XX Peril

Shinji's panicked call had been bothering Maya for the entire afternoon, so near the end of the day she made a proposition to Shigeru. What resulted were all three primary base operators seated at a table in a bar downtown. Shigeru and Maya had been pumping their bespectacled coworker for information on the trial this entire time. Hyuga, in response, laid out the details for them in detail over a Kirin Lager, but without so much depth he lost his coworkers.

"So," Maya said as she rubbed her temples, "You mean to tell me Dr. Zeppelin's legal council was... Flimsy?"

"Nonexistent." Shigeru embellished.

Hyuga had no less of a stern look to his expression even in casual clothes and his black square-rimmed glasses. A hand was on the table splayed fingers, that he gestured with as he spoke. "It's like this- they threw up a lot of hot air that would work in one of those reality court-room shows. Or an anime. And Otto wasn't even good at doing it- I'd expect more out of someone like..." he shook his head as he tried to find an example from someone they knew.

Shigeru, looking thoughtful over his Heineken, asked, "The Major?"

Hyuga snapped a finger and pointed. "Katsuragi! Yes! She could sell it." Landing his fist he said, "Honestly the script almost sounded like it was made for Doctor Zeppelin to perform."

Shigeru spun his beer and asked at that point, "Where IS she, anyway? Has anyone seen her since that stunt on Monday?" When stares were blank, he asked, "Ok, has anyone heard of her?"

Hyuga shrugged. "I tried contacting her office to gather material for my case, but I was directed to leave a message."

Shigeru and Maya exchanged glances. Maya spoke, "Okay, so she just drops off the face of the planet after Section Three takes her?"

"Section Three?" Hyuga asked. He leaned forward, "I haven't heard their name evoked before. What do they do?"

Shigeru bobbed his head. "Evidently they abduct out of control hysterical doctors who threaten children."

Hyuga blinked. "I heard there was an altercation... what happened?"

Shigeru shrugged. "Asuka ran away from home, Zeppelin went to find her. We were dropping Shinji off at his place when she was there. She decided to manhandle Shinji." He nodded to Maya, "If we weren't on the phone with Doctor Akagi I don't know what would have happened. The men in black with her threw up their guns and tackled her when she was attacking Shinji. I think the commander got involved directly."

Hyuga stared, then sighed a little. "I heard some details... I wish I had talked to you earlier in the week to gather statements. With how ambiguous this whole thing is, the more evidence, the better."

Maya had been looking distant over her Kirin light, and asked then, "Do you think Asuka is going to lose her case?"

Hyuga shook his head. "With Langley in the mix, I have no idea. From what I heard last I checked the Subcommander was going to grant him an audience, but frankly I don't think he has much more of a claim to being Asuka's guardian than Kyoko does. I looked into it. Zeppelin and Langley have been separated for eight years, almost entirely Asuka was living with her mother. As far as I can determine there's no visitations or anything like that. A clean break."

Shigeru winced. "So what's he doing here, at the eleventh hour, making a claim to be Asuka's dad again?"

Hyuga shrugged. "Not my department."

"Something weird is going on." Maya replied. Just then she noticed a familiar face at the bar. When Shigeru looked, Maya said, "It's Kodama. Looks like she's on a date."

The three operators looked. Hikari's older sister was indeed at the bar, opposite of her was a westerner they couldn't make out clearly.

"It doesn't look like it's going well." Shigeru observed as he saw Kodama's expression.

Hyuga asked, "Who is that?"

Shigeru turned and explained. "The older sister of one of Shinji's classmates."

"Oh..." Maya toned as Kodama looked up, shouted something they couldn't hear over the din of the bar, and stormed off to the bathroom. The westerner turned, trying to call back to Kodama (and mispronouncing her name), before giving up, grumbling something, and leaned back to the bar. Then he got up and left.

"Welp." Shigeru said, watching the man go, "That didn't go well."

Hyuga smirked. "At least none of my dates ever went that badly."

"No," Shigeru said, leaning forward now that he remembered an intervention was needed for this man, "Your dates clam up because you're overbearing."

Hyuga looked perplexed. Maya, identifying that moment as the intervention Hyuga had coming, slapped her hands on the table. "I'm going to the bathroom! I'll be right back!"

She stood and left, confusing Hyuga further. Shigeru got his attention again by saying, "You and I are overdue for a talk."

