I don't own anything.

An Assassin's Memories

Thirteenth Shot: Resources

Takumi stared at the map laid out in front of him. "A penny for your thoughts Toc."

"I trying to decide how to meet Gendo Ikari without exposing myself to harm," Takumi said.

"What are all these dots?" Ari asked, pointing to the dots on top of several buildings.

"Possible and probable sniper locations," Takumi said.

"Maybe you should pick another location," Ari said. "You'll be surrounded by snipers."

"From this area I'll have access to the subway or the bus in minutes," Takumi said. "There are also a few things coming up that will help."

"Such as?" Ari asked.

"A few spontaneous demonstrations," Takumi said.

"How can a demonstration be spontaneous if you know about it?" Ari asked suspiciously. Takumi ignored her question. "So, what are they demonstrations about?"

"I don't care," Takumi said simply. "They'll suit my purpose."

"Do you think you had a girlfriend?" Takumi glanced at Ari out of the corner of his eye. "You know, when you were Shinji."

"Maybe I had a boyfriend." Ari's jaw dropped.

"Is that even possible?" Ari asked. "I mean you're strait aren't you?"

"Yes I am," Takumi said simply. Ari looked relieved.

"Could you really be that different from how you were?" she asked.

"Yes," Takumi said. "Shinji Ikari and I are completely different people. Any similarities are coincidental."

"I see," Ari said. "What about Ayanami?"

"What about her?"

"Maybe she was your girlfriend," Ari said. Takumi sighed and massaged his temples. He picked up the Glock he had been using as a paperweight and tucked it into the holster in the small of his back.

"I do not know," he said slowly. "Please do not ask again."

"Okay," Ari said quickly.

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

Takumi looked around the barren forest and then at the city lay out in front of him. "Perfect."

"Yeah," Ari said. "It's beautiful up here." Takumi ignored her and laid down his case. He flipped the case's latches and lifted the weapon out carefully. "Now that's a big gun," Ari commented. Takumi unfolded the weapon and pushed a magazine into it. "Can that thing really hit a target in the city from here?"

"Yes it can," Takumi said simply. He pulled a small black box out of the case and set it down on its folding tripod before lying prone behind his massive rifle.

"Are you sure we have the right angle?" Ari asked.

"Yes ma'am," Takumi said as he tugged a small bean filled bag from his pocket.

"Hacky sack?"

"What?" Takumi asked as he set the bag under the butt of his rifle. He used the targeting computer to check the distance, wind speed, elevation, and humidity.

"How much longer is this going to take?" Ari asked.

"You can wait in the van ma'am," Takumi said simply. He pulled Yuji's cell phone from his pocket along with a hands free headset. He tucked the tiny bud into his ear and punched the send button. The answer was almost immediate.

"Ikari."

"Hello," Takumi said simply. "Here's the deal. Are you ready?" Takumi looked through the massive 10x scope of his rifle and adjusted the elevation a little with a squeeze of the bag.

"I am," Gendo said.

"We meet at Nakajima Plaza tomorrow at twelve," Takumi said. "Early is good, on time is fine, late you're dead. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Gendo said.

"Bring who you want," Takumi said. "I don't care, but you had better be unarmed. If you are carrying a weapon I will kill you. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Gendo said.

"Do not mess with me." Takumi's finger found the trigger. Over a mile away the coffee mug in Gendo Ikari's hand exploded. "Good night."

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

Yuji was laughing on the inside. He was really starting to like Shinji Ikari. "We could not find the shooter," Yuji said. "It has been estimated that the shot must have come from over a mile away to avoid detection by the counter snipers guarding you."

"I see," Gendo said.

"I must say that I am impressed," Yuji continued. "Even with modern fire control systems and custom ammunition that was one hell of a shot."

"Aren't the counter snipers armed with high-powered rifles?" Gendo asked.

"Yeah," Yuji said. "But they have to be mobile, so they can't use the highest performance optics available."

"I see." The old man turned away and Yuji smirked. He had never seen the Commander of NERV this on edge ever. It was certainly very amusing.

"You do not seem upset by this sir." Yuji glanced at the man by his side. It was the newly promoted Sergeant Ginji Takashi. "You seem amused."

"I am," Yuji said.

