Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Heaven and Hell ❯ A Prodigal Son ( Chapter 4 )

Manga - Addicts Presents:
Heaven and Hell
Revelations 0:4 - A Prodigal Son

HTML version 09 May 2008

Neon Genesis Evangelion created by, registered, and copyrighted to GAINAX, Project EVA, Movic, and any other company and/or division associated with the creation and/or production of Neon Genesis Evangelion. A.D.Vision holds the copyrights to the English version of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

This work of fiction is not intended for any commercial purposes but was created for the entertainment of the Author and Fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

No copyright infringement was in any way intended.

Heaven and Hell written by Jino Turtlegod

M Rating. For mature readers only. Some scenes, themes, language, and situations are not suitable for younger readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Revelations 0:4 - A Prodigal Son

Misato slid the dining room door open. She looked terrible in her rumpled white tank top and very short, frayed cut-off jeans, and her hair was tied into an untidy ponytail. She gave a wide yawn and scratched her belly, which reinforced the image of a grumpy hung-over spinster.

"Good morning everybody," she sleepily mumbled to the three people she knew were in the room. Asuka, Rei, and Pen-Pen (their penguin housemate, Misato's pet and oftentimes guardian). She took a cold beer from the fridge and took three swallows to empty the can.

"Phaaaaaah Kwaaaaaah!!" My dear life! Now that's what I call a wake up drink!" Misato perkily cried out, now more awake after her morning beer. She looked at the usual morning faces of her housemates. Pen-Pen's indifferent look with one red feathery eyebrow (or whatever it was called) arched, Asuka's look of disgust at her childish behavior and Rei's -- Misato blinked. Rei was not at the kitchen table.

"Don't tell me that Rei's still asleep," the Colonel remarked as she carefully added the now empty can to the fastidiously arranged installation art by the fridge. In other words, she chucked the can at the overflowing box destined for the recycling center. Misato took another beer from the fridge in order to get her daily minimum allowance of the elixir of life.

"Oh, don't worry, she didn't oversleep," Asuka raised an eyebrow at her in amusement. "Fact is, her bed was unslept in."

"Oh, is that all?" Misato mumbled as she drank her beer at a more leisurely pace. Asuka raised an eyebrow questioningly and began counting slowly, she had gotten to four before Misato sprayed beer all over the floor. "WHAT?!"

"It was probably one hot date for Rei to forget coming home," Asuka said with a knowing wink at the older woman. It was fun messing with Misato's head so early in the morning.

Misato visibly paled as images of Rei doing unspeakable acts with an unknown boy rushed into her head. The threat to her ward's safety had shocked her into wakefulness better than any cup of coffee.

"Nonononono! Oh, God! Forgive me for not watching her closer!" Misato raved, frantically tearing at her hair. "My God! What if she gets pregnant! She's still too young! What if- WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING! Rei's not like that!" Misato glared at Asuka, who was watching her in amusement. "AS-KA!!"

"Really, Misato. You're acting like a hysterical mother now. Tsk, tsk. What would Dr. Akagi say if she finds out?" Asuka teased, wagging her finger at the older woman before changing to a serious tone. "However, I'm not joking, Rei said she was going out on a date yesterday, never heard from her since," she took a worried bite of her toast.

"Damn! I wonder who it is? Could it be one of the new boys?" Misato growled before taking an angry swig from her beer.

"Nah. Allen and Henri were with the Juno and me most of yesterday. Hell, we even went to the karaoke club. Besides, I don't think Rei likes younger boys," Asuka said thoughtfully as she absent-mindedly nibbled on her toast.

"Do you know somebody she likes?" Misato said as she threw away the can and took another one. She was seriously pondering calling for the Security Section.

"No, not really. I didn't think she was that interested in boys," Asuka mused out loud as she scratched Pen-Pen's head. "Except for one," Asuka added so quietly that Misato didn't notice. Asuka wondered if the two were able to keep in touch, a thought that somehow made her jealous, but jealous of what? Rei had made it clear where she stands on the matter during one of their games.

They all froze as they heard the main-door lock click open followed by a casually shouted "I am home" from Rei. They all rushed to the foyer with Pen-Pen in the lead. Misato was fuming at what she believed was gross irresponsibility on Rei's part. Asuka was curious as to what had happened to her friend and roommate. Pen-pen was just glad that his favorite person was home.

