A/N: Hello to all I am back with chapter seventeen of "Neon Genesis Striker". Luckily for you, I've adjusted my schedule and added chapters twenty-one through twenty-four to be finished by the end of the summer. Anyway, on with the story.
Thanks to my pre-reader Makuhari-fan01
Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion or Strike Witches
In a dark meeting room, Major Sakamoto stood under a solo light above her head. The incident with the last Angel had caused SEELE to become concerned, but since Sakamoto wouldn't allow them to interrogate Yoshika she stood there instead.
"Major Mio Sakamoto, do you still refuse to let us interrogate the Third Child?" asked Chairman Maloney whose disembodied voice rang out.
"Yes. Sergeant Miyafuji does not need anymore trauma after what she has been through." answered Sakamoto standing firm.
"Very well but as her proxy you will be answering in her place." said the Liberion member not please but with no alternative.
"I understand." said Sakamoto.
"Then please give us your account of what happened." said the Gallian member.
"Only Sergeant Miyafuji knows the details." replied Sakamoto, "She has refused to get detailed information and I haven't pressured her."
"You're allowing here to withhold vital information so as not to upset her. How weak." spat the Orussian member.
"I see it as not trying to demoralize a solider." said Sakamoto keeping calm.
"It seems as if the Angel was trying to make contact with her. It did try to take Unit-01 into it's self." noted the Karlsländ member.
"We can neither confirm nor deny that." replied Sakamoto.
"Is it possible that the Angel was setting the pattern for it's successors?" asked the Orussian member.
"To date the Angels have been showing no coordination with each other." answered Sakamoto.
"That is true. The Angels have been acting independently so far." noted the Gallian member.
"Since you refuse to question or relinquish the Third Girl you are dismissed." said Chairman Maloney.
"Yes sir." replied Sakamoto who then left as Maloney turned his attention to the persons across from his hologram, "What do you think Minna?"
"It is uncertain if the Angel was trying to make contact but we cannot befriend them. We must destroy the Angels to complete Instrumentality." answered Minna in her pose.
"Agreed." replied Chairman Maloney.
At Tokyo-3 General Hospital a trio of nurses were preforming their daily routines when the elevator stopped on the floor they were on and out of it stepped a small blonde girl with a bouquet of flowers in her right hand.
"Who's that?" asked the first nurse as Hartmann began walking down the hall.
"That's Erica Hartmann, the sister of the girl from the first Striker incident, Ursula Hartmann. The one in a coma." answered the second nurse whispering so the blonde couldn't hear them.
"Has she been here everyday?" asked the third nurse.
"She has. There hasn't been a day when that girl doesn't visit her sister." answered the second nurse.
"What a great sister she is to take care of her injured sister." said the first nurse.
"They're aren't enough people like that in world anymore." added the third nurse as Hartmann reached her sister's room and entered.
"Hello Ursula." said Erica entering the room slowly before placing the flowers by her sister's side and sitting in a chair next to her sister.
At NERV, Minna met Sanya after returning from her meeting. With Sanya behind Minna, the two of them went inside.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" asked Minna trying to make some small talk.
"I am with Dr. Clostermann tomorrow all day then school the day after." answered Sanya.
"Good. How is school?" asked Minna.
"I am doing well." answered Sanya.
"Glad to hear that." replied Minna.
The next morning it was off to school for all three pilots. The three girls arrived and met their friends and soon class begun.
"Hey, where's Lucchini?" asked Yoshika
"Her dad got the day off from work. So he's talking on a vacation to Hiroshima." answered Hartmann.
"Miss Hartmann, I am entrusting you to bring the school bulletin to Miss Litvyak. She was supposed have class duties with you but since she's not here I simply ask this of you." said their teacher.
"I will sir." replied Hartmann and with that the day begun going by quickly until lunch.
"My favorite time of the day." smiled Hartmann pulling out her lunch box which had her favorite meal: beer battered bratwurst and sauerkraut but before she could begin a loud cry ripped through the classroom.
"What do you mean you forgot to pack our lunches!" cried Hanna as she slammed her hand down on the desk of Yoshika.
