The discovery of Mu has changed the face of archaeology and anthropology forever. All of our theories regarding the history of mankind, from our migratory patterns out of Africa to the development of civilization itself, have been either been discredited or reworked heavily, in order to fit in what we now know.

It has only been further confused by the existence of our sibling subspecies on the other planets, with strong evidence that they had been deliberately transplanted by some unseen intelligence. Naturally, this would pull many fringe theorists out of the woodwork, spouting that this unknown intelligence could be responsible for Mu, as well as the later developments in what we now call the Second Civilized Period. I am sure that the reader is familiar with the crackpot theories about aliens building the pyramids, or creating the Nazca Lines.

And yet, it is clear that the populations were moved nearly twenty thousand years after the Fall of Mu.

It is only natural that people attempt to explain the wonders of the world with something grandiose, or something that would give some kind of meaning to our civilization. It is that psychological effect which also leads to conspiracy theories and, as some more controversial figures would say, religion. However, we cannot let that cloud our minds to the truth, which often proves to be far more mundane than we'd desire.

The idea of human civilization, or even the human species, being the product of some intelligent alien design is absurd.

- Dr. Henry Jones II, Mu and You.

==/*\==

Blood seemed to flow from every inch of his skin, hot and sticky and red. Spots swam in his vision; all he could see were slashing claws and snapping jaws as some iron-skinned demon tore into him, staring at him with ravenous orange eyes. There was a sensation of being lifted over his head, and he realized he was falling back down...

Shinji's eyes darted open, and he sucked in a gasp as he was pulled to wakefulness. His eyes darted about the room, as though to remind himself of where he was. A flop sweat trickled down his forehead, and he forced himself to breathe evenly. The terror of the dream still lingered, crawling up and down his spine like some parasite, worming its feelers deeper...

Then a calming presence washed over him, sweeping away the fear and replacing it with warmth. He began to relax, leaning his head back onto the pillow.

It's okay, Shinji, Hayata said, soothingly. You're okay. It was simply a nightmare.

It felt real.

After these situations, they often do.

Shinji sighed. They're not going to go away for a while, are they?

Perhaps not, Hayata admitted. But I'll be here for you when they come.

Shinji let out a longer sigh, and closed his eyes. It was then he realized something soft and warm was wrapped around him, pressing against his back. As though in response to the sudden jostle, it pulled itself tighter about his chest and legs, causing his shirt to hike up. Skin touched skin, and Shinji's eyes widened as Asuka leaned her chin into the crook of his neck.

"Mmmm... don't... wanna..." the girl mumbled.

Somehow, I forgot about this, Shinji thought with a grimace. She's going to kill me if she wakes up.

Oh dear, Hayata said, stifling a laugh. Why do I feel like this is going to be a trend?

Shinji slowly raised his arm, and gently pried Asuka's fingers apart, allowing him to slowly squeeze out of her grip. Wriggling out from under Asuka's leg, he carefully sat up, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked over. Asuka stirred a little, a frown on her face, but didn't wake up.

That was a close call, Hayata remarked.

Shinji made a humorless chuckle, then slowly stood up and crept towards the door, sliding it open. He peeked into the hallway, looking to see if anyone else was awake. Satisfied, he slinked towards the washroom, and took another shower. The last one still hadn't completely washed away the smell of the fight, and getting dried blood off his back proved harder than expected.

Once that was done, he found himself staring at his reflection in the mirror, frowning. All the other cuts and burns had long-since healed, but the trio of thin scars across his face remained. He gently brushed his fingers over the faint marks, thinking.

Why do I still have these, Hayata?

Well, between the broken back, the punctured lung, the irradiated burns, and the destroyed eye... there was much to heal, and I suppose I accidentally allowed some scar tissue to form. I think I could get rid of it, if you would like.

Shinji lowered his hand. No.

No?

I think I need a reminder of the risks of when I press that button.

But why?

Shinji thought back to Asuka slumbering peacefully by his side. So I remember what's worth those risks.

Very well, Hayata sighed. But I am not sure if it is fair to poor Pen-Pen.

Shinji smiled, then went to make breakfast.

==/*\==

Asuka's eyes fluttered open, and she rose with a yawn, feeling more well-rested than she could ever remember being. Sunbeams poked through the window, warming her face, and she smiled lightly. She stretched her arms, letting the blood flow return...

Then she remembered she was in Shinji's room.

A sudden chill ran down her spine, and she hurriedly leapt to her feet, wildly looking around. Her gaze fell on the clock, and she saw that it was almost noontime

I've been asleep for thirteen hours, she thought to herself. Shit.

Silently, she tiptoed towards the door, then slid it open. Poking her head out, she saw that Shinji was in the living room, sitting on the couch while he read a book. Their eyes met, and Asuka saw the boy's cheeks turn a bright red.

"M-morning," Shinji mumbled.

"Morning," Asuka murmured back, stepping into the hallway and shutting the door behind her.

"I, uh, made breakfast."

"Good," Asuka said. "Good. Yep."

"Just some rice and eggs with tea. It should still be hot."

"I sure hope so." Asuka awkwardly shuffled down the hallway, then sat down at the table.

She dug into her breakfast, trying not to focus on anything else. When that was done, she quickly put the dishes in the sink, then sat down on the couch, trying to keep her gaze away from Shinji. She played with the remote, hoping to find something on TV, but there was nothing but static.

"I think Godzilla cut a few of the lines," Shinji said, quietly. "Or maybe I landed on them when he threw me around. I don't know."

Asuka lamely put the remote down, then slowly turned around until she was facing him. They stared at each other for a few moments, looking into each other's eyes.

"So..." she began.

"So... do you remember what we talked about last night?"

"Yeah. Part of me was almost hoping it was a dream."

"And the other part?"

"Hmm?"

"Did the other part of you hope it wasn't a dream?"

Asuka looked away. "I don't know."

Silence.

"Did Misato go to work today?" she asked.

"She left an hour ago, saying something about a surprise assignment," Shinji replied.

"Did she, ah, know I was..."

"No," Shinji said quickly. "No."

"Danke Gott," Asuka groaned. "I did not want to deal with that today."

"Hayata was saying the same thing."

Asuka looked over, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "Does he, uh... feel the same things as you?"

Shinji's blush deepened. "He's... he's cut himself off from most things by this point."

"He better," Asuka huffed.

Pen-Pen waddled into view, a rather unamused look on his face. The penguin hopped into the couch, firmly planting itself between the two. He glanced at Shinji, then back to Asuka, sniffing the air. Then, he made a face that Asuka could've sworn was... smug.

"Wark," he said, haughtily tilting his head up and leaning into the couch.

"I think he's still mad over you throwing him under the bus like that," Asuka said. "I wouldn't be surprised if a night in Misato's room constitutes a war crime."

"Heh." Shinji scratched the underside of the penguin's chin. "Sorry about that."

"Wark." Pen-Pen relaxed a little, then hopped off the couch, waddling over to the fridge.

Asuka watched the penguin go, then turned back to Shinji. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but no words came out. What could she say, now?

She was almost relieved when she heard the door open behind her, and turned to see Misato enter the room. The purple-haired woman looked at Asuka, then at Shinji, then back to her.

Then, without changing expression at all, she waggled her eyebrows in a manner that managed to more suggestive than any lewd gesture.

Asuka sighed. She was almost relieved.

"Morning, sleepyhead!" Misato declared with unnatural enthusiasm, unslinging an overnight bag. "I hope you're feeling better from last night."

"Sure," Asuka said. "Yeah."

Misato frowned for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, I guess I can't ask too much."

Asuka warily eyed the bag. "What's up with that?"

"That? Well..."

At that moment, another figure stepped into view, carrying a large green waterproof bag over her shoulder. Asuka sucked in a breath as familiar orange eyes locked with hers, boring right into her soul.

"Good morning, Pilot Sohryu," Rei said, then nodded at Shinji. "Classmate Ikari."

"Uh, hi," Shinji returned, sheepishly. "Um... why are you here with overnight luggage?"

Rei slipped her bag onto the table with a deafening thump. "My apartment was partially damaged during Godzilla's attack. I have been ordered to stay here until it is rebuilt."

"How long's that going to be?" Asuka asked.

"I do not know," Rei replied, calmly. Until the commander is satisfied.

Asuka straightened in her seat, ice pooling in her stomach. Where had that voice come from? Had she imagined it?

No.

Asuka's eyes widened. Oh.

"I need to head back. Sorry I don't have a guest room ready yet," Misato said, making for the door. "Is the couch alright?"

"It is alright," Rei said. "It will do for the time being."

"Good to hear!" Misato offered them all a bright smile. "Don't burn the apartment down while I'm away, okay?"

"Uh, yeah," Asuka mumbled.

"Yup," Shinji said, numbly.

The door shut, and the room fell deathly quiet. Rei calmly walked over to the couch, sitting down between Asuka and Shinji, as though seemingly oblivious to the palpable tension in the air.

"This apartment is not bugged," Rei said. "At least, not yet."

Asuka let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in. Looking over, she saw that Shinji was doing the same.

"Uh, Rei?" Shinji asked. "W-what happened to your eyes?"

"I forget that you were not awake when I came." The blue-haired pilot allowed herself a small smile. "I will tell you at a later time."

Shinji blinked. "Oh."

"What the hell's going on?" Asuka asked. "Why are you really here?"

"I suspect it is to make keeping tabs on us easier, during this crucial time," Rei said.

"The Shobijin did say something about that," Shinji said.

"Wait, the Shobijin?" Asuka blurted out.

Shinji grimaced. "L-long story."

"It's best that we lay all our long stories bare, while we have time," Rei said.

"I thought I already knew you and Shinji's story," Asuka grumbled. "I mean, you're basically Godzilla's little human, and he's some sort of superhero, now. What else could you shock me with?"

Rei and Shinji exchanged a glance with each other, and Asuka didn't need to be a psychic to know what they were thinking.

"There is much more to this," Rei finally said. "Things that even I do not know. But we are going to find out, soon enough."

"The Shobijin said something about us coming to a crossroads, or something," Shinji added. "They also told me a lot of... things."