"Where have you been young lady?!" Misato yelled as she rounded the corner to see Rei talking with a boy whose back was turned towards her. He was carrying a blue overnight bag and Misato quickly assumed that they were going to elope. "And you young man!" She said as she grabbed his shirt and angrily spun him around to face her.

Misato was surprised at who the boy was, her grip on the boy's shirt gradually loosened. She stared at the familiar face, her mouth agape. Then recovering her composure, she hugged the boy tightly as tears streaked down her cheeks.

Asuka stood a few steps behind Misato looking at the boy's flushed face. He had grown taller and was nearly eye-to-eye with Misato and just slightly shorter than Asuka herself. His features had become sharper, more mature as he lost the soft curves of his face. His eyes were still the same, those soulful, deep blue eyes of his which invited her to lose herself in them. However his eyes no longer held any hint of an innocent child but were completely those of a tortured teenager. His black hair was a bit longer to the point of being unkempt, his bangs were long enough to reach to just below his eyes. His tall frame was still a little slouched but was also more slightly built than when they last met. The sickly paleness of his skin was gone, replaced by a healthy tan. A part of her felt thankful that he took after his mother, Asuka couldn't imagine him looking like Commander Ikari..

`Something's different... He's gotten past cute-- he's handsome,' Asuka finally conceded, somehow pleased. He was no longer a cute kid but rather fitted what the Japanese call "bishonen", a beautiful man. She crossed her arms and leaned back on a wall, content on watching them.

Rei looked at Misato and Shinji, a sense of accomplishment made her smile. She looked down and saw Pen-pen look up at her. Rei bent down and scooped him up in her arms.

Misato and the boy separated, looking sheepishly at each other. Moments of embarrassed silence followed before they remembered their old ritual.

"I'm home," the boy said, nostalgia in his voice.

"Welcome home," she said.

"Waark!" Pen-pen greeted from within Rei's embrace. Rei smiled warmly at Shinji as if to say that everything was all right. But then-

"Asuka." The name slipped from Shinji's lips and he felt cold as he looked past Misato and saw the indifferent girl leaning on the wall.

"You're back, Stupid Shinji," was all she said before she turned on her heels and went back into the kitchen.

000

Terminal Dogma

"Is everything ready, Vice-Commander?" Commander Santiago said as he viewed the preparations to separate the Angel and Unit-01. They were in the relative silence of the armored control room in a prefabricated module which was perched on top of some scaffolding erected between the cross and Heaven's Gate. Outside, the noise was almost unbearable as the machinery and personnel of the Technical Department prepared to perform the delicate operation.

"Awaiting your orders, Sir," Col. Makoto Hyuga replied as he surveyed the men going about the preparations. If something happened, they may lose everything. As Vice-Commander, he knew it wasn't going to fall on his shoulders (especially since he wouldn't be alive by then). But being in such close proximity to possible death did little to lessen the anxiety of dying, no matter whose fault it was. The sad truth about having something to live for is that people lose the courage to die.

"Begin." The control officers acknowledged the order and relayed it to the waiting technicians.

Makoto felt a reassuring squeeze on his arm and turned his head to see his wife smile at him. He smiled back weakly as the machines started to chip away at the Carbon Bakelite as soon as the commander gave the word.

"Pilots, stay alert," Misato reminded the EVA pilots for the umpteenth time. The two units, one red and the other white with red highlights, were standing knee deep in the LCL. Huge non-lethal (at least to an EVA or Angel) electro-shock prods were held ready, instead of the progressive lance that was the current close-in weapon of the EVAs. The prod was capable of releasing an electric shock that could fry a lake full of wallowing elephants but will theoretically have enough power to stun an Angel or an EVA. They had to be careful not to destroy Adam, knowing fully well that if they accidentally destroy Adam, all was lost as Adam would release enough energy to destroy the world - the dreaded Third Impact.

Misato knew that most of what they told her about Adam were lies but she didn't feel like finding out the truth the hard way. And that was why she was feeling a little strung out at the moment.

000

Yuri heard Asuka humming a sad song over the communications channel. It was the same song she had been humming for nearly half an hour. The tune aggrieved Yuri's irritation. For some reason, she had been cranky all morning. She felt like she wanted to bash something and there was this nagging ache in her belly.

Yuri wondered why Asuka seemed to be in a sad mood. Pensiveness was a mood she had never seen Asuka in before. Eh, but what does she care about the Red Headed Devil anyway?

