Months earlier…

Being in LCL was not an unfamiliar experience for Rei. She had been in and out of her whole life.

Inside the tank where she was born. Within the tube, where her "mental backups" were made. And even if it wasn't really "her", the tank in which her physical backups lived.

In fact, it was even within a lot of her supplements. No one told her as much but she suspected this meant she needed it to live.

But this was the first time she was syncing with her Evangelion. She couldn't name the emotion that buzzed along her skin as she was closed in the Plug. Or the one when the Plug shifted and settled into place within Unit 00. She took a deep breath. The Commander assured her it would be okay so it would be okay. And if it wasn't, it was still okay. As she could be replaced.

Her comm crackled to life as Doctor Akagi told her, "We're beginning the activation test now,"

"Yes," she breathed.

The machine buzzed to life around her. Even without being synced properly, she could feel the life of her Evangelion...and its slumbering power. It was enough to make the hair on her arms stand on end—if her plugsuit allowed it. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. She had to relax. The Evangelion wouldn't accept her otherwise.

"Starting the activation sequence," one of the technicians, a woman named Maya, said.

Rei ignored the feeling inside her and opened herself to her Eva. It was going to be alright, no matter what.

A buzzing feeling raced along her skin and she was suddenly aware of the Eva. Her body was its body was her body. She was aware both of the enclosed space of the Entry Plug and the wider space of the testing chamber. She used the eye that was not hers to look up at the window where the Commander and Dr. Akagi were standing. While the doctor was busy looking over the shoulder of Maya at her screen, the Commander looked at her. His face betrayed nothing.

THAT MAN. THIS IS HIS FAULT.

Without anyone's input, the connection was cut and Rei felt like she was falling. But something rose from the depths, grabbed her and held her in place. She didn't scream or cry but still felt helpless as she was taken along for the ride as the Eva strained to escape its restraints. Finally, with a horrific screech, it pulled free and lurched forward with a pained moan.

Distantly, she could hear Dr. Akagi and the other techs try to regain control of the berserk machine. But the angry screaming of something familiar drowned it out.

THAT MAN. HE TRAPPED ME HERE. HE KILLED ME!

Rei grabbed her head as it throbbed. Why wouldn't it all go away? Why wouldn't it stop? The voice, the pain, the feeling of being trapped—

A voice cut through the cacophony, "Stop the experiment. Cut the power."

I'M IN PIECES BECAUSE OF YOU!

The machine shuddered as the cable was ejected. It jerked to a stop, like a puppet with its strings cut.

WE HAVE TO KILL HIM.

Evangelion Unit Zero jerked to life again, looking wildly around the room until it once more laid its eye on the Commander who, uncharacteristically, stiffened upon seeing it come back to life. It launched a fist at him, denting the wall and cracking the window. It stood firm, as did the object of its hatred.

A very distinct feeling of frustration rushed through Rei and the Eva began to pummel the wall. Still, despite cracking and breaking, it stood firm.

The Eva made a muffled wail and it bent over, grabbing its head once more.

WHY CAN'T...WHY CAN'T…

WHY COULDN'T WE BE DEAD?

A new shudder ran through the machine as the Entry Plug was finally ejected. Her relief was short-lived as the Plug hit the ceiling hard and slid across with a horrendous squealing sound. Her head hit the back of the chair and the LCL was suddenly clouded red.

With another jerk, it hit the wall, still shuddering as the rockets kept going. In a combat scenario, the Plug was designed to fly as far as it could from the danger and hit the ground much easier than it would now. Rei felt a horrible feeling, of knowing she would shortly be in more pain and could do nothing about it.

Finally, the rockets petered out and she went into free fall. But not for long and she hit the ground, a horrible snap coming from her arm. She cried out as it did.

It went silent. Horribly and utterly silent. There was no one with Rei except the pain. Still, she did not cry, gasping instead. Part of her, a very small part, wanted to cry.

Then there was a voice outside. A grunt of pain then the sound of the Entry Plug release squealing as it was turned. Finally, light flooded the Entry Plug. "Rei?" the Commander asked as he leaned inside the Plug.

