Rei's Child

Written By: Jon L

This Chapter follows the events of Chapter Two

"speaking"--'thinking'--<phone>--=dream=

Some say that Tokyo-3 is the safest city in Japan, others say that it is a magnet for Angel Attacks, but none say that it is the starting point for Third Impact cause only a handful of it's residents know the true workings of NERV. a few of those resident have returned home to their beds to get some sleep after a long night of learning, and are currently sleeping peacefully, with the exception of one. Asuka Langley Soryu, the Second Child and pilot of Eva Unit-02, who is currently down in the Medical Ward of NERV HQ, laying in a bed that has been isolated from others. She lays there in silence, unaware of where she is, and unable to care at the moment, for she is stuck in her past, a past that still haunts her to this day, and the one memory that she cannot escape, seeing her mother hanging from the ceiling.

****************

Several meters above, in the apartment of Misato Katsuragi, sleeps four roommates; although one has begun to stir in his fridge. Pen-pen has just woken up this morning, though he was supposed to have been sent away, he still remains here in his fridge located in Tokyo-3. He wakes up, walks out of his fridge and head to Misato's room where he expects his sleeping owner to feed him.

Once he arrives at the door, he slides it open and walks in. He sees that Misato is still asleep and walks up to her to give her a nudge.

"Qwaa."

"Nnnnnnn, wha?.."

"Qwaa!"

"Oh...Pen-pen. Go bug Shinji, let me sleep a little longer..."

"Qwaa?"

"Zzzzzzzz..."

Misato has fallen to sleep again, so Pen-pen walks out of the room and proceeds to Shinji's room. When he opens the door he sees something that is out of place, a large mass on the floor, but chooses to ignore it and walks up to the bed instead. What he finds is that there is a mass of blue hair on the bed instead of the normal dark brown mass he is used to. What he does not expect is for two red orbs to suddenly appear as well.

"QWAA!!"

Pen-pen's cry startles Shinji out of his sleep. He bolts upright and jumps away from the penguin, "AAH!"

Pen-pen turns and sees the person he was looking for behind him, then turns back to the bed and sees the same blue-haired girl from a few nights ago sitting upright on the bed. Pen-pen runs out of the room and hurries back to his fridge where he thinks it is safe.

****************

Rei sees the penguin run out of the room.

Shinji finally recovers from the rude awakening and rubs his eyes, "Huh?"

"I believe it is time to feed Pen-pen."

Misato runs into the room after hearing Shinji's yell, "What's going on?"

"Oh, morning Misato."

"I heard someone yell."

"Pen-pen scared me."

"Must be time to feed him then, I'll go take care of it."

"No, Maj...Misato, I will do it."

"Are you sure Rei?"

"Yes. It is part of my training."

"Okay, his food is in the fridge, and don't forget his morning beer."

"Hai."

Rei stands up and walks to the kitchen where Pen-pen's fridge is located, she opens up the main fridge and sets out some food for Pen-pen, then goes over to the other fridge and knocks on the door. Pen-pen opens the door and sees Rei standing outside it, and hurries back in.

"Rei. Don't worry, he'll come out when he's ready, he just needs to get used to you being around first."

"Hai."

"And he has nothing against you really, he has been cautious around strangers ever since Asuka moved in."

Rei walks away from the fridge/home and goes back to her room, when she arrives at the door, she sees Shinji has fallen asleep again, so she decides to go to the balcony instead and look at the once proud city of Tokyo-3. As she steps out, she feels a light morning breeze lift the edges of her shirt up and sees the sun about to rise in the east. She walks up to the railing and just stands there, taking in a view she has never seen before, her mind begins to wonder some as she stands there as well.

'What is it that makes this a special moment? What is it about the sun rising that makes it something to see, it is something that happens everyday.'

//'But, there is more to it then you know.'

'I don't see what is so important about watching it rise?'

//'This is something that you will have to share with someone else to understand, mother. But I will say this, the sun itself is not what makes this a special moment.'

As quick as the voice comes, it disappears, but not before Rei sees something she has never seen before, a sunrise. What she sees is the rays slowly spread there way across the desolate city, casting a golden glow on everything they touch.

'I must talk to Shinji about this.'

Just then, Rei senses something that makes her shudder as the sun continues its accent into the sky, another presence that is like her, yet different as well.

'The time is near...'

****************

Miles away from the city of Tokyo-3, a figure can be seen moving across the land. This figure has the shape of a male child, one that is in its teens. On a closer inspection though, the child appears to be floating across the land, a child that has pale skin, red eyes, and messy gray hair. This child appears to wear a slight smile on his face, and keeps his hands in his pockets, if a person were to listen closely, they may hear the sounds of humming coming from the same direction, the song being, Ode to Joy.

The boy pauses for a few moments and speaks up, "The time is drawing near. Soon, I will become one with Adam..." He says no more and continues humming the same tune again that he was before.

