Chapter 11: Journey to the East

Of course, as much as things have changed, which I'm markedly grateful for, there are some things that must come to pass, regardless of the Echo. The journey may have looked different, but I was always going to go with Asuka and Ryoji to Japan. Unit-02 was never going to stay in Germany, where the threat was not present. Asuka would have seen to that, anyway.

And, like any good journey, we all met, face to face, some new faces along the way. And, sometimes, some familiar ones as well…

- Where I've Been, 40th Entry

Somewhere on the Trans-Siberian Railway, May 18th, 2015

Daniel closed his eyes for a moment, listening to the muted rumble of the mighty locomotive as the rhythmic click and clatter of the tracks gave a subtle, but unmistakable sign of their journey across the vast, rather severe dry green and beige landscape of a Northern Asia coming into summer.

'It's not Russia here,' he reminded himself. 'After all, after something like Second Impact, it's not a shock some powers fell apart in the process.'

"Engaging in a little meditation?"

Daniel cracked an eye open, looking across from him to the couch where Asuka lounged, a handheld console forgotten for the moment as she regarded him rather drolly. The car that they sat in was a remarkably spacious sort, as close to a traveling apartment as one could get, with three small bedrooms and a bathroom accompanied by a decently sized common area. Even with that, he, Asuka, and Ryoji shared the car, and the technical and engineering teams got common-room cars to make up for their tighter quarters.

Daniel smiled slightly. "Just a little. Looking at technical readouts, even for something as cool as what these represent, gets a little tedious after a while."

Asuka sat up and set her console aside to walk over to Daniel, peering down at the tablet to see the schematics in question. "The Over the Rainbow?" she said as Ryoji emerged from his room, pocketing his phone. "That's the UN Task Fleet's flagship, right?"

"An Iris-class Supercarrier," Daniel said, tapping through a few images to better show Asuka the double-decked, catamaran-hulled aircraft carrier. "The first in the world, and the largest military naval vessel… ever, I believe. A 650-meter length and a 120-meter beam make it one hell of a presence, at least. I'm willing to bet that most of the materials I'm looking at that even made this thing possible are going to be classified well into your middle age. If they ever get declassified at all."

Asuka whistled softly. "That is impressive. Maybe not as impressive as Unit-02, but pretty close."

"And they aren't even using any AT Fields," Daniel continued. "Which is going to make transporting Unit-02 on it quite a sight."

Asuka frowned, Ryoji following her lead as he moved Asuka's console aside to sit on the couch. "Wouldn't it make more sense to have it go on a cargo barge?" Asuka wondered aloud. "Not that Unit-02 fully deserves such a mundane mode of transportation, but… where would we put it?"

"Likely right on the flight deck," Ryoji said. "Last I saw, there wasn't any record of a cargo ship coming along. Besides, it's only going to be a few days from Magdan to New Yokosuka."

Asuka nodded. "Makes sense, I guess."

With that, she turned to the couch, grabbing her console and a nearby notebook on an end table, opening it and beginning to write within with a mechanical pencil.

"Finalizing your plans for Shinji's training?" Daniel said with a slight smile.

"This is for the First Child too," Asuka said pointedly. "Ayanami or something like that. I've seen her combat deployments, and I can't say that I'm very impressed. I haven't really seen or heard from her, but she can only be helped by a little more strict training, I'm sure."

"Planning to take the lead, Asuka?" Ryoji asked.

"Someone has to," Asuka replied with a roll of her eyes. "I'm the one with the most training so far, even if I'm lagging behind on combat experience. If nothing else, I'm going to make sure they have a drill sergeant. Though for someone who's on track to be one of the best pilots in the world, that's only a stepping stone."

Daniel nodded. "I see," he said with a slight smile. "If you're looking to start a journey into leadership…"

He set the tablet aside and stood, going into his rather cramped room to search for a gift that he'd managed to snag before they'd left for their first destination back in Kyiv. After a moment, he found the gift in question, walking back out into the common area to a curious Asuka and Ryoji.

