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An Assassin's Memories

Eighth Shot: Specialist

Yuji looked up as the door to his office burst open. His hand was already on the grip of his Glock before he recognized the young man from the previous night. "We have the results sir."

"Well?" Yuji demanded.

"You're not going to believe this," the young man said as he laid a folded on Yuji's desk. He snatched it up and opened it.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"No sir," the young man said. "Their research is ninety-nine percent accurate. It's almost foolproof."

"Shima Ryoji is Shinji Ikari?"

"Yes sir," the young man said. "There were a bunch of abnormalities in his blood, but the assassin is definitely the Third Child."

"So he disappears for two years and suddenly reappears just to start killing people?"

"As odd as it sounds," the young man said, "it looks that way sir."

"Get me everything you can find on the Third Child," Yuji ordered.

"It's in there sir," the young man said.

"Excellent. That will be all. . ."

"Corporal," the young man said. "My name is Corporal Ginji Takashi."

"That will be all Corporal." Takashi saluted and walked out of the office. Yuji glanced through the file. "Last known residence was with Colonel Katsuragi." He stood up and carefully pulled on his leather jacket, being as mindful of the gunshot wound in his shoulder as he could be.

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"Are you sure this is the place?" Ari asked as she looked around the grungy warehouse.

"Yes ma'am," Takumi said. "Appearances can be deceiving." Ari frowned.

"Those little Zen zingers are getting on my nerves Toc."

"I apologize ma'am," Takumi said immediately. Ari spun around as a door opened and banged shut. She watched as a woman stepped forward. Ari's attention was immediately drawn to the crimson dot over the woman's heart.

"Relax Thirty-Three," the woman said.

"Yes ma'am," Takumi said. Immediately the red dot disappeared. The woman stepped forward and held out her hand towards Ari.

"I'm Liana," she said. "I was sent to help you with Thirty-Three's arm."

"I'm Arianna," Ari said as she shook Liana's hand.

"And how are you doing Thirty-Three?"

"I've been better ma'am," Takumi said. Liana chuckled and stepped past them towards a large container.

"Please follow me." Ari fell into step next to Takumi.

"Do you two know each other Toc?"

"Yes ma'am." Ari waited for a few minutes before she realized that Takumi wasn't going to volunteer information.

"From where?" she prodded.

"She has aided me before," Takumi said. Ari stepped into the container and bit back a gasp.

"Holy cow."

"Nice, isn't it?" Liana asked. Ari could only nod as she looked at the emergency room equipment packed into a container the size of a school bus. "Removed all metal objects that you are carrying and you shirt then have a seat Thirty-Three."

"Yes ma'am." Takumi said as he did what he was told to do and sat down on the dentist-style chair.

"Let's see what we have," Liana said as she finished washing her hands and swiveled around a large piece of equipment to point at Takumi's arm. She covered him in some kind of vest.

"What's that?"

"I'm taking an X-ray," Liana explained as she waved Ari behind a tall screen. "Now just hold still Thirty-Three."

"Yes ma'am," Takumi said.

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Misato stood up slowly and hobbled towards the door to her apartment. She punched the button to open the door and stared at the tall man standing outside. He was wearing a sling on his right arm and looked vaguely familiar. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Yuji Kaido," the man said. "I'm with Section-4. I was hoping to speak with you about the Third Child."

"Shinji?" Misato asked in surprise. "Have you found him? Has anything new turned up?"

"Something new has turned up ma'am," Yuji said calmly. "I was hoping to speak with you about him before he ran away."

"Shinji didn't run away," Misato said as she stepped aside and let the man into her apartment. "Have a seat." Yuji sat down on the couch. "Do you want a drink of something?"

"No ma'am," Yuji said. Misato sat down in the EZ-chair and felt vaguely embarrassed that one of her subordinates was seeing how much of a mess her apartment was.

"So what do you want to know?" Misato asked.

"What was the behavior of the Third Child like before he disappeared?" Yuji asked. "Did he display any abnormal behavior?"

"I don't think so," Misato said. "He was really depressed though."

"Because of the death of the Seventeenth Angel?" Yuji asked.

"Yeah," Misato asked. "Angel or not, he was Shinji's only friend at the time."

"I see," Yuji said.

"No you don't," Misato said sadly. "He killed his best friend. Later he asked me if the Seventeenth really had to die. I told him that he was the enemy and that the enemy needed to die."

"That was a tad harsh," Yuji said.

"And after that I began working at NERV about eighteen hours a day," Misato continued. "I guess I was a pretty horrible guardian, wasn't I?"

"I'm not trained to be a nice person," Yuji began. "You were a horrible and unsupportive guardian." Misato winched as the man's words, but then she nodded.

"Maybe he did run away," she said. "I really didn't give him a reason to say here, did I?"

"No you didn't ma'am," Yuji said. "What about the behavior of the Second Child towards the Third?"

"She was horrible to him," Misato said. "And thanks to my brilliant skills as a guardian I exposed him to her attitude twenty-four hours a day seven days a week."

