N.G.Evangelion - When Angels Deserve to Die

Chapter Four:

Asuka grinned, seeing the others start to show up. \"You know you\'d think Wondergirl would be here on time. The boys are a bad influence on you.\"

He nodded. \"Of course....I understand perfectly. I won\'t let a word slip...trust me.\" He grinned.

Rei just walked past, and Jack snorted. \"You....ah, forget it. I\'m not even going to bother...\" the American replied, rubbing his eyes. \"So, where the Hell\'s the changing rooms, or whatever we use here?\"

Alexia entered Ikari\'s office. She walked over to the window looking outside. /Just because I\'m the only one that he\'s kept sheltered.. It\'s not fair, just because I was interested in finding out what is going on outside NERV. Maybe I should ask him for a companion. This place is colder than back in the States... Even a fish would do../ She thought.

Asuka pointed to the door that Shinji and Rei were disappearing through.


Jack nodded, still rubbing his eyes as he followed the direction. He looked around, and spotted... \"Ah, there you are...\" he whispered, looking at his old plugsuit, the dual numbers inscribed on it: 03/04. A private joke, but still...something familiar...

Fuyutsuki entered through another door with Kaji. \"Commander, may I have a word with you before the tests?\"

After a few moments of slight embarrassment, and the like, the three were suited up, and pressing the button that created the vacuum, tightening the plugsuits. Jack mussed with his hair, forcing it down in order to slip on the head emitters, his hair suddenly completely falling down, not even a stray strand sticking up. Rei stared at him once more, before Shinji tugged on her arm, indicating that they had to go. She nodded, and lead the way back out, the two boys close behind.

Kaji waved to Ikari and the others, while Gendo nodded, and joined his subordina \"I \"I trust this is an important matter?\" he asked, after they had stepped out for a moment.

Misato sipped at some coffee as she watched the children.

\"It\'s about the other project.\" He said looking at the children hoping Gendo would catch it.

Aoba sighed, and hit a few switches. \"Okay, now we just need them in the plugs, so we can get this over with and get some sleep, right, \'buki?\" He strectched his arms back, grinning.

\"Kaji! you made it.\" Asuka smiled. Misato bit back a groan wishing the worst things on him.

Gendo sighed. \"What is it? Something happened..to HER?\" he asked quietly, one hand shielding his mouth.

\"He\'s seen her.\"

Kaji nodded, then regarded Misato. \"What? Didn\'t expect to see me so soon?\" Then he looked over the children, focusing on Asuka. \"Of course I made it...I said I would, didn\'t I?\"

\"I was hoping you\'d get lost in the elevators again.\"

Jack rolled his eyes, then made his now-trademark jerking motion again, Shinji quickly putting his hand over his mouth before he could laugh or something.

\"Like you do.\" Ritsuko said.

Gendo had one of THOSE looks, before sighing. \"Well, what\'s done is done...we\'ll just have to keep him quiet somehow...\"

\"I sent her to your office for the time being. She seemed a little scared when I saw her.\"

Kaji rolled his eyes, and smirked. \"Ah...as I remembered you all...bickering like little children...just like years ago, right?\"

Misato glared at him then at Ritsuko.

Gendo bit back a curse. \"I wanted to see how these tests turned out...you know that...well, have the results to my office IMMEDIATELY..\" Having said that, Ikari went straight for his private elevator.

Aoba saw Jack, and shook his head, grinning slightly. \"Man, kids today...no manners...hah...\"

Asuka noted Gendo leaving. \"What got into him?\"

Kaji shrugged. \"Who knows? Probably another technical glitch again..\"

Asuka sighed. \"They\'ve been having so many of those lately.\"

Shinji rubbed the back of his head, getting slightly uncomfortable around the others. Kaji nodded, and crossed his arms over his chest. \"I know....you\'d think they\'d have a bigger budget around here for this kind of stuff...\"

\"The Magi are dealing with .\" .\" Ritsuko said, then looked to the kids and Misato.

\"Alright, all of you into the entry plugs. We\'re running the same tests.\"

Asuka groaned.

Jack tried shifting his bangs, which were now hanging over his eyes. \"I hate it when my hair\'s all down in my face...\" he muttered.

Rei nodded silently, while Shinji tried his best not to sigh in relief.

Alexia heard the elevator open behind her and turned looking at Ikari.


