Omake Chapter 1-C: Shinji

[Shukuen]

"No, no, I'll be fine in a moment," Shukuen ulped, grimacing as he swallowed some bile. He idly wondered when he had stopped faking his queasiness, and shook his head to clear his mind as he followed Rei, a feeling a little better now.

[Bean Bandit]

Rei nodded and led the way down the hall, not looking back to see if Shinji followed her...

[Shukuen]

Shukuen continued after her, keeping her in sight while also memorizing the base's layout.

[Bean Bandit]

After a little...(Well, a lot) of walking, Rei led Shinji into a large, darkened room, with one wall conisting entirely of a window looking out on the EVA maintenance bay most of the rest of the room was too dark to make out, but he could see the center was moderately lit. In the middle of the room sat a large, kidney-shaped table, A brown haired man with  glasses and a neatly trimmed beard sat at the head of the table, his hands folded in front of his nose, obscuring from the eyes down, and his glasses glinted in the dim light. Misato sat to his left, looking pensive.

[Shukuen]

Entering the room, Shukuen's face suddenly became emotionless, his eyes going dull as if dead to the world, and his stance seemed almost... robotic. Standing before the desk, he faced Gendo, matching his cold gaze evenly.

"Why have you summoned me, commander...?" he asked, his voice devoid of any feeling.

[Bean Bandit]

Gendo didn't react to Shinji's statement, or even move. The motions of his mouth couldn't be seen, so his voice seemed to issue out of thin air, echoing along the walls...

"Explain yourself, Pilot."

[Shukuen]

"As a pilot, as well as a soldier, is it not required to know your enemy?" Shukuen responded evenly, pausing a moment.

[Bean Bandit]

Misato blinked at that, but stayed silent. Gendo showed no reaction.

"Please complete your explanation without resorting to dramatics, Pilot Ikari." he said flatly.

[Shukuen]

"I apologize, sir. I was merely wondering how to word my explainations in a way even the Major could understand," Shukuen replied evenly.

"As I was saying, when I recalled our past encounters with the enemy, as well as making comparisons during our recent skirmish, I noted the following. Our enemies so far have always retained an organic appearance, and while our opponent was humanoid in appearance, its design was also far too... perfect to be natural," he turned his gaze briefly to Misato, before staring back at Gendo.

"Also, I would like to point out that, unlike our previous opponents, there was no readings of any AT field, enemy or otherwise. Now it might be argued that the opponent was merely feigning weakness, but I would like to point out the fact that the Second Child by her self easily overpowered him, and I doubt that the enemy would allow it self to be destroyed if it's goal was to gain our trust."

He bowed slightly in respect. "Though I agree, I should be reprimanded for questioning your orders."

[Bean Bandit]

"As well as an insubordination charge." Gendo agreed.

Misato winced. "Sir, Sh-er, Pilot Ikari isn't a line soldier. We can't hold him to-"

Gendo didn't even look at her to interrupt. "He will not be court-martialed, Major Katsuragi, if that is your concern." Gendo sat back, and adjusted his glasses. which glinted slightly again in the dim lighting. "There is a chain of command for a reason, Pilot. You're confined to your quarters for the week, save in the event of an angel attack. Dismissed."

[Shukuen]

"Very well, commander," Shukuen nodded, briefly saluting the two before leaving the room.
 
That went better than I expected, he smirked, wondering where to go from here. Ah well, it's not like I have much of a choice. Shrugging, he returned to the lockers to get out of his plug suit.

[Bean Bandit]

Shinji found his way back along the route Rei had shown him, and was back at The Cage in short order. Finding the men's locker room, he slipped inside...

[Shukuen]

Shukuen hummed, looking for his storage locker and his clothes, and noting anything important about his surroundings for future reference.

[Bean Bandit]

As a timesaver, there was, at present, only one frquently used locker present, with the name 'Ikari' stenciled on it.

The locker room itself was fairly ordinary, rows upon rows of lockers on a neatly tiled room with a shower just around the corner, just as Shinji noted the dried LCL was beginning to reek...

[Shukuen]

Shukuen winced a bit. Perhaps... a quick shower would be beneficial right now... he thought, entering one of the stalls to clean himself up.

Moments later, he stepped out of the lockers feeling clean and refreshed, and in his civilian clothing.