Disclaimer: See Prologue
Evangelion: Any place can be Heaven, if you let it (A Sequel to Random1377's, Crimson and Azure)
Chapter 12
Three years and eight months after Third Impact
---
(In German)
"Our very special guest today, as you all know, is the hero of the Angel Wars, none other then Germany's very own savior, Asuka Langley Souryu." Wilhelm Closter, Germany's most popular talk show host announced as he joined his live audience in enthusiastically applauding his guest.
Asuka walked onto the stage dressed in a formfitting red mini-dress with a plunging neckline and red pumps with a three-inch heel. She waved warmly at the throngs of well wishers who crowded the auditorium. Normally, the show was taped in a studio that had seating for about 300. Because of Asuka's popularity, the show was moved to Berlin Polytechnic Institute's, main auditorium which sat over 3,000. Every seat was taken and another 5,000 people stood outside the complex watching two giant screens, which aired the show. Asuka spent nearly ten minutes walking back and forth across the stage waving at the audience and posing for photos, which flashed continuously. Smiling widely she blew kisses to the young men in the audience and showed her approval to the young woman in the audience who styled themselves after her by gesturing with either a thumbs up or victory sign. Eventually she walked over to the host and gave him a friendly hug and kiss on the cheek. The forty-year-old man jokingly faked a heart attack.
"Now I can die a happy man." He teased.
Asuka laughed as she took her seat next to the host.
"So Asuka, may I call you Asuka?" He asked.
"Only if I can call you Willy." She smiled.
"Young Miss, you can call me anything you like." He laughed and the audience joined in. "So how does it feel being the savior of the world?"
The audience erupted in applause again. Asuka laughed and gestured for them to please quiet down.
"Well, I never considered myself a savior." She replied.
"How about hero then?" He amended.
"Well, it's been all a little overwhelming actually." She smiled. "Back in Tokyo3, I was respected but nothing like this. This is all quite overwhelming to tell you the truth."
"But you are a hero. You do know that?" He added.
"Well, I suppose but I was just one of many hero's during the Angel Wars." She corrected.
"Many heroes?" Wilhelm gave her a confused look.
"Well, of course. There were the other two Eva pilots, Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami, as well as Misato Katsuragi, our Operations Director and Ritsuko Akagi the Head of Project E. Even Commander Gendo Ikari."
Mention of that name drew boos and hisses from the audience.
Asuka nodded her head in agreement. "I know!" She laughed. "I know but to be honest, during the Angel Wars, he did his part to defeat the monsters as did the current commander, Kouzou Fuyutsuki. They were all instrumental in defeating the Angels, along with countless others who provided invaluable support." She explained.
"Yes of course, in any war there are many people in the background that perform valuable services." The host agreed. "But you were the one up front, the one putting life and limb on the line time and time again. You had the most kills did you not? And you were the one who brought about the end of Third Impact? Yes?"
"Well, actually, Shinji Ikari had the most kills of the three of us and while I suppose I was the one who technically brought an end to Human Instrumentality, we all did our part to restore the world we now live in." She corrected.
These comments were met with a lukewarm response by the host and audience.
"Well, we need to break for a commercial and when we come back, we'll see how many details we can get Asuka to reveal about the Angel Wars, the Evas and Third Impact. Don't go away." The host pointed at the camera as if pointing to the actual viewers. The audience broke into ecstatic applause once again.
At Tokyo3, Unit 01 stood on the launch pad waiting for liftoff. In the command center down in Central Dogma, Rei stood two meters behind the operators directing the launch. Misato was standing next to her.
"Current status of the Eva and its pilot." She whispered.
The systems operator did not respond.
Leaning over toward her assistant, Misato whispered to her. "You need to speak louder."
Rei nodded, cleared her throat and repeated. "Current status of the Eva and its pilot."
Systems Operator Yuri replied. "Eva is active and operating within designated parameters. The pilot's respiration is shallow but his heart rate is a bit accelerated. But still within acceptable parameters ma'am."
