Creation began on 10-22-19

Creation ended on 10-23-19

Neon Genesis Evangelion

A Warning Threat, Gendo Ikari

A/N: Suppose that Gendo received a threat to his control over NERV before he ever implemented the use of the Dummy System? It'd probably go a little bit like this:

Gendo Ikari, Ritsuko Akagi and Kozo Fuyutsuki were all called to a meeting within what remained of the original Tokyo by someone that worked within the UN, and he was someone that refused to take "no" for an answer from any of the three. So here they were, sitting in a room reserved for meetings, in front of some table that had displays of computer data in the glass-like surface, as though the whole thing were some sort of tablet.

"What kind of meeting requires the three of us to be here?" Fuyutsuki wondered, just as a door opened to the room, letting in a man with dark skin and a woman of Japanese descent.

"The kind that will determine how NERV will function in the future when and if something goes south instead of north," the dark man said, sounding like he lived in this country long enough to get a hold of the language and accent. "And meetings like this where the three of you are required is mandatory, not optional. If any of you were to send a representative, it would reflect badly for the rest of your organization, so you must put up with your presence here being a requirement for cooperation."

Gendo looked at the man and uttered, "State the reason for why we're here. I'm sure it's just a waste of time from our operation to defeat the Angels."

"Your operation won't be hindered by your time here," the woman responded, sounding like she were speaking to a pouty child. "Permission to tell them, sir."

"Permission granted, Ms. Shizue Suzuhara," the dark man permitted.

"This meeting is to bring into question about the safety of your new Dummy System," Ms. Suzuhara revealed to the three. "Or rather, its complete lack of safety."

Gendo and Ritsuko looked at one another; they were wondering how these two knew about the Dummy System, when it was supposed to be a secret project.

"That's a confidential matter," Ritsuko told them. "I can assure you that it will be problem-free in due time."

"Except you can't guarantee that," the dark man responded. "The Dummy System, meant to be an Evangelion autopilot system, is full of unknowns, especially when it endangers the possibility of the humane factor that your commander here seems to view as a hindrance rather than a strength. What good is this autopilot when it brings into question how far is NERV as a whole wiling to entrust the safety of the human race in the soulless hands of some defective machine."

"I beg your pardon, sir?"

"Try and answer this question, then: What does the Dummy System feel? How can it be guaranteed to protect the people from these Angels when all it is is just a system of zeros and ones? Where will the line be drawn?"

"It won't respond to fear or hatred," said Gendo. "It won't make hesitations in decisions. It will make the Eva a more effective weapon against the Angels."

"That's not the answer I was looking for, Mr. Ikari."

"But it's the truth."

"No, it's your opinion, which is different from the truth. I asked what does the Dummy System feel? Emotionally? Psychologically? If it ever…caused a tragedy in the process of facing an Angel, like endangering the lives of others, how would it feel?"

Fuyutsuki didn't know how to answer the question; while he knew exactly what the Dummy System was intended for, he had no actual response for how it would work out.

Ritsuko couldn't think of a straight answer, either; NERV was tasked with defeating the Angels, not to question the morality or immorality behind the operation.

"Nothing," Gendo answered again, and Ms. Suzuhara gave a disgusted frown. "It would feel nothing. It's just a machine meant to simulate the thought patterns of a chosen pilot, not their emotions or concerns."

"And that's the problem, Mr. Ikari. You're trying to create an autopilot system that only does one thing without any comprehensive understanding of why it should do so. A basic machine that has no understanding of the value of human life shouldn't be permitted by anyone, including yourself, to protect it."

"But, sir, the Dummy System was intended to replace NERV's reliance on the pilots selected by the Marduk Agency," Ritsuko explained.

"Which is another aspect of NERV full of errors," the man responded. "Therefore, the UN is insisting that the Dummy System project be terminated."

"What?! But it's a necessity, sir. It's still in the development stage, but it can be straightened out before being implemented for service."

"It's not going any further than where it is right now, Dr. Akagi. NERV is already stretching the line with the Evangelion project, and the UN won't permit it to be extended any further by equipping it with an unreliable autopilot that can't appreciate the consequences of what could happen if a situation goes sour. Therefore, a gag order will be issued instructing any and all part of the Dummy System to cease work on it. Any discovery or indication that someone there continued to progress the system, even if they're just a lowly technician, will be charged with unleashing a potentially dangerous weapon onto the people and inciting irrational panic. You will be subject to the full penalty of the law."

