I

  ?Give me your weapon, Bert,“ Asuka said. She wiped her eyes dry and then reached out a hand toward Robert. The initial shock had given way to pure rage. How could these bastards dare to threaten her friend and Touji on her birthday? ?I’m going out there and killing them all.“

  Robert looked at her hand. ?You’re not doing anything.“

  Asuka stared at him in disbelief. ?Bert,“ she hissed through clenched teeth. ?I am not going to sit in here while my best—my only—friend and Touji are out there, being threatened by some doomsday lunatics!“

  ?You do realize that they’re outnumbering us and better armed than we are? And—“ Robert continued, staring at Asuka, ?—that they have two hostages?“

  Asuka held his gaze for a few more seconds before slamming her fist against the steering wheel. ?Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!“

  ?Asuka,“ Shinji said, grabbing her hand. ?Robert is right…“

  Of course, he was right. But she had to do something. Anything.

  ?Screw this!“ Asuka unbuckled her seatbelt and yanked the door handle—only for the door to budge just a few inches. Bakelite, she thought.

  ?Oh, come on—“ She pushed and slammed her shoulder against the door again and again, but it made no difference. It wouldn’t open more than a tiny gap. ?—this is bullshit! Shinji, move!“

  She climbed into the back. ?Then I’ll just go out the back.“

  ?Asuka, wait!“ Shinji held her back. ?Robert!“

  Shinji’s grip was firm but careful—she could shake him off easily. But when Robert grabbed her, it felt like EVA-02’s arm was wrapping around her. Desperately, she struggled to break free.

  ?Asuka,“ he said calmly. ?Please.“

  She had no strength left. She had already been running on empty. With one last, strained attempt—accompanied by a hoarse grunt—she finally collapsed into Shinji’s arms.

  She felt empty. No, that wasn’t quite right. She felt helpless. Like back then… She hated being helpless.

  Shinji held her close, his hand gently stroking her back. She loved it when he could calm her down. Softly, he hummed a tune—a German lullaby.

  She hated being powerless. His gray shirt soaked up her tears.

  ?Asuka, Shinji—stay sharp!“ Robert said. ?They’re coming.“

  No! Asuka thought. I just want to sleep…

  ?Asuka.“

  Shinji gently lifted her head. She rubbed her eyes and turned her gaze forward.

  Several distorted, white shapes approached them.

  ?Asuka, lock the doors!“ Robert ordered.

  Still dazed, she fumbled with the door until she heard the mechanical click of the central locking system.

  ?What do they want?“ Shinji asked.

  Two Mors Caeli stopped just in front of the hood. Three more positioned themselves by the rear right door, all with their weapons raised. One of them yanked at the handle, then knocked against the window.

  Asuka leaned back and flipped him off. ?Fuck you!“

  The Mors Caeli knocked again, then gestured forward.

  Asuka watched as another Mors Caeli yanked Touji to his feet by his hair. Then, a gunshot rang out—Touji’s jeans exploded at the knee. His eyes widened, and he collapsed.

  ?Touji!“ Shinji screamed.

  Robert slammed his fist against the dashboard.

  ?No…“ Asuka whispered. Her eyes burned. What’s happening?

  Even through her gag, Hikari’s scream cut through the car’s interior.

  ?Fuck,“ Robert cursed. ?Okay, we have no choice. I’m getting out first.“

  Asuka watched as the Mors Caeli pulled Touji’s head back up by his hair, pressing the still-smoking pistol against his temple.

  ?YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS!“ blared the megaphone. ?TEN!“

  ?Ready?“ Robert asked.

  Asuka looked at him. There was nothing left of her friend. A cold professionalism masked his face.

  ?NINE!“

  She took Shinji’s hand.

  Her Baka-Shinji—the one who had poured his soul and more into melodies and tones, and had given them to her. The one who had saved her from herself countless times and pulled her from the darkness again and again. And even now, in this situation, he gave her his smile.

  And what had she done?

