Subject: [FFML] [Eva][Fanfic] NGE:Herz Part 1
From: Toh Ee Loong
Date: 8/24/1998, 2:30 PM
To: ffml@fanfic.com

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION is the property of GAINAX.
ADV Films and AD Vision have the distribution and
translation rights in their respective jurisdictions.
Used without permission and without profit.

SPOILERS WARNING.
DISCONTINUITY WARNING.


NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: HERZ
Part 1: Hishashiburi (Long Time No See)
an original fanfic by Toh Ee Loong (EeL)

<Words that changed the world>

"Boku wa boku."
"Watashi wa watashi."

"Aishiteru."

"Anata no ningyoo ja nai."
"Watashitachi wa kimitachi no ningyoo ja nai."


 *  *  *


2027 AD
European Union
German Sector, Frankfurt
Corporate Headquarters
TRIEKREIS AktienGessellschaft


 Seated around a wide circular table are nine men and
three women. At its centre is a half spherical depression
of 2 metres across.  In front of each person is a computer console and
a display screen, showing their designations. These provide the only
illumination in the room. The eerie play of light and shadow
highlights their profiles but obscures the details of
their features.

 Presently, a black monolith appears high above them,
in blood red light, it spells:

 GEIST 01
 SOUND ONLY

 "A welcome to our two new members. I trust your
predecessors' files were thorough. Nonetheless, you would
probably wish to field some questions that might have arisen
in the course of having reviewed the material," intones a
hollow metallic voice from the monolith.

 "Thank you, Sir," replies one of the women. She is
designated as HATHOR 3.

 "As I understand it, my main responsibility is to
control information about HERZ and its sister bodies,
especially how it is perceived by the public. Given NERV's
unpopularity, why have so many of its surviving key
personnel been retained in both HERZ and GEHIRN?"

 "Each specific case has its own merits," says
a heavy set man with an American accent designated as SETH 9.

 "For example, Katsuragi Misato..." persists HATHOR 3.


 *  *  *


Tokyo-2
United Nations Headquarters
Military Staff Committee
Fifth Auxiliary Command Bunker


 "Good evening, Ma'am. Your identification, please,"
requests the UN Duty Officer even though he, along with the
rest of the UN Military Staff, knows who the woman standing
before him is. Of course, procedure must be observed.

 With the slightest hint of impatience, she hands
over her identity card.

 The young lieutenant smiles upon seeing
the unkempt and grumpy photo of the woman staring back at him
from the card. It does not help matters either when her date
of birth, height and weight have all been deliberately defaced.
He wisely decides to suppress his amusement as he returns the
card and salutes smartly.

 As she returns his salute, he cannot help but admire
the woman before him. She still turned heads despite her age.
The formal black uniform, while exceedingly modest, accentuates
her ungodly figure. That figure. And her long purple hair...

 "Lieutenant, I'm really flattered by your gawking
but I do intend to be early for this meeting," says the woman,
grinning.

 "O...Of course, Ma'am! Right away, Ma'am!" stutters the
lieutenant. He quickly presses his pass against a sensor on the
right-hand wall while keying in a numeric sequence on a key pad
next to it. Immediately, the blast doors behind him begin to
open. Two armed soldiers are already waiting behind them.

 "Ma'am, the sergeant will escort you to the final
checkpoint."

 "Thank you, Lieutanant," says Misato as she strides
deeper into the complex.


 *  *  *


 "Major-General Katsuragi has been an excellent choice
for HERZ's commander. Her past association with Ikari Gendou as
his Operations Director does not, in any way, compromise her
integrity. Investigations revealed that she had been kept in the
dark about most of Gendou's and SEELE's designs,"
counters PTAH, a well built male figure.

 "The record shows that her priorities are the integrity
of her work and the welfare of the Children, in particular, the
Third Child. It is also convenient that she lacks the technical
expertise required to use Evangelion to play God," adds THOTH 2,
a willowly old man who is hunched in his seat over his
console.

 "That would explain why the operational and research
aspects of NERV were separated as HERZ and the reconstituted
GEHIRN," offers SOBEK 5, the other newcomer. He speaks with
a distinct British accent.

 "Why then is there still a link?" SOBEK 5 continues.

 "Prof Akagi and Dr Ibuki presented a strong case that
further meaningful research into the Eva project required an
on site presence at all times. As such, the latter was posted
to HERZ instead of being transferred to GEHIRN like the rest
of them," intones THOTH 2.

 "But... the two live together! Isn't that a bit much!?"
protests SOBEK 5.


 *  *  *

Tokyo-3
GEHIRN
MIMIR Institute Branch Facility
Carpark

 "How was your day, Ritsuko-senpai?" asks Ibuki Maya
as she helps her mentor into the front passenger seat.

 "The usual... progress is satisfactory," sighs
the platinum haired scientist, folding her glasses and
inserting them into her front breast pocket. Akagi Ritsuko
glances backwards to see Maya folding the wheelchair and
putting it into the boot compartment.

