Evangelion: Redemption (Ch. 16 of 19) - Part 2

[fanfic_mausoleum_n_grill]

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(As Shinji and Misato walk into the observation chamber, they are greeted by a familiar voice.)

Asuka: (gesturing) Get over here Shinji! Down there, we can see their faces from here!

(The Third Child heads for the window of the chamber and stands beside Asuka. Katsuragi heads over to join Hyuga and Yuri, at work at the consoles, overseeing Unit 06's activation.)

Shinji: Where are all the people? Shouldn't the guests be watching?

Misato: They're all out on the platform, inside. With the Evas.

Asuka: (gleeful) Front row seats. Lyn's going to scare their pants off.

(Ikari looks out through the plexiglass screen, down into the Evangelion storage chamber. The observing guests stand on a gantry on the opposite side of the cage - surprisingly close to where Unit 06 is ready and waiting. Even at this distance it can be seen that they are all wearing ear defenders.)

Yuri: Major Katsuragi, have you seen Maya?

Misato: Yeah, she was at the dinner, but I lost sight of her a few minutes ago.. why?

Yuri: (innocently) Oh, I just wanted to ask her how things went.

Hyuga: Lyn, are you ready?

Lyn: (radio) Yeah.

Asuka: Give 'em hell, Six!

Misato: Lyn, don't get carried away. Just move around, take a few steps. Show them that you can see them.

Yuri: Beginning activation, Major.

(As the familiar countdown of systems commences, Shinji finds himself glancing over at Asuka, Misato's words in his mind. Sohryu seems intent on watching the activation - or probably the guests observing the activation - and the possibility of her just up and leaving strikes Shinji as completely wrong.

He remembers the boxes and boxes of possessions Asuka had lugged with her when she had first moved in. The idea of moving all of those things out is painful. But not because of the effort involved, but because it would be moving out her things. It would be moving her out, somehow.. speeding it up, hurrying her away.

And it would be a lot of work, but that's an afterthought. Shinji spares a moment to wonder why the hell Asuka owns so much stuff.

Of course, it wouldn't be the first time leaving Tokyo-3 had been a possibility. But she had come back - turned on her heel at the airport gates, to hear Touji tell the tale - and then everything had been great. Actually, then had been the contact and everything that followed, and it had nearly killed them. But they hadn't know about that part until later.

But this wouldn't be like those times. This time it would be Eva that was forcing her away. It wouldn't be her choice to go or stay, but NERV's. And NERV has already made that choice.

Before, when Asuka had nearly left, there had always been a chance that Shinji might say something, do something that might make her stop. He hadn't said it, he hadn't done it, but he had some measure of influence. He had the ability to change what happened. But that isn't his anymore.

Or maybe..

His thought is cut short by Hyuga's voice.)

Hyuga: Unit Six is operational. No feedback errors, synch pattern.. minimal instability. Won't be a problem.

Yuri: Retracting umbilical bridge, releasing restraining clamps..

Shinji: Lyn, how are you doing in there?

Lyn: (radio) Seems fine. (pause) Thanks for asking.

Shinji: Uh - no problem.

(When Evangelion Unit 06 is finally freed from its restraints, it stands motionless for a moment - a giant statue, as solid and immovable as it had been while immersed in coolant.

Then it advances, its massive shoulders shifting with its balance, stepping out of its cage. Anouilh has clearly been briefed - each step is cautiously light, in case the concussive sound of Unit 06's feet against the chamber floor might harm the relatively unshielded observers on the walkway.

As the monster approaches the walkway, the observers shuffle back as a group; Shinji can easily understand why. Although he has always been aware of how huge the Evangelions are, he has only very rarely seen one in comparison to a human being - and then, he was usually within the Eva while he made that comparison.

But he has not seen what these people must be seeing now - over thirteen stories of armored thing, with enough weight to crush a building, standing almost on top of them.)

Misato: Careful, Lyn. Watch your umbilical.

Asuka: (low, to Shinji) Don't want a re-run of that famous fall..

Misato: Quiet, Asuka.

(Unit 06 moves carefully through the chamber. It raises its arms and turns; the sound of rushing air forced aside by the massive creature is fed from the chamber through the speakers. The observers in the chamber are clearly transfixed by the creature, watching its every move.)

Shinji: Misato, are we done here?

Misato: Huh? Oh yeah, you and Asuka can go home.

Asuka: (quick) Great, I'm gone - 'bye. (leaves)

Shinji: (to Misato) I'll see you later. You'll be getting home..?

Misato: Later. Maybe after ten I'm guessing.

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Fuyutsuki: I won't ask how you got in here.

(The door to Commander Ikari's office closes as Fuyutsuki begins to the walk to the distant desk in the center of the chamber. Far away from the table, where the lighting is dim, Aoi watches him.)

Aoi: I was hoping that Kihl might turn up for this little get-together, and give his blessing.

Fuyutsuki: He's not sure how serious we are. And he probably doesn't want to risk coming too close.

Aoi: And if NERV security simply shot him, it would be rather an anti-climax.. But would you give the order?

Fuyutsuki: You're asking if I would sanction murder?

Aoi: He is the leader of your adversary. If you could weaken the enemy through a single dirty deed..?

(The old man reaches the table, and immediately activates the built-in computer terminal. The most recent reports load up onto the screen.)

Aoi: Though I admit that killing him isn't going to make MARI any less of a threat..

Fuyutsuki: He didn't turn up, so it's a useless point. (reading) I see.

Aoi: You see what?

Fuyutsuki: The security teams meant to be guarding you report that once again you did not leave your home.

Aoi: You can't blame them for a little mistake.

Fuyutsuki: I was hoping that you would at least take up the appearance of being a normal girl, if nothing else than to help remove suspicion. School, regular daily activities.. Speaking of your school.. (clicking through files) Major Katsuragi had a fairly straightforward way of dealing with grades for the First Child, I imagine that we can do the same for you..

