Disclaimer: See Prologue
Evangelion: Any place can be Heaven, if you let it (A sequel to Random1377's Crimson and Azure)
Chapter 15
AN: I apologize in advance to any grammar or spelling errors you may encounter. Though I've edited this story myself already, I was unable to contact my beta-reader this weekend so he could proofread it for me. But since I promised to post this by this weekend I've decided to go ahead and post it and I'll update it later after my beta-reader has a chance to go over it. Again, I apologize.
Five years and five months since Third Impact
---
Wearing a red, silk dress by famed Japanese designer Ruri with matching shoes and makeup purse, and a ruby necklace and earrings, Asuka mingled amongst the dignitaries, heads of state, and corporate executives present at Buckingham Palace.
"With their budget restored, our stock nearly doubled from one day to the next. I may just go out and purchase that 100-meter yacht I've been eyeing." Satamoto Nagare, the CEO of Nergal Heavy Industries laughed.
"I hope you'll be spreading your companies good fortune around to the rest of your employees." Spencer Washington, leader of the Worker's Party and member of the House of Commons, said soberly.
"Oh, come on Spencer, you know I was just joking. Of course we will be sharing our good fortune with our workers but we still have some very aggressive deadlines to meet before we make a yen." The chairman replied.
"Though I believe we all have you to thank Miss Souryu." Toshiro Mifune, the Japanese Ambassador to England, replied. "If it were not for your intervention, employment in over two dozen countries would be it a record low."
"Yes, Miss Souryu, I believe I am correct when I say that without a fully functioning NERV, my company would be in dire straits." The chairman said. "Thank you Miss Souryu."
"To Miss Souryu." Spencer raised his glass amongst the small group of people.
"To Miss Souryu." Everyone present raised their glass as well.
"Thank you. Thank you all." Asuka gave a small smile. "I must say, while saving the world economy was not necessarily my intention, it is a wonderful side benefit." She joked.
Everyone laughed with her as they drank their Champaign.
"So Miss Souryu, I'm curious. What sort of payment did you receive from Commander Fuyutsuki in order to save NERV?" The Party leader asked.
Everyone else in the small group went silent. Several of them looked over at Asuka to see what her reaction would be. She just calmly sipped her Champaign for a moment before responding.
"I received no payment. I did it as a favor to the commander." She replied with only a hint of smugness in her voice.
"Really?" The politician responded suspiciously.
"Though I did receive this outfit as a gift afterwards." She smiled and turned all the way around, showing everyone the dress and accessories. "So I think I made out in the end." She smiled
Again the group around her laughed, thus breaking the tension of the moment.
Five years and six months since Third Impact
---
"Lieutenant Matsumura, calm down." The Operations Director commanded.
"But I'm running out of air. I'm going to die, I'm going to die." The young pilot began to hyperventilate.
"Lieutenant, listen to me." The azure-haired woman spoke forcefully. "Go to the control panel to your right, the one just above the resource panel. Do it now."
Though panic-stricken and hyperventilating, the pilot's training kicked in and she followed her superior's instructions.
"Now in the command console panel, enter the command sequence, D400G714-209O." She said slowly and clearly.
With a trembling hand, the pilot did as she was instructed.
"Air Control Override Command instructions entered. Percentage of oxygen in air mixture reduced to twenty-two point nine percent." A disembodied voice announced.
All eyes in the command center immediately shot to Rei but no one said a word. As for the Operations Director, she ignored the shocked stares, seeing the desired result almost instantly. The young pilot had ceased hyperventilating and seemed much calmer already.
"Now Lieutenant, proceed to the systems control console and ascertain the extent of the damage."
"Yes Captain." Lieutenant Nabiki Matsumura replied.
"You can't leave her without oxygen that long! She'll die!" Lieutenant Pamela Jackson yelled.
"Pam!" Shinji yelled.
Instantly Rei snapped her fingers and pointing at the communications operator. The operator needed no further instructions; she immediately interrupted transmission to the space station. Once she nodded to her commanding officer that the task was complete, Rei turned to face her unruly subordinate.
