Chapter 16
A terrible secret
NERV technicians were working tirelessly on the tablet trying to translate it. Meanwhile the repairs on Unit 014 were proceeding well and they were going to have it operational again in a few days. Gendo was in his office starring wide-eyed at the information he uncovered about the Jenova project. He almost died from a heart attack after he had finished reading it. He understood why his wife was so interested in the Jenova Project.
She was interested in it because she was an unknowing part of it. Hojo had unknowing injected her and Asuka's mother with Jenova's cells so they could synchronize with the EVA's. Jenova's cells were the secret to the ability that allowed the pilots to synchronize with the EVA's. That also explains how Shinji survived the fall, he had Jenova's cells and he had apparently gained the ability to regenerate. His Wife had no knowledge of ever been injected with Jenova's cells until she had somehow learned of the Jenova project.
When Gendo reached that part of the file he didn't have a clear idea of why his wife wanted to know more about it. That was until he came to one of the last pages of the report. What Gendo learned left him in shock. Not only did last pages tell him who Sephiroth junior's parents were, but it informed him that the Accident with Eva unit 01 wasn't an accident.
Hojo had learned about Yui's investigation, and according to the report he was worried that Yui might have exposed him and his projects. So Hojo made some adjustments to the entry plug which Resulted in her death. Hojo had used the Jenova in the Eva to manipulate the Eva's entry plug to kill Yui by having the Eva take her soul into the Eva thus killing her and making it look like an accident. This of course angered Gendo, but as he continued reading his anger towards Hojo grew. He learned that after he had taken some tissue samples from her remains to make Rei; Hojo took what remained of Yui and used her remains to revive Jenova's remains by infusing both remains together.
Gendo broke the pencil he had in his hand when he was finished reading it. But he also learned that Hojo used a similar method to drive Asuka's mother insane so her soul could be absorbed by the Eva. It appeared to Gendo that Hojo has been busying with his projects. But what interested him the most was the identity of Sephiroth junior's parents. He found a second reason why Yui was investigating the Jenova project while at the same he hated Hojo even more. He hated Hojo so much now that Gendo opened up a compartment in his desk to pull out a small hand gun. He began loading it with bullets. While he was loading it Gendo didn't notice Fuyutski walk in.
"Something is troubling you I take it." Fuyutski said as he looked down at Gendo who was putting in the last few bullets into the gun.
"See for yourself." Gendo replied fiercely as he turned his computer screen towards Fuyutski so he could look at it.
Fuyutski started reading the text and when he was finished his eyes went wide. He knew the reason why Gendo was loading a gun. He was planning on Killing Hojo for murdering of his wife and using her in his experiments. But what also surprised Fuyutski were the names of Sephiroth junior's parents. He turned his attention back to Gendo and said "Shall I have whole facility on the look out for Hojo?"
"Yes...See to it that whoever finds him make sure no one kills him until I arrive. I wish to take Hojo's life personally." Gendo said as he shot Fuyutski an icy glare.
Meanwhile the members of NERV's staff who were working on translating the tablet made an astonishing discovery. After exposing the tablet to some energy they learned that writing on the tablet wasn't words, but they were coordinates instead. A beam of energy shot froth from the tablet and it hit the wall with a world map on it. The green beam was moving along the map slowly almost like it was tracking something. Soon everyone in the room figured out that whatever that the tablet was tracking it had to be something important.
Minutes later Misato, Cloud, Fuyutski and Gendo were gathered in the room watching the green beam moving along the map. "According to the map whatever that beam is pointing to will be passing by Japan in two hours.
"Send a team to the location what that thing is." Gendo ordered.
"I shall lead the team myself" Fuyutski volunteered. "I will take Mr. Strife and Major Katsuragi with me. Of course that is if they chose to go." Fuyutski said as he looked at the two with a straight expression.
"I'll go then." Cloud said softly.
"I guess I am coming along for this little field trip" Misato said sarcastically.
"Then you two will leave with me immediately. We don't know if this thing will be underwater or airborne so the sooner we leave the better." Fuyutski said as he turned around and he left the room.
At the same time in another part of the complex Sephiroth Junior was roaming the hallways of the facility by himself. Junior was alone until Shinji popped up from behind him. "Hey...uh...Sephiroth Junior could I have a word with you?" Shinji asked quietly.
