Disclaimer – see chapter 1.

Homecoming

Part 6 – Fortress

By Random1377

Kyoko burst onto the command deck with all the drama of a stage actress making her grand entrance, though the reason for her hast was anything but a need for attention. The EVA cages were not terribly far from the bridge, but she had covered the distance in what she was sure was record time, clutching her side as a nasty stitch of pain ran from her lower ribs up to her armpit.

"What's… happening?" she gasped, trying to regain her breath as Ritsuko gave her a cursory glance.

As if answering her, Aoba said, "Pattern blue confirmed, Doctor Akagi… it's definitely an angel."

Misato brushed past Kyoko a moment later, completely ignoring the elder Souryu as Kaji and Asuka followed her in. "Status update," she called, impressing Kyoko with her smooth, no-nonsense attitude.

This was her show, Kyoko realized. Previous joking and flippant persona aside, she was now staring at a warrior preparing for combat.

Too bad she was unarmed.

"Status?" Ritsuko echoed incredulously. "Does it matter? We've got three non-functional Evangelions, some N2 mines we can't use due to the angel's proximity, and a handful of autocannnons that haven't so much as scratched any of the previous angels. You want a status update? We're in deep sh-"

"Set the autocannons for full fire," Misato cut in, clearly in no mood for the other woman's attitude. "Where's Rei? I want her ready to launch in Unit 01 in five minutes. Just because we haven't been able to launch it with anyone but Shinji doesn't mean we can't launch it with anyone but Shinji, right?"

Ritsuko looked dubious. "The plug's been reprogrammed with her personal data," she said, "but it's always been an oh-nine system. The chances that Rei can sync are-"

"Yes, yes, I know," Misato cut in dismissively, "you've explained the whole oni idea before, but I'm short on options. Asuka," she turned to the Second Child, "I want you down in the cages too… if everything goes wrong, you'll try syncing with Unit 01 too. If that fails – you'll launch in 02, understood?"

"You can't send her in 02," Kyoko said sharply, "I won't allow it."

Misato's eyebrows rose. "I'm sorry?" she said coolly, "you won't allow it?"

Kyoko bristled visibly. "Asuka can't pilot Unit 02," she said tersely, "have you been listening to what I've been saying? The last time she synced, Shinji nearly shattered her ego boundary – and that was nearly sixteen hours ago. If she goes in now, she'll be disincorporated in seconds."

"Theoretically," Misato countered. "You're not sure, though… and if you're so worried about it, why don't you just hop back in and set things straight?"

Looking pained, Kyoko muttered, "I can't, now… it takes time. Even if I got back into the plug, Shinji wouldn't be able to reform his body for at least-"

"You know what?" Misato interrupted, "Why don't you just shut up? I'm not interested in anything you have to say, Souryu, so closer your mouth and get off my bri-"

"I can pilot."

"Come again?"

"I said I can pilot," Kyoko repeated desperately, "I can pilot Unit 01."

Misato was only silent for a moment. "No adults can pilot," she said levelly, folding her arms under her breasts and staring the other woman down. "It's impossible."

"Captain Katsuragi is correct," Gendou boomed from the command dais, "the EVAs have no sympathy with adults… or don't you remember the batch of tests we ran with the adult volunteers?"

"I remember," Kyoko said grimly, "I can still hear the screams if I listen hard enough – but Unit 01 is different… and I'm different. Yui and I-"

"Don't… say her name," Gendou cut in coldly. "You act like you were the best of friends… but I don't recall having you over for dinner, Souryu, or hearing the phrase, 'I'm going out with Kyoko tonight.' I think your time in Unit 02 has altered your view of reality. I would no more let you near Unit 01 than go out there and try to establish negotiations with that angel… so do us all a favor and shut… up."

Kyoko's jaw clenched, and she glanced at Asuka, her shoulders slumping in defeat as she found her daughter looking at her with undisguised contempt. "Et tu, liebchen?" she whispered, "we-"

"I told you not to call me that."

"Ahh that's right," Kyoko sighed, straightening her back as the door to the command center slid open and Rei stepped in, "you're all grown up now… you live for yourself and no one else. I'm very proud of that, you know…"

Asuka opened her mouth to let her mother know exactly what she could do with her pride, but before she could speak, something strange happened – and it happened so fast that no one on the bridge saw it coming.

