FLEETING SHADOWS OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT

Mari breathed in as she looked under the coffee table she had been trying to find Erika in her younger sister's house and so far had not had a lot of success. She breathed as she looked around her, why was it so hard to find this moggy?

Erika was normally always around when she visited she turned only to watch in surprise as the second video screen lowered suddenly followed by the wide screen lowering which wasn't her doing as Anneberg appeared on the main TV screen followed by Cheshire on the other.

Anneberg eyes blinked as he spoke. "The cats hiding under bed behind the metal shelf you need to give her meat treats to get her out." Mari looked up sharply only to slam her head into the coffee table which caused intense pain.

She lowered her head rubbing painfully. "Thank you Anneberg." She crawled put sitting on the floor as she turned to him and Cheshire who was smirking. "How did you get on this screen I thought you had no link with the IDHS?" Cheshire suddenly spoke in a playful voice. "I helped him hack it, he said he wanted to be part of the whole house because the IDHS is stupid and Asuka wouldn't let him."

Mari looked at Cheshire. "You know Cheshire you shouldn't have done that Asuka won't be pleased." Cheshire's red eyes darted. "Yes but you used me to hack in to Asuka house and computer, so I thought it was okay for me to do it…if Anneberg needed help."

Mari breathed in putting a hand on her face Asuka had told her this was going to be hard since unlike Anneberg, Cheshire was still a childlike AI personality. "Look myself and Asuka were having a bad time Cheshire." She stopped turning to Anneberg. "Wait you asked him to help you, why?"

Anneberg's green eyes blinked. "Because I saw what happened at the auction house I know Rei and Asuka are missing and someone has been trying to use Rei's phone to call Nerv I blocked them and logged all there phone calls and sent them to Nerv along with the phones current location as is at the Atlantica hotel opposite the Dorodome I have seen their face once though and it's not Rei. Asuka's phone has been damaged sadly I don't have any footage from inside the auction house as something stopped me getting through and blocked my parameters and all of the outward phone signals."

Mari slowly sat on Asuka's sofa. "Yes but why did get Cheshire to help you take over the whole house?" Anneberg's mouth formed a sneer. "Because whoever did this might come here and I want to protect this house I just don't have the back door codes to the IDHS Cheshire knows them though it's how he got into this system in the first place he used it as a way to get into my main computer system." Mari leaned back on the sofa putting a hand on her face. "Asuka's going to fucking kill me."

She looked up slightly. "Who was using Rei's phone do you have their face?" Anneberg quickly brought up a picture which she recognised instantly. "Great that's Rosetta Martinez the fashion designer from Paris if I recall my little sister and Rei both dated her at different points it didn't end well for either of them."

She breathed in deeply. "Send this info to Shinji, Kaworu, Toji and Misato and Maya's phones directly please Shinji needs to know that someone has his little sister's phone and Misato and Maya might be able to track her down."

Anneberg turned sharply. "Sent, you have an incoming call." Mari watched as Cheshire bounced screens on to Anneberg's as he spoke. "It’s Asuka grandma." Mari turned sharply. "Put her through." She breathed in watching as Asuka's grandmother appeared on the video talk screen though she looked so uncertain as she spoke. "Hello Mari I thought I might find you here."

Mari looked up nervously despite that Geraldina had made her part of the family she still struggled with talking to Asuka's grandmother but maybe the reality was she didn't have fond memories of her grandmother on her father's side of the family and they were memories she would prefer to forget she forced a smile though in her heart she knew it was fake. "Hi."

She looked around her. "They asked me to look after Asuka and Rei's house and the moggy." She looked around her. "I can't find her right now though." Geraldina put her hands together speaking more softly. "It's okay you don't have to put on a smile for me Mari I know deep down its hurting right now."

Mari breathed in deeply. "If this is about Rei or Asuka I don't know where they are they won't tell us anything they sent us all home it fucking sucked and I hate not being able to do anything and Shinji is feeling just as bad as I am."