"Here," he said, handing the rather slim book to Asuka. "I got this for you when I figured you wanted to try leading out among your fellow pilots."

Asuka's brow furled slightly. "The Tao Te Ching? I covered a few sections of this in my philosophy classes."

Daniel nodded. "My favorite translation as well, Feng and English. I learned more than a little wisdom concerning leadership from that book. My recommendation on if you want to be a leader? Study up. It's a lot more complicated than you might think."

Asuka's brow arched slightly, but she nodded slowly after a moment. "Alright. I'll give it a shot at the least."

Daniel nodded. "You'll crack it, I'm sure. You've got the mind for it."

"And the time," Asuka said with a quiet sigh. "We've got, what, a week 'til we reach Magdan?"

Daniel settled back into his seat. "'Tis so, I'm afraid. For now, we sit back and enjoy the ride."

. . .

Indeed, a week passed largely without complaint, the once-frigid north of Asia now playing host to waves of grain, far-stretching orchards, and sprawling vineyards. Where Magadan had been a quiet, largely out-of-the-way port in days past, it was now a sprawling city, gateway and guardian to the North Asian breadbasket that fed it, and thus fed the world.

Even with its sprawling, busy docks, the UN Task Fleet still seemed ready to take up the whole of them should it decide to fully, the large, massed fleet drawing no small amount of attention. Foremost among its company was the Over the Rainbow, the most recognizable ship even among the storied vessels it held command over, holding within it a sense of regality and remarkable strength, like a palace and fortress of old.

It was to this almost literal floating fortress that a flight of helicopters made their way, four of them carrying a massive shipping container while a fifth trailed behind, its passengers watching as the crate came to a stop over the flight deck, slowly setting it down in the center of the ship.

"Pretty damn impressive," Ryoji said as their helicopter, having circled as the rather precious cargo was deposited, began to come in for a landing. "They've even still got some space to get to the launch catapults on this deck. It's just so… big."

"It takes seeing it to believe it, sometimes," Daniel said as they touched down.

He glanced out the window as two figures approached the helicopter. "I'll take the lead here, rank being what it is and all."

With that, the door of the helicopter slid open, Daniel leading the way as the trio stepped onto the tarmac. The two groups paused, and Daniel came to attention, saluting sharply. "Permission to come aboard?"

The two gentlemen, the older of which smiled slightly, saluted back. "Permission granted. Welcome aboard the Over the Rainbow," he said, extending a hand that Daniel shook. "I'm Vice Admiral Bollinger, commander of the Task Fleet, and this is Captain Boswell, the flag captain of the vessel."

Daniel nodded. "Thank you for having us aboard, Admiral. And thank you for your patience in being what essentially boils down to a delivery service."

Bollinger nodded. "Well, it's not for any great length of time, anyway. Besides, some of the old Soviet and Russian-built ships have the chance to dock in what used to be their old motherland."

Bollinger turned towards the command tower. "Come with me, and I'll take you to your quarters over here by Rotors. Captain Boswell has other duties to attend to."

As the trio followed behind, Daniel glanced at the suitcase in Ryoji's hand. It was still rather plain, but the near-white knuckle grip he had on the handle was almost more telling than being handcuffed to it.

They descended into the ship proper, several reinforced windows giving them a view into the brightly lit second flight deck beneath the one above, several fighters of different nations, Eagles, Falcons, MiGs, and Sukhois mingling together.

Bollinger led them to a door, opening it to a rather large and comfortably furnished room for a military vessel. "We usually have this room reserved for foreign dignitaries or visiting national admirals. I figure you fit the bill in at least one regard."

"Now," he said, "I have to return to my own duties. We're the UN presence at an N.A.C. defense conference. Your arrival made the mid-point nothing if not a welcome break. We'll be on our way to New Yokosuka at the end of the week. If you need anything, don't be afraid to contact Captain Boswell."

