Neon Genesis Evangelion: Altered Destinies

Launch Thirty Nine

The sports car idled outside the security gates to NERV. A very attractive woman leaned against the door, waiting.

A few moments later Maya Ibuki hurried out, trotting towards the car. "Do you have any idea how much I'm going to get teased over this?" Maya scolded.

Motoko Kusanagi looked entirely unbothered by the scolding as she kissed her. "I missed you," she purred.

Maya blushed. "I know it's been a few days," she admitted as she climbed into the passenger seat. The car started and they drove off.

Motoko gave her a sympathetic look, "We in the police are caught up in the mess too. I'm on shift when the new UN rep arrives," she added.

Maya groaned, "I thought that info was secure..."

Motoko shrugged, "We're needed for security. Plus, the grapevine at NERV is very quick when news like this hits." She paused, "Speaking of that, my seeing you is all over Tokyo-3."

"What." Maya said weakly.

"Well, Leona saw us leave the bar together," Motoko noted, "she told Al and Bentened. They told the other tankers, several cops and..."

Maya groaned loudly, "And it just spread from there."

"Exactly," Motoko agreed.

Maya was relieved that the background check she ordered on Motoko came up clean. Oh, there were indictations she was a Japan Self-Defense Force plant, but that was something they had figured she was anyway.

"I was thinking we do dinner, then head to my apartment where you will ravage me relentlessly," Motoko suggested cheerfully.

Maya was ALSO surprised to discover Motoko was a bottom, pretty much...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"OK, the jet arrives tomorrow. We'll have to be there to greet the general," Misato said as she held a evening staff meeting at her office.

"You and Ritsuko?" Satsuki Ooi asked.

"Correct. Gendo will be meeting her here," Misato agreed.

"We're going to give her a tour of NERV and show off the Evangelions. Hopefully she's not here to be the UN's axe-man and cut our budget or staff," Ritsuko noted.

There was a beat of silence as everyone processed THAT idea.

"Is that... probable?" Aoba asked nervously.

"We don't know," Misato admitted frankly. "There's been a long gap in attacks, and while command seems certain something is coming, we don't know WHAT."

(It should be noted at this point that everyone suspected that Gendo, the UN, and forces behind the UN knew more than what they were saying. Obviously, or they wouldn't have known to build the Evangelions, etc etc etc. But how much they knew, exactly, remained a mystery.)

"Has anyone heard what she's like...?" Kaede asked nervously.

"She made it to Major General in the German Military. That says alot...," Ritsuko sighed. "She also helped supervise Asuka's training."

Everyone thought about how tsundere Asuka could get.

"We're doomed..."

"Too bad Asuka's not here," Aoba admitted.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

In another part of the city, Asuka sneezed.

"Someone's talking about you again," Mana teased.

"Don't get that on dinner," Shinji also cautioned as she cooked.

Asuka sighed, "Thanks for letting us bum dinner off you again..."

"The more the merrier," Shinji shrugged casually as she added. "Misato and Ritsuko said they're going to be back late."

"More dinner for me," Mana grinned.

"We ARE saving some for them," Rei chided mildly.

"Yes, ma'am," Shinji chuckled. She looked over at Asuka, "So, you know the new head of the UN group overseeing NERV?"

"Yeah. NERV Berlin brought her wife in as a consultant to oversee my training," Asuka noted.

"Wife?" Mana, Rei and Shinji echoed.

"It's not THAT unusual," Asuka said. "Anyway, I got to know them both... Tanya kind of became my honorary Aunt."

"That is a disturbing mental image," Shinji noted.

"Meanie," Mana poked her in the side.

"I'm looking forward to meeting her," Rei noted mildly. "They are arriving tomorrow afternoon?" she asked.

"That's their expected arrival," Asuka agreed as she added, "there's been meetings and such in Germany first."

"Are you meeting the plane too?" Mana asked.

"If I can get Misato's permission." Asuka nodded.

"Dinner's ready," Shinji said, "sit down and let's get the food dished up."

"Yes, Mom," Asuka drawled.

"Shut up and eat," Shinji sighed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"AUNT TANYA!" Asuka hugged her. Then she moved on, "AUNT VISHA!"

"Hello, little one," the brown haired woman laughed, not caring that her light woman's suit was getting wrinkled.

"Sorry about that," Misato noted as she shook the older woman's hand.

Her blonde hair was mixed with silver, and she was actually a bit shorter than Misato, and like Visha was well dressed. She also had the most striking blue eyes, with many laugh lines. "It's fine," Tanya Degurechaff waved that off, "I'm glad to see she's doing well, too."

"Ma'am," Ritsuko shook her hand too.

Once she got free from Asuka Tanya introduced her companion, "This is my wife, Viktoriya Ivanovna Degurechaff."

"Just call me Visha," she said warmly.

"We have transport ready to take you to NERV," Misato said.

"How bad is the city?" Visha asked as they drove into town. "I heard most of the people were gone," she added.

"It's pretty much deserted other than NERV staff. I can't really blame them for that, though," Misato admitted.

Part of the route Ritsuko drove let them see the Zereul damage. Tanya had apparently also read up on the Bardiel attack, and asked insightful questions. They reached NERV itself, were passed through security and headed in.

"Why don't I do the tour, and Tanya go meet with Ikari-san?" Visha suggested mildly.

"Please," Tanya agreed.

Misato suspected the two women had planned this, but she didn't see the point of objecting. "Certainly," she agreed, "do you need an escort?"

"I know the building layout," Tanya smiled coolly.

Gendo was waiting in his office, and Tanya noted the bottle of vodka on the desk. "Welcome, ma'am... drink?" he offered.

Tanya nodded, and he splashed vodka into both waiting glasses. "So," she said conversationally, "did Keel tell you how much trouble we're in?"

"Broadly. Has something new come up?" Gendo had to ask.

"There's Arael, of course. We don't know where it even is, and it's a flying type. If it does show up, we may not even be able to engage it," Tanya noted as she drank. "Jet Alone's positron canon, maybe," she mused aloud.

"Hmm," Gendo hmmed quietly.

"There's also been a complication with what we think is the final angel: Tabris," Tanya said.

Gendo hadn't heard that, and sat up.

"Keel actually had him," Tanya revealed, "and planned to use him in a plot against you. Of course, he's escaped."

Gendo felt a sinking feeling. He really didn't want to know where the Angel was, but he had to ask. "Do we know where Tabris is, now?" he asked.

Tanya finished her drink, "As Kaworu, he's gone to the US branches of NERV and is their newest Evangelion pilot."

Gendo looked at her blankly a moment, then swore. "Fuck," he growled and drank down the last of his drink.

Tanya nodded, then refilled both their glasses. "The only good news is," she said as she sipped, "is that we don't know their intentions, yet..."

To be continued...