Geraldina leaned in closer to the screen. "Between us I think Asuka is still alive and so is Rei they're both too precious to kill and they could have been taken as bargaining chips." Mari breathed in deeply. "Yes but what if she's a hostage of Gryphon I mean what if this about killing them both for money?"

Geraldina looked up slightly. "You need to have faith Mari we both know Asuka is highly military trained just like you no matter what happens she will fight back." Mari looked up seeing the cat suddenly appear she moved out of the seat not thinking as she picked up the tortoiseshell who gave her an unimpressed look as she spoke gently. "There you are you naughty little moggy."

She sat down stroking the cats head turning back to Geraldina. "Sorry I couldn't find Erika…she was hiding." Geraldina felt a smile form. "I had the same issue when Asuka was in hospital Erika kept hiding from me at times she does get used to you it just takes a few days."

Mari breathed in watching as Erika moved to sofa's arms as she carried on stroking her head. "I agree with my little sister would fight back but that's why I'm worried…what if this was something she can't win?" Geraldina breathed in deeply. "You just have to have faith that she can win because I refuse to believe that she would ever give up."

She paused looking around her. "Is your friend Toji not with you?" Mari shook her head. "Shinji and Kaworu are coming down her later they are just packing things Toji has to take care of his little sister right now she's going through a hard time right now as it close to the death of their mother and it’s never a good time for either of them."

Geraldina breathed in deeply. "That's understandable." She paused before looking up. "I have to go back to work now but please if you know anything tell me right away Kolby and Aili are worried sick over here." Mari looked up slightly. "Well I can tell you one thing but I you can't tell anyone yet." Geraldina looked up slightly. "Go on."

Mari carried on stroking Erika. "A celebrity currently has Rei's phone Anneberg told me I've already had him send that information to Nerv." Geraldina put her hands together. "Interesting I'll keep this between us till we both know more." Mari breathed in sharply. "Yes I would if Nerv knows I'm telling you anything I could get in trouble with Maya and Ritsuko."

Geraldina sat up in her chair. "Don't worry Mari I won't say anything and this channel is coded." Mari looked up slightly. "Thank you I appreciate that." Geraldina leaned forward. "Just try and get some rest Mari I know it's hard but it's the best thing you can do." Mari sat up slightly. "I will." The older woman gave her a smile as she vanished from the screen she turned looking at Erika. "Come on let's get you some food before Shinji and Kaworu get here."

8

The huge Archangel sunk deeper into the red oceans depths its black and white plating gleaming as its huge jaws opened letting in water as unlike the others it could dive even deeper because its body had been made from the angel Gaghiel and it could handle immense pressure better than both Bukavac and Eligos and this part of the dead zone was very deep and very difficult to get to because the pressure here was the greatest on earth and even camera drones didn't last long here.

The Archangels huge body was more crocodile like with huge back limbs and feet with huge black claws and tail while still being lycanthropic like the others it could run on all fours or two legs.

The difference was mouth it was long and huge and filled with razor sharp teeth and its body also had huge fin which could be eased up and down on both the back and tail to make swimming easier it was called Moloch because it commanded respect from all. Fang eyed her screen. "Pressure now coming close to exceeding 1085 mbar, Keel was not lying, the pressure is intense here."

Kuchisake looked at her lover for a long moment before speaking. "Well then let's break the record." Fang breathed in sadly. "Shame no one else can see us doing this and breaking the world record." Kuchisake turned slightly. "Yes we'll get to see us doing it that's all that matters."

Fang turned eyeing her as she shifted her robotic leg which had sensors plugged in so the Archangel could read her limb movements and convert them. "Where is this statue?" Kuchisake moved typing in to her controls. "Turning on Moloch's night vision cameras now..."

She breathed watching as the outward lights dimmed and the double entry plug turned dark only to hit lit up by thousands of night depth creatures whose florescent light sparked outward. "I thought earth life couldn't survive in the red seas." Fang watched as an odd looking angler fish shot past. "Maybe it doesn't affect deep sea life like normal life."