"Status of the rocket busters." The AOD said with a quiet but commanding voice.
"Both rocket busters appear to be functioning properly for pre-launch burn. Systems are all normal."
As the moment for actual liftoff approached, Rei's own heart began to race. 'Please, please, let my Shinji return safely to me. You must return to me my love. I do not have the will to carry on without you… Enough, I must do my job if I want him back in my arms safely. Concentrate.' She scolded herself.
As the launch proceeded, Rei ran through the long list of system checks, verifying everything was functioning properly. Forty-five minutes after the launch Rei spoke to her husband for the first time since T-minus three minutes before the launch.
"Lieutenant Ayanami, are you prepared to commence the exercise?" She asked.
A moment later, she received his response. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Proceed with phase one of the exercise." She commanded.
"Activating main thrusters." The pilot informed the ground staff and two relatively small thrusters mounted on the back of Unit 01 came to life. "Setting course to weather satellite Nergal TP1-552. Starting slow burn." And the Eva began moving through space toward the old inoperable satellite. As he approached the device, the pilot relayed. "Activating adjustment thrusters." And four smaller thrusters mounted in Unit 01's shoulders and thighs came to life. "Adjusting speed and angle of approach."
Back at Central Dogma, Maya informed the Directors, "Eva Unit 01 is three degrees off course. At its present heading and speed it will collide with the satellite."
"What are the necessary course corrections?" The Assistant Operations Director asked.
Again Misato leaned over and whispered. "You don't need to know that, just relay the necessary information to the pilot before its too late."
"Ignore the previous order, calculate course and speed adjustment and relay it to the pilot." Rei corrected.
A moment later, "Done ma'am."
"Make sure he received the course adjustments." The sub-commander said under her breath.
"Lieutenant Ayanami, have you received the necessary course adjustments?" She inquired.
"Adjustments received and completed. I am 100 meters from the satellite approaching at a rate of 3 meters per second and decelerating." He relayed.
Forty-five seconds later, the pilot announced, "I am at the satellite in a synchronous orbit with the device."
"Very good Lieutenant. Commence…" The AOD ordered.
"Make sure he's okay. Talk to him Rei. Give him a chance to catch his breath." Her boss told her softly.
"Lieutenant Ayanami, how are you feeling?" His wife asked.
"I'm feeling good. My hands are a little tight. I guess I was gripping the controls a little harder than usual but other than that. I'm okay." He replied.
"Take a moment to relax your arms. This next phase will require a good degree of manual dexterity. It will be more difficult if you are tense." She informed him.
"Okay, Rei… I mean, Lieutenant." Shinji smiled, as he blushed a little bit. He knew his wife preferred to use their professional titles when they were working. She found it helped to keep her focused on her job and prevented her from letting her emotions get in the way of her duties. After about a minute of shaking his hands and arms and relaxing his shoulders and neck, Shinji informed her. "I am ready to proceed with phase two Lieutenant."
"Very well Lieutenant, proceed with phase two." Rei replied.
The pilot slowly opened the access panel to the satellite. Carefully, he removed several circuit-plasma boards and replaced them with boards he had in a secured case attached to the Unit 01's right hip. Placing the old ones back in the case he then carefully closed the panel. It took him fifty minutes and afterward he reported the completion of the second phase.
"Relay satellite course correction the Unit 01." Rei ordered.
"Information transmitted." Maya replied.
"Lieutenant Ayanami, are you ready to proceed with phase three of the exercise?" She asked.
"Yes, I am. Securing the satellite." Shinji announced as he took hold of the device and prepared to reposition it at its new orbit. "Setting course… firing main thrusters."
It took him twenty minutes to position the satellite and another fifteen minutes of course and velocity adjustments to get it in the correct orbit, but in the end, everyone acknowledged the exercise as a resounding success. With Eva Unit 01 commencing reentry, the task of overseeing its successful return to earth was now in the hands of Ritsuko out in the Oklahoma plains. While the Tokyo3 staff continued to monitor its progress, there really wasn't anything they could do at this point. Everyone relaxed and congratulated each other over a successful mission, everyone except Rei how continued to monitor the Eva's progress and did not relax until it had safely landed.