"If any of the oxygen cells have been pierced as Lieutenant Matsumura suspects then it will be a mute point anyway. The space station will be void of all oxygen in a matter of minutes. The extent of the damage must be ascertained first." She explained.
"But you reduced her oxygen supply! She can't last long with so little oxygen in the air!" The pilot screamed.
"Tokyo3, I have accessed the sensor grid and am looking at the analysis of the outer hull." Matsumura informed them.
"I do not have time for this." Rei turned back toward the command console.
"You've got to resort her oxygen now!" The blond-haired pilot continued to rant.
"Lieutenant, you are dismissed. Leave the command center immediately." The OD commanded.
"NO! You've got to listen to me!" She took a step toward her superior officer.
Shinji stepped between the two of them. "Pamela! That's enough. Leave now."
"You know I'm right sir! Tell her! Tell her!" She looked into her instructor's eyes, pleading for understanding.
Shinji didn't have time to respond.
"There is no time for this nonsense. SECURITY! Escort Lieutenant Jackson out of the command center." Rei ordered.
Instantly, two large men in dark green uniforms approached the young pilot, each placing a hand on her shoulders and quickly directed her out of the room.
"You know I'm right!" She continued to yell. "You're going to kill her you heartless bitch! You're going to kill her!"
"Tokyo3, I await your instructions." Matsumura repeated.
A moment later after the screams from the other female pilot fell silent, Rei said. "Re-establish communications."
"Done Ma'am." The comms officer replied.
"Lieutenant, have you identified the point of impact?" The OD asked.
"Yes sir. The object struck the space station at vector 332-341 section 6."
"Enable sensors to scan for damage in that section."
"Yes sir." A moment later the Lieutenant continued. "Sensors indicate that tanks B3 and C3 have been… have been ruptured. Oxygen is leaking freely from both tanks." The young pilot struggled to maintain her composure.
"Pilot's heart rate has just jumped to 92 beats per minute." The controls operator reported quietly.
"How much oxygen is in each tank Lieutenant?" The OD asked.
After a moment the pilot responded. "Tank B3 is 22% full and dropping, tank C3 is 16% full and dropping, Tank A3 is 36% full and holding." Her voice cracked slightly while speaking.
Again, Rei signaled to stop transmission temporarily.
Turning toward the commander she said. "Your instructions Commander."
"Recommendations." He replied.
Misato answered first. "We can blow the panel and jettison the two tanks, use the remaining tank to recharge the Eva's oxygen supply and get the pilot back home."
Turning to his Operations Director, the commander asked. "Do you concur Captain?"
"With recharging the Eva's oxygen supply and getting the pilot home, yes Commander but I feel that blowing the panel with as much oxygen that has already leaked out of the two tanks could prove dangerous. It could ignite the oxygen in the surrounding air and cause further damage." Rei replied.
"Your recommendation then?" He asked.
"Allow the tanks to finish leaking out and leave them to be recovered on the next mission along with the damaged panel. This will allow us to determine why the meteor was able to penetrate the casing. Meanwhile, recharge the Eva's oxygen supply with tank A3." She answered.
"Do you concur Colonel?" He asked his second in command.
"Yes Commander, I do concur." She responded in all seriousness.
"Very well Captain, proceed." Fuyutsuki commanded.
Rei turned her attention back to the pilot in distress, gesturing to reestablish communication. "Lieutenant Matsumura, listen closely."
"Yes Captain." The young teen said with a tremor to her voice.
"From the operations control console, establish a connection between tank A3 and Unit 00." The OD instructed.
After a few minutes the pilot replied. "Connection has been established."
"Fill Unit 00's oxygen supply with the oxygen in tank A3."
"But Captain, if I do that, there won't be any oxygen on the space station for me to complete my mission." She looked squarely at the monitor.
"The mission is over Lieutenant. You are returning home now." She informed her.
A sudden look of disappointment filled the young pilot's expression.
"It is all right Lieutenant. You have performed admirably. There was nothing you could do about the meteor. Now commence oxygen transfer."
A moment later, she complied. "Commencing oxygen transfer from tank A3 to Unit 00."