Hyuga looked at Shigeru, back to Maya's retreating figure and then back at Shigeru and swallowed nervously.

Ritsuko Akagi finally returned to her office after a long day and sighed. Misato was long gone, leaving their hallway vacant and oddly quiet. It was a strange thing Ritsuko observed. Even underground with no direct access to sunlight, she could tell when the base was after hours. Maybe it was because the ambient sound of the base had diminished along with the daytime activity.

She sighed as she passed through the glass door to her office and took a seat at her computer. Waking it up she also glanced at her phone with one hand, noting the several times Shinji had tried to call. She sighed again, moving the phone into both hands. From there she glanced at the clock to check the time- almost 8- and then her eyes fell on the photograph propped up on the desk.

She stared at it for a moment. Her fingers were about to move to the phone to dial Shinji when one of those figures, now animated, moved past her window. Ritsuko froze as she looked up to see Victor Langley looking first into Misato's office.

Ritsuko took the moment of being unnoticed to gather her defenses back up. She didn't know Victor well- having known of him through the grapevine. But what she knew of him was enough to put her on her guard. Still, he was here for a reason.

She decided to take the initiative in this encounter. Standing, she moved to glass door and opened it. "Can I help you?" She asked.

"Ah." Victor said, his guest pass swinging as he moved his entire lanky frame to face her. His long, thin limbs plodded across the carpet like a marionette's as he approached her. "I've been wandering this base for what feels like forever. It doesn't seem like anyone wants to speak to me... or even give me the time of day, for some reason."

Ritsuko arched an eyebrow. It was likely because everyone hoping for Asuka to finally be free saw what you did. "How unusual."

Victor came to a stop a couple of feet from her, and raised an open hand to indicate her office. "May I come in? I've been walking for hours and could use a rest."

Ritsuko's suspicions were still up, and she really didn't want to grant his request. On the other hand, perhaps she might be able to decipher what he was doing in this base. "Very well." She said and opened the door.

"Many thanks." Victor said as he pushed into the office behind her.

Ritsuko moved to her desk, grateful that she haddn't logged in yet, and sat in her chair to spin it around. Victor pointed to the coffee maker and asked, "May I?" Ritsuko nodded, and Langley started fashioning himself a cup.

"Coffee, this late?" Ritsuko asked.

"I'm still on a different timezone, and I have much work to do." Langley replied. "As you may gather, I am here for the Exposition."

Ritsuko tilted her head. "You're not here to spy on us, are you?"

"Don't be preposterous." Victor replied. He took his coffee black with sugar, and bringing himself down into Ritsuko's spare chair he brought one leg up across is other knee. He went on, "I mostly dropped in to see my family. We already have specifications and performance capabilities of your vaunted MAGI."

"Oh?" Ritsuko asked.

Victor's smile ticked up further. "Yes. From the lead designer herself."

Ritsuko's hairs bristled on the back of her neck, but she did the best to control her outward emotions. Victor, nevertheless, gauged her reaction and laughed. "I thought that would startle you!"

Ritsuko cleared her throat and said, "It seems NERV secrets get around much these days. Japan Heavy Chemicals seemed remarkably informed, also."

"Ah yes," Victor replied, "And wouldn't you like to know how?"

Ritsuko, still trying to be coy, asked, "Aren't you going to tell me?"

"Sorry," Victor replied as he spread his arms, "I'm not that kind of villain. You're not going to get those secrets out of me, I'm afraid."

Ritsuko steepled her hands. "I'm hurt, Doctor. I bring you into my office, I let you have some of my coffee. And in return you taunt me with secret information?"

Victor sipped his coffee. "You're right, it is rude of me. How about this, then," He rolled the chair forward suddenly and spoke to her in a low tone. "This isn't like last time. NERV has more than one weak, confused adversary this time around. Someone is determined to supply its enemies to keep the playing field level. I do not know how this information is being used, but I do know that these things are being released to the dark web. There they can be found by anyone who wanted to look."

Ritsuko tilted her head. "You're not afraid I'm going to turn around and out you to our intelligence division?"

"What is there for me to tell them?" Victor replied with a shrug, wheeling himself backwards, "It's not like this is hidden information. At least, not to anyone who is actually in the know. I gather now this does not include you. So," He finished his cup of coffee, stood, and walked to the door, "Now you know. But," He pointed a finger, "Importantly, your bosses don't know. So there's that."