Knowing better than to disturb her assistant until her husband was safely on the ground, Misato waited till then to walk up to her and congratulate her on a successful mission.
"You did very well Rei. You should be proud of yourself." The sub-commander informed her.
"Thank you mother, though I should have done better." The blue-haired girl replied.
"That will come with time and experience. Overall, I'd say you did a fine job. Now come on. Lets go home, we have a welcome home party to arrange." Misato put a reassuring arm around the girl's shoulder as they left the empty command center.
Four years after Third Impact
---
(In English)
Speaking before a joint session of United States Congress, the Justices of the Supreme Court and the President, his Cabinet and the Vice-President; Asuka concluded her speech on the importance of declassifying the events surrounding the Angel Wars and Third Impact.
"Trust, in our governments, in our politicians, in humanity in general is key to the continued progress of the human race. If we continue in our attempt to keep secrets from the people of the world, simply in order to preserve our personal welfare we threaten the welfare of everyone on this planet. NERV had always been shrouded in secrecy. It's missions, its accomplishments, its failures were all kept secret from the world. But the world has a right, nay a responsibility to know the truth. And you the freely elected representatives of the United States of America have a responsibility to your people and the people of the world, as leaders within the United Nations to lead the way in the declassification of these secrets. For only by revealing our deepest darkest secrets can the human race move forward. Thank you."
The response was a combination of enthusiastic applause to polite applause to a refuse to even stand in acknowledgement of the speech or the speaker. The newly elected President and his supports were most enthusiastic in there response. This was understandable, since it was the President himself who personally requested that Asuka come and speak before the joint session of congress.
As the applause continued, Asuka made her way from the podium, shaking hands with the Speaker of the House, the Vice-President and the Senatorial Whip. Then she made her way over to the Supreme Court Justices and finally to the President and his cabinet, shook hands with them as well.
Later that evening, Asuka was at the White House for a state dinner in her honor. Dressed in a crimson off the shoulder evening gown, she sat next to the President and entertained his other guests with amusing tales of the grueling yet in retrospect, amusing training she and Shinji had to go through in order to defeat the Seventh Angel.
"And then the little pervert freely admitted to trying to kiss me while I slept the night before the battle." She concluded.
Everyone at the table broke into middle laughter. After a few moments the President responded. "It must have been difficult, not only fighting off the Angels but also fighting off the advances of countless admirers, including your fellow pilot."
"Well, I wouldn't exactly call it difficult." Asuka took a sip of water from her wine glass.
"What would you call it Miss Souryu?" The Chief of Staff asked from across the table.
Pausing for just a moment she replied. "I suppose I would simply call it…" Her thoughts went to Shinji; how they were virtually inseparable during the sync training, how she made a point of avoiding him after the battle was over, how she reacted when he started teaching Rei how to play the cello, how he held her after her personal defeat at the hands of the 15th Angel, how she tried to seduce him when she briefly lost her mind, how he came to her when she was in the hospital and spoke to her even though she was practically catatonic, how he promised to love her always as she left Tokyo3 to start a new life back home in Germany. "… life as an Eva pilot." She smiled.
"Well said." The President declared.
"Yes indeed, well said." The Secretary of State agreed as he raised his glass. "To Asuka Langley Souryu, the hero of the Angel Wars."
Everyone at the table followed suit. "To Asuka." They said in unison.
Asuka smiled politely and offered her thanks but privately she thought. 'I wasn't the only one you know. Why does everyone always forget them?' She sighed softly, choosing to keep these feelings to herself for the time being.
As the evening wore on, Asuka found herself dancing with everyone from the President, and the Speaker of the House to several junior senators and one particularly handsome young colonel. Since she was not at all familiar with U.S. politics she didn't think anything was particularly out of place when a senior congressman asked her to dance. The elderly gentleman was polite enough and was a rather skilled dancer. It wasn't till he spoke did she realize who she was really dancing with.
