Rebuild of Third Genesis

Chapter 25

A week passed annoyingly slowly at NERV. Testing on Unit-02 was temporarily halted as Maya and Ritsuko chased down a programming fault. School continued as Asuka and Rei gradually relaxed into a routine. The other students also got more used to Rei, who seemed much friendlier and more pleasant than before.

The growing numbers of newer kids also learned NOT to pick on Rei. Ever. Asuka was a constant guardian for her fellow pilot, and got pulled into the principal's office for fighting more than once. Mari just liked to fight, and tended to join in. Thankfully on-site cameras could back up her story, as well as other students.

Though at least once Misato had to come in and apologize for her ward...

FINALLY, near the end of the second week, testing resumed.

"BWA HA HA HA!" Mari cackled as the machine gun fired, cradled in the Evangelion's hands. The huge bullets raced down the firing range, ripping the dummy apart.

"Well, someone's having fun," Asuka noted, amused.

"Is that the improved rifle design?" Satsuki asked as Mari blazed away.

"Yes," Mana agreed as she supervised the test rounds. "We've improved the penetrating power of the slugs, as well as enlarged the number of bullets.

"Aww. Out of bullets," Mari complained. On the plus side, she had destroyed two full sized dummies down the range.

"All right, we'd like you to try reloading," Aoi said to Mari. "Remove the used clip..." she started to explain.

Calmly Mari unlocked the clip, popped it free, picked up the new clip from a nearby platform and put it in.

"Ah," Aoi blinked.

"May I continue shooting?" Mari asked.

"Right. Let's get some new targets up first," Satsuki noted, bringing up two more 'enemy' dummies at the end of the range.

"Go for it," Ao encouraged her.

The team watched with amusement as Mari blazed away. "That looks fun," Rei noted, apparently wishing she had done this rather than the precision tests yesterday.

"You'll get to blow up stuff too, eventually," Asuka comforted her.

"Are we going to try her on the Progressive Sword?" Kaede asked curiously.

"Depends on how much mental stress she's showing after the initial tests," Ritsuko noted as she walked in, carrying a tray of coffee for everyone.

"Thank you!" Maya beamed at her as they handed out coffee together.

The three other women smiled as they tried not to react to how cute the pair was. The couple were adorable, everyone pretty much agreed. The only question in anyone's mind was when they were actually going to tie the knot.

"Everything all right?" Misato stuck her head in the control room. The normally casual commander of NERV looked a bit stressed around the edges.

"We're fine. And you just stuck your head in here five minutes ago," Satsuki noted.

"Yeah, yeah," Misato sighed, flustered. She looked at Asuka and Rei, "Are you going to be all right, tonight?"

"We'll get take out," Asuka reassured her, "it'll be fine."

"You should get ready for your date," Rei added.

"It's NOT a date," Misato sighed as she headed off.

"It's totally a date," Ritsuko noted, amused.

"Hmm," Maya, Aoi, Kaede and Satsuki agreed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Misato checked herself out in a mirror, noting that she'd put on a little weight since last wearing the little black dress. Thankfully it had mostly gone to her curves, and she felt reasonably sure she looked good.

"I hope, anyway." Misato muttered as she picked up her purse, taking a moment to make sure her keys, wallet and gun were in there.

(Why a gun? Staffers from NERV had been kidnapped before, in the 'bad old days' under Gendo. Plus, she was going out with a UN rep who might also be targeted. And, honestly, she felt just a little safer having it with her.)

The phone rang, and Misato answered, "Hello? Hey, hi. I'll be right down."

Out on the street Satoko Shinden put her phone away. She was also feeling nervous about the date tonight, and adjusted her suit coat nervously. After talking with Misato and finding out she was going in a dress, this seemed like a good choice. But now she was wondering.

Satoko looked up as Misato walked out of the building and gulped. The 'little black dress' hugged every curve, and Satoko realized that Misato was a LOT curvier than her usual uniforms showed. In fact she was phenominally sexy...

"What?" Misato asked, smiling.

"You look great," Satoko recovered, hurrying around to open the passenger side door of her car for her.

"Thank you," Misato sat, then swung her stocking clad legs in.

Satoko climbed in the driver's seat. "The event is in Tokyo-3, actually," she noted as they headed off.

"I STILL can't believe a luxury hotel chain set up here during the Angel attacks," Misato shook her head. "Rebuilt in record time after the city got wrecked too."

"Resilient city," Satoko agreed.

"So, what can I expect?" Misato asked as they drove.

"My friend decided to skip all the usual steps," Satoko admitted, "no reception, no bachlotette parties, no rehersal dinner. So they're just getting together for the wedding itself, and a party after."

"That's probably what I'd do," Misato admitted. "Do we have any formal roles to play?"

"I'm not, thankfully, a maid of honor or anything," Satoko grinned. "We just visit, drink a bit, grab some food and leave."

"Sounds fun. What could possibly go wrong?" Misato asked.

"Don't SAY that," Satoko laughed.

They reached the hotel in ten minutes, the two women checking in with a helpful attendant once they parked. "Welcome," she beamed, "you're here for the Yamagishi wedding?"

"Yes," Satoko showed her invitation.

"They've booked main reception and the first two floors," the staffer smiled, "please, enjoy your visit here."

"Let's go find my ex, Mayumi. Then we can relax and enjoy the party," Satoko suggested.

"Works. I'll try to look like your hot date," Misato murmured teasingly.

They found Mayumi Yamagishi a few moments later. She was a bit shorter than Misato, with long black hair tied back in an elegant braid, and a warm, welcoming smile. She frowned slightly on seeing Misato, but quickly recovered.

'Wonder if she's jealous a bit?' Misato wondered silently.

"Mayumi!" Satoko smiled and hugged her. "Congradulations. You look lovely."

"Thank you," Mayumi replied, pulling back a bit. She looked at Misatio curiously and asked, "Have we met?"

"Ah, this is my date, Misato," Satoko introduced her.

"Misato... Katsuragi?" Mayumi looked startled. "It's a honor, ma'am."

Misato waved that off, "Good to meet you. I hope everything goes well."

Mayumi smiled back, "Thank you."

They walked off to where the other guests were mingling. "I occassionally forget you're famous," Satoko teased.

"Don't start," Misato rolled her eyes.

Satoko thought about teasing her more, but decided not to.

"She's TECHNICALLY an employee of yours," Satoko noted as she got them drinks from a passing server.

"Huh?" Misato blinked as she willingly took the chilled glass.

"She works at the R&D company that had developed a lot of weapons technology for NERV," Satoko told her. Wryly she added, "She started that position after I dated her, thank goodness. Or there might have been conflict of interest."

"While in my case you can blackmail me with UN funds until I do what you want?" Misato noted, deadpan.

"Of course," Satoko agreed, winking.

Both laughed as they walked together.

To be continued...

Notes: Re-cycling canon Eva names with Mayumi Yamagishi . Need to figure out whom the other bride is, also not sure if it should be a complication or not.