CHAPTER 2 : THE MERGER Imagine the minds eye were a camera. Imagine the camera could capture all realities and the universe within. All the countless other alternate universes and realities. A camera that transends time and space. A window to another dimension. Now imagine what you can see with a camera like that. As you peer through the lense, the eye in inevitably drawn to a rift, a spot of unusual color on the fabric of reality. Zoom in. Now the eye rests on a universe, then a solar system much like yours and mine. Zoom in. There, you see a planet. Earth. But not quite the earth we know. Middle-Earth. It is beautiful, it is terryfying. And it is powerful. It draws you in� Zoom in. Again. Now the eye rests on the mountain range. Ten figures, just blobs from this distance can be seen. Focus. Focus. ~ click~ The last we saw of them, our disgruntled heroes were indulging in a bit of comic relief. At the expanse of Legolas. Suddenly, a threatening roar is heard in the background. Gandalf looks up, horrified. �Damn! Talk about bad timing! That bastard Saruman is using his power to create an avalanche!� he cried as the bastard, Saruman, used his power to create an avalanche. Pippin casts round in panic. �What are we to do?� he gasped. �Legolas is still suffering from temporary personality disorder and the mysterious falling girl is still unconscious!� �Quick,� cried the Gimley. � We can seek refuge under the mountains! Under the mountains, we will be safe from evil Saruman�s power. We shall be safe under the mountains. Thus, it is there, under the mountains, that we should be!� he said meaningfully, striking a heroic pose. �Under the mountains.� He added for good measure. Gandalf looks at the dwarf wearily. �Yes, Mojojojo. We get the hint. Under the mountains, eh? What do you think we are, dense or something?� �Well, you see, since I thought under the m-� �Okay, okay. We get it already!� Gandalf sighed. He had a bad feeling about this. �Well you see, under th-� �shuttupshuttupshuttup� �But-� �Zippit� �B-� �Zip. Zip. Zippetty zippetty zip zippy bloody well zippit!� Gandalf took a deep breath and beamed innocently at the company. �Ah,� he sighed in satisfaction. �That�s better.� He cleared his throat dictatorially. �Frodo. You are the bearer of the great Ring. What is your decision.� An air of tense expectancy surrounded the Fellowship as they awaited his answer. Frodo shifted uneasily from foot to foot. �Uh� ah� since Gimley said that travelling unde-� �If I ever hear that goddamn phrase again I�ll kill the speaker the worst way known to man.� Frodo gulped nervously. He took a deep breath. �Uh� OVER the mountains, sir, does not seem so very safe, sir, so� uh� I think, sir, that our best bet, sir, is to go unde- I MEAN NOT GO OVER the uh, mountains. Sir.� He blurted out. �Furthermore, sir, we got these two invalids, sir, so I think, sir, that we should uh� uh� go with the DWARF and travel und-� �Okay, okay. I geddit already.� * * * * * * * * The fellowship descended carefully into the gloom. �We�ll give you the finest ale! We�ll roast you the fattest animals! We�ll dance and drink and sing till you drop dead with exhaustion! We�ll -� �If I ever have to hear another word about dwarfish hospitality, I�ll shoot myself� * * * * * * * The fellowship had, in their hurry to get out of the snow, hoisted both their casualties up and dropped them across the horse like a squishy sack of rotten potatoes. Uh, let me change that. The Fellowship had, in their hurry to get out of the snow, simply moved the two casualties the best way they knew how. Legolas, still mildly concussed (but recovering now by the second) was loosely supported by both Gandalf and Aragon, while the girl was (predictably) carried down in Boromir�s arms. Approximately halfway down the stairs, the girl stirs. By the pale light of the staff, her eyes flutter open, as everybody stares transfixed. Red eyes. Blue hair. She must be magic. �Speak, my child,� Gandalf whispers soothingly. �Who are you and where do you come from?� She raises her eyes and fixes them on the aged wizard. A piercing, unblinking gaze that seemed to reach into the depth of the soul. A stare that not only unlocked the secrets of the heart, but read and graded them as well. In red ink. �Ayanami. Rei Ayanami.� * * * * * * * �Dr Akagi! We�ve traced the location of the Evas!� Maya cried exuberantly. �Where?� Katsuragi nearly tripped in her hurry to get to the computer screen. �There! There are suspended in some kind of anti-time zone.� �You mean in limbo?