After a brief breakfast in NERV's own cafeterias, Shinji Ikari had been ordered to conduct a debrief with Dr. Ritsuko Akagi. Kensuke Aida, as he had after the fight with the Angel, had been the one asking questions. In a tiny conference room, both sat on the other side of a rectangular table from him, sitting side-by-side. As before, Dr. Akagi quietly jotted down notes as the conversation went, while Aida essentially 'ran the show.'
Shinji had quietly answered as best as he could, recalling the moment he had accepted the mission from 'Ultramarine Melon, Inc.' From Ayanami's attempt to come along with Mister P on their rescue mission, to Kaji's Shadow appearing out of nowhere to convince her otherwise (the look in Dr. Akagi's eyes at that point had become rather concerned); from their trek to Tokyo-1 to the time spent following the winged dog known as Koromaru to the sea; from the overnight flight to Hachijō-kojima within the Metaverse to the assault on Shiro Tokita's facility; from his encounter with Mana Kirishima to how he managed to partially summon his Evangelion within the Metaverse (
this had caused Dr. Akagi's eyes to bug out of her head); after that, his memories of what had happened were much hazier.
He still spoke of what he
could recall; the anger, as he resolved to actually kill Kirishima; the sudden shock of being stopped by Gryphon and Tokoyo; the fugue he had operated under for the rest of the day.
It was...fairly self-deprecating, in the grand scheme of things.
Aida-san actually looked rattled. "So. Um...that's...kinda rough."
"Yeah. It was," he replied, tiredly leaning against the table. "I wish I knew more about my power..."
"Don't we all," droned Dr. Akagi. "Quite a few interesting threads you've given me to follow up on...but first thing's first,
you're getting your spiriology checked. After which, I'm going to arrange some tests to see if you'll be able to summon Shogoki at will within the Metaverse...hopefully without the homicidal rage."
Shinji could see the fear in Kensuke Aida's eyes at the mention of the word.
The Beast smiled.
"There's no going back."
His Other remained stalwart.
"How deep does your resolve go?"
Shinji didn't begrudge him for it.
It's...it's only natural. There would be other chances. Somehow, he felt Kensuke Aida would be more understanding than most. "Um...how is Kirishima-san doing?"
Dr. Akagi intently stared at him, even though her facial expression lacked any concrete emotion. "Why do you ask?"
"I...well, I just wanted to know if she's okay."
The blonde snorted. "Let me ask you one simple question: given everything
you've been through, would you call
yourself okay?"
"...no," he admitted.
"Then no, she's not okay. Quite frankly, I'm amazed she hasn't slit her throat by now."
Kensuke gave Dr. Akagi a look that was so dry it belonged in a desert. "...come on Doc.
Really? You can't pretend to have at least a
little bedside manner?"
"That's why I'm the doctor and you're the intern."
xxxx
Elsewhere within NERV - inside another secure conference room - Misato Katsuragi sat in a soft chair, quietly looking at Mana Kirishima. The girl was still in her bodysuit; all attempts at providing her with alternative clothing had been
ferociously resisted.
("...not until I have them back..." she had whispered, sitting in a corner of the lab with a sullen, defeated expression. All attempts at questioning her had met similar responses.)
Quite frankly, Misato felt for the poor girl. But because operational security was still a thing, LABRYS and AIGIS had been whisked away by various teams within Dr. Akagi's apartment, because they weren't going to turn down the opportunity to study experimental armaments that had been developed by another company. Misato tried not to think of vultures picking at a corpse, and failed miserably.
I wonder...if there's a way to free the two girls in those things? Best not to get her hopes up. "...so...are you gonna answer my question?"
"...what question," she muttered from the plain couch she sat upon, one of two within the conference room.
"Did you sleep well?"
"..."
Still a no. She was
so glad that a custodian was on hand to handle the more difficult parts of this...transition. Because quite frankly, this part
sucked. And damn her bleeding heart for letting the kid get her hooks in.
Fortunately, it wasn't much longer before there was a polite knocking on the door. MAGI-automated security quickly unlocked it, allowing the newcomer entry. "Hello," she said, glancing at both of the room's occupants with fierce brownish-red eyes. The woman - clad in a dark, slim business suit with matching blouse and heels - walked over towards Misato, extending her right hand; the left held a slim briefcase made of black leather. "I've been appointed to look into Kirishima-san's case."
"Good," said Misato rising up to shake the woman's hand and take her measure. The minor crow's feet around the custodian's eyes indicated that she was possibly in her forties. However, she made it work, mostly thanks to her hairstyle: asymmetrically-parted, her long hair - which seemed to shift in color from dull silver to ashen brown depending on how the light hit it - was bound into a classy chignon, giving her an immaculately professional appearance.
And here I am wearing a damn cloche hat to hide the hack job Tokita did on my hair.
(Ritsuko, the moment upon seeing the back of her head yesterday, promptly left for her personal quarters within NERV HQ. In a matter of minutes, she returned with a dark blue cloche that looked incredibly old. "You have no room to complain," the blonde had preemptively said. To be fair, that was a solid point.)
"Major Misato Katsuragi, the designated liaison from the Anti-Terror Task Force to NERV Headquarters."
"
Sae Niijima, from the
Special Custodial Service of the Equal Employment, Child, and Families Bureau."
"...wait, Niijima?" The name rang a bell. "You wouldn't happen to be related to Agent Makoto Niijima, would you?"
"Who do you think brought this case to my attention?"
xxxx
/a shame that Misato's red beret
//wouldn't cover all of the shaved hair
///cause Misato in a hat looks fancy
