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 11 – Light And Shadows
"I have to admit, I was surprised to hear Nerv had offered their assistance," Sascha Wisztreich, the chief engineer of the Jet Alone Delta Unit related as he was led into Matsushiro testing facility where the Russian built robot was being housed. He was a tall man of about the same age as the woman who was escorting him, with closely cropped brown hair that was starting to turn grey at his temples. "We are, after all, in competition."
"From a business stand point, perhaps," Dr. Akagi replied, holding a door open for him. "However, our intentions are the same – to eliminate the threat posed by the Angels. That is my only concern. If the Jet Alone robots can assist in that, then I welcome them and will offer any help that I can."
"I have read through your proposal, Dr. Akagi, and to be quite frank, I have my doubts," Sascha informed the blonde as they began climbing a flight of stairs. "The remote operational system has failed to provide acceptable results in all three prior tests. I don't see how this 'dummy-plug' system of yours will fair any better."
"I understand your concerns, Mr. Wisztreich," Ritsuko responded as reassuringly as she could, "but you have to understand, the dummy-plug system utilises an artificial intelligence matrix to direct its actions. The only thing we control remotely is the system's target." As they reached the top of the stairs she pointed to the left.
"I'm surprised you don't use the system for those Evangelions of yours," the Delta Unit engineer commented.
"It's still highly experimental at this stage, but the Magi report that it has a very high probability of success with the Delta Unit," she told him. After a brief pause, she added "and to be perfectly honest, I prefer to have a human pilot with a computer system as a backup, should it be needed."
"Whereas, I must admit, I prefer to have a computer in control. I hope this difference in opinion isn't going to affect our ability to work together."
"I doubt it. I am a scientist, first and foremost. The only problems I can foresee are the usual ones that an engineer and a scientist working together encounter."
Sascha chuckled as she opened the door in front of them. "I know what you mean. And I hope you're right."
- - -
Thunk.
Thunk.
Thunk.
"Bad luck, Asuka," Shinji smiled. "That's only forty-seven."
"I can see that," the redhead snapped. The boy chuckled softly to himself as he calculated her remaining score and marked it on the chalk board beside him. As he did, Soryu stormed over and snatched her darts from the game board. Stepping aside, she growled "Your turn, Blue!"
Ayanami stepped up to the white line marked on the floor and casually launched each of her three darts at the board.
"That's a hundred and two," Ikari noted. "Well done, Ayanami." The first-child nodded in response before retrieving her darts.
"What's my score, Shinji?" the German asked, taking her place at the oche.
"Two hundred and seventeen," the pilot of Unit 01 answered a few moments later after checking the score board.
'C'mon, Asuka, you can do this,' she told herself. Taking careful aim, she threw her first dart. 'Nineteen.' The second dart followed moments later. 'Outer bullseye. That's twenty-five.' She took longer to aim her final dart. 'Treble twenty. Wunderbar, that's sixty points.'
"Great shot, Asuka," Ikari commented. "That makes one hundred and four." A smiling second-child reclaimed her darts. "You need eighty-two, Ayanami," the boy said, turning to the red eyed pilot. Without responding, she took her turn.
"Thirty-one," Soryu announced, calculating the blue-haired girl's score. "Bad luck, Rei." The pilot of Unit 00 didn't respond and merely removed her darts from the game board before moving aside.
"You need a hundred and thirteen, Asuka," Shinji told her.
'Don't see any chance of making that,' the German thought bitterly. 'Might as well just try to get the best I can.' She took her turn, surprising herself with her score.
"Seventy-six," the third-child related, "leaving you thirty-seven." Asuka took her darts from the board and stood clear of the board. "Ayanami, you need fifty-one to win. Remember, you can only go out on a double, a treble or a bullseye." The pale skinned girl acknowledged him with a nod and turned her attention to the dart board.
First dart – double nineteen.
Second dart – four.
Third dart – eleven.
"Hard luck, Blue. You went over," the redhead said, careful to keep her tone friendly. "That invalidates that turn. Right, Shinji?"
"Afraid so," the boy replied, shrugging. Rei blinked once as she considered this before nodding and reclaiming her darts.
'Right, thirty-seven,' the German pondered, considering her the options available to her as she took her place at the oche. She took careful aim, pulled back and…
Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep.
The dart flew from the redhead's hand and embedded itself in the wall a short distance to the left of the board.
"Shinji!" Soryu snarled at the sheepish boy as he turned off his watch's alarm.
