NERV headquarters. Gendo Ikari's office level.
"Rough trip. But I got it." Ryoji Kaji carried a briefcase across the carpet—mysterious patterns etched into every thread. Set it down in front of Gendo.
"Good work." Gendo took the case. A rare smile touched his lips.
Adam's embryo. The key to godhood. Right here in his hands.
"One more thing." Kaji's tone shifted.
"On the carrier. I heard a man's voice. Thought it was SEELE at first. But after talking with him... probably not."
He relayed the encounter.
Gendo's brow furrowed.
"He knew it was Adam's embryo. But didn't try to stop you?"
No face. No clear allegiance. Only a voice. Troublesome.
"Either way, it's mine now."
"We can proceed to the next phase."
Gendo adjusted his glasses.
"Understood." Kaji nodded. Turned. Left.
After Kaji departed, Gendo opened the briefcase.
Stared at the embryo sealed in resin.
"Yui... I'll see you soon."
Nostalgia softened his face.
Fifteen years ago, SEELE experimented on Adam's original body. Forced it to self-destruct. Second Impact. Antarctica obliterated. But Adam didn't die. SEELE reduced the remains to embryonic form. Sealed it. Preserved it.
They also collected the scattered soul. Placed it in another vessel.
SEELE had Adam's soul and built it a new body. This embryo? Less important to them. Which gave Gendo his opening. His theft.
He'd implant this into his hand. First step toward godhood.
Adam's flesh controlled by his soul. Fused with Lilith's soul container. Forbidden union. Reality-warping divinity.
And after ascending? One task. Only one.
Resurrect the dead.
See his wife again.
Everything. Years of planning. Every sacrifice. Every manipulation.
All for her.
He'd use everyone around him. Even his own son.
Worth it.
"Yui..."
Gendo stared at the embryo. Stood. Time to begin the fusion.
Delays invited accidents. He knew that well.
But—
The office doors opened.
A familiar figure stepped through.
"Shinji."
"What are you doing here?"
Gendo glanced at the briefcase. Then at his son. Voice flat. Raspy.
Behind Shinji stood a man in a white lab coat. Silver-rimmed glasses. Ritsuko Akagi's assistant, if he remembered right.
Fresh off fighting two Angels. Shinji should be resting.
Considering his son's future usefulness, Gendo kept his tone civil.
"Looks like... you heard my warning. Sort of. Not really."
Natsuki's voice came from Shinji's mouth.
Gold light flickered in his eyes.
Gendo's expression hardened. The person in front of him wasn't Shinji.
"That case. What are you planning to do with it?"
Natsuki looked at the briefcase.
Gendo stared at "Shinji." Adjusted his glasses. Perfectly composed.
"No comment."
He wouldn't reveal his plan here.
"No comment?"
Natsuki raised an eyebrow at that cold dismissal.
Seriously?
You're still playing this game? In front of me?
"What's he planning with that thing?" Natsuki turned to Connie Albert.
Connie's lips curved upward.
"That's Adam's embryo. He's going to implant it into his hand. Use it as the key to becoming a god."
British-accented Japanese. Crystal clear in the empty office.
Gendo: "?"
He didn't want to admit it. But in that moment, his composure cracked.
This was spiraling beyond his control.
Akagi's assistant. Under his surveillance the whole time. Where did he get this intelligence?
The man had done nothing suspicious since joining NERV. Just research. Quiet. Obedient.
How?
How did the information leak?
Kaji... was it you?
His first suspect. Kaji was his spy, yes. But spies were always the first suspects when things went wrong.
"Becoming a god?"
"You want to rule this world?"
Natsuki's gaze locked on Gendo.
Gendo's eyes swept between "Shinji" and Connie Albert.
Two seconds of hesitation.
"No. I wouldn't do something so boring."
He wanted to maintain his mystique.
Then Connie spoke again.
"He wants to resurrect his wife."
"Ohhh~"
Natsuki nodded thoughtfully.
Gendo: "..."
Member of the Human Instrumentality Project Committee. Commander of the international organization NERV. The UN's hope against the Angels. A mastermind who deceived SEELE itself.
He had a reputation to maintain.
His fist clenched. Expression darkened.
Sharp gaze fixed on Connie.
This man... knew too much.
Facing that predatory stare, Connie stepped back half a pace. Then half a pace left. Hands in his lab coat pockets. Successfully positioned behind Natsuki.
A faint smile on his face.
Eyes almost taunting.
Our old man's scarier than you. What are you posturing for?
"I think we should talk." Natsuki's tone stayed calm.
"Don't worry. Cooperate, and I won't pry too much into your... ah... dark history."
Gendo stood there.
Looked at these two who'd barged into his office.
His jaw tightened.
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