� �I guess you can say that.� �So we found them. Thank god.� Maya shifted uncomfortably. �What?� Akagi. �See for yourself.� Akagi peered closely at the computer screen and drew in a sudden, sharp intake of breath. �Oh God�� * * * * * * * Ritsuko, Misato, Commander Ikari, Vice-commander Fuyutsuki (and for some inexplicable reason, Kaji) were gathered in the conference room. �So you have located the Evas.� Commander Ikari. �Yes. You see, locating the Evas are relatively simple. All objects give out some sort of gravitational force field that translates into a certain amount of potential energy. This energy can easily detected by our computers as a thin wiggly green line�thingie. Anyway, the transportation of the Evas from this reality to another creates an energy gap in our reality. This missing energy in the other reality is distinguishable, as a sudden appearance of such high energy in a reality it previously did not exist in.� �I couldn�t understand a damn thing you said, Katsuragi, and to tell the truth, I couldn�t care less if I did.� Misato. She sighed. �Can we bring them back?� �Theoretically, yes, but even if we did, it would be of little use to us at the moment.� �Haiii!!! What the hell are you talking about?!?� �The Evas are empty. The pilots aren�t in them. �WHAT?� �They�ve simply disappeared.� �Could they be in plugspace?� �Seriously doubt it, Misato.� �DR AKAGI!� �Major Katsuragi!! We are employing all our resources to the recovery of the pilots! That is all you can ask for at the moment. You, of all people, should understand this�Major.� * * * * * * * Before his very eyes, Aragon saw the dark tunnel open up into a vast cavern complete with the mandatory musty smell, bats and a lake huge enough to house the Loch Ness Monster. Gandalf led the way to the door. On it was written some ancient runes. All eyes turned to him expectantly. �Well?� Boromir. �I�uh� kinda forgot to bring my dwarfish-english-elvish dictionary. I�m afraid I can�t make it out. Sorry. �Maybe if you could just read the inscription aloud, the door would open?� Legolas suggested helpfully. Gandalf read the inscription aloud Gandalf tried the door. Gandalf could not open the door. �Maybe you can do some door-opening magic.� Sam. Gandalf tried some door-opening magic. Gandalf tried the door. Gandalf could not open the door �Blast it with a fireball!� Gimley. Gandalf blasted it with a fireball. Gandalf tried the door. Gandalf could not open the door. For half an hour, Gandalf could not open the door. Finally, Ayanami looked up. �Why don�t you just knock?� she stood up, waltzed up to the door, knocked politely (the Japanese way) and asked, �May we come in?� Ayanami tried the door. Ayanami could not open the door. �Shit.� �I know!� Legolas leapt to his feet. He waltzed up to the door, knocked politely (the elfish way) and asked. �May we come in? Please?� To everybody�s disgust, the door swung open. �I knew that!� said Gimley. �I was just pretending not to!� * * * * * * * �So they are not in their Evas.� Misato�s voice had deadly undertones. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. Unsuccessfully. �What the hell are you saying! That my pilots are trapped in some bloody LaLaLand with absolutely no means of self-defense whatsoever?!?� Kaji dropped his coffee mug. �Christ! They�ll be sitting ducks!� He was right. Absolutely none of the Four Children had been trained in the art of self-defense. They were helpless without their Evas. Shockingly, horrifyingly helpless. Hmmm� except maybe Asuka. Hmmm� Every single guy in NERV thought about it. Every guy in NERV sweatdropped. Misato cringed. �So what if she�s a bit violent! Its not like she�ll�� she stopped dead in her tracks and looked at the white faces surrounding her. �On the other hand�� * * * * * * * �ONWARD!� Gandalf cried, striking a majestic pose. As the Fellowship (plus Ayanami) file through the door, dark bubbly bubbles bubbled up to the surface of the lake. (Aww, come on! What else do you expect bubbles to do?!?) As the Fellowship stared on in horror, a thin, serpent-like head emerged from the center of the lake. �Wait!� screamed Legolas. �You don�t belong in this fic! You�re the Loch Ness Monster!� Sam pokes him in the ribs. �And how the hell do you know that?� �Uh� elfish�.special�uh�m.magic?� He stammered. The beast roared with the maniacal laughter of bad guys everywhere. �Yes, it is I, Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster! My stepbrother, the guardian if this foul lake, is on medical leave and is currently enjoying the relatively warmer waters of Scotland. And now, all of you shall DIE!! MUAHAHAHAHA!!!!