****************

A few hours later, at the apartment of Dr. Ritsuko Akagi, we can see Ritsuko sitting at her terminal working after a long night of research in to what the stuff from Rei's stomach is.

"Hmm...this can't be possible, whatever this fourth ingredient is, it should not be inside of Rei without killing her..."

Ritsuko grabs the current notes she has in front of her and puts then off to the side, then grabs a new set of notes from the floor and begins to review them.

"Okay, so after isolating the acid and alcohol, I am left with the Knoxidren and this fourth chemical, it appears to be a base liquid, but that can't be, it should have killed Rei if it was a base..." She looks at the drawing of the chemical structure at the bottom of the page for the sixth time that morning, "I just don't get it, what is this stuff?"

Soon, the doctor hears the phone ring and puts down her notes, "Why now?" She goes over to her desk and picks up the phone.

"Hello?"

<Dr. Akagi, this is Security Division Two. We have located the Second Child and need you to come to NERV right away.>

"Is something wrong?"

"Okay, I will be there soon."

<Hai.>

<-CLICK->

"Well, at least some good news has come finally."

Ritsuko heads out of her apartment and to her car.

On the table sit the notes she was just looking at, arranged in a way as to help her identify what the fourth chemical is. They appear to have been put in a certain way on accident so that all she would have to do is look at them at that moment and have the answer, a shame that the window was left open and it was a little windy that day.

The only sounds that can be heard in the apartment now are the sounds of Ritsuko driving away, and the sound of papers falling to the floor.

****************

After about fifteen minutes have passed by, Ritsuko has arrived at the NERV Medical Ward where she finds Asuka in a bed staring at the ceiling. "Doctor, we have been unable to get any response from the child since we found her last night at 01:00 hours."

"Did she have any injuries?"

"Not that we know of, we did a close inspection before bringing her here but found no cuts or bruises on her."

Ritsuko grabs Asuka's chart and starts paging through the reports, "Could you describe to me how she looked when you saw her?"

"She looked very pale, dirty, malnutrition, sickly. She didn't respond when we called out her name, just kept looking upward the same way she is now."

"Thank you, you may go now."

"Hai, Doctor."

The two security agents that were in the room walk out and stand guard right outside the door.

Ritsuko digs out her cell phone and places a call to Misato.

<Hello?>

"Misato, its Ritsuko, security has found Asuka, she is currently under quarantine until further notice according to her charts."

<When?!>

"At 1:00 this morning, she appears to be in a coma at the moment, I don't suggest you let Shinji know yet until I have had a chance to examine her further."

"As of this time, that is correct."

"When will the spare pilot get here?"

"Understood, I will let you and Maya handle the preparations for getting everything ready for the first synch test, but let Maya know that Rei will not be taking part in the tests per my orders."

<Hai. Anything else?>

"Yes, I will need you to check on a program that is running in the MAGI."

<How?>

"The password is still listed on your computer, use Balthazar."

<Understood.>

<-CLICK->

Ritsuko puts the phone back into her lab-coat and begins her examination of Asuka.

'Asuka, what is going through your mind right now?'

****************

Misato hangs up the phone.

'I'd better check on that program first.'

Misato goes to her room and starts typing in commands into her computer.

[MAGI - Balthazar - 2]

[System 6.3.9]

[Enter Password - ]

Misato opens another window and starts searching for the password left by Ritsuko. Once she has found it, she enters it into the main window.

[R. Akagi]

[Clearance Level - N/A]

[1 Programs Running]

[Press F8 To Continue]

Misato does as she is told.

[Current Program - Naoko45]

[View Program? Y/N]

She hits Y.

[Naoko45]

[Please Select Option]

[1 - Run]

[2 - Check]

[3 - Stop]

She hits 2.

[Program Has Cleared Logs For Terminal Dogma]

[Program Has Cleared Logs For R. Akagi]

[Time Index - 19:55 To 01:05]

[Program Has Cleared Log For Current Session]

[End Check]

Misato logs out of the current session and shuts down her computer, "Time to contact Maya."

****************

Away from NERV and Misato, two figures are walking along a street in the eastern sector of the city.

"Shinji, have you ever seen the sun rise?"

"What do you mean Rei?"

"I...have never seen a sunrise before."

"Oh...well, I have seen a sunrise before, I didn't get a good look at it though. Why?"

"I wish to see one, and learn what is so special about them."

"Well, if we both get up early enough tomorrow, we can see one together."

"Hai."

"Rei, why the sudden interest?"

"I am unsure..."

They both continue walking, enjoying the sunny day as they go, until they reach the newest lake formed by the latest explosion. Both the children walk up to the water's edge and stare out across the lake.

"Rei, do you think Asuka is okay?"

"I do not know, Shinji, but Soryu is a strong pilot, she will be fine."

"I hope so. She is one of the few people I can still trust, All of our school mates are gone, and Asuka hasn't come back. Misato tries to be friendly, but I don't know if I can trust her; Ritsuko is not herself anymore; Kaji is dead; My father has no remorse; mother is dead...that leaves only you I can trust."

