Chapter 36: Apprehension
After leaving the restroom, Rei walked nearby the shooting range. Nothing emitted from it though she quickened her footsteps to put as much distance as possible from the room. Going down a hallway, she wondered about how she was going to interact with the Third Child in the future. Knowing that his mental instability was increasing, getting information from him would become more difficult. Shaking her head, she continued toward the elevator that would take her to the meeting area with the Commander.
An office door opened and Misato stepped out. Despite having a couple of drinks, she still couldn't get the creeps out of her. She couldn't work for too many thoughts and images were popping into her head. Leaving the office, she headed towards the bathroom first.
'To think that when I asked him about his get together with his old acquaintance,' she thought remembering asking him in the cafeteria. 'It was for…something else.'
'Almost makes me wonder if what the police chief said was true,' the Captain thought shivering and opened the bathroom door. Heading toward a stall, she locked the door. Sitting down on the toilet, she tried to relax. Thinking about something else, something started to seem odd.
'Strange…I don't hear anything,' Misato thought standing up and flushing the toilet. It seemed to sound louder than normal. Not giving it any other thought, she unlocked the stall and opened the door. Heading toward the sink, she turned on the faucet and washed her hands. The odd feeling was still there.
'I'm probably still a bit rattled,' she thought to reassure herself. Grabbing a paper towel and rubbing her hands, she stopped. Listening again, there was dead silence. Moving her hands, she heard the friction from rubbing them.
"…" she said feeling her senses becoming more acute. Wiping her face a little from the damp paper towel, the coolness of it seemed to help her a little. About to remove it, a small creek sounded from behind.
"…?!" Misato said feeling her nerves flare up. Slowly moving the paper towel down, she peered at the window behind her. Nothing was behind her. Waiting, nothing stirred in the dead silence. Quickly tossing the paper towel in the trash bin, Misato briskly walked to the entrance door.
'Nothing is in here and I don't want to know if something is here,' the Captain thought a little paranoid. About to feel relief from pushing the door open, the bathroom lights began to flicker a little.
"Nope!" Misato said and exited out of the bathroom. She failed to hear the soft clenching of teeth of an inhumanly wide grin from inside. Walking quickly away from the bathroom, she headed for the elevator to go to the parking garage.
Rei reached an elevator and pressed the call button. Hearing the lift mechanism engage, she waited a little bit till it sounded and opened.
"Hi Rei," Shonj stated from inside the elevator.
"…?!" the First Child said blinking in surprise. Looking around and behind her, there was no one around.
"You alright? You seem a bit like a scaredy cat," he said with a small smile.
"…" she said entering the elevator and pressing for a floor. She turned around and faced the elevator doors as the closed. The lift started ascending.
"Ohh, playing the silent treatment eh? Could at least tell me what's wrong?" Shonj asked sounding hurt.
'He is from a dream…an image from my subconscious…he is not real,' Rei thought to herself and continued looking at the steel doors.
"I heard that," he said then smirked. "In that case, I'll do this!"
"…!" Ayanami said in surprised feeling the back of her skirt getting flipped up. She instantly turned around to see his smug face.
"If that ain't real enough-!" the blue-eyed alteration began to say until Rei slapped him hard in the face.
'…!?' she thought looking wide eye at him then at her hand. 'I…hit him?'
"But that's…" she began to say then looked back. Her face went into surprise seeing that he was gone. All that was sounding was the elevator running.
"…?" she said continuing to stare at the place Shonj was last. The elevator slowed to a stop and the doors began opening. Blinking, she slowly backed up until she was out of the elevator. The lift doors closed and the motor pulley system activated again. Blinking again, she looked at her hand.
'…I don't…understand,' she thought feeling her mind grinding hard to understand what just happened. Remembering where she needed to go, she shook her head. Slowly turned around, Rei began walking.
Misato reached the elevator and pressed the call button. Crossing her arms over her chest, she glanced behind her and saw no one. Listening around, there were many sounds going on like the elevator and the AC system. Finding relief in that, she still couldn't calm down. The elevator sounded and opened its doors. Not paying attention, she walked into the elevator and pressed the parking garage level. Going towards the adjacent wall to the buttons, she was staring at the ground thinking. The lift doors closed and the elevator started to go up.
"Been hitting the booze again Misato?" a familiar voice sounded in front of her. Jumping a little and looking up, Shino was leaning against the opposite wall she was near. He had a small smile.
'Oh no,' she thought and brought her hands to her temple. 'no-no-no-no-no-no.'