Yuri decided to ignore the older pilot and think of something else to pass the time. She thought of her brother. She had left the hospital in an irritated mood, comforted only by the fact that Hikari and Aida were there to watch over Toji. Hikari had that sad puppy look in her eyes that Yuri somehow found distressing. Everyone knew Toji and Hikari were an item but it still galled the younger Suzuhara that the two were still not happy. In fact, the very relationship seems to have caused more trouble than it was worth. If Hikari had not wanted to be with Toji she wouldn't feel so guilty about killing all those people, if she hadn't been in love with Toji she wouldn't feel so helpless as he was attacked by the Angel. And they say love conquers all. Bullshit. Yuri shook her head and resolved never to fall in love.

Yuri cursed under her breath. Now, she too felt depressed.

000

"Commander Santiago," Santiago and the others turned to see a uniformed Rei enter with a young man who had black hair. He wore a plain blue shirt, black pants and a pair of battered sneakers. He held a large paper bag to his chest with both hands. Rei introduced him. "The pilot of Unit 01, Shinji Ikari."

Santiago nodded in acknowledgement; his eyes took measure of the boy. He finally gave a smirk that made Shinji feel as if he failed the man's expectations. The boy gave a sigh of relief as the Commander returned to watching the operation.

Maya and Makoto smiled sympathetically at the young man before returning to their duties. They knew the look Santiago gave him from personal experience.

"Did you get your stuff?" Misato turned to face him, her eyes however remained on the scaffolding outside. Her voice was cold and distant which meant that she was really worried.

Shinji raised the bag which contained his new plugsuit, two pairs of white cranial transmitters, three different sets of uniforms, the new NERV S.O.P. manual, his new ID card, a new cell-phone, a pistol, two spare clips, and a box with a hundred rounds of ammo. He had been a little uneasy about the gun but Rei had insisted that he take it, saying that it was a very dangerous world out there for people like them. He remembered the death threats he had received while living on the farm and reluctantly took the gun.

Sighing at the stupidity that makes people threaten those who would save them, Shinji went nearer to the window and stared, lost in memories as Unit 01's purple and blue form began to emerge from the Carbon Bakelite.

Shinji felt the flashbacks as memory took him back to the last time he piloted Unit 01. His pulse quickened and his hand clenched and unclenched in agitation. He could smell the blood and hear the screams and gunshots. Then he remembered his sin.

During the Eighteenth Incident, he had lost control, of himself and Unit 01. In his rage in being used by SEELE and his father, he allowed unit 01 to take control. If it weren't for Rei, he would have never regained his mind.

Shinji looked at Rei and found that she was also looking at him. She smiled at him and he returned the smile, the tension left him for the moment.

000

Asuka looked at the screen that showed Rei and Shinji talking, she frowned and the image expanded as she willed one of her cameras to zoom in. A slight frown was on her face as she observed the two teenagers talk casually. She was a little irritated that he had been so dense. If only he had followed her into the kitchen she would have shown him what she really felt. Two years she waited... She angrily pressed her communicator button. It seemed like she would have to take the initiative... again.

"Third Children." A mini-screen opened up on the observation window, it showed Asuka who had an angry frown. She didn't yell but rather called out in a normal speaking voice. But it still had the same effect on Shinji as if she had used a loudspeaker.

"Y-yes, Asuka," Shinji was worried. She had used the tone that made him want to hide in his room and set his SDAT player's volume to max. Rei stepped back and away from Shinji. `Traitor,' he thought to himself.

"I will talk to you later."

"Y-yes." The mini-screen blinked out and Shinji gave a visible sigh of relief. He turned and noticed that a lot of people had been paying attention to the one-sided conversation. He blushed as he realized some of the female staff were giggling. He looked at the EVAs in order to ignore the whispered comments behind his back. He felt uncomfortable looking at Asuka's EVA so he looked at the white EVA with red trimmings.

000

What was that all about? Yuri thought. She turned to look at the control room and zoomed her camera at the young man she somehow vaguely remembered. The young man looked at her direction, she felt as if he were looking directly at her instead of her EVA. Then he saw the young man turn to someone. Rei come to stand beside him and Yuri immediately lost interest.

000

"Toji's little sister?" Shinji said in disbelief before chuckling to himself. "I suddenly feel so old."

"We are of the same age," Rei said, not knowing what he meant.