"So Miss Souryu, are you really ready for the consequences of having all of NERV's dirty little secrets revealed?" He asked.
"Excuse me?" She gave him a surprised look.
"I wonder how the world would react if they knew one of NERV's former pilots and now its new Director of Operations wasn't entirely human but was in fact part of the very thing that tried to destroy us?"
Asuka's temperature rose as a very serious expression crossed her face. "Rei Ayanami may possess some physiological differences from you and I but I assure you Congressman, she is as human as anyone on this planet."
"But will the world see it the same way. Or would your friend be best served if this little piece of information never saw the light of day." He added.
"Most everyone in NERV and in Japan for that matter already knows of Ms. Ayanami's origins. She has never attempted to keep it a secret from anyone. She has no shame in who or what she is. If people have a problem with it, it will only be due to their own ignorance." She stated.
"And you will be the one to educate them I suppose?" He continued.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Oh, nothing really. I just can't help wonder why four years after Third Impact you suddenly feel the need for total disclosure of these events? Could it be for personal gain? Financial gain?" He said in an accusatory manner.
"Congressman, I have not contacted nor have I been contacted by any publishers what so ever. I have no desire to write my life story. Though if in doing so I could help reveal the truth about NERV, the Angel Wars and Seele. I would not hesitate one moment." She shot him a suspicious stare.
The mention of the secret organization that tried to manipulate human events for their own purposes caused the congressman to flinch just a touch but enough to let Asuka know she hit a nerve. Recovering quickly, the congressman replied. "And would this story of yours include you own mental breakdown?"
"It was a part of my life. A part of what made me who I am today. I have no reason to hide it from anyone." She replied.
"So you would freely destroy the image of Asuka Langley Souryu, the invincible hero of the Angel Wars and reveal her to be an unstable frightened little girl?" The elderly man offered.
"The image of me as the invincible hero is not one of my making. Nothing would please me more than to do away with that illusion." As the song came to an end, she freed herself from the congressman's hold. "Goodnight Congressman Caffy, I'm sure we will be seeing more of each other in the future."
"Oh, of this I am also sure." The elderly man bowed politely and walked away.
The President's aid came up to Asuka and asked. "Are you alright Miss Souryu?"
"Yes, I'm fine." She said still looking after the elderly man.
"I'm terribly sorry, I should have warned you about Congressman Caffy." The aid apologized. "He was only invited as a sign of bipartisanship, but he is the President's staunchest opponent against declassification. I'm terribly sorry."
"Don't worry about it." Asuka turned with a smile. "I'm not about to let some old fossil intimidate me." Looking the aid over once, she asked. "Robert isn't it? Have we danced yet?"
"Oh, n-no ma'am we haven't, but there are so many other more important…" He started saying.
Placing her finger over his mouth to silence him, the young lady in red stated pointedly. "Robert, if you've done your research, you know I'm a woman who is accustom to getting her way. And right now, what I want is to dance with you. Understood?" She asked but before he could reply she added. "Shake your head yes."
He obliged.
"Good, now, lets dance." Asuka commanded and the young aid obeyed.
Four years and one month after Third Impact
---
"So then what happened?" Asuka asked over the cordless phone as she walked from her bathroom to her bedroom in her London apartment wearing only her underwear as she searched for a bottle of nail polish remover.
"We ended the test of course. It took three cranes 72 minutes to pull Unit 00 free from the lake so we could eject the entry plug." Rei explained.
"You must have let the kid really have it." Asuka replied as she continued her search.
"It was not necessary, Shinji took Pilot Takana's failure as a personal attack on his abilities as a teacher and he proceeded to… What was it mother said? … Oh, yes, proceeded to 'rip him a new one' I believe was the expression she used."
Asuka laughed wholeheartedly. "Now that I would have liked to have seen. Oh, there it is." She grabbed the bottle as well as a bag of cotton balls and made her way to the living room. "So did you fire the young stooge?"