As Rei came abreast of Kyoko, the elder Souryu smiled, patting her affectionately on the shoulder… but as the First took another step, Kyoko swung around, sliding her left arm neatly around the blue-haired girl's throat and pressing the palm of her right hand to the side of Rei's head, forcing her to stop dead in her tracks.

"Clear me a path to the cages," Kyoko said softly, "or so help me God, I will snap her neck like a toothpick."

To emphasize her point, she pushed Rei's head slightly to the side, causing the pilot to draw a sharp breath of pain through her nose, though in her defense, this was her only concession to her current predicament.

"Don't try my patience," Gendou said dismissively, "release her, or you'll be-"

"I mean it," Kyoko cut in sharply, her nostrils flaring with rage as she edged Rei's neck further towards the breaking point, "I know the release times, Rokubungi… and if I so much as smell one of your Section Two goons on my case between here and there, she'll be dead before you can say 'only viable pilot.'"

An arctic chill fell over the hushed crowd, the reports of the angel's progress going unheeded as everyone waited to see what the outcome of the confrontation would be. Finally, Gendou raised his right hand… and two Section Two agents slowly rose from the shadows, clad in black from head to toe and holding long, silenced pistols on the woman and her captive – pistols, Misato knew immediately, that had been leveled the second the First had been taken.

Christ, she thought, shivering as she stared into one of the agent's hard, killer's eyes, one twitch – one hesitation in her hold on Rei's neck… and she would have been dead – or at least tazed, I can't tell if they have other weapons…

"This is pointless," Gendou muttered, not bothering to hide his contempt, "Rei is the only pilot we have… are you going to throw away the entire Human Race for your pitiful sense of pride?"

Kyoko smiled as she backed toward the door. "Hey Mister Kaji," she called nonchalantly, ignoring the Commander's comments. "I have a confession for you."

"Oh?" the man said, arching an eyebrow, "And what is that, Misses Souryu?"

Kyoko's smile widened.

"…I just had to tell you that I lied to you when we first met – you make a shitty cup of coffee."

In spite of the tension on the deck, Kaji laughed out loud, shaking his head in wonder as the woman slipped out of the door with Rei still held firmly in her arms.

( 0 0 0 )

The silence on the bridge lasted until the door slid shut… and then all hell broke loose. "How close is the angel?" Misato demanded, whirling to face the technicians. "Well? What are you all, pedestrians staring at a car crash? We're in a combat situation! We have a base to protect! See if we can slow the angel down – cannons, mines, tanks, throw everything we have, buy us some time. Ritsuko!"

"Huh?"

"How close is Unit 00 to operational readiness?"

Pulling her eyes away from the door, Ritsuko shook her head. "Er, weeks," she murmured, trying to calculate every angle at once, "ten days at the very least – if we worked on nothing else."

Taking a deep breath, Misato said, "Two questions – first… will it move?"

"Well, yes, it will move," Ritsuko said, emphasizing the word heavily, "but the armor plates are undergoing an overhaul, and its shoulder joints are only at forty percent efficiency. In a fight it would get torn to shreds."

"But it would be able to fight."

"I wouldn't risk-"

"I don't care what you would and wouldn't do," Misato cut in sharply, "it will move, that's all I need to know. Asuka… go to the EVA cages and prepare to launch in Unit 00. Asuka – stop daydreaming!"

Blinking, Asuka nodded. "R-right," she muttered, making her way slowly towards the door as Kaji trailed surreptitiously behind.

"You're insane," Ritsuko breathed. "We don't even know if Unit 00 will move for her – and even if it did, her sync ratio would be a joke! You're sending her out to die."

Ignoring this insight, Misato said, "Second question – what is the percentage chance that a direct strike with a nuclear warhead would destroy the angel?"

Sighing tiredly, Ritsuko said, "All historic evidence shows that Non-nuclear weaponry barely slow the angels down. An N2 warhead wouldn't-"

"I didn't say non nuclear…"

All conversation on the bridge ceased as word of Misato's question spread like wildfire. Faces paled as they turned towards the captain, and even the whispers of, 'Is she serious?' and 'Nuclear? Did she say she wants to use a nuke?' faded away as the operations director continued to stare Ritsuko directly in the eye.

"…you're insane."

"I asked you a question, Doctor, now-"

"A direct hit with a nuclear warhead would destroy the angel," Ritsuko said softly, "as would a concentrated detonation of four to five non-nuclear mines, provided the timing was right. I don't really need to tell you, however, that us being at ground zero… well…"

"You are being reckless, Captain," Gendou said, finally breaking his silence, "send Souryu in Unit 00 to buy us some time, and we will arrange to have the First Child available to pilot 01."

