"It's time, darling." Kyoko whispers sweetly to little Asuka. Using the rays of light shining through the blinds of her window to see in the dimly lit room, she wraps a string along her delicate neck. "You understand, don't you? They're going to take me away from you." She strokes her soft, linen hair. No warmth emanated from holding her daughter, not like it used to be. But she knew that this is what a mother is supposed to do.

"If they take you away from me, you'll have to stay with your father. You wouldn't like that, hm?" She ties the knot around her neck tightly. "And that… bitch, Henrietta. That won't do at all will it? Well, don't you worry, Henrietta. He'll get bored of you soon enough." Kyoko ties the practically weightless girl onto the lighting fixture. She admires her handiwork. "...Perfect." Asuka doesn't respond, her Mothers kindness is vindicated. She pecks her on the cheek. "I'll be joining you soon, Asuka."

A loud knock interrupts her peace. "Dr. Soryu? Are you in there?" The knocking intensifies into pounding. "Dr. Soryu!"

She growls, "You ratted me out, didn't you? You lying, two faced sack of shit. You're not going to lock me up. Not again." Kyoko steps on top of the stool and attaches the noose onto her neck. "My daughter needs me."

"Let me handle this." A familiar, feminine voice says behind the door. A gentle rap. "Kyoko? It's me, Naoko. I need to talk to you, please open the door."

"Go away!" Kyoko snarls.

"Please be reasonable. I wouldn't want to have my men kick down your lovely mahogany door. Is it handmade?"

Kyoko ignores her. Feeling resolve burning through her, she bites her cheek. "God is in his heaven…"

"Yamagishi. Kick it down."

"All is right in the world…" She leaps off the stool right as the door comes flying open. Kyoko's neck doesn't break upon impact. She closes her eyes as she feels the rope caress her throat, slowly squeezing the air out of her throat as she welcomes the sweet death.

Instead she thrashes frantically as the blinding light glares into her eyes. Two men lift her on either side while a silhouette of a woman waits in the door frame. "No! NO." She kicks at them, biting at her attackers arms as they throw her onto the bed and restrain her. "Let me die with her!" She lets out a guttural scream that shakes the entire mansion.

"Gag her." Naoko says. "We don't need another incident." A man with long greasy hair uses the rope to prevent her from biting her own tongue out as she kicks ferally. One of her high heels flies off and ricochets against the wall. Naoko approaches the bed and lowers herself to Kyoko's eye level. "Are you done with your little tantrum?" She hisses at her, attempting to throw a lob of spit at her in vain. "Lovely."

"Haallll haaaahin hillll eeeww!" Kyoko attempts to say through the gag.

"Should I sedate her, Commander?" The long haired man asks.

"No. I need her to be lucid. That is, if there is anything left to communicate with. Is there Kyoko?" The woman in question glares at her, her eyes bloodshot. "Do you understand me? Blink once for yes, twice for no." She doesn't respond, Kyoko attempts to lunge at her.

Another man, an older one walks through the door frame. "Commander Akagi. I told you this was a waste of time."

She lifts a finger at him. "Just a minute now, Kozo." Naoko keeps the fingers lifted, she shifts it left to right as Kyoko's eyes follow the finger. She points it to the doll hanging on the light fixture. "Is that your daughter, Asuka Langley Soryu?" She blinks instantly. Naoko smiles at Fuyutsuki and waves him dismissively.

After a moment he walks out the door. "I don't imagine you remember him, useful, but forgettable. Always following that… bitch Yui Ikari like she was God's gift to the world." Kyoko's breathing starts to slow down. "Yes, you can sympathize with that, can't you? I want to help you, Kyoko. A need has arisen and I would like for us to cooperate. Do you understand?" After a moment she blinks.

"Good. Very good. I'll be candid with you, Kyoko, I owe you that much. We were never close friends. In fact, had a need not arisen just now you would've been hanging on your light fixture still, waiting for your… loved ones to discover you."

Kyoko stares blankly at her, evidently, Naoko is losing her attention. "I'll make this simple. Gendo Ikari has been deemed unfit to command Gehirn any longer. Drunk himself into a stupor and bit his own tounge off in a hissy fit. Hence-" She gestures to the rope. "-The gag. You understand. I personally believe that Gehirn has become obsolete and in need of reorganization. But that is beside the point. I have been appointed Commander in his place, and it just so happens that my prior position is now vacant. That's where you come in."

Kyoko blinks twice. "Oh? You're not interested? Perhaps I have something of interest for you then. Are you aware that your daughter, your real daughter, is still alive?" She frowns, genuinely confused and blinks twice, motioning to the doll. Her breathing begins to increase.

Naoko waves her hands to calm her down. "Shhh, shhh…. Sorry. That was inappropriate of me. I am… truly sorry for your loss. What if I could offer you something else?"

She leans in close to Kyoko's face. "What if I could help you see her again?" Kyoko blinks at her, she gestures to the hanging doll. "Not like that. I can take you to her, alive and well. Make you whole again. I'll take the two of you to a safe place. A place without pain, or danger. Away from that horrid husband of yours."

The lines in Kyoko's face soften as her eyes dart back and forth. "Would you like that?"

…

She blinks once. "If I take this gag off of you, will you cooperate?" Kyoko blinks once. Naoko nods to one of the men to remove the ropes.

Kyoko gasps for air, she clutches the burn marks around her neck. She looks up to Naoko. "Where will you take me?"

