Chapter 12 - Now we have reached the end

Three days had gone by. Fuyutsuki sat behind a desk in his office at the temporary UN base near Tokyo-2. Sitting in front of him was Ritsuko, Misato, Asuka, Rei, Shinji…… and Yui Ikari, Shinji’s mother. After being ‘rescued’ from Unit 01, she’d been taken to the hospital to a complete examination. She’d only left that morning.

“I know everyone has been busy trying to resume normal lives.” Fuyutsuki began, “But things have occurred and I have taken it upon myself to inform you all.”

“What do you mean Professor?” Yui asked.

“First of all SEELE.” Fuyutsuki leaned forward, “The UN issued warrants for them all. Every single Intelligence agency in the world has come forward with information on them and where they might be.”

“And?” Misato asked.

“They have been found.” Fuyutsuki replied.

“So are we going to be witnesses against them?” Ritsuko asked.

“There will be no trials.” Fuyutsuki answered.

Misato was on her feet in an instant. “But they caused the Second Impact! They woke the Angels up! They wanted to kill everyone on the planet!”

“True.” Fuyutsuki conceded. He pulled out a file and pushed it across his desk. “But they are unable to stand trial.”

Ritsuko grabbed the file and flipped through it. She then looked up in surprise.

“Catatonic?” she said in shock, “They’re all in comas?”

Fuyutsuki nodded.

“What happened to them?” Yui asked. Everyone else in the room looked at Ritsuko expectantly.

“Read on.” Fuyutsuki urged.

Ritsuko’s eyes flew over the file.

“If I’m reading this right,” she said, “Their minds are active, and show signs of normal brain activity. But they don’t respond to any outside stimulus, and their pupils remain dilated.” She looked up. “It’s like their brain has been detached from everything else.”

“How?” Misato asked.

“Many Doctors have looked them over.” Fuyutsuki replied, “I imagine they’ll be the subject of many research papers. As far as medical science is concerned, it’s a mystery how they came about their condition.”

“It sounds like you know a possible reason for their condition.” Yui said.

Fuyutsuki nodded. He pulled an envelope out of his desk and opened it. He removed a photograph from it and looked at it a moment.

“Chairman Keel, also known as SEELE 01, had a very elaborate security system.” He said, “Strangely, this system failed completely within hours of the fail attempt of Third Impact. Technicians went over it and could find no reason for it to fail. But they did recover this one picture.” He pushed it across the desk.

Everyone stood up and looked down at it.

It looked like an office or study. A desk sat in the background, a man with a visor over his eyes sat there, head tilted back. Standing in the foreground, looking up at the camera was a woman all present easily recognized. Her hair was still dyed purple, and she seemed to have a look of satisfaction on her face.

“Arael.” Asuka whispered.

“She took them out.” Misato murmured, “All of them.”

“And in doing so, probably saved us all from a repeat of Tokyo-3.” Yui added.

Everyone remained frozen for a time, staring at the image of their friend from another universe.

--

“Will you be coming to dinner with us Professor?” Yui asked as they left the building that housed Fuyutsuki’s office.

“I don’t know.” Fuyutsuki replied, “Who will be going?”

“Well,” Yui said, “Shinji, Rei, Asuka, Miss Katsuragi, and Dr Akagi of course.”

“Ah.” Fuyutsuki, “And why would you want an old man like me there?”

“You’re hardly old Professor.” Yui replied. She then got a slight faraway look on her face. “Besides, I may need a bit of emotional support, and you’re the only one who truly knows me.”

Fuyutsuki frowned.

“Why would…..?”

Yui looked back at her old professor.

“I’m going to see him.”

--

Gendo Ikari sat on the cot in his cell, staring hard at the wall. His right wrist had been bandaged and covered.

Since awakening here, he’d gone over the scenario in his mind repeatedly, wondering where everything had gone wrong. Each time he came back to the appearance of that Angel from the future. It was her fault. Without her interference, he’d have been with Yui by now.

The cell door opened. He glanced over and blinked at the light that streamed in. From what a guard had said, Shinji had taken his glasses right off his face and, with the help of Rei, smashed them.

He couldn’t blame Shinji of course, but Rei……

“Hello Gendo.” Came a familiar feminine voice.

Gendo blinked.

“Rei?”

“No.” the woman replied, moving a bit further into the cell.

Gendo’s eyes went wide.

“Yui…..” he whispered, he started to rise, intending to wrap her in his arms.

