text: es Rei want him to do this?
  
  The Third Child opens the door. Okay, I'm taking action. Asuka looks at him from her bed. She's beyond angry. Shit! A fight or flight reaction takes over. Asuka told him life is a battlefield. Her words ring in his ears as he goes for the kill.
  
  Shinji charges at Asuka who only has time to let out an "Ehh?" Shinji lands on top of her. Instead of stabbing the girl or biting her head off, he does something he'd never had the courage to do with the redhead... It did work with Rei.
  
  He hugs her.
  
  "Let go of me!" Her fists pound on top of his head, inches away from her face.
  "I'm not letting you go!" He hugs her even tighter.
  "Baka."
  "Rei is not a doll; I am not a doormat."
  
  She stops fighting back. One arm moves behind his back. Then, the other does as well. They start pressing down on him but increase until their embrace is tight. The girl lets out a happy sigh.
  
  "Where was this before?" she asks.
  "I didn't know you wanted it." They still hug. She feels warm.
  "Why now?"
  "Rei realized you wanted me to take action."
  "Wondergirl? Damn. You're social skills are worse than hers." She lets out a small giggle.
  "I'm sorry."
  "Don't say that ever again or I'll kill you."
  "I'm sor... okay."
  
  Shinji feels her warm, moist breath. Her eyes sparkle. Her lips shift into a smile. Asuka moves her lips closer to Shinji's.
  
  The floor creaks. "Wondergirl!" Asuka shouts. She squirms out of their hug and stands. "How long have you been watching?"
  "Three minutes." Is there a smile on her lips?
  "What?" Asuka backs further away from him.
  "You have been embracing for several minutes. I wanted to watch... I didn't feel as lonely then."
  
  Asuka opens her mouth to yell something, but she closes it. Shinji's thoughts focus on quelling his emotions and hiding the noticeable physical side effect in his pants.
  
  "Thank you, Rei." Asuka called Rei by her real name?
  "Why?"
  "Because, oh verdammt!" She turns away from the other two to hide the tears building up in her eyes. "Why do you have to make me cry, Shinji? I don't cry."
  
  Shinji gets out of her bed. He walks in front of Asuka who looks at the floor. The teen hugs his friend in the same way Rei hugged him two days ago. Asuka cries into his shoulder. Her mask fell off.
  
  Rei steps closer to the pair. Asuka notices through her crying and asks, "Why are you here, Rei?"
  "I am alone. I don't want to be." She stands a foot away from the pair until Asuka takes her hand and pulls them all together.
  
  The hug feels warm.
  
  > Kensuke Aida
  Kensuke Aida types away at his computer. The entire battle between Jet Alone Prime and the two Evangelions was released by NERV. They almost never release the battle footage, so Kensuke often had to find those using less than legal methods. Now, he doesn't have to do that, because they released it for everyone. He watched it over and over again to the point of memorization.
  
  It was so cool to see the robot explode. Boom! He could even hear it bunkered in Tokyo-3. The Evas' A.T. fields withstood the blast, but it's too bad there weren't any other structures nearby. It would've been amazing to watch them crumble. He'd saw off his right nut to hear Asuka's Progressive Knife tearing into Jet Alone.
  
  Now, he tries to hack into some security system's backdoor, knowing that the audio has to be somewhere. Toji and Hikari both warned him about this, but that won't stop him from hearing this battle. It might be the last Evangelion battle ever!
  
  He called up his friend and, ug, her. Shinji wasn't of much help. When Kensuke asked him, he said he was unconscious after getting hit. The Red Demon didn't share anything, even though she was fighting the whole time.
  
  If only Kensuke was chosen as the Fourth Child instead of his best friend, then Toji would still be around. Plus, any form of injury or death would be worth it. If he could've piloted an Evangelion even for ten seconds, he'd be happy with whatever happens to him.
  