There was a desperate edge to his voice Rei had never heard before, "Rei, are you alright?!"

She looked up, her neck flaring in pain at the movement. She couldn't quite meet his eyes but he looked truly concerned. A new feeling, something that soothed her pain, rushed through her. She nodded slowly.

"...I see," he said.

He turned away as the hospital personnel made it down to them. A glint of something by the Entry Plug caught Rei's eyes. The Commander's glasses? She had rarely seen him without them. Her curiosity outweighed her pain so she leaned over, grabbing the edge of them. Her body screamed in pain but she ignored it, leaning back in her chair.

A long crack ran through the glasses, no doubt because the extreme heat the Plug was giving off. Her plugsuit protected her from it but the Commander had no such thing. His gloves definitely would not have held against it and a sneaky glance at him confirmed it. The palms of his gloves had been burned away, revealing angry burns on his skin.

The feeling from before rushed through her, a soft feeling that muffled her pain. She cradled the glasses close to her with her good arm and did not let go of them, even as darkness consumed her. A red haze swam behind her eyes just before it did and it felt, for just a moment, she was being rocked by waves.

---

Rei was doing a lot of thinking as of late.

It wasn't as if she didn't think before; in fact she often pondered the nature of her existence and the world at large. But nowadays, she found her mind on things her old self wouldn't bother pondering. Like that first sync test. But here she was, turning the memory over and over, inspecting all facets of it. What the Commander had done for her was the single kindest thing he had ever done for her. But he never acknowledged it again, as if it hadn't happened at all. Before, she might have thought it painful for him to revisit. Now she wasn't so sure.

That wasn't the only reason she was turning that particular memory over though. Today, Nagisa was doing a unique sync test where he synced with all three Evas. Before, he only did tests occasionally with 02. His sync rate in it was just acceptable, hovering some distance below Asuka's much more exceptional rating. So today they were seeing if maybe he'd do better in one of the other two.

Or in case something happened to her or Shinji.

She didn't really like to think about the idea of harm coming to Shinji. Nor did she like thinking about it when it came to Asuka or Nagisa. She didn't even know him that well but there was a good chance her Eva might harm in when he was inside it. She had to warn him.

It was much too early for anyone to be up but the idea nagged at her. So she got up and got dressed.

Outside, it was still pretty dark, the world bathed in lavender tones. The hallway was quiet and dim so she stood for a moment, appreciating the quiet ambiance. Then she went to Kaworu's door, knocked then waited.

A few minutes passed before he opened the door, blinking blearily at her. His silver hair stuck up every which way and his clothes were disheveled. He yawned, "Oh, hey, Rei. What are you doing here?"

"I wished to speak with you. It..." she paused, searching for a way to word it, "...brought me distress if I didn't right away."

"Is it important?" Kaworu asked.

"It is a matter of great importance to me,"

He stepped aside, "Then come on in. I'll make some tea."

He led her inside, showing her to the kitchen table. Like her own, his apartment wasn't that decorated but she could spy a silver machine sitting on the counter, where it didn't seem to belong. He glanced over to ask her a question but, seeing her look at the machine, asked her instead, "Do you like music, Rei?"

"I...haven't really listened to much. I know Shinji likes music," she answered as she tried to figure how the machine might play music.

He reached over and pressed a button, causing violin music to flood the kitchen. He smiled, "Listen to that while I make tea. I think you'll like it."

She closed her eyes and listened. Her worry was still there but the music soothed it, told her to let it go to the back of her mind for a little while. The music eventually faded out on a final chord before silence reigned once more. She opened her eyes just as Kaworu set a cup of tea in front of her. He asked, "Did you like it?"

She nodded slightly, "It made me feel less worried."

Kaworu sat across from her, "It makes me feel calmer when I'm upset too,"

She took a sip of her tea and commented, "I like this too."

"Tea also helps," he smiled, "What was on your mind?"

