Episode Three, Eva Revolution
Part Two
A Superspy in Nerv
by Jared Ornstead
aka Skysaber
OoOoO
Jared awoke, and the first thing he did was resist an urge to sit bolt upright and shout "Hey! I know that ceiling!"
Staring at the Nerv infirmary ceiling, he closed his eyes. ~So I failed.~
~I hate doing that.~
OoOoO
"I finally found a reference to what he was doing."
"What do you mean?" Ritsuko sipped at her steaming mug as Maya came to her with a report.
"The talking, where his words were acting like musical notes. It's called singing."
"Really? Fascinating. How did he come to know one of the Lost Arts?"
Maya shuffled papers. "We have no clue, yet. I was doing some research and the word cropped up. I did some comparisons and found that what he's doing is similar to what the Catholic church forbade in the latter days of the Roman Empire. They claimed speaking along to music was a sin, inflamed the basest lusts, and contrary to the will of God. Roman legions were used to bring Jews and Muslims into line, and the Muslims later brought holy war into the orient. The pressure eventually stamped it out entirely, and the last death by forced consuming of burning hot coals was recorded in 1262, in Africa."
"I know how it became a Lost Art." Ritsuko retorted in her driest tones, lightened somewhat by her pleased smile at her assistant's progress. "But I also know it is reportedly one of those things where exposure is demanded before you even have a concept what it is you're striving to learn. I know the American attempts to recreate singing fall flat, and don't really compare to what he was doing out there."
"Exposure is right." Maya flipped through some more papers. "We have a sizable portion of the city trying to emulate what they heard last night."
Dr. Akagi shook her head. "Which *still* doesn't tell us where *he* learned to do it."
OoOoO
The video monitor was showing a replay of the fight.
The attacker used energy beams to cut off Unit One's arms. Screaming, Jared had attacked and landed several good kicks, driving back the alien and doing excellent damage but failing to inflict lasting harm. The enemy had then cut the Eva in half at the waist.
There had been screaming going on in the command center all this time, but without command control overrides they were forced to do nothing more than watch as the downed Eva got pounded.
But Jared had fixed his plans surprisingly well in his mind, and that communicated to Eva even when he wasn't conscious. The attacker had been driven back by an electrical blast that'd surprised everybody. Unit One had floated up, flying unsupported and without limbs it shocked the invader with another electrical blast, then proceeded over and touched chests with it, absorbing the alien into itself and acquiring another complete set of arms and legs in the process.
As the triumphant Eva roared over the battlefield, two crystals, each two feet across and pulsing with new energy, had appeared on the chest of the Eva. One of those crystals was pale white and showed a sunbeam pattern engraved thereon, the other was a paler yellow and had an engraved lightning bolt.
Everyone at Nerv was in an uproar.
OoOoO
Ritsuko watched as the last of the Eva's severed limbs was lowered into a holding tank deep at Nerv, where it joined the others in cryostasis.
"Over 60% of the Eva's total mass is in there." She remarked to no one in particular.
Beside her, Misato shrugged. "Well, some battle damage was to be expected, I guess. Still, at this rate we'll have gone through an entire Eva at the end of the next fight. It's lucky that it regenerated itself, or we would've spent almost our entire repair budget. That is unless Gendo's new funding plans go through."
Ritsuko directed a look toward her friend. "It's the pilot I'm worried about."
Misato sighed, looking downward. "Yeah."
OoOoO
Gendo stood in the alcove overlooking the catwalk and work going on around Unit One, now back in its cage.
"Tests have confirmed it." His flunky mentioned.
Gendo nodded. "It's early for Unit One to have acquired S2 organs. This pilot has both exceeded and upset our expectations."
"SEELE will not be pleased." The henchman muttered.
Gendo nodded. "Yes, we must move to placate them. Put Unit One in cryostasis for the time being, once repairs here are finished."
Both men looked out in the chamber, where the new arms and legs of Unit One had grown their own layers of armor, clashing with the purple metal of the original equipment. The new material was white and iridescent, bearing yellow markings, while shaped in a subtly different style. Lacking the distinctive arm rails was an obvious new feature and item of concern. Those rails served in so many ways in launching and transporting an Eva that it would be difficult if not impossible to use standard methods without them, even the primary cage restraints were based on the locking of those rails down. They would have to replace them.
These thoughts ran through both men's heads.
"Are you worried that the restraints might not hold it?" The flunky asked.
"The Eva's armor serves a dual purpose. Protection and binding it to our will. That over half of that restraint is now no longer effective, replaced by armor generated by the Eva itself, is concerning." Gendo stated.
"What of the pilot?"
"His will was obviously the causative factor behind this. The Eva would not have been able to exceed our limits otherwise. Controlling him becomes an item of concern."
The henchman nodded. "Yes, I'll put someone on it."
Light glinted from Gendo's glasses. "One more thing. These crystals are entirely outside of our predictions. Begin a study of them."
The flunky nodded.
OoOoO
Jared wandered around aimlessly in the hospital. He was without his Nerd Toy, One True Watch, the Standard Light Urban Survival Pack... everything but a hospital robe. That made him feel pretty helpless, and hopeless (not to mention naked).
~Doing a Shinji was *not* on my list of priorities. Now I've lost my earliest chance to get the S2 organs absorbed, the fight cost me my chance to use the AT field electric attack I'd been thinking of... We're back to square one.~
It occurred to him that he didn't really know what had happened in that fight, after the trauma caused by being dismembered made him lose control. He sighed. ~I forget exactly what *should* have happened in the series, but this is probably closer to it than what I'd planned.~
~Well,~ he told himself. ~I'm already emotionally blasted. Let's just ride with that, do a Rei impersonation, and see what happens.~
OoOoO
"I am functioning within optimal parameters." Jared told the doctor in flat, emotionless tones, with a stare as dead and uninterested as he could manage.
Ritsuko stared at the kid. "So you're telling me *this* is normal?"
"Correct."
The doctor was reminded of commander Ikari or Rei at that statement. "So how do you explain the way you acted earlier?"