"Don't let the man hear you talk like that," Ginji said. "May I ask what is amusing about this?"

"Shima Ryoji," Yuji said. "That kid is just something else."

"I've given up on figuring the angles," Ginji said. "Is he the bad guy?"

"Maybe we are," Yuji said. Ginji frowned.

"But NERV fought the Angels." Yuji chuckled.

"The man had a reason," he said. "He wouldn't have done it any other way."

"Maybe he's the bad guy."

"Or maybe he's just a small fish in a big pond."

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

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Ari asked as she looked at the man.

"It should," Takumi said from where he was lying on the ground. "There are too many variables though. I can't guarantee anything."

"So you might die tomorrow," Ari said thoughtfully.

"I might die any minute," Takumi said simply. Ari sighed and considered throwing something at him.

"Do you have a death wish or something?" she demanded.

"I don't see why I shouldn't," Takumi said with a shrug. "It's not as if I have anything in particular to live for." Ari fell quiet. She should have kept her mouth shut. She should have known he would have said something like that.

"Why do you keep living if you have nothing to live for?" she asked finally.

"My programming does not allow me to simply die," Takumi explained. "It is a failsafe program."

"So you can't just die as long as you have an enemy?" Ari asked after a moment.

"Exactly," Takumi said. "Good night."

"Yeah."

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

Gendo looked around the crowded plaza. He checked his watch and frowned it was one minute till noon. Suddenly his cell phone went off. Gendo tugged it out of his pocket and flipped it open. "Ikari."

"Good to see that you're prompt at least." It was the assassin who was supposed to be his son. "Turn forty degrees to your left." Gendo turned. "See that bus?"

"Yes," Gendo said.

"Board it," the assassin said. "If I see any gestures to your escorts you're dead. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Good," the assassin said. "I will contact you once you've boarded the bus." Gendo flipped the phone shut and tucked it into his coat pocket. He walked towards the bus and climbed in a moment before the doors shut. He paid the toll and looked around. No one looked like his son. One man in the back though had a large black wide-brimmed hat pulled down over his face. The bus lurched to a start and Gendo was forced to grab the handrail due to lack of seats. The bus lurched to a stop and Gendo stared at the people that had suddenly marched into the plaza.

"Well I'll be damned," the bus driver said. "Sorry about this folks. I guess you can wait here or try to catch the bus two blocks down." The doors opened and several people began to file off. Gendo was still waiting when something landed on his head.

"Move," a deep voice said. Gendo turned and saw that man who had been wearing the hat. The hat was now on his own head. The younger man also draped his black coat over Gendo's gray. "I said move." A gun was shoved into Gendo's side and he stepped forward. They stepped off the bus and were immediately immersed in the crowd. The young man led him towards one of the subway entrances and down the stairs.

"You are Shima Ryoji?"

"I'm Takumi." Instead of going through the turntables they turned sharply and started down one of the maintenance passageways. The orange-clad workers paid no attention to them. Takumi pushed another door open and they stepped into a room containing a young dark-haired woman sitting behind a table. The young man shoved him roughly against a wall and patted him down. "No weapons, good for you. Looks like you have brains as well as promptness."

"Good afternoon Commander Ikari," she said calmly. "I take it the plan went off without a hitch."

"Correct ma'am," Takumi said, leaving Gendo's side and moving to stand beside the woman. Gendo stared at the man. He certainly bared more then a passing resemblance to the Third Child. The only differences were the slight increase in height and build, his raven-black hair, his oddly mismatched blue eyes, and the quiet hostility he reflected. "I'll be right back."

"Alright Takumi." The young man picked up a large shotgun and walked to the open door.

"Call if you need me."

"I'll be fine Takumi." The young man nodded and closed the door behind him.

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

Ari stared at the man sitting in front of her. He and Takumi had the same facial structure. With Takumi's hair now black again they really did look like they were related. "I thought I would be speaking with the assassin."

"He doesn't want to speak with you," Ari said with a shrug. "He's a killer, not a talker."

"I see," Gendo said. "And who are you?"

"My name is Ariana," Ari said. "I am. . .was Takumi's handler. He thought it would be best if I spoke with you."

"It doesn't matter," Gendo said.

