Neon Genesis Evangelion: Altered Destinies

Launch Fifty

The members of the organization SEELE met in secret, represented only by monoliths. There was an urgency to the meeting, coupled with some degree of fear. The situation was getting increasingly out of their control.

"There's been no more Angels since Arael appeared?!"

"If we don't defeat the Angels we can not manage Instrumentality!"

"What is NERV Tokyo DOING?!"

"We need to figure out how to defeat it's AT Field..."

"Did you see the latest Arael video? She's so cute!"

"..."

"Not saying that in a perverted way, of course. She has the sort of innocence a baby kitten has, you know?"

Lorenz Keel spoke through his icon, "We are doing everything we can. Be patient."

"We could DIE before Third Impact!"

Keel didn't want to consider HE might die of old age before this all played out. That would be an ironic twist, considering...

"At least we have the viral videos of Arael first discovering pudding and eating ice cream to comfort us."

Keel sighed, wondering where he had gone wrong...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Ryoji Kaji groaned as he came awake. He swiftly realized he was laying on a bed, and faked being unconscious as he took in the room he was in. The place was featureless, with plain walls and a single window. There was a table there, and a simple chair.

"I can tell you're awake, SPY," the amused voice noted.

Kaji opened his eyes, studying the woman in a military style uniform, and a full mask concealing her face. He couldn't recognize her, obviously, but there was something familiar in the woman's voice.

"MAJOR?" Kaji asked as he sat up on the bed.

"I'd say it's nice to meet you, but I wish it was not under these circumstances," the Major noted.

"My cover's blown?" Kaji guessed.

"NERV security was at your apartment less than an hour after we snatched you from it," Major said bluntly.

"You couldn't have just told me I was blown?" Kaji asked dryly.

"You would have just stayed, tried to bluff your way out and ended up shot," Major pointed out to him dryly.

Kaji paused, but really couldn't argue with that.

"Worse, they might actually break you under questioning and put me and the others in danger," the Major added.

"Ha!" Kaji smiled wryly.

"Lets get you something to eat," Major noted, "you'll have a long day ahead."

Kaji sighed, "I assume you're getting me out of the country and away from SEELE. Am I being dumped in Alaska? Roanapur? What?"

"Nope, Nevada NERV."

"WHAT," Kaji blinked.

"They've broken away from SEELE and are opposing the Instrumentality plan," Major calmly explained. She added, "And you can pitch your leaking the existance of Arael as a heroic whistle blower move."

"And if I refuse?" Kaji asked.

"We shoot you and dump the body for NERV to find. No hard feelings, but...," the Major just shrugged.

Kaji puffed out a breath, "Fair enough. I always did want to see Las Vegas."

"That's the spirit," Major nodded.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Maya Ibuki finished her report, "And THAT is how the leaked data was routed through NERV branches in China and India."

"So if we didn't have the Magi, we'd have been fooled?" Tanya confirmed.

"And I had a lot of help from Doctor Akagi," Maya credited Ritsuko, "she helped me pick apart the programs used."

Misato leaned forward, "And we're SURE it's Kaji?"

"It's VAGUELY possible he was framed," Mary Sioux admitted, "but I'd say the odds are extremely low. Like, less than a percent."

"And there's the whole 'someone disappeared him' thing," Maya added. "I know he's a old friend of yours, but...," she shrugged.

Misato nodded reluctantly.

Maya added, "All his log ins and passwords have been cancelled, of course, as has his access to our base here."

"We left his NERV issued phone active, just in case," Ritsuko added.

"Oh?" Tanya asked.

"We can trace it if his captors left him with it," Maya pointed out, "and if he HAS been taken unwillingly, he could call for help."

"Fair," Tanya nodded.

(Gendo Ikari was not attending the meeting, and was possibly drunk in his office. Everyone was aware of his drinking problem, and steps were possibly going to have to be taken.)

Mary asked, "Are you going to need to replace him?"

"He was here mostly as a spy for a faction of the UN," Misato shrugged, "so, no." She looked at Mary, "I DO want to talk to you about a job offer, but later."

"Certainly," Mary agreed.

"No new updates on Arael, other than we're starting to introduce her to kids from Tokyo-3," Misato noted.

"Is that a good idea?" Tanya asked, frowning.

"We're hoping the more people she meets and likes, the less likely she'll want to kill us all by merging with Adam," Ritsuko noted dryly.

"Point," Tanya conceded. "It's worth a try at least."

"And we're keeping Rei away from her, for now," Misato added.

No one was sure what would happen if Arael encountered the angel hybrid teen, and they didn't want to find out.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"You want ME to stay on as head of security?"

Mary Sioux had gone into Misato's office expecting a 'good job, thanks for your work, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out' speech, so the offer was a bit of a surprise.

"I thought you didn't even LIKE me," Mary added wryly, well aware she had rubbed staffers the wrong way while investigating.

"I don't," Misato admitted, "but you're clearly good at your job."

"You know I answer directly to the UN," Mary warned.

"Theorectically, so do we," Misato shrugged. She added, "I talked to Dugurechaff already, and she's on board."

Mary frowned.

"Look, can I be frank?" Misato started. "The truth is, Tokyo-3 NERV doesn't really HAVE someone qualified to run security for a facility like this."

"You're military trained," Mary pointed.

Misato shook her head, "I had an accelerated course and a deployment in the rear."

"Hmm," Mary nodded.

"And in this case, I'm compromised," Misato added with a shrug. "Kaji was my ex, and I'm inclined to trust him."

Mary looked thoughtfully at her then said, "Okay, I'm willing to do it. Will I have a staff?"

Misato nodded, "I'll assign you the usual security staff, and you'll have some degree of independence. Fair enough?"

"Is Gendo going to be annoyed?" Mary smiled faintly.

"I consider that a bonus," Misato grinned and Mary chuckled. "Welcome to NERV Tokyo-3."

Mary shook her hand, "Thanks."

To be continued...

Notes: Yeah, I decided to keep Mary as a cast member. Canonly NERV really does not have a staffer who's actually qualified to run security for a military base.