"Even in this age of war, of foreign tyranny and aggression, of hardship and poverty, this Republic cannot collapse into authoritarianism simply to survive. Liberty, equality, and fraternity, are not simply words. They are the bed rock upon which our nation stands. And they, the birthright of our citizens, shall be defended to the death. Vive la Republique, Vive la France!"
Minister Fabrice Larue announces the National Assembly's rejection of the "emergency powers act." 1st of August, 2005.
Sunday the 30th of July, 11am, State of Japan, Tokyo-3, NERV quarters
How people could ever get tired of showers was a mystery to her. The torrent of hot water continued to flow over the redhead, as she angled her face into the incoming stream. Her mane took a great amount of work to maintain, with its sheer length and silky smoothness. Which of course, made it an absolute bastard to wash.
Oh well, it's not like I'd even need an excuse to stay in the shower for a bit longer. Asuka mused humorously to herself. At times she'd stayed under the hot, steamy water for more than an hour.
Water was just...serene to her. Not quite like sitting within Unit 02, but its warmth was most welcoming nonetheless, like a blanket one could wrap themselves in. Besides, it was always in the shower where the German girl preferred to think, as there was no chance she would be interrupted.
Well, aside from that fire alarm back in NERV Leopard...
Gott that was embarrassing. I don't think Sam stopped blushing for a week.
In particular, she dwelt upon her first three engagements. That caused her to frown slightly as she rubbed the shampoo into her long red strands of hair.
I haven't killed a single one of them yet. And at the rate we're going...will I ever get the chance?
They'd beaten the Seraphim, but it had never been by her hand. In her first encounter, the dummkopf had been along for the ride and...helped. The second time she was actually overpowered by the enemy, having to be saved by...and the third time, she'd actually hurt them really badly but even then she still would have been crushed were it not for...
The frown became a scowl.
Stupid Shinji, I don't need his help! I don't need anyone's help!
Pushing all thoughts of an irritating meek young man from her mind, Asuka found something else to be grumpy about.
There was a class trip going off to Okinawa, enjoy the sun, sea, sand, and take a look round one of the major naval bases in the Pacific. If war broke out between Japan and China today, then Okinawa would be the front line. But now, in this age of relative peace, it had become something of a tourist destination.
And so she'd gone off shopping with Ryoji for some nice new swim wear and such. It had been a good time out, talking over drinks about how they were settling into this strange place. It seemed her old crush felt about as unsure as she, despite him being a native.
On the other hand, that sort of thing happens when one is away for ten years...
But throughout the whole thing, a little part of her brain had been nagging away with "Keep dreaming, lady. We're basically on active duty constantly now, and the Seraphim could hit at any time. No way is NERV going to let us off for a few days."
And when she'd got back to the apartment, the nagging was proven correct. Oh of course she pouted for a little bit, but it certainly couldn't be described as "throwing one's dolls out the pram." Samuel didn't really seemed fussed, although he would probably have liked visiting a big naval base, and the thought hadn't even concerned Shinji.
"I'm not really a holiday person...I don't like moving around." He'd said.
Gott he's such a doormat.
Although to say Asuka disliked him wasn't correct. Annoying, yes, but he wasn't a nasty person and for a neophyte he was capable in his Eva. Although, in her opinion, he wasn't a patch on her in any way whatsoever.
She didn't know what the clone's thoughts were on the matter of the school trip, as she hadn't asked. And probably never would.
I actually get a better conversation out of the dummkopf than that doll.
Eventually, after about half an hour, she felt satisfied with her hair and turned the water off, stepping out of the shower and rubbing herself down with her personal towels.
Red towels.
Once that was done, she tenderly attached her A-10 hair pins to fold her mane into exactly the way she wanted it. Nearly unrestrained, but not completely covering her face. Even her impressive bangs did not go past her forehead.
Asuka probably paid about as much attention to her hair as she did to her beloved Unit 02. For they were her pride and joy.
Cleansed and dressed, she exited the bathroom, rolling her eyes as Samuel had to quickly rush in, having been waiting outside for about ten minutes, and made her way to the living room.
