"The lines were cut in twelve places. Someone knows the layout of our power systems, and decided to sabotage us. The list is a small one, and none of them are people I want angry with us. The other alternative, of course, is that an Angel has hijacked the MAGI and did this to mess with us."
The late day sun silhouetting him, Gendo Ikari looks over the photos as his wife leans on his desk, half sitting on it in that way she does when she wants him wrapped around her finger.
"You think it's the old men?"
"Kihl has a fondness for Sohryu," Yui says, "Mainly because when she was in Germany, he could keep an eye on her. He could be paying us back for taking his pet."
Hands tented in front of his face, Gendo Ikari grimaces. The Scenario, as the Committee referred to it as, was the Sword of Damocles that hung over all their heads. No doubt, the frightened old men that they reported to would keep tabs on them somehow. A reminder of how powerless they were one day, then one of Kihl's pet agents another day.
"Sohryu," he says, looking at the folders, "He sent Sohryu here."
"Pieter's bright, but not that bright," she responds, shrugging, "If Kihl sent him here to watch us, he doesn't know. He's an administrator and tactical advisor. But we should see if we could keep him."
A small chuckle comes from the most powerful man in the Far East.
"We can offer to keep him around his daughters," he says, "And to see if you can sway him to our side. Someone as high up as him is good to have as an ally. Eventually, Shinji is going to get upset when he realizes you're playing mother to everyone but him."
-
-
Chapter 11: The Situation of Asuka Langely Sohryu
-
-
"Am I the only sane person here?"
Shinji has found himself asking that question with alarming regularity. Of course, he is. In the entire breadth and depth of Tokyo-3, he is indeed the only sane man. It is not just that he has to deal with problems with his room mates and fellow pilots. Now, he has to put up with his classmates.
The target of his question is one those. A little shorter than him, dark hair in twin pigtails and someone who greeted him by slapping him, hard, Hikari Horaki and he have a complicated relationship built on mutual guilt. The problem is that she is also something of a friend, or at least someone he can stand behind around constantly. So, the situation is awkward. As much as he wants to just go to town on her verbally, he also knows she didn't do it to hurt him.
"Why did you do that?" he asks, whispering.
Outside of the classroom, while everyone else is on lunch, the conversation started. Hikari caved to a request from her sister, Kodama.
"It's nothing major," Hikari says, hands up defensively, "He's a medical student who's a long time friend of my sister. He's something of a…fan, I guess, of the Pilots and asked me if there was some way he could date one."
"Asuka's not a pilot," Shinji says through clenched teeth.
"She's the sister of one and she's the daughter of one of the designers," Hikari responds, "Besides which, she was recruited."
"Which she loves talking about," Shinji seethes, "Doesn't she? Always going on fondly about how her mother yanked her out of the program?"
Sighing, nervous smile disappearing, she scratches the back of her head as the reality of the situation hits home with neither subtlety nor grace.
"I guess I didn't think it through."
"Great. So call it off, tell Asuka she doesn't have to go-"
"Well, she wants to," Hikari says, rolling her eyes, "Look, her face just lit up when I told her. She agreed. I'm not press-ganging her into this. Someone wants to show her a nice time. So?"
Muttering something, he turns from her, running his hands furiously through his hair.
"Hey," she says, "Two things."
He turns on her, eyes narrowed. She could almost swore they glowed.
"First off," Hikari says, poking his chest, "She's not going to wait forever. Although, from your blank expression, I'm pretty sure you have no idea what I mean. Second, if it bothers you so much, why don't you go out and make sure she's safe?"
He nods. She smiles, satisfied in her victory. Which is short lived when he ducks back into the classroom, where only a handful of students remain, including one in particular.
"Hey, Touji!"
Suzuhara looks up from the mop bucket.
"I need to borrow the Class Rep, tonight," Shinji says, "Is that alright?"
"You gonna try anythin' dirty with her?"
"No, I'm leaving that to you."
"S'alright."
Shinji nods, salutes, and ducks back into the hallway. Hands balled into fists, Hikari levels two glaring eyes on him as he smiles.
"It's a date," he says.
Inches from his face, eyes narrowed, he blanches under her gaze.
"You are so dead."
