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/DIVERGENCE WARNING.
MOVIE/MANGA INFLUENCES.
COMPLETE SERIES KNOWLEDGE ASSUMED.


NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: HERZ
Part 3: Blood and Belonging

(It is a dark empty room. Twelve monoliths appear, one by
 one, in a circle. SEELE 01-12, SOUND ONLY. In the centre,
 just below the level of the monoliths, a holographic 
 projection shows half-a-dozen attack jets hunting and then
 shooting down three helicopters. As the last helicopter
 bursts into flames...)

SEELE 02: The irony of it all. Helicopters equipped with
the very best in thermo-optic camouflage and stealth technology
are still no match for relative primitive aircraft that can
acquire targets relying on the human eye.

SEELE 03: Nonetheless, our old adversaries have already made 
moves to recover from this setback.

SEELE 04: Yes, THOTH 2 would already have been replaced
and the successor carrying on their work even as we speak.

SEELE 05: Already they are continuing the process of gathering
the Dead Sea Scrolls. To try and understand our designs, to
guess at our scenarios, to predict our efforts to bring forth
the Instrumentality of Man.

(The image switches to an image of a bunker-like chamber with
 numerous computer consoles arranged around a rectangular steel
 box with a red top. Just about the height of a man. It is labelled 
 'APOTHEOSIS 07'. Around it, technicians and soldiers scramble. 
 The view re-focuses on the chamber's entrance. Within moments, 
 the double doors are ripped open by an explosion. Before the smoke 
 and dust can settle, canisters are fired from the outside into 
 the chamber, filling it with thick white smoke. The hologram 
 displays a reading on the bottom right-hand corner of the image:

 CX GAS DETECTED.

 Men in black uniforms, wearing gas masks, pour through the
 breach. Even through the smoke and confusion, it is clear to
 all that they easily overwhelm the opposition from within the 
 chamber in a matter of minutes. The last cowering technician
 is shot - point blank - as he tries to hide under a console.
 The view focuses once more on the entrance of twisted steel.

 A stoutly built man, much taller than the rest, escorts another
 man into the chamber. Their facial features are obscured by their
 gas masks. The former is clearly the leader of this
 operation but displays a polite deference to the latter who is
 distinguished by his civilian hat and dark overcoat. He carries
 a reinforced case in his right hand.)

SEELE 06: Well, well, well. SETH 9 and HORUS. A member of the
elder patheon deigns to take part in direct action against us.

(The man called HORUS removes a metal plate on the chamber floor 
 and pushes a button on the panel revealed. The whole steel box
 begins to slide upwards - revealing a foundation of piping like
 the metallic organs of some robotic beast. HORUS opens his case,
 revealing it to be some kind of potable electronic device and
 connects it to a port on the surface of the APOTHEOSIS machine.
 As he settles down to work, he gestures to SETH 9 in the general
 direction of the projection's source. SETH 9 levels his gaze and
 seems to be looking directly back at the monoliths. He draws 
 his automatic 9mm and fires a single shot. The holographic
 image breaks into static.)

SEELE 07: How is GEIST going to justify using its commercial
direct action arm against a classified American facility?

SEELE 08: Why not? The American government will never admit to
collaborating with us and disavow this APOTHEOSIS facility. I 
would assume neither the Austrian or Czech governments would be 
too eager to let their complicity in THOTH 2's demise become 
public knowledge either.

SEELE 09: Yes, the national governments can never let themselves
be seen to be assisting the Instrumentality Project. Not after
how GEIST called forth YGGDRASIL to take over the secondary MAGI 
systems we had control of. Those twelve years ago... when our plans, 
as well as those of the traitor Ikari were wrecked by the Children.  
Tearing aside the view of secrecy that protected our work, our
dreams. Broadcasting our scenarios to the whole world. To let the
mob know of our plans to elevate them from their pitiful existence.

SEELE 10: Nonetheless, the national governments are making use
of us as we are of them. Chafed by the power of the United Nations 
and the mega-corporations, they turn to us for the technology to
counter Evangelion which only GEIST and the UN, thus far, have 
possessed. They look to us for the secrets of the MAGI super-computers
in the hope of rooting out YGGDRASIL. But once they have regained
their pre-eminence, they will abandon us - the cowards have lost 
the stomach for the complementation of mankind.