She felt Moloch's clawed feet touch down on the floor as they hit the 4000 mbar mark at the very bottom of the dead sea trench which had been named the Tarturus by the Greek undersea grew over fifteen years ago but who couldn't scale its depths because it had caused serious equipment malfunctions which had resulted in five people dying. Clearly though Archangels were not affected she moved the huge being forward. "Close to coordinates we should be up on it anytime now."

Kuchisake looked up catching sight of the whole reason they were here as she looked at the ancient statue which unlike the other strange lands ones had not rotted or crumbled facially. In fact it looked perfect she could see all four eyes in stone its arms reaching outwards and clawed hands upwards. Kuchisake breathed in deeply. "Wow this bastard is even more creepy than I am, I mean just look at it, it's a unit 02 yet it's not the one we know though it looks like its old form sort of."

She leaned closer seeing the huge horns which had grown backwards and were now also stone and six odd looking demonic wings three on each side which were also now stone she could even see stone teeth sticking out of the mouth though they were thin and curved like a pythons. "Does not look cat like but more demonic Oni."

Keel voice suddenly hit the air. "Be careful when moving it, it may look as stone but it a dangerous god of death and don't break it, it must come up in one piece as the entry plug is still within its depths and we can perhaps make use of the statue to help with Asuka's memory because souls never forget." Fang eyed the statue. "Tell me something because I'm curious why is this form so different to the unit 02 we know?"

Keel’s voice hit the air. "When your soul is reborn it's like creating a new layer on top of an old one that new layer takes power and is the controller of all the other layers." There was a long pause. "But if you crack a layer enough you can get the old layer in control once more but it has to be done right do it wrong you cause many problems."

Kuchisake moved Moloch's clawed hands carefully grabbing the statue watching Fang began to focus her sync pushing it up higher. "Yeah well we aim to please though it will mean we will have to go slow." Keel spoke calmly. "I'll have the special submarine the Nebuchadnezzar meet you in less deep waters."

Fang felt the statue start to grind as it began to move. "Great I hate the Nebuchadnezzar…it looks like a limp dildo." Kuchisake heard the grinding as the statue started to come free of the ocean floor followed by feeling a huge pressure wave as its clawed stone feet came loose.

She turned as Moloch's lights came back on seeing the many destroyed submarines, miniature probes including theirs and submersibles all around the area who had all sunk and been crushed by the pressure it was clear now that Greece was not the only country trying to get down here, it was obvious that all manner of countries had tried and paid for it with their lives. "Sooner we get this heap of stone up the better this place is clearly a death trap."

8

Mari breathed in flipping another page of one Asuka's graphic novels as she look a long sip of coke which laced lightly with a spirit truth was she wanted to get badly drunk but the reality was that Shinji and Kaworu would appear soon and she wanted to be aware and not off her face.

Plus she wanted to avoid that type of confrontation with Maya since they had just come to some form of understanding and she wanted try harder since the reality was she wasn't trying to break free from cocktails because she kept thinking she needed them in her life when she didn't she was just using them to fill in for the pain she had over her childhood and teens.

She had Erika perched on her shoulders now and not moving as she put down her drink as she leaned up stroking her chin. She'd sent Toji a massage even though she knew he wouldn't answer today was to hard a day for both him and Sakura and Rei and Asuka being an unknown had only made it worse and she knew she had to give them both space. She turned as she heard knocking at the door she put down everything as she stood up though Erika refused to leave her shoulder she was clearly needy and loved attention from anyone and was missing her owners.

She walked up to the door opening it hearing the blind come up on the other side as she was greeted with Kaworu and Shinji who had clearly come up by train but she hadn’t heard them coming closer to the house as she'd been listening to eighties music far too loudly.

Shinji looked up slightly. "Sorry we are late we had to take the train as the central road being closed is causing really awful problems." Mari stepped back watching as he came inside followed by Kaworu who gave her a smile as he leaned up stroking Erika who was on her shoulder. "I see Erika likes you." Mari smirked. "She’s a needy tortoiseshell dark she loves everyone."