"Yes" Junior said as he turned his head to look over his shoulder at Shinji.
"I was wondering. Could you give some advice?" Shinji asked the sliver haired teen.
"Advice on what?" Sephiroth Junior asked as he turned around to face the third child.
"I am tired of Asuka of being a jerk, so I was hoping you could tell me how to stand up for myself without Asuka killing me. I did try to stand up to her once, but I don't think she got the message." Shinji said as he looked over his shoulder to see if Asuka was near by.
"First off you need to stand up for yourself and tell Asuka in her face 'lay off bitch...stop harassing me or else'. Or something that tells her that you are sick of being pushed around. If that fails always remember you have Jenova's cells so you can kick her ass if she becomes hostile. But do bear in mind that beating up a woman is always wrong, but there are exceptions. Like if Asuka tries to kill you then you would have a fair reason to kick her ass I suppose." Sephiroth said with a faint smile.
"But she has Jenova's cells too. Besides she is stronger than me so I can't really put up a fight." Shinji said as he looked down at the floor.
"Then use a spell like ice or bolt. Its easy all you have to do is think about the spell and your target than use your will power to cast the spell. Come on...you try it." Sephiroth junior said as Shinji raised his hand to try and use a spell.
Several seconds passed as Shinji was trying very hard to cast a spell. Just when he was about to give up energy started to spark off his hand as Shinji unleashed a bolt spell on the wall. "Well I guess there is hope you yet Shinji. You cast a bolt one spell on the wall. With Jenova's cells you can use magic without the need of materia." Sephiroth said with a thin smile on his face.
"You know maybe I can stand up to Asuka now." Shinji said as he smiled and he stood up proud.
"Then why don't you go and tell her that you are tired of putting up with her crap. Grow a backbone Shinji and go show her who is boss." Sephiroth as he started acting like a drill sergeant.
"Where is she?" Shinji said excitedly.
"She's right behind you" Sephiroth Junior replied with a smile as Shinji spun around to see Asuka standing right behind her. Shinji's blood went cold as his eyes were meeting with Asuka's cold glare.
"You have something to say to me?" Asuka said as her glaze grew nastier with each passing second.
"Asuka you have been nothing but a load mouth bitch to everyone you know so I am telling you here and now that your attitude sucks." Shinji shouted into Asuka's face.
"Is that so?" Asuka said as she raised her hand and she curried her fingers into a fist. "But you will regret calling me a bitch!" Asuka finished her sentence saying as she sent her fist flying at Shinji. Shinji raised his hand and he cast blot three, but instead of hitting Asuka he hit a pipe above her head causing it to fall down and hit Asuka in her face. It hit her just hard enough to knock her out.
"Nice move Shinji." Sephiroth Junior complemented as he looked down at the fallen Asuka.
"It was an accident?" Shinji pleaded as look down at Asuka.
"It's alright...if anyone asks we'll just say that the pipe was messed up or something. Now I suggest that we leave before she wakes up. She may be smiling now. But she won't be when she regains conciseness." Sephiroth junior said as he started walking down the hall. Shinji looked at Asuka and he too decided that it was best not to tempt faith so he ran down the hall following Junior.
Later Misato, Cloud and Fuyutski were in a cargo helicopter flying around in the area where the object that was being tracked by the tablet was supposed to pass over. "Team two did you detecting anything underwater?" Fuyutski asked as he spoke into a radio.
"Nothing vice commander." The voice on the radio replied.
"Take us higher." Misato shouted at the pilot as the helicopter ascended high into the clouds. Once the craft was above the clouds they noticed something very strange moving towards them. The Helicopter flew closer to the object and they discovered that it was some kind of flying bubble. The surface of the bubble was mirror like and the reflection of the helicopter was seen on the surface.
"What the hell is that?" Cloud asked hoping that someone who knows what that thing is.
"I don't know, but let me try something." Misato said as she picked up a wrench and she flew it at the bubble. The small tool passed through the bubble.
"Fly into it." Fuyutski commanded as the nervous pilot flew straight into the bubble. They passed through the bubble and when they were inside the bubble Fuyutski, Cloud and Misato saw the most incredible site ever. "Call NERV and get the cameras. Gendo should see this." Fuyutski said as his thoughts were overwhelmed by what he was seeing.