  Oh my gods, he did it. There's the audio. The military obsessed kid matches the audio with the video. Since he's home alone, he puts the volume on full blast. This'll be the best moment ever! Well, being in the Evangelion with Shinji when he killed that second Angel was cooler, but this is still awesome!
  
  There they are. Asuka grasps the positron rifle from Shinji. The weapon takes all of Japan's power, but there's a power junction where they set up. Its schematics must be beyond classified, but it even pierced an A.T. field before.
  
  Unit 02 and Jet Alone Prime tussle. They stomp and rip each other's armor. Each stab from Asuka's Progressive Knife is a crunch that Kensuke will treasure for the rest of his life. She pierces its metal frame. She's trying to destroy its N2 reactor. That's such a great strategy, and she's about to win! The girl knows what she's doing.
  
  "Stop!" Asuka shrieks.
  What? Why is she saying that? She's winning. Maybe she's talking to her Command Center. That's it!
  "Help!" she begs.
  No! She's asking for help. Asuka never says that word. She is the bravest and wildest person I know. I hate her, but she's an Eva pilot! She has no fear. She's tougher than her Eva's armor. How can she be asking for help?
  "No," the girl whimpers.
  
  The Eva slows its thrashing. Kensuke had thought it was since she knew it was about to explode. Now, he sees she's just giving up, dying.
  
  Jet Alone Prime explodes, but it brings him no joy. Kensuke stares at the screen and turns off the computer.
  
  Except for his heartbeat, he hears nothing. The pounding rings in his ears and decreases from his high from watching the video. "What am I doing?" he asks himself. "Have all of their battles been like this?"
  
  Kensuke thinks back to the time he and Toji were in Shinji's cockpit. That pilot was in pain. Is this why Rei is so withdrawn? Has Asuka always been hiding such fear and pain?
  
  Kensuke gets it. It took a year, but he gets it. Beyond all else, he wanted to be a pilot, but Shinji told him it brings suffering and pain. Shinji was right.
  
  The boy buries his face into his hands. He cries. What kind of a friend has he been?
  
  > Feeling Better
  Asuka sits Rei and Shinji down on the couch as she stands in front of the pair. Her cheeks have two dry, salty streaks; however, she feels better. Something is wrong with Rei, but the baka grew some balls. Still, he should've done so the moment he saw her.
  
  Rei hasn't cried. In fact, she's done nothing emotional at all except for the hug. Her eyes look up to Asuka almost like she's a big sister. Hell, what's wrong with her?
  
  Shinji smiles. He looks at Rei and back at Asuka without ever losing his grin. He needed this like Asuka, so now he'll be better. At the very least, he'd better not be a doormat. They're in a good situation right now, and everybody here needs it to stay that way.
  
  "Alright," says the redhead, "We all had a big group hug, and I didn't kill anyone. Um, congrats I guess." She straightens her posture and holds her head straight. The girl makes authority flow from her very presence. "Shinji, you confessed to being my friend and stopped being a doormat for a moment. Do you intend to run away from that?"
  "Uh, no." He shakes his head, "I think we need each other."
  
  Fool, if only Shinji did this sooner! Why didn't he show his affection before? Asuka gave him several opportunities, but he never did anything.
  
  "Rei, you came here because you're alone, correct?"
  "Yes." The blue haired girl doesn't move or look in Asuka's eyes
  "Why? You walked away from us this morning. You made yourself alone."
  "You did not call me Wondergirl."
  
  Asuka's posture collapses. A dark mood comes over her face, but the others don't see it. The redhead turns around instead. Rei's more scared than what she'd let on. Asuka has almost never been kind to her, so perhaps she should've been kinder. Like Shinji, Rei never showed what was behind her emotionless demeanor. Verdammt, I never showed who I was either. We're all pathetic fakers.
  
  Shinji speaks up. "Do you know where Rei lives, Asuka? She lives alone in a rundown apartment."
  "Why don't I know this?"
  "You never asked."
  
  Asuka turns to Rei. The smile on the redhead's face has disappeared.
  
