Anime/Manga È Evangelion È Evangelion: Third Genesis 	font: B s : A A A
Author: shanejayell 	
Fiction Rated: T - English - Drama/Romance - Reviews: 123 - Published: 04-26-03 - Updated: 10-03-07	id:1321921
Evangelion: Third Genesis
Ritsuko Akagi frowned as the blonde haired woman typed away on the computer, a unlit cigarette dangling from her lips. As the doors to the lab swished open she didnÕt even look at her guest as she calmly said, ÒItÕs not done yet, Misato.Ó
ÒHow did you know it was me?Ó Misato asked her as the black haired commander of NERV walked in.
ÒMaya knows not to interrupt me when IÕm on a roll,Ó Ritsuko shrugged calmly, frowning as she adjusted something on her screen.
Misato walked to ger side then reached out to tap the unlit smoke. ÒHaving problems quitting?Ó she asked.
Ritsuko took it out, looking at it with a wry kind of amusement. ÒIt helps me think,Ó she admitted, eyes never leaving the blueprint she was working on.
ÒIs that...?Ó Misato looked down at the quickly forming design.
ÒThe modified carrier design you asked for,Ó Ritsuko nodded. ÒIÕm using a modified long-range transport jet as the base,Ó she calmly explained, Òthen retrofitting the interior to carry a Evangelion, power system and cables.Ó
ÒOr a Archangel?Ó Misato mused.
ÒI can design it to be compatable for both,Ó Ritsuko agreed. She looked up at Misato, ÒAre you considering using Unit Alpha in field operations?Ó
ÒIÕm debating it,Ó Misato conceded. She put her hands in her red jacketÕs pockets, her black dress hugging her form, ÒThe tests so far have been good, and AsukaÕs trip outside yesterday went off without a hitch.Ó
ÒBut that doesnÕt mean a combat run will go as well,Ó Ritsuko put her smoke on the edge of a saucer sitting on the counter.
ÒThat is the risk,Ó Misato agreed, Òbut I want to be prepared either way.Ó
Ritsuko nodded, ÒAll right, IÕll keep that in mind in the design.Ó
Misato grinned slightly, ÒSo how are things going with you and Maya? From the occassional noises we hear in our apartment you two seem pretty happy.Ó
Ritsuko actually blushed faintly, ÒWeÕre doing fine, thank you.Ó
ÒWhen are you having the wedding?Ó MIsato asked curiously.
ÒNot till this current mess is over,Ó Ritsuko admitted. ÒBesides, weÕll need the extra time to bring MayaÕs poor father around.Ó
ÒHeÕs having a hard time accepting the situation?Ó Misato asked with a frown.
Ritsuko fiddled with her cigarette, ÒThankfully, heÕs coming around. I rather suspect MayaÕs mother is having a influence, but itÕll take time.Ó
Misato patted her on the shoulder, ÒWell, if you need any help, call.Ó She grinned, ÒI just hope you donÕt dress us all in hideous bridesmaid dresses.Ó
ÒIÕll try to find something nice,Ó Ritsuko chuckled. She made shooing gestures, ÒNow IÕm sorry, but I need to get back to work.Ó She winked, ÒMy boss is a real hard ass, you know.Ó
ÒI resemble that remark,Ó Misato chuckled, heading out with a smile.
Striding away, Misato made it a point to stop in on various offices and workers, nodding in a friendly way and making conversation. It wasnÕt her being snoopy, exactly, it was more a attempt to stay in the loop with as many people working at NERV as she could.
ÒMaya,Ó Misato nodded to the younger woman who was supervising the work in the weapons lab. In front of them, robot construction gear manipulated various metal and alloys, gradually producing a long, thin weapon that resembled a sword.
ÒMaÕam,Ó Maya Ibuki smiled with a openness that still occasionally surprised Misato, considering the things the girl had seen working here.
ÒIs that the progressive sword prototype?Ó Misato asked curiously, watching as lasers sliced into steel, shaping it carefully.
Maya nodded, her grey uniform crisp and neat as usual. ÒWeÕre experimenting with the same sort of metal as used in the armor on the Evangelion,Ó she revealed, ÒweÕre hoping that, combined with a EvangelionÕs strength, will be effective.Ó
ÒWhat about the AT field?Ó Misato mused.
ÒAs usual, the Evangelion will need to pierce the field before and conventional weapon can be used,Ó Maya admitted. She smiled, ÒWe are experimenting with a means of channeling a AT field through the blade, but itÕs still in the testing stages.Ó
ÒRitsukoÕs well along with the design for the new carrier unit,Ó Misato mused, Òbut itÕll be a week, at least until itÕs built. Keep working on this till then.Ó
ÒYes maÕam,Ó Maya smiled. ÒYui has also been a big help, both here and working with the Magi,Ó she noted.