Rei frowned when she remembered her concern. Even this small gesture caught Kaworu off guard...seeing emotion from her was alien. She explained, "You will be testing with all the Evas today and this makes me...concerned for your well-being, Nagisa."

Kaworu frowned too, "You think something bad is going to happen?"

"As you may know, when I first synced with Unit Zero...she went berserk and I was harmed. I fear the same may happen to you."

Kaworu nodded, "That makes sense but I'm sure Dr. Akagi and her technicians have already prepared for that."

That did little to soothe her worries. She dropped her gaze to her tea as she considered how to word it. Finally, she said, "Unit Zero is temperamental. I believe she doesn't like change. Or those she doesn't know."

"I figured that much from what I've heard," he shrugged, "I'll just do what I've always been told to do. To open myself to her. What happens will happen."

Rei searched his face, wondering if perhaps he did know about the nature of the Eva. If he did, he was extremely casual about it. She nodded, "I suppose that is one way to look at it."

"If you're so worried, why don't you come along to the test? Maybe watching it will make you feel better."

"...I'd like that. Do you think Asuka and Shinji might come too? I...I think that might help too."

He nodded, "I think so. And after, we can all go do something. I'd like to spend more time with you too, Rei. I can't say I know you that well but I believe we may be alike."

She studied him, squinting her eyes, "How so?" she asked.

He smiled easily, "Maybe just in looks. Maybe in other ways."

---

Asuka hadn't expected Rei to come to her, inviting her (and Shinji) with her to Kaworu's sync tests. She hadn't really been worried about the tests until Rei revealed she was. She had had her own accident when she first synced with Zero and feared the same may happen to him. Asuka hadn't remembered such a thing...but then again, she hadn't paid enough mind to Rei last time to learn of it.

The testing was happening in the old testing chambers, where Zero's first test had happened. They were obsolete but if one of the Evangelions went berserk, it would minimize damage to important infrastructure. So now all three of the pilots had piled into the command center, hovering out of the way but intent. Misato cast a glance at them, "You guys didn't have to be here for this."

Shinji cut in, "We want to make sure Kaworu is going to be alright."

Rei nodded slowly. Misato frowned, "It's gonna take a while, you three know that, right?"

"We know that!" Asuka cried, "I brought a book."

Not that she figured she'd get any reading done. She kept casting glances to one of the computer screens. They had tested Kaworu in Two first, in fact before the three got there. It was more of the usual there; he could hold a decent sync rate but nothing like her own. It really served as a control to the other two. Now, they had him in Shinji's Eva, Unit 01.

His sync rate was passable but low. He could probably get it up and moving but movement would be sluggish and reaction times pitiful.

Misato continued, "Whatever happens is going to happen whether or not you three are here or not. Have some faith in us too!"

"It's not that we don't have faith in the team, you and Dr. Akagi and everyone," Shinji stammered, "It just kinda feels better to be here and not somewhere else waiting. Like waiting for something bad to happen."

"...I understand," Misato conceded, "I'm sure Ritsuko will be happy to hear you guys have faith in her after all."

Ritsuko herself did not comment but a soft smile crossed her face.

Asuka watched the screen again. Kaworu's sync rate had only risen a point but that in itself was an achievement. She remembered Unit One had a preference in Shinji and never let anyone else pilot it. What did it think of Kaworu then, an interloper? Was she only begrudgingly letting him sync or had she simply not grown stubborn yet?

Shinji peered over at the screen too. What did he think of this, she wondered. If he knew his mother was the soul within Unit 01, would he feel differently?

What might he feel about the machine itself if he knew that? She found a comfort in knowing her mother was there with her, even if she couldn't reach out to her. Would Shinji feel the same or might be feel a resentment towards it, for taking her from him? Asuka didn't feel that way towards 02; it wasn't its fault her mother had gone through with the contact test. One may argue it was a victim just as much as everyone else.

