Disclaimer –
The original story Neon Genesis Evangelion, its characters and all other trademarks are used without permission. The originals are mine, and will be named in the author notes of the first chapter they appear in. I will be making no profit from this story.
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Evangelion Chronicles
by Room3
Chapter 06 – New Arrivals
"So, everything went as expected?" Fuyutski asked as he leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped in his lap.
"More or less," Akagi replied casually, smoothing a crease out of her lab-coat with her left hand. "But the Alpha Unit has been abandoned."
"Excellent," the grey-haired professor responded.
"I hear the fifth Angel has been dealt with," Ritsuko said, leaning forward in her chair and arching her right eyebrow.
"Yes," Kouzou told her. "Rei did quite well, all things considered."
"What's Unit 00's condition?" the doctor asked, wondering just how much time would be needed to make any repairs as she stared at the floor beneath her feet.
"Nothing serious really," her superior assured her. "One or two torn ligaments, but they've already been replaced." He closed his eyes and smiled, knowing full well how she was going to react to what he was about to say. "Unit 01 didn't really suffer any damage either."
"Unit 01 was used?" Ritsuko asked, looking up at him.
The commander of Nerv nodded before opening his eyes and saying "No other choice. Check the reports and visual recordings." He paused and leant forward, resting his forearms on his desk. "Oh, and we've received the results of Unit 02's diagnostic. I'd like you to review them."
"I take it it's already on its way?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Fuyutski said, his displeasure with that turn of events clearly evident in his tone. "The chief engineer's report didn't indicate any problems, but…"
"I'll check the technical details," the blonde assured him as he trailed off. "When's it due to arrive?"
"It should be arriving in New Yokosuka in two days."
"It's coming by sea?" she asked. He nodded and she sighed. "What about Unit 01?"
"Lieutenant Ibuki has the details. Suffice to say we're looking at an extra day at least, if not two or three, before it's completely repaired."
"And Rei and Shinji?"
"They got banged around a bit," the professor related. "A couple of bruises. Shinji's right shoulder was dislocated. All in all, nothing serious."
"Good to hear," Ritsuko commented. She stood up. "I'd better get to work."
"I'm sure your assistant will be glad you're back," her superior smiled.
"Oh?" Akagi asked, her right eyebrow once again arching itself.
"Poor girl's been looking rather stressed the last couple of days," Kouzou told her. "Might be a good idea to give her some time off."
"If I thought she'd take it, I would," the doctor said, sounding almost sad, before heading to the door. She stopped a few paces away and turned to look at him. "You're going to see her tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Yes," the grey-haired professor replied, sounding as if his mind was far away. "I will." The blonde nodded and left the office. The remaining occupant got to his feet and walked over to his window to stare out at the lake beside headquarters.
- - -
Ritsuko Akagi smiled to herself as she read the report in front of her, the tapping sound of her assistant working behind her soothing. So far it had been a peaceful morning, but she knew that peace couldn't last; there was just so much that needed doing. The door to her office hissed open and she heard someone walk over to her desk.
"You asked to see me, commander?" Captain Katsuragi's voice said formerly.
Ritsuko put the report to one side and looked up at the lavender-haired woman, blinking as she did so. 'Don't think I'll ever get used her saluting me,' she thought. "Yes, I did, captain," she said aloud. "At ease." The captain dropped her hand, placed her feet shoulder distance apart and clasped her hands behind her back.
"As I'm sure you're aware, Unit 02 will be arriving in New Yokosuka tomorrow," the doctor told her. "Professor Fuyutski would like you to meet it and escort it and its pilot, the second-child, here."
"Yes, sir," Misato responded. "Is there anything else?" Upon hearing this, Maya smirked to herself, careful to keep her face turned away from the captain.
"Yes, actually," Akagi replied. "I'd like you to take Shinji along with you."
"Is that wise, sir?" Katsuragi questioned. She didn't like the idea of leaving the defence of the city in the hands of a relatively inexperienced pilot if they had no backup.
"Unit 01 is still another two days away from being operational, so there's no harm in allowing the boy to accompany you," the blonde woman explained. "Besides," she quickly added, "I believe the break will do him good."
"If you say so, sir," the director of operations responded coldly.
