Update time!

Monday the 7th of August, NERV Central, Comms room, 4:10pm

The holographic tapping would have been enough to set many on edge, especially when it was the Grand High Marshal of the Great British Empire doing it. But Gendo was undisturbed, even with Kozo shifting uncomfortably at his side.

Relish in your power for now, you antiquated gargoyle. Your time is almost up. The man with a heart of stone inwardly growled with contempt at this fop who thought he had power. He simply ordered an Empire around whilst the Commander had perfected the art of control. The cracked souls of the people he had in his employment were so easy to exploit, and to mould into his design.

"Commander, you have often told as that the enemy is beyond our understanding. So...what is this?"Terrence Cromford gestured at the display of Rogziel furiously slashing at his foes.

"Something beyond our understanding." Gendo coolly replied.

"For Spirits' sake, Ikari-san. It spoke our language fluently. What the hell are we dealing with!?" Chiso snarled through gritted teeth. The middle-aged man's stubbornness and pomposity grated on her like nothing else.

"Gentlemen and ladies, please. You are demanding answers to questions we've scarcely started to ask." Kozo came to his superior's aid, trying not to break a sweat.

For heaven's sake, Ikari-san. I wish you didn't take so much joy from provoking these people.

"And why weren't these asked the moment the first Seraph performed a damned fencer's salute?"

Henry Abrams cut in. Were NERV under his authority, a few dozen people would have been shot already. The Princips did not like information being kept from him, nor appreciate others failing to understand the importance of that which he deemed important.

"We had more pressing matters to deal with, and we still do. The Seraphim are coming in quick succession, there will not be time to waste on such pointless questions." Gendo dismissed them. They knew nothing after all, and therefore they did not merit having their childish curiosities entertained.

"Do you know when they are coming, precisely, Ikari? Though you have always been vague on the matter, you are surprisingly accurate." Boris Flipov challenged nonchalantly yet ruthlessly. He was looking for weakness or a lapse in logic of any kind. NERV's Supreme Commander, would not indulge him.

"As I have said before, there is only rough estimates. Nothing more."

"Are you certain?"

Gendo's icy blue gaze clashed with that of the Russian President. Both men lacked what we would consider "a heart" and had killed thousands.

But only one had no pretences over whether or not he was a monster.

"I assure you…your misgivings are totally misplaced. NERV will defeat the Seraphim, and mankind will be able to sleep safely once again as promised." Gendo said truthfully. The human race would indeed be able to sleep soon…forever.

Unceremoniously, the hologram link cut and the GAAFT council stared at empty digital space.

"The nerve of that scum…god, the day we are free of him will be a good one." Henry snarled.

"He's lying through his teeth. What worries me is if he's aware we know he's lying." Chiso massaged her eyebrows, worry etched into her words. She knew politicians, the many meetings with the National Diet had seen to that. The General recognized a schemer when she saw them, and Gendo Ikari might as well have a huge neon sign attached to his head saying "I will take everything from you because I can."

"What do you mean? If he even had an inkling he'd tread with far more care-" Fabrice Larue tilted her head as Terrence burst into laughter.

"Ikari holds all the cards. He knows that, and he enjoys rubbing it in our faces. This sort of thing happens when one wields power without anyone to keep them in check…it inevitably goes to their head." He mused. The Marshal's years as a Tory backbencher in the old Houses of Parliament had taught him well in that regard. And like Chiso, like everyone else in that room, he knew exactly what kind of thing Gendo was.

And in some dark recess of the Imperial's heart, fear wrapped its icy fingers around his soul.

Simulation room, 4:20 pm

The black fist slammed into his face. Unit 01's hud dissolved into static, then was consumed by darkness. Slowly, the entry plug interior lights flashed on, and Shinji let his head roll back into the seat's headrest. His jaw tightened with embarrassment.

A vid link popped up with Misato's face on it, soon followed by one with Asuka's. The redhead was already smirking at him, whilst his guardian raised both her eyebrows in amusement.

"You've got to stop hesitating, Shinji-kun. That might be the undoing of you someday. Besides, it's not as if you can hurt anyone in a simulation."

"Oh don't worry, Misato. I'll be sure to pick him up if he ficks up."

Asuka exclaimed smugly.

These simulations were difficult. The whole fighting part was palatable, but he just couldn't finish the job. It was disturbing to him in some ways, such as the battles with the 5th and 6th Seraph, where the desire to murder, maim and kill had come so naturally through rage. What sort of bottomless anger hid deep beneath his usually docile and soft nature? When it bubbled over, killing was simple. Like just another chore in his day.

But it didn't come forth all that often. And when it did, the aftermath usually left him sick to the stomach.

