I do not own the rights to Neon Genesis Evangelion, or any of the characters, equipment, or locations written in this fanfiction. The purpose of this fanfiction is merely for the non-profit enjoyment of other readers. If requested by Gainax, Hideki Anno, or other parties which represent aforementioned objects in this story, I will remove it promptly.
Chapter II:
I was so tired. No one bothered to tell me what time it was, and even if they did, I had that language barrier to get over. However, I guessed it had been a little over six hours since I had arrived, and to my knowledge, this new body hadn't eaten since then. There have been days before when I had gone twelve hours without food or rest, walking for miles on end. I could function well like that. Running was another matter entirely, but for the most part, if it was a slow, deliberate pace, I could go forever.
That was, of course, if I were outdoors, properly dressed, and not under stress. Exhausted, I laid down on the cot, my head facing the bars of the cell door, and the fire blanket wrapped tightly around me. It was more about the cold than shame that I hid myself. It was an odd feeling, but I didn't really perceive much shame. To me, this wasn't my real body. There was nothing really solid to connect me with it. I was still used to being a lanky, scrawny but tone nerd.
The best way to describe what I looked like before this event, and what I look like now, is a five-foot ten inch tall, skin and bones nerd, but with just enough muscle to define the features preferred in a man. I had never exercised before until college, so I lacked a lot of the endurance and strength I should have had. Thinking back to the fun I had at the campus rec center, seeing how fast I could run a mile on the treadmill, or how much I could bench press, I promised myself I would not let this body go to waste. Whether the junior high school had a weight room, I didn't know, and I highly doubted the girls of Class 2-A did much weight training.
Of course, rules were meant to be broken, and I was crazy enough to do it.
I must have fallen asleep at one point, because one moment I was staring at the wall across from the cot, and the next, I was staring at the ceiling, with a blonde woman in a white labcoat standing overhead. "I am Doctor Akagi," she said, her voice clear, though it had that peculiar hint of a Japanese accent to it. Regardless of how fluent someone is in a foreign language, you can tell from the sound of their voice they aren't used to the pronunciation, even though every human is physically capable of making all the sounds present in the world's dialects.
Doctor Akagi stared down at me, my eyes bloodshot and glazed. "Are you... drugged?" she asked, slightly confused. "Why?" I asked. She pointed to her eyes. "Your eyes are red." It took a moment or two for the idea to click, but then I immediately shook my head. "My eyes just do that after sleep," I explained. "Well, my old eyes did that. I don't even know what I look like."
Ritsuko stared, then backed away, gesturing that I should stand up and follow her. The cell door's lock clicked momentarily, and the noisy assembly groaned as it slid on the rusty bearings. Too tired to protest, I forced myself to sit up, pulled the blanket tighter around my form, and stumbled out of the cell. If the doctor had thought I was stoned or plastered before, my actions only confirmed her suspicions. Conveniently for me, the basic check-up she was about to administer consisted of a sobriety test, which I passed easily. "Told you," I muttered in my harsh, gravelly voice. "I'm tired, not drunk."
The small examination room was the typical layout of the padded examination table, disposable paper sheets covering the surface, and the various instruments, colorful charts of human anatomy, as well as some placards of the practicing physician's credentials. Somehow, the fact Ritsuko Akagi knew what she was doing when it came to medical examinations did not comfort me. Perhaps it was the fact she was working for the interests of Seele, and the psychotic nutjob running First Branch. If anything, history has shown medical doctors working for ruthless dictatorships do more harm than good.
I at least was happy with the results. "Everything looks in order," the woman commented. "Healthy blood pressure, a slightly high resting heart rate, but nothing unusual, and your reflexes look in shape." Then came the annoying and unsettling clipboard of notes, Ritsuko scribbling in illegible characters. "You mentioned some rather... disturbing things to one Lieutenant Ibuki," she continued in English. She sighed, and sat down on a wheeled stool, setting the clipboard in her lap, while I had by now changed into a disposable examination gown, and sat on the table. "We don't have any way to confirm your story."
Now this was untrue, and if I was going to blow my cover, I was at least going to make the director of Project-E look like a completely incompetent bimbo in the process. "Yes, you do have a way," I said. "I don't know who I am here, but I know who I am supposed to be, where I'm supposed to live, and what I'm supposed to have done up to now. If I give you the facts of my prior existence, can you cross-reference my testimony to public records in the United States?"
"That won't prove anything!" she grumbled in a patronizing tone.
