Evangelion Ressurection: Hell on Earth

Misato Katsuragi stared at the screen showing the military heads of Japan, she hadn't backed down one inch since they had start their teleconference with Misato staking claim to being the one that commanded the Evangelions into battle. The shadowed figures on the screen seemed to be arguing amongst themselves, they had killed the audio feed temporarily and finally it keyed back up as they began anew.

"Major Katsuragi of SOUL you say? Well, because the Evangelions are property of Japan, we demand you turn them and all relevant pilot data over to us immediately, or we will be forced to resort to legal action or force, shall we say?"

"Yes Major, be reasonable the military of Japan isn't so bad. We're willing to offer you and every member of your staff amnesty if you turn over the Evangelions, the pilots, and the data."

"With all due respect to all of you, I'm sorry to say legal action would be out of the question because it would lead only to all of you looking like a bunch of complete idiots. You've already given sworn testimony that the Evangelions were destroyed. Not only would perjury and prosecution be turned back on you, but you would risk having to admit not only to your own country, but to the world that you were deceived. You're all too proud to do that. I'm sorry to say that a black ops sweeper team would also be out of the question as well. Though I'm quite sure you know the location of this place, the fact that we can give the information out to news agencies around the world would only make you look like the bad guys in that situation. In other words, you kill us and our sleeper agents we have in the city will activate and we will give information to the news media that we were killed in vengence and then what would happen when Japan is left alone to fend off the rest of the angels without the Evangelions, and without the Pilots? All I wish is to make a deal."

The audio cut out once again as Misato almost laughed, she had all the right cards and knew they had nothing up their sleeve. They would have no choice but to agree to the wishes of SOUL, which were simple. SOUL wanted only to protect innocent people, not become another military agency. Misato liked to think of SOUL as a "paid for hire" bodyguard service for every man, woman, and child in Japan. Granted even if the government couldn't or wouldn't pay the Evas would still fight the Angels, but the fact that they could get some money from the government by twisting their arm a little bit would offset costs of the Evas significantly.

"What is it you wish from this deal Major Katsuragi?"

"Yes, and what assurances do you give that you can deliver what you offer?"

"Gentlemen the goals of SOUL are simple, we want to protect every human being in Japan to the best of our ability. We are Japanese nationals of a sort you could say. However the costs in upkeeping the Evangelions for battle is quite costly, as you all well know from your experiences with SEELE. We have funds to continue upkeep on the Evas for some time, however we will request government paid assistance in the future. What I ask is a mutually beneficial agreement, SOUL continues to operate independantly in defense against the new Angels, while the government funds our repair and resupply costs. You spend several billion American dollars a year on national defense, even a billion dollars of budge space would considerably aid our cause."

"What you suggest is ludicrous Major!"

"I disagree General Tomigawa.."

"How so?"

"They have managed to pull the wool over our eyes, which suggests that perhaps they aren't as inept as we would like to think. Their battle with that Angel certainly proved that they have the abilities to keep Japan safe. My own family is descended from the Samurai of old, and it was the responsibility of Samurai and of the military itself to protect the peasantry of old. Japan must rely upon the strength of those with the will to fight. SOUL is willing to provide this strength, I am quite certain they would be willing to fight the Angels even if we didn't pay them. A little good will can go a long way in ensuring certain... unfortunate outcomes do not come to pass."

Misato kept her face even, that general was quite an intelligent man. He had seen through the deception she had tried to set up, and had actually spoken on her behalf. That general had known that they would fight without regards to monetary costs, and that they would defend the general public of Japan with their lives. What came next caused Misato to turn deathly pale as the other general's gave their consent to the plan.

"General Kaji.. I think you have misunderstood the strength of SOUL.."

"No Tomigawa, I have not. Of course Major Katsuragi, I have one thing that I be allowed to ask of you before we give final consent and approval to this proposition... That you take into your command center one of our subordinates that will be loyal to us first, but will follow your orders if they do not directly go in opposition to our own. Would you be willing to make such a sacrifice so that we may maintain an eye on you?"

