Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Headhunter ❯ "They'll mostly come at night...mostly" ( Chapter 7 )

An, KnightOne: I'm sorry that this chapter was delayed so long. I had some personal stuff what needed to be taken care of.

 

Now there is answer to prays of yours. I mean the common pray of all of readers: I now have a proof reader. For so long as she abides me (let's hope that she does that long enough, I can be real pain in the ass, when I want to. And when I don't want to). I'm tired of receiving same thing about how my grammar sucks. Thank you; you were only the tenth one who has told me the same thing.

 

This time I'm being saved by Ebony as Evamade's Ebony. Everybody give her a big hand, for she has taken this giant task, to interpret this whole thing to English, and abiding my Unfortunately she could get in this time, but I'm confident that she will be able to repair this sometime. Those who keep complain about grammar I say this: Ebony has her own life, and she likes it. What, you think that she'll use her whole time in this? Try to hang on; she'll do this when she has the time. Hopely.

 

Headhunter

 

Chapter 6

 

“They'll mostly come at night...mostly...”

 

Cryo capsules were old technology. Over two hundred years old. They were, before fusion core's were even possible, supposed to keep passengers in tender sleep, as travels could last months, and even years. Seeing this kind of technological advancement in reality was two centuries ago laughable. Humans had successfully been frozen, but real problem came when they were supposed to be resurrected. People one after another died when liquids melt tearing severally weakened bones and tissues apart.

 

It took over forty-years when scientist began to think could humans only be partially frozen, so that every function on human body would be at minimum. Again they had found the answers in nature. And they did found them, as they studied closely way how scorpions could survive from being completely frozen, as well some others hibernating creatures. Unlike scorpions, humans had much complex body chemistry, and they began to change toxic if they were in sleeping too long. Blood alone was easy to retain, but other substances were not so tolerating for aging.

 

Fortunately, for mankind's space traveling, they found a way stop chemicals form mixing each other. Old, now abolished NASA would have given their entire budget for this invention. Still other issues were remaining unsolved. Dreams in cryo freeze supposed to be impossible. Brain waves altered so that every function stayed minimal, but it didn't stop sub-conscious activity. Nor it affected to dreams either, except in one way. They didn't change the same way. They stayed almost in the same.

 

For those who had the joy of seeing wet dreams many times on the row, this was heaven.

 

For those who suffered from nightmares, it was hell.

 

Shinji had seen this dream so many times he could walk it trough in awake. But now it had become more vivid. Swirling images had become clear. Now where had been distant shade of twilight was now thick darkness. Now where were unclear whispers, were cries for help.

 

He hardly understood what was happening. He had shrunk back to fourteen year old. In case some people still had an ability to transform him back to a little boy. Asuka had gone wondering again. This wasn't the first time.

 

Shinji had kept him in his room. He had called Hikari to help as he was uncertain what to do but hardly had any idea how he could help Asuka. He hardly had any idea how to talk with her normally, she would just began fume at him. This time he had hoped that she at least would say baka. Asuka had shut every one out, while she had been awake next to her mother's cryo coffin.

Then one day she walked to his and Misato's cabin, and kicked lazily the door. Shinji first thought it was a rat but then it repeated time after time. He opened the cabin door Asuka had appeared to their cabin in blood over her school uniform just watching him with blank eyes, and said one thing. “Hilfe.” Shinji panicked and grabbed her. “Wha..!? what's wrong..?!” he shake her and realized that he had done something what Asuka would surely punish him. But she didn't even react, but fainted to his arms. Shinji looked amazed as her face just swipe against his when she lost her consciousness for a moment. Shinji just was totally helpless and kept her on her feet as she was leaning to him passed out. Shinji smelled her scent from her hairs as they swiped over him. They were mixed in smell of blood, and he felt warm stain spreading to his chest from Asuka's clothes.

 

He dragged her to the table next the door and helped her on the chair, trying to shake her back to the living. He managed to do it first, for a second Asuka looked like she would look if she had find out Shinji putting his hands all over her body. Then she seemed to remember something when she saw blood on his shirt and then hers, what made her again sure that what she had been trough was real.

 

Only later he and Hikari got to know that it was her mother's death that had gotten her like in coma. Thing, what had got inside her had exploded from her chest trough Cryo coffins glass, it had bitten asuka, as she had tried to help her mother. Sometimes she kept her eye on the corners, as if looking something. But most of the time she looked half scared and half desperate-what were so unlike her that when seeing her like it Shinji didn't even felt that Asuka was around. Like somebody else was there instead of her. Days passed by but she remained the same. Space stations training facilities were closed instantly after the Kyoky's death. They didn't tell why though: they wanted to avoid panic. Most of took it as happy news and tried to enjoy sudden free time, as they didn't knew what had happen…Shinji couldn't enjoy it even a bit. Shinji did his best, but couldn't reach her.

 

After Asuka had been over two days with them Misato tried more drastic measures. She made her sit opposed to her and began to talk to her steadily. She had dimmed the lights and made every spot of light concentrate to herself and Asuka. She cleaned every dirty plate, every paper bag and magazines as well empty beer cans of her from the table and moved some simple furniture away, so that when all lights except from their table had been switched off looked like they were all alone in all eternity what was called universe. “I'm fan of hard to get and cat mouse games.” She said sternly and kept her eyes locked to her. Misato didn't just give up. “But I've had it.” She continued bit lighter tone “What happened in that room?”

 

Asuka didn't answer but kept staring forward. Asuka didn't trade a glance with her. She had acted in times like she was only one existing on the world, pretending that she didn't saw anything what she didn't like. But now it seemed to be reality to her.

”C'mon, did something cut of your tongue? You've always been vocal, much of the time when should been quiet. Have you suddenly come shy?” She kept inquiring.

 

She now blinked her eye, but not responding “Toten…” she whispered.