She closed the door speaking loudly. "Cheshire please lower the music could you?" Shinji looked up as he put his bag down seeing both AI's on the main wide screen sharing the flat screen. "Hey I thought Asuka said she wasn't going to put Anneberg down stairs despite his asking, did she change her mind?"

Anneberg blinked as he spoke. "No I changed her mind for her." Shinji turned sharply eyeing Anneberg. "What do you mean?" Mari walked up to him. "He kind of used Cheshire to hack in please don't tell Asuka she'll kill me." Kaworu say down slowly. "We got the message that a celebrity has Rei's phone."

Mari put her hands together. "Yes someone called Rosetta a Paris fashion designer has it I have no idea why she took it." Shinji slowly sat down. "That does mean my sister could be alive and so could Asuka I mean she might know what happened to them." Mari moved over him lowering her head sadly. "I sent all the information Anneberg had directly to Nerv."

She paused before speaking sadly. "Look I just want to apologise for this morning I acted like an utter wanker towards you and it wasn't right of me." She felt Erika leap off her shoulder as she knelt down and the cat moved to Shinji who started to stroke her. "The pain you were going through is just as bad as mine."

Shinji looked up slightly. "It's okay." Mari breathed in deeply. "No its not I treated you poorly and like Kaworu and Toji I consider you a friend." Shinji took hold of her hand unable to stop the emotion as it hit him hard and the tears came. "I just want them to be okay."

Kaworu moved over putting his arm around him. "They are going to be okay Shinji." He paused before speaking softly. "We just need to have faith." Mari looked up slightly. "Look I know my little sister she would kill for Rei and we both know it." Shinji wiped his tears away painfully. "Yeah I know but not knowing just hurts so much." Kaworu hugged him tighter. "Then just know in your heart that they will fight and do everything to get away if they were captured."

Mari looked at them as she stood up. "Look how's about I cook up something I can work Asuka's kitchen I'm not as good as you but I can give it a shot." Kaworu looked up slightly. "Toji and Sakura will they be coming over?" Mari breathed in pulling out a pan. "No it's not a good day for them today there mother died from starvation many years ago they both consider today bad luck and maybe there right since this has happened but Toji wants to spend time with Sakura as this day is very difficult for her she doesn't take it well."

Kaworu moved his hand stroking Shinji hair gently as he dried his tears away fully. "No it's not the day it's the memory and I know what they're going through you question if you could have done more but when you're a child you can't the power is out of your hands." Mari started to crack eggs in a pan. "Perhaps I just hope tomorrow is a better day and things turns around."

8

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

I have never missed working in the science field if I'm brutality honest and now being in this building is just bringing it all back in an deeply un pleasant way. The trashed buildings the smell of rotten and burnt flesh and people dressed in has mat suits and all the red tape and everything being closed off.

I joined Nerv to be a scientist but the reality it wasn't what I wanted I did it because I thought it would make my mother happy but it didn't in reality. The strangest thing was once I left the science division as head and let Maya take my place I was happier it wasn't just about being close to my husband Gendo it was that I enjoyed the high end of business crunching number and meeting clients.

I enjoy visiting the up market locations and flying to distant places and seeing beautiful hotels, buildings and culture so being back here now feels like I'm in some foul time warp all over again and I utterly hate it the hours drag and the whole place in vile even the air is rancid with death and destruction.

Ritsuko breathed in deeply eyeing Gendo who was watching everyone bellow who were still putting burnt bodies in body bags. "You know this is getting tiresome we should just pick up and carry on tomorrow, I mean we are not going to find your daughter in this burnt out hell hole."

Gendo turned sharply his tone turning cold. "We will stay here for as long as in necessary as I want to know what has become of my youngest child, you may not like her because she is from Yui but she is still mine." Ritsuko eyed the burnt building with its untouched creepy ancient statue feeling the need to change the subject. "Why is it that, that creepy thing is still standing it should be black a pitch and burnt yet it's not been touched?"

