THE FEELING OF SIMPLE HOPE

Marcus walked along the battered south George islands as he breathed in deeply. “I hate this place, can’t wait till Oculus repairs it.” He could now see the huge Lockheed over the red water opposite being protected by a Euro fighter, which was hovering above as they had said that something had come up on the scanners that didn’t belong here.

He turned as the huge grabbing magnetic claw on the Lockheed went down deep in to the water. Causing it to bubbled and churn, as large rocket like object painted in gold white and blue which was clearly some form of escape pod was pulled out of the red bloody deep waters. “Well that explains how she got here.”

He watched as it was lowered as it hit the shore as the pilot pulled the release and the magnetic claw went back inside the under carriage as he spoke over the com. “Well that doesn’t belong here that’s for sure, and it’s not from any country design I know in our data base.”

Marcus eyed it. “Go land when we leave here we’ll take it with us back to Japan, they can look it over.” The female medic spoke opposite him. “On the bright side Sir if we find them fast we might get to see the cruise liner RMS Titanic the White Star Line jewel in crown, as she is making her hundredth voyage today.”

Marcus folded his arms. “Oh please, don’t talk to me about the White Star Line they’ve been riding my ass for the last week, over the fact that Rei’s unit 00 smashed and damaged their second most popular Cruise liner the Lusitania which has had to go back to the Belfast docs for repairs.”

He shook his head as he pulled on his breathing mask watching as the huge Lockheed landed. “They got compensated just like the Brazilians did over the super dreadnought, now there complaining that they don’t want Evangelions anywhere near there golden league of cruise liner ships and they say the RMS Titanic is off limits on all counts.”

The man opposite raised his device. “I’m picking up Asuka’s signal but it’s really strong, way stronger than we were expecting.” Marcus walked over to him eyeing the read out. “That is really strong. Its angel strength yet she’s human.” He breathed in through his oxygen mask. “How far away is she?”

The man eyed the device. “She over a mile away in one of the hotels...” The woman opposite pulled up her arm pressing it watching as three dimensional hologram shot up from her wrist which she rotated slowly. “Based on his information Sir I track her at Forte Royal. The derelict hotel that used to be a tourist trap where you could go a see the wildlife, as they used to have ocean trips out there.”

Marcus breathed in deeply. “Yeah my father told me about this place when I was a small boy, you could go out and see penguins, seals and polar bears.” The man opposite spoke. “What’s a polar bear?” Marcus pulled up his gun. “A bear that’s bigger than a brown or black bear and far more dangerous. They used to attack and eat people, be happy they are last on Oculus list here and they are currently at the North Pole.”

He watched as men and women pulled up their weapons are they started walking behind him as they began to make their way through the cold wet ruins with their bloody vines everywhere. “Now let’s move out, the faster we get there the better.”

8

Asuka opened her eyes slowly, she could hear footsteps sounding down the corridor from heavy boots, which were coming towards the closed door of the room. She breathed in deeply seeing that Rei hadn’t woken up she was still sleeping on her chest and unmoving.

She took in a deep breath freeing her hands from Rei’s body as she lowered them out of sight. If they were from Ankh she had one chance to shoot them but she would have to play dead, so they could get close enough as if they thought she was ill or dying they’d see her as less of a threat. She breathed slowly closing both eyes to slits as she lay still slowing her breathing so it was low as she shifted her gaze towards the ceiling aimlessly.

She watched as the door was pushed open as a bunch of solders came through who were all dressed in dark military gear, which she couldn’t quite make out due to the faded light of the room. As they all walked closer she could see masks which covered their faces. The closest spoke her voice clearly female. “We’ve found them they are both here general.” She tensed her arms getting ready as other spoke opposite. All of them were speaking in English. “How did they both fucking survive here? The airs meant to be toxic as shit due to these creeper vines?”

The first solider moved closer her voice filled with uncertainty. “No offence but Langley doesn’t look alive, she looks like she’s passed out.” The other man opposite spoke. “The general said not to touch her or get close, because like Mari she’ll take your shit at any opportunity.” The other woman spoke. “Yes he clearly said that and the general said that her grandmother is head of Nerv Germany.” The woman moved closer. “Fuck you all she’s half passed out and look Ayanami is with her.”

She moved even closer. “I’m going check her since she’s the less foul tempered one in the relationship.” She moved closer easing her hand down to check Rei’s neck. “Ayanami’s okay I got a steady pulse!”

