Disclaimer: this FF doesn´t contain any self-insert characters.
Chapter 03 - "Who is there?"
Commander Gendo Ikari´s bureau
"Ritsuko, what is the EVAs´ current state?"
Ritsuko Akagi shivered a bit. Commander Ikari only used her first name when noone else
was around. The cold within his voice gave her name a strange missound. She looked at
her notices to hide her impressions.
"EVA-01 and -02 have suffered no damaged, alas, we will have to replace some of unit
zero´s armor, anything will be regenerated by the unit itself. EVA-04 has suffered light
damage within the reinforced leg-joints due to the impact, but this has been mostly
regenerated already. But I have to mention some error within the construction."
"Speak."
"The entryplug can´t be removed completly and the hatch is slightly deformed. I guess
it happened due to the hurry the unit had to be completed in. It won´t be possible to
use a dummyplug with unit four for the next time. A reading of the data gave me the
impression that the reactions are by far too slower compared to the other units."
"The reason?"
"Larsen is unable to completly synch, it´s a miracle that EVA-04 accepts his commands."
"We are already looking for a replacement. Have the MAGI calculate if the diffences in
construction have an additional influence on the synchronisation."
***
EVA-testcenter
Shinji looked at the deep black EVA-04 unit with the red stripes.
The lights were mirrored within the tri-polymer-titaniumarmor as was as his face.
EVA-04 wasn´t as big as the other other but broader, like an old heavyweight boxer who
was waiting for his opponent.
If there might be a connection to the pilot?
The plug´s entryhatch was open, that was an unusual thing, usually a plug wouldn´t be
inside it´s EVA without a pilot within. - An error of construction as Shinji had heard.
"What are you waiting for?" Doctor Akagi asked.
He looked up.
"Gomen."
He wore his plugsuit, synchtests were scheduled that now were also involving EVA-04 since
each of them should be able to pilot any other unit - with the exceptions of Asuka
and EVA-02.
Hurrying he entered the narrow entryplug that was nearly completly filled by the pilotseat,
the seats and the controlls.
There´s more space within the other plug... he thought while squeezing around the
seat. Behind him the hatch was closed.
"Are you ready?" Misato asked via radio. She, Akagi, Rei and Asuka were at the command-
room of the testarea.
"Uhm, yes."
"And here comes the LCL."
He reached for the controlls.
"Synchtest started!"
The EVA did not react.
Shinji blinked.
There was... nothing... no answer at his thoughts, no reaction, no echo.
"Shinji, is something wrong?"
"Ah, I don´t know. It´s unusual... silent."
"Synchtest abborted."
The LCL redrew.
***
"Why doesn´t he synchronize?" Ritsuko mumbled and stared at her screen. Not one synaps-
link had been joined.
"Probably he´s afraid. It´s not his EVA-01." Asuka said gleefully.
"He hasn´t had any problems with unit zero." Rei said softly.
Asuka threw her a look. "Oh, yes, I remember. ´It smells like Ayanami.´ That pervert.
Who knows what he is smelling right now."
"You can go and find out, Asuka." Misato interrupted the redhead and pointed at the
EVA unit on the other side of the window.
"No problem!"
Asuka stormed into the hangar, doing gestures as if she was pushing her plugsuit´s
sleeves upwards.
***
Shinji was just leaving the plug after two techs had helped opening the hatch.
"What have you done again?" Asuka shouted from afar, just stepping onto the catwalk.
"Uh. Nothing, EVA-04 just did not react. Gomen."
"Ah, Dummkopf, let me try!" She pushed him aside and climbed into the plug.
(trans.: Dummkopf = Idiot)
***
"Control rewritten for pilot Langley. Initiate test sequence."
She concentrated. Her EVA-02 reacted after all the training nearly at once at her commands,
but this time, with EVA-04... nothing happened. And that made her angry.
"So it has to be force!"
She reach for the controls. - that didn´t move an inch.
"Stupid machine, move!"
Why should I?
With a startled ´Iiiip´ she let go of the controls and jumped backwards into the seat.
