Chapter 30: Isle of Doubt
Chapter 30 - Isle of Doubt
In her office, Misato was working on an interim progress report she'd been putting off for some time on the combat operations carried out against the Angels so far. She was making a recording to help verbalize her thoughts before putting them to paper.
"Continuing 'Tokyo-3 Urban Combat Interim Report', NERV Director of Operations Major Misato Katsuragi speaking," she dictated into the microphone on her setup. "Subject: battle against the Third Angel, codename: Sachiel. Although the damage we incurred as a result wasn't as extensive as initially predicted, the fact is that, against an unknown target, a boy with zero experience in Evangelion operations went out on his first battle with an Angel, and soundly defeated it with the skill level of a professional fighter. Shinji Ikari's achievement, along with his judgment in sweeping the area for civilians beforehand, in spite of not initially obeying orders first given at launch, is deserving of special notice. Even while in the middle of the battle, Pilot Ikari went out of his way to ensure the safety of two civilian children--siblings Toji and Sakura Suzuhara--overlooked by his initial sweep, moving them swiftly out of the battle zone. As a result, it was reported to me by Pilot Ikari himself Toji felt greatly indebted to him, becoming one of his best friends since moving here to Tokyo-3."
Misato's recording was interrupted by a buzz from her phone, which upon examination turned out to be the reminder she set for herself to be present for the cross-compatibility tests being conducted today. Misato was thankful for the distraction, deciding to put off the interim report for another day.
Commander Ikari's virtual meeting room...
"This is no good," one of the SEELE council commented grimly. They were going over a report with Gendo over suspicious rumors of a direct invasion of NERV HQ by the 11th Angel, only for it to have been destroyed.
"It's happening too early," another council member added.
"Indeed!" a third chimed in. "An Angel invading NERV HQ was outside of our schedule."
"And worse, to think that you let it intrude into Central Dogma," a fourth chided the Commander.
"If contact had occurred then," a fifth solemnly theorized, "our entire project could have ended in disaster."
Gendo remained unperturbed by the veiled accusations of the council members. "The report submitted to this committee was in error--no Angel invasion took place."
"Then, you say that the 11th Angel's intrusion did not occur?" one council member posed, skeptical of Gendo's claim.
"Yes," Gendo replied stoically.
Most of the council remained unconvinced. "Speak cautiously, Ikari," one man warned. "Making false statements before us is punishable by death."
"You are free to examine the MAGI's recorders," Gendo offered up. "You will find there is no evidence of such an incident."
The same council member who gave the warning smirked a little. "We may just take you up on that offer," he said. "We shall send over one of our information technology specialists to give the central MAGI a thorough examination, by your leave."
Gendo, though he did not show it, was slightly surprised by this turn of events. "If you insist, I'll allow it," he responded. "Even so, this does not dismiss the fact that the timetable, as described in the Dead Sea Scrolls, is advancing."
"Very well, then," SEELE-01, Lorenz Kihl, stated. "We will table the matter of any crimes or responsibilities on your part, for now. Be advised, however, there is no need for you to create a new script, Ikari."
"Understood," Gendo said. "Everything is proceeding according to SEELE's script. Which reminds me--what of your deliberations regarding the issue of the Shadow?"
"SEELE-03 has already dispatched four of our best wet works operatives to Tokyo-3. They are only a day away from arriving," Kihl answered him.
Gendo nodded, and as soon as Kihl indicated, the meeting was adjourned. After each of the holograms faded, Kihl reached for his phone and brought up his secretary.
"Put me through to Dr. Mocquino at the NERV branch in Central America," he commanded, and proceeded to wait as the secretary began transferring his call to the scientist in question...
NERV HQ testing lab, around the same time...
"Rei?"
Rei opened her eyes, having been in a state of meditation while in the entry plug.
"Yes, Dr. Akagi?" she finally replied.
"How does it feel to be piloting Unit-01 for the first time?" the chief scientist asked.