"Sorry," he responded, a little red-faced, "but that means it's time for the synch-test." He pulled the errant dart free. "We'll have to finish this up later," the boy said, passing it to the German.
"Whatever," Asuka sighed. She walked towards the stairs, dropping her darts on the pool table as she passed. The other two pilots exchanged a puzzled glance. The third-child shrugged and gestured for Ayanami to precede him.
- - -
"Where's Dr. Akagi?" Shinji inquired as he, Asuka and Rei met Lieutenant Hyuga outside the changing rooms. They'd just finished cleaning up after having their synch-test and the boy had been surprised that Ibuki had been in charge instead of the blonde doctor.
"She's at the testing facility in Matsushiro," Makoto told them.
"What the heck is she doing there?" the second-child asked.
The bespectacled technician sighed. "You've heard about the Jet Alone project, haven't you?"
"No," Soryu answered. "What is it?"
"It's an attempt to come up with an alternative to the Eva's," the pilot rep. explained. "The project has tested three models so far and they've all failed. Nerv offered our assistance with the fourth prototype, the Delta Unit."
"Oh," was all Ikari could think of to say.
"And what happens to us if the project succeeds?" Asuka asked.
"To be honest, I don't really know," Hyuga told her, scratching the back of his head. "I guess the robots would take over the defence of the city eventually." He covered his unease at the idea by smiling. "But even if the test succeeds, that's still months away."
- - -
"How goes the development of the auxiliary, wing-mounted batteries?" Viktor Hasan asked of Professor Fuyutski. The current meeting of the Human Instrumentality Committee had just finished reviewing the Angel battles thus far.
"Slowly," Kouzou admitted wearily. "So far we have only been able to extend the Eva's power supply by two hundred and nineteen point seven two seconds. That doesn't compensate for the loss of manoeuvrability the Eva's would experience in using them."
"I'm just wondering if it is really necessary to invest so heavily in something that we have no need of," Megumi Takamura commented, looking across the table.
"We haven't need 'em yet," Louise Daniels drawled, returning the gaze. "Don't mean we won't. Despite the cost, Ah'd rather have 'em and not use 'em than be without."
"Indeed," Lorentz Keele intoned from the head of the table. "Their deployment may yet be crucial to our survival."
"True," Jacque Bouquet agreed. "All indications are that the Angels will continue to become more and more difficult to defeat over time."
"Any word on when Unit 03 will be ready?" Fuyutski enquired.
"Not yet," Louise answered.
"Which is just as well, considering a pilot has yet to be selected," Viktor said.
"A minor formality; one that is easily taken care of," Keele told him. He looked at the American woman. "See to it, and find out when Unit 03 will be ready for testing. The next Angel is due soon. And we will need all the tools available to us if we are to survive to the end."
- - -
Seeing the door to the boy's room slightly ajar, the redhead slowly pushed it open and peered in around it. Ikari was lead on his bed, staring at the ceiling, appearing to be completely lost in thought. Pushing the door open fully, she lightly knocked on the frame. The third-child turned his gaze to her.
"You okay, Shinji?" she asked gently, taking a couple of hesitant steps into the room.
"No," he sighed. "I've been thinking about what Makoto said."
"What about it?" Asuka questioned, walking over to his bed.
"How he doesn't know what would happen to us if that 'Jet Alone' project is successful," Ikari said, turning his eyes back towards his ceiling. He paused for a moment, carefully considering his next words. "What would happen to us if we weren't needed to pilot our Eva's?"
"Don't worry about it," the German old him as reassuringly as she could. "We'd probably just get sent home, that's all."
"That's okay for you to say. You've got a home to go back to. I don't," the third-child said, rather more sharply than he'd intended. "And I don't think Ayanami does either."
"Rei's an orphan as well?" Soryu asked, surprised.
"You didn't know?" the boy responded.
"It's not like she ever talks about herself, is it?"
Ikari sighed. "I guess."
Asuka looked at him, almost as if she were studying his face. "If you're an orphan, who's got custody of you?"
"Nerv, as far as I know," he answered, shrugging. "I mean, they were the ones paying for me to go to the boarding school I used attend."
"And Rei?"
"Far as I know, she's always lived here," the green eyed boy related. "At least since the professor took her in."
- - -
"How's it going?" Maya asked, her left hand clutching the phone to her ear as lazily typed a few commands into the keyboard in front of her.
"Not too bad really," Ritsuko's voice replied. "The chief engineer's a bit suspicious of our motives, but he seems committed to the project."