  "Rei, why didn't you tell anyone or try to leave?"
  "No one asked."
  "Ug." Asuka stamps her foot on the ground. "If your house is bad, then you should move, okay?"
  "I am trying to."
  
  The girls stare at each other for a minute. Rei doesn't show what's in her head, but Asuka runs through a scenario in her mind. What if Rei lives with them until she finds a better home? Of course, Asuka may kill the girl for some petty matter, but the oddball did tell Shinji to take action.
  
  "Rei," says the Second Child, "You... Until Misato finds you a better place, you're staying with us."
  "What!" Shinji shouts. His mouth hangs open.
  "Yeah, you heard me. You got a problem?"
  
  Rei turns to look at the boy. She shows the tiniest bit of fear in her eyes. They have a bond, one that Asuka wishes she had.
  
  Shinji shakes his head. "No, there's no problem. I... I'm just surprised you agreed, Asuka. I'm glad you did this."
  "Well, I'm happy right now, so you better agree now, Rei, before I become cranky and change my mind."
  Rei nods. "I agree if Major Misato allows me to stay."
  "Great, now agree to not play doctor with Shinji anymore."
  
  The boy blushes. He can't look at Asuka's fiery stare. Rei seems perplexed.
  
  "What does that mean, Asuka?" she asks.
  "Don't get naked in front of him. Okay?" She saw what they did before their fight against Jet Alone Prime, and she heard of that other encounter from Shinji. That girl knows nothing about modesty or male hormones.
  "Okay."
  Shinji looks uncomfortable. "I'll go cook a meal Misato likes. Maybe she'd be more likely to agree." He runs into the kitchen before either girl can reply. Asuka chuckles.
  
  > try to Be Nice to Rei
  Before Misato arrives, the girls put away Rei's clothes in one of Asuka's drawers. Pen Pen greets Rei. The redhead tries talking with their new roommate, but the girl doesn't say much. Asuka grows bored with the conversation, so she wanders into the kitchen. Rei follows like a shadow. They watch Shinji cook.
  
  "We weren't doing anything when you walked in on us changing." He's facing away from the girls, since he's cooking.
  "Really?" Asuka puts her hands on her hips. "I walk in and two full moons are out." She trusts that he's telling the truth, but he's fun to embarrass.
  "There is only one moon," Rei says.
  
  Asuka gives her a quizzical stare. Did she tell a joke? Was it an insult? No, Rei's weird, so she didn't understand the reference.
  
  "Okay, who's the better pilot, Rei? Me or Shinji?"
  "You fight better, but Shinji fights for better reasons," Rei says.
  "What?" Anger seeps into her words again.
  "You fight for self worth. I find that to be selfish. Shinji fights to protect."
  "Why do you fight then Rei? Hmm?"
  "I used to fight because I was told to. Now, I do it to protect both of you, like Shinji."
  
  Shinji stops cooking and turns around. Asuka mellows. She's right. They're fighting for so-called noble reasons.
  
  "Rei," says the boy, "You're being very nice."
  
  The door opens. All three teens hear Misato yawn.
  
  Asuka says, "I think we'll be protecting each other soon."
  
  > Together
  Rei sits prim and proper at the dinner table. Shinji and Asuka sit on either side of her. Across the table sits Major Misato. She hasn't touched her meal, and she drank two beers. From what she knows about the major, two beers pales in comparison to her normal intake.
  
  "So let me get this straight," says the major. "You both want Rei here until we can find a less lonely apartment? Even you Asuka?" She looks at the girl.
  "I can worry about my fellow pilots too." The redhead humphs as she folds her arms.
  Rei stares at the woman. "My presence will not be felt."
  
  Misato looks at each of the teenagers. She makes some grumbling noises and furrows her eyebrows. Then, she shrugs and becomes cheerful.
  
