".........That's what life is worth, isn't it........ "
(apartment, next morning)
Asuka: (Shouting) Get up, we are going to be late!! Get up.
Others get out of their room.
Chyaku: Pilot, ain't you tired after yesterday fight? Why don't we just skip a day.
Shinji: What the.... we are having physic test today!!
Horoshi: Oh...that gives us one more reason to skip school.
The girls are all in their School Uniform and a bread in their mouths by now.
Rei: I remember the teacher told us that who ever skip the test will not have lunch break for the next 4 weeks. I'm going 1st.
Horoshi: KK....we are coming.
Shinji: (picking up his bread) Didn't Misato came home yesterday?
Matsuki: Overnight work at Nerv.
Asuka: This aren't the first time.
The 6 children started to run as a group to school. Rei was the first who reach the door of the class. Shinji follow, but he was unable to apply the break. He knocked into Rei and as he fell, Shinji's lips landed on Rei's cheek. Chyaku, who was following close behind stopped in time to prevent any further collisions.
Touji: Shinji!! You are really something.
Kensuke: Way to go, Rei and Shinji.
The teacher, who was already in class started to take attendance.
Teacher: Ayanami, Rei Ayanami
Rei: (still below Shinji)Present!
Teacher: Ikari, would you let her go first.
The children went to their seat.
Teacher: we are going to start the day off with the physic test.
*Horoshi's Computer screen*
Asuka: (private message) What's the answer Question 2 to 5?
Horoshi: a, b, a, d.
Asuka: Thanks.
*end of computer screen*
(Lunch)
Rei: Oh, I think we leave the house a bit too rush.
Chyaku, Matsuki and Shinji nodded in agreement.
Asuka: What you mean by NO LUNCH?
Chyaku: We have no time to prepare lunch in the morning.
Horoshi: Clam down Asuka. I guess we can just grab something in the cafeteria.
Chyaku: I guess so. Matsuki, want to come with me.
Matsuki and Chyaku held hands as they exit.
Asuka: Horoshi, how did you know the answer?
Horoshi: We went through these lesson when we were with the UN. Actually, when physic is concern, you should have asked the technician.
Shinji: Chyaku, you mean?
Horoshi: He's bound to get 100 for this.
Auska: (to Horoshi) But it is only logical that I ask you, you are my boyfriend.
Kensuke: (overhearing that) Horoshi!! That is sooo unbeievable. Asuka!! How can you stand her Character, the red devil, no I don't mean that football team.
Horoshi and Asuka starred at him. Kensuke shutted up. He understood that if he continued, he'll receive some punches. Chyaku and Matsuki came back with some food.
Rei: Why don't us pilots get ranks like this couple?
Touji: Couple?!?! Chyaku and Matsuki?
Kensuki: I should have noticed that long ago. Afterall they all lived together. Talking about it, Rei, how was Shinji's kiss this morning?
Rei: (Blushing) He's gentle and nice.
Shinji: Rei, you are sweet too.
Touji and Kensuke: What! You two are really going out?
Shinji: (held Rei in his arm) Sort of.
Asuka: Back to Rei's question.
Matsuki: I don't know. I'll help you ask Misato, but I don't guarantee an answer.
Shinji: Misato don't seemed to like you 3. Why is that so?
Chyaku: I can't tell you. It happened to be classified as top secret.
Horoshi: Neither do we want you to know. Just take as if our background is a blank sheet.
Asuka: But there should be no secret between us.
Horoshi: I"m sorry, Asuka. But you will find out, sooner or later.
Horoshi kissed Asuka, without realizing that the whole class is watching.
Touji: Will all of you, Nerv personnels, stop this. We are jealous.
Hikari: (to Touji) can we meet after school?
Touji: Sure, why not.
Chyaku: See, need not to be jealous, you have our class rep.
Hikari walk away from the group, with her whole face red.
Matsuki: (resting her head on Chyaku's shoulder) That's what life is worth, isn't it. (Suddenly remembering) Oh yar, unit-14 is completed, Horoshi need to take the test today.
Chyaku: And Shinji, Rei and Asuka have to try out the new weapons, proudly brought to you all by Chyaku Narami.
