SpaceBar Adventures III: The One with an Intro
a fanfic by James Evangelista (jemu99@yahoo.com)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Nadesico characters that appear in this story. Neither do I own any Evangelion characters that may take part in this work.Jemu and Evang are my characters, made for this fic.
[INTRO SEQUENCE: Camera zooms from outside of solar system. Viewers can tell that it's Sol because of the number of planets and the yellow star in the middle of it all. Zoom in to Pluto, then to Jupiter, Mars, and finally Earth. As the blue planet rotates, something rectangular emerges from the Earth's other side, apparently orbiting the planet. Camera zooms in, and focuses on a glowing neon green sign: The SpaceBar. Hold for 2 seconds, then fade to black.]
*******************************
Akito: So, how did you find me?
Yurika: Well, it's kind of weird. I don't know if you'll believe it or not.
[The two are in bed, with Yurika lying on top of Akito. Both are bare from the waist up. A white sheet, as well as Yurika's long, blue hair cover their lower halves.]
Akito: Of course I'll believe you.
Yurika: It was a dream. It was dark everywhere, and I was looking for you. All of a sudden, Ruri appeared with a what seemed at the time to be her younger sister. I now know that it was probably Lapis. I walked over to her, and asked what she was doing in my dream. She told me that she was looking for you, and Lapis made contact with her to help. The red candles appeared at that point-
Akito: Candles? (laughing) No way I would have figured out that you were that kinky, Yurika. You told me you've changed, but that much?
Yurika: I'm not. (pinches Akito's side throught the sheet that was covering both of them. Akito winces, then grins.)
Akito: Sorry. You were saying about candles? (tries hard not to grin, but fails)
Yurika: (sighing) Anyway, these red candles appeared on either side of the three of us. More of them appeared, illuminating a path. We followed it, and it led to a man in red robes.
Akito: Let me guess. Our bartender's friendly telekinetic psychopath, right?
Yurika: Yes, now that you mentioned it, it was probably him. Anyway, he told us that our search would soon be over. I woke up then, with the videophone ringing. It was Ruri, and she told me that she knew where you were. It was at that point that I felt a strange Boson jump trace, and when I tried to look closer thoughts of you flooded my mind.
Akito: I knew something weird had happened. I was trying to jump back to Lapis, and suddenly I found myself in the lounge. There was this other customer and the Bartender. I asked him where I was, and he told me that he'd talk to me later, as he was busy doing an inventory of his stock.
So I waited, and you found me.
Yurika: Didn't it seem odd to you that you could move and fight at the time?
Akito: No. Back then I could still feel Lapis faintly, and I thought it was just the distance between us. Then the fight started. I sort of forgot about her.
[Silence. Then Yurika gets out of the bed, making fanboys get nosebleeds or faint upon seeing her nude form. A slightly diferent reaction is seen on Akito, still on the bed.]
Akito: What gives?
Yurika: We can talk more about this when we get back home. I don't like the idea of SOME PEOPLE listening and possibly looking in as we speak. Come on, get dressed, Akito. We're going up. (Starts putting her underwear on)
Akito: (muttering) I'm already up.
Yurika: Did you say something?
Akito: Nothing. Hand me my shirt will you?
******************************************
[The lounge. The bar has been fixed, all traces of a fight gone. The Bartender is talking to someone through a pop-up vidscreen, while a man in red robes is keeping Ines Fressange, blonde genius, company.]
Jemu: Look, you're on borrowed time, so make your question fast. I've no intention of doing another episode II just because you asked for it.
Anonymous Reader: How did Yurika travel on the Nadesico without knowing Lapis was on board?
Jemu: Uh, well, she Boson jumped aboard. Yeah, that's it.
[another screen pops up.]
Anon Reader 2: How could Lapis, Yurika, and Ruri share the same dream?
Jemu: Well, I'd say each of them dreamed of encountering the other 2, and finally meeting the man in red at the end. And who told you to butt in, eh?
