Maternis
Chapter 3
Author's Notes: Well, seems I'm back earlier than I thought I'd be...Damnit, and I was betting this chapter would come later instead of sooner...*grumbles heavily as he passes a $10 bill to his bookie* Oh well...started doing update work, and the ideas, they came a-pourin' in, thus explaining why I'm back...and I'm rambling. I don't own Evangelion, Gainax does, though I wish Zentrodie owned it...series'd kick ass if they ran it the way he runs his MSTs. Oh, and I don't own Zentrodie, either...otherwise, he'd have MST'd my series by now. Maybe I should e-mail him and ask... And I'm rambling again. I'll let you get to the story while I pop a couple of Ritalin now.
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"So the Third Child remembers nothing of the incident?"
"That's correct, Commander. In fact, according to the MAGI's results of our scans, he hasn't aged a day mentally," Dr. Akagi replied coolly. Commander Ikari's expression remained as unreadable as he digested the information, gazing through the printed copy in the folder that constituted her report, now open on his desk.
"But you say he has aged physically?" Subcommander Fuyutsuki queried, looking toward the doctor. "How could that be possible without the mind knowing?"
"By what we've been able to piece together," Ritsuko explained, "the entry plug, upon being placed into life-support mode, increased the LCL pressure within the plug while at the same time dropping the temperature. In effect, the plug sent Pilot Ikari into a period of hibernation. As for the physical maturation, it seems that somehow, the Third Child managed to sustain himself through LCL absorption, much like with the clones. This would explain the change in hair color."
"But how could Unit-01 generate the power to sustain the pilot for seven years and have enough to break through the Angel like that? The internal battery couldn't possibly accomodate that much drain for that long. Is there any evidence of the S2 Engine engaging?"
"Irrelevant," the commander stated simply, silencing the discussion. "How will this affect his ability to pilot?" Dr. Akagi bristled slightly at the question, her eyes narrowing to slits. *Of course,* Ritsuko thought to herself. *It always comes back to that.*
"If anything, the incident should most likely improve his ability, having been acclimated to those surroundings for so long. Just in case, though, I've scheduled a series of synchronization tests as soon as possible."
"Good. We can ill afford another lost pilot, like the incidents regarding the Fourth Child. Bring the First and Second Children in as well; it is nearly time for their tests anyway, and it would benefit us to measure how the Third's return affects them." With that, the commander turned his gaze toward the doctor, his fingers laced before him. "You are dismissed." Ritsuko exited the office silently, leaving the two older men to discuss among themselves.
"You know what I will ask. Do our recent plans remain?" Fuyutsuki remarked as he peered inquisitively at Gendo Ikari, trying to discern something from the man's demeanor.
"It appears not, professor," Gendo remarked as he tilted his head toward his older associate. "We do have the key instrument again. How go the efforts to recreate the Lance of Longinus?"
Fuyutsuki shook his head and replied, "We've had no luck beyond recreating the basic design. Without the actual Lance to copy from, it appears matters will remain the same, and at last report from almost a year ago, the Lance should be almost outside our solar system by now."
Fuyutsuki stepped forward to face him fully, his face taking on more and more of a pleading expression. "I know I've told you this before, but I think you need to hear it again. The scenario failed, Gendo. Even SEELE gave up their plans when they received reports of the third copy's self- destruction along with Adam. We do not have the tools to bring about Instrumentality, even if we do possess Unit-01 again. These same efforts nearly resulted in our premature deaths last time."
Fuyutsuki took a deep breath as he continued. "You will not be able to reunite with Yui, and you will only drive yourself mad with your efforts. Just let this go."
Commander Ikari glared at his second-in-command and co-conspirator with a furious twinge behind his stony expression, before pushing his tinted glasses back up his nose. "The scenario has been reinstated, and it will go as planned as soon as necessary provisions are dealt with. The fact that those old fools have given up on Instrumentality only encourages my plans. All that means is that they will not interfere."
With that, the commander returned his gaze to his desk, his usual cold demeanor now in place fully. "You have served me well, Kozo, and I am grateful, but I will not tolerate interference in the scenario, even from you." Commander Ikari rose from his desk, and turning to leave, stated simply, "Remember, you above all are replaceable."