ÒYouÕre working all right together?Ó Misato asked curiously.
ÒCertainly,Ó Maya agreed, ÒsheÕs quite nice, really. The only tome she gets cranky at all is when sheÕd deprived of her coffee.Ó
ÔI can understand that, I get that way without my beer,Õ Misato admitted silently. ÒWell, IÕll let you get back to it,Ó she said aloud, turning and heading out once more.
Outside, in the sunlight Asuka Soryu Langley walked with confidence, her skirt swirling around her legs as she and her friends went out to the arcade. ÒSo,Ó the redhead asked the others, ÒRei and I are on alert till further notice.Ó
ÒSucks,Ó Toji offered, the taller young manÕs short black hair swept to the side by the breeze. Other than his slight limp it was impossible to tell he had once been a pilot, except for the slightly haunted look that lingered in his eyes.
ÒAre they expecting an attack on the city itself?Ó Hikari asked them, the brown haired girl frowning slightly.
ÒWe donÕt know,Ó Rei admitted, the dark blue haired young woman staying close to AsukaÕs side. She looked good dressed in white shirt and a light blue skirt, her hair slightly ruffled by the breeze.
ÒReally?Ó Aida looked a little surprised, the brown haired boy peering around with his portable film camera.
ÒJust because weÕre pilots,Ó Asuka looked amused, ÒdoesnÕt mean weÕre kept entirely in the loop.Ó Silently she mentally added, ÔBesides, IÕm not sure even Misato knows if theyÕll actually attack or not.Õ
Toji lead the way into the dimly lit arcade nearby their school, ÒWell, I figure youÕll be able to handle it.Ó
ÒThank you,Ó Rei smiled.
As Aida took his place in front of his favorite robot fighting game he dropped a coin in and asked them, ÒHowÕs Shinji doing?Ó
ÒAida,Ó Hikari scolded him, the brown haired girl giving Asuka a silent look.
ÔIÕm almost glad I told her the truth,Õ Asuka admitted. ÒHeÕs probably working a bit too hard,Ó she answered mildly, Òrecovering from his breakdown.Ó
ÒI suppose if anyoneÕs earned the right to have one,Ó Toji conceded, ÒitÕs Shinji.Ó
ÒThatÕs true,Ó Hikari agreed. She watched Aida demolishing levels on the game an a impish look appeared in her eyes, ÒAsuka, why donÕt you try this in vs mode?Ó
ÒYou can do that?Ó Asuka looked amused.
ÒMe, versus Asuka?Ó AidaÕs eyes lit up, ÒIÕd love that!Ó
ÒMaybe all of AidaÕs video gaming and war otaku habits might actually pay off,Ó Toji noted wryly.
Rei smiled slightly, ÒIt could be fun.Ó
ÔItÕs surprising what that smile can make me do,Õ Asuka admitted to herself as she sat down across from Aida and put her own coin in. Within a few moments she mastered the controls, then went looking for Aida.
ÒWho do you thinkÕll win?Ó Hikari asked Toji softly as the two opponents stalked each other on the view screen.
ÒDunno,Ó Toji admitted, ÒAida knows the game and itÕs rules, but AsukaÕs the one with real battle experience.Ó
ÒThere you are,Ó Asuka murmured as her humanoid fighting robot stalked through the city streets hunting her prey.
Suddenly Aida smashed a nearby wall, revealing a power-up he used to boost the cannon he carried, firing devastating shots at the stunned Asuka. ÒYes!Ó he crowed as explosions ringed the pilot and sent her flying backward.
ÒWhy that little...Ó Asuka growled as she saw her life gage drop dangerously. While ploting a Evangelion, she had been trained to avoid property damage, but aparently here it gave you an advantage. Seizing the chance she thrashed buildings with glee, soon finding both life restorers and other power ups.
ÒHeÕs in trouble,Ó Rei predicted calmly.
What followed was a beat down of legendary proportions, where Aida had almost no chance to recover and was chased around the simulated Tokyo relentlessly. Finally she pinned him, then Asuka struck, claiming his final life points and defeating him.
ÒOuch,Ó Toji winced, Ònice to see the old vicious AsukaÕs still there.Ó
ÒWhat was that?Ó Asuka gave him a look.
ÒNothing, nothing...Ó Toji tried to look innocent.
To be continued...