DC Evangelion
Chapter 2: JSDF On The Scene!
"—the Japanese Self Defense Forces has rushed into action, sealing off an area of approximately five miles in diameter. According to a statement released by the JSDF, an extremely toxic chemical spill has—"
General Hiro Matsudo grunted in satisfaction as he snapped off the mini-TV, cutting off the news reporter's voice over and smiled grimly. "Well, the cover story to the press is holding," he said to himself over the dull roar of the helicopter rotor blades.
"Yes sir," his aide seated next to him agreed as he shuffled through the packet papers.
"You were saying?" Matsuda asked returning his attention to the aide.
The aide picked up a sheet of paper and began reading from it, "At approximately 1842 hours, our radar screen detected a small unidentified object approaching. It was determined that it was slowing down and at approximately 1910 hours, it made landfall. We immediately deployed several groups to investigate. By 2100, our recon force located it. By 2400, we had sealed off a five mile perimeter around the entire area."
Matsuda drummed his fingers on his thigh. "So how did that thing get in our airspace without anybody seeing it? Those radar operators were asleep or something?"
"No. We've been examining the tapes and as far as we can determine, the unidentified object simply wasn't there. No reading, no trace whatsoever," the aide reported.
Matsuda paused, an arrested look on his face as he absorbed that datum. He cocked his head, "Some sort of new stealth technology?"
"Possibly. But the object … it's not missile or a aircraft or anything like that. It … well we're not entirely sure but we don't even think it's terrestrial."
Matsuda was silent for several minutes. Then he shook his head. "Anything else?"
"Yes. The uh … craft wasn't empty. It was carrying an occupant on board."
Matsuda was silent even longer this time. Finally he shook his head and looked at his aide. "Are you telling me that we have an …" he paused and groped for an appropriate word, "an alien in custody?"
"Extraterrestrial," the aide corrected, "An XT."
"Okay…" Matsuda muttered and then shook his head again.
"Uh … at least we think it's an XT. The uh … occupant looks … well it looks like a baby sir."
"A baby," Matsuda said flatly.
"A HUMAN baby," the aide expanded.
"Huh," Matsuda said looking dazed. "No little green men. Bet some sci fi fans are going to be crushed," Matsuda remarked. Although, he thought he read an article a few years ago that some scientists now believed a strong possibility that if life did exist in the universe, it would possibly evolve in similar lines as human beings. "Why would aliens send a brat to a planet light years away?" he asked rhetorically.
His aide however assumed Matsuda was asking him and promptly answered, "A probe? An advanced scout for an interplanetary invasion? Maybe they chose a nonthreatening form so we wouldn't terminate or hurt an infant."
"And what? A baby is suppose to conquer this entire planet by himself? Akira Toriyama aside, this is real life not a manga," Matsuda said sourly.
"Sir, it only LOOKS like a baby. Who knows what it really is. A race of people able to traverse space aren't highly advanced and intelligent enough they can't build something that looks like a baby but is actually some sort of doomsday device?"
"Yeah, I buy the part that they could do something like that. It's the why they would bother part that confuses me. I mean if they could do something like that, why not just execute a high orbital kinetic bombardment? Or just spray the atmosphere with some sort of poison or bacterical agent? It would be faster or more efficient," Matsuda leaned back in his seat and stared at the ceiling of the helicopter and thought some more. Then he shook his head, "I just don't buy it. Maybe this thing is some sort of I don't know, escape pod or something that was ejected into space when the spaceship's engine blew up."
The aide nodded, "Another possibly sir," he admitted.
Matsuda decided not to mention that his idea sounded like it was from a comic book. And a badly written one at that.
The noise of the rotors changed as the helicopter began to descend. There was a thump as it touched ground and after a moment, the doors were slide open by a saluting officer. Matsuda unbuckled himself and leapt out and onto the ground with a grunt. "Where's this space ship?" he demanded to the saluting officer as he curtly saluted back.
"Over the hill sir," the officer reported, "We have it covered in camouflage netting. Do you want to see it?" he asked.
Matsuda shook his head, "No, I want to see the XT."
The officer paused, feeling a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that he was about to plummet to 'Permanent No-Chance-for-Transfer Latrine Scrub Orderly' for the duration of his service career. "I'm afraid that the XT is dead," he said stiffly.
ONE MONTH LATER
Within a darkened room, a group of men silently watch as another image flashes onto the screen. It was gory image of a tiny body but these men had long since become used to these images in the past several hours.
"…skeletal structure is definitely reinforced. Presence of additional ligaments. Strength and elasticity of ligaments are easily six times the durability of terrestrial equivalents. The bone density is the consistency of titanium steel," the pre-recorded voice paused for a moment then continued it's verbal report. "There are several other organs and other internal oddities that we are currently unable to identify or determine what function they performed. This concludes the preliminary autopsy report on … 'The Visitor'."
The screen went to a test pattern before shutting off and the dimmed lights were slowly raised.