From the analysis console, Maya stood up and walked over to Rei. "Captain, we may have a serious problem."
Rei turned and listened intently to Senior Systems Analyst of Project E. A look of concern flashed across her face but was gone as soon as it appeared. When Maya was done, she replied. "Come."
And the two women walked up the stairway leading to the command platform.
"Commander, we may have a problem." The OD whispered.
"As if we don't have enough of them already." He sighed. "What is it?" Fuyutsuki asked.
Misato took a step closer to hear more clearly.
"According to Miss Ibuki's analysis, it will take Unit 00 four hours, fifty-three minutes and sixteen seconds to get in proper position for reentry and an additional forty-seven minutes and twenty-three seconds from point of reentry till the recovery team can remove and open the entry plug. Unfortunately, since tank A3 was the primary tank used during this mission there is only enough oxygen left in it for five hours, twenty-six minutes and six seconds."
"That means Nabiki will be without oxygen for fourteen minutes." Misato responded quietly.
"Precisely."
"Options?" Asked the commander.
"Can't we use what little oxygen is left in the other two tanks to make up the difference?" Misato asked.
"Because of the rupture, a pressure vacuum can't be created to force air out the tank nozzle." Replied Maya.
"So there is nothing we can do?" The Colonel scowled.
"We could save fourteen minutes of oxygen if we shut down all non-essential systems on Unit 00 and if Nabiki could sleep for the four hours and fifty-three minutes. Her oxygen consumption will drop low enough to make up the fourteen minute difference with a couple minutes to spare." Maya offered.
"But how do we get her to sleep that whole time?" Misato asked.
After a brief pause, Rei answered. "We must increase the LCL pressure in the entry plug and force her to sleep."
"But according to Doctor Akagi, increased LCL pressure in space can cause irreparable brain damage." Shinji spoke, having followed his wife up to the command platform a minute after she left her post.
"The exact duration needed to cause such permanent damage is still unknown and if we keep the pressure at the minimum needed, we can reduce the risk." She said to him, staring at him squarely in the eyes.
"Are there any other options?" The commander asked.
After a moment of silence, Rei replied. "Only the unacceptable one."
"Very well, proceed with your plan." He instructed.
"Should we inform the pilot?" Misato asked.
The commander looked at his chief instructor.
"She can handle it. She deserves to know." Shinji affirmed.
"Very well." With those final words from the commander everyone returned to their posts.
A few moments later, the pilot informed them. "Tank A3 is now empty as are tanks B3 and C3."
"Very good Lieutenant. Commence shutdown procedures from the space station, and enter Eva Unit 00 as soon as you can." The azure-haired woman said.
"Yes sir." A few minutes later, the space station went dark as the pilot sat in her entry plug and it was loaded into the Eva.
From the systems control console at the command center, Kei-ichi reported. "All systems operating normally, Eva Unit 00 is fully active and functional."
"Eva Unit 00, disembark Space Station Titan." The captain ordered.
"Eva Unit 00 has disembarked." The systems operator announced.
"Calculate positioning trajectory."
A moment later, "Trajectory calculated and relayed to Unit 00."
"Lieutenant, prepare to commence position adjustment procedures."
A few minutes later, "Positioning data received and processed. Position adjustment procedure is ready to commence." The pilot informed the command center.
"Proceed with position adjustment." The captain ordered.
"Commencing position adjustment in three, two, one." The pilot relayed then suddenly the motion thrusters on Eva Unit 00 fired and gently moved the large blue bio-mecha into the proper position. Twelve seconds later, the thrusters shutdown as the Eva hovered over the earth slowly being drawn in by the planet's powerful gravitational pull. "Position adjustment complete."
"Very good Lieutenant." Rei paused for a moment considering how she was going to tell her what they had to do next. After a few pensive moments, she proceeded. "Lieutenant Matsumura, the estimated time for your landing at Oklahoma Base is five hours, forty minutes. Unfortunately, the oxygen that was loaded from tank A3 will only provide breathable air for five hours and twenty-six minutes."
The young pilot was silent as she stared at the image of her commanding officer.