 

“What?” Misato remembered that word meant dead. “What was it?” she pressed her tone harder.

 

She began to hover in her place side to side like she was nauseous. Her head fall front and she her flaming hair spread covering most of her head. She seemed to moan something, but Shinji kept watching how this went on. Misato had made sure that he wouldn't interfere. But there was no fear about that. Shinji hadn't got trough to her in times when she was clear headed.

 

“I wouldn't think that though girls like you get scared. You should be now on vendetta or something.” He continued taunting her. “But you spend your time on your own drifting in wonderland and moaning like some Terium whore waiting to be picked up.”

 

She now stopped hovering but kept her head bow down. Moments she kept still, until Misato could see some drool dripping from her chin. “Great.” She snorted. “First you go off to say every guy who tries to date you that they are total babies. Now you droll like a three year old, craving for mommy's tit. Should I warm your bottle for you?”

 

Asuka didn't answered but just end her neck more arc so that either Shinji or his guardian could see her face just bundle of red hair. It trembled in a while and turned little on left or right.

 

Misato hit her fist on the table. “Fuck it!” She yelled. “What can be so awful that you can't goddamn…”In the same Asuka raised her head to meet her guardian's eyes. In same moment another taunt what Misato had in mind just died before it been born.

 

Asuka's face was covered with drool. Her lips were trembling like she was going to burst on tears. But when trembling and soft 14 year olds lips began to apart it didn't reveal mouth changed to an expressionless black hole, where even air didn't travel to lungs. It showed tightly together bitten teeth. She didn't smile at first, but when her white teeth were revealed all, it seemed like a prey hungry gesture. Her eyes were set directly towards them. All though Shinji kept telling to himself that she could see him, those eyes just gave the feeling what he had have her all in mind this year. `Sees, hears, and knows everything.' he repeated it shortened in his mind. Asuka had gripped her palms like a claws and she raised them to her heads. More drool burst out of her lips and it kept coming in froth. Unlike some Kensuke's adult magazines she didn't look so erotic when she was completely wet like this…more like slimy.

 

She Let out of sigh…or was it a moan? It sounded like hissing, but felt like it was a work full inhale. Her tongue came out and tasted the air, but then it withdrew back to her mouth she closed her mouth again remained watching them with that mouth full of teeth.

 

Now even Misato was taken back by this act. Normally interrogated had two kind of response, aggressive for being accused and submissive trying to create appearance. `It wasn't me.'

No matter how high or drunk interrogated subjects had been they never have done this kind of act, dipping themselves on their own filth…not willingly at least. She kept staring back to her feral like student, but couldn't think any reasonable way how to carry on her questions. “Shinji.” She called while still watching Asuka little stunned. “Put the lights back on. Let's call this a day…” Misato sighed as Shinji pressed switch, after moment looking for it in dim lighting. Sudden flood of light in the room made Misato and Shinji to squint their eyes as a reflex. Asuka too responded this reflex, squint her eyes and tilting her head. “Or was this night?” She rubbed her eyes clear for lack of rest and sudden flood of light filling the room and ran her palm all over her forehead, and mumbled “What ever.”

 

She glanced at her interrogative student once more before rising up. She looked more tired than she had ever been. She had given her all but it wasn't enough. Not even close. She rose up turned towards Shinji who still was watching them. Shinji wasn't the one who could tell things from faces, but seeing Misato as tried he could almost guess what was coming.

 

“This day you wouldn't have believed you'd see. I'm giving up.” She closed her eyes and stretched on feet at her normal civilian out fit what was yellow top. Since heating had started made its own mind she had to begin use full jeans instead of her very short cut jeans. She had on her mind to ask someone about this glitch, as these `normal' jeans began to feel terrible restrictive to her taste.

 

“Are you…?” Shinji asked hesitating; separating from the wall he had leaned against watching this show. He came little bit more towards her couple steps, leaving still space between them. This wasn't like her optimistic self.

”There is first time for everything.” she said. “I think this is a mountain something what I can't climb up.” spreading her arms to side and opening her eyes, not looking any more refreshed than she had moment ago. She gave of a little smile as like just figuring out that she had made ambiguent joke, almost in accident.

 

“But…” Shinji started. “You said that you could get trough to her…” He sounded like last hope was beginning o slip away from him.

 

“No.” Misato said dozily. “I said I think I could. I didn't say that it was one hundred percent certain.”

 

“Oh.” Shinji replied disappointed, as he heard his guardian correcting him. “Are you sure?”

 

“Of course I'm sure!” She snapped tired from all trying. “I've tried everything, what I've been taught to, and result is pure zero.”

 

“Sorry, I wasn't meant to…” Shinji started as seeing how his guardian had got upset.

 

“It doesn't matter, what I say or what I do, as she isn't just there. Nothing what happens here, doesn't feel a thing in there. You saw it: I practically called her a whore and she didn't even flinch.” She explained her words full of frustration, gotten used of Shinji's apologies with out cause she overlooked it.

 

“So, could you…” Shinji tried to intervene but like usually he hadn't the means to stop her.

 

“I already went every question trough, in so many order and ways that I could think. In so many psychological thingies that I can think of, but it's useless what spin I use if when they don't get trough.” She sighed. “First time I have to eat my own words and say hard work isn't worth it.”

She looked again to the drooling mindless Asuka who had now calm down and now longer smiled or grimaced as she had some time ago now she was just watching wandering forward. She had the feeling that if she would ever eat her own words the one who would feed them to her would be Asuka.

 

Shinji also glanced at her and decided again just for once more ask. “Isn't there anything what you haven't tried?”

 

“You could always go squeeze her.” She replied half Ironic smirk, wondering seriously would it work. “Now is your change, she *probably* won't put up a fight.”

 

“That wasn't funny.” Shinji looked away from her, getting defensive and little stronger sense of tension in his voice when drooling now downwards looking Asuka again shine his eyes from the background.