Asuka didn’t think her next action was automatic as she grabbed the pistol from its holder on the woman’s belt before she could re-react taking the safety off as she jammed it violently in to her lower stomach. She spoke coldly keeping her finger on the trigger as sat up fully looking at the female solider feeling her felt eye ignite and her teeth turn to razors. She spoke coldly in English, knowing it wasn’t her best language. “You should have verfickte listened to your friends!”

She felt a cold sneer form as she spoke again looking up in to the woman’s masked face. “Now how’s about you tell me who are right now. Or I don’t blow a hole in your privates making it so you can’t have children!” She watched as Rei’s eyes shot open as she looked around her realizing what was going on.

Asuka turned hearing laughter only to watch as a large well build unmasked man with a white beard who looked like he was of Jamaican decent appeared speaking calmly. “Well what was it I said to you people, oh yes that’s right don’t touch Asuka it might end badly for you.” He sniggered coming closer eyeing the female solider who looked uncomfortable now. “If it’s all the same with you could you kindly not shoot her, she meant well believe me.”

Asuka eyed him. “How’s about you tell me who you verfickte are, before I turn this gun on you?!” Marcus blinked before laughing again. “Well I’m Marcus joint head of the British Nerv division with Alexandra who runs the SIS. It’s a great to see that you and Rei are not dead.”

He smirked again. “Oh and I’m Mari’s dad if you will, so it’s a pleasure to finally meet the person she considers to be her little sister even if not by blood because in our private calls which are on our special channel, she talks a lot about you.” Rei eased up her hand gently putting it on Asuka’s pushing the gun away from the woman’s lower waist seeing her breath out under the military armour. She spoke in the best English she could. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Marcus.” Marcus moved closer to her taking her hand and shaking it. “It’s an honour to meet you Rei Ayanami and they clearly don’t lie, you really do look similar to your mother.”

He paused seeing her face suddenly become very unreadable as she got out of the tub. “I met her once when I was a younger man at one of the Nerv conferences amazing and intelligent woman. The work she did for the Evangelion program along with her sister Kiko and Asuka’s mother Kyoko was exceptional.”

Rei looked at him blinking in surprise this was truly a first, normally outside of Nerv when people talked about her mother it was normally to say that they’d chatted her up or that she’d rejected there advances. None of which she cared about or wanted to hear and she’d become tired of hearing these men and women in power who her mother had spurred complain to her about it, when it had nothing to do with her since she’d been a child at the time.

Rei turned to him about to say that she was a great woman only to stop as the truth was she was alive and well inside unit 01. “Myself and my brother only have photographs of her only ones from the science achieve and all the recordings are from that to, we don’t have ones of us just being a family do you have any?”

Marcus breathed in deeply hearing that was truly saddening. “Yes we have two in the British achieve of her in private interviews it’s not science stuff they are recordings on her feelings on the program and her family. They were never released publicly, as Gendo stopped them going on air.” He looked at her for a long moment. “You’re more than welcome to have them.” Rei looked up slightly as one of the soldiers put a sheet on her to keep her warm. “I’d like that a lot.”

Marcus turned watching as Asuka left eye and teeth returned to normal as started to get up but it was clearly a huge painful effort. “Hey want a hand?” Asuka eyed her. “No…” Marcus didn’t think as he gently took hold of her arm easing her out ignoring her cold look. “You’re as bad as Mari, what is it with you two and hiding pain?”

Asuka felt his hand let go only to feel body give out as Rei grabbed her stopping her from falling to her knees. “Please tell me you have pain killers…I need some badly?” Marcus watched as another solider put a blanket over Asuka while the woman who she had threatened to shoot moved forward pulling out a medical bag as she was this SAS team’s medic. “Oh yes we got plenty do you want weak, medium or strong?”

Asuka looked up painful. “Strong…” Marcus watched as the medic pulled out her medical gun setting it up. “This can make people a little out of it, are you good with that?” Asuka eyed him as Rei helped her stand again. “Yes so long as Rei is the one who gives it me and not any of you.” Rei moved taking the gun from the medic’s hand. “It’s nothing personal; she just really hates people who shove in needles.”

She turned easing up Asuka’s hair as she pressed it carefully against her neck watching as it fired off before handing the gun back. Marcus folded his arms. “Okay let’s get you both out of here we’ll put you aboard our medical air craft carrier. You’ll be given full body scans which we will send to Nerv central then you’ll have to be put you on clean oxygen for at least four hours to ensure you have no toxic crap in your lungs from this place.”

