Disclaimer: See the first chapter.

Thalarian T.M. Productions Presents:

Neon Genesis Evangelion:

Project Blue Blood - Chapter 1: To Know Thy Self
To some, God is a being that is all knowing, all seeing, and the guardian of the most prestegious plane of existence ever. He is the one everyone goes to for the answer. He is the one that everyone turns to for for guidance. He is the one that everyone begs to for mercy. He is the watcher of all and forgiver of all sins.

He's in his heaven and all is right with the world.

At least, that's what it stated under the half leafed symbol on the floor of one Gendo Ikari's office. To him, God was a being that didn't work in mysterious ways. He wasn't a being that watched over those that put their faith in him. Oh no, to him, god didn't even exist. That's why, to one Gendo Ikari...

...it was a position that needed to be filled.

Adjusting his amber glasses, Gendo settled into the leather chair that was settled behind his desk. Letting his hands fall on a few of the papers that littered his desk, they finally settled on what seemed to be transfer papers. After glancing over them one more time, he settled back into his chair, hands intertwined under his nose in a position most familiar to him. Another set of hands reached out and picked up the forms, leafing through them before putting them back on his desk. The shadow behind the man finally took a step forward, a deep frown crossed across his usual stoic features.

"Are you sure this a good idea?"

The man in question responded, never turning to look at the one he was answering.

"Still doubting me as always Fyuutski?"

The Sub-Commander stepped forward, running a hand softly through his grey strands. "Not doubting, just observing."

Gendo smiled faintly. "As you always do my friend. Do not worry, this decision has not come without careful consideration."

Fyuutski stepped up a little, staring straight forward as Gendo was.

"I do not doubt that it has. I just worry about the other employees working here as well. The last thing we would want to do is startle them by assigning someone like that to guard the Children."

If Gendo had heard his long time friend, then he did nothing to show it. He sat there, eyes staring forward like always. It was something that needed to be done. In all honesty, Gendo had only recently been having the idea of adding more security around the Children. He did not know when the idea had occurred to him, or why he had even listened, but ever since it had popped into his head, he couldn't get it out. Pushing it aside, he pulled forward another report that was sitting on his desk. After leafing through those pages, he set the file back down on his desk.

"How are they looking?"

Fyuutski smiled, still staring forward just like his companion.

"Unit-03 is entering it's final stages of construction and should be shipped here from the United States soon. A pilot is at the moment, being found. Unit-04 will begin testing the core unit in possibly a couple of weeks. Unit-06 is also nearing completion, and the pilot is nearly ready for the activation test. She has been training for nearly 4 months now. China has alerted us that after the activation test, they will ship it here. Russia is a bit over halfway with the construction of Unit-07, and their pilot is more then ready for the activation test. England has Unit-08 in it's final diagnostics checks, and their pilot has entered her final phase of activation. Everything in their reports seems fine."

Gendo's eye's narrowed as he noticed one not on the list.

"And Unit-05?"

Fyuutski smirked. "You need to ask?"

"Seems the old men still want some secrets." Without another word Gendo stood and walked towards the back of his office, staring out of the window that overlooked the GeoFront. "You and I know they are being mass produced as we speak."

Fyuutski didn't yay or nay that fact, but merely walked next to his Commander.

"It is logical. However, I don't believe the Committee would honestly entrust you with this amount of power if they did not believe they had complete control over you." Fyuutski stared out across the lush underground battlestation, giving a weary sigh that truly matched his age. "Man desires the power of God, but in turn, he trades in his humanity. But humanity is what gave us God in the first place. It's all so ironic."

Despite the statement, Gendo couldn't help but smirk.

"You will always have your humanity my old friend..."

With that brief pause, Gendo placed a gloved hand on his reflection, tracing the area that held his heart.

"...I, however, have long since lost mine."

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To say Shinji was a shy boy was like stating that hacking off your leg with a rusty screwdriver while being submerged in molten hot lava and having ticks fester along your entire insides, would hurt a tiny bit. It showed in the way he talked, the way he walked, and just in the way he carried himself day in and day out. Which would explain why everyday, as various girls would greet him, he would shrink back a bit and mumble a brief hello, before blushing profusely and shuffling towards his class.

