Neon Apocalypse Evangelion
Chapter 2 - Living a Lie
by
Arial Perry
(Revision 1.2)

C&C and MST requested.  Please send all email to: 
sailor_tenshi@hotmail.com

*There are several spoilers ahead for those that haven't seen all the 
episodes of Eva and the movies (or are like me and don't have the 
willpower to wait and have read the scripts so you know how things end.)  
Don't read on if you have willpower!
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Inspired by NEON GENESIS EVANGELION created by Hideaki Anno and Gainax.

Most characters designed by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Kaela and the 
personality for EVA-04, Stephanie, are mine.)

I ask that all concerned that own these copyrights do not sue me as I am 
poor enough as it is.  Trying to scrape through school on what Radio 
Shack pays really sucks.
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	"Thanks for dinner and letting me crash at your place last night 
Misato," Kaela said as she followed the older woman into Nerv HQ.  
"You've been very kind to me since I got here and I want to thank you 
for it."
	"Don't mention it.  Besides, where else could you have stayed.  They 
probably would have put you in the brig if you stayed here.  What did 
you think of Shinji?"
	"He seems nice though a little shy.  This girl you wanted me to meet, 
Asuka, where was she?"
	"She was over at a friend's house in last night. It's probably for the 
best that she wasn't there anyway.  She's been in a bad mood lately and 
chances are she would see you as a rival, like she does Shinji and Rei."
	"Why is that?"
	"Asuka has to be the best at piloting an Eva.  You are someone new who 
just showed up in Unit-04 and asked if you could park it.  You've had no 
training and no experience like Shinji when he showed up.  She sort of 
takes that as a personal affront since she's been training to pilot 
Unit-02 all her life."
	"Great, one pilot doesn't want to talk to me, one is shy and doesn't 
say much, and now I've offended a third because I'm a pilot.  Are there 
any others or have I ran out of Eva pilots to not like me?"  Misato took 
a few moments before responding to Kaela's question.
	"You've met all the pilots I know of," Misato said.  Her cheerful mood 
seemed to be dampened and their conversation died away.  An 
uncomfortable silence settled over them the rest of the way to Gendou's 
office. 
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	Kaela walked into Gendou's office expecting the worst.  She knew that 
Rei wasn't able to sync with Steph and hoped that she would be kept on 
as a pilot but Ikari had his own agenda for her, she was sure of it.  It 
had something to do with the way he had looked at her yesterday.  She 
was tempted to try to read his mind as Steph had suggested, but resisted 
easily.  Gendou just sat at his desk like yesterday.  They were alone 
his office, unlike yesterday.
	"Miss Kirschner, let us cut to the chase.  You can be charged with  
theft of military weaponry, 2nd degree murder, and various other crimes 
at this time.  I am willing to forget all this in exchange for your 
cooperation," Gendou said.
	"And this entails what, Commander Ikari," Kaela asked.
	"Seele, the organization who oversees Nerv, planted the previous pilot 
of Unit-04 as a spy.  They do not currently know that she is deceased.  
I would like for you to take her place."
	"I don't look a lot like her.  I'm probably older than she was too.  It 
will take some alteration of her records to put me in her place.  If 
this Seele oversees Nerv, it will be difficult to effect these changes.  
Especially since she was their agent."
	"This has already been arranged. "
	"I then except your terms.  I will need a copy of 'my' file so I don't 
slip up and say the wrong thing about 'my' past."
	"I have a copy here for you."  Gendou pushed a folder on his desk 
toward her which she walked over and picked up.  "I will inform Seele of 
'your' survival this afternoon.  They will contact you soon, so memorize 
that quickly."
	"Will I need to go through cosmetic surgery and take her name?"
	"No.  That will take too long to heal from to be reasonable.  Taking 
Miss Wolfe's name will be necessary though."
	"Is there anything else Commander Ikari?"
	"No, you may go Colonel Wolfe."  Kaela saluted Ikari somewhat mockingly 
then turned and left his office.  <She contains her emotions well, has a 
keen mind, a sharp tongue, and a mocking sense of humor.  She will be 
most interesting to deal with.  I think I made the right choice in using 
her against Keele.>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
	Dr. Akagi Ritsuko sat in her cell contemplating her lot in life.  At 
least she wasn't dead, yet.  She thought back to the events that led her 
here.  If she had it all to do over again, she would.  She was sick of 
being used by Ikari and felt that he had gotten what he deserved.  She 
only hoped that Shinji would forgive her for what she and her mother had 
done to him.
