Problem 12: The holly dance of the otaku, and their holly grail?
ERRRRRRRRRR
The error designation sound blares on Asuka's dance mat. In frustration she tosses her head set to the ground. Rei stops and looks to Asuka with confusion.
"You are going to fast..."
"I know that!" Asuka yells as she rubs her head. "The damn song is to slow!"
Rei follows Asuka's movement with her eyes as the red head walks and sits down on a beanbag chair. With Asuka seemingly resting Rei takes off her head set. "That is irrelevant."
"Rei has a point..." Both Rei and Asuka turn to see Misato at the entranceway.
"Don't you knock!"
Misato smiles and shakes her head. "No, not really..." As Asuka makes sly comments to her self Misato walks in and goes into the kitchen and opens the refrigerator. She then turns with a small juices box, and goes over and sits on one of the beanbag chairs. "Well, lets see what you two can do."
Both Rei and Asuka put on their headsets, but once more it doesn't take long before Asuka speeds up past the tempo and errors the system. Misato frowns as Asuka flicks off the Machine and begins to curse.
"It could be worse..." Rei whispers under her breath as she stares into nothingness. Asuka stops her rant to listen even Misato perks her ears up to hear Rei. "You could be doing this with Ayanami..."
Asuka cringes at the thought, but Misato puts her juice box down upset at the insult. "Rei that wasn't nice."
First to defend Rei is Asuka as she stand between both of them. "It was the unadulterated truth, Misato."
"Rei she is the only family you have, you should treasure her..."
Rei takes a step to be side-by-side Asuka. "She is not my family, the only relation we have is genetic, I hold no bond for her, and you do not have the experience to question what family is, seeing you have none Capatain..."
"What the hell did Gendo do to you?" Misato looks to see Rei is not upset at what was said. "Look I may not be a good guardian but I would never want my kids to turn out like you!"
Rei steps back, her thought becomes dry as her mind draws a blank. Naturally she wants to defend the only family she has, but she cannot. Misato's words seem to have voided every thought but that of what she said. The subject is even too raw for Asuka as she looks around as if not part of the conversation.
"I don't care how you do it!" Misato tosses her juice box and goes to leave. "In four days I want you two synced, right now your both in need of improvement, so pick up the ball or get out because we have no time for failure."
Misato rushes out the door leaving Asuka and Rei alone. Rei is seen visually shaken by what was said. "What does she mean by turn out like me... Does she not trust my abilities as a pilot..."
"No... not that..." Even for Asuka it's not hard to see were Misato is coming from, Rei isn't what Asuka would call normal. "Look who cares what that baka thinks!"
"If she has no confidence in me I should not be part of this operation..."
Rei begins to march off to the exit but is stopped as Asuka grabs her hands. "That's not what she meant! Look all she means is that you dissed your sister and she would never do it."
Once more Rei is given a unreasonable answer to decipher however she is unable as she ponders on why that is wrong to do. "Do you disapprove of me speaking negatively of Ayanami."
"No..."
"Then why does Captain Katsuragi disapprove?"
Asuka shakes her head seeing that Misato point is being proven. "Look all she wants is for you to think for your self and live for your self."
"I do?"
Trying not to upset Rei or confuse Rei anymore then she has to she answers delicately. "Well you do seem to follow your orders a bit to literally..."
"I do what I am ordered to do."
With a small sigh Asuka tries once more to get her point across. "Yea I know your going for that soldier image, but the best soldiers don't blindly follow orders with out questioning their value and probability of success."
"They do..."
Somewhat frustrated Asuka walks back to the dance pad pulling on her ridicules leotard she is forced to wear. Rei follows her lead and goes to her pad.
"One more time, lets get it right First Child!"
52 hours later...
"This..." Rei tries her best to catch her breath as she lays on the dance mat. "Is... Not effective..."
"This is stupid!" Asuka yells as she lays on her mat covered in sweat.
"But you doubled timed the tempo, if you go any hire you will die of hernias." Both Rei and Asuka look to the beanbag chairs to see Yukari with Servo sleeping on her head, Shinji and Misato watching. Yukari's statement isn't well liked.
"Shut up Zero!"
Misato shakes her head at Yukari after Asuka's out burst. Yukari frown be for leaning back in the beanbag. Being careful not to hurt her broken foot.
"At least you're getting better..."
Shinji's comment gets Asuka's evil stare. "Shut up Wonder boy!"
After a moment of silence Misato stands and yawns. "Look its late you two should get some sleep... that goes for you two too." Misato rubs the heads of Shinji and Yukari.
