I don't own anything. The thing that sucks about being in the military, you feel the urge to make things as accurate as possible. Here goes number three!
Splinter Cell Evangelion
-Chapter One: Shinji's Vacation
"Mister Ikari!" Shinji Ikari turned and stared at the man walking towards him. "You are Mister Ikari, yes?"
"Yes," Shinji replied nervously as he looked around the empty street. "Uh, can I help you?"
"Yes you can," the man stated as he came to a stop in front of Shinji. "My name is Alexander Ryan." Shinji stared at the man's outstretched hand for a moment before he reached out and shook it. "I was hoping that I could talk to you."
"I'm sorry," Shinji began, "but my guardian will be worried if I'm not home soon."
"I'm sure she won't mind if you're a few minutes late," Ryan replied as he pulled off his sunglasses and tucked them into the breast pocket of his expensive-looking suit. "I was hoping to talk to you about a job offer."
"What?" Shinji asked. Why would someone he had never met want to talk to him about a job offer?
"I work for a group of extremely powerful people," Ryan explained. "They believe that you would be the best man for the job I'm offering."
"What kind of job?" Shinji asked in spite of himself.
"A very important job," Ryan answered. "You see, my employers are rather interested in NERV."
"I. . .I don't know what your talking about," Shinji lied. Misato had told him to never talk to strangers about NERV. Ryan just smiled politely and Shinji knew that the man didn't believe him.
"The job is extremely profitable," Ryan continued. "It pays upwards of twenty million yen a month tax free." Shinji's jaw dropped at the amount of money. Ryan must have noticed his expression. "My employers are extremely rich in addition to powerful," he stated. "Think about it, that's enough to go anywhere and live however you want." That hit Shinji. To be able to go wherever he wanted to go and to live his life the way he wanted. It sounded like a dream.
"What kind of job is it?" he asked finally.
"You'll find out," Ryan stated. "If you say yes, you will be taken in for training tonight.
"I can't help you," Shinji stated after a moment. "I have friends at NERV. Whatever that job is, its sounds like it would hurt them." Thinking that the conversion was over, Shinji turned to walk away.
"Do you really think that Misato Katsuragi is letting you stay with her out of the kindness of her heart?" Ryan asked. "The Angels are gone Mister Ikari and with the Second Child's recovery, why would they need you?" Shinji froze. "Wait until the first budget cuts come down. Which pilot do you think they'd want; you or the two that have been training all their lives?"
"Stop," Shinji ordered weakly. Ryan had just thrown his deepest fear into his face.
"They're using you Mister Ikari, just like everyone else," Ryan stated. "Say yes to the job and you'll never have to see them again when it's over."
"You don't know what you're talking about," Shinji stated shakily.
"It's already happening," Ryan warned. "We both know Miss Katsuragi isn't home right now. She never is anymore, is she? She doesn't care, Mister Ikari. Why else would she tell you to walk home in the middle of the night through a half destroyed city? She has better things to do than play mommy." Shinji was shaking as he stared at the man. When he finally made his decision, the choice shook him with its possibilities.
"I have one condition," Shinji stated.
"Name it," Ryan stated. "Anything you want."
"I want revenge," Shinji stated, turning to look at the man. "You seem to know everything else, so you know who I'm talking about." Ryan grinned brightly.
"We can do that."
(:Three Years Later:)
Ritsuko Akagi watched as the large military powered lift transport swung in low over the landing site. It hovered momentarily, the roar of its engines nearly deafening Ritsuko, before it finally came to a rest on the ground. The side doors slid back and she watched as a man in blue jeans and a green nylon jacket covered in patches appeared in the doorway. He slung a massive green duffel bag over his shoulder and picked up a long, rectangular case before dropping down to the tarmac and moving towards her. "Ikari?"
"Yes ma'am," the dark-haired man rasped. Ritsuko frowned at his appearance. From the deep lines in the corners of his eyes to the bandage taped to his brow, he looked like a completely different person.
"Welcome home," Ritsuko stated, plastering a smile on her face. In truth she was rather annoyed. Why couldn't some nameless peon do this? She had better things to do, things such as catch up on the sleep she had missed over the last week.