*
*
It enters the atmosphere at somewhere along Mach 14. The outer shell burns up, the inner layer shifting, reforming, swirling to redirect heat and flame until it crashes off the coast of northern Russia.
NERV-Bethany's alerts go off, reading a pattern orange as VTOL craft are dispatched, a mass of red and black cooling underneath the shallow waters. Numbering two dozen craft, they hover, laser sights trained on the sphere as it moves along, clearing the water.
Missiles swarm out, cannons firing. The mass bubbles, screams, and chunks of black rock shoot out, two VTOLs sputtering and exploding before the mass explodes.
*
*
Pushing his glasses up his nose, Sub Director Pieter Sohryu, executive office of NERV-Germany, folds his hands behind his back as Dr. Ikari counts out stages. In the Plug entering Unit 02, Mari grins, hands tightly gripping and rolling over the butterfly controls.
"Okay, we're taking her to minimal depth," Yui says, "Mari, just breathe slowly. Maya, take it away."
Stepping back, she stands next to Pieter, favoring him with a small smile. He grins back, turning back to the screen.
"I'm surprised," she says, "I would have thought you would have gone back to your old name. Langely, wasn't it?"
"We parted on bad terms," he sighs, "But it wasn't all bad. She…well, she's a driven woman. I kept the last name because I didn't want to lose everything we had."
"I see," Yui says, "Asuka and I will be having lunch tomorrow. You'll join us."
"I'll check my schedule-"
"No," Yui says, narrowing her eyes, "You'll. Join. Us."
The screens light up. In the distant view of the Cage, Unit 02's eyes light up, dimly glowing green. Mari's grin goes wider, and Yui walks over to Maya's console, glancing at the numbers.
"Alright," she says, "Synchronization's holding at 38%. Not the same level that Uri has, but good enough that we can start training her as Unit 02's backup pilot."
She turns to Maya, patting her on the shoulder.
"Okay, bring her out," she says, "Forward all the data to my office."
"Not to interrupt," Pieter says, "But why yours? I thought Unit 02 was Kyoko's fiefdom."
"Do you really think Doctor Sohryu would allow us to test your daughter in Unit 02 without me overruling her?" Yui asks with a smirk.
Motioning to the lifts in the back of Dogma, she walks towards them, Pieter following. He clears his throat as they stand next to each other, the doors closing as he thrusts his hands in his pockets and sighs. Looking up, looking at the buttons, looking at the clicking floor numbers.
"You wanted to speak to me?" he asks.
"Am I that transparent?"
"Would 'yes' involve me stationed at NERV-Australia for the rest of my life?"
"Yes."
"Then you are opaque and complex without a single hint of transparency."
"Good boy," Yui says, pulling out her PDA, "I'm concerned. When was the last time you spent some time with your other daughter?"
Pieter snorts, smirking.
"If Kyoko had her way, I wouldn't know she was even born."
Yui turns, a smirk on her face, and she pushes her glasses up her nose.
"Can you tell me anything?" she asks, "Her height? Favorite toy? Her third grade report card?"
"Not my choice, Doctor Ikari."
Yui snorts, clicking off her PDA.
"Tell yourself whatever helps you sleep at night," she says as the doors open, "If you'll excuse me…"
Walking through, she enters the floor of her office, sneakers clapping on polished metal floors. He watches her go, tipping his head. Doors closing, he leans back, rolling his head back as he groans and gives off a soft, muted swear.
"Damn it."
And he mashes the button for the locker rooms.
*
*
She doesn't own anything that could actually be counted as revealing. It just isn't what she has. She doesn't dress up often, so the best she could find on short notice was a white long sleeved blouse and red skirt. It makes her look old, but the date is about twenty years old, so she guesses it fits. Maybe.
She borrowed some of Misato's lavender perfume, has a nice set of gold hoop earrings, and holding her bag, she walks with her date down one of the upscale shopping districts of Tokyo-3.
Ducking out from a fast food stall, Shinji narrows his eyes, sneaking along to a light post. Walking up behind him, standing next to him and visible in plain sight, Hikari folds her arms and glares at them, then back at Shinji.
"Oh, yeah," she says, "Nefarious plot."
