In her office, Ritsuko looked down at the puddle of coffee on the floor fretfully, struggling not to panic visibly. Just what have I've gotten myself into? she thought worriedly to herself....
"I'm back, Dr. Akagi."
Ritsuko started at the sound and whirled about--then sighing in relief. It was Maya.
Maya looked at Ritsuko with concern. "Are you ok, Doctor?" asked the technician as she crouched down to clean up the spilled coffee.
"Yes....It's just the situation at hand...."
"Indeed." Maya put in knowingly, wiping up the last of the coffee and standing up. "Sorry about the coffee. Want another cup--with a bit of cream in it like you like it?"
"No, that's ok. I'm fine now." answered Ritsuko.
"See you later, Doctor." chirped Maya enthusiastically, leaving Ritsuko's office and the flustered blonde-haired scientist to gather her wits.
Maya approached a door marked 'Janitor's Closet'.
Perfect. she thought inwardly with a smile.
Non-chalantly, she opened the door and went inside in order to drop off the soiled cloth, closing the door behind her.
Among other things....
"What are you up to, my dear Ri-chan?..." whispered Maya contemplatively....
She closed her eyes and concentrated--reaching out with her powers to someone who wasn't expecting it....
Ri-chan, I have the information you wanted.
Thank you, Melchior.
I don't think you're gonna like it, though....
Can't be helped, proceed.
You better sit down first.
All right.
Ritsuko sat down at the workstation in her office. Seconds later, within her mind, Melchior showed her Maya's encounter with Gendo Ikari and Kouzo Fuyutsuki in the cafeteria (see episodes 96122, 96142, and 96159)....
Afterward, nausea swept over Ritsuko. She buried her face in her hands. Ugh, I feel like I'm gonna throw up....This is worse than I thought. Make me a hardcopy of that, Melchior, so I can go show it to the others.
Right away, Ri-chan!
In the ensuing silence, Ritsuko fleetingly, sensed something wasn't quite right....
Almost as if she were being watched--
Melchior interrupted Ritsuko's reverie. Here you go, Ri-chan! Hope this helps!
A small, shiny plastic disc emerged from a slot in the workstation. Ritsuko scooped up a small playback unit from a nearby table, plucked the disc from the slot, put it in the player, and pocketed the player in her labcoat.
Thank you, Melchior.
You're welcome, Ri-chan!
She stood up and left her office to go see Shinji and the others....
Inside Gendo's office, Fuyutsuki stood before Gendo's desk and made his report: "I just got word from Ms. Ibuki. She believes Dr. Akagi's loyalty is suspect as is Major Katsuragi's. while were on the subject, what about the Third Child?"
At that, the NERV commander smiled a peculiar, knowing smile. "The Third Child?...Indeed, it is safe to assume Shinji Ikari's loyalties are suspect as well. if there is nothing further--dismissed."
Fuyutsuki bowed minutely toward Gendo, turned, and left the office....
In the NERV Command Room, Maya was preoccupied with her assigned duties along with her fellow officers Shigeru and Makato.
It was then she sensed someone calling for her....
Looking up, Maya saw Fuyutsuki looking down at her with an odd, knowing smile that could only mean one thing....
"Psst, Shigeru, can you cover for me for a bit? I have an...unexpected errand to take care of--I won't be long." asked Maya stealthily, after returning her attention to her display monitors in front of her.
"Sure thing, Maya." replied Shigeru, pressing a few buttons to add Maya's monitor feeds to the bank of displays he was watching.
"Thanks a lot, Shigeru." replied Maya, getting up and leaving.
"What was that all about?" asked Makato curiously a moment later, studying his displays intently.
"Don't know. Don't care. None of my business. Just extending a professional courtesy from one NERV officer to another as far as I'm concerned." answered Shigeru curtly.
Fuyutsuki watched Maya leave, waited a few minutes, then left the Command Room to meet up with her....
Somebody knocked at the door to Gendo's office....
"Who's there?" asked the NERV commander, looking up from the paperwork on his desk.
"Agent Ryoji, sir." answered the voice on the other side of the door.
"Come in." replied Gendo.
Kaji opened the door and entered Gendo's office.
"Anything to report?" asked Gendo.
Kaji made his report to Gendo: "I observed Ritsuko, Misato, and Shinji enter a store called 'Spells R Us'. Some time after that, they left. I waited a while, and went in the store myself to investigate. Just my luck, the shopkeeper was closing up for the night so I came back here for further orders."
Gendo paused to contemplate what Kaji had said, then replied: "I have a new task for you, Agent Ryoji. You are to head up Section Two. Your assignment: continuous covert surveillance of Major Katsuragi by all members of Section Two--including yourself. Report anything out of the ordinary concerning Major Katsuragi directly to me in person. Understood?"
"Clearly, sir." replied the agent.
"You may go now." dismissed the NERV commander, returning his attention to his paperwork.
Kaji turned and left Gendo's office.
Back in the NERV Command Room, seated at her station, Maya reveled in her newfound vigor after her meeting with Fuyutsuki.
Sighing dreamily, Maya closed her eyes and concentrated....
So, it begins.... she noted to herself ominously. In her mind's eye, she saw Ritsuko standing outside of Misato's apartment nervously. The door opened, and Ritsuko walked inside--
--Nothingness! (see episode 69475)
Maya's eyes popped open in surprise--her link to Ritsuko cut off.
Calm, yet angered, the young NERV officer muttered an obscenity under her breath--a thoroughly unladylike act....
Shinji, Asuka, Rei, and Misato were seated around three sides of the dining room table while Ritsuko was seated alone on the fourth side.
"It's official: Maya is a succubus." Ritsuko noted tersely.
"I find that...difficult to belive, Doctor." replied Rei cooly.
"I thought you'd say that." predicted Ritsuko sardonically, placing the player she brought with her on the table. "I'm warning you all, what you are about to see is explicit....Brace yourselves."
Ritsuko opened the player, started the playback, then turned the screen of the device to face the others so they could watch....
Minutes later....
"My apologies, Doctor. My assumption was incorect." reconsidered Rei politely, blushing delicately.
Ritsuko gathered up the player, turned it off, closed it, and pocketed it in her labcoat. "Lets cut to the chase--Rei and Asuka are the only people in this room not compromised yet. How do we deal with Maya? Suggestions? Options?"
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(Posted Wed, 07 Apr 2004 07:11)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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