The last lesson today is P.E. They are suppose to do a 2.4km. Horoshi came in first of the class clocking a time of 7:01:34, a second behind was Chyaku. Matsuki surprised all the boys in class as she finished on the dote of 8minute, third in class.
Asuka: Horoshi, that was impressive. More than 4 minutes in front of me.
Horoshi: The training back in UN helped, right Matsuki?
Matsuki nodded.
(Later that day, Nerv)
They children have just finished changing. Shinji and the other pilots in their plug suit. The plug suit of Horoshi is red and white, matching his Evangelion's colour. Misato and Ritsuko appeared.
Ritsuko: Horoshi, please come with me. Chyaku, bring the other pilots to carry on with your test.
Misato: I'm going to be running both way. Makoto will be helping me today.
Matsuko: What about me, Misato? Why don't I observe the weapons' test and submit a detail report to you afterwards? This will save you lots of trouble.
Misato: LTN Rai, you think that you are that capable?
Fuyusuki walked pass.
Fuyusuki: I think what Matsuki said was sensible enough. Since we put her as your deputy, we should trust her. To me, from her performance against the 18th Angel, she is fit for this test.
Misato: What else can I say? Since commander said what he wanted.
(Nerv test lab.)
The new EVA-14 was looked like EVA-02, except that it have only 2 eyes, more weapon compartments and is white and red in colour. Ritsuko was conducting the tests, Misato (Not in her best of mood) watching over and a few other Junior scientists is helping out.
Ritsuko: Insert entry plug.
Maya: Entry plug inserted.
Ritsuko: Fill LCL. Switch on power supply......
Ritsuko gave a list of instruction for the first activation test to be carried out.
Misato: Don't worry, the LCL will not drown you.
Horoshi: (in his mind) This is not my first time...
Maya: We are 1 from the borderline. Now 0.8, 0.6, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1
Tension filled the roon. They know what can happen if EVA-14 goes out of control.
Maya: He has done it, we broke through the borderline .
Ritsuko: (radio) Horoshi, how you feel?
Horoshi: (radio) Nothing wrong. It is cool inside the LCL.
Ritsuko: His Sync ratio?
Maya: This can't be true...How can that be.
Ritsuko: I want the number
Maya: 90%. This is his first test with Unit-14. 92% now.
Ritsuko: 92%?? Erm...Even Asuka can seldom get to 92%. And he did not struggle when the LCL was filled.
Misato: Shinji can reach 100% in a test situation, when he is concentrated. So, no big deal.
Ritsuko: 94% now. Even if he had went through lots of training at UN, this is impossible with someone who is in a EVA for the 1st time..
Misato: What if he have been in a EVA before?
Ritsuko: That's another story.
Maya: What is this sync ratio thing anyway? I've been in this position for quite some time, but I never understand it.
Ritsuko: Sync. ratio is the index of how well the pilot is controlling his/her EVA. A minimal of 41% is needed to start up a EVA. 100% means that the pilots is in full control. Anything more than a 100 indicate that the pilot is dissolving in the EVA, that may cause possible danger.
Maya: I see. Shinji hit over 100% twice. And Asuka once.
Ritsuko: (Radio) Horoshi, I'm very please with your result. You are good. You may come up now.
Maya: By the way, his highest Sync Ratio recorded in the test is 95%.
Ritsuko: (Radio) You heard that Horoshi. Misato and me are going over to the simulation lab. to watch Chyaku and his new weapon, see me there and I'll give you your detail report.
Horoshi: (Radio) Roger. Thanks.
(Just as the Sync test was running, Nerv Simulation room)
Chyaku, Matsuki, Aoba and Makoto are in the control room. The EVA-00, 01 and 02 are in the simulation area. (note: any communication between the control room and the simulation area is through radio)
Chyaku: We will start will the improved version of progressive knife. All you have to do is to attack the target with it. The target, for your info, is reinforced diamond. Rei, since your unit is 00, you will do my first test.
Rei: yes, Sir.
Chyaku: Just call my by name, in any situation. I don't feel comfortable with "Sir". Anyway Unit-00, on your mark.
The target appear in front of EVA-00.