 

Misato made her smirk disappear. She really hadn't words on her minds how to make up her little screw ups as she had all ready let him down by failing this interrogation. She too turned to watch Asuka who had been left behind her as she had rose from her place. “She's doing that again.” Misato noted.

 

“What?” Shinji asked keeping his eyes set to Asuka, trying hard on his mind to come up what Misato was meaning by her comment.

 

“She's staring at her hands.” Like in confirmation Misato pressed her own palms to her sides. “She does that sometimes.”

 

Shinji walked towards Asuka and grabbed some clean…or mostly clean towel what had been used to wiping everything. Couple stains of dirt were seen on it but it didn't matter now. He walked to Asuka towel in other hand and watched her doing her moves. Asuka's palms were like they had gotten hold over something, few fingers moved. Asuka was like seeing something what Shinji didn't. All Shinji could see was all ready closed wounds all over her wrists and palms, what her drooling had gotten wet. Shinji began to wipe them clean and then it happened again.

 

First Asuka began to tear towel out of his hands and tangle all over trying to squeeze it. Next when Shinji tired to get her let go, she struck her both hands to his arm, squeezing and twisting them hard like she had gotten grip out of something. When Shinji cried out of surprise she let go like realizing what she was holding on. Not like disgusted but disappointed as she was slow releasing his hand, almost like she had wanted to keep it and let it go. Shinji looked at her face as they were stumbled.

“No…Beast?” She asked silently.

 

Shinji waited second before answering. He took the squeezed towel back in his hands and began to wipe her face clean. “Not more than usual.” He pressed the towel carefully on her face afar of another attack or spasm, but it didn't come.

 

“Wasn't the plan that you grab your hand on her not the opposite?” Misato noted from the background and leaned her back to wall, crossing her arms.

 

“You are still not funny.” Shinji said trying to concentrate on his new daily work, ignoring Misato's comments. She was maybe trying to work out tension or build up spirit. Maybe it would've worked for somebody of his class mates, but Misato was more making him distracted than relaxed.

 

Misato glanced on wall clock what had kept walking and showed that time was at 19:00 for station rotation time. She remembered that she had skipped her favorite TV program, as 19:00 wasn't earth's time. She wasn't good with numbers and attempts to make numerical changes were lost.

“She does that often too.” she noted combing her hair with her other hand.

 

“What?” Shinji asked absently as he looked again Asuka's face seeing that it was now dried properly, only how she would want to. Most perfect way possible.

 

“Grabs hold on things.” Misato replied trying to think still what time it was really. “She has done it with table legs, corners of chairs and pillows.” Misato again laughed at her self. “She even crushed my beer can with bare hands. That broke her absolutist resolution. She got some taste of it but didn't care. Thought it was hard to clean up the mess after it…” She muttered.

 

“I was the one who cleaned it up.” Shinji replied quietly.

 

“What?” Misato asked little sharper than before and diverted to her glance on Shinji who was still near Asuka, beginning to rise back to his feet.

 

“Nothing.” Shinji said and dropped towel in his hand to table. “It's half past ten.”

 

“What is?” Misato now in her turn asked absently.

 

“The time.” Shinji replied. “You tried to figure that out, didn't you?”

 

“How did you…?” Misato started and then stopped leaning to wall and set her eyes on Shinji. “Are you saying that I'm coming to be predictable?”

 

“N-no, of course not.” he replied tensed. “Sorry.”

 

“That's better.” Misato said. She stretched again and rubbed her neck with her other arm. “Well it seems that it's our baby's feeding time. Anything special?”

 

“What?” Shinji asked and turned away from Asuka.

 

“Food.” Misato replied with inquiring look, and then she looked rather frustrated at Shinji as he still didn't get it. “Anything-Special-For-food?” She spelled nodding her head slightly in every word.

 

“I…I…” Shinji tried to pull his thoughts together as this was again one appointed fact of his dull thinking process. “I was thinking some soup…” He started.

 

“Again some soup?” She said agonized. “Can't we have some change on this menu, it's getting on my nerves that I have to suck something what reminds me about sergeant major's snot.”

 

“Sorry…it's easier to swallow.” Shinji replied weaving his head slightly to Asuka behind him. She had again huddled to staring to her scarred palms.

 

“So, we've learned lots of things to day.” Misato said dryly. “Soup's are easier to swallow, and it useless to use interrogation on someone who doesn't understand even simplest question.”

 

“You sure you aren't giving another try?” Shinji asked. “Maybe you could try something…or something what you haven't tried.”

 

Misato looked her little annoyed. “You tell me. What I should do?”

 

“I don't know…something.” He said his voice faltering.

 

“It's so easy.” she replied shooing her head. “I almost forgot what it was in that age. If something was wrong it just was fixed by making it work, or doing something. You didn't really paid attention to even one word what I was saying, right? Just thought I was talking to my warmth, right?”

 

Shinji didn't have time even to give her robotic sorry as Misato, who's nerve she had struck with out knowing it.

 

“I can't get trough to her because she isn't there! Sure, she sits there and breathes the same air as rest of us mortals but that's it. She doesn't hear anything, or feel anything. She doesn't even eat anything unless feed upon, or understand anything except if somebody begins to stuck goddamn needles in some weird places so that at least her finger moves!” Misato raised her voice and threw her arms up as a sing of giving up all hope. “And of course the one time when I have a friend who's doctor she hasn't had a one drop of shrink on her, and tells just to back off or leave it to the professionals! Giving just some explanation what I would have figured out with out needing to spend six years in med school.”

 

“I…” Shinji tried to calm her down as she began to boil over what wasn't his intention.

 

Misato turned around and kept talking in her loud voice, her back facing Shinji. “On top of it, somebody just says, try something! What I'm going to try when something what professionals do every day on enemy's field agents or mundane crooks fails in middle of teenager girl who's brain something has fried…”

 

“Shut up there, you cow!” Muffled voice was heard trough steel wall with some pounding. “I'm trying to sleep!”