Her attention lapsed until, finally, Akagi declared that phase of the test complete and began the process of swapping Unit Zero into the testing chamber. Asuka didn't trust that Evangelion. With Rei, it seemed to act perfectly normal but knowing now that Rei had her own accident with it, she had grown suspicious.

Who was inside it anyway? Rei, as far as she knew, had no mother.

Shinji must have picked up her anxiety as he whispered, "Are you worried?"

Asuka frowned, nearly rebuffing him. But memories of his actions against Sandalphon stopped her so she told the truth, "Yes."

"I have a bad feeling about it," he admitted, "Rei was pretty beat up after her accident with it."

It took some time to get the final phase in place but once both Unit Zero and Kaworu were in place, Dr. Akagi asked, "Are you doing alright in there, Kaworu?"

"Yes, Dr. Akagi," he answered smoothly.

Units Two and One were distant to him and he didn't expect Zero to be any different. He didn't think he was going to have an Eva he could freely sync with until he got his own. All three's souls were still active so he didn't want to even try exerting his influence over them, setting his sync rate as he pleased. There would be no reason to make enemies here.

Curiously, as he made better friends with Asuka, his sync rate with Two crawled higher and higher. It was still nothing to write home about but he had to wonder if it was indicative of acceptance.

Unit One felt...like it was only begrudgingly syncing with him. He got the bare minimum from her and, realistically, it meant he would never be deployed with her. He tried to radiate a sense of gratefulness at her but it didn't change much.

In the background, he could hear the technicians chatter as they began the activation process. Around him, the machine hummed to life.

Moments passed, the chatter continued and finally, power coursed into the machine. It raised its head as it awoke.

"Time to absolute borderline. 0.9, 0.7, 0.5, 0.3…"

The computers began to wail and Zero shuddered, as if in pain. It grabbed its head and moaned lowly. Ritsuko hissed, "No, not again...the pulses are flowing backward! He's being rejected!"

With the screen lit up red, the LCL within the plug looked uncomfortably like blood. The machine radiated a mixture of terror and fury. It felt as if it was trying to worm into his head and, mirroring Zero, Kaworu clutched his head.

Images flashed in his mind. Rei sitting in class, staring out the window. Rei sitting in their group. Rei in Shinji's home. Rei in her white plugsuit. Rei, from this morning, holding the cup of tea he had given her.

Rei in a school outfit, eyes narrowed as she stood on the peak of the escalator.

IDENTIFY YOURSELF.

WHO ARE YOU?

UNKNOWN. DIFFERENT. FAMILIAR. ALIKE. ENEMY? FRIEND?

Kaworu gasped as the voice reverberated without sound within his head. It was high and airy but the reverb betrayed the tone of a cornered, frightened animal. And he knew what they said about a cornered animal: that was when they were at their most dangerous.

He murmured, "I'm a friend, I'm Rei's friend."

Whatever this was...it felt in a way like Rei. Even so, he wasn't sure if it understood him at all. Or if it cared to.

The machine shuddered once more, its restraints screeching as it broke free. It stumbled a few steps forward and shook its head back and forth, clawing at it as it did. It made a muffled wailing sound that chilled its watchers to their core. Ritsuko cried, "Eject the power cord!"

Maya complied and the entire room shuddered as the power cord was ejected with explosive force, falling to the floor with a crash. She then reported, "We've got one minute until shutdown!"

Shinji was shaking like a leaf but couldn't find it in himself to move away. He said, "A minute can be a long time…"

The Eva stopped, raising its head once more to survey its space. It caught sight of the window, repaired as if it hadn't smashed it up months prior. It approached, almost predatory.

Asuka grabbed Shinji's shoulder, "Shinji...let's...let's move back..."

But none of the pilot trio moved. They were stuck in place, helpless to watch as Unit Zero came mere feet away from the glass and mere feet away from them. It's single eye studied them each in turn but froze when it came to Rei. Everything was still.

WHY DO YOU GET TO LIVE WHILE I DIED?

WHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHY!

It pulled its arm back and just before its threw its punch, Rei moved in front of Shinji and Asuka. The punch collided with the window, which bent inward but otherwise held. "The hell, Rei?! Move away!" Asuka cried.

