Disclaimer –
The original story Neon Genesis Evangelion, its characters and all other trademarks are used without permission. The originals are mine, and will be named in the author notes of the first chapter they appear in. I will be making no profit from this story.
Evangelion Chronicles
by Room3
Chapter 08 - Consequences
Asuka panted slightly as she picked up her towel, the headphones in her ears filling her head with loud music. She wiped the sweat off her brow before hanging the towel around her neck and turning off her music. Flipping the earbuds out and letting them fall onto the fabric of her top, she used her teeth to undo the Velcro strap on the mitt on her right hand. Pulling it off with her left, she flexed the newly free hand before releasing the strap on the left mitt and removing it, tossing both onto the floor by her gym bag.
Reaching behind her, the girl pulled her mp3 player off the waistband of her shorts and grabbed the headphones, wrapping the cord around the player. She knelt down and slipped the player into one of the side pockets before shoving the mitts into the other. Closing the zips, she heard the sound of clanking coming from the lower level. The redhead grabbed the bag and stood up, heading for the stairs.
As she descended, she cast her eyes around, looking for the source of the noise she had heard. A grin spread across her lips as she spotted Shinji using one of the many weight machines. The second-child walked over to him, stopping so she was just out of his line of sight.
"Trying to build up a bit of muscle, huh?" the girl said, startling the unsuspecting boy who had been lost in his own thoughts.
"Is that you, Asuka?" Ikari asked, stopping and wiping his brow.
"Who else?" she replied, stepping into view.
Shinji frowned, noticing the tired look on her sweat streaked face. "I thought you were told to take it easy?"
"Brahms is just being overprotective," the German responded flippantly. "Besides, I didn't do anything that would pull my stitches; just some light callisthenics."
"Well, don't blame me if you end up back in the infirmary," the third-child told her, standing up.
The girl snorted. "Like I'd do something like that!"
"What? Blame me or end back in the infirmary?" he smiled, walking towards the changing rooms.
Asuka gave him a playful shove, a small smile on her lips. "By the way, Shinji, I've been meaning to ask you something."
"What?"
"Are you and Rei related in anyway?"
"Not that I know of," Ikari answered, a frown appearing on his face. "Why?"
"Because you look so alike," the redhead stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"We do?" her companion responded, coming to a stop and looking at her quizzically.
"Aside from the differences in hair and eye colour, yeah," Asuka told him. "Don't tell me you hadn't noticed?"
"Why would I?" Shinji shrugged, continuing to the changing rooms.
"When is the Beta Unit test scheduled to occur?" Jacque Bouquet asked the professor as the discussion of the Human Instrumentality Committee turned to the 'Jet Alone' program.
"Within the next two days, or so I'm told," Kouzou responded calmly.
"And you are prepared for it?" the Frenchman questioned.
"Everything is in place and waiting," Fuyutski answered.
"That is good to hear," Viktor Hasan commented.
"Indeed," Keele intoned. "The very existence of the program is a threat to our scenario."
"However, those toys of theirs could still be an asset," Louise Daniels said thoughtfully. "Perhaps Nerv should offer their assistance, should the next two trials fail."
"An idea that may possess some merit," Megumi Takamura added. "It may be worth looking into, to see if we could use them in some way."
"Perhaps," Lorentz replied. "Professor Fuyutski, if you would look in to the matter?"
"Of course," Kouzou nodded. "I'm sure Dr. Akagi still has the technical specifications she was supplied before the Alpha Unit test. I'll have her look into the matter."
"Good," Jacque said.
"So, you think you're fitter than me?" Asuka asked, one eyebrow arching itself in challenge.
"Too right," Toji snorted.
"Come on then," the German said, putting her right elbow on the desk she was sat at.
"What?" Suzuhara asked, puzzled.
"Since I can't whip you in a race until my stitches are out," Soryu explained, "we'll settle this with an arm-wrestle."
"What's an 'arm-wrestle'?" Hikari inquired.
