Geofront, AEL Headquarters
December 9, 2041
"I see." – Keel's image nodded in the holographic window above Yui's desk. – "I'm pleased to hear that my trust in you was not misplaced."
"Unit-02 is fully combat ready." – Yui replied, beginning to close the other windows her terminal was sharing across the connection. – "And with the additional funding, we will shortly begin installation of Unit-03's cybernetic augmentations, along with those of the Beta prototype."
"Oh? I don't believe I have heard of that one before."
"Our company has been developing a recombinant somatotropin derivative for inducing rapid cellular mitosis. It's primarily intended for medical usage, although it is not yet ready for human trials; however, we have been testing it on one of Unit-00's eggs and the results are truly remarkable."
While it was rather hard to tell due to the man's visor, Yui thought she could see Keel's forehead wrinkle in the way characteristic to someone raising their eyebrows. – "Eggs? Evangelions are capable of reproduction?"
"Theoretically yes. The mechanism involved appears to be similar to seahorses and certain species of frogs, although we do not know much more about it; studying it in-depth was obviously not a priority. In any case, the egg in question was fertilized parthenogenetically and incubated in an amniotic tank just like the others, with the only environmental difference being the embryo's exposure to the formula." – Yui explained. – "Within a month, the subject's size and physiological development was ten times beyond what it should have been, based on prior observational data."
"It grew faster?"
"Indeed, and although it has eventually reached a size where we could no longer administer enough of the formula to keep up the speed of growth, it has still grown to full physical maturity in a fraction of a time it would've otherwise. We hope this can be used to speed up mass production later on."
"Provided it enters mass production in the first place, of course." – Keel remarked.
Yui nodded with certainty. – "It will. The power to lay waste to entire armies without the indiscriminate collateral damage of a nuclear weapon is something I'm certain the army will be eager to have."
"Question is... are humans worthy of commanding that kind of power at their fingertips?"
Now it was Yui's turn to be surprised at the turn this conversation has taken, though it wasn't something she wasn't ready to answer. – "It's not a matter of whether we can, mister president. It's a matter of humanity needing a defense against a possible future Combine invasion. If there is anything we've learned from the Seven Hour War, it's that it is not enough to merely achieve parity with our enemies. Posturing, intimidation, deterrence tactics and gunboat diplomacy might work against fellow humans, but attempting the same against someone with far more resources and manpower at their disposal is a laughable proposition. Simply put, speaking softly and carrying a big stick is worthless if the other side has the bigger stick." – Which wasn't very far from the way she lead the company ever since she became its chairwoman. No matter how many years have elapsed since women's rights became a thing, she still found that sometimes, she had to go an extra mile or two just to be taken seriously.
Though it also needed to be said that sometimes, being underestimated for being a woman worked in her favor during business deals, so she couldn't complain. More than once did she sit down to deal with people who evidently prepared for someone who got her position via nepotism or as someone else's puppet... only to discover the hard way that she's very much competent and on the lookout for someone trying to rip her off. She wasn't greedy or anything; she just preferred to get the most bang for her buck, so to speak, without outright ripping off the other side so that they wouldn't reconsider doing further business with her company in the future.
"The Combine could afford to lose control over a single planet; we could not because this was the only one we had." – Yui continued. – "It was do or die. Even with all the offworld infrastructure we now have, the colonies are still dependent on Earth and hold less than 3% of the total population. Even though we had beaten them back once, they know where we are. All it takes is one xenium experiment going wrong and they will be kicking down our door with a vengeance for resisting assimilation. We can't run and we can't hide, so all we can do is dig in our heels and hold the line."
Keel hummed in an almost bemused way. – "Cannon to right of then, cannon to left of them, cannon in front of them, volleyed and thundered; stormd at with shot and shell, boldly they rode as well... into the jaws of Death, into the mouth of Hell."
Seemed like there was no shortage of surprises when Keel was involved, Yui thought inwardly. – "Let us hope things will never come to that."
"Indeed. Is there anything else, doktor?"
And now came the moment Yui dreaded ever since their call connected. – "Actually... a rather uncomfortable matter has come up. As much as I loathe to, I need to ask for a favor."
"Oh?"
"The test pilots for all three currently active Evangelion prototypes... are all school-age." – She paused and braced herself at his outrage.
Which never came. Instead, Keel just silently motioned for her to continue.
"As you are no doubt aware, last week's national holiday was worked off this Saturday, as per the ministry of education's decision. While I've been trying to schedule all tests to take place after school and on weekends so as to not interfere with their education, due to... health-related matters on the part of one of the pilots, she and another one have been unable to attend school this Saturday. The school's administration is unaware of their employment at our company and if possible, I would prefer to keep it that way for the time being so as to not attract undue public attention that might distract the pilots from performing their duties. Therefore, I need you to have the ministry lean on the principal that no questions are to be asked regarding these three's absences. I'm transferring a copy of their personnel files now." – she finished as she did just that before leaning back and watching as Keel looked to the side.
