I don't own anything.
Splinter Cell Evangelion
-Chapter Three: Motivation
Shinji scowled as his cell phone dragged him out of his blissful slumber. He snatched the irritating device from his bedside table without opening his eyes. He flipped it open and brought it to his ear. "Ikari."
"You are to report to Commander Ikari's office at noon," a woman said. The dial tone filled his ear before he could tell her to do something demeaning. Shinji opened his eyes and flipped his phone shut. He stared at the front display. It was ten o'clock. He had been sleeping for two hours.
"Son of a bitch."
(:ii:)
Shinji glared at the two Section-2 agents and waited for the door to open. After several minutes, which Shinji was sure were an attempt to make him sweat, the door finally did open. "You lose that gun, you lose your life," Shinji stated to the agent who had taken his pistol. He turned on his heel and stalked into the Commander's office. "May I ask why I've been called here?"
"You have been selected for a special assignment," Gendo stated. "This assignment will require your skills as well as your discretion. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Shinji replied, his anger dying as his interest piqued.
"Do you wish to accept?"
"Yes." Kozo stepped forward and held out a manila folder. Shinji took it and stared at the wax seal holding it shut. Rather old school, but certainly an effective method.
"You will destroy those files after you read them," Gendo stated. Shinji nodded his understanding. "And one more thing." Shinji glanced up and stared at the fancy red folder with NERV's seal on the front being offered to him.
"What's this?" He took it and flipped it open. It was a warrant and promotion papers, officially making him a warrant officer. "I didn't turn in a package."
"You didn't have to," Gendo replied. "As the Commander of NERV, I have the authority to grant warrants and commissions. You don't have the qualifications for a commission, but you have the qualifications for a warrant. The pay increase will show up on your next paycheck."
"Right." Shinji shuffled the two folders. "Good day, sir."
(:ii:)
Shinji frowned down at his promotion papers and sipped his coffee. Was he being paid off? It wouldn't work of course. SEELE was offering more than just money. Needless to say, Shinji wouldn't mention that to NERV. He'd just sit back and enjoy the attempts. His frown deepened as he considered those thoughts. "When did I become such a mercenary?"
"You're a mercenary now?" Shinji turned and saw his guardian standing nearby. He had heard her high heels coming even over the din of the break room. As far as he had seen, she and Doctor Akagi were the only women who wore heels.
"Approaching that title," he stated.
"What have you got there?" Misato asked, trying to be friendly as she sat down at the table across from Shinji. He turned the folder and she read it quickly. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Shinji stated.
"I just wanted to apologize for this morning," Misato stated. "I was tired, you were tired, and we both lost our tempers."
"Fair enough," Shinji replied.
"I just don't think it's a good idea for you to ditch Section-2," Misato stated. "They're there for your production."
"They're there to spy on me too," Shinji stated.
"Its not like you're doing anything bad," Misato stated, "are you?"
"I'd just rather have my private life out of everyone else's view," Shinji answered.
"Ah yes, your private life," Misato commented. "So, who is this friend of yours that you go out all night with and then go to a night club with in the wee hours of the morning?"
"Her name is Sarah," Shinji stated. Of the three people he was currently working with, she was the best pick.
"Ooh!" Shinji frowned at the woman's exclamation. "A girl, huh?" Shinji went back over the conversation and spotted his mistake.
"Yes," he replied, "a girl. They can be friends sometimes." He could tell from the look on Misato's face that she wasn't listening.
"Why don't you invite her over for dinner?"
"Because we aren't that close," Shinji stated. "She's more a friend of a friend."
"Sure," Misato replied, dropping him a wink. Shinji sighed and picked up his folders.
"I'll see you later."
"Going off to see your not close female friend of a friend?" Misato asked.
"No."
"Well if you do, tell her she's invited to dinner tonight!"
(:ii:)
"Wait. So, how did I get invited to dinner?"
"I don't know," Shinji stated. "I just said that I was out with you last night and she drew her own conclusions."
"Why me?" Sarah protested.
"Harris actually has things to do and Fisher would have made things uncomfortable," Shinji explained. "No offense."
"None taken," Sam replied from where he was watching Jen try to decrypt the laptop from the rig.
