Neon Senshi Evangelion

Eighteen

For the safety of all concerned, Naoko Akagi primarily worked at the Heavy Industries headquarters, rather than NERV itself. Plus there was the general question of Yui deciding that revenge WAS worth it and trying to choke the life out of Naoko.

They did, however, teleconference.

"Is Misato all right?" Naoko demanded, the older woman looking concerned after hearing about her collapse.

Yui felt a twinge of surprise, but remembered that Naoko had been fond of the girl, back in the day. "She's fine," she reassured her.

Naoko sat back in her chair, frowning a little. "Do we know why she collapsed?" she asked.

Yui sighed. "Misato SAYS it was having a bad night sleep, but I think it was overwork. I'm going to make her take a day off," she admitted.

"I bet that goes over well," Naoko noted wryly.

"We're all workaholics here, to some extent," Yui conceded with a shrug.

Naoko didn't say 'You chose this job' aloud, but she was clearly thinking it. Changing the subject she said, "We sent our latest update. Did you go over it?"

"I did," Yui said, "and I agree you'll need to replicate the entry plug for pilot safety. However, we can't ship you LCL. Do you have an alternative plan?"

"Water cushioning and a wet suit," Naoko admitted. "The control system will need to be helmet based along with a basic control board. Waterproofing it all will be a bitch."

"I'm certain you'll find a way," Yui said. She meant it, too. Naoko's technical skills were first rate, it was only her sanity that was in question.

Naoko gave her a look, probably because she picked up on the unspoken subtext. "Have you decided on a pilot?" she asked.

"Unless you have any objections, we're continuing with Mana," Yui admitted.

"No objections," Naoko said. She shrugged slightly, "From what I've seen she's a nice kid."

"I'll send her complete file over, and we'll do some joint simulation runs," Yui said briskly. "Anything else?" she asked.

Naoko hesitated then briskly continued, "It's fine. Let me know if anything comes up."

Yui signed off and sat back with a sigh. She had been almost SURE Naoko would ask about her daughter, Ritsuko...

Speaking of her other 'daughter', Yui picked up the medical report on Misato, sent up by the nurse who examined her after her fainting spell. Nothing untoward, other than low blood sugar, probably due to stress.

'All very mundane,' Yui mused to herself, 'so why do I think it's connected to our new UN representative, Setsuna Meiou?'

It had been pretty shocking to see. The normally energetic Misato had taken Setsuna's hand, stiffened, then literally keeled right over. If Yui hadn't known better, she would have thought the woman had used a taser on Misato.

Worse, Yui was faqirly certain the files they had gotten from the UN on Setsuna were bogus. Of, they looked good, but a closer examination made them look too sanitary. There was too much there that couldn't be easily confirmed, and in some cases couldn't be confirmed at all.

'Well, Miss Meiou, I think we're going to have to do some digging...,' Yui thought and went to work.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Back up a second," Ritsuko said, "Asuka is joining the technical branch?"

"Her primary job is still going to be pilot," Misato pointed out patiently, "but she's already graduated. No point sticking her in school with the others."

"Well, point," Ritsuko admitted. "Plus she's driving you nuts staying at home in your apartment?" she guessed.

"No comment," Misato answered.

Ritsuko snickered softly.

Maya Ibiki, who had been sitting in the informal meeting, was also fighting back a smile as she asked, "Where do we want to place her? I'd think public relations would be out..."

"She'd belt somebody," Ritsuko agreed.

"Asuka suggested she be a general go-fer and assistant," Misato admitted. "While she trained in sciences she's never really had that much interest in it."

No one brought up how Asuka's mom had pretty much rammed the young woman into the sciences track. Sometimes, a kid was well suited to follow in a parent's footsteps. Just look at Rei and Yui. But Asuka... not so much.

"All right, that could work," Ritsuko agreed. She looked at Misato and asked, "When would she want to start?"

"ASAP. She IS bored after all. Security check shouldn't be a problem," Misato added.

"We will need to run the paperwork," Maya said just a little disapprovingly. "It shouldn't take more than a day though," she said.

"For which Misato thanks you," Ritsuko smiled.

Misato stuck her tongue out, giving Maya a fit of the giggles.

Misato got up from her chair and stretched. "Okay, I need to finish up some things and get my desk cleared, since Yui is insisting I take a day off tomorrow," she grumbled.

"You DO work six days a week," Ritsuko noted. She didn't add 'seven if it was an emergency' because they all knew that.

"And you're one to talk?" Misato answered dryly.

"Shoo. Go clear your desk. We actually have work to do down here," Ritsuko teased, as she sipped her coffee.

Once Misato had left Maya noted, "We're not THAT busy, you know."

"Yeah, but I'd actually like to get out of work early for once," Ritsuko noted mildly.

"Something will come up," Maya predicted gloomily.

"Be optimistic," Ritsuko started when her phone rang. She sighed and picked it up. "Yes... yes... yeah. Okay, I'll put the Magi on it. Right."

"What happened?" Maya asked once she hung up.

"Yui wants me to do deep background checks on Setsuna Meiou. Guess that means no clocking out early," Ritsuko sighed.

Maya reached over and patted her hand. "I'll help you set things up, it won't be that long," she said.

"Thanks," Ritsuko answered, liking the feel of Maya'a hand on hers.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Setsuna was glad she had UN granted access to NERV systems. It made checking up on her targets much easier. She flipped through files on her tablet, as she walked the streets of Tokyo-3, heading to the meeting.

Rei and Shinji Ikari were as she had expected. If there was any surprises in this scenario, it was how well Rei, especially, was becoming who she had once been. Of course there were differences, Nature vs Nurture and all that, but it was encouraging.

Mana Kirishima was a concern, mostly because she was going to be off piloting Jet Alone. Even with her... being who she was, she would be in some danger apart from the others. The best Setsuna could hope for was to make sure the pilots were mostly together.

(DAMN that Naoko Akagi. Setsuna had thought she had arranged everything perfectly. Get all the pilots in Tokyo-3, under the dubious but muscular protection of NERV, then be ready in things went wrong. Then SOMEBODY had to upturn her plan by tossing in another damn robot...)

Asuka Langley was here, and thankfully the damn Angel hadn't got her. Setsuna had been very alarmed when it jumped her at sea, where Setsuna couldn't reach her in any useful time. And, of course, there was her intent in keeping under cover. Would revealing her existence be worth it?

A soft chime from her tablet reminded Setsuna of the time. She looked up, noting the coffee shop nearby, and walked in.

"Welcome!" the waitress said cheerfully. "Table for one?"

"Could I get a table in the back? I'm waiting for someone," Setsuna said.

"Certainly," she lead her to a rear table. "Would you like a coffee while you wait?"

"Please," Setsuna smiled as she sat back.

She had started her coffee when the reddish brown haired girl had entered the coffee shop. She looked around, her catlike glasses catching the light, then strode over to where Setsuna sat. She waved to the waitress, "Coffee! Please."

"Right away," the waitress promised.

"Have any trouble getting in position?" Setsuna asked as the young lady sat across from her.

She gave Setsuna a somewhat withering look. "This is not the first time I've done this," Mari Illustrious Makinami said dryly. She smiled faintly, "You ARE talking to the girl who was formerly Sailor V..."

'And that makes six,' Setsuna mused...

To be continued

Notes: Yes, Mari Illustrious Makinami is Sailor Venus. I haven't entirely decided if she can transform yet... I'm leaning towards no, but it'll depend on where the story goes. So, the core Sailor Moon cast are all here, and I think it's reasonably clear who's who. If not, tell me.

The other thing I need to decide on is what happened with Sailor Uranus, Neptune and Saturn.