 

Misato head turned to direction where the request had came, her face twisting from anger. “You shut up, you old fuck! I'm trying save a live here, not having a gang wrecking the place like…” she stopped in middle of trying to gather healthy pocket of anger to her soul. Se closed her eyes and asked much quiet voice than she had use this far. “To whom I'm shouting at?”

 

“To me and Asuka. And probably somebody, who has passed his best years all ready.” Shinji said now when he finally had the change to say something.

 

“I almost forgot. For a minute I thought this was court marshal.” Purple haired major, who had spent last few years as consultant and trainer, hoping in her mind that being this place might be her stage in trip of commanding a starship, replied in low voice and rubbed her forehead with her palm.

“I'm not building very positive spirit here, am I?”

 

“Truth to be told…” Shinji breathed deep. “No.”

 

“Well, first time I should show example of being a leader and I fail.” Misato said and continued. “Status in nutshell is that we have only one option what we haven't tried.”

 

“What is that?” Shinji asked himself feeling tired of watching fruitless interrogation for last hours.

 

“Torture.” Misato replied in cold tone. “It's only thing what haven't been tried yet.”

 

“It…” Shinji trembled in thought of seeing something horrible applying to his friend and class mate. “It shouldn't be even an option.”

 

“I don't even consider it to be one.” Misato replied, and straightened up herself for the second time. “She responds to pain, yes, but it isn't worth a thing if she doesn't know what we want her to say.”

She glanced again to her student. There wasn't any change to it. “Thought what Ritsuko suggested weren't any better.”

 

“Ritsuko? What she's got to say about this?” Shinji replied and frowned a little when talk came to Ritsuko.

 

“What do you have against her? She offered her help, or what she could in the matter. I said all ready that her field is more in biology than this psychology stuff.” Misato said and blinked her eyes and turned towards Shinji. “You could learn to not be afraid of needles; you should be a big boy soon.”

 

“It's not the thing that I don't like her. She just seems little…little…” Shinji tried to figure out what would be the word that was used at best describing her.

 

“Odd? Eccentric? Fearsome?” Misato offered couple key words and then her face seemed to remember something from her past. “Annoyingly infallible? humorless? fatalistic?”

 

“She's just…” Shinji had now the word on his tongue. “Just…”

 

“Hot?” Misato aided again, that small grin from earlier returned to her face.

 

“Wha…I…I...” Shinji again furiously blushed. “No…I mean…is...” Shinji's words again collapsed to stuttering as they stuck on his troth. He turned her face away from Misato in his own shame.

 

“It's nothing to be shame of…” Misato calmed him. “Lots of young boys have crushes on older women…not that she's that old…” Misato remembered that she and Ritsuko didn't have that lot of age gap between them…and she was every day coming closer to great thirty. She shivered a little as at fourteen thirty seemed like a mummy.

 

“I was going to say too clinic-over practical.” Shinji used Misato's moment when she was remembering her youth to say what he was intended, so quickly that Misato heard it and that he had some change to gather his thoughts. “She doesn't feel very warm…”

 

“And how would you know that?” Misato continued teasing him. “She could feel very warm if it comes to that.”

 

“I…I have to get that food on the way…” Shinji saw here a possible escape to him, and he was on need to use it. He rushed to kitchen, what was more like cooking closet. Military and high ranking style it was practical, not cozy. They could still maintain some conversation but Shinji hoped that having wall between them would ease Misato's rhythm to think new punch lines or subject to pick on him. Shinji was so nervous that when trying to take some pans from the upper closet, they came rumbling down.

 

Once again with thumbing against steel wall was heard. “Quiet!” voice demanded coming from neighbor cabin.

 

“Learn to live with it, old man!” Misato yelled back before Shinji could apologize being in his thoughts. She grabbed a chair under her and crossed arms over metal chairs back. She began leaning on it and started thinking herself what Shinji had said to her. “Well, you are half right.” Misato stated when thinking of it. “But it's mostly because of her work.”

 

“What she was doing again? I didn't catch it when you told me about her.” Shinji said and continued trying to get things together for some soup.

 

“I don't actually know…some research.” Misato mumbled as response.

 

“Some research…for who?” Shinji replied

 

“For Weyland-Yutani, of course.” She remembered again what affection that name had on Shinji. but she wasn't going to start worrying her every phrase because of it held some bad memories, after all nobody didn't take care of throwing a word `Predator' around.

 

“Weyland-Yutani…” Shinji said so quiet that only he heard that repeat. Someday that name could be familiar to him; after all, his father wasn't going to live forever. He might some day receive the heaviest industrial machine on his conscience. Asuka was always saying how he didn't need the education like she did: He just needed to wait till daddy kicks the bucket, and receive huge asset and begin spend it like every day would the last.

 

Asuka used this again to remind how People like Shinji should think with longer aim. And if Shinji had some trouble with riches, she could always help him spend them. But Asuka didn't see that WY meant something more than money. It was his past, and more. Shinji only knew ten percent about it…rest 90 could be anything. Asuka had just said that he took too hard, what's past is past…all though Shinji got the feeling that Asuka herself didn't believe on that so strongly as she said. Shinji almost forgot thinking about his past what was happening around him when he was thinking about past, or what was when Asuka had been…awake. He had stand couple minutes having some bag of spice on his hand. He shooed his like getting it clearer.

 

“Hey, have you something on fire there all ready?” Misato inquired.

 

Though Shinji wasn't in any serious trouble he wanted get off this quickly. Maybe because if shyness or then he didn't want get in any situations where he had take doubts. “You didn't tell me what Ritsuko was working with WY?” Shinji decided to carry on their conversation, what he remembered it had been left.