Ritsuko tilted her head again. "And why are you sharing this with me, Doctor Langley?"

Victor, partway out the door, shrugged. "You let me rest my feet and gave me coffee. You're questioning my gratitude?" He left through the glass door, waving a hand up as he walked away.

Ritsuko sat in her office, perplexed, feeling like somehow Victor got what he wanted- no matter who it was he spoke to. But as she turned around and reached for her computer, she realized, this was information She could use. And perhaps that was the intent. There was more to Victor Langley than being an out of touch, disruptive, father.

What was Victor after, though? What did he want to accomplish here? She was no closer to finding that out than when he had walked into her office.

Her eyes dropped to the photograph as another bit of information came back to her.

"Notes from the designer..."

The apartment was quiet when Shinji got in. After closing the door he collapsed against it, leaning his head back as well and blowing out air. What... an intense day.

He clicked on the light in the kitchenette and trudged through it, still processing the day.

With how late it was and tomorrow being a school day he couldn't stay up late. Saying nothing he went through the motions of washing his face and preparing for bed. His phone rang around 8:30, from Ritsuko Akagi.

"Hello Doctor!"

"Shinji, I'm sorry I've been away for most of the day. There's a large event happening next week and planning took all day."

"I-I understand." Shinji replied. He brought himself down on to his bed, "D-Did you hear what happened today?"

"Maya caught me up." Ritsuko replied, "I did check with security and Asuka's fine. Security told me I wasn't the only one to check in on her also, so it seems like your concern has been reaching a lot of people."

Shinji smiled, but added, "I just hope it hasn't bothered her."

"I don't think so. Security has discreet monitoring."

Shinji nodded, and then rubbed his face as he sighed into the phone.

"It sounds like you had a busy day." Ritsuko said.

"A lot happened." Shinji said, "It wasn't just Asuka... and It wasn't all bad."

"Oh?

"Y-Yeah I... I think... the class rep and I might be dating now."

Ritsuko paused on her end with surprise...and pride? "Already? Congratulations Shinji, you're making friends fast!"

"T-Thanks! B-but she had a rough day too. She's been... been a real friend in the time that I've been here."

"I'm glad! But I have to remind you, NERV operations are more classified than not."

"I know..."

Ritsuko smirked at his tone. "I won't scold you. I was calling to check in on you since you haven't been able to get a hold of me."

"I-I appreciate it Doctor." Shinji said. He hesitated, then said, "D-Doctor... when will we know about Asuka?"

"Probably by the end of the day, I think. If all goes well the decision will be made sometime around noon. But... I take it you heard about Doctor Langley?"

"Yes."

"He...complicated matters. I can only speculate."

"I understand... thank you, Doctor."

Ritsuko smiled on the other end before saying, "I'll try to be more on top of taking your calls Shinji. I... I know I'm something of an advocate for you, here. I'll try to pay more attention."

"Y-You're busy, it's okay! B-But... I do appreciate the callback."

"Of course. Now, I'll let you get some sleep. I'll need to look at the schedule again tomorrow but we may need you after school for another round of synchronization tests."

"I understand."

"Very good. Goodnight Shinji."

"Goodnight Doctor!"

A dark figure moved in the night.

No underground environment such as the Geofront could exist entirely without access from the surface, of course. There were almost thousands of access points across the surface area just above the Geofront. Many of them were windows and air passages.

NERV security was supposed to be in charge of monitoring all of them. But as the budget wavered and time went on, some things fell by the wayside. Many cameras and security apparatuses were left to go offline or deemed unimportant to NERV central security. After all, some of the air tunnels were perilous. What person would want to venture through there?

What person indeed, except for a lithe figure dressed all in black, probing one of those very entrances.

The particular duct was Air Terminal 44A. It was almost a direct shaft downward, through a series of grates and funnels, that lead to one of the curving inner walls of the Geofront. It had broken down, so the down flow was not as forceful. NERV Security had more or less decommissioned the line because of the equipment breakdown.

It was an opportunity to sneak in.

The dark-suited figure approached the tunnel entrance. It was not far from GEHRIN's old HQ building- the same one that Shinji and Kensuke had explored the week before. The access tunnel though, was hidden behind tall weeds and obscurity. The figure left nothing to chance. Snapping open a small hand-held box he waved it in the air.

A panel inside the box gradually lit up neon red.