"Home," Shinji grunted. "I wish." Ritsuko frowned at his tone, her false cheer dropping in a heart beat. Apparently she wasn't the only one who didn't want to be here. Shinji stared off into the distance and frowned. "You've finished rebuilding Tokyo-3." Ritsuko turned and stared at the lights in the distance.
"Yes we did," she stated. "Things are still under construction and there are quite a few condemned buildings on the outskirts. Ironically, the most damaged areas were the easiest to rebuild because there was nothing left to demolish. The areas that survived almost intact were left as they were because it costs too much to destroy them and they aren't habitable."
"I see."
"My car's over there," Ritsuko added as she pointed to the small red coup. "The Commander wants to speak with you as soon as we get to the Geo-Front."
"Wonderful." Ritsuko turned and led the man towards her car. She couldn't help but notice the limp in his gait, though he hid it very well.
"What happened to your leg and head?" she asked.
"Is that any of your business?" Shinji asked, the reply nearly stopping Ritsuko mid-stride. Her shock was quickly replaced with annoyance at his curt answer.
"As your doctor, it is," she stated coldly. So he didn't want to be friendly? That was fine. Ritsuko didn't want to be particularly friendly either.
"The leg is something you can't do anything about," Shinji stated. "The head wound is from my last mission in Korea."
"The bandage looks pretty new," Ritsuko commented.
"It is," Shinji stated. "The wound has reopened a few times since I got it a little more than a month ago."
"I thought the war ended two months ago," Ritsuko commented.
"The war did, but not the hostilities," Shinji stated. Ritsuko climbed into the car and watched as Shinji put his bag in the back.
"I take it that information is classified," Ritsuko commented.
"Yeah," Shinji replied. He struggled to climb into the low-slung car for a moment before getting himself situated. He quickly buckled himself in and pulled out a pair of mirrored sunglasses. He slid them on and leaned back in his seat. "Wake me when we get there."
(:ii:)
"Ikari?" Shinji opened his eyes and glanced at Ritsuko from behind his glasses. "We're here."
"Right." He pushed his door open and climbed out. The sudden movement sent a shot of dull pain flying through his left leg. 'Damn knee.'
"Sergeant Second Class Ikari?" Shinji turned and saw two men in black suits walking towards him.
"What do you two want?"
"We're here to bring you to Commander Ikari," one of them stated.
"Fine." Shinji grabbed one of the straps of his sea bag and the handle of his rifle case before pulling them out of Ritsuko's coup. "Lead the way."
"Very well." The two men began walking with Shinji in tow. He considered saying something to Ritsuko, but decided against it. No point in getting personal. He looked around the halls and frowned. He could remember very little about the Geo-Front. It had been three years since he had walked these halls and he had spent so little time actually exploring the massive complex back then. The blueprints he had studied had not done it justice.
"Here." Shinji stopped walking. The two men were standing outside a massive, ominous looking door. "I'll be taking that pistol, Ikari." Shinji's eyes snapped from the door to the man's hand reaching for his pistol holstered inside the waistband of his jeans. He was amazed they had even seen it. In a heart beat, Shinji's hand snapped around and grabbed the man by the wrist and twisted. The torque on his joints dropped him to his knees almost instantly with his arm wedged behind his back . "Not too smart buddy."
"Step back," the other Section-2 agent ordered. Shinji glanced up and found himself staring down the barrel of a Glock.
"Okay," he stated calmly as he released his captive. "I rate a pistol for self-defense."
"No one is allowed to be armed in the Commander's office," the agent stated.
"Oh." Shinji slipped his ASP from its holster and offered it to the man. "Why didn't you say so?" Shinji picked up his rifle case and started for the door.
"Leave the bags Sergeant." Shinji smirked and lowered his bags. "Your knife too, please." Shinji tugged out the Benchmade automatic knife clipped to his back pocket and handed it to the man.
"Take care of them and try not to cut yourself."
"I'll see to it."