Aoi: Don't worry, Aoi Tamashii will be playing the normal little girl again soon. Although, with the school break here it'll be some time before anyone gets a chance to miss me..

Fuyutsuki: And what about your capacity as the Seventh Child?

Aoi: Is that a question or a joke? I had thought you wouldn't want me anywhere near the Evas..

Fuyutsuki: Maybe, but the people here believe you are a pilot - or at least a backup. And of course, unless you're going to remove the young Mister Anouilh from your life, there will be at least one person who'll miss you.

(Fuyutsuki is surprised to see a look of outrage briefly appear on the young woman's face. But he misjudges the cause of her anger.)

Fuyutsuki: (explaining) For the time they could follow you, the security teams made records of your acquaintances. And then there's your friends - I believe that most people your age try to have social lives, and I can't see how Aoi Tamashii is any different.

Aoi: (annoyed) I get your point.

Fuyutsuki: Maybe you don't.

(Aoi turns sharply the face the old man; Fuyutsuki, meanwhile, continues watching the screen of the terminal before him.)

Fuyutsuki: The boy has undergone a series of tremendous shocks. Just forgetting your abduction of him, he has discovered that his father is dead, and Okazaki - a woman who he lived with a presumably had some feelings for - on the verge of death. And you are more than partly responsible for that.

Aoi: You don't have to worry about Seyoko Okazaki - and SEELE are responsible for that, not me.

(The Commander lets the reference to the woman - the spy - pass, but makes a mental note to check later.)

Fuyutsuki: SEELE didn't steal the Sixth Child - you did.

Aoi: (pausing) If I hadn't, you would have tried putting him in Unit Two. She would have killed him.

Fuyutsuki: I see.

Aoi: I'm sure you do.

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Shinji: Well, that's over.

Asuka: Yeah.

(As the evening darkens into night we find the two pilots stand just outside one of the many armored exits of the Geo-Front. They no longer wear their uniforms, but plain clothes from their lockers - relatively easy wear after the black-and-red outfits. Having left NERV, the next order of business should be catching a bus home.

Should be.)

Asuka: I guess we go home.

Shinji: I guess.

(Their stilted conversation is jarred slightly by Asuka.)

Asuka: I was so glad to be able to get out of that uniform. I know Misato tried to get my size, but it's more than just a number, know what I mean? No, forget I said anything.

Shinji: Actually I rather liked the uniforms.

Asuka: You mean uniform, right, just one? Yours?

Shinji: Well, you looked nice.

Asuka: Looked, maybe, but after a few hours in it the stupid thing didn't fit where is should have.. (turning) Hey, is that..

Shinji: (turning) Tenkei?

(Shinji is surprised, if not shocked - the boy is standing barely two meters from them, and neither picked up his approach. He amends the thought; he hadn't even seen the boy standing there when they left the Geo-Front. Ikari knows the boy had been there, but it had simply failed to register until - )

Tenkei: I want to speak to you.

Asuka: To me?

Tenkei: (shaking head) Shinji.

(Tenkei takes Shinji's hand and insistently leads him away. The Third Child speaks over his shoulder as he goes.)

Shinji: Uh, I'll try to catch up..

(The pilot of Unit 02 watches him leave, her fists on her hips.)

Asuka: Right.

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Tenkei: Rei's scared.

Shinji: Rei? She said she wasn't your mother anymore..

Tenkei: (quietly) She doesn't know what she is anymore. She's afraid of losing what she is.

Shinji: What? What do you mean?

(Tenkei struggles with the words. To simply reach into his mind and tell him would be so much easier - but that same thing had all but destroyed him before. So he is left with clumsy, difficult words as his only tool to get this difficult concept across..)

Tenkei: She is Rei, because people see her as Rei. Because you see her as Rei.

Shinji: (frowning) What?

(He wants to scream it out but it wouldn't make any sense - just like he isn't making any sense to Shinji now.)

Tenkei: But you didn't, once. For a little while, you knew she wasn't Rei - you knew about the others, didn't you?

(He sees a flicker in the Third Child's face, a moment of flashing memory. Tenkei feels it pass through the young man, the memory..

Rei. So many, turning to face him as he utters her name. Suspended in yellow fluid. LCL?

The vision disappears, but confirms something of what Tenkei had suspected.)

Tenkei: You knew about them. Did you see her die? You must have known.

Shinji: (slowly) I.. knew.

(He's afraid now - Tenkei can feel Shinji's fear. The Third Child doesn't want it all to come up again. He's made peace with his fears, he has a concrete idea of who Rei is. He doesn't want it questioned again. He's comfortable with it, accepting it.)

Tenkei: She was so afraid of people finding out - because it would mean she wasn't her, that someone else might be.

Shinji: That doesn't make any sense-

Tenkei: (interrupting) You thought she was just a copy. You were afraid of her.

Shinji: But that's because.. she died and..

Tenkei: That is part of it. If people knew, they wouldn't see her the same way. She wouldn't be the same way.

(Shinji takes a step back from Tenkei.)

Shinji: But.. why? Why are you talking to me about this now?

Tenkei: She's afraid, because there's another one of her - that I know about.

Shinji: Wha - another?

(Another memory - this one stronger than the last, more lasting, more painful. They sob as their bodies break apart. Tenkei's eyes widen.)

Shinji: Another? Where? How?

(They were destroyed. All of them. They were destroyed. All except..)

Shinji: Another Rei?

(Tenkei blinks tears out of his eyes. They all could have been. All of them. They had been just like he had been, before Rei had awakened him. Just like the other had been, before Tenkei had awakened her. Just like Rei had been, before they saw fit to separate her from the others.)

Tenkei: The Eva that was sent to attack us. The men who made it, they were going to use someone to make it work, someone like Rei.

(More thoughts flicker through Shinji's mind, and Tenkei touches the edges of them. The cores of the dummy plug. The woman, Doctor Akagi, had told Shinji this. The dummy plug was the control device. Another piece falls into place in Tenkei's mind. Shinji knows so much!)