Gendo eyed the statue. "Seele tell me those pillars are all scatted around this world and cannot be touched by the hand of humanity in any way fire will not burn them bombs cannot destroy them and their stone cannot be carved by any modern equipment or scanned."

He put his hand on his beard. "They will not tell me what they are for or for what their purpose is or was only that I should not ask something I do not want to know the answer to." Ritsuko breathed in deeply. "Considering what they claim happened in the last cycle maybe it's better to not know." She paused before speaking. "Do you think Asuka Langley is dead?"

Gendo turned slightly looking at her for a long moment before speaking. "No I highly doubt it and this looks too well planned, this wasn't some amateur operation I believe this was about more than killing tiresome rich celebrities there just a division."

Ritsuko looked down below again. "Seele is forever talking about her as destroyer of worlds do you believe it?" Gendo adjusted his glasses. "Yes I do as I believe Seele would never lie regarding this matter it's why I believe she is not dead, she is the ultimate prize and if I'm right they probably took my daughter as well because they might feel that she would useful to them in terms of getting Asuka to do what they want."

He put a hand on his beard. "A foolish thought of theirs though as my daughter has her under her thumb by way of sexual gifts so I don't see it happening."

Maya came towards Misato as she held up the item in her hand as she spoke. "One of my team has just found something!" Misato turned moving towards her as she placed something on the special holographic scanning machine, it looked like a bronze coloured metal ball but half of it been blown away and its thick metal curved from the blast yet it was so small only the size of a ping pong ball.

She eyed the hologram scanner which pacifically for forensics from Nerv's science division as it was better than the Tokyo Three polices science one as it was faster and much more accurate. "Scan item and recreate how it looked before the explosion." She watched it scan as it began to recreate the hologram as touchable one on its screen opposite.

She watched as it finished and the holographic ball completed. "What is that?" Maya eyed it as she analysed the read out on the holographic screen opposite. "No idea but this is odd it's made from a metal similar to Evangelion steel but it's not as fortified or flexible." Ritsuko walked down the steps of the make shift complex which had been built up next to the burnt building so the Nerv staff could do their work and gave her and Gendo an office to work from.

She eyed the little holographic ball. "I've seen that design once before but it was years ago when my mother was in control of the science division before Yui took over."

She stopped opposite the hologram desk seeing Kaji walk over clearly wanting to hear what she had to say. "This is part of project Hammerhead it was the idea of a miniature bomb but not a bomb that used chemicals or nuclear devises." She eyed the ball. "It was the concept for an LCL bomb the idea was that LCL could be super-heated inside a metal ball to the point of explosion but the project proved far too dangerous because the explosions were massive and out of control and just couldn't be managed the way N2 mines and rockets are."

She paused watching as Maya brought up the project specs from many years ago. "This is our technology without a doubt the question how did it get in these people's hands? I mean this is Gryphon it's not Ouroboros, Ankh or Cerberus."

Misato breathed in deeply eyeing the holographic screen. "Where was this developed and originally tested because I'm not reading it as Japan Nerv technology?" Ritsuko moved her finger flipping through the holograph papers stopping sharply. "It was tested at the Nerv German branch originally."

She breathed in not liking what she had to say next. "Geraldina tested it but it was long before she was the division head of Germany." Kaji breathed in deeply. "This isn't going to go down well…I mean we can't just call her without telling her what's become of Asuka or call her and accuse her of selling off old technology."

Ritsuko eyed the ball. "Geraldina is many things but she is not someone I view as a traitor and we have already seen Ouroboros swipe technology from this division so someone long ago could have stolen it from the division without her ever knowing and since she was not in charge then it's not her issue to bear it's her retied predecessors."

Misato blinked in confusion she wasn't expecting Ritsuko to say this or even care as she knew she didn't like or care for Geraldina. "No you should only confront her when we know Asuka is alive because if you go in there with this now she'll think you are accusing her and even hinting that any of this is her fault will cause her to fucking loose her temper and make this even harder than it already is."