"It's a test of strength," Shinji said. "The two involved put their elbows on a flat surface, usually a desk or a table, and grasp hands. The object is to force your opponent's hand down onto the desk."
"So, how about it?" the second-child asked, looking Toji in the eye. "Afraid you can't win?"
"You're on!" Suzuhara told her, sitting down on the other side of the desk, copying her position.
"Shinji, you're ref," the redhead said. The third-child nodded and took up a position overlooking the desk.
"So what do I do with my other hand?" Toji enquired.
"Grab one of the desk's legs," Ikari instructed. "You too, Asuka." The two combatants did as instructed. Shinji grabbed their joined hands, checking the grip, before ensuring that neither had an advantage from the position. "Ready?"
"Yeah," Suzuhara answered. Asuka nodded, her eyes locked on her opponent's.
"Go!" the referee called. The two began to push and the group of interested students that had surrounded them began to cheer on their favourite. Hikari watched as Asuka began to force Toji's hand down, the smirk on her lips surprising the brunette.
A feral look spread across the boy's face as he began to push his hand back upwards, then Asuka's down. The redhead's smirk began to waver as Suzuhara began to win. Her brow creased in concentration as she willed her hand to stop moving. Sweat began seeping out of the pores on her forehead.
The first-child watched from her seat. Her face was blank, but she was extremely interested in the contest going on. She did not understand the second-child's need to prove herself superior to Suzuhara. Ayanami believed that he would prove to be victorious. She meant no disrespect to the German girl, she had witnessed how much weight she was capable of lifting. However, the blue-haired girl was certain that this 'arm-wrestle' was putting a strain on her lower abdomen, which as still not fully healed from her operation two weeks ago, and the unhealed wound would cause her discomfort, distracting her and preventing her from succeeding. A few minutes later she was proved correct as Ikari pronounced Suzuhara the victor.
"Scheiße!" the redhead muttered, wiping her brow. 'I can't believe I lost!'
Kensuke noticed his friend rubbing the back of his arm. "You okay, Toji?"
"Yeah," Suzuhara replied, his breathing slightly heavy. "That was harder than I thought it'd be."
"So you thought I'd be a push over, huh?" Soryu enquired, her own breathing settling to its usual rhythm.
"Good match, guys," Shinji told them, stepping in before things between the two could escalate, as he was sure they would.
"Natürlich," the second-child responded, rubbing her wrist. She stared Toji in the eye. "You got lucky, that's all."
"Yeah, yeah; whatever," the boy replied. She was about to snap back a retort when the bell rang, signalling the end of lunch.
"Hey, Toji," Aida called quietly to his friend.
Suzuhara looked over at him, half asleep. "Wha' is it?" he mumbled, groggily.
"How's Noriko doing?" the bespectacled youth asked.
Toji stifled a yawn before saying "The doctors say she's improving. Can't see it myself, but mom's sure there's more colour in her face." He unconsciously began rubbing his right wrist.
"You okay?" Kensuke asked, frowning, as he noticed his friend's actions.
"Yeah, my wrist's a bit sore, that's all," Suzuhara answered.
"Guess Asuka's tougher than you thought," Aida commented, shooting a quick glance at he redhead, who was too engrossed in whatever she was doing to notice her name being mentioned.
"Dunno if I'd say that, but she's got a hell of a grip in her," his friend commented.
"One thing's for sure; she sure is full of herself."
"She's a pilot, she needs to be confident," Toji pointed out.
"Yeah, but there's being confident and there's being arrogant," Kensuke responded. He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I wonder if there's something wrong with Unit 02."
"What makes you say that?"
"I just realised that it wasn't used during the last battle," the bespectacled youth related.
"You idiot," Toji responded. "Asuka had just had her appendix removed, remember? They're not gonna let her pilot until she's recovered, are they?"
"I guess so."
"Aren't you coming, Asuka?" Shinji asked as he noticed the German had stopped just past the school door.
"I'll be along shortly," she replied. "There's something I need to do first."
