Chapter 11: Hollow Men
Dr. Akagi walked into the Commander's office. She carried a sheath of papers bearing the results of her work, but it was more for show than anything; all of the test data was stored on the MAGI, and she knew that the Commander would have been monitoring it closely as the project neared completion.
"So the serum has been perfected?" the Commander asked.
"Yes, I believe so." Dr. Akagi said.
"It has, or you believe it has?" the Commander asked sharply.
"According to all the information I've gotten from the mind of Lilith, it should work." Dr. Akagi said. "However, it has not actually been tested yet."
"That at least is easily solved." the Commander said. "SEELE is going to send us four new girls to bond with the new Intelligent Devices we've received. I'll request that two of them be above the required age. We can test the serum on them and observe the results."
"SEELE will want to know why." Dr. Akagi cautioned.
"Let me handle the old men." the Commander said. "Your only concern is ensuring that the serum functions as intended."
"I am confident that it will." Dr. Akagi said. "Insisting it be tested is not a sign of doubt, just of common sense."
"Certainly." the Commander said. "And once you've proved its efficacy, there will be no more need for our uncomfortable trips to Terminal Dogma. That should come as a relief to you, right doctor?"
"As you know", Dr. Akagi said, gritting her teeth, "prolonged use of the blood of Lilith causes physical dependency. I can't simply stop taking it now."
"Ah. Of course." the Commander said smoothly. "Well, since you continue to be of service to me, I see no reason to undergo the withdrawal process now. There will be plenty of time for that once the war is over."
Or when she ceased to be of service, Dr. Akagi knew. She didn't need it spelled out for her. But the Commander did so love to remind those under her of the power she wielded over them.
"Of course." Dr. Akagi echoed.
She should start researching ways to combat withdrawal from the blood of Lilith right away. Her access to it was going to be cut off at end of the war anyway; it would make things a lot easier if she prepared now. But she doubted the Commander would allow that — she wouldn't permit any loosening of her control. She'd just have to cross that bridge when she came to it.
"In any case, there's nothing more I can do on the project until the subjects arrive." Dr. Akagi said. "Begging your leave, Commander."
"Yes, of course. You are dismissed."
Dr. Akagi hurried out of the Commander's office.
As soon as the good doctor had departed, Precia pressed a small button concealed on the underside of her desk. A message was instantly transmitted to SEELE, requesting an audience. Precia composed herself and waited. Not much time had passed before the series of holographic projectors built into her office whirred to life and she was in the presence of the council. The old men chose to appear before her in the form of monoliths, hovering black slabs which displayed their number in utilitarian white text.
The holographic technology was fully capable of accurately reproducing human images; the members of the council would see a real-time projection of Precia, accurate down to the minutest detail. They used the blank monoliths as their avatars due to their obsessive secrecy; they didn't want to risk a single careless expression or facial tic giving away some hint of their true thoughts. It wasn't merely paranoia; it was useless paranoia. The mere fact that they had responded so quickly told Precia everything she needed to know about their thoughts. Usually when she tried to contact the council, they would ignore her call and only call her back at their leisure. It was their way of sending a message: you don't summon us; we summon you. But on this occasion, they had answered right away. That told her they were getting anxious. The puppeteers were worried that the puppet might be slipping from its strings, and so were skipping the usual dominance bullshit so that they could hear what she had to say as soon as possible. They thought talking to her might give them some hint as to what she was planning. They didn't know that their puppet hadn't had any strings to begin with.
Precia didn't use an avatar because she didn't need one. Her face gave away nothing.
"Ah, lovely Precia. So good to see you again at last, our prodigal daughter." SEELE 07 said. "What matter brings you back into our arms?"
"What matter is so important that you feel the need to disturb us over it?" SEELE 04 asked. "We have not the time or patience to address you upon your every whim."
"What matter is so important that you presume the right to summon us?" SEELE 01 asked. "Do not forget your position, Commander. You serve only at our discretion."
The old men were intensely secretive about their identities, but Precia recognized the voice emanating from the monolith labeled SEELE 01. She had met Lorenz Keel in person when she had first been given command of NERV. He had admired her, then, for her ability and her determination — as much as he admired anyone other than himself, at least; perhaps it would be better to say that he recognized her usefulness. Precia was under no impression that Chairman Keel saw her as anything but a tool. But he had thought of her as a potentially valuable tool, and entrusted NERV to her. His first mistake.
