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 XI:
The synch test had proceeded well enough. While I had no training, I was approaching forty percent at an accelerated pace, perhaps because I tried direct communication with the Eva. While the aura of Kyoko Soryu's soul felt unfamiliar and disturbing at times, I had an overall sense of warmth whenever I let my mind drift. However, my synch ratio would drop whenever I began to recite dialogue from Star Trek. Apparently Doctor Soryu did not appreciate "City on the Edge of Forever, and neither did her daughter.
"What are you talking about?" Asuka snapped as I exited the plug, the feeling of nausea gone after several attempts to evacuate the L.C.L. from my lungs.
"A question," I replied. "Since before your sun burned hot in space, and before your race was born, I have awaited a question." I realized now if I ever had the horror of merging with the Sixteenth Angel, it would prove worth the risk of biological contamination just to drive the creature insane with my impression of the Guardian of Forever. As it was, the echoes in Cage Three were perfect for this role. "Now only if I could teach Rei the lines," I muttered to myself. "It would be far more suiting for her to say them."
"Where are you going now, Fifth?" Asuka snapped.
I came to a halt halfway down the catwalk and turned to face Asuka again. "Asuka, I have a question," I began. When the girl nodded and urged me to continue, I realized how bizarre my query would sound. "What should I choose for a name?"
"You mean you don't even have a name?" Asuka exclaimed.
"Well, my old name wouldn't work, as I'm supposed to be dead." Soryu grimaced, and glanced back at Unit-02. When the redhead shivered for a moment, I followed her gaze. Unit-02 seemed to have moved slightly in the restraints, but it was hardly noticeable. The head was tilted a degree or two in our direction, but still gave the illusion of remaining still. "What's wrong?"
"Eyes are playing tricks on me," Asuka grumbled, wiping down her face with her right hand. "Thought I saw it move. But you were saying?"
"I am dead in this world, Asuka," I answered. "If I use my real name and Social Security number, government agencies are going to start asking questions. I need a new identity. You have experience with the Japanese culture, and since you and I are half-European, I was wondering what you thought would be suitable."
The Second Child seemed to smile, particularly because I was appealing to her superiority in these cultural issues. "Pick a Japanese first name, and use a European surname," she answered. "The first name will be easier for socializing when you come to school, if you come to school."
"I appreciate the advice," I replied, smiling. Hearing the public address speakers pop once and twice, both of us looked up to the control room. Maya nodded towards Asuka, signaling for her to synch next. There was a look of concern but stern duty in Ibuki's eyes, and for a moment, when I glanced back at Asuka, the girl's head was lowered. "Listen," I began. "About Unit-02..."
"Don't tell me anything!" she snapped. "You're the one with less experience!"
"I don't mean to offend, but seriously, the Eva does want to protect you. You simply must relax, and let down your guard."
"This coming from the one who nearly suffocated in the plug?"
I sighed. "Look, just because I have a few nervous reflexes doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about. What I told you and Shinji was true. The Eva responds best when the pilot wants to be open with it."
Asuka turned and snarled. She was going to reach out with her right hand level with my face, but retracted it, and simply held it out, offering a handshake. "Alright... truce?"
I shook her hand in return. "Truce."
•••••••••••••
The new apartment was identical to Rei's, being located in the same, vacant complex. Ayanami was two floors below me, and in the center of the level, while my apartment was located at the far corner. While it was a security risk having windows to the east and the south, the benefit of a fully enclosed fire escape stairwell would surely prevent small weapons fire from killing me. The concrete was old and stained, but speaking with the landlord, he offered to take off any leasehold improvements from the monthly rent if I repaired them myself. Any contractors he had come in to repair problems with the apartments had all left, the risk of a war zone and limited tenants proving too high a cost.
Hikari had come over with Kensuke to Katsuragi's apartment just thirty minutes before, catching me load what clothing and few personal possessions I had into the trunk of the major's car. Along with these were the two stainless steel briefcases. Misato took me aside for a moment after introducing Kensuke.
"Alright, what are in the cases?" she asked in a deep sigh.
"I do not remember," I answered, smiling. "Neither does Section Two, if you catch my drift. But do not worry. They are not harmful." Misato nodded coyly, and refused to mention any more about the curious packages in her vehicle. "Kensuke... do you... speak English?"
To my convenience, Kensuke had developed a fair vocabulary of English, not just from his class lessons, but also from his military studies. "I had this made for you." I handed the boy a black baseball cap, with blocked lettering stitched into the front.
"What is... J.A.F.O.?" Aida asked, completely confused.