With that, he exited the room, leaving the three to figure out their arrangements in the room.

"I've got to say," Asuka said, "he's awfully chipper about this whole thing."

"It helps that we aren't settling in for a weeks-long cruise," Daniel replied. "That would wear tempers thin in the best of circumstances."

"Glad we aren't worrying about that, at the very least," Ryoji said, settling into a couch with a sigh. "If nothing else, we're on the home stretch now, cruising in the middle of the most advanced fleet in the world. What's the worst that could happen, really?"

Daniel remained silent, but he was well aware of what 'the worst' was going to be. And where it would be lurking.

. . .

Tokyo-3, 1 Week Later

Shinji stood on the tarmac of the landing pad, looking at the boxy transport helicopter as he adjusted his bag. A box containing a massive roll of umbilical cable was being loaded into the empty space, the largest of the many passengers that would go out to meet the United Nations Task Fleet.

He looked back to two of those passengers, Toji and Kensuke waiting around a little ways away from him.

Toji wore his usual tracksuit, a baseball cap the only notable addition, under which he peered out at the world with a rather bored expression. Kensuke, on the other hand, wore an orange shirt and khaki fishing vest alongside cargo shorts, a portion of his clearly excited expression obscured by the camera that he pointed at the loading vehicles, the transport helicopter, and Shinji himself.

"Wow!" Kensuke said excitedly. "I can't believe I'm riding on an actual Mi-55d transport chopper! Thanks so much, Shinji!"

"I mean," Shinji said hesitantly, "it's not like I'm actually doing anything here. Misato's the one who decided to invite you."

"Because we know you, man!" Kensuke replied emphatically. "And because you're awesome to know, we get the benefit of doing things like this!"

Toji rolled his eyes. "C'mon, man, could you tone it down a little? Sakura's going to go a whole week on her own! This better be worth it."

Shinji rolled his eyes slightly, then saw Misato and Captain Flynn approaching, talking together and chuckling. It looked like they heard Toji's complaint.

"It's alright, Suzuhara," Misato said. "Think about it as a… vacation date on a luxury cruise. You'll even have a cool trip to tell your little sister about."

Toji blushed slightly as he shrugged. "Well, when you put it that way…"

"No use hanging around too long here," Flynn replied with a slight smile. "We've got a big red giant robot to go and see. Along with some other wonderful machines."

Shinji nodded. "And last I heard, Daniel's there, too. That'll be nice."

Flynn nodded as Toji and Kensuke looked at her back as she passed them. "You haven't talked about her yet," Kensuke said. "Who's she?"

"Captain Flynn is the head engineer for Rei and I's Evas," Shinji explained. "She's been very helpful when it comes to keeping Rei and me alive."

"Come on, boys!" Flynn said, leaning out of the door. "Let's get some good footage on that camera!"

It was only a few moments more before they lifted into the air, the ground replaced with the glittering open sea. Shinji managed to see some slight shadows, and if he narrowed his eyes, he thought he could see the ruins of radioactive rubble, what highly radioactive buildings from Old Tokyo able to be shifted into the depths off the coast almost whole-cloth, reaching out in the water like skeletal fingers.

Soon enough, the fleet began to come into sight, a brighter glimmer resolving into a grand formation, what must have been the Over the Rainbow at its core like the centerpiece jewel in a storied necklace.

Kensuke, as Shinji had learned in recent days, couldn't help but find the sight absolutely mesmerizing. "Whoa…" he said quietly, his camera locked to the display of military power before them.

The eye not covered by the camera lens was wide. "Five carriers, four battleships, and all the escort and screening elements! And I get to see it all up close thanks to you, Shinji!"

Shinji, still somewhat unsure of how to respond to such… energy, simply nodded. "You're welcome, Kensuke," he said somewhat awkwardly.

Toji, however, rolled his eyes. "A bunch of old boats around a bigger, newer boat. I still don't get how you get excited over this."

