Covenant Red
Chapter 2: Christening
Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion.
/\/\/\/\
He woke.
He was sore all over. Every nerve ending suffered under the shadow of some terrible abuse, like his muscles had pummeled the inside of his skin. He wondered if athletes felt like this after a tough match. All he had for comparison was the stiff hand cramp of too many video games.
His eyes split open to a needling kaleidoscope that rushed past him to settle into dull fuzzy normalcy. The accompanying wave of dizziness oozed out in a slow crawl as conscious awareness struggled to break through. His vision cleared, his head lagged behind. His eyes made a sluggish surveillance sweep.
He was on a thin bed in a square room with no windows. Every surface looked bleached beyond sterility. He didn't see a door.
"Am I in a hospital?" Kensuke wondered aloud.
"You're in our medical wing," a woman told him.
A tone sounded and a long strip of the far wall flashed, changing composition from opaque to transparent. Beyond the window was an observation room. Monitors glowing with inscrutable data lined the walls.
"I'm glad you're awake," the woman said. She sat at a small terminal behind the glass. Short blonde hair fell around her face. Green eyes alit on him from behind a pair of thin glasses. She offered a restrained smile. "I'm Dr. Ritsuko Akagi. You've been under my care since you arrived."
Kensuke was instantly alert. The woman was hot, and looked important. She wore a lab coat, so the doctor claim was instantly validated.
"Can you tell me your name?" she asked.
He did. She asked for his birthday and birthplace and he gave her those as well.
"Good," Ritsuko said as she scribbled something in a file. "Just need to be careful."
Were there other Kensuke Aidas trying to gain access to healthcare? A cadre of imposters running amok across the country using his identity to nickel and dime the government with extravagant elective procedures?
"So, you've got my information?" It was a small comfort, that he was still alive, this was still earth, and his medical records were accessible. All was right with the world.
Ritsuko held up a thin folder for his benefit. "Oh, right," she murmured as she flipped it back open, "it says here you wear glasses. We'll get you a replacement pair soon."
"No problem," Kensuke answered, trying to sound grateful.
He reflexively made to adjust his glasses and realized they were gone. He stared at his hand, usually a blurry smudge of pale color, now startlingly clear. Each pore and near-invisible hair stood out. He glanced around the room. Everything was defined and recognizable, vivid and bright. He could easily see the individual threads of his bed sheets.
"Huh," he said.
"What is it?"
"I can, ah, I can see just fine." Kensuke continued examining his cell. "Better than with glasses."
Ritsuko made a short humming noise. "Interesting."
"I mean, my eyes are, were, crappy. Always have been. But this is…" He trailed off. He knew he should be worried, or at least concerned. All he felt was a pleasant surprise. "Everybody in my family wears glasses but—"
He stopped. He remembered his apartment complex folding into itself and collapsing on the market. He remembered his neighbor vanishing in a tempest of dust.
"The city," he began, suddenly choked up. "My… My Dad, he—"
"Daigo Aida is alive," Ritsuko told him. He stared at her and she continued. "The business district was mostly untouched during the incident. He's alive."
Kensuke relaxed back against his pillow. "Oh. Good." He fidgeted. "Our place got destroyed. Like, the whole building gave out and crumbled. It felt like we just moved in."
She murmured assent, turning back to the folder.
"I mean, we were there a few months but it never felt like home. It was always so quiet. We barely ever saw each other. But it's good he's okay. After what happened…"
Further memories worked to right themselves. A wounded VTOL skimming buildings, fire. A tall person sinking into the asphalt. The redheaded girl with the SMG.
"… What happened?"
A door behind Ritsuko slid open to reveal a tall woman. Her walk was understated but important, purposeful. Dark hair spilled out over a uniform collar to her back. Paramilitary dress could not erase her curves. Under Kensuke's exacting inspection she looked hotter and more important than Ritsuko.
Sorry, Doc.
The new woman approached the Doctor and bent to ear level, the two exchanging quick words. She glanced up at Kensuke, a room away. Beyond dark, heavily lined eyes, her skin was flawless. She rose and crossed her arms.
"At least sit up straight," Ritsuko chided Kensuke. She sighed when he remained slouched. "Say hello to Commander Misato Katsuragi, the boss around here."
This babe is the CO? Sign me up. "Oh, um, hey."
"He's not the most courteous candidate. Well, maybe he's simply a slow riser. He was asleep for quite a while."
"How long was I out?"
"Three days. We were beginning to think you'd never wake up."