"Alright." Shinji pushed the door open quickly before they decided to search him. Nothing good could come of that particular situation. He closed the door and snapped to attention like the good little automaton he was supposed to be. "Sergeant Second Class Ikari of the Japanese Strategic Ground Self Defense Force, reporting as ordered, sir."
"At ease Third Child." Shinji relaxed slightly.
"I'd prefer Sergeant Second Class, sir," he stated. The man behind the desk gave no reaction.
"Very well," Gendo Ikari replied calmly. "You will participate in several tests to demonstrate that the money spent on you was worth it."
"Alright, sir," Shinji said, shaking off some of his exhaustion. He had slept on the plane, but the flight hadn't been very long. "When do I begin?"
"Right now."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
(:ii:)
Misato Katsuragi stepped into the control center of Central Dogma with a yawn and looked around. "Hey Ritsuko."
"Misato," the blond returned. "Were you out all night again?" Misato glared at her friend, not liking the woman's tone at all.
"That's my business."
"We finished compiling the data, Sempai." Misato sat down and watched as Ritsuko went through the papers her assistant had handed her.
"Interesting," the blond murmured. "His synch score is up twenty points. It's at eighty-one percent. Looks like the training did pay off."
"Synch tests?" Misato asked immediately. "Did we get another new pilot that I wasn't informed of?" The last time that had happened had not gone well, what with the pilot being an Angel and all.
"A new pilot?" Ritsuko asked. "Of course not. We don't have the funding to look for any more pilots since the Angels are gone. Instead of a new one, we just got an old one back." Misato whipped around, her full attention focusing on her old friend.
"Shinji?"
"He just arrived late last night," Ritsuko stated. She glanced at her watch. "It was about seven hours ago."
"Why didn't you call me?" Misato demanded.
"I didn't know he was coming until Commander Ikari called and told me to pick him up," Ritsuko explained with a shrug. "I spent most the night giving him a physical and running synch tests."
"The Commander asked you to pick Shinji up?" Misato asked.
"Yes," Ritsuko stated. "I believe he's heading for the shooting range now." Misato shot to her feet and moved quickly to the door.
"Thanks."
"Would you like a map?" Ritsuko called after her. Misato didn't even bother coming up with a sharp retort. After three years Shinji had finally come home.
(:ii:)
Misato hurried towards the automatic doors leading into the shooting range and watched as they slid smoothly apart for her. She stepped into the massive room and looked around. The shooting range was one of the largest non-Eva related rooms in the Geo-Front. She had spent many days training there when she had first arrived. "Can I help you?" Misato turned and saw a tall, muscular man with severely short red hair staring down at her.
"I'm just looking for someone," Misato stated. She turned back to look at the row of shooting stalls. Only a few were occupied.
"If he's here, I know where he is, ma'am," the redhead stated. Misato turned and stared at him. "I'm First Lieutenant Nicholas Day, the weapons officer and range safety officer."
"I'm. . ."
"I know who you are, ma'am," Nicholas interrupted. "Now can I help you find this guy? I don't like having people loitering around my range, with all due respect."
"Right," Misato replied. She turned around and stared at the people in the booths. No one looked familiar. "I'm looking for Shinji Ikari."
"Sergeant Second Class Ikari?" Nicholas asked. "He came here to get a concealed carry permit, but I had to switch the ammo he was using, so he's sending a few rounds down range."
"Concealed carry?" Misato repeated. "You mean, like with a gun?"
"Yes," Nicholas replied slowly. "He rates a pistol for self defense. I'll go see how he's doing." The large man pushed off the wall he had been leaning on and trotted over towards one of the occupied booths. The occupant of the booth he stopped behind was a rough shaven man in blue jeans, a green jacket and tan combat boots. The man stopped firing and slipped his weapon into a hidden holster inside his jacket. He spoke with the red haired officer for a moment before turning and regarding Misato through a pair of mirrored sunglasses. He nodded to something Nicholas had said before walking towards Misato.
"Shinji?"
"Hello Misato."
(:ii:)
"Why didn't you call?" Misato demanded as she paced Shinji down one of NERV's many hallways.
"The plane didn't have a phone," the younger man stated simply, adjusting his sunglasses against the fluorescent lighting's harsh glare and frowning as they caught at the bandage on his brow.