Watching television was what she did mostly these days, well, at least socially. Of course, the best parts of her day, whenever they happened, were combat simulations and synch tests. One of the only places in the world where she could genuinely prove just how excellent a Pilot she was. An elite, unsurpassed by anyone else.
"Hello, Soryu-san." Said a nervous voice she knew reasonably well now.
"Mm...what are you doing?" Asuka stared at Shinji. He stood in front of an ironing board, said iron held in hand. What must have been a vast pile, for them all by the looks of it, was now split in two. That which had been ironed, and that which had not.
"...doing the ironing." He said, a little gone out, as if perplexed.
"I can see that, why?"
"Because it needs doing."
"But you're a boy."
"So?"
Asuka huffed, as if this should be obvious to him.
"So, shouldn't you be off doing...boy...things? Like, I don't know, hanging out with the other stooges, playing video games, or reading swimsuit magazines?"
Shinji's expression remained confused.
"Mein gott...did you housebreak him, Misato, or was he already like this when he arrived?" She asked the purplehead, who currently resided upon one of the bean bags.
"Yup. It was quite a surprise to me too..." The elder trailed off, still reminiscing about the first time she came home from work to find the place spotless and Shinji merrily ironing away with his earphones in. Her experience with adolescent and young adult males was they stank to high heaven and left mess wherever they went. Her primary charge appeared to be the polar opposite of that.
"Wow, how strict was your mother?" The redhead offered humorously, oblivious to Shinji's near physical wince at the mere mention of the dear one he lost so very long ago.
"Not that much at all..." He said quietly, wistfully, and sadly. It was just loud enough for Asuka to hear, and even she could tell, impetuous as she was, this was not a subject to be taken lightly.
"Hmm." She acknowledged before plopping down on the sofa.
"Oh, Takeshi's castle...haven't watched this in years." The redhead smiled slightly as she leaned back, fondly remembering this bizarre little show where people were thrown in mud and water, shot at with cannon balls, and just generally hit with various things.
Japanese game shows are crazy...but Mama was half Japanese, so I guess that's why I think they're funny.
"I didn't think people watched it outside the home islands." Misato said, a little surprised.
"Well, no League nation can censor stuff, so we receive Japanese channels. A few people like it, so they contracted out the studio that made it and now it's on every Wednesday at 11. The Empire has it, but they've got their own stuff...like that total wipe out thing with that short guy..."
"Short does not quite describe Baron Richard Hammond." Samuel said with a chuckle as he entered the room, having finished "evacuating" himself. Today, as his uniform was dirty, he'd put on a white shirt with sleeves, and some beige chinos. Precisely the wrong sort of clothing for this time of year and place, but he did not care.
I can never understand how anyone could wear a T-shirt.
He peered at the screen for a few moments.
"Oh it's this thing. You barbarians have very strange tastes in entertainment." He shook his head.
"Because getting people to jump across four giant red balls isn't strange..." Asuka commented sardonically.
"We don't have screaming sumo wrestlers push people into muck, Asuka."
"But you do have a car show that's not really about cars."
"Oh come off it, Top Gear is great!"
"Right..." The redhead rolled her eyes. She honestly couldn't find much entertainment in an overweight middle aged man hurtling down a race track and screaming power at the top of his lungs.
"Um...Meadow-san? I've got all the creases out of your uniform, took me while especially with those things." Shinji pointed at the golden epaulettes on the blue tunic's shoulder pieces.
"Epaulettes, Shinji, epaulettes! If you actually want to take care of my uniform you should everything there is to know about it." Samuel huffed before walking over to the "ironed" pile, and picking it up. Shinji remained quiet.
"Quite right, not a single crease...well done." The Imperial said admiringly, knowing that only some of his best servants were capable of this quality.
The younger Japanese boy, blinked in surprise for a few moments, before beaming.
"Thank you, Meadow-san."
"You're...welcome..." Samuel raised an eyebrow before sitting next to Asuka, a little perplexed by just how well the "barbarian" had received the slightest bit of praise.
"Such a doormat..." Asuka shook her head before remembering something.
"Are you doing my ironing as well?"
"Yes." Shinji nodded eagerly.
"Without my permission?"
"Oh...um...sorry...just trying to be helpful." His expression fell slightly.
