FLOATING BETWEEN DARK AND LIGHT WATERS

Misato watched from a distance as the huge black Lockheed aircraft carrier appeared. It was being closely flagged by two Euro fighters, as it came towards Nerv’s official landing platform. She could see at least three press helicopters tailing it, as the report was now out that Rei and Asuka had been found. She could see two of the medical staff waiting with the special quarantine coffins along with Maya and Kaji, as well as Ritsuko and Gendo whose faces were unreadable as normal.

She stepped back as the huge aircraft carrier landed and the two Euro fighters carefully landed next to it. She watched as the huge bay door opened as Marcus walked out a smile on his face as he raised his hand as the SAS grew came out armed as they took up formation. “Well hello there Misato! Long-time no see.” Misato walked up to him as she shook the big man’s hand. “Welcome back Marcus the last time I saw you was when you were bringing Mari over from Britain.”

Marcus turned eyeing his team. “Okay shift out the escape pod so their heavy duty van can take it away!” He watched as they sped in to action, he turned back to her grinning. “So are you working hard or hardly working?” Misato watched as he walked towards the others. “A bit of both….”

She turned eyeing the others. “Let me in introduce you to Maya who is head of our science division.” Marcus felt a sly grin form. “Heard all about you, from a certain someone...” He eased out his hand ignoring her surprise. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Maya shook his hand trying to ignore her nervousness. “It’s nice to meet you Marcus.”

Misato moved forward. “This is Kaji who you do know.” Marcus pulled Kaji in to a hug patting his back before pulling away. “Yeah I remember you, nice to see you’ve grown a beard and settled down.” Kaji laughed as he eyed him. “Yeah well I’m getting older have to look the part.”

Misato moved back watching as a huge heavy duty military truck rolled up as the Nerv’s special ops division got out and took the covered escape pod from the SAS team pushing it inside the huge truck before closing the back doors on it. “This is Ritsuko and the commander the leaders here though I believe you met the commander already.” Marcus eyed them both. “Commander and Madam….”

Ritsuko rolled her eyes. “It’s Ritsuko.”

Marcus lowered his head doing the Japanese’s bow out of respect. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

Gendo eyed him as he spoke in a dead pan tone. “That’s not necessary, here under UN protocol all armies can greet in the standard of their own countries.”

Marcus stood up slightly. “Must have missed that rule but I’ll be sure to look it up.”

Ritsuko looked at him. “You know you’re really not what I imagined when they told us you were of Jamaican decent.” Marcus turned eyeing her in annoyance. “What were you expecting me to have a spliff in my mouth and to say hello there man, at the end of every sentence?”

Maya breathed in looking at the staff as the SAS took up their formations again as the huge heavy duty van turned going towards the underground opening which was at the very left of the air field which opened up as it vanished from sight. Though a number of the Nerv special ops stayed including Kyo who had said he wanted to be there during Asuka’s quarantine. “Okay, go now put both pilots carefully inside the quarantine coffins.”

Marcus turned to her. “They are both sleeping so it shouldn’t be a problem and once Asuka gets put in the first tank, the LCL bandage will melt right off her. If it’s done its job her bruising should be healed some and we gave her a very strong pain killer so she might be quite slow when she comes around, hard as nails woman that one, clearly torture didn’t break her.”

Kyo walked forward speaking in a tone filled with pride. “I taught her how to take it she’s my little ball of fire after all.” Marcus eyed him raising his hand. “Ah you must be Kyo I’ve heard about you from Mari, as she speaks highly of you.”

Kyo looked at him for a long moment. “My job is train the pilots to be the best they can be in all situations.” Marcus felt his smile widen. “Well maybe once the quarantine is over we can have a chat over some beer together and talk about how many faces we’ve smashed in, since I’ll have to stay here overnight since all our planes need recharging core wise.” Kyo nodded calmly. “Yes I’d enjoy that.”

Maya watched as the two coffins were carefully rolled out of the Lockheed. She walked over to them looking inside seeing that both Asuka and Rei were sleeping really deeply. “Send them both to main quarantine quickly.” Gendo raised his gloved hand as he walked forward. “Stop!”