"Shinji, do not worry about others, we have each other right now, and a third one on the way. We must both learn from each other first before we worry about what is around us."

"I guess you are right, Rei. But, I just can't help but worry about Asuka at the same time."

They both find some rocks and sit down on the new beach, and just stare off into the distance.

"Rei, why is it you live alone?"

"Shinji?"

"Why do you not live with Misato like Asuka and I do?"

"When I was sent to live outside of NERV, Misato was not here."

"Oh, but why is it when she came you still lived alone?"

"I am unsure, I only lived where I was told to. I only followed orders."

"Surely you felt alone at times?"

Rei does not answer right away, instead she looks down at the ground for the few moment as she thinks about what to say. After what seemed like minutes she finally gives Shinji an answer, "Yes...I did."

"So why do you live alone then?"

"I have nothing else..."

After about two hours have passed, they stand up again and head back to the apartment.

As they walk, Rei feels the same feeling she did that morning, 'I must prepare for the end.'

After a few seconds pass by, the feeling fades away again and they both continue on there way.

****************

Ritsuko has finished her examination of Asuka finally and begins to log her findings.

[R. Akagi]

[Medical Log]

[Soryu, Asuka Langley]

[]

[After careful examination, no physical trauma has been found on the Second Child, her weight has dropped by 20 pounds, her blood pressure is very low, skin is a pale color, and she is unresponsive to all external interactions. As far as her mental health is concerned, it is my belief that she will not be able to pilot Unit-02 again until she overcomes what has sent her comatose.]

[]

[The cause for this may be stress and memories of her past. The Second Child has a history of mental stress from her mother's death, and her father leaving her. This could be the main cause for her coma at the moment, Asuka has pushed herself over the edge and sees herself as a failure in her eyes. My professional diagnosis matches what her past files have predicted would happen, though this has happened ahead of the predicted timeline possibly due to the attack of the 15th Angel on her mind, the outcome is still predicated to be the same; insanity, then death.]

[]

[End Log]

"Please pull through, Asuka."

****************

That night, after all have gone to sleep at the Katsuragi residence, Rei has started to dream about events to come.

=(Rei sees herself floating down the main shaft to Terminal Dogma. Below she can hear the sounds of a fight happening, but is unable to see what is happening.)=

=(Soon, Rei reaches the bottom of the shaft and sees Unit-01 has defeated Unit-02 in a battle, she also sees a gray haired boy floating in the air outside Heavens Door. Rei immediately raises her AT-FIELD to block out all outside interference.)=

='No, this isn't right, I must not allow this to happen.'=

=(Rei drops her ATF and moves to where the boy is floating, but she does not make it in time as he merges with Lilith and brings on Third Impact.)=

****************

The next morning, Shinji wakes up first and walks over to the bed where Rei is currently sleeping, "Rei?"

Rei does not move as Shinji tries to wake her, as he goes to move her head, he notices her face feels damp.

"What?"

Next, Shinji turns Rei on to her backside and gets a better look at her, "Rei??"

Shinji sees that Rei's shirt is completely soaked with sweat, he even sees two thing that would normally make him shy away, but due to the seriousness of the situation he calls out for Misato.

"MISATO!! COME QUICK!"

Misato comes running into the room and sees Shinji next to Rei, "Shinji, what's wrong?!"

"I think Rei is sick."

"WHAT?"

Misato joins Shinji next to the bed and feels Rei's head, "Shinji! Put something on her and help me get her to the car NOW!"

"Hai."

Misato runs out of the room and makes a call to Ritsuko while Shinji puts another shirt onto Rei, "Rei, please wake up!"

Misato comes back into the room and picks Rei up off the bed, "Shinji, grab my car keys and lets go."

Shinji does as he is told and follows Misato out the door and to the car. Misato sets Rei down in the back seat as Shinji gets in on the other side, "Shinji, I want you to watch over her until we get to NERV, GOT IT?"

"Yes."

"Good." Misato jumps into the driver's seat and guns the engine as they take off at speeds no sane driver would ever attempt. Taking turns at speeds that should have flipped the car over and causing the car to go flying on hills, until they reach the entrance to the NERV Medical Ward.

Ritsuko and two nurses meet them as the car comes to a stop.

After it is deemed safe, Ritsuko approaches the car and opens the door, "Misato, I will say one thing for your driving, you sure know how to get somewhere fast when it counts."

"Funny Ritsu!"

"Okay, I need her inside the building NOW! Bring her to room 407 in the Cranial Ward."

"Yes doctor."

The two nurses hurry in loading Rei onto a stretcher and rush her inside.

"Ritsu, we will be there soon."

"Understood, Misato."

Ritsuko runs after the nurses into the Medical Ward.

Misato starts the car again and finds her parking spot on the second level.