Chyaku: Attack!
EVA-00 ran to the target and cut in into two prefect half in less than a second.
Rei: Target destroyed.
Makoto: Time taken: 00:00:78 (mm/ss/millisecond). The time with the old progressive knife was 00:02:95.
Matsuki: Chyaku. Impressive indeed.
Chyaku: Thank you Rei. Asuka, the next is progressive ax, improved version of course. Since ax had been your favorite weapon, you test it. There will be 50 targets in front of you, chop that like what you will do to an Angel in the shortest possible time.
Asuka: No problem.
Chyaku: EVA-02 on your mark. (Made sure all the targets had appeared) Attack!!
Asuka produced 0 nonsense. In a few moves, all 50 targets turned into more than 100 pieces of waste material.
Asuka: Done it.
Chyaku: (waited for Makoto's report) Makoto?
Makoto: Yes. I'm just stunned. That was 1 quarter of the time used by Asuka with the former model.
Matsuki clapped her hands, cheering her boyfriend on.
Chyaku: The next is a defensive equipment. It is a shield that is very effective against Beam Cannon, of course it can defend other weapon as well. All three of you will hold the shield and let the built-in laser shoot it. We'll see how long it can last. Just a word of caution, in case the shield give way, expand an AT-field, but make sure you don't expand so much that it destroy the whole Nerv.
Pilots: Yes, Chyaku.
The laser fired. The shield still looked very strong after an hour of laser attack. While the test continued, Misato, Ritsuki and Horoshi entred. They greeted each other.
Misato: So, LTN Narami. How is the test going?
Chyaku: Please call me Chyaku next time, Major, or rather Misato. The test is going so far so good. The shield in test now have lasted over an hour of laser attack, yet still going strong.
Matsuki: Misato, I'll send you a report on the previous tests afterward.
Another hour passed.
Chyaku: By the way Misato, why didn't the pilots have ranks like us?
Misato: (quite unfriendly) Actually, it is not your problem, but .....Well, actually the Commander have just issued a notice stating that all pilots will now have the ranks of LTN. That is same as you two.
Asuka: That's cool. But Misato, you don't seem to be happy for us.
Misato: I'm just tired.
Ritsuko: I think the shield have proven its quality. Chyaku, get on with the next thingy.
Chyaku: Okie. Stop the laser. Thank you Shinji, Rei and Asuka for the job. Shinji, the next test is a complete new weapon. You are going to test it. You job is to fire at the simulated 18th Angel, it AT-field is also simulated. On theory, this Rifle is going to neutralize its AT-field and penetrate it with a single shot.
Shinji: That sound easy.
Chyaku: Not really. A bad point about this weapon is that you have to be very very very concentrated to get a accurate hit. Any distraction will cause you to miss the target. You have 3 chances to hit it. Your 3 chances is also my 3 chance, since I'm its designer. Help me to prove myself at Nerv and at the same time show us that you are the best pilot around. Don't disappoint me.
Shinji: I'll try my best, Chyaku.
Chyaku: Dinner is on me if Shinji get this right, Rei, Asuka, Horoshi and Matsuki.
Matoko: What about me?
Chyaku: You adult have your own money, don't you?
Laugher lighten the atmosphere a bit, but Chyaku is still very tense.
Chyaku: Shinji, on your mark.
A image of Angel 18 appeared.
Chyaku: (shout) ATTACK!!
Shinji aimed and fire....miss
Chyaku: You can do it come on. Concentrate harder.
Misato: Good try, Shinji. Don't give up.
EVA-01 aimed again. Fired...missed, but much closer to the target.
Rei: Shinji, you aren't going to disappoint me, are you? I love you.
Matsuki: Rei, everything that happened in during the test will be included in my report. That's of course including what you've just said.
Rei: Oooppsii.
Shinji: Rei. I am not going to let you cry.
EVA-01 rise the rifle once again. He aimed...only thing on Shinji's mind is the target and what Rei just said. He fired......hitted the target, break into its AT-field and finally breaking its core.
Shinji: Chyaku, Dinner is on you.
Chyaku: I'm not eating my words.
To be continued in the next chapter......
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