NGE Old School, Chapter 3
Clever songs can be saved for later, I suppose. (Damn. Someone's gonna' burn me for putting Hey Jude on chapter two. But I'm stubborn, so it stays.)
Shinji looked around the room, afraid to touch anything. Machines and magicks hummed all about. Bright lights that couldn't be any candle or lamp, and hummed as though inhabited by demons. Demons, trying to escape. Confined and trapped in order to suit NERV's desires. Metal constructions surrounded him on three sides, covered in buttons and controls. What were they? Did they control all this? Were they watching him? A man had mentioned the 'magi'. Were these really wise men in some disguise? He'd seen a NERV member touch a button on one, and with a sudden noise that sent him running away screaming, a bag of, what had he called them? 'Chips' had been generated. Everything he'd seen since stepping through that portal was so alien... The clothing, the people, the words. It was almost as though they spoke in different dialects of Japanese than he'd learned. How could this place exist, much less thrive?
'Through the desires of men.' he heard a dreary, feminine voice whisper.
He jumped upwards.
"What? Who's there?!"
"It's only me."
The woman's form resolved in the doorway.
"Oh," Shinji sat down again. "Hello, Miss Misato."
"Shinji, let's go for a walk.
"Okay."
Misato led him down a hallway and to an elevator. They stepped inside, and Shinji looked about. Misato pressed a button on it's controls, and he lurched to the side as it moved. He screamed, terrified. She held onto his shoulders to reassure him, and he righted himself, panting.
"So, what are you going to do now?"
"I... don't know."
"Do you know what you were doing before?"
"The same as everyone else, now. Struggling to survive."
"We live in terrible times, Shinji."
"Two months ago I heard a rape in an alley, and I ran away."
"We can change that."
"What?"
"That's our mission, here. We're going to try to save the world from itself."
"What do you mean?"
"Why do you think I helped you, Shinji? Because it's my job."
"Your job?"
"We at NERV are going to try to save the world Shinji, from itself."
"But, how?"
"Through the High Council's strength."
"Magic?"
"Partly, but it only powers this place. Everything else was conceived by man."
The elevator opened, and Shinji looked around.
"Grass? Trees? Are we outside?"
"No, Shinji."
He stepped out and looked upwards. His jaw slackened in an expression of absolute awe.
"This is the NERV Central cavern, a paradise created in Man's image. Everything you see here was built by us, with aid from magic and technology."
Can you imagine the surprise of a child who had rarely seen civilization, who had never seen London, or Paris, or Kyoto, or Hong Kong, suddenly entering the Geo-Front? Lights, buildings, activity, all without the small-scale violence that is the norm in these times.
She led him to a train and sat him inside. It left with a light lurch. Shinji expected these now, and kept better balance. Once they were underway, Misato leaned over towards him.
"Shinji, We... I want you to stay with us."
"What do you mean?"
"We want you to live here, become one of us. Shinji, there was another reason that I brought you here."
"I don't understand."
"You are going to play a crucial role in NERV's plans. Our entire future may lie with you."
"But, how?"
"Not even I know that. It was prophecised by Councilman Ik- I mean, a Councilman."
Shinji stared absently through a window.
"I don't know..."
Gendo did not move as he watched the two through a small vortex. His office was much the same as an average NGE fan remembers it, his clothes as well. Not to mention that aura of creepy that follows him everywhere. Fyutski entered, the door swinging closed behind him.
"Councilman, Rei has returned."
"Excellent. Send her in."
"Sir." Fyutski bowed lightly and turned to leave.
"And Fyutski?"
The Outer Councilman stopped without removing his hand from the door's handle.
"How is she?" Gendo asked.
"Well enough to finish the project."
Fyutski left.
Gendo pushed the clutter on his desk into a slightly more ordered state, and assumed the pose that almost everyone associated with him: Slouched over, nose resting on the backs of his folded hands. The door opened slowly, timidly, as befitting Rei's mannerisms. She slipped in as soon as it would fit her frame. She shut it behind her.
"Rei."
"Hello, Councilman."
"Are you well?"
"Yes."
He allowed himself a small smile.
"Good. Did you retrieve the artifact?"
"Yes."
"And you hid it where I told you?"
"Yes."
"Was there any interference?"
"No. Why would there be?"
"Never mind. That is all, Rei. You may leave."
"Yes. Good evening, sir."
"Good evening, Rei."
When she had gone, Gendo turned his chair and reopened the spy vortex, a minor trick of magic, more on the level of smoke and mirrors compared to some things the Councilmen were capable of. Everything was falling into place. Now he understood the Council's actions ten years ago. Now he understood why he had been brought into the fold, and how he would lead them from the shadows and into the light. Yet, Gendo felt no pride at his task. He was as much a tool to them as Rei.
Or Eva.
Sides of NERV not seen were hard at work: They had a perfect specimen! A sampling of knowledge concerning the X factor, the Illuminati!
The Illuminati: A popular conspiracy theory concerning an organization formed around the time of the Crusades. Consisting of the world's richest: bankers, monarchs, diplomats, tycoons, and the like, the Illuminati influenced Europe with a feather touch and, shortly before WWI, the USA as well. Theoretically, they pull the UN's strings, and have always been the leading force behind the world. At this point in history, though, their influence has been confined to Europe, with agents operating across the known world.