"In order to make up the fourteen minute difference we need to place Unit 00 in Emergency Life Support and we need you to sleep for a minimum of four hours and fifty-three minutes." She continued.
"I understand sir but to be honest, I'm not exactly in a sleeping mood right now." The pilot replied.
"I understand Lieutenant, that is why we will need to increase the LCL pressure in the entry plug in order to induce sleep. The danger is…"
"Increased LCL pressure in a weightless environment can result in permanent hearing loss, blindness and possibly irreparable brain damage." The pilot stated soberly.
"Of course, since this has never been tried before, there is no guarantee that any of those things will happen. It is possible that you will emerge from the entry plug just fine." Rei stated.
"I understand. Captain Ayanami, if I may be so permitted. I would like to address everyone at the command center." Nabiki requested.
"Yes Nabiki, of course you may." She answered softly.
"I am hoping for the best here but in preparation for the worst I would just like to take a moment to say a few things. Commander Fuyutsuki, Sub-Commander Katsuragi, being selected as an Eva pilot has been the highlight of my life. I was never prouder, happier than I was when I was chosen to be one of the honored few. Your guidance and leadership have been an inspiration to me. Thank you. To the operators and support staff, I thank you for your help and support during my early months and for your friendship over the past year. I could not imagine having had an opportunity to work with a finer group of people. To my fellow pilots…" She continued as she struggled to hold back the tears. "A better group of friends, I've never had. You guys are the best. Captain Shinji Ayanami, I've never had a teacher as hard or as caring as you. Thank you for making me into the pilot I am today. I only wish I could have done better for you sir. I can't help but feel like I let you down. You know I lost my parents some years ago and have been raised by my aunt, and I know you are only a few years older then me sir but I can't help but feel as if you've been a father to me. Captain Rei Ayanami, if anything happens to me… if I'm not the person I was before this mission… I just want you to know that I don't blame you and you shouldn't blame yourself. I know you've done all you can for me and I thank you for it. It's like you always say, the margin for error in space approaches zero. Well, I guess getting hit by a meteor constitutes an error margin much greater than zero." She gave a weak laugh. "Captain," She started to tear up. "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve under you Ma'am. I only wish it would have been for a longer period of time." She paused as she took a moment to wipe her eyes. "Thank you. Thank you all." She paused once again. "Lieutenant Nabiki Matsumura signing off for the next five hours. I'm ready whenever you are." She closed her eyes and waited.
Speaking slowly and softy, the Operations Director informed the pilot, "Lieutenant Matsumura, you will have the opportunity to thank everyone in person when you return to Tokyo3, I promise." Then she commanded, "Systems Operator, increase LCL pressure by five point six two six percent."
A moment later, the SO responded, "LCL pressure increased by 5.626% Ma'am."
"The pilot's heart rate and respiration have decreased to levels consistent with REM sleep." The Controls Operator informed.
Silence filled the Command Center for several tense minutes.
Finally, the commander stood up. "It is out of our hands now. Doctor Akagi, have you been receiving?"
After a moment a reply came over the comm system. "Yes Commander, we've been receiving everything. We are currently synchronizing with NERV Command to determine the precise time to decrease the LCL pressure in Unit 00's entry plug."
"Very good." The commander headed for the stairs then turned, "Colonel, Captains, follow me. Lieutenant Kei-ichi, continue monitoring Unit 00's status and alert me if anything changes."
"Yes sir." The Systems Operator replied.
With that Fuyutsuki, Katsuragi, Ibuki and the two Ayanami's walked out of the command center and to the commander's office.
"She should be dismissed immediately. That level of insubordination should never be tolerated." The colonel insisted.
"What she did was wrong but don't you think dismissal is a bit extreme?" The chief instructor countered.
"What would you suggest Shinji?" Misato said sarcastically.
Choosing to ignore the sarcasm in her voice, he replied, "Six week suspension without pay and piloting privileges suspended for four months."
"That would mean she wouldn't pilot again until after Titan comes on-line." The commanded stated matter-of-factly.
"Yes, commander, I am aware of that." The male Ayanami responded.
