Rei Ikari

Sometimes I Do (Not) Wish I Was More Like Her. Part 3.

"Get ready to pilot. Rei."

"Pilot?" Asked Kaji "Sir I though Unit Zero is being frozen... No kidding ... Do you mean that you'll activate Unit One?"

''Sadly we don't have no other choice'' supported Ritsuko.

''Well we can't have Shinji get it on. It leaves us with no pilots'' Kaji's retort was ignored by the two Ikaris' staring contest.

''One has been just delivered.''

Disturbed, and a little irate, Kaji asked ''Are you serious?''

''Ikari Rei-san,'' Ritsuko waited until Rei broke eye contact with her father and looked at her before following ''you are the only one who can get into it.''

''But Ritsuko, even in the case of Shiji, it took seven full months for him to synchronize with Eva, there's no way Rei-chan will have success.''

Ritsuko, still having Rei's attention, continued ''You may only try it,'' her eyes and voice softened a little ''we'd never expect more from you.''

Rei's heart clenched painfully, of course they have low expectations of her, the abandoned girl whose musical talent won awards, the half orphaned girl who spends nights studying to make an absent father even remotely proud, the child who craves acknowledgement from anyone.

''But...'' Kaji tried to object.

''At present, the interception against Angel's attack is top priority. We have no choice but to have someone get into it even if there is a little potential for synchronizing with Eva.''

''You may be right...''

Rei interrupted whatever Kaji was going to say ''Why did you call me?''

''For exactly the reason you think I called you for.'' A childish laugh resonated in Gendo's memories, he ignored it.

''So you want me to get into it and fight against the monster I saw outside? No way! What are you saying now?! I have been thinking that you wanted to talk to me'' The tears behind her eyes felt like acid, but they were not completely out of sadness, there was rage on them that made itself prominent on her voice instead.

Gendo raised his voice ''I called you just because I need you now, no more than that.''

With a deep breath and a soft voice, Rei asked ''Why me?''

''Because others can't...''

''I can't do that! I've neither seen this Evangelion thing nor heard of it. Why are you saying that I can do it?''

What does she has that the adults around her doesn't? Taking a look into the mecha's face unnerved her, as if it would devour her the moment she agrees to get inside it.

'' You will hear the briefing while you get in.''

Dread and insecurities clawed inside Rei's mind, this task is too much for her ''No. I can't. It's impossible.''

''Get into it and stop wasting my time. Otherwise, get out girl!''

Many maintenance employees were looking at the scenery anxiously when an attack on above ground the NERV Headquarters shook the base.

Gendo looked up for a second before making eye contact with his daughter ''The Angel seems to have found this place.''

''We have no time.''

''Rei-chan you have to get into it now please.''

''No way. After coming all the way, it's ridiculous'' Rei whispered.