Vertigo, Part 2

Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it).

Notes, the parenthesis indicates languages other than Japanese, in this case, German and Interlac.

Day Two

Tokyo-3, Japan
NERV HQ, Hospital Wing

"Honorable discharge, Sir?" Mr. Suzuhara asked, and looked back and forth between his son and the old man who held the rank of Vice-Commander.

"But… I didn't even got into combat. Uh, sir." Toji blurted, incredulous. "I thought once I got back on my feet, I'd get back to training."

Vice-Commander Fujutsuki held a file on his hand, showing it to the Suzuharas. "True. Normally, that would be the case. However, Dr. Akagi has done a full scan on you, young Suzuhara, and through no fault on your part, you received slight damage to the nerves of your hand. That damage will interfere with your performance as a pilot, putting you and everybody else at risk. I am sorry to bring you these bad news. You'll need extensive physiotherapy to recover. The prognosis is good, but I'm afraid we need capable pilots now."

Toji sighed, while his father patted his shoulder, "We will manage, son."

Fujutsuki shook his head in sympathy. "Don't worry about medical expenses, Mr. Suzuhara. The terms of Young Toji's contract include full medical coverage for him and his closest relatives. NERV will pay for your treatment. I have already authorized payment for hazard bonus."

Mr. Suzuhara seemed to melt in relief. In his worry for his children, he had forgotten about those clauses.

"Now, if you excuse me, I need to tend to several matters."

"Thank you, sir." Toji saluted as best he could manage.

Fujutsuki nodded politely as he left the room. 'Won't be long, I fear. But at least, you won't have to worry while Instrumentality was enacted.' He thought as he walked the long halls.

Tokyo-3, Japan
NERV HQ
SEELE Holochamber

Shinji stood immobile in the beam of light at the center of the chamber, surrounded by imposing black monoliths, each one marked with that hated word, SEELE, and a number. He knew who hid behind those ridiculous masks; murderers on a global scale, pretending to be protectors of the world.

He held a tight control over his anger. Wildcat's words echoing in his memory. "Anger by itself will get you in trouble. But denying it will make you snap at the worst time possible. Ride it, direct it, use it. But never let it choose for you."

Shinji controlled his breathing, the whole set-up was designed to intimidate, to make him feel alone and insignificant. But he knew his mission, and knew he was not alone. Deadman was there with him, even if unseen and unheard, Shinji knew the red-clad ghost was at his side, and every word would be later relayed to the Phantom Stranger. Nails for the coffin SEELE would be buried in.

Inner Robin stood in attention. Ready to advise.

Tokyo-3, Japan
NERV HQ
Dogma Central Ruins

A group of techs gathered in the vast chamber, the same place they had used to direct the fight against the Angels threatening Mankind's very existence.

Dr. Ritsuko Akagi sipped from her coffee mug, the one with her caricature. "Let's begin. Hopefully we won't need to change our plans, but that depends on your updated information. Maya? What's the status of the Evangelion Units?" Her voice barely echoed in the silent chamber.

The brown-haired tech consulted her clipboard, "The EVA Units were damaged in the fight or still hadn't been repaired of damage from previous fights, EVA-00 suffered minor damage during the fight, the missing left arm can be reattached without major problems, as soon as we have the spare ready for implantation. The original arm was deemed irrecoverably contaminated, and destroyed. EVA-01 suffered total loss of the left arm at the shoulder joint, and partial loss of the right arm at the middle of the humerus. EVA-02 will require a full set of diagnostic tests to the biological parts, the core, and the new S2 Organ; plus extensive repairs to the mechanic and cybernetic components. The armored plates of head, torso and arms need a full replacement. We can use the parts originally made for Unit-03, with minor adjustments. The transference had been approved before the Matsushiro Base destruction, and are on their way here." She adjusted the cushion under her left arm, a gift from her father, with a cute drawing of a cat. She wouldn't leave it behind. "With the secondary and tertiary tech crews, we can do complete repairs in a few weeks. Hopefully the next Angel will give us time."

Dr. Akagi nodded, "Aoba? The GeoFront?"

Lt. Shigeru Aoba leaned back onto a desk, "The GeoFront breach area might as well be declared a complete loss, the structure is potentially unstable, and has to be evaluated by specialist teams before any repairs can be done, they are already working using drones for preliminary inspection. Seven buildings in the edge of the blast are stuck in underground mode and their bunkers have been evacuated; they are mostly offices, and the staff can be relocated without delay. Their records are fully backed up, and available for use. Four fake buildings were completely destroyed, they held an umbilical cable set up, two missile depots, and one EVA weapon locker. Apart from that, eight buildings on the above level of Tokyo-3 were destroyed by the Angel as it arrived. No casualties there, the occupants were in the bunkers. The insurance companies will have a bad week, that's for sure. The forest and civilian buildings inside the GeoFront are gone. The lake water is basically mud at this point. The sediment will settle down at the bottom in the next few days, but it will be necessary to redraw the maps. The bottom will be higher, and the water level will probably rise too."

Another nod from Dr. Akagi, "Vice-Commander Fujutsuki will not like that." She exhaled a lungful of cigarette smoke, "Hyuga? HQ?"