"It's me she wants," Rei breathed.

It wailed in frustration and punched again, the glass holding still but bending dangerously inward. "Rei!" Shinji cried and grabbed her shoulder. He pulled her back just as Unit Zero landed a third punch. Asuka staggered after them.

To their right, Ritsuko ordered, "Cut the connection. The pilot is suffering mental contamination."

"Cut it? At this plug depth?" Maya asked, but nevertheless prepared to do so.

"Yes. The Eva's thoughts are passing into the pilot, rather than the other way around. Who knows the effects."

Maya did as she was told, right as the Eva was going to land a fourth, and most likely final, punch at the window. It froze in place then staggered back, wailing and cradling its head. "Eject the pilot!" Ritsuko cried.

Maya typed away, just for the computer to make a noise of error. "I can't! The Eva is rejecting it! 20 seconds to shutdown!"

"Hang in there..." Misato murmured, looking from the miserable Eva to the other three kids, who watched the spectacle. Rei watched it with her usually detached expression but her mouth was turned just slightly downward, betraying her true feelings. Asuka and Shinji watched more openly with wide, horrified eyes.

The Eva backed into a wall and, when finding nowhere to go, turned and began to bash its head into the wall.

"10 seconds!"

The Eva shuddered and slumped again the wall, clawing at it and wailing. It was the very picture of misery.

Finally, it went still.

"Unit Zero has gone silent," Maya said quietly.

"Kaworu!" Shinji cried, bolting away from them.

Misato caught him around the midsection and held him, even as he thrashed, "Shinji, it's no use! He's got to be manually extracted!"

"I have to see if he's okay!"

"You'll get hurt!"

"His life signs were otherwise alright when we lost connection," Ritsuko approached them, "It's more than likely any damage he suffered will be mental, rather than physical. But judging by how Rei came out of her own incident, there will likely be no lasting effects."

Shinji looked at her with a pleading gaze and she looked away, too uncomfortable to meet it.

This calmed him and he went still. Yet, Misato didn't let go of him. Asuka looked out the cracked window, at where Zero was slumped against the wall. Even deactivated, it was a terrifying thing.

She hoped Kaworu was going to be alright.

She asked, "Where are they going to take him, once they extract him?"

"I'll be looking over him for any sign of mental contamination. If he's clear, he can come home but if not, he'll be in the hospital," Ritsuko answered.

"Where could we wait for him, if he's alright?"

"I'd say the hospital waiting room will be best. I'll call Misato to tell you if he needs to stay," a soft smile stole onto her face, as if amused by Asuka's concern.

Asuka ignored the urge to demand what she was smiling about, instead looking away, "Let's go get something to eat and hopefully he'll be ready by then."

Misato let Shinji go and the trio left. She looked back at Ritsuko, who had gone back to study the data. This was not an isolated incident. Did Ritsuko have an idea as to why it had gone berserk? Was Rei's incident and this one connected?

---

The trio went down to the cafeteria to eat. Shinji wanted to forgo this altogether and go straight to the waiting room, instead scavenging food from the vending machines. Asuka wasn't having this at all.

The only one who seemed to enjoy eating was Asuka. She had polished off her chicken and rice, relishing the distraction. Shinji ate slower, spending more time pushing his scraps around than eating. Rei nibbled, her mind too occupied to really eat. Asuka broke the silence, "The food could be much better here."

"It ain't that bad," Shinji shrugged.

"If it was better, you wouldn't be pushing around your leftovers," she pointed out.

He huffed, "I don't have an appetite."

They ate—or rather struggled to eat—in silence for a few minutes more until someone approached their table, greeting them, "You three look down in the dumps."

All three looked up to find Kaji, holding his own tray of food. Asuka perked up, "Kaji!"

He sat in the free seat next to her and asked them, "I didn't think you three had to be in today so what brings you here?"

"Kaworu had a cross-sync test with mine and Rei's Evas," Shinji explained, "It...didn't really go that well."