  "Okay, I'll talk to NERV, but in the meantime you can have my room." She gives a wide smile.
  "What?" ask the Second and Third Child.
  "Ha, you don't think I'll put poor Rei on the couch? One of you two would take advantage of her."
  
  Their faces redden. Asuka's eyes open wider than Rei thought possible while Shinji looks away.
  
  "She's a girl! I wouldn't do that." Asuka points at Shinji. "But you can't trust that pervert."
  "Ha! Just kidding. I bet you two got used to me being Miss Serious." Misato laughs for several seconds.
  "Thank you Major Misato. I am very grateful." Rei stands and bows.
  "Hell, call me Misato."
  
  The other two pilots thank their guardian.
  
  "I'm gonna take a shower now. Behave yourselves." Misato leaves the pilots.
  
  The three teens do something alien to Rei. They kill time. Asuka and Shinji fight over what channel they're going to watch. Rei helps the boy do the dishes. They even do homework together, and Rei finds that Asuka had already graduated from a university. I never knew that about her. Maybe my predecessor did, but I have no recollection of such a distinguished achievement.
  
  When the time comes, they all go to bed, but Rei has made a decision.
  
  "Misato, let me sleep on the couch," she says. The woman had been dozing off on a chair while attempting to watch the teens. "You should have your room."
  "Am I hearing defiance from you?" she asks stretching her arms over her head.
  "I apologize, but I will sleep on the floor or the couch."
  "Okay, have the couch."
  
  The major leaves for her own room and closes the door. Asuka brings out a blanket and puts it on the couch. Shinji gives her a pillow.
  
  "Thank you... my friends." Rei blushes and smiles.
  "Sure," they say together. Their sync training together can be odd to see.
  
  Each leaves for their own bed. Rei lies on the couch and stares at the ceiling. It's unfamiliar, but she likes it since this roof is painted. Outside, the night rests in a constant drone of chirping cicadas. It sounds different from the explosive racket of construction equipment that she has grown accustomed to hear.
  
  <>I am not like my predecessor. She would've never done this, but I have. Is this what others call a sleepover? I'm not sure. As usual, she's in her undergarments. Why does Asuka display so so much concern about my nudity? I do not understand, but I wish to know why.
  
  If she told Shinji and Asuka her secrets tonight, would they kill her? The girl whispers, "My friends, I am an Angel. Do not kill me. Like Adam, the one who caused the Second Impact, I am an original, the Second Angel. My body is human and my soul is alien. Do not kill me. Please, stay my friends." She sighs. That will not work.
  
  She murmurs, "Shinji, will you protect me for ever? I am an Angel, but I have no desire to harm others. I desire to protect all people. I am Lilith whose body is in the lowest level of GeoFront, Terminal Dogma. Gendo did this to me. Please, do not abandon me." No, that seems too blunt. How would he know I am trustworthy?
  
  Rei whispers, "Look. I can generate an A.T. field. Does this mean I'm an Angel? Shinji and Asuka, I'm scared. Please, help me. I don't want to harm others." That is too deceptive.
  
  What should she do? They're friends with Rei but enemies with Angels, but she's both. Why must this be her life? Asuka and Shinji have horrible pasts surrounded by rejection and death, but neither suffered as a lab rat. Neither has been strangled to death. Neither exploded yet was alive the next morning.
  
  I want emotion. I want to cry. Tears can help calm a troubled soul, but Rei cannot force them to come. Crying comes naturally to humans; however, it does not for her. I think this means I'm not human. I am the worst of both worlds. I lack an Angel's power and a human's emotion.
  
  Rei hears the floor creaking. Two pairs of footsteps approach her, so Rei sits up.
  
  "What are you doing?" Asuka asks Shinji.
  "I'm doing what you're doing," he says.
  
  Each has a blanket in their hands, and Asuka has a pillow as well. Rei looks at them confused.
  
  "What are you doing?" she asks.
  "I thought you'd feel alone out here," Shinji says. "I thought sleeping next to you might help." Asuka nods.
  "Thank you."
  