Lt. Makoto Hyuga pushed his glasses up his nose, "Well, as everybody here is very aware, the HQ building will need an almost complete rebuild. The Angel destroyed about 35% of one side of the Pyramid, and demolished half of Central Dogma. Unit-00 destroyed eight walls of reinforced concrete and steel to save us. We are lucky the MAGI system was not damaged. All three are functioning at optimum levels and ready to continue their programming. It seems the… um…"he made vague gestures with his hands, "the assimilation of the hacker actually improved their performance."

Dr. Akagi nodded wearily, Iruel had been very close to cracking the self-destruction system of HQ, leaving Dogma Terminal exposed, and a direct route to Lilith. That would have practically guaranteed Third Impact when the next Angel appeared. "It may be a while before we can restore everything to normal. The MAGI self-diagnosis program has finished?"

Maya noted, "It wil finish the main and secondary systems diagnosis in about half an hour. The tertiary and non-essential systems will need a few hours more. Tokyo-3 is mostly running on automated systems right now, but those are only a stopgap measure. If everything checks, we may be able to start working tomorrow."

"Yes. This place will have to be scrapped. The Fourteenth went through our defenses as if they were air."

Aoba closed a drawer on the desk he was leaning onto, "The brass will have to make it official. I'm sure the repairs bill will convince them to relocate us. This place is a wreck."

"True." Akagi looked around. "Let's use the Secondary Control Center in the meanwhile. Or we would risk another incursion, without the means to even monitor the situation."

"Without the MAGI, you mean, Dr. Akagi?" Maya protested.

"Just while we move them. We can clean the dust off the Secondary Control Center, and prepare to move their containers by this afternoon. Once the systems are green, we can begin to move the MAGI."

"But the chairs are cramped, and the sensors don't operate well." Maya continued. "It will be difficult to work there."

Shigeru argued calmly. "At least the layout is the same than here. We won't have to change much. And you can take your chair. It's not as if they are bolted to the floor."

"Stills feels weird, like we don't belong there."

"We have only two options, either we wait for the repairs here, or we move." Dr. Akagi stopped the discussion. "We must get to work now. Commander Ikari orders. We need to know what happened with Units 00 and 02. And decide how to deal with that."

Maya looked down.

The silence stretched for long seconds. No one wanted to be the first to mention Asuka's current situation.

Tokyo-3, Japan
NERV HQ
SEELE Holochamber

"Pilot Ikari." The monolith marked SEELE-01 spoke with the voice of an old man. "Explain your manipulation of Unit-00's ATF."

Shinji pretended to hesitate before speaking, he would need a couple of days to fully adjust to the missing molar, but at least he could speak clearly now. "Um… I'm not sure, sir. I… I… just reacted. I couldn't really f-fight with only one arm… Unit-00 seemed to shape it. I only noticed later."

"What about your…" SEELE-03 asked, "projection of the field?"

"T-the same, I… I guess… I remembered how Pilot Soryu and myself worked against the…" he paused, pretending some difficulty to remember the precise data, "Sixth Angel? The one who attacked the Pacific Fleet bringing Unit-02 here." He paused, "To Japan, I mean. Sir."

"Explain." SEELE-04 demanded. "You are referring to the unscheduled underwater operation?"

"Yes, sir." Shinji nodded, "Pilot Soryu and I had to improvise. Unit-02 was not outfitted for underwater operations. We lost mobility almost immediately. We used the ATF to move Unit-02 into an advantageous position to kill the Angel."

"Noted. The report of that incident will be re-examined."

"Uh… you think it's possible to control the ATF deliberat…?"

"You are not here to ask questions, Pilot Ikari, but to answer ours." SEELE-01 grumbled.

Shinji stood a bit straighter for a moment, then deflated a bit. He wanted the Comitee to think him as a doormat. "U-understood, Sir." He said, looking down at the steel floor.

Several seconds of silence passed. Finally, SEELE-01 spoke. "Dismissed."

Once Shinji was out of the room, and back into the light, he leaned on the wall. Commander Ikari and Vice-Commander Fujutsuki entered the room; neither spoke, but Fujutsuki at least looked at him with some sympathy.

Tokyo-3, Japan
NERV HQ
SEELE Holochamber
(Astral Plane)

"Now, tell me something interesting, you bunch of hypocritically deluded vultures." Deadman rubbed his hands like a vaudeville villain. "Gimme something juicy to destroy you with."

Tokyo-3, Japan
NERV HQ
Evangelion Cage Nr 5
Unit-02's Core

Kyoko and Asuka walked leisurely around a very convincing facsimile of NERV Germany base.

"(That's where I grew up.)" Asuka said. Kyoko hugged her, a sad smile on her lips. Her daughter wiped a tear from her eyes, and looked at it for a moment. "(I swore I'd never cry again, Mama. Look at me now… crying like a baby.)"

"Shush, mein Schatz (1). (I'm crying too. I'm so happy to have you here with me. Even if…)"

"(I know. I'll have to go back. But not yet.)" She hugged her mother with desperate strength.