Rei, at first, was unsure of how to answer this. Being in Unit-01's plug was certainly a great contrast to Unit-00's, but whereas it took the help of the ancient presence she felt within her phurba necklace to finally bring what dwelt within that Unit to heel, the presence within Unit-01 was strangely more...welcoming to her, and strangely familiar.
"It...feels like Ikari, for some reason," she finally responded.
Ritsuko nodded. It was a rare test they were conducting today, as each of the pilots were to try out one another's entry plugs to see how well cross-compatibility could work should the need arise. So far, the data taken in stirred her curiosity.
"Her synch rate's almost the same as with Unit-00," she noted as she and Aoi observed the graphic flow on the latter's console. Ritsuko had unintentionally been avoiding Maya, and vice-versa, ever since she'd learned her protégé had somehow figured out her role in the Jet Alone incident months ago, hence her looking over Aoi's shoulder at the data. She didn't know how to broach the subject to try and allay whatever concerns Maya had, but mainly she'd used the work rebuilding the IT infrastructure of HQ and preparation for the cross-compatibility test as an excuse to put off speaking to her about it.
"It does seem that Unit-00 and 01's personal data patterns are very similar too, after all," Aoi pointed out.
"Which is exactly what makes this synchronization possible," Ritsuko concurred.
Misato, observing her colleague out of the corner of her eye, was secretly quite curious over why she and her kohai hadn't been 'joined at the hip' like usual lately. The trick would be to ask which one of them for the story behind it.
"Error is plus or minus 0.03," Aoi reported. "Harmonics normal."
"Which means no interchangeability problems found between Rei and Unit-01," Ritsuko affirmed, before speaking into the mic on the console. "Rei, the test is finished. You can come out now."
"Yes, Ma'am," Rei replied as the shutdown sequence began.
The rest of the tests went by mostly without any hiccups--Asuka tested in Unit-04, followed by Maria in Unit-03. When Mari tested in Unit-02, it was noted that there was some erratic behavior in the synchronization, but Mari was able to overcome it, though secretly she mused to herself that, for some reason, it was like dealing with Jekyll and Hyde as she tried to synch with the crimson titan. Finally, it was down to Shinji testing in Unit-00.
"Unit-00's personal data?" Ritsuko asked.
"Already reconfigured," Maya reported, the first words Ritsuko had heard out of her all day. "Currently reconfirming."
"Subject status?" Ritsuko asked further.
"No problems in his nerve patterns," Makoto reported. "He seems pretty calm, actually. It's like watching a monk in the middle of meditating."
"It's his first time in Unit-00," Misato pointed out. "Given how it's behaved before, it's only natural he'd want to not 'poke the bear', as it were."
Asuka, Maria, and Mari, meanwhile, were in their own EVAs on standby.
"He shouldn't worry about it at all," Asuka stated. "He should take it easy. Well, take it more than usual, at least."
A comm-window then popped up in her entry plug from Misato. "I have to say, I'm surprised you allowed someone else into your entry plug a second time," her guardian said. "Usually you never do."
"Well, Shinji was just a one-time deal," Asuka pointed out. "And Mari I've worked with for far longer, so I trust her not to do anything funny in my EVA, today's little glitch aside."
Another window soon popped up, this time from Mari herself. "Awww, so you do care, Princess! I'm touched, really."
"Don't let it go to your head, Four-eyes," Asuka shot back. "I'm not gonna be handing out guest passes any time soon."
Back in the middle of the test, the entry plug was inserted into Unit-00, and the connections were initiated.
"Shinji," Ritsuko began to ask, "how's it feel in Unit-00's plug?"
Shinji, opening one eye at first, remained calm as he answered her. "Not gonna lie, it's a bit odd."
"Some sort of incongruity?" Ritsuko probed further.
"Not really," Shinji replied. "Just feels a little like Ayanami."
Asuka, raising a curious eyebrow over the chatter she was hearing, wondered just what he meant by that.
"Data received. Reconfirming. Pattern green," Kaede reported.
"Roger," Ritsuko responded. "Now, let's shift to the second stage of the tests."
"Unit-00, now entering second contact," Aoi indicated.