"I was busy this morning so I forgot." answered Yoshika nervously.
"The newlyweds are fighting again." said Hartmann smiling which caused the whole class to burst out laughing and the two witches to become red faced.
"No we aren't!" cried out the two girls together which only caused them more embarrassment.
At NERV panic had overtaken everyone in the headquarters. In the dark briefing room Perrine stood in front of a large screen with the three technicians by her side when they person they were waiting for, Sakamoto, burst in.
"Please tell me this is a joke." said Sakamoto who could only pray that was the case.
"I'm afraid not. The entire Second Base is gone." replied Perrine who then pushed a button and played satellite footage on the screen of a large red dot engulfing the entire Second Base before exploding into a bright light and leaving only a massive creator in the Nevada desert.
"Any idea what caused this?" asked Sakamoto.
"Our records show that the event occurred at the same time the experimental program containing data from the Core of the Fourth Angel was being downloaded." answered Nishiki.
"It seems like that the base was swallowed into a Dirac Sea like Yoshika during the last battle." said Perrine.
"This was the Second Generation Striker correct?" asked Amaki.
"Indeed." answered Perrine.
"When were those designed?" asked Sakamoto annoyed.
"A short time ago." answered Perrine, "They're an improvement over the earlier models because they cover the whole body for protection and thanks to the computer operated starting system the propellers are not needed."
"That's great." said Sakamoto with a forced smile, "Another thing I'm being kept in the dark about."
"Ma'am, the Magi has come up with a total of 32, 768 possibilities of what happened." said Lynne.
"Not including sabotage." replied Sakamoto, "We shouldn't be using things we don't understand."
"Like the Strikers." muttered Perrine and at this point she dismissed the meeting heading off with Sakamoto next to her.
"I can't believe the Second Base is gone." sighed Sakamoto still completely stunned by the event as the two headed down an escalator.
"It is and now the Liberion government is sending over Second Generation Unit-03 from Boston." replied Perrine.
"I can understand not wanting to lose the First Base especially since it's so close to a major city." said Sakamoto, "I'm guessing Major Armstrong has signed off."
"He has and Unit-03 should be here by the weekend." replied Perrine.
"Are you going to use the Dummy Plug?" asked Sakamoto.
"It's possible." answered Perrine after a minute of hesitation which didn't go unnoticed from Sakamoto but the woman decided to keep mum for now.
"I've got paperwork to do. I'll catch you later." said Sakamoto as they two stepped off the escalator and parted. As her companion walked away, Perrine heading to the office of Minna. Once there, stood across from the Commander and pulled a microchip out of her right pocket.
"This is the Dummy Plug for Unit-00." said Perrine placing the chip on the desk of Minna who picked up said chip.
"It has the information needed then." said Minna staring at the chip between her right middle and index fingers.
"Yes ma'am." ordered Perrine, "All three Dummy Plug systems all of the needed information about their pilots.
"Good. Then download it into Unit-01 and Unit-02." ordered Minna.
"But ma'am with all do respect it's not ready. We still have bugs to work out." replied Perrine.
"I have given you an order and you will carry it out." said Minna putting the microchip back on the table and sliding it back towards Perrine as she stood up, "I Sanya is home?"
"No, she's still in Terminal Dogma. I was preforming her tests when the Unit-04 incident took me away." answered Perrine.
"Let me make this as clear as possible, under no circumstance are you to leave Sanya. She's is the most important person at NERV." replied Minna seething with anger.
"I understand." replied Perrine.
"Make it so." said Minna calming down who then walked by Perrine and out of the room, "I'll be taking Sanya to diner if you need me."
"Understood." said Perrine shooting Minna a cold glare behind her back then turning and leaving. The Gallian headed back to her office where she began the paperwork needed to download the Dummy Plug into two of the Strikers as well as the paperwork for Unit-03. A few hours later Perrine still had much to go.
"Hey Perrine." said Sakamoto entering the office and heading over to her friend.
"Hello Sakamoto." replied Perrine, "The Dummy Plug as gotten the green light and everything for Unit-03 was cleared."