"Am I that repulsive to talk to?" he asked sounding hurt.
'He is just a dream guy…he can't be real…I am really way too tired…that's it…way too-!' she thought when she felt a hand gently lift up her chin.
"Am I now? I feel so hurt Captain!" he said with an overly sad face. He put a backhand on his forehead. "Oh woes with me. Isn't there something I could do to make her believe?"
"…?!" Misato said feeling his right hand hold her left cheek gently. His left hand slammed the elevator wall behind her making her flinch.
"Would you like to find out?" he said with a sly smile and started to close in on her face. Her heart was beating fast as her brain was scrambling to figure out what was going on. Reflexively reacting, she shoved him to the ground.
"…?" she said with widen eyes then looked at her hands blinking. "I…pushed…you?"
'…!?' she thought looking at the ground.
He was gone and felt like he was never there. Pressing her lips inward, she bit down and felt herself breathing heavier. The want to go home became stronger and she wasn't going to let anyone stop her. When the elevator stopped, the doors opened. Glancing at the hallway then darting her eyes back inside, she slowly backed up. Keeping her eyes trained on the inside of the lift, it slowly closed its doors. As the elevator started going down, the Captain turned around and power walked in the direction of the parking garage.
Rei continued walking toward the next elevator that would take her to the meeting place with the Commander. Still lost in what happened in the elevator, questions kept building. They were making her head spin trying to figure out a logical answer to them. Not getting anywhere, she shook her head and continued walking forward. Turning around the corner, she found the elevator she needed to use.
About to press the call button, one of the elevators opened. Looking inside, no one was in it. Blinking and not feeling anything foreboding, she entered. Pressing the P-3 button, she entered a security code. The elevator sounded and closed its doors. The overhead lights dimmed for a split second before going back to full illumination. Ignoring the lights, Rei closed her eyes as the lift started descending.
'Meeting with the Commander and being in that place will help me calm down and relax,' she thought to herself taking deep breathes. She listened to the clicks of the elevator knowing that the floor was coming up. The lift started slowing down then stopped. Strangely, the doors opened up without sounding that it was its destination. Opening her eyes, terror ripped through her.
"WOULDN'TYOUAGREE!-WOULDN'TYOUAGREE!-WOULDN'TYOUAGREE!-WOULDN'TYOUAGREE!" Shinji screamed in distortion swinging a bloody ax down on a chopped up body on the ground. Gore was being splashed everywhere as the Third Child continued its brutality.
"…!?" Rei said quickly backing up with fear. She passed elevator doors watching blood starting to flood into the lift. Both elevator doors closed at the same time and all was silent. Blinking and breathing quickly, the booming sounds were in her head again going at a faster rate than before. Noticing that she was in a dark room, she began looking around slowly. It was the meeting place and the Commander was standing next to the control panel in the middle.
'…why is this happening…I don't understand…' she thought putting a hand on her heart feeling it still beating fast.
Her hands were shaking from feeling the menacing aura and the intense malice that the Third Child produced. When she thought about who she saw, it seemed like the evil alteration of the male pilot. Slowly and quietly, she headed towards the Commander. Solely staring at his back, she thought of all the things he has done to make her feel safe and needed. It helped her forget what she saw so far. It was short lived when she heard a soft evil chuckle from where the elevators were.
"…" Rei said stopping and feeling her head starting to sweat. Swallowing the lump of fear in her throat, she slowly looked behind her. There was nothing there except the dark shadows and the elevator doors. Looking back forward, she continued towards the Commander.
Misato turned left toward a hallway and saw an open space. Along the left side, there were four elevators that were the main ones to use. The corridor to her right has walkways that lead to the either the parking garage or more stairs to get to the Geo-Front surface. Power walking toward one of the drop doors to the parking garage, she saw two maintenance employees working in front of one of the drop doors. They seemed to be removing some concrete that cracked and installing a new block. Both turned toward her and nodded in which she nodded back. Reaching toward one a drop door, she had her card ready and scanned it. The door started to go up slowly.
"Alright, hold the spike steady," one worker said and lifted a sledgehammer. Misato glanced over and saw him swing down on his partner's head.
"…!?" she said gripping herself and looking terrified from hearing a loud pop with blood and gray matter splattering on the other worker's uniform. He lifted the bloody sledgehammer and swung down again. More red liquid shot out from where the downed worker was as a loud sickening crunch sounded.