"Ugh, don't start crying, Third. I suppose you are being helpful." Asuka said dismissively. The silence continued for a little while longer, as Shinji shifted uncomfortably.
"Did I tell you to stop?" She fixed her sapphire gaze on him.
As if an electric jolt had gone through his body, the boy soon returned to his work with utter professionalism.
Gott, is he a housebroken man, or housewife? Eh, he's kind of nice though. Hell of a lot nicer than a fair few boys of his age I know.
Misato continued to watch television, vaguely listening in on her charges.
Shinji-kun, we need to have a talk about "standing up for yourself." A loud skwarking caught her attention.
"Having trouble?" She directed at the penguin holding a can of beer. The flightless bird looked at the can's pin, then back at Misato, giving a quiet wark.
"Don't worry. We both get it wrong occasionally." She chuckled a little, picking the can up and trying to open it. She soon realised her long time partner's predicament, as the pin was proving exceptionally bothersome today.
Grumbling a little, Misato decided to "call for reinforcements."
"Shinji-kun! You're a big strong man, so could you get this open for me please?" She smiled her most winning smile at him.
He chuckled slightly.
"Pleases now? Huh, I must be rubbing off on you..." He came out from behind the board, and grasped hold of the can.
"How did you get her to do that?" Samuel said incredulously.
"Effort. Lots of effort." Shinji answered, grimly remembering just how much trouble the party girl had given him. With a swift tug, the can was opened, and he handed it back to Misato before walking back to his work.
"Thank you." She said sweetly.
The Imperial looked back and forth in shock.
"Teach me! I've been trying to get this one to understand manners for six bloody years!" He gestured at Asuka, who smiled smugly.
"And you never will, Sam...you never will." She patted him on the head.
This produced quiet laughter from all. Despite it coming at his expense, not something he was usually not good at dealing with, Samuel felt warmth in his heart. Since he'd first departed the homeland, he felt truly relaxed.
I suppose it's not so bad here.
2pm, NERV Central, cages
"The bad news is, Unit 02's wound is going to take a while to mend. Good news is, it's nothing too serious." Maya relayed to her superior, who seemed more stressed by the day.
"Thank you, Ibuki-san. Heh, it's all go, isn't it?" Ritsuko produced a tired smile.
"Yes, Sub Commander. I just hope it will end before I'm thirty." Maya agreed.
"It'll be forty if you're lucky. Can I get you a coffee?"
"Um...yes please."
The faux blonde placed a polystyrene cup under the machine's nozzle.
"Milk?"
"Strong, please."
"Alright..."
Pushing some buttons, a black liquid poured out of the nozzle and into the cup. She handed the cup back to Maya, who pulled out a seat and sat down.
Within this room and from behind its windows, they could see the four Evangelions lined up. This was where they were kept at all times, except combat or simulations. Right now the "over watch" was empty save for these two. They'd stay here after everyone else had left simply for the opportunity to talk. It had not been so long ago, scarcely two years, when the two had barely spoken to one another, but then came Ritsuko's epiphany.
When she finally realised the Commander was using and abusing her.
She'd pulled through, although the initial soul crushing despair had basically ruined her life for a few months straight. It had only been through talking to others she'd not decided to shake off this mortal coil, and then the meek Lieutenant, who scarcely knew her, asked "what was the matter?"
So they'd started talking, in specific about abusive relationships, something which Maya herself had apparently escaped from some eight years before. Hers was a bit more physical when compared to the faux blondes, but every bit as unpleasant. Since then, the two had become close friends, in as far as apprentice and master could be.
Having taken a sip of her coffee, the brown haired woman sighed.
"NERV gets more money than some pre-Impact countries ever did...and still it doesn't have any decent coffee machines?" She shook her head.
"Heh, you really think the Supreme Commander considers the comforts of his staff a priority? He'd spend billions on a foot massager for Unit 01, but not a yen on a new coffee machine. Unfortunately, the man doesn't have much interest in material things." Ritsuko said, making humour over her old predicament.