"Okay," the boy responded and continued on, the first-child beside him. The redhead looked around and spotted Miki walking out of the door.
"Hey, class rep. Can I have a word with you?" Soryu called to Sadamoto.
The girl looked around and saw the second-child a short distance away. "Sure," she replied, smiling.
"In private."
"This way," Miki told her, leading her round one of the corners. Once they could no longer hear the remainder of their classmates, she stopped and leant against the side of the building. "What did you want to talk about? Are you having trouble with the kanji?"
"Yes," Asuka admitted honestly, "but that's not it."
"What then?" Sadamoto inquired, tipping her head to one side, curious. 'Didn't expect her to admit that.'
Soryu looked around, checking the two of them were alone. Satisfied they were, she said "I saw what you did to Marika and Megumi at lunchtime."
"I don't know what you're talking about," the class rep. assured her, trying to act innocent.
"Yes, you do."
"I need to be going," Miki said, and tried to walk away.
Asuka shoved her back against the wall roughly and leant towards her so their faces were mere inches apart. "I'm only going to tell you this once. Try anything like that with me or any of my friends and you get hurt. Got it?"
"Are you threatening me?" Sadamoto asked, slightly shocked by the pilots actions. Her mind raced, trying to think of a way out of her predicament.
"Consider this a friendly warning," the German girl told her, lightly brushing a speck of dirt from the class rep.'s shoulder. "It's the only one you're going to get," she added, taking a step back, but never breaking eye contact. "Verstanden?" Despite the fact she didn't know what the other girl had said, Miki nodded once, slowly. Asuka smiled brightly and walked off.
The blonde doctor sighed to herself as she spread the 'Alpha Unit' specification sheets across the desk. She looked through each sheet, sorting them into a number of piles, their position dependant on their content. She leant back in her chair and pinched the bridge of her nose. The slight headache she'd had all day was getting worse. The sound of the door opening distracted her and she looked up to see her assistant walk in, a warm smile on her lips.
"Hey, Maya," Ritsuko said in greeting, making her tone far more upbeat and cheerful than she felt.
"You okay, Ritsuko?" the petite brunette asked, noticing the weary look in the doctor's eyes.
"Just a little tired," Akagi lied. "Nothing you need to worry about."
"I always worry about you, Ritsu," Ibuki told her gently. "You know that." The doctor smiled in response. "What are you doing?" the lieutenant enquired, spotting the piles of paper.
"Just a little something the professor. You?"
"About to run that analysis you asked for this morning," Maya answered.
"Would you mind doing that from the Command Centre?"
"If you want me to.
"Please," Ritsuko said, getting to her feet. She closed the distance between them and kissed her girlfriend tenderly. "And don't forget about tonight."
"I won't," the brunette assured her before leaving the office. Ritsuko flopped down in her chair and sighed. She licked her lips, smiling at the taste of Maya that lingered on them.
She turned on her computer, quickly calling up the technical specifications of the Evangelions. Studying the pilot-Eva interface for about a minute, she also accessed the plans of the 'Gemini' project. Looking through the 'Alpha Unit' information, she sighed as he realised the data she needed wasn't there.
'Good job I kept them,' she thought as she pulled a key out of her jacket pocket and unlocked the bottom drawer on the left-hand side of the desk. Digging down to the bottom, she pulled out a large file and placed it on the desk, locking the drawer again. She leafed through the schematics of the 'Alpha Unit' until she came to the control system designs.
She examined the system for a few moments before turning to her computer and typing in a few commands. She looked at the screen for a couple of seconds, then turned back to the schematics in front of her, tracing a circuit with her finger. Frowning, she input another command into her computer.
Inspiration hit her, and she began typing furiously, her eyes looking over the plans beside the computer. She turned a couple of pages, one hand still working its magic.
Some twenty minutes later and her headache forgotten, she was finally satisfied and sat back, allowing the Magi to analysis what she'd done. She drummed her fingers on the edge of her keyboard as she awaited the results and allowed her mind to wander, reviewing her plans for the night ahead.