"But your heard that loony, Commander," Misato pointed out, "she wasn't kidding – it was in her eyes… she'll kill Rei before she lets anyone get in her way. Even if you drug her or hit her with a tazer, she'd still have enough time to break Rei's neck! She has all the cards."

Rising to his feet, Gendou murmured, "Mind the bridge, Captain… I will deal with this situation. Oh, and while I'm gone…" he gazed at Misato over the tops of his tinted glasses for a moment, "please don't kill us all. I have too much unfinished business to vanish now."

As the Commander stepped onto the small elevator located by the command dais, Ritsuko shook her head. "Some strategist," she snorted, "sure, great plan, Misato – nuke us all into oblivion…"

"I don't see anyone else coming up with any bright ideas," Misato hissed dangerously. "If we only had more pilots!"

"Well, we'll see what we can do," Ritsuko muttered to herself.

"What was that?"

Ritsuko walked over to Maya's terminal. "Nothing, Captain," she said evenly, shooing the tech out of the spot and logging into the MAGI to do a search of potential pilots, "you worry about your job… I'll worry about mine…"

"Oh, I will…"

The two women began to plot their strategies, both with the same goal in mind, though their means were far, far different.

Ritsuko, with full knowledge of the Marduk Report's falsehood, scanned the list of pilot candidates currently in the Tokyo-3 area, narrowing the list down to a handful and noting their locations in case she had to have Section Two round them up and bring them in for immediate recruitment – like Shinji, only even more accelerated.

Misato, on the other hand, simply kept track of the time, listed the options she knew of… and calculated how fast she could issue a nuclear attack order in case it became necessary to bring the JSSDF's last resort weapon down on them to wipe the angel out.

One way or another, both women thought almost simultaneously, We will win…

( 0 0 0 )

Though she had left the command deck in a daze, Asuka was running flat out by the time she neared the EVA cages, ignoring Kaji's repeated warnings that if they did not slow down, they would be sentencing Rei to a rather grisly end.

Asuka did not care. All that mattered was seeing her mother.

Mama, she thought, taking a corner so fast she nearly slammed herself into the wall, Mama, I have to see you… I have to, because I know after this, it will be too late…

Asuka was not sure how she knew this, past simple intuition, but she felt certain that if she did not get to her mother fast, she would never see her face again.

Rounding the last corner, Asuka came up short, frowning as a crowd of technicians and support personnel cluttered the corridor. "All of you move," she heard her mother's hard, commanding voice order, "do I look like I'm kidding, sir? Out!"

Forcing her way through the crowd, Asuka soon found herself near the door. On the other side, her mother was still holding Rei, her deep blue eyes glaring coldly at what must have been the last technician. Behind her, the EVA cages were eerily silent and still, sending a shiver down Asuka's spine as a lone thought traveled through her mind.

It's like a graveyard.

Shaking off this observation, she shoved a tech aside and shouted, "Mother!"

The murmuring died out as the wide-eyed crowd parted, allowing Asuka a straight path to her mother. Feeling like she was walking through a gauntlet, Asuka slowly marched down the hall, clenching her hands into fists as she focused on her ultimate goal.

"That's close enough, liebchen," Kyoko said gently, "there's nothing for you in here…"

Asuka's jaw set in determination. "I'm a pilot, mother," she whispered, taking another step closer, "that room is the only place I belong."

"There's nothing for you here," Kyoko repeated. "Unit 02 would destroy you… and Unit 01 would not accept you. Go to the command deck, liebchen… Mama will make this all better…"

"You can't," Asuka said, trying to decide if she was worried that her mother was leaving, or hopeful that the woman may actually be harmed if she should try to pilot. Her emotions were so confused she barely knew which way was up, but she knew one thing for sure – she had to get to the cages… she had to pilot.

Licking her lips, she whispered, "I'll be in Unit 00, mother… Misato-"

"00?" Kyoko cut in, shaking her head ruefully, "Oh, I think not, liebchen… she's a wild child, that one – she would eat you up like the wolf ate Little Red Riding Hood. No, my dear, it must be me… it must be Unit 01… and there's no more time to discuss it."

"She won't start for you."

"Ahh Rokubungi," Kyoko said dryly, "I was wondering if I'd see you here."

Gendou's face was flushed with rage as he strode up next to Asuka. "It's Ikari," he nearly spat. "How did you seal my elevator?"

