Anime/Manga È Evangelion È Evangelion: Third Genesis 	B s : A A A
Author: shanejayell 	
Fiction Rated: T - English - Drama/Romance - Reviews: 117 - Published: 04-26-03 - Updated: 03-27-07	id:1321921
Evangelion: Third Genesis
Part Thirty Four
ÒAll right,Ó Asuka Soryu Langley said flatly as the orange haired woman tightly gripped the controls of Archangel, ÒletÕs try this again.Ó The screen they were watching showed a split image, Asuka on one side and the almost eerily human looking Archangel bio-mechanical construct on the other side.
ÒPrepare unit Alpha for launch,Ó Maya Ibuki said calmly. ÒOpen tertiary connections one through twenty five.Ó
ÒRight,Ó Makoto Hyuga nodded, his glasses gleaming as he confidently activated the required systems. He had only recently returned to NERV but seemed to be settling in nicely, as well as adapting to his former co-worker being in charge.
ÒSheÕs taken well to command,Ó Ritsuko noted proudly from where the blonde scientist stood by Misato on the upper deck.
ÒMaya certainly looks more relaxed at it than I felt,Ó Misato confessed, the black haired woman watching the goings on intently.
ÒYou never showed it,Ó Ritsuko smiled.
ÒThanks,Ó Misato shrugged. Raising her voice she asked, ÒHow does it feel, Asuka?Ó
Asuka smiled back slightly, ÒNo headache so far.Ó
Rei Ayanami gave a relieved smile from where she waited on the command deck and murmured, ÒThank goodness.Ó
ÒOpen up the next twenty five for secondary connection,Ó Maya ordered.
ÒAny systems problems?Ó Yui Ikari asked, looking strangely out of place as a boy in a lab coat. ÒThe new virtual barriers for Asuka may generate some problems.Ó
ÒNothing yet,Ó Satsuke Ooi answered, her long blonde hair gleaming as the technician monitored the various systems.
ÒKaede, Aoi?Ó Yui asked the other techs, getting positive results from both women.
ÒMedical monitors show green,Ó Maya murmured then looked up, ÒAsuka?Ó
ÒItching to go.Ó Asuka quipped.
Misato chuckled softly, ÒRemind me to pout itching powder in her plug suit.Ó
Ritsuko gave her a look, ÒYou wouldnÕt.Ó
ÒWanna bet?Ó Misato smirked.
ÒBad girl,Ó Ritsuko chided.
ÒAll right,Ó Maya said firmly, Òfirst stage connection, go.Ó
ÒThis is where there were problems last time?Ó Makoto asked softly as he pressed the correct set of keys.
ÒCorrect.Ó Yui answered softly.
ÒAsuka?Ó Rei asked, studying her girlfriend intently.
ÒNo headache,Ó Asuka sounded relieved as she asked, Òdid that feedback wobble turn up again, maÕam?Ó
ÒNo readings on feedback,Ó Kaede said, pushing up her own glasses as she checked the readings to be sure.
ÒMedical monitors also read clear,Ó the third tech, Aoi, said crisply.
ÒRelease locks,Ó Maya commanded, ÒUnit Alpha, youÕre free to move out.Ó
ÒAye aye.Ó Makoto grinned as he went to work, switches releasing the support structure that helped keep the usually depowered Archangel upright. With a shudder the massive booms pulled back, then with a almost inhuman grace the Archangel moved.
Rei moved forward unconsciously as she watched the Archangel take itÕs first few steps. ÒItÕs beautiful,Ó she murmured.
Yui sweatdropped. ÒAnyway,:Ó she said briskly, ÒAsuka, you all right in there.Ó
ÒYes,Ó Asuka growled as she made the Archangel pace around the underground enclosure, Òfor the third time. What do we do now?Ó
ÒBack into the locks for now,Ó Maya said briskly, Òon the weekend weÕll deploy the Archangel outside the city so you can really practice maneuvering it.Ó
ÒIÕm looking forward to that,Ó Misato murmured.
ÒSo we can move forward on operation: Shinji rescue?Ó Ritsuko asked teasingly as they watched Asuka carefully move the Archangel back into place.
ÒMore like recovering Unit 01. Getting Shinji out of it will be a whole other set of problems,Ó Misato her answered grimly. She looked up at Ritsuko and asked, ÒHas Yue had any luck researching GendoÕs files?Ó
ÒSome preliminary notes relating to the creation of the Rei clone were found,Ó Ritsuko revealed, Òbut not much else yet. ThereÕs still a massive amount of data to dig through.Ó
ÒThatÕs why I havenÕt done much with those files.Ó Misato grumbled as Maya supervised the shutdown of Unit Alpha, ÒGendo seemed to be a compulsive notes taker. His journal was thousands of pages long...Ó
ÒWe should dump it on mom,Ó Ritsuko offered.
ÒThe Magi?Ó Misato blinked, ÒYeah, I suppose so. I just hope she doesnÕt hit anything too upsetting in there.Ó
ÒSheÕs accepted GendoÕs a sleeze,Ó Ritsuko shrugged, Òat least thatÕs what the conversation Maya overheard implies.Ó
ÒWhat, between her and Yui?Ó Misato looked a bit startled. ÒIs it me, or is there something disturbing about their being friends?Ó
ÒItÕs not just you,Ó Ritsuko admitted.
Meanwhile, Asuka smiled as she took a towel from Rei as she climbed out of the entry plug for the Archangel. ÒThanks,Ó she smiled as she toweled the LCL off.
ÒYouÕre welcome,Ó Rei said with a smile before stepping close and giving the still damp Asuka a firm hug.
Asuka pulled her close even as she murmured, ÒWhat was that for?Ó
ÒI was worried,Ó Rei explained simply.
Asuka blushed a bit, feeling that odd tingle of pleasure inside that she got knowing that someone cared. ÒSo was I,Ó she conceded as they waked off, Òbleeding from the nose the last two tests was not fun.Ó
ÒWell, at least we know it works,Ó Rei sighed as she cuddled close to AsukaÕs side.
Asuka slid a arm around Rei as they walked through NERV headquarters. ÒYeah, now on to the next bit,Ó she sighed, Òtraining with Aoba. Can we just go home now?Ó
ÒYouÕre not looking forward to being beaten by our new hand to hand instructor?Ó Rei asked her teasingly.
ÒHell no,Ó Asuka sighed.
To be continued...