"It was not necessary. He resigned the next day." Rei informed her as she typed up a report from her computer in her study.
Asuka laughed again. "Okay, so that's how many pilots you guys have gone through so far? Seven?"
"Technically, only six. Former Pilot Emishi left due to personal reasons unrelated to his experience at NERV." Rei corrected as she closed the report she was working one and opened another.
"So he said." Asuka teased.
"I have no reason to…" Rei considered not only what Asuka said, but also the tone she used in saying it. "You are being sarcastic are you not?"
"Rei, I'm impressed, you're finally noticing." The redhead said with a smile as she wiped the nail polish off her toenails.
Not sure if this follow-up statement was also meant to be sarcasm or not, the AOD decided to play it safe and change the subject. "So how was you're trip to the Americas?"
"The capital was nice and so was New York City but they took me to a baseball game there. Talk about boring. Canada was very pretty. I got to spend a weekend camping in Nova Scotia. That was really nice." She said as she tossed the used cotton ball into the nearby wastebasket and grabbed another one.
"Were you successful in persuading them to vote for full disclosure?" Rei asked stopping from her work long enough to listen for the redheads answer.
"It's still too early to tell, the next meeting of the General Assembly won't be for another two months, and the opponents of declassification in both countries will try and put off any vote till the very last minute." The redhead paused for a moment then when on. "You know Rei, I've been meaning to talk to you about this whole disclosure thing."
"I know what you are going to say." Rei assured her. "You are concerned that with declassification the facts about my origin will become public knowledge. You are concerned how this will affect me. How it will impact my life."
"Man, you're getting really good. I mean it." Asuka replied.
"Shinji and I have had this same discussion several times, particularly with the vote on declassification certain to take place in the near future. He has made it very clear to me that no matter what happens he will always be with me, and that is all that really matters to me. But in addition, both Commander Fuyutsuki and mother have stated unequivocally that they will support me and will not allow public opinion to effect my position at NERV."
Asuka breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad to hear that." She tossed another used cotton ball way as she stretched her legs out straight ahead of her and lightly kicked up and down so they would dry more quickly. "Speaking of mother, here is she? I tried calling a couple times this week and no answer."
"She and Kaji are on vacation in Okinawa." Rei replied as she went back to typing her report.
"Okinawa, at this time of year?" The redhead replied.
"That was my response but they were determined to go snorkeling in Okinawa. Something about not having had an opportunity when they were fourteen." The blue-haired woman clarified.
The redhead laughed, remembering her conversation with Kaji when he took her to buy a swimsuit for her class school trip to Okinawa. A trip she didn't get a chance to go on.
They continued to talk about an assortment of topics for another hour when Shinji finally arrived home after a late and long training session. The blue-haired girl wished her sister well and gave the phone to her husband who proceeded to talk with the redhead for another hour. During that time the blue-haired girl completed her report, laid out her clothes for the next day, and took a shower.
With his back to their bedroom, Shinji didn't hear her approach.
"Goodnight my love. I am going to bed now." His wife said.
The veteran pilot turned around to wish her a good night sleep when his eyes went wide upon seeing what she was wearing. She leaned forward placing her hands on his chest and rising up on her toes; she kissed him; gently at first but with more hunger and desire with each passing moment. Slowly stepping back she smiled at him and added. "Don't be long." Then she turned and headed back the their room.
"Asuka, it's been great talking to you but I've got to go." The young man said.
"Let me guess, Rei just walked up to you naked, didn't she you pervert?" She teased.
"She was not naked. She had a towel on." He protested.
"Where? Around her neck no doubt. I bet she was using it to dry her hair." She continued teasing the boy.
"Well, it's still a towel. Besides, its not perverted to have sexual desires for your spouse." He defended himself.
"Whatever." She checked her watch; "I've got to get ready anyway so you have a good time, though I'm sure that's what you had in mind."
"ASUKA!" Shinji turned beet-red.
"Man, you're so easy to embarrass, even half a world away." She laughed. "I'll talk to you soon."
"Okay, take care of yourself." He said.