"I see. So then the Dummy Plug will be used for the activation test on Unit-03." replied Sakamoto.
"Not necessarily." said Perrine trying to avoid eye contact.
"What does that mean?" asked Sakamoto causing Perrine to sigh, remove her glasses and rub the bridge of her nose.
"The Marduk Institute has found the Fourth Girl." answered Perrine putting her glasses back on and pulling up a picture of the newbie on her computer.
"Oh God." said Sakamoto seeing the girl on the screen, "What does it have to be here?"
"Are you worried how the girls will react?" asked Perrine.
"Sanya should have no problem and Hanna is a professional. It's Yoshika that I'm worried about." answered Sakamoto, "She's been through so much I hate to put her through anymore."
"Well she's going to have to find out." said Perrine shrugging her shoulders.
"I'll tell her after the activation test. I just need to let her know easily." said Sakamoto.
"Good luck." said Perrine.
At Tokyo-3 Middle School classes had let out and kids were heading home. Hartmann had begun packing up her things when she was approached.
"Don't forget you have to deliver the school bulletin to Miss Litvyak." said Barkhorn handing the bulletin to the blonde.
"Okay but I don't know where she lives." replied Hartmann taking the bulletin.
"I can take you there." said Barkhorn but the blonde hadn't heard her.
"Hey Yoshika, you know where Sanya lives right?" asked Hartmann.
"Yeah." answered Yoshika who looked up as she finished packing her belongings.
"I have to drop of the class bulletin but I don't know where she lives." said Hartmann rubbing the back of her neck.
"I show you." replied Yoshika who then left with Hartmann and neither of them saw the look of disappointment on the face of Barkhorn.
After leaving school the two girls began their walk and were soon at the apartment of Sanya V. Litvyak. The peace that sat over the rest of Tokyo-3 was banished from this portion of the city by the constant construction that again was under way.
"Sanya. Sanya, it's Yoshika." said Miyafuji ringing the doorbell.
"I don't think she can hear you." said Hartmann who had to talk over the sound of a jackhammer as Yoshika recalled during her last visit the door was unlocked.
"Let's go." said Yoshika opening the apartment door and entering with Hartmann behind her.
"You realize this is breaking and entering." said Hartmann removing her shoes.
"It's just us and besides Sanya would be okay." replied Yoshika taking her shoes off then walking to the bedroom of her comrade.
"Fine but if the cops come you're on you're own." laughed Hartmann following Yoshika to the bedroom which was still barren and with trash on the floor, "Still better than my room."
"It was like this last time I was here." stated Yoshika pleased and upset the shower wasn't no like last time. The Fuso witch then decided to starting cleaning while Hartmann threw the bullet on the nearby bed.
"You know some of that might be important." said Hartmann plopping down in a nearby seat.
"I just hate having Sanya live like this." replied Yoshika as she kept cleaning.
"You know, you've changed since you first arrived here." said Hartmann as she watched Yoshika clean.
"How so?" asked Yoshika who continued picking trash off the floor.
"You were always so shy and reserved but now you've really come out of your shell. It's nice, you're a cool girl and I'm glad you're my friend." replied Hartmann as the apartment door opened and Sanya entered after her diner with Minna.
"Hey Sanya, I brought the school bulletin." said Hartmann pointing to the piece of paper on her bed.
"I hope you don't mind I did some cleaning." said Yoshika holding the bag.
"Thank you." replied Sanya totally caught off guard.
"We better get going." said Yoshika who then left with Hartmann.
"I swear all you witches are weirdos." laughed Hartmann as Yoshika threw the trash bag into a dumpster outside while back inside Sanya laid face down on her bed.
"Thank you. Words of gratitude I have never used before." said Sanya thinking of a certain Commander, "Not even to her."
Outside of NERV, Minna and Ferrara were on a tram returning to NERV while the sunset outside. Minna had finished her meeting with Sanya while Ferrara had been doing the the remedial work Minna always dumped on her.