One such agent was in her cell, awaiting her captors. The panel slid open, and she raised her head to look.
'NERV's High Council is composed of six members. Five are a ruling mind, the sixth an acting body. The identities of the five are as yet mysteries, but we have found their sixth's identity:
Gendo Ikari.'
Mr. Nine-Three-Two had shown her a drawing.
It's likeness filled her view.
"Is this her?"
"Langley Soryu, Asuka. Yes, sir."
"Very good. Stand, Asuka."
Asuka didn't move. The guard hastily entered the cell and yanked her to her feet.
"Listen when the concilman speaks!" He shouted.
"Follow me." Gendo said, this time to the guard.
They were led down a long series of hallways, too twisting and seemingly random for Asuka to remember. Eventually, though, they came to a thick oak door, guarded by two men in heavy armor. Gendo waved his hand, and one of the two pulled a lever, setting cogs in motion, weights falling, and ropes pulling. The door opened, revealing a wide table. Asuka thought it was almost like those used by the Church during trial. Wordlessly, Gendo took the empty seat, next to five figures. That made this...
The NERV High Council of Six.
"Asuka Langley Soryu..."
"...You have been brought here..." a nasal, long-haired man started
"...to tell us everything..." a gravelly-voiced man continued
"...that you know." finished one wearing a visor, sitting in the rough center.
Their goals were so specific, they finished each other's sentences. Asuka remained silent.
"Begin by telling us the leadership of the Illuminati." The visored man continued.
"I do not know."
"Guard..."
Gendo interrupted the torture order.
"Mr. One, I find it plausible that the Illuminati would leave that on a need to know basis."
"Silence, Ikari. Guard, you may begin."
Misato opened the door to her room.
"Welcome to your new home, Shinji."
"I'm... Home."
Gendo watched his son through another vortex. He set his sword on a folded blanket in his room and stretched out on the floor. He hummed a tune.
That song! How could he remember? That was... Gendo thought back. That was...
Fly me to the moon,
And let me play upon the stars,
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars,
In other words...
Laughter, sunlight, and joy. Shinji carried in a basket on her back...
His son and...
His wife.
SEELE.
They thought they had broken him.
He would make them suffer.
...In other words,
Darling kiss me.
Fill my heart with song,
And let me sing forevermore,
You are all I long for all I worship and adore,
In other words,
Please be true.
In other words,
I love you.
TO BE CONTINUED
Clever songs can be saved for later, I suppose. (Damn. Someone's gonna' burn me for putting Hey Jude on chapter two. But I'm stubborn, so it stays.)
Shinji looked around the room, afraid to touch anything. Machines and magicks hummed all about. Bright lights that couldn't be any candle or lamp, and hummed as though inhabited by demons. Demons, trying to escape. Confined and trapped in order to suit NERV's desires. Metal constructions surrounded him on three sides, covered in buttons and controls. What were they? Did they control all this? Were they watching him? A man had mentioned the 'magi'. Were these really wise men in some disguise? He'd seen a NERV member touch a button on one, and with a sudden noise that sent him running away screaming, a bag of, what had he called them? 'Chips' had been generated. Everything he'd seen since stepping through that portal was so alien... The clothing, the people, the words. It was almost as though they spoke in different dialects of Japanese than he'd learned. How could this place exist, much less thrive?
'Through the desires of men.' he heard a dreary, feminine voice whisper.
He jumped upwards.
"What? Who's there?!"
"It's only me."
The woman's form resolved in the doorway.
"Oh," Shinji sat down again. "Hello, Miss Misato."
"Shinji, let's go for a walk.
"Okay."
Misato led him down a hallway and to an elevator. They stepped inside, and Shinji looked about. Misato pressed a button on it's controls, and he lurched to the side as it moved. He screamed, terrified. She held onto his shoulders to reassure him, and he righted himself, panting.
"So, what are you going to do now?"
"I... don't know."
"Do you know what you were doing before?"
"The same as everyone else, now. Struggling to survive."
"We live in terrible times, Shinji."
"Two months ago I heard a rape in an alley, and I ran away."
"We can change that."
"What?"
"That's our mission, here. We're going to try to save the world from itself."
"What do you mean?"
"Why do you think I helped you, Shinji? Because it's my job."
"Your job?"
"We at NERV are going to try to save the world Shinji, from itself."
"But, how?"
"Through the High Council's strength."
"Magic?"
"Partly, but it only powers this place. Everything else was conceived by man."
The elevator opened, and Shinji looked around.
"Grass? Trees? Are we outside?"
"No, Shinji."
He stepped out and looked upwards. His jaw slackened in an expression of absolute awe.
"This is the NERV Central cavern, a paradise created in Man's image. Everything you see here was built by us, with aid from magic and technology."
Can you imagine the surprise of a child who had rarely seen civilization, who had never seen London, or Paris, or Kyoto, or Hong Kong, suddenly entering the Geo-Front? Lights, buildings, activity, all without the small-scale violence that is the norm in these times.