"General Kaji! You go too far by announcing a spy in their midst! Your family honor does not dictate you must do that, and as such I will not stand for it!"

"General Kaji, I would welcome this subordinate into our midsts. And General Tomigawa, I do not believe General Kaji was announcing a spy. It would be simple fact that anyone you propose to put here as a subordinate would be a spy, however by telling me that General Kaji wishes to keep an eye on our business tells me he is a man that I believe I can trust. I will agree to your request so long as he is loyal only to you General Kaji."

Misato couldn't help it, she had to keep a straight voice and a straigh face when speaking with the military. Else they would have been like vulture's picking away at her, but to have Tomigawa give the surname Kaji to the faceless man. 'Could it really be any relation to Ryouji Kaji?! I don't think so, but it just caught me off guard.'

"Agreed, I shall be sending my subordinate off to you first thing tomorrow morning, you will know this man on sight and I believe you should know how to authenticate him, as well as ensure his loyalty is only to myself. Ten billion american dollars will be transferred to your accounts tomorrow, we hope to see the Evangelions save Japan... no not Japan, but the world."

The screen went black and Misato dropped into the chair once used to seat Commander Gendo Ikari, and propped her head on her fist. She couldn't help but wonder what the general had meant by she would know him on sight, and know how to authenticate him. Her eyes wandered to the command center staff who were looking straight at her, and she managed a smile, "Well, we've got our backing and our independance from the military. I've got some work to do so I'm going to be in my office for a while should anyone need anything. Hyuga, please go down and tell Shinji that I won't be returning tonight, and will probably return tomorrow."

With her orders given out Misato rose to her feet, spun on her heels and walked out of the command center. In the elevator was the first time she felt any sort of elation over having managed to cow the generals, and she had to take a breath to steady herself over the reports she was going to have to file and send to General Kaji.

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For nearly an hour she'd been working on the report and had nearly completed it when a knock came at the door to Misato's office. She wasn't expecting anyone, but she sat back in the chair and called out loud enough for the person on the other side to hear her, "Come in."

When the door slid back it wasn't who she had thought it would be. Asuka came walking tentatively in, her eyes looking at Misato but she didn't say anything. Instead she stood in front of the desk, absently looking down at her feet waiting for Misato to say something. What she didn't expect from Misato was a hearty laugh and an invitation to sit down.

"Asuka, I take it from the look on your face you talked to Shinji, didn't you?"

".... Yeah, he's definately changed."

"I warned you about that Asuka, what did he lay into you? Did he appologize? What happened?"

"He did both actually, but when he layed into me I think.. I think I deserved it."

"Asuka, that doesn't sound like you... so what happened."

"Well, I had just gotten out of Eva, and well I said something I didn't exactly mean for him to hear. It was out of frustration, I yelled out that I wanted to rip the pilot of Unit 01 a new one for damage. I think he heard me and just stormed off, almost sent one person falling into the cooling liquid as he left."

"Mmm.. I sensed Shinji was a little more agressive than he used to be, even though he hides it as well as ever."

"Yeah, but I saw him walking off and tried to follow him.. I guess he was expecting that and waited for me. That's when, well I guess I can't say he yelled at me, but that's when he approached me and Told me to go ahead and rip him a new one over damage done to Unit 02... and I just lost all my nerve. This is the first time in two years that I'd seen him, and as much as I hate to admit it, I missed him while he was gone and didn't want things to start off on the wrong foot again."

"Well Asuka... was that the extent of what happened?"

"No.. I waited for him to come out of the locker room, I couldn't look him in the eye and say anything to him Misato. I had to look away when I was talking to him, I don't fault him for two years ago, he told me off. He showed he did have some strength in him when he told me I was too absorbed in my own pity to realize why the Evas were created in the first place. I hated him for that, for a long time I hated him for being blunt and telling me the truth straight out, but something inside of me told me that he was right. For all the front I put on for the world, I was scared... I was too scared inside to admit I didn't want to pilot the Evas any more. In the elevator, he told me he was sorry about two years ago, and I got mad at him because he told me the truth. When I looked away from him, he.. he told me he expected things like that out of me. I don't know who he is any more Misato, and he's just so different now."