'Come on! Come on! GO FASTER YOU FREAKING GATE!' Misato screamed in her head looking at it. The door seemed to be slowly opening almost as if it were teasing her. She flinch hearing another bloody splat from another down swing. Not waiting for the gate to fully open, she ducked under it and continued forward. As she was walking away, she heard both workers ask if she saw a ghost or something.
Not even thinking about anything, the Captain continued power walking entering the parking garage. She spotted her car at a distance, but didn't relax as she continued forward. Getting closer, her senses were picking up small things. The smell of the air was cold and damp. Liquid droplets were hitting the concrete floor in the distance. It made an echo throughout the spacious area. The clicks of her heels seemed loud and booming. The low illumination emitted many shadows over corners and cars. Sounds of metal contracting came and went from the parked automobiles due to the cold temperature.
'Just don't think about…just don't think about…just don't think about it,' she kept repeating in her head. Reaching her car, she took off her red jacket. Opening the driver door and placing the jacket in the passenger seat, she sat down. Placing her head on the steering wheel, she exhaled and breathed deeply for a couple of seconds. Placing her keys in the ignition and turning, the engine cranked a little till it roared to life. Feeling a little better, she slowly leaned back and felt something thin and sharp at the back of her neck.
"…!?" Misato said straining hard to not yelp. More sweat was dripping down her back as she was breathing heavy and faster than normal. Not even moving, she gulped audibly and felt herself starting to shake. Slowly looking in the rearview mirror, there was no one sitting in the back seat.
'God…please no,' she pleaded in her head turning her lips inward and closing her eyes. Slowly leaning forward, the pointy object wasn't there. Waiting a couple of seconds, nothing happened. Opening her eyes, she slowly looked behind her feeling sweat dripping down her face. Sandwiched between the headrest and the seat was an envelope.
"…" she said blinking and slowly grabbed it with shaking hands. Nothing was written on it. Opening it up, she recognized the handwriting.
Hey Misato. Hope you saw this before sitting down thinking someone had a knife at the back of your neck. Anyway, thinking of you. Ciao.
-Kaji
"…" Misato blinked then read it again and felt her composure exploded.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" she yelled loudly in her car ripping the envelope into pieces. Not even caring that the paper confetti was on her, she placed the car in reverse and slammed on the gas. The two workers from before hear tire screeches and looked through the drop door they were at. They saw Misato's car go backwards then spun 180 degrees. Without stopping, she sped forward to leave the parking garage.
"I'm telling you man, a woman that can do that is hot,' one said as both went back to work.
Her speeding was cut short having to slow down for the car escalator lift. Getting locked in, she turned on the radio wanting to drown her mind from all that she had seen. While going up, she contemplated how she was going get information or cassette from the Third Child.
'No…I am not going to think about it now. I need space and time,' she thought to herself leaning back into her seat. Turning on the fans to max in her car, she could feel how much sweat accumulated on her skin. It made her feel icky. Closing her eyes, she listened to the radio for the rest of the lift. When she reached the surface, she sped to her home feeling better and better getting away from NERV's premises.
Reaching the apartment complex and turning into the parking garage, she finally felt calmer and at ease. Walking at an easier pace, she went through the lobby seeing everything normal. Going up in the elevator, she leaned on the wall opposite of the doors. It felt reassuring that she could see everything. Stopping at her floor, she exited the elevator and walked toward her apartment door. Reaching it and opening her door, it felt like a sanctuary.
"I'm home," Misato said finally able to smile a little. She kicked off her shoes and saw that there weren't other heels near the door. Walking down the hallway, she turned to the living room with no one in it. However, the TV was on.
"Is anybody home?" she called seeing a pile of spiked hair move up.
"Wark Wark," Pen-pen announced his presence as he got off the couch and waddled toward her. She bent down and picked him up.
"Hey there Pen-Pen! Whatcha' been doing while I was gone?" she asked happy to see someone not NERV oriented.
"Wark wark, wark wark wark…wark," (Nothing much. Just been watching the discovery channel and having a beer.) he said watching a sweat drop form on his owner's head.
'Where's Shinji when you need him…' she thought then shook herself visibly. The penguin tilted his head to the side at his owner's actions.
'Must have had one too many,' Pen-Pen contemplated.
"Really…that's nice," she said hugging the warm water creature before setting him down. He headed back to the couch. Once there, he climbed back onto it.
Misato turned around and went into her room. Changing into her comfortable clothes, she felt more relaxed. Coming out, she headed to the kitchen. Going for her trusty drink, she opened the refrigerator for a beer. Grabbing one, she stopped and stared at it. Remembering how much she drank at work and how much that didn't help from what she "saw" she put it back.
