.hack/EVA: Catharsis: Diverging Scenarios
Disclaimer: In this universe in the quantum foam, I do not own or in any way shape or form hold a claim to the .hack series or Neon Genesis Evangelion.
" " denotes speech
'italics' denotes thought
'bold' denotes location names
'bold italics' denotes skill use
Human Instrumentality Committee, Special Meeting
He was a man who wore a mask of stone, who directed the actions of friends and foe alike. He was a man who had gained the world, but lost his soul in the process. He was a man trusted to direct humanity's defense against eldritch horrors from another age, yet a man bound by duty and desire to betray them at the last, to dedicated to the purpose of either helping humanity surpass its limits or bringing back his own Lost One.
As the son was to the father, so was the father to the son, a man who had met his inner self and had been asked if he would continue on the road of companionship and intimacy. But he had forsaken it, instead succumbing to the embrace of pain, becoming his inner demon, willing to do anything it took to accomplish his goal. In truth, perhaps he was the one who best deserved the title "Dark Evangel" (instead of the one granted behind his back: "Bastard King"), as he had become something almost inhuman, consuming his emotions to become strong.
And yet, he was not quite the master of his own domain, as he was (at least in name) subservient to the puppetmasters of the world, the cabal known as SEELE, the men behind "The Man" who forced governments, NGOs, and other secret societies to bend to their will.
By their desire, Gendo Ikari stood in a pitch black room, the only illumination coming from the holographic monoliths surrounding him, each black with red lettering, numbered 01 through 12, accompanied by the words "SEELE" and "Audio Only." The Commander of NERV was making his report to the Human Instrumentality Committee, and they were…not amused.
"The appearance of Gaghiel was slightly divergent from the scenario," rumbled one of the monoliths in resonant sepulchral voice, apparently displeased. The actions of the Angels were supposed to be perfectly predicted by the secret sections of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and for even a slight anomaly to occur spoke of possible disaster for their ultimate plans.
Gendo, of course, knew exactly why the irregularity was present, but he couldn't simply tell his masters that he had ordered their agent Ryoji Kaji to steal Adam and deliver it to him, and that is why the Sixth Angel had attacked the UN Convoy.
"The result was within the predicted range," he lied smoothly, poker face impervious as always. "It is possible to revise."
One of the more disgruntled monoliths still found a reason to nitpick, citing the loss of one third of the U.N. Navy, but another talked him down, as the ships were of his country, and negligible in the grand scheme of things.
"Indeed," rumbled the monolith titled SEELE-01, "It was quite fortunate that once again that the damage was minimal. However…the comatose state of the First Child and the subsequent necessity of selecting a Fourth is not a minor inconsistency. This does not bode well…explain yourself, Ikari."
"The reason for the First's condition is currently under investigation," the bearded man related, sunglasses flashing in the dim light. "And there is no suggestion that this has occurred from anything other than a simple accident during a reactivation experiment. The prototype has always been somewhat temperamental."
"You should watch your speech with care, Ikari," SEELE-01 spoke quietly. "A perjurer before this committee shall die. We have received a troubling report from the World Network Council concerning claims that the Third Child is a skilled hacker that he has developed a virus capable of inducing nocebo comas in others by simulating mind death, and further that he was the culprit behind the First's collapse."
"That is impossible, and the report to the WNC is obviously falsified, as the Third has not demonstrated considerable expertise with computers," Gendo said, spinning his words on the fly to deal with the predicament he found himself in. "As well, the bond between them would have precluded such an attempt. Thus he would not have the means, nor the motive, and the report is of no concern. With the arrival of the Fourth, the scenario can be restored."
"Don't make us laugh, Ikari!" voiced yet another monolith. "Concealing facts is one of your specialties. Indeed, a rumor states that NERV headquarters was directly invaded, and worse, that the invader was allowed to breech Central Dogma. If contact had taken place, the entire plan would be in jeopardy."
"Again, the report to this committee was false," the Commander of NERV asserted, mask remaining expressionless as he denied the charges. "There is no truth to the Angel's invasion."
"Then, Ikari, you're saying, the Eleventh Angel's invasion is not fact?"
"Of course," the bearded man replied. "I will allow you to investigate the records of Magi. Nothing concerning the incident was recorded. With the exception of minor deviations, the schedule is proceeding as described in the Dead Sea Scrolls."
"Very well, this time we will not accuse you of a crime," the twelve monoliths spoke as one. "However, you have been warned: do not write a new scenario."