	She then heard footsteps outside her door, interrupting her thoughts.  
Who would be down here?  Ikari and her execution squad probably.  She 
was surprised to see Maya walk into her cell.  She seemed upset about 
something to Ritsuko.
	"Dr. Akagi, I'm here to tell you that you are being released to my care 
per Commander Ikari's orders."  Maya said this quietly in a shaky voice.  
She looked at Ritsuko with sad eyes that pleaded with her to except this 
but said 'I'm sorry about this' at the same time.
	Ritsuko was taken back by this.  Maya was acting like something was 
very wrong about Ikari releasing her and that it was her fault.  Ritsuko 
looked at her with questioning eyes and then said on word.  "Why?"
	Maya explained the whole situation about Unit-04 showing up and how it 
wouldn't sync and how she didn't understand any of it.  She finished 
with her meeting with Ikari and what happened in it.  Maya had broken 
into tears by the end saying how she was sorry she took advantage of 
Ritsuko's imprisonment had asked her if she would forgive her for what 
she had done.
	Ritsuko was shocked at this whole turn of events.  Eva-04 was back with 
a pilot in tow and Ikari was releasing her on Maya's request for help.  
She knew that Ikari was only using this to his advantage and that if she 
excepted this that she would become his pawn again.  That Maya was upset 
by her promotion to Ritsuko's position and that she asked her to forgive 
her also startled her.  She hadn't realized until now just how much Maya 
had worshipped her.  It was nice to be wanted.  No matter how much she 
wanted to say no and avoid being Ikari's tool again, she couldn't 
abandon Maya.
	"OK Maya, calm down.  There is nothing to forgive."  May looked up at 
Ritsuko as she stood.  Ritsuko put her hand on Maya's shoulder.  "You 
did what you thought was right and you got me out of this cell until 
Ikari doesn't have a use for me any longer.  Come on Maya, we have data 
to examine."  Ritsuko walked past Maya and out of her cell.  Maya 
watched Ritsuko leave the room and felt hopeful about this whole mess 
for the first time in weeks.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
	"Hi Misato," Kaela said as she walked into the command center.
	"Oh, hi Kaela.  How did it go with Cdr. Ikari?"
	"I am now officially part of Nerv.  Can I talk to you in private?"  
Kaela gave Misato a pleading look.  Misato nodded and led Kaela to her 
office.
	"What's so important that you need to talk with me alone?"
	"This folder is Seele's personnel file on Colonel Stephanie M. Wolfe, 
the seventh children and designated pilot of Evangelion Unit-04."  Kaela 
tosses the file onto Misato's desk.  "Apparently she was to be Seele's 
spy on Nerv in general and Commander Ikari in particular.  I'm to 
replace her and feed whatever information that Ikari sees fit to the 
committee."  Misato looks at Kaela startled.
	"I knew he was up to something but why tell me this?"
	"Because you are the only person I trust right now.  I know I've only 
known you for a day but I just get this feeling that you're a good 
person to place my faith in."
	This startled Misato even more.  She didn't know what to think about 
this.  Here
was a girl she barely even knew standing in front of her telling her 
that see trusted her.  To top it off she admitted that she was replacing 
Seele's spy in Nerv and that she was Cdr. Ikari's tool.  She decided 
that Kaela needed her help if she was to survive this game that Ikari 
was playing with her life.
	"So, what are you supposed to do now?"
	"Ikari wants me to get my security card and have a picture taken in my 
plug suit for my file.  I want to take a tour of the pace and figure out 
where everything is.  I think if I hadn't excepted this I'd be dead now.  
Ikari strikes me as the type to dispose of people he doesn't need."  
Misato nodded in silent agreement as she stood up.
	"Well, how about I start your tour right now," then she grinned at 
Kaela, "Colonel Wolfe."  Kaela held in her laugh but couldn't help but 
grin back.
	"Lead on, Major Katsuragi," she said with a grand gesture.  To two of 
them laughed at this and started their tour of the base.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
	Shinji looked up as Asuka walked in.  He was sitting at the kitchen 
table reading a book with his headphones on.  He put down the book and 
pulled off his headphones as she walked into the kitchen to get 
something to drink.
	"Uhhh, hi Asuka.  How was your stay at Hikari's last night?"  Asuka 
just ignored him as she pulled a soda out of the fridge.  "Hey, did you 
hear about Eva-04 yesterday?"  Asuka stopped her trek back to her room 
and turned around.  From the look on her face, Shinji decided that he 
should have kept his mouth shut.