 

“ 'Cause she never told me what.” Misato replied beginning thinking what secrets she may have been tweaking on her own. “Maybe she's putting some monsters together in provision pay: Thousand for something what bites, and Two for something that barks-or meows. Or maybe she has some kind of Dana Scully thing going on there: Ruining every ones day with facts. That would suit her perfectly.”

 

Shinji laughed a little, and then tried to remember what this talk was about. “What was that advice she gave?”

 

“Weren't you shy about her in the start?” Misato asked. “You weren't actually enthusiastic when I begin talk about my friend here. You should begin to trust my sense on people.”

 

“I...I consider it.” Shinji replied when he walked on the fridge or compartment on light green wall what was acting as a fridge. Not really as surprise he found a stack of beer and almost nothing else.

 

“Well, she said that she could try to burn Asuka's brains sick part with a laser so that there will be nothing but healthy tissue.” Misato told her friend advice slowly. This was replied with a loud thumb as Shinji threw the fridge compartment shut.

 

“Did she really…say that? Was she serious?” Shinji's voice came behind the wall as hardly hearable whisper.

 

“Adult's serious. She doesn't have any other tones-I think.” Misato replied and watched the spot on the wall where she thought Shinji was. “Much of her medical crap and doc talk went over me, but I think she was talking about good old lobotomy with techno upgrade. She offered doing the operation her self.”

 

“That's encouraging…I guess.” Shinji said opening the fridge locker again. Searching for something that would be eatable. And he found something as well.

 

“I wouldn't have said so, but I pass those as `thanks for your offer, but we aren't yet so desperate.'”

Misato replied. “Are you finding anything useful there?”

 

“Couple slugs of sausage and…”Shinji walked back from the view something dark red in his hands. “And this.”

 

Misato looked amazed and wondering what Shinji was holding in his hand. “What the hell is that?” She said with a little grimace and having her own suspicions where that kind of thing was used.

 

“You have something on your fridge and you don't what it is?” Shinji asked.

 

“I've lots of…things from people who have to left on hurry. They might have forgotten their stuff there too.” She explained. And began to think who would leave that, what ever it was, here.

 

“It's a beet.” Shinji replied, same time wondering why Misato had kept a pause between speech. “Long preserving, it could've been for some time.”

 

“Oh.” She nodded. “Anything else?”

 

“Little sausage some spice. I might get something from this. It's called borscht.” Shinji said after thinking what he could create from these.

 

“Is it good? What is it anyway?” Misato asked hoping some change on menu, what she had craved for days.

 

“It's Russian food, made with small supplies…you probably won't like it.” Shinji warned.

 

“If it doesn't look or tastes like a bowl of warm piss, I'm happy.” Misato replied. “Make it happen.” She ordered with little eased feeling on her mind as she thought it would be something different.

 

“Sure.” Shinji said wondering did she mean that his cooking for past days had been like piss. All though he felt little sore on emotional side he thought it was best to get on with what he was doing.

 

“I would think that all of bad food in the forces had made all ready battered enough, but that isn't the case. So called expose treatment doesn't affect a thing in here.” Misato mused and leaned more to her chairs back.

 

While Shinji had been trying to swallow, first and hopefully last critique about his cooking he suddenly came thought something what they hadn't tried to wake Asuka. He came again out from the kitchen part of Misato's cabin.

 

“What are you doing there again?” Misato asked.

 

“I just…” He looked at Asuka and continued. “I just thought of something. You said that you had all ready used everything what you could think on this...well, case.”

 

“If you have something get on with it, I'm hungry.” Misato replied and lift her head a little from the back of the chair.

 

“You talk about expose treatment, so what if we find that she had…um that exposure, and put them together…” Shinji explained.

 

“We don't know what she exposed, we don't even know was this as machine failure, or murder…” Misato explained bored to death of explain all this to internal security and corporate.

 

“But we have the place…where it happened.” Shinji said.

 

“Yeah we do. What about it, it's been searched for hundreds of times, nothing found.” Misato moaned. “Now could you just get on with that food, or do we need to go this on and on again?”

 

“But…” Shinji tried to say, “We could bring her to there, maybe it would help her remember something. Exposure…”

 

“That's long shot….” Misato snapped and looked at first that she wasn't even going to consider it. Then Shinji could read from her face that she was thinking about it. “And maybe only thing left do before Asuka's brains are fried.”

 

“So…are you going to give it a try…?” Shinji asked.

 

Misato looked at him sharply. “Where have you kept all this initiative buried?”

 

“I…I just thought about it…” Shinji began to explain.

 

“This could have been just what was needed!” Misato added more volume to her voice again. “I've been gathering some more sharp comments that I could throw at her…” She pointed her arm towards Asuka who still hadn't moved from her place, regard what was happening around her.

“…but you all along have had better idea and you keep it to your self. This could've saved hell of a lot of time!”

 

“Sorry…” Shinji apologized, not knowing that his suggestion would make Misato that stressed.

 

Misato shooed her head a little. “Never mind sorry: just when you get some idea like that, tell it to me.” Misato calmed her tone. “I guess Asuka really hasn't encouraged for own thinking has she?”

 

“Perhaps she's right about me being dull minded…” Shinji remembered the times when Asuka had get frustrated about his lack of capabilities.

 

“That's just bull shit…Look at me…” Misato told. “I'm as frozen as you are now, or maybe not even so frozen than you…I should have thought that before you did, but I didn't.”

 

“I think I wouldn't have said it if you hadn't mention that exposure treatment.” Shinji answered.

 

“Honor to that where it belongs, eh?” Misato smirked. “Seriously, I'm glad that you came here to look after her.” Misato fixed her position on the chair. “I really don't have extra time in my hands, I still try to lead the investigation…and I've my other duties as well. Many in your position would've just release the responsibility or pushed it somewhere else.”