A beeping from the computer interrupted her contemplations and she leaned towards the screen, reading what is displayed.
"So it is possible," she murmured. She looked back at the schematics. "It would take quite a lot of work. The modifications needed would be extensive."
"And you're sure there's no way we can adapt the system for a pilot?" Fuyutski questioned as Akagi finished giving him her report. He was stood by the window in his office and had turned to look at as he spoke.
"I don't see how," the blonde replied, looking him squarely in the eye. "And I'm not sure I'd want a pilot that close to a nuclear reactor. But with the proper adjustments, the dummy-plug could work. I need longer to be sure, but the Magi reported a probability of success of seventy-six point zero nine." She paused for a moment to allow him to think before adding "That alone warrants further investigation."
"Then do so," the commander of Nerv told her, returning to his seat. "The 'Beta Unit' should be tested shortly and I want us ready to offer our assistance with the 'Delta', should the committee decide we will."
"Do you really think they will?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure," Kouzou admitted wearily. "But I think Keele will push for it, you know him."
"Always looking for a way to turn everything to his advantage," Ritsuko commented.
"Exactly. Any ideas how we can get one of those Jet Alone robot to generate an AT Field?"
"One or two," the doctor answered thoughtfully. "I need more research before I'm willing to say anything though."
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" a male voice called after her as Asuka shoved the person in front of her to one side.
"Dich schauen ihm zu!" she snapped back, not realising that, in her rage, she had spoken in German once more. "Schweinhund!" she muttered to herself and continued to stalk down the street.
'How dare he speak to me like that!' she fumed mentally as she barged past yet another person. 'Just who does he think he is!' She vaguely heard the sound of cars horns blaring at her as she marched across the road without looking.
"Bewegen es!" she snarled as she pushed her way past two women who were stood talking, blocking the path with their pushchairs.
'Nobody talks to me like that! Nobody!' Her mental tirade continued as she stomped along the streets of Tokyo-3 with the redhead completely oblivious to where she was or where she was going. A door opened in her path and she barrelled past it, slamming it closed with her fist in the progress.
'So the great third-child thinks he's better than me, does he! Well, we'll just see about that! He has no idea who he's messing with! No idea what I'm capable of doing to him!' She smirked evilly. 'But he's going to find. By God, he's going to learn the hard way that you don't mess with Asuka Soryu!'
She came to a stop, panting slightly from the speed of her travel, and looked around herself. She frowned. 'What the… Where am I?' The road beside her was barren of traffic, the buildings old and decrepit. 'I'm lost! Wunderbar! Thank you very much Shinji!'
"What's the matter, little lady?" a voice called from the alleyway beside her. The tone was oily and made her skin crawl. "You look lost."
Shinji bent double as he came to a stop, breathing hard. "Dammit… Asuka…" he gasped, "…how… can you… walk… so fast!" He looked up, still leaning over and panting. A frown creased hi brow. 'Where'd she go now?' he wondered, looking around. He'd been following the redhead for the last fifteen minutes, ever since he'd noticed she'd left her phone behind when she'd stormed out of the pilot dorm.
Glancing down an alleyway to his left, he caught a brief flash of red hair disappearing round the corner of the far side. Taking a deep breath, he jogged down the alley and turned in the direction the hair had gone. He followed the road until it came to an end at a T-junction.
Looking both ways, the boy saw no sign of the second-child and his shoulders slumped. He'd lost her. Completely.
"Dammit, Asuka!" he muttered. "Why do you have to be so stubborn!" Sighing, Ikari looked left and right, trying to figure out which direction the German would have taken, and whether or not it was actually worth the effort of trying to find her. 'I should just leave her,' he thought, recalling the things she had said.
"GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU FILTH!" a girl's voice shouted. Ikari recognised it instantly - Asuka. Realising it had come from the right, the boy ran in that direction, eyes darting around, trying to find her. "GET LOST!" Asuka screamed at the top of her voice. Hearing a hint of fear in her tone, the boy pushed himself harder.