To say Asuka was a bit ticked off at Shinji, was like saying that half of the earth blowing up and aliens invading and destroying everyone and everything, with the sun about to go nova, was a little problem. Everytime a girl would smile and say something to him, that damn twitch would come back in her right eye. Don't ask her how she got it, she just did. And it was all that idiots fault.

To say Rei was quiet, well, was to say that Rei was quiet. She did not mind the various girls that greeted Shinji.

The boy in question finally sighed, entering the safe havon of the classroom. He smiled lightly as he noticed two young men seated around his chair. Both looked up and smiled back at him, greeting him as he took his seat. The bulkier of the two smacked Shinji lightly on his back.

"Well mister popular, seems that last Angel did very little stop your fanclub."

If Touji's comment wasn't enough, Shinji was forced to deal with the video camera that was suddenly thrust into his face.

"Yeah man! Why don't you share?! Those of us who aren't pilots don't get to have such luck!"

Shinji squirmed in his chair, not entirely liking where the point of conversation was going. Already it had captured the attention of some of the students, and they watching amusedly. Before he could answer however, a fiery voice flared in, burning up any response that the young pilot had.

"Morons can't be pilots Stooge. Shinji's an idiot, so he barely made the cutoff." Asuka's venomous voice sliced through the air with ease.

Kensuke scowled at the German girl, still holding his camera in the said boy's face, before falling back in his chair with a huff. Touji frowned, coming to his best friends defense.

"Seems like you've started PMSing early this month Asuka. Of course, with you, it's always hard to tell."

Touji's voice did nothing to hide his irritation. Asuka just scoffed at the three of them, sticking her nose into the air as she made her way to her seat.

"Can it jock-boy. I only converse with people with an I.Q. over 'Stupid'."

"That's enough you two."

Had one miss Hikari Horaki not stepped in to difuse the situation, Touji would have likely jumped over his desk and attacked the red haired girl. Asuka smirked at the dark haird boy, before bounding over to Hikari's side, brushing off the brief reprimand that Hikari gave her. Touji growled and turned back to his two companions who were still trying to comprehend the situation that just went down. Kensuke was the first to recover, talking with Touji about their weekend.

Shinji stared at Asuka with a bit of disbelief. She had become increasingly cruel in her remarks as of late. Ever since the two of them had kissed. Shinji's face took on a deep scowl. Hell if anyone had a right to be angry over it, it was him. Right after they had kissed she had the nerve to run off to the bathroom and rinse out her mouth.

Not a second later, the teacher entered the room and Hikari went about her morning rituals with the class. Shinji sat back down with a heavy sigh, knowing that the day was not about to get any better as it went on. He stared into space absentmindedly as the teacher droned on about the same topic he droned on about everyday. That's why it's easy to say that he was quite startled when a small blip occured on his desk terminal.

What is wrong?

Shinji gave the small chat window a confused look. He glanced around himself quickly, hunching over so no one could see his screen.

What?

Shinji sat back, waiting for the response.

What is wrong? You seem troubled.

Another quizzical look came from the boys face, and was directed at the screen in front of him. He finally glanced up and looked about the classroom, trying to find the other occupant of the conversation. Finally his eyes settled on the piercing red of another. They met silently, and Shinji found himself blushing very lightly as the red orbs stared back at him with curiosity. She turned back to the terminal in front of herself and began typing. Shinji didn't even have time to look back down before another message popped up onto his terminal.

You told me to smile more often. Perhaps I should give you the same advise?

Before Shinji could even respond to the question, the chat window closed. He stared at his screen blankly before he looked up. By that time however the owner of those red eyes was already looking out the window.

Shinji looked a bit dumbstruck as he stared at the girl, but despite himself, he smiled faintly. Perhaps this day was going to be a bit better then he believed.

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The tram into the GeoFront trudged along quietly, and its occupant stared out across the lush underground fortress with awe. It definently was a work of art in its own way, and it definently proved that even if man was barbaric with the earths resources, he was an artist in the ways that he used those resources. Checking his watch, he noticed that it was about noon, and that it would only take a couple hours to arrive at his destination.