 

“I just couldn't feel ease knowing of her…uh…condition.” Shinji explained. “And not that she needs me…”

 

“You are impersonating Asuka pretty well.” Misato said. “She's probably have told that you so long that you believe it.”

 

“It's true…” Shinji said. Asuka was always one who got all the ideas, and was always doing something. She didn't ever get any help, or asked, she's just coping through everything. Until now.

“And she has other friends…”

 

“Name one, except Hikari.” Misato said sternly.

 

“Well…there was…” Shinji began going trough all the classmates and people what and spend their time around Asuka. He had tried to get their name, but Asuka never mentioned any of them by name.

 

“And that concludes our X-file.” Misato said with a light sense of tone. “Say, what Asuka wants you to say, and I admit that Hikari and You know her just because by force, you two are only ones who know anything about her.”

 

“I don't know that much…just that her mom and father have divorced…and that she didn't get always along with her mother.” Shinji said.

 

“But that's more than anybody of those known-by-face friends do known.” Misato noted. “You and Hikari probably could come some arrangement how to take care of her.”

 

“I'm doing fine.” Shinji said. He didn't know before that how easy it was looking after her, as she wasn't putting up much of a fight or argue.

 

“You probably are, but before you move in here…” Misato started. “You might probably want to have few things taken care of.”

 

“What do you mean?” Shinji wondered.

 

“You have been here for three nights…still doesn't ring a bell...?” Misato riddled.

 

“You are telling me that I've forgot something…?” Shinji tried to think what it might have been; he had spent much of his time here.

 

“You didn't tell your guardian that you are moving in here or that where you've vanished.” Misato said raising her eyebrow. “Do you remember now?”

 

Shinji almost immediately understood: he hadn't told a word for his teacher, and who had been his guardian since he had left, or had been left alone in corridors of geo-front platform. He normally had wanted to know where he was spending his time, but after Kyoky's accident he hadn't heard a word from him. “I totally forgot…” He said hasty. “What I'm going to say…?” He thought about facing his teacher nervously.

 

Misato looked at almost paled Shinji and then decided to leave teasing for other time. “It's a sort of consolation that you haven't changed so much, from…what it was? Oh, a house broke male. Any more changes would probably mean that end of universe is knocking at my door.” She fixed again her stance on the chair. Steel chair with only little softening on its back was beginning to be uncomfortable when it was leaned for long enough. “I told him where you were. I had to persuade him to leave. That one was little too intrigued about you.” she tilted her head on side where she could see the closed cabin door.

Shinji said with his breathing and mind eased. “Well, he is my guardian. So he probably would like to know where I am.”

 

“Wonder is it for personal, or is his just afraid black stain on his CV…” Misato thought out loud.

 

Shinji perked a little hearing this out from her. “I can go back to him, if I'm disturbing you.”

 

Misato turned her head back to him. ”No, no…I wasn't meaning that like it. You can stay so long as you want.” She explained. “I don't mind you being here around…on the contrary.”

 

“Really?” Shinji wondered.

 

“Is it really that big surprise?” Misato chuckled a little before continuing. “It's good that I don't have to go trough this alone. And though I good with shorter acquaintances it's good to have somebody who knows me more than two hours.” Misato elaborated. “And you are pretty good at cooking, though dinner menu has been pretty the same after a while.”

 

“So, you are keeping me here for food and pleasure?” Shinji asked.

 

“Hah.” Misato laughed cheerfully “You think that I'm going to bite you or something? Or are you hoping it?”

 

Shinji seemed little eased that even this time Misato could keep on this little game of hers, though it felt troubling of him when she was making up these things, all time he could probably begin to try answer back of them. “Umm…Little both.” He replied shyly and tried to make a smile come around his face.

 

“That was a good try.” Misato replied pleased that Shinji even tried to come along with this play of hers what she had provoked him for ages. She was beginning to bore see him just blushing and stuttering something. At least he tried. “Keep it up, and we may have a real conversation in our hands.”

 

“You…still didn't answer. You don't have to do this.” Shinji asked, feeling more peaceful for that little praise.

 

“Of course I do, what to do you think? That I kick you sorry asses to hall way, or put you quarantined in medical?” She asked little sharp tone and her eyes narrowing.

 

“It…it could've been one thing….” Shinji tangle on his words seeing that he had struck his hands on something deep.

 

“Well…” Misato started calming her self inside. “It's kind of duty you know? What you've started, you finish too…” She shrugged.

 

Shinji knew, was he dull minded or not, that this wasn't far from a lie. Misato had no trouble on starting things, but it was finishing them what was difficult. She had about number of things what needed to be done but they just kept piling up. “But hasn't this had happened you before?”

 

Misato blinked her eyes. “Um…?” She mumbled, trying figure out where this conversation was headed. Did he mean about the time when he was all alone, with nobody believing her stories about invisible hunters?

 

Like Shinji was expecting that something like this happening. But he didn't know about the predators yet. She didn't tell him about them until later. “I mean, didn't your friend go trough something like this? About year or two ago?”

 

Misato was like waking up when she realized that it didn't lead to her past but her friend's past.

“Aah…you mean Ripley?” she replied with a slight fade of smile on her face. “About 6'3 feet of pilot hard ass. You probably know her by other names.” Misato said referring to words like `The queen bitch of universe' what corporation began to use her after her blew up their ore cargo liner.

 

“Wasn't she in some book or…?” Shinji tried to dig up his memory where she had heard her first.

 

“Guinness book of records…or is it data sheet now days? Damn hyper information age…they don't use real paper to anything than wiping their asses…” She mumbled. “Anyway she got the record of causing most devastating economic disaster in two decades, as a private person.”

 

“Really?” Shinji wondered. He had heard that she caused lot of damage, but didn't know that her reputation would bring her this war.

 

“Mm-m.” Misato replied. “She didn't care that n the end, was just another reminder what she did. But she wasn't afraid about facing the reality after what she did. And she was a grown up person. It was hard to believe that she of all people would be in center of attention. She avoided it, If didn't know better I'd say she was shy...but she liked that usual package, stability but excitement as well.”

