Brrrr! Brrrr! Brrrr!
The sound of rapid rifle bursts was loud in Asuka's ear as she was firing away at the menacing Zerg targets. This was the fourth day of training and they finally began to use live rounds for a change. Through her visor she looked over at Shinji who has having a little bit of trouble handling the gauss rifle's recoil from the bursts. He managed to take out some zerg units but was still having trouble controlling the rifle. Asuka wasn't have trouble at all. She was happy that they were actually doing something for a change, instead of the boring drills and obstacle courses.
'Wow! I never knew shooting could be so much fun and relief so much stress.' Asuka thought to herself. "Shinji! Quit messing around with the rifle and shoot the damn things! If this was a real combat you would be dead!" Asuka yelled over the integrated com unit in her suit.
'God…' Shinji thought 'why is Asuka so demanding all the time…I hate it when she's like that. I better get this thing right before she gets on my case about it.'
The VR training simulation lasted another 3 minutes before it powered down. After the virtual images disappeared, the room was once again back to its original white state. The floor was covered with hot brass shells from the gauss rifles and were steaming. Then the computer crackled to life and began to do an After Action Report.
Computer: Pvt. Asuka Langley. 57 confirmed kills. 328 rounds used. No stimpacks used. No damage to power suit.
"Yes!" Asuka shouted. Then she quickly stood quite to hear Shinji's status.
Computer: Pvt. Shinji Ikari. 28 confirmed kills. 563 rounds used. No stimpacks used. Powersuit has been received light damage to front torso and left forearm.
Shinji thought back to during their training session. He remembered when he got caught off guard and a zergling leaped on him. The zergling was slashing with its long, razor-sharp claws at Shinji's chest. He used his left arm to push the zergling off him for a slight second so he could fill the demonic monster with lead. It worked, and the armor hadn't been pierced, so it wasn't a problem. If it was any longer, he would be either dead or pretty damn close to dead.
"Baka-yaro! Don't let your guard down Shinji! That's when you get killed!" Asuka shouted at him.
"Privates!" shouted War Pig. "Get in line. We've got some new information."
Asuka and Shinji quickly switched their selector switches on their rifles to safe and holstered them. Then they stood side by side with their visors up, looking at War Pig when Ninja, Cowboy, Sarah, and the Vice Admiral walked inside the VR room.
"OFFICER ON DECK!" yelled Asuka.
Both Asuka and Shinji stood straight up and saluted the Vice Admiral. The vice admiral waved his hand, telling them to be at ease and they both stepped to the side and crossed their hands behind their back.
"Well done Captain Kim." Vice Admiral Stucov said as he turned to face Ninja. "You and 1st Lt. Thompson(War Pig) have brought these two up to speed."
"Sir, thank you, Sir." Ninja replied.
"I have some news for all of you. By 1200 hours today, everyone is to be put into cryosleep and we will be on our way to Mar Sara. Everything has been cut short and we will be heading there right away. You will most likely be sleeping in the cryogenic state for at least 2 weeks. The Captains and 1st Lt.'s will be automatically awaken and they will wake the rest of their squad. When you wake up, the Med Officers will go around offering CryoStim supplements if needed, and everyone is to prepare for dropship landing within 6 standard hours. Everyone is to be in full gear and combat ready. I trust that these two know exactly what I mean. Correct?" Stucov informed.
"Sir, we understand you, Sir." Asuka and Shinji said simultaneously.
"Good." Stucov replied "then my work here is done. Captain Jones (Cowboy), Gunnery Sergeant Moore will be joining your squad and he will be your communications and technology specialist. Also, Staff Sergeant Weber is now a 2nd Lt. His rank insignia's will be delivered to him before the cryosleep commences. That is all." Stucov walked out of the VR room and headed down the hallway.
Squad Barracks
Everyone started to gather all their belongings. Everything was being set up for the cryosleep to commence. Shinji and Asuka was gathering their ammunition and set everything ready to go. Then Ninja had stepped in.
