Well, just a silly idea whose punch line had been floating on my head
for a while, and I finally decided to flesh it out a little.

Disclaimers at the end, as not to Spoil the surprise.




                                Ayanami's secret



For the inhabitants of Tokyo-3, the not so distant sounds of battle
where by now an all too common occurrence.   The superior technology
of the city's inner core defenses generally allowed them a relative
measure of safety from any outside troubles, but every now and then, a
particularly powerful explosion would still reverberate through the
outer layers of ancient armor.   Over all, everyone considered it
something of a mixed blessing, as it was both the existence and the
functionality of that very same technology that was considered the
cause of most of the attacks.  

How a relatively small organization such as NERV had managed to get a
hold of what appeared to be an old StarLeague R & D facility was the
subject of much argument and discussion among the Houses that had
learned of their discovery.   Current theories held that the only way
such a facility would be abandoned, and remain intact for so long
would be if it had fallen due to some type of plague developed in the
facility itself, and made most of the planet inimical to human life. 
It mattered little, however, as it appeared that whatever it had been,
it was either not present now, or else NERV had managed to neutralize
it, somehow.   The main problem with eradicating them now was simply
in not destroying them, as that would have likely also lead to the
destruction of the facility, and of much valuable data already
accumulated by the current inhabitants.  Thus, instead of a few simple
rounds of orbital bombardment, it became a matter of sending in
drop-ships and mechanized units to crush all resistance, and of the
subsequent occupation of the facility.  All current efforts were
focused on destroying NERV by attrition.  Unfortunately, the place had
been designed as a self-contained fortress, and the process was
excruciatingly slow.

To an outsider from the very distant past, the stylized logo's
frequency and prominence might have indicated a dark oppressive
militarist state, but to those seeking refuge from the battles raging
outside, NERV's half-leaf logo simply meant their single, best hope
for survival.   Merely spotting the sight of it emblazoned on the
gigantic mechs that defend the city, had been known to inspire
spontaneous cheering sessions among the otherwise jaded and embattled
civilians of Tokyo-3.   Now was not the time for such thoughts,
however.   The battle outside still raged, and even those units too
damaged to continue the battle would remain avoid Tokyo-3, lest their
return to base open a section of the city to attack.

Inside one of those machines, a young man, barely on his teens, was
once again attempting to figure out what his lot in life was meant to
be.  

I'm his only son, dammit!  Not just another mech-pilot!  Ten years
away from each other, and things have only gotten worse between us. 
I'd settle for a just simple 'well done' or 'hello son' from my
father, every now and then.   Is he so worried about being nepotism
that he can't even do a little thing like that?   No, all I get is a
sudden summons to his presence, standing orders to pilot a mech I
hardly know, and a dismissal.  'Do as I say:  Kill the enemy, and then
stay out of my way.  Now, go!'  

	Sometimes he wondered if his unit was actually a dumping ground for
troublemakers and misfits.   Their alcoholic CO certainly seemed to
bear that out.   While she certainly seemed sober in battle, and her
tactical decisions were usually sound, a beer was hardly ever out of
sight, or ever full, outside combat or official occasions.   To be
honest, it was mostly Langley-Sorhyu.   While she was certainly easy
on the eyes, her incessant ranting was almost enough to drive people
mad.  It seemed to consist of a continuous, if uneven mix of brag
lines and bitching, with no in betweens.  From arguing over their
unit's designation as  CHILDREN, (even if they were some of the
youngest active mech-pilots on NERV's record,) to her pointless
bickering over her actual number of kills, to her insistence on a red
battle-paint color scheme, Asuka was a near constant head-ache to
anyone but her immediate superiors.  

At least it was only him and Rei out on patrol today.  Ayanami was not
really a problem, as she was if anything, a little too quiet, but she
was trustworthy and an efficient combatant.  It was strange how he
could always tell were she was, whenever she got within something like
a hundred meters of him, however.  It was a little freaky, and he
couldn't quite fully explain it, yet.  It was almost like some innate
Ayanami-radar or something; it would just "Beep!"  whenever she got
close enough.  

"Beep!" 

There it goes again.  Wait.  Ayanami's behind me, and it never makes
any noise. I think.

"Beep!" 

Oops!  That is an actual alert! Almost daydreamed a little too long
there!    
Let's see:   Proximity alert, a NERV distress signal, just a click or
so ahead of us, and slightly to the northeast.    Funny, there should
not be anything of ours there right now.
"Rei, We've got a distress signal ahead.  Of the two of us, you have
the better sensor suite, so I want you to take point.  I'll provide
cover fire, should this prove to be a trap.  Something does not feel
quite right about this one."

"Understood.  Moving to position now."   

Upon cresting the small hill, a small atmospheric cargo transport
became visible.   With little apparent damage to the vehicle, or any
obvious signs of nearby hostiles, they decided to notify HQ first, and
await for further instructions.  Unfortunately, it was at this time
that a shimmering, geometric barrier shimmered into being all around
them, cutting them off from any contact with the outside world.

Even as he targeted the downed transport, and attempted to locate any
other possible threats, he became aware of Ayanami's voice. 
Apparently their own comm lines still worked, well, that would just
make coordinated attacks easier.  Even as his scanners turned up
nothing, something else seemed amiss.  Rei's mech profile seemed to
indicate an almost total power-down, even as she seemed to be telling
him something. 