"I see you included your daughter as well." – he remarked.
"She has been part of the project for several years now. If you cross-reference the national intelligence quotient evaluation results, you will see that we could have hardly made a better choice. Her combat skills and piloting skill have been proven to be extraordinary as well, including the elimination of the first Angel in solo combat with minimal equipment. As of now, she is our most experienced and senior pilot."
He nodded before visibly switching to the next file. – "And lieutenant colonel Shephard's daughter?"
"I'm told that she has mock battle experience with current military equipment. I recruited her primarily for cross-reference purposes and that decision is already paying off, seeing as how she supplied us with ideas regarding offworld deployment." – And if Keel had any problems with her age, he should direct it to the junior battleframe league first. Not that she said that out loud, of course.
"I see."
"As for the third one, he's... a special case. He's a civilian who got caught up with the first Angel's attack. Seeing as we needed a pilot for Unit-01 anyway, I hired him as an incentive to keep his lips sealed."
"Are you sure he's trustworthy?" – Keel posed the obvious question.
"He's given me no reason to doubt him so far."
"And if he does?"
Yui had to actively restrain herself from visibly swallowing. – "I will take whatever measures are necessary to maintain operational security." 'And hope to God that never happens.'
She was neither blind nor stupid. She was fully aware how much time Rei was spending with him outside work and school, which likely meant that the girl knew about him already. And if she knew, Kaworu likely knew as well. The only question was, exactly how much he knew? Yui didn't notice any change in his demeanor (unlike Rei, who became almost possessive of him, silently observing his sync tests from the back of the observation room whenever she wasn't having one herself), but she had no way of knowing without actually asking. And if she asked and it turned out he didn't know, he'd know that she's hiding something from him. Getting suspicious was one thing; the greater issue was that he would tell Rei about it and Yui had no way of telling how the girl would react.
She still remembered the vacant, almost dead stare from a three year old sitting in the sterile white room, almost completely unresponsive to her surroundings or the scientists' queries and orders. That was from a child who not yet understood loss and not yet had the power to do something about it... but things have changed. Rei was older now. Still not an adult, but getting close. And if there was one thing teenagers outdid adults at, it was being emotional. Even normal teens would've been a handful at this age, but Rei definitely wasn't normal.
And if her theoretical capabilities weren't just theoretical... Yui did not want to think about what the girl would do to all of them if they tried to separate her from Kaworu again.
But Yui naturally couldn't just tell that to Keel. Creating the Evangelions already drew criticism from some of the more hardliner members of the military, but if it came to light what she did to those two, said criticism would pale in comparison to their reaction to that. They wouldn't just call for her to be removed and replaced with someone trustworthy, they'd be calling for her blood.
Or worse.
Even now, alarm bells were ringing in her head. She outright admitted to hiring and deploying child soldiers right to the face of the head of state - and he didn't even care. The very survival of humanity was being entrusted to a trio of teenagers and the man with humanity's entire military at his beck and call had precisely zero objections to it. Or even questions beyond the pilots' basic qualifications. As intelligent as she herself was, Yui never ignored her gut feeling out of hand.
And right now, she was having a very, very bad gut feeling about that man.
Tokyo-2, Outer District 11
December 29, 2041
Snow cracked under the man's feet, bodyguards flanking him from both sides. Ahead of them loomed the slightly decrepit warehouse building that was their destination. Nothing unusual for them; after all, their particular... line of work frequently saw them visiting such places, thanks to their clientele of choice.
What was unusual this time was said clientele being pushy enough to quite literally fight their way through the man's guards in order to deal with him. Usually, his reputation was enough to prevent such things - but not this time, it would seem.
As they approached, the building's main door loudly creaked open to let them in. Yet as soon as they were through, it closed right back up, leaving them encased in the near-complete darkness broken only by dirty upper-floor windows that provided nowhere near enough illumination for ground level.
Such things did not cause the man any concerns. He was familiar with intimidation tactics, for it was a part of his job.
A pair of lamps switched on before them, illuminating an elongated circle of ground between him and the desk said lamps sat upon, angled in such a way that he could see the vaguely human shape sitting at the desk and another shape standing next to him, yet couldn't see their faces due to the glare of the lamps. Clever.
"護衛は必要ありません." – came a woman's voice from beyond the desk.
The man glanced at his bodyguards. – "滞在することは好むだ."
"お前に害を与えたければ、我らわ顔をそろえていないよ."
The figure in the seat gestured, prompting the other one to lean in. What words they exchanged was inaudible to the man but soon enough, the woman straightened back up.
"Mister Ishida would like to know if you've brought the funds."
He raised an eyebrow at her sudden switch to English from her perfectly unaccented Japanese. – "I'm standing right here. He can ask me himself."
"Have you or have you not?"
"I have."