'Hang on, Asuka,' the third-child thought as he ran. He skidded to a halt in front of an alleyway and saw a group of four male figures stood in around the redhead. He pulled his phone from his pocket and jammed his finger on to the panic button and pushed it back into his pocket.
"Asuka!" he cried, charging past one of the figures to stand by her side.
"Wha-what are you doing here?" Soryu asked, fear and confusion on her face.
"Get lost, kid," one of the figures snapped, making a grab for the German's arm. Snarling, Shinji pushed Asuka away from the man and slammed his fist into his face.
"You sure you don't wanna come with us, Maya?" Shigeru asked, leaning back in his seat and looking at the petite brunette as she typed away at her console. "I mean, it would just be you, me and Makoto."
"Thanks for the offer," Ibuki replied, pausing in her work to look over at him, "but I've already made plans for tonight."
Aoba shrugged, looking back at his screen. "I thought you might, but Makoto wanted me to ask." He smiled slyly as he began typing in a number of commands. "So, seeing your mystery guy again?"
Doctor Akagi's assistant frowned. "Huh?"
"Oh, come on, Maya," the long-haired technician said, swivelling his seat to face her. "You've been seeing someone for the last six months or so."
"No, I haven't," Maya told him, trying to act innocent. She looked back at her station.
"Deny it all you want, but me and Makoto both know you have been."
"H-how can you tell?" she questioned, realising her denials would fall on deaf ears. 'They think it's a guy,' she thought, smiling inside.
"Easy – you've had more of a spring in your step, you've lightened up considerably and you're smiling a lot more than you used to," Shigeru informed her, smirking at her discomfort. "The only reason for that kind of change is a relationship."
Maya felt herself blushing and looked down at her keyboard. Thinking about it, she had to admit he was right. "I didn't realise it was that obvious."
"Not to everyone," he assured her gently. "So, who is he?"
"He's…uh… Um…." Ibuki stammered. 'Oh hell! What do I say!' A high-pitched siren began screaming and red lights began to flash, saving her from her predicament.
"Report!" a voice from behind the pair ordered. Maya cringed as she looked over and saw Captain Katsuragi stood behind her.
'How long's she been there?' she wondered.
"One of the pilots' emergency beacons has been activated," Aoba informed the lavender-haired officer.
"Triangulate the position and inform Security Section," Misato commanded.
"Yes, ma'am," Shigeru responded, doing as she bid.
"Whose alarm is it?" Maya whispered to him.
"It's Shinji's," he murmured back.
"A few cuts and bruises, one or two scrapes. Asuka popped a couple of stitches and Shinji's gonna have quite a black eye, but that's about it," Makoto reported to Fuyutski. He was stood in the professor's office, giving him an update on the status of the two pilots who had been attacked earlier that day. "Nothing serious really."
"That's good," Kouzou responded. The door hissed open and Captain Rokobungi walked in. He marched up to the desk and saluted.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" he said formally.
"Yes, captain," the grey-haired professor replied. He looked at Hyuga. "That will be all, lieutenant."
"Yes, sir," the pilot rep. said and left the room.
"Now, captain, I want answers!" Fuyutski growled at the captain stood before him.
"Sir?" Gendo responded.
"I want to know what happened and exactly how it was allowed to happen," the professor clarified. "Section Two is supposed to protect the pilots from this sort of thing."
"I will investigate the matter personally, sir," the captain assured him, "and get you your answers."
"Good. I want an explanation, no matter what. Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"That will be all," Kouzou told him. "Dismissed." Rokobungi saluted again and exited the office, leaving the professor alone with his thoughts. Sighing, he got up and wandered over to his window, staring out at the lake.
"God knows what Lorentz is going to say when he finds out about this mess," he murmured to himself, his breath misting the cool glass before him.
Asuka hesitated for a few moments before knocking on the door in front of her. "Shinji, you in there?" she called. She waited for a few seconds, but received no response. "I'm coming in."