" Always. Till next time." She concluded.
"Till next time." And with that they each hung up their phones.
Shinji didn't waste any time getting undressed having removed his shirt and pants before even reaching the door to their room.
"I thought you were going to talk all night." His wife said seductively as she stretched with gentle yawn, arching her back sharply.
Removing the remainder of his clothing her husband responded with a smile. "I'm not quite as dense as Asuka always said I was."
Setting his clothes down on a chair in the room he came over to the bed and laid down atop his wife, as she pulled him into her loving, passionate embrace. While neither got much sleep that night, neither complained the next morning.
Four years and nine months after Third Impact
---
"T-minus 60 seconds and counting." The disembodied female voice said.
"Status report." Rei commanded, softly but firmly.
"All engines show green." Kei-ichi answered.
"All fuel systems show green." Yuri replied.
"All monitoring systems show green." Kei-ichi continued.
"Unit-01 active and within all normal system limits." Maya reported.
"Pilot's pulse and respiration are slightly elevated but within normal limits." Yuri reported.
"All general systems operating normally." Maya completed the status report.
"Good." Rei turned her attention to the monitor that showed Unit-01 strapped to three massive rockets. The middle one contained a payload of several tons of equipment designed for assembly in space. If all went well, this would be the longest space voyage for an Eva to date.
"Captain Ayanami," Rei loved calling him by that name. "How do you feel?"
"A little anxious to get this beast off the ground already but other than that, fine." Her husband said over the comm system.
"Just 40 seconds to go." His wife assured him.
"Ma'am, liquid fuel pressure is dropping on rocket buster number one. Not significantly, but more than it should at this point." Yuri reported.
Rei walked up to the technician's station and viewed the readings.
"What could it be?" The Commander called down.
"Perhaps an air bubble in the primary tank." Ritsuko speculated.
"Will that be a problem?" The Commander inquired.
"It will cause a momentary flare during launch but should not be a serious problem." She explained.
"Or it could be…" Rei considered.
"T-minus 15 seconds and counting."
"Shinji, extend your AT field around rocket one's primary stage immediately." Rei commanded.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Just do it." Rei said in a low but commanding voice.
A second later…
"AT field extended." The pilot confirmed.
"Maintain field until the primary stage has exhausted all its fuel. Understood?" She softened her tone slightly.
"Yes, understood." The pilot responded.
"Rei, why are you having Shinji extend his AT field?" Ritsuko asked.
"I do not believe it is an air bubble but rather a crack in rocket buster one's primary fuel cell." She explained.
"T-minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, launch"
"Camera three, zoom in on the primary fuel cell of rocket buster one." Misato commanded from behind her boss.
Monitor three instantly showed a close-up of rocket one's primary stage. Two-thirds of the way up, a small imperfection in the white metal casing could be seen, as well as Unit-01's AT field preventing any further leakage.
"What is the fuel pressure reading now?" Rei asked.
"Normal reduction as expected with initial launch burn."
"Eva Unit 01 has just passed seven thousand meters."
"All systems functioning within acceptable parameters."
"How do you feel Captain?" Rei asked.
"Like a squished grape. I'll never get used to this, no matter how many times I go up."
"Eva Unit 01 has passed twenty thousand meters."
Rei's eyebrows shot up when she felt a soft pat on her back between her shoulders. She looked to her right and saw Dr. Akagi standing next to her. "Good catch Rei. You just saved this mission, not to mention your husband's life."
Rei looked back at the monitors for a moment then back at the doctor. "Thank you Doctor."
"We're peers now, call me Ritsuko." With that she took the few steps back to her station.
Five minutes later, Eva Unit 01 was in outer space and making its way to the orbiting space station that would be Shinji's home for the next twenty days. Hardy applause within the command center went up and numerous congratulations went out to the new Director of Operations.
Ten days later, 0100
---
"You should be proud of yourself my love. Not only have you been in space longer then anyone since the late 90's, but in addition, you are more then a half a day ahead of schedule. Everyone is very impressed." Rei whispered softly into the comm. transmitter.