Asuka sucked in a breath. "Hit me."

==/*\==

NERV HQ

Misato spent a few moments looking at the mountain of paperwork on her desk, then took a long swig of her canned coffee. Throwing the empty can into the bin by the door, she sat down and went to work. As she suspected, most of it was about Godzilla's attack; there were requests for transportation of new maser lenses, inquiries about armor repair work, and civil complaints about how the schools and other public operations were still closed.

She still didn't know why they gave her actual paper to sign, instead of emails. Hadn't enough forests been cleared by Second Impact?

She was about halfway through the pile when she heard a knock on the wall. Spinning in her swivel chair, she saw that Kaji was standing in the open doorway, leaning against the frame. A grimace crossed her face when she recognized just what his stupid grin meant.

"Morning," he simply said, not even bothering to take the unlit cigarette out of his mouth.

Misato crossed her arms. "Morning."

Kaji's eyes wandered to the forms on her desk. "Still cleaning up the mess, I see."

"Well, what do you expect would happen after a hundred-meter-tall radioactive monster with an attitude problem decides to trash the city?" Misato retorted icily. "I've got the JSSDF on my ass about the lost equipment, the city government on my ass about the damages to all the infrastructure, and the Diet on my ass over the possible effects of the N2 mine we set off.

She let out a huff. "That isn't even counting the fact that the UN's freaking out about the First Child. Some of them even voiced concerns that Rei could theoretically classify as a WMD."

"I have a feeling the Commander will handle the UN," Kaji said, a knowing look on his face. "And speaking of Ayanami, rumor around the grapevine is that she's living with you until her apartment's fixed."

Misato sighed. "I'm not gonna lie. She worries me. Her behavior recently had been... volatile. I have no idea if she's going to just randomly punt me through the wall or scramble my brains if I press one of her buttons."

"I have a feeling you'll be fine. Still, sounds like a lot of stress."

A humorless chuckle. "I'm wondering what will go first: my figure or my hair."

"Your figure survived college," Kaiji retorted, chuckling.

"Yeah, I guess it did," Misato said, uncrossing her arms. A phantom of a smile began to cross her face. "God, remember that vending machine on our dorm floor?"

"The one that always spat out two snacks instead of one?" Kaji's grin widened. "I honestly think it kept me alive through freshmen year."

"I think my body still hasn't flushed out all the salt yet," Misato said, chuckling.

There was a moment of silence between the two of them, broken only by the whir of a nearby printer.

"Well, if you want to get rid of some of that stress, I'm heading to the local izakaya after work. You can join me if you feel like it."

Misato glanced at the hills of paperwork she still hadn't gotten to, then thought of having to spend the evening with a possibly feral Rei.

"You know what? Sounds like a good idea." She turned back to her work. "I could definitely use a drink after all of this."

==/*\==

Asuka crumpled the empty Yebisu can against her head, then let it clatter off the tabletop. Blinking a few times, she eyed the two sitting across from her, and fought down a hiccup.

"Are you alright, Pilot Sohryu?" Rei asked.

"It was just one drink," Asuka shot back, a slight slur to her voice. "Not as strong as the beer back home."

"I still think you shouldn't have done it," Shinji said, a concerned look on his face.

"Alcohol suppresses the central nervous system, baka. And after what you two just told me, I need it suppressed."

"Does that mean you believe us, then?" Rei asked.

Asuka narrowed her eyes, then sank into the chair. "If you'd told me last week... Himmel, if you'd told me yesterday morning, I would've just thought you two decided to pull a prank on me. That, or crazy."

"What about now?" Shinji asked.

She looked at him, then hiccuped again.

"Crazy and right," she mumbled, averting her eyes.

Rei and Shinji looked at each other, relief visibly rolling over them. Asuka studied the two for a moment, brow scrunched. This was probably the most she'd ever seen them interact; there was definitely something weird about it. Not a connection - she wouldn't be surprised if they had barely exchanged a hundred words before this day - but an passing resemblance...

"It is good to see that you are on our side," Rei finally said.

Asuka rubbed her temple. "That might be too strong a term, wonder girl. It kinda implies there's something we can do."

When they both stared at her, she decided to sit up a little. "Oh, come on. What the hell can we do about it? You just said it yourselves. If they can play the UN like a fiddle, if they can get away with Second Impact and set up our whole situation... what can we do? A couple of pilots and a washout can't take on the world, even if two of them have, well, what you have."

She ran her hands through her hair. "Mein Gott, I think I need another beer."

"No, you do not," Rei interjected, firmly. "Our present course requires a clear mind, Pilot Sohryu. You may be right; the three of us alone cannot hope to stand against SEELE. But we are not alone."

Asuka straightened in her seat, forcing herself to take a deep breath. Her gaze fell upon Shinji, prompting the boy to avert his eyes.

"There's four of us here, actually," she murmured. "Shinji, what do you and Hayata think? You've barely said anything."

The boy glanced back at her. "I mean... I think we have a lot of people on our side that we don't know about."

He blinked, then added, "Oh, and Hayata wanted me to say that it's not just people on our side."

Asuka glanced at Rei. "I feel like that's an understatement."

"It is," the blue-haired girl replied, calmly. "SEELE may be powerful, but there are those trying to wrest free Man's destiny from their grip. They have already made a part of themselves known to us."

"The fairies, you mean."

"The Shobijin are not fairies, Pilot Sohryu. They are priestesses."

"Of a giant magical butterfly."

"A nature goddess."

"Shaped like a butterfly."

Rei's nostrils flared, and Asuka could've sworn she saw someone else glaring at her behind those burning eyes. "What matters is that they are on our side."

"That's not my concern," Asuka said. "I'm worried about whether or not we should be on their side. It's like what Sunzi said: the enemy of my enemy is just my enemy's enemy. No more, no less"

"I thought that was from a comic book," Shinji mumbled.

"Whatever, baka. The point is: how do we know that they want what we want?"

"They simply oppose SEELE," Rei said. "That is enough for me."

Of course it is, Asuka thought. I wonder... just how much of that is him talking?

Believe me, Sohryu, a sudden pressure at the back of her head said. You would know if it was Him talking to you.

Asuka stiffened, then glared at the blue-haired pilot. Never do that again.

Rei gave the faintest of nods. Asuka shook her head, then looked to Shinji.

"And you? Do you trust these guys?"

Shinji paused briefly, then straightened. "Hayata trusts them, and I trust him."

She stared into his eyes for a handful of moments, as though waiting for something to make itself known, then let out a long sigh.

"Alright," she said. "I'm with you. What's the plan?"

"The plan," said Rei, "is that we wait for a signal. They will contact us when the time is right. The walls have eyes and ears, and they will be focused on us. We must play our parts until then."

"You mean playing dumb. Just doing what we normally do, until we suddenly blindside them."

"Yes."

"And then what?"

"Then, an extraction."

For a few moments, silence reigned in the apartment.

"You realize that there's no turning back, right?" Asuka asked, looking at Rei, then Shinji. "If we do this, we're crossing the Rubicon, squeezing toothpaste out, all those stupid sayings. We could end up the most wanted fugitives on the planet. And what about Misato?"

"She knows even less than we do," Rei said. "As far as she knows, NERV's sole purpose is to destroy the Angels."

"Which just raises the problem of how we'll handle the Angels. None of this will matter if one of them succeeds."

"If everything goes as planned, we will still 'handle' them."

Asuka looked to Shinji. "Shinji, do you realize just how big this is? If your father actually is..."

There was no need to finish.

Shinji's eyes met hers. She could see the uncertainty behind them, the worry, the fear. And yet, she could see something else behind them, the same essence that drove him to fight a wrathful god just to save her life.

"I don't know," he said, quietly. "So m-much has happened so quickly, and I feel like I can't keep up. Part of me just... just wants to stop, to have time to let all of this sink in. But I don't have time. I can't stop."

He sucked in a breath. "I can't let others get hurt, not when I can do something about it. I... I just can't."

For a few moments, Asuka looked into his eyes, drumming her fingers along the tabletop. Then, she stood up, and went to the fridge. There was still a few Yebisus left in the fridge, and she grabbed three of them. Kicking the door shut, she walked back, and slid a beer Shinji's way. The boy wordlessly took it, a look of surprise on his face.

"You need it," she said. She slid another to Rei. "You too."

The psychic picked up the can. "If this is to get me drunk, far more will be required."

"Think of it as a symbolic thing." Sitting back down, Asuka let out a long sigh. "I feel like I'm going crazy. But, considering the world's going crazy as well, I'm in good company. If we stick together on this, and actually go through with it, together... I'm in. Are you?"

"I was always 'in'," came Rei's retort.

Shinji looked at the can, then back to Asuka, and nodded. "I'm in as well."

"Marvelous." Asuka pushed the tab, and held up her can. "I'll drink to that."

Rei punched a hole in the top with her thumb, while Shinji fumbled for moment before finally getting his can open. The three of them raised their cans up, as if to make a toast.

"Here's to a world of gods and monsters," Asuka said.

"To a world of gods and monsters."

With that, they all pulled a draught. Rei drained hers in a moment, then rolled the can into a tight ball with one hand. Shinji quickly put the can down, grimacing, while Asuka slammed hers down and let out a wince.

"Misato really needs better beer," she said, wiping her mouth.

Rei wordlessly took Shinji's can and downed it as well, before crushing it flat. "Miss Katsuragi requires a new set of taste buds."

For his part, Shinji simply coughed and wiped his mouth, eyes watering.

Despite herself, Asuka cracked a grin. "Now that that's over with, let's get to it. We have classes to go to, training to complete, and asses to kick. And we have the day off for the first two things."

==/*\==

Somewhere in Tokyo-3

Misato grimaced as she set the porcelain cup down. "Nothing like lukewarm sake to set your evening right, huh?"

"This place is still running on emergency power," Kaji said, leaning back. "The fact that it's even open after the little scuffle yesterday is astonishing."

