Created and owned by GAINAX Authored by Godsend777 All Situations Just Happen All Speech in <> Denotes German All Speech in '' Denote Thought The Rest Is In Japanese "Here's the files on Moru, Commander." "Thank you, Hyuuga. Was there much trouble?" "No, but I found out some disturbing news while I was getting those files." "What is it?" "The members of SEELE weren't arrested, they were assassinated." Fuuyutsuki's eyes widen in surprise. NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: DEAD CHILDREN PART 3: FEAR OUTSIDE THE 7TH CAGE Moru asks Richter as they walk down the hall. Moru scratches his head, then turns back to Dr. Richter. He responds sarcastically. Richter says as he leans against a wall. He proceeds to light up a cigarette. Moru says with a hint of surprise. He abruptly turns and leaves. Richter responds, dragging his cigarette deeply. ACTING COMMANDER FUUYUTSUKI'S OFFICE (FORMERLY COMMANDER IKARI'S OFFICE) "This...is amazing." Maya says aloud. "Yes." Fuuyutsuki replies, putting his hand over his mouth and leaning his head onto it. "According to that, he's just another experiment." "What do you mean?" The young scientist asks. "You said before that he seems like a nice person. Also, the interaction between him and Dr. Richter is genuine, and, from what the rumors say, amusing." "But I still don't understand." "I'm saying that he seems human enough. Rei was practically unemotional, and Kaworu had that look in eyes. It's just odd that this one seems so...real." Fuuyutsuki wiped some sleep-stuff from his eyes. He needed some rest, but there was too much to do. "According to this, he's basically a by-product of the Kaworu dummy-plug system. In fact, he's only ten years old. Hyuuga found something very strange." "Can you compare it to the process of the Rei dummy-plug system and find out how it happened?" "Yes, sir, but...why?" "In case there's anything else that happened that we need to know about. This is an advantage we have over him, should he turn against us." His voice turns very cold, reminiscent of a certain late commander. "Sir, y-you're scaring me?" "Hmm? How?" "You sounded just like Commander Ikari..." Fuuyutsuki is shocked by the comparison she makes. Smiling as warmly as possible, he speaks again. "I'm sorry. It's just a stressful situation we're all in." He looks down to the desk before him. "I just want to finally retire. An old man like me just wants to live the rest of his days peacefully." "Sir?" "Don't worry Maya, I'll be fine. But bring Dr. Richter and his translator in here. I want to ask him a few questions regarding our other guest." "Yes, sir. I'll get Hyuuga on it immediately." Moru walks into the seventh cage, ignoring the technicians around him. Before him stands Eva-01, holding in its self the young boy who had risked all to save them. He had heard the way the nurses talked about him. How he should have just left, him and the other pilots. They had pitied them, even Asuka, who had been the most troublesome of the three. They couldn't believe how cruel God was to do this to these children. They even went as far as to pray for their safety, even though it contradicted what they had said. He didn't know if others had felt that way, but he was pretty sure that they did. Actually, it might be better if Shinji never came back. Or if Asuka never woke up. In the four days since the press released the true story of the Third Impact, many religions had sprung up overnight. Catholicism was predominant among them, even instating its own militia. Everything was happening too fast. Even NERV feared for its safety, should these groups resort to terrorist tactics. "Just like fifteen years ago..." Moru accidentally said aloud. "Excuse me?" Moru suddenly snapped back to reality. A technician stood before him, looking concerned. "Are you okay?" He asked. "Fine, just fine. Got lost in thought, that's all." "Okay. But could you leave? You're in the way." "Sorry, I'll be off." Walking out the room, he wondered just what was wrong with him. Richter yells. Hayashi interpreted quickly. "What?" Again Hayashi translates the message. "So we let him think he is what is? Fuuyutsuki asks. "But...what is he?" Hayashi was in for one of the most stressful translation sessions of his young life. Hospital Room 303 "Gahh...Gnff...Ack..." The young girl opens her eyes slowly. Licking the inside of her mouth, she finds it to be dry and distasteful. She chokes down the bile that rises from its taste, and quickly realized that it won't stay down. Slowly turning her head to her side, she opens her mouth and vomits out the profanely green fluid. She looks down at her right arm with her only good eye. The last thing she remembered was it being split into two by those damned Evas, and a dream where she and Shinji woke up on a beach together. He had strangled her, and