Tenkei: But when she woke up, it wouldn't work like that anymore. She's okay, but far away. With the men who made it.

Shinji: There's another Rei, and she's awake?

Tenkei: Not Rei. That's what scares her - that she might take that away from her.

Shinji: ..

Tenkei: But yes.. and she's over there, with those people. She doesn't know anyone around her. And she doesn't know her real name.

(Shinji frowns again, but this time it is not in confusion. He takes his time asking the next question.)

Shinji: She's with the people who sent that Evangelion here? The one that attacked us?

Tenkei: (nodding) ...

Shinji: And you know where she is?

Tenkei: Yes.

Shinji: Could you find her?

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(Without Misato to drive them home, Asuka and Shinji had been going to catch a bus - of course, now it's just Asuka standing under the light of the bus stop.

Her mobile phone rings. Fishing it out of her pocket, the Second Child answers.)

Asuka: Yep?

Shinji: (phone) Asuka, sorry but I can't go home. I'm heading back into NERV.

Asuka: What? Why?

Shinji: (phone) I've got to talk to Misato about something. It's important. Actually, you might want to come back as well.

(Asuka shuts her eyes, considering.)

Asuka: You know, I'm just gonna catch the bus. I've been waiting to get home for ages. You can tell me about it when you get back.

Shinji: Asuka, this is really important. I mean it.

Asuka: (flatly) Tenkei have some news about Rei, huh?

Shinji: (phone) Huh? Why do you say that?

Asuka: (sighs) Because everything's about Rei.

Shinji: (phone) That's not what I'm talking about.

Asuka: Then what?

Shinji: This..

Asuka: ..

Shinji: I'll tell you when I get home.

Asuka: (grumbling) If I'm awake.

(She hangs up.)

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(Shinji slips his mobile phone back into his pocket with a sigh. He should have expected that from Asuka. He should probably have told her more. But maybe..)

Tenkei: I know what you're thinking of doing.

Shinji: ..?

Tenkei: Going there.

(Shinji nods slowly - this hadn't been what Tenkei had wanted. As he speaks, he pulls his security card out and runs it through the door slot. The mechanical systems whir into operation.)

Shinji: Are you okay with it?

Tenkei: If you'll try to reach her.

Shinji: ..?

Tenkei: She's in the same place Rei used to be - not sure, not her. Rei came out of it because of you.

-(flashback)- Shinji presses his hand down on the wound as Rei smiles up at him.

Tenkei: I want you to do the same for her. The other.

(And the Third Child leads Tenkei back into the entrance, back towards NERV headquarters.)

Shinji: I guess.. she at least deserves the same chance Rei did.

Tenkei: (smiling) You understand.

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(Major Arnold Hayridge strides down the infirmary corridor, running through the facts in his mind.

She is a spy. Or she was a spy, at least. The Japanese government had posted her within UNSynaps to keep tabs on the organization's director. Things had gone badly for the agent; her mission was compromised when Kimio, a man whom Hayridge knew only as one of SEELE's twelve, quietly informed Anouilh as to who and what Okazaki was.

They had palmed-off their "problem" to NERV, not knowing that Kimio had his own motives in sending her to Japan. But despite how she had been used, she is still a spy. But nowadays, the Japanese government is far from a hostile enemy.

Jean-Phillip Anouilh died only a few minutes journey from the safety of Tokyo-3, burning in his defenseless transport craft from MARI's attack. The Japanese government quickly became certain of one thing - no matter how suspicious NERV's activities are, they are saints compared to whoever was controlling MARI to that level of brutal slaughter.

And with NERV's Evangelions on their own soil, the Japanese government is very happy with their situation. Unlike every other nation that is clamoring for protection, Japan already has a tried and tested defense force of Evangelions operating from within their borders, ready to fight. In short, the government was happy to climb into bed with NERV.

This changes Seyoko Okazaki from a spy to a hero. But to Hayridge, she has a very different qualifier.

She had been shot in the field while investigating the background of one Aoi Tamashii - the pawn that SEELE had waved at UNSynaps to reassure them, their creation that had so obviously gone beyond their control. Okazaki's investigations, done by her own initiative rather than on orders, were exactly the actions that Hayridge would have taken in her place. In that, he had found a way to respect her.

That - and the investigative reports. Bleeding, alone, and against two trained killers, she had taken them both out with only a pistol. That was enough to give Hayridge pause.)

Arnold: (muttering) Check out Okazaki, check out Okazaki..

(That was what Fuyutsuki had said. He hadn't fully explained his suspicions, whatever they were, but they had something to do with something that Tamashii had said. Hayridge is naturally cautious about anything regarding the Seventh Child - the girl had reportedly made a room of fully-armed soldiers look as helpless as kittens, and that's enough to make Hayridge more than just pause.)

Arnold: (muttering) Something she said.. about Okazaki..

(And he stops. He looks at the empty bed. He checks that this is the correct ward, the correct bed. Yes, all correct.

He turns and waves at a passing intern, and risks a phrase in Japanese.)

Arnold: Can you explain this?

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Misato: Are you sure about this?

Tenkei: (nodding) ...

Maya: Tenkei, you have to understand.. this won't be a rescue operation. We can't promise that she won't be hurt, even killed.

Tenkei: I know, but maybe she'll..

(The boy clamps his mouth shut, his eyes dropping.)

Tenkei: I mean.. I still want to do this.

Misato: Alright. So we know about you. The question now is why are you here?

(Her attention settles on the only other person present. Shinji Ikari hasn't seen Misato and Maya this serious before - not except for the briefings before being sent to face the enemy. But there is no Angel over Tokyo-3, although there may be a battle in the near future..)

Shinji: I don't.. really think that's a question.

Misato: Maya, can Shinji and I talk for a minute?

(Wordlessly Maya rises from her chair, taking Tenkei's hand as she heads for the door. This leaves the Third Child alone in the room with the Major.)

Shinji: If this is about that Rei, I think I know how I can fix that. We've done exercises -

Misato: (interrupting) Tell me why you're here.

