The Instrumentality of Angels3
The Instrumentality of Angels
Part Three
Misato entered Dr. Akagi's cell. She was sitting in a chair, her
back to the door.
"Ritsuko, the last angel has come back."
"So, he wasn't destroyed. I didn't think it would be that easy."
"He's taken Asuka. She's inside him. How do we get her back?"
"I don't have the slightest idea. You probably can't." Misato scowled
at the mocking in her voice.
"He says that he wants to be destroyed, to prevent Third Impact.
What happens to her if we do?"
"What do you think will happen?" Ritsuko laughed. "Give it up 'Major'.
Shinji will never agree to that. Even the last Rei is beginning to think
for herself." She began to laugh harder, tears streaming down her
face.
"You're pathetic." Misato turned and walked out.
Misato stood outside Shinji's door.
"Shinji? Can I come in?" She pushed the door back. Shinji was
curled up on his bed, wearing his headphones. "Shinji, what happened
today wasn't your fault." She wasn't sure if he was listening but she
continued to speak. "No one expected Asuka to do what she did.
But I never knew how you felt about her either." Shinji drew his legs
up close to his body.
"I never understood Misato." His voice was soft and full of sadness.
"I was so caught up in hating myself. I never learned how to love her."
"Hearing you talk like that, it's strange."
"Just tell me how to get her back Misato. I'll do anything."
"Shinji, I-" Misato reached out to touch him.
"Don't touch me Misato! How many times do I have to tell you
that!"
"She's gone." Tears began streaming down her face. "There's nothing
you can do. But Shinji, Kaoru, you must, you have to-"
"Don't say it! Don't you dare tell me to pilot that thing!"
Misato stood and began backing out of the room.
"I can't save her, not in my Eva, not by myself. And now you want
me to destroy her? Well to hell with you! To hell with everyone! I
hate you Misato! I hate my father, I hate everyone!"
Misato fled from the room, his words ringing in his ears. Shinji
covered his head with his pillow.
"I hate myself!"
"Initiate the dummy plug in Unit One."
Aoba, Hyuga, and Maya all turned in Misato's direction at once.
"But Ma'am, Commander Ikari isn't even here."
"I'm taking command of this situation. As such, I also take full
responsibility. Our sole purpose is to destroy angels. No matter
what the cost," she added under her breath.
"Initiating dummy plug." Misato watched as teh Eva came to life.
Kaoru sat at its feet, seemingly oblivious. He smiled up at Misato,
causing goose flesh to spring up along her neck. His smile was
different now, less ethereal.
"It's shutting down!" The Eva's eyes suddenly went dark. Maya
pecked frantically at her keyboard. "It's denying us!"
"Try it again! Start from the beginning if you have to!"
"No!" A voice boomed out from above. Gendo Ikari pushed his glasses
back up on the bridge of his nose. "Bring Unit Five here immediately."
Maya glanced up nervously at him, then Misato. "Yes sir."
"Unit Five?" Misato looked at Hyuga who merely shrugged. Misato
turned to look up at Ikari. "Commander, what are you doing?"
"Something I should've done a long time ago."
"Ayanami!" Shinji pounded on the door of Rei's apartment. "Rei!
Let me in!" When no one answered, he tried the knob. The door
openened and he rushed inside. "Ayanami! Are you here?"
Rei was sitting on her bed, staring down at a pair of broken glasses in
her hands.
"Rei!" Shinji ran towards her but collapsed on the floor. He struggled
to catch his breath. "You have to help me, please! They're gonna kill her!
They're gonna destroy Kaoru!"
Rei hung her head, her blue hair falling across her cheek. "I don't
understand.
Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you're the only one I have to turn to. You're my only friend! Even
Misato betrayed me!"
Rei looked up, surprise in her eyes. "Friend?"
"Yes, of course you're my friend. You're the only one who understands,
you and Asuka. Rei, I don't know what my father's done to you. I'm
not even sure what you are any more. But you've risked you life for me.
I can't believe the only reason you did it is because he told you to, I
won't
believe it! Rei," he crawled to her, taking her hands in his "you're not
his
doll."
Rei blinked away tears of bewilderment. A warm feeling flooded her body,
unlike anything she had ever experienced. She dropped Gendo Ikari's
glasses.
"Rei, can you help me?"
She nodded, only once.
"Do you want to become one with me? To be of one mind and body?"
"Yes."
Rei stood, pulling him up with her. She closed her arms around him in an
embrace. He was only vaguely aware of this feeling of melting.
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