- It's time to get up... - the words are barely audible, but Rei, sleeping with her face buried in my chest, wakes up. Today we slept together again, although this time there were no preliminary conversations and kisses, Ayanami simply undressed and lay down next to me, immediately snuggling up to me, without any words or explanations. However, there were none before, since Misato accepted my offer and kept us company on the balcony until late in the evening, chatting about all sorts of nonsense mixed with painful work topics. I had to mainly keep up the conversation, but she also stirred Rei up a couple of times, although the latter clearly liked listening more. One good thing - Rei was almost not worried before going to bed, although she fell asleep a little later than usual...
Ayanami remained motionless for a few moments, but then her head lifted and we began to play the staring game again. A second, then another, and then she closed her eyes and quietly said:
- I understand... - after which he begins to stand up, still keeping his eyes closed. With slight displeasure, he had to let her out of his arms and stand up after her.
"Ray..." I don't seem to be trying to whisper, but my voice is still very quiet; if it weren't for this morning silence, it would be easy not to hear.
The girl, who had started to put on her shirt, freezes, but still does not rush to look in my direction or even just turn to face me. Completely still.
I silently approach and hug the slightly shuddering girl from behind, after which, hanging my head over her left shoulder, I press my cheek to her hair.
- Do you believe me? - a quiet whisper right next to the ear.
- ... Yes.
- You can handle it. Even if they don't let me into the capsule, you can easily synchronize with Eve.
- I...
- I promise.
- ...Okay, - Ayanami's body relaxes slightly and she presses her back against my chest and rubs her head against my cheek, getting more comfortable. - I believe... Shinji Ikari...
We are silent, simply enjoying each other's closeness. I don't know if I have fallen in love or if it is simply dependence on her energy field multiplied by exhaustion, but it doesn't matter. I don't want to think, although sluggish thoughts slip into the periphery stating that soon we will have to break off the embrace, however, they do not cause any emotional response. I simply don't want to react to anything...
- ...
- It's time...
- Yes...
NERV Headquarters, three and a half hours later.
- So, Rei, the main thing is don't worry, everything will be fine, you can handle it! - Katsuragi instructed the girl who came out of the undressing in the contact suit.
"I know, Captain Katsuragi," Ayanami looked at us calmly and stopped her gaze on Misato. No tension or uncertainty, complete composure and calm.
- That's good, let's go, we'll take you to the capsule.
As I had unwittingly predicted in the morning, preliminary double synchronization, not to mention the fact that I alone could carry out the reactivation, was prohibited by the commander's decision. It's a pity. It's just so sad. But unfortunately, this decision is not without meaning. Although it was not reported, but obviously Gendo was afraid that the story with Eva-01 would repeat itself, namely, that I would gain similar power over Zero. By the way, this is quite realistic and I was even going to make some efforts in this direction, naturally, first of all, by ensuring greater security for Rei, at least in the mental sense, because there were individuals among the Angels... but one does not interfere with the other, right? So I can only praise Gendo for his foresight, but the fact that Rei has to take risks is still very unpleasant. I will be able to climb into the capsule later, but who will insure her now?
Although everything should be fine, there is no complete certainty, after all, I strongly influenced her emotional state and it is not a fact that in the direction of greater stability. And also, it seems, the Angel should appear, at least so far my presence has not affected the canonical frequency of their appearances. As far as, of course, one can judge from the memories of the series, where exact dates were also not indicated.
In silence we reached the hangar, where Eva-00, which had just been freed from Bakelite, had been transported the night before. The biomechanoid itself had virtually no damage and had been repaired during its release, so now it was, theoretically, in full working order, or at least ready for reactivation. Eva-00 looked almost like in canon - shorter than my Zero-One by about two heads, much narrower in the shoulders, armor painted light orange and only one eye on its head, in the center of its face. No jaws and, accordingly, no mouth, instead an incomprehensible bony outgrowth.
The contact capsule had already been removed and was waiting in an open state, a couple of technicians were bustling about nearby under the direction of Akagi, and several more were hastily dragging something from the gangway towards the corridors leading to the hangar.
- Ready? - Akagi stated rather, albeit with a questioning intonation, looking back at us. - Excellent. Rei, I expect successful results from you and don't worry.