"Little scuffle?" Misato jerked a thumb at the window to their side, where the ruins of a maser cannon could be seen, a twisted silhouette against the night. "Sure, just fifty trillion yen down the drain, the most important city on the planet half-destroyed, and the looming threat of human extinction in case an Angel decides to come during this time."

She filled her cup again, then downed it in one go. "We won't be ready for at least two weeks. We have Rei and Unit-00, but..."

"But you're worried about her, ever since she-"

"Became Godzilla's little pet human?"

"I was going to say 'changed'." Kaji shrugged, then took a sip of his own sake. "Could be worse."

"Ever the optimist," Misato deadpanned, a slight slur to her voice. She poured yet another cup of sake. "I have no idea what'll happen if she goes on her next combat mission. Will she still be able to sync? Is Godzilla suddenly gonna take over and use Unit-00 like a puppet?"

"I don't think that's what's going to happen."

"How would you know, mister smartypants?" She downed her drink, then let out a belch. Already, she could feel the buzz transitioning into something stronger. "I didn' know! Not like the commander told me 'hey, major, one of your pilots is psychic and has the king of the fucking monsters' blood in her veins, you might wanna be careful'. Did you know that psychic in the sixties, whassername..."

"Saegusa?"

"Saegusa!" Misato snapped, pointing a finger at Kaji. "Her brain was labeled a weapon of mass destruction by the Americans and the Soviets, didja know? And Rei's just like her. Wouldn't ya like to know if someone working for you was basically a walking mind-nuke?"

She slumped forward, resting her head on the table. "Ugh... even Rits didn't tell me. My best friend in the world, and she's probably the one who put the G-juice in, without even telling me."

"They don't tell you a lot of things," Kaji said, quietly.

Misato propped her chin up to look at the man. "You'd probably know that, wouldn't you? Mr. Inspector, inspecting things. Any juicy tidbits you learned on your quest for the truth, things they wouldn't bother telling their head of tactical operations? Maybe Asuka's actually best buddies with Rodan, or has Shinji been secretly playing poker with Ultraman behind my back?"

Kaji made a funny face at that. "People always say they want the truth, until they learn what it is. Doesn't matter where, doesn't matter when, and it doesn't matter who."

Misato's brow scrunched, and she straightened. "Are you saying I can't handle the truth?"

"I didn't say that-"

"You think I'm just going to stick my head in the sand like an ostrich after tonight?" She pointed out the window again. "Clearly, ignorance isn't bliss. Ignorance got our asses whooped by a giant radioactive dinosaur. I'm tired of just focusing on what's in front of me, cause clearly it just makes it easier to get blindsided."

She went to pour another drink, then stopped and shook her head. "I understand the need for confidentiality when it comes to military matters. But what kind of organization doesn't tell their head of tactical operations everything they need to know? Sometimes, it feels like I'm in a cult, instead of a organization meant to save and rebuild mankind. Just what could they be hiding?"

"Wow," Kaji breathed, brows raised.

"What? Surprised I'm being self-reflective?"

"No, I'm surprised you're still coherent." He pointed to the empty sake bottle, a slight grin forming. "I haven't seen you get this sloshed since senior year."

Misato allowed herself a laugh. "To think it took Godzilla to stress me out as much as Mr. Hideki's psych final."

"Now that," Kaji said, pouring himself a cup, "was insane. I wonder if it was some secret plot to provide the local asylum with a steady flow of patients."

"I'd believe it. Remember the final essay question? 'Explain the psychological ramifications of the Hedgehog's Dilemna, using studies on Xilien integration', or some other pretentious bullshit like that."

"I definitely remember the hand cramping after that."

Misato chuckled, then sighed. "Now this, this was what I was looking to do. Just catching up, not talking work."

"Can't blame you for venting." Kaji's grin began to fade. "You're right to be worried about the secrecy."

A frown. "Kaji, that was just..."

"Just venting?" He shot her a disbelieving look. "You're the type to say what they mean, even when too drunk to stand."

She opened her mouth to protest, but no words came.

"Tomorrow, when you're sober, go talk to Rits. If she doesn't tell you what you want, then come talk to me." Kaji pulled a few bills out of his pocket, and slapped them down on on the table. "C'mon, I'll take you home."

"I can-" Misato belched again, then clamped a hand on her stomach. "I can't drive."

"Thought so." He helped her up, and she looped an arm around his shoulder. "I'll take you back to the apartment."

"Mahara..." Misato slurred. "Please let Rei be asleep."

Kaji chuckled, and they began to walk out of the izakaya.

==/*\==

Misato's Apartment

Shinji looked down at the almost obscene amount of notes and newspaper clippings spread out on the table. There were articles from the fifties, yellowed notes filled to the brim with faded writing, crude sketches in journals, charcoal rubbings...

Just how long has she been doing this? he thought, eyes wide. Was this what she was carrying in that strange bag of hers this whole time?

I must like how abstract that engraving of Godzilla is, to the upper left , Hayata mused. I wonder if there's any of me?

I don't want to think about how surreal that statement is.

To his side, Asuka seemed equally as shocked at the display before them. He could see her mouthing names and dates to herself, eyes darting from one note to the other.

"Muuan scripture from 79,212 BCE, found near Java, thought lost in 1972. Infant Island engraving of so-called 'Guardian of the Universe', 821 CE, rubbing made by Asagi Kusanagi, thought lost in 1996." The redhead's eyes suddenly widened, and she snatched a paper from the table. "Wait a minute, I recognize this handwriting. Is this- is this Shinichi Chujo's actual notes? Where in Himmel did you get this?"

Rei snatched the paper out of her hand from across the table, so fast Shinji didn't even see the movement.

"From Shinichi Chujo." The blue-haired pilot set the paper back down. "Please do not touch them."

"This..." Asuka ran a hand through her hair. "I didn't even know half of this stuff existed. So much was lost after Second Impact."

"Not lost," Rei said, calmly. "Suppressed."

That takes it from tragic to insidious, Hayata remarked, almost a snarl. To destroy one of the most precious things in the world, just to keep power...

Shinji looked over at Rei. "By SEELE?"

"Yes. It seems that the key to their planned future is in the past, particularly in Muuan and related artifacts."

"If those claims people made about Muuan sorcery are true..." Asuka groaned, rubbing her face wearily. "This sounds like something from a bad Harry Steele movie."

She suddenly blinked, and looked over at Shinji. "Does your little buddy know about any of this?"

Little buddy? Hayata murmured.

"He told me he was there," Shinji replied, hurriedly. "How King Shisa used to be a man. But he only fought some monsters, like Bagan and the Gyaos."

"Which doesn't explain anything about why SEELE would want information on it," Asuka muttered.

"It is quite frustrating," Rei said. "I have learned much from these notes, and yet so little. Perhaps, when we are extracted-"

There was a sound of a keycard sliding into the door, and Shinji felt his heart skip a beat. He began to hurriedly stack up the papers, and Rei did the same. By the time the door opened, the notes were back in Rei's waterproof bag.

"Hey guyssss," a familiar voice slurred.

Shinji turned to see Misato stumble into the room, half-supported, half-carried by Kaji. The purple-haired woman waved at the trio, a glazed look to her eyes.

"Whatcha y'all doing?" she mumbled, shuffling to the table. "Ssstrip poker?"

Shinji reddened. "Uh, no..."

"You are inebriated, Miss Katsuragi," Rei said.

"Why ya so polite," Misato slurred. "Jus' call me Misato. Say it. Miiiisaaaatoooo."

"Misato, your breath is quite pungen-" Rei began, only to be interrupted as the older woman suddenly gave her an awkward hug.

"I'ss sorry for bein' all worried about ya," she cooed, patting her head. "Youssa good kid, even if you can melt me with yer brain..."

Suddenly, her face turned green, and she dashed to the bathroom, slamming the door shut. Shinji winced as he heard violent retching. A glance out of the corner of his eye told him that Kaji was doing the same, as was Asuka.

"I swear, she was a lot better on the car ride," Kaji said. "I guess the sake had a delayed reaction."

He eyed the group, and offered a half-smile. "So, how's life under the same roof been?"

"Could be worse," Asuka said, then flinched as more retching emanated from the bathroom. "Could be better, too."

"Fair enough." He glanced at Rei. "You know, I forgot to ask last time I was here, but how's Toto?"

"Oh, he ran away," Shinji suddenly piped up.

Kaji's brow furrowed. "The... turtle... ran away?"

"It was unfortunate," Rei said. "Truly."

"Uh huh." The older man's gaze swept the trio. "Everything alright? It's like I barged in on a secret meeting."

"Pffft," Asuka said, waving her hand dismissively. "We're just-"

"Playing twenty questions," Shinji finished, then suppressed a wince as Asuka's foot honed in on his shin.

"Well, I guess I'll leave you to it, then."

"You aren't staying?" Asuka asked, almost sounding wistful.

"No, I need to get my car, since I drove Katsuragi back in hers." He smiled, and winked. "Be seeing you."

He gathered his jacket and walked out, the door sliding shut behind him. Shinji let out a sigh of relief-

-just for Asuka to kick him again.

"What?" he asked, holding up his hands defensively.

"Really?" she hissed. "Twenty questions?"

Shinji sank into his chair. "It worked, didn't it?"

"Who plays twenty questions at this time of night, baka?"

I have never played, Hayata said. It sounds agreeable.

"I would like to play twenty questions," Rei admitted, quietly.

"Alright, fine," Asuka said, rubbing her temples. "One game."

Then more retching came from the bathroom, followed by a too-loud splash, and Shinji sighed.

"I'll go get the cleaning supplies, first."

==/*\==

The night was still uncomfortably muggy as Kaji walked down the empty street, and no Moon could be seen in the almost purple skies. A strong breeze whipped at his face, and he had to take care to avoid the occasional piece of rubble strewn across the sidewalk as he passed by closed shops and half-destroyed turret towers. Even after two days, Godzilla's presence could still be felt in Tokyo-3, like a looming spectre.

It was only about twenty minutes before he finally arrived back at the izakaya. His car was just where he'd left it, parked in the shade of a small conifer that had survived the storm. And, as expected, a short woman was leaning against the car, smoking a cigar.