The figure silently put the box away and backed off from the air terminal. There was a security system in place with active scanning. The tunnel apparatus was too small for him to find a more discreet way into that passage.

He studied the surrounds, hanging silently in the tall grasses for moments. After twenty minutes, he had a break. A badger was moving through the area, sniffing the air. It could have been looking for him.

The agent froze, watching with perfect stillness as the creature hobbled by the open air vent. Moments went by as the creature sniffed around the concrete base before moving onward.

The figure waited a moment, but caution took the better of him. He could use this, opportunity, but without a certain exit strategy this effort seemed prone to failure. Gradually, he eased away from the open entrance and started back down to his rally point in the bushes.

In the complete cover of darkness the man pulled off the mask, divested himself of the suit, and under the night stars dressed himself again in the clothing he had been wearing over the day.

During this process he sighed with anger and shame. He should have pushed- no matter the risk. His assignment here depended on it.

He threw his covert equipment and the PP-19 submachine gun into the black duffel. Zipping all of that up he sighed under the quiet stars, before gathering his things for the long walk back into town.

The four of them were still carrying a conversation as they came out of the bar. Maya was beneath Shigeru's arm. Hyuga was listening while Kodama was speaking.

"Don't over-think that." She gestured as she spoke, uncurling a hand at the wrist, "Remember, the scene is taking place at night. If you look at the original cell, Yuko's eyes are blue. The sunset tint changes them."

"What about the bandages?" Hyuga asked, "They're identical to Megumi's in the first episode."

"That doesn't have to mean anything. Besides, Yuko was injured in the battle, and those injuries correspond with what happened before the ascension."

Hyuga winced as he contemplated that. He laughed. "I guess with how complicated the ending was, I expected everything to be packed with meaning."

"It's there, just not that." Kodama said, "There's bigger messages about the interpersonal relationships between individuals, and how we have to accept pain when we bring people closer. It's beautiful, actually."

Hyuga blinked. "Really? I thought the show was playing into some far-reaching christian theology."

Kodama winced at him. "You're not serious. You didn't really think the Shroud of Turin has instructions to raise the dead, did you?"

"Well, no, but-"

Shigeru interrupted them. "Nerds."

Kodama and Hyuga stopped and looked back at Shigeru and Maya, the former smirking. Maya waved a hand to Kodama, "Don't worry, he gets that a lot. Especially from Shigeru."

Hyuga huffed a laugh and said, "Yeah... I can get animated on some of this stuff."

Kodama put hands on her hips, smirking a bit. "Pun intended?"

Hyuga groaned like he had been hit. "Ugh, no!"

Kodama laughed. She turned to Hyuga and Maya to say, "Thanks for saving my night. Clearly I shouldn't be turning to the internet for company, I needed to get your number instead."

As Maya ducked out from under Shigeru's arm to grab her phone from her clutch, Shigeru said, "You're welcome to join us anytime. Thursday evenings just happen to be when our schedules give us an opening."

"You all work together?" Kodama asked.

"Yeah." Shigeru replied, "We're actually in the same office."

Maya and Kodama had exchanged phones. After getting her phone back, Kodama passed it to Hyuga. The bespectacled man blinked as Kodama told him, "I want to pass you some articles I found about Century Gospel that I think you'd find interesting." She tilted her head back a little in consideration of Hyuga. "I think you'd like a better appreciation of the show, based on the other shows you told me you liked."

Hyuga hesitated but took the phone, entered his number, and passed it back to her. Kodama smiled as she took it back.

"Where are you parked?" Shigeru asked.

The group continued walking down the street. They passed a Starbucks, where Kaji had a window seat. He watched the three operators and Kodama pass as he raised his coffee to his lips and took a sip. His heel moved back a little, sliding the black bag he had dropped under the table.

Bringing the coffee cup down he went back to the newspaper crossword he was working on. When he looked up again to see if his contact was approaching, another unique figure caught his attention. Crossing the street was the Russian, hiking a bag up his shoulder as he walked rapidly.

Kaji wined with suspicion.

If Kensuke couldn't escape from his house- his common response to stress- he escaped via the internet. Into the late hours he browsed, debated on forums, and even gamed a little to get away from being stuck in his tiny-ass room with a father who said nothing to him but disapproval. His homework was long done, that was easy, but there was nothing else to do besides dream of being someplace else.