"Please inform Lieutenant Hyuga of the time you intend to leave and he'll make sure Shinji's ready."
Katsuragi saluted the doctor again. "Very well, sir."
"That's all, captain," Ritsuko said. The captain nodded and left the room. As soon as the door slid hut behind her, Ibuki spluttered then doubled over with laughter, almost cracking her head on her keyboard in the process. Akagi looked over at her assistant and smiled warmly.
"How can you say that to her and keep a straight face?" the lieutenant asked after regaining a measure of her composure.
"Practise," the doctor replied, swinging her chair round so she was facing the brunette.
"Can you imagine the report she's gonna file after having to look after two children?!" Maya exclaimed.
"Oh, it'll be worse than you think," Ritsuko assured the shorter woman. "You haven't seen the second-child's profile, have you?"
"Uh-uh," Ibuki replied, shaking her head.
"Let's just say they're rather…competitive."
"Oh God!" Maya chuckled, closing her eyes. "I don't know who I feel sorry for most – her or them."
"Oh, I'd say them," her superior told her. "But that's probably because she's been such a pain recently."
Just then, the petite brunette yawned, covering her mouth with her hand in embarrassment. "Oh, sorry."
"You okay?" Ritsuko asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. Just didn't get much sleep last night."
"I thought I told you to take it easy?" the doctor said, a frowning creasing her brow.
Maya stretched her arms out above her before slumping down in her seat. "I was. It's just…" She sighed. "I was reading that paper you lent me and kinda lost track of time."
"If you say so," Akagi responded, not sure whether she believed her or not. The lieutenant returned her attention to her console and resumed her work. A few moments later a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her shoulders
"You know," Ritsuko said, leaning down to whisper in Ibuki's ear, "if you're tired, you could always take a rain-check on tonight."
The brunette reached up and laid her hands on the blonde's arms. "There's no way I'm missing gonna miss it," she assured her. The doctor leant her head against Maya's left shoulder who, in turn, leant her own head against it, closing her eyes and sighing happily. They remained like that for a few moments, each enjoying the silence that existed between them.
"It's the Magi's diagnostic tomorrow, isn't it?" Ibuki asked eventually, opening her eyes.
"Yeah," Ritsuko sighed softly.
"I better finish this then," the brunette said.
The doctor released her and straightened up. A smile on her lips, she asked "How long you gonna be?"
"Thirty minutes," Ibuki answered, her hands dancing across her keyboard. "Forty-five tops. Why?"
"How about we go somewhere and get something to eat after? My treat."
"That's okay," the petite lieutenant replied. "I'm not really hungry."
The blonde doctor put her hand gently on the smaller woman's shoulder and leant down so her mouth was on a level with her ear. "Neither am I," she whispered suggestively, her breath tickling Maya's ear.
Ibuki felt the heat rise in her cheeks as they redden at the thought of what that implied. Ritsuko chuckled and stood up straight. The lieutenant spun her chair round and looked up at the doctor.
"I love you, Ritsu," she said softly.
"And I you," Akagi relied, leaning forward. Their lips touched and Maya's left hand found its way to gently cup her lover's cheek. After a few moments, the blonde pulled back, breaking the kiss.
"Now get back to work, lieutenant," she jokily ordered.
"Yes, doctor," her assistant replied, her tone an exact match of Ritsuko's.
- - -
As the noise of the motor came to a stop, Captain Katsuragi donned her safety glasses and ear protectors. Comfortable with how they sat, she picked up her pistol and, releasing the safety, cocked it.
'I can't believe Commander Akagi wants me to take that kid with me,' she thought as she took aim, steadying the weapon with her left hand. 'Why the heck do I have to be the one to make contact with the damned pilots for anyway? Shouldn't that be Hyuga's job?' Exhaling, she squeezed off two shots in quick succession, fighting the recoil. Lowering the gun, she looked at the target as it ceased fluttering. Good. The holes were close enough together and her sight was holding its setting. She raised the firearm again.
'Although I guess it does make some sense,' she realised, taking careful aim. 'It's always a good idea for me to know the combatants under my command.' She sighed. 'Why the hell we have to use kids I'll never know.' She emptied the clip at the target and set the pistol on the ledge in front of her, removing the empty clip first.