Everyone sigh in relief, Asuka rolls over and reaches for a water bottle pouring it on her face. Shinji help Yukari up as best he can with one good arm, the two walk out leaving just Misato and the two girls.
"Rei, can we talk..."
Rei quickly gets up and goes to Misato and stands at attention. "Ma'am Pilot Rei Ayanami reports as ordered."
"Knock it off Rei!" Misato puts her hands on her hips.
"Excuse me ma'am..."
In an angry fit Misato points out the door. "I talked to the commander in your handling of your sister and he agreed that you are unfit to be her guardian."
As if the world has ended for Rei she drops out of attention. 'Why... how have I failed the commander..."
"Yukari is just a child Rei, you can't treat her like dirt and push her around." Misato says with a lower tone. "I am becoming Yukari's guardian, and I hope this teaches you a lesson..."
"That Stupid people huddle in to groups..."
"Shut up Asuka!" Misato's roar puts the young red head quickly in her place. "The lesson is that your unwillingness to understand Yukari, your total lack to feel for her, is why she failed in combat and if she fails NERV fails! You bully her you ignore everything she does for you and every nice thing she says to you!" Rei watches as Misato walks out the door having it slide shut behind her.
'I failed the commander...'
The rest of the night goes by in silence; Rei and Asuka both get ready for bed with out a word spoken. Asuka cant help but stare at Rei, she seems to be unaffected at being chewed out.
'Its as if she's a robot, its like she doesn't care...'
Asuka closes her eyes only to wake up to a light coming from the dinning room of her condo. She looks around to see Rei missing from her bedroll. Curiosity sinks in as Asuka prowls into the living room to see Rei with her school laptop out and she is watching something on it with headphones on. Asuka tiptoes her way right behind Rei and then quickly grabs her shoulders.
"Boo!"
Rei is completely alarmed and frightened as she takes hold of Asuka's arm, twisting it around and then flips her over the couch and onto the table next to her laptop.
"Asuka!"
Rei pants and grabs her chest staring at her roommate. Unable to gain her composer Rei sits down.
"Damn..."
"I am... Sorry..."
Asuka gets off the table and rubs her head. "Neat trick but if you do it again you will pay..."
Rei picks up her headphones from off the floor. "Why did you do that..."
'I'm wondering the same thing...' Asuka cracks her neck before she sits down next to Rei. "I don't know, I saw an opening to scare you so I did, you know for fun."
"I see..."
Asuka rolls her eyes as she looks onto the laptop to see it is running a video file that's picture looks old and is black an white. "What are you watching?"
With a sigh only a dog could hear Rei looks at the laptop with a confused look. "It is a documentary on soldiers..."
"And..." Asuka teases as she nudges Rei. "What simple common sentence problem can you not understand..."
With some content Rei looks to Asuka. "I do not understand, many actions soldiers have taken and are still praised for it or soldiers who followed orders and died for it."
"Like..."
Rei goes over and clicks on the mouse pad to bring up a word document. "The Nuremberg trails, were officer's were executed for following orders... The Valentines Day War... US aircraft attacked North Korean landing craft when ordered not to; they are praised as heroes.
With a big yawn Asuka looks at the document. "Well the Nazi's were ordered to commit Genocide... Because the order involved the killing of millions of innocent people they were punished..."
"That's irrelevant." Rei points out on the laptop. "They were following order..."
"Come one Rei..." Asuka shakes her head at the thought of Rei's logic. "Its inhuman to do such a act!" This stumps Rei as she tries to understand Asuka. "Look and the American attacked because there were civilians on the beach..." Asuka points it out in the document. "You see, the innocent must be spared no matter what... Its in the Geneva Convention"
"I see..."
"Just be glad I'm here or you would be lost..." Asuka leans back and closes her eyes. "This subject is getting old, its no fun..."
"No fun..."
Asuka opens up one eye and looks to Rei. "Like this stupid sync dancing crap thing, it's not fun..."
"Its...
"Yea I know..." Asuka looks back at the mats in front of the table. "Irrelevant. Only if there was a way to sync and have fun at the same..."
Asuka's eyes widen and a grin covers her face, she grabs Rei's hand and runs to the door she stops and begins to put on her shoes Rei only stands and stares at her. Asuka looks to see that Rei is not moving so she hands her shoes. "Remember when Misato said no matter what we had to be synced..."
"Yes..." Rei watches as Asuka grabs her handbag.
"Then lets go get synced..."