"Never mind." Shinji smiled kindly at her. He saw her smile in return and it seemed that everything was all right. She had a beautiful smile that enhanced her delicate beauty. Shinji thought it was one of the most breath-taking sights he had ever seen.

Rei's smile abruptly disappeared and her eyes gained a hard edge as she looked past him. He turned towards the window, worried by her reaction. He wondered what was wrong when he suddenly felt it.

The alarm sirens began going off and red warning signs filled the window's mini-screens. Outside, the mountain of Carbon Bakelite began sprouting spider webs of cracks with loud sharp snaps. The technicians hurriedly abandoned their posts, screaming and running along the catwalks and some even jumped into the LCL in panic as they were consumed by the fear for which the AT Field was named after.

"ADAM HAS AWAKENED!! EVACUATE!!" Maya cried out as she read the displays, panic built up inside her as the AT Field made its presence felt even in the armored room. "This is not possible!!" she thought numbly. She felt Makoto's presence behind her and the panic subsided ever so slightly.

"Prepare to deploy the Bakelite when all personnel are clear," Santiago said, his voice loud and clear. Shinji looked at him as the fear started to take effect within him. Santiago was calmly giving orders while all Hell broke loose around him. Shinji remembered his father and he suppressed the tears. Shinji felt someone hold his hand and he turned to see Rei beside him smiling comfortingly. Misato glanced at the Shinji before focusing her attention at the crisis at hand. She activated her headset.

Asuka made her EVA stoop down to help the technicians get away. She scooped up the technicians swimming in the LCL and gently brought them to the catwalk. She didn't forget about Adam and kept one eye on the Angel, the prod ready in one hand.

Yuri didn't know what to do but place herself between the cross and Unit 02, which was helping the technicians escape. Unit 40 crouched low, the prod pointed at the Angel.

Yuri felt something tingling at the back of her mind, it was trying to tell her something. There was a sudden sharp crack, then the partly liberated Unit 01 was hurled towards her. Yuri didn't have time to dodge and the purple EVA crashed into her, sending her own EVA flying off its feet. Yuri screamed as Unit 40 fell back against the control room, the scream of bending metal filling the air.

Asuka heard the crack as the Bakelite shattered and she heard Yuri scream over the sound of the crashing EVAs. Asuka raised her head to see Adam for the second time in her life. Bakelite fragments and ruined scaffolding were falling away from the Angel to splash into the LCL. It had damaged its left hand from tearing free of the cross, the right hand was still nailed. The Angel's body shuddered in pain. It looked at her with its seven eyes and once again she felt sorrow for it.

"I'm really sorry," Asuka said as she charged at the crucified Angel, and she meant it. She pushed the prod into the Angel, energy crackled as the tip met the angelic matter. Asuka heard its high-pitched bestial scream.

"NOW! FREEZE IT!" Asuka yelled as she tried to pin the Angel to the cross.

"ALL PERSONNEL ARE CLEAR!!" Lt. Corrie Hayes cried out, blood streaked his face where flying bits of glass had cut him.

"DEPLOYING BAKELITE!!" Maya screamed as she brought her fist down to shatter the glass covering the activation button. She winced in pain and briefly wondered how Dr. Ritsuko Akagi could do it without ever injuring her hand.

The control room was in disarray from Unit 40's impact, glass fragments and assorted pieces of paper littered the floor. The prefab module was tilted at an angle because one of the support pillars had bent under Unit 40's weight. Misato was holding onto Lt. Hayes' chair, which was bolted to the floor, and tried to peer out through the cracked armor glass.

Shinji sat on the floor his arms wrapped protectively around an unconscious Rei. She had hit her head on the edge of one the tables and blood flowed from her forehead. Shinji looked down at her with concern, he remembered when he had met the first Rei and remembered when he had lost her. Shinji tried to staunch the bleeding with his hand.

000

Yuri felt like she was underwater, she opened her eyes and saw a huge purple face looking at her. She screamed in panic before she realized it was Unit 01. God, it's ugly, she thought. She made her EVA to push it off itself.

Unit 01's eyes suddenly blazed white then just as suddenly dimmed. Yuri felt her heart skip a beat. She knew it wasn't supposed to that, in fear she pushed it off her EVA and hurriedly made Unit 40 stand up. Yuri stared at Unit 01, which was still partly submerged in the LCL by Unit 40's feet. She half-expected the un-piloted EVA to rise up and grapple with her.