He marched over, trying to ignore the weight of the snub-nosed revolver in his coat pocket. The woman didn't bother to move as he pulled out his key and stood by the driver's side of his car.

"A herring is just a herring, but a good cigar is a Cuban," the woman suddenly said.

"A stroke of the brush does not guarantee art from the bristles," he replied.

"Status."

"Izanami has gathered her wayward son, and the girl as well."

"What of her?"

"It's possible."

"Don't risk them over her."

"I know."

The woman threw away her cigar, letting it land in a puddle with a sizzle, then walked off. Kaji let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and got in the car.

==/*\==

The Next Day

The sun hadn't even risen yet, and already he wanted the day over with.

Shinji stared at the overnight bag and cello case he'd laid out on the floor. It hadn't taken long to pack; all he had with him were a spare set of clothes, his books, his journals, his cello, and Gunpei's sword.

It's funny, he thought to himself. I can carry my entire life on my back. Everything that is Shinji Ikari, travel-sized.

Believe me, Shinji, Hayata retorted, softly. Even with my power, you would never be able to carry the impact of your life on your back.

Shinji rubbed his arm absentmindedly, then slowly stood up. Asuka was still lying on his sleeping mat, snoring gently; she had come in the middle of the night again, citing jitters. He took care to tiptoe around her, then stepped out of his room. Soft light came through the veranda windows and into the living room, the color of twilight. He loved this time of day, the stillness of it, the silence.

Rei was sleeping in the living room, sprawled out on the couch and snoring loudly. It reminded him of a tiger lazing atop its perch, totally unafraid. And he had a feeling that, like a tiger, it'd be a good idea to let her sleep for a while longer.

Padding his way to the kitchen, he set to work on breakfast. He set to work on slicing some fruit for Rei, then paused.

Is something wrong? Hayata asked.

No. It's just... Shinji shook his head. This might be the last time I make breakfast in this apartment. This might be the last time I wake up in this place.

Then let us make this a memorable morning.

Shinji smiled, then continued preparing breakfast. He saved the actual cooking for last, then finally let the sound of crackling oils fill the apartment as he fried some fish and eggs.

The sun was finally beginning to shine past the mountains when the phone suddenly rang.

Shinji jumped in his skin, then dashed over and grabbed the landline. He couldn't recognize the number, but there was the official NERV extension. Hesitantly, he answered the call, and held the phone to his ear.

"Hello?" he asked, quietly.

"Good morning," his father replied.

Shinji felt an odd tingle in his hands and feet, along with a sudden coolness over his back.

"Uh, morning..."

"I was expecting on having to leave a message, but it seems not." Father paused for a half moment. "Though the recent events have disrupted the original schedule, I am calling to tell you that I have a half-hour gap in my schedule at noon today, if you were still hoping to talk with me."

"Oh," Shinji said. "O-of course."

"Good. I will see you then."

The line went dead, and Shinji numbly placed the phone back on the receiver. He turned to see that Rei was standing upright, a severe look in her eyes.

"You will go," she said.

"But... what if he suspects something-"

"He suspects everything." In the low morning light, Rei's eyes were painfully similar to a certain someone. "There are things I have not told you, nor Pilot Sohryu. Believe me when I say that not going will only make things worse."

Shinji swallowed, and tasted something bitter. The tingling had faded, given way to the feeling of rushing blood.

Don't worry, Hayata said, gently. You will not be alone.

Sucking in a deep breath, he nodded.

"Okay," he said. "I'll go."

"Good," said Rei.

The blue-haired pilot rolled her head about her shoulders, audibly popping joints, then went into the washroom. A few moments later, Asuka stumbled into view, running a hand through her hair.

"What did I miss?" she asked. "What's up with your face?"

Shinji rubbed his face, then sucked in another breath. He really wanted this day over with already.

==/*\==

The Geofront

From beneath, the damage to Tokyo-3 didn't look as bad. The only sign that a living god had graced the city with his wrath was the thirty-meter wide hole punched through the armor plating, ringed with now-cooled slag. Even less damage had been done to the actual Geofront itself; Godzilla's atomic breath had missed any important structures, though there was now a smooth bowl-shaped depression where a turbine had been.

Asuka watched the landscape beneath her as the tram line brought them into the belly of the beast, head leaning against the window. Misato had insisted that the three teens all sit in the backseats as part of 'character building', which meant cramming them together like sardines. The only saving grace was that Shinji had taken the middle.

Not that she'd admit it.

The Geofront disappeared from view as they entered one of the tunnels, and soon they were in darkness. Shadows lazily danced over them as they sped under dim orange lights, and Asuka thought back to one night in Berlin, so long ago it felt more like a feeling than anything concrete. She had been in the backseat, so small that her legs dangled, and the lights then had done the same as they did now, dancing over Papa and Mama's faces...

Her fists clenched, and she closed her eyes.

The car finally came to a stop, and Asuka heard the others unbuckle. She did the same, then stepped out into the cool air. They were at one of many parking lots in the facility, right before a door that lead to the vast conveyor system of NERV HQ.

Misato walked past them, a bag slung over her shoulders. The purple-haired woman paused, briefly, then looked back at them.

"My shift ends at 5. Once you're all done with training, meet me back here."

"Why are you telling us something we already know?" Asuka asked.

"Because I know it's not a normal day." Misato glanced at Shinji, then turned and walked into the building.

Asuka sighed. "Alright, let's get this over with. Just another day at headquarters. Act casual, then head home. Everything'll be fine."

"Last time I was here, giant crabs happened," Shinji said.

"Just another normal day," Asuka repeated, loudly, not even glancing his way as she strutted into the building. She beckoned for Rei to follow. "C'mon, wondergirl, we have work to do."

==/*\==

The Eva Cages

As soon as Ritsuko saw Misato barge into her office, she realized her day was not going to be a good one. There was a certain essence in Misato's movement, one that only expressed itself when the major allowed herself to be genuinely angry. The last time she'd seen her friend move like that, two grab-asses at the uni watering hole ended up being shoved into a police cruiser with broken noses and missing teeth, half of which had been embedded in her knuckles.

"Morning, Rits," Misato said, a forcefully cheerful tone to her voice as she slammed the door shut behind her. "Mind if I have a little chat with you?"

Ritsuko quickly shut off her computer and turned in her swivel chair, hands on her lap. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, not really," came the swift reply. Misato suddenly plopped herself down on a spare swivel chair, folding her legs. "Just wanted to talk about yesterday, that's all. You know, just making sure everything's alright."

"If you're expressing concern over the operations against Godzilla, you did everything you could. Failing to fight off the most powerful monster on the planet isn't a career sinker."

"Oh, I'm not worried about that," Misato said, flashing a not-smile. "I'm more concerned over why the fuck you decided to stick Rei Ayanami with an unpredictable biological agent, derived from the DNA of a psychic kaiju once designated a 'walking civilization killer' by the USSR, without informing the Operations Director of the most important endeavor in human history."

Ritsuko blinked, feeling more than a little dumbstruck. The look on her friend's face was that of one who felt betrayed, and she had to keep herself from squirming under the angry gaze.

"Well, when you put it like that..." she finally said.

"How else am I going to put it?" Misato snarled. "Wouldn't you want to know if you were in my shoes? Don't you think it'd be important to know that one of your pilots is actually a genetically-altered psychic with a mental link to the King of the Monsters?"

Ritsuko licked her dry lips, thinking. "We... it was deemed need-to-know."

"And I wasn't included on that list?" The look on the major's face was one of incredulity. "I'm the Operations Director, for the goddess's sake. This is a military operation, and not knowing vital information like that can jeopardize countless lives."

"Miki Saegusa was a psychic who literally set the scale for ESP powers, and was the only other person in history to develop a stable link with Godzilla. And that got her classified as a major threat to world security, and a potential weapon more destructive than the hydrogen bomb. She was the target of literally thousands of assassination and kidnapping attempts, from lone nutjobs to Saradia to Shell. If that information were to leak, one of the most important assets on the planet could be at risk."

"She's an Eva pilot, Rits; that already makes her at risk. Or is the fact that only people with extremely-vetted backgrounds are even allowed into Tokyo-3 not a clue?"

"I can understand why you're angry, but you need to keep a level head. With such a vital operation, it's only natural that we need to keep secrets."

"If you ask me, we have too many damn secrets around here."

Ritsuko arched an eyebrow. "Be thankful it's me you're saying this to. This has been a trying time for all of us. Just take it easy, and if you want to talk to me later, feel free."

Misato glared for a moment, then wordlessly stood up and left the office. Ritsuko's shoulders sagged, and she fumbled for a cigarette. Slowly, the knot in her stomach began to loosen as she turned back to her work.

She jumped in her seat as someone knocked on the door, then twisted her neck to see Maya quietly walk in, a stack of papers in hand.

"Good morning, sempai," the young woman said, smiling. The smile faded, however, as she looked Ritsuko's way. "Everything alright?"

"Just a bit of trouble with Major Katsuragi," the bottle-blonde replied, sighing.

"Well, I have those reports you wanted, on Unit-02's regeneration after the removal of the irradiated tissues." Maya set them down, then picked up Ritsuko's mug. "I'll get you more coffee, sempai."

Ritsuko smiled. "Thank you, Maya. At least somebody's on my side today."

==/*\==

Elsewhere

11:57

Shinji stared at the clock facing him on the opposite wall, twiddling his thumbs as he waited. It was an oddly behaving thing, he'd decided. It'd take an eternity for a minute to pass as he looked at it, only to jump forward ten as soon as he took his eyes off it. Perhaps all things behaved strangely, when this close to the heart of NERV.

11:58

He decided to glance down one side of the long white hallway, then down the other. He'd been here for nearly an hour, and yet not a soul had made itself known. Father certainly had to be a busy man, considering just how important his job was, and yet no officials made their way to speak with him, nor had assistants come with paperwork. The floor felt more like a tomb than anything else.

11:59

Shinji felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple, and he wiped it away.

I'm scared, he admitted, quietly. Hayata, what if he knows? What if this is a trap?

