Her office phone made a loud beep, and the little amber light in the yellowed panel started blinking. It was the signal of a secure, incoming call.
Ritsuko didn't answer right away. She closed her eyes for a second, took the necessary mental notes of the work she was doing, and prepared herself to battle with some idiot from the government. Or maybe to deal with an impossible task assigned by the commander.
She waited a couple of seconds, and only then did she press the worn out green button to accept the call.
"Akagi speaking, go ahead".
"Ritsi! How are you? It's been a long time"
She had to move her head away from the phone in order to avoid getting her eardrums shattered by the volume of Misato's voice. Her excitement was contagious and genuine. Although she didn't want to admit it, she felt a smile tug at the corner of her mouth.
"It has been a long time. Maybe six months?"
"Seven and a half, actually. I am glad I caught you in your office How are you? Why are you at your desk so late?"
"I am well, thank you."
Ritsuko stood up from her station, stretched her arms above her head with both eyes closed and took the phone receiver. Then she walked to her coffee maker in one corner of her office, turned the machine on and pressed the button to get the usual, horrible cup of nerv instant brew.
"It is good to hear your voice, Misato. Oh and to answer your question, I am working, of course. That's the only thing that ties me to this lab."
"Really? But, isn't it like 3 am there now? What is keeping you up so late?"
"I am running a full MAGI diagnostic on all systems, and on top of that, I have to repair, recover, and clear sectors of memory."
"That sounds..."
"Boring?"
"To the extreme."
"It's time-consuming, tedious, and laborious... but necessary. I am mostly supervising; MAGI does almost the entire work."
"I can imagine. Those computers are crazy powerful."
"Yes they are," Ritsuko said with a reticent pride in her voice, "they are my division's most valuable and powerful tool. After the Evas, of course."
"I hope to see them some day; if I get there, you can give me the tour..."
"Gladly. How are you?"
"Oh I am fine, work has been crazy but that's actually our routine."
Ritsuko laughed that time.
"Indeed, we live in constant chaos."
"I know, right? otherwise it would be a lot more boring... Hey Ritsi, I heard there was a lot of movement over there at Nerv Japan. Is Tokio 3 finally armed and deployed at 100%?"
Ritsuko started to suspect something but was not able to put her finger on it. Was her friend really calling to catch up? The coffee maker started to pour and the cheap, slightly acrid smell of the steamy beverage filled her nostrils. While she knew it was going to be horrible, she wanted it none the less.
"Yes, finally," Ritsuko said, fetching her cup and walking back to her desk, "it's main construction was finished nearly 10 years ago, but the last details are now in place. This is so full of people that it looks like an ant's nest right now. Are you still in Germany?"
"Yeah, I am still training Asuka."
"Asuka huh?"
"Wat?"
"Not pilot Langley?"
"She prefers Soryu, like her mother," Misato said, some serious tone slipped into her voice.
Was that a hint of over protectiveness?
"You have grown close to her," Ritsuko said, trying not to let a smile touch her lips. It was not a question.
"I have to admit, she is an awesome kid. Very talented. Way to smart for her own good and age. And she always gets the attention she wants, not only at work but outside of it too.
"Is her temper still wild?" Ritsuko asked, testing her friend's answer. She remembered a few notes she had read some time ago when the second child started training in simulations. Her personality had some alarming traits.
"You know about that?"
Ritsuko sipped her coffee, burning the tip of her tongue but not making a sound because of it. The taste was horrible, way too bitter, no matter how much sugar she selected in the machine.
"It is my job to know everything about the pilot's program."
"I see," Misato said before a long pause that Ritsuko didn't know how to interpret, "well yeah, Asuka has a... fiery temper, and I doubt it will ever change."
"I remember a report where she was involved in a fight with some guys a few years ago. They were older, than her, college classmates, right?. Were they bothering her?"
"Oh yeah, big time. I believe she actually rejected romantic advances from one of them, and then the guy and his friends started harassing her. She didn't even tell me at work, one day she just called me from jail at night and told me to pick her up. She sent two of those guys to the hospital, and the other one was in jail too, barely conscious and badly hurt. It was awesome. I saw the video feedback from the parking lot, and I was so glad she was using the fighting techniques I managed to teach her..."
Ritsuko cleared her throat loudly, interrupting Misato. That video almost cost Langley the possibility of being a pilot, but of course, nobody except her, Fuyutsuki and Ikari knew that.
"That is not a behavior we should encourage nor celebrate from the pilots," she said with all the stern authority she could put in her voice, "do I have to remind you she should set an example for other people?"
"She is still 14 years old, a child."
"It makes no difference; she is an Evangelion Pilot above all else. Try to encourage discipline and restraint Misato."
"Fine, fine. I know. We are both doing our best. Anyway, since she doesn't have to go to college, she is training full time and is totally focused on her work. She has matured a lot, you know? When she talks about engineering stuff, she reminds me a bit of you. She can drone for hours about mechanics and physics too."