[All screens disappear suddenly. Jemu is startled, then looks around him.]
Evang: You'd better stop talking to people who keep poking their noses in, or else our little tapestry is going to end up like Swiss cheese.
Jemu: Thanks.
Evang: Tapestry into Swiss cheese. That would make it a CHEESECLOTH, right? Hehehehehe.
Ines: You said you have someone I'd be interested in meeting. Where is he?
Jemu: It's a she, and she'll be here in a few minutes. (Opens a pop-up) Yo, you still alive in the hangar?
Seiya: Yes.
Shinji: Just fine.
Jemu: Shinji, I need you up here for a few minutes. Leave the old man to his work, he should be finishing now.
Seiya: Old man!? I'll get you for that you lousy excuse for a -
[Jemu terminates the conversation, and the screen diappears. The turbolift doors open and Shinji Ikari walks in. He's still carying the canister, and looks inquiringly at the Bartender for an explanation.]
Jemu: (now in his usual place behind the bar) Someone you know is coming aboard, and I would like you to welcome her.
Evang: Here she comes now. (Gestures to the newly installed Cross Reality Transporter.)
[The Transporter, a closed, transparent tube, suddenly fills with light. The tube dematerializes halfway, and a figure steps out from the light. The light fades, and standing in front of the transporter is one of the few female geniuses in anime.]
Evang: (walks over to the new arrival) Dr. Akagi, welcome aboard the SpaceBar. (bows)
Shinji: Ritsuko-san!?
Ritsuko: (blinking) Shinji? Where are we? What's going on?
Jemu: Why, don't you take a seat over there, Dr. Akagi. (Points to Ines' table.) Shinji, be a gentleman and escort the doctor to her seat.
Shinji: Oh, okay. (Walks over to Ritsuko, and stops in front of her, flushing slightly.) This way please.
Ritsuko: Thank you. (Gives a small smile.)
[Ritsuko and Shinji are now seated at Ines' table. Ines eyes Ritsuko thoughtfully.]
Ines: Hello. My name is Ines Fressange, physicist, psychologist, and time-space jumper. These kind men (geturing to Evang and Jemu) promised me some intlelligent conversation, but I must say you're quite a surprise.
Ritsuko: I'm Ritsuko Akagi, physicist, computer designer, chemist, biologist, genetics expert. I'd say that it's my pleasure meeting you, but that might be interpreted as something else by some people. (Gestures to Evang and Jemu).
[Both blonde scientists meet the other's eye, and suddenly a smile appears on both of their lips. Shinji, noticing a change in the air or something, decides to sweat a little.]
Jemu: Why do I get the feeling that there's going to be a lot of technobabble about to be spilled across the floor?
Evang: Something wicked this way comes. (Vanishes from sight.)
Jemu: Huh? Where'd he go?
[The hammerspace trapdoor decides then to make an appearance. It announced its entry with the usual BANG! and Akito climbs out, carrying Yurika in his arms. He's humming the chorus of "You Get To Burning" as he does so. He stops when he notices the people in the lounge.]
Akito: Hello, everyone.
Yurika: Konichiwa! (flashes a V with one hand, the other holding on to Akito)
Jemu: It's the night cycle on the station.
Yurika: Oh. Not that it matters anyway. (Gets down from Akito's carry.)
Akito: Ines, I'd like to ask you- Hey who's that? Your cousin?
Ines: (faces Ritsuko, who returns her smile) No, this is Dr. Ritsuko Akagi, a friend of Shinji.
Ritsuko, this is Akito Tenkawa, and that's his ditz of a wife, Yurika.
Yurika: Hey! (starts to storm her way toward Ines but is stopped by Akito.)
Akito: (whispering to Yurika) We need her in a good mood, if we're going to get all these weird stuff explained.
Yurika: (whispering back) You're right.
Akito: Anyway, Ines I'd-
[A large vidscreen pops up. We see that Ruri is on it, as well as Lapis. The two are standing on the bridge of the Nadesico C.]