Kensuke finally took his eyes off the fleet and looked at Toji incredulously. "Most of these 'old boats', as you decide to call them, have a list of honors longer than the school hallway! And 'a newer, bigger boat'? To say that's doing the Iris-class a disservice is almost missing the point! I mean, it's the largest-"

Shinji largely tuned out Kensuke's spirited defense of the Task Fleet, looking over at Flynn and seeing the focused, but rather distant expression on her face.

A part of him couldn't help but wonder, still. How was Daniel related to her? Had they been friends once? Something more? The idea of the seemingly perennial bachelor that he knew being connected to someone like Flynn felt… right, somehow. They were so alike. But history could overcome that.

"Whatcha thinking about, Shinji?" Misato asked, Shinji blinking from the reverie as he found Eleanor regarding him with a curious expression.

"Oh, nothing, really," Shinji managed to only stammer slightly. "I'm just… looking forward to actually meeting Asuka."

It had sounded so much more sensible in his head when it was a tactic to throw off any potential suspicions. Having said it aloud, though…

Toji and Kensuke immediately broke off their conversation, looking over at Shinji with absolute focus. "Asuka, huh?" Toji said. "And who would that happen to be?"

Shinji found himself blushing as his words seemed to go onto autopilot. "Well, she-"

And with that, his fate seemed to be sealed, a particular gleam entering the other boys' eyes.

"She?" Kensuke said. "My, my, Shinji. I didn't know you had a long-distance girlfriend!"

As Shinji found himself bombarded by Kensuke and Toji's questions, desperately trying even to speak, Misato chuckled as she looked at Eleanor. "Wonder what he was thinking about, looking at you," she said with a slight smile.

As they began to circle to find a landing zone on the Over the Rainbow not taken up by a giant, seemingly gift-wrapped box, Eleanor smiled slightly.

"I think I have a few ideas," she said quietly as the helicopter touched down, the others making their way off. Instead, she looked over at the transport container for Unit-02, and made her way towards it.

. . .

Daniel and Ryoji sat in the suite, waiting for the helicopter that was evidently bearing the NERV Tokyo-3 delegation. Shinji was, apparently, among their number.

The fact that Asuka was waiting on her feet, wearing a yellow sundress and white canvas high-tops, a rather fetching outfit, had absolutely nothing to do with that, so Asuka insisted.

Even as deep as they were in the ship, they could hear the distant whir of the helicopter starting to make its final approach, as well as the echoing announcements of the ship undergoing preparations.

"Sounds like I'm about to be up," she said with a gleam in her eyes. "Let's not keep the rookie and company waiting, shall we?"

Daniel smiled slightly. "I'll be along in a minute. I'm sure you're going to blow away poor Shinji."

Asuka rolled her eyes. "C'mon. If this is going to floor Shinji, then I'm going to be kind of disappointed. This old thing?"

With that, her expression positively glowing with anticipation, she disappeared out the door. After a few moments, Ryoji shook his head. "Poor kid isn't going to know what hit him," he chuckled.

"I should go," Daniel said as he stood, making his way to the door. "Make sure nothing gets too crazy with how introductions might go."

"I'll be along in a little bit," Ryoji replied. "I've got some things I've got to get in order before I meet and greet."

For a moment, Daniel's eyes darted to the suitcase next to Ryoji's seat on a chair, returning to Ryoji as he nodded. "Alright. I'll see you around."

With that, he made his way through the ship, following Asuka's path until he emerged into the open air, laying eyes on the transport chopper and the people that had arrived from it. Shinji and Misato were there, alongside who Daniel was sure was Toji and Kensuke. Heading toward the transport container…

Later. For now, a rather entertaining show was beginning to unfold. A gust of wind, a not-uncommon occurrence out on the high sea, swept across the deck, taking Toji's hat from his head and sending it tumbling across the tarmac. As expected, the boy went after his wayward cap, and Daniel braced himself for the impacts.