Truth be told, Keel had not made many mistakes — Precia, despite her initial dismissal of the man as another fool with a half-baked vision for the future, had quickly recognized him as an opponent she could not afford to underestimate. SEELE was more treacherous than a pit of vipers; one did not become Chairman without exerting a certain amount of cunning. Still, he made mistakes, however rarely, and even one was more than he could afford. Precia eagerly capitalized on each error to the maximum possible extent, but more importantly she herself made no mistakes. (Fate... a small part of her mind whispered, but Precia crushed the thought. There had been unanticipated events, yes, but those only became mistakes if you let them, and Precia had ruthlessly turned every setback into an advantage). One or two more mistakes by SEELE, and Precia's victory would be certain.
"Forgive my presumption in disturbing your own work, but it is important that I discuss with you the candidates for bonding with the new Devices." Precia said. "I would like to request a change in the selection criteria — specifically, that two of the candidates be over the optimal bonding age."
"You presume too much, Testarossa!" SEELE 03 shouted. "You have no right to dictate conditions to us!"
"The use of pubescent children as Magical Girls has been effective so far." SEELE 04 said. "Why should we change an effective strategy?"
"I have been able to make do with children thus far, yes, but they are unreliable. Undisciplined. Prone to emotional decisions and disrespect towards authority." Precia said. "I would be able to accomplish so much more with more mature Magical Girls."
"You ask a lot of us, Madam Testarossa." SEELE 05. "Haven't we already given you so much?"
"Indeed, you have received more privilege than you are entitled to." SEELE 02 said. "You should be more grateful for what you have received from us already. We have freely granted power and material that many would kill for."
"And still you seek more." SEELE 06 said. "Is it not enough that you command NERV, that you oversee the MAGI, that you possess Lilith Herself? Do you desire yet more power?"
"I ask only for a convenience." Precia said. "The selection of the candidates is still up to you; I am merely requesting a slight change to one of the parameters."
"We revoked your authority over choosing bonding candidates, Commander." SEELE 01 said. "Have you already forgotten why?"
"That's right!" SEELE 03 snarled. "The Bardiche debacle was your fault, Testarossa! If we have lost faith in you, it is only because of your own actions!"
"Is it really so important to change the bonding criteria?" SEELE 04 asked. "Can you not be content with the status quo?"
"I believe it is important, yes." Precia said.
"Then tell us why, our most precious Precia." SEELE 07 said. "There must be more to it than simply seeking more effective soldiers. Speak truthfully."
"There is more to it than combat prowess, yes." Precia said. "I am interested in the consequences of the bonding process. Previously it has only been able to achieve bonding with young girls; but now, thanks to the blood of Lilith, that will change. It will be possible to give magic to people who are older, or younger, or male. How will they react? Will the magic they develop be influenced by their biology? Will magic potential increase or diminish with age? These are questions I would very much like to have answered. Of course, given the obvious combat needs at present, it would be wise to start slowly — two candidates above the optimum age should be a good start. Even if their combat capability is diminished by an imperfect bonding, the addition of the other two Magical Girls to our fighting force should be sufficient. And either way, the results of the bonding will be most illuminating."
There was her bait laid down. SEELE was keeping additional Intelligent Devices for themselves, Precia was sure, but had they been experimenting with them? The council would be curious about bonding, yes, but they were also paranoid and greedy. They didn't want a Device to be wasted by getting stuck in a suboptimal bond with someone who couldn't use it properly. Why risk their own hoarded Devices on such experimentation when they could use the ones they'd already promised to Precia? If it succeeded, they'd know it was safe to proceed with their own bonding experiments; if not, then the loss would be suffered by Precia, not them.
It was all about risk management. Precia was presenting them with a no-lose scenario. If older Magical Girls turned out to be more effective, SEELE could use all of their Devices on older candidates and create a force superior to Precia's. If older Magical Girls turned out to be less effective, SEELE would know to use all of their Devices on younger candidates, while Precia would be stuck with the two older ones; advantage to SEELE again.
They had to know she was up to something with this request. But if they couldn't see any way for her to use it against them, how could she — unless she was smarter than them? And for all their mistrust of her, Precia could not see them admitting to that — if there was any one thing that exceeded their paranoia, it was their pride.
"...That is not an unreasonable request." SEELE 04 said. "It may be easiest to do things as Precia says."
"It appears we have much to gain from Madam Testarossa's proposal." SEELE 05 said. "I believe this will be beneficial for all of us."
"A truly pleasurable proposal indeed, darling Precia." SEELE 07 said. "You have my approval."
"I am opposed." SEELE 02 said.
"As am I!" SEELE 03 said. "This woman deserves nothing!"
"I give my support." SEELE 06 said. "Opportunities such as this must not be wasted, if we are to gain everything that we long for."