Activating the mechanism to bring the target sheet to her, she removed her safety glasses. 'I better have access to this second-child's psychological profile before I leave tomorrow,' she contemplated as the paper target fluttered to a stop in front of her. 'At least with three Eva's we shouldn't have too much trouble defeating the Angels.' Satisfied with her performance, she balled the target up and threw it in the bin before removing her ear protectors. Picking up the unused clip before her, she inserted it into her weapon, cocked it and flicked the safety on before slipping it into her shoulder holster.
'The more that come, the more we'll kill. I promised I would avenge you, father. And each victory brings that goal closer.' She gathered up her safety equipment and headed for the exit. As she neared the door, her phone rang.
"Katsuragi," she said, answering it. She listened to the person on the other end in silence. "Understood. I'll notify you of any changes," she replied before ending the call and slipping the cell phone back into her jacket pocket.
- - -
"…sure the nerve linkages are stable before connecting them to the power systems," Makoto heard Doctor Akagi order as the pilot rep. entered Unit 01's cage. The blonde was stood on the umbilical bridge, giving orders to the technicians working to connect the new arm to the purple mechanoid.
"Excuse me, doctor?" he asked hesitantly, not wanting to distract her from anything vital.
"Double check the alignments before proceeding," she called to the technicians working on the shoulder before turning to look at him. "Yes, lieutenant?"
"I was just wondering where Professor Fuyutski was," he told her. "No-one's seen him today."
"The professor won't be in today. He has some personal business to attend to," Ritsuko replied, checking something on the clipboard in her hands.
"Oh."
"Is there something I can help you with?" Akagi asked.
"Oh, no. It's nothing really. The professor just asked me to make certain arrangements for Shinji. I just thought I'd let him know I had. It's nothing that can't wait."
"For Shinji?" the doctor asked, her brow creasing in her confusion. Then it dawned on her. "Oh, I see. I'll pass the message along," she told the bespectacled lieutenant.
"Thanks, doctor," Hyuga replied.
Ritsuko smiled. "Have you finished the preparations for the second-child's arrival yet?"
"Pretty much," Makoto informed her. "The spare suites in the dorm have been given a thorough clean so the new pilot can have they're choice. Locker keys for the two changing rooms are ready and waiting. Their charge card will be issued as soon as they've been officially logged in to the Magi as stationed here." He shrugged. "There's not really anything else I can do until they arrive."
"How did Shinji and Rei react to the news?"
"Oh, you know Rei," the pilot rep. retorted. "She just nodded and went back to her homework."
"What about Shinji?" the blonde doctor inquired.
"He was a little surprised, but didn't seem bothered by it," Hyuga answered. "I don't think there'll be any problem."
"Let's hope not," Akagi responded.
"Doctor!" a voice from above called, drawing Ritsuko's attention back to the task at hand.
"Excuse me, lieutenant," she said, looking up at the Eva's shoulder. "Yes? What is it?" Hyuga walked away as the technician replied, slightly worried. He wasn't concerned by how the pilots would react to one another, but by the prospect of having yet another young charge. He just hoped they were like Shinji and Rei.
- - -
The professor closed the door behind himself and walked over to the bed. The quiet, steady beeping and rasping of the life support machines reassured him as he lowered himself into the chair beside the bed.
"Good afternoon, Kana," Fuyutski said softly, leaning forward in the seat and gently taking hold of the bed's occupant's right hand, stroking it softly. She didn't respond, but then again, she never did. Nor did he expect her to.
He quickly glanced around the room, making sure everything was as is should be. "Those look fresh," he commented, noticing the vase of flowers by the window. "I think someone has an admirer," he added, smiling. Sighing, he reached up and ran his fingers through her grey hair; someone had cut it since his last visit a month ago.
"The Angels have returned, Kana," the professor told her, "just as we always knew they would, so I may not always be able to come see you. Three have already been destroyed, though." He got to his feet and walked over to the large bay window. "Rei beat the last one, with a little help. The others were beaten by Unit 01, piloted by Yui Ikari's son, Shinji. You remember me telling you about her I'm sure."
Kouzou placed one hand on the cool glass and closed his eyes, lowering his head as he did so. "Ironic, isn't it?" he asked, not expecting an answer. "The son now pilots that which led to his mother being lost." Sighing again, he returned to the chair, taking her hand once more.