The young man sighed, closing his eyes and slipping back into the cushioned chair. He'd arrive at Nerv shortly, and he definently needed to get himself under control. Very soon, his plan would be underway, and then there would be no stopping it.

Without another thought, he let himself be pulled along by the tram that made it's decent into man's ultimate fortress.

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It would only be a couple hours later that a purple haired goddess would find herself walking down the hallways of Nerv. Her red and black flight jacket fluttered behind her softly as she crisscrossed her way through the various corridors of the headquarters. Her long legs were matched by the equally long legs of her blonde haired companion. Together the two walked side by side.

Misato gently ran a hand through her purple locks as Ritsuko pressed in their destined floor. Misato leaned back against the frame of the elevator as Ritsuko stood in the middle with her arms crossed.

"Something wrong Major?"

Misato looked at her long time friend with a glint of uncertainty in her eyes. Purple hair fluttered about has she shook her head, even though Ritsuko knew better.

"You're not telling me the truth..."

Misato sighed. "Is there something I'm not doing right Ritsu? I mean, am I not being a decent enough guardian that the Commander would turn around and do something like this?"

Ritsuko sighed and laid a hand on her companions shoulders as the doors to the elevator opened, welcoming them to their desired floor.

"Misato, you've been doing a fine job as their guardian. The Commander has been boosting security everywhere, so it would make no surprise the he's adding additional personel to the Children."

Misato's brow furrowed for a split second.

"My question is why? This all seems a bit sudden, don't you think?"

No more words were said between the two as they entered the Commanders office. The man in question stood with his back to them as they crossed his threshold, hands neatly entertwined behind his back. Fyuutski stood next to his desk, hands in a similar position but facing the two women entering the office.

The older man smiled and bowed. "Major Katsuragi, Doctor Akagi..."

The two women in question bowed lightly. At this point Gendo turned and sat down in his office chair, his eyes hidden behind his amber glasses. He stared at them critically for a moment. Finally, one of his hands set itself down upon a manilla folder that was sitting on his desk. Without a word he turned it around and slid it towards the two women.

"This is the information on the new bodyguard assigned to the children. It has everything from his personal to professional history. Aside from his bodyguard duties, he will also be assisting both Doctor Akagi and Luietenant Ibuki in their scientific research and development. He is arriving at the transport station in Sector 23 of the Geofront in thirty minutes. You two will pick him up and brief him of his position and answer any questions he may have. After doing so, you will bring him here. Is that understood?"

Both women answered in tandem. "Yes."

Misato and Ritsuko turned around and began to walk towards the door at the other end of the office.

"Major."

Misato turned around, a little startled to hear the Commander call out to her again. He was standing at this point and regarding her. "This has nothing to do with any lack of guardianship of the Second and Third Child. Keep doing the good work."

Misato straightened a bit and a smile made its way onto her face. "Thanks you sir!"

As the two women stepped through the door, Gendo made his way to the window overlooking the GeoFront. Fyuutski smiled and sat down on the edge of Gendo's desk, looking out the same window. "I never took you for one that gave compliments."

The said man smiled, crossing his hands behind his back. "Certain things must be said in order for people do continue doing a good job."

Fyuutski smiled faintly.

"Always the chess player, my friend."

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Ritsuko whistled audibly. It took a lot to impress her, and this definently did the trick.

Misato sat in the drivers side of her blue sports car, driving at a fairly calm pace for her, listening to her friends telling of the mystery man they were going to pick up.

"What?"

Ritsuko flipped through a few pages of the file before finally going back to the first.

"Get this...twenty-five years of age and he's already capped himself as a top special operative for the United Nations. Not only that, but he's got a Masters Degree in Physics and a PhD in Psycology. Says he's been on more then twenty two Spec. Op missions for the U.N. and the U.S. One of them being the famous "Nuclear Reactor" project that the terrorist group in South America had going a few years ago. Remember when they stole a bunch of those nuclear weapons and held a few of the struggling nations at ransom?"

Misato's eyes scrunched up and she grabbed one of the papers from the folder. "Bullshit, he's got to be older then twenty-five." She pulled up the page that had his photo attached to it. Misato nearly sucked in her breath when she looked at the picture. He had short, spikey blonde hair, with a few longer bangs that fell over his face. He had soft yet firm features as well as deep dark blue eyes. Very deep, dark blue eyes.