Lapis: Akito! You had me worried sick!
Akito: Sorry about that, Lapis. I was supposed to get back to you, but I got wayLAID.
[Everybody on the station grins. The little electronic fairy just looks askance.]
Yurika: (whispering) Is that Lapis beside Ruri?
Akito: (whispers back) Yes, that's her.
Yurika: The resemblance is... striking, to say the least.
[Meanwhile, both blondes are conversing in a low voice.]
Ritsuko: They're not clones, are they?
Ines: As far as I know, they're not.
Shinji: (butting in) I thought NERV had the monopoly on cloning, Dr. Akagi.
Ritsuko: Well -
Shinji: On second thought, I really don't want to know.
Ritsuko: Good for you, Shinji.
Akito: Anyway, I can't leave yet, Lapis. There are still some matters that need to be resolved, some questions left unanswered.
Ruri: I thought Yurika had just been in the sack with you?
Akito: (shocked) Uh...
Yurika: (flushing slightly) Ruri, what made you think that?
Ruri: Do you really want to know?
Readers: YES, WE WANT TO KNOW!
Ruri: Never mind.
Lapis: Akito, why can't I feel you anymore?
Akito: That's what were trying to establish.
Jemu: That's why I had some people from NERV come over. (Indicates Shinji and Ritsuko.) Right now, Ines is talking with Dr. Akagi. Would you like to listen in?
Lapis & Ruri: Yes please.
Lapis: Why can't I feel you anymore Akito?
Jemu: It's probably due to the high level of authoring particles in the air inside the SpaceBar. Doctors? Your thoughts?
Ines: YOur ChronoGap cloud which prevented Akito from Boson jumping away, was it energy-based or particle-based?
Jemu: Mostly energy, why?
Ines: I find it hard to connect high energy clouds and sudden sensory-synaptic realignment.
Ritsuko: I, on the other hand, think it's more than this 'cloud' you people are talking of. What is Bosun jumping, anyway?
Ines: Well, simply put, Boson jumping is traveling instantaneously to any given set of coordinates of space-time.
Ritsuko: Like Teleportation?
Ines: Not exactly. Boson jumpers can travel along the flow of time, sometimes reappearing about 20 or so years into the future.
Ritsuko: (doubtful) I see. I suppose it shouldn't be too hard for me to believe, considering the things I've dealt with. What's this thing about Akito and Lapis?
Akito: I suffered some sort of sensation blocking when the Jovians experimented on me. They cut off, so to speak, my sense of smell and taste and impaired my tactile faculties to "eliminate possible distractions" and enhance my performance as a Boson jump computer. I was able to escape because of Lapis.
Ritsuko: So she became your nose, and skin.
Lapis: Well, not really. I could taste what he was eating, and I told him what I was tasting.
Ritsuko: So he can't really taste anything, you just told him what he was supoosed to be tasting:
Lapis: There is no just about it, Doctor.
Ritsuko: I beg your pardon. So, is that all you're concerned about, Lapis? Or are there more?
Lapis: Well, I can't "read" his thoughts anymore, not even when I stare at him.
Ritsuko: Telepathy?
Ines: I think it's through Akito's and Lapis' IFS implants that information flows between them.
Ritsuko: Huh?
Ines: Let's see. IFS process implants a bunch of nanomachines into a human, allowing them better control over machines. Akito has his to pilot Aestivalis battle suits and vehicles. Ruri has hers to interface with the ship's computer. Lapis is special. She can interface with cybernetics, computers, and if she is to be believed, humans with IFS nanomachines as well.
Lapis: I am telling the truth. (tears begin to well up in her golden eyes.)
Ines: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were lying, child. How could Akito be alive and well if you were lying?
Ritsuko: (softly) How indeed? (in a normal voice) I can't tell much here, but I think it would help us a lot if we were in a properly equipped laboratory.