"I know you don't like the idea of using children to pilot the Eva's, Kana," he said, looking up at the woman's face, the mouth and nose of which were covered by an oxygen mask. "To tell the truth, I'm not too keen on the idea myself. But there is no other way." He smiled softly. "Don't worry. Once the Angels are gone, none of this will matter. And we'll be together again." Fuyutski looked over at the door as he heard it being opened.
"Oh, Professor Fuyutski. I didn't know you were here," the nurse said in apology.
"Don't worry about it," he told her.
"I'm afraid there's no change in her condition," the nurse informed him, looking at the unconscious figure on the bed. She paused. "I'll come back later."
"What were you going to do?" Kouzou asked her.
"It's time for her sponge bath, but I can come back later," she answered.
"That's okay," the commander of Nerv said, getting to his feet. "I could do with something to eat." He bent over the figure in the bed. "I'll be back in about half an hour," he told her, before gently kissing her forehead. The nurse stepped aside as he let, closing the wooden door labelled 'Kana Fuyutski' behind him.
- - -
'I wonder what's keeping Shinji?' Hikari thought as she leant on the back of his chair. The Eva pilot was usually here before Toji, who was currently sat at his desk, talking animatedly with Kensuke.
"What do you think, Hikari?" Suzuhara asked, bringing her out of her contemplation.
Horaki blinked and jerked her head towards the boy, looking confused. "Huh," she said. "What? Sorry, I wasn't listening."
"Lost in your own world again, weren't you, Hiki?" her bespectacled friend asked, smirking at her. She scowled him.
Suzuhara chuckled at the look on her face. He stopped, looking beyond the pig-tailed girl. "Hey, Ayanami," Toji called, the blue-haired girl entering his field of vision was what had distracted him.
The first-child stopped beside her desk and looked behind it. "Yes, Suzuhara?"
"Why isn't Ikari here yet?" the boy asked, trying to sound casual.
"Pilot Ikari will not be attending school today," Rei informed him softly.
"Where is he then?" Hikari inquired, looking over at Shinji's fellow pilot.
"He and Captain Katsuragi are currently en route to New Yokosuka," Ayanami responded, looking at the other girl blankly.
"Why's he going there?" Horaki asked, puzzled.
"Doctor Akagi ordered him to accompany Captain Katsuragi," the red-eyed pilot replied.
Toji shook is head and sighed, realising that if they were gonna get an answer that made sense, they'd have to word their questions a bit more carefully. "Okay, so why's she going there?" he asked.
"Unit 02 and the second-child will be arriving in port today," the first-child answered.
"So that's what all the naval activity's been about!" Kensuke exclaimed excitedly. He'd been listening to the conversation, but had stayed quiet simply because it didn't interest him until now.
"What?" Toji enquired, looking at the bespectacled youth.
"A good part of the UN's combined Navy's been carrying out some kind of secret mission over the last four days," Aida told him as if he were discussing the most amazing thing in the world. Which he was, as far was he was concerned. "I haven't been able to find out anything about it." He looked at Rei. "It's coming from Germany, right?"
"That is correct," Ayanami replied.
"I wonder if this 'second-child' will be coming to school here," Hikari mused quietly.
"I do not possess that information," Rei told the girl, startling her.
'Did I really say that out loud?' Horaki thought, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Probably," Kensuke said, his attention still fixed on the blue-haired girl. "After all, you and Ikari do"
"Do you know what they're like, Ayanami?" the pig-tailed girl asked the pilot.
"I have never met them, nor have I read their psychological profile," Rei said in answer.
Toji looked at her blankly. "So that's a no then?"
"Correct."
Before anymore question could be asked, the bell rang; something for which the first-child was grateful. During the discussion she had just participated in she had noticed how closely the rest of the class had been listening to what was being said, with her the central focus. A situation she found to be most unpleasant.
'Another new kid,' Miki mused as she waited for Professor Koyasu to arrive. 'This could definitely have possibilities.' She mentally rubbed her hands together and smiled.
- - -
His eyes glued to the window beside him, Shinji shifted his position as gently as he could and sighed softly, his warm breath misting the cold glass for a few moments. He looked at his watch. Almost two hours had passed since the helicopter had left Tokyo-3, which meant he and Captain Katsuragi would be arriving at the heliport in New Yokosuka soon.