'Maybe I need to cut back,' she thought staring at the wall to wall of beer in the cold compartment. Closing the refrigerator door, she started making tea instead. Pen-Pen smelled the herbal fragrance and thought the young butler was home. After a couple of minutes, he heard someone coming from the kitchen. Turning his head, he saw it was his owner with a tray of a teapot and a teacup.
"…!" Pen-pen said surprised with his beak open. Watching Misato set the tray down, she sat down at her chair. Pouring herself a cup, she took a sip. Putting the cup down, she gave a small grimace.
"It's bitter," she said but continued to drink it.
'No beer?…strange,' he thought blinking.
Looking back at the beer can next to him, he wondered if something was different with it. Taking a couple of sniffs, it smelled the same. Tasting it, it was beer. He shrugged his small shoulders and watched his species on the television. A small smile came on his face seeing a penguin fall. When more fell, a couple of chuckles came from him.
'Stupid primitives,' Pen-pen thought taking a swig of beer.
'I don't get the joke,' Misato thought looking at what was on TV. The entrance door opened and closed suddenly. It was followed by someone walking toward the living room. The Second Child entered.
"Hey there Asuka, been shopping eh?" Misato said seeing the red-head walk in with a couple of bags from the shopping district.
"Hey Misato. Yeah, I was shopping with Kaji. Did you know what we shopped for?" the teenager said with a dream smile on her face.
"I couldn't guess. What did you guys go look at?" the lavender woman asked with a small frown. She started to take a sip of her tea.
"Swimsuits," she said twirling around before going toward her room.
"…" Misato said with a deadpan face.
The herbal drink didn't taste appealing anymore. Waiting for her ward to close her door, she heard it. Getting up, she placed her cup on the tray with the teapot and took them into the kitchen. Spitting out the tea into the sink, she dumped the rest down the drain. Rinsing the pot and her cup out, she set them aside on the counter. Turning around, she went to the refrigerator and opened it. Grabbing a beer, she closed the door.
Pen-pen saw his owner come back out with a small annoyed face. Seeing the beer in her hand, he felt at ease that things were back to normal. Misato sat back down and cracked her beer open. Thinking about guzzling it, she stopped herself. Looking at it reminded her of how she felt when trying to drown herself out of the creepy feeling. Frowning, she took modest sips instead. Looking at the wall adjacent to the hallway to hers and Asuka's room, the red-head's shopping bags were on the floor.
'I wonder how mad she'll be when I tell her that she can't go,' she thought with a sigh. The Captain watched Asuka exit her room with a smile on her face. The female pilot moved toward the bathroom and closed the door. A mischievous smile came on Misato's face.
'I'll let her believe in her freedom a little longer,' she thought taking another sip of her beer. Hearing the bathtub faucet run, it would be a while before the red-head came out. Time passed and Misato got bored of waiting. Retrieving her laptop from her room, she decided to do a couple of reports. After a half an hour, she completed most of it.
'Feels weird to not be on a second or third can right now,' Misato thought lifting her beer and feeling about half was remaining. Sighing, she heard the front door opened.
"I'm home," a soft voiced came. Sounds of shoes were taken off followed by soft footsteps walking toward the living room. The First Child appeared from the entrance hallway.
"Hey there Rei! How was your appointment with the Commander?" Misato asked in her bubbly atmosphere trying to get the First Child to smile.
"It was…" she started to reply when she remembered what happened before it. She felt a chill run down her back that made her shiver. "…okay."
'…wonder if something happened…she looks a little frightened,' the Captain thought watching her second ward go to her room and closed the door.
After a minute or so, Rei came out with a plain shirt and shorts that Misato helped her pick out during shopping. Smiling at her changing, the smile dropped a little still seeing the First Child keep the impassive face. The blue-haired teen passed her and entered the kitchen. Having an idea of what her ward would make, she saw her make tea.
'Come to think of it, Rei asked Shinji how to make it like he did,' she thought. As much as she wanted to tease her, she had no itch to do it now. Sipping her beer, the smell of tea came. Once prepared, Rei brought the teapot and a teacup to the table. Sitting in her usual spot across from Misato, she poured herself some tea.
'She is still the same,' Misato thought internally sighing watching the First Child drink with a stoic face. 'The only time she opens up a little is if she is with Shinji. Even her body language changes a little.'
'Argh! I want to tease her so badly! Then again…there was that time both she and Asuka were sleeping together. I really don't know which way she swings,' the Captain pondered a little then looked at her beer. The aspect that she was still on her first one since being home was depressing.