  Shinji sits in a chair while Asuka takes the other side of the couch. Rei's mind calms from a raging torrent to a mellow brook. Shinji and Asuka fall asleep. Surrounded by her friends, the ones who care for her, Rei embraces sleep with a small smile.
  
  > To School
  Shinji walks to school with a girl on either side. It's hard to believe this is happening. Not two months ago, Asuka and he weren't getting along at all. Rei was dead, and he was too afraid of the new Rei. Now, they're chums, sort of.
  
  Asuka seems arrogant again, but Shinji doesn't think it's genuine. The girl glances at him and Rei when she thinks they aren't looking. An arrogant Asuka wouldn't do that.
  
  "Hey," Shinji says, "You don't have to be so, well, arrogant."
  "I know." Asuka shrugs. "But the others don't know me any other way. I have a reputation to uphold."
  "A reputation as a snoot?" Rei asks.
  "Yes. That's what they think I am, so I won't disappoint them."
  
  Shinji scratches his head. He's never been good at understanding people. Why doesn't Asuka act nicer in public? It'd make life easier for him. Why doesn't Rei act more open around others? She hugged him%%C2C1%=%1, twice%%. It's almost impossible for her to show anything to other people.
  
  Then again, could they both be like Misato? Their guardian acts like a total slob at home, and it used to annoy Shinji. Now, he sees that she's comfortable with him, since she doesn't show that side of her personality to anyone else besides Asuka... Well, Rei too.
  
  Maybe this is for the best. They can stay in their comfort zones and still open up to each other. Still, there will be a day where they're separated. They can't sit in Tokyo-3 forever, not as Eva pilots. Someday a dumbass will have the bright idea of putting the units in different bases around the world. Asuka and her Eva are from Germany anyway.
  
  "Hey Asuka!" Hikari waives at her friend. The two girls rush to greet each other. They whisper and giggle. Shinji glances at Rei, but the girl doesn't give any response to the new situation.
  
  The two leave the giggling pair behind. Shinji knows the last time they saw each other was before the battle with Jet Alone Prime, so they deserve some time alone.
  
  They walk down the hall past students who Shinji doesn't know. He looks at his blue haired friend. "Rei, what will you do when this is all over?"
  "What do you mean?" she asks. Her head does not turn to face him.
  "What will you do when we finish? We'll be split up. Will you be the lonely Eva pilot like you once were?"
  "I won't."
  "What will you be then? My father's-"
  
  Rei stops walking. Her voice becomes firm. "Do not insinuate such things."
  Shinji looks down. "I'm sor-"
  "Do not say that either. Asuka does not like that phrase."
  
  She walks again. Shinji catches up to his friend and keeps pace beside her. He touches her hand causing her to look at him. He smiles. Rei nods.
  
  They enter the classroom. Asuka and Hikari follow close behind. Shinji glances at Kensuke, and the boy looks exhausted. He must've stayed up all night trying to find the audio. Why does he do that?
  
  "Rise. Bow." The entire class follows Hiakri's orders as the professor enters the room. Shinji groans.
  
  Time to waste more... Huh, Rei isn't staring out of the window. The girl pays attention to the professor. You have changed, Rei. I wish you didn't have to die for this to happen.
  
  The class drags by with the professor not saying a single sentence worth mentioning. When the bell rings, the three pilots and Hikari find an isolated place to eat. Many of the students stare at the four, especially Shinji. He can hear a few whispers. Most say how he's a lucky guy for having so many girls. They're fools.
  
  They go to a secluded spot to eat in peace away from the pestering students. Hikari brought her own meal while the others had theirs made by Shinji. Before they can take more than two bites, they hear a voice. It used to be loud and excited, but now it's quiet and scared.
  
  "Hikari, could you step away?" asks Kensuke. "I'm sorry, but I cannot let you hear this." He doesn't have his camera out. Something's wrong.
  
  The girl looks at her companions. They shrug, and Asuka nods to Hikari. They all look confused.
  