"Shinji, I think it is time you told me what is going on."

"I don't know what you are talking about Misato?"

"SHINJI, enough bullshit, you said you would tell me everything when the time is right, THIS is the right time!"

Shinji just sits there, shocked by what Misato has just said, "I-I-I can't, I can't tell you anything yet."

"Shinji, do you care for Rei?"

"Yes."

"Then you need to at least tell ME what is going on, she is my responsibility right now, this does NOT look good, I need you to tell me everything now."

"Misato, I can't...I can't tell you everything yet."

"Then tell me what you do know, please."

Shinji hesitates before responding, "Unit-02 going berserk may be related to Rei's pregnancy, the child has been communicating with us over the past few days, warning us of a danger, but I can't tell you anymore."

"Why did you try to wake Rei this morning?"

"She wanted to see the sun rise."

"Shinji, why did you keep this from me?"

"We were asked not to tell anyone, by the child."

"Why?"

"I don't know why Misato, I don't know anymore then what I have told you."

Shinji begins to sob at this point.

Misato's voice becomes softer at this point, "Shinji, it's okay, if you don't know anymore yet then I trust you."

"Thank you, Misato."

"Come on, lets go see how Rei is doing."

"Hai. And Misato, please don't tell anyone what I have told you yet."

"I promise I won't, Shinji."

"Thank you."

"By the way, you called Rei 'Rei', that is not like you Shinji."

"Well, we thought that it would be nicer to call each other by our first names."

"Well, just be careful around NERV, that could qualify as unusual at this point."

Hai."

The two say no more as they exit the car and head to the Cranial Ward where Rei currently is.

****************

Many miles away, a boy still moves across the land as he proceeds in the direction of NERV, as he comes to the water, he stops and begins to walk along the beach in what is known as China now.

"I am the final one, I must do what I have been sent to do, destroy humanity. But is it really necessary to destroy them, does humanity deserve to die?"

The boy just sits down on the beach as he thinks about what must be done, and whether it is the right thing to do. After a little while, the boy continues on his way to NERV, and to the one thing that he must do.

****************

Hours later, back at NERV, Misato, Shinji, and Ritsuko have gathered in another room to discuss the situation involving Rei.

"Ritsu, what have you found out?"

"Well, the diagnosis is not good. Rei is suffering from poisoning in her body, we don't know what is going to happen, and we can't treat her. The chances of her surviving are not good right now. Shinji, I can't let you see her right now due to the quarantine we have set up, but you can see her on the security feed if you want."

Ritsuko goes over to the monitor in the corner and sets it to room 407.

"Ayanami..."

On the monitor, Rei is sleeping on the bed, her head looks real shiny from all the sweat she has put out and her chest is barely moving as she breathes.

Misato looks at Shinji and starts to get worried, "Shinji?"

"Misato, why? Why does she have to die?"

"I don't know, Shinji."

Misato turns to Ritsuko, "Ritsuko, show him the other patient."

"Misato, no."

"Ritsuko, do it!"

"Misa..."

Misato pulls out her sidearm and aims it at the doctor, "DO IT!"

"Okay, Misato..."

Ritsuko walks over to the monitor again and enters the command for Asuka's room. When the image changes, Shinji freezes in mid-breath.

"I didn't won't you to see this yet Shinji, but I think now is the best time for you to see it."

"Asuka..."

"We found her yesterday morning after we took that tour, she is in quarantine as well right now."

"No..." Shinji starts to back up towards the door.

"Shinji, what are you doing? Shinji?"

Shinji arrives at the door and runs out of the room with a terrified look on his face.

"SHINJI!"

Misato gets ready to run after him when Ritsuko stops her, "Let him go, Misato. He needs some time to himself right now."

"RITSU!"

"No, Misato! If I have to I will have you arrested! Let him be for now."

Misato think about the situation a bit before she gives in, "Okay..."

****************

Shinji keeps running from the Medical Ward, through NERV, out into the city, then finally stops at the lake he and Rei visited the previous day, when he has found the rocks they sat on he sees that several hours have passed by.

"Why?"

"Why does she have to die?"

"Why do they both have to die, the only two I can really trust right now, WHY?"

"I care for both of them..."

"I don't want them to die, ever."

"Everyone I cared for is either dying or gone now, Toji, Kensuke, Hikari. All left when their homes where destroyed. Asuka, Rei, dying because of what they have done, what they have been forced to do. Misato just wants to find the truth. I am alone again..."

Soon, Shinji begins to here humming coming from behind him, he turns around and sees a gray haired boy about his age sitting on a rock.

"A song is good."

"Huh?"

"A song brings us joy, don't you think so, Shinji Ikari?"

"Do I know you?"

"Not yet, but everyone knows who you are."

"Really? Then who are you?"

"Kaoru Nagisa, the Fifth Child."

"The Fifth Child? Nagisa?"

"I like Kaoru better, Ikari."

"Then you may call me Shinji."