The vast city of Tokyo 3 is lush with everything a person could need in the world, from diamond rings to 24 hour arcades, and for Asuka and Rei this is were they end up. Filled with every Otaku from Tokyo 3 to Osaka is here, there peaceful nerdy lives are interrupted as Asuka marches down the rows or every kind of game imaginable. Rei feels out of place in this environment as she tails just behind Asuka. This is foreign ground for the blue haired Eva pilot and she feels defenseless only with Asuka to protect her. Shoving and pushing her way through the lines and crowds she comes to it. There the Holly Grail to nerdom, second in importance to an Otaku just after an Anime Conventions, The official sport to Ravers and Goths it towers above the two girls beaten but not broken, its metal and fiberglass body shows signs of the battles it have one and lost. It stands as a beacon to the world of nerds, Ravers, Otaku, and Goths, a beacon of hope, and a convenient way to loss weight after a Playstation 2 binge.
Rei and Asuka stop in front if the latest Dance Dance Revolution, Super Max 8 Plus. Currently this relic of the freak gods is taking down two victims, as they are in not skilled enough to handle the DDR. However for Asuka, she does not heed the line in front of her or the two who play it, she goes up and kicks them both off causing them to loss the game. The authority Asuka brings isn't what keeps the line from rioting for her cutting; it is her beauty, for even the girls are in awe at both fourteen year old girls in their matching leotards Asuka with the pink top and Rei with the blue top.
"Here we are Rei!"
At first she is speechless, never has she been in such a loud and smelly place. "I feel ill... this location smells foul..." Asuka walks up on to pad one and points to pad two for Rei. She slowly replies and walks onto the pad. "You are stretching the orders given to you Miss Souyu..."
"They can send me to the firing squad after we defeat the angel. "Asuka pulls out her NERV issued credit card and slides it into the mighty DDR. "Okay here is how you play, arrows will come up on the screen telling you wear to place your feet, the arrow will match one of the arrows down on your pad." Rei looks at the pad and studies it allowing Asuka to continue. "Now it will be fast and up to two to three sometimes even four can come up ant any given time..."
From the crowd a voice shouts out. "Get those virgins off the pad!"
"Excuse me!" Asuka yells out as she jumps off the pad and grabs the man who spoke. "This is Government business stay out of it."
"What ever kid, I waited to long in line to see you cut and teach your friend!"
"Kid!" Asuka tightens her grip and throws the guy to the ground. "If we don't do this we will all die and what would happen to all the kids in the world!"
"What do you mean?"
Willing to answer Asuka points at all of the Otaku's. "What about all of these freaks and kids.
"What about them?"
Asuka glares as she hisses at the man. "They would all die painful deaths!
"What!"
"You're a fine baka sending these kids to there rancid and horrible deaths!"
"Who..."
She once more points to all of the kids around her. "Why do you have a problem with these kids!"
"Now... Look Lady I'm sorry..."
Asuka doesn't except his apologies. "What right do you have to put them in to their graves!
The man begins to look around in fear. "I'm sorry!"
"Me and her are the only ones who can save them," Asuka takes hold of the man as he cries, "You have no right to kill them all!" The man's is unable to speak as he feels he just killed a puppy. "Come on Baka, let these pathetic losers live, don't kill them!"
"I'm sorry, please forgive me!"
The manager of the story finally approaches only to see Asuka walking back to the Holy DDR pad, leaving the man shivering and crying. "What started this..."
A kid looks over to the old man. "DDR..."
"Figures..." Once on the machine Asuka pushes the start button, and looks to Rei. "We will start off on easy then move to Maniac!" Rei nods as she looks at the screen.
"Roger..."
Asuka selects the character and game modes and the count down begins. "Lets rock and roll!"
The two begin with as a crowd gather around the pads many are in shock knowing the blue hair pail skinned girl is a amateur and is keeps making perfects.
With there first set complete Rei looks over to Asuka with satisfaction. "Using a computer interface, instead of each other to achieve sync."
"You can praise my genius later! "Asuka wipes some sweat off her brow and smiles. "We aren't finished yet... Lets turn it up a notch..."
"Lets..."
Rei watches as the arrows as she perfectly follows what it does. 'This is impressive, more realistic because we must sync in combat where a third party would be present.'
Before the second set ends Asuka calls out. "Lets go straight through..."
"Roger..."
Nearing almost twenty minutes of DDR with no mistakes the ante is upped as the move from normal to extreme mode. As things speed up Asuka looks to Rei.
"Are you good at jumping..."
