July 19, 2024 - Evangelion Center, Tokyo-3, Japan
"So it was completely legitimate?" Aramaki asked, shaking his head. In the month following the attack on the Center, the Evangelion Center had become a virtual fortress. NERV Security the world over had received a serious upgrade, and many of the holes that had first existed were being eliminated. Now, some of the last puzzle-pieces were being sorted, and a few would be found in this room. Gendo Ikari had been eager to meet with Aramaki for the purpose of putting them in place, but both had been consumed with new responsibilities the crisis had heaped on them. Aramaki had gotten a bit grayer in that month, but looked no worse for the wear. He enjoyed the work.
Gendo, it seemed, had gotten a bit colder.
"Completely legitimate," Gendo said, his fingers steepled in front of his face. "It's part of a series of tunnels we hope to use as transportation tunnels in time. It wasn't on the original blueprints, however, because it was a classified secret. Even the Security department didn't know about it.
"What surprises me is the mercenaries not only knew about it, but had the ability to open that panel." He closed his eyes, seeming to drift for a moment. "The panels are keyed on multi-numeral locks that auto-adjust every three days for security purposes. Either they had an excellent code breaker with them…or they knew the lock combinations."
"I take it those tunnels would be for the Evangelion devices, whenever those are made," Aramaki mused, and Gendo nodded. "Hmm. Too bad your inner circle was unable to inform us in time, but that's hardly your fault. The construction firms that handed over their schematics should have been less discreet."
"Blame Gehirn. They financed it, so they knew about it as well. They were the ones that insisted on the secrecy," Gendo admitted.
"I'm prepared to blame them for a lot of things, right now," Aramaki stated. He leaned back in his chair and perused Gendo's office. It was a new one, a converted conference room with a table right at the center. The larger space made Gendo uncomfortable, but it was also a security measure that his detail insisted on for the time being. It had the added affect of being very imposing on any one entering the room. Given Gendo's normally severe attitude, it was a poor match for someone who was trying hard to be a more accessible supervisor.
"Well, if there's one good thing to come out of it, it will be Section 9," he said, ending the brief silence.
"That sounds like something I shouldn't know about," Gendo said.
"You may as well. The military did a good job on this, but it made a lot of higher ups uncomfortable, so a military-style unit is being formed inside Public Security, with the intent to headhunt skilled cyborg operators from the military. We've already nabbed that Captain to head the team, and made her a Major to boot. For the records, we will be an anti-terrorist response unit. Off the books…we're going to make life very hard for Gehirn."
"Good." There was no emotion to the word, but something in the flatness of it made Aramaki take note.
"There seems to be some vehemence in you," Aramaki ventured, but for a long moment, Gendo said nothing. They stared at each other in silence, Aramaki having ventured his question, and Gendo considering his answer.
"I found Yui in the closet, yesterday," Gendo finally said, his voice distant. "She hadn't shown up for work, and wasn't answering her phone. I drove home with a security detachment to find her. She was…getting ready for work when she smelled something. She can't remember what, just that it was a smell. She thought those men were in the house looking for her, and she hid in the closet."
"The flashbacks," Aramaki said, "Hmm…that's common. Sometimes it's just a color, or the way someone says a word, and it leads to fits. Maybe a cold sweat, maybe a sense of paranoia. I trust you intend to get her counseling?"
"Of course," Gendo replied quietly.
"I'll send you the names of some who are the best in the business," he offered, "When you've worked in public security as long as me, you get to know folks."
"That would be most appreciated," the scientist said.
Aramaki nodded, and said, "You blame them for that."
Gendo's expression never changed, but his eyes seemed to hollow in a way that caught Aramaki by surprise. "They threatened the lives of my daughters. They set back research that would have seen them free of their tank. They traumatized my wife. And they…hurt a dear friend of mine." He lay his hands on the table, and his tone was cold. "I will burn them for this. I will find whatever soul they have and burn it from their very husks."
"We're still trying to account for one, and it is an employee that greatly concerns me."
"How so?" Aramaki asked.
"She was a research assistant, a Canadian named Riley May. She assisted in the lab that handles Lilith's remains."