"Don't blame me, I didn't set up the blind date."
Grabbing her by the arm, he pulls her along, trailing behind Asuka and the young man as the two chat and walk, never touching hands. Muttering to herself, she walks in plain sight as he tries to hide, rolling her eyes as he stops and pretends to check out a cell phone stands while Asuka and the med student discuss where to eat.
"What do you hear?" Shinji asks.
"Sorry, can't hear it over the paranoia."
"I'm serious, Hikari."
"Wow, what a coincidence," she says, with folded arms, narrowing her eyes as he wilts under her glare, "You drag me out here, and you expect me to be enthusiastic?"
He turns to her, gritting his teeth to argue. The tirade and resulting argument, which could reveal their position, is averted by the cloth coming over his mouth and his eyes rolling up, before a pair of black suit clad arms dart out of the alleyway behind Hikari and pull her in.
The cell phone vender hefts up Shinji, nodding to two vagrants on either side of the alleyway. Standing up, shedding their worn coats to reveal the crisp black suits underneath, they grab the legs as the vender takes out his cell phone.
"Agents reporting in. Matchmaker and Third acquired. Ready to begin Operation: Cockblock at your discretion, Commander."
*
*
The boy, Hoshi, seemed nice enough. He was worshipful of NERV, and not too bad to look at. Dark brown hairs, blue eyes, nice build. Older than her by four years, but she imagines this is what Shinji will look like at twenty. At least, what he will look like assuming he isn't killed by the next Angel, or the one after that, or
Stop thinking that, she tells herself. Just enjoy the moment. She smiles, admittedly forced as they sit down at the karaoke bar he is old enough to bluff his way into for the both of them. He smiles, a smile that looks innocent to her at least, but mainly she likes because it's directed at her.
"So," he says, "Do you talk with the pilots, a lot?"
"I do," she says, throat tight, going over the words again and again to keep her stammer down, "The pilot of Unit 02 is my brother, Uri. I like with Shinji…um, h-he's the Third Child, and I used to p-pen pal with Rei."
"Really?" he asks, smirking, "You've been pretty deep in it, haven't you? Your mom made Unit 02, didn't she?"
"Y-yes," she says, eyes darting away, looking to the side, to the karaoke machine, "I-I didn't r-really help…"
"Did she ever tell you how she programmed it? Must've been a programming miracle…"
"N-no."
Sucking her lip, clenching her hands into fists, she looks away as the waiter finally comes with their drinks. A soda for her, a drink for him. The bar is nice, she tells herself. There is a nice wood grain floor and a very nice series of decorations of pre-Second Impact bands on the walls. Maybe it is nerves, and that's why she seeing things. Like people she should recognize walking around, or sitting near.
She never went on a date before.
Mother never allowed it.
She'll pitch a fit when she hears about this. She will. Just another distraction when she should be prostituting herself towards Shinji like Mother said. Sighing, fighting back the coughing and wheezing these thoughts always point her towards; Asuka turns back to her date and forces a smile.
Taking her drink, she downs half of it in one gulp. She smiles, again, trying to keep her eyes open as the lids become heavier and heavier. Her hands become sluggish and stiff and fat as she brings them up to her face, and her vision of her date doubles, then triples, and…
*
*
Asuka leans on her hand, slurring her words before collapsing, face resting on the table. Grinning, Hoshi clears his throat and takes out his wallet, waving to a waiter.
"Hey, over here," he calls, "I'll take the-"
"We'll take a green tea, hot, and two diet sodas."
Someone's been singing at the karaoke machine, a german pop song about the nuclear apocalypse.
Hoshi looks to his right. Hikari smiles, a forced, angry thing on her lips as she pulls up a chair and sits. Across from her, the kid her recognizes from photos as Shinji Ikari sits across from her.
The song finishes, and the singer hands off the mike from his white gloved hands. For some reason, a disco beat begins playing as he walks across the karaoke bar, fixing his black jacket and adjusting his amber glasses.
Pulling up a chair, he sits down, tenting his hands into a bridge underneath his nose and staring at the young man.
"Hello."
He takes the glass from the sleeping Asuka, sniffing the contents.
"Rohypnol," he says, "Classy. Do you know who I am?"