she reached out to him. Slumping onto her body, he began crying. She put her arm around his neck and drew him close. An understanding was forged... She began to whimper quietly. It had been a dream after all. Fifteen minutes later, a nurse walked by and alerted the doctor. "What did you want to see me for?" "Mr. Moru, you are aware that your presence has caused quite a stir with both the Japanese Government as well as the staff of NERV." "Yes, but Commander Fuuyutsuki..." "I know that the information you have provided us about the Dead Sea Scrolls is next to priceless. I know that you haven't done anything to harm anyone since you've been here. Some of the NERV staff are even quite fond of you." "Yes, but..." "Don't worry. We're not going to try to harm you." "Well, I wasn't really worried about that..." Fuuyutsuki turned to look out the window that surveyed the Geofront. "I'm trying to get NERV re-established as a permanent organization. I want to rid the world of Eva technology. You know as well as I that if everyone gets their hands on it -" "That there would be a disaster." Moru finished for him. "But what does it have to do with me?" "Will you help us?" "Huh?" "We need to present to the UN a way to keep us active for at least a year longer." "Hmm..." "Also, should we succeed, we will keep you on as an employee. Due to your age and background, we would have to make you a pilot. But it would give you a place to stay until those religious groups are dealt with." "Yeah, that would be helpful." A group of Catholics crucifying Moru flashed through his mind. "Brrr..." "Something wrong?" Fuuyutsuki was staring at him, instead of out the window. "Catholics." Fuuyutsuki gave a puzzled look before returning to his previous sight. "Will you help us?" "Why not? Actually, I've got the -" A phone rings, cutting him off. "Excuse me." Fuuyutsuki picks up the phone from the desk. Looking at the desk, Moru sees it is more furnished than before. A few books set on it, as well as some files and stationary. He also notices for the first time that the lights are on. Whatever power games the late Commander Ikari liked to play were instantly dispelled by the slight change in atmosphere. The room now had an almost "live" feel to it. "She's awake? Yes, I'll be there immediately. Who's there now? Some of her schoolmates? No, let them stay, she may need them. Goodbye." Fuuyutsuki put the phone back into its cradle. "You'll have to excuse me, I have to do something I've been dreading." "What is it?" "I have to inform her of Misato and Shinji. I really don't want to, but I don't want to hoist the responsibility on someone else. I'd better get Hayashi as well." "If you don't mind, I'll come. That way Hayashi can watch Dr. Richter, and you won't have to worry about him sneaking around." "What are you talking about?" Fuuyutsuki asks as he walks out the door. "It's obvious he's a member of the 'Secret Service.'" Fuuyutsuki wonders just how much this boy knows. "Hikari? What are you doing here?" Asuka asks from her wheelchair. Hikari tries to respond, but her face is buried in her friends' shoulder. After a few moments she composes herself, and begins to speak. "I was visiting you..." she lets out softly. "I can't feel my legs...and my arm is numb..." "Well," a doctor begins "You've been banged up pretty good. Aside from the fact that your arm has been bisected, you've suffered minor spinal damage as well as the loss of a kidney, a lung, and most of your digestive system had to be restructured. You were just brought out of surgery today for your arm and intestinal tract, and over the course of the next few weeks, you'll be on the operating table. You'll also have to stay in the hospital for at least a few months." "Where's Shinji?" She suddenly asked. Hikari, not knowing what to do, tried to change the subject. "I'm glad you'll be okay." "Where's Shinji?" she asked again. An unnerving silence came over the room. Hikari looked down, while Kensuke and the doctor stared at the wall. Touji was about to say something when Fuuyutsuki walked in. "Pilot Sohryuu." He said in flat, monotone voice, almost like Commander Ikari's. Asuka shivered at the comparison. "Commander Fuuyutsuki. Where's Shinji? And Major Katsuragi?" She looked weakly at the elder gentleman, hoping he would say something to either ease or hurt her mind. "Major Katsuragi was killed while protecting Pilot Ikari." He tried his hardest to keep any emotion from creeping into his voice. He wondered how Commander Ikari had successfully separated his duty from his emotions. "A-and Shinji?" Her voice was almost trembling. Since she awoke, she had not called him an idiot or a pervert or any demeaning insults. Not because she was tired, even if she was dead she would have insulted him. No, she didn't insult him because if something had happened