Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion or GAINAX…But I can make chicken soup better than Misato!^-^

Picking Up The Pieces – Part 4

Sweet Dreams are made of this

Who am I to disagree?

I've travelled the world and the seven seas

Everybody's looking for something…

Some of them want to use you

Some of them want to get used by you

Some of them want to abuse you

Some of them want to be abused

                                                     Eurythmics-Sweet Dreams

Somewhere lost in the darkness, Doctor Ritsuko Akagi was dreaming.

floating…

I'm  floating…?

I'm…

-wheeee-

flooooooooating…

but -sniff-

But something…?

Something smells  -sniff-

It smells…

Bad.

Ritsuko groaned and tossed her head.

It smells  like…like…

no…

Oh please no.

The doctor's confused mind gave a tiny terrified squeak.

She was still in college, had a touch of the flu.

Misato had offered to nurse her better…made her…

putrid-vile-stinking

Chicken soup.

Except, whatever her well-meaning roommate had put in that soup…

Sure as hell wasn't chicken.

Chicken was not blue.

And that smell…

Uhhhrgh.

Too bad that didn't stop Misato happily spoon feeding it to her.

Ritsuko shuddered at the unwanted memory. Then the stench attacked her nostrils again, making them pucker with revulsion.

'Nnnnuh Misato! Don wan it…Guh…get it away from me!'

The instinctual desire to escape tore through the last remaining vestigial trappings of her darkness and the doctor cracked open an eye.

Although her vision was still blurry she could hear the swish of movement in front of her. A small bottle of some stinking substance had been removed from under her nose and a shadowy figure retreated back into the gloom of the room. With a low groan Ritsuko began to stir, the dull pain from her leg announcing she was almost fully conscious. Vaguely, she half expected to be in her old college flat but then remembered that she had graduated years ago. Then it came back to her. She had been shot. Wait. Wasn't this the hospital?

"Ah good. Beauty finally awakens."

Both of Ritsuko's eyes suddenly snapped open as if she had been poked with a very sharp stick. She had heard that type of modified voice before. Then, as she slowly stared into the huge chamber that was most certainly not her hospital room, and up at the circle of black monoliths hovering above her, she regretted ever opening her eyes again.

"Good Evening, Dr Akagi," intoned the disembodied voice of SEELE 01. "We trust you have slept well?"

Momentarily struck dumb, Ritsuko fervently wished she was still in a drug-induced haze and cursed the clarity of her now, fully awake mind. Clarity brought fear and well-founded fear at that. Although, deep down, Akagi had more or less been expecting something like this to happen sooner or later, finding yourself abducted and taken, bed and all, to the meeting chamber of one of the most dangerous organisations on the planet, was still a very nasty shock. It seemed that the old men of SEELE had finally gotten around to tying up one of their loose ends. However, despite the cold seeping dread of waking up to such a predicament, Ritsuko was relieved to note, that at least this time around they had let her keep her clothes on.

"Where am I?" she enquired, slowly sitting up in her bed and desperately gathering as many of her thoughts as humanly possible. She knew she had to keep her wits about her if she wanted to survive their deadly games.

"Somewhere safe." answered SEELE 01. "Somewhere quiet, so we may talk."

"Oh." 

Talking with these men was about as appealing to Ritsuko as sticking poisoned daggers into her head.

"You do not sound very pleased to see us," commented the one called SEELE 05. "Though we are most pleased to see you."

"Yet, we notice you have been injured." clucked SEELE 06, full of false concern. "Now why is that we wonder?" Then his voice turned sly. "A lovers tiff perhaps?"

Ritsuko narrowed her eyes, remembering from her last encounter that SEELE 06 was the 'playful' one. "You could say that."

"Ah, but alas fair Aphrodite, love is such a fickle thing."

Ritsuko chose to ignore the bait.

"Why am I here?" she asked in a neutral tone.

SEELE 08 seemed to approve. "A woman quick to the point. Good." His chuckle was a modified deep throaty rumble that echoed through the chamber like distant thunder.

"Yes. Enough of the pleasantries," agreed SEELE 01, sounding completely unimpressed. "To business."

Shifting uneasily, Ritsuko steeled herself for what was to come, unaware she was gripping the bed sheets very, very tightly. The monoliths seemed to grow darker as they enclosed around her.

"We have a bone to pick with you, Dr Akagi."

Oh, that was not a good start.

"When we last met, we had set you out a simple task." began SEELE 02. "So simple that even a wretched woman such as yourself could not fail." Evidently he was still not as taken with her as the others.

SEELE 06 sighed rather dramatically, "Yet you disappointed us."

The monoliths lapsed into silence and Ritsuko sensed this was her cue to plead her innocence. For all the good it would do her.