Toji finally got to his cap, finding it under a white-shod foot that lifted away. Looking up, Toji found Misato's voice calling out. "Ah, Asuka! You've grown a little taller, haven't you?"

Asuka stood proud, hands on hips as Toji stepped back and put his cap back on. "Well, thank you for noticing, Misato! I've grown in plenty of other ways as well."

Misato then spoke to the boys as Daniel watched on. "Boys, this is Asuka Soryu-Langley, Unit-02's pilot and the Second Child."

Daniel felt the change in the wind, and closed his eyes, knowing the breeze had sealed the boys' fate as it tugged on the hem of Asuka's skirt.

Two slaps cracked through the air, Daniel opening his eyes to see Toji and Kensuke's cheeks graced by scarlet palm prints. Shinji's face was red with embarrassment as he looked away, but there was no print that he rubbed in conjunction with the other boys.

"Ah!" Toji shouted. "Ow! What the hell was that for?"

"That was a viewer's fee," Asuka said pointedly. "All told, it was pretty light for voyeurs like you were."

She nodded as Misato rolled her eyes and an amused smile grew on her face, letting the scene continue to play out.

"Oh, yeah?" Toji said as he glowered at Asuka. "Well, it's an eye for an eye when it comes to a hit like that, so I'll show you…" He trailed off and began to grab the waistband of his pants.

He found his efforts stymied by Kensuke, who threw his arms around Toji. "Come on, man! Just wait a minute!" he shouted. "There isn't any need to go and make a bigger fool of yourself! Please!"

Toji struggled with a growl. "Will ya knock it off, Ken? I'm gonna show her a piece of my mind. Along with a view she'll-"

He was interrupted by yet another smack that barely missed Kensuke's head, his fading palm mark gaining a twin on the other cheek that stopped the boy in his tracks.

"And that," Asuka said as Toji let go of his pants to massage his cheek, "is for trying to shock a girl you've barely even met."

She advanced past the pair and came to a stop in front of Shinji, Daniel beginning to amble over towards them as Shinji shrank slightly under what must have been Asuka's rather intense scrutiny.

"So, we finally meet face to face, rookie," Asuka said. "I can't say I'm too impressed at the moment."

"Rookie?" Shinji managed to say after a few moments of gaping like a fish, Misato hiding a chuckle behind a hand, her eyes betraying her amusement at the sight.

"Of course, rookie!" Asuka said somewhat incredulously, a fire Daniel couldn't see surely lighting in her eyes. "I know you've got some combat experience doing small things and surviving the first three Angels. But all too much of that is luck! And I won't accept merely lucky from any pilot I fight alongside! So we're going to make you into a truly good pilot!"

Daniel finally came to a stop by Asuka's side, putting a hand on her shoulder to stay her for a moment. "What she means is that I hope, for your sake, that you've been following the physical training regimen we've sent over to you," he said with a slight smile.

Shinji's embarrassment was finally broken, at least somewhat, as the boy smiled. "Daniel! It's good to see you again!"

Daniel chuckled, moving past Asuka to quickly hug Shinji. "It's good to see you too. All in one piece and everything, despite the Angels' best efforts."

As Daniel stepped back from the hug, Shinji sighed. "Yeah. Despite all that," he said rather wearily.

Daniel nodded, looking over at Misato. "And how has Tokyo-3 been treating you since we last talked?"

Misato sighed, smiling slightly. "About as well as 3 Angel attacks can, all told. Welcome to the battleground. I hope you enjoyed your vacation in Germany."

Daniel scoffed softly. "I'm sure I'll find my way around quickly enough."

Shinji nodded. "If you need any help, I'm sure Captain Flynn can help you."

The boy paused as he looked around. "She's on the ship with us. I just… don't know where she went."

Daniel looked over at the cargo container for Unit-02. "I've got an idea. I should go and talk to her anyway, get things squared away for when we get to Tokyo-3."

With that, he left the group and made his way to the cargo container.