"Fuyutski is on the line commander. He says that he found something that he thinks you should see for yourself to believe." Maya said as she was setting the viewer to show what Fuyutski wanted the commander to see. Gendo's eyes widened a bit when he saw what Fuyutski wanted to show him, and it was one hell of a discovery. The bubble in the sky was hiding a floating city. The city was a beautiful crystalline city floating in the sky that was hiding the city from the rest of the world inside that mirror like bubble. The city had many beautiful towers made of crystal and stone. There was a large temple in the center of the city with four large crystal pillars on each side of it. The appearance of the city remained Cloud of the city of the ancients on his world.
"That bubble Fuyutski and the team are in isn't showing up on the radar or any kind of sensors we have." One of the operators in the control room said as he tried to lock onto the bubble.
"Of course the radar isn't working. Whoever built that city didn't want anyone to find it." Gendo replied coldly as he kept this attention focused on the city. He watched the helicopter land; then he saw Cloud and Misato along with a few armed men get off the helicopter. "Keep recording and monitoring their investigation of the city. I have something I need to tend to. I will return shortly." Gendo informed a near by technician as he rose from his seat and he left the command center.
Meanwhile Sephiroth Junior and Shinji were standing in front of Unit 01. They thought the holding bay for Unit 01 would be a good place to hide out until Asuka cooled down when she regained consciousness. However while the two were having a nice chat none of them noticed that Gendo was watching from above. His glaze was locked onto Sephiroth Junior as the sliver haired child was standing in front of Unit 01. Suddenly he noticed Asuka walk into the chamber. Then she moved to confront both Shinji and Junior.
"Shinji you have a lot of nerve hitting me in the face with that pipe." Asuka shouted while her face was red with anger.
"It was an accident I was aiming my bolt spell at something else." Shinji said as he started to slow back away.
"Oh really...You know I overheard your conversation about how to use magic, so take this." Asuka shouted as she was getting ready to hit Shinji with a fire spell, but just as she was about to use it something caused the whole facility to shake causing Asuka to lose her balance. As she fell backwards her fire spell shot up and it hit some metal beams right above Sephiroth Junior. The beams were falling towards him as the sliver haired boy was raising his hand upward to use his AT field to block them.
However...before he could use his AT field something unexpected happened. Unit 01 broke its arm restraint and it raised its arm up to block the falling beams. A smile appeared on Gendo's face while the thinking "I knew it." The Eva's hand slowly returned to its original place while leaving Shinji, Asuka and Junior speechless.
"Did I just see what I think I just saw?" Asuka asked herself as she looked at Sephiroth Junior and Shinji who was in no danger at all so there was no reason for the Eva to react.
"Why did Eva 01 react?" Sephiroth junior was asking himself as he looked at the Eva. Before anyone else could say anything else the alarms were going off again.
"Another Angel is closing in on Toyoko-3. Would all Eva pilots please report in and prepare to launch the Eva's." Maya announced over the loud speakers.
"Hold that order. Send Sephiroth Junior out in Eva 01 only. The other pilots are to stand down." Gendo ordered.
"What?" Shinji and Sephiroth Junior said in unison.
Gendo was already gone from where he was standing, but Shinji and Sephiroth Junior were surprised that Gendo was watching them the whole time. "What the hell is Gendo thinking?" Asuka shouted in protest to Gendo's order.
"I don't know, but orders are orders. I better go and suit up." Sephiroth Junior said as he walked off to change into his plug suit. Shinji stood there speechless trying to figure out why his father would send him out in Eva 01. The only thing he could figure out was that maybe his father wanted to see if he could pilot Eva 01.
Meanwhile in some hidden chamber inside of the city of the Ancients was Ritsuko and she sitting in front of a stone table with a bunch of crystals on it and a waterfall was falling down in front of it, but one of the crystals was showing a picture of Misato and Cloud walking around in the city that was displayed on the waterfall. Ritsuko reached out and she started turning some of the crystals. They were glowing and reacting as Ritsuko moved the crystals. A solider dress in a black military uniform stood behind her and asked "Dr. Akagi...what are you doing?"
"I am reactivating this temple's defenses. If Misato and her friend try to enter this place then they will not leave alive. But as a precaution have the men who are patrolling the streets outside of the temple move in and kill them. We can't have them telling Gendo of the secrets hidden here." Ritsuko said as she started to grin.