Terminal Dogma echoed with a high pitched scream. Yuri looked up at the sound and saw Unit 02 pinning what looked like an unarmored EVA to the cross with it's prod as bakelite sprayed over Unit 02's enemy from nozzles on the wall behind the cross. One of the enemy's hands seemed to be nailed to the cross and its legs were still encased in bakelite. It had gripped the prod with its ruined hand and was trying to push it away in vain.

Yuri watched in horror as the Angel tore its other hand off in the struggle. The LCL began to turn red as the Angel's blood sprayed from the stump of its right wrist. Adam, now free from the cross, began to fall forward on top of Unit 02.

"YURI!! GET YOUR PROD AND HELP ME!" Asuka yelled at the confused girl. Yuri, focused on her orders and disregarded everything else as she had been trained to do. Yuri groped for the prod in the LCL and once she found it, she rushed into the fray.

"ANTI-AT FIELD!!" Lt. Hayes cried out at the sudden reversal of the graphs he was monitoring. Misato glanced at the blond top of the young officer, hoping that he was wrong.

Asuka and Yuri froze, their eyes dilated as the Angel glowed. They felt fear as their EVAs' AT Fields were suddenly ripped apart. Adam gave a pushing motion with its hand and both EVAs went flying through the air and crashed into the armored walls of the cavern. Adam's eyes glowed and a blazing white cross rose from its body, hitting the cavern's roof and continued upwards to explode out into the geofront. Trees and packed earth rose in the air and rained down in the geofront from the powerful explosion. The final traces of carbon bakelite disintegrated from the Angel and it fell crouching into the LCL.

Asuka clenched her jaws as she tried to push back against the strongest AT Field she had ever felt. Unit 02 was visibly straining as it pushed itself up against the invisible force. Yuri and Unit 40 were worse off as both pilot and EVA were knocked out of commission.

Adam threw its chest out and its head back as it roared. Asuka's fear-fogged mind somehow wondered how something without a mouth roar like that. She gave a gasp as Adam's left hand and the stump of its right hand began bubbling. Fingers and flesh regenerated from the white mass as the Angel drew in LCL from the surrounding lake.

Adam stopped roaring, Asuka felt the AT Field lift as the Angel looked towards Heaven's Gate.

"Relief forces have arrived at Terminal Dogma! Awaiting orders, Sir!" Juno beamed at Asuka from a mini-screen.

"Juno! Henri! Allen!" Asuka cried out as she turned and saw the three EVAs standing by Heaven's Door. They all carried stun prods, but Allen also carried something that was long, red, and had two prongs. Asuka couldn't help but gasp at the familiar object that she feared, "Lancea Longini." The Lance of Longinus.

"ASUKA!" Allen yelled as he threw the prod to her, Asuka deftly caught it in her hand, a little thankful that he didn't threw the Lance.

"Allen remain in the AT Field neutralization zone. Asuka, Juno, Henri - knock it out." Misato's voice came through the comm links on sound-only mode.

"ROGER!" All four pilots replied.

000

Rei watched as the boy bent down to return the cello to its case. She knew it pained him to see her. She knew he had once had feelings for her. No. Not her, but the Rei who had sacrificed herself for him. To him, she and the Rei who died were two different people. And in a way, she knows he's right. But in a way he was also wrong. There's more to people and clones than DNA.

She went closer, the chirping of birds unusually loud in the awkward silence. She may not like doing what she was about to do, but she had to do it. It was for the thing that she lived for, for the thing that her predecessor had died for.

"What do you want?" Shinji said trying not to look at the girl. He had a feeling he knew what she wanted.

"Unit 01 is being reactivated." She said, now standing in front of him. She offered him a sealed brown envelope.

Shinji's head snapped up, the color draining from his face. He knew they wanted him to pilot an EVA. He didn't know they wanted him to pilot that specific EVA.

"No," he said softly, bowing his head once more. "I'm through with being used by others."

"The Angels have returned. We need you. Everyone would die if you don't save them," Rei stated.

"No," Shinji replied. He stared hard at the ground so that he did not have to look at her. This thing that had the face of someone he had loved. "Can't you people just leave me alone?! You've got more pilots and EVAs than you need! You didn't need me for the last two years and now you're telling me you need me? Well, I don't need you! Everyone can die for all I care!" His voice shook with the rush of emotions, his eyes bored into hers.

