[Evangelion Xgouki]

Bleh, finally got this part typed out. Happy now, Ghaz?

Spoiler for Crimson Meetings, pt. 1:

Ryoutaro Nogami let out a yawn as he stretched his arms above his head. The late afternoon shone from above onto the TSAB grounds. Other TSAB personnel, mages and non-mages, meandered along the network of man-made paths between buildings.

"Long day?" pondered Shamsel, walking besides his fellow mage with his hands in his pockets.

"Yea. Lots of paperwork and reports. Bleh."

"I hear you there."

"Why must there be so many forms when we finish our missions...," he groaned in irritation.

"It is probably to either discourage us from engaging in the city limits or so they have a path to blame someone should something have gone wrong," remarked Evangeline who was with the group. The pair nodded in agreement with their other teammate.

While Lost Logia and Relic recovery was a potentially dangerous assignment, activity had been picking up for the few members of NERV the past few months. In March they had officially been combined with the newly formed Riot Force 6. It wasn't a merger but a partnership of sorts. The Lieutenant General felt that having two divisions that had the same essential mission would be a waste of personnel and resources. However Lieutenant Colonel Yagami must have had some powerful backers to push forward with the formation of her new unit. Instead a compromise was reached. Both units were allowed to exists but would work together, especially with information on Lost Logia and Relics, until otherwise told.

"I still don't know how she managed to get a unit like that green-lighted by the higher ups. I mean four essentially new recruits and the three Aces in one unit?" Ryoutaro stated.

"There are several rumors on that," offered Evangeline. "Though from what I've heard so far they are just that: rumors."

"What? You mean that she didn't use some ancient Belkan mind control spell or that Riot Force 6 is a cover up for her secret harem?"

She shook her head. "The Lieutenant Colonel is a very respected mage. I highly doubt the credibility of those rumors."

"Yea. Not to mention she's barely older than us AND a Lieutenant Colonel. Talk about potential." He gave Shamsel a light shove. "What do you think?"

He blinked and faced the prototype Device user, "About the Lieutenant Colonel?"

"Who else have we just been talking about? Oh yea, you two were from the same world, right?"

"Yea..." His eyes turned to face forward again.

"You ever run into her?"

The mage paused his steps, staring straight ahead. "Not really. C'mon. We're going to be late." He shoved his hands deeper into his pocket and took off ahead of the group.

"Oi, wait up!" The other two went into a light jog to catch up.

A short walk later the trio took their seats in an all too familiar briefing room. Colonel Fuyutsuki turned to face his subordinates.

"As you know, the members of Riot Force 6 are away on a mission to protect Lost Logia being auctioned off at the Hotel Augusta. Therefore the responsibility of this assignment automatically fell upon us." The main screen came to life, displaying a series of images. "Over the past few weeks there have been reports from the local authorities about a chain of criminal activities being impeded."

"You mean a Lost Logia smuggling ring?" questioned Evangeline.

The older man shook his head. "No, by criminal it means just that: theft, robbery, etc."

"Then why does this fall under our jurisdiction?" argued Ryoutaro.

"Because of the reports of how these criminals were apprehended," the Colonel replied. "All the criminals were found either unconscious or bound after an anonymous, and untraceable, call to the local authorities. While this doesn't involve Lost Logia or Relics, the few eye witness and accounts from the criminals all made mention of the vigilante having some kind of armored outfit with a helmet. As well as able to use magic."

"You mean they think-"

"A possible user of a Masked Rider System. Since magic was involved the police had sent the TSAB copies of their findings and the possible connection was noticed by one of the higher ups overseeing it. From what I've read of the reports there seems to be an inconsistency some of the descriptions, especially coloring and weapons used."

"So there might be more than one of them?" asked Shamsel, arms crossed over his chest.

"Possibly. Or this mage is using different mode like Lieutenant Nogami's system. Whatever the case, we are now handling this investigation. All the police reports will be forwarded to you. You might also want to check in with your respective projects to see if they know of anything. That is all and good luck."

The trio stood and saluted their superior officer before exiting the room and gathering in the hall.

"Well this is an interesting occurrence," remarked Ryoutaro.

"Indeed." agreed Shamsel. "You two should check in with your project heads to see if they know anything about this."

"I doubt they will have anything," stated Evangeline. "If a system was stolen they would have informed us to assist with its recovery."

"I agree, but we have to make sure. Meanwhile I will go over the reports and see what I can pull together about what this 'Rider' or Riders' look like."

"Sounds like a plan," agreed Ryoutaro. Before they could make it to the end of the hall, he paused and snapped his fingers. "Oh yea. We should probably get our Devices from Megumi. She's probably done by now plus I get the feeling we may need them."

Megumi Kurenai was a Device specialist that now worked with Division 66. As part of the cooperative efforts between Riot Force 6 and NERV Lieutenant Colonel Yagami assigned the woman to work with them to maintain their Devices as they had their own Device mechanic. While she was unable to do extensive work on the two Riders' Devices due to their unique nature, she was still able to perform at least basic work on them to keep them functioning and in good physical condition.

"We might as well," Shamsel agreed.

Ryoutaro grinned and gave his friend a nudge. "And it'll give you a chance to see her again~"

He sighed and shook his head. "We've been over this already, I have no plans on asking her out. Period."

"Oh come on. She's not that back looking."

"And nearly double my age!"

"So? Maybe you like older women," he answered with a shrug.

That remark got him a slap to the back of his head. "Quiet you. Don't make me tell Mayura that you're checking out other girls."

"Owww...that's a low blow."

Having been a spectator throughout the whole thing, Evangeline shrugged. "You brought it upon yourself."

He sighed in defeat. "Let's just get going."

And don't screw up my timeline!