"That's good, isn't it?" the petite lieutenant responded, pausing in her work.
"As long as he's flexible and open to change."
"Even if he isn't, you'll talk him round," the brunette assured her.
"What makes you say that?" Dr. Akagi questioned.
"You can be very convincing when you want to," her girlfriend told her in a teasing tone.
"Maya!"
"What?" Ibuki said innocently. "You know I'm right." She logged off the console she was using and leant back in her chair. "How long do you think you'll have to stay there?"
"That depends on how many modifications were made to the Delta Unit and not added to the schematics," Akagi told her. "But I shouldn't be more than four weeks, five at the most."
"That long!" Maya complained. She sighed. "But I miss you already."
"I miss you too," the blonde replied her. "How about we go somewhere special when I get back?" she suggested.
"Any place is special if I'm with you," the lieutenant said. "Guess that makes me a cheap date, huh?" she commented a few moments later.
"When it comes to keeping you happy, money doesn't matter," Ritsuko said.
"Well, how abou-" the brunette started, but was cut off by the sound of a siren. "Angel alarm," she informed her lover needlessly. "Gotta go. I'll call you later."
"Okay. I love you, Maya."
"You too," Ibuki responded before hanging up and running out of the doctor's office, heading for the command centre.
- - -
"Excuse me, doctor," Sascha called as he spotted Akagi walk passed him. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked as he began to follow her.
"I'm afraid it'll have to wait," the blonde told him without stopping or looking back. A mixed group of Nerv and Jet Alone personnel rush passed.
"What's going on?" the engineer enquired as a straggler brushed passed him.
"There's an Angel attack in progress," Ritsuko informed him calmly.
"Here!" Wisztreich exclaimed, panic gripping him.
"No, Tokyo-3," the doctor replied, finally stopping and looking at him. "There are screens set up in the mess hall if you'd like to watch."
"Where are you going?" Sascha asked as he noticed her moving off again, away from the mess hall.
Akagi stopped and peered over her shoulder at him. "I'm going to be monitoring the battle from my office," she informed him before continuing on her way.
- - -
Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Shinji clambered into Unit 01's waiting entry-plug. Wriggling into the seat to get as comfortable as he could, he gently grasped the controls and closed his eyes.
The lid slid into place and he heard a voice say "Filling the entry-plug," as the cockpit filled with LCL. Pushing away the slight panic he felt at the idea of being submersed in liquid, he forced himself to breathe deeply and evenly. Fighting the gag reflex, he willed himself to allow the yellow fluid to fill his lungs. There was a slight jolting and the sensation of moving as the plug was inserted into the Eva.
"Electrolysing the LCL," a male voice said. A few moments later, after the tingling on his exposed face had died down, the boy opened his eyes. He blinked a few times, shaking his head slightly to clear the woozy feeling he unaccountably felt.
"Something… feels wrong," he murmured, a frown wrinkling his brow. His forehead began to throb slightly and he reached up with his right hand to massage it.
- - -
"Sir!" Shigeru shouted over the usual noise in the command centre, an urgency in his voice. "Registering a code three-nine-two system failure in Unit 01."
"That shouldn't be possible. At least, not yet," the professor muttered to himself. "Shut it down," he ordered, "and eject the entry-plug."
"Yes, sir," Aoba responded, inputting the relevant commands.
"Doctor Akagi?" Kouzou called.
"I am monitoring," the blonde's voice said over the command centre's intercom. "If Lieutenant Ibuki will open a channel to the Magi, I'll begin an analysis."
"Lieutenant."
"Establishing up-link to Matsushiro now, sir," Maya said, her hands dancing over her console.
"What's the status of the other Eva's?" Fuyutski enquired.
"Eva Units 00 and 02 are on-line and standing by," the long-haired technician informed him.
"Captain."
"Launch Eva's," the lavender-haired woman ordered.
- - -
"Hey, chief!" a voice called over the chatter in the mess hall as Sascha entered the room. Looking around, he spotted a member of his team waving at him. Weaving through the throng he made his way to him. "Saved ya a seat," the engineer told him, scooting over to make room.
Wisztreich mumbled his thanks as he sat down and looked at the nearest screen. "So that's an Angel," he said to himself.
"That's what they say," the female technician sat to his left said. He looked at her and she smiled warmly at him. "Don't care what you say though, it sure is pretty."