Kyoko looked very pleased with herself. "It's a secret," she said lightly, "just between Naoko and me. See, she told me a few… shortcuts for the MAGI, so on the way here, I stopped by a terminal and took the liberty of closing the EVA cages to all access except for this door."

"Impossible!" Gendou snapped, "You don't have that kind of authorization – you never did!"

"Naoko did," Kyoko practically sang, "really, Rokubungi, you should clear out your old file systems… though the coding Naoko did on her back doors was so deep I doubt even she would be able to remove them without a few weeks to go hunting – she was always very thorough, especially when it came to deception… though I doubt I need to tell you that, now do I loverbo-"

"Enough!" Gendou roared, slamming his fist into the wall at his side and making Asuka jump. "You have been a thorn in my side far too long, Souryu," he grated. "Step aside and let the Second Child into the cages, or you're dooming us all."

Kyoko sighed. "Such a shame," she mused, "you were always such a bright man… until Yui was gone – and then you fell to pieces. You used to understand the AT field, Rokubungi… have you forgotten everything your wife taught you? I'd explain all the reasons I can pilot to you, but I simply don't have the time right now, so… good day."

"Mother!"

Turning to her daughter, Kyoko whispered, "Behave, liebchen… Mama's got to work now."

Before Asuka could reply, Kyoko stepped back, clearing the doorframe.

"MAGI," she said clearly, "confirm control override for user Akagi, Naoko, access code delta, four, sigma, charley, five, eight, oh, oh, seven. Parameters – full lockdown on section A-6… zero access until authorized vocal release." Smiling at Asuka, she said, "Until next we meet, my darling… and as for you," she winked at Gendou, "you were never good enough for her. You'll always be Rokubungi no matter how hard you try."

Gendou's lips drew back from his teeth, but as he started forward, a huge bulkhead slammed down between him and Kyoko, sealing the EVA cages as a soft, feminine tone announced, "Authorized user vocal tone confirmed – locking down section A-6 until further notification. Thank you for your input, Doctor Souryu – have a nice day."

Asuka fell to her knees as Gendou pounded ineffectually on the bulkhead.

"Mother," she whispered, barely even noticing as Kaji – completely forgotten in her haste – slid his hands under her armpits and boosted her gently to her feet. "Mother, wait…"

"Shh…" Kaji said soothingly, leading the girl through the assembled technicians as Gendou ordered someone to bring in a laser cutter. "Easy… easy, Asuka…"

"Again…"

"Huh?"

"…she left me again," Asuka whispered, "why does everyone always leave me?"

Kaji put an arm around her waist, partially supporting her as her legs threatened to buckle. "Let's get you back to the command center so we can watch what happens," he said quietly, "or do you want to go somewhere else?"

Slowly lifting her head, Asuka barely whispered, "You won't leave me… right?"

Keeping his eyes straight ahead, Kaji simply repeated, "Let's get you back to the command center…"

He wanted to lie to her, he really did… but after all she had suffered, he felt that it would be unfair to her to raise her hopes again, only to have them dashed when he inevitably left NERV in the dead of night. His mission was finite, after all – get in, get as much information as possible, and get back out before anyone figures out what you're really doing.

He would be no more a permanent fixture in her life than that morning's sunrise.

As her shoulders began to hitch with silent tears, though, Kaji realized that it probably would have been better to lie.

( 0 0 0 )

Kyoko drew a deep, uneven breath as the bulkhead slammed into place. "Lord I hate that man," she whispered, slowly loosening her hold on Rei. "Are you alright, Miss Ayanami?"

Straightening her neck, Rei replied, "I am… sore, but there is no permanent damage."

"I'm sorry I put you through that," Kyoko murmured, releasing the girl entirely, but keeping her hands on Rei's shoulders, "were you scared that I might really kill you?"

"No," Rei said softly, "I was not…"

"Why not?" Kyoko asked, gently rubbing the girl's throat, "Don't I seem desperate enough?"

Rei nodded. "Yes," she admitted, "but you are also kind, I have seen that… and besides – you are left handed. Had you truly wished to break my neck, you would have placed your dominant hand on the side of my head to ensure that you had enough leverage and power to crack the vertebrae as fast as possible, should the Commander send his enforcers after you."

Dubiously, Kyoko asked, "And you noticed all of this while I had you in a chokehold?"

"No," Rei replied, "I noticed your left-handedness in the bar. Your kindness is something I simply picked up on."