"What was that?"
"Asuka, everything alright?" Misato asked.
"Whom are you talking to?" Akagi asked.
Asuka looked around inside the plug. She was alone - of course - there wasn´t enough
room for another person.
They will think that I am crazy.
"N-nobody, everything´s okay." she mumbled.
"You just had a synch of about 5%, try again!"
"Good."
She was nervous, something was wrong with the EVA unit.
Slowly she reached for the controls again while trying to connect to the EVA conscious
again.
"Move!"
O-kay.
This time she did not jump up, did not scream since she came to the conclusion that it
was the EVA itself that answered. She had connected to it other in an other way than
planed.
Who are you? she formulated her thoughts.
EVA-04, constructed at the German NERV-branch, Hamburg-2, New Germany.
Some technical informations followed, then the day of it´s first activation.
Assigned Pilot: Lieutenant Wolf Larsen... Identifying new pilot: Asuka Soryu Langley.
Checking authorisation...
That must be some kind of security protocol. EVA-02 has never talked to me...
Asuka Soryu Langley, Second Children, assigned pilot of EVA-02, member of NERV.
Limited access granted.
What does that mean again?
Hardware-configuration inadequate for granting further access.
Then the EVA´s voice fell silent again.
On the other hand Asuka was now able to move the controls, alas, EVA-04 didn´t react at
her mental commands.
EVA-04 started moving within it´s cage, the left hand formed a fist, three progressive-
blades grew from the back of the hand. The fist was opened again, the claws sprung back
into the hand. Thel ower arm was raised, index and middle fingers stretched, forming a
´V´, the victory-sign.
"Ha! I did it!"
"Asuka, we stop the test."
"Yes. How was my performance?"
"Synchrate was sometimes above the 25% mark."
Asuka good mood vanished. 25% that meant something along the lines of ´We are sorry, but
the angel demolished the EVA without it raising a finger.´
"Let me out of this thing."
***
So only Rei was left, already on her way to the plug with Asuka climbing out of it.
Within her thoughts the redhead cursed the hatch but calmed down thinking that it wasn´t
her EVA and that she wouldn´t have anything to do with that %§"%"%"-thing afterwards.
Rei came towards her, eyes straight forward.
"Try to do it better, Wondergirl!" Asuka whispered when passing her.
"I will."
Why is she already doing what she is told?
***
"Rei, the controls have been rewritten for you."
"Yes."
She just sat in the pilotseat and did nothing.
The plug smells of nobody... and it is very silent... EVA-04, answer me, please.
Yes?
The other voice within her head took Rei by surprise but did not startle her, since she
was used to strange things happening.
EVA-04?
Unit EVA-04, constructed at Hamburg-02, New Germany. Assigned pilot: Lieutenant Wolf Larsen.
Identifying new pilot: Rei Ayanami, First Children, assigned pilot of EVA-00, member of NERV.
Welcome, Rei.
The mental voice had a friendly sound like the EVA was realy pleased to meet her.
Like he recognices me...?
Full access granted.
EVA-00 had never talked to her, not with words.
The next moment she felt the sensation of synching with the EVA, it´s legs becoming her´s,
it´s arms becoming her arms.
EVA-04 stretched as far as the cage permitted, eyes glowing.
***
"EVA-04 ready." Rei´s voice came out of the speakers.
"Synchrate at 78%" Misato read the screen. "Well done, Rei."
Asuka suppressed an angry scream.
And I even told her to do it!
With all control she was able to she asked: "Am I still needed?"
"No, the test is over." Ritsuko answered.
Asuka left the room, followed by Shinji.
"Uhm, Asuka..."
"Yes?" she hissed.
"I just wanted to tell you... uhm... I think you didn´t do bad, too."
"Not bad? Not bad? You... you..."
Her right hand twitched, she was about to beat him up, but then she notices that he had
only tried to be nice to her. The urge to beat somebody vanished.
"Hm... But I think it´s time for asking some questions..."
"But... whom?"