to him, she didn't want another regret on her conscience. Fuuyutsuki, meanwhile, was waging a war within himself. The matter was still classified, but he felt she had a right to know. Technically, the boy was dead. Although Maya's abilities were outstanding, he felt she had neither the temperament nor the skill to successfully bring him back. This time, he felt he was gone for good. "The matter is classified. I can't say anything about the matter." Maya's comparison suddenly came to mind, and he softened his features. "I'm sorry." "I don't care what his bastard father dictated, I want to know." Asuka said, her words seething through her teeth. "Commander Ikari is dead. The decision to keep this matter classified was mine. In the week you've been asleep, things have changed drastically. I will send someone to update you on the changes tomorrow. Until then, get some rest." He turned to the other four people in the room. Ms. Horaki, Mr. Aida, you may stay as long as you like. Mr. Suzuhara, I would like to talk to you about you and your sister. Is there a way to contact the rest of your family?" "Y-yes sir." "Good. Doctor, a security detail will be assigned to this room. Please be ready to present your ID card. And get a nurse to accompany Mr. Suzuhara and I to NERV Command." "I can get by myself, thanks." Touji responded. "Are you sure?" "Yeah, I'll be fine." He flexed a muscle with his good arm. "I'm pretty tough." He then looked over at Kensuke. "Do you mind if he comes? He's better with all this stuff than I am." "Fine, both of you come with me." "REALLY!?! I get to see NERV command!?!" Kensuke happily cried. "Yes, but turn off your camera." Fuuyutsuki ordered. "Awww..." Everyone except Asuka and Hikari left the room to go about their duties. "Are they gone?" Asuka asked weakly. "Yeah..." "Hikari...I..." unable to continue, the young redhead breaks down in her friend's arms. Moru leans against the wall of the hallway. After several minutes, Fuuyutsuki, along with Touji, Kensuke, and the unnamed doctor, exit the room. "So you didn't need me at all, did you?" "No, thank you for agreeing to wait out here. It could have gotten really uncomfortable if she had noticed your red eyes." "I forgot she had such strong feelings against the First Child. I don't know if she would have taken them out against me, but we look alike enough that it's possible." He turns to Touji and Kensuke. "How did you guys get here so quick?" "We heard the announcement on the loudspeaker." "So much for security..." Fuuyutsuki mumbles. "Commander Fuuyutsuki?" Moru asks. "Yes?" "Do you mind if Dr. Richter and I accompany Hyuuga on tonight's...uh...assignment?" "Yes. Your expertise could be helpful." "Thank you. I'll see you later Commander." Moru gives a quick yet polite bow, then turns back to Touji and Kensuke. "Good luck." "Thanks." Touji responds. The three begin to towards the command center. Inside Eva-01, Shinji dreams. In his dream, he strangles the only girl he loves. "If I can't have all of you, I don't want you at all!" Those were her words. "Every time I look at you, I feel depressed!" More of her words. "I hate you!" "You're pathetic!" "You idiot!" He thinks of these things, and squeezes harder. Instead of the typical reaction of her getting angry, of her calling him more names, or her hurting him, she simply reaches out and touches his cheek. That one simple action was too much for him to bear. Unable to continue, he slumps over onto her. In another surprising moment, she mutters her feelings, and slides an arm around his neck. He cries into her breast for a long time before she mysteriously disappears. He suddenly becomes aware of the sound of alarms ringing. "ATField detected!" Hyuuga screams. "Commander Fuuyutsuki isn't back yet!" Maya yells back. As if on cue, Fuuyutsuki, Kensuke, and Touji burst into the room. "What's going on!" Fuuyutsuki yells. "ATField was suddenly detected inside NERV Command!" Hyuuga replies. "Can you pinpoint its location?" "Yes, sir, it's coming from the Storage Bay! Oh my God! It's the Extras! They're generating the ATField!" "Send all combat personnel to the storage bay! Destroy the target before it moves any further! Close all bulkheads and shutter doors! And get Pilot Sohryuu to Eva-01!" As Fuuyutsuki barks out his orders, the Bridge Crew follows them to the letter. "You can't send Asuka out there!" Touji cries. "What about Moru?! He said he was a pilot.!" "Find Moru, and get him to Unit-01! If Pilot Sohryuu can't do it, try him!" "Yes, sir!" Unbeknownst to the others, Kensuke turns on his camera. "Asuka! What's going on?" "An angel attack? Now?" Asuka yells worriedly. NERV security bursts in. "Pilot Sohryuu, come with us." "But she's hurt! If she goes out now, she'll-" "Hikari," Asuka says weakly. "There's no other choice." "But..." "Let's go." One