Misato turned blinking in surprise she clearly wasn’t the only one who was surprised as Gendo walked up to both coffins. She moved alongside him. “Is there a problem commander?” Gendo ignored her as he moved over to Rei’s coffin where the see through glass was as he could see her face only nothing more.

He raised his gloved hand putting it gently on the plane of glass next to Rei’s face though he couldn’t touch her as he stood there looking down at her almost transfixed. Misato eyed the Commander she was used to him being strange but this was strange even for him. He never normally showed this kind of emotion least of all to his children, who he normally viewed as objects and property as well as extensions of himself. Maybe this event had really gotten to him somehow, maybe it had hurt for him to see that one of his children could be taken from him and could not always be protected.

Maybe there was a chance he would learn a lesson from this and get what she’d gone through looking after them for years and how she worried like hell sometimes. Even if they were late in from school or burnt them-selves cooking. When they hurt themselves playing or had to go to hospital for jabs and check-ups or just needed a hug as they needed to cry or vent painful emotion.

Because that was the part nether Ritsuko or Gendo got about parenting and how hard and stressful it could be. Gendo carried on staring at Rei unable to keep the memory out of his mind of Yui showing her to him and Shinji after she’d been born in the hospital room. He pulled away not liking the feelings or memory or how they were effecting him as he stepped away speaking coldly. “Take them to quarantine.” Misato eyed him. “Yes commander.”

8

Marcus eyed the six small tanks which were in two lines with three aside. The special LCL had colours which were yellow, red and blue, though on Asuka’s side the last tank was green and not blue. Both pilots were in the first yellow tank stripped down naked as had to stay in each for a five minute stretch. He could only see from above as the only staff allowed below were Ritsuko and Misato while Maya was working the control room this was for the pilots own privacy. “So why is the last tank on Asuka’s side green and not blue when it fills?”

Kyo breathed in deeply. “She had an issue with almost drowning as a child, so she won’t go near deep blue water or swim in it so we have to colour her last tank in green LCL. Otherwise she’ll have an anxiety or panic attack.”

He paused. “For all the rest of the pilots it’s always blue.” He breathed in sadly. “But Asuka’s not the issue here she goes through this quite well. Rei on the other hand not so much. We don’t know what causes it but she gets really moody in quarantine it’s like she was born to hate it. She is the politest of the pilot’s though she is developing a certain amount of talk back at late but we feel it’s because she’s becoming more confident.”

He leaned on the rail. “But in quarantine she can be extremely moody, bad tempered as well as wall crawls and it’s never changed since she was a child.”

Marcus breathed in deeply. “She did say she didn’t like it on the way up here but I assumed it was just general dislike not outright seething hatred.”

Kyo smirked as he raised his hand. “It’s seething hated you’ll see soon enough.”

Marcus eyed him as a question hit him. “I apologise if this is a rude question but I’ve been told by everyone that you are Asuka’s father figure.”

Kyo looked at him. “You’re not wrong that is true, though I’ve never told Asuka.” Marcus put his hands together. “So Mari came out recently, how do I tell her I’m okay with it? I suspected for the longest time but never said anything.” Kyo raised an eyebrow. “You just tell them that you love and respect them and that nothing has changed and you’ll try to help if they want advice.”

He smirked. “Or you can just shove playboy and playgirl magazines in their back pack when their old enough.” Marcus turned as he started to laugh. “Oh gods you really did that?” Kyo sniggered as he eyed him. “Yeah trust me tell them before you do that, or they get really pissed off.”

Misato breathed in moving over to Rei’s side of the glass as the young woman had her back to her and looked angry. While Asuka was in the other tank huddled up in an almost fetal like position just taking it in her stride. Despite that she was clearly very tired and even from here she could see the heavy bruising on her body and like Rei she had refused to take her pendent off and it was now coming through the tanks with her.