Kozo Fuyutsuki watched him go, bowing his head as the door clicked shut. Kozo held no illusions about the vaporous rumors of Gendo's sanity, or more accurately, his lack thereof, even back during the thick of the Angel Wars. But back then, Kozo knew that Gendo's madness had always been deeply rooted within a carefully thought-out method. In recent years, however, Kozo found the method dwindling more and more, while the madness only amplified itself. *All one would need for proof,* Kozo thought to himself, *is to see how far he's let himself go.*
Gendo Ikari's appearance had never been truly neat, but before his perceived slip further into insanity, he had at least maintained his appearance to a necessary degree. Now his slightly-haphazard look held another, more tangible haggardness to it. Add to it the fact that age had not been kind for the elder Ikari, and those who didn't know the Commander would see a grizzly old man, and hardly anyone would see within him the commander of one of the most powerful organizations on Earth.
Kozo breathed a sigh as his gaze turned to the Tree of Sephiroth painted on the nearby wall. *I just hope he abandons his folly before he proves the death of all of us.*
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Shinji breathed a sigh as he stood near the entrance of the department store impatiently, the numerous bags of clothes weighing down his arms. Asuka and Misato had taken him through every department store there, savagely tearing through the racks and shelves without mercy. Needless to say, the expedition hadn't been very fun for the young Ikari, who not only had been designated to carry everything that they had purchased, (*with HIS account card,* he thought with distaste), but who had also been sent into the dressing room every so often to model a particular look that either one or both would pick out. Not only that, but they enlisted help in the form of the department store clerks. He had been uncomfortably self-conscious enough when they would gaze at him intensely in trying to figure the best colors and textures to drape on him. However, it wouldn't stop there. They would parade him around the store as he tried on different outfits as they attempted to find the best look for him, they would tousle his hair to try and get it to match his ensemble, and they would tug and poke at him as they made minute adjustments. One pair even went so far as to take his measurements, which got him slapped again when Asuka brought him an outfit just as one of the young clerks, a bubbly teenaged girl with a bad case of giggles, was measuring his inseam.
Nonetheless, after hours within that particular shrine to commercialism, they had taken what they needed, supplying Shinji with all he would want or need, and had come to the last store. No others remained untouched; Asuka and Misato had picked clean all they wanted from the others. However, this did nothing to lessen the tension pervading the young man; in fact, said tension only seemed to amplify, as the shop they were currently patronizing only sold one type of garment, and it did nothing to ease his mind that it was currently the one garment he was missing.
Shinji kept his head bowed low, a detectable blush evident on his face as he picked out a few packages of plain boxers. Taking them to the counter silently, he had even been unable to meet the clerk's gaze.
"Let's see...that's three six-pack of boxers....Ooh, silk...very nice!" the clerk exclaimed, a slight grin on his lips. "Let me guess...a bachelor?" Shinji blushed further as his head bowed lower, much to the clerk's delight. "Ah...I knew it. I bet you have to beat them off with a stick, though..." Shinji mumbled something unintelligible as he slid his account card over to the clerk.
"It's okay...no need to be ashamed, Mr...." the clerk said, pausing slightly to read the name from the card. "Shinji Ikari...at least you're better off than the guys who pretend they are, but aren't..." The clerk grins as he brushes a bit of gray hair out of his eyes. "There's this one guy about your age, comes in here and buys those eight-packs of camouflage briefs, I swear...he thinks he's God's gift or something..."
Shinji can't help but smile slightly as the clerk runs the account card, the laughing red eyes still full of good cheer. Finally, the card runs and the receipt prints out, which Shinji signs. "Thank you very much, and I hope to see you again, Ikari-san."
Shinji maintained his weak smile. "Thank you very much as well," Shinji replied as he stuffed the packages into one of the bags he carried. Leaving the store, he approached an arrangement of benches with his bags, sitting down near the Second Child, who currently lay stretched out on one.
"Finally!" Asuka exclaimed as she sat up. "I was wondering when you were going to finish up in there."
"You didn't have to come, you know," Shinji said with a touch of annoyance in his voice. "I could have handled clothes shopping by myself."