She noticed this and immediately held her hand up.

“Stop.” She said.

“But Yui……”

“I will only say this once.” Yui said, staring at the man before her emotionlessly. “You hurt me. You hurt me when you left our son. You were his father, and you left him. If you truly loved me, you never would have abandoned him. Because of that, I’ll never forgive you.”

“But…” Gendo began again.

“That girl Rei,” Yui continued, “They told me what you did to her, what you put her through. And the fact you gave her my face and still did those things…….” She shook her head. “When I leave here, it will be the last time you ever see me. I intend to put you far from my mind and into the past.” She turned and started to leave.

“But Yui!” Gendo finally shouted, “I did it all for you!!”

Yui paused only for a moment in the cell door.

“Good bye Rukobungi.”

The door then slammed closed.

Gendo stared at the now closed cell door. He could just make out the sound of retreating footsteps.

“No…..” he whispered.

“Yes.” Came a female voice.

Gendo turned and looked around.

“Who’s there?” he called out.

“Over here.”

He turned to see just the ghostly outline of the Angel. Her eyes were softly glowing red.

“You did this to me!” Gendo shouted.

“You did it to yourself.” Arael replied.

“Why did you leave me alive?!” Gendo asked.

“Because I hate you.”

“Why not kill me then if you hated me so much?”

“Because Rukobungi, death isn’t much of a punishment for you.” Arael smirked. “I decided to punish you with life.”

Gendo stared at the Angel as she slowly faded, leaving only her glowing eyes visible.

“So live Gendo Rukobungi,” her voice said, “Live and grow old…….alone.”

Her eyes then vanished, leaving behind a man who had now lost everything.

--

“Feel better?”

“Much.”

“Can we go home now?”

“Yes.”

“FINALLY! Ok Brat! Get off the Lunar Lander and let’s go!”

“I’m not a Brat! You old Hag!”

“WHO’S AN OLD HAG!?”

“Yes…..being eaten by the Eva is definitely looking good.”

--

A little over one year later.

Fuyutsuki, Yui, and Ritsuko looked down over their ‘patient’.

“This doesn’t look good Doctor.” Fuyutsuki said.

“No it doesn’t.” Ritsuko replied, “Suggestions?”

“More gas Professor?” Yui suggested.

“Agreed.” Fuyutsuki said with a nod.

Yui quickly turned a valve.

“That looks much better.” Fuyutsuki said.

“Yes.” Ritsuko replied. She held out her hand. “Flipper.”

Yui handed her the requested tool.

“Flipper.”

Ritsuko reached out and easily flipped the burger.

“No pink.” She stated, “The Operation is a success.”

“Mom.”

Yui, Fuyutsuki, and Ritsuko all turned to face Shinji.

“Yes? What is it son?” Yui asked.

“You’re really scaring me here.” Shinji said, “Can’t you grill burgers like normal people?”

The three adults looked at each other. Then Ritsuko looked back to Shinji.

“Would you prefer it if Misato cooks?” she asked.

Shinji looked over to where the former Major was now downing her eighth beer. Upon emptying it, she let out a loud belch. Touji and Kensuke both stared at her with a look of awe, while Asuka and Hikari looked on in disgust.

“No.” Shinji replied quickly, “That’s perfectly alright.” He quickly turned and headed over to where Rei was looking curiously at a can of soda. It had been a little over a year since the attack on Tokyo-3. In that time, the Geo-Front (in which they were currently having their bar-b-q) had been made into a memorial park. The city itself had been disassembled, allowing for an even larger park. There was even eventual plans to build a museum, which would itself be built around the now non-functional Unit 01. The park had not yet officially opened, but because of being former NERV employees, the Japanese Government had allowed them access.

“How are they doing?” Ritsuko asked as she looked at the former First and Third children. She’d taken a position at a computer firm, helping to create the next generation of MAGI super computer.

“She’s learning.” Yui replied. She had taken up a professorship at Tokyo-2, along with Fuyutsuki. Both had been seeing a lot of the other over the course of the year. “It’s been slow at times. There’s still so much she doesn’t understand.”

“Well I’m sure Shinji’s very patient with her.”

“More so then Asuka.” Asuka had remained in Japan, and had, with some reservation, remained living with Misato. She also continued to go to school, to learn the kanji as she put it.

Ritsuko looked back over to where Misato was sitting……..no……..where she’d just fallen over. Somehow the former Major had gotten herself a teaching job.