"Ok guys, are you ready to go?"
"Sir, yes sir." Asuka and Shinji replied.
Ninja was checking all their equipment and making sure everything was in place. After the inspection he walked up to them and started to give them a small lecture. He was talking to them about what would go on after the cryosleep was done and how everything was going to run.
"Ok, Asuka, after the drop you will be stationed with the 5th Medical Battalion. Shinji you will be stationed with the 3rd battalion, 2nd regiment. You both will be fighting on the front lines. I myself will be doing reconnaissance around the area. Shinji your CO will be War Pig. If any of you two have any problems go ahead and reach me over a secure comm line when you're out on the battlefield. Got it?"
"Yes sir." Both of them replied.
"Ok then, get into your cryo tubes and I will set the time for sleep. See you guys soon. And make sure to double check any of your equipment after the cryosleep and check in the armory for anything new for your weapons or armor. Good night, and sleep well." Ninja stated.
Asuka and Shinji got into their cryo tubes and Ninja started to set their timers. As soon as he set it, the front tubes began to close and a misty smoke began to fill the tubes. Shinji looked over at Asuka and she was already deep asleep. His eyelids began to droop slowly. Before he was out cold, he thought of one thing… will he ever see Asuka again after they are separated?
2 Weeks Later…
Ninja's cryosleep tube opened up with a hiss. He opened his eyelids and to his surprise, Sarah was already awake looking at him. He felt groggy and wiped his eyes. Sarah stood up and pulled something out of her waist pack.
"Here sir, these will help." Sarah stated as she handed him 2 red pills.
Ninja took the cryostims and got up and out of his sleeping tube. He got all of his gear together and started to put his Ghost armor on piece by piece.
"Sarah…"
"Yes sir?"
"Make sure you help the other officers and the rest of our team when they get up. After I'm done getting my gear on, I will be heading over to the kid's barracks to help them out. Could you spare me some more cryostims, I don't think these kids will be able to get used to the cryosleep effects." Ninja said.
"Sure thing." Sarah said and she handed him a small box of cryostim supplements.
Shinji and Asuka's Barracks
Ninja walked in and saw the two kids fast asleep. He walked over and pressed a small yellow button on the sides of their tubes and the cover began to open up. In about 5 min their eyes began to shift and they woke up. Both of them looked like they were sleep deprived.
"How are you to feeling?" Ninja asked.
"Ughh…I feel like I slept for 3 years straight." Asuka replied.
Shinji didn't say anything he just glanced at him and started straight at his feet.
"Well, here are some cryostim supplements. These will help you guys get over the effects. There's a whole box, so divide them up. If you need more ask Sarah. Make sure you guys are fully geared and we will meet in the armory. Asuka, you will be with Sarah after you are geared up to help the others. She will teach you some basics on medical procedures. When we land you will get another VR program before we had off to the trenches for combat medic training. See you guys in a few hours." Ninja said and he walked out of the room.
Shinji and Asuka both took two pills and they divided up the rest. They got their armor on and checked to make sure their ammo was filled and rifles were ready to go. Afterwards Asuka got up and began to walk to the front door to go and find Sarah. Before she walked out, she turned to Shinji and said something…
"Shinji…I'm going now. I hope I'll see you again sometime. Sayonara." Asuka said quietly and walked out.
Shinji sat there for a few moments after Asuka had left and he began to cry. He knew that he would probably never see Asuka again after the meeting at the armory.
Walkway to Medical Building
Asuka was walking slowly toward the medical building when her mind came across Shinji. She stopped and walked over the to the side railing and looked out the battleship's windows to the distance of space and the planet they were approaching. He mind began to run across memories of her and Shinji.
'Why…' Asuka thought. 'Why do I treat him like this…I probably won't ever see him again and I still treat him like dirt.'
Asuka began to tear and she headed back toward the medical building slowly…