Silence filled the room for several moments before the commander asked. "Rei, what is your opinion concerning disciplinary action against Lieutenant Jackson?"
Rei stared out the window behind the commander for a few moments, then she softly replied. "The purpose of disciplinary action is to alter bad behavior and incorporate a new attitude of cooperation and team work, to alert the person's belief system such that the exhibited behavior does not repeat itself. While suspending Lieutenant Jackson may give her a moment of pause before she exhibits this type of behavior again, the underlying problem will remain."
"The underlying problem?" Shinji asked.
"She no longer respects my authority. In fact, I have notice a subtle but noticeable change in the way all the pilots respond to me now, ever since Full Disclosure. Everyone except Lieutenant Matsumura that is." She explained.
"So you support dismissing her outright?" Misato asked, confident of her daughter's response.
"No, to dismiss her may cause more harm then good. It will alienate the rest of the pilots as well and produce feelings of animosity and resentment." She answered.
"So what do you recommend Rei?" The commander asked.
"Allow me to deal with Lieutenant Jackson in my own way. If I fail to produce the desired results in the next two months, then dismiss her if you still feel it necessary." She concluded.
Fuyutsuki considered his Operation Director's proposal for several minutes then responded. "Very well Captain, I leave the matter in your hands." Turning his attention to Maya, he asked, "Now to more pressing and immediate matters. What can we do to minimize the potential risk to Lieutenant Matsumura?"
"I can start some simulated lab tests to determine the exact time in which the effects begin to become irreversible. It shouldn't take more the three, four hours at the most." Maya replied.
"Very well, get started and let me know as soon as you have your results." The commander ordered.
Maya stood and saluted then turned to exit the office.
"Commander, if you do not mind, I would like to assist Captain Ibuki, if she could use my help that is." Rei interjected.
"As would I Commander." Added Shinji.
Looking at his two young captains for a moment, the commander turned to Maya and asked. "Well Miss Ibuki?"
"I could use all the help I can get."
"Very well, proceed captains." He ordered.
With that, the three captains left the commanders office.
After a moment of silence, the commander asked his second in command. "So what do you think?"
"I think this couldn't happen at a worst time." Misato replied.
"Yes, it could have. It could have happened before the budget vote." He responded. "But you're right, the timing is bad." He paused for a moment. "What do you think Nabiki's chances are for getting out of this unharmed?"
Misato just looked down at her hands that her now clasped over her lap.
"That's what I thought." The grey-haired man sighed as he leaned back into his chair. "I'm getting too old for this. I really don't need the aggravation anymore."
"Sir?" Misato raised her head and looked at her commanding officer with a worried expression on her face.
"Don't worry Misato. I'm not leaving just yet. At least not until we've activated the Titan Space Station. I've worked too hard to get us to this point to just walk away now."
The sub-commander gave her boss a weak smile then rose to her feet and saluted. "Permission to return to the command center sir."
"Permission granted." He returned the salute.
Walking toward the door, Misato was halted but the commander's voice, which took her by surprise. "When the time does come Misato, you will receive my highest endorsement."
The purple-haired woman gasped and turned quickly. "Commander."
"Like I said, when the time comes." The elderly man smiled.
Misato nodded slowly then turned back toward the door and left.
A few minutes later Minato walked into the office.
Kouzou, who was lost in thought, didn't even notice his attractive young secretary's approach until she was practically sitting in front of him on his desk, her legs crossed to the side so as not to disturb him.
"Minato?" The older gentleman stared up at her questioningly.
She slowly reached forward and began massaging his shoulders at the base of his neck. "You're so tense Commander. You need to relax."
The commander gently placed his hands on her wrists. "Miss Haruka, please. I'm old enough to be your grandfather. This action is totally inappropriate."
Slowly removing her hands from his shoulders, she slid them away from him until her hands were in his. "Commander, it wouldn't matter to me if you one year or one hundred years older than me. I can't change the way I feel for you. You give so much of yourself to everything and everyone here. I just want to give you something in return."
"Miss Haruka."