Naoko smiles. "To Japan. There is much work, tests to be done before you are ready to see Asuka again. I need you, Kyoko. I need your mind."

She looks down, and then at the doll- no doubt imagining it as the lifeless body of her daughter. "And she will be safe?" Naoko nods. "Yes. Of course. Japan." Yamagishi lifts her body and leads her out of the room. "Japan…"

Naoko sits up from the bed and wipes the dust from her trousers. "Yes, I believe today shall be very productive. Don't you think, Kyoko."

She gazes aimlessly through the hallway, her head swaying weightlessly. "Yes. Much work to be done." The door on the other end of the hall burst open, a small figure sprinting through the door. "For Asuka."

The little girl in the red dress lights up to see her mother on her feet. "Mama! Mama, they chose me! I'm an elite pilot now! I'm the best in the whole world!" She skids into a break, waiting for her mother to respond. Kyoko looks right past her as she walks by. "M-mama?" She waves frantically at her. "Mama! Why won't you look at me?"

Fuyutsuki stops and kneels down as low as his knees will permit. "Child…"

Naoko steps in between them. "Don't you worry, Kozo. I'll talk to her." She winks at him, "She needs a woman's touch right now." After a moment's hesitation, he nods and follows the men leading Kyoko away. Asuka attempts to follow but Naoko grabs her hand gently and turns her around. "Hello, honey. Do you remember me?" She shakes her head, "I wouldn't imagine so, you were only a baby-"

"Where's Mama going?"

Naoko frowns, "Please don't interrupt me. Your Mother is very sick, you see. She needs help. There are very special doctors in Japan that can do just that-"

"She can't go to Japan!" Asuka pouts. "Not without me."

The Commander juts her jaw, she takes a deep breath and kneels down to her level. "Yes, I was getting to that. You will be accompanying her shortly. I must finalize the necessary paperwork with you father before that, until then you will be coming with me, as per his consent."

Asuka yanks her hand away from her. "Don't wanna go with you! You're scary."

Naoko pinches the bridge of her nose. "You don't have a choice, honey." She hisses. "Your father has appointed me as your legal guardian, until your Mother is deemed fit to carry out said duty. Which, let's face it, will be very unlikely. Do not complain and I will find you a guardian more to your liking." She reaches for hand again. "Now I am very busy, saving the world and all. Until then, you're staying with me-"

"No!" She thrashes widely, scratching Naoko's face. "Oskar! Papa! Help-"

Asuka is interrupted by a backhand to the face. After a moment she clutches the red handprint on her face, her face starts to scrunch up. Before she can cry, Naoko pushes her to the wall, a vice grip around her arms.

"You little bitch!" She shakes her violently. "Who do you think you are!?" Asuka freezes in place, hiccuping. "If I wanted to, I could leave you in a dumpster and no one would bat an eye. Not your precious butler. Your father? He's replacing you as we speak. Your mama?" She scoffs. "If it weren't for me, you would have found her spinning on a light fixture! Not that you know what that means. You should be grateful. Are you grateful?" Asuka shakes in her grip. "Are you!?"

Fuyutsuki walks back through the door, a scowl on his face. "What's going on here, Commander?"

Naoko turns to him and smiles, she sits up and straightens her trousers. "Oh, nothing out of the ordinary. Asuka was just a little excited, which is to be expected. She's calmed down now." She turns to have. "Haven't you, Asuka?"

Asuka looks at the sad old man, and then at the smiling Naoko. She suppresses a sniffle and nods.

Fuyutsuki remains unconvinced. "I heard shouting. A slap." He slowly moves towards the little girl and strains to squat down. He reaches for the red knuckle print on her face and she recoils.

Naoko stares at him plainly, unintimidated. "If you have an issue, you can always take it up with our superiors."

Fuyutsuki's shoulders slump. Asuka looks between the two and realizes just exactly who is in control of this situation. He looks at the girl, pleadingly. "Did she do this to you?"

Asuka looks at Naoko, who smiles earnestly. She touches her face and shakes her head. "I slipped."

The Commander chuckles softly, "So silly. I saw it happen myself."

Fuyutsuki feels his heart sink as he realizes this is a battle he can't win. "I see."

Naoko claps her hands together. "Well then! I suppose we're all off to Japan now, aren't we?" She offers her hand to Asuka again.

Asuka looks up and slowly reaches for it. "Yes. Japan." For Mama.

"This is exciting!" Naoko exclaims. "I have a daughter too, you know. Pretty thing. I think you'll like her."

"Yes mam."

The old man walks ahead of them, his head hung low. He thought today would be a chance at salvaging a ruined situation. But now he sees that a dark path is being paved ahead of them. "Oh, Kozo. Would you be a dear and hold the door open?" Naoko calls out. He does so and watches the two pass him. "Why, thank you."

As they sit in a limousine traveling to the airport. Naoko sighs wistfully. "I do wish Gendo was here. I miss… his mind."

Despite himself, Kozo Fuyutsuki couldn't agree more.

A:N

Not very well indeed. This is an idea I had on the Asushin Discord a few days back and just had to get it on paper. I'm not exactly married to it, but it is an interesting premise and might be cool to jump to when I'm feeling burnt out on PD. Which is a lot more fun and less horrific to write. Akagi might run a tighter ship, maybe be even more efficient- but at the end of the day, she's going to make Gendo Ikari look like a gentleman. Not much else to say about this other than it will be a very dark story, and hopefully everyone involved will get their justice by the end of it all.