"It is decided, then." SEELE 01 said. "We shall consider your request when selecting the candidates. But make no mistake — this is a favor, not an obligation. Be humble in your gratitude, Commander, and think twice before requesting our generosity in the future. We have been extremely lenient with you so far — perhaps a bit too lenient. It is time to shorten your leash. We will be sending an operator along with the candidates, someone to oversee NERV's activities and ensure that you do not stray from the path we have set down for you. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir; of course." Precia said. "I will welcome him with all proper respect for a representative of SEELE."
"Once again, you have gotten what you desire." SEELE 02 said snidely. "But things are going to change now. We will tolerate no more insolence; is that clear?"
"Perfectly." Precia said.
Certainly, things were going to change, thought Precia. A nanny from SEELE would be annoying, but could not stop her now that her plans were so close to fruition. You've just made another mistake, Keel. Make one more, and it will be your last.
While the Commander and the council plotted and schemed in their dark rooms, Nanoha and Fate were swimming in an outdoor pool. Swimming pools had become increasingly popular after Second Impact, one of many strange quirks ultimately resulting from the planet shifting on its axis — the average temperature in Japan was now such that an unheated outdoor pool could be used year-round. The school Nanoha and Fate attended had a rather nice pool that was available for students to use before and after school, provided the swim team wasn't practicing.
Nanoha liked swimming in the school pool. Her family, like most living in houses built after Second Impact, had a pool in their backyard; she was used to being able to take a dip whenever she pleased. However, there was no pool in Lindy's apartment building — it was one of the ones that retracted into the ground, and any sort of pool would've resulted in water sloshing all over the place whenever the building was lowered or raised. Nanoha thus made a habit of using the school pool after class each day; and when she found out that Fate could swim, she insisted the other girl join her.
"You were right." Fate said, pulling herself out of the water to sit on the lip of the pool. "That was very fun."
"If I'd known you could swim, I'd have invited you to swim with me sooner." Nanoha said.
"The last time I went swimming was with Mother and Father... After Father died, Mother became too busy with her work to do anything with me, and I was wrapped up in my training anyway... I just sort of forgot how much fun it used to be." Fate said.
"Well, from now on, I'll go swimming with you whenever you like." Nanoha said.
"It is getting a bit late, though. Lindy will probably get worried if you don't head back home soon." Fate said.
"You're right, it's time to wrap this day's fun up." Nanoha said. "Your mother probably misses you as well."
"No... I do not think so." Fate said as the girls walked inside to the locker room. "We rarely even see each other anymore, except during debriefing after training sessions or missions. She does not care what I do, as long as I win against the Angels."
"You don't see your mother when you go home?" Nanoha asked.
"The apartment is in her name, but she never comes to it anymore. A few months ago, she started sleeping in her office. She spends all her time working or thinking about work." Fate caught sight of the distressed expression on Nanoha's face. "But really, it is fine. The NERV security officers assigned to me take care of things like making dinner; and anyway, the war is a lot more important than me. It is best if Mother puts all her effort into her work now and wins the war; then we will be able live together again like normal afterwards..."
"Even if she's really busy, and even though her job is really important, she's still your mother." Nanoha said. "Don't say you aren't worth it. You deserved to be loved as much as — Fate! Your back!"
Fate had begun to take off her school swimsuit so she could change back into her regular clothes. Nanoha stared in horror at Fate's exposed back, which was criss-crossed with dozens of vicious scars.
"Oh!" Fate flushed as though embarrassed. "Please do not worry about those; they do not hurt at all anymore. You can only see them because they are recent; it will not be long before Bardiche's magic makes them disappear entirely."
"How did this happen?" Nanoha demanded. "During our last mission, or training, or — wait. Don't tell me someone actually did this to you! Were you in a fight, or an accident, or..."
Nanoha had started waving her hands wildly, Fate caught her left hand by the wrist and gently pulled it to rest.
"I am sorry if seeing them upset you, but please believe me: I am fine." Fate said.
"Fate..." Nanoha said. "We're friends, right?"
"Yes, Nanoha." Fate said seriously. "You are my most important friend."
"So it's okay for you to tell me anything." Nanoha said. "I promise I won't be mad at you. But I worry about you, Fate. If there's anything wrong, please, let me know. I want to help you."
"Nanoha..." Fate said. "I am glad that you care about so much; really, I am. But there is nothing to worry about. I am perfectly fine — honest!"
"...Alright." Nanoha said. "I won't press you about it. Just promise me that, if you're ever in trouble, if you ever need my help, you'll ask."
"I promise." Fate said. "But really, you do not need to worry. I am fine."