She opened the door and walked in, looking round. The object of her search wasn't there. After her mind had registered that fact, she began to take in details of the room, what few there were. He had two small pictures of landscapes hung on the wall opposite his bed; his shelves held little.
"This place sure is Spartan," the redhead murmured. A glint of light caught her eye as she turned around. Following it, she saw a small silver frame on the unit beside the boy's bed. She frowned and walked over to it, picking it up. It was a photo of a woman in her mid-twenties. She had short brown hair and a kind smile.
"What are you doing in here?" a voice from behind her asked, causing her to jump slightly. Soryu turned around and saw Shinji stood by the door, a displeased expression on his face.
"I wanted to apologise," the girl told him. "You were right yesterday." The boy seemed to ignore her words and walked over, taking the photo from her and replacing it.
"I also wanted to thank you – for coming after me," she continued. "I hate to think what those guys would've done to me if you hadn't come along."
"You're welcome," Ikari told her softly, looking at the photo.
"She's beautiful," the German commented, here eyes on the picture. "Who is she?"
"My mother," the third-child muttered sadly.
'His mother?' Asuka thought. "What happened to her?" she asked him.
"She died…about nine years ago," Shinji said, blinking away the tears that stung his eyes. "I-I don't really remember much of anything from before it happened."
"How did it happen? If you don't mind me asking."
"I-I don't know," the boy sighed. "There was some kind of accident - at headquarters - and they told me she'd been killed."
"You asked to see me, captain?" Katsuragi asked, standing in front of Gendo's desk, saluting him.
"Yes," he replied curtly. "Thank you for coming. Please, sit."
"I'll stand," Misato replied. The fact that he had not returned her salute bothered her. She dropped the salute and stood at ease. "I won't be here for long."
"Captain, I am conducting this investigation at Professor Fuyutski's request," Rokobungi informed her, sighing.
"Understood."
"Now, you were in the Command Centre during the…'incident', correct?"
"I had just entered the Command Centre when the alarm sounded," the lavender-haired woman answered.
"And who else was present at that time?"
"Lieutenants Aoba and Ibuki."
Gendo scribbled a note on the pad on his desk. "What were they doing when you entered?" he inquired.
"Talking," she replied.
"They were discussing a work related issue?" he queried, waving his right hand as he did
"No."
"I see," Rokobungi responded, jotting something down. "You took charge of the situation, did you not, captain?"
"I did."
"What, exactly, did you do?"
"When the alarm sounded I asked for a report," she told him, frowning as he began making notes. "Lieutenant Aoba informed me that one of the pilots' emergency beacons had been activated. I ordered him to triangulate the position and to relay the co-ordinates to Security Section."
"Did you ask which pilot had activated their beacon?" the bespectacled captain enquired, looking up from his pad.
"No."
"Why not?" he asked, curious.
"I didn't believe it to be relevant," Misato said. "However, Lieutenant Ibuki did ask."
"Thank you, captain. Is there anything that you would like to add?"
"No."
"Then you may go, Rokobungi informed her, putting his pen down. "Thank you for your time." The woman nodded to him and left the room. Once he was alone, Gendo picked up the pad and tapped it on the edge of the desk as he reviewed what she had told him.
'Ibuki's next,' he decided, 'then Aoba. I'll make those agents wait until after I've spoken to Brahms and Hyuga. Make them sweat a little.'
"I was running an analysis on the Magi for Dr. Akagi," Maya informed the bespectacled captain.
"You can do that from her office, can't you?" he asked, interrupting her train of thought. She nodded. "So why did you go to the Command Centre?"
"She… I mean, Dr. Akagi asked me to."
"Why?"
"I don't know," the petite lieutenant replied, leaning backwards in the chair she occupied. "I didn't ask."
"Alright," he muttered, noting something down on his pad. "Please, continue."
"As I said, I was running an analysis for Dr. Akagi at the time. Lieutenant Aoba was on duty. While I was working, he started talking to me."