SEELE 11: To think our work has come to this! The vulgar use of 
Evangelion to further petty political agendas. Commercial spin-offs
from the E-project! How man refuses to transcend his mediocrity! 
Against stupidity, the gods themselves fight in vain.

SEELE 12: But we have still managed to deal GEIST a setback.
They are not invincible and they are not infallible.
The day will come when we will reclaim HERZ and GEHIRN and 
Evangelion. We have triumphed against the seventeen cherubims
with swords of fire, sent to stop us from achieving godhood
and life eternal. Now only our last and greatest enemy stands
in the way of its own salvation. The eighteenth. Man himself.

SEELE 01: All has been written in the Scrolls and so it shall be.


	*		*		*


      "So how have you been feeling, Asuka?"

      "My stupid arm still hurts from time to time. Same
for the knee. But I can live with it, Ilandra-sensei."

      "And the nightmares?"

      "Haven't had one since my previous two appointments
with you. The only things that bother me at night are
either Shinji's snoring or Akiko wanting a glass of water." 

      "About the snoring, I could arrange to give Shinji an 
examination..." said Dr Susan Ilandra as she flipped open her
appointment book and began to thumb through the pages.

      "No...no. It's alright really. It's only really loud
after he has a beer."

      "From what I've heard, that literally means one beer?"
queried the Russian-born medical doctor.

      "Yeah. The stupid fellow can't hold his alcohol for
nuts. Gets completely drunk after one beer. To think he used
to live with Misato," snorted Asuka.

      "But Commander Katsuragi hasn't touched a drop in years,"
said the doctor as she stroked her ash-blonde braid.

      "Well, in any case, I'm sure Akiko-chan will be able to 
drink her father into the floor once she's old enough to."

      "And how is your daughter?"

      "She's fine. Runs and jumps all over the place."

      "When's she going to have a little brother or sister?"

      Asuka stuck her tongue out at the doctor and bleahed.

      "Have you any idea how much work it took to get my
figure back? If Shinji-baka-kun wants another kid, he jolly 
well can carry it around for nine months himself."

      "I'm afraid our medical technology is not that advanced.
Anyway, doesn't Shinji do more than his fair share of the
household and child-care chores?"

      "Oooh nooo..." groaned Asuka, slapping her hand onto
her forehead. "Was does everyone think he's a house husband?"

      "Isn't he?" teased the good doctor.

      "Yeah, yeah. Oh, look at the time. I've got to go pick
up Akiko-chan from the day care centre and meet Shinji-kun after
his range practice."

      "I'll see you next month? Same time."

      "Yes. Thanks, Ilandra-sensei. It's been nice seeing you,"
returns Asuka as she threw on her red jacket and exited the 
doctor's office. 


      She just managed to catch the lift. On the way up, the
doors opened and she was joined by a huge man with a clean
shaven head. What Colonel Hans Gessler lacked on his head,
he made up for it, in part, on his face. Or so he said.

      "Guten abend, Herr Gessler!" greeted Asuka . She was 
genuinely pleased to see him, not least because of their 
shared heritage. Asuka always enjoyed a good Budvar with 
her superior. <How was the conference?> she continued in
German.

      <As you might expect, discussing how to prevent the
proliferation of Eva technology isn't exactly something the
national governments are keen on.>

      <Yes. But after the destruction of Guantanamo and
Volvograd, you'd think that they'd be a little less keen
on trying to build an Eva unit without our supervision.>

      <It's like the pre-Second Impact days. Everyone who
aspired to international greatness wanted an independent 
nuclear capability,> mused Gessler.

      <Yeah, but look where it got India and Pakistan. The
whole sub-continent's still glowing. Bet we'll get to see
one of those two-headed elephants on TV one day. Ah, this 
is my floor. Goodbye, Sir!> said Asuka. 

      <I'll see you soon, Major,> said HERZ's Deputy 
Commander as the lift doors closed.

     
      Major Ikari Asuka Langley walked down the corridor
to a reinforced door and started to pressed her code into 
the keypad. She glanced at the HERZ logo on the door. It
was almost exactly the same as the old NERV logo. Half of
a red maple leaf with the motto 'God's in his heaven. All's
right with the world.' All in red. The only thing that was
different was that the letters 'N' and 'V' had been replaced.