The Fifth Child lets out a slight laugh.

****************

"The Fifth Child has arrived."

"I know he has Makoto, but I don't know if we should proceed with the test, we have two pilots in the Medical Ward right now."

The next day, Misato has volunteered to give Makoto a ride to NERV HQ. On the way, they decide to discuss the situation involving the Fifth Child.

"Major, we have no idea about the Fifth Child, the Malduk report has only one piece of info in it, he was born the same day Second Impact occurred."

"So we have no idea if he can even pilot an Eva?"

"None, Major."

"Well, he was chosen by Malduk, so he must be of some use. Let's just see how he does today."

"Hai."

****************

About four hours later, well into the synch test, Misato finds herself standing in the control center.

Fuyutsuki bends down to look at the screen in front of Maya, "Lower it 0.3 more please."

"Yes sir." Maya enters the commands into the terminal.

"Could these readings be wrong?"

"No sir."

"How are these readings possible?"

"It isn't possible with this system."

"What about the Third Child's readings?"

Misato walks up to the Sub-Commander to answer that question, "Sir, his readings may be due to the problems with both the Second and First Children, he has found out about their conditions as of yesterday."

"You are has guardian, Major. Please take care of the problem as you see fit, but do it quickly."

"Hai sir."

****************

The next day, after a long and boring ride down to NERV HQ, Kaoru swipes his card through the reader in front of the entrance to Central Dogma and steps through the gate once it has finished opening.

<-RING->

"Hello?"

<Kaoru, this is Maya Ibuki, where are you right now?">

"I am at the entrance to Gate 7."

"Hai, I am coming right now."

<Understood. Doctor Akagi will be waiting for you at the front desk.>

"Hai."

<-CLICK->

'So, it is time to meet the First Child.'

****************

After a few hours of tests, Kaoru is heading towards the entrance to the Medical Ward, when he suddenly turns down the hall that leads to the room where Rei Ayanami is currently in. No one sees him disappear through the door once he gets there.

After he is in he walks over to the bed Rei is in and puts his hand on her forehead.

****************

=(Inside Rei's dream, Rei sees darkness all around her, no life what-so-ever can be seen in the post Third Impact world she is in.)=

="Why am I seeing this?"=

="You are the First Child, Rei Ayanami."=

=(Rei hears a voice that she does not know come from behind her and turns around, but this time, instead of seeing the penguin like she usually does, she sees a gray haired boy standing in front of her.)=

="Who are you?"=

="We are both the same, you and I."=

="I do not understand?"=

="I am Kaoru Nagisa, the Fifth Child."=

=(Kaoru gives Rei a slight smile as she stares at him.)=

="I do not see the point to us meeting?"=

="You must be the Third Rei, I am Tabris."=

="You are the Seventeenth Angel."=

="Yes, I wanted to meet you just in case we never got the chance later, and to tell you that you are my sister as well. We are both alike in some way, only you have not realized those ways yet, but you may soon..."=

="Why are you telling me this?"=

="Why not, you have the right to know of your origins, Ayanami. And, I wanted to meet you for possibly the last time. I most go now, so long, sister."=

=(With that having been said, Kaoru fades, leaving Rei along again in the darkness.)=

="Shinji..."=

****************

Back in the room Rei is in, Kaoru pulls his hand away from her head and puts on her stomach.

"Too bad you won't live through Third Impact, you would have enjoyed your humanity..."

Having said that, he turns and leaves the room and heads for the exit to NERV, once he reaches it he waits for the gate to open and sees Shinji sitting against the wall waiting for something, or someone.

"You waited for me?"

Shinji opens his eyes and sees him standing there, "Sort of, I was wondering if I could talk to you?"

"I was hoping to talk to you as well, Shinji."

"Really?"

Kaoru offers his hand to Shinji as Shinji gets up, "So, where should we go?"

"I think I know of a place."

"Then, we shall go there."

The two of them start walking in the direction of the shuttle station.

Over an hour later, they arrive at the same mountain park that Shinji and Rei had visited days before, but this time they find a spot near a lake in the area and find some benches to sit on. Kaoru is the first to speak what is on his mind.

"Shinji, what is it you fear?"

"Huh?"

"What is it you fear from your own kind?"

"I don't understand?"

"You fear that first contact, do you not?"

"I guess that is true."

"If you don't know others, you can never be betrayed or hurt, but, the cost of that is sadness, a person can't escape sadness forever."

"Oh?"

"But they can forget it, so they are able to go on a little while longer."

"I see."

"People must understand this before they can continue the way they want to."

"I understand..."

"So, Shinji Ikari, what is it you wish to ask me?"

"You know about the First and Second Children, don't you?"

"I do..."

"Well, I can't help but think that I am the one that caused their illnesses. They are my friends, and fellow Eva pilots, but lately I have wondered if they would be like this if they were not Eva pilots after all."