"Mm," Kyoko hummed, taking a careful step back from the First Child, "You shouldn't go on your instincts, Miss Ayanami. As I said before, you're not that great a judge of character."

Rei's voice was soft as she said, "Yes I am."

Barking a desperate laugh, Kyoko scrubbed a hand through her cherry-blonde hair. "Yeah," she said hoarsely, wiping quickly at her eyes as Rei turned to face her, "yeah you are… you're a good girl, Rei – I'm sorry I had to do this to you."

"I am unharmed," Rei said simply.

"You… you understand why, right…?"

Turning her eyes to Unit 01, Rei said, "Yes, I do. You will pilot to protect your daughter, and to save this installation… you will be able to because Unit 01 will recognize that you are trying to protect Shinji."

"Brilliant," Kyoko said unevenly, taking a shuddering breath to get herself under control. "Absolutely brilliant, Miss Ayanami. You truly are a wonderful child."

Rei averted her eyes. "I am not remarkable."

The two women regarded the purple visage of Unit 01 for a long moment, saying nothing as they considered what was to come. In spite of her repeated statements that the machine would work for her, Kyoko was unsure… because Gendou was right – none of the adult test subjects had survived the synchronization experiments. After the ones who had been absorbed (herself, Yui, and the donor for Unit 00) any adult synching with an Evangelion experienced excruciating pain, neurological breakdown, and ultimately, death.

Kyoko just prayed that there were enough factors in her favor to allow her to go where others had failed.

"Help me?"

"Of course."

"…thank you."

Silently, Rei slipped her neural connectors off, handing them to Kyoko and watching as the woman positioned them high on the back of her head… just like her daughter.

Adjusting the band to hold the connectors in place, Kyoko whispered, "I know what you're thinking."

"Do you?" Rei asked neutrally.

"You were thinking I should have talked to her when I had the chance – that I should have set my affairs with my daughter in order before heading off to fight a battle I cannot possibly hope to win, right? You were thinking that even if I can start Unit 01, I'm still horribly outclassed and no matter what I do… I'm bound to fail."

Rei glanced at the clock on the far wall. "Actually," she said coolly, "I was thinking that with your hair pulled back, the resemblance between you and pilot Souryu is remarkably striking. I told you before that I am not emp-"

She was cut off as Kyoko reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I don't need that much honesty," she said quickly, "just let me think that you have my best interests in mind."

Closing her eyes, Rei allowed herself to be held, walling off her emotions as best she could and trying not to feel affection for the first person to deliberately embrace her and show her more than a few seconds worth of attention without seeking something in return.

…she was almost successful.

"You should… go…"

Hugging the girl tighter, Kyoko whispered, "I know… I know, but I have to ask you one last thing." Swallowing the lump in her throat, the older woman barely managed to whisper, "Please treat my daughter kindly, ok? She deserves it…"

Rei nodded as the woman finally tore herself away, racing to Unit 01's entry plug and climbing in without another word. Walking to the control console, Rei keyed in the sequence to load the plug, watching as Unit 01 accepted its cargo without complaint and unconsciously crossing her fingers as she whispered, "Best of luck, Misses Souryu."

( 0 0 0 )

"You gonna give me any grief?"

Kyoko bit her lip as she glanced around the dark interior of Unit 01's entry plug, waiting nervously for the tube to be inserted into the giant mecha.

"I'm not doing this because I want to – believe me," she muttered, swallowing with some difficulty as the plug began to spin clockwise, screwing into Unit 01 with a resonating thunk. "It's for you, you know – I'm doing this for your son! Ok, that wasn't why this all got started, but that's neither here nor there, what matters is that if you don't work for me, Shinji will be lost forever, so you should just… just work for me…"

She flinched as the walls of the entry plug began to flash.

"Please, Yui… for both of our children…"

Warmth flooded her body as the third stage connection was made, and as she felt Unit 01's consciousness probing her own, Kyoko squeezed her eyes shut, projecting thoughts of Unit 02 at it with all of her might. She thought of how she had gotten out, how Shinji had been tricked, and what must be done to return him, knowing that if she tried to withhold even one detail, Unit 01 would know.

I just wanted some time, she thought, gritting her teeth as Unit 01 howled with rage, you can understand that, Yui, I know you can… please, let me fight… let me save everyone, and I swear I won't ever-

Abruptly, there was silence.

Cautiously opening one eye, Kyoko found herself staring at the umbilical bridge, finding Rei slowly pulling her hands away from her ears. Keying the external speakers, Kyoko said, "You ok there, Miss Ayanami?"