Jemu: You'd also be able to tell how Shinji creamed me with an AT Field and Akito with a Distortion field?
Ritsuko: So that's the source of the AT Field we detected a few days ago. (Looks at Shinji, who tries to slide under the table.) The AT Field is no big surprise; every living soul has it. I don't know what a distortion field is, though.
Ines: It's a defensive field that uses gravity to bend incoming energy and matter attacks. It is less efficient against solid projectiles and gravity-based attacks, though.
Ritsuko: Gravity, huh? (Looks at shinji, then at Akito.) Hmmm.
[Silence falls, and is flat on the floor. After picking itself up and disappearing quietly, Akito speaks up.]
Akito: So we need to go to Tokyo-3, and this NERV group will help?
Ritsuko: We'll try. Commander Ikari is always on the lookout for... situations like these.
Yurika: Commander Ikari? (glances at Shinji.)
[Shinji turns away. Yurika looks to Ritsuko for an explanation.]
Ritsuko: Shinji's father is Commander Gendo Ikari, Supreme Commander of NERV.
Yurika: (to Shinji) Hey, there's nothing to be ashamed of, Shinji. My father is an oficial too, an Admiral. Your father can't be that bad.
Shinji: Oh really? Well, you'll find out for yourselves when we get back to the Geofront.
Akito: What exactly is NERV?
Ritsuko: It's a highly influential agency that can help you greatly. That's all I'm saying.
Akito: Wow, you sound just like Mr. Holy.
Ruri: And you want the Nadesico C to take all of you back to Earth?
Jemu: If it isn't too much to ask. Although business has never picked up like this, I think some people will want to talk some more. (Nods to the 2 doctors, and the Tenkawas and both golden-eyed girls.)
Ruri: You're right. I'll take them aboard.
Lapis: Is Akito coming here with us?
Ruri: (Puts both hands on Lapis' shoulders) Yes. You want to meet Yurika as well, don't you?
Lapis: I guess.
[An irate Seiya pops up on another viewscreen.]
Seiya: I'm done here. Where's the beer?
Jemu: Were you really stressed out that much by that robot, Uri-P? Maybe you're getting along in your years.
Seiya: You wait for me, you little -
[Jemu deactivates Seiya's screen.]
Evang: (materializes in front of the bar) Is it over? Is it?
Jemu: Yes. You don't need fear your brain will freeze up trying to follow the conversation.
Evang: Hey! That actually hurt! Du Schweinhund!
Jemu: (grinning like a dog that just spotted an unguarded steak) Consider it payback for last episode.
[Seiya walks in. He does not look pleased. He in fact looks like he's just seen a ghost.]
Evang: Uri-P? What's wrong?
Seiya: Puh-puh-purple ro-robot...
Shinji: What! (rushes to him) What happened, please, tell me!
Seiya: (accepting a glass filled halfway with a white liquid) It moved...
Evang: Without a pilot? Shinji was here the entire time!
Jemu: And how would you know that?
Evang: I just do.
Shinji: Well, it does that sometimes.
[Evang and Seiya face Shinji, looking at him as if he had just said that he was actually a girl trapped within a wimpy boy's body.]
Seiya: Son of a b-
Jemu: Hey you! There are ladies around, in case you didn't notice? (Inclining his head toward Ritsuko.)
Seiya: (getting a rising sun background and a huge grin across his face) Well so there are. (Makes his way toward the Doctors' table.)
Evang: (to no one in particular) Five will get you twenty, he's going to be bombed out by the blonde.
Shinji: We can't wager if we all agree on the outcome.
Evang: Still have that canister, boy?
Shinji: Yes. Here it is. (Takes it out.)
Evang: (in a low voice) Good. Make sure your father gets it. Don't even show it to Dr. Akagi, or even your housemates. Don't even talk about it, okay?
Shinji: (replying in the same way) What is so damn important about this canister, anyway?
