Disclaimer: The Bet and Toltiir both are concepts created by Gregg Sharp. 
Hotaru Tomoe is a creation of Naoko Takeuchi.

Chalangel - by Daniel Gibson
C&C, MSTs are welcome E-mail: dan_s.comments@worldnet.att.net

     Rei Ayanami heard the voices as she regained consciousness.
     "How is she?" came the Commanders voice, gruff but concerned.
     We all know what is coming, she thought, keeping silent so she could 
listen, always listen, He does not dare show that he cares, except to the 
1st Children.
     "She'll heal," female voice, amused, her friend, "I'll see to that."
     "The Angels have been spotted, I'll need you both," the Commander told 
them, "And yes, Rei, I know you're listening."
     I can practically see their smiles at that, she thought as she crafted 
a smile her friend had taught her, I do not see how it can be 'efficient', 
it is ambiguous in meaning.
     "Are you prepared to go out alone?  The 3rd Children will be arriving 
shortly, we may need to delay the Angel."
     I need not see her worry, Rei thought as she took her 
sister-in-all-but-blood's hand.
     "Commander     I - "
     "I said _delay_ not destroy," the Commander said warmly, with a touch 
of his characteristic sharpness.
     "Yes, Commander, that I can do," the voice said, relieved, "Who did you 
send?"
     "Katsuragi Misato."
     I can feel her cringe, Rei thought as she opened her eyes, and shut 
them as the brightness launch into her brain, sending streamers of pain 
through it, It matches my own.
     "Maya might have been a better choice," her friend chided the 
Commander, "Drunk, Maya's a better driver than the Captain is sober."
     "Maya had more important duties."
     "Yes, Commander."
     Rei heard the footsteps receding.
     "Ayanami-san."
     She always begins her lectures with 'Ayanami-san', Rei thought.
     "Why do you keep doing this?"
     "Because it gives you purpose," Rei replied without deceit.  Since the 
EVAs and their development, you would be shunted to the sidelines, Rei 
thought, After all you have done, that is not correct.  Besides, I had 
little choice.
     "You rest, they'll be calling you soon."
     "Please."  Rei knew she rarely used that word.  "Please tell 
Makoto-san, my injuries were not her fault.  Had I been more attentive     "
     "Mako-chan needs to remember that regular people are a lot more fragile 
than she is," the voice told her gently.
     Rei felt the kiss on her forehead.
     "Get some sleep," she was told, "They'll be calling for you in a hour 
or so."
     "Two hours?" she asked, replaying an old joke.
     "Okay, I think I can managed to keep it occupied for two hours.  Then 
we can go swimming, the lake will be warm."
     Rei nodded, despite how much it hurt to do so.  She let her mind relax, 
let darkness wrap itself around her and sleep take her.  They have come, 
this time there will be no more deaths.
---------------------------------------------------------
     The room's dark, she thought, Which neither surprises nor hinders me. 
The door closed behind her, as the guard locked it.  The darkness was total, 
but she'd walked this path many times.  The smells of the place still 
confused her, but she continued.  No time like the present, she thought. 
"Mako-chan, Mako-chan, Rei will be fine."  She didn't expect an answer, she 
didn't get one, so she continued, "She understands and doesn't blame you for 
anything."
     Change the subject! she told herself, She probably feels badly enough 
as it is, something happier.
     "She tried one of your recipes, made cookies for the whole command 
staff.  They were a little funny looking     you know Rei."  She took a 
Rei-like pose, not too difficult for her, " 'The taste is the important 
thing', and they _were_ delicious."
     Only the constant sound of heavy machinery and the drop of liquid broke 
the silence.  So I'll break it myself, she thought with a trace of irony. 
"The Angels have returned," she said, "You must have sensed them already, 
that's why     you lost control with Rei-chan.  Just because she's quiet, 
that doesn't mean she doesn't care the way you do, the way the others 
did.  She just wants to do it right, she knows that after Second Impact, we 
can't afford the casualties and property damage that used to be part of the 
battles you fought when you were her age.  You both want to end a battle 
quickly, she just doesn't want anybody hurt     like what you said in 
Antarctica.  Just give her a chance, and I'll sure you'll be fast friends."
     She paused, wondering whether to add this, knowing Makoto's tendencies. 
"We're getting another pilot, the commander's own son."  I can practically 
hear her drooling, she thought, "I think he's going to be Yui's pilot. 
Don't sulk, please, we'll need you."  She smiled, listened, silence.  "I've 
got to go and do my job.  Don't sulk, I'll leave some of the monster for you 
and Rei."  She turned and left.
---------------------------------------------------------
     Shinji Ikari was not impressed.  Great, I get stuck with this oversexed 
weirdo, yeah, she'd pretty, but she can't drive, he thought as grabbed on to 
something in the car and noted Misato's disappointment that it wasn't her, 
Maybe she drives this way on purpose, and what's with that attitude, what is 
she, twelve?  He sighed and centered himself.  If this is my dad's 
secretary, well she'd have to be, I know he doesn't employ her for her 
brain.  What other kind of weirdos has he surrounded himself with?  If he 
dragged me out here, for something stupid and selfish, I'm _really_ going to 
be depressed.  He stared out the window at the U.N. forces battling the 
`angel` that had tried to step on him.
     "Uh, Misato-san, why did all the planes scatter like that?" he asked.
     "An S2 mine!" Misato shrieked and drove off the road, this time on 
purpose.  She drove the car into a ditch and released her seatbelt.
     "What's goin- !?"  His question was smothered as Misato threw herself 
on top of him.  I know guys who'd want to do this, but she stinks like 
brewery!  A chili brewery! he thought as the earth moved for both of them, 
as the car flipped end over end.  She likes it _really_ rough! Shinji 
thought worriedly.
---------------------------------------------------------
     Gendo stared at the screen, temporarily blanked due to the effect of 
the blast.  Below him, on their level, the generals were celebrating.  He 
waited.
     "We have her on a side-band Commander," Maya supplied.
     "Patch her through to the main screen," he ordered.
     The picture was shaky and grainy.  Considering it is being shot through 
a handheld camera, he thought with a touch of pride, It's not bad.
     The image showed the creature, badly injured, but basically intact. 
Below him, the general's speculated and exclaimed, their best attack had 
only scratched the surface.
     "Commander," came the voice from the remote location, "I can hit it 
again, but that might endanger Tokyo-3."
     The Commander smiled, and hid it instantly.  She plays her role well, 
he thought as he stood up and looked down, both literally and figuratively, 
at the generals.  "Gentlemen?" he asked, as they absorbed the sheer size of 
the blast crater.
     "Very well, Ikari," the lead general said, "We leave it in your hands." 
The sank out of sight, and out of his plans.
     "Very well, Hotaru, return to base.  Captain Katsuragi's car should be 
nearby.  Our new pilot might like to see a friendly face."
     "Yes, Commander."  The transmission ended.
     "Commander Fuyutsuki," he said as he stood, "Please take care of this." 
He walked out of the command center.  I should make my `report` to them, he 
thought with a streak of real malice.

I do not own any of the characters or situations from Neon Genesis 
Evangelion, they are owned by Gainex. 


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