She slid on her shirt, obscuring the scars from view.
"I am fine." she repeated softly.
"Welcome back." Lindy said as Nanoha entered the apartment. "How's everything going at school?"
"Huh? Oh, it's fine." Nanoha said distractedly. "But I'm worried about Fate."
"What about her?" Lindy asked.
"What do you know about her home situation?" Nanoha asks.
"Not much." Lindy said. "She lives with her mother, and it's considered impolite to pry into Commander Testarossa's personal life."
"The thing is... she told me that she doesn't live with Testarossa." Nanoha said. "She said that Testarossa spends all her time at NERV and doesn't even come home to sleep anymore. She's been living on her own for months now!"
Lindy frowned slightly at this.
"...That's not how I'd treat my kid, if I had one, but... Keep in mind, Nanoha, that Fate is an accomplished Magical Girl. She's capable of taking care of herself. And Testarossa is kept extremely busy as the Commander of NERV; it may sound insensitive, but fighting the war against the Angels has to come first." Lindy rationalized.
"Don't you think Fate must be lonely, living all alone and only rarely ever seeing her own mother?" Nanoha pressed.
Lindy sighed and cradled her head in her hands.
"Look, if Testarossa really has been ignoring Fate to the point of not even coming home, then I disapprove." Lindy said. "But what I am I supposed to do about it? She's the Commander, and I'm just a Captain. If I start meddling in her personal affairs, my ass is fired."
"I was hoping that Fate could come and live here with us." Nanoha said, causing Lindy to nearly fall out of her chair.
"What? Seriously?" Lindy said incredulously
"I don't think Testarossa will mind. She already leaves Fate alone all the time, doesn't she? She'd hardly notice." Nanoha said.
"I am not going to walk up to the Commander and ask if it's okay for her daughter to start living with me." Lindy said. "Forget being fired, she'd probably organize a firing squad."
There were a few moments of silence as Nanoha cast a pleading gaze at Lindy, then Lindy let out a deep sigh.
"...I'm not going to ask the Commander, but if the Commander asks me then I'll accept." Lindy said. "So if Fate herself says she wants to move in, and if Testarossa says she's okay with it, then I'll be happy to take her on. That good enough for you?"
"Thank you!" Nanoha shouted, tearfully embracing Lindy.
"Don't start celebrating yet." Lindy cautioned. "I really don't see the Commander as the kind of person who'd give away custody of her daughter."
"I'll convince Fate to ask. And if her mother says no, then... then I'll make her change her mind!" Nanoha said. "It's not good for Fate, the way she's been living; being with us will be much better for her."
"It's a two-bedroom apartment, and I'm not sharing." Lindy warned.
"That's fine, I can share my room." Nanoha said. "I don't care, just so long as Fate is safe."
"You really care a lot about Fate." Lindy observed.
"I can't stand the thought of her being neglected, or, or, ...abused... when I have the power to help." Nanoha said vehemently.
"You think Testarossa would abuse her daughter?" Lindy's eyes rose in shock. "Admittedly, she's not the most compassionate mother, but I have a hard time picturing the Commander deliberately hurting her own child."
"I saw Fate's back when we went swimming today." Nanoha said. "It was covered in scars."
"Probably from fighting the Angels." Lindy said. "The hit she took from Sachiel messed her up pretty badly."
"That can't be it." Nanoha said. "The magic from our Devices boosts our healing. I mean, after the fight with Shamshel my back must've looked practically barbecued, but by now there isn't a single trace of it left. For the scars to have looked that bad, they must've been really recent."
"Fate seems to adore her mother. She's never done anything to suggest Testarossa has hurt her." Lindy shook her head. "I don't know anything about the Commander and Fate's personal lives, and frankly it's none of my business. If Fate wants to come here, and Testarossa lets her, then I'll take her in; but I'm not going to make a issue out of it."
"This isn't like you, Lindy." Nanoha said. "You seem like such a kind person — so why don't you care about Fate?"
"Of course I care about Fate." Lindy said. "But I —"
...am afraid of Commander Testarossa, Lindy realized. She's brought to where I am now; but if I show any sign of insubordination, she won't hesitate to discard me. Fate is the only person I've ever known Testarossa to care about. I don't think she would hurt her precious daughter, but I'm just a tool to her — and tools can be replaced.
" — I don't think she's in any kind of trouble." Lindy finished. "I have no objection to letting her room here if that's what she wants, but I'm not going to accuse Testarossa of being a bad parent — not when she's in the middle of leading a war."
"Fate really is in trouble." Nanoha said. "But I'll definitely save her. Definitely!"