Dr. Naoko Akagi frowned as she looked at the data readouts. Everything was proceeding as it should, and it would continue to do so for... Naoko checked her watch... one and a half minutes. And then, her most hated enemy would be dead, gone forever in a pool of LCL. All was going as she had planned.
Except for one thing. That bitch had had the... audacity to bring her little spawn to watch the test. Even now, she could see his trusting blue eyes watching the purple Eva down below, as his father stood behind him.
And now Naoko found herself troubled by something she had thought she'd lost long ago... her conscience. Somehow, she couldn't bear the thought of killing the whore while Shinji watched. Who knew what effect watching his mother die before his eyes would have?
Nothing good. And Naoko couldn't bear the thought of causing so much harm to someone who had done nothing to hurt her. And so, with fifty seconds until full synchronization, Naoko Akagi leapt into action.
Her fingers whirred over the keyboard, programming with uncanny speed. There had to be a way to stop the process before the disaster took place. She ignored the queries from her subordinates as she silently counted down. Ten... five... three... one... zero.
Suddenly, alarms blared out. "Ego border fluctuating!" screamed Tadaka, one of the techs. The Eva's eyes glowed, and its mouth opened in the beginning of a roar.
"AT Field! Pattern Blue!" screamed another tech as the massive beast struggled against its bindings.
"The syncrograph is reversing!" Naoko tuned out the voices as she hit the execute key and held her breath.
The Eva stilled and for a moment, all was silent. Then, Tadaka spoke once more. "Ego border... still dissipating."
Naoko groaned. She had still been too late. She then looked up as the Eva's communications link blared into full life.
"Gendo..." moaned Yui, her half-visible face slowly dissolving into LCL.
"Yui!" screamed Gendo, a wild look in his eyes.
"Gendo... take..." She paused, breathing heavily. "Take care of Shinji for me..." Those were Yui's last words.
"I will," said Gendo, quietly but firmly. Then he broke down, holding onto his son with a firm grasp and sobbing loudly.
That evening...
Gendo stared quietly at the figures displayed before him. He had known this offer would come, had known they would tempt him with everything he wanted. Power... money... safety... Yui. All of them could be his if only he would finally bind himself to their purpose. He could see himself accepting their offer, fully intending to betray them when the time came. He could see himself becoming more and more like them, until he forgot why he fought, and became just as hateful as they.
And one as evil as SEELE would not make a good father for Shinji...
Gendo made his decision. "No," he said.
"Gendo..." gasped Fuyutsuki from his position behind him. He had fully expected Gendo to accept the offer.
Gendo paid no attention to his Assistant Director, instead addressing the committee. "Gehirin is a research organization devoted to defending mankind from the Angels and preventing Third Impact... any Third Impact. Have I made myself clear, Chairman Lorenz?"
As one, the seated images faded and became faceless monoliths.
"You're making a terrible mistake, Ikari," intoned the monolith labeled SEELE-01.
"Your purpose is only a new form of death, and death creates nothing!" replied Gendo, anger showing in his voice.
"Then so be it," said SEELE-01. "You will regret this decision." The monoliths faded away.
"Gendo," said Fuyutsuki hesitatingly. "You made the right choice, I think."
The Director of Gehirin smirked from behind his hands. "I know."
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See other episodes by Aaron Nowack
(Posted Sun, 08 Aug 2004 03:05)
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