"The third Tokyo. A fortress built to protect man. An impenetrable hull more secure than Jericho was against the armies of Joshua but in reality it's simply a massive bomb shelter made to hide in fear. " mused Ferrara.
"But Jericho did fall." pointed out Minna.
"With any luck we can at least avoid the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah." replied Ferrara.
"I'm not worried in the least about that." replied Minna confidently, "After the Scenario has been completed we'll be living in a new Eden."
"For time the being we're just trapped in this overgrown cage." sighed Ferrara.
"The irony of discussing Biblical stories while fighting Angels."replied Minna, But while some would see a cage I see humanity evolving before our very eyes."
"Call it whatever you please, at least cowards live longer." replied Ferrara, "I wonder how the Committee are reacting to the Unit-04 incident."
"You know as well as I do that the old men are losing it right now." answered Minna.
"That's true. They're probably re-writing the Scenario as we speak." replied Ferrara laughing.
"Anything not in the Dead Sea Scrolls causes the Committee lose it. Serves the old men right." said Minna staring out the window at now orange sky.
At NERV, Lynne had been working on the Magi and decided to take a break. After leaving her station and walking to a group of vending machines, she bought a can of Earl Grey tea which she proceeded to drink.
"My, you're hair smells radiant." said Shirley startling Lynne who hadn't head the redhead coming up from behind her.
"It's the new Herbal Essence." said Lynne after nearly jumping out of her shoes.
"It does smell very good." replied Shirley who made her way to a nearby Coca-Cola machine and bought a can of regular Coke then proceeded to pop the tab and take a swig, "Isn't Unit-03 coming in a few days?"
"It is. We've gotten the paperwork complete and it's been coming soon." answered Lynne.
"MIT did a lot of good work on it." said Shirley taking another drink, "Being from Boston my old man worked at the First Branch when it opened and he took me to work a few times so I got to know a lot of the people. I couldn't think of what I would do if the same thing that happened in Nevada happened there."
"I could only imagine." said Lynne nodding her head.
"But hey since it is coming we should celebrate." replied Shirley getting more in her usual festive mood.
"Actually nothing special is planned at all." replied Lynne while Shirley finished her Coke.
"Oh God. NERV has to be the most stifling place I've ever seen." sighed Shirley throwing her can into the recycling and approaching Lynne.
"Well that's just the rules I guess." replied Lynne getting uncomfortable as Shirley got closer.
"Then we could celebrate. I've always wanted to see what's under that sweater." replied Shirley softly as she grabbed Lynne's chin before slapping her on the shoulder, "You know I'm just screwing with you."
"Maybe you should try to be more productive around here." said Sakamoto interrupting the two and allowing Lynne to quickly make off for her station.
"I do plenty around here and you know that." replied Shirley as Sakamoto bought a can of green tea and began drinking it, "Sakamoto, I heard rumor the Fourth Girl has been found."
"She has indeed." replied Sakamoto after gently sipping her tea.
"Did you get a report from the Marduk Institute?" asked Shirley.
"Perrine told me." answered Sakamoto as Shirley leaned in close to her.
"That's because the Marduk Institute doesn't exist. It's just a front, NERV pulls the strings." whispered Shirley.
"I should have know." said Sakamoto tightly gripping her can, "Anything else?"
"NERV has been manipulating the classroom attendance at Tokyo-3 Middle School. Everyone in Class 2-A are potential witches." answered Shirley.
"Dammit." snapped Sakamoto as quietly as possible while crushing her can with her fist.
"This conspiracy goes deep. Minna, Ferrara and the Committee are in on it. I suspect Perrine likely is as well." said the redhead.
"So much for a friend." spat Sakamoto who saw Yoshika approaching, "Go find some other girl to grope!"
"Hello ma'am." said Yoshika bowing as Sakamoto stormed off past her.
"Synch tests will be shortly." replied Sakamoto as she walked by Yoshika
"She's a good actress." mused Shirley to herself as she walked the "irate" Sakamoto storm off.
"What happened?" asked Yoshika.
"Adult stuff." answered Shirley waving the question off, "It's so nice out let's continue this outside shale we?"
"Okay." answered Yoshika.