'Hope there's no hold up in landing,' he thought, stretching his legs out as best he could in the cramped cabin.
"We should be arriving in the next few minutes, captain," the pilot reported. It was the first time he'd spoken since about five minutes after take-off. The poor guy had tried to strike up a conversation with head of operations, but she'd ignored him. He'd been willing to talk to the boy, but the look she'd given him had made him keep silent.
"Roger," Katsuragi responded, her tone vacant of al emotion. 'At least that kid's kept quiet.'
'I wonder what the second-child's like,' Ikari mused for what had to be the tenth time on the journey. 'No-one's told me anything about them. I don't even know if they're a boy or a girl,' he realised. "They could've at least told me their name!" Shinji murmured as the fields beneath the helicopter gave way to city streets.
"Contact the naval base and apprise them of our ETA," Katsuragi instructed. "And make sure the fleet's on time."
"Yes, captain," the pilot replied, trying to keep his tone pleasant. 'Damn,' he thought as he set the radio to the correct frequency, 'she's one cold bitch.' The radio set, he flicked a switch and activated it. "New Yokosuka control, this is Nerv helo eight-six. Come in. Over."
"Nerv helo eight-six, this is New Yokosuka control. Reading you loud and clear. Over," came the bored reply over the headset.
"New Yokosuka control, our ETA is three minutes, current airspeed one hundred knots at an altitude of one hundred feet. Over."
"Roger that eight-six. We have you on radar," the radio operator at New Yokosuka replied. "The pad's clear and refuellers are standing by. Over."
"My thanks, New Yokosuka. What's the status of the fleet? Over."
"Nerv helo, the fleet's ETA is twenty minutes. Over."
"Roger that New Yokosuka. Nerv helo eight-six, out."
- - -
"Excuse me, are you Doctor Akagi?" an oddly accented male voice asked as Ritsuko walked past the nurses' station. She stopped and had to hold back a sigh. All she'd wanted was to update Rei's medical files and get back to headquarters.
"Yes," she responded, turning round to look whoever it was that had interrupted her. Whoever he was, he wasn't originally from Japan, his complexion was too pale. Thinking about his accent, the blonde decided he was probably from somewhere in western Europe.
"Thank God," he muttered, holding out his hand. "Doctor Aaron Brahms," he said to her.
"Ah yes, the paediatrician," Akagi responded, recognising the name and taking the outstretched hand.
"Well, I do have experience in paediatrics, but that's not really my speciality," Brahms replied. "I'm more of a generalist."
"Which is exactly why you're here," she told him, releasing is hand. "If you'll come with me, I'll explain your duties."
"Of course," he smiled back and followed her to the office that had been set aside for her use. Taking the chair she waved him into, he waited until she'd seated herself before speaking. "I understand I'll only have three patients."
"For the time being," Ritsuko replied, leaning forward and resting her arms on her desk, "but that number will increase." She paused and looked him in the eye. "I'm sure you're wondering why you've been assigned here." He nodded. "You're experience in paediatrics and well as your status as a general practioner is what recommended you for this post."
"I don't understand," Aaron said, frowning in confusion. "I thought I'd be looking after the Eva pilots."
"You will be. However, the pilots themselves are teenagers."
"Why teenagers?"
"I'm afraid your security clearance isn't high enough for you to know that," Akagi answered. "You are to monitor their general health and fitness. If you come across anything unusual or beyond your experience you are to contact either myself or Lieutenant Ibuki."
"Understood."
"Excellent." Ritsuko slid open a drawer and pulled out the two files which had had prepared for him a few days before. "These are the medical files for the two pilots currently assigned to headquarters. The third will be arriving later today. I want you to give all three an examination once you're familiar with their details."
"As you wish. Is there anything else?" Aaron asked, standing up and putting the files under his arms. The blonde shook her head and he left the room. 'What the hell have I gotten myself into?' he wondered as he walked towards the infirmary cafeteria.
- - -
Shinji cast his eyes around as he walked up the steps and boarded the aircraft carrier that had been at the head of the fleet. He thought he'd heard it called 'Beowulf', but wasn't sure as he hadn't really been listening at the time. Privately, he wished that Katsuragi hadn't dismissed the guide they'd been given. He felt extremely nervous and the gentle rocking of the vessel beneath his feet didn't exactly help reassure him about anything.