"An excess of enthusiasm. It has been corrected." Jared had taken refuge against the hurts and barbs of a cruel youth in emulating the Star Trek character Spock. It was easier than it should have been to reerect those shields now.
Doctor Akagi nodded. The kid was probably still in some kind of trauma. She left, and when she did Jared unlocked himself from the room, and padded emotionlessly down the corridor into Rei's room.
He sat by her bedside and took her hand. She tried after a moment to pull it away, but he merely tightened his grip, sitting dully by her bedside.
"Why?" She asked him, when it was clear she could not reclaim her hand.
"Because you are my half sister." He replied, lifelessly.
She ceased trying to pull back her hand. They sat like that for hours.
OoOoO
"We're beginning to suspect brain damage." Ritsuko told the commander.
Misato was worried, she gave Ritsuko a glance searching for support. "We've tried putting him in simulation, his synch ratio is down to 4%. He can't even get an Eva moving."
"That is unacceptable." Gendo told them both. "You must restore the pilot of Unit One to operative status."
"I don't think we can do that. It's as if he died." Ritsuko told Gendo.
The Nerv head honcho steepled his fingers more sharply. "We cannot tell when an angel will attack again. To that end it is imperative that we have the means at our disposal to fight them. Get Pilot Saotome functioning at full status as soon as possible."
Misato bit her lip. "Are we sure? Can't we just search for another pilot?"
"That is unacceptable. Pilot Saotome has shown unique ability. He must be restored to active duty." Gendo looked up through his frosted glasses at the two women. "What methods might be pursued to encourage him to be relieved of this trauma?"
Ritsuko studied the ceiling and shrugged. "In normal cases, visits by family and close friends, but Jared has no history. We don't know anyone who knows him. Even the teacher he stayed with before he was called here has died of a heart attack. The boy literally has no one."
"No one except you." Misato told the commander, bluntly.
"We're not close." Was Gendo's reply.
Ritsuko nodded. "Yes, the commander even visited him. The boy had no positive reaction. When pressed, Jared even asked who the commander was. Apparently he has no memory of mister Ikari."
Gendo had already digested that, and didn't like to consider what options it denied him. Abandoning the child had apparently severed bonds that it would be useful to employ now. Misato was just sickened by commander Ikari's lack of reaction to news that his son regarded him as no more than a total stranger.
"Has he shown any positive reaction to anyone?" Misato asked.
Ritsuko considered her. "Two people; Yourself, and Rei Ayanami. In both cases the response is marginal, yet it exists. Everyone else may as well be furniture, which when you consider his state of animated cheerfulness on his arrival here, is an extremely bad sign. Our diagnosis is that he's withdrawn into shock. It may take him years to recover."
"Years we don't have." Gendo concluded. "Doctor Akagi, we need this pilot restored to active status. It was our intention to place him alone in housing in block six. But now..."
Ritsuko shook her head. "I couldn't recommend that. Being alone would probably be the worst thing for him. Even the hospital is too impersonal. I'd recommend a special care facility. Something close to nature."
Gendo nodded, dropping his hands to sit straight and regard both women. "Very well. Misato, you and Rei Ayanami will be relocated. You are to share housing with the Third Child in an attempt to speed his recovery."
Misato frowned. "Yes, sir. It's not that I'm unwilling, but I don't know anything about how to do anything but try and cheer him up. If this is an actual medical case then I'm afraid I'm out of my depth, sir."
Ritsuko nodded. "I could move in with them. That's better than any nursing care we could provide, more of a simulation family." She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "The close bonds may not exist, but could be duplicated. Misato and I already know from college how to share our living space, that could serve as the seed for our trauma patient to believe that a family bond might exist, and come out of hiding."
Gendo tilted his head in what a generous person might call a nod. "Make it so."
Ritsuko couldn't resist a wry smile. "Besides, Misato here is our only resident lazy, but lovable, donut-snorting couch potato."
"Hey!" Misato shouted in protest.
"Besides," Ritsuko ribbed her friend. "She already has a weird pet that Jared might latch on to. Too bad Pen Pen doesn't talk." She grinned through Misato's protests. "I think it may be ideal."
Gendo couldn't resist a thin, self satisfied grin.
OoOoO
Jared followed listlessly as captain Katsuragi led him into the new housing center. It was an old style building in the hills, and Nerv was putting in a new drop shaft, rapid transit tube right nearby to negate the delay penalties of living out so far.
Repair costs to Unit One had been negligible, and the city had received superficial damage only due to his great success. They were using a part of that savings to speed the pilot's recovery.
Captain Katsuragi's car was parked in one section of the three car garage and they carried her groceries in through the front door. Misato paused on the top step, standing aside so that he could see within. "So? Whaddya think, Jared?"
He entered unemotionally, scanning as a mechanical function more than curiosity. By Japan's standards it was a palace and then some, built along more western building tastes and far more spacious.
It was also a hovel, hadn't been well maintained in years, and only recently cleaned up and not very well refurbished. Basically, it needed alot of work, but that actually caught his interest. The place was livable, far more comfortable than Japanese arrangements, and not being in the best of shape meant that stuff could be done with it.
He was in the midst of exploring when he ran into Rei.
In another frame of mind he might have been shocked, as it was she merited a blink. It didn't matter than she was naked and just exiting the shower. That fact had about as much meaning as the color of the towel she'd been using to wipe her hair - which fell so far below notice that he didn't even bother remembering it.
Misato, who'd been following him around, caught this reaction and frowned. It wasn't healthy for young boys to see a young girl in that state and not have any form of reaction to it - not that she was of a mind to encourage anything, they were both way too young, but a cobweb in a window took more of his notice than a naked girl! Something was very wrong with this boy.
Jared paused on his way out of this room, speaking to Rei with near total disinterest in her state. "You're staying here?"
"Yes."
He gave a slight nod. "Your injuries?"
Rei looked at him. "Doctor Akagi will be staying with us."
