Shinji opened up the door to his newly assigned locker at Wille HQ's changing room nd found his new jacket on the hanger. The jacket was a simple tan with four pockets, two on each side of the chest and two on the bottom where the garment would cover the hips. On the left sleeve was a patch of the Japanese flag while the right sleeve had a patch displaying the ten rings of New Constantinople in a bright blue. He took off his school blazer and put on the Wille jacket, and when he buttoned it up, he stood in front of a large mirror to look at himself. With the shirt and tie from his school uniform, he had to admit that while he was no expert on fashion, he thought he looked pretty good. He closed the door to his locker and stepped out of the room, where Burke was waiting for him.
"Not too shabby," he said when he first saw Shinji, but you don't need to have it buttoned up."
"You think so?"
"Yeah," Burke replied as Shinji unbuttoned the jacket. "There," he said when Shinji was done. "It makes you look professional without looking too formal and stuffy."
"I see."
"Okay, now we're off to the meeting." Burke declared.
"Are you sure you want me there?" Shinji asked.
"Definitely sure," Burke answered as they began walking. "You are not expected to attend every meeting. I mean, you've got to go to school. But as this one, at least in part, concerns Joanna, I want you to be there. I also want to introduce you some of the other personnel that you'll be interacting with from time to time. You've already met Sam, but there are more people both the Commander and I feel you need to meet. We'll also head over to the Command Center afterwords, so you can meet the bridge crew as well as get a better idea of how we do things, and your place in the greater scheme of things."
"I hope I can help all of you," Shinji said.
"Don't sweat it, you'll be fine," Burke declared as the two made it into the meeting room. The room, which was semicircular in shape, was about thirty meters in diameter, the floor and ceiling colored white. The walls consisted of screens flush with each other so that either a single of image or a multitude of them could be presented. Burke had told him earlier that this setup, along with the holographic technology that was in the room, allowed them to produce 3D images without the need for special glasses. The room also contained a crescent shaped table where a few people were sitting at it.
The two took their seats right next to each other with Shinji swiveling his seat around taking a good look at everything. Some people were waiting at the table already either talking to their comrades or looking at papers and screens. From time to time, he caught the eye of these people. He gave short nod in greeting, and these people would either ignore him or give him a nod before returning to whatever they were doing. Shinji wondered if that was because they didn't know who he was or if in fact they did. He shook those thoughts out of his head as he noticed a few more people enter the room, with one of them seeming familiar to him, though he had no clue in what particular way. The man in question looked around the room taking in who was there stopped when he saw Shinji. His eyes widened and his mouth hung slightly open for a few seconds staring at the boy, before beaming a huge smile right at him and taking his seat. Shinji didn't know what to make of the whole encounter. It was equal parts confusing and creepy. A few minutes later, Hood entered the room, and when Burke saw him, he spoke up in a voice that everyone could hear.
"Okay everyone, if we're all here. I'd like to begin." Everyone turned their attention towards Burke. At the the same time, Burke slid a small stack of paper in Shinji's direction. Glancing at them, he saw that some of them were materials for him including Joanna's biography, along with some material and diagrams he couldn't understand. Burke continued speaking.
"There are several items that are on the agenda today. Sam, would you like to start?" Hood stood up and began to speak.
"In three days, there will some new arrivals to our fair city. One of them is a new weapon from Hamburg that we get to field test." Hood tapped the keys on the table in front of him bringing up a holographic image was, at first glance, looked at like a spinal cord from some strange animal as the metal components were shaped in such a way that they resembled pieces of bone. The two things that looked unnatural, if that term can be used, were handles protruding from the weapon and that it separated at one end, which would give the appearance of the barrel. "The code name given for it by them is 'Spine of the Death God,'" he added.
"Spine of the what?" One of them asked. Shinji noticed Burke mouthing the name with a face that seemed to him as if he just tasted something awful.
"I know, weird name," Hood stated. "For sake of ease, we're referring to it as the boom stick." A few of the chuckled when they heard the name. "I see some of you get the reference," he continued. "The weapon, which is properly called a Sinking-Type Field Invasion Gun, works by using a corrosive AT Field to launch projectiles composed of protons nearly at the speed at light. With all that kinetic energy that builds up when it hits the target would be nothing short of explosive. For those who didn't understand many of the words that I just said, you shoot at something and that thing will go boom." Some of the attendees whistled in response. Shinji overheard the man who was watching him muttering to himself.