"I understand," Ikari acknowledged. "May everything be according to the scenario of SEELE."
The holographic monoliths faded out, leaving the Commander of NERV alone in the pitch blackness, leaving the resentment in his thoughts unspoken.
'Because it is surely not proceeding according to mine...'
Commander Ikari's Office, NERV HQ
'This is unacceptable. As expected, the Committee does not trust me, as I do not trust them, but the Old Men are easily enough manipulable if they are given what they expect. The news of the World Network Council investigating the Third Child was unexpected, as the MAGI have analyzed his usage patterns and the data he transmits, with no anomalies detected—however, this may be the sign of someone working to sabotage NERV from within.'
The spider of NERV crouched within his lair, a shadow in a cavernous room, peering callously down upon any who dared intrude into his tangled web. His face was a stone slate without emotion, eyes hidden behind orange lenses, as he sat in the darkness, brooding over events as he played a game of chess with his old teacher, hands steepled before his face to add yet another layer of mystery to him.
"Check," voiced the elderly Sub-Commander Kōzō Fuyutsuki, right hand and confidant to his former student. "Yesterday, a complaint came to me directly from Chairman Keele. He was most displeased, and towards the end, hinted at your dismissal."
A moment of silence, as the bearded raptor considered his next move, moving up a pawn to deal with the moment's annoyance.
"Adam is going well," the Commander spoke, his true expression unreadable. "As for the Eva project, it is unfortunate that we have not been able to work on the Dummy Plug, with the current status of the First Child. What are the old men of SEELE complaining about?"
SEELE. The group which had offered Fuyutsuki the choice of joining NERV in "creating a new future mankind" or "disappearing," the group that had caused Second Impact and now planned for a Third, veiled under the innocent name of "Human Instrumentality Project."
"They are most concerned about the unexpected shifts in the scenario, especially the assertion that the Third may be a hacker of inordinate skill," the former professor said, grimacing with distaste as he remembered how the Pluto's Kiss incident had come not long after Second Impact, leading to further pandemonium. "It is all the more disturbing that this accusation was apparently delivered by someone within Headquarters, the Second Child."
Another series of quiet moves over a nearly even board.
"It seems that Pilot Soryu has nearly overstepped the limits of her usefulness," Gendo noted dispassionately, surveying his position once again. "As Dr. Akagi reports, her psychographs have been irregularities as of late, with Section 2 observing degradation in her façade. Have that man investigate her and her relationship with the Fourth, as well as the new teacher at Tokyo-3 1st Municipal Junior High School, a certain Yumi Aranami. Her background is rather atypical of her position as a simple instructor."
The professor acknowledged with a simple nod, then tried one last gambit to unseat his opponent from his position.
"Speaking of that man, how shall we deal with him?" he asked wearily, knowing what the response was likely to be.
"Let him do as he likes for now, as we can make use of him," said the shadow that ruled over NERV, as he finished the match. "Checkmate, old friend."
Tokyo-3 1st Municipal Junior High School, Classroom 2-A
Cleaning duty. An almost universally despised chore that most students would do nearly anything to get out of, as it involved a good deal of physical labor. Even under the regime of Aranami-sensei, the teacher who allowed her class to play The World as part of their learning experience, the reign of terror of Class Representative Hikari Horaki continued unabated, her schedules and her angry words enough to cow even the most rebellious of problem students.
Especially so after rumors of the altercation at the gate had spread, growing with each retelling until if one believed all of them, Asuka Langley Soryu would be dead several times over, with any gangs in the area ready to swear loyalty to their pigtailed empress. The reasons for the clash of titans also differed from person to person, with some calling it simply an inevitable collision of opposites, some claiming that Asuka was a hacker and being punished for her crimes, and some even saying that they were fighting over the Third Child, since he had been seen with each of them in the past.
'Not that I didn't enjoy giving Soryu a taste of the pain she's given others…' the pigtailed girl thought as she played out her assigned role during the day, enduring looks of fear and curiosity, responding to instant messages about the incident (if she did at all) with a simple "no comment."
Then Aranami-sensei had dropped a verbal nuke, stunning the class into silence with the announcement that neither Rei Ayanami nor Reimeiki Hakubo would be attending for a while, as both had been hospitalized, and the date of their return was as yet unknown.
The gathered students were much more subdued after that, as Morganna gave a more traditional lecture covering some of the unknown history of The World, beginning with its prototype Fragment, and its creator, Harald Hoerwick, who she had apparently known. She covered the background of the relationship between Harald and Emma Wielant, as well as expounding on the link between Aura and the mythical Twilight Dragon.