"So she probably thinks we're more than just friends and is barging in on your private life," Sarah summarized. "Nosy, isn't she?"
"You have no idea," Shinji stated as he read through the contents of the folder he had been given. "Huh."
"What?" Sarah asked.
"I've been tasked with providing a feasibility presentation for recruiting, arming, and training a theoretical amphibious assault-capable covert actions unit," Shinji stated. "It's all happening under Section-3."
"Well, we know Section-3, the section in charge of internal security, is a cover for NERV's private military forces," Sarah pointed out. "At least, that's what John said."
"On a first name basis already, huh?" Shinji asked. "Man does move fast."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Sarah demanded.
"Nothing," Shinji replied. He continued leafing through the papers. The funds for this little job were pathetic. No, they were worse than pathetic. The Commander had no intention of Shinji completing this task; it was just to waste his time. That made him quite eager to complete it.
(:ii:)
"Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi speaking."
"You have been granted access to Warrant Officer Ikari's service record," a calm voice stated. Misato frowned. In all the excitement, she had nearly forgotten having stormed into records and demanding clearance after her first meeting with Shinji.
"Where can I pick up a paper copy?" she asked.
"Section-1, Division-3. That's personnel," the man stated and hung up. Misato shut her phone and tucked it into her pocket.
"Who was that?" Ritsuko asked as she stared over the results from Asuka's latest synch test. The results were getting better by the month. A year ago she had reached the point where she could activate her Eva. Now she was almost back to when she had first arrived.
"I was just cleared to read Shinji's service record," Misato stated. She saw Ritsuko frown. "What?"
"I don't think you want to read it," the blond stated.
"You've read it!" Misato accused.
"I'm his doctor," Ritsuko stated. "Of course I read it." She turned and looked at her old friend. "Leave his record alone, Misato. You won't like what you find."
"Well that's the way of the world," Misato stated.
"You don't have a reason to read it," Ritsuko replied. She frowned as she realized that she was only encouraging Misato's curiosity. "Still stubborn after all these years?"
"As a mule," Misato chirped. "See you later. I gotta go see Section-1."
(:ii:)
"Shinji!" Shinji's eyes snapped open and he took in his surroundings carefully. When had he fallen asleep? Jen was standing by the couch ringing her hands and Kaji was leaning against the wall by the door. The fact that he had been in such a deep sleep that he hadn't noticed the other man's entrance bothered Shinji rather badly.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he swung his legs off the couch and stood, wincing at the stiffness in his knee.
"A SEELE spy was killed," Jen stated. "I stopped by to tell us and I can't reach Fisher or Burns." That explained why she looked so nervous.
"Alright," Shinji stated. "It's no big deal Jen. We're just going to take care of this by ourselves." He turned to Kaji. "What happened?"
"Idiot got careless and got himself shot," Kaji stated. "It's the day before his scheduled data transmission." Shinji scowled. Had to be something big.
"Where's his house?"
"It's in one of the small suburbs outside of Tokyo-3," Kaji stated.
"Can you get there?" Shinji asked.
"No problem, but we're going to have to hurry," Kaji stated. "NERV SOP when dealing with spies is to destroy their home two hours after sunset." Shinji glanced at his OPSAT. They had about a half hour before the sun went down. "The house is pretty far away."
"Wonderful," Shinji stated. "Sam and Sarah took the van, right?" Jen nodded. "Did we get a second one yet?"
"We did, but I'm not sure how much of the equipment has been installed," Jen stated. Shinji frowned.
"Alright. Stay here and start digging. Find out what kind of tradecraft the spy was running." He turned to Kaji. "Let's go."
"What?" Kaji asked.
"You're driving," Shinji stated.
"I'm not being paid enough to go into the line of fire," Kaji protested. "You're the saboteur, I'm only a spy!"
"You do it or you do it at gunpoint," Shinji stated, allowing his hand to rest on the grip of his ASP.
"Come one, Shinji. You aren't going to pull a gun on me." Shinji pushed the thumb break on his holster away from his pistol.
"Don't dare him," Jen called from behind a computer. "He'll do it." Kaji considered this carefully. "And he never points a weapon at anything he doesn't intend to shoot."
"So, where are the keys?"