"Rei, is there something wrong?  Your mech seems to be almost
completely shut down.  Have you received any damage from the
activation of this strange field around us?"

"There is no malfunction.  Power-down your mech.  Standard weaponry
will be ineffectual against my current opponent."

"Rei?  Are you crazy?  We'll be sitting ducks if we do that!   And
what do you mean by that comment about our weapons?  Do you expect me
to believe our enemy is somehow indestructible?" 

"I am not suffering from any mental instability or psychological
trauma at the moment.  I am also currently under orders to protect all
NERV personnel to the best of my ability; however, none of the weapon
systems equipped on units 00 or 01 will be effective against my
current enemy.  In order to fulfill my orders, I will be obliged to
engage in hand-to-hand combat with her.  Should Pilot Ikari attempt to
engage her from this distance using unit 01, all currently available
defensive countermeasures will be rendered ineffective, and he may
sustain grave injuries.  In the event of my failure, Pilot Ikari may
still be able to defeat my enemy.  
If my information on your background is correct, you are Yui Ikari's
only child.  Is this correct?"

"Rei, This is crazy!  Do you seriously expect me to believe that you
believe any of that?  And what does my mother have to do with any of
this?"  

"Facts cannot be altered by mere beliefs.  At the moment, the fact
that you are Yui Ikari's son, and the fact that currently, I am the
only one here that may effectively engage in combat against the enemy
ahead of us are both true and inalterable.  Please power-down your
mech.  I will dismount unit 00, and advance on foot from this point
on.  I suggest you do the same, if you intend to understand the nature
of our current conflict.
Ayanami out." 

"Rei!  Rei?  Don't you dare hang up!"  Dammit!   She just cut me off. 
What the hell is going on?  And why do I get the feeling she knows a
lot more than she told me.  What was all that about mom?   I just hope
doing this is not the stupidest move in my life, and that trusting her
to know what she's doing works out.  Maybe it's some type of generator
that needs to be shut down manually?   Would it explode if we just
shoot it or something?   Is it guarded?  Is that why she thinks
sneaking in close will help us take out whatever it is?  Dammit Rei,
what is going on? 
Well, whatever it is, Rei seems to have stopped just a bit past that
rise.  That 'radar' sense thing is occasionally convenient.   She's
just past these � Huh?   It feels like she's also further away, and
getting closer.  Am I actually 'picking up' someone else?  That's
never happened before, with anyone.   I wish this stupid thing was
more accurate, and then I could tell something more than just
Ayanami's general direction and distance.   Still, if there's two of
them, they're close now, and there is a clearing ahead.  I should be
able to see them shortly.  
What the heck?  Two Reis?  They're both dressed in NERV pilot
uniforms, but what the hell is that huge grey thing the other one's
carrying?  A two bladed sword?  I recognize the weird red spear-thing
that Rei carries with her everywhere.   I guess that means she's 'our'
Rei, then.  I wonder who the other person is?  Her twin sister?  It
would explain the 'vibes' I picked up.  It still doesn't explain why I
can track either one of them, however.  Oops, she just turned my way. 
She didn't seem surprised until she actually looked at me, however.  I
wonder if this tracking thing works both ways?  I hope I didn't
interrupt a family reunion or something.  Well, nothing left but to go
and say hello, I guess.

"Remain where you are, Pilot Ikari, and do not interfere.  This is
between her and me." 

"Huh?  Oh.  OK, I guess.  Sorry, I really didn't mean to eavesdrop on
you business or anything�"

In the strangely familiar voice of Ayanami, the stranger replied.  "So
this is The Betrayer's child.  It seems Gendo could not hide him from
us forever.  He appears to have inherited more from his mother than
anyone expected.  It shall be interesting to find out how much, after
this is over.
For now, however, II is correct.  One of us will continue this
later."  And, with a brief salute with her dull grey sword, the other
Ayanami retired to a few dozen feet away from Rei.

Err�  How does anyone respond to that?  "Rei, what is going on here?"

"I cannot explain now.  After this battle, the survivor will explain
the basics to you."  

Then, after assuming a ready stance, and giving a brief salute with
their weapons, both combatants charged at once, uttering the same
battle cry:

"I am Rei Ayanami, of Clan Ayanami, and there can be only One!"




Disclaimers:
None of the characters above belong to me, and quite a few of the
concepts used belong to the following people:

Neon Genesis Evangelion belongs to Gainax,
Robotech concepts are the property of Harmony Gold USA, Inc,
and Highlander belongs to Rysher Entertainment.

No profit or disrespect of the original concepts is intended by this,
and while they are being used without permission, it is hoped that
this will not bring in the wrath (or its associated lawyers,) down
upon my head.
-- 
"There is nothing in this world of value...
 Nothing worth risking our lives for...
	 ...except 'erhaps... 
	...what little we can create ourselves."
		Daisuke Ido (Gunnm / Battle Angel)
          _______ ___      ___                   _______ 
 _______ |   _   |   |__  |   |      _____      |   _   |
|   _   \|   _   |   _   \|   |___ /   _   \    |   _   |
|  |_)   |__| |__|  |_ )  |_______|   (_)   |   |__| |__|
|    ___/        |________|        \_______/             []
|___|    http://welcome.to/info_loss

             .---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
             | Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
             | Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
             |     Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject     |
             `---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'