Rei nodded. "Yes, ma'am," she murmured, "but you must hurry. As you were syncing, I was accessing the tactical system. The angel is within the city's boundaries."

"Right," Kyoko said, grasping the control yokes tightly in her hands. "I won't fail." A ghost of her former smile flickered across her lips. "I'd say goodbye," she mused dryly, "but since you're going to have to help me get back into Unit 02, I won't waste my breath. See you soon, kiddo."

"Yes ma'am."

Looking down at the console, Rei selected the launch route that would put Unit 02 closest to the invading angel, locking the path into the computer and triggering catapult before she could second guess her decision.

Kyoko gasped as Unit 01 was rocketed towards the surface, shaking violently as the linear carriage it was strapped to made several hairpin turns.

Guh… this is worse than being drunk! she thought, barely holding her lunch down as she finally came to a halt.

She frowned, gazing up at the ceiling as she carefully eased Unit 01 out of the launch tube. "So this is what it's like on the other side, huh?" she mused. "Yui? Can you hear me at all?"

Even if she could, she couldn't reply, she thought reasonably, the only reason Shinji heard me was because we synchronized so well. I could hear Asuka when I was in Unit 02, but she couldn't hear me. She felt like crying as she remembered that as soon as she got back, she would need to return. It was never supposed to go this far, she thought, pulling Unit 01 up against a building as she spied the angel halfway across the city, I just wanted to come out… and see you, my liebchen – that's all. But when you were in my arms, my tongue got all tied up, and I couldn't-

Shaking her head, Kyoko forced herself to stop thinking.

"No regrets, right Yui?" she whispered. "I remember you telling me that as parents… we could have no regrets. I always admired that about you, even if I couldn't quite match your ideals…"

The angel – an oddly human looking creature with wickedly curved claws and no discernable head – turned in her direction, seemingly sensing her presence as she tried to stick to the shadows.

"Ok," she told herself, "time to face facts – I don't know what the hell I'm doing!"

With a sharp cry, she threw Unit 01 to the side just as the angel's eyes flared, shaking violently as the building she was hiding next to exploded like a china plate in a carnival shooting booth.

"Tactical support!" she shouted, keying the communications system to life as she brought Unit 01 upright once more. "I need tactical support!"

Misato, she found to her very great relief, was far more interested in beating the angel than berating her or arguing over correct protocol. "Five blocks south," the woman replied immediately, "weapons tower – I'm sending you a pallet rifle… will you know how to fire it?"

"I… I think so," Kyoko replied, scrambling towards the building as the angel fired off another shot, tearing the street she had just vacated apart. "Damn it! I just lost my cable!"

"Keep it together," Misato snapped coldly, "get to the gun, empty the damn clip – then get to point J-32 for another cable. Christ, woman, you're going to get us all killed!"

Huh, Kyoko thought as she ran, guess she's not above a little tongue-lashing after all.

After a few seconds of frantic running, Kyoko seized the weapon and spun around. "Take this, you bastard," she cried, feeling rather like an extra in an old World War II movie as she willed Unit 01 to depress the trigger.

"Your sync ratio is garbage," Ritsuko voice hissed over the channel, "get back in here and unlock the cages so we can get Rei into the plug – if you can pilot it, so can she!"

"No time," Kyoko replied sharply, discarding the empty rifle and sprinting towards her replacement power supply as the angel continued advancing, seemingly unaffected by the barrage, "any weak spots on this thing? That stupid gun didn't do a damn thing!"

"I doubt you even hit it," Misato countered, "Ritsuko's right – you're at less than thirty percent sync!"

Sweat was trickling down Kyoko's face. "It doesn't matter," she muttered, "I'm not going to do this for a living – I just need this to end… Shinji's time is almost up. Give me any help you can, and for God's sake, stop telling me how bad I am!"

The communications system went silent for a moment as she reached the tower with her new umbilical cable. Fumbling with the handle, Kyoko barely managed to get it in place, her eyes shooting around desperately for the angel as she thought, Damn it! Where did it go?

Cautiously raising her head, Kyoko was nearly decapitated as the angel fired another salvo, barely dropping Unit 01 to the ground as a bolt of energy seared the end of its horn off.

Panting for breath, she barely heard the soft call of, "Mother…"

Kyoko's heart stopped.

"…liebchen?"

