(Notes to the FFML:
Episode 1 is now considered to be in its final form. If you wish
to post it on your own fanfic page, please let me know; I'm getting my own
fanfic page up and running right now, slowly but surely.
Here is Episode 2, formerly titled "Prelude to Apotheosis" - which
never *did* really reflect what happens in this episode. Again, all C&C is
appreciated - constructive C&C especially.
If you missed episode 1, go to
http://www.bcpl.net/~trmiller/fanfics/apocrypha.html
the official NGE: Apocrypha homepage. n.n It includes some information
about what I'm planning to do with the series ... not to mention one or
two spoilers about what's ahead, so be warned.)
AUTHOR'S FOREWORD:
If you wish to contact me by e-mail, my address is:
trmiller@bcpl.net
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Apocrypha by Tim Miller
Chapter 2:
"Upon an Alien Soil"
When Major Katsuragi left the commander's office, Ikari Gendou and
Fuyutsuki Kouzou sat in silence for a moment, each man alone with his
thoughts. After a long moment, Ikari stood up and walked over to the window,
leaving Fuyutsuki still seated next to the desk.
Finally, Fuyutsuki broke the silence. "Do you believe what Katsuragi
told us about Eva-04 and its pilot?"
"No," Ikari replied, gazing out at the Geo-Front. "There is no
evidence that an Evangelion can even be self-aware, much less intelligent."
"Unit 01 seems to contradict that assumption," Fuyutsuki pointed out.
"You've seen it move on its own ... and it refused to synchronize with anyone
but Shinji during the last Angel's attack. We may have to consider the
possibility that an Eva *can* be self-motivated."
"You know as well as I do that the mind and spirit within Eva-01 were
placed there, even if by accident. The Contact experiments proved that no
Evangelion has a mind or spirit of its own; only the first three units -
prototype, test type, and the first production model - even *have* spirits
within them."
"So what will we do about Michael Fire Hawk?" Fuyutsuki subtly changed
the subject.
"There are still questions we need answered," answered Ikari.
"Unfortunately, there's nobody we can trust with the possible answers below
your own rank. Will you question him?" Despite his tone, the words were
clearly an order rather than a request.
"Isn't Dr. Akagi cleared for this level of information?"
"Your English is better than hers," Ikari told his old colleague, "and
we can't take the risk that a translator would pose to security. We have to
make certain of whether Fire Hawk's information is correct or not; if our
suppositions *are* wrong, then Eva-04 could pose a substantial threat to
Instrumentality, and we will have to neutralize that threat."
Fuyutsuki nodded quietly. "Very well. Should we keep him at
headquarters, then?"
"Without question," Ikari grunted. "He has no family left; we should
probably keep him incommunicado, to make sure none of his knowledge leaks
out."
"You mean, before we know everything that he knows," said Fuyutsuki as
he rose to his feet. "I'll have quarters prepared for him."
Ikari nodded approvingly as he picked up the phone, and dialed an
extension. When the line was picked up at the other end, he said, "I need to
talk to Shinji."
The two girls stood side-by-side, regarding the boy in the dark green
plug-suit. As he was studied, Michael silently noted the contrasts between
them, and the similarities.
Both were fourteen years old (as he was); both wore the same school
uniform of white blouse with red tie and blue-green skirt. Those were just
surface appearances, though; the differences between them spoke much more
clearly. The redhead had an open, expressive face; the pale, blue-haired girl
was much more quiet and circumspect in her examination.
Michael had no trouble at all identifying the two of them as his
future teammates, NERV's other two Evangelion pilots.
"So you're the boy from Eva-04?" the redhaired girl asked. "You don't
look like much," she continued as she flipped her hair back over her shoulder.
"But then, neither does Shinji ... "
"My name is Michael," the 'boy from Eva-04' responded as evenly as
though she'd called him 'the boy from Nevada.' "Forgive me, but I don't know
either of your names yet."
"Ayanami Rei," the pale girl - (Is she an albino?) Michael wondered -
introduced herself in a quiet voice.
"I'm Asuka," the redhead answered, "and I guess you've sort of met
Shinji."
"Only his voice," Michael replied, mentally scrambling for the
Japanese words he needed against - weeks? months? - of no practice. "I haven't
seen him yet."
"Hmmmmmm." Asuka tilted her head slightly, studying Michael's face.
"Not so good at Japanese, eh? You'll get the hang of it."
For the first time since he'd arrived, Michael actually smiled. "If
that was an offer of help, I thank you," he answered Asuka with a slight bow.