"Everyone is? How about you? Are you impressed?" Shinji asked in a teasing tone.
"Mmm, no not really." She replied.
"No! Why not?" He asked with genuine surprise in his voice.
"Because I already knew you were capable of such feats." She informed him.
Shinji smiled at the camera. "You…" Slowly his smile faded. "I miss you my love."
"I miss you as well." Rei said softly.
A moment of silence passed before Shinji asked, "So how many people are hearing us get all mushy with each other?" He grinned.
"No one. I gave the night crew a ten minute break." She checked her watch. "They should be back within the next three minutes."
"Hmm, three minutes. That's not enough time." Her husband said.
"Enough time for what?" She replied.
"Enough time to tell you just how very much I love you."
"My love…" Rei paused.
"Yes?" Shinji waited.
"You just did." She smiled. "Thank you."
Her husband smiled back. "I'll be dreaming of you tonight my love."
"As will I. As will I." She ran her hand over the monitor as if cursing her lover's cheek.
"This is Space Station Titan, signing off."
"Sweet dreams my love, sweet dreams." Rei stared at the blank monitor for a moment longer until she heard the night crew making there way back into the control room. She quickly wiped away a stray tear and got to her feet. Checking her watch, she noted the time. "You are 20 seconds late. Be sure this does not happen again."
"Sorry Captain but…" One of the senior technician Amano started to say.
"But what?" Rei inquired.
"Well, we knew you weren't finished with your conversation with your husband so…"
"You, you knew?" Rei's cheeks immediately turned red.
"It's pretty obvious ma'am." Suzuka said. "But don't worry, we won't tell anyone."
"To tell you the truth, we were just talking about how difficult it must be for you to have to be the one in command sending your own husband up in space like this, taking on the responsibility of his safety like that. I know if it were me, I couldn't handle the pressure." The Yukari said.
"You've got more courage and strength than any of us could hope to have ma'am." Amano added.
"And the way you handled that fuel leak during the launch ten days ago, was… well I think I speak for everyone on both shifts when I say, we just can't help but admire you ma'am. Not to put down Colonel Katsuragi or Captain Souryu, they were each great in their own way, but we're all glad you're our commanding officer ma'am."
Then in unison all five techs saluted her with absolute formality.
Struggling to hold back a smile Rei straightened her already perfect posture and saluted back. "Thank you. Thank you all. You have no idea how much your words mean to me. Well, back to your stations. We still have a long night."
Each went to their station the senior technician Suzuka, who approached her superior. "Ma'am, I don't mean to be forward but when was the last time you went home and got more than an hour's sleep?"
Rei just stared at her.
"We know your concerned about your husband and this mission but please, allow us monitor the systems the rest of the night. I know you'll be here all day tomorrow. Get some sleep, please ma'am. If anything happens, anything at all, we'll call you immediately." The tech assured her.
Rei considered her words for a moment then nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, perhaps you are correct. A few hours sleep would help me for the task ahead. Thank you Lieutenant. I appreciate your concern."
She grabbed her jacket and turned. "I will be back at 0650, before the shift change."
"Goodnight ma'am."
"Goodnight Captain."
"Pleasant dreams ma'am."
For the first time in her life Rei Ayanami dreamt, a warm pleasant dream of her and her husband, and … their daughter; first as an infant then later as a small child and finally as a beautiful young woman. The dream warmed her heart and as she showered early in the morning she couldn't wait for the next opportunity she would have to speak with her husband privately and share the dream with him.
~~~~~~~~~~
AN: Okay, more then half of this chapter did not exist before two days ago but after rereading what I already had it felt short and far to abrupt. It needed more so I added more. I tried to make some references to C&A in here as well as the series itself. Hopefully they fit as well as I felt they did. The last two chapters will both be fairly short especially the last one. Can you tell where this is heading yet? ^_^
Anyway, thank you for all your comments and suggestions. I don't think you'll be disappointed in the outcome.
A. Amishi