"I did as you asked." The blonde winced at how much she now sounded tiny and insignificant. Unlike her interrogators, there was no powerful resonating amplification distorting her voice.

"You failed. Your sabotage was unsuccessful." SEELE 02 snapped waspishly.

"But I destroyed them as instructed!" The giggling of those things as they dissolved was going to haunt her for the rest of her life.

"Not all of them. The Chamber was purged. Yet the First still remained."

"She intercepted our own catalyst," added SEELE 10. "Brought an end to the 17th and took his place."

"She ruined EVERYTHING!" SEELE 02's sudden outburst made the doctor jerk a little in her bed. Her leg did not appreciate it and she hissed with pain. Oh yes, he was definitely still not taken with her.

Ritsuko decided to keep her mouth shut, despite the need to clarify that it was in fact Gendo who had killed their precious Angel and not Rei.

'After all,' she thought bitterly, 'I should know, he used the same damn gun on me.'

"But the point is moot." announced SEELE 01, after an uncomfortable pause. "As you are no doubt aware, Third Impact has failed."

Suddenly Ritsuko had to bite her lip in order to stop an inappropriate burble of laughter.

'Hah! No really? Other than the fact that none of us have been reduced to a puddle of goo, I'd never have guessed! Thanks so much for clearing that up for me Mr Chairman!'

She nodded, desperately maintaining a neutral expression whilst mentally slapping some sense back into herself. What the hell was she doing? Now was not the time for this crap!

'Keep it together, you idiot.  Keep. It. Together.'

"Then tell us, Dr Akagi," snarled SEELE 02, ignorant of her brief struggle with hysteria, "Were you also aware that because the First Child has broken the prophecy, we will all now be forced to pay the consequences of her actions very soon?"

Ritsuko blinked, then frowned. "Consequences?" The word instantly set her on edge.

"Ultimate. Consequences."

"We take it you are familiar with the Revelations?" enquired SEELE 07.

She was but failed to make the connection. "But we won, didn't we? Wasn't the 17th the last? I don't understand."

"Clearly." snarked SEELE 12.

"Winning is not everything, Doctor." explained SEELE 09 with obvious relish. "Without Instrumentality and the coming of the intended spiritual enlightenment, our continuation is nothing more than a hollow victory. Man has dared to reach the heavens before and the price has always been the same. There are no exceptions! Now the time of our Judgement is at hand! They are coming back, dear Doctor. They are coming-! "

"Yes, quite so." interjected SEELE 01 before SEELE 09 went off on another one of his annoying rants. "In short, because the Third Impact has failed, the Angels are going to return."

Ritsuko felt stunned. Like she'd been bludgeoned with a brick.

"And according to the scriptures," the monolith continued. "In less than six months, with the rise of the red moon, this world and everything in it is due to burn."

Now she felt sick. "Oh God…"

"Appropriately biblical, Dr Akagi."

Dimly, Ritsuko suspected that she was doing a really good impression of a goldfish about now as thousands of questions raced about a mile a second through her head. How? What? Who? Where? WHY? But SEELE 01 was all ready onto the next phase of his explanation before she could start babbling.

"However, although Mankind has indeed found itself on the brink of facing yet another regrettable extinction, we have fortunately anticipated this unhappy event and are already taking the appropriate measures." His tone was crisp with authority. "We are after all, far from helpless."

Through the haze of her shock, Ritsuko immediately understood what he was talking about. "Then the Evangelion Units, the Children, they're actually going to go through with it all again?"

The red numbers on SEELE 01 flared bright, like branded fire in the darkness.

"Once the event begins. They will have very little choice."

The listening doctor furrowed her brows. Something didn't quite ring true about that particular statement. Then it suddenly twigged.

"They don't know, do they?" Ritsuko whispered, her teeth grit with suppressed emotion. "You haven't told them." She glared up at the ominous black ring above her, but if the accusation bothered the men behind the monoliths, they certainly did not show it.

"All in good time, Dr Akagi. All in good time." SEELE 06 sounded amused.

"There is no need to inform them at this juncture." dismissed an unrepentant SEELE 11 with icy superiority. "It would serve no purpose."

"Besides there are other more…agreeable ways to prepare our young defenders for what lies ahead." reasoned SEELE 07.

"Did you happen to catch our special broadcast on the television?" asked SEELE 03. "The Evas and the Open Policy?"

Ritsuko inwardly groaned at how much her initial suspicions had been proven correct. "Then, that was you?"

"Oh, not entirely." SEELE 06 happily hinted. "Credit should be given where credit is due. In fact, we believe you know her quite well."

"Maya?" She really didn't need to guess.