  Her chest burned, and her head throbbed with suppressed tears.

  ?EIGHT!“

  She pulled him close and kissed him.

  ?SEVEN!“

  ?When we get home, you can ask me again, okay, Baka?“

  ?SIX!“

  ?Hai!“ Shinji said, wiping his eyes.

  ?FIVE!“

  ?Ready!“ Asuka said, unlocking the doors.

  Immediately, the rear door was thrown open. A small, blinking object flew in—then the door slammed shut again. The object landed in the footwell in front of Shinji.

  ?What—?“ Shinji began.

  ?Sonic—!“ Robert shouted.

  Then there was nothing but a deafening, shrill screech.

  Asuka pressed her hands to her ears—but it was as useless as if her hands were made of rice paper. The sound wasn’t just loud. It was everything. A wave of pure vibration rushed through her body, making every bone tremble. Her teeth felt as though they were going to shatter into a thousand pieces. Even her eyeballs pulsed, and white stars exploded before her eyes. Air was being forced out of her lungs in sharp bursts.

  Then came the shockwave. It hit her like a freight train, squeezing the last bit of air from her chest. Her head jerked back and slammed against the side window.

  And then, there was nothing.

  II

  Shinji drifted back to consciousness, his head throbbing with sharp, stabbing pain. A high-pitched ringing screeched in his ears. He forced his aching eyes open, but in the dim light, he could make out little more than the dusty, brown carpet beneath him. His hands were bound behind his back. As he tried to sit up, a metallic clatter echoed through the room. He turned his head and spotted an old radiator. Gritting his teeth, he struggled into a sitting position. His muscles screamed in protest, and as blood surged back into his numbed arms, a thousand needle-like stings shot through his nerves.

  ?Hey, baka, awake already?“ Asuka asked. She was sitting on the floor beside him, her hands bound as well. Dried blood clung to her ear, cheek, and neck. ?You okay?“

  ?Hrchk,“ Shinji groaned. His mouth felt like he had eaten sand and washed it down with dirt for dessert.

  ?Want something to drink? Hold on, I’ll call room service,“ Asuka said. Then she shouted, ?Hey, you Sachiel-fuckers! Hey!“

  The throbbing in his eyes subsided slightly, and Shinji took a careful look around the room. In the center stood a simple bed. Beside it, on a white nightstand, a small portable LED lamp cast long shadows against the walls, which were clad in cracked, rough wooden panels. What had once been warm brown wood had faded into a sickly gray-green, spreading across the surface like a rash. Above the bed was the room’s only window, boarded up with heavy planks, reeking of mold and decay.

  ?Where…?“ Shinji croaked.

  ?Where we are? Hm, no idea! But the service is terrible, and the rooms are filthy. Two out of ten stars, tops.“

  Shinji let out a weak laugh, which quickly turned into a cough. That was Asuka’s way of handling difficult or dangerous situations—always cracking a joke into the unknown.

  ?Are you… hurt?“ he whispered slowly. ?The blood…“

  ?You too. On your ear. Everything just hurts, and my ears won’t stop ringing.“

  ?What was… that? In the car…?“

  ?A sonic grenade? I read about those once.“

  A door to their right swung open, and two figures in white entered—Mors Caeli, both armed with assault rifles, their faces hidden behind Sachiel masks.

  ?My friend here would like a green tea, and I’ll have a Lillet Wildberry, thanks!“ Asuka flashed them a smile.

  One of them raised his rifle, ready to strike.

  ?No, you idiot!“ the other snapped, grabbing his arm just before it could hit Asuka’s head.

  ?We can’t hurt them, remember? She’ll kill us if we do!“

  She? Shinji thought.

  The thug yanked his arm free. ?If I kick her in the stomach, no one will notice.“

  ?Don’t be stupid. Just untie them,“ the other replied.

  He pulled two black sacks from behind his back, and Shinji’s world plunged into darkness as one was shoved over his head. The fabric was damp and reeked of old socks.

