Rebuild of Third Genesis

Chapter 29

They were running a sim based on dropping the Evangelion in a foreign country. It wasn't going very well.

"The battery add on is WAY too cumbersome," Mari complained loudly as she tried to jog Unit-2 down the highway.

The Evangelions had a limited range due to power usage, of about 30 minutes, much less for combat. They were trying to extend that with a modular power pack. Sadly, it was both large and heavy, and was effecting the balance of the unit.

"Whoop!" Mari overcompensated for the weight and tumbled.

Satsuki Ooi winced.

"SON OF A FUCKING..." Mari cursed loudly.

"Feel better?" Satsuki asked mildly.

"No, damn it. Could I at least fight and kill something?" Mari complained.

Satsuki smiled as she told her, "Be patient. If it helps, we're coming up to the urban environment tests."

"Oh joy," Mari sighed.

A few minutes later Misato arrived to check in on them. "How's it going?" she asked Satsuki curiously, watching Mari on the monitors.

Satsuki sighed, "We're running a city simulation, and I'm keeping a running count on how many people she's stepped on. It's nearing triple digits."

Misato groaned. "Mari! Stop deliberately stepping on people!" she ordered.

"Awww. You take all the fun out of things," Mari teased.

"If we have to send you into another country on a mission, I don't want to be accused of war crimes," Misato growled.

"Yeah, yeah," Mari grumbled and started being more careful. "I keep tripping on cars," she added bitterly.

It was also clearly hard to get the Evangelion down tight roads between buildings with the oversized backpack. They were doing a LOT of added damage.

"I do think we need to scale down the backpack," Satsuki sighed. She pointed to Mari's attempts to get through a crowded city, "This is just NOT working."

"How much of this is the pilot, though?" Misato noted. Not that she really thought Asuka or Mana might do better.

"I think Rei might do a bit better, but...," Satsuki shrugged.

"Fair point. I'll talk to Ritsuko... write up a short memo too," Misato added.

"Got it," Satsuki nodded. She paused, then changed the subject, "So, are you going to ask Satoko out, now?"

"Why does everyone ask me that?" Misato asked.

"Well, she took you to the wedding, so...," Satsuki teased.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Dr Iowa," Ritsuko nodded to the pretty blonde psychiatrist as they joined the line. She had been hired to work with the pilots, and so far it seemed to be going well.

"Dr Akagi," Catherine smiled wryly at her and Maya.

"We probably should drop the titles, considering," Maya Ibuki added.

"Certainly, Professor," Catherine teased.

Ritsuko snorted.

All of them were at the NERV cafeteria, grabbing some lunch. While in theory you could go out and eat in the city, the cafeteria was both convienient and had decent food at good prices. So most of the staff used it.

"I understand that, in addition to working with the pilots, you're also assisting NERV staff?" Ritsuko asked.

"Some," Catherine admitted. "I can't discuss it in detail, but there were issues left after the Instrumentality event."

"I'm not surprised. Everyone being stuffed into a group consciousness, even temporarily, was... an experience," Maya mused.

"I intend to write a paper on it, eventually," Catherine admitted.

"Not telling," Ritsuko said dryly.

"Has Misato agreed to be interviewed?" Maya asked, curious.

"No, darn it." Catherine pouted. She also wanted to talk to Ritsuko... both she and Misato had been resurrected by Instrumentality, basically. It was fascinating!

Ritsuko gave her a LOOK, clearly aware where her thoughts were going.

Catherine changed the topic, "Has Misato asked the UN rep out yet?"

"You think she should, now?" Ritsuko chuckled.

"Well, it's her turn," Catherine said with a smile.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"How are you with kids?" Misato asked as the two ate lunch in her office the next day.

(They had had a short meeting first, mostly consisting of reading and signing UN related paperwork. For a world supposedly run by computers like the Magi, there was still piles of paperwork to go through.)

"Pardon?" Satoko asked mildly.

"I'm kind of responsible for Asuka and Rei." Misato said a bit sheepishly, "If we get... serious, we kind of come as a package deal."

"Aww," Satoko smiled. "It's not kids, though. It's teenagers."

"Ha. Point." Misato conceded. "Though other than Mari, the pilots haven't really acted out much. Yet."

"Yet," Satoko reminded her. She added, "Admittedly, I haven't interracted with them much, but they seem nice."

"Maybe we can do that later," Misato fiddled with her cup. "Would you like to go out for drinks, or something?"

Satoko grinned, "I'd like that."

"And some dancing," Misato added. "There's a nice, ladies only place in town. Casual, not too fancy but nice..."

A soft chime came from Satoko's watch. "Damn it," she sighed, "I've got a conference call."

"Fight on!" Misato cheered as she cleared the litter off her desk. "How about I pick you up at seven?" she suggested.

"I'll look forward to it," Satoko said as she hurried out.

Misato smiled as she sat back.

"The school called. Mari's in shit again," Kaede stuck her head in the door to tell her.

"Oh just lovely...," Misato sighed and got ready to return the call.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"We'll be FINE," Asuka said as dinner cooked.

"Agreed. In fact, you can stay out the whole night," Rei suggested mildly.

"Rei!" Misato blushed a bit.

Mari and Mana would be dropping in later for dinner. They shared a apartment in the same building, hopefully with Mana serving as a 'voice of reason' for Mari.

"We both know you're on a quest to get laid," Asuka teased.

Misato scowled at her. "I'll have my phone with me, call if anything comes up," she added.

"We will be fine," Rei reassured her this time.

Misato waved goodbye, heading out into the hallway, then downstairs. She was dressed in slacks, a white blouse and a black jacket, this time. She got her car out, then drove across town to Satoko's business hotel.

'We really should get her into NERV housing,' Misato mused as she used the intercom to buzz her suite, 'though I suppose the UN can afford this...'

"Be right there," Satoko answered, then in a few moments came down, dressed in a slinky skirt and blouse combo.

"We're reversed from last time," Misato noted, amused.

"Nothing wrong with that," Satoko agreed as they got into Misato's car. "No unexpected problems at work?" she asked.

"Thank god no," Misato smiled. "I'm actually getting used to not constantly living in dread..." she admitted wryly.

They ended up by Tokyo-3 industrial area, and parked near a former warehouse. A expensive neon sign blinked, reading 'Arisugawa's Locket.'

To be continued...

Notes: It kinda amuses me that probably almost everyone at NERV is at least a Doctorate, if not higher education. Other than maybe Misato.

I havem\t really touched on the fact the pilots are TEENS. They're going to rebel at some point, I just need to decide how.

YES, the required Arisugawa's Locket crossover is here...