General Hiro Matsuda shifted in his seat, "Well now that the preliminaries are out of the way, do you have any questions Doctor?" he asked the only figure sitting at the table not dressed in a military uniform solicitously.
"Several thousand. But for starters, I'll settle for asking about the term they used at the very end. 'The Visitor'?" the Doctor inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Ah," Matsuda nodded and steepled his fingers, "Due to the classification level, the extraterrestrial is to be designated by a code name in all official reports and documentation. Hence the name, 'The Visitor'."
"Oh."
Matsuda leaned back in his chair as he waited for the scientist to organize his thoughts. "I suppose you're curious as to why you're here Doctor. And why we bothered to reveal this highly sensitive and classified material to you."
"To say the least. Although your presentation was extremely impressive. It also explains the several dozen or so secrecy agreements and classification procedures and waivers I had to read and sign this far," the Doctor remarked blandly.
Matsuda chuckled, "No doubt, Doctor Fuyutsuki."
The tall and lean grey haired Fuyutsuki smiled slightly.
"The Japanese Diet is forming a new organization designed to study the genetic structure of the Visitor, Doctor and we would like you to head the study group," Matsuda continued.
Fuyutsuki considered. He had to admit that he was intrigued. The possibility of studying an actual alien entity wasn't something that came up too often. The opportunity of a lifetime. Several lifetimes really. This could provide tremendous strides in the study of genetics and possibly in the theories of evolution. Could he pass this up? He looked up at Matsuda. "Who else would be the members of this group?" he asked curiously.
Matsuda glanced down at a file folder and flipped it open. "We have a few candidates in mind. I think you know most of them anyways. In fact, one of them is one of a former student of yours. A Miss Ikari Yui …"
Kozo Fuyutsuki looked surprised but pleased. "Yui?" he said thoughtfully. "I'm surprised you're considering her," he remarked.
General Matsuda nodded, "She's awfully young but her work has been rather impressive. And we need minds like her. And yours Professor. We have a list of potential candidates, but naturally it will be your team so we thought you would like to have some input into the composition of the group."
Fuyutsuki rubbed his chin as he considered. "You say I would have some input. How much?"
"We would try to accommodate any nominees you have in mind Professor, but this project is of the highest classification and security. We must request that everyone attached to the Project undergo a rigorous security screening. If they don't pass the security check, we must refuse their inclusion to the Project despite how highly qualified they might be."
Matsuda hesitated as if trying to make up his mind about something. He nodded and decided to grasp the bull by the horns. "You should also be aware that you will probably never be able to discuss or publish any of your research or findings about the Visitor Professor. Even if you do decide not to join the Project, I trust you will remember the non-disclosure agreement you signed beforehand," Matsuda finished with narrowed eyes as if daring Fuyutsuki to blab to the media.
"I remember," Fuyutsuki said wearily. Fuyutsuki wasn't that fond of the military and it was times that these that brutally reminded him of why.
Sheer paranoia for one. 'That's classified. Need to know only. Security clearance required. Loose lips sinks ships and all that gobbledygook.'
And the military mindset for another. The military was interested in scientific discovery and research. But only when that scientific discovery and research had practical applications. Practical MILITARY applications. Meaning better and improved weapons.
Unfortunately the military did have some advantages that most science laboratories lacked. Better equipment. Better facilities. Bigger budget.
And of course, the most important thing that he didn't have. His eyes flicked back to the color photographs and documents scattered across the table. The Visitor.
They had an actual extraterrestrial. The body of one at least.
An entity which was the product of a totally alien environment. Subject to who knows what sort of factors that caused it to evolve in some spectacular and peculiar manners and fashions.
Cynically, Fuyutsuki wondered if the alien had actually died of 'natural causes' or if the military hadn't in a case of overwhelming paranoia decided to 'arrange a fortuitous accident'.
Part of him felt nauseous at the idea of trying to harvest what appeared to nothing more than a perfectly normal baby for scientific research. Another part, the scientist in him however was mesmerized at the possibilities.
General Hiro Matsuda smiled smugly. The look in Fuyutsuki's eyes were enough. They had him. The man's eyes kept darting furtively at the photographs. He would join the Project. The scientist was too curious, too intrigued not to. It was just a matter of convincing himself to do so.
Matsuda flipped a file folder stamped with JSA in bold print closed. With Fuyutsuki on board, the Japanese Scientific Advisory and Analysis Board just became official.
A/N: When I first posted the original episode on Anime Aadventures, a reviewer said that XT doesn't mean anything and that the appropriate acronym was really ET. But I thought that XT sounded much cooler, more militaristic, and more sci fi. Also, whenever someone says ET, I can't help but think of that cute little alien from the Spielberg movie.
I cannot say that I came up with XT on my own, I can't help but think that I may have read it somewhere although from where I can't remember. But anyways, I've been using it throughout the Anime Aadventures thread so I will continue to do so here as well.