  ?Damn it!“ Asuka’s voice came muffled through the cloth. ?You could’ve at least washed these! Smells like Misato’s apartment in here.“

  ?What do you want from us?“ Shinji asked. He was shoved forward roughly as one of the Mors Caeli fiddled with his bindings.

  ?What did you do to our friends?“

  ?I swear, if you so much as laid a finger on them, I’ll— Ugh!“ A dull thud echoed through the room, followed by Asuka’s pained gasp.

  ?Asuka? Asuka!“ Shinji struggled, trying to push himself up—his restraints had been loosened—but a sudden explosion of pain in his stomach sent him crashing back down. The air was forced from his lungs, and he curled up on the floor as saliva and bile pooled in his mouth.

  ?What the hell was that for?!“ one of them snapped.

  ?She talks too much, and he tried to get up.“

  A slow, heavy breath followed. ?Just grab them, and let’s go.“

  Shinji was hauled up by his bindings, stumbling blindly through the darkness. After a few clumsy steps, one of the Mors Caeli grabbed him more firmly and guided him forward. They walked straight for a while, turned twice, then descended a flight of stairs.

  At the bottom of the stairs, they came to a stop. One of the Mors Caeli knocked against something—probably a door. A muffled ?Yes?“ came from the other side, then a metal door creaked open, and Shinji was dragged forward.

  After a few steps, he was shoved onto a chair, and the rough tugging at his wrists told him he was being tied down.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  Then, the sack was yanked off his head, and blinding light stabbed into his eyes. He squeezed them shut and turned his head away.

  ?Thank you. Now leave me alone,“ a female voice commanded.

  Shinji blinked in her direction, but the harsh glare of the spotlight kept him from seeing anything clearly.

  ?You have ten minutes,“ said the one who had been leading him, from behind. Then the door slammed shut.

  ?Shinji?“ Asuka’s voice came from his left. He could barely make out her outline in the haze.

  ?Asuka, are you okay?“

  ?Yeah, but I was hoping for the honeymoon suite. This place smells like a public toilet.“

  A shadow moved in front of the light, then jerked forward. Asuka let out a pained gasp as her head snapped to the side.

  ?Asuka!“ Shinji strained against his bindings, but neither they nor the chair budged.

  ?What the hell do you want?!“ he shouted.

  Asuka spat blood onto the floor. ?And the service is still absolute crap.“

  The shadow struck again. And again. And again. Each blow landed with a sharp crack, followed by Asuka’s strangled gasps.

  Shinji twisted and yanked at his restraints, but all he achieved was driving them deeper into his skin. The chair didn’t even budge.

  He clenched his teeth so hard they ached. A deep growl rumbled in his throat—like magma rising inside a volcano. He stared at the horror unfolding beside him until his eyes burned and tears streamed down his cheeks.

  And then, suddenly, the shadow laughed. A loud, hearty laugh.

  ?Woohoo!“ she cried out. ?You have no idea how good this feels—or how long I’ve been waiting for this moment!“

  The shadow stepped back, and the spotlight flicked off. Shinji blinked away the afterimages, forcing his vision to clear.

  In front of them stood a young woman, about their age, with short blonde hair. A large scar ran down the right side of her otherwise beautiful face, trailing down her neck and disappearing into the collar of her white Mors Caeli jumpsuit.

  Beside her, the now-dark spotlight rested on a tripod. The only illumination left came from a single bare light bulb, swaying slightly from the low, barren concrete ceiling.

  Shinji turned to Asuka—and his stomach twisted.

  Her left eye was already swelling shut. Blood trickled from her nose, and her split lip dripped crimson.

  Rage boiled inside him.

  ?Asuka…“

  The woman suddenly stepped in front of Shinji and gently took his chin in her hand. He jerked his head away—but her soft touch turned into an iron grip. She twisted his head from side to side, as if inspecting an apple for bruises.

  ?Take… your stinking dirty fingers… from my boyfriend!“, Asuka hissed.