Evang: (whispering) Don't you know? It's the key to episode 4!
a fanfic by James Evangelista (jemu99@yahoo.com)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Nadesico characters that appear in this story. Neither do I own any Evangelion characters that may take part in this work.Jemu and Evang are my characters, made for this fic.
[INTRO SEQUENCE: Camera zooms from outside of solar system. Viewers can tell that it's Sol because of the number of planets and the yellow star in the middle of it all. Zoom in to Pluto, then to Jupiter, Mars, and finally Earth. As the blue planet rotates, something rectangular emerges from the Earth's other side, apparently orbiting the planet. Camera zooms in, and focuses on a glowing neon green sign: The SpaceBar. Hold for 2 seconds, then fade to black.]
*******************************
Akito: So, how did you find me?
Yurika: Well, it's kind of weird. I don't know if you'll believe it or not.
[The two are in bed, with Yurika lying on top of Akito. Both are bare from the waist up. A white sheet, as well as Yurika's long, blue hair cover their lower halves.]
Akito: Of course I'll believe you.
Yurika: It was a dream. It was dark everywhere, and I was looking for you. All of a sudden, Ruri appeared with a what seemed at the time to be her younger sister. I now know that it was probably Lapis. I walked over to her, and asked what she was doing in my dream. She told me that she was looking for you, and Lapis made contact with her to help. The red candles appeared at that point-
Akito: Candles? (laughing) No way I would have figured out that you were that kinky, Yurika. You told me you've changed, but that much?
Yurika: I'm not. (pinches Akito's side throught the sheet that was covering both of them. Akito winces, then grins.)
Akito: Sorry. You were saying about candles? (tries hard not to grin, but fails)
Yurika: (sighing) Anyway, these red candles appeared on either side of the three of us. More of them appeared, illuminating a path. We followed it, and it led to a man in red robes.
Akito: Let me guess. Our bartender's friendly telekinetic psychopath, right?
Yurika: Yes, now that you mentioned it, it was probably him. Anyway, he told us that our search would soon be over. I woke up then, with the videophone ringing. It was Ruri, and she told me that she knew where you were. It was at that point that I felt a strange Boson jump trace, and when I tried to look closer thoughts of you flooded my mind.
Akito: I knew something weird had happened. I was trying to jump back to Lapis, and suddenly I found myself in the lounge. There was this other customer and the Bartender. I asked him where I was, and he told me that he'd talk to me later, as he was busy doing an inventory of his stock.
So I waited, and you found me.
Yurika: Didn't it seem odd to you that you could move and fight at the time?
Akito: No. Back then I could still feel Lapis faintly, and I thought it was just the distance between us. Then the fight started. I sort of forgot about her.
[Silence. Then Yurika gets out of the bed, making fanboys get nosebleeds or faint upon seeing her nude form. A slightly diferent reaction is seen on Akito, still on the bed.]
Akito: What gives?
Yurika: We can talk more about this when we get back home. I don't like the idea of SOME PEOPLE listening and possibly looking in as we speak. Come on, get dressed, Akito. We're going up. (Starts putting her underwear on)
Akito: (muttering) I'm already up.
Yurika: Did you say something?
Akito: Nothing. Hand me my shirt will you?
******************************************
[The lounge. The bar has been fixed, all traces of a fight gone. The Bartender is talking to someone through a pop-up vidscreen, while a man in red robes is keeping Ines Fressange, blonde genius, company.]
Jemu: Look, you're on borrowed time, so make your question fast. I've no intention of doing another episode II just because you asked for it.
Anonymous Reader: How did Yurika travel on the Nadesico without knowing Lapis was on board?
Jemu: Uh, well, she Boson jumped aboard. Yeah, that's it.
[another screen pops up.]
Anon Reader 2: How could Lapis, Yurika, and Ruri share the same dream?
Jemu: Well, I'd say each of them dreamed of encountering the other 2, and finally meeting the man in red at the end. And who told you to butt in, eh?