      "How convenient..." muttered Asuka as the door slid
upwards noiselessly to allow her access into the HERZ day
care centre.

      "I wonder if they'll have a HERZ babysitting franchaise.
After all, the merchandising went down pretty well with the
public. HERZ mugs, towels, coffee machines and alarm clocks.
If they ever try to sell Eva miniatures, they'd better include
my Unit 02..." thought Asuka idly as she waved her security
card at the two armed guards.

      She scanned the play room for her daughter. Her brow
furrowed as she found Akiko. She was here as well. Again.


	*		*		*


      "...she fought bravely and she fought well but your
mother was overwhelmed by the nine Eva-05 units when Unit 
02's power ran out. She was very badly hurt."

      "Is that why Mama wears that eye patch?"

      "Yes, Akiko-chan. Your father eventually emerged in
Unit 01 - the big purple one - and tried to fight the Eva-05
series off. We were very lucky that day because some other
men, took over the bad people's computers and tried to shut
down the Eva-05 series. Five of them stopped working. That
was enough to disrupt the Tree of Life formation and prevent
the Third Impact. But the four that remained still proved to
be a threat to your father. But he won the day - with a little
help from a friend."

      "Were you that friend of Otousan's?"  

      "Yes, Akiko-chan. Yes, I was."

      "Your mother's will to live was very strong. But she
still had to spend nearly a year in the hospital. Your father
visited her everyday. Your mother had loved to pilot Eva and
she had lost Unit 02. But during the battle, she had opened
her heart to Eva and had regained herself. She learned that
to be loved openly, she had to learn how to love - with an 
open heart."

      "Why does Mama always call Otousan 'stupid'?"

      "Oh, Akiko-chan. Your mother's not really serious.
It's her pet name for your father."

      "Aunt Ayanami, why do I look like you?"

      Rei smiled her soft little smile as she stroked 
Akiko's chestnut hair. "Why shouldn't you? In a way, I am 
your father's... cousin. That's why I'm your aunt."

      Just then, something caught Akiko's eye. She shifted
in Rei's lap and waved excitedly.

      "Mama!"

      Asuka strode forward and gathered Akiko into her 
arms. "Rei," said Asuka simply with a kurt nod.

      "Asuka."
      
      "I'd love to stay and chat but I've got to pick
Shinji-kun up from the range. See you sometime."

      "Goodbye."

      "Goodbye, Aunt Ayanami!" Akiko waved frantically
at Rei as Asuka exited the day care centre's playroom.

      "Hardly ever says a word but always finds the time to 
tell my little girl stories about me... she's so chummy with
Shinji-baka-kun as well..." muttered Asuka under her breadth.

      Being a child, and an extremely intelligent one at that,
Akiko could not contain herself further as mother and daughter
entered the lift.

      "Mama?"

      "Yes, Akiko-chan?"

      "Why don't you like Aunt Ayanami?"

      "I get along perfectly well with Aunt Ayanami. What
ever gave you the idea I didn't like her?" answered Asuka,
a little uneasily.

      The almost three year old decided not to push the 
subject. Her pout indicated, however, that she was not 
entirely convinced by her mother's declaration.


	*		*		*

      
      "Erm. I'd like another two clips, please."

      "Why, certainly. Anything for you, Ikari-san,"
giggled the Ammo IC whose HERZ combat fatigues indicated
her rank as sergeant. The woman standing beside the sergeant 
smirked as she handed over the two clips to a blushing Ikari 
Shinji, and then moved to follow him to the firing point.

      He took up his position, lined his sights with the 
target and dutifully emptied the clip. Shinji sighed as 
the computer displayed the distribution of shots. Two 
complete misses. The rest had struck the target but only 
one hit in a vital area.

      Shinji hated guns. They were about killing. He
abhorred death and violence. He was glad that HERZ
and the UN kept Unit 01 in the Geo Front to defend
HERZ HQ against attempts by SEELE to seize Lilith. He was
glad that the remaining Eva-05 units were the ones that
were used to 'maintain the peace and security of the
world' - which usually meant having to kill people who
had different definitions of what a 'just peace' and
'secure order' was.

