” Asuka remembered the old predator, tribe leader and who had watched her closely by all the years.

Thaarn's appendixes shuddered a little. He too know elder predator who had look after him when his world had grumbled. ”Then...you tell.”

”Even if it harms you?” Asuka said.

”Even then, don't keep secrets from him. It's how ever unlikely that he would want to know about this event, or would knew to ask..” Thaarn said and handed him a tool resembling forceps. ”Pull it out.”

Asuka took them in her hand hand carefully thrust it to inside his wrist. She opened them carefully and took firm grab over the black ball. Then she pulled so hard as she could. Thaarn grimaced as he felt slug moving in his wrist. Finally it came off and glowing green blood splattered over her hands. She looked at it little despising. It was covered by green glowing blood. She dropped it to floor.

”Good.” He answered ”Now the other one.” He took his shoulder plate of and in there too was deeply buried ball under flesh and blood. Asuka began to stretch out to reach his shoulder. This time she could watch her teachers face up close. They were trying to hide that he was feeling pain, just like she would have done if it would be question about her.

Again green glowing blood stained her body. Ball came off easier, it hadn't sank deep. Next asuka took in her hand a spoon like instrument. She pushed it to smoldering and hot mass and watched as it was smoking right front of her. Asuka too final look to Thaarn's eyes like confirming could she do it.

”Go ahead.” Thaarn grunted.

Asuka quickly thrust the matter to his opened wrist.

Thaarn howled. If Asuka's moans could have been understood differently, Thaarn sounded like he was being killed. And in the end he breathed heavily and sounded like he would be ready to kill someone. Asuka pressed healing liquid to his hand until it had burned to black.

Beside all painful roaring, and pain what Asuka had felt earlier herself he still said. ”Well done.”

Now he offered his shoulder to her. Asuka did as before and again roar trembled and echoed the whole ship.

After they had finished asuka rose up looking at herself. ”Great, I look like I've been performing Intake in adult film.” She looked again down to her bust. It was stained by green glowing blood, and sweat drops where drifting between her breasts, carrying blood along it.

Thaarn had rose up and began to pack the healing kit, and threw asuka an rag what had been under it for some time. She catch it on her hand and began to wipe herself dry. ”I'm beat.” She said. Dropping sweaty and bloody rag to floor she stood still and looked at the bed near them. She maybe subconsciously drew her arms to cover her just cleaned chest but not so quickly than before

Thaarn took on his hands a bundle of rags. He opened it and it revealed what it was containing.

Human skull. It was still dirty. Asuka recognized how Thaarn looked it. She sat down to the their newly acquired bed and watched him raising the skull on his right hand keeping its empty eyes directed to him. ”So, why won't you do it?”

Thaarn looked at her when he was interrupted by viewing the prize. ”Do what?” He asked.

”Crush it.” Asuka pointed to skull. ”I felt the same today, when I was looking that.” She nodded towards glass coffin containing Praetorians massive head. ”Would have wanted just to mash it pieces...but then also keep it.” She said and smirked. ”After all anyone can say, 'hey I killed Praetorian'”

”It was well fed. Almost at the developing point.” Thaarn said.

”Yeah. So how are we going to deal with it, should you show how this thing is skinned?” She asked. ”Or do I just put it on my cabinet?”

”It won't go there.” Thaarn said and his appendixes grew to smile.

This smile was horrified by humans and even knowing Thaarn for years, and know that this was actually friendly act, it made her skin crawl. ”What do you mean?” She asked carefully.

”This is going straight to Tribes own cabinet, where greatest achievements will be held for preserving.” He said sounding proud. ”I knew you would reach it, of course.”

”Of course, I have the best teacher.” Asuka said and smiled back. ”So own your own two Praetorians are there too?”

”Yes.” He looked again to human skull on his hands. ”I better look what i can do with this...tomorrow.”

”Yeah.” She pressed her moist body backwards and turned to her stomach on the bed spreading her hands lightly around it. Even with out sheets, it felt soft. Asuka had almost forgot being half naked and nuzzled herself against bed. She began feel sleepy.

”What was that you wanted to talk about....?” Asuka heard her teacher to ask. She had closed her eyes.

”It can wait...I'd like to sleep if its okay with you, teacher...” She mumbled.

”Maybe it can wait...You must be exhausted.” She heard Thaarn getting on the floor.

”Why don't you come here?” She asked quietly.

Thaarn was silent. ”Would it be appropriate? For you I mean.”

Asuka didn't knew was it thaarns talk about trust or how he would use anything what he knew against her or maybe it was just mixed effect of healing liquids and gases what made her say it but she said it. ”Hey, this is your trophy too, and besides every girl has to have Predator in her bed at least for once...and there is only told not have sex with you student, nothing about sleeping...”

”Yautja.” Thaarn corrected. ”Actually it isn't said exactly by those words, but I think...it would just be in limit of it.”

Asuka heard some heavy steps and then felt pair bed to lower as heavier companion lied down next to her. ”Odd...soft...” She heard Thaarn saying to himself as she gave up, and dozed off.

- - - - -

”Do you expect me to believe that?” Rei asked after hearing Misato's story all over.

”I do not expect anything, miss Ayanami.” Misato said holding her face with blank. ”That's the truth.”

”In your tale...” She stopped and almost looked amused. ”or your 'truth' happens to have several holes.”

”I did as I believed was right. My crew won't think otherwise.” She blinked couple marking sights on young lieutenant who was silently watching happening. Rei had stormed in as soon as Shigeru had began to carry Hyuga to sickbay which was full of recoveries. Most of them were injured by the impact causing damages.

”You risked your crew practically for nothing.” Rei said. ”And attacked with out confirmation, with out any sing of hostility to unknown race which motives aren't in known, which we don't understand.”

”They don't need to be understand.” Misato said pursing her lips together. ”They need to be killed.”

”You are not to make that decision.” Rei said quietly. ”I will strip your authority for commanding this ship until further notice. You will not command this ship in battles, and I'll assume your duty as field commander-starting now.”

”And who, if I may ask, is going to lead the upcoming operation?” Misato snarled.

”Lieutenant and I.” Rei said firmly. Shinji suddenly sharped as he heard this.

Misato looked too surprised and glanced to him and then said. ”I understand that you may be wanting to take part in upcoming operation, but lieutenant isn't needed for this mission. The contract...”

”Colonial Marine contracts binds him to defend and assist in matters dealing with outlaws and non-human threats. This is one of them.” She said.

Misato frowned. ”He doesn't have experience to deal with this assignment.”

Rei tilted her head, as she was hearing distrust under Misatos calm act and her choice of words. ”Right now, I trust more on Lieutenant Ikari's abilities, than yours, Major.” Rei turned and looked at shinji. ”Lieutenant. Be ready to go in twenty minutes.”

”Yes, Ma'am.” Shinji replied. Watching Misato trowing murderous gaze to Rei. Still around them was broken screens, but emergency lighting had been managed to change the normal lights. Rei walked out of the door, which she had to push to side so that she could go pass. Door glided back to its place.

”Blue haired bitch.” Misato cursed after her.

”She did have a point.” Shinji said quietly.

”You...” Misato turned her hairs flaming the side. She stared at Shinji sharply. ”And why the hell you kept your mouth shut now? You didn't had that problem before.”

Shinji eyes got more intense. ”Major, you said yourself that I should not interfere with your command.” He said pretending to be in line.

”Smart ass, today.” She grunted, ”And what the hell you were meaning that remark, before that cold bitch began to shower me with her shit.”

”Big part of the crew is in sickbay. Hikari almost died. And if Predator would had anymore ammo we would be dead too.” Shinji said.

”Well it didn't.” Misato said. ”Everything went just fine.”

”Depends on what you describe by word fine.” Shinji argued.

”Give it a rest.” Misato said. ”Don't you have any better things to do?”

”Not really in the moment.” Shinji said. ”Care to tell me again, why did you attack with half armed ship against unknown vessel.”

”I all ready told you.” Misato said and turned her eyes away from him.

”Bullshit.” Shinji replied. ” I really wish that you had a reason to...”

”I'll give you a fucking reason!” She yelled. ”Those bastards killed my father and turned my life to hell. They deserve to be killed every one of them, and I'll make sure that it happens.”

Shinji looked at her more intense and walked nearer. ”What if Hikari would have been killed? What about then? Or maybe twenty nobody's in the process?”

”They weren't. Why are you so pissed anyway?” Misato asked not understanding why he was questioning her. ”We are on the same boat.”

”And you drill holes on it!” Shinji grumbled. ”They could have been all killed, and what had you done? Tell toji that 'Hey sorry about your girl friend, but I got what I wanted'?”

Misato didn't answer.

”Or maybe you just put me as a messenger and meanwhile drink a shit load of beer just to get away for a moment, and come up more lies to cover your ass.” Shinji riddled.

”Watch your fucking mouth!” Misato cried out. ”You are just perfect example of recruit poster, like fucking boy scout ratting on everything what you find. News flash; In real life it isn't done like that.”

”Oh thanks for enlightening!” Shinji yelled. ”It's done by sacrificing hole fucking crew, then?”

”You're exaggerating.”Misato said.

”So Hikari's death would acceptable casualty?” Shinji said.

”In real situation yes.” Misato said. ”And this was one. In war it isn't so simple.”

”This situation wouldn't ever happened if you hadn't begin to cook it up.” Shinji said and walked only few inches away from her. They were almost so close that they felt they each others breath.

Shinji smelled beer out of Misato's teeth, and she smelled odor of coffee from his. Their expressions were both strained by anger, as both felt that they had been betrayed by each other.

Shinji had kept her example, and a good teacher, but now she seemed more like vindictive and ruthless. Misato had been sure that shinji would be the one who'd understand her. He didn't same kind of like the others. Just taking what he needed and running away. ”Don't you hate them?” She said.

”What?” Shinji asked little numb on the sudden brake of silence.

”Aliens.” Misato said quietly, and word came out of her like it would have been drinking tar.