	"What about Eva-04, idiot?"  She sounded as if her anger was just 
barely under control.
	"Uhhh, it-it reappeared y-yesterday," he was starting to regret saying 
anything.
	"And I suppose the amazing Shinji rode forth and destroyed this menace 
to humanity.  Did you kill the pilot this time or just put him in the 
hospital like Touji, hmmmm?"  She knew she was hurting Shinji, but she 
really didn't care.  She hated him for being the best Eva pilot, for 
being nice to her when she always treated him bad, for just being alive 
period.  The 'Invincible Shinji' who made it unnecessary for her to even 
pilot Eva.  She who had trained for it since she was four years old 
wasn't needed because some idiot boy has stepped in and replaced her.  
Even Wonder-girl was considered more use to them than her.  She hated 
that 'doll' more than Shinji.  She despised the fact that a wind-up doll 
saved her life when she just wanted to die.  Eva was her life and if she 
couldn't pilot then she had no reason to live.  Why wouldn't they just 
let her curl up into a corner and die like she wanted?
	"Asuka, why do you always have to be so mean?"  Shinji's voice was 
quiet and he spoke with a monotone like Rei's.  It sent cold chills down 
Asuka's spine.  "Kaela is very nice.  I wouldn't hurt her any more than 
I'd hurt anyone else.  Misato won't use me to kill like father did."  He 
looked into her eyes with a steady gaze.  Asuka was surprised to see the 
fury there.  She got the feeling that she had pushed him too hard but 
wouldn't back down from him, ever!
	"Kaela!  You mean the pilot was some girl!  Dammit!"  Asuka stormed out 
of the apartment to give a piece of her mind to this new girl.  'They' 
just had to find another replacement for her.  As if 'Wonder-girl' 
wasn't enough.
	Shinji watched her leave before grabbing his tape player and going to 
his room to bury his head in his pillow.  He had never wanted to hit 
Asuka so hard in his life.  He wondered if she understood what it felt 
like to be used like some wind-up toy.  Probably not.  She just didn't 
understand how much it still hurt.  All the death and suffering that he 
had caused since getting into Eva.  He never wanted to pilot Eva but Eva 
wanted him to pilot her.  Why couldn't she just leave him alone?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	"So, what do you think of this place?"
	"I think this place is way to big Misato," Kaela said as she followed 
her into the control room.  "I'm going to get a headache trying to 
remember where everything is, I know it."
	"You'll get used to...."  Misato trailed off as she took in just who 
was in the control room with Maya.  <But I thought Ritsuko was in the 
brig,> se said to herself.  Kaela looked at Misato's confused face with 
a questioning look.  She then followed her gaze to a blond woman in a 
labcoat beside Lt. Ibuki.
	"Hi Misato, how are you doing today," Ritsuko said as she turned 
around.  The smirk on her face lasted until she saw Kaela.  "No, not 
another one," she said in whisper with a fearful look on her face as she 
backed into the console behind her.
	"Not another what?"  Kaela asked as she stepped toward Ritsuko.
	Maya looked up at her sempai.  "She's human Doctor, I examined the 
tests myself."  Ritsuko seemed to calm at these words.  Kaela looked 
herself over quickly.
	"If you don't mind my saying, I believe I look human as well."  She 
held her hand out to Ritsuko.  "We haven't met, I'm S. Michaela Wolfe, 
but call me Kaela, it's easier to remember."  Ritsuko shook her hand 
clumsily.  Maya was about to ask her about the name change when Misato 
mouthed 'later'.  "And you are?"  
	"Doctor Akagi Ritsuko."  Ritsuko was visibly relaxing as she saw 
Kaela's eyes.  They were not the characteristic red that said 'I have 
Angel blood in my veins'.  She had thought for sure Kaela was another 
Kaworu.  "So, your the girl who showed up in Unit-04 yesterday?"
	"Yep.  I still don't remember to much about it though."
	"Miss Wolfe," a voice from behind Kaela and Misato.
	"Yes," she said, turning around.  Commander Fuyutski stood there.  He 
walked up to her, handing her a packet.
	"This is your manual, Nerv ID, and other important documents.  Major 
Katsuragi will see to your living arrangements."  He turned to Misato 
and Maya.  "Cdr. Ikari wants Unit-04 locked down until a complete check 
is run of all its systems.  Until then, it is not cleared for even 
training use, let alone combat.  Is this understood"  He waited a second 
for Maya, Misato, and Kaela to acknowledge this.  He then turned and 
left the room.