Hoshi nods. Swallowing down his dry throat, Hikari and Shinji take the same pose as the Commander pushes the glasses up his nose. The small hissing sound confirms the desired outcome of Hoshi wetting himself.
"The lady you have drugged," Gendo Ikari says, "Is the daughter of one of my scientists. Allow me to introduce you to her security detail."
Every patron stands.
Coats and other clothes are discarded to reveal a wall of black suits and sunglasses. Hoshi shivers in his seat, looking from side to side, trying to figure out an egress point.
Which become moot when three darts hit the back of his neck and he collapses.
Standing, Gendo adjusts his coat again. As the last bits of consciousness begin to leave Hoshi, the Supreme Commander of NERV walks over and yanks him up by the hair.
"I am making an exception," he hisses, "I would normally not hesitate to have you killed for what you tried. But you are going to serve as an example. Have a nice trip."
He lets go as the boy's eyes roll up and close, turning to Shinji.
"Take her back to the apartment," he says, "We will handle things from here."
Shinji nods, taking one arm, draping it over his shoulder as Hikari takes the other. They exit, quickly, Asuka's feet trailing on the floor. Watching them go, turning on a bluetooth and nodding as he ehars the regular updates from Section 2 personnel regarding their safety, he points to Hoshi. Two Section 2 agents grab him, dragging him out.
His deed done, Gendo Ikari turns. He walks, solemnly, to the other end of the bar. Pausing, considering his options, he reaches into his pocket and withdraws several coins. A selection clicks, and a loyal Section 2 agent hands him the mic.
"Play that Funky Music, White Boy" begins playing.
All is going as according to plan.
*
*
There is only darkness around him. The darkness is moving, along with the crate as it gets loaded into the shipping container, but he doesn't know that. He doesn't a lot of things, right now.
He wakes up in a darkened room, sitting on a comfortable chair. Eyes opening, he peers around, unable to penetrate the haze as the drugs wear off. His body feels stiff, painful and sluggish, like he's just wearing off a sedative. Rubbing his brow, rubbing his nose, rubbing his face with both hands, he looks up and sees only the dim lightbulb.
Side to side he peers, nothing. In front of him, nothing.
"Uh…where am I?" Hoshi asks.
His answer comes from two red eyes in the darkness behind him.
"Heee~ey."
*
*
The door to Asuka's room closes and Shinji rests against the wall next to it. Groaning, he picks himself up and walks down the hallway into the living room. Hikari stands up from the couch, opening her mouth…and thinking better of it, bows her head. She sighs, scratching the back of her head as he leans on the couch.
"I am going to take my sister apart," she seethes.
"It's not her fault," he says, "She had no idea he's try…that with her."
Hikari nods. Walking forward, she wraps her arms around Shinji, patting her hands against his back as he sighs, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Thanks for coming," he says.
"Didn't have a choice," she responds with a chuckle, "You take good care of her, Ikari. Alright?"
He grunts a response. Leaning back, holding at arms length, a smile comes across her face. The lights are out in the living room, the only sounds traffic and pedestrians in the late night. No distance is between them, and for a moment they both consider the possibility.
"Don't keep her in suspense," she says, leaning in and pressing her lips to his cheek, "I'm heading home."
Breaking away, she walks through the door. Slumping his shoulders, finding himself able to breathe again, he slumps onto the couch. He is there in the morning when Misato arrives.
*
*
With a splash of vaporizing water, the red and black sphere hit off the coast of China. NERV-5, based in Beijing, mobilized a tank regiment in response, fighter jets back at the central base prepping for launch. Reports from NERV-Bethany told them what to expect.
Turrets aimed, shells were loosed, exploding on the puddle. Blocks of solid matter shot out in response, savaging the attacking force as a red eye opens at the center, just in time for the fuel air bombs from the fighter wing to impact.
*
*
"Send it up," Misato says, staring at the images of Bethany and NERV-5. The central screen flashes and becomes a view of the Eastern Hemisphere as seen from space. Except, obstructive the view is a large black sphere.
"Fire away," she says.