Misato decided to break the silence between herself and Ritsuko. "How's he looking?"
"As I thought," Ritsuko replied as she pointed to another screen. "The synch rate is about even with when he's in Unit-01. Still, these are good readings."
"Harmonics all normal," Kaede reported.
"Because of this," Ritsuko continued. "We can implement the new feature for the EVAs."
Maya didn't take long to figure out which 'new feature' she was referring to. "The dummy system, correct? I know you and Dr. Kaga have been working hard on it, but still, it seems like--"
"I understand why you wouldn't approve of it," Ritsuko stated, "but this is a matter of always having a contingency in place to ensure humanity's survival."
Maya remained undaunted. "Ma'am, I will still perform my duty, but know that I stand by my convictions regarding the project. If you can prove it won't go out of control..." Those last words, Ritsuko mentally noted, seemed quite pointed for her protégé. "Then perhaps I'll change my mind."
"Then I'll have to make sure it isn't uncontrollable," Ritsuko responded, before adopting a more quieter tone. "It's tough having a fastidious nature, as far as living among people goes. It's something I admire about you, Maya. Even so, you'll get where I'm coming from when you feel that you've been sullied..."
Sempai, you have no idea how sullied I've been feeling for a while now...Maya thought somberly as she took Ritsuko's words in.
Within the plug for Unit-00, Shinji found himself greeted by a comm-window popping up from Asuka. "How's it going inside the heart of Big Blue?" the redhead asked.
Shinji responded with a simple shrug. "No different than any other capsule-shaped, liquid-filled environment, I guess," Shinji said in slight jest.
"Asuka, please close your connection to Unit-00," Ritsuko implored, "you'll introduce data noise and interfere in the test."
"It's all right, Dr. Akagi," Shinji reassured the scientist. "Asuka, what do you say we save this for later, okay?"
"Uh...sure, whatever," Asuka said as she closed the comm-window.
"Initiate A-10 nerve connection," Ritsuko instructed.
"Harmonics level, plus twenty," Kaede indicated.
It was then that, as soon as the connection was reached, Shinji began to feel something. Looks like I'm not as alone as I thought...Soon, he began seeing flashes of Rei, throughout his first few months in Tokyo-3, both during and outside Angel battles. It seemed like the presence within was similar to, yet different from Rei...
Outside the mindscape, the others looked on as Unit-00's head suddenly began moving away from its neck restraint. Maria, observing through her EVA's feed, began to emit a faint trilling sound, something not lost on Mari.
"What's going on?!" Misato asked in the observation booth.
"Mental contamination occurring!" Maya reported alarmingly.
"That's impossible!" Ritsuko decried. "It can't happen at this plug depth!"
"It's not coming from the plug," Maya added while observing the graphic lines beginning to separate on her screen. "The intrusion's coming from the EVA itself!" Strangely, some observers noted, the EVA didn't break fully out of its restraints, and appeared to be merely convulsing. Still, as they were instructed, Asuka, Maria, and Mari remained at the ready should the blue giant go out of control.
Meanwhile, within the plug of Unit-00, Shinji found himself being spoken to directly in his mind by the very presence within the EVA. It seemed to be regarding him as a lion would regard their potential prey...or rival.
You...the presence said. You are the one she said has 'cut her strings'...
Who...You mean Rei? Shinji asked. What does she have to do with this?
In the reactivation test...the presence started to say, she was able to hold me at bay--prevent me from getting back at him!
Him...Gendo Ikari? Shinji replied, as he began to understand what this presence could be: another victim of his father's machinations. Listen--like you, I've got enough of a grudge against that man, in more ways than one! But simply crushing him underfoot won't do anybody any favors! I'm already working on taking him down, without any loss of innocent life!
How do you mean--? the presence posed.
Look at how Rei has been ever since I first came here, Shinji pointed out. Before, she would have been easy pickings for you, but now? She's starting to truly find herself, really become her own person. I've been making sure she continues on that path out from under Gendo Ikari's thumb. What you seek to do will set all of that progress back!