	"Does this mean I get to stay home and sleep in until your done?"  She 
looked at Maya with a smirk.
	"Don't even think about it.  We can still run sync tests with you.  
Ritsuko would be disappointed if you skipped out on those," Misato said 
as see ignored the look Ritsuko gave her.  Kaela's stomach chose this 
time to growl.
	"Uhh, is there some place we can grab a bite around here?  I haven't 
had a thing since breakfast at your place Misato."
	"Sure, we can head down to the commissary.  Care to join us you two?"
	"No," said Ritsuko.  "We still have a lot data to examine before we 
check over Unit-04."  Misato nodded.
	"Well, it's nice to see you again Rit-chan.  Later."  She turned and 
led Kaela out of the room.
	Ritsuko turned to Maya.  "I want to see those tests on her myself.  We 
can't afford to have another Angel get in here like the 17th did."
	Maya brought up the results on her screen.  "I thought you'd say that 
after you met her."
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	"So, where am I living?" Kaela asked Misato between bites of her 
sandwich.
	"Well, if you don't mind living near me, both apartments next to mine 
are empty currently.  Considering you make as much as me, you can afford 
it easily."  Misato seemed a little annoyed by that fact.  Kaela 
couldn't blame her really.
	"Sounds good to me.  I wouldn't suppose I could get you to help me pick 
out some new clothes and help me decorate?"
	"Sure, I don't......think.....that.....will..."  Misato drifted off, 
staring at something.  "Uh-oh." she said under her breath.
	Kaela turned around to see what it was.  The recipient of Misato's 
stare seemed to be a red haired girl about the same age as Shinji and 
Rei.  From the description Misato had given Kaela, she guessed this was 
Asuka Langley-Soryu.  Kaela judged by the looked on her face and the way 
she carried herself that she was pissed about something.  Judging by 
what Misato had told her earlier that morning, Asuka was pissed about 
Kaela being here.
	Asuka said something to Kaela in Japanese she didn't understand.  The 
sarcasm was evident though.  When she didn't reply Asuka said something 
else.  Kaela got the feeling it was a rather derogatory question.  
Misato then said something to girl, also in Japanese.  Asuka looked at 
her funny for a second then spoke again.
	"So, you're the girl that showed up in Unit-04 yesterday."  It wasn't a 
question and had a hint of dismissal to it.
	"Yes.  My name is Kaela Wolfe, and you must be Asuka Soryu.  I've heard 
all sorts of great things about you.  From what I understand, your the 
best pilot around here and that I can learn a lot from you."  She got 
the impression that she had said something wrong when Asuka's face 
turned white, then red with rage.
	"And what do you know about it you stupid idiot.  Your just another 
idiot show off like Shinji.  Why don't you go back where you came from.  
We don't an idiot like you around here.  You can't even speak Japanese.  
You probably can't even pilot and Eva either."  Asuka was yelling at the 
top of her lungs by the time she finished this.
	That was it for Kaela.  She was usually a very calm and controlled 
person, but Asuka just rubbed her the wrong way.  She looked at Asuka 
with a calm, smug look on her face.  "Any time you want to find out how 
much I know about piloting Eva-04, just ask.  I guarantee I'll tear you 
apart before you can blink."
	"Bitch!" Asuka screamed, slapping Kaela and turning away from her to 
leave.  She began to say a few choice phrases about Kaela in German as 
she walked away.  None of this really bothered Kaela in the least until 
Asuka called her an albino freak who should have been killed at birth.  
Asuka hit the one nerve that put Kaela in a mood to kill.  Faster than 
anyone saw, she reached in the sleeve of her cassock that she wore over 
Maya's uniform and pulled out a stiletto.  She then flung it at the 
ground in front of Asuka, burying it in the floor about an inch up its 
length.  Asuka stopped cold and turned to look at Kaela with a stunned, 
if furious, look.
	"Don't ever make a comment like that again in my presence."  Kaela 
stated this firmly in clear, unaccented German.  "The only reason that," 
she pointed to the stiletto, "isn't in your back is because I felt like 
giving you a second chance to not be such a bitch to me.  If you ever 
say that again to me though, I promise I'll make your death painful.  
Now get the hell away from me before I reconsider letting you off 
unharmed."
	Asuka looked at her with as much hatred as she could manage.  She 
didn't want to show Kaela that she had scared her with the sincerity 
that she spoke with.  Asuka did not doubt Kaela's words in the least.  
She pivoted and started to leave.
	"One more thing Asuka," called Kaela.  Asuka stopped and looked back.  