It was hard to keep a straight face, but I managed to hold in my laughter as I explained. "It is the best way to describe you," I smiled. "Consider it an honorary position amongst us pilots." Kensuke's face lit up in excitement, and he immediately put on the cap, snapping me a salute. I saluted in return, and took the boy aside. "How would you like to help me with some... military matters?"
"REALLY?" the nerd's voice carried through the apartment complex. Watching Hikari, Asuka, and Shinji just grimace, I nodded.
"Meet me at my apartment at sixteen-hundred hours, Mr. Aida, and we shall proceed with planning the logistics. Bring all of your equipment."
•••••••••••••
With the packages on my doorstep, all of the preparations were in order. The one Jericho pistol and remaining two full magazines seemed to be enough. All my intelligence gathering during my time within headquarters and during shopping for the necessities of my new home indicated while crime was limited in the fortress city, the black market was booming. So many people working with various connections to NERV, all with financial crises to settle made for a perfect breeding ground for the hardware I required. It would be more expensive to purchase them in Japan, but the black market in America was far less courteous and far more violent. The culture of Tokyo-3's illegal trade was more of a professional atmosphere, merchants simply wanting to please their customers and make a profit.
"Where are we going?" Kensuke asked as we strolled down the street towards the run-down industrial district. I had insisted Aida leave his camcorder behind at my apartment, but he also bring his soft air weapons. "This area is still occupied. We could get in trouble for playing-"
"We are not playing, Kensuke," I spoke in a serious tone. "This is real. The weapons will be real. Whatever happens, you are my local translator and contact, while I am the foreign mercenary." I could see the boy shudder, and for a moment, I thought he was going to piss himself. "Just.. take it very slow, very calm, and no sudden movements. If they ask for identification, ask for theirs."
I could see the boy pale, particularly when he tried to take a look at my chest, and noticed the shoulder holster with the very realistic Jericho pistol. Kensuke nearly stopped in his tracks, but I needed him. Asuka could not be trusted, as she would inform the others, as would Shinji. I considered taking Ritsuko along for this, but it was still too risky for her to be identified. Her impromptu funeral was already held, a marker placed next to her mother's in Tokyo-2. She was also still shaken from her attack only two days before, and unskilled with weapons.
"Kensuke, please," I begged. "This is not going to be easy, but it has to be done." It was difficult, but regardless of my masculinity, my physical form indicated I was female, and settling on the story I was Shinji's half-sister, Aida was very interested in me. As such, I knew exactly how to motivate him. Taking his left hand into mine, I looked into his eyes, and urged him along. "It will be over soon, and once this is over, we can go out for dinner, my treat."
The pale skin of my companion was replaced immediately by a blush, and while the fear was still present, the chances of a friendship with a girl, the first relationship of that kind for him, would keep him going until we were sure no conflict would result from our encounter.
Dark figures scurried about the claustrophobic, ruined alleys, large boxes of various sizes, painted olive drab green with yellow lettering lined the brick walls of the industrial buildings. It would figure most of the hardware I would get my hands on would be obsolete U.S. and newer J.S.S.D.F. inventory, all slowly, cautiously removed from their warehouses by patient hands. Then I encountered a few crates with unfamiliar markings, all painted in red. At once I recognized the English translation of "Norinco", and knew we had hit the jackpot.
"Remember," I told Kensuke, my whispered English grabbing the attention of several of the "merchants", their bodies hidden in black overcoats, stalker caps, and other dark winter attire. It was a cold night, but the clothing served more for camouflage during routine military patrols. "We are looking for Soviet and U.S., but the Chinese make excellent parts for the Kalishnikov."
Suddenly a man walked up to us, a cylindrical object protruding from his overcoat pocket. The weapon was silenced, and if he knew what he was doing, the ammunition would be sub-sonic, so as to give as quiet a report as possible. Once he came to a stop, I nodded to Kensuke.
•••••••••••••
I had gone out earlier and deposited some of the money in various banks throughout Tokyo-3, all in amounts equivalent to a year of tuition for a foreign exchange student studying in a private school. There were no questions raised, as this practice was becoming far more common with the rest of the world still trying to regain it's previous level of stability. Some I had taken out in cash, dragging Kensuke along for some improvised shopping.
We were dressed similarly to the merchants and the man who had approached us, long, black coats covering our dark but semi-formal wear, leather gloves and stalker caps keeping any prints or hairs from giving away our identity. Now we pulled the sides of our coats out, showing our arms, some fake, some real. A stop to a sporting goods store on the edge of town for a soft air dummy rifle, a little black spray paint, and an improvised strap gave Kensuke the perfect sawed off shotgun, while my Jericho and the folding knife I had purchased earlier today backed up the illusion of defense.