  "Okay Kensuke," she says. The girl puts her food away and walks around the corner of a building.
  
  Kensuke looks at the pilots as his hands shake. Tears form behind his glasses. "I'm sorry!" He collapses to his knees and covers his face with his hands, whimpering.
  
  Shinji rushes to his side. "Hey," he asks, "what's wrong? You never hurt us." The Third Child places his hands on his friend's shoulder.
  "I saw it. I saw and heard it all, the battle," he cries. "It clicked. When I heard you shout for help, Asuka, I knew. I knew that you suffer, you all suffer."
  "You what!" shouts Asuka. "How dare you listen to that battle, drecksau! If you tell anyone I'll... I'll..."
  "I won't. I promise," says Kensuke. "Shinji, how are you still okay? I heard her pain. We're... we're just kids!"
  "Kensuke." Shinji's voice sounds compassionate and reassuring, like a father. "We aren't okay."
  
  Kensuke looks up. Rei doesn't show anything but her blank stare. Asuka fights between showing anger or kindness. Shinji has a small grin and offers the boy his hand.
  
  "We'll stay friends, Kensuke," the Third Child declares. "All of us."
  
  Kensuke takes his hand, and Shinji pulls him up. Their grip is tight, and each boy has a deeper sense of understanding.
  
  "Thank you," says Kensuke, "I'm sorry for not seeing what should've been obvious."
  "I will retrieve Hikari" Rei walks off to where the class rep went.
  "Well, if you ever mention what I said," Asuka points her finger right at the boy, "I'll give a new meaning to the phrase 'killed in action'."
  
  Shinji smiles. Toji may have left, but he still has Kensuke.
  
  > Hikari Horaki
  Hikari Horaki stands behind the corner, and she's within hearing distance. What doesn't Asuka want others to know? She's even threatening Kensuke, but it's so muffled.
  
  Rei walks around the corner. Hikari jumps back and trips on her own feet. She falls on her rear, and cries out in pain. Rei tilts her head.
  
  "You were listening." Hikari may never get used to hearing Rei speak so much.
  "Um, yes." She stands and blushes.
  "You would hurt Asuka's feelings if she knew."
  
  Since when did Rei care about anyone's feelings? Hikari scratches her head. No, this never happened before.
  
  "You used her first name," she says.
  "Yes."
  "Why?"
  "We get along better. I'm different." Rei says so in a matter of fact way, like saying it's raining during a thundershower.
  "I thought so."
  "We should join the others. You need to eat."
  
  They walk back to their friends together. Kensuke looks horrible and Asuka appears angry, but all else is fine. The five kids eat lunch together.
  
  They go back to class and finish their daily routine. Everyone else leaves, but Hikari stays behind. She dials his number into the school's landline like so many times before.
  
  "Hey Toji," she says.
  ...
  "Yes, some things have happened since we last talked. Shinji's doing better."
  ...
  "No, Asuka hasn't killed him. They're happier than yesterday too, isn't that nice?"
  ...
  "Toji, how many times do I have to tell you this? Stop calling her a Red Devil. Anyway, something's up with Kensuke."
  ...
  "No, I don't think it's bad. The military nerd might've figured out being an Eva pilot is bad."
  ...
  "I don't know much now, but it must've been something big for him. He kept on going after you lost your leg, so I have no idea. How's your sister?"
  ...
  "Oh, that's great! I'll come over this weekend."
  ...
  "No, I mean it. I miss you."
  ...
  "Don't be so sweet, sweetheart. Oh! Rei might even be showing some humanity. She's still with Shinji and Asuka."
  ...
  "Yeah, I wish you could see all of this too. Maybe I could get Kensuke to take some pictures. Then, I'll bring them to you."
  ...
  "Ew, gross. Not that kind!"
  ...
  "I'll accept your apology this time. Anyway, I should head home soon."
  ...
  "Love you too."
  