"I suppose so," Sascha replied, casting his eyes back to the screen and taking a closer look at the image of the attacker. It had the shape of a four pointed star and was hovering about fifteen to twenty foot above the ground, or so he estimated. It was pale blue in colour with a glowing green halo around the uppermost point and had what appeared to be a black orb-shaped protuberance in its centre.
"You nervous, chief?" the engineer who'd spoken earlier asked seriously. Wisztreich looked to his right and looked at the man. He appeared concerned, and he had every right to be.
"A little," Sascha admitted. "But I'd rather focus on the chance to see those Evangelions that Nerv is so proud of in action."
"Should be interesting," the man responded, nodding.
"I wonder which one's they'll use," the technician wondered aloud. "The purple, orange or red?"
"Well," the engineer replied, looking past Sascha at the woman, "they've used the purple one-"
"Unit 01," Wisztreich clarified, interrupting.
"Right, Unit 01," the man responded, nodding at his superior in thanks. "Well, as I was saying, they've used Unit 01 in every engagement so far. So that one's a safe bet. But as for the red and the orange-"
"Units 02 and 00," Sascha said, interrupting him again."
"Well, they could use either," the engineer shrugged.
"They didn't use Unit 00 during the last battle, did they?" the female technician asked.
"No," Wisztreich answered. "It was damaged during the battle before that. And the last battle was Unit 02's first."
"It's a pity there's no sound," the engineer commented.
"Not that we'd hear anything in this din," the woman to Sascha's left added, sighing.
"Pipe down," someone said from behind them. "They're launching."
- - -
The second-child tightened Unit 02's grip on the progressive lance it carried as she stared at the Angel. The fact that this would be the first Angel battle in which Shinji Ikari would not participate both thrilled and frightened her.
'Maybe because he's the most experienced pilot,' she considered. Something she expected to bother her but, for some reason, it didn't. She cast the red mechanoid's gaze around sector twelve. It was an old residential area, with few tall buildings, three or four storeys being the norm. 'No cover,' she realised. 'And no close by support buildings either.'
"Units 00 and 02, advance on the target," Captain Katsuragi ordered, interrupted the redhead's ruminations. "Expand your AT Fields and be prepared. As yet, we don't know how this Angel will attack."
"Yes, captain," Ayanami's calm voice responded over the comm. system.
"I hear you," Soryu replied.
- - -
The two Evangelions began to slowly advance on the Angel. At first there was no reaction. Then, as they got close to the firing range of the pallet rifle Unit 00 carried, the Angel began to float upwards. By the time they were within range, the Angel was too high for Unit 02 to be able to attack it with the lance it carried.
- - -
Asuka stared up at the Angel, her face contorted into a snarl. "How the Hölle am I supposed to attack it now!" she exclaimed, her voice low. She looked at Unit 00. "Hey, Rei, that thing in range?"
"The Angel is within firing range," Rei answered calmly.
"Then fire at the damned thing already!" the German told her, suppressing a growl.
"I have not been given the order to take any offensive action," the first-child informed her.
"Oh, just shoot the verdammte thing!" Soryu snapped angrily.
"Unit 00, open fire," Katsuragi ordered, her voice empty off all emotion, although the redhead was fairly certain that the director of Operations was as frustrated as she was with the blue-haired girl.
"Yes, captain," Ayanami responded.
- - -
The orange Evangelion stopped its advance and raised the pallet rifle in its hands. It paused for a few moments as its pilot took aim at the airborne target. Just as the robot's finger began to move on the trigger, the black orb on the Angel emitted as blinding light, startling and dazzling both the pilots and the staff in the command centre.
- - -
"Switch to tactical!" Katsuragi ordered loudly as she used her hands to block out the glare from the main screen. The light disappeared and the captain rubbed her eyes, blinking repeatedly to clear them.
"Deactivate the Eva's optical sensors!" the professor shouted, wiping tears from his eyes.
"Yes, sir," Lieutenant Aoba responded, typing in the necessary commands.
"Rei, Asuka, are you two alright?" Kouzou asked.
"I am uninjured," the first-child responded calmly.
"I'll be fine," Asuka told him, adding quietly "as soon as my eyes stop watering." She sighed. "So how the Hölle are we supposed to fight something we can't see?" she questioned, sounding upset.
"Switch the entry-plug displays to tactical," the lavender-haired captain ordered.
"Supplement it with thermal imaging," Fuyutski instructed.
"Done, sir," Shigeru informed his superiors.
"Unit 00, you will proceed as ordered," Misato told Rei.
