Chapter 21

0600 Zulu

Evangelion Hanger

NERV COMMAND CENTER

Kyoto, Japan

Hope got off the turbo lift and proceeded to walk down the metal bridge to her EVA.

"Good morning, EVA." Hope said to it as she stepped into the transfer tube. She took a deep breath and then found herself in the bioplug. Preparing her pre-launch sequence, she sighed.

"NERV Command to Major Ikari."

"Go ahead, Commander." Hope said.

"Prepare your pre-launch sequence."

"Acknowledged. Pre-launch sequence has been engaged."

"Prepare for sync activation."

"Acknowledged." Hope said as she yawned. "Unit 1, control panel!" The lights flickered and then displayed all of the digital readouts and monitors she needed. She looked at the panel in front of her showing Sawyer standing at the command hub. Where did you go, Sawyer? She thought. Where is that man that made me laugh so hard weeks ago? Where is that man that I started to…? No! Can't think about that. Mission. Concentrate on the mission. Block it out, Hope. Put your attention on the task at hand, Major. You will more then likely be taking this thing into battle. Prepare yourself. If your lucky enough to survive it, then you can ask Sawyer all about his change in demeanor. Its got to be work. He still looks at me the same way. It has to be. Either that or my mother got involved. What is it, Sawyer? I'd wish you'd tell me more.

"Sync activated." Hope said as she began to cough as she suddenly caught the scent of one of the foulest things she had ever smelled in her life. 'What the hell?"

"Major, report!" Dell said.

"Commander, there's a…. a…foul smell in the cabin…. its odd. Its disgusting! What the hell is that? Commander, do you read?"

"Foul smell?" Sawyer asked her.

"Its…OH MY GOD!" Hope called out. "NERV COMMAND, MAYDAY! UNIT 1 IS HOSTILE!".

"HOPE!" Sawyer yelled out as klaxons sounded. He looked at his screen and saw her harmonic shift was way off and her sync ratio was dropping like a rock. Her vitals became unstable.

"Hope, eject!" Sawyer ordered.

"Com…. Commander…I….I…can't…..ejection system….offline." She called out in pain as Sawyer looked to the monitor showing her squeezing her eyes shut and grimacing in pain.

"Eject yourself pilot!" Sawyer ordered. "Do it manually!"

"Sir, ejection systems are not responding!" Hope yelled out. "SAWYER!" She yelled out as her body tensed up. Her eyes bulged from her head and her body trembled violently as she had a look of pure fear on her face.

"HOPE!" Sawyer yelled out as he stood in the control room with his eyes wide. On the monitor, Hope called out in pain repeatedly

"I…can't….can't….breathe." Hope called out as she began to choke as her hands went to her throat and she squeezed her eyes shut. "He…help.".

"Sync has dropped to zero!" Fuyuki said. "Commander, oxygen level is zero! She's completely sealed off, Commander! She has no life-support! Commander, heart-rate is decreasing!"

"EMERGENCY EJECTION NOW!" Sawyer yelled out.

"Commander, all her ejection systems are offline!" Fuyuki called out. "Sir, Unit 1 has gone into complete shutdown…all systems offline!"

Sawyer looked back to the screen and then said. "EMERGENCY CREWS TO EVA HANGER! CANCEL PRE LAUNCH SEQUENCE! CODE A PRIORITY 1. FORCE EJECTS! REPEAT: FORCE EJECTS! CODE A. REPEAT CODE A!"

"Commander, all crews are on the scene!" Fuyuki called out as Sawyer ran out of the room and down the hall. "COMMANDER!"