Asuka swelled slightly as she fumed. "You could show some gratitude, Third Child," she retorted with a bit of venom to her voice. "I mean, I did help you pick things out, so you won't be a COMPLETE fashion reject. If you'd went on your own, you'd have gotten four or five changes of the same thing and that's it. You're almost as bad as Wondergirl." Asuka crossed her arms with an audible humph and continued. "And there was no way in HELL I was going to leave you alone while you went shopping with Misato...God only knows what kind of perverted outfits you'd end up with."
Upon mention of his guardian's name, Shinji took a quick look around. "Speaking of which, where is she?" He received his answer a few seconds later, as the woman exited the same store the young Ikari had just left, clutching what looked like a tube, no larger than a microphone. Misato smiled as she approached, when Shinji noticed the tube in her hand.
"M-Misato, what are those?" he asked trepidantly, as Misato slipped the tube into one of his many bags.
"Bikini briefs, Shinji," Misato replied in a laid-back manner.
Noting Asuka's mounting temper, and hoping to extinguish it before it got too terribly out of hand, he asked, "Th-those aren't for me, are they?"
Misato grinned and replied, "No, Shinji...they're for me...but they will need to be modeled..." She winked at the young man, which only served to fluster him further as well as further anger the redhaired young girl beside them. Shinji stiffened and blushed deep crimson, barely hearing as Asuka initiated her latest argument with the Colonel (despite the fact that the rest of the mall did) with her scream of, "YOU SHAMELESS HUSSY!!"
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Author's Notes (again): Well, this one's been an uphill battle to get out. Oh well, for now, I'm pleased. This chapter might be updated soon, in order to be retooled, but it should remain something like it is now. Any comments and criticisms are welcome...even flames, which, unlike sticks and stones, will never hurt me. ^_^ As for MSTs....well, if you want, let me know, and let me see a sample of the work. Who knows, could be a kick. Anyway, I don't foresee a new chapter on this story anytime soon (and this time, I mean it!) but I may do a chapter or two on one of my other stories. Who knows, might start yet another series! Until then, later.
Chapter 3
Author's Notes: Well, seems I'm back earlier than I thought I'd be...Damnit, and I was betting this chapter would come later instead of sooner...*grumbles heavily as he passes a $10 bill to his bookie* Oh well...started doing update work, and the ideas, they came a-pourin' in, thus explaining why I'm back...and I'm rambling. I don't own Evangelion, Gainax does, though I wish Zentrodie owned it...series'd kick ass if they ran it the way he runs his MSTs. Oh, and I don't own Zentrodie, either...otherwise, he'd have MST'd my series by now. Maybe I should e-mail him and ask... And I'm rambling again. I'll let you get to the story while I pop a couple of Ritalin now.
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"So the Third Child remembers nothing of the incident?"
"That's correct, Commander. In fact, according to the MAGI's results of our scans, he hasn't aged a day mentally," Dr. Akagi replied coolly. Commander Ikari's expression remained as unreadable as he digested the information, gazing through the printed copy in the folder that constituted her report, now open on his desk.
"But you say he has aged physically?" Subcommander Fuyutsuki queried, looking toward the doctor. "How could that be possible without the mind knowing?"
"By what we've been able to piece together," Ritsuko explained, "the entry plug, upon being placed into life-support mode, increased the LCL pressure within the plug while at the same time dropping the temperature. In effect, the plug sent Pilot Ikari into a period of hibernation. As for the physical maturation, it seems that somehow, the Third Child managed to sustain himself through LCL absorption, much like with the clones. This would explain the change in hair color."
"But how could Unit-01 generate the power to sustain the pilot for seven years and have enough to break through the Angel like that? The internal battery couldn't possibly accomodate that much drain for that long. Is there any evidence of the S2 Engine engaging?"
"Irrelevant," the commander stated simply, silencing the discussion. "How will this affect his ability to pilot?" Dr. Akagi bristled slightly at the question, her eyes narrowing to slits. *Of course,* Ritsuko thought to herself. *It always comes back to that.*
"If anything, the incident should most likely improve his ability, having been acclimated to those surroundings for so long. Just in case, though, I've scheduled a series of synchronization tests as soon as possible."