"So she was argumentative?" Yuji asked.

"She was argumentative, abusive, egotistical. . .the list just goes on," Misato said. "And I didn't help anything. I complimented him in front of her just to get her angry. I did it even thought I knew that she would take it out on him."

"I see," Yuji said. "I'm sorry for taking up your time."

"It's alright," Misato said.

"Permission to speak freely?"

"What. . .oh. Granted."

"NERV has a fairly good psychology department," Yuji said. "May I suggest that the Colonel investigate it?"

"Yes you can," Misato said sadly.

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"So how long have you known Takumi?" Ari asked as she watched Liana probe the wound in Takumi's arm.

"Thirty-Three?" the older woman asked.

"Two years ma'am," Takumi said.

"Jesus Christ!" Ari cried in surprise. "You're awake?"

"Local anesthetics ma'am," Takumi explained. "Neither of you are very affective combatants, therefore I need to be awake in case."

"Has it really been that long?" Liana asked.

"Yes ma'am," Takumi said.

"So you've known Thirty-Three for all of his operational existence?" Ari asked.

"And a little before that," Liana said.

"You knew him before he was programmed?" Ari asked in surprise. "What was he like?"

"Terrified," Liana said with a shrug as she picked up a pair of spreaders and opened the wound further. "You lucked out again. The bone was clipped, but it looks like it barely shattered."

"Wonderful ma'am," Takumi said.

"It wouldn't do anything if I told you to keep it immobile for a couple of weeks, would it?" Liana asked.

"I am unable to comply ma'am," Takumi said.

"That's a new one," Ari commented.

"Looks like we're going to have to use that stuff again," Liana said. "You're going to be in for a rough night Thirty-Three."

"What stuff?" Ari asked.

"Layman's terms may help ma'am," Takumi said.

"And what is that supposed to mean Toc?"

"It means that layman's terms may help in explaining it to you ma'am," Takumi said.

"It's a calcium synthesis," Liana said. "It stimulates bone growth and hurts like a bitch, or so I've been told."

"It does ma'am," Takumi said.

"He'll be good to go tomorrow," Liana said. "I'll patch you up and get the injections ready."

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Gendo stared at the report on his desk and looked up at the man leaning against the wall near to door. "Do you honestly believe this?" he asked.

"It's pretty hard to fake blood tests," Yuji said.

"But your report mentions that there were many foreign bodies in the blood," Gendo said.

"Look sir," Yuji said simply. "You pay me to gather evidence and make reports. I report what the evidence shows." Gendo's eyed narrowed behind his glasses.

"I see," he said. "And do you mind explaining why the Third Child would reappear and begin to assassinate people on NERV's payroll."

"I only have a personal opinion," Yuji said.

"And what is that?" Gendo asked.

"I believe he is back to get revenge," Yuji said.

"And what brings you to this conclusion?" Gendo demanded.

"It's what I would do if you were my father and Colonel Katsuragi was my guardian," Yuji said.

"The Third Child is not you," Gendo spat.

"And how would you know that sir?" Yuji asked. He pushed off the wall. "I need to go sir."

"Very well," Gendo said. "Who else knows about this?"

"The lab people and Corporal Ginji Takashi," Yuji said.

"You will tell absolutely no one else about this," Gendo ordered.

"Very well sir."

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Rei lay on her bed as was customary on days when there were no tests planned after school. Those days only occurred on Fridays, so she used to time to think of the past week's occurrences. One stood out more then normal, namely the two people who had taken up residence in the apartment two doors down from her own. The man, Takumi, drew her attention in a way that few individuals in her life did. His appearance was very familiar, yet his attitude was wholly alien to the young woman. Somewhere nearby two things collided heavily. "Damn it."

"Please be careful ma'am," a calm voice answered. Rei stood up and moved to her door. She pushed it open and saw the two people who had been occupying her thoughts only a few moments ago.

"Hello Ayanami."

"Good evening ma'am," Rei said simply.

"Hello Ayanami." The man's voice was much calmer then the woman's.

"How is your arm Takumi?" Rei asked.

"It will be fine soon," Takumi said simply. He gripped the end of the package that the two had been carrying. "I can drag it form here ma'am."

"I won't drop it again," Ari whined. "I promise Toc."

"It's quite alright ma'am," Takumi said as he dragged the crate to the door of their apartment. Ari smiled sheepishly at Rei.

"Well it was really heavy," she said. "How about you come over for dinner?"

"You are attempting to change the subject," Rei said.

"What makes you say that?" Ari asked with forced laughter, "so how about it? We won't be having anything fancy, but you can come over."

"I would like that," Rei said.

"Excellent!" Ari exclaimed. She wrapped an arm around Rei's shoulders and led her to the door to her apartment. "Hey Toc! Ayanami's coming over for dinner!"

"Just a second ma'am," Takumi called. There were several relatively loud bangs from inside the apartment and the sounds of things being dragged. "Okay." Ari pushed the door open and gestured Rei inside. She stepped into the apartment and noticed that it was quite a bit cleaner then before.

