Rebuild of Third Genesis
Chapter 33
Catherine Iowa smiled sweetly, the gorgeous blonde noting, "I understand you're not in touch with your relatives?"
Asuka looked sullen. She did NOT like attending these sessions, even though she grudgingly admitted they helped a bit.
"I understand your father remarried," Catherine tried.
"Yes, to the psychiatrist tending Mother," Asuka said flatly. "I don't know if the affair caused Mother's suicide, but it certainly didn't help."
Catherine had, of course, read her file and knew what had happened, but it was never pleasant to hear. "I hope that won't bias you against my profession," she noted.
"No, you seem a stand up individual," Asuka waved that off. "And it's not like I have a boyfriend or girlfriend for you to sleep with."
'Interesting. She considers herself bisexual?' Catherine mentally noted.
"And my guardian Misato is taken," Asuka added.
Catherine snorted.
"So you've not been in contact with your relations?" Catherine asked after a moment.
Well, my cousin Gretchen is a bit of a asshole, but I like her," Asuka admitted. "It helps that she loathes dear Daddy."
"... With your poor relationship with him, aren't you concerned he has legal authority over you?" Catherine had to ask.
"I went to court and became a emancipated minor, back before I became a pilot," Asuka noted calmly.
"Ah," Catherine blinked, noting that wasn't in her files.
"So, you're not advocating I get back in touch with them for a big family bonding thing?" Asuka asked dryly.
Catherine continued calmly, "Only if you're comfortable with it and/or it would provide you some closure."
"Yeah, no," Asuka shook her head.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Martial arts?" Maya Ibuki noted as they had a semi-regular staff meeting.
"I actually have been meaning to get that going," Misato admitted.
"Asuka has some training," Ritsuko noted. "As part of her 'I am going to be the BEST, damn it' thing she had going."
"What's the reasoning behind that?" Satoko asked curiously.
"Some of it, obviously, would apply to the Evangelions," Satsuki Ooi noted, "they have in the past had to engage Angels hand to hand."
"Hmm," Satoko nodded.
"The other being pilot self defence. Their identities are public after all," Satsuki added. "If they get seperate from security and something happens, we want them able to defend themselves."
Satoko nodded, "Good point." She looked at Misato curiously.
"Agreed," Misato nodded, "I'm trying to secure a trainer, actually. Ideally one who won't run to the press, of course."
More than one staffer had sold their stories in the months since impact. Most hurtful had been the expose by Shigeru Aoba, former bridge bunny. The info he gave wasn't THAT damaging, but his hatred and resentment had been obvious.
Changing the subject Ritsuko noted, "The long range power pack redesign is going well. We should have a prototype by next week."
"Asuka can test pilot it," Maya noted, "though we need some kind of long range test."
"Long nature hike?" Misato joked.
"Group camp out," Satoko joked.
"That's actually not the worst idea," Ritsuko added, "though... I really don't camp."
"I can just imagine this going hugely wrong," Maya muttered.
"Ha," Misato snickered. She looked over at Satoko and asked, "Any news from our masters at the United Nations?"
"There are rumblings about countries looking into reviving Jet Alone," Satoko noted, "but nothing solid yet."
"Why Jet Alone?" Satsuki Ooi asked, blinking.
"Well, if they can work the bugs out, it would be easier to build than Evangelion," Maya pointed out.
"Those are some really big bugs though," Misato noted, having helped stop the first Jet Alone when it went out of control.
Ritsuko fought back a twinge of guilt, remembering she had sabotaged Jet Alone...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Actually finding a martial arts instructor was a bitch. Ranma Saetome was highly recommended, but had a long arrest record. As did several other possibilities. They narrowed it down to a few candidates, did some interviews...
"Thank you for considering me," the very tall, black haired woman smiled warmly.
"You're Sumika Murasame, correct?" Misato checked.
"Yes," Sumika smiled, "it's nice to meet you."
Sumika was dressed in casual slacks and a simple white blouse, with her long black hair tied back in a pony tail. They were about the same age, but Sumika looked a little younger, mostly from the old fashioned square glasses.
"You're very qualified, from what I understand," Misato gestured to the resume on the desk, "Fifth dan Black Belt?"
"That's correct," Sumika nodded. "I could probably test for Sixth at this point, but I sort of feel that would just be for my ego."
"I see," Misato nodded. She continued, "You'll mostly be training several teenaged girls. Would that be an issue?"
"Oh, no," Sumika shook her head, "I specialize in woman's self defence classes. I want to make sure my students can protect themselves, and others."
"Good, good," Misato skimmed, "and one of your students is a international champion?"
Sumika laughed and said, "Yes, Lotte. Though that has more to do with her innate skill than my training."
"You shouldn't downplay your skills," Misato noted. She had a good feeling about Sumika, and her background checked out. "If you want the job, it's yours," she decided.
"Thank you, Ms," Sumika smiled, shaking her hand.
"Any issues, before we start?" Misato checked.
"Would it be a issue if my wife stops in at times?" Sumika checked.
"Not at all," Misato reassured her.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"OH GOD KILL ME NOW," Mana groaned.
Mari grinned as they used the group shower. "You didn't HAVE to sign up for self defense classes with Murasame-sensei," she said.
"I'm technically a back-up pilot," Mana winced, "I need to keep up, at least."
Asuka was mostly unbothered, as was Rei.
"You okay?" Asuka asked, noting that Rei had been thrown once or twice.
"That was interesting, actually," Rei noted mildly.
"I hate you all," Mana sighed as they went out to the lockers and got dressed.
"Oh my god, that's Sumika Murasame-sama!" Nozomi Asari squealed, the staffer having tagged along to supervise.
"She's important?" Mari had to ask.
Nozomi looked at her in horror, "She went to the Karate WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS representing Japan. Several times!"
"Huh. Did she win?" Asuka asked curiously.
Nozomi looked at them indignantly, "Of course. TWICE."
"Okay, okay," Mari chuckled. She added, "I guess NERV got lucky getting her."
Changed, the visibly tired group headed out. "You guys want to eat over?" Asuka asked Mari and Mana curiously.
"I think we'll eat out this time," Mari mused.
"Just not that awful fake Mexican again," Mana visibly shuddered.
"Who would go to a Mexican place in Japan?" Asuka had to ask.
"This idiot," Mana pointed at Mari.
Rei noted, "I'm certain that can't be healthy."
"Take out isn't supposed to be healthy," Mari said, grinning.
To be continued...
Notes: Asuka (canonly) is at least heavily estranged from her father, if not actually totally seperated. Her legally being Emancipated is something I made up, though.
I wonder if Instrumentality left Misato with the knowledge that Ritsuko screwed with Jet Alone and nearly nuked Tokyo? I need to decide if I want that to come up. Huh.
YES, Ranma from Ranma 1/2. There are a few pretty good Ranma/Evangelion crossovers, but in a 'semi-realistic' fic, I can't see Ranma getting approved to work for NERV.
Sumika Murasame is from the yuri manga Sasameki Koto/Whispered Words.