She tapped the glass as she pressing the button so Rei could hear her voice on the other side. “Okay Rei this tank is going to be unfilled and be closed. I need you to move to next one, through the tunnel.” Rei turned pressing the button on her side. “Do I really have to go through this crap?!”

Misato watched as the tank slowly drained as she spoke seeing Ritsuko knock on the other tank getting Asuka to move though it was slow with her as her tank unfilled and she coughed up the LCL before moving down the tunnel to the next tank where she sat down again then curling up. “Yes Rei, you have to do this.”

She watched as the tank unfilled and Rei coughed up the LCL. She moved slowly up the tunnel to the next one sitting down watching as it filled up, it took a minute for her to relax in the second LCL tank before she pressed the button again inside. “It tastes like antiseptic in here it’s awful.”

Misato pressed the tanks com. “It’s for your own good Rei you know you are never like this in the hospital wing.” Rei’s face turned to a dark scowl followed by her eyes suddenly lighting up glowing red as she spoke darkly though razor pointed teeth. “The hospital wing doesn’t taste bad in my mouth!”

Misato blinked in surprised as she pressed the com. “Rei…” Rei eyed her. “What?” Misato raised her hand putting it near her own mouth. “Teeth…” She watched as Rei’s hand went to her mouth. A look of annoyance appeared on the younger woman’s face as she turned her back on her. Misato turned the com off as she spoke to Ritsuko. “So how’s yours doing?”

Ritsuko folded her arms. “Tired, slow but causing no trouble for once.” Misato eyed Asuka’s bruises. “She’s badly hurt the LCL bandage did help but now it’s off Maya needs to give her some really high end healing medication. When she gets out in to the overnight room it’s going to be a hard night for her, as it will really hurt while she heals.”

Ritsuko nodded calmly. “So I assume you’re having fun over there…with the first child who loves to make it known that she hates everything about this process.” Misato shook her head. “Yeah that’s about right.”

Ritsuko eyed her tablet. “I will never understand why she behaves this way. There’s footage of Yui doing this to test the process worked and she was perfectly relaxed and so is Shinji but Rei no she acts like you stole one of her books.”

Misato looked at her. “I’m surprised you took such notice, since you don’t really care about these pilots and these two are your least favourites.” Ritsuko eyed her in disgust. “I do care about these pilots! As much as you might not believe it, this has been hard for me these past few days seeing this whole thing play out.”

She turned as the warning suddenly sounded in Asuka’s tank as the woman suddenly started coughing violently in to the LCL. She turned bringing up the holographic panel pressing it as she put her glasses on. “There’s something wrong here, she shouldn’t be doing that what’s going on?!” Maya’s voice hit the air. “She throwing up clearly something she’s eaten isn’t good for her and the LCL is doing its job and purging it from her body. I’m flooding with water to rehydrate her and anti-sickness medication now.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Ritsuko watched as Asuka’s body started to relax as she pressed the com ignoring the fact the Rei was right up behind Misato in the other tank looking over clearly seeing that something was wrong with her girlfriend though her eyes and teeth had not returned to normal. “Asuka what did you eat in the last few days?”

Asuka moved pressing the com on the other side as she spoke weakly. “Beef stew and canned food from the year two thousand.” Ritsuko breathed in deeply. “So lots of canned meat I assume?”

Asuka breathed in painfully. “Five cans or something...I forget.” Ritsuko turned eyeing Misato as she turned off the com. “It’s the canned meat the LCL is just doing its job.” She pressed the com again. “Okay Asuka time for the final tank.”

She paused. “The next one might hurt your chest a little but it’s just the LCL doing its job, tap on the glass if you want pain medication.” Asuka eyed her though the glass her glowing left eye pulsing while her other looked uncertain and deeply weary. “I have no idea why your being nice to me but stop it, its verfickte weird.”

Misato turned trying not to laugh as she pressed the com on Rei’s side. “It’s okay Rei, Asuka was just very sick in the tank as that one is meant to purge anything bad in your system.” Rei pressed her com on the other side. “Yeah I know first one does skin and muscle, the second stomach and guts and the last purges all other organs including the heart but it’s hard to watch her suffer anymore as she’s already suffered enough.”