Shinji blinked as he remembered how he had failed five years ago. He was too scared and had let his guard down. Asuka had left again wondering and shinji hadn't get in time to herd her back to the main group. ”Do I hate them when they took away...her from me?” He asked. And answered himself. ”Hell yes I do.”

Misato let smile come around her face. ”Then you know what I feel. I was just like you. I couldn't do anything. Now I can.”

”No, I don't.” Shinji said. ”I do hate them. But I hate myself more. I could have done more, but I didn't.”

”You're beginning to sound like broken record.” Misato said. ”Haven't they got this shit covered in therapy? Or maybe you just need a bigger dose?”

Shinji's face twisted from anger. ”You're the one who needs that.” he said quietly.

”What?” She hissed and squeezing her fists hard. her knuckles begun to turn white.

”You have been an excellent soldier and capable combat commander, until somebody says word predator. Then lamp goes off in there...”He pointed her finger straight to her temple. ”...and you just run around, giving the fuck that you may get 50 or 1000 people killed in the process. Not even terium junkie acts like...”

Misato swung her hand on the air and fist hit shinji on the jaw. He swung back wards and turned his head, but didn't fall. He was like nailed on the floor.

”And now you listen!” She spoke. ”I've had enough of your bitching! Don't forget who get you here! Who carried you all the way. With out me you would be crying yourself to sleep and saying how low and worthless piece of shit you are. You just may love living now, and do everything say alive. It isn't about that! I thought you all ready get away from that, but looks like you are still afraid. You are the who doesn't have guts do this job. Just quit.”

”'Officer should never attack his/hers subordinate. This may lead to lack of trust between leader and the group'” Shinji listened very carefully what Misato had said and read out loud piece of military regulation. ”Looks like you another merit of your list.” He said and turned his eyes back to her.

Misato was surprised what she saw. When he was younger, shinji actually was afraid of her anger and always tried to avoid saying predator out loud. He tried not get her upset or hurt her. Now things had changed. He was angry and no longer afraid of her anger, but he replied it by his own. Unlike asuka, he how ever maintained his cool act. He straightened out and patted his uniform as sweeping dirt from it. ” I have to include this to my report.” He said like nothing had happened.

”Dismissed.” Misato said slowly. She wasn't impressed by his calmness but actually angered more.

”With my pleasure, Ma'am.” Shinji said pretending to be polite. He walked out of the door, pushing it way stronger than he had needed. He disappeared from the open door, leaving Misato boiling to her own anger.

- - - - -

” I can't see anything under this thing...” Hikari said. ”Cut it out!”

”Sorry for trying to prevent your brains trying to go out for a walk.” Toji said as he swept another bandage over hikari's fore head.

”They wasn't slipping away from there in the first place...” Hikari swap Toji's hands away from her fore head. ”This kind of fashion isn't my style...” she complained ”It's too tight!” She rubbed the bandage.

”Suck it up girl.” Toji grinned ”You are in the army now, in there everything is done right at the first time.”

”Then why you are in here? I thought swines are sent to derelicts.” New voice joined to conversation.

”Judging by the voice....” To ji said raising his head his expression changing from amused to annoyed as he heard the voice. ”..orange ass baboon passed by.”

”Thats a correct answer.” hikari said looked equally annoyed. ”Franklin. Just the man I wanted to see.” She hissed.

Before them was a man in brash orange uniform what was stripped version of Weyland-Yutani guard uniform. It was with out regular armor vest. And it had short trousers and jacket, both orange. He was exactly like from corporate regulation. Man itself was also fitting for his uniform. His hair blond hair was orderly combed, and he seemed almost shining self satisfaction. He was smiling behind his thin mustache. ”Something what you wanted, or are just happy to see me?”

”Kind of both.” Hikari said and looked at him angrily. ”Care to tell me about these lesbian stuff what has suddenly has begin to circle around here?”

”I didn't know you cared.” Franklin replied.

”Normally I would let that kind of shit to its own value.” She said pretending to sound calm. ”But when it begins to be a common sense among here I do care.”

”And since when did you learn how to swear?” He said. ”I thought you dykes use your tongues just for licking only.”

Toji rised from his position. ”You are the one who knows everything about licking. I don't even care to know how many ass you kissed to get here.”

”Like that belongs to you, grunt. Keep that super soldier shit coming, and just hope that you and you r girlfriend had took swam outside.” He said suddenly hardening his tone.

”You are really having it coming, motherfucker.” Toji warned.

”Because of that I''l guess I have to cut your paycheck.” Franklin snide. ”Keep it coming. I dare you.”

Toji was about raise his fist ready to strike but Hikari's arm stopped him. ”Hey, let it go. This guy has too much shit for brains that just get your hands dirty for nothing.” Hikari calmed him.

”Yeah, listen to your girl. If you can.” He said again snarling. ”I heard that couple therapy pays off.”

Hikari's face got slightly red from anger. ”What do you know about that?” She hissed.

Franklin spread his arms wide like forming a sphere. ”Oh, did I say something wrong?”

Now was hikari's turn to get angry. ”I don't know what you've heard or form who, but mine and his problems doesn't include your bullshit coming every hole what you own.”

”Bad call, mechanic...” Franklin said now resuming his smile.

”Do we have a problem here?” New voice came from behind them.

Franklin turned and saw a figure with red eyes and azure blue hair. She was looking at them emotionless.

”No, ma'am. I was just correcting their attitude and ensuring that our regulations were met.” He stated orderly, standing attention. Toji was still trying to hold is rage at bay. But Hikari had calmed. This was common excuse what corporate bureaucrats used when they were digging blood up their noses.

”Is that true?” Rei asked now looking over Franklin's shoulder to Hikari.

”It is.” Franklin stated before Hikari had change to answer.

Rei diverted her eyes back to franklin and gave him disapproving look what made him shiver as she never show her emotions. ”I didn't ask you. I asked her.” She nodded towards hikari.

”S-Sorry Ma'am.” he stuttered quickly. This was taking way too long than he liked.

”It isn't...” She looked at rei and continued. ”..true. Official Franklin was giving feedback from my work way too harshly than I needed.” She saw how Franklin perked as he heard her saying this.

”Define better.” Rei ordered.

”Well, he lacks the expertise what my assignment requires. He isn't in any position to judge.”

Hikari said.

”I was just giving that dungeon rat some education about who hands over her paycheck.” Franklin cut out.

”Mechanic and pilots do valuable job. Your hostility towards other workers is alarming.” Rei said.

”If this continues, I have to take some action.”

”What do you mean ma'am?” Franklin asked little worried about her tone. ”In order to work over some hostility, I think I could sign you in to a new program. It includes being submitted to other workers authority to solve prejudices. I guess we have opening in here?” She again diverted her eyes to hikari.

Hikari smiled about a thought to have Franklin as her tail to order around. ”I'm ready when you are.”

”But...but I lack the expertise of that field; Like you said, ma'am.” Franklin was absolutely terrified

about getting his hands dirty as he was cleaning freak and bacteria phobic. That was the reason he couldn't stand Hikari and other lower than him.

”Surely your kind of vital, and quick learning individual could learn a easy assignment.” Rei took couple words what franklin had used to advertise himself.

”Maybe...I was wrong.” Franklin snarl between teeth bitten together stopping him to say more that was healthy for his career.

”Then...” Rei started and studied expression over everyones face. With Hikari and Toji it was gloating and franklin was looking anguished with his anger. Some reason Rei felt glad because of it.

”..Proper apology would be an order.” Rei suggested, again knowing that this would piss him off some more.

Against his own will he began to talk. ”I'm sorry...for passing too quick judgments about you assignment. It won't happen again.” He snarled. Not at least when Ayanami was around.

”I accept it...for now.” Hikari said.

”Good.” Rei replied. ”And another thing. I took liberty to stripped your prerogative to change salary rates with out my authorization. Dismissed.”

Hikari could have sworn that she hadn't ever seen any official to run away so quickly. She separated orange flash with her eyes as Franklin vanished from sight.

”He could have done career out of running.” Toji smirked. ”Right...I'll let you ladies, to do what ever you do. Take care now...” He drew hikari closer and gave her kiss on mouth.”Representative.” He nodded and walked away from view. Rei nodded back and step aside from his way.

Hikari felt her lips with her fingers and smiled to herself. Finding time together was getting harder and harder so even this moments passing by felt something.

Rei walked to closer her and watched hikari, small smile on her face. ”Was that pleasing?” She asked.

”Umm...do you always speak like that?” Hikari asked and came back to reality.

”Is there something wrong with my speech?” Rei wondered.

”Nothing...but it sounds too formal...I haven't ever knew anyone who speaks like that all the time...”

She saw that rei was diverting her gaze to floor.” No offense.”

”None taken.” Rei said and raised her head. ”I'm trying to broad my horizon. What is status with the engines?”

”Right...their are function nearly...plasma relay was shut down but those dolls...that is unimogs what I mean, get it back onnline. What else...” She said stirring her eyes and tried to remember. ”Oh yeah, there is a..freaking big hole on the hull.”

”Good news?” Rei asked.

Hikari opened her eyes. ”There aren't any. Why you ask?”

”Isn't it custom to have bad and good news?” Rei asked.

”Well...if you want to find them...we are almost near that frigate of yours.” Hikari answered. ”We were drifting all along. Wonder that we weren't completely kicked out of the course.”

”This ship is strong.” Rei replied.

”Yeah...hey rep...can I call you that?” Hikari said remembering her own nickname.

”I don't see any problem as we are in private.” Rei replied. ”What is on you mind?”

”How are things with Major?” She asked. ”Are things bad?”

”Situation is looking bad.” Rei replied and her expression get darker. ”I see it very difficult to her continue commanding this ship.”

”You serious ?...of course you are...” Hikari said, feeling sorry for her former teacher.

”She has too strong obsessions. In my assessment sacrificing this crew to see one...” She hesitated to use the word as predators were still not public.”...Predator die wouldn't be her a tough choice. Not even twice of number all in this ship would make her to change her mind.”

”Aren't you exaggerating?” Hikari said.

”I believe I'm not.” Rei said. ”First time I hope I'm making a mistake. Situation is even worse, capable commanders grow thin. I have maybe to lead this ship by myself.” She looked to wall near her.