Asuka's reply was forestalled by Misato's arrival in the pilot ready
room. "Hi Asuka, hi Rei ... how was school?" Misato asked as she walked in.
"About the usual," Asuka responded, "mostly boring. Is this our new
houseguest?" she asked with a nod of her head at Michael.
"If you and Shinji don't have any objections," Misato told her, "then
yes. He should be enrolled in school by the end of the week, if all goes
well." She turned her attention to Michael. "I see you've met Asuka and Rei;
Shinji's in debriefing, since there wasn't time for that earlier today. As
soon as he finishes, we can head home ... Rei, do you need a ride to your
apartment?"
"No, thank you," Rei answered calmly. "I'll be fine on my own."
"Sure you don't want to come over for dinner? Shinji's cooking,"
Misato invited.
"I don't wish to impose."
Misato nodded, leaving it at that. "See you ... day after tomorrow,
for synch-testing, right?"
"Hai. Good evening, Major." Rei bowed very slightly, and departed.
Asuka muttered something which Michael couldn't quite understand.
Misato put down a shopping bag as she said, "Michael? Since you don't have
anything else to wear, I went ahead and got you some school uniforms. Once
you've had a chance to settle in, we can see about getting some more clothes
for you - if you need any, that is."
Michael nodded. "Thank you very much, Major Katsuragi," he replied
with a formal Japanese-style bow. "I should probably change before we leave."
"We'll leave you alone to do that," Misato replied. "C'mon, Asuka,
we'll wait in the hall." Misato left the room, Asuka behind her, and the door
closed behind them.
With a quiet sigh, Michael hit the seal-release button on his wrist,
and the plug-suit "relaxed" around him, loosening around his body so that he
could take it off.
About ten minutes later, the three of them were standing in the
corridor outside the elevator. Just as the elevator chimed and the doors
started to open, a young boy's voice shouted "Just a minute!" heralding
Shinji's appearance from around the bend in the corridor.
Michael positioned a hand in front of the sensor on the door as he
stepped into the elevator. "You're Shinji?" he asked as the other boy entered
the elevator, following Misato and Asuka.
"Hai," Shinji nodded, "I'm Ikari Shinji." He looked at Misato.
"Misato-san ... "
"What is it?" Misato's tone was bright and friendly.
Shinji took a breath, then asked, "Michael Fire Hawk was supposed to
come home with us, right? Originally?"
Misato nodded. "That's right ... why? Change of plans?"
"You could say that." He looked at Michael. "You're supposed to stay
here at headquarters. My father just told me a moment ago ... Vice-Commander
Fuyutsuki will be interviewing you further."
Unfortunately for Michael, Shinji's speech was fast enough and used
enough unfamiliar words that Michael couldn't make heads or tails of what he
was being told. "What did you say?" was the best reply he could muster.
Misato sighed faintly. "Asuka, could you translate what Shinji said
into English?"
Asuka frowned, but complied. "Thanks," Michael replied in Japanese.
"Well ... I'll see you later, then." He stepped out of the elevator, trying
not to let himself feel lost - or homesick.
"Later," Misato said as the elevator doors slid closed.
Half an hour later, Michael was sitting alone in the cafeteria,
picking at a standard-issue dinner. (NERV must have all its meals pre-cooked
at the same place,) he decided. (The food at the Second Branch was just the
same as this - and tasted exactly as bad.) Ignoring the taste, he took another
bite of meat and rice.
To say that Michael was alone in the cafeteria would be incorrect;
there were a few technicians scattered around the cafeteria, in clusters of
two or three, but they were all speaking fluent Japanese too rapid and
idiomatic for Michael to understand. Understandably, it came as something of a
surprise when a Japanese man in a command-staff uniform sat down across from
him. "May I join you?" the man asked, in good English with a mild accent.
Michael looked up. "I don't see why not," he replied, studying the new
arrival. The man looked like he was in his late twenties or early thirties,
and in mildly serious need of a shave; his hair was tied back at the nape of
his neck, giving him a bit more of a roguish look.
"I'm Kaji Ryouji," the man introduced himself. "I heard about you this
afternoon, while you were being interviewed. When I found out you were being
assigned quarters in HQ, I decided to track you down and see if I could offer
any assistance."
"Not unless you're one of the spirits in human form," Michael
answered, "and can take me back home. Not that there's anything left for me in
America."
