Eleven - Independent Action
For the moment, the seas of the southwest Pacific were calm as a black dagger cut through them. No human eyes saw it, and no technology could detect it where it sailed. Cruising on the surface was a rare luxury, especially in daylight, but for once the small crew of the massive nuclear-powered submersible warship Megami could see the sun.
On the bow stood a young blond woman, in a perfectly normal officer's uniform - despite any protests that she was anything but perfectly normal. Her amber eyes were focused on... nothing in particular. She'd seen the world almost end a half dozen times since she set out... and she had seen how the GDF still fought the same as always. Foe after foe, defeated. Gendo Ikari dead. The human race, still as intact as ever, and less fractured than it had been. And she...
"Cagalli." The man that approached the blond from behind could pass for a tanner, handsomer Rambo. She nodded her acknowledgement as he spoke. "We'll be ready to move out by 1700 hours tomorrow. There's no turning back now."
She snorted. "When was there ever? There wasn't any way to avoid this... not once I left..."
"I know," he responded softly. There wasn't anything else to say on that matter.
Turning, she looked straight on at the man with unbreakable confidence. "I'm doing what I'm actually capable of now. The only thing it seems I'm capable of." Despite the words she spoke, the strength in her eyes never faltered. "That wasn't all you wanted though."
The man almost smiled. "You've gotten perceptive, haven't you?" he asked lightly before sighing. "It's that system... you know what it can do to you if it backfires. I haven't asked you this once about the operation, because I know what the answer is... but about this matter... your father would no-" was all he managed before an icy glare silenced him, a difficult task for even the coldest of souls.
"I know that Kisaka. I'm not stupid. But if this is the only way for me to be able to do what has to be done... then it's what I'm willing to do that matters." Her glare softened, her eyes drifting back to see. "I can't try to be him any more..."
On the bow stood a young blond woman, in a perfectly normal officer's uniform - despite any protests that she was anything but perfectly normal. Her amber eyes were focused on... nothing in particular. She'd seen the world almost end a half dozen times since she set out... and she had seen how the GDF still fought the same as always. Foe after foe, defeated. Gendo Ikari dead. The human race, still as intact as ever, and less fractured than it had been. And she...
"Cagalli." The man that approached the blond from behind could pass for a tanner, handsomer Rambo. She nodded her acknowledgement as he spoke. "We'll be ready to move out by 1700 hours tomorrow. There's no turning back now."
She snorted. "When was there ever? There wasn't any way to avoid this... not once I left..."
"I know," he responded softly. There wasn't anything else to say on that matter.
Turning, she looked straight on at the man with unbreakable confidence. "I'm doing what I'm actually capable of now. The only thing it seems I'm capable of." Despite the words she spoke, the strength in her eyes never faltered. "That wasn't all you wanted though."
The man almost smiled. "You've gotten perceptive, haven't you?" he asked lightly before sighing. "It's that system... you know what it can do to you if it backfires. I haven't asked you this once about the operation, because I know what the answer is... but about this matter... your father would no-" was all he managed before an icy glare silenced him, a difficult task for even the coldest of souls.
"I know that Kisaka. I'm not stupid. But if this is the only way for me to be able to do what has to be done... then it's what I'm willing to do that matters." Her glare softened, her eyes drifting back to see. "I can't try to be him any more..."