"Three days," Kensuke mused. "I bet my dad was real worried." He did not bet his dad was real worried.
"Our ministry liaison briefed him on the situation. He agreed it was in your best interest to be left in our care."
"Whoa," he interrupted. "My old man just gave me up?"
"No. He was given remuneration—"
"He sold me?"
"I wouldn't put it that way—"
Misato approached the glass and spoke. "Daigo Aida ceded custody of you for medical care. As long as you're undergoing treatment you're our responsibility. We are the best suited to help you right now. We will help you. But you, in turn, have to help us."
"Help you?" Kensuke repeated. "Uh, I can't exactly pay you guys for services rendered or anything…"
"Don't worry about the bill," Ritsuko said glibly. "Compliments of the house."
"This is a delicate situation," the Commander stated. "As I said, we can help each other, and in doing so, help the rest of humanity. A dangerous world needs you right now, and we will protect you with all of our strength. But we need your commitment and cooperation. Will you join us?"
"What if I say no?"
Both women stared at him. Neither offered any tells.
"We'll return you to your father," Misato said.
"You'll be required to check in with our medical team now and then," Ritsuko continued. "But for the most part it shouldn't be too disruptive…" She trailed off, catching Misato's gesture for silence.
Kensuke missed it. He was staring at his slim hands. He held a memory of his father's bony fingers gripping a newspaper like a shield across a silent kitchen table.
Kensuke sighed. "I guess I'll say yes."
"Glad to hear it," Misato said without cheer. She fixed him with a stare. "Welcome to WILLE."
/\/\/\/\
"Never heard of it," Kensuke answered.
"Good."
"We're attached to the UN through the SDF," Ritsuko explained. "Technically. In practice we're on our own. You've never heard of us because our existence isn't public knowledge."
"So, you're like, what? A private hospital or something?" he asked, feeling dumb as he said it.
"Actually, we are a medical research facility. On paper. Our real duties place us closer to a wing of the defense ministry." The doctor appraised him. "What do you know about the ongoing evacuations around the capital?"
"The terrorist attacks?" Kensuke struggled to hide how woefully uninformed he was about his own country's defense situation. "Um, they started about a year ago? There haven't been a lot of details about who's doing them or why…" He hoped that was vaguely casual enough to prevent them from thinking he was a total moron.
"They aren't terrorist attacks," Ritsuko said. "Not in the traditional sense. Most of the destruction and casualties were collateral damage. Even the incident in your town three days ago, while unfortunate, was not intentional."
"Say what?"
"The perpetrators, what the public calls 'terrorists,' are not religious fanatics or radical anarchists. They are something much different."
A screen expanded on the glass partition before him. It showed a grainy still image of a tall, spindly creature wearing a strange white mask cracked down the middle, exposing a bulbous red eye. The thing that attacked his home.
"We call them Nephilim."
"Inhuman things with human shapes," Misato said. "WILLE exists to stop them."
"Why isn't the SDF handling this directly?" Kensuke asked, effectively insulting both women. "Or the UN or something? Why you guys?"
"Given the current situation, we're the best equipped to detect and combat Nephilim. Both are an imprecise art form and we at WILLE are the best suited to the task." Ritsuko glanced at Misato. "We were formed to collect data on Nephilim, and we can gather, assimilate, and utilize information against them faster and more efficiently than anyone else."
"Not everyone agrees with that fact," Misato intoned.
They explained the Nephilim they were ordered to capture was commandeered by the UN and was to be transported out of the country for research, using the fleet's pre-planned cruise as cover. The UN was still, technically Ritsuko said again, calling the shots.
"Idiots," the Commander breathed.
"We were trying to be as low-key as possible with the fleet's cruise," Ritsuko explained. "We didn't want any interference. Containing public knowledge will control panic and limit casualties."
Yeah, Kensuke thought. That worked out real well. "So, it obviously got loose. What happened?"
"It's under investigation."
"Still? Hasn't it been three days?"
"A good portion of the city was damaged," Misato reminded him. "Dozens of civilians and soldiers were killed."
"The public is still digging out. This was the worst 'terrorist attack' in over a year."
"So all the terrorist attacks were really these Nephilim things," Kensuke said. "What do they want?"
"We are their target," Misato told him. "They want WILLE's destruction, and will work to bring it about, tearing through anything in their way."
"UN troops, your apartment building…" Ritsuko added.
The two women let the gravity of the situation impress upon him.