It is as Rei said - we would not be speaking to him if he knew. Hayata's voice felt like brick wall to lean against. Firm, but reassuring. Do not worry, Shinji. I'm here. I can be there for you and he will not know a thing, and woe betide anyone who tries to harm us.

12:00

Shinji stood up on shaky legs, then forced himself to stand before the black doors to his father's office. He raised a hand to knock, then paused.

You are not alone, Hayata said.

"My choice," Shinji whispered, and knocked.

The doors opened inwards almost immediately, allowing a cool breeze to caress his face.

"Enter," his father said.

Shinji took a breath, and stepped inside, the doors shutting behind him.

==/*\==

The Eva Cages

He was on the move again.

The island was far behind him, now. He had only visited for a brief time, before suddenly retreading his old path and slinking into the waves. She could hear through his ears and feel in his bones the pings of sonar; the gathered fleets of Mankind were trying to track him. But they could not find him. They were too afraid to draw near, after what he had done, and the whole ocean was his hiding place. They were strangers in his home, stumbling around blindly as they tried to search from the relative safety of the surface.

She could feel the crushing pressure of the ocean floor upon her skin, like a half-forgotten caress. Before, she had to guess his position, using whatever scant information she could gather from his senses, but now she knew exactly where he was, and where he was going...

"Rei, is everything alright?" Dr. Akagi's voice had a concerned tone to it. "Your heart rate has dropped considerably; you're at ten beats per minute."

Rei roused from her transitive state, and the ocean gave way to Unit-00's plug. The view of the facility before her felt different, as though she had been given corrective glasses that sharpened every contrast and brightened every color.

She forced herself to breath normally, and felt a sudden pounding in her chest. "I am fine, Dr. Akagi."

"Well, at least your other vitals are normal, thought that might be an understatement. Cortisol levels are perfect, oxygen flow is perfect, and your sync rate..." There was a brief pause. "Seventy-three percent. That's a twenty-two point increase from last test."

"I see."

"How does it feel?"

Rei experimentally flexed a few fingers. Before, it had felt as though she had been wearing thick gloves, but now it was as though there was but a thin sheet of silk over her skin.

"There is a much stronger sensation of movement," she said, finally.

"Good." Rei could feel mixed emotions coming from Dr. Akagi in those words. "That concludes testing for today. There will be more intensive simulations next week, once the other Units have been brought to a functional state."

"Understood."

The plug went dark as the connection was cut, and there was a sharp hiss as it was drained of LCL. Rei shook the water out of her hair like a dog, then clambered out, wet feet slapping on the cold metal of the gangplank. She emptied her lungs in a practiced hack, then wiped her mouth and began to walk towards the locker room.

Sohryu was there as well, having already stripped off her plugsuit and hopped into the shower. There was the scent of another person here, however, one with a scent that was only ostensibly normal. Rei felt out with her mind, but could only sense the Second Child.

Shaking her head gently, she hopped into the shower, taking the third cubicle as she cleaned the foul smell of blood from her skin and hair. For a brief moment, the cascading water reminded her of the hot rain as she stood on the rooftop, locking eyes with an old king.

Turning the faucet off, she grabbed a towel and swiftly dried herself off, all while Sohryu still showered. Padding over to her locker, she was surprised to realize that the strange scent from before was strongest there. Frowning, she opened the door, and saw a piece of paper atop her folded clothes.

Eight o'clock tonight, it read.

Rei quickly suppressed the anxious pang that sprang in her chest, then leaned into her locker. In a careful movement, she swiped up the paper and her clothes, then swallowed the sheet as she pulled her shirt over her head.

The sound of running water behind her stopped, and Rei turned to see Asuka step out of the shower, wrapped in an impractically large towel. The red-haired pilot cocked her head to the side.

"Something up?"

We're being extracted tonight at eight.

Sohryu's face contorted into a snarl. "I told you not to-"

Secrecy demands it.

Sohryu set her lips into a thin line, then made a beeline for her locker. She dressed swiftly, then slammed the locker door shut.

"Be sure to tell Shinji about the movie tonight," the Second Child said.

"I will."

"I just hope his dad isn't chewing him up and spitting him out right now."

"It is good to see that you are concerned for him."

Sohryu blushed. "Sometimes, I really hate you."

"I know." Rei brushed past her. "We need to be at the parking lot soon. Let's go."

==/*\==

Commander Ikari's Office

As he stepped into the dimly-lit room where his father worked, Shinji felt a sense of cowed awe overcome him.

The office felt less like an office, and more like some austere temple, a monument to gods unknown. The only source of light was the massive window that comprised the room's back wall, casting long shadows over everything. In the pale light, Shinji could see glittering etchings in the ceiling, forming something that almost looked like a tree, but composed of a writing he could not recognize.

Your father certainly knows how to present himself, Hayata commented. That writing feels achingly familiar.

His father was sitting at a massive desk, one which resembled a solid black monolith, with nary a computer or paper atop it. Numbly, Shinji wondered just where his father actually kept his work.

"It is good to see that punctuality runs in the family," Father said. He gestured to a lone black chair before the desk. "Sit."

Shinji did as told, sinking onto the hard wood seat. He kept his hands folded across his lap, back held rigid. Father regarded him across the desk with tented hands, eyes hidden behind his orange lenses. Vaguely, Shinji realized this was the first time he'd ever actually seen his father at work.

"I promised you that we would talk about your mother." Father's voice was quiet, but firm. "I am not one to break promises."

He reached under the table, and Shinji tensed, only to relax slightly as a square wooden board was slapped down on the table. Shinji stared at the familiar checker pattern, then looked up to see Father hand him a black cup. He took it, and felt small things rattle inside.

"Go?" Shinji mumbled.

"I find it to be a conversational aid." Father gestured. "A moment to learn, a lifetime to master, as the old saying goes. I take it you know how to play?"

Shinji nodded, slightly. "Y-yes."

"Then it is your move."

Shinji took a small black stone from the cup, holding between his index and middle finger in the way his uncle had taught him. He studied the board, thinking.

Near the corner, Hayata advised.

He did as told, then pulled away. Father paused to take off his gloves, and Shinji felt a gasp escape him. The skin of his palms were little more than masses of scar tissue, grey and hard-seeming, like old stone. Folding the gloves and placing them aside, he calmly set one of his own stones down, then looked up at Shinji.

"I can see the curiosity. I got them when I opened a scalding door to pull Pilot Ayanami out of her plug, after a violent episode with Unit-00."

Your father actually risked himself like that to save her? Hayata murmured.

"Couldn't you get them fixed?" Shinji asked, before he could catch himself.

"I could," Father admitted. "But I prefer to keep them. It reminds me that all actions have consequences."

Shinji averted his gaze and began to absentmindedly rub his eye, feeling the faint scar lines over his brow.

"I never liked that damned bird of Katuragi's," Gendo said, and Shinji relaxed. "But we are not here to discuss those kinds of scars. What questions do you have about your mother?"

Shinji glanced down at the board again, and placed down another stone. "What was she like?"

"She was..." Father fell silent as he placed down a stone. "Magnetic. Not because she was beautiful, though she was. She was a brilliant woman, who knew just what to say. When she looked at me and smiled, all felt right in the world, and I knew she felt the same way about me."

Shinji stared at his father. The older man offered a humorless smirk.

"You find that hard to believe."

Shinji averted his eyes, and hurriedly placed another stone. "N-no."

"There is no reason to lie." Father placed down a stone, and captured one of Shinji's. "I admit that I am not a friendly man. Pleasantries have always been tiresome for me. Most people avoid me for that reason, and I am glad to be avoided. But your mother was able to see past that."

Shinji went to place a stone, only for a tugging sensation.

Not there, if you want to capture something, Hayata said. He guided Shinji's hand to another spot. Over here.

Shinji placed the stone down, and Father smiled as removed two of his pieces.

"Good play. Any other questions you would like to ask?"

"How did you meet Mother?" Shinji asked.

Father put his stone down, then adjusted his glasses. "Work. She and I were both scientists, fresh out of graduate school. I was a kaijuologist, and she was an applied metaphysicist and biologist."

Shinji blinked. "You were a kaijuologist?"

"Your mother and I both shared a passion for new knowledge. It was one of the reasons why we fell in love." He gestured to window behind him. "The Evangelion Project was her brain child. Without her, without her genius, none of this would have been possible."

Shinji's fell to the board, shoulders sagged.

I don't think he means it the way you mean it, Hayata coaxed, gently.

"Is something wrong?" Father asked.

Shinji looked up, and played his piece. "I... I just didn't think my mother was a weapons designer."

To his surprise, he was answered with a scoff.

"To your mother, Evangelion was not a weapon," Father said, setting a stone down. "It never was. She saw it as a key."

"A key?"

"To rebuilding the world," came the reply. "For all of history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create. How many centuries did it take to build Tokyo, to make it into the largest city on Earth? How many milliseconds did it take for the bomb to undo it all?"

"You're talking about Second Impact."

Father offered a hint of a smile. "Your mother knew that destruction was easier than creation, but she also knew that creation is more powerful than destruction. Breaking the world is easy enough. Rebuilding it into something better, however? That would be more powerful than any disaster."

Or atrocity, Hayata muttered.

"Then what does Evangelion have to do with it?" Shinji asked, eyes widening.

"Everything." Father placed down another piece. "For all his solipsistic writings, Man has never been the ruler of the world. In the tome titled History of Earth, the last page would discuss the end of the Ice Age, with a single footnote saying 'And the human race was also born during this time'. We are upright apes ruled by the sun and the moon, by the seasons, and by all the beasts of nature."

A soft click as Shinji set down his piece. "And nature is ruled by the kaiju?"

"Yes. This is their world, not ours. Second Impact proved that. We teetered on the edge of extinction, all while Godzilla took a short nap. He existed long before us, and he will exist long after us." Father placed another stone down. "Well, that would have been the case."

Uh oh, Hayata said.

"What do you mean?"

"Evangelion is your mother's dream, Shinji. The dream of cutting the strings that nature pulls us along with, and truly becoming the rulers of Earth. Only then, can Man truly be free, free to be human. In the science we have developed for Evangelion lies an end to war, to poverty, to disease, to all the suffering in the world. We merely need to find it, and soon Second Impact will be a faded memory."