”You sound like you are afraid...most of women or men in your position would be glad to have own kingdom to toy with.” Hikari said.

”I'm not like the others.” Rei said.

”But you are afraid that Misato would kill us all, if another those things will appear?”

”Yes.” Rei replied. ”But I can't keep her at suspended forever.”

”So?”

”Best what I can do is freeze her command on every operation what is concerning Predators.”

Rei said quietly.

”Soldier boys aren't really happy about that. Well, anyway.” She rubbed her temple. ”I've my own operation to get prepared.”

”Are you sure you can fly?” Rei tilted her head and watched her injuries.

”Watch it.” Hikari said ”Soon it sounds like you are concerned my well being.”

”Maybe I'am...Or then I'm just calculating the financial damage what pilot fainting and crashing the ship could cause...” She stopped talking and looked like she was evaluating Hikari, with her eyes.

”Eh...” She said and scathed her head. ”Now would be a good time to say 'just kidding'” She pleaded.

”If it was that, then it was.” Rei replied usually calmly and walked away. ”I'll see you in the hangar.”

- - - - -

”Hey!”

Shinji turned his head when he heard his friend calling. Toji was running to him, but stopped when he saw he reacted to his yell, and began to walk. Shinji seemed to be like some kind of trance, except that he seemed to be strained.

”Hey, can I still call you shin, or should I just go'yes sir!'” He did greeting with his hand and was still amused by the punishment Kensuke had coming for him moments before.

Shinji replied not in same spirit. ”Call me what you want.” He said coldly and turned to continue his walking.

”Hey...” Toji said smile disappearing from his face. ”Is something wrong? You look like you had gone trough some serious shit up there.”

”You could say that.” He said stopping. And turned again. ”Do you have any smoke you could spare?”

”Sure...” He began to go trough his pockets and found some. ”But I thought you quit.”

”I think I'm going to start again.” Shinji said and took one from Toji's hand and placed its between his lips. Toji dig again his pockets trying to find a lighter. He opened the gas flame on it and shinji inhaled some smoke to his lungs.

Instead feeling relaxed he tasted something on his tongue, what didn't felt relaxing. He closed his eyes and blow smoke out his nose. ”What shit is this?” He asked sounding irritated.

”Marlboro.” Toji replied.

”I know that.” He said slowly. ”But what color?”

”Green.” Toji said showing him green pack where he had taken them.

”Great. You don't have any red, do you...?” Shinji said opening his eyes a little.

”Red costs too much.” Toji said. ”Only corporates have that...And besides, Green isn't so bad.”

”If you like this taste, what reminds me about drinking lemon lamented piss in rainy morning, they call it menthol, and then you have that kind of fetish then I guess its okay.” Shinji said sounding disgusted by the taste.

”You have drink piss?” Toji said small smile on his face.

”Mmm-m. And so have you.” Shinji said as they continued walking.

”How come I don't remember?” Toji asked.

”Don't you know that they recycle water on here?” Shinji said taking another inhale.

”Ugh.” Toji said. ”I thought they were shitting me.”

”Hey, but your piss is cleaner than some peoples drinking water. And besides it's not so bad.”

Shinji snide.

”You've kept your great sense of humor.” Toji said smiling a little ”Or did it come back when you were smacked?”

Shinji glanced him, and Toji felt silent. ”We had some tactical disagreements.” Shinji remembered all what Misato had said, what he had heard from in thousand forms from Asuka time and time again.

”Sure looks so. Let me guess, Misato was for the offensive, you against.” Toji guessed.

”Keep it coming.” Shinji replied, ”You may some time get invitation to news net quiz.”

”Excuse me. Just trying to help.” Toji said.

Shinji blow smoke out and kept walking. ”Tell me how to hell I get her once to believe I'm right, and I'll keep sure you don't ever have to go war again.”

”How about today?” Toji said.

”No, I'm just pansy pacifist, who just aims to please superiors.” Shinji sighed. ”In her eyes I'm just same wimp, what now tells her what to do.”

”C'mon, she really didn't said that?” Toji calmed him.

”That was a refer ate.” Shinji replied. ”But I bet she thinks like that.”

”Well then she's wrong.” Toji said. ”Besides, if you would be a pacifist, we wouldn't be here with this on our sleeves, if we would be pacifists.” He tapped little Japanese flag on Shinji's sleeve.

”Are you just saying this just to lift my confidence?” Shinji replied, as he felt toji tapping the flag tag.

”Considering she almost got Hikari killed, I would have smacked her.” Toji said. ”Besides she broke every regulation, and that kind of shit. Only in old war clips something good comes out of it.”

”Does it? I feel just that even if I play by the rules, I'm wrong. And if break every of them, I'm in shit again. In her eyes, nothing what I do is good enough.” Shinji muttered.

”That smack seemed to trigger some issues what you've kept deep inside your brains.” Toji replied.

”That's right.” Shinji said as they came trough the hangar door. Two drop ships were being prepared, with out APC. Trip to frigate would be desolate as there were nothing to be hold on or nothing where to sit, but then again this wasn't a tourist vii sum after all.

Blue green hangar had all ready been started to equip. Since Shinji had been assigned to be second in command, and Misato would've been here to lead this operation. But so on they were one man short.

Marines had formed on sphere next to drop ship. Out of marine only two of them were women.

They had varied of backgrounds. One who had come from United States had tried to fit cowboy boots to his uniform, but then even his patriot came to its limits when he understood how difficult it was to walk with them in steel floor. So he had just to satisfy the spurs. They called him Hank. His hobbies included stomping, yawning and of course southern brawl. His insignia was printed picture, naked blond woman who was wearing cowboy hat, what was missing from hank and had two smoldering colts on her hands other one covering her naked chest, or it would have been if paint wouldn't had fade. Now figure could only be seen at close.

Other people who Shinji knew was tall, black man, also from united states. He had not mustache like Barnes, nor he smoked cigars. Maybe because ordinary soldier couldn't afford it, and he was missing contacts. Shinji didn't know him particularly well, but Toji did. They had common sport, basket ball, Jim had beaten him three times out of four. He waved two fingers up, this was signal to Toji who still was owing twenty dollars to him. He would have paid, it if Jim would accept W-Y credits but he wanted it on dollars, for some reason. His armor was decorated with form of target practice human silhouette.

”I'm paying your back, I remember always my debts!” Toji yelled to him.

”I just want to see some dead presidents.” Jim replied. ”It's been a while, how about another round?”

”Not today, jim.” Toji replied. ”I have to save my strength.”

”Rough night coming, huh?” Jim grinned widely.

”I hope so.” Toji answered smiling back.

Kensuke was talking with pair of female soldiers. They were sisters, but looked different by hair color and dressing style. The one who was speaking with kensuke had tribal tattoos on her arms, and short dark hair. She also had a piercing around her nose, but she had to replace the ring with simple jewel as regulation didn't allow keep rings. Her armor was also covered with series of tribe tattoos.

Other one was blond, well tanned shorter than her sister. Shinji guessed she had been in somewhere where wasn't lack of sun, as in space there wasn't much change to get tanned. She kept sunglasses on her head and she had now hair what covered her ears instead of long blond hair reaching to shoulders. Some times she took the glasses of and watched world with out them. Both had flag of red leaf on their sleeves. Her armor had insignia of bloody red lips.

”Stop playing with those glasses, Lea.” tattooed woman snapped. ”It annoys me.”

”Ann, I just got them as gift!” she said smirking.”Or are you just jealous when you don't get any gifts?”

”I saw those on E-bay. Cost about 3 corporate chips.” Kensuke replied before Ann could answer in same spirit to her sister.

Lea looked Kensuke with a grim stare. ”Do you get some kicks when you wreck my illusions being cared?” She put her sun glasses back to her side pocket.

”Almost.” Kensuke replied.

”We are getting into some rough shit tonight, would you care to save some energy for that.”

Tribal tattooed woman looked both Kensuke and her sister.

”Do you always have to be so tense, big sis?” Lea said feeling anguished. ”I'll bust my ass to get this transfer. I know the drill: keep your eyes open, let someone who is dumber than you go before you so that you won't get shot and so on.”

”Great.” Ann replied sarcastically. ”Keep that up.” She shooed her head wondering what shit she should now rescue her baby sister.

Another soldier who was called Yu, just stayed on the corner of the drop ship. He was the newest of the crew, didn't say much of anything and stayed on own. He had flag of Taiwan on his sleeve and no decorations on his armor. He observed how others talked to each others but didn't take any part to their conversation.

”Right.” Shinji said when he and Toji stopped near drop ship. ”Is everyone here?”

”Now is!” New female voice stood out behind them. Shinji and toji turned to look at the new comer who was some of them familiar all ready.

Before them was a Latino woman, well fit with crown insignia in her chest armor. Her hairs were short cut like everyone else's, adjusting perfectly round to her head. Deep brown eyes were looking everyone in the hall, and woman was smiling.

”Sandoval!” Toji cried out and almost run half way to meet her and wrapped arms around her.

”Hey, don't try to own me, big guy.” Sandoval smirked, and tapped Toji's back. ”I'm on hurry and there is plenty old faces to meet.” She laughed.

”Hey, Sand.” Kensuke shouted from farther. ”Its been a while.”

Sandoval separated from Toji. And yelled back. ”Still living a lousy life, huh?”

”What are you talking about, sand? This is my dream!” Kensuke smirked.

”Thats what I'm talking about.” Sandoval yelled. ”Only insane or fucktard keeps this top goal of their life.”

”Tell that to them.” Ann walked to greet her, and slammed her arm to sandovals sleeve, next to flag of Brazil. ”You been working out.” Ann smiled and felt Latino womans bicep.

”You have a new tattoo.” Sandoval pointed taller womans arm.

”It's old actually, She removed other a week ago took the original its place back again.”Kensuke nodded ”I think there was some guys tattoo on it, but felt began felt inferiority complex.”

”Eat shit.” Ann barked angered, and let Sandoval's shoulder go.

”Your treat, sis.” Lea replied as she and Kensuke walked next to Ann.