Shinji: Misato, I don't see how there's anything to really explain.. I'm an Eva pilot. I have to do this.

(Misato's dark eyes regard the young man calmly.)

Misato: Nearly two years ago you told me the same thing. It didn't work then, and it doesn't work now.

Shinji: ..

Misato: Do you know what you've just done? You walked in here and told us to use Tenkei. You want us to use him to find our enemy.

Shinji: (looking down) Well, I guess "use" isn't what I meant..

Misato: (interrupting) I'm not accusing you of anything, so relax. I just want to know why you decided to come to me with this.

Shinji: I don't know. It's strange..

(He rests his hands across his knees as he gazes downwards. The fingers of his right hand close into a loose fist.)

Shinji: I should have been thinking about Rei. When he told me about it, the first thing I remembered is what Ritsuko showed me - showed us.

(Misato had been there when Akagi had pressed the button - destroyed them, dissolved them, removed them from the world. If what Tenkei is saying is true, then it was more than murder.)

Shinji: You saw them.. what they had been doing with Rei, down there. I guess the first thing I should have thought about was Rei. But I didn't. It's strange, but I just started thinking about what I could do.

Shinji: When you told me about.. Asuka going to Germany, I thought, for a moment, that maybe there was something I could do.

Shinji: I've read the reports about the last attack - that this MARI thing attacked the power grid first. And in Europe, they had people on the ground attacking too, soldiers with guns. This isn't the same as an Angel, this is worse. They'll do things that an Angel can't do. An Angel can't send killers to murder pilots. These people can. These people will!

Misato: You think that I'm not scared of something happening to Asuka? We have the best operatives in the world here in Tokyo-3, and Asuka's going to get all the support we can give her!

Shinji: I know that Misato, but.. there's so much that could happen. And whatever you do, she's always going to be more vulnerable over there because she'll be alone when they attack. You once said that if we could find where the enemy are and attack them first, then we'd do it. Right? If we can attack them, stop them before they can do anything worse than what they've already done..

(As he continues, the Third Child's voice grows faster, energy jolting his words.)

Shinji: All those people at the conference - all those countries, all those cities, all those people! Even if we had (hesitating) fifty Evas, or a hundred Evas, and a hundred pilots, we still wouldn't be able to protect all of them! And each pilot would be in just as bad a place as Asuka is going to be in when she goes over to Germany.

Shinji: These people aren't Angels. They'll wait until an pilot is most vulnerable and then they'll attack. They won't attack unless they know that they'll win. They'll make us vulnerable, they'll sabotage us and send soldiers or bombs or things we can't expect or prepare for!

Shinji: Even with an army of Evas, we don't have a hope. But with one Eva, if we knew where they were coming from.. we could stop them.

(Shinji breaks off, out of breath. He shuffles back in his chair a little - having come close to standing during his tirade. Misato, still watching, speaks.)

Misato: I am the Head of Operations, Shinji. I already know all of this.

Shinji: (slumping) Then why don't you do something?

Misato: Who said I wasn't?

Shinji: (looking up) ..

Misato: Everything you said is absolutely true. We don't have a chance unless we attack them first.

Shinji: (speechless) ..

Misato: Intelligence has been working day and night to try to find these people, so we can do exactly that - strike them at their home base, take them out before they can launch more assaults like the attacks in France. Now, thanks to Tenkei, we might be able to do that.

Shinji: So..

Misato: If he can go half way, then we'll try to finish the job. It's as simple as that.

(Shinji almost laughs in relief, standing up for only a moment before he sits back down again, his face in his hands. All the energy and the fear and the certainty that had propelled him only a moment earlier is gone, replaced by sheer relief.)

Misato: We're not all bad guys, Shinji..

Shinji: I know..

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(Tenkei holds to Maya's hand as the Lieutenant leads him back to her home. Ibuki is still wearing his red outfit from earlier in the evening, the outfit that she and Yuri had finally agreed upon at the end of the trial-by-shopping that Tenkei had endured the day before.

He knows she'll be there. Even as they enter the apartment block, he knows she's there.)

Tenkei: ..

(But the simple fact that he is aware of her means so much.)

-(flashback)- Rei: Not without my permission.

(She is no longer closed off from him. She had been furious when he had tried to look into her, tried to see the source of her fear more closely. Much of what he had been looking for he had found in Shinji, but this openness he suddenly feels in Rei lifts all troubles.

His steps quicken as they head for the elevator. Tenkei darts ahead and hits the call button for the elevator. Behind him Maya smiles, not knowing the source of his enthusiasm.

She's waiting for him and she's.. changed? Why isn't she afraid?

As the elevator carries them towards her, Tenkei feels that she knows he's arrived. He can feel Rei's anxiety, mirroring his own. She is nervous? There is still fear. She's still afraid. But there is something else. His mind questions, but he is still too far away..

The elevator doors take too long to open. Quickly he is out in the corridor, heading to where he knows she'll be. He slows his steps, not letting his enthusiasm take hold of him completely; he still has questions. When Maya, following, catches sight of Rei she almost stops, then remembers herself and nods a greeting.)

Maya: Rei - what are you doing here?

Rei: I am here to see Tenkei.

(She looks at him and lets him into her mind again.

Thoughts are pushed at him, things she wants him to see. Still afraid. Still the same fear. Still the same anger. That hasn't changed, and Tenkei feels disappointed. But there is something else.)

Rei: I want to be with you.

(The thoughts flicker between them in an instant, unheard by Maya.)

Tenkei: Even if you are afraid?

Rei: I want to be with you. Do you still want to be with me?

(He wants to wake up in her familiar room. He wants to watch her prepare for her day, her pale hands moving text books and note pads into her school bag. He wants to stare at her crimson eyes and wonder how she could ever hate that color. He wants to be with her.

The thoughts flicker between them in an instant.

Tenkei turns around as Rei speaks to Maya.)

Rei: Can he stay at my residence tonight?

Maya: Yeah, I guess.. Tenkei is this okay with -

Tenkei: Yes.