Behind him, Shinji looked on, curious as to how their meeting would play out.

"So," Asuka said, startling Shinji slightly before she startled him again with how close she had gotten. "Want to find out what's up between Daniel and your Flynn?"

"I mean… yeah…" Shinji said. "But… something tells me this should be private."

Asuka was silent for a moment, then sighed quietly. "Fair enough, I guess," she said.

. . .

Daniel had wondered why they transported Unit-02 like this. The container that had gone across North Asia and now rested on the gently swaying deck had an open top, heavy but easily able to be pushed aside by the Eva that lay curled in a fetal position within, a walkway going from the entrance to the Entry Plug.

Stepping into the container, he saw the massive figure lit by the lights on the sides of the container. And the all-too-familiar figure that stood at the end of the walkway.

He took a silent, deep breath as he stepped in preparing himself for… what, exactly? A tearful reunion? A tense standoff? A fight? How big of a fight?

He didn't know anymore, after all this time. And that shamed him to his core.

Even still, he stepped forward, working up the courage to even so much as speak, let alone what he should say.

Finally, he decided. "So."

She turned, and Daniel's heart leapt into his throat as, at last, he saw Eleanor in the flesh again. The shock on her face, muted though it was, reminding him of his greatest sin.

He cleared his throat. "So, are you here to take me in? Or simply finish what I started?"

"Daniel…" Eleanor said softly, stepping forward almost hesitantly.

"I'm not a fool, Elle," Daniel continued. "We both know no one can get away with what I did without some sort of retribution. Who's with you?"

It was silent for long moments as Eleanor seemed to deflate slightly. "No one," she said calmly. "I'm alone here."

"Bold move, when you're hunting something as dangerous as I am," Daniel said.

Eleanor sighed quietly. "Damn it, no. I… I'm not here to take you anywhere."

Daniel blinked as Eleanor began to approach him again. "But I have been looking for you," she said as she approached. "No one with any sense blames you for what you did."

"I'm exactly who they should blame," Daniel said. "I made the choice. You saw how I damned myself before everyone else."

"Damn it!" Eleanor sighed as she came to a stop an arm's length away from Daniel. "What's done is done. I'm not here because of justice or vengeance."

She stepped closer. "I'm here because I love you."

She reached up, her fingers brushing Daniel's cheek, and he flinched visibly. It was silent for long moments after.

"Do I even-" Daniel began.

"Does that matter?" Eleanor interjected. "I can only imagine what you've been thinking while you've been gone. What you've done to yourself. But I've seen where you've been. What you've left behind. And everything points to one thing."

"And what's that?" Daniel whispered.

"That after everything that's happened, you're still… you," Eleanor said. "You're still the big-hearted nerd who wants to save the world. Just with a few more scars than the last time we were together."

"That's an understatement," Daniel said, a quiet chuckle escaping him. "But time hasn't been kind to me. Or to you, I would think. We're both far different people than we were before… then."

"Then I'd like to see who we could be now," Eleanor said, taking Daniel's hand and holding it out.

He looked down at that hand, and saw she was still wearing the ring, a dark metal band with three prismatic gemstones crowing a strip of the stone in its center. "Did you ever take it off?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Never," she said. She paused, looking over at his other, bare hand. "Why… why did you take off yours?"

"Because I wasn't worthy of being your husband," Daniel said. "No one could be after what I did to you."

"Did you leave it somewhere?" Eleanor asked, that hint of despair in her voice wrenching at his heart.

"No," Daniel replied, reaching into his shirt and pulling out a plain metal chain, the latest place he'd kept the companion to Eleanor's ring. "You… you inspired me. Even if I wasn't ever going to be worthy again."

"Worthy?" Eleanor asked incredulously, reaching up and holding the ring for a moment before lifting the necklace from Daniel's neck, pulling the ring off.

"It was never going to be about worth, Dan," she continued, taking Daniel's hand and slipping the ring back on. "I know who you are. Even since that day. And that's all that matters."