Shinji looked down at the board. Hayata guided him to a good place, and he captured yet another piece.

"You should have heard your mother speak about it," Father said. "It was her dream, not mine."

Shinji looked back up at him. "W-what was your dream?"

"My dream," Father said, "was to be with her."

But not with your son? Hayata murmured.

They played in silence for a few minutes. Father changed the subject, telling him of how Mother had loved brandied chestnuts as a snack, and about the first time they had gone on a date.

Eventually, it was time. Shinji quickly stood up, and bowed his head. He had gained quite a few victories on the board, but ultimately the game seemed shifted in his father's favor.

"Thank you for having me," he said, quietly.

With that, he turned around, and started to walk away.

"A moment," his father said, behind him.

Shinji turned to see the older man walk up to him, standing a good foot and a half taller. Father removed his glasses, revealing stark eyes.

Then, in a movement that made Shinji stiffen, he placed a scarred hand on his shoulder.

"Shinji, I would like to ask you something. If you had the power to wrest the reins of destiny for yourself, to make all right or wrong... would you bring her back? Even if it meant not fulfilling her dream?"

Shinji looked into his father's eyes.

"Yes," he admitted, softly.

Father seemed satisfied with that. Removing his hand, he put his glasses back on.

"I imagine we will see each other soon, Shinji. Goodbye for now."

Shinji nodded, then ducked out of the room. He managed to get past the doors and out of sight before placing a hand over his chest, sucking in shuddering breaths.

It's alright, Hayata said. It's alright. It's alright.

Do you think he only cares for her?

It's not for me to decide. But know this, Shinji. Your mother cared for you. Misato cares for you. Toji and Kensuke care for you. Even Asuka does.

A calming sensation came over Shinji's mind, the closest his mental companion could come to a hug.

I care for you.

Shinji forced himself to stand straight. Thank you, Hayata.

You are welcome. Now, let's go find Asuka and Rei. Something tells me we have a big night ahead of us.

Shinji nodded, and left the office behind him.

==/*\==

Between the streets filled with rubble, streets filled with traffic, and streets that were no longer streets, it took half an hour to get back home. The drive was spent in silence; Misato didn't know if it was just her, or if the Children were feeling it as well. There seemed to be an electric feeling in the air, as though a storm was about to come at any moment, even though there was not a cloud in the sky.

She glanced in the rear-view mirror. The three of them just seemed like their normal selves today. Though, she supposed, 'normal' was not the best word to describe them.

With a final turn, she pulled into the driveway, and unlocked the doors.

"Head on inside," she said. "I'm probably pulling some overtime tonight, so go ahead and order takeout for dinner if you want."

"Do you know when you'll be back?" Shinji asked.

Misato shrugged. "No clue."

The boy exchanged a look with Asuka, then the two of them got out. Misato frowned, then glanced back at Rei.

"Is it just me, or is something up today?"

"Up? Do you mean between Pilot Sohryu and Classmate Ikari?"

"No," Misato said. "I mean, yeah, there's always something kinda funny going on between those two, but that's not what I'm talking about. It just feels like everyone's acting strange today."

"It has been strange days, recently," Rei offered. "That could explain it."

Misato rubbed the back of her head and averted her eyes. "That reminds me. I'd like to apologize about my behavior yesterday night. Being drunk doesn't justify what I said. I don't know what being psychic really means, and it's not my right to judge."

"I did not mind, Miss Ka... Misato."

An awkward smile. "Does... can he actually, um, see me?"

Rei blinked, as if surprised, then offered the faintest of nods. "He can see you as we speak."

Well, isn't that comforting. Misato cleared her throat. "He isn't holding a grudge against us, is he?"

"No." Rei cocked her head. "Your lunch break is almost over, Misato. I will not tarry you."

The blue-haired pilot left the car, and Misato ran a hand through her hair, sagging into her seat.

Still gonna be a while before I get used to that. Straightening, she grasped the wheel tightly. Now, back to work... and time for a chat.

==/*\==

Elsewhere

Again, the phone rang, and once again did a large hand pick it up.

"Update?"

"Galatea speaking. Izanami, Susano'o, and Kushinadahime are ready for extraction."

"Good. Ōwatatsumi is approaching the position, and the others appear to be in suit."

"Are we sure about this, sir? With the 9th coming... this is incredibly risky."

"To do nothing is even riskier."

"Understood. I'll be in position soon."

"Good."

The call ended, and once more the hand returned to work.

==/*\==

Misato's Apartment

The apartment felt smaller, emptier, as Shinji stepped inside. It was a silly thing to think, considering that the apartment hadn't changed at all since this morning, but he felt it all the same. He looked around his home of four months, taking everything in as though he was visiting it for the first time.

"So just what are we going to do for the next six hours?" Asuka asked, brushing past him to plop down on the couch. "And don't suggest twenty questions again."

I actually enjoyed the game, Hayata grumbled.

"All we can do is wait," Rei said, looking out the balcony window. She absentmindedly fiddled with something hidden under her shirt. "And prepare."

"I think you underestimate just how long six hours is, wondergirl. Not to mention we already packed."

Shinji sighed, then sat down on the couch. "Do we know what we're looking for, when the time comes?"

"We will know," Rei said, turning away from the window. She sat down on the couch as well, prompting a scowl from Asuka as she was forced to make room. "The signal is not something we will miss."

"That definitely doesn't sound ominous," Asuka said.

"We are dealing with the ominous," Rei retorted.

Asuka harrumphed, but said nothing. A few minutes of silence passed, and Shinji began to feel uncomfortable. There was a tension between all of them, he felt, a hidden worry. He pulled up his legs and crossed them in a lotus position, then turned to look at the others.

"It still feels unreal," he finally said. "So many secrets, so many changes. It's weird to say, but..."

"But what?" Asuka asked, looking past Rei at him.

"I've only been here for a few months... but this place feels like home."

A look of worry crossed Asuka's face.

"Know what?" she said. "Let's play twenty questions, or Eye Spy, just anything. This wait is killing me."

==/*\==

NERV HQ

Of all the things about NERV that Kaji hated, the most annoying was the layout of the building. He'd been working here for four months, and yet he was still getting lost every other day. The maps were poorly designed, and each floor had a different structure to it, which made familiarization harder. The massive pyramid felt like its ancient Egyptian predecessors, deliberately designed so that plunderers would be lost within its depths.

The analogy, he supposed, was not entirely inaccurate.

After yet another wrong turn, he sighed and decided to head to the break room he'd passed by; at least one of the technicians there had to know how to find the elevator.

As he passed by the women's room, however, a hand suddenly shot out and grabbed him by the collar, pulling him inside with surprising force. His hand jumped to his holster as he was slammed against the wall, only to stop as he looked at his unexpected snatcher.

"Misato?" He forced a grin. "If you wanted discreet, you could have just asked."

The purple-haired woman had an unamused look on her face as she replied. "What you said yesterday, did you mean it?"

He blinked. "You-"

"Did. You. Mean. It."

He took a deep breath, then nodded. "Yes."

Misato let go of him, then took a step back. Her posture had relaxed, though only slightly, and Kaji removed his hand from the hidden holster. He saw the look behind her eyes, a sort of unhinged determination he'd seen only a few times before.

"You talked to Rits, didn't you?"

"Yep. And her answer was disappointing."

"Not surprised. The commander has a tight grip on her."

"He seems to have a lot of people under his thumb." Misato sighed. "So what do you know, that I don't?"

"Things that would be risky to say here," he replied.

"Then let's get out of here," she said. "I'm technically not supposed to be here, anyway, and something tells me you don't have actual shifts."

"Well, that might be more difficult than you think."

"Why's that?"

Before Kaji could reply, something else answered for him as the room was suddenly plunged into darkness. When the emergency lights failed to turn on a few moments later, he felt Misato's hand grab his.

"We're taking the stairs."

He did not argue with that.

==/*\==

Commander Ikari's Office

He was in the middle of reviewing the First Child's reports when the lights went out. Immediately, he rose from his seat and pulled his pistol from a drawer. Holstering it, he stepped out of the office.

Kozo was already waiting for him at the stairs, panting in his old age. "They moved earlier than expected."

"They moved when the time was right," Gendo replied.

"And what are we to do?"

"Our preparations still hold. In the meantime, let us get to Central Dogma."

"The Ninth is indeed coming soon?"

"Yes." He began to walk down the stairs, Kozo following after him. "But our old friends will handle that issue."

==/*\==

"Bullshit," Misato snarled, tires screeching beneath her as she turned a hard right.

"You asked me for the truth, and I gave you the the truth," Kaji replied, holding onto the dashboard with whitened knuckles. "Not my fault you don't believe me."

"Not your fault? Do you honestly expect me to believe that the organization I work for was responsible for Second Impact?" She shot him a glare. "You, of all people-"

"Would know that lying to you about this is just asking for missing teeth," Kaji finished. "That's why I'm not lying."

She set her jaw, and kept her eyes on the road. She'd probably broken a dozen traffic laws in half as many minutes, as well as a few parts of her Renault, but she didn't care.

"Why the blackout, then? Trying to steal some vital documents?"

"You wouldn't be driving back to the apartment if we were, and you know that."

"I hope you realize that you're talking about capital-level treason. I honestly have enough authority to blow your brains out right now, just because of what you said."

"And yet, I'm still talking." He arched an eyebrow. "Do you really think I'm lying? Or is it that you just don't want to confront the truth?"

Misato came to a stop at the apartment parking lot. Gripping the wheel tightly with one hand, she turned to look at Kaji.

Then, in a sudden movement, she lashed out with her other hand, and slapped handcuffs on him. There was no time for him to pull back before she secured him to the wheel, and she slid out of the car, reaching for her pistol.

Kaji stared at his bound hand with wide eyes. "That was fast."

"We'll talk later," Misato said, and shut the door.

Unholstering her pistol, she looked up at the apartment, and realized she could see a silhouette near the door. Gritting her teeth, she slipped off her jacket, and marched forward.