"Show me."
The figure standing next to the desk walked forward, revealing herself to be that blue-haired girl who somehow put two of his men in the hospital a month before. Not that the hospital asked questions; they knew who he was and took his money just like everyone else. Money and reputation were the two things that moved everyone forward in the world. And he was not in short supply of either, although not at the top of the food chain.
Yet.
The man raised the briefcase he was carrying and undid the lock, flipping the case open so that the girl can examine the contents.
For what it's worth, she didn't take much time with it. – "The amount is correct."
"Of course it is."
He re-locked it and passed it to her, his coat sleeve momentarily revealing an elaborate oriental tattoo on the back of his hand until he dropped his hand to his side.
"It would be in your best interest to not attempt tracing my identity. Attempt to blackmail me and the consequences will not be pleasant."
He genuinely couldn't decide whether to be annoyed or incredulous. – "Are you threatening me?"
"Do I have to resort to it? Or are you willing to conduct business without it?"
Or maybe he should be impressed. Either this girl was an idiot or had serious balls to talk to him like that. Then again, she did rough up two of his men. – "I am. Just remember that the conditions we agreed upon-"
"Will be upheld."
"Quite so. Don't think for even a second that we'll give you a free pass for trying to screw us over just because you're a kid."
"Agreed. Yet my warning still stands: attempt to discover our identities and Yamagishi-dono will have to look for a replacement."
Seriously, the nerve of this girl. Talking down to him was one thing, but namedropping his boss? He most definitely underestimated her caliber. – "I'll make sure to let him know."
If she noticed his sarcasm, she didn't show it. – "In which case you may also wish to convey Mister Ishida's displeasure at two of Yamagishi-dono's men having overzealously attempted to prevent us doing business with him. As their master, their behavior reflects negatively on Yamagishi-dono's honor."
The man's eyes narrowed dangerously at that, and so did those of his bodyguards. – "Do not question Yamagishi-dono's honor."
"Then do not give us a reason to." – With that, she turned her back to him and walked back to the desk where her benefactor sat in silence, still shrouded by the lamps' glare. – "Our deal is concluded. You may leave."
"You give me leave? You are badly in need of learning respect."
"So do you. Until his first scheduled payment, Mister Ishida has nothing more to say to you."
As soon as the warehouse door closed back up, Kaworu let out a shaky breath and leaned back in the chair. – "Herrgott nochmal, du fast gab mir einen Herzinfarkt..."
Rei just stood next to him in silence.
"Rei, next time you deal with a cranky mafioso, stop egging him on!"
"He's Yakuza, not mafia."
"Same thing!"
"It's not."
He let out another sigh, trying to calm his frayed nerves. – "I... I thought he was going to shoot you there for a minute."
"He thought about it, but chose not to. If he would have tried, I would have killed him first." – Rei checked the briefcase to see if it was properly locked. – "We should leave. His appearance in person will no doubt attract attention."
"Alright." – Kaworu got up and followed her on her way to the rear exit, opposite of the direction their prior company left. – "I'm still not sure about this, to be honest. I mean, I could've afforded everything from my salary."
"That may be so, but a large sum being transferred off your account would attract too much attention. Not just to your person, but to the AEL as well. Your repayment, however, should be small enough at a time to avoid attention for now."
Kaworu shook his head as he closed the door behind himself, squinting from the sun's glare on the snow around them being more than a little uncomfortable after the dark warehouse interior. – "All this just to buy that basement... I wonder what the others will think."
"It does not matter." – Rei replied, sweeping off the thin layer of fresh snow off the seat of her motorbike. – "Even if they leave you, I will not."
"You don't have to." – Kaworu muttered, settling behind her on the vehicle.
"It is not a matter of must." – She started the engine. – "It is a matter of choice."
Chapter finished on 17/11/18.
Keel's quote was from Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade. It was written about a real event during the Crimean War when a British light cavalry unit was ordered to charge down a Russian artillery unit attempting to retreat with cannons captured from a fortified position but due to the soldier delivering the orders failing to pass them on unambiguously, they charged the enemy's lines dead center and got caught in a three-way artillery crossfire. As the poem highlights, the soldiers likely knew that it was suicidal to charge light cavalry into that kind of killzone (even heavy cavalry would've had problems because by the 19th century, cannons were devastatingly accurate) but not one of them objected. In the end, the unit managed to reach the artillery line and chased the Russian gunners from their positions, but didn't have enough fighting strength left to hold the position and the lieutenant general in charge of British cavalry operations in the theater decided to withhold the heavy cavalry and merely support the light cav's retreat with them - thus the light cav abandoned the charge and withdrew, allowing the gunners to re-man the cannons and shoot them in the back as they retreated.
The soldier who delivered the order incorrectly was ironically among the first to die when the Russian artillery opened up on the Light Brigade, last seen running across the unit's front as if he realized his error and tried to stop the charge.