[All screens disappear suddenly. Jemu is startled, then looks around him.]
Evang: You'd better stop talking to people who keep poking their noses in, or else our little tapestry is going to end up like Swiss cheese.
Jemu: Thanks.
Evang: Tapestry into Swiss cheese. That would make it a CHEESECLOTH, right? Hehehehehe.
Ines: You said you have someone I'd be interested in meeting. Where is he?
Jemu: It's a she, and she'll be here in a few minutes. (Opens a pop-up) Yo, you still alive in the hangar?
Seiya: Yes.
Shinji: Just fine.
Jemu: Shinji, I need you up here for a few minutes. Leave the old man to his work, he should be finishing now.
Seiya: Old man!? I'll get you for that you lousy excuse for a -
[Jemu terminates the conversation, and the screen diappears. The turbolift doors open and Shinji Ikari walks in. He's still carying the canister, and looks inquiringly at the Bartender for an explanation.]
Jemu: (now in his usual place behind the bar) Someone you know is coming aboard, and I would like you to welcome her.
Evang: Here she comes now. (Gestures to the newly installed Cross Reality Transporter.)
[The Transporter, a closed, transparent tube, suddenly fills with light. The tube dematerializes halfway, and a figure steps out from the light. The light fades, and standing in front of the transporter is one of the few female geniuses in anime.]
Evang: (walks over to the new arrival) Dr. Akagi, welcome aboard the SpaceBar. (bows)
Shinji: Ritsuko-san!?
Ritsuko: (blinking) Shinji? Where are we? What's going on?
Jemu: Why, don't you take a seat over there, Dr. Akagi. (Points to Ines' table.) Shinji, be a gentleman and escort the doctor to her seat.
Shinji: Oh, okay. (Walks over to Ritsuko, and stops in front of her, flushing slightly.) This way please.
Ritsuko: Thank you. (Gives a small smile.)
[Ritsuko and Shinji are now seated at Ines' table. Ines eyes Ritsuko thoughtfully.]
Ines: Hello. My name is Ines Fressange, physicist, psychologist, and time-space jumper. These kind men (geturing to Evang and Jemu) promised me some intlelligent conversation, but I must say you're quite a surprise.
Ritsuko: I'm Ritsuko Akagi, physicist, computer designer, chemist, biologist, genetics expert. I'd say that it's my pleasure meeting you, but that might be interpreted as something else by some people. (Gestures to Evang and Jemu).
[Both blonde scientists meet the other's eye, and suddenly a smile appears on both of their lips. Shinji, noticing a change in the air or something, decides to sweat a little.]
Jemu: Why do I get the feeling that there's going to be a lot of technobabble about to be spilled across the floor?
Evang: Something wicked this way comes. (Vanishes from sight.)
Jemu: Huh? Where'd he go?
[The hammerspace trapdoor decides then to make an appearance. It announced its entry with the usual BANG! and Akito climbs out, carrying Yurika in his arms. He's humming the chorus of "You Get To Burning" as he does so. He stops when he notices the people in the lounge.]
Akito: Hello, everyone.
Yurika: Konichiwa! (flashes a V with one hand, the other holding on to Akito)
Jemu: It's the night cycle on the station.
Yurika: Oh. Not that it matters anyway. (Gets down from Akito's carry.)
Akito: Ines, I'd like to ask you- Hey who's that? Your cousin?
Ines: (faces Ritsuko, who returns her smile) No, this is Dr. Ritsuko Akagi, a friend of Shinji.
Ritsuko, this is Akito Tenkawa, and that's his ditz of a wife, Yurika.
Yurika: Hey! (starts to storm her way toward Ines but is stopped by Akito.)
Akito: (whispering to Yurika) We need her in a good mood, if we're going to get all these weird stuff explained.
Yurika: (whispering back) You're right.
Akito: Anyway, Ines I'd-
[A large vidscreen pops up. We see that Ruri is on it, as well as Lapis. The two are standing on the bridge of the Nadesico C.]