"Well, humor me for a moment," I said. "Here's what you do. Give me an oral history test, completely open-ended summary on the major events I recall over the last fifteen to twenty years. If I can recall in detail certain events in America which occurred far before what my birthdate in this reality should be, as well as give you a slew of events that didn't happen, you have your answer." I paused, thinking how I could avoid the obvious "you're just making stuff up," argument. "And while you're at it, drug me with a truth serum, and rig me up to a lie detector if you have to. We want to make sure I'm not screwing around."
Ritsuko raised an eyebrow in typical Spock fashion, then glared at me like some kind of criminal. "Fine," she answered, almost on the verge of anger. "We'll arrange your little test, but we determine the questions."
"Of course," I added. "We want a fair and controlled environment for our little experiment. Though you might want to throw in a control into the group, just to make sure the results are legitimate." I thought for a second. "And by the way, can we do a standardized IQ test as well? I want to make sure I'm firing on all cylinders upstairs."
There must be a love language specifically for the nerds and socially deprived scientists of the world, because I watched helplessly as Ritsuko smiled a broad, almost seductive smile. "Sounds... very rational," she added.
This was not how things were supposed to happen! Ever since I had watched Evangelion, I had judged each character without remorse. Gendo, Ritsuko, Fuyutsuki, even Yui and Misato, were all evil. They were the ones who took the rights and liberties away from Shinji, Asuka, and Rei, the characters with the most potential for good. One could argue that Fuyutsuki and Yui were pawns, but I don't believe so. Yui knew she would hurt Shinji, and force him into piloting the Eva by getting absorbed into it. The whole self-sacrifice for the weak is a major aspect of most anime, and the prime reason I don't get into it as much as others. As for Fuyutsuki, he gave up his freedom and his righteousness out of fear.
Hikari, Toji, Kensuke, Maya, Aoba, and Makoto were in-between, but I considered them more potential threats than allies. Those characters all had their own beliefs separate of Gendo or his lackeys, but they just shrugged everything off. As emotional as Shinji and Asuka were portrayed, that's understandable in a world surrounded by death and war. Yet Hikari, Toji, and Kensuke react as though people getting murdered left and right, and the omnipotent rulers of Seele pushing everyone around like mindless cattle should just be tolerated. Later on when I met them in person, they confirmed these beliefs, and I tell you now I had no guilt settling Hikari's and my differences in the parking lot after class.
I'll never understand what it is with girls. For the most part, those I encountered in the world of Evangelion all could care less about politics or the ethics of NERV. But they had no problem comparing their physical features, or bitching about why guys aren't smart enough to understand them. I suppose that was yet another goal I set forth when I realized the entirety of my situation. I would have to be the one to clean up the intellectual train wreck of submissive, post-Impact thinking.
•••••••••••••
I was finally informed by Ritsuko I had spent a full day and a half in this place, but she had not yet informed me where I was, not that I needed to know. She also neglected to mention why the electro-encephalogram and blood tests were necessary. Though as I found out later, she took the liberty of checking my compatibility with Eva. Of course I knew this would probably happen, especially if this woman was the same who helped manipulate Shinji into piloting.
Then again, I was feeling rather conflicted. She seemed nice enough on the surface, especially when I started talking her language of physics, math, and the scientific method. We also seemed to get along well once she realized I was telling the truth. I suppose the idea of talking to a possible Angel or more domestic risk to organizational security has the habit of making each party keep their guard up. But that was just a matter of time.
"Your answers were... quite interesting," she said, closing the door to the examination room we had been in before. My mobility at this point was restricted to just a few offices, but they at least didn't put me back in the brig. "A terror attack, as you put it, on New York City, a 'War on Terror', and U.N. scandals. That's definitely nothing compared to our... world."
"So you admit there could be some truth to the alternate dimension bit?" I asked. "I have to say, even if I did believe it, the idea I'd end up here didn't seem that likely."
"I admit nothing without absolute proof!" she argued.
"Well, you won't get absolute proof!" I exclaimed. "There will always be doubt, because we can't observe the world outside of it. We can observe closed systems just fine, but not if you're part of the system. If this whole alternate dimension or world thing is true, that also throws a wrench in the works, because we're dealing with at least a larger closed system than we originally believed, if not an open system."
Akagi's jaw hung open. That was the second time I had caused that particular reaction, the first being the time I admitted under heavy drugging during the interrogation that I was a man. This, of course, was the woman who scratched out the proofs behind the whole Sea of Dirac theory during the Twelfth Angel attack, but those are all theories. They may be based on mathematical proofs and logic, but those require assumptions which could be wrong.