"Next time you insult someone openly in another language, make sure they 
don't speak the one your using."  Kaela smiled at her sweetly.  Asuka 
humphed and left the room.
	Kaela walked over and pulled out the stiletto with some effort.  As she 
stood back up she noticed everyone was staring at her.  She smiled 
warmly, not letting any of the anger she still felt show and sat back 
down across from Misato.  A shocked and upset Misato.
	"What the hell did you think you were doing?  You could have killed her 
Kaela!"
	"I'm sorry Misato.  She just said the wrong.  I will tolerate a lot, 
but not that.  I didn't almost kill her either.  I'm very good at 
hitting what I aim at.  It's one of the skills my oldest brother taught 
me."
	"Well, why are you carrying that thing around with you?"
	Kaela shrugged.  "It's a habit.  Alter servers in the Catholic church 
swear away their lives to protect the Eucharist.  All tend to carry at 
least one weapon during services ever since the old oath was 
reestablished.  A few, like me, never go anywhere unarmed.  I'm actually 
mild compared to some.  At least I only carry a few stilettos and a 
tanto.  Most carry a couple of 9mm's."
	Misato wasn't sure how to take this bit of info.  looking at the 
cassock that Kaela wore over the uniform she wondered just how many 
weapons she had hidden on here.  She settled on just letting it pass.  
After all, Kaela technically out ranked Misato.  It was Ikari's problem 
to deal with as far as she was concerned.
	"Hey Misato, how about we go find me some new clothes so I can return 
Maya's uniform?"  Kaela gave her a look that said 'Please don't be mad 
at me'.  Misato smiled and stood up.
	"OK, just don't do anything like that again.  You know what, I don't 
think I've ever seen Asuka back down from someone like that before."
	"It's all in the eyes.  Just look like you mean it and they don't stop 
to question if you actually are or not."  The two women were chatting 
merrily as they left, all but forgetting about Asuka.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	"And you say that Unit-04 and the pilot both are fine?" Blue asked 
Gendou.
	"I am having Captain Ibuki and Doctor Akagi go over Unit-04 to make 
sure there are no problems with it before I put it on operational 
status.  Pilot Wolfe seems to be experiencing some memory loss.  If you 
refer back to the report on Pilot Ikari's encounter with the 12th Angel, 
you will note that he also experienced memory loss after encountering 
this phenomenon.  I had our doctors give her a complete checkup and she 
is in excellent health."
	"I am glad to hear that," Yellow said.
	"So what do you plan to do with Unit-04 Ikari?" asked Red.
	"I would like to add it to Nerv's resources after it is cleared for use 
by my TechDiv people.  I would also like to transfer Pilot Wolfe to 
Nerv's main branch and make her the designated pilot of Unit-04."  Seele 
nodded their heads in approval.
	"And is the Human Instrumentality Project on schedule?" asked Green.
	"Yes," Gendou replied.  "The only thing we are missing is the Lancea."
	"You don't need to concern yourself with the Lancea Ikari," Keele said.  
"We do wish to speak with Col. Wolfe before you transfer her to Tokyo-3 
permanently.  Have her report here tomorrow at noon.  That will be all 
Ikari."  The committee disappeared before him.
	<Little do they know that their spy is now my spy,> thought Ikari.  
<You will not get the best of me Lorenz, not ever.>
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*Author's Notes:
	Yes, I know Kaela moving in next to Misato is cliche, but I have but 
one defense for this.  Everyone else does this in their fics when they 
add characters, so why shouldn't I?  To answer the next question.  Yes, 
I would jump off a bridge if my friends did.  I would like to say that I 
never will never again bungee jump off the New River bridge on Bridge 
Day, but it was an experience I wouldn't have missed.
	I'm still trying to get a feel for the Gainax characters in my writing.  
Please send me any great insight you have on them.  All is appreciated.
	I'm still not sure about the part with Ritsuko and Maya in the cell.  I 
think in trying to convey how I thought Maya would feel I messed up 
Ritsuko.  The part in the commissary between Asuka and Kaela is another 
part I think might need to be wrote over.  I think I let my personal 
feelings about Asuka (she's a bitch!!!!) ruin this part.  On the other 
hand, I think I got Misato and Shinji's characters down pretty good.
	I know Ritsuko wasn't in episode 24 when Kaworu was introduced, but 
that doesn't mean she wouldn't know about what happened.  If you want to 
argue this point, fine, but I doubt if I change it.

Again, direct all C&C, questions, and flames to:
sailor_tenshi@hotmail.com



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