Kensuke cleared his throat. "I hate to interrupt," he began, suddenly feeling four years old, "but is there a bathroom around here? Or am I confined to quarters?"
"You feel strong enough to stand?"
"Yeah. I feel fine."
A swift series of keystrokes by Ritsuko and a seamless panel beside his bed pulled back into the wall to display a sleek, polished metal toilet and sink.
Neat. "Thanks." Kensuke slid his bare feet onto the cold floor, his muscles wobbling only a moment. He entered the new compartment. "… A little privacy, please?"
"… Give a shout when you're done."
The long window between the rooms cleared and went opaque. He immediately lifted his hospital gown.
"Thought they'd never stop talking."
He washed his hands and gazed at his reflection in the small mirrored panel over the sink. He couldn't recall the last time he saw himself so clearly without glasses. He brushed his sandy hair to the sides for an unobstructed view.
He peered closer. He delicately held his left eye open. The familiar dull iris was speckled with bright red spots. The spots seemed to catch the light, winking crimson as he moved.
"Huh," he said.
/\/\/\/\
Kensuke sat on the bed, realizing he was trapped until they decided otherwise. He cleared his throat again, preparing to alert his captors he was done. The wall panel flashed before he could speak and revealed the doctor and commander. Kensuke wondered if his privacy a moment ago was genuine. He tried to push it away.
"So," he began, "you said I can help you if you help me? How?"
An afterschool job wasn't high on his list of priorities but with his father removed from the picture the notion of needing money and shelter was beginning to form.
"We will need your help defending this city from the Nephilim."
A few more images expanded on the glass partition, stills of creatures with a bizarre forfeiture of human anatomy. Here, a being with two long glowing cords where arms should be, there, something with a reflective blue pyramid for a face.
"We said Nephilim are inhuman. Part of what makes them so is their blood. It grants them access to extraordinary abilities. However, it is possible to force those abilities to appear in a human. Basically," Ritsuko said, "Nephilim blood can trigger a rapid evolution of genes that reforms your physical state, making you more than human."
A new window appeared on the glass, displaying a small headshot of the redheaded SMG girl smiling brilliantly with wide, sparkling eyes.
"Asuka Langley Soryu was the first person to gain what we call 'blood skill,' the ability of the evolved genetic state. The ability gained seems to be developed randomly. Soryu's blood skill grants her expert knowledge of any tool or weapon she holds, but only as long as she holds it."
"That still seems pretty broken," Kensuke said. "Why use anyone else when she can shoot like an ace all the time?"
"Nephilim defenses aren't as flimsy as a human's. Conventional weapons only go so far. That, and it does require a degree of concentration that isn't always readily available in the heat of battle. Just because she knows how to use a weapon doesn't mean she can't face overwhelming odds."
Another window expanded, this one showing the somber face of the boy with short hair.
"Toji Suzuhara was the second person to gain blood skill. His lets him manipulate his body's mass, mitigating damage or temporarily redirecting force to a specific point."
Kensuke remembered the boy punching cars across an entire street.
"You were exposed to Nephilim blood, too."
The tall creature, bowed and beaten, flashed before him. Its skull opened like a fast-shutter flower blooming. Blood knifed through his skin.
"The emergence of blood skill is all but assured," Ritsuko stated. "We'll need to keep a very close eye on you until then."
Kensuke tried to absorb everything that was happening. He scratched his head.
"So, you had one of those Nephilim things captured and opted not to hand out new powers? Instead you shipped it off? Why not make a whole army of soldiers with blood skills? I mean, I just got in the way. I kind of get the feeling I'm a defective product."
"Soryu and Suzuhara possessed very particular profiles and were in controlled environments," Ritsuko began with a sidelong glance at her Commander. "We can't just expose people at random—"
"We won't expose people at random," Misato corrected. "It is a risky operation and I will not endanger any more lives." She turned slightly on Kensuke. "What happened to you was an accident. If I could take it back, I would. But I can't. All I can do now is utilize you as best I can to protect everyone else. But know you are lucky to be alive at all."
Her face was set. Her mouth was compressed to a thin line. Her eyes never wavered. Kensuke still found her incredibly attractive.
What have I gotten myself into? He tried to chuckle. "I guess it's too late to back out, huh?"
"Don't worry," Ritsuko eased. "You are first and foremost an invaluable research specimen. The only human to have uncontrolled contact with Nephilim blood and survive. We will do everything we can to ensure your personal safety."