”Nothing has changed since Academy, Kensuke?” Sandoval asked.

”Not really. Except you have a new boss.” He pointed over Sandoval shoulder.

”Long time no see, 'Sanchez'.” Shinji spoke.

”Private Randy Fisk.” Sandoval grinned and turned to face him. ”Or lieutenant Ikari.” She did a military greeting. ”You seemed to pull trough that training. Congrats, Sir.”

”At ease.” Shinji ordered. ”Yeah, I got it trough, and here we are. All of us.”

”Excuse me, sir.” Yu began to spoke suddenly from outside of the crowd. Kensuke and sisters evaded so that Shinji could see him.

”What is it, private Yu?” Shinji asked.

”Are you related to Director Ikari, sir?” Yu spoke coldly. His eyes didn't show any compassion towards Shinji's last name.

It was another trouble what he had tried to hide. On academy he had gotten trough with a false ID, but in real life, he had to use his own name. And that was getting him in misunderstandings what really weren't miss understandings at all. This wouldn't be first time when he was being suspected. first time was the worst. Couple mercenaries had gotten clear of his ID. Those two were his first kills. Memory of it made him disoriented at first, but thanks to training he got over it.

”That was a good one, Yu!” Toji cried out as he saw that Shinji wasn't reacting just staring at Yu.

”I thought you had no sense of humor. Ikari doesn't have a son, you think that Director would get his hands dirty on every cow what happens to get on his way?”

Shinji looked at eye corner at toji. It was semi murderous look as he felt first that her mother was being mocked, but then he stopped when he heard an apology.

”My mistake, sir. I Apologize.” Yu replied and bowed a little as showing regret.

”Forget about it.” Shinji muttered as reply.

”Looks like you aren't any big fan of corporation.” Jim who was next to hank noted to Yu.

”Only sick would be.” Hank grunted. ”How much do they pay if you sell your soul?”

”Not too bad.” Jim shrugged. ”I heard they give 800 corp bucks in a month, plus hazard pay, and plus/minus provision pay. They can easily double you pay check or them change it to minus.”

”You mean if things get dicey you have to pay, for the 'joy' of work?” Hank asked amazed.

”Only if you screw up badly. Hey, sand you didn't notice me, huh?” Jim raised his voice and snapped his fingers.

”I did.” Sandoval waved her arm. ”Are and Toji still toying with that ugly colored rubber ball?”

”Uhum. He is still owing me those presidents.” Jim smiled.

”All right, who's job is to say that stupid line, 'stop playing around and listen' or that kind of shit?”

Toji said out of the background.

”In old war flick it should be the second higher officer which was lieutenant here, but now he's highest, and next one would be you, but then Sandoval is here, so maybe she can do with some samba.” Kensuke smirked.

”BRRRIII:::!!!” Sandoval began scream high and shaking her hips like in some kind of dance,closing her eyes. ”FFIIIING!!!” she stopped when she raised suddenly her arms up high leaving her hip in suggesting position.

”Ah...” Toji clapped and now normally dead serious Yu even smiled a little. ”That we have to see again...with those costumes what they show on broadcasts...”

”I'll see what I can do...” Sandoval said and winked her eye to him.

”Well...Situation is this.” Shinji started when was sure that everyone was looking at him.

”Unless you were dead, or completely deep froze you noted that some tried to beat crap out of us good 20 minutes ago. This wasn't any invasion, but hit an run attack, which almost torn this boat apart.”

”What was it?” Yu spoke from background with his soft voice.

”Private!” Sandoval yelled. ”Don't interrupt the briefing. Ask questions later.” she had in matter of seconds began to pull her role, what was familiar to Shinji in academy.

Yu looked almost scared and fixed his position, felling silent.

”Thats all right.” Shinji said calming. ”I would have told this anyway. It was a Predator.”

All soldiers looked each other and began to speak out loud. Some of them even looked like spooked. Yu didn't sow any fear but began to mutter something.

”They really exist?” Ann asked confused.

”HA! I knew that corporates were hiding something! TRUTH IS OUT THERE!” Kensuke shouted.

”They didn't get here, did they!?” Jim said looking around for his pulse rifle.

”You are sweating for nothing, Jim.” Hank said. ”They can't be that though.” Hank had been away much of the popular horror stories what traveled around the colonies.

”Oh, they can't!?” Jim said. ”Have you even heard what they say about them? They kill whole units with bare hands!”

”They don't feel pain...” Yu whispered quietly.

”I've been told that they skin bodies alive...” Lea said squeezing her hands to fists, looking around like seeking something.

”HEY!” Sandoval shouted, and everyone seemed to wake up. ”This isn't what you were trained. Get a fucking hold on yourself. You are marines, you should be meanest son of bitches what there is.”

She frowned at them. ”I know that you have heard every kind stuff this things...but pissing in your pants won't keep you alive.”

Shinji smiled a little when he heard how Sandoval was trying to boost their morale. She had been that kind of twin character all her life. Then he carried on. ”Anyway, Predator fired one shot upon us and then get out. Object was small, but it tore open three hulls. No sings about creature coming aboard was detected.” Some marines seemed to sigh with relief. ” The real problem is that the Predator was going to same place where we are. We were going to try to acquire back corporate frigate what group of pirates had hijacked. The Predator had same heading as we did. Solaris continued to 'glide' with its current curse, of course slower, but almost steadily. Last data regarding was that Predator had left, about ten minutes ago. Pirate frigate is still attached to cargo ferry's hull.

Both frigate, and ferry seems dead.”

”What we are going to do, is to try to ferry's secondary landing bay, and our corporate 'colleagues' try to seek way inside the frigate. We are trying to secure ferry's cargo, as well civilians. Corporates try to check is anything worth saving in frigate.” Sandoval said.

”Or then they just try to silence rest of them. It isn't very healthy to see one of them, or live to tell about it, you know.” kensuke replied.

”Didn't I just told to shut up and listen?” Sandoval barked.

”Sorry, ma'am, I just get excited when it comes to see how other cultures deal with scum.”

Kensuke thought a second.”By the way, is one of our objectives to save something else than cargo?”

”Our corporate buddies want some fresh stock to their prison facilities. So if they are surrendering don't shoot.” Sandoval said.

”Aww fuck.” Kensuke said anguished. ”I've would just want to have some action, besides what

do they want so hard on that ship anyway?”

”They are humans too, you know.” Lea noted to kensuke.

”Wouldn't be so sure about that.” Yu said gritting his teeth. ”I would be with same line with private Aida what comes to killing.”

”Well, you can't, U2.” Sandoval said. ”Just this routine saving, and killing something in middle of it, IF we have to.”

”Get ready. We are leaving soon.” Shinji said and other marines began to collect their equipments.

Shinji walked to opened drop ship hangar.

”Hey Sand.” Toji said stopping Sandoval from leaving too soon.

”Yeah?” She turned to face him.

”Thanks for coming.” He said quietly. ”It means lot to me. I think we can actually pull trough this...” He lowered his had to her shoulder.

Sandoval smiled and took her hand to Toji's side. ”My pleasure.” She replied. ”And maybe this leads to something else...you have any spare time do you...?” She asked and drummed her fingers against Toji's body armor.

Toji seemed to get on his toes and began to change subject. ”How is your son?”

Now Sandoval took her hand off him and now seemed to get all serious. ”He's...fine...Keeps growing every day.” She took her eyes of him and looked at the floor. ”We probably should get going...”

Toji let his hand go from her shoulder. He noticed that Sandoval got more edgy when he mentioned the fact that she was a single parent. ”Right...Well let's talk more later.”

- - - -

Hikari had watched this meeting from upper catwalk, she was leaning forward and her eyes got intensified seeing two familiar people to her touching each other.

”Mechanic.” quiet voice spoke next to her. Hikari didn't listen. She didn't have time for that as he saw something what she wouldn't wanted to see, but she kept watching it in trance. Her breath seemed to stop when she saw how Latino woman reached her hand out to touch him.

”Mechanic...?” Voice called again...with more weight pressed on it, but she couldn't have cared less-not now. She was looking it happening again, and wanted to explode right now. She tightened her grip on the steer.

Suddenly white glowed flashed on her view and she woke up looking to her sides. On her right side were blue haired corporate representative, looking same sight what she had watched seconds or couple ago. She diverted her eyes back to Hikari. ”Is something wrong?”

Hikari glanced back to the hangar. She saw something what se now liked. Both of them had separated. And looked somewhat regretting. Small sense of satisfaction came upon her, but then it was gone, as he saw them entering the same drop ship.

”I see that your being troubled and preoccupied has something to do with...them.” Rei spoke quietly.

”Its that woman....she's...” Hikari said starting to choke on her own words.

”She is from other costanoga cruiser, the painkiller. Maria Sandoval, citizen of Brazil. Continued service of 6 years.” Rei said.

”She's trouble...” Hikari shooed her head.

”I doubt it.” Rei replied. ”Her current record is flawless, there is no mark of any offenses...”

”Yeah right. Die hard criminal wouldn't be qualified to false them, no...” Hikari rolled her eyes. ”That fact we can rule out...she just knows how to fool everyone...”

”You seem troubled. Am I missing something here?” Rei asked, suspecting why Hikari felt so tense

after seeing people who she barely knew.

She stared straight back at her. ”You aren't any worried that there is a almost one step out of being convicted criminal on board the ship?”

”Charges were dropped.” Rei replied.

”So? She could have been giving blow job for pardons all you know.” Hikari snorted and turned her eyes back to drop ship.

”This is personal, isn't it?” Rei asked.

Hikari jumped little and turned back to her. ”Why you think something like...aah forget about it, I was just fuming out.” She rubbed her still sore temple. ”Guess something there went broke.”

Rei had a thought that she was lying but didn't say anything because she had no proof. ”Could have happened to anyone. I ignore that.” 'For now.' she thought.

”Thanks. Are you here to see that everything goes smoothly?” Hikari asked.

”No. I'm your co-pilot this in flight.” Rei replied.

”Your kidding?” Hikari said being little surprised.