"There are two cores, ma'am," Asuka's quiet, somber voice came over the tactical net. "Since the MAGI have had so much time to analyze this angel, they have determined that there is a ninety-eight percent chance that both cores must be hit simultaneously to destroy it."

Taking a deep breath, Kyoko began, "Liebchen, I-"

"Destroy the target, ma'am," Asuka interrupted softly, "then return to the cages and await security. These are your orders… do you understand?"

There was a long, painful silence before Kyoko could force her lips around the word, "Yes."

"At point R-14 you will find another tower, with two pallet rifles," Asuka said dispassionately, "take them… use Unit 01's targeting computer to ensure that you are aiming for the correct locations… and neutralize both cores."

Tears ran unheeded down Kyoko's cheeks… but her voice was level as she gently replied, "Unit 01… moving out…"

( 0 0 0 )

The remainder of the battle was anticlimactic. Unit 01 reached the weapons tower without incident, retrieving both rifles and hiding behind a reinforced barrier until the angel grew tired of trying to batter it down. As the weapons were tied to Unit 01's targeting system, which was in turn linked to the MAGI, it was only a matter of range… and since Kyoko waited until the angel was pointblank, there was no margin for error, though she did come very close to dying anyway as the angel shredded the barrier rather than trying to come around it as Kyoko anticipated.

When Unit 01 returned to Headquarters, it was guided back into the cages without incident… but in spite of the Commanders order that Kyoko be detained, Unit 01 was found to be empty when the cages were finally unsealed, and Unit 02's communication system had been shut down.

Reports from the MAGI indicated unusual electrical activity from the plug.

During debriefing, Rei repeatedly insisted that she had no idea what had occurred, maintaining that she had been rendered unconscious, though she showed no signs of cranial trauma, and seemed perfectly alert when the security detail finally managed to cut through the bulkhead.

When the activity in Unit 02's plug ceased, and the hatch was opened, Shinji Ikari was found inside, unconscious, but apparently unharmed.

Kyoko's clothes were floating next to him in the LCL.

( 0 0 0 )

Shinji lay on his bed, his SDAT player rested on his stomach as he contemplated all that had happened. He barely stirred as the front door of the apartment slammed closed, glancing at his clock with a yawn as he pressed Play, the relaxing strains of Stravinsky filling his ears as one or the other of his roommates banged around the kitchen.

It had been a hell of a week.

Test after test… interview after interview… sync after sync – it had seemed like an endless progression of one thing after another until finally, he was deemed fit and sound and suitable to pilot.

Not that the loss would have been something to cry about, in his opinion.

Asuka he thought tiredly, at least I managed to keep that aspect of things a secret…

No one knew about the synchronization between him and her – not the truth, anyway. He maintained, through one interview after the next, that he could not recall the details of his stint in Unit 02, and Asuka must have done the same, as no one ever pressed him for more details.

Of course, this was only an assumption, as the redhead had not actually spoken to him since he had gotten out.

Shinji could not blame her, really. After all – what do you say to someone that has seen into your soul? He knew that he, himself, had nothing to say to Asuka, so why should she have anything to say to him?

It was amazing, he thought, that there were so many books and stories about people finding their soul mates and getting close enough to 'see' what the other felt… when all he wanted to do was hide – especially from Asuka. He had never asked to know that much about her, or to have her know that much about him, and when they were alone, talking just seemed so pointless.

Misato thought it was just a side effect of the stress.

Shinji let her.

We'll get past it in our own way, Shinji thought, lifting his SDAT up as it clicked from track 25 to track 26, we just need-

"Hello, Shinji,"

Shinji nearly screamed as a soft, unfamiliar voice spoke in his ear.

"We've never formally met," the voice said, "but since I had no problem taking your molecular structure, I didn't think you'd really mind me borrowing your SDAT for a quick message." Shinji sat bolt upright in his bed, his mouth gaping open as the voice continued. "There's so little time… so little time now, to say what I want to say to my daughter. Sad, isn't it? I only wanted your body for a little while – just to see her, and talk to her… but I couldn't manage to do it. There was never time… there was never the opportunity… there was always something else. Excuses, excuses. Cowardice wrapped in rhetoric and tucked inside false bravado. Me, in a nutshell."

"I'm sure, since you're listening to this, that you're safe and sound and back in possession of your own body. I never wanted to hurt you, Shinji, I hope you can believe that, I just wanted to see my little girl one last time. Do you think you could give her a message for me? I know it's a little late, and I know I should have said it myself when I had the chance… but I was always better at running away than facing my problems. Anyway, my time is almost up, so here's my message. It's a little on the corny side, and it's actually from an old, old song… but it fits what I need to say perfectly."

