"My father? Insane?" Shinji Ikari paused and looked at Makoto Hyuga sideways. Makoto, however, refused to look him in the eyes, and instead only deepened the frown on his face a fraction more. But Shinji noticed it.
"I... I think I need to sit down," Shinji siad, and took one of the large, swiveling chairs reserved for Makoto, Shigeru and Maya. After a pause, he asked, "Why did you lock him in his office?"
"Frankly, Shinji, we're all a little scared, and not just of him. The headquarters is a massive construct. You know that the black pyramid structure we're in is just the tip of the iceberg. We're still discovering subterranean passages every day in our search for survivors. And with the state your father's in right now, we don't want to lose him. Or...," he began, but quickly stopped himself.
Shinji nodded, understanding immediately. Or what if he snapped and hurt somebody? He was accutely aware that he was terrified of his own father- he felt a sudden pang of shame and regret at the thought- but who knew what he might do, or where he may run off to, and in the dark? That was an even more terrifying thought.
A metallic knock interrupted his thoughts, followed shortly by a voice, asking, "Excuse me, sirs?"
Shinji and Makoto looked up at the same time towards the bullet hole-ridden doorway. Normally only operators and technicians of the highest security clearance could have made it this far, but without electricity, the personnel that survived the Third Impact had to pry doors open and jamb them with large cement debris, or blast them apart altogether.
In the doorway stood another Nerv operator, judging by her khaki jumpsuit and white pants., even though many parts were stained by grime and scuff marks. Her short black hair fell about midway on the neck, and framed a pale, slim face that seemed marred only by a tiny mole underneath one corner of her mouth. She gave the impression that she was prim and proper, despite her dissheveled looks, though not so much as Maya's, whom she looked to be the same age as.
"May I enter, sirs?" she asked, in a serious, deadpan voice.
"Of course," Makoto said, standing from his seat. "No need for decorum of rank, Aoi-san. Especially not after what happened. We have the same posiiton, after all."
"But not the same ranks," she added, with a small smile that seemed to clash with her reserved-looking spectacles.
Makoto grinned, and scrubbed a hand through his brown hair. "Again, not necessary at this moment. Shinji-kun, come; let me introduce you. This is sub-lieutenant Aoi Saijyou, one of the Evangelion operators. Aoi-san, this is Shinji Ikari-kun, the Third Child, pilot of-"
"Evangelion unit-01," she said for him. "Born June 6th, only son of Commander Ikari and Yui Ikari, deceased. Bloodtype A-positive. Piloted Eva-01 with no prior training, and at a 40 synch ratio. Impressive," she commented, shaking Shinji's hand. She turned to the other operator. "It is our jobs to know this, you know, lieutenant, sir."
"Of course, of course," he replied, dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand.
"Wow," Shinji remarked. "That was great! But... I didn't know that there were other Nerv operators," he admitted.
Aoi's smile disappeared, replaced by a tone that sounded like she was playing back a litany of memorized data. "There are a total of 12 operators," she began. "Lieutenants Makoto Hyuga, Shigeru Aoba, and Maya Ibuki you already know, but they're just the main coordinators within the chain of command. Serving under and in conjunction with them are nine more, or three assigned to each of them: one each for data prioritization and analysis-"
"We call them 'Sifters,'" Makoto interjected.
"...one each for protocol and sub-routine management-"
"'Runners.'"
"...And the last three are dedicated to other specific aspects associated with field operations," she continued, unhampered by the other operator's interruptions. "Utility management; including but not limited to weapons, plug cords and crew coordination. Environment logistics; including but not limited to field reports, and supervision over Tokyo-3 and all surrounding areas. And lastly, a coordinator for United Nations tactical assistance and operations."
"We call them 'channelers,'" Makoto said. "Aoi here is the Nerv operator for utilities, which means she's currently commandeered half the remaining personnel to get our electricity back."
"Among other duties, yes," she said, rolling her eyes. "Which brings me to why I'm here, sir. I just wanted to report in and let you know that we should have the electrical generators online soon. Thermoelectrical generators are out of commission, but the microbial and hydroelectric generators seem to be running fine. We should have them up within the hour."