"Ah." He left the room, a tiny portion of his mind railing at him that there was more to that scene that he should have reacted to, but he consciously ignored it. Halfway down the hall he paused and asked of captain Katsuragi. "Why?"
Misato tried not to be freaked out, reminding herself that this kid had saved them all by defeating the attacker and had nearly died as a result. She put on a happy face. "Why is Ritsuko staying with us? Well, let's just say she's an old friend of mine, helping to defray the rent, okay?"
He pondered and considered this, then blinked, once.
Misato was really beginning to miss the over-eager lad who had been such an emotional and able pilot.
Pen Pen saw the boy and began following him through the rest of the house.
That night, Jared made some notes.
OoOoO
Misato slapped the papers down on the command desk.
"This is as close to a request as the boy is presently able to make." Ritsuko told Gendo over folded arms. "Besides, trying to control his environment is the best sign that we could hope for. If we encourage this, we might speed his recovery."
Gendo stared down at the notes and drawings, then looked up. "What is it?"
Misato relied on her friend, who didn't let her down. "It's a dream house he's made up, based on the present needs of his situation. It's the present dwelling, expanded and made glamorous." The doctor replied.
Misato broke in. "The boy's already responding to having Rei and I around. Going through his papers I found these notes he'd made up regarding the house."
Ritsuko took over without changing her posture. "He's written up a set of alterations, essentially rebuilding the place according to recent psychological needs. First off, he's put down plans for a house three times as large, with independent power and no need for public utilities - with walls of hard stone three feet thick. It's a castle, built as a fortress to shelter his bruised ego."
Misato pled with her eyes. "Commander, you remember how concerned he was with flashy or ornate things when he got here? This house may not mean much to us, but to Jared it's the first example he's shown of returning to his own self."
"I think we should encourage it." Ritsuko added.
Gendo looked down at the cost sheet that Maya had prepared.
"If you want, you could think of it as an investment, preserving our pilots against any future catastrophe. Jared's design adds a survival shelter in the sub-basement, with other adaptations and changes that would lend this toward as being a first rate training center as well. We could add a touch or two on our own that would make it the safest place outside the geofront. The castle-like design lends itself to that."
"More important," Ritsuko added. "Would be giving him a feel of being in control. It's the best thing we could do to speed up recovery."
Gendo continued to stare at the document. The numbers were pitiful compared to the potential value. "Make it so."
The two ladies breathed out hard and left the control room. As they went out, and the door closed behind them, Misato asked of her friend. "So, Ritsuko, when are you going to move in with us?"
The doctor sighed. "Probably when the construction is finished. I've been having so little time lately. We've been keeping the changes to Unit One a secret, but still there are so many people who want to know that it's driving me batty."
Misato nodded. "I can imagine. What are you telling them?"
Ritsuko sighed, and shot a smile to her friend. "Mostly the truth, that we aren't sure, and because we aren't sure the unit's been put in cryostasis. The pilot's mental trauma does nothing to help the scenario."
Misato put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Come by and join us soon. That might help with both your problems."
OoOoO
Jared investigated the new home. Proof of Nerv's vast construction ability, meant for repairs to the city, the new dwelling had been up in mere days. They had included armor plates in his more humble design, but disguised them as parts of the original walls and bulk structure he had planned. Totally independent of all external utilities, just like he'd done with the old Tendo place.
It was armored to the point where an Evangelion could step on it without serious damage, (though he resolved to avoid doing that if possible) it was nestled among several hills which would divert blasts away, it had an outer wall which was formed in a complete ring and was sloped in such a way so as to to *also* redirect the force of explosions. The entire house and all external surfaces were fireproof as well.
It was as good as could be done, but considering the forces of destruction thrown around in this series that was meaningless should they actually be unlucky enough to fall within anything's arc of fire.
Of course, for comfort value until that happened it excelled.
Outside it had a big Neptune pool with enough streamlets, fountains and slides to count as a small waterpark. Within the outer defensive wall was a seven car garage, across a patio from the main entrance. Inside were seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a huge living area, separate dining area, restaurant level kitchen, dojo, private theater, a park (too big to be called a lawn), and a 3D arena they'd love to call a holodeck but was rather more limited, that last to be used for training purposes he was sure.
Each bedroom was in reality its own suite, with private bath, sitting room, closet and sleeping chamber. The library, laundry facilities, and computer labs were all shared, though with sufficient room for everybody, and no law kept anybody from keeping a computer or books in their room.
As designed, the breakdown of rooms was three for girls, three for boys, and one master suite. Misato had already moved into the master bedroom, and Jared didn't mind. He selected one of the boy's rooms for himself, one with an empty room on either side so that it gave greater isolation even though the soundproofing was in theory enough so that you could play a loud stereo in one and not disturb the next one over. The bathrooms had water-sealed cupboards, a drain in the floor, and a pressure hose for ease of cleaning.
The house had to have cost a pretty penny, he was sure. It was also his design, that much was obvious. So why had they built it?
He wandered down into the shop and took a plate of brass from the stock left there. Powering up tools, he soon had a plaque which read "Beautiful, Stately, SkyLord Manor" and went and secured it to the post beside the main gate. He was about to enter again and unpack his boxes when Ritsuko pulled up in a borrowed van.
Jared shot her an eyebrow raise, unaware of how much he'd thawed since beginning to explore this place. Ritsuko noted it, and began a comfort giving reply grin. "Well, like the new house?"
He scanned the place once more. It was lovely. "Why did they make it?"
~To please you, of course.~ But she didn't say that. Ritsuko instead parked her van and got out, opening the side door to reveal boxes. "Say, want to help me move in?"
Jared regarded her curiously. "Won't I be living with Misato and Rei any more?"
~Gotcha,~ she thought. ~There are bonds forming already. And *you're* thawing nicely, too. We'll get you back in that Eva yet, Jared.~ Outwardly, the doctor shrugged. "I think Rei told you. I'll be moving in with you and she and Misato to help on rent."
Again he beheld the mansion. Even together there was no way they were affording rent on something like this, not if they ate nothing but what they could scrounge from the hills and sold everything down to their clothes. There was something up. He began to reach for a box.