"Good spy," Shinji stated
(:ii:)
Shinji hunted through the lockers in the back of the van and scowled at his LBV. "This does not bode well."
"Couldn't find anything?" Kaji asked from the driver seat.
"Found a full uniform and a pistol," Shinji stated as he pulled on his LBV. He felt the van slow. "No long arms or explosives. Are we there?"
"Yeah." Kaji stood and moved into the back. He took one look at Shinji and had to look away. "Nice outfit."
"Not another word," Shinji growled as he pulled on his black balaclava and goggles.
"You look like some kind of comic book hero," Kaji stated.
"Where's the house?" Shinji demanded.
"It's the third house down," Kaji stated. "The sun set about an hour and a half ago and its pitch black out."
"Good," Shinji replied. "Did we drive by it?"
"Yeah," Kaji replied, adjusting the headset he was wearing. "There's a lot of activity." He checked his watch. "They'll be setting up the charges. You have twenty minutes." Shinji nodded and pushed the sliding door open. The security light from the house they were parked in front of was on and making moving across the front yard unseen impossible. Shinji drew his pistol and leveled it at the light. "They'll notice too many shot out bulbs," Kaji stated. Shinji ignored him and hit the OCP. The security light flickered and went out. "Whoa."
"Cool, huh?" Shinji asked, lowering his goggles.
"Yeah." Shinji holstered his weapon and slipped out of the van. He moved low across the lawn to avoid the lights from the windows. He ducked around the side of the house and took in the structures. The houses had been built on a hill so that they appeared to be one story from the front, but had an exposed basement level in the back.
Shinji scaled the side of the second house and moved across the roof silently. "Shinji?"
"I'm here, Jen," Shinji replied. They only avoided using each others first names in front of Sam and Sarah. There was no point in showing that particular card. "What did you find?" Shinji reached the edge of the roof and stared down into the front yard of the target house. Two men in casual suits were smoking on the front porch. Shinji couldn't help but listen to their conversation.
"I'm serious man," one of them stated. "This is Japan. There are ninjas everywhere."
"Yeah, right," the second man stated.
"What do you have for me?" Shinji whispered
"He was BND."
"German foreign intelligence." Shinji was well versed in the intelligence agencies of the world.
"Yeah," Jen answered. "Check for paintings. BND guys get elaborate with hidden safes behind wall paintings."
"Right." Shinji leapt across to the target building's roof and stared down at the two men.
"There aren't any ninjas anymore," the second man stated.
"There are," the first replied. "My brother was working for Displace International in Japan a couple years ago. He got attacked by a ninja."
"Bullshit. Go check the charges." The first man dropped his cigarette into the bushes and walked into the house. Shinji stared down at the second man. He needed information. That was the only reason why he was going to do what he was about to do. At least, that's what he would tell Sam. Shinji dropped soundlessly to the porch behind the man and drew his knife. In a second he had the man held securely, one hand holding a nerve plexus in the man's wrist and the other holding his knife to the man's throat.
"Hi there."
"Oh my God," the man rasped. "There really are ninjas."
"Yeah," Shinji replied. "And what do ninjas do?"
"Kill people," the man stated.
"Good," Shinji replied. "That's exactly what I'm going to do to you if you don't tell me what I need to know. Comprendes?"
"Comprendes."
"Comprendo," Shinji corrected. The lights came on and Shinji dragged the man in the shadows beside the porch. "You need to conjugate the verb, right?"
"Right," the man agreed.
"You're a weird one," Jen commented.
"How many men are in the house?" Shinji asked.
"Just me and Franks," the man said. Shinji didn't like how fast the answer came and pushed his thumb into the nerve plexus. "Ah! I mean three! Me and two others."
"Alright. Where are they?"
"Toc should be in back guarding the door and Franks is checking the charges," the man stated.
"Where are the charges?"
"In the basement," the man stated. "There's a fuel system hooked up to six charges. When the fuel is mixed with the air the charges will blow."
"Thank you." Shinji's arms wrapped like pythons around the man's throat, cutting off the flow of blood. The blood choke left the man unconscious in under fifteen seconds. Shinji glanced around and shoved the man in the bushes.
(:ii:)
Jen could only shake her head as she listened to that particular interrogation. She had been on Shinji's support team throughout his time as a Splinter Cell in the Third Korean War and was thus already accustomed to his methods. "Did you have fun?"