”Have you someone more qualified in mind?” Rei asked stirring her eyes a little.

”No, no, I just meant that...I didn't knew you can pilot a drop ship.” Hikari explained quickly.

”I have qualification for it. You have short on one pilot and you have minor injury. I wouldn't want my new acquaintance to die accidentally.” Rei smiled faintly.

”Friend.” Hikari replied.

”What?” Rei said her smile disappearing and replacing with asking look.

”We normal people would call each other that. Or pals, or buddies or something like that.”

Hikari answered.

Rei thought it for a second. ”Friend would be suitable.”

”All right lets go, we have to fly those guys to do their shit, then back again.” They began to walk down to elevator to hangar. ”By the way, who is leading corporate troops when you are here?”

Hikari asked.

”Franklin.” Rei answered.

”Must be thrilled.” Hikari chuckled.

”He tried with all ways to avoid it.” Rei said. ”I forced him to take it. Fear what is connected to me, like you said was useful.”

”Just don't let it get to you.” Hikari replied.

- - - - -

After take off, what was more like they had been shaken like james bonds vodka martini, they began to get more settled. Marines had chained themselves with belts on the wall. Only good side in being with out APC was that they weren't carrying any camera equipment, and there was plenty more light too.

Other wise everything was more or less worse. In APC there was own weapons supplies, but now they had to carry weapons with them. Helmets seemed always hit to wall. Marines hugged rifles against their chest so that they wouldn't lose it in take off.

When everything got more steady they began to unlock their belts and check their equipments. Kensuke volunteered to carry around more heavier set of motion detector. Others were trying on their shoulder lamps, trying to blind each other with them.

”Right we are getting closer to the frigate---holy shit!” Hikari gasped.

Toji tried on his own head set and began to talk. ”What is it, hon?”

Sandoval heard this and perked her ears but didn't paid anymore attention to it. But she seemed to find out the way why Toji had been busy while ago.

”Ferry's crew...they are all dead...” Hikari spoke quietly.

”We haven't even gone inside yet...” Toji said. ”What is...”

”No, they are all here...they are all outside...”Hikari answered.

Shivers crawled up his spine. ”You don't mean...”

”They have flushed the toilet.” Yu spoke his face blank.

”What?” Sandoval said next to him.

”Thats how they call it...flushing the toilet. They have threw everyone out of the air lock.”

Yu explained. ”We won't find anyone from inside. They are all dead...”

”I think Yu was right. They aren't humans after all.” Jim said coldly.

”They think its really fun to leave bodies flying around vacuum.” Lea said grabbing her rifle and inserting clip inside. ”What if we just go there and see if they think its fun when we do same for them?”

”I agree.” Yu replied.

”I...it's hard to...find the hangar in all this....mess” Hikari began to breath more heavier and words began to stuck on her throat.

”Try to hang on....” Toji calmed.

”Maybe I should take control...?” New and light voice echoed out the speakers.

”Who is this?” Toji asked quickly.

Shinji took his own comm set in his helmet and began to spoke. ”Representative? Why are you here?” Other soldiers look each other amazed. Never corporate representatives took any interest what marines were doing.

”I'm here to assist.” Rein's voice spoke trough speakers. ”I'm trying to steer us from this...field.

We are almost trough. Hikari, release full control to me, I will finish this...”

”Right.” Hikari replied quietly.

”What the hell is happening?” Hank wondered. ”Since when has any corporate give a shit how we are doing, and do they even know a word 'work'?”

”Apparently we have endangered species on our hand or then this some WY face lift thing...”

Jim answered.

”Hikari told me that this woman seems to be different, on the way that she's actually fair.” Toji replied.

”Get outta here...” Ann said out loud. ”I'm dancing samba with Sand here if she decides to get out and see what heavy stuff means.”

”You're on.” Sandoval said. ”By the way, you two I haven't met before.” Sandoval pointed Yu and Hank.

”Oh you haven't? I'm hank sometimes called Yankee Hank, and this guy who doesn't talk much is Yu.” He pointed silent Asian man next to him. ”Yu who?” Sandoval asked.

”Are trying to be funny? Hey, does that get on your nerves when everyone calls you Yu the who, U2, buu huu or that kind of stuff?” Hank smirked next to Yu.

”Not until now.” Yu replied.

”We are getting near ferry. Be careful this hangar is tight.” Hikari's voice had become back to line for Toji's relief.

”All right! Tight holes are the best!” Hank said cheerily.

”Got that right!” Jim replied taking support from the wall.

Next whole drop ship trembled and walls moaned when drop ships corners get touched with hangars walls. After more agonizing screams passed by ship came to stop. ”Were in.” Rei stated shortly.

”It's good for the whole female sex that Hikari and that snowhite aren't men. If thats the way they get inside every lady---aijai.” Hank shooed his head and grimaced.

”You should be more careful, Yankee. This big guy here is her boyfriend.” Jim nodded next to Toji.

”Oh...right.” He measured Toji from heads to toe. He decided that he would be more stronger, but this wasn't the day try his luck. ”I'll just try t be quiet then.”

”No need to worry about me, just be careful that Hikari won't hear that or she'll cuts your balls.” Toji replied.

”Gather around” Shinji said and they took standard formation to opening hatch. Sandoval, Lea and Jim took the point, Kensuke, Ann and Hank followed. Rest were back. ”Open the hatch.” Shinji said after he was satisfied with formation front of the hatch.

”Roger.” It was Rei's voice again. Hatch hissed and it lead to dark hall where wasn't any light. They saw dark blue crates before them. When hatch contacted to ground Lea lighted her shoulder lamp. Jim and Sandoval followed and they began slowly walk prone to secure the landing bay.

”No sings of movement. Except those three.” Kensuke said as they split to their own middle of the crates.

”No hostiles visible on the front. Passage looks safe.” Now hikari was speaking. To Shinji's headset.

”Right. You three...go.” He slapped kensuke to shoulder to let them be the next one to go.

Kensuke was on the middle, Ann and Hank were slightly forward to them and kensuke was keeping motion detector on his left hand, while keeping pistol on his right. They proceeded to down the ramp everyone splitting again their own groups.

”Keep separated in case this is a trap. If there is predator on the loose, don't get into one mass or it tears you into shreds.” Shinji spoke on his head set.

”I don't see anyone here.” Sandoval said on her advance.

”No movement still. Whole hangar seems dead.” Kensuke said on his side.

”Now lets go.” Shinji waved rest of the group what was he, Toji and Yu.

They walked their pulse rifles pointing forward. When they got outside the drop ship, they noticed they had arrived in a small landing bay, what even with good will could not have been named a hangar.

Shinji saw behind them a small tunnel, it walls had torn paint off their drop ships tail and sides.
turning towards their drop ships bow they saw more crates, and some of them had blown to walls as Drop ship had began to land.

Other six members of this group, had already split to dark landing bay. They were making their way to small elevator which was probably meant for lifting crates. Sandoval was climbing up the stairs to light switch. Up the stairs were small landing what lead to two doors. What was in sight from forward, and next to right what was leading up.

Shinji saw how she turned her and began to speak. Other shoulder laps were lighting various spots and one was attached to her figure. ”I found the switch.” Shinji heard her voice from his head set.

”Turning on now.”

Blinding light to their eyes what had already used to dark, made them see stars. Roof wasn't far above them. ”Any theories?” He asked trough the comm line.

”I think they have tried to save some space. They have put all sec. Supplies or cargo this landing bay.” Kensuke said. ”So, that means that their most important. Cargo is in the main cargo bay, and that must be lot. They haven't had the time to arrange these babies properly.”

”Hey, Sir!” Jim interrupted Kensuke's speech. ”I think I found the place where predator was hiding.”

Shinji looked and saw black man waving at him far and then pointing his shoulder lamp to wall. At first sight he didn't saw anything but then in orderly small holes on the wall. ”Those predator sure are one bad mother fuckers” Jim said. ”Seems like it has been in there and then it has climbed over that beam. 30 feet, no rope no ladder. Not even a foot hold.”

”No man can do that!” Hank spoke. ”How in hell it get out of here? Place is sealed.”

”Hey boys, I think I can answer.” Sandoval's voice heard out.

”Go ahead, sand.” Shinji spoke.

”This door, its control panel is open, and circuits have been fried. Permission to open the door, sir?”

Sandoval asked trough the com, all though they could have yell each other as they were all seeing and hearing them.

”Is there Any movement?” Shinji asked.

”No, Its clean...” Kensuke replied.

”Go ahead Sandoval, be careful.”

Sandoval pushed her pulse rifles barrel to touch opening device. Door opened slowly. ”Madre los dias...” She gasped when she saw it. Three man, in old leather jackets. First ones throat was shattered, not cut open, but something had broken his neck, and then forcefully tore jaws open. Head was hanging loosely jaw broken open. Tongue had also came out.

Second had been impaled to something. He was lying on his stomach in blood pool. On his back was giant hole. Sandoval didn't see was he been handled like the first.

Third was officially killed in cruel way. There were had been eyes were only two bloody holes. Bandit had in its agony or then as a reflex drawn its hands to is face. Skull had fractured in several places.

”What is it Sandoval?” Shinji asked in a com line and then she woke up.

”Sir you are not going to believe this. There is three guys who had been mutilated, and beaten to death. Blood is everywhere...and their guns...they haven't even had time to fire a shot.” Sandoval explained.

”You are kidding?” Hank said on the com line.

”That beast had tore jaws open and took couple of teeth with it.” Sandoval cut back.

”Our predator believes in tooth fairy then...” Shinji said, not even believing some day that he could take death lightly but he had to. ”Representative, are you hearing this?”

”Yes. My men had accessed the frigate top of us. All raiders had been mutilated with the way you have described, some even worse. Few pirates had surrendered but they are delusion about an enemy what is invisible. They say that captain took the last men and went to stop it on the ferry's cargo hold. I advice you find them in captains quarters and cargo hold.” Rei spoke in the com.

”I volunteer to be in group what goes to the captains quarters.” Yu said next to Shinji.

”Me too. Shit hits the fan.” Hank grunted on the line.