"Good," Ari said simply. "Here's the deal Commander. You will give us as much money and equipment as we want. In return you will be given all the information we have on SEELE. That includes names, locations, tactics, and more."

"NERV is safer then anywhere you could go," Gendo said. Ari stared at the man. That was true.

"What are you suggesting Commander?"

"I am suggesting that you both work for NERV," Gendo said. "Under false aliases of course. It would be beneficiary to both of us."

"Toc?" The door opened and Takumi stepped into the room. "Did you hear his proposal?"

"It's a good idea," Takumi said as he moved to stand next to Ari. He leaned on the table and stared at the man. "These are our conditions. We will not surrender our weapons, there will be absolutely no mention of Takumi, Shima Ryoji, Shinji Ikari, or Ariana; Ariana will never leave my sight and we will work with Yuji Kaido. Do you agree to my terms?"

"Yes," Gendo said after a moment. Ari stared at Takumi. 'What did he mean when he said that he never wanted me out of his sight?' It was a ridiculous demand for an assassin. He wasn't supposed to show any attachment to anything.

"What kind of security can we count on?"

"Section-2," Gendo said.

"That wouldn't be those bumbling fools guarding the First Child, would it?" Takumi asked.

"It would," Gendo said. "You caught them by surprise. They are cautious by nature."

"Too cautious," Shinji said. Gendo nodded simply. Ari was struck by just how alike they were. 'He said that he is not his old self,' she wondered, 'but he acts like his own father. Is it really a coincidence?'

"Do you agree?"

"Yeah."

"So much for Fiji," Ari said with a sigh.

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

Yuji looked around the plaza again and sighed. "Have the ground teams found anything?"

"No sir," another soldier answered through Yuji's head set.

"He's good," Ginji said as he finally lowered his suppressed .22 semi-auto. " I can't find him."

"Neither can I," Yuji said, lowering his binoculars. "Have you heard anything from the teams searching the subway?"

"No sir," someone answered. "Those damned tunnels were made to stand up to an Angel attack. They're eight feet of steel-reinforced concrete all the way around."

"We definitely aren't getting a signal through that," Ginji said. Yuji nodded.

"I wonder how they slipped by the men standing guard by the subway's turntables."

"Maybe they didn't go through the turntables," Ginji said. Yuji paused and stared at the younger man.

"Too late now." Ginji shrugged and rolled over on his back. "Wake me up when someone appears carrying the Commander's severed head." Yuji glanced at the entrance to the subway. "Do you want me to wake you up if the Commander comes waltzing out of the subway?"

"Yes."

"Wake up." Ginji rolled over and picked up his rifle.

"Look behind and to the right." Yuji shifted his binoculars and stared at the man behind the Commander. "Is that him?"

"His hair's different," Yuji said. "That's him."

"The Commander's giving the okay signal," Ginji said.

"Come down here Kaido," the Commander's voice said in Yuji's ear.

"On my way." Yuji handed his binoculars to Ginji and stood up. He brushed off his shirt and started down the fire escape.

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

Takumi watched as Yuji stepped through the crowd towards them. "It's good to see that you're safe sir."

"No thanks to you," Gendo growled. Takumi smirked.

"So are you going anywhere?" Yuji asked.

"We're hanging around here," Takumi said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black cell phone. "Here." Yuji caught his phone and tucked it into his pocket.

"They're going to be working with you," Gendo said.

"Okay," Yuji said. "Are you moving in to the Geo-Front?"

"No," Gendo said. "They will be living in the same apartment as Colonel Katsuragi and the two Evangelion pilots. One location is more easily defended then a dozen."

"Also easier to kill everyone at once," Takumi said.

"Speaking from experience?" Yuji said.

"Yeah."

"Alright," Yuji said flatly. "Do you have anything you need to bring along?"

"We need to destroy all our weaponry," Takumi said. "The rifling in the barrel and the firing pin indentations are specific to each weapon and they are in my files."

"Do you really think that SEELE has the resources to trace flattened bullets and spent casings to you?" Yuji asked. "There are billions of murders world wide every single day."

"They have the resources," Takumi said simply. "I was one of them."

-End

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

-Author's notes. This is just a short chapter I wanted to get out. There will be some interesting stuff in the next chapter. Happy New Years.