She led him to a train and sat him inside. It left with a light lurch. Shinji expected these now, and kept better balance. Once they were underway, Misato leaned over towards him.
"Shinji, We... I want you to stay with us."
"What do you mean?"
"We want you to live here, become one of us. Shinji, there was another reason that I brought you here."
"I don't understand."
"You are going to play a crucial role in NERV's plans. Our entire future may lie with you."
"But, how?"
"Not even I know that. It was prophecised by Councilman Ik- I mean, a Councilman."
Shinji stared absently through a window.
"I don't know..."
Gendo did not move as he watched the two through a small vortex. His office was much the same as an average NGE fan remembers it, his clothes as well. Not to mention that aura of creepy that follows him everywhere. Fyutski entered, the door swinging closed behind him.
"Councilman, Rei has returned."
"Excellent. Send her in."
"Sir." Fyutski bowed lightly and turned to leave.
"And Fyutski?"
The Outer Councilman stopped without removing his hand from the door's handle.
"How is she?" Gendo asked.
"Well enough to finish the project."
Fyutski left.
Gendo pushed the clutter on his desk into a slightly more ordered state, and assumed the pose that almost everyone associated with him: Slouched over, nose resting on the backs of his folded hands. The door opened slowly, timidly, as befitting Rei's mannerisms. She slipped in as soon as it would fit her frame. She shut it behind her.
"Rei."
"Hello, Councilman."
"Are you well?"
"Yes."
He allowed himself a small smile.
"Good. Did you retrieve the artifact?"
"Yes."
"And you hid it where I told you?"
"Yes."
"Was there any interference?"
"No. Why would there be?"
"Never mind. That is all, Rei. You may leave."
"Yes. Good evening, sir."
"Good evening, Rei."
When she had gone, Gendo turned his chair and reopened the spy vortex, a minor trick of magic, more on the level of smoke and mirrors compared to some things the Councilmen were capable of. Everything was falling into place. Now he understood the Council's actions ten years ago. Now he understood why he had been brought into the fold, and how he would lead them from the shadows and into the light. Yet, Gendo felt no pride at his task. He was as much a tool to them as Rei.
Or Eva.
Sides of NERV not seen were hard at work: They had a perfect specimen! A sampling of knowledge concerning the X factor, the Illuminati!
The Illuminati: A popular conspiracy theory concerning an organization formed around the time of the Crusades. Consisting of the world's richest: bankers, monarchs, diplomats, tycoons, and the like, the Illuminati influenced Europe with a feather touch and, shortly before WWI, the USA as well. Theoretically, they pull the UN's strings, and have always been the leading force behind the world. At this point in history, though, their influence has been confined to Europe, with agents operating across the known world.
One such agent was in her cell, awaiting her captors. The panel slid open, and she raised her head to look.
'NERV's High Council is composed of six members. Five are a ruling mind, the sixth an acting body. The identities of the five are as yet mysteries, but we have found their sixth's identity:
Gendo Ikari.'
Mr. Nine-Three-Two had shown her a drawing.
It's likeness filled her view.
"Is this her?"
"Langley Soryu, Asuka. Yes, sir."
"Very good. Stand, Asuka."
Asuka didn't move. The guard hastily entered the cell and yanked her to her feet.
"Listen when the concilman speaks!" He shouted.
"Follow me." Gendo said, this time to the guard.
They were led down a long series of hallways, too twisting and seemingly random for Asuka to remember. Eventually, though, they came to a thick oak door, guarded by two men in heavy armor. Gendo waved his hand, and one of the two pulled a lever, setting cogs in motion, weights falling, and ropes pulling. The door opened, revealing a wide table. Asuka thought it was almost like those used by the Church during trial. Wordlessly, Gendo took the empty seat, next to five figures. That made this...
The NERV High Council of Six.
"Asuka Langley Soryu..."
"...You have been brought here..." a nasal, long-haired man started
"...to tell us everything..." a gravelly-voiced man continued
"...that you know." finished one wearing a visor, sitting in the rough center.
Their goals were so specific, they finished each other's sentences. Asuka remained silent.
"Begin by telling us the leadership of the Illuminati." The visored man continued.
"I do not know."
"Guard..."
Gendo interrupted the torture order.
"Mr. One, I find it plausible that the Illuminati would leave that on a need to know basis."
"Silence, Ikari. Guard, you may begin."
Misato opened the door to her room.
"Welcome to your new home, Shinji."
"I'm... Home."
Gendo watched his son through another vortex. He set his sword on a folded blanket in his room and stretched out on the floor. He hummed a tune.
That song! How could he remember? That was... Gendo thought back. That was...
Fly me to the moon,
And let me play upon the stars,
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars,
In other words...
Laughter, sunlight, and joy. Shinji carried in a basket on her back...
His son and...
His wife.
SEELE.
They thought they had broken him.
He would make them suffer.
...In other words,
Darling kiss me.
Fill my heart with song,
And let me sing forevermore,
You are all I long for all I worship and adore,
In other words,
Please be true.
In other words,
I love you.
TO BE CONTINUED