Gendo wore a slight frown. \"I was told you were seen...by Kaji...what were you doing down at those levels?\"

\"Soooooo...which way?\" Jack asked, tapping his fingers against his forearms after folding them across his chest.

\"I\'m sorry, sir... I was restless..\" She kept her head down. \"He does not know who I am though.\" She said, not looking up.

Asuka pointed the way with a sigh. \"Idiot.\"

Ikari took his seat, and looked up at the wall behind him. \"Very well...I can overlook it this once. Was there anything else?\"

Jack glared. \"Who are you calling an idiot you --\" Then he started speaking in fluent French again, going so fast it made Shinji\'s head spin.

\"I... I know this sounds stupid, but would it be possible for me to leave the compound... I have not been out in fresh air since I was wounded. Maybe Fuyutsuki or yourself could show me around a little... I would like to also get a pet... Just a small goldfish... My room feels colder than the enplugplugs..\"

Rei had made her way towards the door, and was halfway through when Jack started up, Shinji close behind, fearing what would happen if this got worse.

She turned shooting back insults in German at him.

\"ENOUGH!\" Misato yelled over the intercom.

Ritsuko snickered leaning against the rail next to Kaji. \"She\'s really good with the children isn\'t she?\"

Ikari looked thoughtful. \"I\'ll get the climate control system back online soon...and I have no problem with you getting a pet. As for the rest, I\'ll see what I can arrange...\" He folded his hands over his mouth, and sighed.

Jack glared at her, then huffed and made his way towards his plug, climbing inside. He shot off a few choice words in French and English, before returning to Japanese. \"Oi.\"

She looked up. \"Commander, I did not let anything slip. I feel he will not talk.\"

Asuka scowled.

Kaji nodded. \"Her technique could use some work, in my humble opinion.\"

Misato groaned. \"Why me..\"

Ritsuko nodded.

Rei and Shinji were also waiting in theirs, and Shinji was beginning to repeat his mantra in his head, feeling that it was helping somewhat.

Gendo nodded, still looking at the wall as hidden monitors slid out, and sprang to lif\"Ve\"Very well...now, let\'s see what\'s going on down below.\"

\"Okay, everyone concentrate.\" Misato said calming some.

Alexia turned to watch. /They\'re the lucky ones... they get to be free for a few hours a day.../

Jack closed his eyes, focusing as much as he could, despite the throbbing headache and the odd feeling behind his eyes. Rei, as usual, experienced little trouble in achieving her focus, and Shinji managed to relax somewhat himself.

Asuka flicked the controls to German so she could concentrate more.

Aoba tapped the keys in front of him. \"Okay, starting test.....now. Readings are good so far....anything unusual on anyone else\'s screens?\"

\"Shinji, relax a little more.\" Misato said noting he was dropping. \"All four have fully connected.\"

Shinji nodded, taking a few deep breaths to ease himself. He closed his eyes tighter, and willed the stress away.

Aoba blinked. \"We\'re getting a few abnormal readings on the Sixth Child, ma\'am.\" He tapped a key next to the viewscreen. \"Wait...it\'s gone...must\'ve been another damned futz-up.\"

Jack was twitching slightly, his focus falling apart suddenly as something just up and hit him smack in the face. His eyes snapped open, and he gasped for air.

Rei was also reacting to something, her pulse quickening and her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Alexia closed her eyes focusing on the tests as well, she jerked slightly falling back against the wall behind her as she felt dizzy.

\"We\'re losing the First Child...\"

Misato paled. \"What\'s going on?\"

\"Same with the Sixth.....something\'s wrong....sync ratios are dropping faster than mayflies...\"

Ritsuko went to the computer, checking on them. \"Break the connections.\"

Aoba nodded, and hit the cut-off switch. Meanwhile, both Rei and Jack were hyperventilating, their hearts hammering loudly against their ribcages.

Alexia curled up on the floor, breathing heavily. Sweat beaded on her brow. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself.

Ikari spared Alexia a glance, then stared with some shock as both his prized pilot and the greatest unknown variable to enter his plan both began reacting negatively.

Fuyutsuki hit the intercom to Ikari\'s office. \"Sir, you should come down here.\"

Ikari nodded, and hit the switch. \"Affirmative...I\'ll be there as soon as I can...\"

Jack ground his teeth together, nearly cracking them, and the grips in his hands as well. Rei was breathing weakly, on the verge of nervous collapse.