"You didn't call once in three years!" Misato snapped.
"I was busy," Shinji stated.
"Too busy to call home?" Misato asked in shock.
"Yes," Shinji stated. Misato scowled and grabbed Shinji by the shoulder, forcing the younger man to stop. She wasn't oblivious enough to miss how Shinji's body tightened sharply at the contact.
"I was worried sick!" she exclaimed. "I came home one day and was told that you had been forced to go off to train! Do you know what that's like?"
"Forced," Shinji repeated. "I volunteered." Misato stared at him in shock as he turned and continued walking.
"You volunteered?" she called after him. "Why?"
"Because I wanted to," Shinji replied without stopping. Misato ran to catch up with him.
"What happened to you?" she asked, wondering what could have made her roommate so cold.
"That's classified," Shinji replied.
"Classified?" Misato parroted. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I can't tell you under penalty of law," Shinji stated flatly. Misato stared at him. If he wanted to play that game, then she would play.
"As the Operations Officer, I order you to tell me what happened," she stated. Shinji finally stopped and turned to stare at her.
"You're in over your pay grade," he stated simply. "Only the Commander and Sub-Commander know. Why don't you ask them?"
"I will," Misato stated.
"Very well," Shinji replied. He turned to start walking again.
"You are coming home, right?"
"Yeah," Shinji answered as he pushed open a door. "I don't know when I'll be done, so don't bother waiting up."
"Do you have the address to my new place?"
"Yeah." Misato watched the door shut behind him. Where was the tearful reunion? Where was her sobbing charge telling her how much he had missed her?
(:ii:)
Shinji stepped out onto the streets of Tokyo-3 and glanced around for his inevitable tail. Months of tracking people had keyed him in to the mannerisms of a hunter. To him, his pursuers almost seemed to glow amongst the crowd. He immediately made three people milling around trying to be innocuous. Shinji pushed himself into a crowd of people waiting for a light to change and saw the three follow after him.
Once in the crowd it was easy enough to slide out of their sight and slip into an alleyway. He knew from experience just how hard it could be to track a single person in a city of millions. Shinji followed the back alleyways until he spotted a blue delivery van waiting for him. He knocked on the backdoors and watched as they swung open. "Hey Shinji."
"Sarah," Shinji returned as he climbed into the van after his field runner. "Where did you get this thing?"
"Rental agency up in Hokkaido," Sarah stated. "It's repainted with new tags. Once the mission's over I'll strip the paint, replace the tags, and return it." She pulled a silver case out from one of the storage bins lining the walls of the van and opened it to reveal a gun-like machine. She pulled it out and advanced towards Shinji.
"I hate that thing," Shinji stated.
"I know," Sarah replied as she held it above Shinji's neck. "Now suck it up and hold still." Shinji stared straight ahead and felt the slight prick of pain as the device jump started the subdermal microchip in his neck which, in turn, activated the rest of his implants. Noticeably the cochlear implant as static rang out in his ears.
"Ikari?"
"I'm here Fisher," Shinji answered as he rubbed his neck. At least he had gotten a current gen chip without the push to talk feature. He had no idea how it worked, but it did. "Do we have a mission?" The plan had been to feel things out at first and go from there. He had hoped that his father's attitude would have goaded his employers into taking action.
"We do," Sam Fisher replied. "You're going to enjoy this, Ikari."
"I get paranoid when people say that," Shinji commented. Despite his statement a smirk wormed its way across his face. One couldn't get to be as good at a job as Shinji was without enjoying their work.
"What?" Sarah asked as she slid behind the van's wheel.
"Nothing," Shinji replied.
"That's good," Sam stated. "Paranoia is perfectly healthy in this line of work. You'll get the full briefing when you get to the area of operations."
"Now you've piqued my curiosity," Shinji commented as he sat in the passenger seat. "At least give me a hint."
"Hope you brought your wetsuit," Sam stated flatly.
-End
(:ii:)
-Author's notes. I have no idea why this story is so hard to rewrite. Actually I do, namely my short attention span and the fact that I'm military. You try writing something about something you do and not strive for accuracy.