"And then there is the case of the sprite Lilith, who saved the seekers from the ancient monster Cubia," she concluded, something that was almost amusement in her eyes. "Once loyal to the Dark, she abandoned them to join the three who sought the Twilight Dragon…in essence, something of a fallen angel."
Hikari performed the ritual of the "Stand, Bow, Sit", and class was dismissed for the day, with herself and the Third Child staying behind for cleaning duty. Aranami-sensei had entrusted the classroom to them, wished them both good luck, and then left, claiming prior commitments, leaving the two dothackers alone with one another.
Except for the sound of their breathing, the room was silent.
'I just hope this doesn't add to the rumors that say I fought Asuka for the sake of Ikari-kun…that would be embarrassing. I just have a few things to discuss with him.'
"Neither Soryu nor her grey-haired boyfriend showed up today," the pigtailed girl observed, walking over to one of the computers and switching it on. "I don't know who he is, but he seems rather strange in how easily he can control Soryu. And he looks…he looks like Ayanami."
"He's nothing like her," Shinji replied flatly, bristling at the very suggestion. "At least, not in the way he acts. He has a constant air of enigma mingled with malevolence about him…did you know that he asked me if I thought Ayanami would be better off in a coma? The only one who has ever done that was Asuka, and she's the one who…"
The brown-haired boy trailed off, as his point was already abundantly clear to his audience.
"He did?" Hikari asked, taken aback by the grey-haired boy's lack of tact. Well, that wasn't too surprising for the Children actually, considering that three of the four had problems with normal social interaction. "That's odd, it's almost like he had something to do with it…either that or he has some other motivation for asking that."
"I don't know," the Third said, considering his options. "Aranami-sensei did talk about an AIDA-PC called Siarl of the Seven Eyes who matches Nagisa's description, so it's possible, but it still seems like getting rid of Ayanami is something Asuka would have done, since she says she hates dolls and blue-haired people. Speaking of which, isn't it odd that she would spend time with Nagisa, since he looks like someone she hates?"
Hikari pursed her lips in thought as she pondered that particular point.
"That is odd…they met at NERV, I imagine, but why would they get along?" she mused aloud. "And how can he just stop her like that without her showing any resentment? The last time I remember her talking about a male, it was the one she called a real man, 'Kaji.' It's almost like she's possessed or something."
"Well…she is infected with AIDA," Shinji allowed uncertainly, "but shouldn't that make her even more violent towards him? After all, in The World…"
"Yeah, I don't understand it myself, but then, there's a lot about AIDA we don't understand," the brown-eyed girl sighed, shaking her head as she loaded up the forums for The World, just to check on the rumors there. Instantly, some of the threads caught her eye, and not in a particularly good way. "Ikari-kun, your title is the 'Dark Evangel', right? There are some threads that have popped up on the forums saying that the PKs you fought never returned to The World, with rumors about them being in comas."
"This must be Asuka's doing," the Third muttered under his breath, moving over to look over the Class Rep's shoulder. Just then, a chill went down his spine as he recalled the grey-haired boy's earlier words—words that he had forgotten till now due to his shock and fatigue. "Wait…didn't Nagisa say he reported us to the World Network Council? Well, probably just me."
"What?! But, Ikari-kun, if they find you guilty, that's a death sentence," Hikari breathed, the blood draining out of her face. "We have to—"
The Class Representative stopped, unable to think of what to do, as Shinji found himself frowning at the vile tactic.
"Do what? I can't exactly stop doing what I do," he said quietly but firmly, a cast of determination in his features. "While you were waiting for me to wake up, I fought with myself for a long time, debating whether or not to continue down this road. And I made the decision that I don't have a choice…not if I want to be a Shinji Ikari who doesn't run away, who doesn't have to be ashamed of himself. Reimeiki-chan sacrificed herself to save me, so I'll save her even if I die in the process."
His eyes flashed in the dimming light of dusk as he looked up and clenched his fist, almost like his father for a moment.
"I defied Angels and AIDA, piloted EVA as humanity's sword and shield…I already risk death just by being a pilot," he spoke as if fatigued. "Death is already my companion—and so I'm not going to stop. I told myself that I would keep going until my last breath, even if I was reaching for the impossible. So bring on Asuka and her threats, bring on Nagisa and his mocking questions, bring on the World Network Council, and all the AIDA in The World. Nothing they can do to me now can compare to everything they've already done."
