Chapter 13
The following day, Hope went to NERV Headquarters at 0800. Her brother Souke went to class at 1:30pm.
Hope from the time she arrived until the time she left was in a briefing listening to several scientists explain to her in detail about the operation of the Evangelion Unit.
The latest lecturer whom her, Sawyer and several other NERV personnel listened to, was one of the few survivors of the original NERV crew.
Sawyer paid close attention as he listened to her lecture.
Hope tried not to fall asleep.
"So, here is the schematic of the EVA itself. When the pilot is in the bioplug, the LCL fluid joins the pilot and EVA in the same psyche. In essence, what you feel your EVA feels. What your EVA feels, you feel. Your emotions, thoughts and every inclination become your EVA's. In sum of this, you are the EVA."
"Dr. Ibuki?" Hope asked. "I have read that the original pilots were fourteen years of age. How can the EVA accept the will of an adult?"
"It was thought," Dr. Ibuki stated. ", that because we used children that the EVA's would not reject the pilots. Both of your parents, Major Ikari, were able to successfully pilot the EVA's when they were adults. Further study revealed that the EVA's matched to the harmonic output of a pilot. The EVA's also responded to how the sync ratio could be stabilized. In essence, it wasn't because they were fourteen but because of who they were."
"You said earlier that the EVA needs to feel accepted by the pilot. Does the pilot need to be accepted by the EVA as well?"
"The EVA does have that ability which explains the rejection factor."
"Dr. Ibuki," Hope began. ", What would happen during the rejection factor?"
"Several different things. In this footage that I am about to show you, you'll see Unit 01 stop Unit 04 after it rejected its pilot." Dr. Ibuki sat down.
Hope focused her eyes on the screen and watched and heard the footage with the words across the top of the screen. "CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE – PROPERTY OF UNITED NATIONS. TOP LEVEL ACCESS ONLY. CLASSIFIED. ."
On the bottom it read
"Subjects: Ikari, Shinji. Suzihara, Touji. Soryu Langely, Asuka. Ayanami, Rei
Commander: Ikari, Gendo.
Supervising Officer: Mjr. Katsuragi, Misato.
NERV DATA FOOTAGE. DATE: 16, NOVEMBER 2015"
On the screen was a black and white EVA model, holding its head in its hands as a large red EVA model ran over to stop it. It was cut short as the red model was thrown across the landscape.
"Schiest!"
Hope chuckled as she recognized the voice immediately. She heard that word all too many times growing up and the source of it was unmistakable.
"Mom." Hope said with another chuckle.
":Baka Shinji! Where are you?"
"Asuka, disengage." Was the voice of the control room.
Hope watched as Unit 01, the Unit that was to be hers, came crashing through, struggling with the black and white EVA model. She saw the black and white model grab the purple model around its throat and then listened to choking noises.
"Shinji, destroy the EVA." It was the voice of Gendo Ikari.
Hope breathed in as she heard her grandfather's voice, a man she only knew for a short time in her life but a man who never sounded as cold or as vicious as he did at that moment.
"NO!"
"My father?" Hope whispered as Sawyer glanced over at her and then watched the screen.
It was her father.
Before he became her father, when he was just a boy, Shinji Ikari was part of the most covert and elite mission of human history.
He was an EVA pilot.
He was the best there was.
Hope listened intently as his adolescent voice screamed for help. She heard him grasping for air, he sounded scared and in pain. Yet, still in his voice she could recognize the bravery in him that she knew and the courage that she saw so many times over.
"There's a person…. in there!" Shinji yelled out over the COM.
"SHINJI, YOU HAVE TO DESTROY THE EVA UNIT OR IT'S GOING TO KILL US ALL."
"No!" Shinji yelled back over the comm. "There's… still a human being inside. I won't do it."
"I've had enough of this." Gendo Ikari said in frustration. "Initiate the dummy plug in Unit 1."
"Sir, it hasn't been fully tested yet!"
"Its better then the current pilot!" Gendo yelled.
Hope then heard her father, breathe out and yell out. "FATHER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING! GODDAMNIT, FATHER, NO!"
Hope watched in horror as Unit 01 suddenly attacked back, grabbing Unit 04 by the arms and ripping them off. It used every bit of strength and through it all, she heard her father yelling.
"STOP! NO! STOP!"
She watched as Unit 01 reached for the bioplug, knowing that there was a human inside of it, and crushed it in its gigantic hand, then through it on the ground, rendering Unit 04 helpless.
Then she heard.
"NO!"
It was her father.
Crews had just opened the bioplug to reveal Touji Suzihara, badly wounded, and destroyed by Unit 01 but not by Shinji Ikari.
The screen went blank.
Hope had a tear rolling down her face as the light came back on and quickly, wiped it away.
"As you have just seen," Maya Ibuki said. ", Unit 04 went into rejection mode. Unit 02 was unable to secure the pilot. Unit 01 was successfully able to retrieve the pilot and shut down Unit 04 before it went into Berserk mode."
Hope breathed in, as she looked down.
"Question, Major?"
Hope raised her head and taking a quick look at Sawyer said. "That's not what happened! My father was forced to watch as a dummy plug overtook his EVA and nearly killed that pilot! The dummy plug is what wounded Unit 04's pilot NOT MY FATHER!"
Maya suddenly breathed in as she realized that Shinji's daughter would indeed have been disturbed by this particular piece of footage recovered from the databanks of the Magi. She looked to the young woman's face now tensed with anger. She could see that very same boy in the face of his daughter and her hair was the fiery, red of her mother.
"My father should have never been subjected to watch that!" Hope yelled out as she stood up. "I know who Touji Suzihara is damnit! He's my father's good friend! How could you have made him do that? How could you have asked my father to turn against another human being? He was a boy for God's sake."