That did not entirely assuage his concerns. These women, he reflected in a rare moment of clarity beyond his hormones, were not the most comforting of wake-up calls. WILLE apparently did not put much stock in customer service.
He shrugged. "So, is being stuck in here part of that safety? Really, I feel fine. And I could eat a horse."
Another exchanged glance. Kensuke frowned. Were they expecting him to mope or freak out?
"… I'm sure the caf can fix you something. But since you feel so great, I believe some introductions are in order first." The doctor smiled at his lack of comprehension. "WILLE isn't run just by the two of us. Since you agreed to join, you should meet the rest of the team."
/\/\/\/\
After a blood draw and awkwardly thorough physical examination, Ritsuko again explaining she was a real doctor, and after a round of verbal comprehension tests quizzing him on such brain busters as the current month and year, Kensuke was released from his tiny cell. Beyond was a windowless hallway stretching dozens of yards in either direction. Everything was sterile white, gleaming under harsh embedded fluorescents. Ritsuko was still with him, along with Misato and three heavily armored, armed guards. Kensuke stopped short.
"For protection," Ritsuko said causally.
She nudged him forward and the procession continued. He lost all sense of direction after two turns, trying to glean some orientation from the numerous stenciled shut doors they passed. Eventually they stopped at one of the closed doors and it opened to reveal a moderate sized receiving room, complete with couches and tables.
"Commander!" a man with glasses saluted, snapping to attention. The other adults in the room followed suit at sight of Misato, and she waved the formality away.
"At ease," she said for their benefit.
Kensuke scanned the room as names were handed out. Aside from the expected compliment of anonymous adults in uniform, and two more armed guards, he spied a pair of teenagers at the far wall. He recognized the Suzuhara boy from his debriefing session, tall and fit, with the loosely confident posture of an athlete. Kensuke immediately disliked him.
The redheaded girl Soryu was beside him leaning against the wall, her hands buried in the pockets of a jacket. She somehow made impassivity look threatening. The boxy hospital gown WILLE gave him did little to bolster his confidence. It was hard to impress girls wearing a formless paper bag.
Beside him, Misato was addressing the crowd. "Kensuke Aida agreed to join us," she introduced with a sweep of her hand. "He's the newest member of WILLE, effective immediately."
The lack of applause, or at least approval, didn't raise his morale.
"Um, hi," he tried with a short wave.
"Greetings," the man with glasses offered after no one else did.
"Oh, yes," a woman with short hair beside him said. "Welcome to the team."
"Do I get a codename?" Kensuke asked.
Suzuhara snickered behind a hand. Soryu looked sickened. Ritsuko gave her Commander an uneasy look.
"Your designation is the Third Child," Misato stated, unmoved.
"Child?" He was disappointed and insulted.
"It's the designation we give everyone like you," Ritsuko explained, nodding briefly at the other teenagers in the room. "Soryu is the First, Suzuhara is the Second. You're the Third."
"Oh…"
"You get used to it," Toji said with a broad grin. "Welcome aboard, Third. I never thought we'd get another recruit." He pumped his fist in the air in front of Soryu. "And the boys finally outnumber the girls."
"This is bullshit," she spat, glaring around her feet. While not containing a boisterously jovial mood, she effectively slew any good cheer in the room. "Recruiting a dreg from off the street. The last thing we need is a rookie dragging us down further. You've lost your mind, Katsuragi."
A moment passed as the other adults weighed speaking up in defense. Misato cut them all off.
"It is a recruitment you necessitated," she said. "You rushed to eliminate the target before securing the site."
"Don't you dare put this on me," Asuka said. "Thermals gave no indication a civie was nearby. It's not my fault he didn't evacuate with the UN flunkies and the rest of the cattle—"
"Take a walk, Soryu."
The girl snapped her mouth shut, turned, and strode from the room in thunderous silence. Suzuhara rolled his eyes. The adults exchanged nervous glances.
Wow, Kensuke thought.
The SMG girl just insulted him, WILLE, the UN and her commanding officer in under a minute before storming out of the room, demanding everyone's attention. All with no provocation.
She is so damn cool.
/\/\/\/\
End of chapter 2
Author notes: That was Matariel last time, finally earning a respectable kill count.
Info dump chapter. But it's done now. Why do I insist on these protracted setups? Zero confidence hiding behind long-windedness. Also, I hate writing battle sequences.
Next chapter: Kensuke's natural inclinations struggle against WILLE's dress code, Asuka's the next Rembrandt, Toji's a big fat cheater, and I manage to go one more chapter without a battle sequence.