"Shinji, have you ever thought that you are the reason they are still alive, they may be dying now, but you may have been the one that kept them alive for this long."

"I guess that could be so..."

"Do you miss them?"

"Yes, they were my friends as well. I feel as if I have let them down somehow."

"They put their trust in you, you have nothing to feel bad about. Humanity is unique in this way..."

"I suppose..."

After another half-hour, Shinji sees the sun is beginning to set, "We should start back now, it's beginning to get late."

"We have to go already?"

"Yes, we shouldn't be up here in the first place."

"I wish to talk some more with you, Shinji, if I may?"

"But we must return to our homes."

"People always feel pain in their hearts, that part is easy to wound, it is for this reason that living can be painful, your heart is easily breakable, like glass."

"What?"

"You are worthy of love...meaning that I love you."

Shinji is surprised to hear Kaoru use such kind words, "Tha-thank you..."

"You are welcome, Shinji Ikari."

"I must go now, I am sorry Kaoru, I need to do some more thinking about what you have said about me not being responsible for the pain of my friends."

"Then, we will talk more tomorrow..."

"I hope so, I like talking to you as well."

"Good evening then, Shinji."

Shinji gets up and leaves Kaoru sitting on the bench as he heads to the shuttle station. Kaoru continues to sit there for a while longer.

'Tomorrow, Shinji, all your pain will be over in life, you will not have to worry anymore...'

****************

After a night of restless slumber, Shinji finds himself back in the same room he was in before when he was given the news on both Rei and Asuka, he sits down in a chair facing the monitor that has both Rei's and Asuka's rooms displayed on it.

"Rei, Asuka, you have both been my friends during these past months, it hurts me to see you like this now. I have felt like it was me that causeed you both to be here recently, but last night I was shown that is not true. I was the one that helped you get to this point, even though you may be dying now, you are both still alive because of me, and I have your friendship in return. I am happy to have known you both as long as I have, and though I wish you both would not die, I have come to accept this as my gift to you both..."

Before Shinji is able to finish what he is trying to say, he hears the alarms go off in the Medical Ward symbolizing an angel attack. "Asuka, Rei, this battle is dedicated to you both."

Shinji runs out of the room and to the locker rooms. After he has finished putting on his plug suit, he runs to his Entry Plug and awaits synchronization from the Eva.

Once the Entry Plug is powered up, he sees Misato's face appear on the wall.

<Shinji, can you hear me?>

"Yes, Misato."

Shinji hears everything Misato says, but doesn't believe a word of it, "He can't be, he is my friend, Misato! I don't believe you!"

<SHINJI!! I don't believe it myself, but I see all the data in front of me, you have to stop him!>

"It must be a lie..."

Shinji feels the Eva start to descend as he begins to go over the previous day in his head, "He said that he loved me, how can he do this to me, HOW?!"

When Unit-01 has finally caught up with Unit-02, he gets ready to fight.

"Kaoru! How could you do this to me?!"

"It is what I have been sent to do Shinji. I didn't lie to you last night, you are worthy of love, but I must do what I have been sent to do."

Shinji reaches for his Progressive Knife, but finds that he is unable to withdraw it, "I can't do this, Kaoru, please stop, I don't want to fight you, you are my friend, and the first that has really said they love me."

"Shinji, this is what you must do. The reason you pilot is for survival, the fate of everyone is in your hands at the moment, what you choose to do is up to you..."

"But, how can I fight when I am already losing two other friends, I can't do this!"

"Then I must defeat you, Ikari."

Suddenly, Unit-02 grabs the Progressive knife and shoves it into Unit-01's armor and flesh.

"I am sorry, Shinji."

Shinji is unable to tolerate the pain and passes out in his entry plug, his last words being "Forgive me, Rei, Asuka, I have let you down..."

****************

As Kaoru and the Evas reach Terminal Dogma, Kaoru begins to think about what Shinji said the night before as he comes to realize why Shinji is unable to fight, "Shinji, I betrayed you, yet you did not fight me? Why is that?" Once he and the Evas are at the bottom, he approaches Heaven's Door and stops, and thinks about a few things he missed during his visit with Rei, "Is it that you see something more in your fellow pilots Shinji? Does their dying hurt you that much?" Instantly, Kaoru sees the flaw in humanity that he missed, he sees that Shinji has felt their pain mixed with the pain of betrayal, but with the pain a sense of purpose has come, one that provided the weakness.

Kaoru enters through the doorway and approaches Lilith, "Adam, our mother being. Those born from Adam must return to Adam, even annihilating humanity? No, this isn't Adam, this is Lilith. I see. I understand, Lilim."

Kaoru makes his most important decision yet in that spot, "No, I mustn't do this, I must let humanity live, they must live, that leaves me with one option left. Yes, I must do it." Kaoru turns and heads back the same way he has come, "Shinji, this is my gift to you...thank you."

****************

Hours later, in the NERV Medical Ward, Shinji awakens from the most recent battle he almost lost.