”Count me in.” Jim shouted.

”Let's kick some ass, boys.” Ann snapped.

”I insist that Ann goes before, I want to watch her rear.” Hank said excited.

”Keep that up and I cut your cannon, hank. Both of them.” Ann barked.

”Hey, i was just kidding...” Hank replied.

”Right then, Yu, Ann, Jim, Hank. You go to get the captain. And since is your lucky day, Ann is leading this op. Take the point.” Shinji said.

”Care to make other fantasy true?” Hank chuckled.

”Boy love isn't my style, sorry.” Shinji replied. ”Rest gather around with Sandoval. We'll check out what is happening on cargo bay. Or has happened. Be sharp everyone.” Shinji turned to face Yu who nodded.

”Roger.” He replied and began to break from his group. Three mores soldiers ran lightly up to stairs towards Sandoval who was guarding entrance to cargo bay. They stopped where and Sandoval waved them something, next to other door. Four soldiers exited from the door right.

”Lieutenant.” Rei's voice called him.

”Representative, is something happening?” Shinji inquired, in hope of another mission update.

”I want to go with you.” Rei said simply and unconditionally.

Shinji was surprised that she was so eager to risk her ass. Normally corporate officials stayed far behind, to ensure that nothing would go wrong on the home front. ”Is that wise?” He asked not feeling comfy protecting her as well. ”Hikari could probably use the hand sorting the communications..”

”I know how to use a pulse rifle.” Rei explained. ”I have taken every precaution.”

”And I can take care of myself.” Hikari snapped. ”I'll close the hatch and give you some mission updates. Mister P has all ready taken care of them all, and if someone comes here he won't get in.”

”Just be careful.” Toji warned.

”Yeah...” Hikari said slowly. ”You too.” She cut off the transmission before Toji could say anything.

Shinji gave him questioning look and asked. ”I'm not only one who has some difficulties with women today. Do you have some problems?”

”I can't...” He looked at Sandoval who was standing at the door. ”...Think...anything.” He replied dozy.

Shinji was believed that there was more to it, what he was telling. But didn't began to inquire more right now.

”Whats happening? Why are we just standing here?” Kensuke asked Lea next to him.

”We are getting extra passenger on this ride.” Toji replied.

”Representative just called on red line. She is coming with us.” Shinji replied. ”I tried to do that old baby sitting routine, but she didn't buy it.”

”Aw, crap-We have to worry about extra head on this tourney?” Kensuke sighed. ”How I can get out of this chicken shit out fit? Does that lady red-eye even know how to handle a pulse rifle?”

”Better than you. You are the one who needs more practice.” Shinji said. ”Or did you just forgot that you tried to blow us all to hell?”

”Not all, just you and major...” Kensuke defended. ”but I had the barrel actually pointed down at the first.”

”Oh, thanks a fucking lot, father lands reserve hope!” Lea snapped. ”I was next to you, you could have killed me too. Why did you even pointed that barrel to up sky anyway?”

”I remembered regulation told me to always when making maintenance procedures keep the grenade launcher pointed to direction where wasn't any change to hit anything.” Kensuke explained.

”And best of the whole goddamn 180 degree was mine.” Shinji nodded. ”Besides when has picking locks been 'a maintenance procedure'? You've stoled that line from Hikari or Bishop, haven't you?”

”Is that the reason you gave me this piece of shit to carry around, sir?” Kensuke said waving the motion detector.

”Yeah, that you won't have any more those fatal accidents.” Shinji replied. ”At least you can't now blow us all to bits, when you only have that .44 pistol.”

”Does that mean I'm forgiven for that last time?” Kensuke inquired. ”Sir?”

”Lets think about that later, shall we?” Shinji said and watched his pulse rifles magazine screen what was giving full 99. ”This is beginning to get....”

”...I am as frustrated with this situation as you are.” Rei spoke behind them. Shinji, and Toji, spun around Kensuke and Lea remained looking at her. She had suited a black armor vest on her self. It was same what normal WY troopers used and had Letters Wy on the right corner. It didn't fit on her as it wasn't her uniforms standard issue, nor such an official uniform was made to be in combat. She was with out helmet but had an IR lens fixed on her head set. She held the pulse rifle like she had been trained to do so, barrel slightly facing down. ”We should go. Others probably have all ready secured the frigate.” She walked trough them like nothing had happened. Kensuke and Lea remained to looked her as she was walking to door leading the cargo bay.

”Well, don't just stand there. We have to make sure she ends up all right...” Shinji said and followed her.

Toji remained watching them. ”What do you think?” He asked on the two remaining marines.

”I think that uniform is hot.” Kensuke replied and watched skin tight uniform what was covered on chest by armor.

”I thought so too, on me of course.” Blond soldier replied.

”No, I meant about this whole thing, think there is more to it? There must be something important here.” Toji said.

”Think what you want.” Lea replied ”But unless we go now that ghoul is going to get pissed.”

Agreeing that they all joined group all ready on the doors landing. After short re grouping they all began to proceed steadily within the ships corridors. Sandoval was on the point and Kensuke was next to her reading motion detections Toji was with Lea, they weren't far behind them. Shinji and Rei were some distance behind them as well shinji. They tried not to talk but then Rei began to spoke after it was clear for a while that nothing was moving towards them at least.

”This feels too quiet.” Rei started.

”Agreed.” Shinji replied. ”We haven't picked up anything but still...”

”You feel that something is breathing on your neck.” rei answered.

Shinji turned his head to look at hers. They weren't blank as usually, now she seemed to be concentrated on something. ”How did you guess?”

”Isn't it common?” rei replied monotonically.

”What?” Shinji asked back.

”To feel something in one place but being elsewhere in the next?” She replied.

Shinji remembered his own out of this world experience what he had today and still wound on the forehead to remember it. She thought It maybe was a delusion what had been triggered by a Situation of actual combat. He had been told that it might happen sometimes, and he was expecting it sooner.

”I actually hoped I would have been somewhere elsewhere today.”

Rei glanced at him. ”Why you say so?” she asked.

”I couldn't stop her.” Shinji replied. forgotten this was his a corporate official he was talking to.

”If predator had more ammo, or if they had been more, we could all be dead.”

”You didn't want to go against your superior.” Rei said. ”It's understandable.”

”Well, good that it can be understood.” Shinji replied. ”If someone would have died and I had to write a letter back to family, should I close it by phrase, it could have been avoided.”

”You couldn't have control the situation. Neither it was expected from you.” Rei said. ”If anyone is to blame-Its your CO.”

”She...” Shinji started and looked at Reis eyes seeing how she was ready to shoot his explanations down. But he wanted to try. ”She has her reasons. Maybe I should have taken more aggressive line. Or then trusted her more. I just chose to do nothing.”

”But you did.” Rei objected.

”Or then not.” Shinji said. ”Maybe I just betrayed a friend, and mentor or then she was right about the...”

”You did the right thing. You couldn't have done more with out crossing the line.” Rei said assuringly.

”But..” Shinji started.

”I believe in you, Shinji.” Rei said speaking now a degree warmer tone. ”You did the right thing. Certainly cowardliness or not deciding weren't your mistakes. When caring is a mistake, we are in the path to doom.” She stopped walking and directed her piercing gaze towards him. Shinji just stared back not even saying a word. When he had first saw her, she was feeling like tense, and cold. But now her red eyes seemed like inviting...and her appearance had changed to warmer. Last sings that she was like the others were gone when she spoke him by first name. She was bearing that small smile on her face...but it suited her.

Shinji could only smile back. He hadn't felt like this by a smile for a long time. ”Thank you..” He could get his mouth working after being silent for something what seemed small eternity.

”Pleasure was all mine...” She spoke. ”Lieutenant.” She added but this time it didn't seem so formal.

Toji was noticing that Lieutenant and Representative had almost fallen behind and had observed. Shinji could have on his eye corner see his forming 'go, man, go' wit his lips. He didn't know should he show him the finger.

Kensuke wasn't knowing this as he was against his manners concentrating his job. Suddenly he stop and waved his pistol hand as barrier to block Sandoval from moving. He waved on arc too hard.

”Ow, fuck!” Sandoval gasped as she felt pistols breech hit her up to her left chest. She felt the hit on her sensitive part of body.

”What?” Lea asked.

”Fatherlands hope hit on my tit, what the fuck is you problem, you sonuva...” She began angrily but then she heard box what Kensuke was carrying letting out a beep. ”Oh.” Sandoval saw also light dot moving on the screen

Lea heard it too. She stopped and stomped little her feet to attach Toji's attention, who was some reason looking at his back. He spun his head and saw they had stopped. ”Movement.” Lea formed on her own lips.

”Kuso...” Toji's cursed and pressed against the wall, noting both Rei and Shinji who had been all heart one moment ago. He waved at them but hissed the word 'movement', not sure would they hear otherwise.

Their fortune was that corridor was making a turn loosely to right so they could see the comer. Sandoval was getting to point and remained on the corner. Kensuke remained next to her, tracking the motion. Rest of the party secured their pulse rifles.

”Somethings wrong...” Kensuke whispered.

”What?” Shjini asked.

”It's too slow...” Kensuke said as MD beeped again. ”Wouldn't somebody here be in hurry to get out? Its coming from side corridor...over there.” He pointed to solid wall, which was barrier between them side corridor.

Sandoval took tighter hold on her rifle and pressed harder against the corner her head merely being seen on the corner. ”Kill the lights” Sandoval cut back.

Everyone turned of the shoulder lamps, and remained in waiting. Loud bump echoed out of the still floor. Then again. And again. When this had continued for some time even Sandoval began to get nervous. Then it came clear why. Sandoval saw mans upper body coming out from side corridor.

She didn't see the face in such of lousy lighting but saw that he was holding weapon on his hands. He was dragging himself from the floor.

Sandoval turned on her lamp, and shine it to mans eyes ”Halt!” She shouted. ”Drop the piece, now!”

Man rolled over to his side and pointed rifle on his arms to light. ”Stay away!” He shouted trying to see Sandoval from blinding light. ”You aren't going to tear me to pieces!” His hands were shaking.