Sliding off the table, she leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to his. The kiss was brief but heartfelt. Then she straightened up and gave her boss' hand a gently squeeze. "I know you're not ready for this sir but I just want to let you know. No matter how long it takes, I'll be waiting." She smiled at him then slowly slid her hands free from his and walked out of his office.
"Minato." Kouzou whispered to himself.
Sitting at three different terminals, Rei, Shinji and Maya went over the data and the results one last time.
"Caspar has estimated the onset of permanent damage will being after 4 hours, 50 minutes and 46 seconds of elevated LCL pressure." Maya stated.
"Balthasar has estimated the onset of permanent damage will begin after 4 hours, 57 minutes and 14 seconds of elevated LCL pressure." Rei stated.
"Melchior estimates 4 hour, 52 minutes and 55 seconds before permanent damage begins to occur." Shinji finished.
"Seven tests, and the same three results every time." Maya gave an exasperated sigh.
"So which one do we go with?" Shinji asked.
"The most conservative. We run the least risk with that one." Rei replied.
"But we run the risk of Nabiki running out of oxygen before the ground crew can remove her from the entry plug." Maya countered.
"Given the three result, what does the Magi recommend?" Shinji asked.
Maya begin entering the inquiry to the Magi and in a few minutes she got her response. "Based on the three results, the Magi recommends using a time of 4 hour, 53 minutes and 22 seconds; which is long then is needed. So we can go with the 4 hour 53 minutes and 16 seconds time with a high probability that no permanent harm will come to Nabiki.
"But two of the Magi had calculated result of less then 4 hours and 53 minutes." Rei said.
"We have no choice at this point. We're running out of time. This time will be my recommendation to the Commander." Maya said firmly.
"Very well." Rei responded somberly.
Maya begin typing her recommendation to the commander. "I'll meet you in the command center as soon as I finish typing this up."
Rei and Shinji nodded and left the room.
"Three different results, every time. I can't believe the Magi couldn't come to agreement on this." She shook her head and continued typing.
In the Recreation Room
---
"I can't believe that bitch!" Second Lieutenant Pamela Jackson fumed, drawing stares from several security and secondary staff personnel who were playing pool and table tennis.
"Keep you voice down." Whisper Lin Fong Li, a pilot and Pamela's best friend. He glanced over at the adults over at the game tables and saw the angry glares directed at his overly expressive friend. "You're going to get us all killed."
"Oh, show some backbone Lin. What are they going to do? There is no NERV without us pilots and they know it." She snapped back angrily. "Besides, I'm right. She had no right to have me thrown out of there. I should have slapped the bitch when I had the chance."
"That's enough Pam. Akane Suzuki stood up and got in the other girl's face. "I know you're angry. We're all angry, and afraid for Nabiki but what you're saying is totally out of line. You're talking about our commanding officer."
"Since when were you such an Angel lover Akane?" The American pilot snapped back.
"I'm not, and I never will be, but I also know what it means to be part of a team. My personal feelings about Captain Ayanami are just that, personal, and I won't let them interfere with my duties or my actions because being an Eva pilot means too much to me to ever jeopardize my position. If you feel the same way, I suggest you calm down and when the opportunity presents itself, go and apologize to the Operations Director." The dark-haired girl responded, straight faced and matter-of-factly.
"I'd sooner apologize to a jackass!" The blond replied fiercely.
"That may be the only thing you'll be riding if you keep this up." Spoke Ayato Kamiga, the fifth and youngest Eva pilot.
"Do I look like I give a shit right now! That bitch has turned Nabiki into a vegetable if not killed her. Why on earth would I ever want to get in an entry plug again with her calling the shots?" Pamela yelled.
Suddenly, she felt a pair of large, powerful hand grab her uniform by the lapels, turn her around and lift her into the air. "Listen here, you little brat." The large, muscular security officer snarled. "If I hear you keep talking crap about Mrs. Ayanami, I swear I'll break you in two."
Standing next to him were two of his fellow security officers and the three staffers, each with an angry glare directed at the pilots.
"You fucking pilots think you're hot shit." He yelled. "You think NERV can't function without you. Well, let me tell you something you little shits, you are replaceable, every single one of you. Just like everyone else here. NERV is more than the sum of its parts. NERV stands for something, something important."