  The woman released Shinji, then glanced from Asuka to him—and back to Asuka again.

  ?You two, a couple!“ She smiled, her blue eyes trembling with excitement. ?I couldn’t believe it at first, but the Intel and the pictures really convinced me.“

  She cupped Shinji’s face between her hands, squeezing his cheeks together. Her hands smelled of blood.

  ?You two are just adorable!“ she chirped in a high-pitched voice. ?And the way you play with Brunner’s two little kids! Absolutely heart-melting!“

  Shinji’s eyes widened. How does she…?

  ?I said: Take your filthy goddamn hands—“

  The woman let go of Shinji and punched Asuka hard in the face. Something cracked horribly. Asuka screamed, more blood gushing from her nose. Then she hit her again. And again.

  With each blow, Asuka’s head snapped back until it finally slumped onto her collarbone.

  ?Fuck, stop!“ Shinji shouted. He thrashed against his restraints, his wrists burning with pain. ?What do you want from us? Who the hell are you?!“

  The woman looked at him in surprise, then casually wiped Asuka’s blood on her white uniform.

  ?You don’t remember me? Oh man, this is priceless! Let me jog your memory a little, Freakari!“

  She grabbed Asuka by the hair and lifted her head. Asuka groaned, weakly shook her head—then the woman let go again.

  Shinji felt like he’d been punched in the gut. His breath caught in his throat as long-forgotten images flickered through his mind— A shower. A collapsed, soaking-wet Asuka. No. It couldn’t be.

  ?Tsubame…?“ he whispered.

  ?Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! A hundred points for the contestant!“

  ?But… why?“ Shinji’s head spun. ?Because I attacked you? Is that it? Fuck, that was years ago—and you hurt Asuka back then!“

  Tsubame’s eyes widened. A manic grin spread across her face.

  ?You really think…?“ She threw her hands in the air and spun around once. ?You seriously think I’ve been stalking you for years, worked my way up through the ranks of this shitty cult and planned this whole kidnapping just because we had a fight as kids? Oh my God, this just keeps getting better!“

  She drove her fist into Asuka’s stomach. Asuka gasped, coughed—but didn’t move.

  Shinji screamed. ?Stop it! Please…“

  Suddenly, Tsubame held a knife in her hand and leaned in close.

  ?Oh, my dear Freakari…“

  The tip of the blade traced lightly across his cheek. Shinji fought the urge to flinch.

  ?Does Operation Morgenstern ring a bell? One of your little killer toys’ last missions in Kazakhstan—more specifically, in the village of Beytim.“

  Shinji’s thoughts raced. Morgenstern… Beytim…

  His eyes followed the knife as it hovered dangerously close to his face. Sweat dripped into his eye. He swallowed hard.

  ?Yeah… I remember. That was two years ago, right? Asuka and I were sent in with our EVAs to decontaminate the village. There were still remnants of an Angel attack there.“

  Tsubame’s expression changed. Her eyes narrowed into slits, her mouth tightening into a thin line.

  ?Decontaminate… Right. That’s what LICHT told you.“

  Shinji was still confused. He glanced at Asuka. Her head hung limp against her chest, her blood-soaked hair sticking to her face.

  A sharp pain made him flinch.

  ?Eyes on me, Freakari!?

  Something warm trickled down his cheek. Tsubame’s blade gleamed red with his blood.

  ?I still don’t know what you want!“ he shouted.

  ?I want justice for my parents’ death!“ Tsubame screamed, leaping to her feet. ?I want you to watch while I gut your whore, and then—“

  She leaned in so close that her hot breath brushed against his ear. Her voice dropped to a whisper, sharp as broken glass.

  ?…when you can’t scream or cry anymore… when her blood thickens and the flies start to gather… then I’ll let you die, too.“

  Shinji’s muscles locked. His entire body trembled.

  ?Your parents…?“

  Tsubame straightened again.

  ?Operation Morgenstern was a covert mission to exterminate a major Mors Caeli stronghold.“

  What?