Maya: Well.. I'll call security and tell them about the switch.

Rei: (quietly) Thankyou.

(And they walk back down the corridor, towards the elevator. As Maya fishes her mobile phone out of her handbag, she hears a final word from Ayanami.)

Rei: Lieutenant?

Maya: (turning) ..

Rei: That color suits you.

Maya: (staring) ...!

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Asuka: Will you be quiet? I'm trying to be angry with you.

(Bag of sweets, remote control, cola, sheets, pillow, mattress..

Asuka lies back in her "den"; that seems to be the best word for it. It appears that the Second Child has dragged everything soft and comfortable from her room - and a few things from Shinji's room too, from the look of it - and set the lot down in front the television, smack-bang in the middle of the living room.

To say that the Second Child has carried her bed out would be wrong. She has carried out parts of it, and dumped them. The natural order of mattress below sheets below blanket below pillow doesn't seem to have worked in this case. The new order is where ever Asuka's foot sends the various items. Sheet and blankets are twisted around in a snarl that almost seems like a cave, where most of Asuka is safely snuggled. The rest of her - everything above the waist - could probably retract into hiding as well, but right at this moment Asuka needs her arms free to gesture.)

Asuka: Yes, angry with you. You know why!

(Her hand dips into the bag beside her and pulls out a jelly snake which is aggressively decapitated between her teeth.)

Asuka: Yes you do. (chomps noisily) Why do you always have to be so difficult?

(Pen Pen would have no idea, if he had the first clue what Asuka was talking about. Which he does not.

The penguin sits on the couch a short distance away from the territory that Asuka presently possesses. He makes a poor substitute for Shinji Ikari. For one thing, Shinji would be paying attention to her, rather than predatorily watching the jellies that Asuka occasionally snatches from the plastic bag beside her. Pen Pen absolutely refuses to look cowed or beaten, another obvious discrepancy.)

Asuka: Yes Shinji, I'm doing nothing, just like I said I would. Any old slob can just do nothing.

(Pen Pen continues to watch the bag.)

Asuka: Anyone can just sit in front of the TV, lie in bed, or blob around. It takes more than that, however, to satisfy my requirements of nothing. I've got everything here, and I'm going to watch TV until I fall asleep. Which is nothing. I think I've earned -

Shinji: Asuka, what are you talking about?

(Asuka sits up, headless snake in one hand, sheets clutched suddenly in the other. The Third Child is standing over on the other side of the couch, looking at Sohryu's territory with a mystified expression.)

Asuka: (quickly) I.. didn't hear you come in.

(He turns quickly, stepping towards the hallway and his bedroom.)

Shinji: Sorry, I guess I should have knocked or something..

(Asuka flumps back in her pillows - "flump" is actually the closest word to what she does - her mouth firmly shut. Then she sits up again.)

Asuka: No, this is your home as much as anyone's! Why the hell should you have to knock?

Shinji: (aback) Well in case you're doing, whatever it was you were doing when I.. Asuka, what are you doing?

(All the practice, the simple, devastating answers that she had prepared, completely fail to work.)

Asuka: Nothing! I mean, I'm doing nothing. A real nothing.

Shinji: You've got half your bedroom out here, as well as.. hey, is that my pillow?

Asuka: I'm just doing nothing the right way, that's all. Anyone can do nothing, but I'm not just anyone..

Shinji: That is my pillow, isn't it?

Asuka: Stop being like that, I'm mad at you!

(Asuka winces inwardly. It was meant to be mean in a cute sort of way, an acceptable and completely forgivable way, but nothing is coming out how it's meant to.)

Shinji: Wha- what did I do?

Asuka: Just shut up. (pauses) So what was this vital stuff you had to do at NERV? A few of the delegates couldn't find their cars in the parking lot?

Shinji: No, nothing like that..

Asuka: Obviously.

(Shinji Ikari walks around the sofa, his socked feet - having removed his shoes at the door - carefully stepping around Asuka's den. Choosing a respectable and safe distance away from the Second Child, he lowers himself to his knees. Then he sits.

Looking over at Asuka staring at him, Shinji goes one step further and lies down.)

Shinji: There was something I decided to do. Rather than waiting for something to happen to me. I guess.

Asuka: ..

Shinji: (suddenly) Can I stay here?

(Asuka tilts her head, examining the Third Child, and quietly wondering what just clicked in Shinji's head.)

Asuka: Sure.

-------------------------------------------------

(The next morning..)

Lyn: (thinking) I can't seem to stay away from this place, can I..

(The thoughts of the Sixth Child are cut short by a voice from the room ahead.)

Arnold: What's this?

(It's Major Hayridge - who had given Anouilh that God-awful wakeup call and summons to the NERV infirmary. Arnold hasn't got a pleasant voice, and first thing in the morning it's distinctly less pleasant.)

Voice: A door.

(But that other voice..)

Arnold: This?

Voice: (pause) A jacket.

Arnold: And this?

Voice: That's a bunny.

(Lyn picks up his pace as he hears the voices from the next room. By the time he reaches the door, he's at a run.)

Arnold: You think that's a bunny?

Voice: There's ears at the top. Just move on to the next one.

(Lyn moves through the doorway and looks at the two people in the hospital room.

Major Hayridge is flicking through a stack of small cardboard squares, each marked with a black shape. Some have the regular, hard lines of printed images, while others are almost random blobs.

His "patient" shovels a spoonful of jelly into her mouth and swallows as she looks at the next image.)

Seyoko: That's a.. what's the word? A note, a music note.

Arnold: Close enough. (looks up) Good morning, Mr Anouilh.

(The Sixth Child finds himself staring at Seyoko Okazaki.)

Lyn: What ..

(She's awake. She's looking at him. She would probably be speaking, if she wasn't eating at that exact moment. She's awake.

The last time he had seen her, she had been on a respirator - breathing mechanically, unable to know he was there, unable to answer him. And now she's..)