The man spoke in Japanese, and slowly, very delicately, Kensuke reached into one of his pockets for the list. I had dictated the necessary hardware, so it would be written in Japanese. If I was going to get caught, I wanted to blend in as much as possible with the civilians, even though my cover clearly indicated I was a foreigner. A few more exchanges between Kensuke and the man, then he turned to me.
"Aren't you too young for these kind of purchases?" the man asked, his voice raspy. "Go home and play with your dolls."
"My expertise and this should prove otherwise," I answered. Setting out the silver case, the NERV tag long since removed, the man lifted it by the handle, shaking it. To do so, of course, he had to put his silenced pistol away, and once he confirmed the shuffling of money by jostling the case, I made my move for the Jericho. "Standard issue NERV Section Two, or at least it was until it's owner was prematurely removed."
The man shifted uncomfortably, but made no sudden movements. "You a cleaner?"
"Driver," I answered, "but these roads, you know, they aren't safe for my kind of... shipments." I could feel Kensuke stare in shock, but discretely poking him in the arm with my free hand, I reminded him of his role. The boy tried his best to hunch and stride slower to give the illusion of age. Setting his hands down to his sides, neither threatening nor unprepared, I was impressed how well Aida was handling himself.
"I understand," the man answered again, slowly reading the list. "You have no car. How does a driver expect to handle this amount of merchandise?" I could sense the man reach for his pistol, but before he could get his hand in his pocket, Kensuke tilted the soft air weapon just enough for the barrel to poke out of his overcoat, aimed at the man's foot. Meanwhile, I just maintained eye contact, my expression cold, unwavering.
"Would a driver be so foolish as to bring their car to a known place like this?" I asked. "I will take the packages on foot, the pieces first, then the ammunition. My friend, here, will be watching over me from a distance. If something goes wrong, your family will die first, then you."
The questioning look slowly faded from the man's face, Aida's and my eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness of the alley. Normally on a night operation, one should adjust their eyes to total darkness first, but the glare of the city streets prevented this. Kensuke and I, surrounded in shadows for nearly a half an hour, were reaching the peak of our night vision. "You have done this before?"
"Yes," I lied.
"American?"
"Not my clients, and they are the ones who matter. Can you deliver or no?"
Once we returned to my apartment, Kensuke shed the clothing immediately, and sat on the small futon, shivering from the built up adrenaline. "I will call to ask Misato to drive you home," I said, "but another guest will be coming over, and you cannot meet them."
"Okay," Aida breathed.
"I am sorry our first meeting had to be so... intense. If there was another person I could trust, I would have asked them." Kensuke smiled faintly as I sat next to him on the couch, handing him a cup of tea. "It is Earl Grey," I answered the boy's curious glance.
"What... will you do?" Aida asked, his eyes dull from exhaustion and stress.
"NERV cannot be trusted," I replied, taking a sip of the tea before it could cool, burning my tongue slightly. "When the time comes, you must take Hikari and Toji out of here. I will leave instructions and provisions to prevent your capture. I will tell you more next week, after I have made the arrangements."
Before he could finish off his tea, and long before Misato arrived with a nervous, silent Ritsuko, Aida slept, leaning his head into my shoulder. "Well, that solves one problem, I guess," I muttered under my breath.
•••••••••••••
The next day was the same as before, except for the brunette woman sharing my apartment, her hair trimmed to the base of her neck, similar to Maya's. A little less make-up, except for the concealer to hide the mole on her cheek, and Ritsuko Akagi truly was another person. "Did you enjoy the steak at Misato's last night?" I asked.
"Yes, it was nice," the now brunette doctor said flatly. "But what were you doing with that boy, Aida? You left before you could eat."
"I took him out to dinner after he helped me do a little shopping," I answered, almost grinning. Lies were hard for me to tell, because I would constantly give them away with a smirk. Only if she knew how suiting my excuse had been, but she would eventually know. I intended to tell her, but not until we were safely on our little vacation abroad. "Hopefully you slept well."
Ritsuko nodded. "It was... very kind of you to arrange this, but you are risking a lot."
Sitting across from the woman at the small table in the kitchenette, I looked her straight in the eye. "I intended to risk this, and much more before any of this happened." She seemed to return my intense stare, the implications of her death, my evening stroll with Aida, and the unusual boxes from the storage locker I didn't own, for possessions I didn't have all sinking in.
"This is not a game," she breathed. "You better know what you are doing."
"I do," I answered slowly. "And please, I insist you call me Susan Ikari."
End of Chapter XI
•••••••••••••
What could possibly be more entertaining than giant mechs slugging it out with hideous space creatures? How about old school cloak and dagger? For those of you who haven't seen it and enjoy this chapter, you really need to watch the film Ronin(1998). I reference it so much in this story, and the subject matter is very similar.
By the way, anyone have any guesses as to what the hat stands for?
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