Carrier Captain's Quarters
"First you commandeer our military to haul your cargo, then you show up with three kids and tell me you're in charge."
"Does NERV always operate this sloppily?" The gray-templed UN Navy captain eyed Misato Katsuragi, then glanced at the three pilots behind her, his frown deepening.
The old captain clenched a pipe between his teeth. White smoke curled upward.
His suspicion wasn't unfounded. Misato's ID card had the weight and age fields blacked out. Hard to imagine a major international organization's Operations Director pulling that stunt.
The three kids behind her were even more absurd. He'd sooner stick his head in a toilet than believe NERV would send children to pilot EVAs against monsters.
"Well... our Commander has a unique way of thinking." Misato's expression didn't waver.
She knew the old-school military man couldn't keep up with their unconventional approach.
"I can't trust you." The captain handed back her credentials. "This may just be a transport mission, but we follow protocol. Transfer happens dockside. That's final."
"Out here on the Pacific, this fleet's under my command. The unit stays with us until we reach port."
"Angel or otherwise, we've got the firepower to handle it. Security's guaranteed."
He couldn't risk handing over EVA Unit-02 to this crew. An adult who scribbles over her own ID, plus three kids? Not happening.
"Understood." Misato nodded. She got it. "We'll proceed with the original plan. Transfer at dock."
She'd been testing the waters anyway, seeing if they could wrap this up early. Given his reasoning, she couldn't argue.
Elsewhere—Rest Quarters Inside the Carrier
"Misato's here already? Fast work." Ryoji Kaji carefully placed a briefcase into a safe, hearing the commotion outside. He smiled.
"This transport mission—this is what really matters." He locked the safe, securing the true cargo.
Ryoji Kaji. NERV Special Inspection Department.
But also Gendo Ikari's spy.
His presence in Germany served two purposes: guardian to Asuka, ensuring her development. And more importantly—stealing the embryonic Adam from SEELE's restoration project, delivering it to Gendo.
Gendo sat on the Human Instrumentality Committee. Technically under SEELE. But their interests didn't align. Mutual exploitation. Nothing more.
Old men. Hidden agendas.
Kaji moved toward the door, about to lock the quarters behind him.
Click.
A crisp sound. The safe's dial turning.
In a room with no one else inside.
Kaji froze mid-step.
He spun. Drew the pistol from his waistband.
"Who's there?" He aimed at the empty room, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by sharp focus.
From an angle he couldn't see, a figure in a green floral shirt sat on the bed, staring at the safe.
He could sense it clearly. Something inside. A special kind of life.
"Hallucination...?" Kaji held his stance for two minutes. Nothing. He exhaled slightly.
Started to lower the gun.
Then a voice echoed in his mind: "What's inside?"
Kaji's alertness spiked. He scanned the room. Checking for audio devices.
Had to be SEELE. They'd planted something. Discovered his theft.
"Damn... they found out?" Sweat beaded on his forehead.
SEELE didn't show mercy to spies.
But he searched everywhere. Found nothing.
SEELE's methods. Impressive.
"Alright, you got me."
"But... can you tell me how you figured it out?" Kaji backed against the wall, addressing the air.
Hearing this, Natsuki felt like there'd been some misunderstanding.
He was just curious.
The thing appeared right under his nose. Radiating strangeness.
Years of experience told him: this was major.
"Hold on. Let me ask first." Natsuki's voice returned. "Answer my question."
Kaji steeled himself. "I don't know what's inside."
"Also... you planning to show yourself?"
The voice came from everywhere. Not a device. Directly in his mind.
Damn... they've got that technology too?
"It's an embryo. Some kind of life. Not human." Natsuki saw through the safe.
"What are you planning to do with it?"
Hearing the voice identify the contents confirmed it—SEELE's operative.
"Who knows?"
"Maybe stir-fry it."
"Everyone wants to taste something not on the menu." Kaji knew he was probably done for. But he chose to obscure the truth.
Facing death, the man showed carefree detachment.
"Talking to you is exhausting."
"I'll ask someone else later." Natsuki heard him dodge and weave. Annoying.
Playing riddle games.
He'd just ask Albert instead.
Gendo had Kaji as his excellent spy. But Natsuki had Albert—the bigger mole.
With that, Natsuki's presence vanished.
"Huh?" Hearing those last words, Kaji—who'd prepared for death—froze.
That tone... was that how SEELE members talked?
Something felt off.
Still cautious, Kaji kept his gun raised, back against the wall. Ready for enemies to appear.
Until—
RUMBLE.
The water around the fleet churned violently. Something massive rising from below.
"You've got to be kidding..." Kaji felt the tremor. Heard the chaos topside.
The Angel was here.
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