Such a display of resolve and spinal fortitude from the young Ikari caught the pig-tailed girl off guard, as she had only witnessed this kind of determination once: when he fought 'Gendor' in the Arena, a fight which had him facing his father. This was very much like the hero that the entirety of Class 2-A had assumed Shinji was (or fantasized about him being) since he first appeared and confirmed his identity as the pilot of the giant robot.
'Ikari-kun is very different now from how he used to be,' Hikari saw with a faint smile and a blush. 'He was never a coward, but now it seems he realizes this for himself. And it's kind of romantic how far he is willing to go for Reimeiki-chan…at the very least, I can make sure he doesn't have to walk the path alone.'
"Then it's settled," declared Hikari Horaki, reaching out and closing her hand over one of Shinji's clenched fists. "You and I have both lost friends to AIDA…so we will fight the threat together, and together bring them back. Even Asuka, our enemy, bitch that she is, has Nagisa behind her supporting her, right? You can't do this alone, Ikari-kun, and I'm saying you don't have to."
Shocked beyond words by what the Class Rep had to say, Shinji just stood there taking it all in, albeit with some measure of incredulity.
"Horaki-san, I can't ask—" he began hesitantly.
But she cut him off with a simple hmph as she looked at him, brown eyes meeting blue.
"You don't have to, Ikari-kun," she said fiercely, the look in her eyes almost scaring him with their intensity. "Honestly, I don't know what to do with you sometimes. You say you're a coward who barely keeps himself from running away, and look at you, wanting to rush off alone against the enemy. I'm not taking 'no' for an answer, Ikari-kun…you've never asked for help before, and I don't think you ever will—but I'm saying you don't have to. Because we're friends, and friends don't let friends face danger alone. Is…that…clear?"
Now, contrary to the Second Child's insistence on constantly using the word 'baka' to describe him, Shinji Ikari was not stupid. Hence, after witnessing what Hikari had done to Asuka in a feat of unstoppable rage that mirrored his own exploits while in berserker mode, the Third Child decided that discretion was the better part of valor.
"Quite," he not-quite-gulped, going along with the Class Rep as she sat him down at one of the class computers. "So what do we do now?"
Even as he asked, he was almost instinctively booting up the PC, which as part of the startup sequence loaded "The World: R2."
"Simple," Hikari said with a nigh-demonic grin that would have fit her Tomoyami persona to a T. "Since we're going to be working together to save the coma victims, we have to get used to being around one another in The World, right? You said you'll see things through to the end, so I'm going to help you get stronger—because if you can't beat me, how will you beat Asuka?"
"You have a point there," Shinji conceded, knowing that between the two of them, she was still a little stronger in terms of combat abilities.
"Like her, I'm an infamous Chaotic PK, ruthless and without mercy," the Class Rep continued, slipping on her headset and entering The World. "And since you're supposed to be one of the most feared of all PKKs, we're going to train to get you up to my standards. Let's face it, we both need more experience fighting strange monsters and AIDA bugs, and we have to learn how the other's style and technique, we're going to the Outer Dungeons for a really intense, super secret training mission, just the two of us."
With a nod and a couple of blinks, Shinji agreed, slipping on his M2D headset and logging in.
'You've earned my trust, now don't disappoint me, Dark Evangel…'
'Thanks for the support…Hikari.'
Kaji's Apartment
Contrary to one might expect of him from his flirtatious, womanizing behavior when he was on duty, Ryoji Kaji was actually a rather solitary man, dedicated to his ideal of finding the truth—a mission he realized might very well get him killed one day, though he had accepted that risk when he became a spy. Though he seemed reckless and carefree, this façade was rather carefully composed, as if to throw off anyone who might see him as a possible threat to his plans.
In reality, he was both more cunning and more insightful than most people gave him credit for, sometimes regretting the actions he had to take to further his personal quest. He was always busy doing at least three things at once (usually involving his job as a Agent for NERV, SEELE, and the Japanese Ministry of the Interior), and now he had pledged his aid to yet another faction, one that seemed to share his interests, while knowing everything about him.
'I have never found myself in such a disadvantageous position in the past,' he thought, amused by the way that Helba had essentially backed him into a corner. 'She knows of SEELE,NERV, the Angels, my identity, and a great deal else. Truly she is a master at her craft.'
At the very least, after a long search, the master spy had indeed found an individual who could aid him in his search, if she didn't choose to toy with him as did the Commander and the Committee. When he set off on his quest to attract a hacker or information broker on the outside, he had not expected to encounter Helba, the legendary Queen of the Dark herself, nor for her to already know about him. It was…most discomfiting, even if she was an ally.