Ikari checked Alexia, then looked up at the screens, frowning heavily. /What is going on here....it couldn\'t be....no, I\'m overreacting...it\'s NOT.../

Alexia was biting her lip, trying not to scream. She curled up tighter in a ball remembering the accident that had put her in the hospital before the first test of her Eva. Amazingly it had been on the same day as Rei\'s accident that had nearly killed the First Child.

Aoba let out a curse. \"We have to get them out, now!\"

Kaji had a look on his face, as though he\'d been expecting this. \"Well now, this is interesting...\" he said more to himself than anyone else.

\"I know. Open the hatches.\" Misato hissed. \"Drain the fluid in there.\"

Ritsuko hit the buttons needed. \"Get the medics in there for those two stat.\"

Aoba nodded, and buzzed the infirmary. \"Medics...to the test site.\"

Jack slowly released the grips, and fell back into the \'seat\', panting hard, his hair stuck to his face, and the smell of his own blood in his nostrils. Rei was barely conscious, and moaning softly, in a trance.

\"Cold... anger.... trapped....\" Alexia whimpered softly, tears fell from her eyes. \"Let us go...\" She whispered.

Ikari placed a hand on her, shaking her gently. \"What is going on here?\" he asked no one, confused.

Aoba watched as the medical team rushed in. \"Well, it\'s safe to say this was a bust.\"

Alexia looked up at him and anger filled her eyes.

Gendo glared back, reaching for the gun he kept hidden on himself at all times.

Asuka watched as the medics got to Rei. \"What happened...\" She asked worried. She shook her head hoping that Jack or Shinji hadn\'t seen it.

Alexia moaned, giving up attempting to stand. Her eyes closed and she fell back to the floor.

Jack\'s plug suddenly made a creaking sound, as though something were breaking it... Aoba tapped another key, and stared. \"Something\'s wrong....the Sixth Child\'s plug...has been...\"

Ritsuko glanced over. \"That\'s impossible. The plug\'s power\'s been cut right?\"

Aoba nodded, his mouth dry. \"Right...when the power was cut...something flared up.....judging from the readings...but it...\"

The medics made it over to his plug.

Then the noise stopped, and silence reigned, nothing more coming from the plug.

\"We haven\'t lost him have we?\" She asked. Misato ran into the chamber.

Shinji got out from his, and rushed to Rei\'s side. \"Oh God...Ayanami....what happened....\" There was a weak moan from her pale lips. She was trembling..almost with fear...

Jack was limp, unmoving. The controls had been damaged, though not beyond repairs, though the inside of the plug was cracked to Hell.

Aoba looked up at Ritsuko. \"You\'re not gonna believe this.....I found out what damaged the plug like that...\"

Asuka followed Misato over to Jack\'s plug. \"Jack?\" She climbed up worried. She muttered something in German.

\"What?\"

\"An AT Field...he generated his own AT Field...\"

Ritsuko looked at the readings. \"How....\" She looked at the boy who they were moving out of the plug.

The medics pulled him out, and checked him over. Lines of blood were running from his nose, mouth, and ears, and he was still..not even breathing.

\"Hurry, get both of them out of here.\" Misato ordered. \"Shinji, Asuka, why don\'t the two of you go shower, we\'ll fill you in as soon as possible okay?\"

Rei made a strangled gasp, and suddenly, Jack\'s body spasmed violently, almost falling to the floor. A deep, rattling breath was drawn, but he didn\'t open his eyes.

Shinji had a look of pure confusion and shock on his face, and he nodded numbly, heading towards the changing area slowly, blinking.

Alexia trembled almost convulsing.

Asuka took another look at Jack, then Rei and nodded following after Shinji.

Gendo was beginning to get pissed. This was NOT what was supposed to happen. Something had gone wrong...very wrong.

Aoba began comparing the readings with Rei\'s, chewing on his lip. \"I\'m no expert...but I think Rei was only three steps behind him...or maybe AHEAD of him....because the same activity flared up in hers for two seconds.\"

Fuyutsuki got back on the intercom. \"Sir, are you watching this?\"

Gendo hit the button on his. \"Yes...I am...and it\'s baffled me...there\'s also been...a \'complication\'...\"

Ritsuko nodded. \"Send the results to my office. I\'ll go over it there.\"

\"What kind sir?\"

Aoba nodded, and started typing in the commands. \"Sure thing.\"

\"With...the other project...\" Ikari spoke, pulling his gun out and stroking the barrel, feeling smaller than he had when Yui died.


TBC