"Unbelievable..." Ritsuko said while squirming a little in her seat. In an effort to change that line of conversation, she then quickly turned to her personal work terminal and typed a few commands. The screen flashed the word "SEARCHING" in green, bold letters for a brief moment, and then some files appeared. Reports and graphs from the last four months. Lots and lots of data from Langley's training results file, "I can see her firearm accuracy is still lacking. Oh my god, did she blow out a civilian shelter in last this morning's simulations?"
"Oh... you can see that too?" Misato's voice became filled with an almost childish embarrassment, and Ritsuko almost heard the steam coming out of her friend's ears, "shit, she was trying to use a rocket launcher but fired recklessly. I can't get her to stop spraying and praying with all of her guns. And I am trying."
"That is surprising and alarming at the same time. Especially now that you have her under your tutelage full time," a fond memory came to her and an idea took shape, "by the way are you still going to the interdepartmental shooting competitions?"
"I just did a few months ago!" Misato sounded positively excited and proud, "I got the gold medal. I did it partially to show Asuka what she can do if she tries harder. And none of that fast shooting against still targets bullshit. I ran the obstacle course and all the simulation scenarios. I won with time to spare."
Ritsuko smiled and actually enjoyed hearing the emotion in her friend's voice. Apparently no matter how much time and distance separated them, they sometimes had the same ideas.
She found herself wanting to relive that big hug they shared when Misato won her first shooting tournament, back in college. She was a gun nut down to the bone.
"I am glad to know you are still in tip-top condition, and I hope the pilot gets inspired. She really needs to improve her aim. I mean..." Ritsuko quickly checked a particular graph and her eyes widened in horror. She almost spit her coffee, "68% collateral damage!?"
"Damn it, I know, I know, I am working on it. Hey, I heard a rumor..." Misato said with some haste.
It was obvious she was trying to change the subject, but then something clicked in Ritsuko's mind. It was foggy, but she was ready to bet something about her friend's true intentions about the call.
"Here we go. I knew it," she tried to fake being offended, but it came off as a little too sincere.
"What?" Misato's voice turned a little high-pitched, and she dragged the "a" a little longer than needed.
"You called me to get some information about this place, not because you wanted to talk with me. Admit it."
"Of course not. I care about you, and I missed you a lot, come on Ritsi, I am just multitasking with this. Talking with you was the main purpose. You are my best friend in the world."
"The last part I believe. The only friend in fact. That is, if you don't count..."
"Don't talk about him. Just don't."
"Not ready, huh?"
"Shut up. Wait, no, don't shut up and tell me this, is the position of Operations Director open at Headquarters?"
"Done dancing around the subject, huh? Oh well, if that was what you wanted to know... hmm... I won't tell you anything."
Ritsuko turned the speaker on, placed down the phone's receiver and swiveled in her chair to face her main screens. Then she resumed her work and started typing. Hard.
"Ritsi I am begging you. Just tell me that and I will get out of your hair."
"So you call after so many months, grab some information, and leave me alone again? You could have sent an email asking, you know?"
"But I didn't want to send an email. I wanted to talk to you, hear your voice, catch up. And I just asked a question, Ritsi don't be like this..."
Ritsuko fell silent, enjoying the moment and thinking carefully her next words. All the while she never stoped typing.
"Ritsi? Please?"
Just a few more seconds. The last sip of that horrible coffee went down her throat and she lit a cigarette, taking a slow, deep drag.
"Ritsi?"
"German-roasted coffee grains," Ritsuko said, with an exagerated, dramatic sigh, exhaling all the smoke from her lungs at once, "a lot. And top quality too, not that 24-hour convenience store crap they sell in little plastic bags. I want the expensive stuff. And deserts, good paistries too. Fresh."
"Oh shit... Rits..."
"The next thing I want to hear is, "Yes, I will send you your coffee and your sweets"."
"Fine. Damn it. I'll take care of it on the next Nerv transport. Just answer me, please."
"Answer what?"
"Ritsuko!"
The doctor laughed. Briefly and genuinely.
"Alright. Yes, the position of Operations Director is open..." she wasn't going to say the next part, but in the end, it was Misato. She had a soft spot for the crazy woman, "and... I actually tried to submit your name for it, but..."
"But?" Misato interrupted her, "Ritsuko I want that position, I am willing to do whatever it takes, I will make Asuka capable of shooting the wings out of a fly if necessary, I am..."
"Misato, let me finish," she interrupted her raising her voice a little, "sit, close your mouth and listen."
Silence. She could hear Misato breathing. Fast.
"I tried to submit your name, but you were already the best qualified and the favorite for the position. I only pushed my recommendation to the commander and he said it was good that I knew you."
"Because we might end up working together."
"Exactly. So, it is not official nor it is definitive,but your chances are the highest at the moment."
"Ritsi... I... I..."
"I know how much you wanted that position; I remember. And I didn't have to say much in your favor, they had a full file on you already. I could not think of anybody more qualified for the role. Plus, you seem to actually be able to command Asuka, although with effort."
More silence. Ritsuko kept typing, searching for bad or corrupted sectors of data in the MAGI and running diagnostics.
After what felt like a minute, Misato whispered.