"At least tell me gas prices are relatively cheap, and I can still get my hands on a car with an internal combustion engine," I begged. "I can't live without the smell of hydrocarbons, and at least two hundred horsepower." Ritsuko groaned as she sat back down into the padded stool, shaking her head. "You are definitely not a girl," she sighed. "And your tests all prove you're telling us the truth, but you haven't told us yet who you're supposed to be."
"Can I see that clipboard, and a pen?" I asked. The doctor nodded. Taking the writing implement and the clipboard, I scribbled down a series of numbers, dates, and events. "Okay, this is who I am, where I lived as of 2000 A.D," I said. "If this Second Impact you're talking about is the only diverging factor between our worlds, this should be a good starting point to figure out where this world's version of me is, and where I fit into the picture."
"What are these other numbers?" Ritsuko asked, staring down at the paper.
"That's the license plate number, make, model, year, and approximate mileage of the car I bought back in 2000," I replied. "Just another bit of proof I am who I say I am, but also..."
"What?" Ritsuko glared.
"It's another way to track me down," I added.
•••••••••••••
I'm an Ayn Rand Objectivist, and hard-core Reaganite conservative. Everything to me is about the freedom to do what you want, and spending your money however you wish, but paying for the consequences of your actions without the help of others. I guess that's why Misato and I seemed to clash the minute I met her. She was the complete opposite of that, drinking away all of the consequences of her actions, or blaming others. Of all the characters, no... people, I had met during my time there, she was the closest to her anime portrayal.
It had been an hour wait at least, and when the door to the examination room finally opened, Major Misato Katsuragi was irritable, exhausted, and eyes red-rimmed. Her infamous black mini-dress was also wrinkled and stained slightly with droplets of water, which I presumed were tears. Ritsuko immediately stood up, and nodded towards Misato. "Major Misato Katsuragi, I would like to introduce you to... the Mystery from Cage Seven."
Misato gave me an aggressive, stern look, then extended her hand. However, this action was only temporary. The minute I reached out to take her hand, she withdrew it. "I see..." I replied. Somehow, that was not the phrase the major wanted to hear, as she proceeded to grab me by the shoudlers, pulling me close so as to prevent me from avoiding her eyes. "Let's quit the games, shall we?" she snarled. "Ritsuko knows just as well as I do that you're not telling us everything. You've squandered enough of our resources. I suggest you make this as painless as possible."
"Don't-" I started to say, but quickly cut myself off. The last thing I should do is get mad. I shuddered, watching Misato draw back in rage. "What did you say?" she hissed. Her fingers dug into my shoulders. It was about now I started to realize, regardless of my judgments of the characters beforehand, Ritsuko and Maya were probably the best friends I had at that point. Akagi jumped to my side, trying to pull the major from me. There was some shouting in Japanese on Misato's part, but Ritsuko, I must complement her for this, continued to speak in English so I could understand.
"She... I mean he has done nothing wrong!" the doctor yelped. "He's cooperated, and shown no hostility. You can't do this!" Misato continued her shouting in Japanese, just as Akagi wrapped her hands around the major's wrists, trying to pry them away from my shoulders. I saw now that while Ritsuko had the greater intellect, Misato had the greater brute strength. Her arms broke Akagi's hold, and proceeded to my throat. I could feel the fingers tighten around my jugular, restricting the air to my lungs. I stared back wide in fear, sweat building on my brow as the purple-haired demon unleashed her anger.
I suppose it was inevitable, my temper catching up with me. I had every right to defend myself, though sometimes I think back, and wonder if I should have gone as far as I did that day. Obviously, I deduced in those few seconds, if Misato were carrying, the Jericho 941 chambered in nine millimeter would be in a left-sided shoulder holster for right-hand draw. I must mention now that I am not familiar with semiautomatic pistols, except for a few simple blowback action twenty-twos. However, I presumed Misato would have already racked the slide, and simply kept the safety engaged until she needed to use it. Also, if she had any sense, she would have fifteen rounds in the magazine, plus an extra in the chamber.
She was rather surprised when she felt the tug on the shoulder holster rig, and I remember her eyes growing wide at the realization of what I was about to do. Her hands gripped tighter as I brought the hammer back to full cock, wrapped my hand firmly around the grip, and took up the first stage of the trigger. "Don't push me!" I hissed.
"Don't!" Ritsuko screamed. Immediately two armed guards burst down the door of the examination room, their M4 carbines aimed directly at me. Of course, to be aimed that way, they had to shoot through both Misato and Ritsuko. There was more shouting by Doctor Akagi, now in Japanese. The soldiers paused, their arms and rifles quaking slightly. "This... THING came from Unit-01!" Misato churned out through clenched teeth. "It came back... but not my Shinji!" I have no idea why she chose to speak in English, perhaps just to humor me while she tried to end my life, but I now knew precisely where I was in the timeline.