Lyn: Seyoko - you're -

Seyoko: Awake? So they tell me. (looks over) A padlock. Hayridge, do I have to do all this item recognition stuff?

Arnold: Until I'm satisfied that you're competent.

Seyoko: Competent? Christ, I haven't even acceptooomph!

(Lyn has his arms around the bedridden woman and is hugging fiercely. Hayridge looks away politely as a slightly muffled Seyoko hugs back, laughing at the sudden display of emotion.

Anouilh, meanwhile, can't even laugh. His throat has closed up, choking him of the breath he'd need to speak or cry or shout with joy. She's awake. She's alive. She's laughing.

She's alive.

And for a second, the antiseptic smell of the hospital fades from Lyn's consciousness - it is the last thing he is aware of. The memories it brings are so distant compared to this woman - his friend, squirming in his arms.

Wait. Squirming.)

Seyoko: Woah, those are my ribs there!

Lyn: (letting go) Sorry, I guess I didn't think before, well..

Seyoko: (takes a breath) I was going to ask you if you'd missed me. (grinning) Guess I got my answer..

(The Sixth Child takes a step back from the bed, unwilling to move out of arms reach of Seyoko. Hayridge, who has been watching the scene in a slightly embarrassed silence, offers the chair next to him. Lyn chooses to sit on a spare patch of Seyoko's bed instead.)

Arnold: Hmm.

Lyn: Why wasn't I called? When did you wake up? How are you feeling?

Seyoko: Uh. What was the first one? I feel pretty good, considering that I've been out for weeks - so they tell me. And I guess it must be true, since that hole those bastards put through me has healed up nicely.

Arnold: "Nicely". That's one way to put it. I've just spent half an hour being told by a doctor why Okazaki's recovery was impossible.

Seyoko: Well, if it'll suit your idea of reality I can go drop off again. I could probably do with a few weeks sleep -

Lyn: When are you coming home? All your stuff is still there.. (to Arnold) She can go back to work, right? She's still got her job here?

Seyoko: Well, that all depends..

Arnold: Give her some time. Actually, I think you two probably have a lot to talk about.

(The Major stands, pushing his chair back up to rest against the wall. As he leaves the hospital room, he flashes a warning glance to Seyoko that Lyn - being too staring at Okazaki - doesn't spot.)

Lyn: Well?

Seyoko: Well what?

Lyn: Well, first I guess.. when can you come home?

Seyoko: Depends on what the doctors say - and they've been talking crap mostly. Most of the time they treat me like a complete invalid. (nods her head to one side) Take a peek at that thing over there.

(Lyn looks over at what Seyoko indicates - a wheeled frame, presumably meant to assist someone with walking.)

Seyoko: I don't need it to walk, I can do just fine. But I don't want to walk too far with this stuff poking into me.

(She raises one arm, pointing out the bandage-bound tube and needle that feeds into her flesh.)

Seyoko: This is my breakfast. And lunch, and dinner. They say my stomach won't be used to solid foods - or any food, really - for days, but I'm absolutely starving. The best they'll let me get my hands on is this jelly, which isn't much.

(Demonstrating, she shovels another mouthful of the green goo into her mouth.)

Seyoko: (around jelly) I've got to get out of this place. (swallows) What's with the expression?

(He shakes his head slowly, staring at her.)

Lyn: You're okay. I can't believe it. It's too..

Seyoko: .. too good to be true? Tell me about it! I have my suspicions..

Lyn: What do you mean?

Seyoko: (swallows another spoonful) I think that a divine power has brought me back to this world to remind you of your singing.

(The Sixth Child laughs, leaning forward.)

Lyn: (catching his breath) For a second you were going to say something deep and meaningful.

(Seyoko shares his laugh, reaching out for the young man's head - possibly to touch his face or ruffle his hair - but winces as the action pulls on the cord feeding into her arm.)

Lyn: I guess you must really be hating this, huh Seyoko?

Seyoko: ..?

Lyn: This place. (looks around) The hospital. You seem so eager to get out..

Seyoko: It's got nothing to do with liking or whatever, Lyn. I feel fine. Well, not exactly. I want a real shower - a real one, in my own bathroom, with my own soap and shampoo and an hour to myself, alone, not just behind a curtain with a nurse..

Lyn: Well, you do look.. pretty okay.

(As he says it, he realizes how much of an understatement it is. When he had last seen her, he had been unwilling to look at her face - seeing her with a respiration tube lodged in her throat had forced him to look away. But those times he had been able to bear looking at her, she had been pale and worn, as fragile as thin glass. But now she is far from it - healthy, almost pink, eager to smile and laugh. Her arms had been quick when she had hugged him, her voice strong and clear as she speaks.)

Seyoko: (settling herself back) So, how's Aoi?

(Lyn almost flinches. Some of the warmth of Seyoko's return fades as an uncomfortable topic is raised.)

Lyn: I'm not really sure.

Seyoko: Really? She was practically glued to your arm, last time I saw her..

Lyn: ..

Seyoko: I'm sorry. I'm being.. dishonest, I guess. I've been told some things about what's happening with Aoi..

Lyn: ..

Seyoko: And I found out a few things on my own.

(Lyn nods glumly - this is going to come out, he knows it. His own thoughts on it have been muddled, half-suspicions and half-paranoid fears, but none of it good.)

Lyn: You were investigating. You were looking at her background, weren't you?

Seyoko: Yeah. I'm sorry if -

Lyn: (interrupting) Thanks. Don't apologize, please.. just - thanks - for caring.

Seyoko: Well, I.. okay. You're welcome.

Lyn: I'm almost afraid to ask, but.. what did you find?

Seyoko: You mean about Aoi?

Lyn: Someone shot you for what you were you doing. I was told a few things myself, you know.

Seyoko: I know. What you're asking is.. pretty bad. Are you sure you're ready?

Lyn: ..

Seyoko: She's your friend - was your friend, anyway - and.. as weird as this sounds, I don't think she's a risk to you. What I found out doesn't say she wants to hurt you; nothing like that at all.

