I sighed and looked at the board.  Rei had faithfully replicated the strategy of the SEELE man, but there was still something I felt was missing, something only he could possibly have seen.  It was disappointing, but it was also time with Rei, even if it had gained me nothing.<strong>"You make me proud, Rei Ayaname."</strong>I said simply, moving my bishop into position.<strong>"Checkmate."</strong>I told her, picking up her plate.  She had taken care to eat all of the fish.  She usually seemed to do that when we ate meat.  I made a mental note to ask her about it some time.<br/><br/>I took the dishes to the kitchen and put my gloves back on before returning to discuss the matter of who she would be pairing with.<strong>"Ritsuko will request that you engage in intercourse with both of the other children, perhaps at the same time." </strong>I said, feeling dirty just for discussing it.<strong>"I suggest you focus your efforts on Asuka.  She shows the most promise."</strong>I lied, knowing that I couldn't tell the truth, not even to Rei.  Evangelion was just a bluff, my son a dupe.  Rei and terminal dogma represented the whole of the human instrumentality project.<br/><br/>Still, it didn't hurt to have a backup plan around.  So long as it was kept in such bad condition it could never be used.<br/><br/><strong>"Don't worry about gaining anything out of the project."</strong>I said to her, the glare from my glasses hiding my eyes.<strong>"I've got my own plans to increase your synch ratio."</strong>I said simply, folding my hands underneath my chin.