Lapis: Akito! You had me worried sick!
Akito: Sorry about that, Lapis. I was supposed to get back to you, but I got wayLAID.
[Everybody on the station grins. The little electronic fairy just looks askance.]
Yurika: (whispering) Is that Lapis beside Ruri?
Akito: (whispers back) Yes, that's her.
Yurika: The resemblance is... striking, to say the least.
[Meanwhile, both blondes are conversing in a low voice.]
Ritsuko: They're not clones, are they?
Ines: As far as I know, they're not.
Shinji: (butting in) I thought NERV had the monopoly on cloning, Dr. Akagi.
Ritsuko: Well -
Shinji: On second thought, I really don't want to know.
Ritsuko: Good for you, Shinji.
Akito: Anyway, I can't leave yet, Lapis. There are still some matters that need to be resolved, some questions left unanswered.
Ruri: I thought Yurika had just been in the sack with you?
Akito: (shocked) Uh...
Yurika: (flushing slightly) Ruri, what made you think that?
Ruri: Do you really want to know?
Readers: YES, WE WANT TO KNOW!
Ruri: Never mind.
Lapis: Akito, why can't I feel you anymore?
Akito: That's what were trying to establish.
Jemu: That's why I had some people from NERV come over. (Indicates Shinji and Ritsuko.) Right now, Ines is talking with Dr. Akagi. Would you like to listen in?
Lapis & Ruri: Yes please.
Lapis: Why can't I feel you anymore Akito?
Jemu: It's probably due to the high level of authoring particles in the air inside the SpaceBar. Doctors? Your thoughts?
Ines: YOur ChronoGap cloud which prevented Akito from Boson jumping away, was it energy-based or particle-based?
Jemu: Mostly energy, why?
Ines: I find it hard to connect high energy clouds and sudden sensory-synaptic realignment.
Ritsuko: I, on the other hand, think it's more than this 'cloud' you people are talking of. What is Bosun jumping, anyway?
Ines: Well, simply put, Boson jumping is traveling instantaneously to any given set of coordinates of space-time.
Ritsuko: Like Teleportation?
Ines: Not exactly. Boson jumpers can travel along the flow of time, sometimes reappearing about 20 or so years into the future.
Ritsuko: (doubtful) I see. I suppose it shouldn't be too hard for me to believe, considering the things I've dealt with. What's this thing about Akito and Lapis?
Akito: I suffered some sort of sensation blocking when the Jovians experimented on me. They cut off, so to speak, my sense of smell and taste and impaired my tactile faculties to "eliminate possible distractions" and enhance my performance as a Boson jump computer. I was able to escape because of Lapis.
Ritsuko: So she became your nose, and skin.
Lapis: Well, not really. I could taste what he was eating, and I told him what I was tasting.
Ritsuko: So he can't really taste anything, you just told him what he was supoosed to be tasting:
Lapis: There is no just about it, Doctor.
Ritsuko: I beg your pardon. So, is that all you're concerned about, Lapis? Or are there more?
Lapis: Well, I can't "read" his thoughts anymore, not even when I stare at him.
Ritsuko: Telepathy?
Ines: I think it's through Akito's and Lapis' IFS implants that information flows between them.
Ritsuko: Huh?
Ines: Let's see. IFS process implants a bunch of nanomachines into a human, allowing them better control over machines. Akito has his to pilot Aestivalis battle suits and vehicles. Ruri has hers to interface with the ship's computer. Lapis is special. She can interface with cybernetics, computers, and if she is to be believed, humans with IFS nanomachines as well.
Lapis: I am telling the truth. (tears begin to well up in her golden eyes.)
Ines: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were lying, child. How could Akito be alive and well if you were lying?
Ritsuko: (softly) How indeed? (in a normal voice) I can't tell much here, but I think it would help us a lot if we were in a properly equipped laboratory.