He folded his arms. “Oh yes and we need carry your sunken escape pod back to Japan, which we have now put inside our Lockheed air craft carrier.” Rei looked up slightly seeing that Asuka’s good eye was starting to glaze over as the drug was starting to really kick in. “This place is toxic?”

Marcus raised a hand. “Very and we have no idea how your both not affected by it, it kills most people with in twelve hours of being here. We’ve had people in the past come try to steal from here since the old world items here are so prized and worth an awful lot on money on both the antique and black markets. They have not lived to talk about it and we’ve ended up bringing home body bags or even just their bones.”

Rei felt Asuka weight shift against her. “Wait we have an escape pod?” Marcus moved over to Asuka helping her to keep standing. “Yes, look we’ll talk about it on the flight over to Japan as it’s clear your girlfriend is getting rather high on the pain killing drug and needs to lie down.”

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Rei looked at Asuka knowing he was right as she was clearly out of it now. “Help me get her to your air craft carrier.” Marcus moved closer feeling a smile form. “Sure and when we get on it you‘ll both get new clothes. We have showers on board so you can wash yourself as you’ll both need to as we also have a special soap for getting the toxic partials of your skin but I hate to say after this Nerv will probably quarantine you overnight anyway.”

8

I look out of the window of the huge Lockheed aircraft carrier as we fly over the sparking blue waters which have sea birds flying over them they feel so alive and full of life. I can’t say it was fun washing in the soap in the closed of medical area. I had to help Asuka as she was somewhat out of it and it clearly hurt as her bruises are not getting any better. Yet it just felt so good to be clean again even if we both now have to be in this closed off quarantine glass area of the ship with breathing masks on and hospital pyjamas since all of our clothes have been bagged.

Asuka has also had a really weird bandage put on her body under her clothing which Marcus told me is a special LCL bandage. As they’ve been developing it in Britain its top layer dries solid but the under layer remains spongy hence you can put clothing on over it. They say if it works, it should heal some of Asuka’s bruising that’s more serious. Asuka though is fast asleep the moment her head hit the bed she drifted off and hasn’t woken up since. She’s now sleeping on the bed opposite mine with her breathing mask on we have both been put on drips which has made me feel slightly better.

The escape pod we used is on board as this flying aircraft carrier is so huge it can fit tanks and other military weapons inside. She turned as Marcus’s voice hit the air. “Hey look out on your window side Rei, or you’re going to miss it!” I turn again watching as a huge modern cruise liner appears in the water its lower part covered in pure black while its upper half is pure white. It has four golden chummily pillars with black tops but there more decorative than anything else and a nod to The White Star Lines long lustrous history as the empire ship builder of the world.

It’s the biggest cruise liner in the world with twenty decks and a maximum capacity of seven thousand eight hundred people and it’s massive at one thousand and eight hundred feet across. It has every luxury imaginable the RMS Titanic is the oldest serving line of ships in the White Star fleet the first made its successful voyage from Southampton on tenth of April back in nineteen ten and made it to the America.

Since then the Titanic class has been constantly upgraded and this is the tenth incarnation and they have an impeccable record and have some of the hugest power cores built. There meant to be the size of houses and have to swapped out monthly at the Belfast docs where it’s first version is also opposite in the White Star museum and you can walk around it.

I’ve seen huge ships before but I have to say this is so big the pictures do it no justice you can see it funnelling through the water like a rocket. It might be a liner but it is such a show of power, magnificence and spectacle its making its worldwide trip from Britain to New Zealand and back on its the golden hundredth voyage it makes me feel bad that during my last battle with the Archangel that 00’s face and body was smashed in to its smaller sister ship the Lusitania.

Marcus watched as they flew over the huge ship whose passenger’s waved at them from the highest deck with its restaurants and water sport areas as well as swimming pools. “You know the White Star Line were really unhappy about you busting up the other sister ship.”

Rei took a breath from her oxygen mask before speaking. “It wasn’t intentional.” Marcus folded his arms a sly smile forming. “You misunderstand I found it hilarious along with Asuka throwing a super dreadnaught at that Archangel.” Rei turned blinking in surprise it was weird as she was seeing a lot of Mari’s behaviour already in this man and they hadn’t been with him long.