 

“So what happened?” Shinji inquired.

 

“Corps did some nasty things. She was demoted, publicly humiliated, and made sure she would never get to position where she would need to…” Misato stopped like she had remembered something from this subject what wasn't yet uncovered but was attached to as clear as day.

She looked like something had come to light like something what she didn't even had thought would have just come up and made perfectly sense, or unlocked something.

 

“What?” Shinji asked as he saw what was happening to his guardian.

 

“Shinji has Asuka said anything about….” She stopped again to think. “About dragons?”

 

“Dragons?” Shinji said little amused.

 

“Yes!” Misato snapped. “Dragons!” She glanced at Shinji and now she seemed more than anxious to know. It was like this little thing had much importance.

 

“Eh...couple time in Germany I think the word what she said…was a dragon…” Shinji startled little about her reaction and was afraid what was about the scolding what was about to come.

 

Misato looked more grim mixed with premonition and little bit of fear. She jumped up from her seat, so quickly that it fell down. She run to her room and Shinji could see her trying to dig some reports in hurry from her desk's locker. She found something and turned couple page forward and looked like she had found something she dropped the report on table and began to look around for some clothes to put on. She found soon trousers of tracksuit to cover her bare legs, and quickly dress her leather jacket over her. She also drew her pistol from the locker and thrust her feet in hurry to her combat boots. When she arrived from her room she looked at Shinji and then her gun. It was like she was truing to decide what she should do with it.

 

“What's going on?” Shinji asked uncertainly.

”Shinji…” Misato said now deciding to take her pistol with her. “Don't let anybody in, before I come back.”

 

“Why..?” Shinji tried to ask her.

 

“Just do it!” She yelled and run to the door and opened it vanishing from there to hallway. Shinji heard her steps all the way down to nearby elevator. Door closed down automatically.

 

“Right…” Shinji said and walked near the seat what Misato had used lifting it back, and sit on it. He still felt how warm it was…and some of Misato's scent. Mix with smell of food and beer, as well some sweat. In the background he could smell old traces lavender flower. He kept wondering could he find out what she had eaten.

 

Some time passed maybe he was waiting her about twenty minutes, before his thoughts again wandered to Asuka who was near of the table still watching intensely her palms. They opened and closed in moments. He still didn't have the clue what was going on. Next his ears seem to perk. Seem to perk and he looked towards the door. Like something were behind it, and he heard it. He looked to Asuka who wasn't taken back by it only he could notice something. Like forgetting what Misato had said, he began to walk towards door. Like something had drawn him to there he opened the door and peeked outside. There was nothing there. He stepped outside of the cabin and looked to right. He saw the corridor leading up to other cabins. This station living quarters were designed box like. End of completely green shade corridor lead to elevator where Misato had ran.

 

In left, Corridor made a turn towards more cabins. Living quarters were Corporate design, and made so that in case of a riot there was little coverage, as there was only four corners, and only one way out.

 

Shinji looked in to the left. Like something was breathing he saw nothing, but somehow felt it…it was pitch black there, but he saw. Middle of all darkness he saw.

 

He saw a head rising from darkness. At first he thought there wasn't end of it but then he noticed that it ended to something what looked like a mouth. He didn't see any eyes on it. First it looked like head was floating in the air. He didn't see any shoulders…but after while he saw it ending to neck.

 

Funny thing was that at first Shinji didn't even fear. It was like he was looking something what was behind a glass. It was shining from the head but otherwise it didn't look threatening. Then it tilted its head. And began to open something on its head what looked like lips. They trembled like Asuka's lips had, and revealed tightly bitten metallic shade of teeth.

 

Shinji forcefully blinked his eyes at this point. Creature opened its jaws a little and let out a strong hiss. Now Shinji felt first sparkle of fear, going trough his brains. And at the same time he understood what Asuka had imitated awhile before.

Suddenly beast grew. Shinji realized that it had been crouching now its head was well above his.

And In light what came from cabin he could see more. It had strong arms, and feet what looked at first glance shaky, but also muscular. What Shinji could see before fear took over him, looked like it had its bones in surface. Whole creature looked sort of lizard but it also gave imagine of skeletal insect. Like a mixture from nightmare. Shinji took steps backwards and tried reach something with his arm but didn't reach anything. He continued to retreat to wards his cabin.

 

An alien…what else word would describe it? It smelled, or felt Shinji's fear. And it seemed amused of the situation. Shinji's terror filled thoughts soon diverted to Asuka who was in the cabin. He tried to put his thoughts together and think how he could do something to stop this creature. He tried to get some form of scream to alert Asuka but nothing came. Instead he continued to fall back, but didn't devise any mean how he could help her. Creature kept letting out some sort low hissing sounds, and while looking like it was preparing, it didn't seem to think that Shinji was its prey. It looked hideous but it didn't do anything but met his every step and followed.

 

Shinji had all ready fall back past the door. He heard how air hummed as another hidden part of creature came to view. Giant tail what looked like continued sine with its vertebras, and its sharp fang in it.

 

Shinji could still see Asuka who was sitting on her seat. She looked almost apathy when she stared at Shinji but now she saw something different. Days had Shinji tried to keep his mind positive, even forced himself to do so. But now speak his face were affected by fear which was honest and seemed to catch her attention. She raised her head, and watched how Shinji was covering about something.

 

“Shin…?” She started now speaking for first time. And soon she noticed what had gotten him so upset. Just appeared creature came to her view and Asuka recognized it. She let out of cry when suddenly she gained control over her body and jumped from her seat.

 

This meant the end of creature passivity. Like lightning its head turn towards new source of noise. Soon it was just a plain reaction shinji could see or feel the chage in this creature as it almost immidiatly found its rage. Creature laid is eyes, if it had them towards Asuka and crouched to jumping position.