"Awesome, awesome, awesome," the man kept repeating.
"We will be using Unit 11 to conduct field tests, of which we hope to complete in the next several weeks," Hood continued, "and this leads us to our next subject." The hologram disappeared and was replaced by a picture of Joanna along with some of her basic information.
"Everyone, this is the pilot of Unit 11, Joanna Kingston. She will be joining us at the end of week."
"Will she be assigned here or will she be sent to the Wunder?" one of them asked.
"Assigned here," Hood replied. "Also, she has been assigned a liaison officer," he gestured toward Shinji. "I'm sure some of you are familiar with Shinji Ikari." Shinji stood up and gave a quick bow to those assembled.
"A pleasure to work with all of you," he told them before he returned to his seat. Glancing around he saw some people murmuring to each other while keeping an eye on him. He soon saw that the same man who had taken notice of him earlier was now looking at him with a goofy smile on his face. Shinji turned away from him as fast as he could.
"We'll be looking forward to your service," Hood said before turning to Burke. "That's all on my end."
"Okay then," Burke said as he stood up. "Uh…Sara, please tell me you have any updates on the search for Nerv Headquarters." The woman only shook her head.
"No good Stan," she said. We searched every inch of the area around the Tokyo 3 area. It's just gone."
"Then where did it go?" Someone asked.
"We're not sure," She replied. "The best hypothesis we can think of is that it…left."
"Left?" Burke asked.
"Footage taken at the time of 4th Impact by the Wunder is either incomplete or they were focusing on the battle at the hand. But what footage we do have we do have shows the remnants of Nerv HQ floating up towards the Chamber of Guf. When the chamber disappears, it is gone. We believe it could have entered the vortex, before it closed up.
"Where would that vortex lead to or perhaps it's better to say, what does it connect to?"
"You're guess is as good as mine," Sara answered. Since both Gendo Ikari and Kozo Fuyutsuki were inside, we could assume that where ever it is, it's capable of supporting human life. But then again, Nerv HQ was built with sophisticated life support systems, so it's not an absolute requirement either."
"Let's save the speculation for other meetings," Burke said before he turned to the man that was keeping an eye on Shinji. "Ken, do you have anything to report?" The question caught him off guard as he was keeping one eye on Shinji.
"Oh, uh, nothing too much," Ken replied. "The city's defenses are at 97% readiness. The remaining 3% is due to maintenance, installation of new equipment, and a minor accident with one of the secondary generators. We've been running battle drills every two weeks with great success. Even though the city hasn't been attacked in over two years, we are ready to fight tonight if need be."
"Glad to hear it," Burke replied. "Will there be any problems incorporating Unit 11 into our defense plans?"
"Not that I can think of," Ken answered. "While most of our drills involves situations where it is just us. We also have had drills involving both the Wunder and Unit 02 and/or Unit 08. So incorporating Unit 11 won't be as difficult as you think."
"Good," Burke replied
"Might we also add something?" a man asked.
"Sure Li, what do you got?"
"I would like to point out to Ken that Intelligence has been getting reports of increased attacks from Mark 04s, not only on the Wunder, but from several cities."
"Maybe we should increase the drills to once a week," Ken said. "I would also appreciate it if Intelligence kept us better informed in the future." His voice sounded tense as he was speaking to Li.
"We do try to get the intel to you as soon as we can," Li replied. "You need to be realistic about what we can do and how long it can take to make an assessment."
"The only thing that I have to be realistic about is the fact that we have a major change in enemy movements, and I wasn't informed," Ken countered. "That isn't something that can wait for further analysis."
"Okay, that's enough." Shinji had never heard Burke raise his voice like that before. "I'll leave these matters to the two of you to clear up," Burke stated before turning to everyone else. "Is there any other business from Departments we haven't heard from?" Burke received nothing but silence. "Then this meeting is adjourned." As people started to leave, Burke turned towards Shinji.
