Life After
A van rolled down the highway, passing deserted cars and groups of huddled survivors as it made its way towards the collection of battered skyscrapers looming in the distance. Two helicopters, armed with autocannons and missiles, hovered overhead. Emblazoned on the side of the van was the acronym: NSA. The vehicle passed a wooden sign at fifty miles per hour. It read "Sisco, 5 miles".
Inside, a man in black body armor was driving, with a similarly equipped man sitting next to him. They expressed no emotion. In the back, though, quite different two sat.
One was an albino man, wearing a blue business suit. Across from him sat a tall, brown-haired woman in a lab coat. He seemed to remember her as blonde, but perhaps this world would not tolerate such luxuries as hair dye. Beside the woman sat two briefcases. One sat next to the man.
"How are you feeling this fine morning, Nagisa?" asked the brunette, sneeringly.
"Very well," he said, mildly.
"You can have them, just as soon as I see I'm not being duped."
"Of course." The albino, Nagisa, tossed the brunette the briefcase at his side. She opened it to find a rather considerable sum of money, in Yen, no less. She checked for forgery, then closed the briefcase and carefully handed him the two cases at her side. He quickly placed them at his side.
"Now, where will you go, Doctor Akagi?" asked Nagisa, making it sound like idle curiosity.
"Tell you? And get turned in to the Japanese? I think not," said Akagi.
"We will be willing to double your payment if you remain for the duration of the Project, in the event of a problem with the cargo." Nagisa reached under his seat and drew out yet another case. Sitting it on his lap, he opened it with a press of a button, revealing the contents to Akagi.
"I suppose that will be possible," she said, looking at the cash hungrily.
---
Red eyes opened, nerve pathways flared to life, and self-awareness was attained. Rei floated in the LCL, looking around the small entry plug. It was familiar… yes… but she shouldn't be here… Suddenly, the bottom of the plug fell away, and she fell with a cascade of orange water.
Rei saw she wasn't alone. Two men in combat fatigues pulled her to her feat, dressed her in a white lab coat, and pushed her out the door of the circular room. Leading her through desolate corridors, they found a door with 42 painted on the door in white paint. Opening the door, the men shoved Rei inside, shut the door, and locked it from the outside. Rei stared at the door for a few moments, before lying down on the bed.
She did not know how long her captivity lasted. It all blurred into a mess of monotony, but it must have been several days, perhaps even a week. Either way, by the end, she was reduced to sleeping almost all the time, even though she dreamed little. However, after this long solitude, she was suddenly roused by the noise of the door opening. Turning over, she saw who was entering. A tall, albino man, with a thin face and messy hair. He struck her as familiar, but she wasn't certain…
The man coughed into his hand, sat at a chair across the room from Rei's bed, and adjusted his glasses meaningfully.
"Miss Ayanami," he said, quietly.
Rei stared at him, unblinking.
"I trust you do not know where you are?"
She continued to stare blankly. "Yes."
"You are a within the city of San Francisco, in the naval base known as the Presidio."
Rei considered. "Then I am under the jurisdiction of the Government of United States."
"The National Security Agency," said the albino, calmly. "The Federal Government as you knew it as ceased to be."
Rei made no response, not having been asked a question. The man seemed to expect this, and continued. "The reality of life after Third Impact is harsh, Miss Ayanami. There is not enough food, water, and supplies to go around. The only solution is to take what others have."
Rei made no comment.
"This is our request: you control a special weapon we have taken control of, and you will become a hero of the United States, be given a generous paycheck, and a place to retire. You won't even have to pay taxes. Now… do we have a deal?"
"I have no interest in such things," said Rei. "I wish to return to the LCL Sea, as was intended by Human Instrumentality."
The albino leaned back. "We'd be happy to kill you and let your soul return to the Orange Sea…" He trailed off. "Of course, we'd have to plaster Japan with N2 Weapons shortly thereafter. Our computers estimate eighty percent casualties. Would you risk that Ikari be among them?"
Rei sat up straight, her eyes widened for a few moments. "You would destroy Japan?" she asked, bland as usual, but apprehension was in her eyes.
"Yes."
Rei considered. While she might end up clashing with her former comrades… There was no way she would allow the USA to destroy all Japan. Not out of any benevolence towards the people there, but she would not allow Ikari to die.
"Very well," she said, quietly. The man stood and smiled faintly. "Welcome aboard, Miss Ayanami." He held the door open for her. Rei stood, looked out at the concrete walls beyond, and stepped out. The corridor stretched out in either direction, both walls lined with doors. The man led Rei towards right, taking a series of turns that Rei efficiently mentally catalogued. Finally, they emerged on a balcony overlooking a darkened hanger. The man leaned on the railing as Rei stood next to him.
The lights came on, flaring to life one at a time. However, Rei's attention wasn't on the effects. Her attention was on Sachiel, who was imprisoned in the hanger below.