"Don´t asked such stupid question - the new pilot, of course!"
next: Asuka, Inquisitor
Chapter 03 - "Who is there?"
Commander Gendo Ikari´s bureau
"Ritsuko, what is the EVAs´ current state?"
Ritsuko Akagi shivered a bit. Commander Ikari only used her first name when noone else
was around. The cold within his voice gave her name a strange missound. She looked at
her notices to hide her impressions.
"EVA-01 and -02 have suffered no damaged, alas, we will have to replace some of unit
zero´s armor, anything will be regenerated by the unit itself. EVA-04 has suffered light
damage within the reinforced leg-joints due to the impact, but this has been mostly
regenerated already. But I have to mention some error within the construction."
"Speak."
"The entryplug can´t be removed completly and the hatch is slightly deformed. I guess
it happened due to the hurry the unit had to be completed in. It won´t be possible to
use a dummyplug with unit four for the next time. A reading of the data gave me the
impression that the reactions are by far too slower compared to the other units."
"The reason?"
"Larsen is unable to completly synch, it´s a miracle that EVA-04 accepts his commands."
"We are already looking for a replacement. Have the MAGI calculate if the diffences in
construction have an additional influence on the synchronisation."
***
EVA-testcenter
Shinji looked at the deep black EVA-04 unit with the red stripes.
The lights were mirrored within the tri-polymer-titaniumarmor as was as his face.
EVA-04 wasn´t as big as the other other but broader, like an old heavyweight boxer who
was waiting for his opponent.
If there might be a connection to the pilot?
The plug´s entryhatch was open, that was an unusual thing, usually a plug wouldn´t be
inside it´s EVA without a pilot within. - An error of construction as Shinji had heard.
"What are you waiting for?" Doctor Akagi asked.
He looked up.
"Gomen."
He wore his plugsuit, synchtests were scheduled that now were also involving EVA-04 since
each of them should be able to pilot any other unit - with the exceptions of Asuka
and EVA-02.
Hurrying he entered the narrow entryplug that was nearly completly filled by the pilotseat,
the seats and the controlls.
There´s more space within the other plug... he thought while squeezing around the
seat. Behind him the hatch was closed.
"Are you ready?" Misato asked via radio. She, Akagi, Rei and Asuka were at the command-
room of the testarea.
"Uhm, yes."
"And here comes the LCL."
He reached for the controlls.
"Synchtest started!"
The EVA did not react.
Shinji blinked.
There was... nothing... no answer at his thoughts, no reaction, no echo.
"Shinji, is something wrong?"
"Ah, I don´t know. It´s unusual... silent."
"Synchtest abborted."
The LCL redrew.
***
"Why doesn´t he synchronize?" Ritsuko mumbled and stared at her screen. Not one synaps-
link had been joined.
"Probably he´s afraid. It´s not his EVA-01." Asuka said gleefully.
"He hasn´t had any problems with unit zero." Rei said softly.
Asuka threw her a look. "Oh, yes, I remember. ´It smells like Ayanami.´ That pervert.
Who knows what he is smelling right now."
"You can go and find out, Asuka." Misato interrupted the redhead and pointed at the
EVA unit on the other side of the window.
"No problem!"
Asuka stormed into the hangar, doing gestures as if she was pushing her plugsuit´s
sleeves upwards.
***
Shinji was just leaving the plug after two techs had helped opening the hatch.
"What have you done again?" Asuka shouted from afar, just stepping onto the catwalk.
"Uh. Nothing, EVA-04 just did not react. Gomen."
"Ah, Dummkopf, let me try!" She pushed him aside and climbed into the plug.
(trans.: Dummkopf = Idiot)
***
"Control rewritten for pilot Langley. Initiate test sequence."
She concentrated. Her EVA-02 reacted after all the training nearly at once at her commands,
but this time, with EVA-04... nothing happened. And that made her angry.
"So it has to be force!"
She reach for the controls. - that didn´t move an inch.
"Stupid machine, move!"
Why should I?
With a startled ´Iiiip´ she let go of the controls and jumped backwards into the seat.
"What was that?"