  ?No… no, we were ordered to—“

  ?The mission was a lie!“ she roared.

  Spit flew from her mouth, her voice booming off the bare concrete walls.

  ?Everything was fabricated! Your displays were altered, your briefing manipulated—even what they told the media. All of it!“

  ?No… Why would Misato—why would LICHT do that?“

  ?Why? WHY?! So the world wouldn’t see that LICHT is just another name for NERV! So LICHT could keep its spotless reputation, so no one would notice the bloodstains!“

  She took a step closer.

  ?One hundred and twenty-three people: dead!“

  Shinji flinched. The words hit him like a punch to the gut.

  ?Women and children: dead!“

  With a sharp kick, she sent the spotlight crashing over. Glass shattered, shards scattering across the floor.

  ?My parents… dead!“

  Shinji shook his head, trying to push back the dizziness.

  ?No… the village was empty. It was evacuated…“

  ?Oh yeah, it was empty, Freakari!“ Tsubame screamed. ?Empty—except for the Mors Caeli members and their families! Of course, we hid! In old cellars, in mine shafts. But an EVA unit has pretty devastating firepower, doesn’t it?“

  Shinji remembered.

  ?Oh, wondering how I survived?“ Tsubame grinned crookedly.

  Flashes of memory burned through Shinji’s mind.

  How he and Asuka had turned it into a game—a race to see who could destroy the most houses.

  ?Or maybe you’re curious about how I got this lovely scar?“

  He had been leading ten to nine when Misato’s voice cut in over the comms, ice-cold and sharp. ‘Stop fooling around. Take this mission seriously.’

  ?When you fell from the sky like the wrath of God, we knew it was over.“

  His fingers dug into the chair’s armrests.

  ?You didn’t even notice that we threw everything we had at your monsters… and it wasn’t much.“

  Another image surfaced in his mind: his on-board computer, calculating the number of decontaminated square kilometers.

  ?And when my parents burned before my eyes…“ Tsubame’s voice trembled. ?I wanted to go to them. I wanted to help. But…“ Her hands clenched into fists. ?But another explosion threw me away. I landed somewhere inside a ruined building. Half-dead. Forgotten…“

  Shinji’s stomach twisted violently. The images her words painted in his mind squeezed the air from his lungs. His gut clenched, then—he vomited. He barely managed to turn his head, but some splattered onto his leg, the rest hitting the floor with a wet slap. He gagged, spat. Then, with shuddering breaths, he lifted his gaze. ?We… we didn’t know…“ His voice was hoarse, frail.

  Tsubame stood in front of him. Her head hung low, arms limp at her sides. Her entire body trembled, and from somewhere deep inside, a barely audible sob escaped.

  Shinji’s chest tightened. ?We didn’t know!“ he yelled. ?We didn’t know!“ Tears burned his eyes. ?We didn’t know…“

  ?Tsubame…“ Asuka’s voice was barely a whisper.

  Shinji’s head snapped toward her. ?Asuka!“ She slowly lifted her head. Her uninjured eye was half-open, her breathing shallow. ?Are you okay?“

  Tsubame wiped her eyes with the hand still holding the knife. Then she looked up and stepped forward. ?Time to end this.“

  Shinji’s heart froze. A crushing weight pressed down on his chest. ?Tsubame, no! Please!“ He thrashed against his restraints, desperate, frantic. No! Do something, Shinji! Don’t be weak, damn it! ?Tsubame, listen—“

  ?I’m sorry.“ Asuka’s voice was suddenly louder. Stronger.

  Tsubame stopped mid-step.

  ?Tsubame… I’m so sorry…“ Tears carved bright trails through the blood on her face. She looked directly at Tsubame. ?I’m sorry—“

  The knife plunged into Asuka’s chest. A sharp gasp escaped her. Her healthy eye widened in shock. ?—sorry…“ Her lips trembled. ?Shinji…?“

  A final, weak gasp. Then her head fell forward.