She turned eyeing Asuka. “It a shame she’s asleep, she would have loved to see this ship.” Marcus stroked his beard. “Oh don’t worry I have a HD camera on this filming I’ll give you a copy so you can both watch it after you get out of Japan’s quarantine.”

Rei felt a smile form despite how tired her body felt. “So your Mari’s dad?” Marcus leaned forward. “Yes I trained Mari and I’m her dad of sorts, I’m also really looking forward to seeing her again. As I’ve been very busy as of late I have not had time to visit Nerv central. I had intended to come up to next week as I wanted to ask how she was doing now that she’s out of the closet, so to speak.”

He leaned forward eyeing Asuka. “Although like everyone else I did not see the step sister thing coming, but it explains a lot.” Rei leaned over gently stroking Asuka’s hair. “I don’t think any of us did the only pilot that worked it out was Toji who is Mari’s close friend.” She turned to him. “I think Mari will really like your visit.” Marcus put his hands together. “I hope so, I realize I didn’t visit after the Alpha Unit accident but I felt it was time for her to behave like an adult and clean up her own mess and I guess it worked out.”

He leaned back eyeing Asuka. “I know I’m not meant to ask but was she tortured? It’s just I saw the bruising all over her body and it looks horrific.” Rei looked at Asuka. “Yes she was tortured…not sexually but physically, she’s the strongest person I know but this really took it out of her.” Marcus looked at her through the see through glass where the speaker was as he spoke very quietly. “Were you tortured?”

Rei shook her head. “No I was treated as a guest because they said I was Gendo’s daughter but they did break my nose when they captured me but they fixed it before I regained consciousness…but they made me watch when they tortured her.”

Marcus raised his hand seeing the pain in her face. “Hey it’s okay you don’t have to say anymore, you should get some rest we’ll be touching down back in Japan soon.” Rei breathed in deeply. “I can’t sleep right now my mind just won’t let me. I hate Nerv quarantine its awful…I’d rather stay awake before I have to go in to those awful white wash rooms where they have glass to see in and a single bed. The only part that’s closed off is the bathroom and the three different coloured LCL tanks are so unpleasant they smell and taste all wrong when you go through them completely naked.”

Marcus leaned on his elbow. “Yeah I heard it’s not fun and I deeply sympathize as I wouldn’t like to be butt naked in those tanks since its five minutes of sitting between tanks and you have to use the special glass walk way between all three.” He paused before speaking. “Though I recall Mari never used to care, I assume nothing changed regarding that?”

Rei laughed slightly. “No nothing’s changed Mari and Toji really don’t care about those tanks, they just let it all hang out unlike the rest of us who curl up and can’t wait till it’s over because we can’t stand it.”

She felt herself tense. “I hate the rooms it feels like you’re in a human zoo because there so tiny.” Marcus looked at her. “If it helps just focus on your friends and family being able to see you again as I’m guessing they’ve all been worried about you.” Rei looked up sharply realizing he was right she should be focusing on that more than anything else. Though she doubted her father cared that she had been missing, though she had no doubt in her mind that Shinji had missed her and had been deeply blamed him-self for this. Even though none of it was his fault as her older brother could be like that, she leaned back looking at the big man. “Yes that is a good point I should focus on that.”

8

Mari bit in to a slice of pizza watching as Sakura played on the arcade games as the others eat their food she started to hum as she stuck her headphones in her ears enjoying the sound and rhythms of the eighties music’s electrophonic tones. Today was a great day and she felt truly uplifted she hadn’t felt this good in years she felt like she could walk on water or breathe fire. Yeah that was by far the best sex she’d had in a long while and it was with someone who was in love with her and who she clearly loved in return. She stretched in her chair yeah today was going to be a good day she could feel it.

Shinji turned eyeing Mari as he lowered his sketch pad. “Hey Mari you’re in a better mood today.” Mari sat up slightly turning off her phones music as she took her headphones out. “I just have a really good feeling about today.” Kaworu looked up from his music sheet. “I see and did last night help you I mean neither of us minded being at Asuka’s home but we are somewhat curious because we heard that you.” Shinji raised his hand knowing his boyfriend was just going to come out with it, in a very none subtle way. “We heard a rumour that things happened.”