� With that, Nessie started attacking the Fellowship. Using the four extra arms the author had so conveniently loaned her, Nessie thrashed and screamed in fury. �Help!! HEEELLLPPPP!!!� Pippin screamed as Nessie picked him up and tossed him about like yesterday�s garbage. �ARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!� Frodo screamed as he joined Pippin. �MUMMYYY!!!� hollered Gandalf. Than, as if remembering himself, quickly shut up. The water churned as Nessie tried to pick up more members of the Fellowship. Fortunately however, she was beaten back by the combined efforts of Aragon, Gimley, Legolas and Boromir. Finally, with a cry of defeat, Nessie sank back into the cool waters of the lake leaving the others to hurriedly hack off her extra arms to prevent their comrades from being pulled under. Gandalf brushed himself off. �Ah yes. Shall we proceed?� * * * * * * * After everyone had collected their wits about them, a period of silence reigned. It would have lasted longer if not for the dwarf. �Hey, where�s the Elf?� he said, casting around. �Here I am!� Legolas chirps gaily. �No, not YOU! The girl��thingie�. Whazzername? Anna Nammie? Ara Nutty?� The Fellowship contorts their faces as they try to remember the girl�s name. Finally Marry speaks up. �Maybe you�d better use some of that special elfish magic you were talking about earlier.� �Yeah, after all, I thought elves have some maggy-netic attraction to each other.� �Oh, for the last time, she�s not an elf!!!� �Oh yeah? And how would you know that!� �Uh, HELLOOOO!!! You mean besides the fact that I AM an elf? Everyone can tell! Its bloody obvious! One- she doesn�t have the pointy ears thingie and Two- she sinks when you throw her in the water!� �And how can you tell, Mr. Know It All?� �Cos that�s what she�s doing, right now! Ooopps�� * * *  * * * * * After fishing Ayanami out of the water, the Fellowship pushed on. They were halfway up the stairs before they realized what was wrong with the picture. �Why is it so quiet in here?� �Where is everyone?� �This place is deserted!� �And Messy! Look! Someone left their rubbish all over the place! When I�m at home, I always get scolded for doing that. That�s why I hate ribs for dinner.� Sam said, kicking a pile of bones. Aragon looked down at the skeletons at his feet and paled a little. Correction. He paled a lot. So did Frodo. �Oh oh. I think we�re in trouble.� * * * * * * �Ritsuko, do you think that at least the children are together?� Misato Katsuragi and Ritsuko Akagi sans Kaji were dejectedly pondering the fate of the pilots. �I doubt it. The last we saw of them, the children were quite some miles away from each other.� Misato sighed. �Misato-san. Don�t give up hope just yet. Their DNA decoding would not be that of whichever reality they landed in. all four of them have the squiggly green line of our reality. The energy transmitted is unique to our world.� Misato�s eyes met Ritsuko�s and a glimmer of hope flashed in them. �So�they�ll just�what?�gravitate?�towards other?� �There is always this possibility. We can always hope.� * * * * * * * Suddenly, a fiery glow illuminated a corner of the cavern as a terrible cry filled the air. As both the glow and the noise increased in intensity, it becomes apparent that whatever it is that is holding the attention of the Fellowship is approaching. Everyone freezes for a second. Then, as if on an unheard command, the goblins that were previously attacking them scurried away, leaving the fellowship alone to face the beast. Okay. okay. I know I never mentioned the goblins. But hey, everybody knows what happened, right? If you still haven�t watched it, go get the VCD. It�s a great show. Anyway, Legolas did some great archery in there and I�m bloody pathetic at describing a convincing battle scene. I�ll probably end up discrediting him. Even worse, I�ll probably end up making a through fool out of him. Of course, ARAGON  was great too����. Everyone freezes for a second. Then, as if on an unheard command, the goblins that were previously attacking them scurried away, leaving the fellowship alone to face the great beast. �What is it?� asked Frodo, entranced. �Some call it the Belrok. Others, the Bangkok. But although people have many (cheesy) names for it, it is one and the same. It is an ancient fire demon, awakened by the ceaseless expansion of the dwarfish mines.