  Still.

  Shinji screamed.

  Tsubame showed no emotion as she slowly pulled the knife from Asuka’s body—and struck again.

  Shinji screamed until his throat burned, until no sound came from his mouth.

  Help her… A voice, barely a whisper, echoed in his mind. Shinji’s eyes snapped open, his body frozen. A moment of absolute silence. Then—sudden stillness. A deep, cold calm washed over him, extinguishing the burning fire of his despair like gentle rain in summer.

  Help her…

  He was here—and yet, not. He felt his consciousness lift, as though stepping out of himself.

  He hovered just a few centimeters above his body, detached from pain, fear, time.

  He saw himself: bound to the chair, in this godforsaken, death-smelling cellar.

  He saw Tsubame. He watched as that lunatic erased his life. How everything that had ever meant something to him was dipped in cold steel, stained red.

  And the cool rain vanished into smoke. His fire became an inferno—and consumed everything.

  His restraints and the chair beneath him shattered in an orange flash.

  Tsubame whipped her head around. ?What—?“

  Another flash silenced her. Her body lurched backward. Her head rolled a bit further. Blood seeped out of her, staining the floor a deep red.

  Help her, Ikari…

  Shinji turned to Asuka. A twitch of his fingers, and more orange-red lightning severed her restraints. He lifted her gently.

  So light.

  He turned toward the door. Another flare-up of his anger – and the steel door fell to the floor, split down the middle. The guard behind the door was probably about to storm into the room, but all that stood upright now were bleeding leg stumps. The rest of the guard was writhing on the floor, screaming. Shinji stepped over it and ascended the stairs.

  Two guards at the top of the stairs opened fire on them.

  A translucent, hexagonal wall flickered into place in front of him. The bullets ricocheted, whizzing through the narrow hallway, their echoes ringing in all directions. Something burned in his leg. He stumbled, fell to one knee—and pressed Asuka tighter against his body.

  He looked up. The guards collapsed with a wet, squelching sound.

  He kept moving, Asuka in his arms. The bloody chaos around him barely registered. He felt no pain anymore. The bullets tearing through his skin, the screams, the splintering wood, the echoes of footsteps—everything passed him by like a distant, fading dream.

  Only Asuka was real. Only the blood, seeping warm through his fingers. Only the slow, shallow breath against his neck. He held her tighter. Stronger. Even stronger.

  Another shot rang out. A bullet hung in the air, just inches from his forehead, vibrating before dissolving into orange light. Footsteps rushed toward him—a man with a knife—but he never reached him. A flash of light, a soundless scream, and then something soft fell past Shinji to the ground.

  He moved on. Through narrow corridors, over mangled bodies, past shattered furniture. A blade scraped his arm—or was it a bullet? It didn’t matter.

  Asuka felt so light. Too light.

  Hands reached for him—he couldn’t see them, but he sensed their intent. A shiver in the air, a tremor in his bones, and then a wet splat behind him.

  His legs carried him forward, through doors, over debris. The path suddenly opened up into a wide hall. The hall was silent. No whimpering. No groaning.

  He blinked. Before him stretched the command post of Mors Caeli—or what was left of it. Large white-boards with handwritten notes and sketched attack plans leaned crookedly against the walls. Bulletin boards with photos, red markings, and names were splattered with blood. Maps with lines and circles lay scattered across overturned tables, half-burned at the edges.

  The monitors on the wall flickered, still showing distorted data, stills from satellite images, warped faces. An old printer rattled on, spitting out endless pages that soaked up the blood puddles beneath it.

  Shinji heard his own breath. Shallow. Gasping. Almost choking. He swayed. His legs gave out, and he sank to his knees. His arms ached from holding her, but he didn’t let go of Asuka.

  She was still warm.

  Her hair clung to her cheek, matted with blood. Her lips were slightly parted, but no sound came from her.

  Shinji lifted a hand and brushed a sticky lock of hair from her face. His fingers were red, everything was red.