"Oh yeah," Shinji replied. The door to the apartment opened and Jen turned to see Sam and Sarah walk in.
"Where the hell were you two?"
"Meeting with the bosses," Sarah stated. "Where's the other van?"
"Where do you think?" Jen demanded.
"Shit," Sam growled. He grabbed a handset. "What's your status, Ikari?"
"About to enter the house and begin the sweep," Shinji stated. Sam glanced at Jen.
"What's going on?"
"Information recovery from a dead spy," Jen stated.
(:ii:)
Shinji listened to the conversation in his head as he slipped the optic cable under the door. He stared at his OPSAT's display as it revealed that the room on the other side was empty. He pushed the door open and slipped into the brightly lit room. He quickly flipped the light switch and moved across the room. "That you, Jacky?" Shinji immediately pressed his back to the wall beside the door. "Jack?"
"You have ten minutes if they've set the timers on the charges," Sam stated. Shinji ignored him and listened to Toc's footsteps. Toc barely came into sight and Shinji struck. He grabbed the man's left arm and pulled and twisted. In a moment the man was flat on the ground with his arm twisted behind his back
"Not a word," Shinji hissed.
"Ninja!" Shinji slammed the man's head into the ground, rendering him unconscious.
"Already had this conversation," he told the man as he straightened up. A quick glance around the room revealed no paintings. Shinji stepped into the hallway the man had come from. Still no paintings. Shinji followed the hall into a bedroom. "Bingo." Shinji wedged the tip of his blade between the wall and the painting. The whole painting swung forward and Shinji stared at the contents of the hidden space. "I've got a laptop and a burst transmitter."
"One minute," Sam warned.
"John, bring the van around front," Shinji ordered as he snatched up the laptop. He sprinted heedlessly to the front door. He had already skipped out on being blown up once in as many days. Best not give fate the chance. The door burst open with the correct application of Shinji's foot. He was halfway across the yard when the van screeched to a halt.
"Stop!" A gunshot rang out and Shinji's left arm was slammed hard. He stumbled and slammed into the van. Three more shots rang out and Shinji spun to see his shooter go down.
"Get in the van!" Kaji snapped. Shinji slid into the passenger seat and Kaji gunned it.
"Nice shooting."
"Thanks." The house exploded in a blinding ball of fire. The van shuddered slightly and accelerated.
(:ii:)
Sarah frowned as she eyed the massive bruise on the back of Shinji's upper arm. It looked bad. "Well, it's not broken."
"Really?" Shinji asked sarcastically.
"You should probably get it checked for a fracture," Sarah stated. "I'll find a sling."
"Thanks." Sarah walked into one of the back rooms and began hunting through the equipment. She could hear Shinji and Jen talking.
"How bad is the firewall on this one?"
"A nightmare," Jen stated. "I'm still working on the first computer."
"Great," Shinji grumbled. Sarah found a sling and walked back to the main room.
"Oh, I just remembered!" she exclaimed. "Wasn't I supposed to come over for dinner?"
"I'll reschedule," Shinji replied as he helped her put on the sling.
"Promise me you'll get an x-ray," Sarah ordered.
"Fine," Shinji replied. "I'm heading home. Dinner tomorrow, alright?"
"Sounds good, what time?"
"I'll call you." Sarah nodded and watched him walk out. She turned to look at Sam. He nodded and she locked the door.
"Harris?" Jen turned to look at the older man.
"I'm kind of busy, Fisher."
"I understand," Sam replied, "but I need you to do me a favor."
"What is it?" Jen asked, finally taking her attention away from her computer.
"I want you to begin an investigation into this operation," Sam stated. Jen's brow furrowed.
"What do you mean?" she asked. "This is our op. Why are we investigating it?"
"We're running things, but we have no idea about SEELE's motivation for bringing us in," Sam stated.
"I thought the motivation was suspicion that NERV had gone rogue," Jen commented. Sarah frowned and slowly slid her pistol out of the holster on the small of her back.
"It is," Sam replied. "I just want to see what they consider rogue. Keep it quiet, okay?"
"Sure," Jen replied. Sarah sighed in relief and holstered her pistol again. "You don't trust them?"