Ritsuko breathed in deeply. "For once I'm going to have to agree with you, how much longer till we are through these bodies?" Maya breathed in deeply. "The hall is almost complete but there are more inside it will three in the morning before we finish." Ritsuko breathed in deeply. "So be it and I also would like be told if you find Rei as well."

She eyed the burnt out structure. "That is if you find her before Asuka." Kaji eyed her before speaking coldly. "Excuse my confusion but I didn't think you cared." Ritsuko eyed him in disgust. "I don't I'm asking on Gendo's behalf because he is concerned about her."

Maya shook her head in annoyance. "Oh our mistake and here I was thinking you cared since she's the youngest on the team." Ritsuko stepped away from them. "You should all get back to work because I am not in the mood for your pathetic comments right now!" Maya watched as Ritsuko walked away going up the make shift building complex. "Great this night just keeps getting better."

She breathed in feeling her phone go off she pulled it out seeing once more that Mari had called out no doubt for an update she eyed Misato and Kaji. "You know we are going to tell them soon or at least give Sumire and Shigeru another update to tell them that we have nothing."

Kaji looked down sadly. "Sooner the better or Mari might take it up on herself to try and hack this site." Misato turned to him. "I agree with him and I can see that happening as well regarding Mari." Maya breathed in deeply. "Mari is just concerned for Asuka she's no doubt taking this as hard and as Shinji is if not worse since they only recently got reunited."

Misato breathed in looking at the others as she leaned against the holographic desk putting her boot on it as she folded her arms. "Okay tell them to push harder, tell them we have to find Rei and Asuka's bodies if there here and if there not find out what happened to them."

8

Rei opened her eyes slowly watching as a decorative ceiling came in to view she blinked painfully was she still in the auction house? No something didn't feel right she looked around at the kind sized bed with red velvet sheets and white and gold pillows it reminded of some strange celebrity royal suites the type she wasn't very fond off.

She sat up only to feel the instant pain in her nose she put her fingers on it knowing instantly that it had been fixed and had been broken as she had the procedure at least once before though it had been years ago.

She eyed the room where the bed was central sitting on a high circle and had black pillars going up around it there were table's chairs cabinets all highly expensive and decorative in dark black and a huge walks in the wet room opposite which even had a spa bath and toilet. Along with red gold carpet which had Egyptian godly figures embroiled in to it.

All strangely surrounded the bed along with a dressing mirror she turned seeing that at least three boxes had been left close to her beds end. She ignored them as she got up catching sight of the metal doors which were huge and thick and clearly to stop her leaving, there was no flat screen or radio the place was even devoid of a clock and the mild orange light was what gave the room a cold hue.

She could also see a metal opening slot on the opposite end of the room but she had no idea what it was for her gaze shifted as she pulled back the only long certain in the room below she could only see darkness. Where was she? She turned as the grinding of the lock was heard as the metal doors opened and the tall woman with glasses appeared.

She smiled as the door closed behind her. "Finally you're awake." Rei tensed as she walked past her pressing the slot on the wall which in turn caused the panel to come up revealing hot food she eyed it pulling out two plates which she laid on the round table opposite before sitting herself on the opposite side as she spoke. "I do hope you're hungry…the food is vegetarian."

Rei blinked unable to stop feeling of being on edge as she sat opposite watching as the woman started to eat some food which was clearly Italian looking. "Who are you?" The woman looked up speaking calmly. "Achika." She paused. "My brother who beat up your lover up is called Christopher."

Rei eyed her food which was a rich Miso Soup. "Why am I here?" Achika looked up. "You're here by pure accident once your nose has fully healed which might take a day or so you'll be dropped off at the nearest sea port." She paused grabbing a bottle of red wine from the wine cabinet opposite and un-corking it she slowly filled her glass then filled the other woman's. "You're being here was a pure misunderstanding, one of the foolish rude men broke your nose I fixed it personally for you."

She took a sip of her wine. "No hard feelings I would hope, also that man is now dead my brother saw to it personally." Rei felt herself tense if there was a sea port then maybe this was a boat and she was deep in the hold somewhere.