"Are you well Captain?" Rei asked looking at her.
"Hmm? Yeah, I'm fine Rei." Misato said smiling. "Why you ask?"
"You seemed troubled."
"Oh…it is just report writing," Misato said looking at the laptop in front of her as an escape.
"I see," Ayanami said taking a sip of her tea. A silence filled the room until the bathroom door opened. Asuka stepped out only in a towel.
"Oh, hello First Child," she said as she walked to her room.
"Hello Pilot Soryu," Rei said sipping her tea without turning.
'…they still haven't changed…' Misato thought standing up.
Heading to the bathroom, she closed the door. When she came out, everyone was still in the same place as before. Sliding the door close, she walked back to her chair. Upon sitting down, the First Child looked lost in thought. A door opened and the Second Child came out dressed in a comfortable tank top and short shorts.
"You seem to be in a good mood," Misato said seeing that Asuka was still smiling.
"I am because of the school field trip."
"Oh where?"
"O-ki-na-wa," the red-head annunciated each syllable happily.
"You know you can't go?" Misato stated sipping her beer with some pleasure.
"Huh? Why!?" the teen said irritated putting her hands on the table.
"You have to be on alert when an Angel attacks."
"I hadn't seen or heard that!"
"Well, I just informed you now."
"Who decided this?"
"I did as the Operations Planning Manager," Misato said as Asuka didn't move and stared at her with a peeved face. She watched the teen stand up putting her hands on her hips in annoyance. Her attention then moved to Rei.
"Hey Wonder-girl, stop drinking tea and say something!"
"We have to be on standby if an Angel does appear Pilot Soryu. We are the only ones capable to stop the Angels. No one else is able to. For this, outside school activities and vacations are subject to be cancelled."
"Argh! All we do is wait, wait, wait, and wait for the enemy to attack! Why doesn't NERV find the Angels and we do seek 'n' strikes?"
"We would if we could Asuka. There is just too big of a possibility that humanity might be destroyed if you were gone," Misato said. The Second Child frowned at the Captain then glanced at the First Child who remained stoic and quiet.
'I hate it when she does that,' the red head thought turning back to the lavender haired woman.
"Why not leave the invincible Third Child behind…H-He doesn't seem to care," the Second Child said hesitantly but kept a straight face.
"I think he wouldn't appreciate that idea. But, he probably would be accommodating," Misato said thinking about how he would do so if ordered to. Thinking about him made her start thinking about the video in which she shivered a little. Going for her beer she took a sip. Rei looked at both of them and thought they were discussing the operation.
"I would agree. Getting information from Ikari would be harder if we were away," she said quietly.
"…" both Misato and Asuka said looking at her with blank faces. The Captain cleared her throat not wanting to imagine what the Third Child would do if he found out.
"R-Right Rei. Anyway, you have to think of this as a good chance. While others are away, you can study."
"Ridiculous. I've been doing fine on my exams. I did graduate from college you know," Asuka stated with a smirk putting her hands on her hips.
'Yes, it appears that all three of you are doing well. Rats,' Misato thought grimacing a little. Rei sipped her tea then set the cup down.
"Captain…do you have an idea of how to get the information needed from Pilot Ikari?"
"…!?" Misato said almost spit out her beer. Asuka recoiled from the question.
"Are you crazy?!" the red-head asked. "Are you seriously going to try talking to that psycho killer?"
"It is part of our orders for the Info-Gave operation," Rei replied.
"Hell no! You can count me out! I don't even want to get near that freak."
"Pilot Soryu, that would be a violation of our or—"
"Oh can it Wondergirl! I don't know why you are so stuck up on orders. If you want to get yourself killed by that lunatic, by my guest."
"Okay Asuka. Let's calm down," Misato said putting her beer down.
"No! I can't calm down from seeing what he did during that night. I wasn't going to say anything, but he came here that same night after doing that!"
"…what?!" the Captain said quietly looking at her with surprised eyes. Rei held her head downcast.
"Wondergirl let him in," Asuka said turning toward her.
"Rei…you let Shinji in here?"
"…yes…" she responded quietly.
"Why?"
"…he was walking in the downpour. He took shelter in the lobby and I offered him to come inside. He left early the next day," Ayanami said quietly clenching her hands into tight fists under the table. She felt her emotions were starting to burn.
"…" Misato said putting things together and then remembered how she found both of them the next morning. Her face became grave as she immediately stood up.