It had taken so long to fit it into her thick skull. The fact he would always whisper "Yui" whenever he...filled her. But for all those years she'd still deluded herself into thinking he needed her, and not the other way around. Terrible thing after terrible thing was done for him, and eventually it reached a point where she couldn't do it any more. There had been that night, where he'd called her to his office for some "confidential discussion." Where she'd officially called it off between them, and to her surprise he'd graciously accepted and wished her well. It was curious to note however, when she'd pressed about the "confidential discussion" he'd dismissed it and said it was no longer of her concern.
I've always wondered what he was going to say...probably for the best I never found out.
"The pay isn't all that bad I suppose. When the war's over, I'll be set up for life..." Maya trailed off, honestly looking forward to being out of this job. As someone talented with technology, the first few weeks had been a dream.
But then things became creepy.
The Evas bleeding and roaring, the Commander's mere presence, and the use of children in this awful war. When the last Seraph fell, she'd leave as quickly as she could. Probably to work as a professor's assistant in a University or something like that.
"If the war's ever over." Ritsuko said darkly, despite knowing how many remaining monstrosities there were to face. Still, the Seraphim could show up irregularly and it could take years, maybe even decades or another generation to stop them altogether.
"Don't be so glum, we aren't doing too bad, are we?" Maya chided, smiling slightly. As a working relationship, she was an entirely necessary counterpart to Ritsuko's cynicism. And the faux blonde's pessimistic nature was enough to bring reality to the young prodigy.
"I suppose not." The elder woman acknowledged before taking another mouthful of coffee.
"I suppose not? We've beaten six of them so far, that's got to hurt."
"You act like they are intelligent and have morale to be affected."
Maya's expression darkened slightly, her mind picturing the bony faces contorted in grief. Ritsuko immediately caught on to this and leaned back.
"It's about the last battle, isn't it?"
Her apprentice nodded.
"Alright, out with it."
Maya gulped slightly as she gathered her thoughts.
"This might sound stupid but...I think they're a bit more than mindless brutes. That wasn't just wild animals attacking, that was grief, that was hate, that was rage..."
"Sympathy for the enemy? Don't go saying those things to Misato-chan." Ritsuko laughed slightly as Maya tripped over her words.
"Oh, I-I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"Relax, I'm just joking. You were saying about them being intelligent?" The faux blonde said gently, sipping some more coffee.
"Yes...I think they might be sentient in a way. I'm probably wrong, and I shouldn't feel anything for those things but...Spirits...those eyes..." The younger woman's tone became sad.
"Even if they aren't sentient...you can't hate an animal for its nature." Ritsuko agreed.
The Seraphim, for all their destructive power, were magnificent creatures. Truly unique and irreplaceable, strangely similar to human lives in that regard. And the emotion present in the last one they'd killed, could only have been grief.
Grief for a lost loved one.
As much as she debated it, as much as everything the Commander and the Megiddo scrolls had said, Ritsuko couldn't shake the feeling they were killing something akin to "people."
Not animals, "people."
"I wish we could understand them, could talk to them, reason with them and all that..." Maya said, as if to herself. Staring into her coffee, she continued.
"Then maybe this wouldn't be necessary."
Ritsuko, for all her cynicism born from years of abuse, couldn't help but agree.
Commander's office
This place was always a realm of shadow. Of darkness.
All human beings had an essence to them, a "glow" almost. None save for herself, could bare witness to it. Unlike her ability to touch at the thoughts of others, this was optional, and Rei had only started tapping into said gift quite recently.
The results where interesting. Almost everywhere else she'd been was filled with the light of mankind. Some lights shined brighter than others, even the quietest flame provided some warmth. But not here, what stood before her were two dying embers.
One still had some fire left in it, whilst the other...it was as dark, cold, and lifeless as this room. Once it had perhaps been filled with warmth, the traces of it were certainly present, but that was long gone. The Commander's heart had been totally consumed, probably by the word, the name, that repeated again and again in his head, at the forefront of all else.
Yui.
My progenitor. I do not know what to feel for her...perhaps some sorrow for the mother Ikari-kun lost, but not much else. No child should have to bury a parent when so young...I wish I had one.
She masked how much that took her aback.
I exist to serve, I wish for nothing.