'This Admiral Meer runs a tight ship,' the director of Operations thought as she watched the crew attending their duties with enthusiasm and focus. She continued walking and began to cross the flight-deck, heading for the bridge. She was barely aware of the boy accompanying her as he followed behind, turning this way and that, watching everyone. She neared her intended destination a crewman stopped work and saluted her. Halting, she returned the gesture and watched as he walked away. For some reason she couldn't shake the feeling that she knew him.
"Captain Katsuragi?" a voice behind her asked. She turned around to see a male figure dressed in a Nerv uniform in his mid-forties. A pair of tinted spectacles was perched on his nose making his eye colour impossible to identify and his black hair was cut short, as was the thin beard he bore.
"Yes?" she asked formally.
"Captain Gendo Rokobungi, Nerv security. I was assigned to escort the second-child," he replied. He looked at the third-child. "And this must be Shinji Ikari. It's a pleasure to meet you. I knew your mother very well. I can't tell you how saddened I was to hear about her death."
"Thank you, sir," the boy replied, a little uncertain exactly how he should react.
"And where is the second-child?" Katsuragi enquired, wanting to get her assigned task completed as quickly as possible.
"Right here," a voice behind Gendo said. He stepped to one side and looked back at the figure walking across the deck of the ship towards them. Shinji followed his gaze and got his first look at his fellow pilot. She, for the figure was that of a girl, wore a loose-fitting black sweatshirt and a pair of tight faded blue jeans. Her hair was a fiery red and was shorter than his own, but longer though than Misato's.
"Captain Katsuragi, Shinji Ikari, allow me to introduce Asuka Langley Soryu, the German born second-child and pilot of Evangelion Unit 02," Rokobungi said, stepping behind the girl and placing one hand on her shoulder. She quickly shrugged it off and closed on Shinji, stopping mere inches from him.
"So this is the great third-child, huh?" she asked, her question obviously directed at the male officer. "I could take him." She stared him in the eye, her look so intense the boy backed away from her a step. She turned to look at Gendo. "You sure he defeated two Angels single-handedly?"
"Are you all packed, Asuka?" he asked, choosing to ignore the challenge in her tone. She nodded. "I believe they are just about to off-load Unit 02. Why don't you go watch while I take Captain Katsuragi here to meet the admiral?"
Soryu smiled brightly. "Great idea," she beamed. The redhead grabbed Shinji's hand and dragged him along behind her. "C'mon kid, you're coming with me." The two officers watched the retreating forms for a moment.
"This way, captain," Rokobungi said, gesturing for her to accompany him. She nodded and they began to walk across the flight-deck.
"Any problems to report?" Misato asked stiffly as they descended the stairs leading to the cabins.
"No, although I should warn you that Admiral Meer isn't happy about the fleet being used to transport an 'overgrown child's toy', as he calls it," he answered.
The director of operations snorted, clearly disgusted by that attitude. "I imagine you'll be returning to Germany in the next few days," she said as they neared the bottom of the steps. A closed door lay before them.
"Actually, no," Gendo responded, opening the door. "I've been re-assigned to headquarters, to head up the security division." He gestured for her to precede him, then followed, closing the door behind him. A short walk down the corridor and he stopped outside a door. Rokobungi knocked on it and waited until he heard a voice within, although Katsuragi couldn't understand what had been said, before opening it. Whatever language it was, it wasn't Japanese.
- - -
"So that's Unit 02," Ikari muttered as he watched the red robot being transferred from the carrier it was on.
"Yep, that's it. The world's first true Evangelion," Asuka replied smirking.
"Huh? What do you mean?" the boy asked, looking at her, a frown creasing his brow.
"Unit 00 is the prototype and Unit 01 is the test model," she explained. "Unit 02 is the first Eva designed for actual combat."
"Really?" the third-child asked. The girl nodded and he looked at the new Eva again, scrutinising it carefully to see if he could make out any differences between it and Units 00 and 01. The only difference he could see from this distance was the colour. "That's an interesting colour. Did you pick it?"