"Yes," the girl responded indifferently and glanced around the hangar. Noticing this, Akagi smiled slightly:
- The commander will be in the control center, - and turning her gaze to me, she added meaningfully: - as will all of us. - Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Katsuragi's lips slightly compressed, although it's not a fact that this is necessarily a reaction to the mention of Gendo, maybe a pebble got into her shoe? He-he... - Well, now, get into the capsule, let's begin. - Ayanami nodded silently and, looking at me and Misato for a moment, walked to the capsule, where she climbed in without delay.
The technicians who had been bustling about here a minute ago had already disappeared behind the entrance doors, and Akagi, having checked how Rei had settled in and explained something to her, returned to us and performed several manipulations with the hand tablet, after which, after some delay, the hissing sound of a closing capsule was heard.
"Okay, I'm off, don't stay here for long, we'll start in ten minutes," Ritsuko said the last words when she was already halfway to the door.
- And still, Misato, maybe I should get into the capsule? - I take advantage of the moment while Rei can't hear us, because suggesting something like that after what I told her this morning is not the best way to motivate and calm her down. - If not to Eva-00, then at least to Zero-One, if anything happens I can back you up.
"I'm not against it," the girl, who had been silent all this time, winced, "I suggested it myself, by the way, but the Commander refused, although Ritsuko supported me. Damn madhouse..."
"I see," I turned my head towards Eva-01 standing at the other end of the hangar.
- So! Stop being nervous, Lieutenant Ikari! - the captain commanded, making a lofty and concentrated face. - Calm down, I said! Everything will be fine, the catapult was turned off this time, so even if something happens, she will just sit in the capsule for a couple of unpleasant minutes. The main thing is that you don't get nervous and in general, it's better to take a couple of breaths, holding your breath...
"Hmm-m-m..." I say thoughtfully, muffling the last word.
- What?
- It sounds like you're convincing yourself, and your face matches that.
- Slander! - the girl was genuinely indignant. - The ungrateful bastard! I am for him! And he! I am ranting here... March around! And one-two to the control center, or else all sorts of people will snort at me!...
"Yes, my Führerin," I responded in a deathly dispassionate voice, clearly heading in the indicated direction.
"Go, go, you grumbler..." the pouting girl muttered, following behind.
"And yet, Misato..." I paused as soon as the automatic door closed behind us, "stay away from the window." and continued moving.
"... I know," came from behind, without any hint of pretentious joy.
A few minutes of leisurely walking and we went up to the control center, not to the pyramid of the command center, but to the room where I had officially met Maya, which was also Akagi's office. Well, at least one of them. Today it was crowded, all the computers and terminals that were empty last time were occupied by operators in beige uniforms, who together created a kind of working hum of short commands and reports. I knew about half of them by sight, thanks to that folder of Misato, the rest I saw for the first time, which indicated that they belonged to the scientific department. Maya, Aoba and Hyuga were naturally present, as was Akagi, but the most notable characters were, of course, Fuyutsuki and Gendo, who monumentally erected themselves right in the center of the room, in front of the viewing glass. This is the first time I've seen Ikari Sr. so close, just as this is the first time he's made such close contact with me, although even for this reason Gendo didn't bother to button his jacket.
The sight of the Commander's bearded mug involuntarily brought to mind the proper way to open the carotid artery with your fingers without getting dirty in the victim's blood. Following this, I remembered methods of breaking the neck, including an exotic one - with a fracture of four vertebrae at once in one movement, then I smoothly moved on to pain points and their effect on the body. At the same time, my eyes had already found seven pens and pencils in the room, which could be seized in one to three seconds, followed by sticking them into the Commander's ear, in, accordingly, three to one second from the moment of receiving...
So, indulging in pleasant thoughts, I silently stood behind the backs of a pair of operators, whose workstation was located directly in front of the observation window, on the right edge of the room, if you look from the side of the entrance doors. Misato, also silently, settled down next to us. Almost no attention was paid to our appearance, only Akagi nodded, and Fuyutsuki with three senior operators cast glances. Gendo, moving, proudly ignored, still hypnotizing the empty white room behind the bulletproof glass.
"We're starting to transport Eva," the doctor ordered a few minutes later, apparently considering the systems' preparation satisfactory.