of the men says coldly. "What's going on?" Moru asks a soldier running down the hall. "An angel is attacking! We've got to get out of here!" "What!? Give me your headset!" "Here, I don't want it! There's no way I'm facing an angel!" "Coward." Moru mutters as he puts on the headset. He sets the frequency to NERV Command. "Hello, Hyuuga?" "Moru! Why are you on this frequency?" "The soldiers are running away. What's going on?" "Well, the 'extras' seem to have escaped from their storage tanks." "How is the situation being handled?" "Pilot Sohryuu is being escorted to Unit-01. Fuuyutsuki wants you there, too." "Can't do it." "What!?" "Eva-01 still has Shinji inside. It won't synchronize with me." "How do you know?" "I just do, okay? Where is the angel now?" "...heading towards the infirmary." "Thanks. Can you clear the way to it? I might be able to buy Sohryuu some time." "How?" "By being convenient cannon fodder." "What's going on?" Fuuyutsuki demands. "Moru is going to intercept the angel, sir!" Hyuuga answers. "What!? What can he do?" Richter clears his throat Hayashi promptly translates. "Sir! I'm registering nine ATFields being generated! But the pattern keeps shifting between orange and blue!" Maya yells. "There's nine of them!" "There were nine in the tanks, sir!" Aoba interjects. "Switch to video feed of the target!" The monitors light up to show several soldiers shooting at some unknown target. The ATFields present themselves in orange hexagons of light, reflecting all attacks back at their attackers. The being kills several soldiers by simply shielding itself. An invisible barrier cutting them to pieces dispatches the rest. A minute or so later, the entire Command Center of NERV looks on in fear at their new enemy. Moru turns to the hall where the creature should be. He runs as fast as he can, hoping he can make it there in time. Not looking ahead, he slams into an invisible barrier, and is knocked backwards. He looks up at his enemy. No matter how many times he's seen the tanks, or how many times he's looked into a mirror, he's still shocked by the sight in front of him. Nine Kaworus, all naked, wriggle and writhe before him. Some try to stand up, but fall due to lack of muscular activity, or simply slip in the blood of those around them. They open their mouths in silent screams, saliva dripping onto the floor like acid. Some are mutilated, various parts of their bodies ripped open by their own hands. Some piss themselves, and remain unnoticed to the fact, or just simply don't care. One in the center of this maelstrom stands tall and clean, as if untouched by any of the filth the rest seem to wallow in. "W-who are you?" Moru asks, slightly trembling. "WE ARE LEGION..." It hisses. "WE ARE ONE." Next up: The fate of NERV still hangs in the balance. A demon stalks the hallways, intent on bringing Armageddon to the world. With Shinji gone and Asuka wounded, how will NERV survive this encounter? The only hope lies in Moru, but how will he fight them? Also, just what will happen to SEELE's property now that they are gone? Find out next time, in Fear II - "Is she reason enough to come back?" Wait for it! Author's notes - I know, I know, I said NERV's fate would be resolved this part, but it was too good to a chance to leave off here. Actually, this was where I wanted to leave off last chapter, but didn't. Oh, well. To be honest, three major things happened while I was typing putting the finishing touches on this. (1) I read HERZ, and loved it. Then I realized that this fic had a good chance of turning out the same way, which led to severe writer's block while I figured out what to do with this. A lot of the ideas I was hoping to address originally in here, (such as the extent of Asuka's wounds) were already addressed there. I decided to finish typing up what I had planned, and see what happened afterwards. (2) I finally got my own copy of End of Eva to scrutinize over and rewind when necessary. I had seen it at Otakon, but was feeling sick and was wearing my glasses, which distorted my viewing. Plus, by the time it reached the screen, it was a third-generation projection. So my memory is fuzzy of what happened during Third Impact. Well, with my own copy, I found out. Never knew Shinji and Asuka attempted a sexual relationship. That little revelation gave a few ideas to ponder over as to how to handle the situation in this story (since it takes after the movies), which led to more writer's block. (3) And the last thing was I started writing another fanfic. One that was inspired by a thought I had. That thought is this: What would the world be like if Shinji never came back from the Eva? Right now it's called The Last Good Thing, although that will change as soon as I get a better title for it. That's it. E-mail with comments, comments good. Godsend777@mindspring.com