"No."
"What about Ikari?"
"Don't bring it up with him," Sam replied.
"You don't trust him either?"
"His only motivation is money," Sam stated. "It's not hard to tell."
"He isn't that bad, Fisher," Jen stated.
"I'll believe that when I see it," Sam stated.
(:ii:)
Misato pushed the door to her apartment open and frowned at the low light. "Shinji?"
"Here," Shinji stated. Misato stepped into the living room. The blinds were drawn on the windows and a single light was turned on with the shade canted away from the room's sole occupant. Shinji was sitting on the couch reading a report with a cigarette between his lips and a can of beer on the coffee table
"Oh my God." Shinji glanced up at her over the wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose and then down at himself. He was wearing a pair of gym shorts and a white undershirt. His right knee, what wasn't hidden by a metal brace, was a mass of scar tissue and he was wearing a sling on his left arm. Then there were also the colorful tattoos covering his arms from the ends of his shirtsleeves to his wrists and both of his exposed calves.
"What happened?" Misato demanded as she stared at the sling on his left arm.
"Where?"
"Your arm!" Misato exclaimed as she stared at the sling on his arm. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Shinji replied. "Had a close encounter with a car flying through a cross walk."
"Don't suppose your body guards were there to help you, were they?"
"Didn't need them," Shinji stated. "Sarah helped me out."
"Ah yes, Sarah," Misato replied. "You never called."
"Couldn't make it tonight," Shinji replied. "I was showing her around the city. She said that tomorrow night is fine."
"We'll have to do it early," Misato stated, biting her lip. She had something big planned for that time.
"Why?"
"I have plans," Misato replied.
"Ah." Shinji turned back to his reports. "Five o'clock?"
"Sounds good," Misato replied. "So, what're you reading?" she asked, moving to look over his shoulder. Shinji slid the report shut and Misato saw the cover page declaring it to be very, very classified.
"I can't say," Shinji replied. Misato pouted and sat down on the opposite end of the couch.
"Well, I have some classified reading of my own," she stated, holding up the thick report in her hands. "This is your service record."
"Enjoy," Shinji replied. "At least, enjoy what you can."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shinji just pointed at the report. Misato opened it and frowned. It was in English, a pain the ass to translate, but no big deal. She fanned through the report and froze. Almost the entire last quarter of the document was lined out. "What?"
"Not even the commander of NERV can know what happened there," Shinji stated. Misato frowned and set the thick report down between them. She looked at Shinji.
"So, you really can't tell me what you're doing?" she asked.
"I could, but I'd have to kill you," Shinji stated. Misato laughed and Shinji shuffled around to make access to his pistol, now holstered in a simple white shoulder rig, easier. Misato stopped laughing when he pushed the thumb break up. "Still want to know?"
"That's alright," she stated. She eyed the symbols inked into his skin. "So, when did you get the tattoos?"
"I got them at different times," Shinji replied as he opened his report and began reading. "Most are from California and Quantico, but I got a couple in Japan and Korea."
"When were you in Japan?" Misato demanded. Shinji just tapped one finger against the cover of his service record. "Oh." She stared at Shinji's outstretched arms for a little longer. "Tattoos still aren't very well looked upon in Japan."
"That's why I wear long sleeves or my jacket normally," Shinji stated, tapping the ash from his cigarette into a cup on the end table. "Shouldn't have to worry about it for too much longer." The implications of that comment hit Misato hard.
"You're leaving again?" she demanded.
"Probably," Shinji answered simply. They sat in utter silence for a while, Shinji reading and Misato trying to understand what she had just been told. He had just gotten back! Why would he be planning on leaving already?
"So, uh, when did you start wearing glasses?"
"Too much squinting at maps in the dark," Shinji explained, not looking up from his report. "I only need them for reading."
"Ah."
"Say, where's Sohryu? Does she still live here?"
"She does, but she doesn't spend a lot of time here," Misato replied. "She almost lives over at her friend Horaki's now. Don't worry, she'll be here tomorrow for when Sarah arrives."
"Wonderful."
-End
(:ii:)
-Author's notes. This story's already changing a lot from the last version. Per chapter, the premise is similar, but it's also very different.