"Thank you. I really, really appreciate it, Ritsuko."
"De nada. It was just a gesture, really, I didn't change the outcome too much," she replied with a smile, "try not to mess this up. I did recommend you, so don't make me look bad."
"Of course not, I will do my best, I promise."
"Good. And remember, you have to study the other pilot files too. Ayanami is... special. Try not to get disturbed by what you read about her."
"Is she that bad? Worse than Asuka?"
"On the contrary, I could even say she is a very sweet and innocent young girl. But she has a very unique mental state."
Way to innocent and for the worst reason.
"I am intrigued now. Give me access to her files."
"Sure, it's easier from this terminal," Ritsuko typed a few things, updated some permissions and released the files, "There, done. Now you have more than the info you wanted. Let me finish my workload. I want to sleep in an actual bed and not in the office chair tonight."
"Of course, absolutely, and you know it's always good talking to you. It's not about getting something from you. I miss how close we were at college..."
"Don't get all sentimental on me, Katsuragi, please. I will definitely hang up if you aske me about my love life or something like that."
Her friend's usual laugh roared through the phone's speaker, and Ritsuko could not stop herself from smiling.
"You know, if the recommendation goes through and I am relocated to Tokyo 3, we can go and eat outside together..."
"Sure, sounds like fun."
"Weekend karaoke nights."
"Damn it..."
"We could go shooting together at the range, have steaks at our place, or maybe even go to bars and drink like the old times. Get to know some guys!"
"Shoot?... Hold on, wait, our place?"
"I am going to be your roommate, right? Right?"
Ritsuko thought she could almost hear Misato's eyelashes bat. She was going to need another cigarette. Soon.
"Of course not, I am not letting you in my apartment; I keep it clean and organized. You will bulldoze the whole place in a week and turn it into a landslide."
"I am not that bad."
"Is the floor visible in your room there?"
"Uhm..."
"Thought so. Don't get ahead of yourself. I will push your name as far as I can, and try to do everything to get you the promotion and the position. In the end the decision will fall squarely in the hands of the commander and sub-commander, but I will do try to make sure you get it."
"It comes with a promotion?!"
Misato seemed to start hyperventilating, and Ritsuko opened her mouth to say something but Misato breathed in deep and exhaled, audible trying to control her voice. Then she continued before Ritsuko could say anything.
"Fine, fine. I am just excited."
"That's understandable, just try not to annoy any of the higher ups. They don't like us getting our noses in their decisions."
"Right... Oh hey, just out of curiosity, how are they back there? I heard the commander is quite impressive and intimidating."
"He is. Pragmatic, collected. It's a no-nonsense person. Really good at keeping things in order during crises, and actually quite frightening. But you know? Sometimes he is just... a man. Very understanding. He will not tolerate stupid mistakes but if things go wrong despite our best efforts, he doesn't go around chopping heads."
A short, childish and very annoying little laugh came from Misato and Ritsuko screwed up her face. She knew what was coming.
"Is that... wait. Did I hear some admiration in your voice, Ritsi?"
Fuck. Crap. No. Ritsuko didn't make a noise.
"Ritsi?"
She didn't answer, wildly searching her brain for some other topic.
She suddenly didn't have to. A bunch of big red warnings appeared on her screen. A highly corrupted sector was found, and immediately she knew she was not going to sleep in her own bed.
Worse. Apparently, that part of the server's disk space was old and deeply encrypted.
And secured by the digital signature of... her own mother.
"What the fuck?"
"Now I wan't details. Is he handsome?"
Ritsuko's hands started to fly, her mind racing. What was that? What was in there? Misato's voice and her silly questions turned into white noise for a moment.
"Ritsi, do you have the hots for the commander?"
That question jerked her eyes from the terminal and got her back to reallity. She felt her face growing hot and was grateful they were not on a video call. She decided to cut the conversation short, what she was reading on the file was way to alarming to not pay her full attention to it.
"What? No, of course not. Misato, I have to work. Now. It's an emergency. We will talk later ok?"
"Oh come on, I am sorry, okay? I didn't want to bother you with that question."
"What question?"
"Damn it. Ok, fine. I am sorry."
"Misato, I really have to go."
"Ok, ok go, don't worry. I will send you your coffee and your deserts. The best I can find."
"Thank you. I am glad you called, talk to you soon, Misato."
"Yeah, good night. Wait, hold on, you could have called me too! Why do I have to let you blackmail me out of some coffee and stuff? Those things are expensive here, you know?"
"Sweets, not stuff. Good quality german paistries and coffee. And you will do it because I am your only friend, you love me, and you already promised, so it is your fault for not realizing that before you gave your word."
"Damned crazy scientist..."
"Yes. Talk to you soon, Misato."
"Okay, fine, damn it, bye b..."
Ritsuko hung up the phone and quickly resumed her attack on the keyboard. That part of the system memory had some disturbing metadata.
Apparently, it was created years ago. Locked deep within old backup servers and was,without warning, released as part of the current production data partition. The last modification was made on the same day her mother died. And the last person to make a change in that file's contents was the commander himself.
"What in the name of God is this?"