"Spirits?" Kaji looked confused. "I'm not a ghost, if that's what
you're asking ... "
"'Kami' is probably a better word," Michael explained. "The sacred
spirits my father's ancestors believed in and worshipped." He took another
bite of his dinner.
"Sorry, I'm as human as you are." Kaji added some soy sauce to the
contents of his tray. "Didn't anyone tell you where the condiments were?"
"I didn't think to ask. Does it improve the flavor?"
"Marginally," Kaji shrugged. "I usually get something from the vending
machines - the food there actually tastes better."
"Almost anything would," Michael joked, mustering a weak smile. "Mr.
Ryouji - ah, sorry, Mr. *Kaji* - why did you want to talk to me?"
"Like I said, I wanted to see if I could help. You're from the Second
Branch?"
"Was, yes. I'm trying not to think about it."
"What happened wasn't your fault - " Kaji was cut off as Michael
slapped his chopsticks down on his tray.
"You don't know that," Michael said quietly, straining to hold back
his tears. "Nobody knows that, even *I* don't know that. But whose fault it is
doesn't make one damn bit of difference any more, because everyone I had,
every single person I knew and cared about is *gone*. I said I'm trying not to
think about it, and I blasted *meant* I was trying not to think about it." He
paused for a moment, trying to regain some control over his emotions, and then
continued more calmly - he hoped: "Mr. Kaji, I'm sure you mean well, but I
don't want to talk about the Second Branch, or home, or - or NERV, or anything
else having to do with what happened. Do you understand that?" He wiped at his
cheek, dabbing away a stray tear.
"I do understand," Kaji answered softly. "And I'm sorry ... but you're
going to have to come to terms with what happened, and quickly - at least
enough to talk about it."
"I can't tell anyone what I don't know." Michael picked his chopsticks
back up, scooping up some more rice.
"It's what you *do* know that you'll have to tell them," Kaji said
sternly. He paused to look around, then continued, "Let me know if I can be of
any help ... I shouldn't be talking to you. Here." He handed a small card to
Michael. "The top number's my office line here, the other one is my apartment.
If you need something - even just someone to talk to - feel free to call."
Michael slipped the card into a pocket without looking at it. "Thank
you, Mr. Kaji." He kept eating as Kaji stood up, taking his tray, and left the
cafeteria without a backwards glance.
"Have you spoken with anyone about Eva-04 since you got here?"
Fuyutsuki asked, in English.
"Only Major Katsuragi," Michael replied quietly. "Didn't she tell you
what she learned from me?"
"She reported to me and the Commander. He feels that there's something
you haven't told us yet."
"I told her everything I could - "
"I'm sure," Fuyutsuki sighed, "but Major Katsuragi's English isn't as
good as mine, and Commander Ikari thinks something may've been lost in
translation. Now, tell me again what happened after the disappearance of the
Second Branch."
Michael clenched his fists, fighting to keep himself from screaming,
or hurling his glass of water at Fuyutsuki, or just trying to leave the room.
"All I know is that I was alone in hell, with Eva-04 as my only companion."
"Hell?" Fuyutsuki blinked, sitting up. "Katsuragi didn't mention that
to us - "
"Because I tried to put it less figuratively for her. She said
something to me about a 'Sea of Dirac' - that's what Diraku-no-umi means,
right? - and I didn't have any idea what she was talking about."
"What did you experience in this 'hell,' then?"
"Only Eva-04's presence. We were synchronized, of course - without
each other's presence to cling to, neither one of us would have survived."
Michael took a sip of water. "I don't even remember what else was there,
except that I couldn't stand to be there - neither could Eva-04, by the way -
and I guess I sought refuge in the Evangelion's mind."
Fuyutsuki nodded slowly. "So, what did you experience while you were
synchronized with Unit 04?"
"I told Katsuragi already!" Michael slammed his glass down, water
sloshing over the sides.
Fuyutsuki gritted his teeth for a moment. "Please ... just try to tell
me, in English, what it felt like."
"Our minds were forced together by the isolation outside. It was like
- I don't know ... maybe something like when you lose your virginity."
Fuyutsuki blinked in surprise. "I beg your pardon?"
"It was being intimate with something *totally* unfamiliar," Michael
explained. "Eva-04's mind is completely alien, or at least it was at first.
There was nothing I had in common with it except the void outside; the only
way either of us could stay sane was basically to lose ourselves in each
other, and wait for the storm to pass - assuming that it would eventually.
Then we were in Tokyo-3, and Shinji came up to meet us. The rest you know."