A terrible secret
NERV technicians were working tirelessly on the tablet trying to translate it. Meanwhile the repairs on Unit 014 were proceeding well and they were going to have it operational again in a few days. Gendo was in his office starring wide-eyed at the information he uncovered about the Jenova project. He almost died from a heart attack after he had finished reading it. He understood why his wife was so interested in the Jenova Project.
She was interested in it because she was an unknowing part of it. Hojo had unknowing injected her and Asuka's mother with Jenova's cells so they could synchronize with the EVA's. Jenova's cells were the secret to the ability that allowed the pilots to synchronize with the EVA's. That also explains how Shinji survived the fall, he had Jenova's cells and he had apparently gained the ability to regenerate. His Wife had no knowledge of ever been injected with Jenova's cells until she had somehow learned of the Jenova project.
When Gendo reached that part of the file he didn't have a clear idea of why his wife wanted to know more about it. That was until he came to one of the last pages of the report. What Gendo learned left him in shock. Not only did last pages tell him who Sephiroth junior's parents were, but it informed him that the Accident with Eva unit 01 wasn't an accident.
Hojo had learned about Yui's investigation, and according to the report he was worried that Yui might have exposed him and his projects. So Hojo made some adjustments to the entry plug which Resulted in her death. Hojo had used the Jenova in the Eva to manipulate the Eva's entry plug to kill Yui by having the Eva take her soul into the Eva thus killing her and making it look like an accident. This of course angered Gendo, but as he continued reading his anger towards Hojo grew. He learned that after he had taken some tissue samples from her remains to make Rei; Hojo took what remained of Yui and used her remains to revive Jenova's remains by infusing both remains together.
Gendo broke the pencil he had in his hand when he was finished reading it. But he also learned that Hojo used a similar method to drive Asuka's mother insane so her soul could be absorbed by the Eva. It appeared to Gendo that Hojo has been busying with his projects. But what interested him the most was the identity of Sephiroth junior's parents. He found a second reason why Yui was investigating the Jenova project while at the same he hated Hojo even more. He hated Hojo so much now that Gendo opened up a compartment in his desk to pull out a small hand gun. He began loading it with bullets. While he was loading it Gendo didn't notice Fuyutski walk in.
"Something is troubling you I take it." Fuyutski said as he looked down at Gendo who was putting in the last few bullets into the gun.
"See for yourself." Gendo replied fiercely as he turned his computer screen towards Fuyutski so he could look at it.
Fuyutski started reading the text and when he was finished his eyes went wide. He knew the reason why Gendo was loading a gun. He was planning on Killing Hojo for murdering of his wife and using her in his experiments. But what also surprised Fuyutski were the names of Sephiroth junior's parents. He turned his attention back to Gendo and said "Shall I have whole facility on the look out for Hojo?"
"Yes...See to it that whoever finds him make sure no one kills him until I arrive. I wish to take Hojo's life personally." Gendo said as he shot Fuyutski an icy glare.
Meanwhile the members of NERV's staff who were working on translating the tablet made an astonishing discovery. After exposing the tablet to some energy they learned that writing on the tablet wasn't words, but they were coordinates instead. A beam of energy shot froth from the tablet and it hit the wall with a world map on it. The green beam was moving along the map slowly almost like it was tracking something. Soon everyone in the room figured out that whatever that the tablet was tracking it had to be something important.
Minutes later Misato, Cloud, Fuyutski and Gendo were gathered in the room watching the green beam moving along the map. "According to the map whatever that beam is pointing to will be passing by Japan in two hours.
"Send a team to the location what that thing is." Gendo ordered.
"I shall lead the team myself" Fuyutski volunteered. "I will take Mr. Strife and Major Katsuragi with me. Of course that is if they chose to go." Fuyutski said as he looked at the two with a straight expression.
"I'll go then." Cloud said softly.
"I guess I am coming along for this little field trip" Misato said sarcastically.
"Then you two will leave with me immediately. We don't know if this thing will be underwater or airborne so the sooner we leave the better." Fuyutski said as he turned around and he left the room.
At the same time in another part of the complex Sephiroth Junior was roaming the hallways of the facility by himself. Junior was alone until Shinji popped up from behind him. "Hey...uh...Sephiroth Junior could I have a word with you?" Shinji asked quietly.