Misato pressed the com again watching as Asuka sat in the final tank as it filled up. “Okay Rei last tank.” She watched as it unfilled and Rei coughed up the LCL before moved to the last tank which slowly filled up though Asuka showed no discomfort she watched as Rei started to squirm she pressed the com. “Rei are you okay?”

Rei pressed her com her red eyes glowing even brighter as she spoke through gritted razor sharp teeth. “No I’m not this last tank always gives me weird sensations like period pain!” Ritsuko looked up slightly. “Tell Maya to give her the special meds for that.” Misato turned bringing up the hologram screen near the tank. “Maya I need the special meds in Rei’s tank.” Maya’s voice hit the air. “Okay flooding now.”

Misato watched as Rei relaxed slowly as she turned off the com. “Is that normal?” Ritsuko eased off her glasses putting them in her suits pocket. “Yes it is some women experience period pain like cramps and some men get uncomfortable pain in their testacies. We can’t stop it we can only give pain medication.”

She eyed the small tanks. “It’s just part of the LCL doing its job Maya’s been trying to fix this but so far she has no effective solutions.” Misato folded her arms. “Well I hope you find a solution because I had no idea it caused this level of pain.”

Ritsuko turned watching as both of the final tanks emptied. “You’ll have to excuse me I need to be present while Maya gives them their drugs that help with healing as they’ll both have to have another full body scan before they enter the separate quarantine rooms and their needs to be two people present. So we’ll take it from here.”

8

Rei breathed in as she lay back on the single bed feeling the boredom set in instantly. She’d been given three drugs and some food which she’d eaten really fast and with utter gusto. Getting through all of the hospital food fast and for the first time in days, she felt full.

Though her appetite had, had nothing over Asuka’s she’d eaten everything and asked for two more servings. It had shocked Maya that her teeth had turned to razors while eating. She hadn’t cared for cutlery ether and had eaten in an almost primal manner. She had told Maya that she’d had no food other than the canned meat which had been purged and a small bowl of beef stew.

After eating Asuka had just rolled up on the bed falling to sleep again either because of the pain in her body or from being overly full. Either way she was out of it much the same as she’d been on the air craft carrier coming back to Japan.

She’d tapped on the glass separating them to speak to her which wasn’t sound proof so they could speak to each other but she hadn’t come around. She’d just buried herself deeper in the bed covers though she’d rambled something in German in her sleep none of which made sense to her.

This was clearly what she needed to rest and recuperate her strength but not having her to speak to made this all the more boring. These rooms were just as awful as she remembered she hated the lack of privacy and the glass that meant people could look in and check you over like you were some lab rat.

She lay back on the bed adjusting her hospital top and trousers as she threw the magazine she had been reading to one side. Her father wasn’t here but that was no surprise it was not like he cared. She twisted and turned sharply on the bed he was probably drinking wine and dining with Ritsuko right now since he didn’t love her or her brother and saw them both as tools.

She looked up sharply watching as the door on the far side of the room opened as she could see it through the glass. Shinji walked through closely followed by Mari, who looked extremely anxious as the door was shut behind them and locked.

She stood up not being able to contain her joy as Shinji ran towards the glass coming to greet her as she ran up to it. Her big brother’s face was filled with excitement and almost tearful, as she spoke softly. “Shinji.” Shinji breathed in as he looked at his little sister trying to stop the tears from falling it was so hard though as it wasn’t sadness but more relief that she was here. “I missed you so much, I’m so glad you’re okay.”

He breathed in deeply and painful. “We were all so worried about you. We didn’t know that you’d been captured and we feared you were both dead.” Rei looked at him wishing she could touch him through the glass as the tears began to run down her face. She raised her hand putting it against the glass watching as he did the same on his side putting his hand against hers. “No they wanted Asuka. I was treated as the guest purely because of my relations to Gendo they broke my nose by mistake but repaired it.”