"What about?"
"Nothing work related."
"And…?"
"While we were talking, the alarm sounded."
"And that's when Captain Katsuragi arrived and took charge?"
"Yes, sir."
"I understand you were the one to ask which pilot had activated their beacon, correct?"
"Uh-huh," Ibuki nodded. "I wanted to know who it was. They're nice kids, even if Soryu can be a bit of a pain."
"You said Lieutenant Aoba was on duty," Rokobungi commented. When she nodded, he asked "What was he meant to be doing, exactly?"
"He was assigned to monitor the comm. system," Ibuki informed him.
"Thank you, lieutenant; that will be all."
"You were meant to be monitoring the comm. system, but chose to talk with Lieutenant Ibuki instead. Is there any reason that I shouldn't have you suspended?" Captain Rokobungi questioned, staring at the long-haired technician.
"Hey, I was monitoring the system," Shigeru responded defensively. "The hourly reports had just been received so there was nothing on the Section Two frequencies. If anything had shown up, the Magi would have alerted me."
"What about the other frequencies?" Gendo asked.
"They weren't my responsibility. All I had to do was monitor Section Two's communications. That's all," the lieutenant answered before sighing. "Look, Section Two monitor all the communications that come into or go out of headquarters, as well as every inter-departmental transmission."
"Who monitors them?" the captain interrupted to inquire.
"I was getting to that. The professor felt it would be a conflict of interests for them to monitor themselves, so a technician is selected at random from a different department to do it."
"And you were selected?"
"No," Aoba informed him. "I volunteered."
"Really?" Gendo asked, looking at him with a glint in his eye. He quickly made a quick note on his pad. 'Didn't expect him to admit that.' "Why?"
"Simple, I'd never done it and needed the money," the younger of the two replied. "I've been have trouble with my car recently, but I can't afford to replace it. Check with the professor or Dr. Akagi; they'll tell you I've been doing as much overtime as they can throw my way, within limits of course."
Gendo stared Makoto in the eye, in a deliberate attempt to unnerve the lieutenant. And it was working. "As pilot representative, the health and welfare of the pilots is your responsibility, is it not lieutenant?" he asked, taking off his glasses and giving them a wipe.
"Yes, sir," Hyuga answered stiffly.
"Then, I ask you," the captain continued, returning his glasses to his face, "where were you when the 'incident' occurred?"
"I was talking to Dr. Brahms."
"Brahms…" Rokobungi muttered thoughtfully. He looked through the papers on his desk. "Ah yes, the pilots' physician. What were you discussing?"
"I was trying to find out when Asuka would be having her stitches removed and when she'd be able to return to active duty," the pilot rep. informed him.
"Information which is no longer valid, I would assume," the captain commented, his mouth hidden behind his interlaced fingers as his elbows rested on the desk.
"You'd have to ask Dr. Brahms," Makoto shrugged.
"I will," Gendo informed him, making a quick note on his pad.
Hyuga took a deep breath and said, "And, sir, for the record, I don't like being accused of neglecting my duties. I can't be with the pilots all the time. I do have other duties as well."
"So noted, lieutenant," Rokobungi responded. "Dismissed."
"At this point, gentlemen," the bespectacled captain said slowly, carefully eyeing the four agents stood in front of his desk, "I am unsure as to whether you are completely incompetent and lacking the full use of your mental faculties, or whether I should have you brought up on charges of gross misconduct and dereliction of duty." Three of the agents twitched slightly at his words, the other managed to keep his impassive mask in place.
"I have seen the comm. transcripts from the day of the 'incident'," he continued, getting to his feet and walking around his desk. "The four of you made no mention of loosing either of the pilots during your hourly reports, which was the very last chance you had to save yourselves." He walked up to the impassive agent and stared him directly in the eye. "You failed. And failure is unacceptable, especially when those you assigned to watch over happen to be the Evangelion pilots." Rokobungi returned to his seat, placing his elbows on his desk and his interlaced fingers over his mouth.