"Yes. Lt Maya Ibuki is a resourceful young woman and has proven herself quite a capable idealist." confirmed SEELE 08. "We have merely adapted her original concept for our own future preparations."

"The re-construction of the Geo-Front would not have been as effective without her contribution." agreed SEELE 04.

"And of course, in matters concerning the Children, the results have been speaking for themselves." said SEELE 10.

"I see," muttered Ritsuko, feeling unsure about SEELE's interest in Maya. "So what I saw was a type of cover-up for Eva training?"

"A mere precaution," SEELE 01 replied. "It is necessary that the true nature of these 'exercises' are not divulged. The unsuspecting masses must be kept happy until the coming event. When it strikes they will turn to us rather than against us and the Children will have no other option but to comply."

"Then the Open Policy doesn't really exist?"

"On the contrary, Dr Akagi. It is quite real." countered the monolith. "And as mentioned before, quite beneficial. We have discovered that the re-construction programme in particular has been very effective for both politics and over all pilot morale."

Despite her revulsion for these evil puppet masters, Ritsuko couldn't deny her scientific curiosity. Trying to maintain the pilot's sync readings due to their ever-fluctuating mood swings had been a big bone of contention with her. "Why is that?" she asked.

"It appears that the Children simply prefer to create rather than to destroy." mused SEELE 01. "This is acceptable. It will give them all the more incentive to protect what they perceive to cherish when it is ultimately threatened."

'Why am I not surprised?' the blonde sighed to herself. She suspected that SEELE would always find a way to turn something good to their twisted advantage. It didn't stop her feeling any less disgusted though. They were worse than Gendo.

"However, although Lt Ibuki's Open Policy project has been a most effective enterprise and her duty to Eva is without question, we believe that she is not fully adapted for the purpose we have in mind."

"Lt Ibuki lacks a certain…commitment." SEELE 02 grumbled.

'In other words, she still hasn't sold her soul.'  Ritsuko was inwardly relieved. She had been thinking nothing but the worst.

"The MAGI has also proven somewhat difficult as of late." continued SEELE 05. "Although it has formidable capabilities, it yields a bare minimum to the current operators."

"This is not acceptable. We need the full support of the MAGI if we are to succeed in our objective." stated SEELE 11.

A small smile twitched on Ritsuko's lips. 'Mother must miss me.' 

Slowly, SEELE 01 broke away from the others and drifted closer until the monolith hovered directly above the injured woman's bed. It seemed that the Chairman wanted her full attention.

"This is a very serious concern and one that must be addressed immediately." Although quite intimidating, his voice was surprisingly soft. "Time is of the essence. In the following months ahead we will need an experienced, more suitable candidate for this endeavour. Someone who can be trusted to understand and accept the requirements needed if we are to prevail. Someone who has complete and utter commitment."

Ritsuko stared; the red glow of the numbers burned her unblinking eyes. She felt frozen under this scrutiny.

"Someone like you, Dr Ritsuko Akagi."

A thick sinking sensation gripped the pit of her stomach. She should have guessed. The words from her nightmare whispered mockingly back into her ear-

'See? They haven't forgotten about you, little doctor…'

No. Why would they? Not while they still had a use for her.

"What about the Human Instrumentality Project?" she queried, avoiding the issue. SEELE 12 was happy to oblige her.

"The tools of that particular venture no longer exist. Our main concern is now how to survive the coming Apocalypse."

'Yes.'  thought Ritsuko. 'One you sick bastards started…'

"That is why, Dr Akagi, in light of your many notable contributions in the past, we are willing to over look our previous disappointments and offer you your freedom, effective immediately." announced SEELE 07 with the grace of a benevolent gift-giver. "If you accept, you will be re-instated as the Chief of Section-1 and Head of Project E."

"Then, you'd return me to Tokyo-3 Nerv?" she asked cautiously.

"Yes. It would almost be like a reunion." replied SEELE 05. "You would find yourself in good company. Commander Fuyutsuki is all ready looking forward to working with you once more."

Ritsuko's eyes widened at that nugget of information.

'Commander Fuyutsuki? So I was right. You really have fallen out of favour, Gendo.'

"Of course, perhaps you would prefer to remain and rot inside your little cell." SEELE 02 suggested dangerously. "That too can be arranged, if you so desire it."

"However it would serve no purpose," commented a grave SEELE 01, still looming over her like a cold shadow. "You have an exceptionally fine mind, Ritsuko Akagi. It would be a great pity to let it waste away behind the bars of your continual imprisonment." He sounded almost genuinely regretful. "The loss of one Dr Akagi was tragic enough."

The fingers holding Ritsuko's bed sheets, clenched very tightly at the implied mention of her mother's 'accident'.