Fuyutsuki made a few notes on his clipboard, nodding slowly.
"Actually, the rest we *don't* know, yet ... you say that Unit 04 had a mind
of its own? Do you know where that 'mind' came from?"
"That had to be its own spirit - don't you know the Evangelions are
alive? Eva-04 is, and it knows that it is. It's actually just like a human."
"What do you mean?" Fuyutsuki frowned, leaning forward a bit. "I
thought you just said it was completely alien."
"It has the same questions, it just thinks about them differently.
Doesn't everyone wonder what his purpose in life is? I had a lot of time to
think about that." Michael took another gulp of water, then continued, "Eva-04
didn't know what its purpose was until I 'told' it that it was built for
combat against those Angels; it seemed awfully ready to do that, after it knew
that was its reason for existing."
Fuyutsuki nodded again, considering Michael's words. "Was there any
other ... common ground, for lack of a better term?"
"No. We're both strangers here ..." Michael trailed off, looking away.
"Oh, and you should tell your techies not to poke it too hard. It might poke
back."
"What?!" Fuyutsuki sat bolt upright. (How did he know - ?) "What are
you talking about?"
Michael smiled faintly. "Surely Major Katsuragi didn't neglect to tell
you that Eva-04 and I bonded in the Sea of Dirac ... we can sense each other,
our minds are touching even when I'm not in the entry plug. Eva isn't as used
to emotions as you or I ... the strain I've been through today is taking a
toll on it, too. It doesn't have a home to go back to - not that I do either,
any more - but it doesn't like the thought of my being in pain. The way it's
being examined right now doesn't help matters - "
Fuyutsuki ran out the door while Michael was still talking. "Keep an
eye on him!" he shouted at one of the guards, and ran for the nearest
intercom.
"You want *what*??" Ritsuko stared at the phone, as though she could
see Fuyutsuki at the other end.
"Stop examining Eva-04," Fuyutsuki repeated. "Whatever you're doing,
just back off - I have reason to believe it could ... object to the probing,
possibly lethally."
"The S2 engine is inactive," Ritsuko sighed. "We'll know if it tries
to do anything - "
"Doctor, I've read about what happened when Eva-01 moved on its own,
*completely* without power. S2 engine or no S2 engine, we can't take the
chance. Have your team close up what they're doing, and leave the cage at
once."
"We haven't even scratched the surface," Ritsuko replied as she
gestured at Maya. "We've been trying to access the entry plug's data records,
but no luck so far - we can't even get the Eva to eject the plug."
"You mean the entry plug's still inside - ?"
"Yes. It was retracted again sometime after Michael disembarked this
afternoon, and the hatch is sealed; we attached an umbilical cable to carry
the external I/O interface, *without power* except for minimal functions, but
all signals have been rejected. It's like the cable isn't plugged into
anything at the Eva's end, really."
"Damn," Fuyutsuki swore softly. "All right ... have your people pack
it in for now; we'll try again tomorrow. I need to report this to the
Commander."
"Tell him I said hello," Ritsuko answered mirthlessly. "Good night,
Vice-Commander."
"Where is he now?" Ikari asked, looking at Fuyutsuki over his folded
hands.
"I had a guard escort him to private quarters after I finished talking
to Dr. Akagi," Fuyutsuki answered. "He seemed grateful to be allowed to leave
and get some sleep."
"And he said he's talked to nobody so far?"
"He said he hasn't talked about Unit 04, except to Katsuragi and
myself." Fuyutsuki shook his head quietly. "Ikari, there was no evidence that
Unit 04 was in a position to do *anything* to the technical team ... yet
Michael sounded so certain that it could have eliminated them if it felt
threatened." He sighed, "Maybe I overreacted."
"You didn't," Ikari told him. "I have to take back what I said
earlier; there's too much that we don't know for certain about the Evas to be
certain about anything. Each Evangelion is its own mystery ... just like
people. Or like God."
"So what will we do about Michael Fire Hawk?" Fuyutsuki asked.
"At the moment, we seem to have little choice. We need him to maintain
control of Unit 04; if his life is threatened, the unit will probably act to
protect him. Putting him on the combat roster seems like the best choice we
have right now."
"And if he's killed in his first battle ... so much the better?"
Fuyutsuki sounded unconvinced. "At least the training would give him something
to do, other than mope."
"Agreed. Have him begin training tomorrow, after a baseline
synchronization test."
