The welcome wagon had consisted of an unpunctual madwomen who obviously labored under the delusion that she was a Formula-One race car driver. Having the car trip interrupted halfway by being bombed with an N2-mine had almost been a relief by comparison — A short-lived relief as the madwoman had managed to start her car again and drove them into this strange sub-terran complex where she had promptly gotten them lost.
Being lost in an underground maze at least gave some time to think about things like the revelation that the estranged parent was a high-ranking member in the organization dedicated to fighting the giant monster mentioned earlier. That and the strange apparition of a blue-haired girl during the attack that had you doubting your sanity.
A fake blonde in a labcoat finally led them to where they were supposed to go.
A large room with an ugly giant robot that apparently was about to be deployed against the monster outside that had earlier shrugged of a direct hit with a N2-mine.
"Multipurpose Humanoid Fighting Machine EVANGELION" the labcoated woman explained proudly.
"Welcome to NERV Asuka," her mother greeted her with all the warmth of the late antarctic, "You have been summoned here to be the Second Children and pilot of the Evangelion Unit-02. You will have the proud duty..."
Before she could finish her speech Kyôko Sôryu Zeppelin was interrupted by another woman in a most undignified manner: "I can't believe you Kyôko. You send for Asuka to become a pilot."
"A good thing I did, Yui, or we would be standing here right now without a pilot." Kyôko defended herself.
"Rei can pilot," Yui brushed away her objection before continuing with her lecture, "Your own daughter! You of all people should know the horrors an Evangelion pilot has to endure."
"You are one to talk about using my own flesh and blood considering the origin of your dummy-plug system," Kyôko countered. "Besides Rei is in no condition to pilot."
The two women were arguing as if nobody else was in the room. Asuka was not sure what they were talking about, but apparently the other woman was Yui Ikari, commander of NERV. It looked like Asuka's mother wanted her to pilot the giant robot and commander Ikari was against it.
Asuka did not know how to feel.
The fact that her mother had only asked her to come because she wanted her to pilot the mecha was hardly surprising, she should not have expected anything more. Her mother had always been to busy with her work to care for little Asuka and often tried to separate Asuka as far from her work as possible. Even going as far as abandoning her in Germany with relatives and taking this job on the other side of the world.
Asuka really should not have expected anything else, but it still hurt.
There also was the problem that they were all about to die at the hands of a gigantic monster that could even withstand direct bombardment with an N2 mine.
Asuka had felt bad about the monster earlier, but captain Katsuragi had assured her that NERV was prepared to take care of it. Asuka felt considerably less reassured now. Their plan was to attack it with this one ugly robot and the only pilot they had was unfit for duty right now.
So much for redundancy.
That left Asuka. Heaven only knew why they thought that she would make a good replacement.
True, she was rather good at computer games and even something of a legend in arcade circles. And her teachers had always told her that she was 'gifted' and could achieve so much if only she would apply herself. They pointed at the speed with which she could pick up new skills and learn languages when she was actually interested in something and talked of skipping grades and going to prestigious universities if she started attending school regularly and occasionally turned in her homework. Asuka never quite saw the point, but she guessed that if they were right and she actually was some sort of prodigy, then that would also make her a good pilot.
But that could not be all of it. Even if she learned fast, she had never heard of this Evangelion before today and practically everyone here at NERV would know more about how to pilot it until Asuka had had some time to catch up.
There probably was some other factor. Perhaps it was thought controlled and they needed somebody with a special brainwave-pattern or something like that.
Whatever the reasons were she was here and her mother now expected her to actually steer this machine against the monster rampaging outside.
Only a fool would rush outside were such creatures tread. On the other hand staying here and doing nothing would likely get her killed, too.
There also was a third issue (perhaps on a gripping hand): This was a chance for Asuka to prove herself to her mother. If Asuka became part of NERV and this Evangelion project, than her mother would no longer be able to chose her job over her daughter. Asuka would be part of her mothers work.
"I will do it!" Asuka announced loudly.
The two arguing women looked up in surprise as if only now remembering that she was in the room. Major Katsuragi and her labcoated friend looked at her in shock and astonishment.
Feeling every eye in the room on her Asuka was mildly surprised about her outburst herself, but there was no going back now.
"I will do it," she repeated, "I will pilot you stupid robot, if that is all that you called me for."
A speculative gleam entered commander Yui Ikari's eye as she looked at her.
"Very well," she acknowledged after a moment, "you will pilot the Evangelion in this engagement, Asuka."
Asuka swallowed suddenly feeling not nearly as confident as before. What sort of mess had she gotten herself into now?
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(Posted Thu, 27 Jan 2005 12:58)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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