"You think you're so brave, flying up into space to build a space station. Let me tell you what is brave. Getting into one of those giant monsters to do battle against another giant monster, knowing that at any moment, you may have only five minutes to get the job done and if you don't get it done, then you are at the mercy of that creature. Miss Ayanami fought those monsters. She put her life on the line time and time again along with the other two pilots, for what? So little ungrateful brats like you can bad mouth her." The large man yelled in Pamela's face.
"But she's one of those same monster's she helped kill." She spat back through gritted teeth.
"SHUT UP!" He screamed right in her face. "You know nothing. I don't care if she were the devil himself. You still owe your very existence to her, you ungrateful little piece of shit." And with that he hurled the young blond about four meters through the air. She came down hard on the sofa, which slid about a quarter of a meter then flipped back sending the pilot to the floor behind it.
"Come on Santo, these punks aren't worth it." One of his colleagues pulled on his arm.
Growling as he turned, the large man gave a warning stare at the other pilots. One by one the other adults walked out of the rec room as well, leaving the pilots alone to consider their warning.
After several minutes of silence, Ayato finally spoke. "Shit, I thought I was going to piss in my pants."
Lin ran over to the blond pilot who was slowly picking herself up off the floor. "Are you alright Pam?" He asked as he helped her to her feet.
"Yea, yea, I'm okay." She responded, though she was still shaking from the incident.
"I told you. I told you to keep your voice down. We're lucky we all didn't get our asses kicked because of your stupidity." Akane snapped.
"Fuck you!" Pam shot back then she pulled free from Lin and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Her friend asked.
"To find that bitch Rei Ayanami and give her a piece of my mind, even if it gets me fired." The blond pilot yelled as she ran out the door.
"Pam, wait!" Lin started running after her.
"Let her go." Akane snapped. "If she's so dead set on ending her career here at NERV already. Let her. At least she'll be doing what we all have been thinking." She turned and sat down.
"Yeah, ain't that the truth." Ayato added.
Lin stared over at his fellow pilots, his hand just a few centimeters from the doorknob. Slowly he turned and stared at the doorknob, still not certain of what to do.
"Come on Lin, the feed from Oklahoma Base should be starting soon." The dark-haired girl said as she sat down and turned the large screen monitor on.
After a moment of consideration, the young pilot let his hand drop to his side as he turned and returned to the seating area around the monitor.
"There's still almost an hour before Unit 00 lands." Pamela whispered to herself. "She's not in the command center. Where can she be?" She came to a stop, realizing that just around the corner of the adjacent corridor was Captain Rei Ayanami's office. "She's probably hiding out there. The heartless bitch."
She turned the corner and saw the door of her commanding officer's office slightly ajar. As she approached she heard voices coming from the room. She slowed down and came to a stop just outside the door.
"Rei, there was nothing you could do. You did everything humanly possible for her. Even Nabiki knows you did everything in your power to save her. We just have to trust the Magi and hope for the best." Shinji said, his hands gently caressing her shoulders.
"I understand the logic of your argument Shinji but I cannot help but feel as if there were more I could have done. Lieutenant Matsumura has worked so hard to be a good pilot. They all have. She does not deserve such a cruel fate. Perhaps if I had ordered her to begin filling the Eva's oxygen supply sooner…" She argued.
"After all this you still can't call her Nabiki." Pam whispered to herself. "You are a cold hearted bitch."
"Her oxygen consumption was minimal from the time of the accident till the time you ordered her to begin transferring it to Unit 00. It wouldn't have made much of a difference."
"But perhaps, even a few seconds could mean the difference between…" Her husband interrupted her again.
"Rei, stop it. You heard Nabiki herself say it. She doesn't blame you. No one does." Shinji insisted.
'Like hell no one blames her.' Pam mentally offered.
"There is at least one person who does, perhaps three others." His wife countered.
"She's wrong and if they agree with her, then they're wrong too."
"Are they? I am not so sure." She looked way, unable and unwilling to accept his comfort and support.
