The Quest
Chapter 1: The New System
"So tell me again Ritsuko, what exactly is this thing supposed to accomplish?" Misato asked as she observed the blonde scientist typing madly away at her computer.
"As I've told you before, it's a new virtual simulation program. Its design and hardware will hopefully fix the numerous problems we had with our old system."
Ritsuko sighed as a look of complete confusion came over her friends face. Give her combat and few in the world could match Misato's strategic mind, but when it came to computers, Misato's knowledge was sadly lacking.
"To put it simply, this system will allow us to load the pilots directly into artificial worlds. In these worlds we will be able to duplicate pretty much anything situation we can think of as well as accurately simulating differing effects the Eva's could have on the pilots without putting them inside the actual Eva's. I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing what it's capable of."
Misato herself was still somewhat hesitant about this new system, but from what she had gathered it would allow her to greatly increase the pilot's combat readiness which would reduce the risk they all faced, and that was a very good thing.
"So how are you going to test it Ritsuko?"
"You might enjoy what I have set up. Taking into account how well the children have been performing lately; I asked Commander Ikari for a less involved first test and give the pilots a fun simulation to participate in."
Misato raised her eyebrow at this. "That's actually very considerate of him. How'd you get him to agree to that?"
"I played the 'stress relief' card." She looked at Misato with a little smirk on her face. "After all you can't be too careful when it comes to children!"
Misato smiled, she was still amazed out how considerate her friend could still be after all that's happened. An evil thought suddenly entered her mind and she asked in a trademark Misato tone "What sort of 'fun simulation' did you have in mind?"
The blonde scientist rolled her eyes. "Since the system is capable of drawing up environments from pretty much any source, I thought I'd fill it with some old movies and books of the old fantasy genre. I remember how I used to enjoy them when I was a little girl."
"So when will it all be ready?"
"Not for about three hours, the children know not to be here until around five o'clock. I figure it will also leave time for school work and such."
Saying this Ritsuko went back to her computer screen while Misato lent up against the wall. 'This hopefully will be a good de stress for the three of them. I know Asuka loves this sort of thing, Shinji hopefully will enjoy it and Rei will do it regardless. So I guess we will see.'
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The three children made their way to Nerv, After Shinji and Asuka had finished their homework they left together on the usual path to headquarters meeting up with Rei on the way.
For the first time in his life, Shinji Ikari was somewhat looking forward to going to Nerv. He had known about this new virtual simulator for about two weeks but it was only yesterday that Ritsuko had told them that the first test was going to be some sort of role playing simulation.
At first he wasn't that pleased with the whole idea, but the look that came over both Toji's and Kensuke's faces when he told them was priceless, for they were both very into this sort of thing and became very jealous. Kensuke had gone on all about the types of roles he'd love to play and thinking it over Shinji had come to like the idea, though he never forgot that its main purpose was training for Eva, the thought of using this new virtual system to become someone else for a short time appealed to him.
Asuka on the other hand had liked the idea as soon as she heard it, and became ecstatic when she had learned what the first test would be. Immediately images of her as a beautiful Queen who ruled over lands of great wealth with Kaji begging for her hand in marriage threatened to overcome her. And luckily for the three stooges, this diverted her attention for a while.
Though this didn't last as long as some would have liked; namely Shinji. For once she had sorted her mind, it once again focused on something that she greatly enjoyed, beating the idiot third child. She knew this would be another chance to wipe the floor with him and further prove that she was the best.
Rei for the most part wasn't concerned with the test one way or another. She had been ordered to participate with her fellow pilots and she would do so to the best of her ability. Though in the back of her mind, she was curious to how the simulated would look. For it was little known that Rei Ayanami had always been fascinated by technology and computers, it could almost be called her hobby.
The three of them continued their silent journey and soon they could see the entrance to Nerv in the distance.
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After getting into his plug suit Shinji made his way back to the test labs. His mind was going over what sort of things they might be doing, though most of what he thought of were the various things Kensuke had talked about as he wished he could have a go; Shinji doubted he would ever understand the way his friends mind worked .
Little of what was going on had yet to be explained to him, as soon as Asuka, Rei and himself got to headquarters they were only told to get into their plug suits and then assemble at the test labs where Ritsuko spent most of her time. As he got there he found that his fellow pilots where already there waiting, one of whom gave him a very dirty look for making her wait.
"Good now that you're all here we can get the test started." Ritsuko said as she picked up her clip board and moved in front of the pilots. "If you will all follow me to simulation tubes."
She led them down a short corridor to a rather large room. In the centre of the room there was a pool of red liquid, Shinji recognized this instantly as LCL for he found himself submerged in the foul substance every other day. In the centre of the pool there was a platform that supported a tower of wires and cables which had four long tubes protruding from each side. Ritsuko motioned to a technician standing near the tubes and as he pushed a button the tubes opened revealing their contents.
Inside the tubes there were what appeared to be seats that stretched the length of the tube with what appeared to be a headset perched just above the top of the chair.
"Now as you can see this is the core of the system. You three will each hop into one of the loading tubes where the headsets will be fitted and the neural link up will take place.
"Neural link up?" Shinji asked, not understanding what she was talking about at all.
"The system is design to incorporate itself into your subconscious which will allow it to project the different experiences into your mind."
At this Asuka spoke up, a little concerned about what the doctor was saying. "And how exactly does this 'link up' occur?"
"The headset will inject several implants into your brain and spinal column. But do not worry Asuka, this procedure has been done many times already during its development and I'm told it is painless."
As you can expected, Shinji and Asuka was not at all comforted by this, Rei remained relatively unconcerned.
"The tubes will then close and will be lowered into the LCL pool below, this is an added safety precaution and will also aid in the result taken from the test. The plug suits are to be worn for this reason as well." She added as she saw Shinji's quick glance at his suit. "Now are there any questions?"
"So what exactly is this test going to consist of? You said it was some kind of role playing simulation." Asuka asked
"That's correct, but on what it will be exactly, I think you can find out the hard way. Now I you will all be so kind as to hop into your designated tube we will start the test."
The pilots walked over to the tubes and proceeded to get in. Shinji noted to himself that the char was quite comfortable. As soon as they were all in position, the lid closed and he felt the headset move down to its position. After many buzzing noises behind him a voice crackled over the radio.
"Okay connects are made and satisfactory. I'm going to load it up now."
Shinji couldn't believe that the implants had already been done; Ritsuko had definitely been right when she said it would be painless, but he did expect to feel at least something.
He didn't get the chance to think of this for very long, for as soon as the radio switched off Shinji felt his senses blur until finally he lost all awareness of everything around him.
End Chapter 1