� Gandalf replied, as Marry gagged in fright. The threatening wail is now so loud it fills their senses. As one body, the Fellowship step back. �Behold,� breathed the magician �the Bedrock� Everyone holds their breath, as the cries reach their climax. Suddenly, a figure with flaming hair materializes. �ARRRRGGHHHH!!!!� screams Frodo. �AARRRRGGGHHH!!!!� screams Sam. �AAARRRRRGGGGGHHH!!!!� screamed the figure. But Ayanami doesn�t scream. She stares. She blinks and rubs her eyes in disbelief. �Suzuhara?� * * * * * * * �ARRRGH!!! ARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!! HELP! SOMEBODY HEEELLLPPP MEEEEE!!!!!� Toji Suzuhara shrieked as he burned some serious rubber. He stopped when he saw the puzzled faces of the Fellowship. He stares at them in confusion. He blinks. �AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!� he hollers and runs right past them, his cries slowly dying out in the distance. �Well, that was interesting,� Boromir mused, bemused. Suddenly, (but a long distance away nonetheless) Toji freezes. �Did I just see Ayanami?� He stops. He blinks. He rubs his eyes and blinks again. �Arrrgh!!! AYANAMI!!! Oooh, am I glad to see you!� he grovels. He grabs her by the shoulder and starts shaking her till her head almost falls off. The Fellowship blinks in disbelief. The Fellowship sweatdrops. Unfortunately, this extremely unusual reunion was interrupted by the REAL fire demon. �AYYYIIIIII!!!!!!� Toji hollers, pointing a shaking finger at the angry beast crashing towards them. With a primal scream, he runs for his life. So does Gandalf. Legolas stares. Legolas blinks. �RUNNNN!!!� * * * * * * * The author takes a break and stares into a distance. Author: *sigh* Pre-reader 1: what? Author: can I skip the next scene? Pre-reader1: It�s YOUR fic. True, but the author is in a particularly whiny mood today. Hey, that�s just the way I am okay. So sue me! Author: I dun wanna do the next scene. Gandalf dies in the next scene. I dun wanna. I dun wanna! Dun wanna� Pre-reader1: You�re pathetic. Author: oh, rub it in, will ya. Pre-reader1: hehehe. * * * * * * * As the Bedrock crashes after the fleeing figures, we witness a return of the irritating goblins and their infamous rain of arrows. �Everybody run! Run and keep on running! We�re all so close now! Just keep going and DON�T LOOK BACK!!!� cries Gandalf, looking back. As one body, they reached the lone bridge connecting them to the outside world. With the old wizard urging them on, everybody crosses. Then, with deliberate slowness, Gandalf turns around in a tragic display of self-sacrificial heroism. �Thou shalt not pass!!!� he screams at the demon, plunging his staff deep into the center of the bridge. Unfortunately, something very bad happened. Depending on the way you look at it. The good news was, the Bedrock really did not pass. The bad news was that� well� lets just say it was a really old bridge. * * * * * * Misato was tired. It had been days since the Angel attack that had caused the sario rip, and she had been on hand all of 24 hours each day, just in case anything turned up. She sighed, holding her head in both hands. She felt lost. So very lost� and without Shinji, there was this� empty feeling. True, she kinda had a soft spot for all the pilots, but Shinji was � different. He needed her. She filled the gap in his life that his mother�s death had caused. She cared for him when his father wouldn�t. She took him under her wing. He needed her, and for some inexplicable reason, she needed him too. After all, he was the only family she had. Sure, she had Pen-pen, her pet penguin, but Pen-pen was different. It was almost, but not quite, hmm� how do I put it� human? She sighed again. From deep within her, she could feel a lump growing, her bubble of grief expanding, now rising, now overpowering her, now threatening to burst in rivers of sorrow� The door opens, making Misato jump. Keeping her back towards the wall, she struggles to bite back her tears, regain her composure. Regain her dignity. Behind her, Ritsuko and Kaji stare in silence. At last, Ritsuko speaks. �You really shouldn�t take it like this.� Silence still. Misato does not respond. �Misato-san�� No response. Finally, reluctantly, Ritsuko turns around, and casting one last look of concern in her direction, leaves the office. Misato slumps back into her chair, unaware of Kaji�s lingering presence. All is silent. All is still. He walks up to her. One, two, three, four steps and he can almost reach out and touch her. Behind her desk, Misato looks up. She tenses. She knows it is Kaji by the soft scent of his body. Shaking, she draws a breath, inhaling him deep into her system. Kaji stops. His fingers brush the back off her neck and she shivers at his touch. Skin on skin. She could feel the hairs on her arms rise. Five, six steps. Now he is leaning over her. The fingers that had so lightly touched her had started massaging her, massaging away all the tension and worry� Misato stiffens. �Stop it.