Shinji spoke unable to keep the anger out of his voice. “Did they touch you in any other way?” Rei shook her head. “No not at all, they feared causing harm to me in the first place.” Shinji looked at her wiping a few tears away with his sleeve. “They only let us in to see you, none of the others. As they said you were both really under the weather and wanted you to have as little stress as possible. They said they are letting you both out tomorrow but they have to run a final set of tests.”

Rei didn’t think as she smashed her fist against the glass as she spoke in a heated angry tone. “What as if it isn’t bad enough feeling like a lab rat in this crappy place. I have to have more tests they already dosed me with painkiller twice and I’m still feeling it!”

Shinji looked at her with concern he knew how much she hated this and how hard it was for her. “It’s just for tonight Rei.” Rei put her head up against the glass. “I hate it in here, it’s boring and I can’t touch any one through the glass. It’s like being in an empty void.”

Shinji leaned his head against the glass watching as she wiped her tears away. “You’re going be okay Rei. We can stay here all night with you if you need that and Kaworu, Toji and Sakura said they go to your home tonight and cover for you and look after Erika, as she really misses you both.” Rei put her hand through her hair in frustration before looking at him. “I know it’s a lot to ask but you could you both stay. I can’t talk to Asuka right now and it’s so lonely in here.”

Mari eyed Asuka through the glass as she tapped on it. “Hey little sister, are you going to wake up in there and say hello to me!?” She got no response as Asuka mumbled in her sleep but didn’t wake up.

Rei looked at her as she spoke sadly. “I can’t wake her up ether, I tried. I don’t know if its food or painkillers but she got through three trays of hospital food and then ran out of steam and has been sleeping ever since.” Mari blinked she wanted to be surprised but she reality wasn’t. “So she’s in a food coma…can’t really blame her, I heard whose who captured you didn’t feed her.”

Rei breathed in painfully she knew that Mari wasn’t saying everything and she would rather both her and Asuka solve this alone, as it was a deep family matter. “All they gave her was stew and second LCL tank purged her stomach of the remainder of canned meat as it saw it as not good for her.”

She breathed in deeply. “Apparently her teeth also come out during ravenous hunger even I wasn’t aware of that.” Mari watched as Rei sat down she watched as Shinji did the same. She slowly moved to sit opposite him. “They said Ankh captured you both.” Rei nodded. “They did, but we can go in to more details later as I really don’t want to talk about it right now.”

She turned as Asuka suddenly said something loudly in her sleep in German as she turned on to her back throwing the covers slightly which caused Mari to snigger. “What did she just say?” Mari looked up. “I know all about your little masturbation fantasies about me first child.”

Rei turned sharply seeing Shinji look around awkwardly only for Asuka’s voice to hit the air again. Though this time not in German but in Japanese. “Go ahead, and do it right now... I'll even stand here and watch you.” Mari looked up laughing harder. “Maybe she had too much cheese or something and she’s having a really weird sexual dream.”

Rei turned eyed Asuka. “That’s weird since she hasn’t referred to me as first child since school.” Shinji breathed in deeply letting the next breath out slowly. “Probably a school dream then.” Rei looked at him. “Probably it’s not like she doesn’t have fantasies.” She turned seeing Mari’s face form a wide grin. “And I’m not going to tell you what they are, as their between us.” Mari’s face turned to utter disappointment. “No fair you brought it up.”

She raised a hand pointing at Shinji. “Plus Kaworu doesn’t hide what goes on with Shinji, he just blurts it out.” Rei looked at her watching as Shinji looked down trying to hide his utter embarrassment. “No offence Mari but I’m tired I just want to talk to you both about what’s been happening. I really missed you.”

Shinji looked up slightly. “Sure there’s so much to tell though.” Rei shifted closer to the glass putting her hands together. “Tell me everything, please.” Mari felt a sly smile form. “Well you know that women Toji ran in to.” Rei nodded. “Yes I remember.” Shinji turned to her. “Well we think he’s going to ask her out soon.” Rei felt her smile widen. “That’s really nice to hear, tell me more.”