"Scheiße!" she cursed, looking at the sky. "Why the Hölle does everyone always think I picked the verdammte colour?!" She fixed him with a glare. "No, I didn't," she told him forcefully. "And before you say anything, my favourite colour is not red, okay?!" The boy shrank back from her. "Dummkopf," she muttered.
- - -
"How the hell am I supposed to do anything with these?!" Aaron shouted, barging to Akagi's office and slinging the medical files she'd provided at her. The blonde watched calmly as the papers within came loose and scattered themselves across her desk. As the office door slid shut, she gathered up the sheets and made a neat pile before looking up at the fuming Dr. Brahms.
"Is there a problem?" she asked her tone level and calm.
"'Is there a problem?' she asks," Aaron said, mimicking her. "Yes, there's a bloody problem! Those bloody files are useless!" he yelled, pointing to the pile on her desk. "That's the problem."
"Please, sit down, doctor," Ritsuko said, gesturing to the empty chair beside him. He looked at it for a moment, before sitting down and crossing his arms defiantly. "What exactly is the problem with the files?" she asked, adjusting the glasses that sat on her face.
"You know damned well what the problem is," he told, beginning to rein in his temper.
Akagi sighed, rubbing her forehead with her fingers. "These files were prepared for you. They have all the information you need to look after the pilots."
"Bullshit!" Aaron snarled, grabbing one of the files and leafing through it, as if looking for something.
"Doctor- " Ritsuko began, but he cut her off.
"Here, for instance," he said, pulling out a page and putting it in front of her. "This paragraph mentions anomalies in the first-child's blood-work."
The blonde scanned the section he pointed to. "I don't see a problem," she told him, looking up at him. "It tells you exactly what the anomalies are."
"But it doesn't give me any indication of why they're there!" he complained.
"Because your security clearance is not higher enough."
"Then raise it!" he snapped.
"Doctor Brahms, I would recommend against taking that tone with me," Akagi responded calmly. "I am well aware of your previous difficulties. Quite frankly, you're lucky you still have a position within Nerv, let alone this one." She took off her glasses and laid them on her desk. "I went out on a limb with Professor Fuyutski for you. Don't make me regret that decision."
"You what?" Aaron asked, looking surprised.
"Professor Fuyutski opposed your appointment as the pilots' doctor. I convinced him that, given your experience, you were the right person for the job," Ritsuko answered. "I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Don't blow it."
"I-I'm sorry," he stammered. "I-I didn't know."
"There is no reason why you would have known," she said. "But, if you ever repeat today's behaviour you may find yourself not only out of work, but facing the charges Nerv negated on your behalf. Am I clear?" Brahms nodded, dumbstruck.
"Was there anything else?" Akagi asked. When he shook his head, she said "Then please return to your duties, I'm rather busy at the moment." Aaron got to his feet and grabbed the medical files he'd brought with him and left, fumbling with them as he left the room. Dr. Akagi sighed and, hanging her head, began to massage her temples, her elbows resting on her desk.
- - -
Maya watched her superior as she removed her glasses, laying them on the clipboard on her lap and rubbed her eyes, sighing heavily. "You seem a little tense," she stated, looking at Ritsuko in concern. "Are you okay, doctor?"
"I'll be fine, Maya," the blonde replied, looking over at her assistant, smiling. "Don't worry." She thought back to the confrontation she'd had with Dr. Brahms yesterday, realising that it had rattled her more than she'd been willing to accept.
"You know, you always seem on edge whenever we do this," Ibuki commented, putting the portable console she'd been typing on to one side.
Akagi sighed again, looking around the command centre, watching as the assembled technicians carried out the tasks they'd been assigned as part of the diagnostic for the Magi super-computer systems. "I suppose I am."
"Do you want to talk about it?" her assistant asked, getting to her feet and walking over to her, perching on the edge of one of the consoles. "It might help you to relax."
Ritsuko thought about it for a moment, before saying "Okay." She put the clipboard, with the glasses still on it, on the console behind her. Turning to face Maya, she paused to organise her thoughts. "You do know who developed the Magi theorems, don't you?"
"Of course," the petite lieutenant smiled back. "It was your sister, Naoko."
"Yeah," the doctor responded, sadly. "What do you know about the personality transplant OS?"