Aramaki's eyes widened. He realized they had been played. Played brilliantly, at that. It made sense, of course, to target the girls. They were not exactly secrets, and in the scientific community, Yui had been pleased enough to present them in degrees. Pleased as a mother and pleased as a biologist. With the obvious interest Kihl had in their secrets, it was only logical that they would be the focus of his move.
And it was obvious that this was how he intended to do it, because it was so public. If they had grabbed Rei at any other time, suspicion would have immediately fallen on Kihl, and the powers that be would have insisted something be done. This way, however, there was enough of a mess and brouhaha over what had happened that who did what was so vague, if one of the girls…or, for that matter, all of the research associated with them…vanished, it would take years to sort everything out.
Who would miss a little piece of Lilith in all of that?
"So…" Aramaki said, sighing, "Kihl has the research and samples the girls have provided, as well as a small piece of Lilith. And no way to trace it back to him. We know he did it, but us knowing it and the rest of the world are two separate things, are they not?"
"I suspect that the thugs he hired didn't even know about Lilith," Gendo mused.
"I guess I have to call that bastard a magician, then," Aramaki said, standing. Gendo cocked his head, and Aramaki waved him off. "Something I had told myself a long time ago. Thank you for taking the time to meet, Director Ikari."
"Always a pleasure. Please come and see us again in the future," Gendo offered, standing and shaking hands with Aramaki. The Public Security man left, and Gendo looked down at his desk. He touched a com on his desk and called up the head of his new detail. "Vaas?"
"Yes, Director?" the Afrikaaner replied.
"I have an errand to run to the Sakura Clinic. Please ready a vehicle."
"It'll be ready in five minutes, sir," Vaas replied. Gendo thanked him, and turned in place, staring at the vast and empty place. It made him feel alone, and old. He would hate it if this was how his workspace would have to remain…empty and oppressive. He shivered, and headed towards the door.
Gendo checked in with Martin. It was the last day of his time off, and he was brushing Kyoko's hair. She was sitting upright, prim and polite. But silent. Still silent.
"Hello, Martin. Hello, Kyoko," he said gently. Martin turned and nodded, a smile on his face. Kyoko turned, looking at Gendo, then past him.
"Hello, Gendo," Martin said. "Kyoko, it's Gendo. Remember Gendo?" He patted her shoulder gently, and she looked at him in confusion. She glanced back at Gendo, seemed to be ready to say something…then shook her head and mumbled, dropping her eyes to the floor.
"That's okay," Martin said, "That's fine. We'll try again later, okay?" Kyoko's brow furrowed hard in thought, and she blinked a few times
"Have a moment to talk, Martin?" Gendo asked. Marting nodded, and stood up. Kyoko became agitated at that.
"I'm just going into the hall, love," he said, "I'll be right back." She muttered, her expression one of anxious concern, then her eyes closed and she fluttered her hand, as if waving away errant thoughts and concerns. She began to nibble on the tip of her thumb as Martin joined Gendo at the door.
"Has she gotten any better?" Gendo asked. Marting shrugged.
"No more word salad, if that's what you mean," he replied, "Now, though…she doesn't talk at all. She just stares at things. If she wants something, she starts to mumble, grunt…she can't seem to sort out what she's saying."
"Have you brought…Asuka to visit?" Gendo asked in a quieter tone.
"Once. It was promising, but it scared Asuka." Gendo cocked his head, and Martin explained. "Kyoko seemed to recognize her, and got excited. Asuka hadn't seen her like that, yet…so…" he seemed to be lost for a moment. "We've been going over pictures. In a few days or so…I think I'll be more comfortable to bring her to visit." Gendo nodded, and glanced back at Kyoko. She was gazing quietly out of the window, still and serene.
"If you need anything…" Gendo began, and Martin shook his head.
"Thanks," he said, "But take care of your own family first. You've had a nasty scare yourself."
"That goes without saying," Gendo said, "Just…don't ignore the offer, okay? Leave Asuka whenever you need to." Martin began to say something else, then though the better of it and nodded. He turned, and went back to his wife. Gendo watched them for a brief moment, and then turned and walked over to Vaas. The short, stocky blond man gazed up at Gendo. "We're not going back to the Center," he said, "I'll finish my work from home." Vaas said nothing, but nodded. He took up step behind the Director as he left the Clinic with thoughts of his family in mind.