"Rei, your report?" Gendo said in that lifeless voice of his, sitting at his desk with nose rested on hands. Kozo stood to his left, hands held behind his back. Despite his age, he held himself in a disciplined manner, as to be expected of an ex-Public Security Intelligence Agency operative.
"The enemy displayed an as yet unseen tactical ability. The 8th Seraph did not fight in a manner that indicated a single mind was overseeing. It is not improbable that they acted as individuals." She relayed.
"I did not ask for your opinion, Rei. The scrolls have stated that the spawn of Adam, whilst mighty, lack the intelligence possessed by those who bear the fruit of knowledge. However, these developments are interesting...and considering that it seems our enemy grows stronger, we must be cautious."
"Hai, Commander."
"Good. What of your physical condition?"
"I am at a hundred percent combat effectiveness. My injuries from the incident with Unit 00 have fully healed."
"And your synchronisation?"
"I have her under control, Commander."
Gendo processed this in the deathly silence, before nodding.
"You are performing admirably, Rei, considering the burden you must bear for us all. Do not deviate, do not reflect, do not question, and it will all be as I promised. Your children shall be at peace, and you will be allowed to die. The scenario shall serve us all."
"Yes, Commander."
Satisfied with this, Gendo started tapping his desk in thought.
It is all arranged. Nothing can stop the culmination of my plan. She, the flesh of my Yui, blessed by the soul of Mother Lilith, is my key to godhood, and she remains totally in my power as planned. SEELE do not know this, nor can they ever. If they were to discover her, they would unleash their Zunkft Legion in a heartbeat. But no...Kasch believes his plan without fault, the arrogance of immortality. He...will pay for that. But these new developments... his mind sorted through all the catalogued images he'd seen of the great enemy, fixating on a few in particular.
A monster raising his blade in salute, and another sacrificing itself for its twin.
They...do not quite match what the scrolls have said, maybe...no...no, something must have been misread. If only I were allowed access to them, of course those bungling fools at SEELE would make such mistakes.
The scrolls could not be wrong.
"Fuyutsuki-sensei, what of our studies of the enemy's remains?" He directed at the older man, who cleared his throat before responding.
"Whilst the Seraphim appear to be concocted from completely different building blocks of life, their genetic structure is nearly identical to our own." Kozo relayed.
"Both our species are at the end of our evolutionary development, it makes some sense that they bare similarity. Anything else?"
"Aside from proving our original hypothesis correct. The Seraphim have totally mastered the use of the A-T field, bending it to their very will. And this coupled with recent displays of some tactical ability...they could be far more dangerous than any of us imagined." The old man's expression darkened.
Such wrath...such power...and the strongest is not meant to have shown itself yet. Against that force of nature with our scarcely solid cohesive force of Evas...do we stand a chance?
"We must remain vigilant then. No threat to the scenario can be tolerated...you may leave us. I have further business with the First Child." Gendo didn't even look as he gave the order. Kozo bowed his head then walked out the room, casting a quick glance through the closing doors.
You have a great deal of private business with her these days, Commander. I wonder...no, no that's ridiculous.
The doors closed.
They were alone.
Gendo observed the creature that stood before him with his usual quietness. If one where to age her by six years, change her hair colour to jet black, change her eyes to blue and darken her skin by just a little, then his Yui would be standing there. As if it were the day he'd just met her.
It was a very closely kept secret, Rei's true origins. To most aware of her existence she was a random clone, to those needed to know, she was the clone of Yui Ikari, and to his inner circle, she was the flesh and soul of Mother Lilith mixed with the DNA of his wife. The key to mankind's salvation. The tool with which he would wrest the woman he loved from death's hands.
And so, despite the sheer importance of her origins remaining a secret, the man pondered why he'd even let his disappointment of a son discover an inkling of the truth. The cowardly, snivelling little cretin who dared call himself Yui's child, the mistake that snatched her away to begin with, had no right to anything.
No...he had a right to know that. She was still his mother.
Slowly standing up from his desk, Gendo strode over to the clone of his lost wife upon his long legs. He towered over her, his very presence imposing to even the most strong willed of men. His gloved hand reached out gently and cupped her chin, forcing her to gaze into those blank orange glasses, behind which resided cold, uncaring blue.