Woe to the students.

She looked back over to where Shinji and Rei were. The two lived with Shinji’s mother. In separate rooms of course. Yui may have been an ‘easy’ going mother, but there were certain things she wasn’t about to let the children get away with.

Right now the two children were sitting side by side, watching as Hikari and Asuka yelled at Touji and Kensuke. Each had their hand wrapped around the other’s, laughing as the girls knocked sense into the boys.

Since his mother’s return, Shinji had become more self-confident and much more outgoing then before. Even Touji and Kensuke were surprised by the change.

But the far more shocking transformation was Rei. Gone was the emotionless enigma. Though she was still learning them, Rei had surprised those who knew her from before when she walked into class and smiled at them in greeting. She had also become a bit more outgoing, and even found enjoyment in going shopping. Her room had also become considerably more cluttered with clothes, books, and other things. On her dresser, one could find a picture of Shinji, Yui, Misato, even Asuka.

Hidden amongst these pictures was another of significant importance to Rei. To the uninformed, it appeared to be an image taken from a security camera (which indeed it was). It was the only photograph she had of the Fifteenth Messenger, Arael. Rei and Shinji would talk about her frequently. Once they even talked to Asuka about her. The surprising end result was that Asuka had asked for a copy of the photo.

There was, of course, one person that no one spoke off, and hardly even thought of. Gendo Rukobungi was now serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison. No one came to visit him.

“How are the burgers coming?” Misato asked as she walked over to the bar-b-q.

Ritsuko raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t breath on the grill.” She warned, “Last thing I want is your breath creating a fireball.”

“I’m not that drunk!” Misato growled.

“You aren’t sober either.” Yui noted, “How many have you had now?”

“Now I know where Shinji gets it from.” Misato grumbled.

“Just don’t let Asuka become a drunk.” Ritsuko said.

Misato grumbled and looked away as the others laughed. She froze after a moment.

“Hey Comm….Kouzou?”

“Yes Misato?” Fuyutsuki asked.

“We have the Geo-Front to ourselves right?”

“Yes. Why?”

Misato pointed. Walking towards them were four figures. Two were quite obviously red heads. The taller of the two had a bag slung over her shoulder. The smaller seemed to be struggling with a picnic basket. The other two though, both wore rather large brimmed hats, along with sunglasses, hiding their faces. One seemed to be holding something in her arms.

As they came closer, Misato could just make out the sound of arguing coming from the red heads, as well as a few choice swear words in German. That seemed to get the attention of the children. They looked at the newcomers in confusion for a moment, then Rei said something as she leaped to her feet and ran towards the four. Asuka’s eyes went wide and she took off after the First Child.

The woman currying the bundle saw the two children running towards her. She turned and handed her bundle carefully to the other woman, then started walking faster towards the two children.

Rei and Asuka reached the woman at the same time, grabbing her in a hug, the impact of which sent them all to the ground. As they fell, the woman’s hat came off, revealing grey hair.

Misato blinked.

“It’s Arael!” she said.

“The Angel?” Yui asked. She knew of Arael, but hadn’t met the Angel in person.

They watched as Asuka and Rei helped Arael back to her feet, then approach the bar-b-q with the others.

“I didn’t think we would see you again.” Fuyutsuki said in greeting.

Arael shrugged. “I decided that since you saved two lives by helping me, I ought to let you meet the second life.” She turned to the other woman, who’s face remained hidden, and gently took the bundle. She looked around as Hikari, Touji, Shinji, and Kensuke had come over as well. Looking up at them with pale blue eyes was a baby girl. The baby smiled and gurgled. A few wisps of blond hair covered her head.

“I’d like you to meet Gabrielle Asuka Aida.” She said with a smile.

“Asuka?” Asuka said in surprise.

Arael smiled, “You should have seen my Asuka’s response.”

“She’s still does the dance when she thinks about it.” The other woman mumbled in a familiar voice.

Everyone looked at the woman curiously.

“Who is that?” Misato asked.

“Well I suppose a bit of introduction is in order.” Arael began, “You already know Yui and Yoko over there.” Arael pointed out the red head and auburn head. “This person though, I think needs no introduction.”

With that, the woman took off her hat, allowing blue hair to tumble down her back. She then removed her glasses to reveal red eyes.

“Rei?” Everyone said in shock. Rei Ayanami simply stared at the older version of herself.