”Drop that cannon now, puta!” Sandoval yelled.

”No..no!” he shooed his head. ”You won't get fool me with that crap...you know how to speak...don't come near!” He shouted and shook his rifle stronger.

Shinji waved to signal for Sandoval to let him speak. Shinji came to her and whispered. ”Let me try. Maybe I can get this asshole to surrender so we won't need to go all firefight over here.”

”Take your shot, lieutenant. But keep your finger behind the trigger, sir.” Sandoval said and stepped back a little. Shinji was again echoing accusation being coward but he drove them out of his mind.

”What are you trying to pull?! WHAT!?” Man shouted.

”Calm down!” Shinji replied. ”We are not what you think, we are marines.”

”You...you are...I don't believe you...” Man stuttered.

”Look at this face...” He spun little of his face so that he could see where desperate pirate was. He was on his side, assault rifle swayed from side to side. ”...Do I look like space monster?”

”I....others are dead...It...” Man began to cough. And wheeze. ”Jesus...” He gasped.

”You seem like injured...put that rifle away and you may get here alive...” Shinji replied.

”No...they are all dead...It came...” He wheezed again.

”What?” Shinji tried to get him speak more, so that he could at least know how many of was alive.

”It...from somewhere...Killed ten man...spear” he coughed. ”..the captain...it was tearing him to pieces...” man drew a sharp breath. ”I managed to get away. First it took my by throat...” his voice cracked in to a laughing. ”HE HE! I was so fucking scared that I pissed on my pants...HIH old man would have beat the shit out of me...unless I had killed him..hah.”

Shinji felt like something wasn't right. This guys mood was jumping from despair to joy in heartbeat. In next his head something began to crack as Hikari seemed to have something to say. To him this was normal.

Same couldn't been say about wounded pirate. In his mind deep down it triggered a memory. Silver masked strong creature, with spear. And a cannon on it shoulder. Next he knew that shoulder lamp changed in to a cannon, and light to fiery red eye burning laser. Everything was red. Shinji's face from corner changed to remind him about half of a silver mask.

”DIE!” He shouted more in despair than meaning it and opened fire. Assault rifles muzzle flame en lighted the corridor, two bullets reflected away from the wall leaving shinji to see stars as he quickly drew his face out of the view. Man continued to fire senselessly to corridor. Bullets bouncing off the wall howled in the corridor and some of the reflected to roof. Whole group pressed on against the wall.

Shinji knew that if this would continue some bullet would hit. With out any more considering her took pressed his pulse rifles barrel to corridor and memorized quickly where he had saw him. He pulled the trigger letting out two short burst blind folded. Two quick lightings form the barrel, then it come silent.

Man stopped firing and slumped to floor. Shinji peeked from the corner and saw how Pirate was lying on his own pool of blood. Bullet had struck to his chest. He was still keeping rifle on his left hand.

Shinji stared him, and nodded back wards. ”Neutralized.” He said.

Sandoval walked out of the cover and kept her pulse rifle still ready and pointed there. Shinji again felt a sting as she showed this kind of suspicion. ”Clean shot, sir.” Sandoval praised.

”Thanks.” Shinji said like nothing had happened and this made him little amazed. As he remembered his first kills, he firstly felt regret. This time he didn't felt nothing such. He always saw himself incapable to kill other human. He guessed that Asuka would have kicked him to get over this too, but now it all seemed to happen. ”Alls clear.” Shinji shouted to back the others as he and Sandoval began to walk to body, still being careful as there could have been more raiders .

Rest of the crowd followed behind them. Sandoval and Shinji stopped and Kensuke rolled the motion detector around. ”No movement.” he noted.

Sandoval looked man who was wearing deep blue pilot uniform. He had Bruises on his neck and Sandoval smelled the bitter stench what she recognized not to be blood. ”He didn't joke about that piss part.” Sandoval pointed her gun barrel to mans crotch where Shinji noticed a dark stain.

Other walked next to them and saw Shinjis work at close. Two quick bursts were all pirate needed.

Kensuke looked at rifle what pirate had holding on his cold hand. ”AK-103.” He replied. ”Old weapon... they probably use anything what they can get...”

”I don't understand this.” Rei said out of the background. Every attention on the group turned on her.

”What?” Shinji asked as he was worried about how Rei seeing him in action would have affected on her.

”This person has bruises on his neck, legs weren't working. Still the Predator had preserved him. I don't know how logically any soldier would leave alive enemy behind.” Rei said.

Toji looked at her a while remembering how doll like she was spoking and how cool she was in presence of a body. ”She's right. Predator had this guy up on his balls...or actually throat.”

”Maybe it didn't just want to get its hand dirty...” Lea replied smelling the air.

”Yeah, right.” Sandoval snorted. ”This beast breaks jaws, tears teeth, skins bodies. Why it would all sudden get emotional? Or picky?”

”What ever it was the reason he ain't going to tell us.” Shinji stated and put headset back to his ears.

”You had something?” Shinji asked.

”What happened?” Hikari asked.

”We had a little...event here, some one got pissed.” Shinji saw how Toji and Sandoval smiled a little, and this eased him a little. ”Literally.” He added.

”Riiight...Well here's news. First of all, you probably won't find anything but bodies there, all pirates had tried to get frigate off..I mean those ones who could do it. Some of them were beaten so they really didn't even tried to resist. It was near that they didn't hug corporate troops when they saw them.”

”Would be the first time...” Sandoval said looking at rei almost immediately. ”No offense.”

Rei didn't reply but ignored it.

”Hey lieutenant!” Hank's voice cracked trough comm. ”How is it going? I have some news. Looks like our captain was somewhat tasteless on his cabin. Jim founded some shit what had been in crushed inside a stereo...yeah some guys old CD...Nelly? Right. It seemed this was his cabin but somebody cleaned it out, desks are all messed up and there seemed to be bed, but it's gone.”

”Are you trying to say Predator stole it?” Shinji said almost laughing thinking why would predator steal a bed.

”I just say it's gone...” Hank replied.

”Man, what shit hole. Looks like 1970's disco.” Jim sighed on the background. ”And music: Nelly for Christ sake!”

”What should it been then?” Hank asked.

”Fifty Cent.” Jim said. ”There's is something.”

”You got that right.” Hank replied. ”I have 'In Da Club' and...”

”Could you pass you musical interests, and tell something else?” Shinji said irritated. ”Like victims? more, less, none?”

”Sorry sir...” Hank apologized and got more serious. ”Pirates had been sliced there end too. Something what Yu thinks as a spear had been driven out their chest, or then something like double edged forked thingy, I really don't know what, but its sharp as hell. Then this predator critter had used old solution and just beat somebody to death...and we found one one victim what captain had itself dealt with...” He got silent

”What?” Shinji asked, some.

”A woman.” hank said now all cheer vanishing in his voice. ”She had been raped, then she got bullet on her neck. Another reason more to put cap on that guys head.”

”I thought you were a rough guy.” Jim said.

”Doesn't mean that I accept that women are being raped.” Hank said annoyed. ”What the hell do you think I am, huh?”

”Psycho?” Jim riddled.”Besides you let them understand that what happened was 'way to go man' stuff.”

”Anyway that's what there is.” Hank said dryly. ”Like Jim said, I think Yu and Ann are pissed me right now: when I asked were they sure, that she was fucked to death, they both gave me a really, really icy look.”

”We found this one guy who told us that captain is dead, Predator shred him, if he's telling the truth.

He was pretty freaked out when he came here, he thought us to be it, and began shooting spree. We are trying to get to hangar. If we don't call you back in say about 15 minutes, come looking.” Shinji told him about the encounter, ”And hank try not to get everyone to hate you, it doesn't actually reflect multi national co-work what marines are pulling.”

”Thats a roger. Besides I have my man Jim with me...at least when I won't lose him on cards” Hank said. ”Hope that predator had fun slicing that captain guy....” Hank muttered as he faded out the line. ”Oh yeah, one thing.” hank said like remembering something. ”When you see a pirate who's head has exploded, don't go straight ahead, there is a vacuum up there, go straight right. Over and out.”

Shinji shut the link and glanced to death body once, and then the others. ”We need to move out. Captains cabin is clear, and there was only a bodies there, and one dead female civilian.”

”How?” Lea asked.

”She was on captains place. Do you really need to ask?” Sandoval spoke softly.

”Uh...” Lean grimaced from disgust. ”Who found her?” She asked, still repulsed.

”Your sister, and Yu.” Shinji replied.

”Great...” Lea sighed. ”That isn't going to be pretty.”

”You worried?” Kensuke asked putting his MD back on again. ”Ann can take some heavy shit at her, we two should know it.”

”Ann takes this stuff pretty personally.” Lea replied. ”And so do I.” She checked her pulse rifle just to ensure that it was ready.

They grouped again to form what they had before getting on the firefight. Following Hikari's instruction from the drop ship, they navigated from gray white corridors of the cargo ferry.

When they came the spot where Hank told to look out, they saw the body whats head had exploded.

”Look at that...” Toji said smelling burned bone and flesh. ”Uh...this probably was a bad way to die...”

”Two teeth are missing.” Sandoval pointed the lower jaws remains. ”This is...” She muttered something in Spanish what Shinji didn't understand.

”Right, Sanchez.” Shinji replied. ”This exactly what you said.”

”What kills like this? Not a shotgun, not definitely a rifle, something really big.” Toji wondered.

”This guys was cooked up like tortilla, something just was so hot that fried brains to skull...”

Kensuke began.

”Hey, that tortilla line was mine!” Sandoval barked to Kensuke.

”Whats with that lieutenant calling you Sanchez in time to time?” Lea said interrupting sandovals next eruption of cursing.

”Shinji was back in academy, she miss spelled Sandoval's name Sanchez.” Toji chuckled. ”She gave him el diablo time double for that...”

”That wasn't a big mistake. You were married by then weren't you?” Shinji nodded to Sandoval.

Shadow came over her face when she heard Shinji referring to her marriage. ”Divorced.” She said coldly.

”What the....Has sand been married?” Kensuke wondered. ”How did you ever get to port of marriage anyway?”