"Good. We can ill afford another lost pilot, like the incidents regarding the Fourth Child. Bring the First and Second Children in as well; it is nearly time for their tests anyway, and it would benefit us to measure how the Third's return affects them." With that, the commander turned his gaze toward the doctor, his fingers laced before him. "You are dismissed." Ritsuko exited the office silently, leaving the two older men to discuss among themselves.
"You know what I will ask. Do our recent plans remain?" Fuyutsuki remarked as he peered inquisitively at Gendo Ikari, trying to discern something from the man's demeanor.
"It appears not, professor," Gendo remarked as he tilted his head toward his older associate. "We do have the key instrument again. How go the efforts to recreate the Lance of Longinus?"
Fuyutsuki shook his head and replied, "We've had no luck beyond recreating the basic design. Without the actual Lance to copy from, it appears matters will remain the same, and at last report from almost a year ago, the Lance should be almost outside our solar system by now."
Fuyutsuki stepped forward to face him fully, his face taking on more and more of a pleading expression. "I know I've told you this before, but I think you need to hear it again. The scenario failed, Gendo. Even SEELE gave up their plans when they received reports of the third copy's self- destruction along with Adam. We do not have the tools to bring about Instrumentality, even if we do possess Unit-01 again. These same efforts nearly resulted in our premature deaths last time."
Fuyutsuki took a deep breath as he continued. "You will not be able to reunite with Yui, and you will only drive yourself mad with your efforts. Just let this go."
Commander Ikari glared at his second-in-command and co-conspirator with a furious twinge behind his stony expression, before pushing his tinted glasses back up his nose. "The scenario has been reinstated, and it will go as planned as soon as necessary provisions are dealt with. The fact that those old fools have given up on Instrumentality only encourages my plans. All that means is that they will not interfere."
With that, the commander returned his gaze to his desk, his usual cold demeanor now in place fully. "You have served me well, Kozo, and I am grateful, but I will not tolerate interference in the scenario, even from you." Commander Ikari rose from his desk, and turning to leave, stated simply, "Remember, you above all are replaceable."
Kozo Fuyutsuki watched him go, bowing his head as the door clicked shut. Kozo held no illusions about the vaporous rumors of Gendo's sanity, or more accurately, his lack thereof, even back during the thick of the Angel Wars. But back then, Kozo knew that Gendo's madness had always been deeply rooted within a carefully thought-out method. In recent years, however, Kozo found the method dwindling more and more, while the madness only amplified itself. *All one would need for proof,* Kozo thought to himself, *is to see how far he's let himself go.*
Gendo Ikari's appearance had never been truly neat, but before his perceived slip further into insanity, he had at least maintained his appearance to a necessary degree. Now his slightly-haphazard look held another, more tangible haggardness to it. Add to it the fact that age had not been kind for the elder Ikari, and those who didn't know the Commander would see a grizzly old man, and hardly anyone would see within him the commander of one of the most powerful organizations on Earth.
Kozo breathed a sigh as his gaze turned to the Tree of Sephiroth painted on the nearby wall. *I just hope he abandons his folly before he proves the death of all of us.*
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Shinji breathed a sigh as he stood near the entrance of the department store impatiently, the numerous bags of clothes weighing down his arms. Asuka and Misato had taken him through every department store there, savagely tearing through the racks and shelves without mercy. Needless to say, the expedition hadn't been very fun for the young Ikari, who not only had been designated to carry everything that they had purchased, (*with HIS account card,* he thought with distaste), but who had also been sent into the dressing room every so often to model a particular look that either one or both would pick out. Not only that, but they enlisted help in the form of the department store clerks. He had been uncomfortably self-conscious enough when they would gaze at him intensely in trying to figure the best colors and textures to drape on him. However, it wouldn't stop there. They would parade him around the store as he tried on different outfits as they attempted to find the best look for him, they would tousle his hair to try and get it to match his ensemble, and they would tug and poke at him as they made minute adjustments. One pair even went so far as to take his measurements, which got him slapped again when Asuka brought him an outfit just as one of the young clerks, a bubbly teenaged girl with a bad case of giggles, was measuring his inseam.