"That's an easy one. It's a system that implants a human personality onto a seventh generation systematic computer, allowing the system to think for itself," Maya answered. She paused, cocking her head to one side before asking "Isn't it the same technology we use for the Eva's?"
"Right. Well, the Magi's programming used one of the first test subjects. So, since my sister was the one who developed the technology..."
"You mean it was her personality that was transplanted?" the brunette inquired, feeling surprised.
"That's right. In a very real sense, the Magi's brains are my sister."
"Is that why you work so hard to protect the Magi and keep them running properly?"
"A little," Ritsuko admitted, closing her eyes. "Naoko and I were really close. You could say she raised me after my parents died. I think… I think I also feel a little guilty."
"About what?"
"Letting her daughter go without a fight."
"I never knew you had a niece," Ibuki told her.
"I haven't really thought about her much for a long time. Her father took her after Naoko's death, something I don't think she'd have approved of."
"You didn't try to stop him?"
"I-I was a bit of a mess back then," Akagi told her, breaking their eye contact, ashamed of how she had behaved during that turbulent period. "The state I was in, no-one would've given me custody of a child. Not to mention the fact that the idea of caring for a young child terrified me."
"Do you know where she is? Your niece?"
"No," Ritsuko told her, looking up and staring out into space. "I can't even remember her name." Sighing and shaking her head, she looked back at Maya. "Anyway, the Magi represent the three aspects of herself. Herself as a woman, as a scientist and as a mother. Each Magi has one of those aspects implanted into it, as well as slightly different encoding. She deliberately included the dilemmas of the human experience in them." She paused again, taking a deep breath and holding it for a few moments before speaking again. "You know, I sometimes think of Naoko as more of a mother than a sister. Well, half-sister."
"You miss her, don't you?" Maya asked with a sad look in her eye.
"Sometimes," the doctor confessed. After a moments thought, she added "Thinking about it, I have to admit that although I loved her and looked up to her, there was one aspect of her that I think I hated."
"Which one?"
"Her as a woman," Ritsuko replied, tipping her head back and rubbing the back of her neck absently. "Mainly, I think, because of our different views on men. I mean, I'm not likely to ever have children of my own, but seeing how she struggled to raise me, I couldn't help but respect her for that. And as a scientist, she was brilliant. We may have disagreed on certain theories and methodologies, but we always held each other in great esteem." She sighed, dropped her head and sagged in her chair. "But men, that was something we could never agree upon."
"So which one is the woman part?" Ibuki enquired.
Akagi looked at her, surprised by the question. It took the blonde doctor a moment to figure out what her assistant had meant. "Huh? Oh. It's Caspar," the informed her, adding "Melchior is her as a mother and Balthasar is the scientist."
The petite brunette walked over and crouched down in front of her. "Did she know about…" Maya started, but trailed off, not wanting to say it in such a public place.
"Yes, she knew," Ritsuko said. "And she never judged me for it, even though I think she disapproved. She was never anything but supportive of me, no matter what it was."
"Just like you've been to me," Ibuki responded.
"Huh?" the doctor muttered, looking confused for a moment. "Yeah, I guess I have," she added slowly, realising that what her assistant had said was right.
"Well, they do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," the woman quipped before crouching down.
"Get back to work, Maya," Ritsuko said, a relaxed smile on her lips. Ibuki nodded and stood up, laying one hand on the doctor's shoulder and squeezing gently before returning to her task. The blonde watched her go, shaking her head gently. 'How did I end up with someone as wonderful as you, Maya?' she wondered.
To be continued…
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Author Notes –
And the second-child arrives at last. I know many of you have wondering how I would handle her character and I can now start to show you. I was thinking of hooking her up with someone and would like to hear you guys think it should be.
I hope I got the German right! I don't speak the language myself and am having to rely on several dubious sources. Oh, and as I guess must of you guys don't speak the language, I'll be posting the translations at the end of each chapter.
And finally, let me say sorry about the late update, guys. My computer went on the fritz and I had to wait until I got get it sorted to be able to post. Life really sucks sometimes, you know? Bye for now.
Original characters –
Kana Fuyutski
Aaron Brahms
Admiral Meer
German translations –
Scheiße! – Shit!
Hölle – hell
verdammte – damned
Dummkopf – Blockhead