"We'll question this," Gendo told them.

"You're free to do so, but I doubt you'll get far on reinstating the work on the autopilot," Ms. Suzuhara told him. "We can't rely on a machine that only does as instructed without appreciating the consequences of its actions. We can't depend upon those that make cold, calculated decisions deprived of conscience, remorse or any morality, for that matter."

"There is no morality when it comes to facing the Angels."

"Except there is…and there are those that see it as either a weakness or a hindrance. If we start behaving any different from the way we do, then we're no better than the monsters out to get us…and we'd deserve whatever retribution that comes our way."

-x-

"…They shut down the Dummy System?" Misato asked Ritsuko when she returned to NERV HQ the next day. "The UN doesn't want it working?"

"The UN doesn't trust that the Dummy System to appreciate the consequences of any action it may take," Ritsuko explained.

Misato then stated, "Well, if it can't appreciate the consequences of its actions, then it shouldn't be used, Rits."

"The guy we met there that shut it down stated that if it can't feel like we do, then it's not allowed to take control of a given situation. We're already stretching the boundaries of our authority with the MAGI and the Evangelions, and they won't permit it to be stretched any further with the Dummy System. And we've been threatened against using it. Despite Commander Ikari's insistence that it be reinstated, I don't want to go to prison for the rest of my life over something that may not work well for the Evas."

"If it's between life in prison for using an unreliable autopilot and relying on the judgment of the pilots, I'll choose the latter over the former."

Meanwhile, Gendo was furious over the threat of what would happen if NERV used the Dummy System or even continued work on it. As he sat in his office, he tried to find a loophole to this restriction that was placed on the agency.

"Ikari," went Fuyutsuki to him, standing on the other side of the desk, facing him, "they prefer for there to be humanity behind NERV, not a cold, soulless will. This gag order may restrict us, but it requires NERV to be humane. We can't make the pilots do what they're uncomfortable with doing, even if it's to save lives. We'd be forcing them to make choices they can't cope with, even if we're the ones giving the orders."

But Gendo didn't seem to care. All he could think of…was how important it was for their survival to have the Dummy System ready for when the next Angel appeared.

"You will be subject to the full penalty of the law if you're caught implementing the Dummy System, Gendo Ikari," the dark man told him. "You will not be exempt from prosecution simply because you're the one in charge of the paramilitary agency. This is a matter in which if you're the one found responsible for violating the restriction, the consequences will be severe."

-x-

"Thank you for your help, sir," Ms. Suzuhara praised the dark man as he walked her to her car down the street. "Do you really think Gendo Ikari will do as instructed? He didn't seem like the type to follow any order given to him, no matter who gave it to him."

"For his sake, he'd best follow the order," he told her. "His very future as NERV's leader depends upon his ability to follow orders given to him by his superiors. If he disobeys, he will be replaced by someone more competent. Until he crosses the line and deliberately endangers someone other than his Eva pilots, he's allowed to continue running NERV…while it's still his to run…until it isn't."

"But…what if he tries to deny any responsibility for his role?"

"The problem with people thinking they're smarter than others…is that there is an arrogance to their mindset that blinds them to the fact that they're quite dumb to overestimate their ability to remain in control…and underestimating the humanity of those around them. If Gendo tries to deny his part in any indication that the Dummy System was used, from bribery or intimidation, he won't have to worry about rotting in prison. He'll get the death penalty."

"And you'll keep watch over him, to keep him in line?"

"He'll never know I'm there."

"Thank you."

-x-

Three days went by, and it seemed as though everything had fallen back into its usual routine with NERV in Tokyo-3.

That is until…

"What?!" Misato gasped. "The Fourth Child was found?!"

"Just yesterday," Ritsuko informed her while they were in Central Dogma.

"The Marduk Institute didn't notify me of this," Misato then stated, but then became suspicious. "Ritsuko…are you hiding something from me?"

"No," the faux-blond woman responded; in truth, Ritsuko had gone ahead with Gendo's order to continue working on the Dummy System, despite being ordered to terminate the project. "This is who they picked."

On the monitor, they saw the chosen pilot…and Misato became worried.

"You gotta be kidding," she frowned. "Of all the people, they chose him?"

To be continued…

A/N: This will probably be two-three chapters, but it's until I get enough votes on the new poll to carry on with the current in-progress chapter of the Eva/Pokemon crossover. Suppose that Gendo was threatened not to use the Dummy System? Suppose that he tried to do so, and a price was paid in the process?