"It was going well until they put him in Zero," Asuka pointed out sourly.

"They did that? Even after Rei's accident?" Kaji asked, eyebrows raised.

"For some reason," Asuka grumbled.

In Kaji's investigations, he had come across the plans for an autopilot; the Dummy System. Information so far was fragmented but what he did know was these cross-sync tests were part of its development. From what he can gather, this gathering of information was all to train the autopilot. Still, he was impressed they were poking the sleeping beast that was Eva Zero.

"I suppose this means Rei's accident was no fluke," he mused.

To his surprise, it was Rei who responded, "She was not pleased to see an intruder. He woke her up."

His eyebrows raised further and, it seemed Asuka and Shinji were similarly surprised. He asked, "You mean Zero?"

Rei nodded, "She only cooperated because she had been sleeping."

Then, when no fanfare, she pushed her plate away from her, having only eaten a fraction of it, "I'm done. Let's go."

Cryptic remark forgotten, Shinji nearly leaped out of his seat, "Yes! Let's go!"

They disposed of their trash and started the walk to the hospital wing, Kaji watching them leave.

The true nature of the Evangelion was no secret to him—for the most part. He knew what they really were and what really made them move. At least, what made Units 01 and 02 move. Zero was an enigma but it seemed Rei had implied there was a soul within nonetheless. Some unknown and unnamed mother perhaps or something else?

His mind drifted to Asuka and he smiled softly. She hadn't ever taken up his offer to talk but it seemed like the time around her peers had softened her all the same. She had come with Shinji and Rei to check on Kaworu, a far cry from the girl who had openly complained about him trying to get them to interact, all the way back on the Over the Rainbow.

Who had initiated this change? Shinji, who had been made to work with her twice now? Rei, who seemed to have some sort of fascination with her? Misato, who had taken her in as her guardian once more?

Or maybe, just maybe, it was the enigmatic Kaworu Nagisa. After all, they had come to Tokyo-3 together after vanquishing an Angel together.

Whatever—or whoever the cause he was at least glad to see her making friends her own age. All her time in Germany, she had been determined to grow up faster than she was. Now, it seemed she had abandoned that idea in favor of coming back down to the level of her peers.

---

On the way to the hospital wing, Shinji broke the silence with what they surely were all thinking, "So Rei...you said your Eva did that because Kaworu had woke it up?"

Rei was silent. Shinji nearly thought she wasn't going to answer before she said, "Dr. Akagi never told me what she thought so perhaps I am incorrect. But the Eva had gone quiet after my accident."

Asuka cut in, "Maybe Dr. Akagi will have a better idea now. More data n' all."

"I hope they don't try to put either of us in it," Shinji sighed.

Asuka thought of the original cross-synch tests and wondered how this was going to affect those. If was anything like last time, she was safe in Unit 02 but if Shinji was put into Unit 00...surely it would not appreciate a second interloper. Asuka changed the subject slightly, "Perhaps Kaworu can confirm what Rei thinks."

Once they got there, Kaworu was already waiting for them. "Kaworu!" Shinji cried, running up to him and embracing him. He seemed to realize what he had done because two seconds later, he detached and took a few steps backwards, his face red. Kaworu's was just as red. Asuka smirked at him. He pouted back.

He turned back to Shinji, "You three were going to wait for me?"

"Of course!" Shinji nodded, "What did Ritsuko say?"

"The effects of mental contamination faded as I waited to be retrieved. I appear to be well."

"How do you feel though?" Asuka asked.

"Just shaken. This is probably the only case in which I'll say it but I'm glad the Entry Plug didn't eject," he nodded towards Rei, "It would have been like with Rei's first test."

"It was not pleasant," Rei said.

"Do you have any idea as to why the Eva did it?" Shinji asked.

Kaworu frowned, "I can't really explain it. But it didn't seem to want me there."

He cast a quick knowing glance to Asuka then looked away. She made a note to ask him about it herself.