"Miss Katsuragi," a pair of voices said.

In that moment, she felt ice run down her spine, freezing her in place. Memories of a time before came rushing to the forefront of her mind, before Antarctica, before the breaking of the world. Numbly, she turned to the source of the voices, already knowing what she'd see.

"Mahara," she whispered.

"Miss Katsuragi, you stand at a crossroads," the Shobijin said, standing upon one of the gate posts.

"An easy lie that leads to obliteration," said one.

"Or a painful truth that leads to liberation," said the other.

She stared at them. "I... I stopped believing in the Goddess, after everything, but now..."

"It is not what you believe," they replied. "It is what you know, even if you do not want to believe it."

Misato glanced back at the car. "He was telling the truth."

"Yes," said one.

"And now, it rests in your hands, to save or damn that truth."

Faintly, Misato heard gravel crunching, and saw a trio of Section-II agents approaching on foot, pistols drawn. When she looked back, the Shobijin were gone. A tremble came upon her, before she forced herself to be still

"Major Katsuragi, we received a report about suspicious persons near the apartment," one of them said. "Your orders?"

Misato tightened the grip on her pistol, and made her decision.

==/*\==

Misato's Apartment

As soon as the lights went out, Shinji sat up straight, and turned to the others with wide eyes. Asuka seemed just as shocked as he was, though she managed to quickly suppress it, while Rei simply stood up.

"It is time."

Shinji got to his feet, heart pounding. A glance outside showed a landscape completely shrouded in shadow, with not even a working street light. It seemed that whatever had shut the power off had affected the block, or even the entire city.

They do not leave much to chance, Hayata mused.

Shinji looked away, then rushed to his room. In a moment, he slung his great-grandfather's sword over his shoulder, then hoisted up his overnight bag and cello case. Walking out, he saw that Asuka had a duffel bag over her shoulder, while Rei merely had the waterproof bag Chujo had given her.

"Do we have everything?" Shinji asked.

"Yes," Rei replied.

"Mein Gott, we're actually doing this," Asuka mumbled. "Hookay. Let's get this over with. Do we know if they're near?"

Rei closed her eyes and sniffed at the air, something that sounded too much like a growl escaping her. "There are three nearby. Man at the bottom of one stairwell, woman approaching, and... something else at the other stairwell."

The android you called Jet Jaguar, perhaps, Hayata offered.

"They are friendly," the blue-haired pilot finished.

Warily, Shinji stepped closer to the door, silver capsule materializing in his hand. Sure enough, he could faintly hear footsteps approaching. They came to a stop right before him, and he tensed. A moment passed, then there was a single knock.

No going back, he thought, and opened the door.

Of all the images his imagination conjured when he expected an agent, he did think of the one before him. A short woman of ambiguous ethnicity stood at the door, dressed in a purple turtleneck and black jacket. Brown eyes regarded him coolly past short black bangs, giving the impression of a punk rather than anything else.

"Shinji Ikari, Monique Dupre," the woman said, with a noticeable French accent. "Are the Second and First present as well?"

"Um, yeah," he replied, gesturing back with a thumb.

"Good. We don't have much time. You need to follow us and do exactly as said." Monique pressed a finger to her ear. "Pinocchio, Roach, we have them. Get ready for extraction."

She frowned suddenly. "What was that?"

Behind him, Shinji heard Rei growl. Then, a single gunshot rang out, coming from somewhere near the parking lot. Before he knew it, Monique had drawn a pistol.

"Follow me and stay close," the Frenchwoman said. "We can't stay here."

Shinji followed after her, capsule still in hand. Glancing back, he saw Asuka behind him, while Rei was at the back, eyes narrowed.

They descended the stairs, where an older-looking Caucasian man was standing. Again, his appearance was contrary to expected; he looked dressed for a Sunday stroll instead of an extraction.

"Difficulté?" the man asked.

"Non." Monique gestured at Shinji. "Nous les avons."

"Then let's get out of here," the man said, in heavily accented Japanese. "Pinocchio is getting the car."

"Pinocchio?" a familiar voice asked. "Seriously?"

Shinji sucked in a gasp as he saw Misato walking towards them, limping slightly. The purple-haired woman was sporting a nasty bruise on her cheek, as well as a bloody nose and split lip. The two agents in front of Shinji reached for their belts, only for Misato to raise her hands.

"I'm not stopping you," she said. "Just the opposite."

"I take it you're the one who fired the gun?" Monique asked.

"Section-II agent had an objection to my change of plans." Misato snorted, then spat out a glob of blood and mucus. "He'll live. Kaji's making sure they're all secured."

"Agent Ryoji's with you?" Roach looked at Shinji and the others. "Did any of you know?"

"I sensed them," Rei replied, matter-of-factly.

"We need to work on your communication skills," Monique said, dryly, then turned to Misato. "Do you honestly expect us to take you, the Operations Director, along?"

Misato cracked her knuckles against her chin. "I'm not taking no for an answer. Those kids are my responsibility, and what I learned doesn't change that."

"I vouch for her," Rei said.

"As do I," Shinji said, suddenly.

"Fine," Monique sighed. "Thank God for backup plans."

A beaten-up van rolled up, and the sidedoor opened, revealing no seats. Shinji went in first, followed by Misato and the others. Kaiji was in last, a worried look on his face as he shut the door behind him.

"We have to get to the extraction point quickly," he said. "The Ninth is coming soon enough."

"An Angel?" Shinji felt the capsule in his hand. "I need to go take care of it."

"What do you mean, go take care of it?" Misato asked. Then, her eyes widened. "Are you fu-"

"The Angel will be taken care of," Rei interjected, calmly. A light was shining under her blouse, almost like a hot coal. "He will see to that."

==/*\==

Elsewhere

For something so massive, it made frighteningly little noise as it emerged from the water, spindly legs less than a shadow as they moved in the darkness. Pointed feet made scarcely a dent in the soil as it skittered inland, only deepening the similarities it bore to a harvestman.

No armies rode out to meet it in battle as it crept over the mountains, no storm of artillery bombarded it as it passed over quiet defensive lines. There was only silence in the city, and darkness.

The Angel stopped over the center of the city, its folded legs still taller than the highest buildings. It's central 'eye' began to weep, slowly gathering fluid until a steady trickle began to drip down onto the street below. The effect was immediate; tarmac, metal, concrete, and stone alike all began to rapidly dissolve, filling the air with pitch black fumes.

It was then that a fireball descended from the heavens, slamming into the Angel's AT-field and detonating with enough force to shatter windows for a hundred meters in all directions. Legs folded in as its body smashed into the street, only for it to rise again. The trickle of corrosive ceased, and the Angel tensed its spindly legs, ready to move.

A spinning disc of flame descended nearby, filling the streets with smoke as it landed with immense force. The Angel watched with dozens of eyes as a titanic figure emerged from the dust, tarmac shattering under its ponderous feet.

Then, Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe, let out an elephantine wail as it charged the Angel.

==/*\==

The van came to a stop, and the door opened to reveal what appeared to be a rocky shoreline. As Shinji's vision adjusted, however, he saw that it wasn't a normal beach. Foamy red waves lapped at rubble and half-sunken cars, and a glance at the ground revealed faded plastic bottles and broken glass.

We're back near Old Tokyo, he realized.

An interesting choice of extraction point, I suppose.

Kaji was first out, taking a moment to roll his head about his shoulders, before gesturing for the others to come out. Shinji went first, glass crunching under his feet, then turned to help Misato and Asuka out. Rei had left through the other side, and was approaching from around the car, flanked by Monique and the other agents.

"The boat's already here," Kaji said. "We need to be quick about it, if we don't want to be spotted. They patrol here often."

Sure enough, Shinji could see a small fishing boat breached upon the shore. A man was standing at the bow, too far to be discerned. Monique made a hand signal, and the man replied with a different one.

"Let's go," the agent said.

Kaji began running towards the boat, and Shinji followed, sword rattling at his hip. Rei quickly surpassed the two of them, carrying Asuka's bag over her shoulders in a fireman's carry. For a brief moment, Shinji swore he saw something in the bag wriggle, but dismissed it.

The man at the boat hopped off to greet them, and Shinji felt a pang of recognition as he finally got a good look. Like Roache, he was Caucasian, but was dressed in what could only be described as the opposite of discreetly casual, with a brown duster thrown over a tank top and jean combo. A leather necklace with a single claw dangled in full view, while a sword similar to Shinji's hung at his side.

I think I've seen this man before, but in a history book.

"Took you guys long enough," the man said, gruffly.

"You," Misato panted behind Shinji. "You're supposed to be dead."

"And you're not supposed to be here," came the retort. "Surprise, surprise."

"Complications," Kaji said.

"Hmph." The man scanned the group with steely eyes, then pointed at the boat with a thumb. "Captain Douglas Gordon, at your service. Now get in."

Rei went first, clearing the water in a single leap as she landed on the deck. Shinji did much the same, sliding his bag off as he turned to pull Asuka up. Misato decided to climb up on her own, swatting away a helping hand from Kaji. Wobbling on her feet, she glared at Shinji and the others.

"When we're safe, we need to have a talk about this," the major said, voice low. "A long talk."

"Trust me, it's gonna be long talks for everyone," Gordon said, clambering on the boat. "Ours goes first."

Shinji frowned, then peered at the beach to see that Roache and Jet were not climbing up.

"We still have work here to do," the android replied, as if sensing the question. "Getting you out is paramount."

I cannot argue with that logic, Hayata said.

With that, Jet pushed the boat out, and Gordon turned on the motor. In a matter of moments, they were speeding away from the shoreline, navigating past the ruins and occasional warning buoy. Shinji watched the two figures on the beach dwindle in the distance, then sighed.

Turning away, he glanced at Rei. The blue-haired pilot was sitting in a lotus position, eyes closed, as though meditating. The stone under her blouse was glowing even brighter, and Shinji could see the occasional flinch or twitch cross her face.

"Is it just me, or did she not tell anyone about the second monster connected to her brain?" Asuka asked.