Surrounding the sphere, a half dozen weapons satellites come to life. Spinning explosive rods fire out, silent in their travel in the upper reaches of the atmosphere. In Dogma, Misato, Ritsuko, and Sohryu watch as the rods shoot out by the dozens, by the hundreds, each one containing enough high explosive to take out a fortified military bunker.
"Three," Misato counts, "Two…one. Boom."
The rods glow, a flash filling the screen. 3600 sub-nuclear munitions detonate, filling the sky with shrapnel and flame. Watching, waiting, the three highest ranking officers present wait as the light clears.
A small, resigned breath escapes Misato's mouth as the screen prominently displays the orange glow around the object and the shredded, ripped apart remains of the obscenely expensive satellite missile launch platforms.
"Well, that was a wonderful waste of our time," Kyoko mutters.
"I'm shocked and appalled that I agree with Dr. Sohryu," Misato groans, hands on her hips as she glares at the screen, "Maya! Send up the alert!"
All throughout Tokyo-3, in the early hours of the morning, the shrill whine of the alarm rings throughout the streets. And on the PDAs of every ranking member and pilot, and on the screen at the heart of Central Dogma, four lines of text display the situation at hand:
-
-
ALERT
AT FIELD DETECTED
BLOOD PATTERN TYPE BLUE: CONFIRMED
9TH ANGEL: CONFIRMED
-
-
Rubbing her eye, Asuka stumbles out of the bedroom. Waving a muted greeting to Shinji, she slumps against the kitchen counter, both eyes shut against the light of the kitchen.
"You alright?" Shinji asks.
She mumbles something, stumbling out and walking to the couch, half falling on it.
"W-what happened?" she moans.
"Your…date tried something," he responds, already next to her, hands on her shoulders, "He put something in your drink. It's probably upsetting your stomach and-"
Her face turns green. Puffing her cheeks, she runs to the bathroom, Shinji on her heels just in time to see her bent over the toilet and vomiting. Softly, silently, gently, he gets down to his knees, gathering her hair and pulling it from her face and the bowl. Her hands grip the porcelain with renewed fever, her shoulders shaking as the contents of the last two days empty.
He sees it, then. Narrowing his eyes as her shoulders hitch, he sees the back of her neck. There are a series of red marks, a set of six half circles and three full circles. Haphazard and random, faded against the pink skin, he reaches out with his other hand to touch them and confirm what they are.
The chance passes when she pushes off of the can, stumbling to the sink and spitting. Swinging open the medicine cabinet and pulling out the mouthwash, she takes a deep pull and begins gargling, spitting with enough force to cause some of the bubbling blue liquid to splash over the side.
Hitting the flush button on the toilet, he stands, waiting as she braces her hands on the sink. Closing the cabinet, he watches as she stares at her reflection. Her fingers curl, knuckles turning white, her shoulder shaking as her lip trembles. Moving on instinct, he moves to her and pulls her from the sink, pulling her into his arms. Her entire body shakes as she presses her face against his chest, a muted cry her only sound.
For minutes, maybe more, they stand in the silent embrace. Questions swim through his mind. On the marks, on what is going through his mind. Questions, he realizes, he can ask later. Right now, this is important. The only important thing right now is being here, letting the last night drain away.
"Thank you," she whispers.
He grunts an acknowledgement, tightening his hold with a gentle squeeze. She manages a shaky smile as she moves away, his hold releasing on her as she runs a hand through her hair, fresh tear lines moving down her cheeks. She sighs, biting her lip, wringing her hands.
"I-I remember some of it," she says, "He p-put something in m-my drink, didn't he?"
He nods.
"F-figures," she sighs, "F-figures, d-doesn't it? F-first time someone a-a-asks me out, and h-he t-tries…"
Her face twists. A small, low moan escapes her lips, her arms wrapping around her. Fresh tears run down her cheeks as her lip trembles, her palms leaving red dots along her white sleeves.
"I'm s-sorry," she stammers, "I'm s-sorry you h-have to deal w-with me."
"Don't be," he says, his hands laying on her arms, turning her to face him, "Don't be. He's a piece of…don't be."
He surprises himself with the vitriol in his voice. Clenching his teeth, closing his eyes, for a moment silence passes between them. Gently, her hand touches his, a sad smile crossing her face.