"Follow me." replies Yeager who led Yoshika to outside NERV.
"Do you like cantaloupe?" asked Shirley as they exited the Geofront.
"I've never tried it." answered Yoshika confused.
"I had some for lunch but I packed too much. I'll give it to you after the test." replied Shirley adding, "What can I say, I can't get enough melons."
"Yeah." said Yoshika looking at Shirley's bust.
"Let's have a seat." said Shirley and the two headed over to a nearby bench where they sat down, "So, how's life?"
"Things are real screwed up lately." answered Yoshika totally honest.
"Yeah, work's been nuts for me too." replied Shirley, "Life really gets like that a lot."
"I just feel so overwhelmed. I just feels like there's no escape." said Yoshika sighing.
"You need a distraction. Just something to help you escape the daily grind. I'm an armature race car driver myself." said Shirley.
"That sounds cool." said Yoshika imaging how fast she must have gone.
"I dreamed of racing the Dayton 500 as a little girl but found work at NERV instead. Second Impact really screwed this planet up." said the redhead, "While in Karlsländ I loved driving at full speed down the Autobahn and since coming to Fuso with Hanna I still hit the road as fast as possible thanks to my baby."
"You're a mom?" asked Yoshika surprised.
"No. I mean my red Corvette." answered Shirley laughing, "The point is you need to find something you like to help forget about the day."
"I do that with my S-DAT." replied Yoshika.
"The keep it up and always stay positive. Life can be a bitch you just need to brush it off and keep going." replied Shirley who then got a phone call which lasted for thirty seconds, "That was Sakamoto. Time for your synch test."
"Okay and thank you Shirley." said Yoshika standing up and bowing.
"Don't mention it." replied the redhead who put Yoshika is a headlock before letting her go.
"Sanya and Hanna re remaining steady but the rate for Yoshika is falling." said Perrine as she, Sakamoto and the three technicians observed the girls undergoing their synch test.
"You think is has to do with what happened during the last battle?" asked Sakamoto.
"I'm sure of it." answered Perrine.
"So, have you decided what you're going to use for the activation test of Unit-03?" asked Sakamoto unsure if she wanted to hear the answer.
"We're using the Fourth Girl. She will be informed tomorrow." answered Perrine.
The next day began as usual with the girls going to school and everything normal. Then it was time for lunch.
"Lunch, my favorite time of the day." said Hartmann rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
("Erica Hartmann to the principal's office. Erica Hartmann please report to the principal's office immediately.") came the voice of the principal's secretary over the loud speaker.
"What's going on?" asked Lucchini back at school today.
"I'm not sure." answered Hartmann shrugging her shoulders before leaving the classroom and heading to the principal's office.
"I'm Erica Hartmann." said the blonde entering only to see another blonde in the principal's desk.
"Hello Miss. Hartmann. Please have a seat." said the other woman, "You might remember me, my name is Dr. Perrine H. Clostermann."
Outside Lucchini and Yoshika had found a seat and begun eating without there friend.
"I wonder what's up with Erica." said Lucchini in between bites of food.
"I'm not sure." replied Yoshika, "How was Hiroshima?"
"It was awesome!" cried out Lucchini,"We saw the whole city ate great food, went to a bathing house and I saw so many boobs! Oh, we went to Hiroshima Castle and I tried to climb out the window and scale it from the outside but dad stopped me."
"Glad you had fun." replied Yoshika taking a bite out of her sandwich.
"Did you hear the news?" asked Lucchini.
"No." answered Yoshika confused.
"Unit-03 is coming to Fuso." said Lucchini, "I guess Unit-04 vanished or something in Nevada and now Unit-03 is being sent here."
"Where did you hear this?" asked Yoshika surprised by the news.
"My dad was talking to someone on the phone in Hiroshima but some lady with a big bust was next to us so I wasn't paying attention." confessed Lucchini.
"I wonder who'll pilot it." said Yoshika.
"I heard dad mention something about the Fourth Girl." said Lucchini.
"Really. I hadn't heard anything about that." replied Yoshika who finished her meal just as lunch ended and returned to class with one noticeable exception.