"If I had my way, the four of you would simply 'disappear' from this facility, never to be seen again," he informed them, his tone cold and hard. He could hear and number of nervous swallows and could see sweat glistening on the brows before him. "And if I were to find that there was any malicious intent behind your failure, then that may actually happen.
"The three pilots are humanity's only chance to defeat the Angels, and you endangered two of them; angering a great many people in the process, a number of whom would like to see to your punishment personally," Gendo told them, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest. "And rest assured, gentlemen, the things these people could do to you would be far worse than anything I could come up with.
"Now, first I need to speak to the two of you who were assigned to watch the second-child," he continued, a small smile appearing on his lips. "The pair assigned to the third-child are to wait outside. I will deal with you presently." Two of the black-suited men shuffled as quickly out of the office as they could and still retain a modicum of self-respect. As the door closed behind them, the sound an extremely nervous gulp reached the captain's ears.
"You, gentlemen, were the first to fail in your duties," Rokobungi said, leaning his elbows on his desk once more. "And it was that failure that led to the assault on the pilots. And while it's true that your colleagues are also guilty, you were the ones who failed to ensure that the second-child came to no harm. Had you performed your duties as you should have, then the 'incident' would never have occurred." He picked the pen up from his desk and began waving at the two agents.
"Now, which of you was the one to suggest that you should not report in when you lost track of your charge?" When no response was forthcoming, he stared at them intently. "I will find out, one way or the other. You would be well advised to admit it now, rather than later."
The shorter of the two agents stepped forward. "I did, sir."
"Then rest assured that you will be facing charges if gross misconduct," Gendo told him. "However, both of you are guilty of dereliction of duty." Silence reigned for almost a full minute as the captain decided on his next words. "Each of you has one chance to help yourselves. I find it unlikely that the four of you involved are the only ones who are negligent. Were you to supply me with a list of breaches of protocol that you have either participated in or observed then the severity of your punishments may be reduced. But, I will need proof."
"…and the four agents in question have been dismissed," Gendo said, finishing his verbal report.
"Had they been here long?" Fuyutski asked, leaning back in his chair. Despite having spent the last half hour listening to the bespectacled captain, the professor was still paying complete attention, not willing to let a single detail escape.
"Their lengths of service ranged from four years down to about eighteen months. It's all in my report."
"Good."
Rokobungi shifted slightly in his seat, unsure how his superior would react to what he was about to say. "They also pointed out a number of breaches in protocol that have been ignored. And not just in Section Two either. Some of their claims are unsubstantiated."
"Investigate them anyway," Kouzou ordered. "I want a full review of security and procedures throughout headquarters."
"Yes, sir," the captain responded.
"Check with me before firing anyone else though," the professor added quickly. He liked how efficient Rokobungi was, but the staff at headquarters were his people. He decided how stayed and who went.
"Of course, sir," Gendo said. "Is there anything else?"
"Are the agents' personal details included in your report?" Kouzou inquired, an idea forming at the back of his mind.
"Yes, sir," the bespectacled officer informed him. "And their security cards and access codes have been deactivated and removed from the system," he assured his commander.
"Very good, captain. That will be all."
To be continued…
Author Notes –
I'm sure some of you have been wondering what kind of person Gendo Rokobungi is. I hope this chapter has successfully given you an insight into his character. But there is more to him than you see here, as you will find out as the story progresses. As for what Fuyutski's idea was, I'm sure you guys can figure it out.
And a special thank you to PhilG for pointing out the mistake I'd made with Unit 00's colour in a previous chapter. I have now gone back and corrected it.
Original characters –
Megumi – classmate of the pilots
Marika – classmate of the pilots
German translations –
Scheiße! – Shit!
Natürlich – Naturally
Verstanden? – Understood?
Dich schauen ihm zu! – You watch it!
Schweinhund! – Pig dog!
Bewegen es! – Move it!
Wunderbar! – Wonderful!