Dr. Ibuki breathed in as she could hear the temper of the young woman and realized that this choice of footage, while it was essential to the rejection factor, was not the best footage to show the young Major.
"I know, Major." Dr. Ibuki said. "There was a reason why I wanted you to see this. In the event a pilot is unable or unwilling to follow orders, the dummy plugs could be used to overtake the pilot's actions."
"Hope, sit down." Sawyer said to her.
Hope breathed out as she sat in her chair with Sawyer's eyes on her. She shifted into his direction asked coolly. "Yes, Commander?"
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine, Commander." Hope said as she looked straight ahead. Listening to Dr. Ibuki, Hope asked. "Do they still use the dummy plugs?"
"No." Dr. Ibuki stated. "The dummy plugs were clones of the original designer. It was done because the psyche of Unit 01's creator is within Unit 01. The uses of the dummy plugs were prohibited. Now, the will of the EVA falls solely on the pilot. If rejection mode does happen, NERV headquarters can automatically cut off the sync and eject the pilot from the bioplug."
Hope breathed in and looked to Sawyer. She looked back at Dr. Ibuki and asked. "Are you saying my grandmother's imprint and clones were used as fall backs for my father?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
"So, explain to me, Dr. Ibuki," Hope said. "What are my chances of being rejected by Unit 01?"
"Not much." She replied. "You're harmonic output syncs almost exactly to your father's original pattern which synced almost exactly to your grandmother's pattern. Hope, you are a match for Unit 01."
"What if it rejects me, Doctor?"
"To make certain that does not happen, you will be undergoing a series of tests. The EVA simulator is as close to being in the EVA unit without actually being in the EVA itself. All activities of the EVA can be simulated through the simulation mode and whether or not you can sync with the Unit will be determined in the simulator."
"How is it different from being in Unit 01?"Hope asked.
"Its not." Dr. Ibuki said. "The EVA simulator is exactly like being in an EVA itself."
"So everything I experience in the simulator will be just like being in an actual EVA?" She asked.
"That's right."
"I see."
"Anymore questions, Major?" She asked.
"No, Doctor." Hope said.
"Very well, we'll continue with the weaponry of the EVA. Captain Larshi will be the next lecturer."
"You seem tense." Sawyer said as he looked over at her.
"I'm fine, really." Hope said.
"Okay." He told her as he looked straight ahead. "Want to grab a cup of coffee after this?"
"Huh?" Hope asked as she looked over at him.
"I asked you if…"
"I heard you." Hope said. "No, I have to…get home."
"Oh." Sawyer said. "Not picking up Souke today?"
"No." Hope said. "Hey!" She exclaimed as she looked back to the lecturer and then whispered to him. "How do you know that I do that?"
"Its my job to know, Major." Sawyer said with a smirk.
"I'm sure." Hope said as she turned her attention back to the lecturer who held up a small replica of the EVA's power rifle.
"So, how about that cup of coffee?" he asked.
"No." She said.
"Why not?"
"I'm busy that's why!" Hope said with an annoyed look. "Get the hint, Commander?"
Sawyer huffed and then turned to look at her once more, he smirked as he admired her profile and his eyes shifted as he watched her.
"What the hell are you staring at?" Hope asked as she looked straight ahead.
"You." Sawyer replied.
Hope began to blush slightly but seemed quite annoyed as she asked calmly. "Have you ever heard of sexual harassment, Commander?"
"Yes." He said. "I was just admiring you was all."
"Well I have my own version of handling sexual harassment, Commander and well, let me put it to you this way. Ranks aside, if you continue to stare at me like that, I will punch you in the nose, then I'll report you for sexual misconduct."
"Oh." Sawyer said as he looked towards the lecturer. "Sounds serious."
"Very." Hope replied. "Especially after I call…my mother."
Sawyer looked over at her slowly and smirked. "Is that a threat, Major?"
"No, a promise." Hope said.
Sawyer snickered and continued to look at the screen. His eyes didn't shift back towards her again but in his thoughts he said to himself. Woo! Feisty. I like that. Yup, she's red-hot that's for sure.
As Hope shifted an eye at him, she smirked slightly. He is cute. There's no denying that. I've only known him a week. It's crazy. No, better off keeping it just about work. Plus, let's not forget he is an American. Baka American.
After the lectures ending, Hope walked out of the lecture hall and proceeded to the base cafeteria to grab a cup of coffee. As she walked into the cafeteria, she felt the presence of someone behind her and automatically, she knew who it was.
"Hello again, Commander." She said in an annoyed tone.
"I thought you were leaving after this?" Sawyer asked.
"I lied." Hope said as she picked up her coffee and began to walk out of the cafeteria.
Sawyer watched her go and decided to follow her. He quickly caught up to her and she rolled her eyes.
"What you are doing, Commander, is considering stalking."
Sawyer chuckled. "Not exactly." He told her. "I want to go over the harmonic relay report with you."
"Now?" Hope asked.
"Not quite." Sawyer said. "If you are to go into the simulator, I want you to make sure that you know exactly where your harmonics are and if there is any way to improve it."
"I see." Hope said as she sipped her coffee. "Do you have the report?"
"No." He told her. "It won't be done for another couple of hours."
"Oh okay." Hope said.
"Can I discuss it with you later?" Sawyer asked.
"Uh…yeah, sure." Hope said as she walked over to the elevator and pressed a button.
"I will call you later." Sawyer said as the elevator doors opened and Hope got inside. "Where you off to?" he asked her.
"Huh? Sorry too loud in here! I can't hear you." Hope said as the doors closed. "
Standing in the hall, Sawyer smirked and said to himself. "She's coming around."