They stared at each other, his blue eyes blazed in anger, her red ones shone with an emotion that he did not know she could possess: sadness. Shinji broke eye contact and stared once more at the ground. That wasn't sadness. She couldn't possibly hold emotions. She was just a doll.

"Leave." He said in a tired voice as he picked up his cello and made to move into the house. "Leave me alone."

"But everything would be for nothing..." a tinge of desperation entered Rei's voice. Her knees felt weak. Humanity was going to be wiped out because she could not convince one boy of its importance.

"Please," she pleaded, "If I could pilot her I would, even though it may mean dying... but I cannot. Only you can... You're the only one..." Rei trailed off as it became apparent that she had failed. The envelope slipped from her fingers and she started to walk away, her body numb.

Shinji could feel his ears burning. This thing was trying to make him feel guilty by making him aware that she could die. He couldn't care less what ever happened to her-- he heard the muted sounds of crying.

Shinji looked up and saw Rei kneeling down on the ground, her shoulders shook as she tried to stop her sobs...Shinji blinked, she couldn't possibly cry for real... she's a clone. She's just a glorified doll... But is that true? He had seen Rei smile, felt her anger and most importantly, felt her concern. Had she not waited by his bedside when he was wounded? Yet she and this thing were made the same. Shinji bit his lower lip as he watched her crying in despair. He could feel the fear dissolve in the face of a realization: this was not a doll.

Shinji brow knitted and he did something that he rarely did: he made a decision...

Rei looked up as she felt someone gently brush her tears away with an index finger. Shinji knelt on the ground in font of her.

"Kaji once said that I still had something to do, something that only I can do," Shinji said, already knowing that he'll regret his decision.

Rei sniffed looking up at his eyes to see if he was just making a cruel joke but instead she saw the pain and the sadness. She sighed as she leaned her head on his chest, her sobs slowly quieting down.

Shinji smiled, painfully aware of his mistake. He rested his chin on the top of her head, somehow contented. Whatever misgivings he had about her humanity were blown away in the cool afternoon breeze.

Rei slowly opened her eyes and saw the bright fluorescent lights and clean white ceiling of a hospital room. It was her first time to see the ceiling of a hospital room in her current incarnation but she had memories of her predecessor's observations of hospital rooms, to which her predecessor had been a frequent visitor. Rei decided she agreed with her predecessor's feelings about hospitals. She too disliked them.

Rei heard faint breathing that she found was not hers. She turned her head and saw Shinji slumped on a chair, asleep. She saw that his shirt was splattered with blood and she began to worry. Did he get hurt during the incident? How badly? She calmed down as she determined that he was not wounded and the blood was most probably hers. She remembered Unit 40 falling backward and crashing into the control room. She remembered falling down before she blacked out. Rei touched her head and felt the soft cotton of the bandage.

"Well, it's good to see you're awake," Asuka said, startling Rei. Asuka had changed to a nice yellow dress before visiting Rei's hospital room. Asuka sat down on the bed beside Rei, her hair still damp from the shower. "You had us worrying, you know," Asuka said, reproach in her voice.

"I am sorry." Rei said, feeling guilty that she worried her friend.

"Stupid! It's not your fault," Asuka scolded as she saw Rei's gloomy face. Asuka hugged her tightly. "I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt."

"Oh," Rei exclaimed before pulling away from her friend. "You wanted to talk to him."

They both looked at the sleeping Shinji. Asuka looked mischievously at Rei.

"What did the two of you do last night?"

000

Santiago stood on a catwalk high above Unit 01's cage. He looked down with dispassionate eyes at the purple demon.

"The Committee will be calling for you." Makoto Hyuga stated from behind the Commander.

"It's about the facsimile, isn't it?" Santiago asked already knowing the answer.

"Yes, it was too early to reveal its existence."

"I cannot conceal things from my tactical commander and expect her to perform efficiently, can I? We now have the Beast secured, and the final key is now in our hands. That is all that matters. What else is there to complain about?"

"They hate surprises. All the scenarios must play out as they planned it."

Santiago smirked. "That way of thinking got SEELE killed."

Colonel Hyuga didn't reply, his eyes focused on Unit 01, wondering for the umpteenth time if he had made the right decision. If Unit 01 knew the answer, it didn't tell.

To Be Continued

In the Next Episode of Heaven and Hell:
Asuka: This is the me in my mind and this is the me in your mind. An exploration of the self and what drives us and our inner demons! Heaven and Hell 0:5 The Lives of Others.