" ... okay. Thank you, Vice-Commander." Misato hung up the phone. "So
much for our new guest," she said aloud.
Shinji and Asuka both looked up at that. "You mean Michael?" Shinji
inquired.
Misato nodded. "He's been assigned quarters at HQ until further
notice. Too bad; I was looking forward to the added company."
Asuka shrugged noncommittally, looking back at the TV. "The
apartment's crowded enough as it is ... and I have better things to do than
tutor some incompetent in Japanese."
"Michael isn't 'incompetent,'" Misato gently scolded her charge.
"He is as an Eva pilot," replied Asuka. "Why do you think he wound up
in Tokyo-3 after the Second Branch disappeared? I bet he messed up and that's
what caused the accident."
"It's still under investigation, Asuka," Misato warned her, "and you'd
better not suggest anything of the sort to Michael when you see him tomorrow
or the day after - and if I ever hear you *breathe* to him that it's his
fault, I'll come down on you so hard you'll think an Angel stepped on you
instead. Got it?"
"Hai, hai." Asuka gave the TV her full attention.
Shinji thought back to the very little he knew about the disappearance
of the Second Branch. "His family was there ... ?"
"That's what he told me - at least, his mother was. His father died
during the Second Impact."
Asuka clicked off the TV, setting the remote aside. "Well, I'm going
to sleep."
"Sleep well," Misato said to Asuka as the redhead walked down the hall
to her room.
Beneath Tokyo-3, in NERV's Geo-Front headquarters, Michael was doing
the exact same thing, with the exception of saying good-nights to anyone.
Someone - Michael's guess, more or less at random, was Kaji - had thought to
provide him with a T-shirt and shorts he could wear to sleep in; he'd showered
and changed in the barracks, and was walking down the hall to his private
quarters. Or at least Fuyutsuki had told him they were private.
(They've probably got cameras running even now,) Michael thought as he
closed the door. (What do they expect a 14-year-old boy to do in a room by
himself?) A few possibilities ran through his mind, and he snorted quietly.
"Not bloody likely," he said out loud as he turned down the covers and got
into bed. (Let them wonder,) he scoffed mentally as he folded his hands under
his head, staring up at the ceiling.
He still didn't know how long he'd been in the Sea of Dirac; it felt
like one interminable day to him, and one that had abruptly turned exhausting.
(NERV can do whatever the hell they want with me now,) he realized. (No known
relatives ... no friends ... and so far as I know, I'm legally dead right
now.) It was a sobering thought. (The only use they have for me is to keep
Eva-04 under control, really; I ought to be glad fate gave me that card to
play.)
{not play}
Michael glanced at the wall. (Is that you, my other self?)
{sleep}{won't sleep}{protect}
Michael allowed himself to smile. (I know you will ... and I was
wrong: I *do* have one friend here.)
With that thought, Michael Theseus Fire Hawk closed his eyes, and
allowed himself to drift off to sleep ... knowing that even in this foreign
land, there was one who would watch over him. His last thought before dreams
claimed him was, (Do the other pilots know who their Evas are to them?)
AUTHOR'S AFTERWORD:
This chapter takes place sometime prior to episode 21 of the
Evangelion TV series, picking up just after Chapter 1 of Apocrypha.
Michael's presence is going to give NERV and SEELE more than a few
problems over time, since he knows more than any Eva pilot is supposed to
about the Evangelions. Eva-04 is also unique, as its psyche isn't mediated by
any human spirit as the other three are. *Something* intervened to protect
him; there's no way yet to know what that something was.
But even as he rests at the center of so many questions, Michael has
unanswered questions of his own - and the answers he wants are even more
elusive than the answers which NERV, and eventually SEELE, will be seeking.
Even if something so alien as an Evangelion can be counted as a friend, who
else is there for Michael to turn to?
Acknowledgements:
This work of fiction is written for fun, not for profit, and is made
available for the sole purpose of enjoyment by fans and interested readers.
This story is not to be distributed for profit by any person or agency.
_Neon Genesis Evangelion_ and all characters, entities, monsters, and
organizations thereof are the creations and property of Gainax and Anno
Hideaki, copyright 1996 (?). As such, I have no legal right to these
characters, etc. and am required to cease writing if requested to do so by
Gainax or legal representatives thereof.
Michael Theseus Fire Hawk is an original character of my own creation;
please do not borrow, use, depict, refer to, fold, spindle, or mutilate
without the author's prior permission (i.e. mine).
Tim Miller
trmiller@bcpl.net
September 28, 1998