"Yes" Junior said as he turned his head to look over his shoulder at Shinji.
"I was wondering. Could you give some advice?" Shinji asked the sliver haired teen.
"Advice on what?" Sephiroth Junior asked as he turned around to face the third child.
"I am tired of Asuka of being a jerk, so I was hoping you could tell me how to stand up for myself without Asuka killing me. I did try to stand up to her once, but I don't think she got the message." Shinji said as he looked over his shoulder to see if Asuka was near by.
"First off you need to stand up for yourself and tell Asuka in her face 'lay off bitch...stop harassing me or else'. Or something that tells her that you are sick of being pushed around. If that fails always remember you have Jenova's cells so you can kick her ass if she becomes hostile. But do bear in mind that beating up a woman is always wrong, but there are exceptions. Like if Asuka tries to kill you then you would have a fair reason to kick her ass I suppose." Sephiroth said with a faint smile.
"But she has Jenova's cells too. Besides she is stronger than me so I can't really put up a fight." Shinji said as he looked down at the floor.
"Then use a spell like ice or bolt. Its easy all you have to do is think about the spell and your target than use your will power to cast the spell. Come on...you try it." Sephiroth junior said as Shinji raised his hand to try and use a spell.
Several seconds passed as Shinji was trying very hard to cast a spell. Just when he was about to give up energy started to spark off his hand as Shinji unleashed a bolt spell on the wall. "Well I guess there is hope you yet Shinji. You cast a bolt one spell on the wall. With Jenova's cells you can use magic without the need of materia." Sephiroth said with a thin smile on his face.
"You know maybe I can stand up to Asuka now." Shinji said as he smiled and he stood up proud.
"Then why don't you go and tell her that you are tired of putting up with her crap. Grow a backbone Shinji and go show her who is boss." Sephiroth as he started acting like a drill sergeant.
"Where is she?" Shinji said excitedly.
"She's right behind you" Sephiroth Junior replied with a smile as Shinji spun around to see Asuka standing right behind her. Shinji's blood went cold as his eyes were meeting with Asuka's cold glare.
"You have something to say to me?" Asuka said as her glaze grew nastier with each passing second.
"Asuka you have been nothing but a load mouth bitch to everyone you know so I am telling you here and now that your attitude sucks." Shinji shouted into Asuka's face.
"Is that so?" Asuka said as she raised her hand and she curried her fingers into a fist. "But you will regret calling me a bitch!" Asuka finished her sentence saying as she sent her fist flying at Shinji. Shinji raised his hand and he cast blot three, but instead of hitting Asuka he hit a pipe above her head causing it to fall down and hit Asuka in her face. It hit her just hard enough to knock her out.
"Nice move Shinji." Sephiroth Junior complemented as he looked down at the fallen Asuka.
"It was an accident?" Shinji pleaded as look down at Asuka.
"It's alright...if anyone asks we'll just say that the pipe was messed up or something. Now I suggest that we leave before she wakes up. She may be smiling now. But she won't be when she regains conciseness." Sephiroth junior said as he started walking down the hall. Shinji looked at Asuka and he too decided that it was best not to tempt faith so he ran down the hall following Junior.
Later Misato, Cloud and Fuyutski were in a cargo helicopter flying around in the area where the object that was being tracked by the tablet was supposed to pass over. "Team two did you detecting anything underwater?" Fuyutski asked as he spoke into a radio.
"Nothing vice commander." The voice on the radio replied.
"Take us higher." Misato shouted at the pilot as the helicopter ascended high into the clouds. Once the craft was above the clouds they noticed something very strange moving towards them. The Helicopter flew closer to the object and they discovered that it was some kind of flying bubble. The surface of the bubble was mirror like and the reflection of the helicopter was seen on the surface.
"What the hell is that?" Cloud asked hoping that someone who knows what that thing is.
"I don't know, but let me try something." Misato said as she picked up a wrench and she flew it at the bubble. The small tool passed through the bubble.
"Fly into it." Fuyutski commanded as the nervous pilot flew straight into the bubble. They passed through the bubble and when they were inside the bubble Fuyutski, Cloud and Misato saw the most incredible site ever. "Call NERV and get the cameras. Gendo should see this." Fuyutski said as his thoughts were overwhelmed by what he was seeing.
