"Ikari. What is the delay with Instrumentality this time?" Across a bright-white-showered table appeared a tall black monolith, opposite Gendo.
His gloves sat on the table, a slightly dirty rag in hand, Gendo answered the monolith entitled Seele 01, "There is no delay. All the projects are interconnected. Your predictions about the Angels' appearances -"
Another monolith, with the text Seele 02, appeared to the right of the first, "You were not given the -task- to insult us."
Seele 03's avatar appeared too, "Immaterial. Three times they have tried, three times they have failed because of the Evangelions."
Seele 01 spoke again, "Even with your son stealing it, Unit 01 performed beyond expectations."
The avatar for Seele 04 and 05 joined in too, 04 spoke, "As did an incomplete Eva 02, along with technologies we, and the Angels, did not, nor could, account for."
"Yes, he was busy in New York." Gendo folded his hands before his face, resting his mouth against his hands.
"There is one thing, Ikari." Seele 05 finally spoke up. "I would know what the cloak and rifle were originally based on."
"Only two individuals from the original team are still alive. No other information sources exist." He couldn't help but grin at them. Nothing I'll give you to use against -my- NERV.
"The projects cannot afford interruption, our scenario must be completed." Seele 01 said, as the table's light faded, disconnecting him from the conference.
Gendo stood as Kozo walked into the room, "Chairman Keel at your throat again?"
The Commander of NERV picked up his gloves from the now black table, "Their threats are meaningless. We hold the best hand."
"There is something we -don't- have. The Lance." Kozo's words stopped Gendo in his tracks.
Gendo gave a slightly sinister grin to Kozo, "A mission to retrieve it is undergoing preparations. The United Nations carrier battle group will arrive tomorrow."
She's really in Liepkin. Asuka gazed at the Eva, ignoring everything around her, including someone running toward her on the catwalk.
"Pilot Sohryu? I have a message from Director Ryoji, your eyes only, ma'am." The man held out a black envelope to the redhead.
After a moment she turned her attention to the Section 2 agent and the envelope, "Orders I guess." She reached out and accepted the item.
Upon opening it, she read:
Asuka. I'll be at the Club tonight. You'll be going on a solo mission tomorrow, with both Commanders. Figured you should have a good time. I'll have Rits and Misato with me. -Kaji p.s. Don't leave this laying around, secrecy and all that, you know.
She looked up to where the agent was, but he had left already. Where am I going anyway, Australia?
Asuka turned back to the Red Giant, "I guess we're taking a trip, mom."
She didn't see Gendo up in the overlooking control room behind her; nor could she hear through the thick, armored glass. Ritsuko observed the monitors, playing back what the girl had said. "It seems Pilot Sohryu knows something about Unit 02's construction."
"Do you think it will be a problem, Doctor Akagi?" He sounded downright icy.
The Scientist shook her head, "No. If anything, she may synch with her Eva better."
Tokoyo-3 was veiled in a heavy mist as the Three Stooges walked home from school. Shinji halted at the corner, taking a look to his right at the slowly lowering sun. Weird, but beautiful. He took a cheap camera from his pack, cycling the film within. 'Click.'
"Shinji! You comin' or what?" Kensuke called to him, bringing the boy out of his daze.
Turning to his friends, Shinji cycled his camera again and aimed at the pair across the road. 'Click.'
Toji and Shinji delivered Kensuke to his house. Parting words and waves ensued; soon, the pair were off to their respective paths home.
Still holding the camera, Shinji arrived at his apartment building. He looked up at the structure, to his domicile, "I don't feel like going in yet. Hmm." He turned around, searching the area for anything interesting. His gaze found a park to the northwest.
As he proceeded, the mist grew thicker; coupled with the sun constantly lowering, it made the grove of trees in the park almost dark. At least, until Shinji got quite a ways in. Once again, the sun greeted him. Deep brown shadows cast from tree trunks, sun rays revealed by the mist, bathed everything in a soft, golden glow. 'Click.' The shutter echoed slowly, as if time had stopped for this brief moment. The sun finally shrank away as he exhaled, "Better go get ready."
Leaving the park, he started for home, but spied a one-hour film development business down the street.
::: I saw what looked like a photo on deviant art, all digital. "Amber Moments" by ladyofspira. It's still really eerie to me. Now I'm wishing I could get a big fat poster of that image. Plenty to do for the rowdy round up in the Club of Hearts. Ironically, I'll probably get to their evening this evening.