"The CEO himself rarely makes an appearance in his own base, and he talks to his ordinary staff even less. Bugging his office has proved impossible." Ministry of the Interior report on the activities of Gendo Ikari.

XVI

Finally unobserved, Gendo relaxed a little. He reached out and took his cup of coffee. Raising it to his lips he drank deep of the hot black liquid. Its energy nourished his tired bones.

"Questions and more questions." Kozo's tone was grim. "They aren't fools, Ikari-san. They know we aren't being forthright with them."

"They can suspect all they wish." Gendo shrugged. "Without the necessary pieces, they can't put this puzzle together until too late at the earliest."

"I hope you're right."

"I am. Besides, we've far greater problems than a few disgruntled employees."

"The Viaticum?"

"Indeed."

Yesterday's irregularities will have raised their hackles. They want me dead as it is.

"There haven't been any further breeches of security this last year. Either they've given up or they're observing us in other ways." Kozo said.

"Likely. These methods we must find. In the meantime, we need something to throw off the scent." Gendo drummed his fingers on the desk.

"Such as?"

"Accelerate development of the dummy plug system. Fit them out for usage with all our Eva units."

"S-sir." Kozo paled. "The dummy systems are feral at best right now, using them in active combat would-"

"We won't be. But the Viaticum certainly needs to think that."

"…They think you'll have some design for the Evas?"

Gendo grinned.

Careful, it's learning.

"That won't go unanswered. They'll accelerate production of their own Mass Produced Evas." Kozo said.

"Thus pouring resources into that project and not unravelling our plans. It buys us time and if successful grants us total control over our assets. Either way, we win. They have no choice but to counter the ploy. It's a move they can make comfortably as well." Gendo sipped his coffee again. "Given recent events it'll look perfectly rational for the UN to expedite production, and it strengthens their hand."

"Is there anything else we could try? The Archbishop might have contingencies for such a move."

Gendo shook his head.

No. Other plans are too reactive and can be cancelled out. Even this ploy will doubtless be seen as a feint by the Archbishop, but he's no choice but to respond.

Over the last decade he'd run through numerous scenarios but had yet to find a way to truly neutralise his would-be masters. The man who called himself Archbishop, who held his parish under tighter control than Gendo did his, was his superior and there was little else to do but distract and delay.

Leaking information to the public will simply be seen as conspiracy nonsense. Direct opposition will have me and my command staff killed then replaced with Viaticum loyalists. He felt ice in his stomach. And they'll have far less considerations for the pilots than me.

Shinji and Rei being at the mercy of those men made his skin crawl. At last the Archbishop would have unfettered access to his order's obsession, and Rei would be disposed of, deemed as a blasphemy against God's creation.

No. His teeth clenched. That will not happen.

"There is still the Marshal to consider." Kozo ventured. Gendo chuckled but the old man ignored it. "Like it or not, she is undisputed commander of perhaps the finest army in the world. Provoking her could prove disastrous."

"Motichka is not nearly the problem you think. She's a barking dog, predictable down to the basest snarl."

"A savage animal is predictable, but it can still bite."

"True enough." Gendo half-heartedly agreed. "How go our efforts in the National Diet?"

"Our tacit support of the Nationalist Party has earned some gratitude and helped maintain stability."

"Hm." Gendo frowned. "Stability is no longer useful. Switch our support to the Liberals. Aside from serving our purposes better, it may help create gridlock in the government."

"That won't do us any good." Kozo said. "The army is where the true power is."

"And yet Motichka pays a peculiar heed to Parliament. She needs it for legitimacy. At the very least it would slow down decision making, keeping them out of our affairs."

"And if the Marshal should discover this?"

"I can say we are merely supporting a party that is useful to our interests, which have undeniably become international now. The Marshal can then rage impotently down the phone to me and nothing will come of it."

This is not the first time such a thing has happened and you know it. Trust me, sensei. I can control that vicious bitch.

"This will also feed nicely into our other ploy." Gendo continued. "Between playing the system and development of the dummy plugs, our friends in the Viaticum may perceive that I am trying to take control of Japan."

"And react accordingly." Kozo nodded to himself. "Plans within plans. Well done."

"Thank you, sensei."

The power to destroy those old fools and rewrite this horrid world lies beneath my feet. I need nothing else.

"Whilst we're on the subject…" Gendo pushed a button in his desk. "Caspar, I require you."