A gash suddenly formed on Rei's cheek as though cut by a phantom knife, skin splitting of its own accord. Shinji knelt by her side to wipe away the blood, only to pull back as the cut sealed shut, a wisp of steam escaping the wound.

It seems Godzilla's gifts remained after the incident, Hayata remarked.

Shinji craned his neck to look at Gordon. "Are we sure Gamera can do this alone?"

The older man chuckled. "Kid, Gamera ain't the only one handling it."

What does he mean by that? Shinij wondered.

Then, as if to answer, he felt a shadow fall upon him for a split second, and he looked up to see a massive shape flying over the mountains, disappearing from sight with frightening speed. A few seconds passed, then a gust of wind slammed into him, kicking up the waves into seaspray.

Oh.

==/*\==

Tokyo-3

As soon as Gamera charged, the Angel went on the offensive. Raising one of its jointed legs high, it brought it down on the titanic terrapin, the twin cracks of a sonic boom accompanying its descent. Gamera was just as quick to react, stooping down so that the bladed limb struck his shell. The pointed leg skittered over his scutes like a knife striking stone, leaving a small gash on his cheek as it sank into the street.

Before it could pull out, Gamera extended an elbow blade and sprang upwards, lashing out. The bony spur chopped through hard carapace with ease, and the first joint fell to the ground in a spurt of LCL. The Angel responded by leaping back again, then began to weep from several of its eyes.

Gamera tucked in his right arm, and flames shot out, shoving him to the side just in time to avoid being sprayed with thousands of gallons of corrosive. Plasma welled in his throat, and he let loose with another fireball, blasting through the Angel's AT-field and scorching its flank. Before he could fire again, however, the Angel managed to catch him in the shoulder with a glob of corrosive.

The Guardian wailed, then swiftly swatted the rest away, even as it ate at his hand. It had managed to burn some of his skin, but it was far from a crippling blow. Already the Angel was preparing another spray, and he decided to preempt the move with one of his own. Leaping up, he tucked in his legs and activated his jets, then flew right at the Angel.

Extending his wrist blades, he stabbed deep into the Angel, taking two of its largest 'eyes' as the spurs sank in to the hilt. Then, he swung around, flinging the Angel like a sack of potatoes. It slammed into a nearby hillside, producing an unusually small dust cloud, then simply inverted its legs and rose in moments. Flipping back into a normal position, the Angel poised itself to lunge-

-just for a massive shadow to fall over it. Gamera looked up, and a sense of satisfaction filled his chest as he recognized the source.

Reinforcements had arrived.

Rodan cackled as he swooped in, carrying King Shisa by the biceps in his talons. Letting go, he let the golem-like kaiju smash into the Angel like the world's largest brick, shattering the AT-field like a pane of glass. The mountainside split and crumbled as King Shisa slammed the Angel into it, and LCL spurted from cracks in its carapace.

Allowing no reprieve, King Shisa began to furiously pound away at the Angel's body, widening the cracks with each blow. The Angel let out an otherworldly shriek, then lashed out with one of its remaining legs, swatting the stone kaiju aside. Righting itself, it slashed down, only for King Shisa to deflect the blow with a well-aimed swipe. In response, it began to weep from more of its eyes, aiming at the massive golem.

That was when a horn-like call filled the air, and a spiked ball the size of a destroyer slammed into it, snapping one of its legs like a twig. The Angel stumbled back, effectively reduced to two limbs, and Anguirus uncurled himself, glaring at the otherworldly creature before it. The Angel sprayed its corrosive, as though in a panic, but it washed uselessly over his hard shell as he charged forward and sank his fangs into its broken leg.

Now, Rei said.

Gamera charged forward, grabbing hold of the Angel's stump. Catching on, King Shisa leaped at thrashing leg, digging his claws into the hard material. Rodan swooped in and seized the final leg in his talons, and the Angel was finally rendered immobilized, lifted off the ground. Gamera nodded at Anguirus, then at the others.

Then, they pulled.

It only took a few seconds before the Angel was dismembered, LCL flooding the streets as it was ripped apart. Its hard body fell to the ground, still stubbornly spraying acid at the ground beneath it. The air around it began to shimmer, and Gamera remembered what Rei had told him, of the Angel's ability to allocate its infinite energy but finite power to forming a stronger AT-field when damaged. This would be difficult to crack.

Thankfully, they were the ones best suited to the task.

Rodan took to the sky, then came crashing down, AT-field crackling around his feet. He inhaled deeply, violet light building at spots on his torso, and he let loose with a tenuous blast of plasma. Gamera contributed with a fireball, and the field was broken, just in time for Anguirus to leap into the air and land on the Angel, shell-first. The hard carapace cracked further as it was pushed into the ground, and Anguirus pulled away, allowing King Shisa to begin pummeling at the creature.

With a final hard landing from Rodan, the Angel suddenly split wide open, revealing its core. Before it could try to heal around the wound, Gamera lunged forward, and shattered it with a titanic fist.

As soon as the Angel's corpse exploded into LCL, they began to disperse. Rodan snatched King Shisa in his talons and took off like a rocket, a sonic boom in his wake. Gamera grabbed hold of Anguirus by the shell, then activated his leg jets, slowly rising into the air and flying out towards the water. The sooner they could be at the rally point, the better.

==/*\==

Elsewhere

It had been half an hour since the last bit of land had disappeared from sight, and they were alone on the open water. With the night sky above him and the dark seas around him, Shinji felt as though he was in a world of darkness, devoid of light. He remembered something he'd read in a nature book, about phosphorescent plankton blooms in the wakes of ships, but that was a different time, a time before the oceans died.

"So, where exactly are we heading?" Misato asked, huddled between Asuka and Shinji. "There's no way we can reach an island in this thing. Are we rendezvousing with a boat?"

Across from them, Kaji smiled. "Not exactly."

A few more minutes passed, then Gordon cut the motor. Now that they were still, Shinji could feel the boat bobbing with the waves, and he was glad that the past few months had beaten any sense of motion sickness out of him.

Then, he saw something out of the corner of his eye, and realized that a bright light was shining in the dark waters, becoming more luminescent with each passing moment. His breath hitched, and he reached for his capsule, ready to transform at any moment.

A massive shape rose out of the water, accompanied by the sound of groaning metal, and Shinji's eyes widened as he realized just what he was looking at. It vaguely resembled a submarine, but had features of a battleship and airship as well, placed seemingly at random. What caught his attention the most, however, was the massive drill at the bow of the ship, larger than any other.

"Is that-" Asuka began.

"The Gotengo?" Misato finished, leaping to her feet. "I thought it was destroyed in Second Impact!"

"That's a popular phrase around these parts," Gordon replied, a grin faintly discernible under his bushy mustache. "Now let's get on and introduce you to Deucalion."

"Deucalion?" Shinji asked.

"That's Prometheus's son in the old myths," Asuka said.

"That he is," Gordon said, as if in on an unknown joke. "And he's also the one in charge of this whole thing."

"Who is he, exactly?"

A broad smile, something that made Shinji shiver. "Something tells me you'll already know."

==/*\==

Berlin

Lorenz Kihl gently put the phone down. It was a quiet autumn morning, with pale sunlight flooding his study. Frail hands tented themselves, and he allowed a faint smile to cross his cracked lips.

"A brilliant move, old friend. But the game is not yet done."

==/*\==

The Gotengo

Shinji barely saw any of the ship as he was whisked down the creaking halls of the vessel. Introductions, Gordon said, would come at a later time. What was important was a debriefing with the mysterious 'Deucalion', as to the purpose of this entire organization.

They descended through the lower decks, until it began to become uncomfortably warm. Shinji felt his heart begin to pound as they passed the reactor room, and came to a simple door in the heart of the ship. Gordon knocked once, then waited.

"Oui?" came a voice through the door, strong but surprisingly soft.

"Izanami, Susano'o, and Kushinadahime are here," Gordon said.

"Send them in," the voice replied, in quaint-sounding Japanese.

The older man turned to them. "Go on in."

The door slid open, and Shinji could see the outline of a figure at the far end of the room, sitting behind a massive desk. His features were hidden in shadow, but Shinji could tell that this man was massive, almost too big to be human.

"Welcome," Deucalion said. "Don't be afraid. Despite some rumors to the contrary, I don't bite."

Shinji swallowed, then stepped inside, surprised by how warm it was in the room. Asuka and Rei followed, and the door slid shut behind them.

I sense something strange about this individual, Hayata said. To borrow a term from you, a gut feeling.

For a few moments, silence reigned in the room.

"Are you actually the one in charge?" Asuka abruptly asked.

"Yes. Apologies for the mystique; I have a penchant for codes." Deucalion shifted slightly. "Which is why I had the lights off. But, as I already know you, it is only appropriate that you know me."

The lights gradually brightened, and Shinji felt a chill down his spine.

Deucalion was not sitting behind the desk, as much as he was permeated by it. Machines and consoles surrounded him, tangling him in cables that sank into marble white skin. All that was free was his head, and a single hand, massive in proportion. Blood red eyes, just like Ayanami's, regarded the three of them with a friendly look.

"Allow me to get up, for a moment," he said. "I don't get to do it very often."

The cables suddenly snapped away, and he rose, clear fluid leaking from dozens of punctures. Two cables, however, remained embedded in each side of his neck as he rose to his full height, flat head scraping the ceiling. He was truly inhuman in size, standing well over eight feet tall, with a chest as broad as two men. His clothing was old and torn, but Shinji could tell that it was from a different era.

"Mein Gott," Asuka whispered. "Die Legende ist wahr... Das Monster..."

Frankenstein's Monster smiled. "Hello, children. It's time to tell you how to save the world."

==/*\==

You have been reading:

Leviathan, Chapter Twenty-One: Coming Together and Pulling Apart

A/N: Happy Halloween, everyone.

Firstly, I would like to apologize for the long delay. Other projects, shitty retail job, family drama, and getting back to school all interfered with my schedule. As penance, take this big chapter with a big reveal. It's a bit rushed, and will almost certainly be edited extensively in the coming days, but at least it's here, at the perfect time.

Until then,
Thuktun Flishithy