"Toc?"

"In the kitchen!" Takumi called.

"What are you doing in there?" Ari asked as she closed the door and walked into a room. The layout of the apartment was identical to her hers, so Rei thought it was the kitchen.

"I think I'm cooking," she heard Takumi said.

"Since when can you cook?" Ari asked.

"I don't know," Takumi said. "I didn't even realize what I was doing until you asked."

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Ari frowned as she stared at the dinner laid out before her. "This looks excellent Toc."

"Thank you ma'am," Takumi said.

"Did they teach you how to cook at school?" Ari asked.

"No ma'am," Takumi answered. Ari frowned again and wondered if she should include this in her report to the Bosses.

"This tastes very good Takumi," Rei said. Takumi took a bite of the vegetable stir fry ramen and frowned.

"It is good," he said in surprise.

"Much better then that instant ramen we've been eating," Ari agreed. She turned and looked at Rei. "Ayanami?"

"Yes ma'am?"

"I know you saw Takumi's weapon the other day," Ari began.

"Yes ma'am," Rei said.

"I was wondering if you could refrain from telling anyone about that," Ari said. "We need to have some sort of protection around. You see, Takumi used to be a part of the Russian mafia. We came here to get away from them." Ari saw Takumi's left eye twitch slightly. She knew him well enough to know that was the equivalent of a full-blown eye roll.

"I understand." Behind the blue-haired girl Takumi's jaw dropped.

"Thank you," Ari said. "Now let's get back to this delicious meal!"

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"Wasn't it nice having someone over for dinner?" Ari asked.

"Yes ma'am," Takumi said automatically as he continued laying out handguns of all shapes, sizes, and styles on the coffee table.

"What are you doing?" Ari asked as she picked up a rather large revolver and inspected it.

"Getting ready," Takumi said as he took the revolver and snapped it open with one hand. He checked the six empty chambers and spun the cylinder. He flicked his wrist, the weapon snapped shut, and he laid it on the table.

"Why do you have a revolver anyway?" Ari asked.

"Ever here of Russian roulette?" Takumi asked as he picked up the smaller semi-auto .40-caliber.

"So you put a bullet in, give the cylinder a spin, and scare the piss out of someone?" Ari asked.

"That's about it," Takumi said.

"Sadistic."

"Very effectively so," Takumi said as he picked up his full-auto 9mm and checked it over. A tremor hit him suddenly and the weapon fell from his fingers.

"Toc?"

"The bone is beginning to re-grow," Takumi explained. "As you were informed, it is quite painful."

"Do you want a pain pen?" Ari asked.

"It voids the effects of the serum," Takumi said. "The pain is un-escapable at the moment."

"Oh," Ari said.

"I will try to sleep now ma'am," Takumi said.

"Okay," Ari said. "Good night Toc."

"Good night ma'am."

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"Is that the best picture you have?" Yuji asked as he looked at the picture of the Third Child. It was a school photo from before he had even come to Tokyo-3.

"What can I say sir?" the computer technician asked, "the Third Child wasn't too camera friendly."

"With the people he was living with I should have expected that," Yuji said.

"Was Colonel Katsuragi and Pilot Sohryu really that bad?"

"Let's just say that I'm surprised he didn't run away more often," Yuji said. "Try to age it."

"How long?" the technician asked.

"Two years," Yuji said. The technician typed something into the computer's keyboard. On the screen the picture changed slightly.

"Print it out," Yuji said. He paused and stared at the picture. "Is there anyway to change the hair color?"

"Sure," the technician said. "We can change the color, style, add scars, change eye colors. . ."

"Alright," Yuji interrupted. "Change the color to red."

"Yes sir."

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Takumi's eyes opened and he looked around the apartment. He sat up and tested his right arm carefully. "Good." He stood up and looked at his arsenal spread out on the table.

"How's your arm?"

"Excellent ma'am," Takumi said as he shrugged on his customary shoulder holster rig. He picked up the .40-caliber and pushed a clip into it.

"You're heading out already?" Ari asked as she sat on the couch.

"Yes ma'am," Takumi said. He pulled the weapons slide back and slid it into the holster under his left arm. "It is time."

"Time for what?" Ari asked.

"Our employers are sick of waiting," Takumi said. "They've declared war and I'm the soldier for the job."

"So your arm is completely healed?" Ari asked.

"The bone is," Takumi said as he slid a belt on and checked the holster attached to the back of it. He picked up the full-auto 9mm and holstered it.

"I've got a bad feeling," Ari said. Takumi paused and looked at her.

"What are your orders ma'am?" he asked. His hand found the revolver and snapped it open. He pushed six rounds into the chambers and gave the cylinder a spin out of habit.

"Just carry out your mission," Ari said. Takumi nodded and snapped the revolver shut with a flick of his wrist.

-End

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

-Author's notes. Yada, yada, yada.