Nonetheless, after hours within that particular shrine to commercialism, they had taken what they needed, supplying Shinji with all he would want or need, and had come to the last store. No others remained untouched; Asuka and Misato had picked clean all they wanted from the others. However, this did nothing to lessen the tension pervading the young man; in fact, said tension only seemed to amplify, as the shop they were currently patronizing only sold one type of garment, and it did nothing to ease his mind that it was currently the one garment he was missing.
Shinji kept his head bowed low, a detectable blush evident on his face as he picked out a few packages of plain boxers. Taking them to the counter silently, he had even been unable to meet the clerk's gaze.
"Let's see...that's three six-pack of boxers....Ooh, silk...very nice!" the clerk exclaimed, a slight grin on his lips. "Let me guess...a bachelor?" Shinji blushed further as his head bowed lower, much to the clerk's delight. "Ah...I knew it. I bet you have to beat them off with a stick, though..." Shinji mumbled something unintelligible as he slid his account card over to the clerk.
"It's okay...no need to be ashamed, Mr...." the clerk said, pausing slightly to read the name from the card. "Shinji Ikari...at least you're better off than the guys who pretend they are, but aren't..." The clerk grins as he brushes a bit of gray hair out of his eyes. "There's this one guy about your age, comes in here and buys those eight-packs of camouflage briefs, I swear...he thinks he's God's gift or something..."
Shinji can't help but smile slightly as the clerk runs the account card, the laughing red eyes still full of good cheer. Finally, the card runs and the receipt prints out, which Shinji signs. "Thank you very much, and I hope to see you again, Ikari-san."
Shinji maintained his weak smile. "Thank you very much as well," Shinji replied as he stuffed the packages into one of the bags he carried. Leaving the store, he approached an arrangement of benches with his bags, sitting down near the Second Child, who currently lay stretched out on one.
"Finally!" Asuka exclaimed as she sat up. "I was wondering when you were going to finish up in there."
"You didn't have to come, you know," Shinji said with a touch of annoyance in his voice. "I could have handled clothes shopping by myself."
Asuka swelled slightly as she fumed. "You could show some gratitude, Third Child," she retorted with a bit of venom to her voice. "I mean, I did help you pick things out, so you won't be a COMPLETE fashion reject. If you'd went on your own, you'd have gotten four or five changes of the same thing and that's it. You're almost as bad as Wondergirl." Asuka crossed her arms with an audible humph and continued. "And there was no way in HELL I was going to leave you alone while you went shopping with Misato...God only knows what kind of perverted outfits you'd end up with."
Upon mention of his guardian's name, Shinji took a quick look around. "Speaking of which, where is she?" He received his answer a few seconds later, as the woman exited the same store the young Ikari had just left, clutching what looked like a tube, no larger than a microphone. Misato smiled as she approached, when Shinji noticed the tube in her hand.
"M-Misato, what are those?" he asked trepidantly, as Misato slipped the tube into one of his many bags.
"Bikini briefs, Shinji," Misato replied in a laid-back manner.
Noting Asuka's mounting temper, and hoping to extinguish it before it got too terribly out of hand, he asked, "Th-those aren't for me, are they?"
Misato grinned and replied, "No, Shinji...they're for me...but they will need to be modeled..." She winked at the young man, which only served to fluster him further as well as further anger the redhaired young girl beside them. Shinji stiffened and blushed deep crimson, barely hearing as Asuka initiated her latest argument with the Colonel (despite the fact that the rest of the mall did) with her scream of, "YOU SHAMELESS HUSSY!!"
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Author's Notes (again): Well, this one's been an uphill battle to get out. Oh well, for now, I'm pleased. This chapter might be updated soon, in order to be retooled, but it should remain something like it is now. Any comments and criticisms are welcome...even flames, which, unlike sticks and stones, will never hurt me. ^_^ As for MSTs....well, if you want, let me know, and let me see a sample of the work. Who knows, could be a kick. Anyway, I don't foresee a new chapter on this story anytime soon (and this time, I mean it!) but I may do a chapter or two on one of my other stories. Who knows, might start yet another series! Until then, later.