The most useful of tools, is that which can be purposed for multiple tasks.
"I require you in my quarters for this evening. Understood?" His lifeless monotone echoed throughout the dead room.
Involuntarily, and for the first time in her life, Rei found her insides squirming. Never before had her body reacted in such a way, and she quickly had to mask her surprise at it, before immediately crushing such disloyal and ungrateful feelings.
It is not my place to disobey. He gave me life and purpose, to him I owe all. I am a tool, an unthinking tool, fashioned to create his masterpiece. For the good of the entire human race, to liberate them from the falsehood of happiness, I must obey.
"Understood, Commander."
2:10pm, Tokyo-3, Kobashi's den
This place had been here since before the various towns of the region were united into Tokyo-3. In fact, drinks had been bought from its wooden counter since Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan, back when it was a Sake Den. So of course, due to him being a native of Kanagawa Prefecture, Ryoji Kaji had bought many a drink here.
You can't really get more Japanese than this place. Wooden, compact, bonzai plants... He glanced at some of the wi-fi ports and smiled.
Even then, got to move with the times.
Many of those around him were on various touch screen pads which could do all sorts of things. To think, when he was young the most powerful computers where large and blocky. Now, they were completely outdone by these paper thin marvels of science.
He took another sip from his small cup of sake, revelling in its sheer strength. Of course, it paled in comparison to the best bottle of his life. Warm sake purchased for a date night, which had led to something else entirely...
I wonder if she still drinks it?
Driving away thoughts of happiness long lost, Ryoji checked his watch, frowning. His contact was a few minutes late, unusual to say the least. He sighed, people in his business knew worrying things didn't help. If you couldn't do anything, think of something else to do.
The den's door opened, and heavy footsteps approached from behind. Ryoji clicked his shoulders into place, business had arrived.
The large man slid onto the seat next to him, hostility and reluctance radiating from his being.
"You're late." The UNIS agent chastised humorously.
"That happens when you get tailed by fucking Section 2." The muscled man growled.
"Really? They dare go near one of Mr M's boys?"
"Oh...shit, Ryoji-kun. This isn't our turf any more, and you had to go all respectable."
"...since when were secret agents respectable, Sazo-san?" Ryoji chuckled, his old friend joining him.
"I suppose not." Sazo Hachi said, his voice being a constant growl.
"What can I get you?"
"Oh, just a cold sake."
"Sure. Hey! One cold sake and a beer over here." The agent called out to the bartender, who bustled about for a while then brought the drinks over. Thanking and paying him, the two toasted then drank.
Finishing his quintessential Japanese drink, Sazo reached into his coat's pockets and pullet out a memory stick. Ryoji smiled.
"Thank you." He took the stick gently.
"It's not much. NERV are...weirdly good at concealing their funds. Their UN backers even more so..." Sazo trailed off.
"Mr M's network has limits now? I'm surprised."
And he honestly was. Japan's greatest crime boss was not a man known to be happy with little information. Ryoji could only come to one conclusion as to why. The man who was his and Sazo's father figure when they were street urchins, deemed gathering further information on the matter too dangerous. He was afraid.
And that sent a few tingles down the agent's spine.
"So...didn't know Section 2 had that much of an influence." Ryoji inquired further.
"Yeah. Ikari pretty much controls this city now...never been more thankful for the garrison, otherwise he might have made us all his own personal serfs by now. Ryoji-kun, even the Ministry of the Interior treads carefully around him. Whatever you're investigating, whatever you're poking that big nose of yours into, stop." Sazo tried to convince, but his old friend shook his head.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because Ikari holds the key to the truth. Of why our world went to hell..."
The two sat in silence for a while, the bigger man slumping in resignation. But then, his face lightened up a little bit.
"If my memory serves me correctly, isn't that woman who rode you like a horse for two days straight a member of NERV now?"
Ryoji's eyes widened as he tried to shrink out of existence.
"Ah, that's probably a reason why you want to stay around?" Sazo smiled at his blustering friend.
"Shut up...s-she...we...called it off ten years ago. Misato's got her own life now, I'm not intruding on that-"
"Right..." The larger man said, knowingly.