In the blink of an eye, Caspar's hologram shimmered into existence. "What is it, Gendo-chan?"

Gendo fought down his irritation. Not that it did any good because Caspar knew he was irritated anyway, thus carried on calling him "chan."

If I ever get my hands on who programmed it to have a sense of humour…

"I would like you to release classified sounding information to the darker corners of the internet. Nothing like a good conspiracy theory to discredit genuine criticism." He said.

"Sure thing, Gendo-chan."

"Good. Return to your duties."

"Still no 'thank you.'" She pouted. "No workplace appreciation at all. I should get in touch with my union…"

She fizzled away. Gendo tried to make her as absent from his mind as she was from his office.

Altogether, these moves should keep the world guessing for a while longer. I just need several more months…

"There is a problem we're overlooking, sir." Kozo said, eliciting a raised eyebrow from Gendo. "Rei."

"Is there a problem?" Gendo tilted his head.

"She's curious about the Third Child without any input from us. When was that supposed to happen?"

"Dr Akagi has been quite forthright on the matter." Gendo stretched his neck, knowing what was coming. "Rei, despite her unique nature, is still a teenage girl. Boundaries will be pushed no matter what we do."

"Pushing boundaries could undo everything we've done. We have an entire pool of replacements. A new one could be ready tomorrow morning-"

"You have made this argument before and my answer remains the same: no."

Heart of stone I may possess, but I can't order that.

"With respect, sir." Kozo said stiffly. "She is not Shinji. She is not your daughter. You yourself have decried attachments in attaining our goal, but now you're letting it cloud your judgement."

Gendo sighed. "I know her likeness to Yui pains you-"

"It's not that!" The old man snapped. "But every step we've taken down this road to hell has been made with the assurance of her cooperation. If she asks too many questions, starts thinking for herself, then she might wonder whether or not ending life as we know it is a good idea."

"You exaggerate." Gendo nonchalantly took another sip of coffee. "Besides, if we want an effective soldier, they have to act off their own initiative. A mindless automaton will fight without thought and be quickly killed without thought. I have no use for such toys."

"If you're sure…"

"Increase surveillance of her if that makes you feel better." Gendo waved a hand dismissively. "Rei will not fail me."

Kozo kept his mouth shut for a while after that, much to Gendo's relief. Peace and quiet was nothing short of serenity for him. He could think, or not think at all, without fear of interruption. Yet a thought did cross his mind, one even he was unable to bury.

You are half right, sensei. Rei is not Shinji. She is not my son, who I have failed in totality.

"Has the Third Child arrived at his lodgings yet?" He asked. Kozo blinked, surprised.

"Imminently, sir. I would ask why you let Director Katsuragi do this, but I imagine you've already an elaborate counter argument."

"…Director Katsuragi has the singular talent of seeing assets as people first and foremost. There are few better suited to the care of my son in this company." Gendo said after a long pause.

well that's hellishly indicative of myself and the people I hire.

"A little bit late to start caring, isn't it?" Kozo asked.

Gendo stared off into nothingness for a moment. "I believe we've an emergency board meeting in the next hour?"

Kozo checked his watch. "Thirty minutes, sir."

"Very well." Nerv's CEO pushed out his hard wooden chair and stood up. "We'll make our way to the comms room now. Have we the relevant-"

"Files? Yes, sir. Expenditure, profits and recent growth. Our shares on the stock market tripled just today."

This is why you're my Chairman of the Board. Gendo hid a faint smile as he tenderly folded his gloved hands into his pocket. He winced as even shielded raw skin brushed the fabric.

Serves me right for heroics. What on earth was I thinking? He remembered the panic pumping through his veins, as with bare hands he'd torn off an entry plug's superheated hatch. All to help the entirely "replaceable" person inside.

Perhaps you are right, sensei. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel anything it all.

Which was why he'd said nothing.

It had been fortunate indeed he'd had help from someone just as emotionally compromised that day, or else that hatch might never have come off.

We must be the worst surrogate parents in the world, Dr Akagi.

It was laughable. The silliness of a man like him, hands drenched in blood, putting himself out like that. Especially when the injury was a genuine nuisance that actively impeded his work.

And yet, old fool that I am, I don't regret it. I'd actually do it again if needs be. For Rei and…

A memory touched his mind. One of a hot summer's day, and a remarkably heavy little boy on his shoulders. They both had ice cream.

and for you, Shinji. May the world I create treat you better than this one.