In response to the command, the working hum took on a new level of volume and saturation. I had heard most of this more than once myself sitting in the capsule, so I ignored it. A minute passed and one of the walls of the room below parted to the sides and the fixed Eva-00 drove inside. A couple more minutes of manipulation and abrupt commands were required to fix Eva to one of the walls, so that she was right in front of us.
"All systems are in order, we can begin," a minute later, she approached Commander Akagi. Most of the voices had indeed died down and people were sitting in tense readiness.
"Okay..." Gendo, without turning his head and even, it seemed, without taking his eyes off Eva, extended his right hand to the low terminal standing in front of him and pressed one of the buttons. "Rei. Are you ready?"
"Yes," came quietly and dispassionately from the speakers.
A white-gloved hand rose to his face and adjusted his glasses.
– Start the first stage of synchronization.
Then came the familiar commands with reports. Connecting the power source, Eva's reactions, moving to the second stage, establishing neural connections... Strange... There is no excitement, although I understand the seriousness of the situation. It is of course true, there is no point in worrying about something you cannot influence, but it is still strange, my body is now a teenager's and quite human, you can't explain it to him. Although no, I'm lying... There is excitement, only it is... not mine. Shinji. Definitely... However, his emotions are understandable, but why am I not worried?
It's funny, I just now noticed that Maya's ringing voice has a nervous note, and Akagi's fingers are clenching the hem of her white coat in a strange way. I certainly didn't expect that from a doctor, although she's probably more concerned about the results of the experiment than Rei's safety. Misato... Misato seemed to have overheard me remembering her and grabbed my hand, squeezing it encouragingly, although it was her hand that was shaking...
- Markers from the first to the 2590th have been passed, - the cherished words sounded, now only the finishing line... - There are 2.5 left until the absolute limit,...
1.7...
1.2…
1.0...
0.8...
0.6...
0.4...
0.3...
0.2...
0.1...
- ... - Tense silence, I involuntarily turn my gaze to the monitors of the operators sitting in front, there is a diagram of the connection of nerve connections displayed and...
- The border has been crossed! Eva-00 has been activated!
"F-f-f..." Misato breathed out in relief and removed her hand, although this went almost unnoticed by anyone.
"Proceed to the connection test," the doctor commanded, although she also let go of her robe.
"Yes!" Maya responded, clearly cheered up.
- Rey. How are you feeling? - Gendo's voice cut through the rising hum once again.
- Fine.
"Excellent," Gendo closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, he turned around and addressed Akagi. "Continue without me, I'm expecting a report on the state of the Eva in three hours," having finished, he immediately walked towards the exit, without even looking in my direction. Fuyutsuki followed, although he did glance at Misato and me and before leaving, he gave us a nod with a restrained smile.
"Well, that's it," I stated with a slight sigh, more feigned for the sake of decency than something the body really needed. "By the way, Misato, do you know where I can get a bottle around here?"
- Eh?... Shin, are you sick? - I turn my slightly surprised gaze to Katsuragi and a second later I sigh heavily, closing my eyes.
- An empty bottle, Misato. I'm not old enough to need a drink in every stressful situation.
- How should I know what you might have? - the girl blushed embarrassedly, looking away. It was good that Akagi had gone wild and no one was paying attention to our conversation due to the abrupt commands that filled the room. - You are one of a kind, you never know in advance what you'll do! - and, quickly changing the subject, she asked: - And why do you need a bottle?
– Well, I've been wanting to pour a bottle of LCL for a long time, but I forget the container every time.
- Eh?... Why?
- I like the taste.
- ... You... You... - Katsuragi, half-closing her eyes and slightly opening her mouth, tried to formulate a thought for a few seconds. - Do you want to use a secret reagent necessary for the operation of a robot worth hundreds of millions, as... a drink?
- Right.
"You're crazy," the girl's right hand performed the classic "Facepalm."
- We've gotten off topic. So do you know or not?
- No! Don't even ask.
- As you say.
- Psycho... Lord, why is this happening to me?
- For sins, of course, - and why? Of all those present, I am the most suitable for the addressee of this question.
"Shut up already, you blockhead," someone carelessly ruffled my hair.
I chuckle silently and turn away to the glass.