"Yes, captain," Ayanami responded.
Makoto watched his console carefully as the data from the surface was relayed to it. He watched as the sensors tracked the shells from the pallet rifle towards the Angel and sighed when the data showed that they had not penetrated its AT Field.
"No effect, sir," he announced. "The shells are unable to pierce the Angel's AT Field."
"Do we possess any weapon that can?" Katsuragi enquired.
"Well, theoretically, the positron rifle should," Maya informed the captain, turning her chair so she could look at the purple-haired woman, "but we haven't had a chance to field-test it yet."
"Are any modifications needed before it can be used?" the grey-haired professor asked her.
"No, sir," Ibuki answered. "But, sir, I should point out that there is no guarantee it will work."
"Noted, lieutenant," Kouzou said, "but we don't have any real alternative. Get it the surface as soon as possible."
- - -
"C'mon, c'mon, where is that thing?" Asuka muttered impatiently, drumming her fingers on the control yoke. It had been ten minutes since the professor had ordered the positron rifle sent to the surface and the redhead was still waiting. It had been decided that, since Rei carried a pallet rifle, that the second-child would be the one to utilise the experimental weapon. 'Not really sure if I should be insulted by that or not.' A siren sounding distracted her and the hatch in the ground before her slid open.
"Finally," the German murmured as the carriage carrying the positron rifle came to a stop in front of her. Taking hold of the control carriage, she made Unit 02 reach out and pick it up. Placing the butt against the robot's right shoulder, she raised it and turned to aim at the Angel.
"Targeting systems online," a technician's voice announced over the comm. system; it was a voice Asuka didn't recognise. A viewfinder swung down from behind the headrest on the control seat.
"Initiating charge build up," and second voice said. "Forty-five seconds until full power."
"Compensation for gravity calculated at point zero one," the first voice informed her.
"Pressure in the firing chamber approaching optimum," a third unknown voice intoned.
"Target lock confirmed," the second-child said as the two crosshairs displayed on the viewfinder locked together and changed from red to green.
"Positron rifle at full power," the second voice announced.
"Release remote safety locks," Captain Katsuragi's voice ordered. The fine green rim to the viewfinder's display changed from green to red. "Unit 02, fire when ready."
"Roger that," Soryu responded and pulled the trigger.
- - -
"The charge was insufficient to penetrate the Angel's AT Field," Hyuga announced.
"Is there anyway to increase the output?" Katsuragi inquired, looking at Akagi's assistant.
The petite brunette swung her chair around and shook her head. "Not at this time," she said.
"Captain!" Makoto called, a frown on his face.
"What is it, lieutenant?" the lavender-haired woman questioned, walking over to his position.
"I was running a quick analysis on the data we've gathered on the Angel and I noticed something," the bespectacled technician informed her. "Each time the Angel was attacked, it strengthened its AT Field at the point of impact."
"How does that help us?" Katsuragi asked.
"Well, I also noticed that the field on the other side of the Angel weakened," he explained. "Like it's diverting power to protect itself."
"Could the positron rifle penetrate the AT Field if it hadn't been reinforced?"
"One moment," Hyuga muttered, checking the figures. "Possibly, but I couldn't guarantee it."
The director of Operations crossed her arms and turned around, walking slowly towards the back of the chamber. She had her head down and a frown on her brow. She turned back to Lieutenant Hyuga. "How much decrease in the rear of the AT Field was there when the pallet rifle was used?"
Makoto called up the data. "Approximately seven point nine two percent."
"Could the positron rifle penetrate that?"
"It should," the bespectacled lieutenant informed her.
"Alright, pilots, listen up," the captain ordered. "We're going to use a two-pronged attack. Unit 00, remain in position and target the Angel."
"Yes, captain," Ayanami responded.
"Unit 02," Misato continued, "relocate so you can target the opposite side of the Angel to Unit 00 and take aim."
"Yes, ma'am," the second-child's voice said cheerfully. A few moments later she said "Unit 02, in position and target locked."
"Status of the positron rifle?" Katsuragi requested.
"Standing by at full power," one of the technicians informed her. "Remote safety locks are in place."
"Disengage them," the captain ordered.
"Safety locks released," came the reply a few moments later.
"Unit 00, on my word you will open fire on the Angel and you will not cease until I give the order. Understood?" she told the blue-haired girl.
"Your orders are understood, captain," Rei responded.
"Unit 02, you will fire at the Angel when I give you the command, not before. Is that understood?"