"Asuka, everything alright?" Misato asked.
"Whom are you talking to?" Akagi asked.
Asuka looked around inside the plug. She was alone - of course - there wasn´t enough
room for another person.
They will think that I am crazy.
"N-nobody, everything´s okay." she mumbled.
"You just had a synch of about 5%, try again!"
"Good."
She was nervous, something was wrong with the EVA unit.
Slowly she reached for the controls again while trying to connect to the EVA conscious
again.
"Move!"
O-kay.
This time she did not jump up, did not scream since she came to the conclusion that it
was the EVA itself that answered. She had connected to it other in an other way than
planed.
Who are you? she formulated her thoughts.
EVA-04, constructed at the German NERV-branch, Hamburg-2, New Germany.
Some technical informations followed, then the day of it´s first activation.
Assigned Pilot: Lieutenant Wolf Larsen... Identifying new pilot: Asuka Soryu Langley.
Checking authorisation...
That must be some kind of security protocol. EVA-02 has never talked to me...
Asuka Soryu Langley, Second Children, assigned pilot of EVA-02, member of NERV.
Limited access granted.
What does that mean again?
Hardware-configuration inadequate for granting further access.
Then the EVA´s voice fell silent again.
On the other hand Asuka was now able to move the controls, alas, EVA-04 didn´t react at
her mental commands.
EVA-04 started moving within it´s cage, the left hand formed a fist, three progressive-
blades grew from the back of the hand. The fist was opened again, the claws sprung back
into the hand. Thel ower arm was raised, index and middle fingers stretched, forming a
´V´, the victory-sign.
"Ha! I did it!"
"Asuka, we stop the test."
"Yes. How was my performance?"
"Synchrate was sometimes above the 25% mark."
Asuka good mood vanished. 25% that meant something along the lines of ´We are sorry, but
the angel demolished the EVA without it raising a finger.´
"Let me out of this thing."
***
So only Rei was left, already on her way to the plug with Asuka climbing out of it.
Within her thoughts the redhead cursed the hatch but calmed down thinking that it wasn´t
her EVA and that she wouldn´t have anything to do with that %§"%"%"-thing afterwards.
Rei came towards her, eyes straight forward.
"Try to do it better, Wondergirl!" Asuka whispered when passing her.
"I will."
Why is she already doing what she is told?
***
"Rei, the controls have been rewritten for you."
"Yes."
She just sat in the pilotseat and did nothing.
The plug smells of nobody... and it is very silent... EVA-04, answer me, please.
Yes?
The other voice within her head took Rei by surprise but did not startle her, since she
was used to strange things happening.
EVA-04?
Unit EVA-04, constructed at Hamburg-02, New Germany. Assigned pilot: Lieutenant Wolf Larsen.
Identifying new pilot: Rei Ayanami, First Children, assigned pilot of EVA-00, member of NERV.
Welcome, Rei.
The mental voice had a friendly sound like the EVA was realy pleased to meet her.
Like he recognices me...?
Full access granted.
EVA-00 had never talked to her, not with words.
The next moment she felt the sensation of synching with the EVA, it´s legs becoming her´s,
it´s arms becoming her arms.
EVA-04 stretched as far as the cage permitted, eyes glowing.
***
"EVA-04 ready." Rei´s voice came out of the speakers.
"Synchrate at 78%" Misato read the screen. "Well done, Rei."
Asuka suppressed an angry scream.
And I even told her to do it!
With all control she was able to she asked: "Am I still needed?"
"No, the test is over." Ritsuko answered.
Asuka left the room, followed by Shinji.
"Uhm, Asuka..."
"Yes?" she hissed.
"I just wanted to tell you... uhm... I think you didn´t do bad, too."
"Not bad? Not bad? You... you..."
Her right hand twitched, she was about to beat him up, but then she notices that he had
only tried to be nice to her. The urge to beat somebody vanished.
"Hm... But I think it´s time for asking some questions..."
"But... whom?"
"Don´t asked such stupid question - the new pilot, of course!"
next: Asuka, Inquisitor