"T-thank you," she says, "F-for putting up with me."
"I don't 'put up' with you," he says with a small laugh, "If he hurt you, I would have killed him."
"Why?" she asks.
His eyes go wide, mouth hanging open at the question. Composing himself, the small grin returning to his features, he finds her face almost blank. Except for one small emotion which he can't place.
"What?"
"Why would you do that," she says; her voice small and soft, almost afraid of being heard, "Why for me? I'm not worth sacrificing over-"
"No," he snaps, "You are."
She stops in mid sentence. Her eyes probe, her gaze upon him one of borderline desperation and need. Her lip trembles and her shoulders shake, her instincts burning in her mind to pull away, but she can't get to the door past him. So, she takes the second option.
"Why?"
"Because you're fun to be around," he says.
She nods.
"Because you're smart," he says, "Because you have a great smile when you show it. Because you have a really nice laugh and because…"
He bites his lip. No time like the present, he thinks. Besides which, his mother's probably watching this all from her office, so he can either go ahead with this and do what's right or get lectured for the rest of his life.
"Because you're beautiful," he says.
A shaky, unsure smile crosses her face.
"R-really?"
He nods.
"P-please don't lie to me," she whispers, "Really?"
"I have never seen anyone like you," he says, "It…I can't explain it without sounding stupid. It…your eyes are just the clearest blue I've ever seen. Your face is pretty much…flawless. Tell me to stop any time if you think I'm being sappy."
Her smile becomes wider. Her shoulders shake as her eyes tell him to continue.
"Your…well, I can't say I've ever met any redheads outside of Mana, and she's a little too over eager," he continues, "But I'll admit, one of the reasons I asked Misato to take you in is I don't mind waking up to see you every morning. I don't know what anyone else has told you, Asuka, but you turn heads. Everyone about you is just-"
She leans forward and presses her lips against his. Eyes close and the world stops, his arms wrapping around her. The kiss is soft, and almost chaste, their lips pressing against each other in a simple moment that seems to go on forever. Her breath tastes of mint and old soda, her arms wrapping themselves around his back as her breath tickles, the edges of her lips curling upward.
Any moment has to end, though. The lips part and her eyes meet his, probing for something, and her face splits into a smile as she finds it. Wrapping her arms around him, she lays her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes as he holds her for the long, silent aftermath.
"Thank you," she whispers.
"Thank you," he responds, "I thought I'd have to go on about your legs."
She stares at him, raising an eyebrow.
"I said that out loud, didn't I?"
She laughs, and his phone rings. Sighing, he takes it and stares at the number, clicking it open and bringing it up to his ear.
"Please tell me you don't have cameras in Misato's bathroom."
"I have cameras everywhere," Yui responds, "And I saw everything. Good boy. Now get to base. There's an Angel."
He nods, closing the phone and turning to her.
"We have to go," he says.
"Okay," she says, moving out of the embrace, "Thank you."
He nods, smiling, and waits as she walks out to change. Slumping against the wall, running a hand through his hair, he grits his teeth and growls.
"I'm going f___ing murder that Angel."
*
*
High in the stratosphere, the great black Sphere identified as the Angel turns. It is time, it thinks. It is time to begin. Turning towards its target, the source of its hunger and reward, it begins to link its Mind to that of another already There.
A form is chosen. A symbol that shall serve It as it begins its Plan.
Dozens of small black spheres break off from its Form and accelerate into the atmosphere.
It is Time for the Trial.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I AM
THROUGH LICENSE OF HE WHO IS CALLED "I AM" I HAVE COME
THOUGH I SHALL ONLY ONCE TOUCH THE BASE EARTH ON THIS BLESSED QUEST, I HAVE COME
MY FORM SHALL BE VAST AND NUMEROUS
NEW TRUTH SHALL BE FORGED WITHIN MY PASSING
AND THE NUMEROUS FORMS THROUGH WHICH I SHALL SCOUR THE LILIM OF THE EARTH SHALL BE WRIT DOWN IN THE WAY OF PRAYER AND LEGEND
I AM THE INGENUITY OF GOD
ANGEL OF THE SKIES
I AM SAHAQUIEL
I AM COMING