2023-09-14: Above the Starry Sky, God Judges as We Judge

• Log: Above the Starry Sky, God Judges as We Judge
• Cast: Gendo Ikari, Kozo Fuyutsuki
• Where: ???
• OOC - IC Date: U.C. 0097-09-14
• Summary: Worry not; all is well.

---

                                    < 01 >
               This is disappointing, Gendo Ikari.

Gendo Ikari sits behind a desk, enshrouded by darkness. Seven large, floating monoliths encircle him within the dark, their onyx surfaces suffused with a coruscating, red glow that flows and shimmers not unlike an Angel's Core.

Numbered 01 to 07, the Monoliths all bear a strange sigil of seven eyes and an inverted triangle containing a serpent entwined around an apple. And within the apple, a logo:

UBERM STERNEZELT RICHTET GOTT,
      WIE WIR GERICHTET

Gloved hands forming a bridge that obscures the lower half of his face, the Commander of NERV remains an implacable presence, even as the reverberating voices of SEELE fill his thoughts.

                                                < 07 >
                            The loss of Evangelion Unit-05.
            
                                < 04 >
The loss of the Third Angel before its role had been completed.
            
                                                < 06 >
                        The failure to confirm the sacrifice of the Tenth Angel.

                        < 02 >
  The appearance of an Evangelion outside the Project.
          
                                        < 05 >
              Impediments continue to amass under your oversight, Commander.

Gendo dips his head in muted acknowledgment. Light catches at his glasses, obscuring his gaze as he speaks beneath the bridge of his fingers.

"These losses are unfortunate," he concedes. "We will be conducting a search for the Tenth's core. But I'm afraid we still have no leads on the saboteur's identity."

                        < 03 >
            Their identity is irrelevant.
            
                                                < 07 >
                The core is what matters. Do not forget: all Angels must be eliminated.

                                        < 05 >
                          For the sake of humanity's future.

The corner of Gendo's lip twitches.

"Of course. We can't tolerate these complications to the Project."

                                < 04 >
                But these setbacks are correctable.

                                    < 01 >
                         Unit-03 has been completed.

                                                < 06 >
                      Britannia is all but begging you to take it off their hands.

                        < 03 >
            They fear a repeat of Unit-04.

                                                < 07 >
           And the Federation is eager to have another deterrent against colony drops activated.
          
                        < 02 >
The very latest Eva Unit is perfect to be your main weapon.

Behind the glint of his glasses, Gendo's eyes narrow fractionally. Gloved fingers twine together more tightly.

"... Angel eliminations are still ongoing. We cannot put our faith in an untested unit. Our attention and funds would be better focused on improving Unit-00--"

                                    < 01 >
                               There is no need.
                     The prototype's role is nearly over.

"Why not simply divert Unit-03 to Jupiter? Triple Zero is a direct threat to the Project; Federation will expect a response from NERV sooner than later."

                                        < 05 >
                     The events on Jupiter are not your concern.
                     
                                                < 06 >
             The Oath Over Omega is merely the natural consequence of your befouled natures.

                                < 04 >
          The Gutsy Galaxy Guard will be a sufficient response.

                                    < 01 >
                         Unit-03 will remain on Earth.
 Send a small complement if you must; but do not forget what NERV's purpose is.

                        < 03 >
         There are more pressing issues at hand.

                                                < 06 >
                                        The true Evangelion...

                                        < 05 >
                                 The one we dream of.

                                < 04 >
              The way must be paved for its proper birth.

                        < 03 >
  For the sake of the Human Instrumentality Project.
                  
                                    < 01 >
                  Choose the Child for Unit-03, Gendo Ikari.
                             This, too, must be.

"... Understood."

One by one, the Monoliths disappear as if dissolving into the surrounding shadows, until only SEELE 01 remains.

                                    < 01 >
                            Worry not, Gendo Ikari.
These disruptions are only blips; all roads lead humanity back to our scenario.
                                 
                                 
                                 All is well.

And then it, too, fades, leaving the Commander of NERV sitting alone in the dark.

"They truly have a gift for making even the most mundane orders sound like a thousand year augury."

Gendo does not shift as that familiar, wizzened voice speaks up from behind him. With a shunting sound, light returns to the great, green room he sits in, revealing Kozo Fuyutsuki standing just behind him to his right, arms crossed behind his back. A frown settles on his lips.

"The 'true' Evangelion, eh?" he murmurs. "I guess they're not satisfied with false gods."

"In SEELE's eyes, all other active Units exist merely for the sake of its completion," Gendo says, simply. "Even Unit-01."

"We bought ourselves two years, but I suppose we could only delay so much. All that effort to be reduced to a 'blip.' It's almost enough to make you feel at your wit's end."

Gendo Ikari's brows furrow; behind the lense of his glasses, his stare fixes straight forward as he speaks.

"A blip is fine. A blip means we remain beneath their notice." He taps an index finger against the back of his gloved hand. "But this means we were right: the Fifth Child's Evangelion is nearly complete. We can't afford further delays; it's time to start putting things in motion."

"I did have a petty thought," Fuyutsuki replies. "They've graciously afforded us a token dispatch for the situation on Jupiter. But they never specified any restriction on -who- we send..."

Beneath the bridge of his fingers, Gendo Ikari's lips twitch.

The barest ghost of a smile.