 "That's done. Let's go home," chirps Maya, tossing
her ponytail across her right shoulder. She gets into the
driver's seat and starts the car.


 *  *  *


 "SOBEK, you might do well to remember that much of
the tragedy of the Eva project is in the broken lives of its
people. The change of name from NERV to HERZ also reflects a
difference in the manner in which our work is done," replies a
woman with a long thick braid. She is designated as NEPHTHYS 3.
Her tone is sad and somewhat weary.

 "Indeed. Giving people something to treasure, something
to cling to is our best guarantee against further grand schemes
like the Instrumentality Project. Our plans may be grandoise but
they are still paltry in comparison. In any case, any actions that
deviate from our objectives will not escape our notice," adds a
thin, bespectaled Asian man designated as ANUBIS 6.

 "On the topic of personal relationships, don't you
think that there might be a conflict of interest in Major
Ikari's appointment as HERZ's Operations Director?" asks
HATHOR 3.


 *  *  *


Tokyo-3
Geo Front
HERZ Headquarters
Central Dogma


 "And if there is no other business, then the meeting
is concluded," says Hyuuga Makato, now a Lt-Colonel and
heading the HERZ intelligence outfit.

 There is an immediate response of files being shut,
and of papers being rearranged as the ten or so senior HERZ
personnel begin to pack up and call it a day.

 "Oh Asuka-san, I would like to offer my congratulations
on your promotion," says Hyuuga.

 "Yeah, congratulations!" says Logistics Director Aoba
Shigeru as others in the room begin to join in.

 Asuka who had been rubbing her left elbow, self-consciously
stops that motion and shakes her colleagues' offered hands. Despite
the black eyepatch over her left eye, Asuka has undeniably grown into
a most beautiful young woman. Her figure easily giving Misato a run
for her money.

 "Thank you," she says warmly. After a few more
pleasantries, she excuses herself and departs from the
Ops/Intel/Log meeting.

 As Major Ikari Asuka Langley departs from the room,
Aida Kensuke whispers to his mentor, "Shinji's one hell of
a lucky guy, isn't he?"

 "Yes, he is," replies Hyuuga. "But they're both very
fortunate to have been able to complement each other."


 *  *  *


 "You are concerned as to whether Major Ikari can
be depended upon to make the right operational decisions
when Ikari Shinji is in the line of fire," ponders THOTH 2.

 "That is correct," replies HATHOR 3.

 "Asuka has shown dedication and professionalism in her
current work, comparable to her attitude towards piloting.
She is aware of the risks Ikari Shinji is exposed to but is
also keenly aware that unbiased and unhesitant decisions on
her part are probably in his best interests as well. Katsuragi
has taught her well," states PTAH flatly.

 "Also, when the two announced their intention to wed
four years ago, all parties here found no grounds to object,"
adds NEPHTHYS 3.

 "Speaking of Ikaris, is it wise to retain Gendou in
GEHIRN? And working so close to YGGDRASIL? For that matter,
Fuyutsuki as well?" asks SOBEK 5.

 "Ikari Gendou possesses tremendous knowledge about the
Eva project and of SEELE. Even if he did not contribute to
GEHIRN's work, this arrangement makes it simpler to supervise
him. For that matter, Fuyutsuki has been most cooperative.
I believe his intentions have always been good, if not
honourable," counters ANUBIS 6.

 "Also, you need not worry overly about any influence
he might bring to bear on Prof Akagi or the younger Ikari.
Both have, in their own fashion, made their peace with him,"
says NEPHTHYS 3.

 "Point taken," acknowledges HATHOR 3. "I would also
like to point out that there have been no security arrangements
made for the First Child. Isn't that risky?"

 ISIS 2 takes up the question, replying,"The First Child
is not assigned any protection. Firstly, the MAGI and even
YGGDRASIL are unable to trace her movements if she so desires.
Secondly, even an Eva unit would be hard pressed to match the
strength of the AT Field she seems capable of generating."


 "You both have been very thorough. Is there
anything else at this point in time?" asks SETH.

 "Well, there is one more thing..." ventures HATHOR 3.

 "Yes...?"

 "What do the numbers that follow our designated code
names mean?"

 At that a thick silence blankets the room.


 Finally, it is broken by the voice of metal coming
from above.

 "It indicates how many others have preceded you in
your post. They have at times succumbed to natural causes,
and at other times, to the designs of what remains of
SEELE."

 With that the monolith vanishes. There is a brief
electric hum as the lights are begin to come on.


 *  *  *

End of Part 1.


Send comments and criticism to:
toheel@singnet.com.sg

Previous works archived at
http://sunflower.singnet.com.sg/~toheel/Eva01.htm

Production notes
Begun 16 Aug 98
First draft 18 Aug 98.
Pre-readers 21 Aug 98.
FFML draft 24 Aug 98.