"Careful," the doctor stopped him. "That one's full of medical textbooks. You don't want to be lifting something that heavy."
The redhead shrugged, certain he could've handled the weight, but willing to let it slide. He cocked his head at her. "Books? Do they go in the library, your room, or do you need them by your computer? The library and the computer room are next to each other, so it's not a long walk."
Ritsuko blinked down at the youngster. "Library? Computer room? How big is this place anyway?"
He motioned slightly that she could check it out.
She did.
Jared followed her, enjoying the sensory overload the woman was experiencing. It was obvious she'd held no clue, even driving up to the door with her things in boxes, just what she was moving into. Seeing her stop cold and stare out the balcony over their pool was interesting and amusing at the same time. Pen Pen warbled with penguin laughter as he made first acquaintance with the water slides.
~I had no idea the kid's plans were so grand.~ Ritsuko's eyes were wide. ~I guess I should have made time to look at them, instead of just listening to Katsuragi explain them.~
~I had no idea the good doctor shocked so well.~ Jared thought smugly, beginning to lose the icy demeanor he'd cultivated over the last week. Ritsuko sat down, hardly even noticing.
While she was still in shock, Rei came in bearing the sole box that held all her worldly goods. Stopping, she looked at Jared. "Please direct me to my room."
He nodded.
In the week they had stayed together, they'd worked out a minimum-word sort of communications theory that still said an awful lot. Something about shared silence could be awfully communicative, it only required each side to do an awful lot of presuming. He led her to the women's side, to the first room, knowing that if offered the choice the nearest would be what she'd have taken. But it was also the closest to the pool and it made him feel good to do that for her, giving her convenient access to a treasure like that.
It had been a very long time since he'd made these shields of uncaring that he now wore, and he was finding they didn't fit all that well anymore.
On the other hand, they'd never been meant to hold out people who were prying at his shell. They were meant as protections against the uncaring and cruel hordes, never the persistent friends. But still, he'd done a great deal of growing, emotionally and physically, since he'd last worn the 'leave me alone, I don't exist in this plane of reality' defense.
Impulsively, he gave Rei a hug.
She blinked at him inquiringly.
He melted enough to shrug. "Action described as a hug: to encircle a loved one as a gesture of care and affection. Used to denote approval and provide emotional reward or support. Affection: a positive bond between two people, often described as a feeling of warmth or belonging, always denotes a positive feeling. Love, the strongest form of bond between two people, available in many types as suited to the scenario. Described as the greatest force in life. Cautionary note: Love, once developed, is not easily dispelled. The blockage of love once it has been established is renown for causing great emotional pain. It should also be noted that the result of successful love is so rewarding all this is considered a minor risk worth taking. Precursor to love is acceptance of that other person, followed often by the application of affection as a trial. The actual development of love is a mystery, yet it appears to generate spontaneously under favorable circumstances. Growth of love can be compared to that of a plant; seedlings too small to notice can become towering growths of significant presence. All love must be maintained or it will suffer deterioration or even death, with the aforementioned pain. Again, most consider this an agreeable risk."
Rei blinked again, once. "Understood."
Aww, who was he kidding? The silent robot routine just was *not* him anymore! He gave her another hug, speaking as he held her. "This unit requires significant maintenance on routine basis to perform at optimum levels. Love and all derivative and associative positive emotions are the required fuel, performing dual duty as maintenance as well. Requirements for these are unusually high to offset damage sustained to system defined as 'self-worth' during childhood. Self Worth is a continuing background function allowing smooth operation of all other processes, damage to same can impair or halt any and all other operations."
Rei looked at him. "How is this function repaired?"
Jared gave her a slight smile, loving being able to talk with her and be understood, even if he was breaking with the word quota they'd established. "All human systems are self correcting within the limits of their design. When those tolerances are exceeded, mass infusions of the derivative subset can encourage system regeneration. Requirements and specifics are unknown, being unique in each case. Guidelines can be established, but are not easily communicated. Observation is key."
Rei nodded, once. "Thank you."
He thought about it, then cocked his head at her, a gesture he'd not used in a week. "Subject Rei appears to have underdeveloped emotional understanding and response. Suspect cause is malnourishment of emotional centers by discouraging the feeling of same. Recommended course of remedy; observation of others for data gathering, trial use of new emotions for experimental purposes, preparatory to full scale implementation."
She didn't respond, but her eyes flicked past him. He turned around to see both Misato and Ritsuko standing in the doorway.
"Action described as a hug?" Ritsuko asked him.
"Damage to self worth?" Misato echoed.
He just blinked at them expressionlessly.
OoOoO
Gendo sat in a darkened room with holograms of the other members of SEELE.
"Now about this house that you've prepared for your son..."
"HOUSE? That's a mansion! It compares well with some of our own dwellings!"
A thin and nasal man adjusted his glasses. "Rather a few more bedrooms would be required. Still Gendo, I can't see why you'd waste so large an outlay of funds on a guest cottage to pamper your staff."
As usual, Gendo didn't move from his pose. "It was necessary. The pilot of Unit One had sustained mental trauma. In order to reactivate his unique potential, this was the recommended therapy."
"Giving the boy a spa and private movie theater?"
Light would have frosted Gendo's glasses if they weren't already. He spent hours practicing this pose. "It is not unusual to pamper top athletes. That which on ordinary people would be considered luxuries becomes necessary to offset heavy demands and burdens on their abilities. This is an extension of that. In ten days pilot Saotome showed negligible improvement in a hospital environment. Adjusted living quarters improved that immediately and this new arrangement promises better results still, AND the future potential to reduce or eliminate recurrent episodes."
Give Gendo an inch and he could justify anything. They spent the remainder of that meeting making empty complaints about Unit One's changes that wouldn't come to any effect anyway.
OoOoO
Jared was lounging in the comfortably furnished parlor reading a book when Ritsuko and Misato came upon him. Ritsuko leveled a glare. "Jared, we've come to tell you we've decided to send you to school, starting today. Umm, what is that you're reading?"