"What did he do to you two?!" she said sternly looking at both of them. "Where was he when you two were sleeping in the same futon?!"
"He was…sleeping in another room…before we went to sleep," Asuka said looking to her side and held her arm. Misato had a displeased face then looked at Rei. She was shaking making her convinced that the Third Child did do something to them.
"…why…" Rei said quietly trying to not raise her voice. Her chest felt as if it was burning and her mind was trying to figure out what Asuka was doing. It caused the Captain to think that the male pilot took advantage of them.
"…why…" Rei said again standing up. Both Asuka and Misato saw the First Child's shaking. Her hands were in fists while her head was still downcast. Looking up, both of them blinked in surprise from the intense emotion she was expressing.
'That's not from being violated,' Misato thought hoping the First Child wasn't going to pop.
"Why are you lying Pilot Soryu?" Ayanami asked looking at the other female pilot with hot anger on her face. The red eyes made her look threatening.
"I…I'm not lying!" Asuka fired back.
"I offered him that futon to sleep in…why did you leave your room to try and kiss him in his sleep?!" Rei said with an elevated voice.
"I-I-I didn't!" Asuka with her face turning red and an irritation came on her face. "You were the one that asked him to comfort you! You slipped into his futon wearing nothing but that dress shirt you skank!"
"…" Rei started showing her teeth in anger at the other female pilot. "Is that why you slipped in afterwards to stay warm?"
"…you…you bitch!" Asuka shouted fully red in the face.
"STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!" Misato said slamming her hands on the table grabbing both pilots attention. Pen-Pen jumped a little from the sudden loud sound. Looking at his owner, she didn't have a pleasant look on her face.
"Both of you calm down! What the heck is wrong with you two?"
"…sorry…" Asuka said and looked at the floor.
"…I am sorry Captain…I lost my temper," Rei said bowing a little.
"Alright," Misato said putting a hand on her head feeling the headache brewing there. "I want clear answers of what happened that night. I am not in the mood for any of this right now. Is that clear?"
"Yes ma'am," both responded at the same time.
"Good. Now-!?" the Captain was about to say when three separate slow knocks came at the entrance door. All three women recognized who the person was and froze. The penguin felt better knowing that the male butler was here.
'Why is Shinji here?!' Misato thought panicking a little. Looking at the calendar, it was Friday and in the evening. Nobody moved initially then Rei turned around. She started walking toward the door when Asuka immediately stood in front of her.
"What are you doing?! You crazy!?" the red-head whispered.
"It is Ikari's weekly visit."
"I'm not letting you open that door for that psycho."
"…" Rei blinked then thought of something instead of pushing her out of the way.
"Do you cook?"
"No."
'Male butler does,' Pen-Pen thought finding his beer empty from the couch.
"Do you clean?"
"…not really," the red-head still not moving.
'Male butler again,' the penguin thought changing the channel on the TV to a game show.
"Do you do laundry?"
"…hey…"
'What is male butler for 200,' Pen-pen thought hitting an imaginary buzzer.
"Do you do repairs?"
"…stop it…" Asuka said a little louder in irritation.
'You call the male butler to fix it,' he thought. Clicking the remote, it suddenly wasn't working. Looking at it and seeing that his beer was empty, he looked over to see that the women were still arguing. He slowly got off the couch and took the initiative.
"Do you do translation for Pen-Pen?"
"That's not even a factor!" Asuka said frowning.
'Male butler does,' the penguin thought waddling towards the bathroom. The three women looked at where he was going then turned back to each other.
"Do you do bartending?" Rei asked glancing behind at the Captain.
"…" Misato said putting her head in her hands and groaned.
'Guess if I need something done, I got to do it within my means,' Pen-Pen thought reaching the front door.
"What's your point Wondergirl?"
"Unless we can do all the tasks that Ikari can do without increasing the Captain's monthly expenses, then not accepting his service would put a strain on all of us. It would also make gathering information more difficult," Rei said. All three heard the front door open and they jumped a little.
"Thank you Mr. Pen-Pen, how are you this evening?" Shinji said from down the hallway.
"Wark wark-wark-wark." (Ladies are fighting and I have a couple of requests).
"That sounds troubling sir. Hopefully they can resolve it calmly…wouldn't you agree?"
"…!?" all three women flinched hearing that phrase.
"Once I am ready, I will see to your requests sir," the male pilot said slowly closing the door.
Pen-Pen nodded and started waddling back. The three women listened for the door to close. They only heard the lock mechanism of the front door engaged. It sounded louder than normal setting their nerves on alert.