The presence seemed to ponder Shinji words for a moment. What guarantee can you make...? it asked skeptically.
Nothing beyond my word, Shinji answered. And just so you know, I'm very much aware of the thing within Rei's necklace, and of what it can do. Lord knows what would happen if you try anything against my sister again and incur its wrath...
The presence, thinking back to when it first encountered the thing within Rei's necklace, knew the boy was not bluffing; doubly so, when it took heed of how he referred to its usual pilot. Very well...it said after a momentary silence. I shall continue to...work with her. I shall respect your request...
Glad we could come to a mutual understanding, Shinji replied with a nod. Now, let's see if we can put everyone at ease--I've got a feeling they're in the midst of a panic right now...
In the real world, all eyes watched as the convulsing Unit-00 began to unexpectedly settle down, and soon reorient itself back into its restraints. Maya observed in awe as the graph lines began to realign into an even synch.
"Mental contamination's receding," Maya reported. "Levels normalizing."
"Synch rate and harmonics levels now fully-normalized," Kaede added after a couple of minutes. "Cross-compatibility successful."
Misato and Ritsuko, the latter especially dumbfounded by the turn of events, looked at one another, speechless. Moments later, the two of them were in another part of the lab discussing the developments from the test.
"That...was a pretty close call," Misato stated.
"No kidding," Ritsuko said somewhat wearily.
"Was it somehow related to Rei's reactivation test from a few months ago?" Misato asked.
Ritsuko shook her head a bit. "I can't tell you all the details right now--all I know is that we'll need to reconfigure Unit-00 for Rei's personal data and then run a new synch test for them as soon as possible."
Misato nodded. "All right then--take care of it right away, before any of our other work is impacted."
"I will," Ritsuko affirmed. "Believe me, I know. Like you said, it was a really close call, something I don't want to happen again."
Gendo Ikari's office...
Gendo and Fuyutsuki were in the middle of a game of shogi, a recurring pastime for the two commanders.
"So, it appears the intrusion of the 11th Angel wasn't in the plan," the former professor noted. "And the Committee seems to be taking advantage of learning of it, instead of unloading their usual swath of complaints."
"Even so," Gendo responded, "we still hold all the trump cards. There is little to nothing they can do at this point."
"Regardless," Fuyutsuki said, "we still shouldn't poke at that particular hornet's nest. If SEELE starts interfering now, our ambitions will be sunk. The fact that they're sending their computer expert is indication enough."
"Everything is continuing to go according to our script," Gendo confidently reiterated. "We will have no problems."
"And what of the near-incident with Unit-00 today? That certainly didn't seem scripted," Fuyutsuki pointed out.
"It presents no obstacle," Gendo answered. "The test, and the re-synchronization for Rei and the Unit, was ultimately successful."
"What of Project Adam?" Fuyutsuki asked.
"Proceeding smoothly," Gendo replied. "It remains fully on-track."
"Which means the Lance of Longinus--?"
"Even now, Rei is taking care of it."
As he said those words, Rei herself, in Unit-00, was carrying the enormous, crimson-colored object in question down into the bowels of Terminal Dogma, its ultimate destination known only to herself, Ritsuko, and the two commanders.
Tokyo-2 International Airport, later that night...
The commercial jetliner landed on the runway successfully, and taxied itself to its designated gate. Once done, the passengers filed out into the airport proper; among them were a woman and a teenage girl who broke off from the crowd as they made their way towards a specially-designated baggage claim, where their town car would be waiting for them.
"Our residence has been set up to your specifications, Mistress," Ms. Leong confirmed. "Our aliases have been cleared and fully-integrated into the data collection taken up by the MAGI. None will suspect us as we carry out the plans."
Batu Khan nodded, a small smirk on her face. "Excellent news," she said as she looked towards the distant Tokyo-3 skyline. "To turn the words of my family's old foe against him, who knows the prey that lurks within the heart of 'mankind's fortress of tomorrow'?" Her smirk grew a bit more pronounced as she continued. "The last Great Khan knows..."
End Chapter 30.