"(Not yet.)" Kyoko repeated. "(We must seize this chance.)"

A minute passed, the buildings around them paled and eventually vanished, as neither mother nor daughter paid any attention to keeping the illusion.

Finally, Asuka pushed her softly, breaking the hug.

Kyoko looked at her. "(Say, is there somebody special in your life?)"

Asuka blushed crimson and stuttered.

"(Oh! You have to tell me everything about him! Is he handsome? Brave?)"

Her intensified blush answered for the redhaired pilot.

Orbit of Saturn
Brande's Orbital Shipyard 3 (In Construction)
Meeting Room 3
A Possible XXXIst Century

The group assembled at one of the few meeting rooms already finished. R. J. Brande presided from the Central point of the horseshoe-shaped table, while the Legionnaires present, along with the Almeracian Emisary and the Legion Liason officer, occupied the seats more or less at random.

"(The robot will be removed from U.P. territory.)" Science Police Officer Shvaughn Erin (2) read from her Omni-Comm, "(That's not negociable.)" She sighed. "(Personally, I think the gov is being kinda unreasonable. That thing is massive and inert. Saturn Girl certified the mental activity inside is in deep sleep. I guess the bosses don't want to risk an incident.)"

Lana Max-El stood up from her seat. "(Agreed. The Almeracian Empire will supervise the transport of the robot to a pre designated point, far from U.P. territory. It's a little known place, and the fastest route crosses through U.P.'s territories. Lord Kon-El has been designated as Almerac's liason with the U.P., and charged with the safe delivery of the artifact in question.)"

Erin set down a note in her OmniComm. "(Superboy, or Lord Kon-El; is a U.P. citizen, not a member of the Almeracian Empire. He is a Terran Legionnaire.)"

"(Empress Lois has granted him Almeracian citizenship, along with a minor nobility rank. Ceremonial, without real politic power. According to our treaties, any citizen in good standing can be granted such citizenship. The Royal House politics practically demand him as our liason with the Legion, and by extent, the U.P.)"

Brande intervened. "(Officer Erin, dual citizenship has been a staple of international relations for centuries. Superboy here has recognized links to both Almerac's Royal House and Earth. This is a great opportunity to improve our diplomatic relationship with Almerac.)"

"(Personally, I agree. But there are a few senators very invested in keeping both Superboy and Supergirl as Terran Legionnaires.)"

Sensor spoke then, her soft contralto voice a pleasing sound in the meeting room. "(May I suggest a similar status to mine? I am the Orandi representative in the Legion, though I was first in the succession line to the Throne. A similar clause would cover Kon's status as a dual citizen. He would be a recognized part of the Royal House of Almerac, but without any political power.)"

Superboy raised his hand. "(I vote in favor!)"

The others looked at him in silence.

"(Oh, C'mon! I don't have any head for political stuff! I have problems enough organizing my underwear drawer.)"

M'Onel snorted, "(I testify.)" (3)

Saturn Girl waited for the laughter to subside. "(What about the minds inside the robot? I get very vague impressions from them.)"

Lana brought up a small case from a hidden pocket in her blue and red tunic. "(Prince Consort Kal-El left us a set of instructions. Those minds are no danger to the U.P.)"

"(Do you know who they are?)" Officer Erin asked.

"(No. Lord Kal-El didn't include their names in his instructions. He says we will need some very specific metals for the recovery. Namely copper, gold, platinum and veridium.)"

"(Common enough metals.)" Brande said, shrugging. "(I have several tons of each in store as raw materials. Veridium will be hard…er.. to…)" His eyes unfocused for a moment. "(Lady Lana? May I see those instructions?)"

"(Apart from stellar and planetary coordinates, the instructions were a holorec of Lord Kal-El. I Can show it to you, though you'll need to know Ancient Anglish to understand His words.)"

"(Please do. I have a feeling there are some capitals involved.)"

Author Notes.

(1) My treasure.

(2) Officer Shvaughn Erin was designated as the liason between the Science Police and the recently founded Legion of Superheroes. Initially, she resented the post, as she thought it would be basically babysitting spoiled brats (other officers saddled her with the mocking nickname "Liason Lass"). However, after reading the Legionnaires profiles, and watching them in action, she warmed up to them. Eventually, she was shown less and less in the books. The Pre-Zero Hour version was one of the SP Officers who were frequently shown in the Legion stories, and became Element Lad's girlfriend. (During the Five Years Later era, it was shown that she was actually male, and used medical treatments with a drug called "Profem" to become a fully functional woman. Without Prifem, Erin reverted to make, and had difficulties handling his gender. After some problems, the now male Sean Erin and Element Lad stayed friends until the Zero Hour reboot. The original version debuted in Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes issue 241 (Jul, 1978), while the Reboot version debuted in Legion of Superheroes issue 0 (Oct, 1994), so she has been with the team from the very beginning. It might seem strange to have her as the U.P. officer in charge of the situation, but as there's no clear and present danger to U.P. citizens or property, the bureaucracy is content to let her deal with things.

(3) To XXXIst Century standards, Superboy is a complete slob.