8

Mari walked up the corridor moving over to the fast food machine as she leaned forward eyeing it. It was late and Rei was finally asleep and so was Shinji. Both of them were sleeping in the room they’d both been given blankets and pillow the truth was she just wasn’t tired.

Her brain just kept going back to the fact that her little sister probably knew the truth and she had noticed that Rei had not said anything in great detail. She breathed in deeply she probably knew the truth but she keeping it to herself because Asuka might have told her to, before she’d passed out from over eating.

She eyed the vending machine again the truth nothing took her fancy. “Why you going for that crap kid, I can buy you some real food?”

Mari turned watching as Marcus came in to view as the big man smiled. “Marcus!” She leapt in to his arm feeling his arms wrap around as he bear hugged her. His big booming voice hit the air. “Sorry I’m so late to see you, they had to debrief me I’m so happy to see you.”

Mari breathed in deeply and contentedly. She had missed this so much and he was the closest thing to a real father that she had. “I’m so happy you’re here I really missed you.” Marcus pulled away looking at her as he kept his hands on her shoulders. “I hope you’re keeping well and eating enough and that you are keeping away from having to many sweets.”

He paused as he pulled up a box. “Though I thought I’d give you these, since you’re really fond of them you know as a treat.” Mari eyed the box seeing the logo. “Are those peppermint creams?” Marcus nodded. “Yes.”

Mari took the box from his hand. “Thank you so much, I can’t get these over here that often.” Marcus felt a wide smile form. “You can thank Alexandra as she helped pick these up as well. She says she’s having two more boxes sent to you.” Mari tensed sharply. “Don’t see why she’s helping, she fucking hates my guts.”

Marcus shook his head sadly. “No she has been trying to contact you but you keep ignoring her calls. As she really wants to speak to about what happened here not long ago, because she realizes it wasn’t your fault the drugs those traitor spies were giving you, were messing up your mind.”

He raised a hand. “She’s really sorry for not treating you well or understanding all of your issues.” He paused. “I mean she busted those television reporters for outing you. She was real pissed, since she felt your sexuality was not some media tool to be exploited.”

Mari looked down sadly. “What do you think of my sexuality? Like I understand if it’s not to your liking…I mean I lied to you.” She breathed feeling the sudden sting of her tears. “I lied to you I lied to everyone at Nerv’s London Bethany base. I even brought women from outside on to the base and screwed them and then I blamed it on Joshua during the program because I hated his guts because all he ever did was call me fat and stupid.”

Marcus didn’t think as he pulled her in to a hug. “This doesn’t change anything about how I feel about you Mari. Nothing ever could, believe me and nothing about your liking women changes anything I’m just happy to finally know that side of you and you keeping it secret like that for so long must have really hurt you.”

He pulled away slightly wiping away her tears with his thumb. “Also regarding Joshua that guy was vile wanker, he wasn’t good for the program and I knew he was gay as I saw him with a guy once kissing on base but I didn’t suspect the women coming on to base was you. I thought it was Emily, who works in logistics.” Mari laughed despite her tears. “Emily, yeah I can see why you’d say that she does look the type but she only likes guys.” Marcus pulled away shrugging. “Shows what I know doesn’t it? I’ve never been that good at reading sexuality I did start to suspect after you came here, but I just wasn’t sure.”

He paused. “Alexandra though she had a hunch you might like women from the start, but I didn’t know that until she told me recently.” Mari rolled her eyes. “Might have known, I think she saw one of my dirty magazines once.” Marcus moved putting his hand on her shoulder. “Hey I’m just glad I finally know what you’re in to. As I thought it was unhealthy for a woman of your age to have no sex life as we all need that from time to time even if it’s just for the physical side or self-love.”

He raised his hand. “How’s about we get some food and you can tell me more along with the whole story with your step sister Asuka and about this Maya who you really like. As I saw her when I landed, she’s very cute.” Mari felt a sly smile form. Oh she is, I really like her.”

End of part 35

Silvermoonlight