"This isn't the time, Misato!" Ritsuko huffed, trying to pull her away. Things were starting to make more sense, now. The crying Misato had done, and her aggression towards me, as well as the mechanism for my arrival. I didn't know for sure if Shinji would return, but to be absolutely sure, I had to take a risk. Easing the hammer down, and letting the pistol slide back into the holster under Misato's jacket, I held up my hands. "We need to talk," I coughed out.
"Misato, for God's sake!" Ritsuko gasped. Katsuragi let her hands ease slightly, though probably more out of the realization I needed air to speak. I sputtered and hacked for a few seconds before I could say anything. "But they can't hear what I am going to say." I gestured towards the guards. "This is important, and it concerns the Third Child."
Misato glared as Ritsuko's eyes widened in shock. "I KNEW he was hiding something!" she cursed. "You'll tell me now!" Akagi, however, waved off the guards. There was some more Japanese spoken, but in a calm, authoritative tone, and the soldiers departed. However, the door to the room was broken, lying on the floor. "Major, release him, that's an order!" Ritsuko's voice boomed.
Misato hissed, then let her hands trail from my neck down to my shoulders. Again I gasped for breath. This was definitely not my day. Ritsuko, my sworn adversary, was the one on my side, and Misato, the person I was going to confide in, was the one trying to kill me! "This has to be kept secret from everyone else, including Commander Ikari." The reactions of the women had started to lessen, probably due to the fact they were beyond any further surprises. How I knew about the commander was another unusual problem they couldn't wrap their heads around, but that would be an issue to resolve later.
"How many days has it been since Shinji was... absorbed?" I asked. Ritsuko hesitated at first, especially since I was almost ready to kill the operations director, though with good reason. I raised my hands again slowly to shoulder height. "It is important," I said. "Almost eighteen days," the doctor answered. I nodded. "Okay, we still have time. Shinji isn't due out for another twelve days, when you make your salvaging attempt." Now I was really peaking both women's interests. "Before you ask," I said, watching Ritsuko begin to speak, "I need to know you will not inform Commander Ikari about this."
"Why shouldn't we tell him?" Katsuragi huffed. I ignored my presumed savior, and turned to the woman who had been treating me rather fairly so far. "Doctor Akagi, I know all about your mother, the Magi, Rei, your and Commander Ikari's 'relationship', the pilots, everything. I also know about the Human Completion Project, and how both Seele and Ikari could destroy mankind. You have no reason to suspect I'm lying, and I'm telling you, if you let him know, his knowledge of future events beyond what the Scrolls indicate could seriously jeopardize the timeline."
Ritsuko shuddered, backing away. "You... you can't know about that!" she cried. I suspect, of course, she was referring to the relationship with Gendo than anything else I had spouted. She may have been a scientist, but she was human, and wanted to hide her flaws. Misato, at this point, started shouting in Japanese, confronting Ritsuko for a moment, then turned back to me. Before she opened her mouth, I shut her up for good. "And I know about your father, Second Impact, S2 theory, and all the wild escapades you've had with Kaji up to this point. That scar is rather serious, you know? I'm surprised you could crawl out of the escape pod to see hell on Earth as you did with that wound."
Neither woman said a word. Finally, Ritsuko drew her cell phone from her right labcoat pocket, and pressed a speed dial button. I couldn't recognize much of what was said, but the name "Maya" was easy enough to pick out.
End of Chapter II
•••••••••••••
Nothing really to say at this point. There has been at least one review that mentions my understanding of the patrols done at air force bases was wrong. That was what I was told at the time by the officer giving the tour, and even if it is false, I'm going on the information I was told.
Another fact mentioned is that the guards in NERV don't use AR-15 type rifles. I'm taking a liberty with that. Anyone connected with the U.S. or other NATO and SEATO allies usually packs the M-16A2 and it's variants. While the M-8 looks like it will be adopted soon by the U.S. military, and NERV could easily use whatever weapons it wanted, the hardware used by NERV is foolish and typical of the creators using stylized weapons rather than practical ones. If I had my way, the military would still be using the M-14.
And yes, no one really likes the constant references to movies and pop-culture, but if anything, this helps reinforce the way the story was written. The whole point is to make this sound more realistic than any other self-insert fanfic. I'm basically doing an Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" to Evangelion.
Actually, that gives me a rather amusing thought. If anyone is interested, it might be a rather amusing experiment to create a "War of the Worlds"-ish radio show based on Eva. It would basically consist of recording an Angel attack from the perspective of the civilian population, with as much realism as possible.
•••••••••••••