Lyn: Just tell me.

Seyoko: Lyn, just a minute. You don't need to know - in fact, you'd probably be happier not knowing. And so would she. You do have a right to hear it - you of all people should, I guess - but.. maybe this isn't something I should tell you. I guess what I'm asking is.. are you sure you won't regret it later if I tell you?

-------------------------------------------------

(Asuka Langley Sohryu's mind rises out of her doze. Several things become apparent to her.

Firstly, the constant background noise of the television on low volume - she had left it on the previous night, with Shinji - is gone. Instead, she can faintly hear traffic through the open balcony door.

Secondly, the light coming through the windows and the balcony is bright, too bright. The living room isn't suited for sleeping in, and the morning sunlight is striking her in an unpleasantly warm way.

Thirdly, someone is cooking. There's definitely a cooking smell in the air, possibly frying. Asuka decides that it must be Shinji cooking - Misato's cooking skills rarely leave the microwave, and when they do she doesn't produce the smell of frying, but the reek of burning.

And fourthly, the lump over on her left hand side, where a lump called Shinji Ikari had slept, is now gone. An absent kick confirms this - no Shinji.

Asuka lifts her head, looking around.)

Shinji: Morning. Breakfast is almost done..

(The Second Child sits up, looking over to where Shinji is busy in the kitchen cubicle. Shortly he comes over with a plate and cutlery. Asuka accepts the offered breakfast, deeply inhaling the warm smells.)

Asuka: Mmm, smells.. hey, how did you know I was going to wake up exactly then?

Shinji: (shrugging) I didn't, that was going to be my breakfast.

(She freezes with her a morsel of meat on the way to her mouth.)

Asuka: (groaning) And I was feeling good for a minute..

Shinji: It's no bother, really. It'll take me just a few minutes to cook up some more..

Asuka: That has nothing to do with it.

(Despite any objections she might have Asuka begins eating her breakfast, formerly Shinji's breakfast. She speaks between mouthfuls.)

Asuka: (munching) I just hope you're not making too much out of this. I mean, it's not like we slept together..

Shinji: (cooking) Asuka, I like making breakfast. It's not like I'm making you breakfast.

Asuka: (munching) ..

Shinji: (cooking) ..

Asuka: Are you making fun of me?

Shinji: No! Besides, nothing happened, right? So it doesn't matter.

Asuka: Of course not.

Shinji: It was like you said, doing nothing.

Asuka: We could almost make a habit of it.

Shinji: Easily. Any night of the week, really.

Asuka: Nothing simpler, and we wouldn't have to do anything.

Shinji: There'd be no problem.

Asuka: Even if your feet are adventurous.

(That stops Shinji in his tracks; which is a pity, because he was having fun.)

Shinji: Adventurous? My feet?

Asuka: (smiling to herself) Very adventurous.

(Shinji continues to cook, but with a very worried expression.)

Shinji: What do you mean, adventurous?

Asuka: I don't mean anything by it.

Shinji: No - I'm pretty sure you meant something by it.

Asuka: You're imagining things, Shinji.

Shinji: You wouldn't just go and say something like that without meaning something.

Asuka: Are you implying that I am incapable of saying things without an ulterior motive??

Shinji: I have to imply it???

Asuka: Geeez! The way some people are.. (looks up) 'morning Misato!

(Misato Katsuragi enters the living room, stretching, and is given a plate of fried breakfast by a still-worried Shinji. As the Third Child goes about cooking up a third meal, this one hopefully for himself, Misato adds a can of beer to her breakfast and sits at the table.)

Misato: 'Morning Asuka, 'morning Shinji. (cracks beer) Am I interrupting anything?

Asuka: Just Shinji's feet, boldly going where no man has gone before..

(Shinji takes a second to decode this while Misato frowns.)

Asuka: Shinji, are you blushing?

Shinji: No.. Misato, I was wondering if we could arrange a party or something here some time in the next week..?

Misato: I think we should be able to handle that. What's the occasion? End of school?

(Shinji catches the look from Misato; he doesn't have to tell her it's about Asuka.)

Shinji: Yeah. And it would be nice to get everyone together.

Asuka: (surprised) Shinji, that's actually a pretty good idea.

Misato: Maybe you could all catch a movie while you're at it.

Shinji: I think we could probably manage that.

Asuka: Hikari is obviously coming, no question, and I imagine that you'll insist on inviting the stooges..

Misato: But I'm not leaving this time, no matter what you say - I'm going to be there!

Shinji: Sure thing Misato!

Asuka: With everyone there, we could celebrate my departure to Germany!

(The enthusiasm in the room dies.)

Shinji: Oh.

Misato: Er.

Asuka: Three cheers and Asuka goes! Whooopeeee!!!!

(Asuka throws her hands up in the air, and her feet quickly follow. She kicks in a painfully fake display of excitement.)

Shinji: Asuka, please don't..

Misato (flat) Who told you?

(Sohryu speaks from her buglike position on the mattress.)

Asuka: Commander Fuyutsuki. Last night, at the dinner.

Shinji: (confused) But.. you didn't say anything..

Asuka: What, you didn't think they'd tell me? Huh?

Misato: Asuka, it must be clear why we didn't tell you right away..

Asuka: Then clarify it, please.

Shinji: We didn't want it hanging over your head. We didn't want you constantly thinking about it.

Asuka: (sarcastic) Good idea - I might have done something stupid like sleep with Shinji.

(As Misato looks enquiringly at the Third Child. As Shinji attempts to hide in his chest, Asuka stands up to take center stage.)

Asuka: It would have been horrible! The Second Child, distraught from the thought of leaving, wilts and weakens!

(She theatrically stumbles across the living room towards Shinji. The Third Child is bright enough to move away from the stove and anything hot, sharp or otherwise dangerous.)

Asuka: With no one else to turn to, she falls into the arms of Shinji Ikari!

(And Asuka does so, much to Misato's surprise and Shinji's extreme discomfort. The boy finds his hands on Asuka's back; he stops himself from patting in the helplessly useless manner that he knows will simply spur Asuka on.)