"Fuyutski is on the line commander. He says that he found something that he thinks you should see for yourself to believe." Maya said as she was setting the viewer to show what Fuyutski wanted the commander to see. Gendo's eyes widened a bit when he saw what Fuyutski wanted to show him, and it was one hell of a discovery. The bubble in the sky was hiding a floating city. The city was a beautiful crystalline city floating in the sky that was hiding the city from the rest of the world inside that mirror like bubble. The city had many beautiful towers made of crystal and stone. There was a large temple in the center of the city with four large crystal pillars on each side of it. The appearance of the city remained Cloud of the city of the ancients on his world.
"That bubble Fuyutski and the team are in isn't showing up on the radar or any kind of sensors we have." One of the operators in the control room said as he tried to lock onto the bubble.
"Of course the radar isn't working. Whoever built that city didn't want anyone to find it." Gendo replied coldly as he kept this attention focused on the city. He watched the helicopter land; then he saw Cloud and Misato along with a few armed men get off the helicopter. "Keep recording and monitoring their investigation of the city. I have something I need to tend to. I will return shortly." Gendo informed a near by technician as he rose from his seat and he left the command center.
Meanwhile Sephiroth Junior and Shinji were standing in front of Unit 01. They thought the holding bay for Unit 01 would be a good place to hide out until Asuka cooled down when she regained consciousness. However while the two were having a nice chat none of them noticed that Gendo was watching from above. His glaze was locked onto Sephiroth Junior as the sliver haired child was standing in front of Unit 01. Suddenly he noticed Asuka walk into the chamber. Then she moved to confront both Shinji and Junior.
"Shinji you have a lot of nerve hitting me in the face with that pipe." Asuka shouted while her face was red with anger.
"It was an accident I was aiming my bolt spell at something else." Shinji said as he started to slow back away.
"Oh really...You know I overheard your conversation about how to use magic, so take this." Asuka shouted as she was getting ready to hit Shinji with a fire spell, but just as she was about to use it something caused the whole facility to shake causing Asuka to lose her balance. As she fell backwards her fire spell shot up and it hit some metal beams right above Sephiroth Junior. The beams were falling towards him as the sliver haired boy was raising his hand upward to use his AT field to block them.
However...before he could use his AT field something unexpected happened. Unit 01 broke its arm restraint and it raised its arm up to block the falling beams. A smile appeared on Gendo's face while the thinking "I knew it." The Eva's hand slowly returned to its original place while leaving Shinji, Asuka and Junior speechless.
"Did I just see what I think I just saw?" Asuka asked herself as she looked at Sephiroth Junior and Shinji who was in no danger at all so there was no reason for the Eva to react.
"Why did Eva 01 react?" Sephiroth junior was asking himself as he looked at the Eva. Before anyone else could say anything else the alarms were going off again.
"Another Angel is closing in on Toyoko-3. Would all Eva pilots please report in and prepare to launch the Eva's." Maya announced over the loud speakers.
"Hold that order. Send Sephiroth Junior out in Eva 01 only. The other pilots are to stand down." Gendo ordered.
"What?" Shinji and Sephiroth Junior said in unison.
Gendo was already gone from where he was standing, but Shinji and Sephiroth Junior were surprised that Gendo was watching them the whole time. "What the hell is Gendo thinking?" Asuka shouted in protest to Gendo's order.
"I don't know, but orders are orders. I better go and suit up." Sephiroth Junior said as he walked off to change into his plug suit. Shinji stood there speechless trying to figure out why his father would send him out in Eva 01. The only thing he could figure out was that maybe his father wanted to see if he could pilot Eva 01.
Meanwhile in some hidden chamber inside of the city of the Ancients was Ritsuko and she sitting in front of a stone table with a bunch of crystals on it and a waterfall was falling down in front of it, but one of the crystals was showing a picture of Misato and Cloud walking around in the city that was displayed on the waterfall. Ritsuko reached out and she started turning some of the crystals. They were glowing and reacting as Ritsuko moved the crystals. A solider dress in a black military uniform stood behind her and asked "Dr. Akagi...what are you doing?"
"I am reactivating this temple's defenses. If Misato and her friend try to enter this place then they will not leave alive. But as a precaution have the men who are patrolling the streets outside of the temple move in and kill them. We can't have them telling Gendo of the secrets hidden here." Ritsuko said as she started to grin.