      "It's not about killing, it's about self-defence.
There's a difference," said a Misato-like voice in his
head. "What about us, stupid?" An image of Asuka carrying
Akiko floated into his head. Asuka had enlisted in HERZ 
when she turned eighteen and he had joined her in her 
training to be together with her. Misato liked the idea
of some military training for him. She hoped that it
would teach him to skills to enable him to become more
independent and thus build up his self-esteem. In 
retrospect, it seemed that Asuka had joined HERZ so that
she could be together with HERZ's only remaining Eva pilot.

      Yes, it was different from senseless killing. He
had responsibilities, a wife and a child and friends. That 
meant more to him than the whole wide world. Shinji 
desperately wanted to be a good person, especially a good 
husband and father. Part of his definition of that meant 
being there for them. And protecting them as best he could. 
He sighed again as he loaded his second clip.

      As he begun to take aim, he felt someone press 
against his back. Someone with breasts. She traced her
hands over his arms, finally resting her fingertips 
just after his elbows. Kurumi was clearly enjoying  
the feel of his back and arms. Self-esteem wasn't the
only thing that Shinji's training had built up. She let
her breath tickle his ear as she whispered,"Now there,
Ikari-kun. You won't be able to hit the target if you're
all tensed up like that. Try to relax."          

      "But I'm trying, Hosokawa-san. Ummm... could you
please... uurmmm... not stand so close...please?" It
seemed that backbone in the Ikari line had to be 
constantly replenished by contributions from the maternal 
gene pool.

      Hosokawa Kurumi laughed heartily as she disengaged
herself from Shinji. "Seriously, you shouldn't hold your
breath for so long. It causes you to tremble and affects
your aim. Try letting out half a breath."

      Shinji did as suggested and duly emptied the second
clip. Though she was younger than him by a year, she was
a professional with respect to these matters.

      "Very good, Ikari-kun. All hits. Five vitals. Let
me give you a hug!" Shinji was promptly glomped. It didn't
help that HERZ continued the NERV policy of having tight-
fitting uniforms that showed off one's figure. A very good 
figure in this case.

      "Hosokawa-san... I've still got this gun... please..."
pleaded Shinji, arms and weapon raised above his head.

      "It's not loaded, Ikari-kun...Or should I be 
worrying about your other weapon?"

      "Hosokawa-san!"

      "Oh, what gives? Don't you like women hurling 
themselves at you?" Kurumi purred, tossing her black
bangs and blinking her green eyes for added effect.

      "Urmm..." Shinji was under a lot of stress. "I...
I don't exactly exist in a Ranma or Tenchi Muyo animation.
Errr... anyway... my wife and daughter have been watching
us since that last clip..."

      Kurumi grew a large sweatdrop as she slowly turned
around to face the look of death from the terror of HERZ
Operations, Major Asuka 'One-Eye' Langley. The HERZ Special
Investigations officer promptly scooted an appropriate 
distance from Shinji, suddenly remembering an urgent issue 
she had to check on.

	*		*		*

      "Otousan?"

      "Yes, Akiko-chan?" asked Shinji as the Ikari family
walked towards their accomodation block.

      "Why does Hosokawa-san always grab you?"	

      "Ermm..." Shinji glanced nervously at Asuka's
impassive face. Not a good sign. She would probably
demand that he make it up to her tonight. Well, all things
considered that wasn't so bad. "She probably has a crush on me?"

      "Did Mama ever have a crush?"

      Shinji frowned as he looked at his wife in concern.
She had taken Kaji's disappearance badly. Not nearly 
anywhere as badly as Misato but still, he disliked having
to dredge up those dark memories.

      "Yes. Yes, I did, Akiko-chan. And I grabbed him a lot
as well... but that was before I got to know your father,"
said Asuka softly. She held her little daughter's hand as
she leaned her head against her husband's shoulder.

      "It's alright," said Shinji as he put his arm around 
Asuka. "We're almost home."

End of Part 3


Comments and criticism are most welcome!
Mail me at: toheel@singnet.com.sg

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

Production notes
Begun 6 Sep 98.
First draft 12 Sep 98.
Pre-readers 13 Sep 98.
FFML draft 13 Sep 98.