He leaned back and sighed as 10 o'clock rolled around. He contemplated opening World of Warships again for the third time today when his screen glitched almost imperceptibly. He blinked, now bolt upright, and the hairs on the back of his neck were standing up. The agent.

The intrusion into his computer network was always subtle, and took the form of simple windows confirmation and text entry boxes. It was almost as if his operating system was talking to him. If it weren't for having a good guess on who the agent was, he'd be creeped out.

'Target was inaccessible' The message said, 'Request new target.'

Kensuke stared at the message. Over the course of the week this contact had been requesting the locations of ruined and abandoned structures around town, obviously looking for something. The contact had not told Kensuke what they were looking for...

Nor had Kensuke gotten any of the answers he had been seeking about his Mother. In fact, this whole arrangement had been one-way.

Kensuke was thinking all of this as he stared at the blinking text box cursor that was awaiting a response. Combined with an entire day of Toji's conspiracy theories- founded or not- left Kensuke heated enough to bite this hand.

'You're going to have to make it worth my while, guy. I'm not going to give you anything unless I start getting information too.'

He hit enter before he gave himself the chance to think about it. Double-thinking his upset, he suddenly wished he had contemplated his response a little more before sending a miffed remark to someone who knew where he lived and was possibly employed in the Russian special forces. Kensuke shuddered what have I done?

He sat in nervous anticipation until his screen blinked again with a confirmation text box. In it, the message said, 'Confirm availability'.

Kensuke blinked and reeled back. "Is he serious?" Kensuke demanded to nobody in particular. His keys hammered back a message. 'You know I don't have any availability! I'm grounded because of your stunt!'

Kensuke hunched back in his seat and grunted. Even if this super secret assassin knew of his house, he wasn't-

His screen blinked again with a set of coordinates and a time. Kensuke blinked. He copied the coordinates and pasted them into Google maps.

Kensuke shuddered as his hair again stood on the back of his neck. The location was his house. The time was 6:00- the usual time he got back from school.

Kensuke nervously swallowed. He was called him out. What Kensuke had to decide was whether to avoid the house and dodge what must have certainly been a revenge attempt...

...or wait for the answers he craved to come to him.

Meteorologists predicted that the weather on Friday would be calm. This was true; the sun was beating down into ninety or so degrees, with the air perfectly still, and low humidity.

Not that anyone would feel it underground, escaping the perfect environmental metaphor for what was brewing. Nearly a third of the base was tuned in to one of their star players, Asuka, on the hot seat of whether she'd be living with her terrible mother or not. It was like the anticipation of a sports game nobody wanted to know the answer to. Or a vote between a life or death candidate.

Some had been working in the early morning hours to have a contingency prepared in case this effort failed. Hyuga, in spite of his late night libation, was ready first thing in the morning to have an alternative prepared for Asuka. She was, after all, his first client.

Ritsuko came into work without saying anything and looked at the folders that had been delivered to her office. More work to process to prepare for next week. She hesitated, knowing this would consume her attention for the whole day... possibly leaving Shinji by himself. Ritsuko tapped her finger on the desk, thinking.

Shinji, though, felt the tension in the air at his apartment. For the first time in being here he opened the glass door out to his tiny porch, stepping out and looking at the buildings nearby that were bleached by the direct sun. He considered today.

He would see Hikari again. The memory of last night caressed gut, leaving his innards feel like jelly with a tinge of anticipation. He licked his lips.

But just as that pleasantness hit him, so did bitterness. Today was the day Asuka was being judged.

He was quiet as he finished preparing for the day.

The low droning of the class start bell seemed ominous this morning, Shinji thought once he was in school. He corrected himself- it was no different today than any other day. Just the circumstances of Asuka's trial made the day more dour than it had to be. That, and the weather.

He was dressed in his typical school uniform, of course, though the shirt was unbuttoned near the collar to cool him off. He buttoned it as he entered the hall, then pushed into the classroom.

Hikari, of course, greeted him. "Good morning Ikari." She said formally, though her girlish smile caught his attention. Shinji couldn't help blushing a little. "G-Good morning class rep." Shinji replied and took his seat beside her. Rei's chair was vacant, and the class was already sparse at this time of morning.

Shinji took a seat and glanced at Hikari. The girl glanced back. Looking around to see if anyone was nearby, she leaned over and whispered, "I had fun last night."

Shinji, also looking around, asked, "Do you want to do it again?"

"Yes." She replied.