'It seems that I have some new data on the Marduk Institute though, but it will have to wait until I enter my study, the most secure spot in this apartment.'
With that, the unshaven spy came to the door and opened it, his eyes darting about as he entered, checked for signs of intrusion or tampering. In his line of work, it paid to notice details, and killed if one were even the least bit amiss. However, there was a balance between paranoia and practicality, so after a brief examination involving both a visual inspection and using a miniature electronic bug detector to do a sweep of the place, he headed to his study, where he slumped down at his chair and booted his computer.
'So, the 107th corporation out of 108 connected to the Marduk Institute also turns out to be a dummy corporation, with the same list of directors as the others. I might have known—so essentially, the Commander or the committee chooses who will become the next Child. How fascinating…'
This reminded him of his latest assignments, which he found to be rather curious. The first, using his relationship with the Second Child to find out what was happening with her and the Fourth Child, would prove simple enough, but the second was somewhat puzzling. His task there was to investigate the background of a new teacher at Tokyo-3 1st Municipal Junior High School, a certain Yumi Aranami, as she was suspected having a connection with the First Child going into a coma.
'Unless she is connected with AIDA, I do not think that is a possibility,' the spy thought, somewhat troubled by this assignment. 'Given the status of the First, there should be no reason why she remains comatose otherwise…do they perhaps think that this Aranami is a…hacker of some sort. She comes to Tokyo-3 in the middle of the Angel War, and soon after, my attempts to find a hacker as an ally are replied to by the best in The World. Could Aranami possibly be Helba, given her strange curriculum? This bears investigation…'
And then the phone rang, bearing with it an unfamiliar voice.
"Greetings, Fili," the contact spoke. "This is Bith the Black, assistant to the Dark Queen of our mutual acquaintance. As per the agreement, you are asked to go to the seashore and observe the river of all in person. In exchange, I tell you this, within the end of doctrine rests the night sprite pursued by the Dark, a fellow traveler to those who quest, never to return. Apeiron lies elsewhere."
Whoever it was hung up, leaving Kaji alone with his thoughts once more.
'So…Helba as well wishes for me to investigate the Second and Fourth Children, and the relationship between them? At least it is the same mission as Ikari has ordered, so it should be simple enough to do. And in…the end of doctrine…Terminal Dogma…one can find…Lilith, the Second Angel. The Second Angel, not the First? Apeiron, the King of Light…thus Adam, is still to be found. Perhaps the Commander is keeping it to himself? In any case, this partnership is already paying major dividends...'
But something else nagged at him as well.
'Just who is Bith the Black, and how did he get this number?'
Askua's Apartment
Meanwhile, in another part of Tokyo-3, the Second Child was most displeased. She had been humiliated by that bitch of a Class Representative just for putting a hacker in her place, subjected to a bevy of tests and examinations in what Dr. Akagi called a physical, called into the Commander's office for a reprimand that left her seething, and now…now she was completely alone again, in her sterile little room in the GeoFront.
She had tried calling Kaji, but only succeeded in getting his answering machine—either he was out, or on the phone with someone else, and either way useless to her at the moment. And even Kaworu wasn't present, as he had been dragged off to yet another special sync test with Unit-00.
'Why are you never around when I need you, Kaji?' Asuka whined to herself, muttering as she made her way over to her computer. If there was nothing else to do, she would simply have to go into The World to vent some anger. 'At the very least, I can spread more of those rumors on the forums and message boards to make playing The World unbearable for that baka Shinji!'
Logging in, she could see that the seed topics she had planted were now bearing fruit, with the rumor mill self sustaining as one piece of gossip fueled another, a veritable chain reaction that she hoped would soon blow up into a scandal.
Going into The World proper now, she immediately gated to a field where newbies were known to congregate, and to her delight encountered a few blue-haired players. Stepping from the shadows, she drew her weapon, calling upon the full power of AIDA to bolster her demonic appearance.
"Hehehe…prepare to die, you fools…for I am the Dark Evangel come to KILL YOU ALL," she roared, loosing her AIDA spears to slay each weakling in a single blow—save one, as she needed him to spread the terror.
'Yes…if what this power did to that hacker is anything to go by, people will have proof that the 'Dark Evangel' has turned evil, and is turning people into Lost Ones. There will be no escape, even for you, as soon as the World Network Council has the 'proof' I will supply, you so-called invincible BAKA! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!'