Mari adjusted her glasses. “What you heard was not rumour it was true but it wasn’t intended, it happened by accident. I went to speak to her about something that happened in mine and Asuka’s childhood and one thing led to another.” Kaworu felt a smile form. “My congratulations to you both though.” Shinji pushed his dark hair back. “Yeah I’m happy for you to and it’s nice to see you back to your normal self again, as we’ve all been worried about you.” Toji looked up from his Evangelion simulation. “Yeah having you in that state again kind of sucked, because we all know you’re not like that.”

Shinji turned to Toji. “Have you asked Sumire out yet?”

Sakura’s voice suddenly hit the air from where she was playing. “No he’s got cold feet and I totally told him he should.”

Toji eyed her annoyance. “No I’m just waiting for the right moment!”

Sakura looked at the others as she bit in to a slice of pizza as she carried on playing Asuka’s retro arcade game machine. “Like I said cold feet...”

Toji folded his arms. “Look I don’t see you asking out the boys you like Sakura.”

Sakura turned slightly. “I do ask them out, they say no so that doesn’t count.”

Mari turned to her. “Well that’s there loss and think nothing off it.”

Toji looked up slightly. “Yeah what she said it’s their loss.”

Sakura turned as the game completed. “But you are going to ask her out right, because I really like her she’s really nice?”

Toji sat back in the chair. “Yes I’ll get around to it.”

Mari eyed him. “Clearly she must be special then if you’re struggling with asking her out, as you normally just go in there and ask.”

Toji looked at his hands. “Yeah I guess she is special and I just don’t want to mess it up.”

He turned as the double doors opened as Sumire and Shigeru appeared though the look on their faces were unreadable. Shinji stood up feeling uncertain as he spoke. “Do you have any news?” Shigeru felt a smile form. “Yes very good news Rei and Asuka have been found, they used this new tracking device to find Asuka as the science division said she does have a little of Bardiel left in her body and they were able to pin point it and Rei was found with her.” Mari stood up sharply seeing Shinji’s face turn to utter joy. “Where were they?”

Sumire put her hands behind her back as she spoke calmly. “The British South Georgia Island but that area is contaminated by the red sea and red vines hence they will have to go through the special quarantine tanks right after they land. You all won’t be able to see them until there in the special quarantine rooms, which they will both have to stay in overnight which Maya is setting up right now.” She paused looking at Mari. “Oh and I have a special message for you Mari, Marcus is coming over he’s bringing them both over personally and he can’t wait to see you again.”

Mari felt a wide smile form. “Really Marcus is coming! I can’t wait it’s been ages since I last saw him.” Shinji turned looking at Shigeru. “How are they though?” He paused watching as everyone went quite. Shigeru looked up. “We only just got the message from Marcus he says your sisters is very stable though she was captured she was treated well and though her nose was broken it was repaired she’s just hungry and tired.” He took a deep breath as Mari’s concerned gaze met his. “Asuka’s not so good she was very brutality tortured there’s serious bruising all over her body.”

He put his hands on his beard. “They’ve coated her in LCL bandages which they say will reduce it but not fully, she’s asleep and just hasn’t come around they say she’s stable but it might take her time to be back to herself and right now they don’t know what the physiological damage is, or if either of them have post traumatic distress order.” Mari looked down sadly. “Does Asuka remember anything?”

Sumire raised her hand. “Yes Asuka and Rei remember almost everything the only memory gap is neither of them recalls escaping or using the escape pod only waking up on the island.” She watched as Mari’s face turned to utter sadness and uncertainty. “I’m sure though there going to be okay.”

Mari breathed in feeling her good feeling fade as she watched Kaworu hug Shinji as it dawned on her his reunion would be one of joy. Where-as she would have to face Asuka’s wrath over what she had done in their childhood.

She’d spent so much of her life hoping, praying to any god or goddess who would listen to stop her having to face up to this moment. As nothing scared her more now than Asuka’s hated and rejection but the truth of the matter was she had to face up it whether she was wanted to or not.

She’d always believed her fucked up family on her father’s side would come back come back to hunt her one day but she had never expected to be in this way…but the reality was she could no longer escape it, destiny had to play out come what may. Shinji’s voice cut though her thoughts. “Mari is everything okay, you look sad?” Mari turned to him giving him her best smile though it felt horribly forced. “Yeah I’m fine just feeling a lot of emotion is all.”

To her credit she could lie better than Asuka and he and the others clearly believed it as they gave her hugs but the last thing she wanted was for any off them to know about her father’s side of the family or how vile they were or what she had done.

End of part 34

Silvermoonlight