He looked up from the Complete Illustrated Handbook of Mankilling Cyborgs And What You Can Do To Defeat Them. "Hmm?"
Misato dropped the briefcase she'd been carrying on a nearby footstool and knelt beside him, taking a look at the hardbound book over his shoulder. "Wow. Where do you find this stuff?"
Jared shrugged. "Just your ordinary bookstore. You'd be surprised what they carry, I know I am." He reached down beside him into the Operations Pack (for those missions where neither the Standard Light Urban nor the Auxiliary Light Urban Survival Packs would get you through), and out of the well-built if ordinary backpack (or what looked to be one) he withdrew something and handed it to her.
Misato stared down at the thing in her hands. "The Doctor Ritsuko Akagi Swimsuit Calender?" She flipped it open. The present month had the good doctor in a red bikini and holding the straps of her top loose while she stared in a 'come hither' way at the camera.
Misato stared at her good friend. "Uh, Rits?"
"Give me that!" The good doctor screamed, outraged, seizing the item. She looked it over, shaking with rage. Her eyes bugged when they found February and her in a white one piece, soaking wet and transparent, with only whipped cream concealing her privates.
"Okay, tell me where you got this! I want to know what perverted maniac came up with this prank!"
Jared stared at Ritsuko who was shaking the calender at him. He blinked with total innocence, which was of course faked. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ritsuko. I just saw it when I was on my way out of the bookstore. They had a pile of them."
Burning red, the doctor retreated to make some phone calls.
Misato enjoyed some giggles, then got down to business. "Okay Jared, you're going to be starting school today. We want you to interact with other children your age. So, I've got you some books, and some paper and computer disks in here." She handed him the ordinary school briefcase.
He waved it off. "Thanks Misato, but I'll just use my backpack. It's more comfortable for me anyhow."
She nodded. "Okay. Just don't forget your textbooks. Now get changed, I'll be ready to drive you to the station in half an hour, okay?"
There was no avoiding it, nor any clear need to. He nodded. "Okay."
They both left to get ready. Rei then came into the room, noted the calender where it had fallen, selected the current month, and hung it up on a convenient wall. Seeing that she had a few moments, she began to write down their synch test dates upon it.
OoOoO
Misato had been easy to con into driving him all the way to school instead of just a drop off at a train station. Rei was still too unwell to come along, but had waved him bye for the day.
Well, actually, he did it while Rei stood there, but as she didn't walk away he counted that as participation.
So now he got out of the side seat and waved Misato away. With a grin, she drove off, and with that he turned to go enter the building. He had his transfer papers in hand, but they all read his last name as Ikari - something he definitely wasn't willing to tolerate.
However, and here came the good part, Ritsuko had finally gone through enough of her boxes that she turned up the effects that were to be returned to him from his brief stay in the hospital. Blessing the return of the Standard Light Urban Survival Pack to his side, having been absent since it was taken from him during his unconsciousness (one can never be too grateful that one's superspy items looked like normal stuff even under examination - as no one can be awake at all hours), he withdrew the necessary paperwork and dropped by registration.
Yes, it turned out he was to be in the typical class, as always. However, something stopped him on his way there. This was *way* too complicated an assignment to go on without some extra assistance. Sure, he could knock off Gendo, either on night assignment deep penetration mission or just waiting til he got a shot (joining Gendo at his wife's grave marker would work), but while productive, that would fail to resolve the whole problem. That secret organization that placed Gendo at the head of Nerv would simply replace him, with one sure to serve them.
That would throw all his local data out of whack. Not a bad thing if it was productive, but one had to doubt. Men with secret goals and agendas wouldn't insure the survival of the human race. As with Gendo, they could be sure to destroy it.
Hearing the first bell for class, Jared ignored it and whipped out Cell Slicer. Misato had it set up as a local phone, using a Nerv account that they could both watch and reach him at. It was amusing actually, the supertech cellphone tested right in their hands, then back in his it resumed all its secret functions without skipping a beat.
It could even access the account they gave him, though that was by no means its default one. He pressed a series of keys and listened as it linked him to the Agency's phone tree. He'd never actually talked with anyone there, but it was a simple matter to enter his request.
When the redhead saw his response he was torn between despair and elation.
He did some work on his own as preparation, then headed off to class.
OoOoO
Hikari stalked up to Kensuke, who was playing with a model of a fighting vehicle. "Have you heard? There's going to be a new transfer student today. I was hoping to tell Toji, is he coming in today?"
Kensuke left the model drop and shook his head. "I don't think so. He's still kinda shook up over losing his father and all."
The class rep immediately looked miserable on the boy's behalf. "Yeah. It still seems kinda scary, their home on the outskirts getting caught in that avalanche caused by the giant robot fighting. Lucky so many weren't home."
Kensuke nodded somberly. "Yeah. Both he and his sister were out at the arcades, and his grandfather wasn't yet home from the labs. It was only his father that got caught. I hear he'd gotten home from work early and taken some sleeping pills, so he wasn't awake to hear the call of the sirens for us to get in shelters. Say, why are we getting a new transfer student? The military's not hiring and I couldn't think of anyone else who'd want to move into this area."
Hikari shrugged. "All I know is that the transfer papers were filed the day after the robot incident, but that the new student wasn't able to attend. He had some kind of doctor's medical excuse."
The boy straightened his glasses at the class rep. "That sounds awfully suspicious if you ask me. Since when have we been overflowing with transfer students? And to transfer in, then not show up for two weeks... Do you think he could be the robot pilot? Maybe he got injured in the battle."
The girl shrugged. "I guess it could be."
Kensuke turned to his keyboard. "I'm going to see if I can check it out."
OoOoO
Jared breezed into the classroom deep in thought, snagged a chair and let himself relax. The teacher apparently didn't notice him enter, which got him out of either holding buckets or introducing himself, whichever was worse.
He was drawing some stares, which was premature, he thought. Then again, most guys at this place *did* adhere to some form of dress code. Well, not that he'd *forgotten* to so much as chosen not to follow it.