Shinji closed his eyes, his throat constricting as Kyoko Souryu left her final message for the daughter she could never quite touch.

"If I've built this fortress around your heart…encircled you in trenches and barbed wire… then let me build a bridge, for I cannot fill the chasm…and let me set the battlements on fire. Goodbye, mein liebchen. Mama loves you…"

There was a soft click… and the tape went silent.

Slowly, Shinji sank back onto the bed, setting the SDAT carefully on his desk and returning his gaze to the ceiling. What would he have paid, or given, for a message like that from his father? It was stupid to feel jealous, he knew, but that did not stop the emotion from welling up inside of him.

Glancing at his clock, he whispered, "It's almost time anyway…"

A moment later, the door to his room banged open and Asuka strode in, absently slamming the door behind her. Without a word, she crossed the room, gesturing for Shinji to move over to make space before throwing the covers back and slipping into bed with him. She gave him a cold, almost accusatory stare, but said nothing, slowly lowering her head down onto his shoulder and closing her eyes… exactly as she had every day since his return to the apartment.

Misato had told him, when he was recovered, that she had decided to allow Asuka to live with them, as she felt it would be unfair to have the girl live elsewhere – especially in light of all that had happened to her.

Shinji just wondered if she would ever be sleeping in her own room.

I guess I shouldn't be complaining, he mused as she reached down and pulled the covers up over her shoulders. I'm sharing my bed with a sexy foreigner – what's not to like about that, right?

Never mind that he knew her most intimate secrets, and that she knew his – no, that should not matter, he thought wryly. Never mind that neither of them had found a way to actually speak to the other – if he just focused on the physical reality that there was a girl sleeping with him, that would make everything ok.

He glanced at her face, unconsciously slipping his arm under her and putting his hand lightly on the small of her back to keep her from falling out of bed. It was an incredibly intimate gesture – the kind usually reserved for those deeply in love – but Shinji thought nothing of it.

Why should he? He had transcended mortal bounds and touched her soul… what excitement could there ever be in plain, physical contact?

His eyes moved from Asuka's relaxed face up to where his SDAT lay on the edge of his desk. Carefully, doing his best not to disturb her, Shinji reached up with his free hand and picked up the tape player, quietly pushing Eject and pulling the tape out. Slowly, he brought his hand over to the gap between his bed and the wall… and slipped the tape into it, closing his eyes as it fell to the floor with a soft clatter.

Asuka lifted her head, looking blearily to him for an explanation, but Shinji simply reached over her and turned the lamp off, closing his eyes as the room was plunged into darkness and waiting patiently for her the settle back in at his side.

Someday, he promised himself, he would play it for her – someday when her agony and confusion were not etched on her face… someday when he did not unconsciously echo her movements with his own… someday when the memories of her pain were not as fresh as his own…

…someday when they could actually talk to each other.

How ironic, he thought as he began to drift off, I finally found someone that understands me… and I can't even let her know how I feel.

Kyoko had it wrong, he decided as he finally crossed the line between wakefulness and dreaming – the fortress around Asuka's heart did not need to be bridged or burned… it simply needed to be replaced by something, or rather, someone, a little more adaptable.

It was a position he felt no one else in the world was qualified to fill.

The End

Author's notes: I really wanted to have an upbeat ending for this story – something showing that Shinji and Asuka were bound to one another, didn't like it, but had the potential to overcome it and be closer than anyone else on Earth… a bit like the end of EoE, now that I think about it, but I don't know how well I conveyed that. Also, by the time I hit the scene with Asuka taking command of the battle, the chapter was pushing 15 pages, and I really wanted it wrapped up – so if that scene seems a little rushed, it's only because it was.

Hey, the story ended up being almost 75 pages! I think I get a little slack over one unnecessary scene, right? RIGHT?

I've had some ideas for a sequel, but I don't think I'll be pursuing them, first because this was always meant to be a Kyoko-centric fic, and she's gone, and second – because I don't want to have to rewrite the entire series…

…again.

For this last chapter, I decided to bring in a pre-reader to ensure that the ending didn't (as they used to say in my old neighborhood) SUCK. So big time thanks are going out to Midnight6 for catching some mistakes and keeping the story on track.

Feedback is always welcome on any page with reviewing capabilities or by e-mailing me directly at random1377(at-sign)yahoo(dot)com.

Thanks for reading.