  She hangs up the phone, smiling. Then, she leaves the school.
  
  > Danger
  Asuka rests on the couch while Rei and Shinji sleep. Tomorrow she should take Rei out shopping, because the girl needs some pajamas. Sleeping in her bra next to Shinji, stirs up nausea in Asuka's stomach just to think of it.
  
  Rei's cute, like a little girl. Asuka never had a little sister, but maybe she'd look sort of like Rei... Well, she'd look more European and not have that weird blue hair. She'd also have emotions and talk like a normal person; nonetheless, the innocence of Rei would be there.
  
  She knows next to nothing about the girl. Has she dated anyone? Ha! What a funny joke that would be. Has she ever felt love? Asuka hasn't, though she's aware of her schoolgirl crush on Kaji. But every girl loved Kaji, the perfect man. Oh, that face was dreamy. I need to focus. He's dead.
  
  Rei has innocence because... Why is she innocent? She felt pain; she died. She showed her ass to Shinji. She's killed Angels. It must be her attitude. That girl doesn't know anything about being social. I should help her. Then we could both team up on Shinji.
  
  Her gaze shifts to that damned, kind boy. How come that baka beat her sync score? Why did he kill more Angels than her? It's just odd... or luck. He's lucky on the battlefield. He runs away from everything in life, but in the Eva he's a little better. He'd better stay away from his old habits. She didn't have to call him a doormat today.
  
  Maybe, if he stays better, they could try... Ug, my stomach churns at just the thought of that! Her stomach doesn't churn. Thanks a lot, stomach; however, he's still a pervert. He touches my bra and panties all the time. It doesn't matter that it's because I force him to wash them. Plus, the time we kissed he backed away gasping for breath. He didn't understand me at all. What larger hint could I drop? I damn well kissed you, Shinji. It doesn't matter that I held your nose the entire time, making you unable to breathe. You could've at least touched me!
  
  Sheisse, who am I kidding? I haven't been fair to the baka.
  
  Asuka blushes. She rolls on her other side, since the blank wall confuses her less. The situation isn't fair. Shinji's the man. He should be taking charge, but she's been instead. The Second Child knows that it'd be her fault if things get worse. Shinji cannot become her doormat again. Rei cannot become Gendo's doll.
  
  Gendo, I hate you! You were in charge of Rei, and look how she turned out! You just dumped Shinji off, so it's no wonder he's so horrible. It must run in the family. Maybe I could squish you like a tiny grape in my Eva. Oh, I could bite off your head! That'd be a funny way to kill you. Fuck you!
  
  A phone starts ringing and is soon joined by two more. NERV agents must be calling them. Asuka leaps off of the sofa and runs to her room. She hears the others banging around.
  
  The girl answers the call. "Need me?"
  "Asuka Langley," some NERV goon says, "Prepare to pilot your Eva."
  
  The arschloch hangs up.
  
  Asuka's heart races. Should she be afraid or overjoyed? The girl doesn't have the time to decide. She rips off her pajamas and throws on her clothes. On the way out, she grabs some of Rei's stuff because she'd walk out of the apartment half-naked.
  
  Misato exits her room already dressed. Asuka tosses the clothes at Rei. Shinji runs out of his room with his shirt still over his head.
  
  "Does anyone know what's happening?" asks Asuka.
  "Shit hit the fan." Misato picks up her car keys. "Evangelion Unit 04 is coming this way. Five hours. Come on!"
  
  Misato runs out the door. With a thousand questions swirling in her mind, the teen chases after the woman. Her friends are not far behind.
  
  They run down the stairs and into Misato's car. The car tires screech and they zoom down the dark streets.
  
  "What's Unit 04 doing here?" Asuka asks glancing from Misato to the street. "It blew up in Nevada before I could ever see it."
  Without taking her eyes off the road for once, Misato says, "NERV tried to install an S2 engine. The Eva was sucked into the same plane that took Shinji."
  