Jemu: You'd also be able to tell how Shinji creamed me with an AT Field and Akito with a Distortion field?
Ritsuko: So that's the source of the AT Field we detected a few days ago. (Looks at Shinji, who tries to slide under the table.) The AT Field is no big surprise; every living soul has it. I don't know what a distortion field is, though.
Ines: It's a defensive field that uses gravity to bend incoming energy and matter attacks. It is less efficient against solid projectiles and gravity-based attacks, though.
Ritsuko: Gravity, huh? (Looks at shinji, then at Akito.) Hmmm.
[Silence falls, and is flat on the floor. After picking itself up and disappearing quietly, Akito speaks up.]
Akito: So we need to go to Tokyo-3, and this NERV group will help?
Ritsuko: We'll try. Commander Ikari is always on the lookout for... situations like these.
Yurika: Commander Ikari? (glances at Shinji.)
[Shinji turns away. Yurika looks to Ritsuko for an explanation.]
Ritsuko: Shinji's father is Commander Gendo Ikari, Supreme Commander of NERV.
Yurika: (to Shinji) Hey, there's nothing to be ashamed of, Shinji. My father is an oficial too, an Admiral. Your father can't be that bad.
Shinji: Oh really? Well, you'll find out for yourselves when we get back to the Geofront.
Akito: What exactly is NERV?
Ritsuko: It's a highly influential agency that can help you greatly. That's all I'm saying.
Akito: Wow, you sound just like Mr. Holy.
Ruri: And you want the Nadesico C to take all of you back to Earth?
Jemu: If it isn't too much to ask. Although business has never picked up like this, I think some people will want to talk some more. (Nods to the 2 doctors, and the Tenkawas and both golden-eyed girls.)
Ruri: You're right. I'll take them aboard.
Lapis: Is Akito coming here with us?
Ruri: (Puts both hands on Lapis' shoulders) Yes. You want to meet Yurika as well, don't you?
Lapis: I guess.
[An irate Seiya pops up on another viewscreen.]
Seiya: I'm done here. Where's the beer?
Jemu: Were you really stressed out that much by that robot, Uri-P? Maybe you're getting along in your years.
Seiya: You wait for me, you little -
[Jemu deactivates Seiya's screen.]
Evang: (materializes in front of the bar) Is it over? Is it?
Jemu: Yes. You don't need fear your brain will freeze up trying to follow the conversation.
Evang: Hey! That actually hurt! Du Schweinhund!
Jemu: (grinning like a dog that just spotted an unguarded steak) Consider it payback for last episode.
[Seiya walks in. He does not look pleased. He in fact looks like he's just seen a ghost.]
Evang: Uri-P? What's wrong?
Seiya: Puh-puh-purple ro-robot...
Shinji: What! (rushes to him) What happened, please, tell me!
Seiya: (accepting a glass filled halfway with a white liquid) It moved...
Evang: Without a pilot? Shinji was here the entire time!
Jemu: And how would you know that?
Evang: I just do.
Shinji: Well, it does that sometimes.
[Evang and Seiya face Shinji, looking at him as if he had just said that he was actually a girl trapped within a wimpy boy's body.]
Seiya: Son of a b-
Jemu: Hey you! There are ladies around, in case you didn't notice? (Inclining his head toward Ritsuko.)
Seiya: (getting a rising sun background and a huge grin across his face) Well so there are. (Makes his way toward the Doctors' table.)
Evang: (to no one in particular) Five will get you twenty, he's going to be bombed out by the blonde.
Shinji: We can't wager if we all agree on the outcome.
Evang: Still have that canister, boy?
Shinji: Yes. Here it is. (Takes it out.)
Evang: (in a low voice) Good. Make sure your father gets it. Don't even show it to Dr. Akagi, or even your housemates. Don't even talk about it, okay?
Shinji: (replying in the same way) What is so damn important about this canister, anyway?
Evang: (whispering) Don't you know? It's the key to episode 4!