Rei gives Asuka a quick glance to see she is about to jump to her pad. As soon as she jumps Rei follows suit both landing one each other pads, and were there supposed to be. They quickly turn around to pick up their next moves pulling off the move still holding their perfects. Around the Holy DDR machine Otaku, Goths Ravers, and Nerd unite and place bets on who will fall first. Cheers and catcalls are given, but they fall on death ear. Rei and Asuka are so zoned in to the game; they can barely here the music, only each other's breathing. Another twenty minutes pass and all are on the edge of their chained belts and spiked hair for, Maniac Mode begins. Asuka and Rei respond all the same, for they are already synced to them selves. The training they have been doing before DDR has only helped them in busting up the machine they dance on. With the songs beginning to repeat, both don't need the arrows and go purely off of each other and what they remember. Their routine becomes trickier as they begin to show of by switching pads spinning and even doing summersaults. Asuka starts the showboating, but Rei is driven to stay in sync so follows suit.
Asuka looks to Rei with a smile. "Heads up and smile!"
Instinctively Rei smiles as told. She is even unaware why; the adrenalin pumping in her body is bringing her pleasure a feeling Rei rarely feels. Rei cant help but feel so bonded to Asuka she cant not think of anyone else close to how she makes her feel. As the two continue to not only demolish the machine, they make it look easy as they showoff at the same time. Finally the Machine goes to its final song, sending Asuka and Rei into a deluge of rapid attacks and maneuvers. The finally is what no DDR freak has ever seen before as both Asuka and Rei end simultaneously with a back flips.
"Perfect..." Rei whispers to Asuka with a smile as the crowd goes wild around them.
Rushing into Asuka's condo Misato looks around in a panic. "Shit, damn... no they have to be here!"
Misato rushes around each room as she pulls out her cell phone she gets no response put as soon as she hands up it rings.
"Asuka!"
On the other end is Hyuga who is now deaf. "Ma'am the target is twenty minutes from the operation zone!"
"Shit..." Misato runs to the exit and runs right into Rei and Asuka who still wear their leotards. "Where the hell have you been, the Angel is moving early, lets move out!"
"Yes Ma'am." Asuka and Rei speak and the same time as they follow Misato to her call.
It takes Misato no time to get the pilots to the Geo front and into their Evangelion's. Asuka sits inside Unit One in Unit Ones Female plug suit she even changed her Sync clips, it is just like Rie's only in Unit One's color.
"Ready for operation!"
In the Command Center, Misato looks to Kaji and Fuyutsuki as they nod their heads. Misato looks back to Rei and Asuka. "Ready Music..."
"Opps almost forgot, change of plans..." Asuka leans in to her vid screen looking at Misato, "The Music selection will be by DJ Rei-chan!" Asuka looks over to Rei as she nods her head.
Everyone in the Command Center look in shock as the Music starts. Ritsuko rushes over to the vid screens. "You just can't change the music that was inpor..."
The doctor's words go on death ear as Unit One and Zero Launch. Everyone is in shock as Asuka gives a thumb up. "Lets kick some ass Rei!"
"Lets..."
Hyuga smiles as he hears the song. "Cool that's End of the Century." Everyone looks to him with disgust for his encouragement
The Evangelions reach the surface and just before leaving the launch rails both Evangelions grab them stopping their assent and putting them in hand stands using the launch rail for the support. The two targets look at their new threat and take no time shooting particle beam blasts at them. The two Evangelions quickly push off of the rails spinning in the air dodging the attack. Both Units pull out their Progressive Knives and charge the two targets. Just as the Angels fire a second round of beam fire the Eva's leap into the air landing behind them and dodging their second attack.
Now behind the Angels both Eva's do a back kick to the groin striking dead on target and at the same time. The Angels grabs their groins in sync just as Unit's One and Zero stab their blades into the Angels spinal cord. They then forward flip away as the Angels turn firing their beam canons, however both Evangelions dodge going in opposite direction. The Angels turns to see an axe for each of them strike them in the face. Units One and Zero leap into the air spinning at the same time. Inside the Eva's both Rei and Asuka focus on the targets as they land in front of them. Both parry a punch by grappling their arms and they spin the Angels around letting them collide into each other.
At this moment the cores of the Angel goes to become one, but that what the Angel thinks as the Evangelions charge up and begin to kick and punch at the cores like maniacs. With one final somersaulting back kick the Angel is knocked into a mountain before exploding into little Angel parts. Before their Evangelions run out of power, both Rei and Asuka look to each other and smile.
"Perfect..."
Next Problem... Is it hot in here...