"I am still alive?"

"Shinji?"

Shinji turns his head in the direction of the voice, "Misato, what happened?"

"We are not sure, we found you in the wreckage of room 407, laying next to Rei. I was hoping you could tell us how you got there."

"I don't remember how I did, the last thing I remember is being stabbed by Unit-02."

"You are very lucky, Shinji. From what I saw, you should have died in the blast that occurred in that room, we have no idea how you survived without any injuries, Rei was not so lucky, I don't know her condition yet."

"Rei...no..."

"Shinji, if you want, you may leave, I have brought your cell phone just in case I have any more news for you."

"Hai, Misato..."

Misato turns and leaves the room, Shinji decides to just lay there in the bed a little longer to think about what he has heard, "So, Rei has been injured, all because of me, all because I could not stop Kaoru..."

After what seems like minutes, Shinji gets up and gets dressed, then heads out of the room. Once he has exited, he sees what used to be a hallway, but now is just blackened walls and holes, Shinji then notices what is left of the sign that used to give directions.

<EXI

C NI L>

L ND Y

<FRON DE

He has a hard time sorting out the letters at first, until he sees the room number on the door. He immediately knows what is in the direction of the explosion and starts running until he reaches the room he was searching for, somehow the numbers have survived on the door to room 704. When Shinji sees the interior he almost falls over, "How did I survive this? How bad is Rei's condition?" Shinji turns white at the thought that Rei could be in serious condition.

"Shinji?"

"Misato, please tell me Rei survived..."

"She did, but I don't know how bad her injuries were..."

"MISATO!!"

Misato is taken aback by Shinji's sudden outburst, "Shinji?"

Shinji doesn't bother to stand around while Misato tries to respond further, he starts running in the direction of the exit. He doesn't even hear Ritsuko call for Misato.

Hours later, Shinji is at the same place he and Rei visited days before after the night Rei got drunk.

"Why did Kaoru try to kill us all, why did he betray me?"

Shinji just lies there on the ground going over the battle from hours earlier that he doesn't even hear someone approaching him.

"Shinji?"

Shinji is startled out of his thoughts as the person standing over him speaks again, "Shinji?"

"Rei?"

"Yes."

Shinji is so excited to see Rei that he forgets she is standing over him and ends up knocking her over.

"REI!! No, I'm sorry, sorry."

"Shinji, it is okay."

Shinji helps Rei up off the ground and hugs her, "Rei, you are okay, I was worried about you when I saw your room, and heard that you have been injured."

"I am okay, Shinji. But, I must talk to you, alone..."

"Shinji turns and sees Ritsuko and Misato standing a ways away from them. Rei waves her hand to signal to them that they can go.

Misato calls back to Rei, "Rei, I will leave this up to you, contact us if you need any help."

"Hai, Misato."

Misato and Ritsuko turn and head off to a waiting black car, get in, and let NERV security drive them away, leaving Rei and Shinji to talk.

"Rei, what's wrong?"

"Shinji, do you remember what happened when you went to fight the 17th Angel?"

"I remember getting stabbed by Unit-02."

"You passed out in your Eva afterwards."

"I guess that is true..."

"You decided not to fight Kaoru, but Kaoru decided at the last moment before Third Impact that he wished for humanity to live. He brought you back up the way you both came down, and to my room..."

"He...decided to let me live?"

"Yes...he closed off everything within a certain distance from my room and spoke to me, He decided to become one with me to save everyone, and to allow me to survive. He is a part of me now. Tabris told me you were the reason he stopped everything. He wanted me to thank you for helping him make the right decision, for all three of us."

"I don't understand?"

"Nor do I, but you were the reason we did not die..."

"So, what next?"

"Now, we must continue what has been set in motion by your father."

"Hai."

"Come, it is time to head back."

"Yes, Rei. I am glad you are not injured."

"As I am you..."

The two of them start walking to the shuttle that will bring them back to the city and Misato's apartment. As they are walking, Shinji sees the sun beginning to set and gets an idea.

"Rei, have you ever seen a sunset before?"

"No."

"Then, let us make up for the sunrise we missed yesterday."

"Hai."

The children continue to walk until they come to a nice spot in the park where they can see the sun set.

"Rei, why is it you asked me about sunrises?"

"I do not understand what others see in them."

"Well, I have not seem many sunrises, but I did see a sunset with Misato after the first battle. I feel that a sunset symbolizes the end of the day when everything changes."

"But change is constant..."

"That is true, but the sun isn't what brings in the change, it's how it looks when it sets and rises that people see change."

Rei takes a moment to looks at the reds, purples and gold that have come with the setting of the sun and finally sees why it is so special.

"The site is...nice."

"That is probably why it is enjoyable to see this change."

"With change, people change..."

"But don't think about it, just take in the site in front of you..."

"I see...thank you, Shinji."

Shinji smiles at Rei as the two of them continue to watch the sunset until the golden color has disappeared, then rise and continue to the shuttle station.