So in terms of these exercises, he left most of the "inflicting fatal injuries" to his teammates. It seemed he had an aptitude for serving as support, the notion of command being alien to him. Only when it was required would he assume responsibility, and that was something Shinji regretted. In his heart, he would have quite preferred that others could take of themselves and order him around.

Because following orders was all he was good at, as far he was concerned.

But with Asuka and Samuel's glory-hogging ways, and how very dear Rei had become to him, the boy felt morally blocked from carrying out his original plan. Wait for those better than him to arrive, then walk away and go home. Back to his to his lonely and dingy apartment in Kure, to the solitude and loneliness he deserved.

"I'm sorry. I'll try harder next time." Shinji offered meekly.

"The Seraphim will not give you a next time, Shinji-kun. You know that." Misato chastised.

I do, Misato-san. When push comes to shove…I can do it. As much as it breaks my heart.

The 9th Seraph's confused and slightly afraid face flashed across his mind, as did the silent tears of the 8th. His stomach twisted with guilt, for what he'd done. Shinji Ikari had helped to or outright saved humanity on multiple occasions.

And murdered multiple sentient beings.

Two more faces flashed up on vid link, those of Samuel and Rei. Shinji's sister was nonchalant as ever, whilst the Imperial looked totally satisfied. Unlike his German counterpart, Samuel did not smirk but leaned back into his seat, hands folded behind his head, eyes closed with contentment.

"All finished, Sub Commander. Victory goes to Meadow-san." Maya relayed from the other side of the link.

"I see you're adjusting to fighting Ayanami-san a bit better, Samuel-kun." The purplehead noted with approval.

"Hmm. Rei here is good with a gun, but anything else…oh well, it's not like she's to blame. That decrepit Unit cannot participate in a stand-up fight to save its life." Samuel arrogantly sighed.

"That is incorrect. Unit 00 can engage the enemy at maximum efficiency. It just…requires appropriate handling." Rei's blue eyebrows narrowed fractionally.

"You know, for someone who acts like such a wooden plank, it isn't all that hard to get on your nerves." The Imperial's lips curled upwards slightly.

"I am not irritated."

"And I was born yesterday…"

"That is a falsehood. You are too physically matured to have been born yesterday-"

"Oh for god's sake!"

"Alright you two, that's enough." Misato chuckled. In many ways it truly did her 30-year-old heart good, to see these teenagers act as teenagers. To be…children.

An opportunity never afforded to her. Granted, any chance of a normal childhood had been cruelly snatched from them, but it was still better than actually living through the first year after Second Impact. Otherwise known as Hell on Earth.

"We'll run one more today. Team-based combat this time, let's see how a rematch of your first simulation goes. Asuka-chan and Samuel-kun in one team, Shinji-kun and Ayanami-san in the other. Graveyard map, same rules…" Now the white of her teeth flashed. "Have fun."

By the Spirits, you've earned it.

Commander's Office, 5:00 pm

Once a week, every week, the Sub Commanders of this most enigmatic of organizations would assemble in this dark imposing room, and report to their Superior. All so that Gendo Ikari would know precisely what went on in his own personal fiefdom. For this was a man that did not tolerate anything being beyond his notice or control. Even Caspar, the runaway A.I that should have never been turned on, was present.

He would sit at his desk upon an elevated platform, impassive and stone-faced as usual. Kozo would stand, hands held behind his back, at his side, and all the other Sub Commanders would stand line abreast in front of and below him. Shiro Tenka, head of Section 5, often thought his employer did this to make himself feel powerful and to impose a sense of dominion over his subordinates.

Ritsuko knew this to be true.

"Are there any issues to report?" Gendo demanded coldly, his cerulean gaze turned near hellish by his orange tinted glasses, burned into everyone there.

The Sub Commanders would answer in order, and as Ikari himself was head of Section 1, the command group which included them, and Section 2, his own private secret police, Misato came first.

From a distance, Ryoji Kaji watched the strange event unfold. He sat on an unfolded chair, arms lazily holding his head up. Only through years of experience did he hide how unnerved he was, at how cold and obsessed with control Supreme Commander Gendo Ikari was. And even worse…a person Ryoji dearly cared for seemed completely in his thrall.

"Section 3 has secured the sight of the last Seraph's destruction. The aptitude and cohesiveness of our Pilots are improving at a good rate…your son pushed his Pilot Link to 73% today, sir." Misato relayed professionally yet gently. The Commander should know just how well Shinji was doing. And considering that she felt a twinge of pride, then surely he would?

"Do not trifle me with irrelevancies, Sub Commander Katsuragi. Is there anything else of importance or are you finished?" The older man dismissed her.