� She hisses but he does not. She struggles weakly. �Stop this instant.� Instead, he caresses her with his free hand, drawing her towards him, engulfing her. Seven, eight. Nine. He brings his lips to her ear. So close she could feel his hot breath. �Why? Someone might see us? Disgrace the uniform? There�s nothing to disgrace. Everybody knows. You and I�. Its no secret.� Her shoulders shake. A teardrop escapes her eyes and falls, leaving a dark stain against the beech tabletop. Another joins it. And another, and another. Finally, she can hold them back no longer. For the first time since the Rip, she cries. She cries with abandon. She is so tired. So tired. The sobs rack through her body, making her shake so hard�. And yet she is comfortable. So comfortable. So very, very�. So safe. So warm. So secure. She wants to stay like this forever. Don�t let go she willed him. Whatever you do, don�t let go. Never�never�never�never���� * * * * * * The Fellowship emerged into the white light filtering through the gentle snow. Safe for now, the inert cold that had filled their hearts was replaced by a mind-numbing grief of such intensity�. One by one the men collapsed into the soft snow and wept, their shaking legs no longer able to support the weight of their sorrow. Toji collapsed too, but for a different reason. �Haiyeee!! How could any imbasil build such a rickety bridge?!? One hit and it breaks! How could they expect anyone to cross safely???� he shuddered. �And to think I was on it. Brrr.� Boromir shoots him a dirty look. �For chrissake! Somebody just died in there! Show a bit of respect!� Aragon looked around. They had to get moving soon. Nightfall was just a few hours away, and as everyone knew, with darkness came danger. As if on cue, his reverie was interupted by the sound of an explosion, a sound not unlike thunder retching. He looked up just in time to see an american comic style �POOF� appear in the sky. Predictably, an object came hurtling out of its centre. Aragon scratched his head. Another out-of-the-world wierdo? This he gotta see. * * * * * * Shinji opened his eyes to an unfamilliar place. This was not plugspace. No way could it be. He was lost in plugspace often enough to know the difference. Shinji blinked. Through the mist, he could barely make out nine figures on horseback. Clad in black. Or were they? Hmmm�. Maybe, but if he tilted his head just a little like so and squinted just a little like so�. The black riders noticed Shinji looking at them wierdly and shifted uncomfortably. The spokesperson  and obvious leader of the expedition stepped forward. (Hey, every halfway decent organization needs to have a public relations officer, right!?) �We have followed your psychological journey with great intrest, O Falling One.� �O Falling One?!?� �Yes, you fell out of the sky three episodes ago. Are you saying that you have no memory of that whatsoever O Funnily Dressed One?� �Three episodes? Bah. Wretched temperamentality. And I�m not funnily dressed. It�s a plugsuit. Standard issue. You know, just to set the record straight. �Okay� �Good. So long as that�s settled.� The dark rider cleared his throat and cast around for some clue as to what was going on. �Oh yes, as I was saying before I was so rudely interupted.. Your novelty has now come to an end. Your passage is now completed with the end of the TV series. Your use has thus also come to an end. Because of this, we have no choice but to kill you. �Wait! I still have two more movies to star in! I�m not dispensable!!! Not yet!!!� he cries pleadingly. �Stop! Just stop it! I�m trying my best. Why cant anyone be nice to me�� �I am nice to you.� Shinji looked up to a wonderful sight. �Ayanami!!!� he cried out in relief. �Toji!!!� Around them, their newly found �friends� had formed a protective semi-circle and were now eyeballing the black riders suspiciously. Ayanami sighed. �Are you really Black Riders?� she asked quizically. �OF COURSE!� �Oh come. Your robes arent black.� �They�re not?� �No, they�re navy blue.� Continues on next page....

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