12.

The atmosphere inside the command vehicle was charged, as it rolled along the empty streets of Kaibyaku. On one side of the cramped interior, Asuka, Rei and Maya sat. Facing them, arms folded and eyes closed, flanked by two soldiers carrying rifles, was Misato. One eyebrow ticked still with annoyance at their reunion in the alley. Asuka, apparently having regained all of her former fire, had torn strips off their old commander for nearly getting them killed chasing them, and for scaring them, and for her minions (she actually used the word 'minions' for the agents that were returning to their unmarked cars and driving off into the night) carrying guns with the apparent intention of using them. Misato had borne the tirade patiently to start with, but had eventually snapped, telling Asuka it was her own fault for twice causing a public scene that had forced her hand. She had no choice, she told the fuming German, but to come and pick her up before the police did, or before the trio could flee the city. She hadn't expected them to try something as reckless as a rooftop escape.

Maya had wondered at the time why Misato had felt the need to interfere at all, but, with the fireworks going on between them, she hadn't thought it an appropriate (or particularly safe) time to ask. She did ask what Misato had meant by 'working' for her again, but had only received a cryptic reply about them having to see for themselves. Maya hadn't liked the sound of that.

Somehow that had progressed to them agreeing to a trip in the command vehicle to see whatever it was Misato wanted them to see. Further questions from either Asuka or Maya had been met with a wall of silence and a persistent annoyed face, so instead they all sat in uncomfortable silence as the vehicle rolled on towards its unknown destination.

Fortunately it wasn't a particularly long journey. Within half an hour, the command truck was rocking on its axles as it came to a halt. Misato's eyes snapped open as the rear door hissed open, easing down to form a ramp. The soldiers were quickly up and out, taking up positions either side of the command vehicle.

"We're here," Misato told them, standing up.

"Where's here?" asked Maya. All she received was an enigmatic smile as Misato turned on her heel and stepped out. After an exchange of looks, the trio followed.

They emerged into what looked like a small hangar, with steel floors and walls. Looking back, she saw the heavy truck had entered this space via a sloping tunnel, so they were obviously below ground level. There were no other vehicles present, however, but all the same the large space gave Maya an ominous feeling.

"This way," Misato told them, stepping towards a gated exit. "We don't have the kind of space that we had at Nerv headquarters, but it's perfectly adequate for our present needs."

"What needs?" asked Asuka. "What's going on, Misato?"

"This is a military facility," said Maya, through teeth gritted with apprehension, "why is there a military facility in Kaibyaku?"

Misato had reached the gate and she pushed a security card into the slot in the gate.

"I don't have all the answers to your questions," she told them, "I've only been here a few weeks myself, but what's most important is that I tell you that things have changed. Things have been set in motion that threaten the new world that we are creating here. Shinji's world."

"We're in danger again?" asked Asuka, the colour draining from her face.

Misato paused for a long time before answering.

"I think it's highly likely, yes." She stepped back towards them, a serious look on her face. "I'm happy to see you, I really am, but I'm afraid I may be about to make your lives... difficult again."

"What's going on?" asked Maya.

"Come with me and you'll see," replied Misato and turned through the security gate. They had no choice but to follow.

They passed through corridors busy with technicians and military personnel, down staircases and escalators, through a laboratory area and past a barracks. The walls were reinforced steel and the floors grated. Everything looked either brand new, or still under construction and everywhere was well lit and clean, if not entirely tidy. The corridors had a feeling of a submarine to them, but technical bays and laboratories gave it more of a space station aspect.

And always they went down, deeper underground.

And always Maya's sense of foreboding grew.

"We aren't nearly as well funded as Nerv was before third impact," Misato was telling them as they stood on a travelator, "but this place is getting up to speed in a very short space of time. Until recently, this was to be Kaibyaku's disaster relief centre, one of several dotted around the city. It's nowhere near as big as it seems."

"What is it now?" asked Maya.

"Now it's been co-opted by the UN for our purposes and serves as a military research facility."

"The UN?" said Asuka, "The UN are already back to this level?"

"A lot of the infrastructure was left untouched during third impact," replied Misato, "when the Secretary-General returned from complementation, he quickly set about drawing the various scattered branches back together."

"Why?" asked Maya, annoyed at how humanity seemed insistent on repeating old mistakes. "The Angels are gone. Why not let people get back on their feet on their own terms. Why do they always have to have one all controlling organisation?"

"I would have agreed with you up until a few weeks ago," replied Misato, "and in fact the Secretary-General did too. He simply thought the resources the UN once gathered could be put to better use helping people, rather than falling into ruin. But, unfortunately, things have changed." The travelator ended in front of a set of double doors. "Ah, here we are at last," she beamed at them. "You should brace yourselves."

The double doors hissed open and they moved through into a hive of activity. Technicians were everywhere, consoles were being constructed, wiring connected, screens erected. On one wall, a giant monitor hung. The room was abuzz with people dressed in uniforms. They passed back and forth, some comparing notes, others sat at consoles typing, some directing, others following instruction.

"This is..." began Asuka, but she trailed off, her mouth hanging open in utter disbelief. Even Rei looked shocked.

"No," said Maya, in flat denial, eyes wide. And that was all she could manage.

On the wall opposite the massive screen, a logo was painted, one they knew all too well. The half leaf dominated the space, complete with its chilling quotation.

"God's in his heaven..."

But he wasn't. Maya was absolutely sure of that.