"No…my apologies, sir." She stiffened but bowed her head.

"Good. Sub Commander Akagi?"

"Yes sir." Ritsuko clicked her heels. "The minor battle damage done to our Evas has been repaired. My section is becoming more and more capable at maintenance, the experience is doing them good. There are no malfunctions with the entry plugs or their insertion, Pilot control remains absolute."

Gendo grunted at that, then turned his gaze upon Shiro. The gruff old soldier and he had a tumultuous relationship, the former occasionally snarling in his face about "what a horrible person"he was. But his medical expertise was near irreplaceable, so he was permitted his insults.

How strange. The man is a soldier, he should surely know what must be done? Besides…he will understand one day. The already narrowed eyes of the cold individual narrowed a little further.

They all will.

"Well sir, the only thing I have to report is some slight issues with the rejuvenation tanks. We think one of the pipes might have broken or something has fallen off, but we're people of medicine. We aren't engineers. I request that you free up some of Section 4 to take a look at them. If worst comes to worst, we need those things fully operational." The stocky and greying man declared. It truly got to Shiro how little regard his superior had for the health of his staff. Indeed, it had only been through extensive persuasion that the medical ward had a little garden for patients to relax in.

And that had taken weeks of arguing to get.

"I shall deploy them as soon as they are available. Until then, the Evas take priority." The Supreme Commander didn't even look at his old teacher, but Kozo knew he was next. Much to Gendo's satisfaction, obedience was becoming almost automatic these days from most of those beneath him.

"Nothing to report on Section 6, sir. A few bellyachers groaning about wages, but nothing else." The older man nodded.

"Hmm. And what of NERV Central itself, Caspar?" Gendo looked upwards, as if almost at the heavens.

"You see, Gendo-chan, the secondary S2 reactor has been causing some grief again. No risk of explosion fortunately, just power outages. Oh, and one of our cranes is becoming really sluggish in how it responds. I would recommend getting that looked into, really don't want technical faults right about now." The A.I boomed joyously as usual but…there was concern hidden in there.

The father of the Third child remained quiet, as if processing that information.

"Are you finished computing or can I go now?." Caspar's words elicited some chuckles or even a snigger from one or two people.

"Of course. That will be all, Caspar-san. Thank you." Kozo smiled slightly. For some reason, the machine always appreciated ordinary niceties.

"It is of no trouble, Kozo-chan. Have a nice day…" The A.I's voice faded into nothing.

A thick atmosphere of awkwardness descended upon the room, as Gendo processed what he would say next in his mechanical manner. Eventually, his "cogs" clicked into place.

"I trust there is nothing else that needs to be brought to my attention?"

All but one of his subordinates remained quiet. Of course, the old soldier would speak.

"What concerns me most is how we're all pretending last week didn't happen. It spoke in our damned language, sir! Not to mention took the shape of a human being, tried to hack our boys and girls to pieces with a sword and outright sneered at them. This is a massive development-"

"Tenka-san, Seraphim are weird. Really, really, weird. Even if we tried to understand them…I doubt we'd get far. Besides, they want to destroy us, so we must destroy them. And looking into their etiquette doesn't help us do that." Misato cut in.

They are mighty, without a doubt. But they're just beasts, clever beasts, but beasts nonetheless.

A 17-year-old memory of disgust filled red eyes bearing down on her, caused the beautiful woman to stop a shiver.

They can't be intelligent…they can't.

Ryoji, all the way over in his corner, instantly noticed Misato's discomfort and had a very good idea what it was about. Back when they were…together, it was all too often that he'd have to hold a sobbing wreck who'd just woken from a terrible nightmare.

I'll talk to her after this is done.

"Well put, Sub Commander Katsuragi. As fascinating as it would be, all resources need to be devoted to our conflict. There may yet come a time for study when it is done. Now, if that is all, then our business is concluded." The Supreme Commander didn't move an inch, but he might as well have gestured for them all to leave.

"Yes sir." The Sub Commanders clicked their heels, bowed their heads, and filed out with the UNIS agent following…eagerly. Most men would not have noticed it, But Gendo did.

It seems Agent Kaji still cares for his former flame. That may yet prove to be useful leverage.

Never would he pass up the acquisition of another broken pawn.

"It is interesting though, is it not? The nature of our enemy?" Kozo mused quietly, both to himself and his former student. Gendo's thumb fidgeted, but he ultimately ignored him.

"The Scenario is all, Sensei. The Seraphim stand in its way, therefore they must be destroyed. I care very little for an obstacle." He rose from his seat, his lightless soul being warmed by another thought.

"I have business with the First Child…private business. Call her to my quarters, there are matters we must discuss."