She moved her chop stick through her food. "Where is Asuka?" Achika eased up her hand. "Bellow you, who know you might even get to see her before we drop you off though I wouldn't try to escape you are hanging a hundred foot in the air there are no rooms connected to you this place can only be gotten to through an unfolding bridge, your food will be brought to you every day three square meals." She turned. "Those are new clothes just in case you feel want to change they are your size."

Achika felt a smug smile form. "I have a question though for you because I am most curious what is it like to sleep with a destroyer god encased in human form?" Rei felt a sneer form not liking how similar that smile was to Mari's it was so unsettling. "I heard your brother calling her that it makes no sense at all." Achika shook her head. "Nerv has not told you the truth have they? Well I'm going to tell you though I doubt you'll sleep better knowing it."

She raised her hand. "Your lover is a vessel within her soul is a destroyer god it's sleeping now dormant while this subdued form is in control." She leaned forward. "She destroyed this world once before and she will now fulfill her destiny once more only this time she will give all of us all of her power and we will rule this world."

Rei stared at the other woman for a long moment before speaking. "You people are out of your minds?" Achika looked at her half-finished plate. "No we are mentality sound and we are banking on the fact that she'll give this power to us because she cares about you more."

She breathed in deeply. "Because you are the one precious thing she seems to care about, it makes you most unique." She pushed up her glasses slightly. "Funny is it not how the small things in this world can have the most impact?" She felt a smug smile form. "So I'll ask once again what is it like to sleep with a death god in human form is the sexual activity at a higher degree of pleasure?"

Rei looked down slightly she didn't like talking about her sex life like Shinji she considered it private yet she was talking with it to someone she barely knew yet she knew not answering the question could cause problems since she was now a prisoner and could be very badly hurt if she didn't answer and she now deeply regretted not fighting back harder against the man who had broken her nose but she'd felt so out of her element. "I wouldn't know I have not slept with many men and women."

Achika felt a smug smile form. "Such a pity and here I was all curious." She paused. "I'm also curious why so few men and women I mean look at you, you're quite a dish not that I swing that way but if I did I wouldn't say no."

Rei tensed slightly suddenly losing her appetite because this was the reason she hated this topic she hated being seen as a prize due to her looks or because she looked like her mother. "Because those people see me as you're doing now seeing a prize not a person and I got angry because I wouldn't put out."

Achika pushed her empty plate aside putting her hands together feeling a sly smile form. "Ah it makes sense now so Asuka does not see you as some prize that's why you like her, its rather ironic since you've clearly been Nerv's prize to win while she has been the prize that no one can handle."

Rei breathed in deeply meeting the other woman's gaze. "Now I wish for my one questioned to be answered, I said you looked like Mari and you didn't like it you referred to her as the runt of the litter, so do you know her?" Achika stood up sharply feeling a cold sneer form as she eyed the younger woman. "Let's just say myself and my older brother met her and Asuka as children a very long time ago and unlike my brother I have the misfortune of sharing some attributes with her which people love to point out."

She leaned closer to Rei not caring that she was right inside her personal space. "Let me be extremely clear that I'm not her and you should never make the mistake of mistaking me for her unlike her I will never show you any form of mercy if you irritate me in some fashion."

Rei watched as the woman's mouth formed a truly sadistic smile as she spoke. "I hope we are clear on this issue as I am not in the mood today to disembowel you with my precious cutting blade so please honour my request by not bringing up this subject ever again."

Rei looked in to the other woman's eyes even through the silver rimmed glasses she knew she was deadly serious. "I understand." Achika pulled back seating herself. "Good now that we have established this here are the ground rules while you're here, your meals are provided through that slot daily three a day in total you can watch any movies, series documentary's you want via the flat screen that comes up from the bed's end but you can't watch outside media."

She moved her finger on the black table's wooden top in a slow circle. "You want any books you press the intercom by the door they'll be brought to you along with beauty and sanity products and pain killers if you need them because we all know that time of the month isn't pleasant for everyone."

