Chapter Text
010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101
Introduction:
2003; Gehirn Headquarters
“Stay close to me, Ritsuko,” Naoko warned her teenage daughter as she scanned her ID badge.
A large steel door separated at the middle, disappearing into the walls, and Ritsuko obediently followed her mother closely into the mysterious building. The hallway was long and empty, making her feel like she needed to fill it in some way, so she opted for conversation. “This is where you’ve been working?” She asked, curious green eyes scanning her surroundings as they walked - still somewhat overwhelmed by the sight of the so-called GeoFront moments before.
“Yes,” Naoko replied, her voice more enthusiastic than Ritsuko was used to hearing. “The science I’m working with is incredible here and I’m lucky to have gotten permission to show you around.” Glancing over to her she added, “You might even work here someday!”
Ritsuko wasn’t entirely sure that’s what she wanted to do with her life yet but she nodded anyway. “So, what are you working on then?”
“Something I’ve yet to name but it’s in the works,” Naoko smiled, stopping at the elevator halfway down the hall to push the down arrow. “It’s a supercomputer but with a very special operating system. The OS will primarily function off of personality transplants.”
“Wow! How are you going to manage that?” Ritsuko wondered, in awe at what her mother planned to pioneer.
“That’s what I’m still trying to figure out,” she smiled as the elevator dinged and opened before them. “Maybe you could end up helping me a little.”
The two stepped in and rode it down, Ritsuko eagerly thinking about her mother’s work as well as relishing in actually spending some time with her - albeit over a shared interest. She tried not to dwell on it too much but her mother rarely spent any time with her. If this was it, she would take what she could get.
As they neared the designated floor, Naoko said, “Now remember, everything you see here is classified; so don’t go running your mouth after.”
“Yes, Mom,” Ritsuko obeyed, clasping her hands behind her back to keep them from fidgeting with her rings.
When the elevator stopped and finally opened to the selected floor, Ritsuko was met with the view of a lanky man rather than the vast lab she imagined. “Oh, Director Ikari!” her mom greeted, a bit too excitedly in Ritsuko’s opinion. “I didn’t realize you’d be on site today.”
“Doctor Akagi,” Ikari greeted formally back, stepping aside to let the two women exit. “I had just stopped by to check on something for Yui and was on my way out.” Looking at Ritsuko he said, “This must be your daughter.”
“Indeed,” Naoko smiled, placing an arm around her shoulders, “Her name is Ritsuko.”
“She looks just like you,” Ikari commented, finally returning his eyes to Naoko, “I imagine just as smart also.”
Ritsuko swore she saw her mother blush while she, in turn, tried not to squirm out of discomfort. Something felt weird to her; she’s never seen her mother act so…bashful around someone before.
Turning to her daughter, Naoko introduced, “Ritsuko, this is Ikari Gendo; director of Gehirn. He and his wife, Yui, are founders of the main project here.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ritsuko bowed.
Gendo bowed back, returning with an odd, closed-mouth smile, “If you’re anything like your mother, I look forward to getting to know you.”
His statement meant very little to Ritsuko then but soon, after all that would happen, it would make much more sense.