It was silent again, Daniel feeling the old weight on his finger before looking into Eleanor's eyes. "I… I…" why couldn't he say it?

"I know," Eleanor said, wiping the tears that were starting to fall from Daniel's eyes. "I know."

With that, she drew him into a gentle kiss in the shadow of a silent titan. Daniel's soul tentatively reached out to hers, connecting as easily as they had in times past, and Daniel knew she meant every word she said, no shadows for any doubt or fear to hide in.

And for the first time in ages uncountable, Daniel felt fully and truly… at peace.

. . .

They remained there, in that long and long-awaited kiss, for long enough to ensure that anyone waiting outside might be getting somewhat antsy.

As they parted, Daniel started back out into the wider world, feeling Eleanor's excitement and joy bubbling through him, washing away his hesitation as they stepped out to see the gathered group, looking intently at them.

"So," Eleanor said quietly, "want to do the honors?"

"I don't see why not," Daniel replied as they came to a stop in front of the group.

"Is… everything alright?" Shinji dared to ask.

"Oh, everything's fine," Daniel replied. "Let's get things squared away, shall we?"

Misato nodded. "Alright. Let's get up to the Captain of the ship. They'll be in the command tower."

"Well, I can lead us up there!" Kensuke said. "It looks like it's basically the same sort of command tower that you'll find on a Nimitz-class."

With that, Kensuke started to march forward, leading the rest in a line, Misato falling to the back of the pack with Daniel and Eleanor. "So," she said with a slight smile, "what's up between you two? You two are obviously close. So, what's the secret?"

"Oh, nothing much," Daniel replied. "We're just the Theismans."

"Oh," Misato nodded knowingly, walking along for a few moments more before the true weight of the words fully struck her.

She paused in place, watching Daniel and Eleanor walking ahead with wide eyes. "What?" she shouted, giving everyone pause.

Daniel chuckled as he and Eleanor turned and faced Misato. "Yeah," Daniel said. "This is Eleanor Theisman. My wife."

It was silent for a moment as all of them paused, looking back at him with wide eyes.

"Oh, we've really gone and done it now," Daniel said through his soul-link to Eleanor, the words dripping with amusement.

It was in the moment after that the stunned silence was torn to shreds by a barrage of questions, Daniel and Eleanor weathering the storm with no small amount of grace.

After a moment, the storm settled, and they began to make their way towards the command center again. "I…" Misato said, taking a deep breath. "I wasn't expecting that. So Eleanor's who you were talking about in Germany all those years ago?"

Daniel took a deep breath. "Yes. I really did mean it that my heart was spoken for. Just as I have every woman before. I can't say I was ready. Hell, I don't think I ever would have been. But… we'll make the best of it, I think."

Misato nodded again silently, her expression slightly dazed. Asuka decided to fill the void, looking back at the pair with a grin. "So, Bruder, does this mean I have a sister-in-law now?"

Eleanor blinked, and more than a few puzzled looks were directed at a smug Asuka. "I wasn't going to try being a father to her," Daniel explained to Eleanor as he smiled slightly. "So a big brother was who she got instead."

As Eleanor's understanding echoed through her soul, Daniel chuckled softly. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We've still got to get Unit-02 to Tokyo-3. We can talk more then."

"And we can get you settled into our place," Eleanor said with a slight smile as she looked at Daniel. "It's a cozy little apartment, right next to Misato's."

"Ah," Daniel said as they came to the door of the command center, open and waiting for them as the adults stepped in first, the kids following behind in an orderly line.

Boswell and Bollinger turned to regard the group. "Thank you for coming all this way," Bollinger said. "I apologize that we didn't greet you personally, but we're anxious to finish this delivery, get back out to the high seas, and head home."

Misato, her shock now covered under a mask of professionalism, nodded. "I completely understand, Admiral. And I appreciate your patience and cooperation with what must be a rather tedious task, all told."

