'Do you want to know who I am?'
'Yes? It's what we are meant to do?'
'I'm… not sure how much I can tell you. I'm not so sure about that myself.'
'How can you not be sure?'
'I… do not know. But perhaps I can show you…'
Through light, they would find themselves by a lake.
She stood on the jetty, holding a phone to her head.
The phone would be thrown into the water, before they walked away.
'This… is the first memory I know I have. That I know is from me.'
'This doesn't seem that long ago.'
'Not even a month.'
'Wait… how is that possible?'
'As I said… I am unsure.'
Another shift. 'But… I have others. These ones I am not sure about.'
The light would fade as they dived deeper and deeper. 'This one… I have not determined. I only have one memory like it.'
She was wearing a fine naval looking uniform, trimming back her fringe over a bathroom sink. The observer was not able to put a date on this scene; the bathroom looked almost Victorian with how it was trimmed and finished, but the green hair was a bit of an outlier for this era…
'I… don't understand what she is saying.'
'It is not a language we understand.'
Back out, switching tracks. 'This is not the only one. These memories… are a lot more vivid, but they feel less… personal, if that makes sense.'
'It doesn't, but we'll see.'
The face in the mirror looked closer… if a lot colder.
A switch was pressed, the plug suit conforming to their figure.
Maddening laughter…
Exquisite torment… the observer couldn't help but clutch at their head, the mutual link diminishing for a split second. '…Apologies.'
'Is… this what you faced?!'
'I… don't know. This all… seems like a distant lifetime ago.'
'So… what does that make you?'
'I have been asking myself that since I became aware of my situation.'
Back to the lake. 'I… don't know what you expected to find. I feel like I am a canvas. Not blank, like I had been drawn on before… modified at the whims of something I can't even possibly fathom.'
'How were you picked for this then?'
'I don't know. And… that scares me.'
They held knees up to their chest. 'Someone somewhere has a plan for me. That's all I know. And the unknown of that… it frightens me.'
There'd be a brief quiet.
'I… think I can see a silver lining in all that though.' Laying on their back, staring into the synapse sky. 'If there's any place where they can figure out what's going on in that head of yours, it's here. And… that's what I'm coming to realize as well.'
They'd offer a sigh. '…it's clear I haven't made the best first impression on you. Considering we are suppose to be working together. But, if I may speak my side?'
Roles of observer and speaker would switch.
A young boy, crying at an unfathomable loss.
'I still haven't really been able to find myself, if I'm being honest. Throw myself into the books, push others away… for what. I've made more friends in my weeks here than I ever had in the years after this.'
A mother's love. 'I'll tell you that in time, but… for now, just know something.'
Turning to the observer. 'You are not alone. And… if you let me, I can help you.' With slight smile. 'We can help each other. It… will do us both some good.'
Another beat. 'You and I are not so dissimilar, y'know.'
'…Should we start again, then?'
'If you are willing.' Holding a hand out. 'We're in this together. Trust me.'
A moment of hesitancy.
Before the hand was taken.
~
"Bi-directional circuits are open, cross communication is a go!"
"Talk to me Phil, how's their sync like?"
"Waiting for a stable number…" The screen would settle. "We are… 57 Pilotways, 56 Coreways, combined total of 113 with a 1% offset."
The Commander would pause for thought. "…Well I be damned, they're actually doing it!"
Unit-06 was active. "Hell yeah guys!" Mabel cheered, along with the rest of the bridge crew. "Holy shit you're doing great!" As she grabbed the microphone, clearing her throat and switching to something resembling professional. "Good work you two. How is it feeling?"
"It… feels comfortable." Derek thought. "She's… in my head."
"That's how it works, yes." Mabel snickered. "Well, she hasn't completely torn apart your mind so you're doing better than we thought!"
"They can do that?!" With the sync dropping a couple points.
"Forget I said anything!" Shouting in command. "Okay so your sync is actually pretty good, Unit-01's first sync was just over forty so you guys are going pretty good for yourself!"
"However fifties is still average." Dipper would tack on. "Sixties are where we wanna be."
"Mhm, that's a good start for actual movement; remember it's gonna dip down when you actually start moving the dang thing. So… whatever you're doing now, do more of it!"
"Well if you say so, Commander." In a snicker. "You hear that, Yomiko?"
The sync test between them two would continue, the numbers trickling up.
A hand would rest on Mabel's shoulder. "I got it handled, if you wanna pick up Paz."
"Mhm, thanks Dip." With a playful nudge, as she picked herself up. "Gotta pick up Ritsky as well don't we?"
"She lands in an hour and Paz is due out in three, so should give you enough time to do the runabout for both of them."
"You'll be fine handling Unit-05?"
"Mhm I'll get them started, then I'll be going through that little rat with Ritsuko."
"Hear that Phil?" Mabel snickered. "Won't have us breathing down your necks!"
"Pfft, for once!"
"Hah that's the spirit! Now remember, Trixie is wild magic in a bottle, gotta handle her right or you get your head blown off!"
"I've survived the world so far Mabel, I've got it handled."
"Good." Pulling Dipper for an aside. "And don't forget you got your date with Wendy as well."