"But ultimately the decision is up to you…"

There was an air of hungry anticipation as the monoliths silently waited for her answer.

Ritsuko looked down at the twisted claw of her hands and focused her thoughts. Taking deep steady breaths she began to carefully think things through. By analysing the situation she surmised that SEELE 02's threat was a hollow one. Just one of their little tricks to keep her on her toes. She severely doubted that they really would send her back to jail if she refused their offer. It would be a futile action considering their predicament. However, what worried her was the fact that they would do something much, much worse. A knuckle popped as she loosened her grip and flexed some feeling back into her fingers. These men needed her. She was the best in the field, had access to powerful knowledge and was the daughter of the creator of the MAGI.

Ritsuko grimaced. 'No, like it or not, they want what I can provide and they're not going to simply stand idly by and let me say otherwise.'

And if she wasn't going to comply, then she knew they would make her comply, by any means possible. Ritsuko shuddered at the various nasty methods she had seen them use before. No. It was better to play the part of the dancing puppet rather than the broken slave. She was not a stupid woman and if she kept it smart, then she wouldn't be a good as dead woman either.

'There was no real choice in the matter in the first place. They included me in their little inner circle as soon as they told me the Angels were coming back. Face it Rits, you are screwed.'

Besides if they were so hell bent on using her, perhaps she too, could play their game.

"All right. I'll accept your offer."

"Excellent."

"Wait. On one condition."

There was a deadly pause before SEELE 01 spoke once again. They had not expected this.

"Name it."

Ritsuko took a deep breath.

"I…I want to see Gendo Ikari. I want you to take me to him."

As ultimatums went, this one was pretty lame. She could have asked for money, power, a lifetime supply of cigarettes! But no, she had to go and blurt out about wanting to see the man who had tried to shoot her stone cold dead. But she had good reason. Even though the Angels were returning and all the trauma that came with them was going to begin again, it was nothing compared to what she felt about Gendo and the mess he left behind. The Children, Misato, the evil manipulations. They could wait. This moment would be her only chance to resolve the shattered pieces of herself and she wasn't going to lose it. His last words still tormented her. She had called him a liar and his answer was a bullet. However he hadn't denied or confirmed it. God help her, but she needed closure and only seeing Gendo could provide that for her. Maybe she was crazy and she needed to sort out her priorities, but damn it, as long as he wasn't all ready on a slab, he owed her that much. She really had nothing else.

"Very well." The monolith conceded somewhat coldly amused. "Of course you will need to be adequately prepared for the journey. We will give you one more day to convalesce. There is a room you may use for this purpose. All we ask in return is that you accept the treatment we offer. You should find it a most effective pain reliever. We will take you to Ikari the following day. Agreed?"

What else could she say? "Agreed."

"Good. Then we shall leave you to rest, Dr Akagi. You will need your strength for tomorrow."

And just like that the meeting was over. The surrounding monoliths began to disappear back to where ever they came from.

"Farewell sweet Aphrodite." called SEELE 06 as he faded. "Oh, and Doctor?"

Ritsuko gave a weary sigh, leaning back on her pillows. She felt very, very drained. "Yes?"

"Expectes et sustineas."

Startled, the blonde snapped her head back up but the SEELE was gone. She was still frowning as two nurses appeared out of the gloom and began to move her bed out of the dark room.

Only SEELE 01 continued to linger.

Keel smiled as she was wheeled away. "Two down..." The monolith sank back into the shadows, leaving an empty chamber to echo his final whisper.

"One to go."

Author's Mad Ramblings: Hmmm… It looks like Ritsy has a few surprises in store for her. None of em good. Oh well, at least I let her keep her clothes on. *Yay* I'm more merciful than Anno! Sorry Psycho Pirate but…CAST FETISH??? LOL!!! Now there's a doujinshi just waiting to happen! O_O;; Talk about dirty ol men *ewwwwwww* And Yui's kiss was purely platonic an forgiving and stuff. Though God knows why she's so wonderful about Rits sleeping with her hubby. If I did an omake I'd have Yui bending over her as before, then she'd pop out a massive marker pen and scrawl all over Rits face ala Jiggly Puff.^-^

Naaaah. That's too cruel.

Thanks for the reviews and questions you guys! I like questions!^-^v  But most of them will be answered next chapter which will feature everybody's favourite purple haired Lady of the Yebisu. Oh and a smidge of red headed angst. And maybe some guy called Shinji…And Rei will think it looks like rain…*gasp* Non-stop excitement!

Er…Better… um…go start and write it then…*gah*

The obligatory italic Latin bit: Thou mayest hope and endure. He's being a bit sarky because he knows something about Gendo she doesn't. Ohhh he's such a cad! *boo hiss*