Neon Genesis Evangelion: Altered Destinies
Interlude: Lies and Secrets
The meeting took place secretly, with the identities of all hidden from the others. Instead of people there were a series of holographic monoliths, each decorated with a number. This was a meeting of SEELE, and they were very, very upset.
SEELE 6 spoke in a near panic, "The attacks no longer match the scrolls!"
"History is off the rails," SEELE 3 groaned.
SEELE 7 sounded frightened, "If a Angel appears at the wrong time, things could..."
"We could die!" SEELE 5 bleated, putting into words what really scared this cabal of some of the most powerful men on Earth.
"Enough!" SEELE 1 demanded. The babble eased off as the computer generated voice continued, "NERV is both well funded and armed, I am confident they can deal with any complications."
"We no longer know what is coming," SEELE 6 said, "that is a HELL of a complication."
SEELE 1 was actually faintly surprised to hear any defiance. He thought he had managed to cow them all years back. "Our goal is within reach," he addressed the group, "we merely must be patient now. Trust in our plans, for they are well thought out."
No one mentioned at plans rarely survived contact with the enemy. No one had to. The other SEELE members disconnected one by one, until only SEELE 1 and one other remained. The monolith flickered, revealing the American representative.
"We need to talk, Keel," she said bluntly.
SEELE 1 flickered, revealing Keel Lorenz. The old man stared coldly at the other, "Will you return to obedience, then, Ms. Vincennes?"
Maria Vincennes snorted, "Why should I?" She leaned forward, "Understand this, Keel. I have looked at the Human Instrumentality plan I inherited from my predecessor, and I have found it wanting. The US branches of NERV will no longer follow the scenario."
"You have no right," Keel started.
"I have every right, considering my predecessor died testing the damn S2 engine for you," Maria shot back at him grimly. She was only in her early thirties, but she faced down the much older man calmly.
"So," Keel strugled to control his own temper as he said to her flatly, "what do you plan? Making another attempt to enter the Dirac Sea?"
"No, I'm not that insane," Maria shook her head. "But understand this... the American branches will defend themselves. If you attempt to send either the Evangelions or your armies after us, we will do what we have to."
Before Keel could manage a answer, she disconnected. Keel sat back, sighing softly. The situation was becoming more complicated every day. Despite his attempts to project confidence, even he was wondering what would happen next...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The meeting was even more covert than SEELE, if that was possible. Unlike the other organization, where at least some of the members knew each other, the members of this cabal were entirely annonymous. They had to be, because if their enemies found out who they were, if they even existed, they were dead.
Kaji STILL didn't know who any of the others were, annoyingly. He was simply called 'Spy' while the others were Minister, Major, Scientist and Officer. The images that represented them were deliberately cartoony and abstract, designed to give little clues to their real identities.
"I've got a update on the United States situation, and it's a doozy," Kaji reported.
"We've gotten nothing official from the US Branches," Scientist noted.
'Someone in NERV? Or related?' Kaji wondered. "I've gotten this through back channels, but it appears that the US commander of NERV was at the Area 51 test of the S2 engine. He was lost along with the whole facility."
"Well, damn," Officer breathed out. "Who's next in line?"
"Apparently he AND his direct successor were killed," Kaji reported, "Maria Vincennes is now in command, and she's a relative unknown."
"Relative unknown?" Minister echoed. He drawled, "Somehow I doubt that was enough for you, Spy."
Kaji bit back a chuckle, but was a bit worried that they were getting to know him too well. "I acquired a copy of her files, before someone in the US branch erased them," he confirmed. "Child prodigy, she apparently came up through the technical side of NERV, worked under both Yui and Naoko. She left Tokyo for the US branches for promotion, as well as for personal reasons. Her father was a bigwig in the US side, possibly a SEELE member."
"Think she's in SEELE now?" Scientist wondered.
"That we don't know," Kaji admitted. "It would stand to reason, but..."