Both of them straightened up, though their heart rate had increased a little. They couldn't do anything about their feelings at the moment. Later, though.

Just then Rei entered.

"Good morning Rei!" Hikari greeted, checking off Rei's attendance.

"Good morning, class representative." Rei replied. Shinji smiled at Rei's effort- over the week it had been sounding more and more natural.

Toji trudged in, saying nothing. Hikari watched him go sadly.

Kensuke came in with a distant look at his face. He jumped when Hikari greeted him, making Shinji an Hikari exchange glances.

Class started shortly after that.

It was mid-morning when Fuyutsuki entered Gendo Ikari's office. Already there was Yui, on another matter. Gendo held up his hand when Fuyutsuki entered with the paperwork and Yui cut her sentence short. "Thank you Doctor." Gendo said, "The arrangement is satisfactory."

Yui bowed curtly and turned to go. You wouldn't know from that exchange that they were husband and wife. Though as Yui passed Fuyutsuki, she uttered with a nod, "Sensei."

Fuyutsuki turned to watch her go, and after she was gone he resumed his walk to Gendo's desk. Fuyutsuki thought he caught his old compatriot rubbing his face, but when the subcommander reached the desk, Gendo was in his usual contemplative pose.

"I have reviewed the cases." Fuyutuski said, "And the MAGI's judgement came in overnight. I have my findings here."

Fuyutsuki passed the envelope to Gendo. The Commander took the papers and asked, "You have reached your verdict?"

"I will, by this afternoon." Fuyutuski said, "Before I did, I wanted to speak to you."

Gendo looked up. "Oh?"

Fuyutsuki winced. "This whole affair is a matter of the heart, Ikari. The only reason you have left this entirely to me is because your son is the cause of this. The situation may have come to this sooner or later, but Shinji's involvement makes you hesitant to pursue the quick solution because you're afraid of what your involvement would look like. Is this correct?"

Gendo said nothing.

Fuyutsuki waited a long moment for his compatriot to answer, before he shrugged deeply. "I see. In any event, these are my conclusions.

"Asuka's case is formidable. The First Lieutenant very clearly laid out the suggestion that should the second child be living with her mother, the accommodations would drive the pilot to such deteriorating lengths that we would soon need to seek a replacement. That is, of course, unless the pilot took matters into her own hands.

"Kyoko's case was as you would expect it. I won't dignify this further."

"Langley's case is more interesting than one would have anticipated. In addition to taking guardianship of the second children, he has also proposed rejoining NERV as a permanent resident of the base."

Gendo arched his eyebrow. "I will assume this man has some leverage to make it worth our while."

Wordlessly Fuyutsuki approached the desk and drew a file from under his arm. He placed it on the desk, then slid it towards Gendo. The Commander picked up the file and examined the contents. "...Is this all?"

"Langley left it as... an enticement." Fuyutsuki replied. When Gendo lifted his glasses, the subcommander said, "Those were Langley's words."

"This man is bold." Gendo said, closing the file and sliding it to his right. He tapped three invisible keys on his desk, opening a compartment for him to slide the folder into. Once it was closed, he said, "An eye into committee proceedings is very rare. There is no way to corroborate this."

"Of course not." Fuyutsuki said, "It would take more time than we have available, and Langley expressed that his window was narrow. Were I to guess however... this document, his status as an outsider, plus his continued NERV security clearance in spite of being dismissed from GEHRIN, at least raises the possibility that he can do such a thing."

"This doesn't answer why the old men are allowing a thing like him to go free."

"We could find out, if we but place the second children in his hand, to do with her as he wishes."

Gendo stared into the table in contemplation. After a moment, he said, "What is the MAGI's recommendation?"

Fuyutsuki straightened up. "Either you would be surprised, or you won't be. They advise the second children's liberation. We preserve the asset, and all the experience accrued. The only price to pay is Doctor Zepplin's ire."

"And Langley's bargaining chip." Gendo said.

Fuyutsuki nodded. "Naturally. Though, of course, Langley's offer is off the official record."

Gendo stared hard at the table. He needed to make a decision now. A boon against his enemies... or... his son.

Fuyutuski was staring at him expectantly. Though Gendo had pushed the responsibility to the man who always cleaned up his messes... this one was his to take, because he was the one with the far-reaching plan.

Gendo had to choose. Would it be a weapon against SEELE...

or the happiness of his son, and his friends.