A Ranma-esque Chinese silk fighting outfit *was* a bit unusual, he thought belatedly as the stares intensified. Of course, the sword didn't help matters any. The number of guys who wandered around carrying a katana these days had to be small.
He exhaled a LONG breath.
Using the Cell Slicer, he'd called for reinforcements. What he'd gotten had left him very upset and unsettled. Right now they'd been getting their briefing, then there'd be the things he'd done for them...
His train of thought was interrupted by an elegant, refined woman entering the room and presenting their teacher with an envelope. She had to shake him by his shoulder to get his attention, then smiled as she presented the folder to him. "Professor, you are relieved of duty here."
"Huh?" The old man accepted the envelope by reflex action.
The woman smiled. "Your subjects are biology and history, correct? Well, I'm able to inform you that on the basis of your work, you've been selected to receive a research grant from the Marduke Institute. You are to join an expedition exploring our past among the ruins of the sea floor."
The teacher swiftly examined a handful of the contents of the envelope.
The woman smiled serenely, knowing they agreed with what she said. "So you may leave the class to me today while you prepare for your new career." She gave him a slight bow.
The old teacher saw the line under 'research budget', eyes bulged, and with hurried apologies, he was out the door.
The woman rotated so that she was facing the now silent class. "Good morning. I am to be your new instructor. My name is Doctor Sylia Stingray. Additional teachers are being assigned. You should be having Linna Yamazaki for athletics and dance, Nene Romanova for computers, and Priscilla Asagiri for music and self defense."
Jared's head groaned as he dropped it into his hands, he'd thought he'd gotten *rid* of these guys!
Sylia oriented on him with a smirk. "Doctor Saotome? Is something upsetting you?"
He lifted his face to meet hers. Their eyes locked.
OoOoO
Flashback, their first meeting
OoOoO
Jared stirred to wakefulness.
"Ah, I see that you're waking up."
A cup was pressed into his hand, his nose informed him that it was chocolate. Hands helped him to sit up and he drank. "Thank you, this is very good." Slowly his visual centers came online from a deep recovery cycle. Before him were Linna and Sylia. Priss was at his side helping him with the chocolate.
Sylia addressed him over her folded arms. "I'm glad to see you, Skysaber. Or is it Jared? Which do you prefer?"
"Depends on the costume." He replied automatically.
She smiled. "Exactly as in the series. Jared, I'd like to inform you that you are in a new universe. All your previous exploits are a rather popular animated TV show here. And I'm afraid that puts you at quite a considerable disadvantage."
Jared looked them over. "Where's Nene?"
Linna was startled, but Sylia just smiled. "She's out for the moment. It would appear that you *are* the genuine article. Our scans supported it, and your wings disappeared like they were supposed to, but we had to be sure. Tell me, what have you seen of *our* series. I presume we had one."
He nodded. "You know me very well it would seem. I've seen a few episodes only. Enough to know... um, how long was I out?"
"This is the same evening we found you." Sylia informed him. Priss let him go to support himself.
He stretched his neck muscles, feeling the disappearing wound in his chest. "I wasn't much of a fan. I've only seen a few episodes. However, I *do* own most of the role-playing materials. They're actually more concise on the story than the anime was. I can tell you that in the morning USSD will put an add in the paper offering 20 million to the Knight Sabers for a job. I *have* seen that episode. Would you like to hear it? Because Priss here gets caught without her hardsuit by a handful of boomers. Man, why did I have to land *here*, it's not as if Bubblegum Crisis is the *happiest* anime. Why couldn't it have been the Slayers or something?"
Linna put a hand to her chest in shock. "You don't like us?"
He smiled for her. "It's not that. In spite of Priss' protestations to the contrary you are *all* nice people. It's just that somebody, supporting cast mostly, dies in almost every episode."
"Perhaps you can help us prevent that." Sylia offered sagely.
Priss suddenly became businesslike, addressing her team. "Look, what if this guy really *is* a plant? I mean, false information could drive us right into somebody's hands."
Sylia just cocked an eyebrow at him. Nodding, Jared cupped his palms together and summoned a hologram. On a whim he replayed the entire first tape of BGC, from opening credits to last, doing all the voices himself.
Relaxing, he sighed. "Not proof, I know. But I think that it emphasizes my claim." He got a *very* weird look on his face. "Hey, aren't you all taking this rather calmly? I mean, the bit about explaining universe travel is usually *my* line. What's up with you?"
Linna giggled, then went to a monitor and stuck in a data unit. She keyed the screen and he watched himself running in the park back home, saw the faeries for the first time, then watched as he was introduced to the Tendos.
"That's your first episode." Linna informed him, leaning on the TV.
"Right." Jared said, then passed out.
OoOoO
End Flashback
OoOoO
Sylia smiled upon meeting his eyes. ~Ah, yes. Just like old times.~ She was excited to meet the good doctor once again. They'd worked together so beautifully before. She was looking forward to it again.
Jared shuddered. Oh, he remembered how all this began, all right! He also remembered how it went from there. He still had nightmares of how close they'd gotten him to breaking the law of Chastity!
OoOoO
Another Annoying Flashback
OoOoO
"Do you know what a sexaroid really is? No, of course you don't. Not only are the models themselves highly illegal but their construction particulars are one of Genom's best kept secrets. Sylia, your father's first boomer designs used a deceased human brain for the central processing core. Since then most boomers have been wholly inorganic for ease of construction, maintenance, and moral issues. Well, with the sexaroid series they went the other way."
Jared brought up a hologram detailing design plans and schematics. "Neural tissue and an organic structure are built around a frame of artificial organs, false skeletal framework, wire and circuitry. Vat grown via acceleration enzymes and surgically altered before 'birth.' We are essentially and functionally identical to people who have received a fair amount of heavy invasive cybernetic and neuralware replacement."
He grinned sadly. "That and the fact that a sexaroid has her past programmed into her and comes with a full set of skills designed to please somebody too cruel, too jaded or pathetic to attract a normal woman."