"Sorry I'm late." said Hartmann coming into class ten minutes late but with something clearly troubling her.
"It's alright Miss Hartmann I've fully aware of the situation." replied the teacher and class resumed as Hartmann sat down and simply put her head on her desk.
After school the kids headed home except for a few. Barkhorn had a student council meeting after which she headed home but as she walked by her own classroom she saw the door open.
"Hartmann?" asked Barkhorn finding the blond girl sitting at her desk drinking a carton of milk.
"Hey Trude. I'm just finishing my lunch." said the blonde girl.
"Do you always buy food from the cafeteria?" asked Barkhorn.
"Dad, grandpa and I can't cook so Ursula did all the cooking until she was hospitalized." answered Hartmann with sadness clear in her voice.
"It's the same at my house: Dad's always busy, Chris is to young to cook and Elsa's idea of "food" is always instant meals so I do most of the cooking at home." said Barkhorn, "The thing is we often had lots of left-overs..."
"I'll help you. Just bring me the food and I'll eat it." replied Hartmann.
"Thank you very much." said Barkhorn who raced home invigorated.
At NERV, Hanna marched down the hallways with a purpose. Within moments she found herself outside Shirley's office.
"Shirley!" called out Hanna busting into the office to find the redhead at her computer.
"Hello Hanna, look I'm very busy right now so please come back later." replied the redhead not even looking at Hanna who would not be deterred.
"Come on!" cried out Hanna throwing her arms around Shirley's neck.
"Dammit Hanna." said Yeager getting irritated.
"Are these are test scores?" asked Hanna looking at the screen and discovering who the Fourth Girl was, "Oh God not her! Who the Hell made her a pilot?"
"Oh brother." sighed Shirley.
After making a quick stop at the store, Barkhorn returned home to her empty home. With her father working late, Chris playing with a friend and Elsa at class she was alone. Taking advantage of this Barkhorn opened the items she had bought and began cooking the meal for tomorrow. As she worked on the food the door opened and her sisters entered.
"Hi Trude." called out Chris running right over to her sister, "What are you making?"
"Just a meal of tomorrow." answered Barkhorn.
"For Hartmann you mean." said Elsa smelling the food from the door.
"No. It's just for us." replied Barkhorn quickly.
"Trude, that's beer-battered bratwurst and sauerkraut and everybody knows that's the favorite meal of Erica Hartmann." said Elsa crossing her arms as she approached her sister, "If I didn't know better I'd say you were cooking this for her."
"Luckily you know better." said Trude.
"Trude, are you in love with Erica?" asked Elsa point blank.
"Don't be crazy." answered Trude.
"You know we'd all accept you as a lesbian, bisexual or whatever. If you love her then you can say it." replied Elsa knowing better than to believe Trude.
"She offered to help finish off the leftover we have so I decided to start with a dish she likes." said Trude being honest though still hiding her true intentions.
"Keep telling us whatever you like but if you do like Erica then I hope you can tell her how you feel. Don't let anything; family, cultural views, stigma, get in they way of you being happy." said Elsa who then led Chris to the bathroom to wash her hands.
"I love my family." said Barkhorn softly to herself when she was sure she was alone.
Outside the Tokyo-3 Middle School Erica Hartmann, who had been a life long Hanover 96 fan, was on the glass field in front of the soccer net taking kicks but missing every time.
"Ursula, tomorrow you'll be transferred to NERV after my activation test and the doctors there will help you." said Erica who then took a deep breath and sent the ball into the net. If only Hartmann knew what was to come.
A/N: So there's chapter seventeen and you'll notice I made a few changes specifically moving around scenes; having Hartmann shot soccer balls instead of a basketball, Shirley not growing watermelons and adding the part with the other Barkhorn siblings who will reappear. I did these to try and add my own flavor to the story and I hope you like them. I know Chuck Yeager is from Texas but it's my story so I can have Shirley come from whatever hometown I please and the same with Hartmann coming from Hanover, Germany. Next time, the activation test which does not go as planned. Please review!