“I should mention it’s Rei Ikari.” The older Rei said.

Everyone’s eyes went wide.

“AW MAN!!” Kensuke shouted, “Shinji gets all the babes!”

“Ewww.” The Older Rei scrunched her face in disgust.

“Rei is Shinji’s sister.” Arael said, “Our Shinji ended up with our Asuka.”

“Amen to that.” Yui (of Arael’s universe) muttered.

Yoko turned and glared at Yui.

“You! You!..” she then said something in a strange language.

Misato didn’t know what she said, neither did any of the Children or Adults present. The ones who did seem to know were the older Rei, Arael, and of course Yui (of Arael’s universe). Their eyes went wide, Yui’s face having the added benefit of turning a deep shade of red.

Yoko seemed to realize she’d really done it now. She dropped the basket and took off running. Yui dropped the bag that had been over her shoulder and took off in pursuit, practically flying along the ground.

“COME BACK HERE YOU LITTLE DEMON!!” Yui shouted.

“’Take them with you’ she said.” The older Rei muttered, “’They’ll behave’ she said.”

“She says a lot of things.” Arael replied, “I think she just wants them out of her hair.”

Older Rei nodded, “When we get back, remind me to thank Asuka personally.”

“Get in line.”

“Lots of love in the family I see.” Ritsuko said dryly.

Rei and Arael looked at others.

“Oh don’t get us wrong.” Arael said, “We love Asuka.”

“Love to wring her neck.” Older Rei muttered. Then she saw the look on the younger Rei’s face. “I didn’t me like that…I….uhh…..”

Arael shook her head, then looked at the children.

“So which one of you wants to hold Gabrielle while I help to save lunch?”

Fuyutsuki, Ritsuko, and Yui all turned to see the burgers were now on fire.

“Damn!” Fuyutsuki growled. He started whacking the burgers with the flipper. Yui grabbed a towel and tried to smother the flames with it, but only caught the towel on fire.

“Hey Shinji?” Asuka asked as she watched Misato join in by pouring a beer over the flames. “Do you like your burgers looking like charcoal?”

Shinji watched the flames shoot high into the sky and then listened while Ritsuko shouted at Misato.

“I think I’m becoming a vegetarian.” He replied.

“It’s the only way to go.” Young Rei said.

Arael and the older Rei simply laughed.

--

Asuka sat on the guest futon in Rei’s room, fingering an object in her hands. Misato had been quite sloshed by beer by the end of the day that Yui had refused to let Asuka go home. Deciding it would be better if she waited until the former Major had slept off the booze.

The Second Child hadn’t really minded. It gave her a chance to talk to Rei about the day, and especially their friend from the other universe.

“What do you think?” Asuka asked, glancing over at Rei.

The First child was laying in her bed, hands behind her head, looking up at the ceiling.

“I believe that I will look ‘hot’ when I am older.” Rei stated.

Asuka chuckled. “I’ll let you have that one Wondergirl. But I meant Arael.”

“You mean her child? It was…..beautiful.”

“Think you and Shinji will have one?”

Rei’s eyes narrowed only slightly.

“Dr. Akagi said it was possible.” She said, “As did Mrs. Ik……. Yui.”

“Still getting used to saying that Eh?”

“Yes.”

Asuka sighed. “What made you think you couldn’t have one?”

“The Commander.”

“Ah.” Asuka replied. “Asshole.”

“I agree.”

Asuka looked back down to her hands. It was a picture frame. Inside were two pictures. One was from that very day. It was of her sitting next to Arael with their arms around each other.

The other was of her mother.

Rei glanced over and saw Asuka looking at the picture again. She glanced over to her dresser where a similar frame sat. Unlike Asuka’s, this one held only one picture. In it, Rei was sitting between Arael and Shinji. Her eyes then traveled from the picture to the small object beside it. To many, it would appear to be a compact. It reality, it was a communicator, allowing her to contact Arael whenever she wanted to.

Asuka had one as well.

“Think we’ll see her again?” Asuka asked.

“She said we could call her whenever we wished.” Rei replied.

“I meant actually see her, in person.”

“Perhaps.” Rei replied.

“Maybe for your wedding?”

Rei blushed.

“Maybe.” The First Child replied.

Outside the bedroom window, a person floated invisibly there, watching and listening to everything that was said.

“You can count on it.” Arael said softly before vanishing from the universe.