Asuka: And selfless Shinji finds a way to hate himself for what he feels, and then -

(As Asuka draws breath for another theatrical display, Misato intervenes with a voice that's hard and sharp.)

Misato: Asuka! Shut up if you're not going to say anything helpful!

(Asuka turns, almost shocked by the command, but is held back by Shinji who hasn't yet let go of her.)

Asuka: I think I've got a bit of a right to bitch about this, it's my life that's being screwed!

Shinji: (softly) I don't want you to go.

(Asuka's grabs at Shinji's hands, which still hold her around the waist. Caught from both sides - from Misato and from Shinji - Asuka's only alternative is even louder melodramatics.)

Asuka: My life, and I think that -

(And she is cut off by that soft voice again.)

Shinji: I don't want you to go, you hear me?

Misato: He's right, Asuka. Neither of us want you to go.

(With a last attempt at fake rage, Asuka gives in. She slumps backwards, her weight pushing Shinji back against the counter top. Her hands rest on Shinji's where they are clasped around her waist - she doesn't try to pry his fingers open, she simply rests her hands on his.)

Asuka: I understand why. I understand why someone has to go, and why me, and everything..

Misato: Asuka..

Asuka: Since I trained there, I know everything about the base.. I can scramble from my quarters to my Eva in under two minutes! Meanwhile Shinji here would get lost between his bed and his pants!

(She jerks her head towards the boy behind her, nearly headbutting him. Shinji doesn't respond, except by slightly tightening his hold around her. He cranes his head forward to watch her, his chin on her shoulder.)

Misato: We don't want to do this, Asuka. But there aren't any alternatives.. yet..

Asuka: I know, I know, all these government types wanting NERV to play babysitter in their home town, which makes me the (breaks off) Hang on, you said "yet".

Misato: We're working on something.

Asuka: You mean.. there's a chance I won't have to go?

(Shinji just picks up on the shift in her voice - a slight tremble that surprises him, shocks him. So much so that he doesn't pick up on the smoke wafting up from the frying pan.)

Misato: I wouldn't bet on that.. can you two stop that?

Asuka: Stop what?

Misato: That hugging. It's making me nervous.

Shinji: (letting go) Sorry.

Asuka: Your breakfast is burning, pervert.

(As Shinji hurriedly attends to the smoldering efforts of his cooking, Misato continues.)

Misato: Anyway Asuka, I wouldn't bet on it. If you do go to Germany, I can't see any way to justify bringing you back later. We'd have to produce more Evas, and train the pilots to the point that they're battle ready.. that will take time.

Asuka: So if I go, it's for a long tour of duty?

Misato: 'fraid so.

Asuka: Crap.

(Sohryu turns to Shinji, who is busy scooping up his smoking breakfast out of the frying pan and dumping it on a plate. The blackened mess is still edible, though disgusting and tasteless. But Shinji isn't going to waste it. He sighs, picks up the plate and heads for the table - and loses the plate to Asuka's swift hands. Snatching the mess away, she dumps it in the bin.)

Asuka: Sit down, I'll cook for once.

Shinji: Uh.. okay.

Misato: (patting chair) ..

(Shinji goes to sit down as Asuka surveys the kitchen, looking at what she has to work with.)

Asuka: Well Shinji, looks like you'll be free of me at last.

Shinji: Don't say that - and what about that party?

Misato: Sure, the place is yours.

Shinji: Asuka? Are you okay with this?

(The Second Child cracks an egg open and spills the contents into the frypan. She looks at Shinji and grins.)

Asuka: Yeah, I'm for it.

Shinji: ...

Asuka: Sunny side up, right?

(Shinji is somehow not surprised she knows his preference.)

--------------------------------------------------

(The residents of the Katsuragi household have awoken late compared to others. By the time Shinji and Asuka were taking turns burning breakfast, Kensuke Aida had been up for hours. As the sun climbs towards its peak, the boy has already gathered Touji and Goro together - oddly enough, at the gates of the high school.)

Goro: This sucks. We're on holidays and we go straight back to the school.

Touji: If ya know a closer place with a basketball court, say something now.

Goro: Yeah, I know..

(The court has been left open to the public during the holidays, albeit with a security camera overlooking the area. Goro and Touji take turns shooting from the free-throw line, while Kensuke sits out of the sun, sheltered in the long shadow formed by the backboard.)

Touji: Hey Kensuke, take a shot or two?

(Aida closely watches the digital display of his camera, moving back and forth through his recorded footage.)

Kensuke: In a minute.

(Touji turns and passes the ball to Goro, who promptly bounces it off the rim.)

Goro: Dammit. By the way, Shinji's got a girlfriend or something.

Touji: What? A girlfriend?

Kensuke: (watching camera display) Oh yeah. We saw her yesterday. Shinji said he was having dinner with her.

Touji: A girlfriend? Shinji?

Goro: Yeah, some babe that works with him.

Touji: More of a babe than Misato?

(Kensuke and Goro both consider this unanswerable question.)

Kensuke: Uh. Hard to say.

Goro: She doesn't dress the same way as Misato, that's for sure..

Touji: A girlfriend. Shinji. (shakes head) Weird.

--------------------------------------------------

(And the day slowly wears on. Touji and Goro finally get Kensuke to play ball. At midday, Lyn Anouilh looks at his home and realises that he'll have to clean it before Seyoko gets back. One o'clock passes while Asuka and Shinji argue over what they'll do for the party. Two o'clock finds Rei and Tenkei in the park, not on the swings but watching people pass, watching people live. Three o'clock, and Maya Ibuki picks up her new red dress from the laundry and wonders when she'll ever wear it again.

And at four in the afternoon, one of the pilot-assigned security teams finally acquires their subject.)

Agent: She's moving. Front entrance, heading westwards on foot.

(Aoi Tamashii has emerged from her apartment, but this time in plain sight, for all to see.)

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Chapter 17]