"Completely," Asuka told her.
"Unit 00, open fire."
"Confirmed," the pilot responded.
"AT Field strength at the point of impact now at one hundred and seven point nine eight percent," Makoto announced, looking up from his console. "Rear of field at ninety-two point zero two percent and holding.
"Unit 02, fire!"
- - -
The beam from the positron rifle shot towards the Angel, meeting and cutting through the AT Field before hitting the orb in the centre of the attacker. The blinding light faded.
- - -
"Energy build up in the Angel detected!" Makoto yelled.
"Eva's, withdraw immediately," Katsuragi ordered.
- - -
The green halo was glowing with more intensity, becoming brighter and brighter as the two Evangelions began to hurry away from it. The Angel began to emit high pitched whine, growing louder. A few seconds later, it exploded, the force of the blast sending both robots flying.
- - -
Soryu blinked her eyes open. 'Where am I? Am I dead?' she wondered, but quickly discounted that idea due to the thunderous ache in her head. She gingerly sat up, looking around herself. 'The infirmary,' she told herself. 'I'm in the infirmary.' To one side she saw Rei, lying unconscious in the bed next to hers, with a bandage on her head. She heard the door open and looked over to see Dr. Brahms enter.
"Ah, good, you're awake," he smiled at her.
"Yeah, but I feel like I've got someone playing a kettledrum in my head," she told him, rubbing her forehead.
"I'll get a nurse to get you some aspirin," Aaron said.
"Thanks. What happened?"
"I'm told the Angel exploded after you killed it," he related, walking over to her bed. "Both you and Rei were out when they found you."
"Am I okay?" the redhead asked, shifting back in the bed so she could sit up with her back against the headboard.
"Well, you bumped your head pretty hard – you've been out for about four hours – but apart from that, you're fine," the doctor assured her. "Once that headache's gone I'll give you a quick once-over to make sure. As long as that's clear, you can go back to the dorm."
The second-child nodded. "What about Rei?" she enquired, jerking her thumb at the blue-haired girl.
"She came off a little worse than you. She gashed her head open on the control carriage, fractured her skull – hairline fracture, nothing to worry about – and there's a chance she picked up a concussion, but I doubt it."
"Yeah, Blue sure does have a hard head," Asuka joked.
"Blue?" Aaron frowned. "Oh, I get it. Because of her hair. Clever." He chuckled weakly.
"Can I get that aspirin now?" she asked.
"Sure," he said, heading for the door.
- - -
"What's the status of the Eva's?" Akagi asked.
"Unit 02 picked up a few minor dents and scorch marks, nothing really serious," Fuyutski's voice answered. "No real need to clean it up except pride." He sighed. "Unit 00 came off the worst. The heat from the blast buckled several pieces of armour, and a piece of shrapnel sliced into its spinal nerve trunk."
"How's Rei?" Ritsuko inquired, taking her glasses off.
"Unknown, she hasn't regained consciousness yet."
"So there is a chance of nerve damage?"
"A very real chance, yes," the professor admitted. "As far as Asuka and Shinji are concerned though, she only cracked her head open on the control carriage," he added.
"Possible concussion," the blonde muttered thoughtfully, placing her glasses down on the desk. "Which would explain any unusual behaviour she may exhibit when she comes round. Good cover story." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "And Brahms?"
"Behaving himself," he told her. "Which is just as well considering what's at stake. How are things progressing with the Delta Unit?" the commander's voice asked her.
"As expected. Wisztreich isn't as obstinate as I thought he would be," she commented, leaning back in her chair and drumming her fingers on the desk.
"How long until you have to install the plug?" her superior inquired.
"About four weeks," the blonde related.
"Good. And Unit 01?
"I couldn't find anything to explain the failure," Ritsuko sighed, stopping her fingers. "I've got the Lieutenant Ibuki running a full systems analysis and diagnostic on it." She pulled over a folder and began leafing through it. "Every bit of hard- and software is being tested electronically and by hand. One way or the other, we'll find the problem."
To be continued…
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Author Notes –
I cannot apologise enough for how long it has taken me to get this chapter up. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say there have been a few changes in my life. That, combined with the fact that my imagination is constantly giving me ideas for completely different stories, has caused the long delay. Hopefully the next chapter will be up within a couple of months, but I can't make any guarantees.
Original Characters
Sascha Wisztreich – chief engineer, Delta Unit
German translations –
Verdammte – damned
Hölle – hell
Wunderbar - wonderful