Neon Senshi Evangelion
Chapter 35
"Usagi Tsukino?" Gendo echoed.
"Yes," Yui agreed, "though the photos we've compared with Misato are inconclusive."
Faces, of course, changed when you got older. Plus Misato had some facial injuries when they found her, too.
"So, we do a blood test with the mother?" Gendo asked.
"Yes. Shigo is telling her it's for a routine test," Yui noted.
"Doesn't want to get her hopes up?" Gendo guessed.
Yui nodded, "Agreed."
"And if she IS this Usagi?" Gendo wondered aloud.
Both exchanged a look. While Misato wasn't their daughter, they had taken the child in and functionally raised her. It was... a odd feeling.
"We'll help out however we can," Yui decided.
"What's Misato doing now?" Gendo wondered.
"Back at work," Yui said. She added, "I OFFERED to let her take a few days off, but she wanted to stay busy."
"I suppose I can't blame her," Gendo agreed. Changing the subject he continued, "We're getting pressure from the UN on testing the Angel."
"They want us to be more agressive?" Yui sighed.
"That, pretty much," Gendo agreed.
"We're being cautious as we don't want to wake it up," Yui scowled. "And we STILL don't understand it's biology."
"Just being a messenger, dear," Gendo defended himself.
Yui sighed, "I know."
"You, Ritsuko and Naoko are the top experts on Angel biology," Gendo pointed out, "if all three of you signed off on how dangerous it could be, they'd listen."
"I REALLY hate asking Naoko for help," Yui grumbled, "but you have a point."
"Have Misato ask," Gendo added, "she likes her."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"WHAT IS GOING ON?" Ritsuko demanded.
Misato looked at her amused, "What have you heard?"
"The rumours are flying," Ritsuko admitted, "including you're REALLY Naoko and Gendo's illegitimate child."
Misato nearly choked on her coffee.
"I take it that's no?" Ritsuko teased.
"No," Misato smiled wryly. Much more quietly she said, "I MIGHT have met my brother... and weirdly we already know him."
"Huh?" Ritsuko blinked.
"Shingo Tsukino, with Japan Heavy Industries," Misato said quietly, "I may be his sister, Usagi Tsukino."
"Bunny?" Maya Ibuki noted, bringing their coffees over.
"Well, it's cute," Ritsuko agreed.
Misato continued, "It's not confirmed yet, we need to do a blood test with his mother."
Maya added, "When will you know?"
"Hopefully in a couple of days," Misato said.
"Heck, get the samples to us," Ritsuko shrugged, "I'd get the tests done ASAP."
"Yeah, I do NOT want you to clone me, thanks," Misato joked.
"We would never," Maya pretended to be hurt.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm SUUURE," Misato teased.
Ritsuko shrugged, "Fair enough."
Misato changed the subject, "We're back to training with the kids, right? And figuring out emergency plans for the captive Angel?"
"We're coordinating with Japan Heavy Industries too," Maya added. "They're readying a relaunch of Jet Alone."
"Here's hoping they don't loose control again," Ritsuko added grimly.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"So, the new cockpit is ready?" Shingo Tsukino asked.
Naoko nodded, "And we completed the connection tests, no issues with reading Mana's thought impulses and life signs."
Shingo nodded, "And is it safe?"
"Define 'safe' in this context," Naoko shrugged.
"What?" Shingo frowned.
Kodama jumped in as she said, "It's safe based on the requirements that the UN and our bosses have provided."
"Which means that if everything goes well, no problems are expected," Naoko added. "But I can't promise how well it will do in combat."
Shingo sighed, realizing what she meant. "You never designed it with a human pilot in mind," he remembered.
Naoko nodded, "Yes, we've retrofitted it extensively, but... "
"So, will it go out of control again?" Shingo sighed.
"THAT, at least, I'm confident will not happen," Naoko said firmly. "No sketchy technology from outside sources."
"I'm SURE that's a fascinating story," head of security Haruka Tenoh noted, walking in to the meeting room.
"You're aware of Aperture Science?" Kodama asked.
"THEIR tech got in there?" Haruka blinked. "No wonder you had a issue. Brilliant but crazy people," she added.
"That pretty much sums them up," Naoko agreed.
"The schedule says we're doing a full test," Haruka said, "can I make a suggestion you probably won't like?"
"Oh?" Shingo asked.
"Ask NERV to lend a Evangelion, just in case it does go rogue," Haruka said.
"Are you doubting my technology?" Naoko asked dangerously.
"No, but unpredictable things happen. At worst, we might need a Evangelion to save the pilot," Haruka noted.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Rei Ikari nervously grabbed the controls of Unit-01.
The testing grounds behind Japan Heavy Industries were quiet, as the afternoon sun shone down. The request to have a Evangelion there had come in yesterday, and Rei had volunteered to be the pilot this time.
'Not that it has ANYTHING to do with Mana being the pilot,' Rei told herself firmly. There were no personal reasons for her being there!
"Unit-01, are you in position?" Naoko demanded flatly.
"Yes!" Rei squeaked nervously. She cleared her throat and carried on, "I am 1 kilometre from the hangar entrance."
"We are only beginning a basic series of tests," Naoko said calmly, "we want you on hand, just in case there's a issue."
"Understood," Rei replied. She activated the communication link, "Connecting to Jet Alone."
"Rei, hello," Mana came on screen, the whole cockpit visible.
"Eeep!" Rei yelped at the image.
"What...?" Mana blinked, then remembered she was in the MOSTLY transparent plugsuit. "Sorry!" she reset the cockpit camera to just her head.
"Thank you," Rei sighed. "Not that I minded seeing you.. I mean, not that I WANTED to... or, uhm," she trailed off sheepishly.
Mana looked visibly amused. "Stop digging yourself deeper," she chuckled.
"Right," Rei sighed.
"All right, if we're done playing?" Naoko noted, amused. "Mana, bring Jet Alone online and take it out of the hangar."
"Yes ma'am," Mana agreed, grasping the control handles as her helmet transferred her thought to the mech.
Rei nervously watched as Jet Alone lumbered out of the hangar. It moved awkwardly, but stayed upright and stable.
"All green so far," Mana added.
To be continued...