"Let's head on home...hey, let's all go to Misato's place! She'll probably be here for a while still so we can have the place to ourselves!" Asuka suggested.

Kaworu sighed, "I do not envy her."

---

It was late when Kaworu and Rei left Misato's apartment to go home. Kaworu cast a look at Asuka as he stood which Asuka picked up on. She said, "Hey, I'll walk you two out!"

She turned to Shinji, "Maybe you could clean up our plates?" she gestured to their plates from dinner on the table.

Ever dutiful, Shinji hopped up and began to do that. Asuka walked out with Kaworu and Rei. Once out, Asuka waved to Rei as she walked down the hall, "Night, Rei."

Kaworu nodded too, "Good night."

She nodded at them, "Night, Asuka...night, Kaworu," and disappeared into her apartment.

Kaworu watched her go, "She used my first name. She's been calling me Nagisa this whole time."

"Wow, she must have been really worried."

Asuka and Kaworu remained there for a moment before he walked down the hall, the opposite way from his apartment. He led them to the elevator and as they rode down, he announced, "I've been still a little shaken so I figured we could take a walk. Shinji won't miss you?"

Asuka raised an eyebrow, "No...I'll tell him we took a walk."

Kaworu nodded and walked with her out the elevator and onto the street outside. It was deserted, thanks in part to the apartment's relative isolation and partially to the time of night. Still, he looked around then back at her. He cocked his head and began walking. She followed.

He lead them around a turn into a park, devoid of people. He lead her to the swings and sat on one, his arms folded in his lap. Asuka followed, trying to not gnaw her lip in anxiety. Finally, he whispered, "I've got an idea why Zero went berserk. And who's inside."

Keeping her own voice low, she asked, "Who?"

"It's...a piece of Rei."

Asuka's heart skipped a beat as her mind made the immediate comparison. She breathed, "Like Mom...is that why Rei...is like that?"

"Could be," he shrugged, "I don't think it's the entire reason but its certainly why Zero is like that."

Asuka leaned back, looking up at the sky and the moon, which was in half phase. A wave of pity washed over her and she didn't fight it. She commented, "Rei said something like she thought you "woke it up"."

"So I assume that means Rei knows at least somewhat what Zero's deal is," Kaworu commented.

"Or just that she knows something is in it," Asuka countered.

They sat in silence for a few moments more before Kaworu stood, "Let's head back."

---

The day was over but, unfortunately for Ritsuko, hers was nowhere near done. She had one more task that had to be done today: a meeting with the Commander. For some reason, he insisted to come to him in person to report on the incident.

She stepped through the elevator, was buzzed into his office and went inside, stopping before his desk. The Commander sat straight, fingers steepled, as he asked, "Report on today's cross synch test."

"Nagisa's rate holds average with Unit Two but lags significantly behind with One. Proper synch with Zero proved to be impossible. It went berserk."

"As I heard. Can you explain why that is?"

"Not definitively. I can only hypothesize that the introduction of an unknown person caused it to react with hostility. As we know, Zero is quite unstable and temperamental. We're still not entirely sure why it cooperates with Rei, after going berserk the first time."

"Was the Fourth Child harmed?"

"There was minor mental contamination but otherwise no."

He hummed in thought. It was no secret between her, him and the Vice Commander he was not pleased by the Fourth Child's presence. He believed it was a ploy by SEELE to plant him within their ranks. Perhaps he hoped an accident would occur and take him out of play organically.

"Will this interfere with the Dummy Plug Project?"

"Most likely no. We still have the full cross-synch tests planned in a few weeks. I've decided to go forward, even with the threat of a third berserk incident."

"Go on forward with that plan, Akagi. However, I'd appreciate it if you found a way to cut the power faster in the testing environment."

"Will do, sir."

"You are dismissed."

She stepped back out and took a sigh of relief. As of late, she was starting to dread her meetings with the Commander. Their more...illicit affairs were even losing their luster. She shook her head to clear her thoughts of him. Going back to work didn't sound as bad as it usually did.

Especially with Maya still there to help her.