"If it's in the service of keeping the planet safe from these Angel… things, then we'll do what we can," Bollinger replied.

He glanced over at Kensuke who, in a rare display, had his camera stowed away as he looked around the room with wide, excited eyes. "It helps we have at least one enthusiastic supporter."

Misato smiled slightly as she produced a slightly crumpled manilla folder, holding it out to the Admiral. "Here is the release form for everyone's paperwork, and the schematics to the emergency power unit and umbilical cable being linked to your ship. I prefer to think of it as a useful tool for any unforeseen emergencies."

Bollinger and Boswell's expressions both twisted into grimaces as Bollinger took the folder. "As far as I'm concerned, it's a damned nuisance," Boswell said. "Just finding a place where it wouldn't unbalance the ship was hard enough."

"Whatever else, Josh," Bollinger said with a sigh, "I pray to god we never need to use it."

"I have to admit," Eleanor said, "this is the biggest fleet escort I've seen for any single weapon. The UN must absolutely want Unit-02 safe."

Bollinger sighed quietly. "You're not the first one to say something like that," he said. It seems a little much for what seems to equate to a giant puppet."

Daniel, standing beside Asuka, glanced over to see her eyes flash with indignation, a hand on her shoulder gently squeezing to keep her from doing anything too rash. He met the indignant look in her eyes patiently, and she looked away and resorted to grumbling. "Nennen Sie meine Einheit-02 eine Marionette, ja? Das werden wir ja sehen…"

Misato continued over the muttered protestation. "Now, if you'll go ahead and sign Unit-02 over to us, we can pick it up and be on our way."

Bollinger held up a hand. "Now hold on. We're still in international waters, which means like it or not, it's our responsibility until we dock in New Yokosuka. Much as I'd like to turn it over to you now, that would make you, to some extent, responsible for what happens on the ship. I'm sure you want that about as little as I do."

Misato grimaced slightly. "I can understand that," she said. "However, if something does happen, we're both well aware that Unit-02 will fall under our emergency jurisdiction."

Bollinger nodded, but another voice cut through the momentary silence. "Well, well. Still as professional as ever, I see."

All eyes turned to the door, and the man that leaned casually on its frame. Most returned to their tasks, but at least one waved at him with a smile on her face. "Hey there, Kaji! Good to see you out and about."

Ryoji smiled slightly as he threw a casual salute back at the group. "And hello to you too, ladies and gents," he replied.

"Mr. Kaji," Bollinger said with a quiet sigh, "I was unaware you were coming up to the bridge."

He said the last words rather pointedly, which seemed to do nothing to faze Ryoji. "I'll make sure and call ahead next time, sir. My apologies for the unexpected intrusion."

As all this transpired, Daniel glanced over at Misato to see a remarkable transformation occurring in real time, a flabbergasted expression morphing into hesitation before finally settling on a practiced calm. 'Now you know what it feels like too, love,' Daniel thought as a slight smile threatened to tug at a corner of his face. 'At least, to some extent.'

As Eleanor gently elbowed him, Misato saluted sharply at Bollinger. "If you'll excuse us, Admiral, we'll be getting ready to take the Evangelion off your hands. Shinji, Asuka, let's go."

With that, the trio in question, Toji and an unwilling Kensuke tagging along, exited the bridge promptly, threatening to push past Ryoji before he stepped out of the way.

"Well, then," Ryoji said after a moment. "I don't quite know what I was expecting, but it wasn't quite that reaction."

Boswell arched a brow. "You two have some history?" he asked.

"Something to that effect, yeah," Ryoji replied.

"What I don't get is why the young lady had such a problem with how we referred to the Evangelion," Bollinger interjected, his brow furled in confusion. "She seemed… awfully possessive over it."

"That, I'm afraid, is classified," Eleanor said with a quiet sigh. "What I can tell you is that she's connected to it quite closely."

'More than anyone should ever wish for,' Daniel mused.