”None of your business.” Sandoval snapped facing angrily at Kensuke. ”Lieutenant let's move on...” She began to walk furiously to escape situation. Toji glanced at his friend and soon followed Sandoval's after.

Shinji felt little that he had been walking on dangerous soil, but it was everything what he ever knew about her that she had been married.

”Did I say something...?” Kensuke said wondering why Sandoval had changed her attitude.

”Only what was needed, which is too much.” Lea said next to him and pushed with his rifle barrel.

”Let's go.” Kensuke began move again rolling MD around the corridors. They followed Sandoval and toji to corridor right.

This left Rei and Shinji again alone. ”You seemed to hurt her unintentionally.” Rei spoke.

”What?” Shinji turned to face her.

”I read on her personal file that her marriage lasted four years, result of it was separation.” Rei replied.

”I thought it would be forgotten by now...” Shinji begin.

”These kind of bonds won't be cut easily, were they good or bad.” Rei said. ”I don't speak from my own experience, but I have witnessed several cases.”

”Hmm...” Shinji mumbled. He remembered the time that he had wished that he never had met Asuka, but were times too when he was happy her being around. ”You are right...but lets follow them....” He again turned to face rei to see that she was preoccupied too.

She had remained next to body what was leaning against the wall. She had noticed a bloody hand print on the wall and remained there to look about it. She pressed her hand upon it and it fit almost perfectly. This meant that who ever had pressed her hand to it was more likely a woman, possibly same age or height as she. Man it wasn't because his hands were too big. Rei removed her hand and look at it. Blood stains had came over it and she draw them closer to watch at it.

She began to exam it and Shinji saw something new in her eyes. In them was now exited and sharp shade of something what looked familiar, she opened her mouth little but her expression didn't go away. Shinji could have swore that Ayanami was smelling it. ”Something is wrong in you... wounded?” She stirred her eyes and she looked like she was tracking something.

Shinji again began to feel dizzy. Not this time like in Solaris's command bridge but more lifting feeling. He too began to have questions in his head...but they were fixed on same subject where Ayanamis attention was. How the hand print was here? Who she was...now Shinji knew somehow that it had to be she. And it was familiar... ”I know you...” he whispered. ”Somehow... I do.”

Rei separated her eyes from the glove. She stripped it of and put in on pocket in her her armor.

This seemed to help Shinji feel easier, but hand print in wall didn't go away and Shinji felt like he should get more information...that he was missing something.

”You are right.” Rei spoke again. ”We should go.” She grabbed her pulse rifle on her hands again.

Shinji shook his head and they continued to travel like nothing had happened.

Shinji couldn't how ever shake the feeling what he got from the hand print. He didn't understand why, but he was pretty sure that Rei felt the same. He didn't know did she heard her words, nor he know did he direct them to her or owner of the hand print.

Other soldiers had all ready broken to hangar bay. So worse that things had looked on the corridors, it was slaughter house on hangar. First one's head had been crushed against giant boxes. Head had cracked like an eggshell innards of it were all over the floor. Other had time to defend himself with knife. He had been killed by straight stab at heart.

Sandoval first saw someone who she knew, or thought she had knew for first four years. ”Caramba...” She swore.

”Is that the guy you were....” Toji stopped when he remembered who she had reacted time before.

”No point denying it, huh?” She sighed. ”Meet my low-life husband, Ruyan.” She pointed barrel down to his corpse. ”End up with this dagger crowd after all.”

”You won't be getting any child support from him now.” Toji said trying to play black humor out of situation. He had been hearing about how Ruyan had left Sandoval with her child on their own, and was hating him almost much as she.

”Never would have. He ended up eating Terium, getting it first easy. He thought he could stop any time he wanted.” Sandoval laughed a little. ”Never was too smart. That stuff kills. I was just glad that my boy born before that blue shit came to picture.”

”Why so?” Toji asked.

”Terium is like old time crack, with strength more than ten times of heroine. When somebody takes one drop of it, comes addictive at once. I heard it has mixed psychological and genetic effect.

If you get rid of it mentally, it still dwells in your genes.” Sandoval explained. ”Stress or excitement can easily trigger addiction again. And its inheritable. Only legal retailer is WY corporation.”

”Can---addicted get cut that addiction? Anyway?” Toji asked.

Sandoval looked at him in the eyes. ”Don't say that you have....” She let her eyes to wonder on him like looking for some sings of addiction that she hadn't saw. She blamed her self for thought that she had let her guard down.

”No!” Toji cried out. ”I just want to know if somebody I know ever takes that can I do something.”

”First, try to make that friend to puke it out. It takes couple minutes before it liquidizes. If its taken to vein it works immediately. I haven't ever know anyone who's got clear of it. He didn't. He changed in to corporates whore, and probably switched sides here.” Sandoval grunted.

”Same kind of spear what others had been stalked with.” He looked at hole in the wall. ”Look at that...how strong these guys are? It went trough the body and sunk on the wall...”

Sandoval look at bloody hole in the wall. She smiled a little. ”Bet you don't want to get in arm wrestling with that predator...”

”How about you?” Toji turn his head and looked at her now examining. ”You have been working out, so want to give a shot?”

Sandoval laughed a little. ”Not right now, besides show some respect to dead.”

”Hey sand, Toji: over here!” They heard Shinji calling them.

Sandoval and Toji rushed over the crate labyrinth towards his voice. They finally saw him watching couple crates what where together. He didn't move but lowered his pulse rifle to floor. Before Sandoval or Toji could ask, they saw whole that something had died between the hold of two boxes. Toji saw that crate had scratched marks the floor on it's way against the unfortunate pirate. Toji could only see two hands reaching out from between the crack. Anything other was only red, here and there he could separate some parts...but didn't know what they had been.

”Predator's fast diet...results immediate.” Shinji said. Black humor seemed to bloom everywhere today. But Toji was last to expect Shinji to be seeding it around. ”This guy is strong...I estimated that the crate weighs about 900 pounds. And nail marks on steel tell something about the force what it has.”

Shinji crouched to pick something up. When he rose he held two pistols on his hands. He turned them in his head and felt their weight. It didn't take Kensuke to see what those two weapons were.

”Where's Ayanami?” Sandoval asked wondering was this the same man who she had trained in academy. After all it had been a while, and he had changed.

”She left back to drop ship. She got message waiting her there.... M-1911A1 Colt .45” He said as he pressed both weapons under his belt to be sin secured there if for time being.

”Original...?” Toji asked. ”Not those Hard baller things?”

”No, these ain't AMT's...one point bigger than M-4A4. Kensuke and Lea are trying to find that captain.”

”We found him.” distant looking faintly sound came over the couple crates. Three marines followed the sound. And found Lea and Kensuke looking a little spooked and pale. Kensuke was on the ground looking like he was gasping for air. Lea was standing next to him. ”He's all right...tries not to vomit...Before you go that 'sissy' stuff, take look on there and you see why...” She said blinking her eyes.

Shinji, Toji and Sandoval looked on U shaped box formation. All of their blood almost stopped flowing.

Captains had been decapitated. It didn't stop there. His face had been cut off, and pieces of leather from his neck were everywhere. Shinji saw captains face what was cut off and left lying there so in place of eyes and mouth they saw steel floor. Hair was separated from on its own area, and facial muscles had been sliced smoothly. Shinji didn't see where skull was but everything what was inside of it where still here. Brains had been removed intact...eyes were still tied up to then in nerves. In decapitated head there was a body. Shinji looked at the walls and saw in one corner something green what glowed. Over there was more green blood, but it had been covered by red blood.

Three marines looked each other without saying a word. Then Sandoval managed to get something out of herself. ”I've been dealing with all kind of stuff...saw what other people do to each other... stab, shoot.... But this is sick...” She spoke quietly.

”At least we know it can be killed...if it bleeds it can be killed...right?” Toji said not able to take his eyes of the eerie looking face of captains in the floor.

”Tell that to this ships crew...” Sandoval said quietly.

To Shinji this chatter was now distant. He felt again something. Coming from the atmosphere. He felt disappointed, and then almost satisfied. Disappointed, that he didn't get there first, satisfied that somebody did... he tried to repel those feelings remembering that even if he had gotten here in time he should have tried to imprison him. This wasn't why he had began to do this...he had tried to hold Aliens at bay...but there he was...admiring almost literally something what he had kept disgusting six years ago. He finally got himself a numb feeling. His face almost resembled corporate representatives cold look.

He walked away and took his head set a connect back to Hikari asking her to link back to Solaris.

”Your report. What has happened?” Misato's voice inquired in sharp tone, maybe halfway out of mocking, or then plain curiosity how his operation had vent.

”Cargo ferry is secured. No survivors. The predator has...dealt with rest of them. Cargo is intact.”

He replied with heavy tone what was tired and full of numbness.

”Was there any problems...?” Now Misato's voice had changed, it was little bit of worried maybe.

Shinji again dug his memories and remembered the suspicions what Misato had his abilities. ”Instead of your expectations, this operation wasn't a failure. Only one firefight occurred, and nobody was killed. Except the shooter. I maintained this operation fully...but maybe it was just luck..?” He replied in same spirit what he had taken from command deck today.

Misato was silent for a second. ”Lack of trust on your own abilities is dangerous. You should delegate your command over more confident hands if you don't fell that you can handle these situations.”

”I've heard same about over confidence.” Shinji replied icily, he even himself beginning to amaze his own act.

”Report further when this operation is concluded. We are going to stay here for night and stand guard. You may rest in Solaris's cryo chambers. Over and out.” Misato said equal tone to his.

Shinji took helmet out of his head and rubbed his face. Everything seemed to go straight to hell today.

He hardly expect tomorrow be any better, not if this thing between him and Misato continued.

Next assignment got better to be easy.

------

In lonely forsaken outpost on planet Enron...where asuka had tried to find survivors or catch up what had happened certain computer console began to work. It had suffered something about Asuka's kick but had managed to repair damage. It began its scanning like routines had programmed. In first time it had found young woman. Synth voice soon declared it's findings.

”Warning...Non-human life form detected.”

End.