The night was great, the constant summer letting up for a bit and being refreshing. Now both pilots were on a platform near their correspondent Evas, the lights of the distant city slowly but surely turning off. The Angel menacingly shining by itself.
A whisper in her head said ''Ramiel'' so softly that with only half an effort out of Rei was able to let her ignore it. It's bizarre that she was waiting for the Angel to speak, she had been thinking back to her previous interactions with them, how a voice that she could hear but no one else could meant that it was in her head. Writing it off as her own stress of the fights.
''Ayanami-san,'' she said softly, without looking at him ''why do you pilot this thing?''
''Because I'm bound.''
''Bound?'' at this, they both turned to look at each other in their eyes.
''Yes, it's a bond.''
''With my father?''
''With all people'' an understanding passed through them at that. Rei could do nothing but agree to his statement, in reality she actually prefers his way of connecting to humans; from afar. But she also recognized it as lonely. Rei promised herself to make more of an effort to have a more companionship oriented relationship with him moving formard.
''You're very strong, Ayanami-san.''
''Because I have nothing else.''
''What do you mean, 'you have nothing else'?'' she stood up slowly ''at least you have me as a pilot like you'' she smiled and noded shortly at him.
''It's time. Let's go'' he said as an answer, but that was ok with her. He also stood up and looked towards the darkened city ''Goodbye, Ikari-chan.''
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The time is now 00:00:00.
''Rei, we're entrusting you with all the electricity of Japan'' Ritsuko-san's voice resounded ''Good luck.''
''Yes, Ma'am!''
''Initiate primary connection.'' ''Initiating power transmission from districts number 1 through 803.'' ''Number 1 transmission system nominal.''
''No problem with hub synchronizer output.'' ''All transmission induction systems activated.'' ''Conversion efficiency staying within estimated values.''
''Conversion efficiency staying within estimated values.'' ''Voltage is rising. Reaching pressure zone.''
''All cooling systems, full power!''
Taking deep breaths, Rei keept her focus on the Doctor's instructions in operating the positron rifle, she's happy that math came easy to her and the calculation necesary were also programmed on her screen for support.
''Release final safety systems. Clear the chamber!''
Rei took a deep breath, loading the canister acting as the bullet and carefully cocking the gun "Transmitting all energy to the positron rifle!"
8...
7...
6...
5...
"Who?" Dread filled Rei when she heard that simple word in a voice that echoed through her bones and her body began to shake. The counter kept going.
"High energy output detected from the target!"
"What did you say?"
4...
3...
2...
1...
"Beloved, here?"
"Fire!"
A shaking breath was out if Rei's lips when she used her trembling fingers to shoot. Rei messed up her shot. She messed up her shot when she fired too fast. She's going to die, isn't she?
"We missed?"
"The enemy drill has broken into the Geo-Front!"
"Second round! Hurry!"
"Replacing fuses! Initiating recharge!"
"Another high energy reading coming from the target!"
"Oh, no!"
"We recover father, we recover Beloved."
The familiar brightness of its beam powering up and shooting made Rei's eyes tear due to the light input. The oncoming beam being blocked by Eva 00 out of Rei's front.
"Ayanami-kun!" Rei yelled, looking at the status of the second round charge, recalling that they have 17 seconds now to try again. Rei steeled her body, not wanting to waste Ayanami-kun's efforts.
"The shield won't last!"
"Aren't we ready yet?!"
"Ten more seconds!"
'Hurry up!' She thought 'Hurry up! Please'
"Yes! Ikari now!" Commanded Fuyutsuki-san.
Rei made sure to make this the proper shot. It was true and perfect. Her sense of victory made her feel disgusted with herself. Seeing the shot, her shot, pierce the Angel ('RAMIEL!' Her mind supplied 'THEIR NAME WAS RAMIEL') made Rei feel like she was also shot in the chest, she brought her hand to it, confirming that she was unharmed. A cry of pain sounded through the Eva's comms. It came from Ayanami-kun. The Eva 00 fell to the floor, most of the armor was melted, impeding the exit of the pilot's entry plug.
"Ayanami-kun!" She yelled, using her unit to get him out carefully, knowing that he's there probably writhing in pain. Controlling the strength of the Eva, a small pinch was enough to rip a tear on the side close enough to the pilot without endangering him. LCL dripping of the Eva's hands while Rei put him down on the floor. She exited her own unit and went to him sprinting.
"Ayanami-kun! Are you all right?!" There was no response coming from the inside. She just got closer.
"Ayanami-kun!" She was looking at him know, his carmine eyes unfocused but looking in her direction. A bit of clarity on them and a murmured "Ikari-san?" Was all that was needed for Rei to break into tears.
"Don't say... Don't say that you have nothing else" she hiccuped "Don't say goodbye when you leave
on a mission. It makes me think that I'll never see you again."
"Why are you crying?"" He asked "I'm sorry. I don't know what to do at a time like this" it may be her imagination, but he sounded both flustered and panicked.
"You can just smile" she smiled at him brightly, as selfish as her next statement was going to be, she still wanted to say it "Please Ayanami-kun, don't leave me alone to be the only one here."
He heard her plea, his only answer was the small smile she told him he can do, and a nod to her request.
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The next day at school, Rei saw Ayanami-kun walking to their classroom.
"Good morning Ayanami-kun!" She fell into step besides him.
He was looking at her, silent until he nodded his acknowledgment and looked to the window "The morning is good, Ikari-chan."
Rei opened the classroom door, all was good the rest of the day.
YOU ARE READING
Rei Ikari
Fanfiction"Rei, if it was a girl and Shinji, if it was a boy." Yui's baby ended up being a girl. Gendo was ecstatic for a while.