Misato's eyes glazed over for a second. Dark blue eyes...

"Misato?"

The purple haired beauty snapped out of her reverie, completely forgetting what was going through her head. She glanced over at her blonde haired partner in crime and laughed. "Sorry Ritsu, I kinda spaced out for a moment."

The blonde merely raised an eyebrow and took the file from her hands. When she laid eyes on the picture, her eyes glazed over as well, and she tried to say something. Much like her companion though, whatever was going to come out of her mouth, quickly died, and she suddenly forgot what it was that she was thinking. Shaking her head she placed the file back into its hold, before flipping through a few other pages.

"Get a load of this. He's a master of twelve different types of martial arts as well as trained in over twenty different types of weapons.If I didn't know any better, I would say this guy was a bit more then just a proffessional bodyguard."

Misato laughed and cut a corner, making the car fishtail just a small bit. Ritsuko didn't even seem fazed as the purple haired goddess swrved in and out of the various streets. Before long the two found themselves pulling into the parking lot of the tram station. Misato turned off her car before stepping out, and pulling her jacket around herself, Ritsuko doing a bit of the same, pulling a small brown coat around herself. Both of them hooked small Nerv ID badges onto the pockets of their coats before stepping into the station. Misato looked around the station and finally noted a young man sitting on a nearby bench, reading a book with a small duffel bag next to him.

Misato and Ritsuko appraoched the young man, and Ritsuko pulled out the small photo before nodding to her accomplice that it was indeed the right person.

"Christian Takashi?"

The young man glanced up from his book, staring at the two women standing before him. A genuine smile formed on his face as he stood up. Misato saluted the young man as he stood.

"I am Major Misato Katsuragi and this is Dr. Ritsuko Akagi." Her blonde companion saluted as well. Both of the women couldn't help but smile back, his smile being somewhat infectious.

The young man saluted both of them, before bowing deeply. He stood the same height as both of them, but was well toned under his clothing. His hair was a soft shade of blonde and his face was youthful yet hard, and his eyes sparkled at the two of them.

"I am very pleased to meet both of you."

Neither of the two women suspected a thing...

To Be Continued...
Author's Notes:

I apologize that this chapter was so short, I had intially intended for it to be much longer. But I figure what the hell, might as well cut it off there. Halfway through writing this one I figured that it might be best to cut this chapter a bit short, simply because what I have planned would best fit into the next installment. ;) Have no fear, I intend to make the coming chapters MUCH longer, I mainly just wanted to boot this one out for anyone that was still waiting. I apologize for the long delay, especially after answering the long delay with something this short, but I figured this would perfectly set up what I have coming ;) I ended up going on a 3 week vacation to Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Amazingly enough, I walked into the casino with 100 bucks, and walked home after three weeks with 600. Damn, what beginners luck :D Plus I had to fly over to the east coast for a funeral service. (Don't worry, it was for a friend, I didn't lose anyone close to me.)

I would like to personally thank Unbesiegbar Kriegsmaschine, RichardRahl, Ominix, and Lonely Magician. They were my first 4 reviwers, and the sole reason I continued to write. Many people may not quite grasp the fact that we write stories for reviews. Not because we want fame or anything, but because we genuinely like knowing that there are people out there enjoying every single thing that we write. The thing that kept me writing was the reviews that sat there. I can't tell you how many times I read them to spur myself into writing. Even to the people that read this and didn't review, I would like to thank you as well. But to those 4 people right there, I dedicate this Chapter and the next to you. I hope I meet your high expactations. ;)

Oh, and one more tidbit. I know my name is Chris, and that this new character shares a similar first name, but DO NOT FEAR! THIS IS NOT A SELF-INSERTIAN BY ANY MEANS! I have many things planned. Also, there will be more of the children and such. I mean come on, Shinji IS the main character after all. ;) Just give me a bit, I'm still trying to balance the characters out so far. And to add a bit to the suspense, as I'm sure you noticed, there were MANY more Evangelions mentioned then normal. That is because YES, there will be characters coming soon. Just figured I'd tease you a bit with that information. ;)

Until I see you all again, take care of yourselves.

Chris

Thalarian T.M. Productions