"Rei, you can't start questioning your decisions. Once you start doing that…" He ran his hand gently over her hair, lightly caressing the back of her neck. "Once you start, it will never end."
Slowly the crimson-eyed woman looked up into her husband's eyes. "Why are you always so kind to me?" She gave him a faint smile.
"Because you're my life, you're the air I breathe, the blood that flows through my veins". He smiled back.
Smiling back she replied. "You know, you should have been a poet instead of a pilot."
"It's still not too late." He leaned forward and kissed her on her forehead. "Come, let's head back to the command center."
She nodded but said. "I will be right there. I just have one thing I need to do first."
"Okay, I'll wait."
"No, that's alright. Go on ahead. I will be there in a minute." She assured him.
Pausing a moment, Shinji gave his wife a questioning look but decided not to press the issue. "Okay. I'll see you there." He leaned in once again and kissed her on the cheek then turned and headed out the door.
Rei considered closing the door her husband had left open but instead she walked around and sat at her desk. Taking a deep breath, she pulled open the bottom drawer and flipped through the folders till she found what she was looking for. Pulling a single page letter, she set it in front of her and looked down at it. It was a resignation letter she had written her first day as Operations Director. While Fuyutsuki and Katsuragi always expressed the utmost confidence in her abilities, she felt that if her performance or her origins ever posed a risk to NERV, she would do what she knew in her heart they would not. Now, for the first time since she wrote the letter, she looked at it and read the short two paragraphs.
In the hallway, Pamela, had retreated around the corner so as not to be seen by her instructor. Now she stood by the door once again, looking in at the sole figure sitting behind the desk.
'What the hell is she doing now?' She wondered.
Slowly tears began to form in the director's eyes. "Oh Nabiki… I am sorry… I am so sorry… I am so, so sorry." She covered her face with her hands and wept. "Nabiki, I am sorry, so very, very sorry."
The blond pilot gasped in surprise then quickly turned away from the doorway so as not to be seen if her superior happened to look up from the sound. Confusion and uncertainty were written on her face as she took an uncertain step away from the office.
After crying for about a minute, Rei wiped her tears way and took a deep breath in an effort to regain her composure. Then she pulled out a pen from the lab coat that had become her signature uniform and clicked it open. She held it in her hand just centimeters over the letter. After a few pensive moments, she set the pen down on the letter and got up. Walking out the door, she checked to make sure it was locked then turned to head for the command center.
"Aah! Lieutenant Jackson." Rei's heart raced for a moment at the surprise of being face to face with the insubordinate young pilot. "What can I do for you?" She asked
"I just came to tell you…" The young pilot looked into her commanding officer's crimson eyes, finding the resolve in them that had fled her moments ago. "I just came to tell you that if anything happens to Nabiki, I'll never forgive you. You think you're always right, don't you. Well, your arrogance has put my friend in jeopardy and it'll be all your fault if anything happens to her." Not waiting for a response, the young pilot turned and walked away.
Rei stood perfectly still for a moment unable to react in anyway. Finally, her cellphone range, causing her to reach into her lab coat to pull it out. "Hello, Rei Ayanami speaking." She whispered without a hint of emotion.
"Rei, where are you? Unit 00 will being its reentry procedures in less then 20 minutes."
"Coming mother." She whispered softly.
"Mother? Rei, what's wrong?"
"Nothing Sub-Commander. I'm on my way." Rei ended the call and started walking toward the command center.
~~~~~~~~~~
AN: Sorry for ending it like this but if I let it get any longer, it would become totally unmanageable for me. I've already begun working on the next chapter so it the wait won't be that long. I know this seems like a very unexpected turn of events considering the way the story had been flowing but the conflict between Rei and her pilots was one I wanted to explore in the last chapter but just couldn't fit it in. It will get tied in with the rest of the story, I assure you.
I'd like to thank everyone that reviewed my last chapter as well as the wonderful people on the
Rei-Shinji.cjb.net Forum. If you are a Rei/Shinji fan, that is the place to go. ^_^
Please review this chapter after reading it. I'd really like to know what you think.
A. Amishi