"Rei, What was that question you wanted to ask me before?"

"Shinji, how do you feel about me being pregnant?"

"It is a shock, but I am happy for you, and wish to help you out as much as I can...as much as you would like me to."

"I am...happy to hear those words come from you, Shinji."

"Why do you ask?"

"Because it has led me to decide on whether to ask this next question..."

"I see."

"Shinji, I have decided to have this child, but I need assistance in learning how to care for it first. Shinji, would you like to assist me?"

"Rei?"

"I will let you think about it first."

"Rei...I would be happy to."

****************

Hours later, down in the office of Doctor Ritsuko Akagi, someone is going over the notes they were going over days earlier.

"Why can't I figure this out?"

The person is obviously Ritsuko Akagi, she is getting ready to call it quits for the night when she comes across something she missed before, somehow some of the papers have fallen into place again the way they did before, only this time someone is present to see it.

"What the?.."

She begins to go over the pattern formed by the said papers and sees that the answer has been in plain sight the whole time, she grabs a notebook and writes down a few things before heading over to her terminal.

"I hope this is the answer I need..."

"She enters the notes in to the terminal and hits enter, the MAGI begin to go over the new findings and gives the doctor an answer.

[Test Delta 86]

[Results Point To Mutation]

Ritsuko grabs one of the notes cluttered on her desk and puts in the findings, and then hits enter again. About a minute later she has her answer.

[Chemical Findings Point To A Positive Match To Chemicals On File]

[Chem Ident Is - Hydro 157]

[Purpose Of Chem - Modification Of Eva Tissue During Early Stages Of Growth]

[Reason For Use In Presented Case - To Modify The Structure Of Living Tissue]

[Usage - Recommended For Eva Growth Only]

[Case Used For - Modified Growth Of Human Fetus]

[Side Effects - Accelerated Growth]

"Oh god. How did this happen, how did it get in Rei?"

Ritsuko thinks back to when Rei was in the tube last. She remembers the blue liquid that entered the tube and comes to a conclusion, "That bastard! He is using Rei again for his purposes."

She looks back at the screen again and sees one more line appear.

[Danger Level - May Cause Death Of Host At End Of The Cycle]

"He is going to kill Rei!"

As soon as Ritsuko learns this, she prints out her findings and writes her summary.

[Summary For Subject - Ayanami, Rei]

[Personal Notes]

[]

[After discovering the identity of the fourth chemical, I have come to the conclusion that Commander Ikari plans on possibly making a more useful version of Rei, while killing her at the same time. My assumption is he sees no more use for Rei and is using her to create a more suitable Eva Pilot. If this is indeed the Commanders plan, then I must find out how to undo what has been done without killing the host or the fetus. I will be making more notes on this matter as I see needed. Misato, if you are reading this, then you have either hacked into this file or I am dead, either way, you must not let the Commander succeed with his plan.]

[]

[End Notes]

****************

Elsewhere in NERV, hidden among the shadows of the basement, a man walks down a hallway. Every time he passes through the light, a person can see his orange suit that all the technicians wear.

"Tail calling the head, Tail calling the head, please reply..."

"I have reached the computer control lines, awaiting further instructions."

<Tail, you are to patch the device into the green line, then await further orders.>

"Hai."

The tech opens up the box to his right and begins to pull out a mass of cabling from it, 'Red, blue, white, GREEN.'

As soon as he preps the cable, he attaches a small black box to it.

"Device is attached."

The tech do as told and ends up putting the device on standby

[AWAITING AUTHORIZATION CODE]

"It says ready."

He enters in the code and reads the screen.

[CODE IS VALID]

[AWAITING REMOTE COMMANDS]

[SCRAMBLER ACTIVE]

"It's all ready."

<Good, now return to your NERV duties until we contact you next.>

"Hai."

He closes up the box and walks back the same way he come from down the dark hall. Back at the box, the device is receiving its commands from the base station far away.

[TRANSMITTER ACTIVE]

[INSTRUCTIONS CONFIRMED]

[TAPPING GRID CONTROLS]

[DONE]

[TAPPING SECURITY CONTROLS]

[DONE]

[STANDBY MODE ACTIVE]

To Be Continued...

Time for the questions:

Will Asuka ever wake up?

Isn't Shinji helping Rei already?

Why is it Gendo has to kill Rei?

Who was that tech really?

Find out next time in Rei's Child, Chapter IV.

----

Omake's for November:

Omake

What Ritsuko really thinks about Rei:

[Summary For Subject - Ayanami, Rei]

[Personal Notes]

[]

[I'm the one making love to Commander Ikari and that stupid little bitch has a child?! She better not have fucked Gendo, he's my man. I'll inject so many chemicals into her her eyeballs will pop out her freaking head! She even got more attention than my mom! If that little hussy thinks she's taking Gendo from me, she has another thing coming!]

[]

[End Notes]