"Shall we go to the command center?" Shinji nodded his assent and they left the meeting room. During the trip, Shinji noticed that Ken was following them. Wondering what was the man's deal, he increased the pace, hoping that the guy would go down another corridor. The two arrived at the command center and Burke let him take it all in. Shinji could count the number of times he had been at the Command Center in Tokyo 3, and while what was before him wasn't as impressive as that facility, it was still impressive in it's own right. The command center was arranged as if an amphitheater composed of three tiers of computer terminals facing a main monitor, each manned by a technician. Above all of them sat Kaji at his desk. He caught them out of the corner of his eyes.
"Glad to see you here," he said as he turned to them.
"Thank you for having me," Shinji replied.
"Sure thing," Kaji said. "I'm glad all three of you are here."
"Three?" Shinji turned around and discovered Ken right behind him, sending a flare of panic through his body. He must have figured that it showed up on his face as Ken addressed him.
"Is…is something wrong?" he asked.
"Uh…uh…well," Shinji stammered.
"Colonel Aida, what are you doing?" Burke asked.
"I don't know what you mean sir," Ken answered. The man's name made Shinji stop in his tracks. He began to put all the pieces together, the name he was called during the meeting, the quirks he saw from him as it was going on. Taking a closer look at him, Shinji could see the similarities. His hair was neater, his round glasses were replaced by smaller square frames, and his beard covered what freckles he did have. Could it possibly be…
"Kensuke?" he half-whispered.
"It took you that long to recognize me? I'm shocked. Maybe should have a video camera in front of my face." The sarcasm was thick, but Shinji didn't care about that.
"It is you!" he said. "I'm sorry, but you looked…"
"Handsome? Dashing? Regal?" Kensuke ran his fingers through his hair.
"I…was actually going to say older."
"Oh…" were the only words Aida said. Shinji tilted his head in confusion while Burke barely succeeded in stifling a laugh.
"Well, I do surprise myself sometimes," Aida said.
"You're pomposities is hardly surprising," a young woman in uniform said as she handed Aida a set of papers. "Here are those reports you asked for sir."
"Uh, thank you Lieutenant," he replied before turning back to Shinji. "Shinji, this is Lt. Jennette Bertain. She is one of the senior technicians here in the Command Center."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said as she gave him a slight bow. Shinji took notice of her short brown hair, her hazel eyes, even the French Tricolor patch on her jacket sleeve.
"How do you do?" he said.
"And this here is Lt. Akihito Matsu." Aida said as he pointed towards a man at his post. Matsu never took his eyes from his screen, only giving a brief wave to the group.
"Finally, over there is Lt. Mark Lithgow.
"Hi," Mark said.
"Along with you assisting Joanna, we would like you to sit in with these three to give you an idea of how things go from this side of it," Kaji stated. "In the event that we go into battle, you'll be right here beside them." Even though he had no reason to feel this way, a feeling of dread washed upon him and receded as fast as it came.
"Oh, okay then," Shinji replied.
"It will be a pleasure to work with you," Janette told him.
"Okay Shinji we've got a few more places to get to," Burke said.
"Sure," Shinji said. "Thank you for letting me be here," he as to the others.
"Hey Shinji," Aida said as the two were walking out. "We should really get together sometime." A smile came upon Shinji's face.
"You bet," he yelled back as the door closed behind them.
Two days later, Burke, Aida, and Shinji were standing on the tarmac in the blazing sun with Shinji using his hand to shield his eyes from the sun.
"Where is the Commander?" Aida asked Burke.
"That's why I'm here. Another meeting with the higher ups."
"Well, I'm supposed to be at the military port supervising the unloading of the boom stick," Aida replied. "I can't stay too long."
"Wait, isn't it supposed to be landing around the same time as Joanna?" Burke asked.
"That's right, it's supposed to," Aida said. "It got delayed for a few hours due to the plane diverting its path to avoid the Mark 04s."
"I see," was all Burke said on the matter as the three heard a loud roar over them as a small jet flew low over them and made a landing at one of the runways. As it was taxiing into place, the three began to walk towards it.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Burke said as he fished through his jacket pocket, producing a small case. This is for you," he handed the case to Shinji who opened it to find a pair of sunglasses.
"Thought you would need them for the sun today," he added. Shinji put them on and noticed the improvement.
"Well Shinji, are you ready to meet her?" Aida asked. Shinji had begun to feel the weight of his responsibility as the day got nearer, but as he stood right next to the plane as the doors were opening, it felt crushing.
"I'll have to be," he stated.