"So what you're saying is..." Linna didn't know how to finish.
"Human brain in a boomer body." Jared hopped up to a seat on the desk. "Kinda blurs the line between what is human and what isn't, doesn't it? It's the organic makeup and design that makes a typical sexaroid so hard to detect on anything set to scan for boomers. Plus, real human feelings, emotions and whatnot aren't easy to program. Far more easy to generate and, I suppose, satisfying to a customer who was after this sort of thing in the first place. There are more than a few problems with a standard boomer setup for something as intricate and exacting as sex. They take a human brain grown across a chassis of neural control systems and they've got a perfect, obedient slave who can..."
"Enough already!" Priss shouted, coming to her feet.
Jared calmed, looking down, ashamed. "Sorry. I tend to rant, and this subject upsets me, so I rant more. I was trying to explain that if you remove the inhuman parts then you've got a real, *whole* human being. One with feelings, loves and cares just like anybody."
"And who better to do that than the man who pioneered the study of generating cloned organs from genetic blueprints for the replacing of cyborg parts?" Sylia rhetorically asked.
"I was motivated." Jared answered honestly. "They've got the genes. All my friends needed was a little garbage pulled out of their skulls, live organs in the place of plastic and some bone replacement. The last was easily enough done with nanites. Now there isn't a test in the world that will reveal them as anything but some ordinary human girls with a slight amount of augmentation." He blushed. "Well, and the fact that I took the liberty of upgrading their ordinary functions to where they're quite exceptional. The Laser Angels are as fit as Olympic athletes, quick as eels, and have been training in martial arts extensively for years. But all that is normal tissue."
"What else did you slip in there?" Nene grew suspicious.
Jared glanced both ways, it was clear he was caught. "Um, they're toxin resistant, have a killer immune system and renewing cell structures that help them heal fast and will potentially prolong their lives and youth indefinitely. All stuff Washu did to me. I didn't dare try for the whole deal with powers and everything. Besides, you probably need the maas and equipment that doesn't exist in this galaxy to add things like energy swords and the flight power."
"So you just made them healthier..." Sylia summarized.
The redhead nodded. "Yah, pretty much."
"And could easily do the same to us." She finished.
His jaw was not the only one to drop open. Everyone stared at her at the end of that statement. Jared scratched behind his head. "Um, you *do* know that... um.. well..."
Sylia smiled sagely. "Undressing for medical exams is nothing new for us."
The redheaded scientist turned his back, blushing furiously. "Okay. But, to be bluntly honest, I wasn't worried *quite* so much about you as the fact that you're all extremely attractive and... uh..." *gulp*. "I'm not entirely *comfortable* around naked women."
"You worried you might rape us?" Priss asked smugly.
He looked back at her. "I don't think so. If I had any kind of outlet for those sorts of feelings it wouldn't be a problem. As it is, I'm going to have my mind swimming in a hormonal stew of male imperatives and I'm worried about the damage it will do to *me!* I live by a strict moral code and prefer to live without endangering that. I know I'd be a very long time forgiving myself if I transgressed it."
Priss was taken aback. That was *not* a typical male answer!
Actually it wasn't a typical any kind of answer.
Linna leaned forward a little. "Are you saying that we can't have, what was it? An indefinite lifespan, toxin resistance, augmented physical powers and freedom from sickness all because we'd give you a HARD ON?" She stood up and confronted him. "Look, *I'D* sleep with you if that's what you wanted."
He attempted to react as if a blush were not in total control of his face. "Thank you, Linna. I appreciate the offer. I do not, in any way, find you not perfectly acceptable. However, I am restricted by my own moral code from engaging in any such activities with anyone to whom I am not married."
Suddenly, Linna found a blush stealing over HER face.
Sylia looked down at her hands. "I'm afraid that would be in violation of the Knight Saber's agreement."
"Yeah." Nene chuckled, finding a joke in that. "It goes against rule three: Do not perform any action without involving all of the members."
Outrage flitted over faces until it was swiftly replaced by laughter.
Jared laughed, relief painting his entire face. He sagged against a desk. "Oh, I needed that. Thanks, Nene. You are a treasure."
Linna found *her* good humor restored. "What about rule two? All agreements must be binding on all members of this organization?"
"That usually gets simplified down to: Do not act upon a personal urge." Sylia was smiling too.
Jared was back to blushing again.
Nene wasn't about to let a good joke go this far without completing it. "And what about: All equipment gets shared equally among all the members of this organization? I'm sure Jared's *unique* contribution wouldn't be fair if *only* Linna got to enjoy it."
Priss was kicking back with her arms crossed but was finding Jared's helpless embarrassment too silly to get outraged at. Her lips quirked in a smile as she joined in the teasing. "I'm sure he'd add new meaning to rule eight." She sat up and made a ridiculously flirtatious gesture. "Keep in *contact* with another member regularly?"
Jared smiled weakly. "Remember what I said about a hormonal stew? I think I'd better find someplace safe from the antics of lovely ladies I find far too desirable for my own good. Excuse me, please."
He snatched up his work papers and was gone.
"Hard to get." Nene pouted, not amused that her joke had been ruined.
The silence became unbearable.
"I hate getting sick all the time." Was all Linna could think to offer. "Shouldn't there be some way to convince him?"
Priss kept looking at the door he'd exited through.
Nene breathed heavily. "And I was looking forward to the other things, too. Do you know a person with higher muscle tone gets to eat *more* chocolates and sweet things because their body can metabolize it faster? I could have cake *and* be good in combat like you guys."
Linna looked around at her friends. "Look, all that stuff, I don't know *I'm* willing to pass it up. Is this a choice between having a killer bod for the next ten thousand years or being a Knight Saber? Isn't there some way around this?"
"He doesn't feel comfortable seeing us in the buff." Priss summarized, still looking at the door.
Nene flounced her hands onto hips. "Well, I can't say I'd ever been turned down for something because I was *too* good looking!"