 

Shinji did the same: reacted. He punched the panel near him. Door went to just in time so it closed the passage for blood thirsty beast. Alien couldn't stop itself and with a loud clang as it crashed to closed door. Shinji watched how alien remain dazed and opened its jaws like in some kind of moaning, but it let much quiet series of hisses out of its mouth.

 

Shinji kept thinking what he should do but as the alien waved from side to side Shinji couldn't control himself anymore, and began to run as quickly as he could, away from creature. Even I this moment he could hear some one saying, “This is what you do best.” Shinji just kept running anywhere what wasn't close the Alien. He could hear banging and screeching as creatures claws were striking to metal. And when he turned to corridor in his eye corner he could see creature how it struck again and again and how sparkles flew out of the door.

 

Escape wasn't in his mind entirely. Alien had made him so striking presence on him that he only wished to run away somewhere where he could see it anymore. And when this was done, he began to regret that he had done…”No…” He remembered that he had left his friend behind. In his thoughts he began to think about return to there.

 

“Shinji!” he heard a scream calling him. he watched to forward and saw that he had run so far as the elevator. Misato had come back and she was waving with pistol on her other hand. “Get yourself here!” she yelled.

 

“Monsters! They…!” Shinji yelled.

 

“I know!” Misato yelled. “They are everywhere! In living quarters, class rooms…we have to get out of here!”

 

“We can't!” Shinji resisted.

 

“This isn't the time to get suicidal!” Misato shouted.

 

“Asuka…she's still there…with it!” Shinji cried out desperately.

 

“God damn it…” Misato muttered as she soon realized that something was wrong as he was here alone. “Run here!” She commanded. She thought it was better to save at least one.

 

Once again Shinji's instinct responded not caring how his mind felt he began to run last crucial meters to elevator where Misato was.

 

Sudednly shinji heard familiar growling coming from behind him. Then loud crash and he felt like something had come down.

 

“SHIT!” misato yelled. “Take cover!” she said with haste.

 

Shinji didn't obey this with all rules, he fell down to his own feet when he heard the order. Nevertheless Misato used the opportunity and began shot rounds to thing behind Shinji. Shinji turned to see how alien who had crashed down from ventilation shaft took three shot to its chest.

Creature let out a roar what made all the hisses to pale in comparison. It rolled to reveal its back as it took the shots. Shinji saw its tail wiping over his head and felt the rush of air it brought to him. He heard again hissing but this time it felt like something had melted.

 

Shinji stumbled back to his feet and half walked and crawled his way to elevator. Shinji, finally after endless struggle, managed to get to elevators floor. He glanced at Misato who still kept his handgun pointed steadily to black creature. “One tough son of a bitch…” She muttered seeing that alien wasn't dying, but recovering from her shots. She pressed her another hand to panel, and pressed a button, perhaps in same instinct as Shinji and doors closed.

 

Shinji was panting on the floor and tried to gather his strength. “Try to hold on…” Misato soothed seeing how sweaty it had gotten him. She guessed this probably was because of fear not his lack of strength.

 

“Asuka is there…” Shinji panted.

 

“She WAS there.” Misato replied sternly. “She's gone.”

 

“No we have to get back to…” Shinji tried to move to panel but Misato jumped to front of the pane to block his way, and Shinji bumped to her, taking full support from her with his hands. Misato pressed him tighter against her self and looked at him calmly.

 

“Listen…if that creature was there, she is dead now…we can't help her, we can only survive from this, or go back and get us all killed. She wouldn't want you to die just yet, trust on me. And get yourself together.” She spoke with determination in her voice.

 

Shinji stared back. He looked at Misato who was keeping her self in line, but somehow he also knew that she hated telling this to him, and hated more what she was about to do. Somehow he just knew. He hadn't know her so long that he could speak about reading her but somehow it was just radiating from her.

 

Shinji chose to trust her. This was decision what was in his mind for this day, for almost six years. All kinds of “what ifs” had been his mind. And this wasn't exception even in this dream he wished to choose differently but could not...even as he kept telling this was a dream; he could not proceed otherwise as had written. But even dreams end sometimes.

 

“Lieutenant?” he called a voice, coming somewhere else. He felt like his whole world was crumbling.

 

Suddenly he saw that he had awakened. Like curtain had fall off from her she found that he was facing glass in front of him, and that he was looking to Sandoval's face who kept knocking his knuckles to glass. “You all right, lieutenant?” She asked.

 

Shinji felt frozen as everyone in cold sleep would, but managed to give a reply.

“Just a bad dream…I think.” It was time to wake on new day.

AN, Knight_one: I've failed you. Forgive me, but I had my job to take care off, and recent things in my life didn't help. This was about to be as massive as ch5, but I had to cut it here. In your aspect, this whole thing was actually vain, this was only part of much more what I didn't had time to finish. My horror line continues, if not in anything else in grammar mistakes.

 

Now, this thing you should hear. First, there won't be any more updates in some time. As I might have said, in Finland we have defense forces what uses universal conscription. That means every man age of 18 is called to serve in military. (And women can do this too, but it's voluntary to them. Where is equality there?) I'm 19, as I got hold from my studies, but now I must serve my time, what will be at least six months, and twelve at max. Because of my training I'm probably sent to artillery, or then messaging. There are 1746 recruits starting their service where only 27 are volunteered women. I could have tried to slip out of this, but in my life there isn't anything so important that I should. Besides I'm a patriot of some sort, and if the time comes I want to be capable to protect my country and everyone who live there.

 

So I'm of to garrison of Kainuu, what it's not only Finland's biggest garrison but also the best! I try to write if I have the free time, but it's going to be hard. See you again in six months!

 

(Actually my six months period is now only 78 days, as I publish this now. this was finished in June but for some reason it's only published now- I promise something after Christmas.)