  “Asuka…”

  His voice was barely a whisper.

  He pulled her closer. Pressed his forehead against hers. Sweat and blood mingled.

  She couldn’t go. Not like this. Not here.

  His lips trembled.

  And then he began to sing. Quietly and brokenly. It was an old melody, the German children’s song from his childhood, the one his mother had once sung to him.

  “Kommt ein Vogel geflogen…”

  His voice cracked. He tried again. Forced himself to keep going.

  “…setzt sich nieder auf mein’ Fu?…”

  His body swayed slightly, and he held Asuka as though his grip could anchor her to this moment.

  “Hat ’nen Zettel im Schnabel…”

  His voice was barely more than a whisper, fragile and hollow.

  “…von der Mutter ein Gru?…”

  His fingers brushed over her cheek. She was still warm. Still warm.

  “Lieber Vogel, flieg weiter…”

  A door flew open. Footsteps echoed through the hall, but they seemed unreal, distant.

  “Shinji!” Misato’s voice.

  He didn’t respond.

  He kept singing.

  “N-nimm meinen Gru? mit und einen Kuss…”

  Heavy boots. Metal clattered. Someone called for medics.

  “D-denn ich k-kann dich nicht begleiten.”

  Hands reached for him, trying to pull him away from Asuka.

  “Weil ich hier… hier bleiben muss.”

  Shinji’s voice failed him.

  Hands gripped him tighter. The warmth vanished. His heart raced, his breath caught – he didn’t want to let her go. He wasn’t allowed to let her go. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t.

  “No!” he screamed. Orange, hexagonal fields flared up, stretching over him and Asuka like a protective cocoon.

  The voices receded. Some whispered “Angel,” others screamed in panic, and the clicking of loaded weapons echoed.

  “Stop!” Misato commanded. Then, softly, she said, “Shinji… Shinji, look at me.”

  He raised his head, wiped away his tears, and looked at her. She was still wearing the same outfit from bowling – only now with a brown Kevlar vest over it. Dark circles framed her eyes, and her hair was disheveled. Behind her stood several armed soldiers and two medics with a stretcher. Some of the soldiers appeared uncertain, as if they couldn’t decide whether to shoot him or run away. He even thought he recognized Kaji, who was speaking into a mobile phone.

  “Misato…?”

  “Shinji, please come with us. We need to take you and Asuka to a hospital.”

  “But if I let her go, she’ll be gone…”

  “Only if we delay any longer. Please, Shinji…” She carefully reached out a hand. “Let’s go.”

  “I can’t let her go, Misato. She’s everything I have!” He cried again – or perhaps he was still crying. The pain in his chest flared up once more. Or had it ever truly faded?

  “I know, Shinji.” Misato’s voice trembled. “I don’t want to let either of you go.” Her hand remained extended toward him.

  Shinji’s head ached. He looked at Asuka; some of his tears had fallen on her beautiful face. He kissed them away, then let the protective cocoon fall.

  Immediately, two medics rushed over, trying to take Asuka from him. He clutched her even tighter and buried his face in her hair. Faintly, he could still catch the scent of strawberry shampoo.

  Misato gently touched his cheek. “It’s okay, Shinji. We’re flying her to a special LICHT hospital; they’ll take care of her there.”

  “Please bring her back to me…”

  “We’ll do everything in our power, Shinji. I promise you.”

  “I want to come with her.”

  “Of course.”

  Shinji loosened his grip. He had to summon all his strength and force himself to let her go. The two medics took Asuka and placed her on the stretcher. Then she was whisked out of the room.

  “Misato—”

  Misato’s arms wrapped around him, firm and warm. She pulled him close, and though he was still kneeling on the floor, he completely broke down in her embrace.

  “Bring her back to me…”

  

  On my foot, it settled here,

  In its beak, a note bringing

  From my mother so dear.

  Take my greetings with a kiss;

  With you I can't go flying

  Lest I be found remiss.