"Reason and SEELE don't always go together," Minister admitted. "We know that they are funding both Jet Alone AND NERV. Why rival organizations?"
"No idea," Officer agreed. There was a pause, "Should we approach her, covertly?"
"Not until we have a better sense of her agenda," Minister objected. "The only indication we have so far is their refusing to send a Evangelion to NERV in Tokyo-3."
"Which you can't entirely blame them for, considering they lost Unit-04 only for it to turn up in Tokyo," Kaji noted.
"Another mystery," Scientist sigh. "Teleportation through a Dirac Sea, but I suspect unintentional. Worse, we have no idea what could happen if they try it again and fail."
"Worst case scenario?" the Major asked.
The Scientist hesitated, clearly uncomfortable about committing to that. Finally he continued, "The worse case... a complete rupture in reality. I have no idea what that would DO, but very likely we'd fall into the Dirac Sea."
"Wherever the test was?" Minister asked hopefully.
"Or more. Possibly the Earth itself," Scientist admitted.
"Well, crap," Kaji breathed out.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The bar was in Tokyo-3, and was frequented by a mix of customers. Military officers, NERV staff, police had all sort of adopted the place as a common watering hole. Partially, of course, it was because of the reasonable priced drinks and quiet atmosphere, and partially because of the unconscious comradere that developed between groups that put their lives on the line daily for the public. Many of the NERV staff were here as well due to public resentment, a backlash due to the latest Angel attack.
Yoko Shinden sat at the bar, the attractive redhead working on her second drink. Ever since she saw that cop sacrifice himself to try to save her from those creatures, she'd had a rough time of it. 'Post Traumatic Stress' the doctors diagnosed it, but actually solving the problem was harder. Still she felt she was recovering, sort of.
"Hey, Al!" Yoko waved to the tank jock, fighting back a chuckle as he blushed furiously. Poor kid was hung up on his partner Leona.
"Hey," Al smiled as the sandy haired young man joined her. "It's nice to see you again," he acknowledged, smiling.
'Not quite a declaration of love, but...,' Yoko thought, smiling. "I really enjoyed going out with you the other night," Yoko put a hand on his meaningfully, "up for a round two?" Al blushed cutely, and Yoko wondered where he had hidden, that some woman hadn't snatched him away.
"I'd like that," Al smiled.
Meanwhile, Leona Ozaki was watching as covertly as she could, with her occassional drinking buddy Maya Ibuki. "Okay," Maya asked rather dubiously, "why are we spying on them?"
"Shh!" Leona hushed her. They watched Al and Yoko leave, the younger man being all gentlemanly and offering his arm and such.
"I repeat," Maya asked once they were gone, "why were we spying?"
The two women were at a side table, and Leona waved down a harried looking waiter for drinks. "Al is my teammate," she said, "and my responsibility. I wanted to make sure things go all right."
"Uh huh," Maya said disbelievingly.
"All right," Leona admitted, "and he's had a crush on me forever. I kinda feel responsible for him being so damn innocent, at least."
Maya smiled at the waitress that delivered her drink, then nodded to Leona. "Fair enough," she conceded. "Didn't mean to push, but I like Al, even though I'm not so inclined."
Leona snickered, "He doesn't make your dyke heart go pitter-pat a bit?"
"No, thanks," Maya smirked back. They had, thankfully, had the discussion about Leona not being her type, earlier. It went well, tho Maya secretly wondered if Leona hadn't been just a little disappointed by that lack of interest. Straight women were strange.
"Waiting on a date?" Leona teased. "I saw you with a blonde last time you were in."
Maya blushed slightly. "Yeah, though I'm not quite sure what to make of her," she admitted. At Leona's questioning look she shrugged, "I don't know, something just seems... off."
Nearby, Motoko hesitated, then moved away. She THOUGHT she had been careful in getting close to Maya, but clearly the young woman had sensed something off. It might be better to ease off a bit, and rethink her plans. Pity. She found she was rather liking Maya...
To be continued.