  Asuka remembers the incident. Shinji was trapped inside the Angel Liliel, a pocket dimension. He ripped his way out even though it was impossible. If Unit 04 was sucked in, then it could break out too. It even has that damn engine. Why can't Unit 02 have unlimited power as well?
  
  "Is the pilot alive?" Shinji seems concerned for the enemy. Unit 04 is the aggressor, so the pilot can rot in Hell. Asuka sees the fear in his eyes. That boy killed and injured those close to him, and he can't take another loss. Even if it's some annoying brat, he couldn't do it.
  
  "No," says Misato, "The pilot would've died. Even with unlimited power, an Eva cannot feed the pilot. He or she has been in there for months. This is a berserk unit."
  "Then, why is it coming here like the Angels?" asks the boy.
  Rei raises her hand but cannot look her friend's in the eye. "Unit 04 was built from Adam, so it may act like an Angel."
  "What!" all three of them scream.
  "The Eva will cause the Third Impact," Rei says without any fear in her voice.
  
  None of them say anything. Angels were supposed to be dead, but there's one more. Unlike the others, this one is made by man. Men are always so stupid. Why won't they stop making my life so difficult? Hold on, is my Eva from Adam?
  
  "What about the others?" she asks.
  Rei rubs her forehead, almost as if she's in pain. "I think I can remember now. This is all classified, but Unit 02 and 00 are from Adam. I can't remember Unit 01."
  
  Rei closes her eyes. Asuka knows she's lying about Shinji's, but she won't press the issue. Rei has risked enough already, and she can find out later. The car swerves. Misato focuses her attention on the road, and Shinji stares out the window. He looks worried, way too worried. Why didn't she see this before?
  
  "Hey Shinji," the Second Child says, "We'll be fine. We could even try killing the damn Eva while saving the plug."
  Shinji smiles. "Thanks."
  
  Asuka looks at Rei again. Her eyes widen. "Ug! Put on your clothes, Rei!"
  
  > feel Sympathy
  That boy killed and injured those close to him, and he can't take another loss. Even if it's some annoying brat, he couldn't do it.
  
  "No," says Misato, "The pilot would've died. Even with unlimited power, an Eva cannot feed the pilot. He or she has been in there for months. This is a berserk unit."
  "Then, why is it coming here like the Angels?" asks the boy.
  Rei raises her hand, but cannot look her friend's in the eye. "Unit 04 was built from Adam, so it may act like an Angel."
  "What!" all three of them scream.
  "The Eva will cause the Third Impact," Rei says without any fear in her voice.
  
  None of them say anything. Angels were supposed to be dead, but there's one more. Unlike the others, this one is made by man. Men are always so stupid. Why won't they stop making my life so difficult? Hold on, is my Eva from Adam?
  
  "What about the others?" she asks.
  Rei rubs her forehead, almost as if she's in pain. "I think I can remember now. This is all classified, but Unit 02 and 00 are from Adam. I can't remember Unit 01."
  
  Rei closes her eyes. Asuka knows she's lying about Shinji's, but she won't press the issue. Rei has risked enough already, and she can find out later. The car swerves. Misato focuses her attention on the road, and Shinji stares out the window. He looks worried, way too worried. Why didn't she see this before?
  
  "Hey Shinji," the Second Child says, "We'll be fine. We could even try killing the damn Eva while saving the plug."
  He smiles. "Thanks."
  
  Asuka looks at Rei again. Her eyes widen. "Ug! Put on your clothes, Rei!"
  
  > Unit 00
  Rei takes off her clothes and puts on her plugsuit. The vacuum seal lets it fit against her body like a doctor's glove. Perhaps she could talk with the soul of the first Rei clone; she may know this Rei's purpose. She steps on the other side of the curtain, where she sees Asuka and Shinji ready to leave.
  
  "Together, we'll do it together." Shinji straightens his back. The Third Child appears confident... almost like Gendo, but she knows it's an act. The boy is trying to c