"And do you think the changes are necessarily a bad thing Asuka?"

"Huh? I'm not sure, but I do know one thing, when he looked me in the eye and said that he had accepted me for the way I was, all I could think about was getting away from him. I wanted to spend more time talking with him, but I couldn't.."

"That does remind me of someone in the past. No matter how much she tried to hide her feelings, how much of a front she put up to get him to leave her alone, he always.. he always knew just what to say, what she wanted to hear. Asuka, you've got to find out these feelings on your own. You can't just hide from them, but trust me I know what you're going through. Please Asuka.. don't beat yourself up over it, spend some time with Shinji, get to know him. Because I already know what you feel for him, you're in love with him but afraid to let him know.. am I right?"

"What?! Me in love with that dummkopf?!"

"Yeah, I think I hit it right on the mark... I'm reminded of an old saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder. I think you were in love with him back in the old days, but you couldn't bear to admit that to anyone or yourself. However when he was gone.. you missed him, I'd guess there wasn't a day that went by that you didn't think about him. Asuka, all I can say is follow what your feelings tell you. Now, I've got some work to finish Asuka. If you want to see him, he's living with me again and you still have a key. Feel free to drop by any time, alright?"

Asuka just nodded and rose from the chair she'd been sitting in. 'Could Misato possibly be right? Am I in love with him?' She managed a smile and turned to walk out of the office, leaving Misato to her own thoughts.

"God, why does this seem so familiar? Huh Kaji?" She looked at the photo that sat on her desk, and it was then that she broke down and cried. That man may have been a pig, and a useless waste of skin, but she couldn't deny that at at least one point in her life she had loved him.

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On the subway car Shinji stood with an arm through one loop, holding himself aloft. Most of the lines were just now getting back into action after the battle earlier, but he didn't mind the ride home in a bouncing subway car.

'Damn it, why can't I stop thinking about what happened in the elevator?'

'Because if Asuka hadn't walked out like she had, I probably would have told her about my feelings.'

'What's so wrong with that?'

'We can't afford to have those feelings for each other.'

'Why?'

'When we pilot Eva, we can't afford to have anything cloud our judgement.. we can't allow ourselves to become distracted or else we'll be killed.'

'Excuses, nothing more.'

Shinji was awoken from his thoughts when the train stopped at his stop. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his sport coat and walked out into the slightly chilly night air. Already a myriad of military vehicles were on the streets with speakers blaring, "The angels have returned. People are asked to remain calm. Repeat the Angels have returned. Earlier there was battle outside Tokyo 3, and all agressive forces were destroyed." Shinji couldn't help the rampant thought in his head, -Yeah, tell everyone after it's over.-

"Typical, they say the aggressive forces are destroyed but not by who."

"I heard the Evas are back protecting us!"

"Evas? Angels? It's all stories told to allow the military to keep a curfew in effect! It's a conspiracy!"

Without even so much as batting an eyelash at the comments surrounding him on the streets of the city. Taking a moment to light a cigarette Shinji walked on, pausing only briefly to place the hat he had purchased earlier on his head when the first droplets of rain began to fall on the city. Even at three in the morning the city was quite a spectacle of people that refused to sleep at night. The rain was soon pouring down in droves, and most of the streets quickly cleared save for Shinji who walked alone oblivious to the rain.

'Ironic.. the rain comes after blood shed to wash away both the stain and the sin."

Though he was soaked to the bone by the time he had reached the apartment he went in, and simply changed out of the wet clothes. He was shivering when he dropped himself onto the couch, the sleeping mat just didn't seem quite as inviting.

'That was a hell of a first day back...' was the last thought on his mind as he drifted off to sleep.