She looked up slightly. "Oh yes and on that subject you want something for those carnal desires you can have that kind of material though VR is forbidden." She stood up slightly. "You see we are not barbaric, we treat our guests in a very civil way and when this all over you and Asuka can both return home once she gives her godhood to us."

Rei watched as Achika picked up the opened bottle of wine moved towards the iron door. "I still have one other question." Achika stopped turning slightly. "Which is?" Rei turned to her. "Who are you people?" Achika turned slightly. "It really matters not who we are." Rei looked at her. "I know your brother pilots the hybrid Evangelion which means you're Ankh and that means Nerv will find you."

Achika turned sniggering slightly. "Oh aren't you the smart one, believe me even if it true Nerv won't find either of you…and we made sure that it looked like someone else took you, there probably assuming its them right now and are attacking them on our behalf as our plan was always two fold take you and her and use your capture to get rid of one of our annoying rivals."

Rei watched as she left and the metal door closed behind her locking her next actions were automatic as she smashed her fist down on the table in anger and frustration. Why hadn't she pulled the trigger? She could have stopped everything if she had just done so.

She also felt very stupid since she'd told Asuka that she was being over protective over giving her a gun, when she'd been right all along. She stood up no longer caring for the food despite that a part of her felt hungry, she had, had military training and she hadn't used it ether when it mattered.

She pulled herself on the bed curling up unable to stop the tears which were short and sharp and came before she could stop them, she had to think of something there had to be a way out of this, Asuka was here as well if she could just think of something to help here they could both get out of here.

8

Kaji looked down as the last body was put in a bag, though these were from people inside the auction house and most of these bodies had not been burnt but shot and had been dead long before the fire had hit and most of it had been put out before it had gotten to them by the fire fighters.

It was unsettling how one body which was not like the others and had been in the control room had had its guts pulled which meant a slow painful death for the man in question. It was also unsettling seeing bloody hand prints on the walls and tables and blood all over the floor right now they had huge lighting rigs up in the main auction room as somehow the lighting power box had been shot out.

The only positive if you could call it that was that Asuka and Rei had not been found though Asuka's blood had been found on the floor of this place but it was only a small amount and Rei's in the corridor opposite and Gendo had just been told this.

He turned eyeing Ritsuko as she walked through the building her voice hitting the air as she eyed a bloody hand print opposite. "I just got the news you found Rei and Asuka's blood and her destroyed phone but not Rei's that was still missing."

Misato scanned another bloody print with the portable DNA scanner watching as another name popped up of a woman who was already dead. "Yes but we have not found their bodies, it's clear that we need to put a media bulletin out as they have either been captured or escaped once you've spoken with Geraldina."

She paused before speaking. "There was far more blood that was Asuka's I think she was probably trying to protect Rei but until I see that mobile footage that Shoji and Leiko are still piecing together I can't say for sure." Ritsuko looked at her. "I've heard of your impressive intelligence unit outside of the main unit do you think they can crack this?"

Misato scanned some more blood on the floor. "Yes, I have the up most faith in them, they are very good with puzzles and details and both are very patient." She watched as the scanner brought up another man who was now dead. "I don't think they wanted Rei if they did we'd already have a ransom note because she's a very high prize hostage because of her links with Gendo."

She breathed in deeply. "I believe they wanted Asuka I just don't know why since we both know why the other groups want her but Gryphon hates us they view our killing of the angels as a sin since they view them as gods on earth who should be worshipped." Ritsuko breathed in deeply. "Maybe someone told them the truth somehow and they want to end the destroyer of worlds for good and plan to do a public killing in front of the world on camera."

Misato stood up. "Yes but why take Rei why even care that she's here if you're only after the main trophy?" She looked at the bloody walls. "Something just doesn't fit about all this my gut just keeps telling me it's not Gryphon I just can't prove otherwise right now and we need to go back to Nerv to go through the footage as well as have Sumire and Shigeru inform the others as soon as they get in, in a few hours that Asuka and Rei are still alive there just not here."

End of Part 24

Silvermoonlight