Sylia looked up from having been studying her hands. "Ladies, I'd like to call for a vote."
"On what?" Linna was echoed by both others.
Sylia stood up, pacing back and forth. "On the rule against getting involved with any man. The *intent* of the rule was to avoid having anything in a Knight Saber's life that would be more important to her than this organization. We still have to follow that. However, I never had any thought when I'd first laid that rule down that we would be faced with this kind of decision. Linna does have a point. Making the choice between an indefinite lifespan with great health and remaining a member is something that I think we'd all succumb to over time." Sylia brought herself around to face her coworkers. "Once it became clear that, if it were the case, he would *still* feel uncomfortable around the naked body of any woman save his wife... Well, he hasn't said that's a problem so let's not go borrowing trouble."
Priss had remained laid back in her chair.
"You're afraid that he might not perform the procedure except on the one he was married to?" Linna asked.
"Like I said, let's not go borrowing trouble." Sylia repeated. "But I could see such a thing turning us against each other in short order. We've got to find some way to avoid that."
"So what do we do?" Nene looked about at all her friends. "I don't want to wait until we're over fifty so he'd not be attracted to us any more."
"He did this for his team." Priss observed. "Why couldn't he do it for us?"
"We were still fairly innocent." Lou said from the door.
She entered and said. "Sorry, just came to deliver this data disk you'd asked for. But I overheard your question. The answer is that for the first years of our partnership he was a great deal more mature and knowledgeable than the rest of us. That seemed to engage his protective instincts and he's been treating us like younger sisters. We're presently trying to convince him that younger sisters not related by blood are perfectly acceptable soul-mates. But that may take some time. Anyway, when it *does* work we are already agreed to share him. Goodnight."
Lou closed the door behind her.
There was silence in the room for several minutes.
Sylia looked at those around her. "Any threat to the unity of the Knight Sabers must be dealt with. We have got to come to a united decision about what to do about this. It has got to work together for ALL of us, so that we each get the upgrade, and so that we stay Knight Sabers."
No one spoke for half an hour.
"We could.." Linna hesitated, unsure of her answer yet having thought of nothing else and needing to break the silence. "We could..."
"Share him?" Priss asked. She folded her arms behind her head and blew hard up at the ceiling.
Nene drummed her ankles against the desk she sat on.
"If we accept that as a possible answer," Sylia spoke up, not lifting her face as yet. "What are the problems about it?"
There was a great stirring in the room as everyone shifted to get more comfortable.
"Reduced panty prices." Nene giggled, trying to fight the tension. "We'd all be related to the store owner."
"Less chance that time would break the group up." Linna was staring at the far corner of the wall, away from meeting anyone in the eyes. "We were all going to retire someday. This puts that off. We'd already have a husband and wouldn't have to spend time looking for them. One would keep us together where four would split us apart."
"It'd be easy to find baby-sitters." Nene snickered.
Priss blew out a wad of air she'd been holding. "We all already know how to work together. I can live with you guys' faults."
"Cheaper living expenses." Linna offered. "Only one kitchen, laundry duties we could share. Not to mention rent on four apartments is killer expensive."
"I could handle the legal side of it. The Diet would never know the bill they passed wasn't their own." Nene discovered that she was joking far less than she'd thought she'd been.
"You know, working together like this we could actually travel. I could go on tour." Priss speculated.
"I could loan you the money, even sing back up." Linna wondered. "Do you think Nene would work on keyboard?"
Both singers turned to evaluate the suddenly silent redhead.
"Special effects computers at least." Priss announced. "Probably keyboard. We'd have to try her out and see."
"You might really like it." Linna offered to her stunned AD Police friend.
"So," Sylia summarized, standing up. "Do any of you think we should *not* go through with this?"
There was a vast silence.
"Do *you* not want to?" Nene asked.
"My life isn't exactly overflowing with marriage proposals." Linna suggested.
Priss looked to either side of herself. "I could live with having a couple sisters." She stretched, and smiled. "And the idea of not having the group break up is almost as good as having a band in the family or never having another cold."
"Don't *you* feel comfortable with it?" Linna pressed Sylia.
The leader of the Knight Sabers played with her watch while looking about the room. Then she ducked her head and smiled. "I had been thinking all of you would be harder to convince." She admitted.
"Well, it *is* illegal." Nene considered. "Still," she shrugged perkily. "That doesn't make it a bad thing to do."
Sylia agreed. "I couldn't think of another way to keep us together in the face of this problem, and I'll admit to being surprised at how this unconventional idea adds to our group's overall stability. We all want the upgrade and none of us appear to find the man *unattractive*. So I guess that it works out."
OoOoO
End Flashback
OoOoO
The Knight Sabers, the five former sexaroids that formed his Laser Angels, all those girls trying to marry or just sleep with him... Seeing Sylia's expression, Jared fought an urge to turn tail and run.
The predatory gleam was back in her eye.
Sylia, for her part, just smiled. The First International Skysaber Hunt was about to begin a new round. She still had to... *reward* the man who'd destroyed Genom.
Dr. Stingray licked her chops.
Hikari raised her hand. "Excuse me, teacher? I'm the class representative, and I'm afraid the new student hasn't introduced himself yet."
Sylia smiled at him.
He groaned, flopping his head onto his arms.
Licking her chops, and wiping the drool delicately from the corner of her mouth, Sylia remarked. "Well, I find that interesting. But easily remedied. Doctor Saotome, would you care to introduce yourself?"
He waved a hand in the negative.
She smiled, moving over beside the desk. "Well, in that case, I may have to."
He shot out of his seat, turning an end over flip in mid air to land beside the teacher before the chalkboard facing the class. Quickly, he bowed. "I am Jared Saotome." He shot a glance to his side to see Sylia standing by. "And all of the rest is classified."
The class absorbed this with a sweatdrop.
Kensuke raised a hand. "Excuse me, does this mean that you're the pilot for the giant robot?"
Sylia shot him a curious glance.
Jared squeezed his eyes shut. "Yes, it is a hard thing to hide, isn't it?"