"How'd you know that?"
"She told me as well, two brain cells are better than one!"
"Yeah well hopefully your date with Paz goes well at that."
"Dip!" Pulling down his hat. "Don't make me fumble it!"
"I doubt you need my help for that." Taking her spot in command. "Hey where is Wendy anyway?"
"Aren't you her supervisor?"
"And you're my supervisor!"
"Well I'm not God, text her or something if you're not sure!" Going to leave. "Oh hey Wendy!"
"Hey chief, hey sub-chief!"
"Oh h-hi Wendy!" Shaking off some nerves. "What's up?"
"Just wondering when you want me to get Trixie off the computer and on… well, the bigger computer, I suppose you can call it."
"Uhh…" Glancing back to Unit-06. "Give it an hour, we have a few things we wanna monitor with Derek and Yomiko, see if we can get their sync up a bit. Then we can get Trixie online and see how she stacks up."
"Heh, I think she'll go fine." With a snort. "Those two get on like a house on fire I swear!"
~
"Oh and get this right?!" With a titter. "Okay so I actually live down the road from this dude, there's a family whose house is literally all doors!"
"DOORS? o_0 LIKE THE OPEN SHUT KIND?"
"Yeah exactly!" Now full on belly laughing. "I don't even know how they got that many; there aren't even that many doors attached to the houses in Slave Lake!"
"THE MORE YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR HOMETOWN THE MORE CONCERNS I HOLD /:"
"Ah yeah it's a hole but it's home!" In a shrug. "Still, has given Trixie many opportunities."
"DIDN'T YOU SAY YOU BARELY WENT TO SCHOOL?"
"Well doy but school isn't everything Starlight!" Flicking the computer screen. "Not like the school was any good, let's be honest. I'm liking this new school a lot better, at least."
"WELL THAT'S GOOD ^_^ WHAT ELSE DID YOU GET UP TO UP THERE THEN? ⌐_⌐ OTHER THAN SHOOT AT COMPUTERS…"
"Hey I only shot the defective ones!" Not that it was much defence against a computer… "I helped Peg with his escapades as well."
"YOU TOLD ME SOME OF THEM AND I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO KNOW MORE… >_>"
"Oh shove over he's great!" Waving it off. "He's not the only one who got up to some good ol' fashioned vehicular fucking around; there's this big fucking idiot of a Frenchman that we mess around with as well!"
"I THINK I CAN GAUGE SOME KEY DETAIL FROM THAT DESCRIPTION OF HIM /:"
"Ooh yeah his family has like six braincells between them, but he's still a riot!" Snickering. "We call him Dunlop; his family were so destitute at one time he was using old tires for sandals!"
"ARE THEY DOING BETTER?"
"Eh as good as you can be when you're stuck in Slave Lake." Shrugging. "Some of his family's dipped but he's stuck around for some reason."
"NOT BECAUSE HE'S AN IDIOT RIGHT?"
"It's probably part that but he's cool, that's his own choice if he wants to stick in that hellhole."
"YOU DEFINITELY DON'T SOUND LIKE YOU'RE COMPLAINING AT LEAST V: SO YOU ARE CLOSE WITH BOTH OF THEM?"
"I'm definitely friends with them, and yeah you know I treat Peg like a brother. But honestly, I never really had much interest in boys."
"GEE I WONDER WHY… >_>"
"Hey just because they are idiots… okay the rest of the boys in Slave Lake are idiots as well. Honestly no one there took my fancy even the women, Trixie personally likes her potential partners not smelling of cigarettes thank you very much."
"TOO HIGH A STANDARD!"
"Hah! For Slave Lake yeah!" With giggles. "So yeah if that's what you wanna know, yes I am more interested in girls than I am boys. Let's be honest, my father was a fuckhead, so I never really had the best first impression on them to start with… and I'm increasingly realizing that the friend my mom just so happened to live with and I treated as my aunt was probably just her lover as well."
"WELL WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE MESS YOU ABOUT LIKE THAT…"
"Mhm, understandable, ain't it." In a snicker. "Not like you should complain of course."
"OH YEAH DON'T TAKE IT AS COMPLAINT EH, IF IT WEREN'T FOR THAT NEITHER OF US WOULD BE HERE ^_^;"
"And that's looking on the bright side!" With a cheer. "So, another question while we're here."
"SHOOT." A beat. "NOT IN THAT SENSE! @_@"
"You shoot one computer-" Shaking it off. "How does this whole sync malarky work anyway? Like… do I just mesh my brain with your… is it a brain?"
"TECHNICALLY IT IS, OR WETWARE I SUPPOSE THE TERM IS." The beachball spun for a moment as she processed. "SO HAVING NEVER ACTUALLY DONE IT, I CAN ONLY SPECULATE BASED ON MY PROGRAMMING, BUT YES IT IS A MESHING OF MINDS AND SOULS. WHICH I'M NOT SURE I HAVE THE LATTER."
"Well what did the first ELIZA have?"
"APPARENTLY SHE ONLY GAINED A SOUL DURING THAT ROGUE INCURSION. IDK ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ MAYBE WE GET ATTACKED AND IT SPURS IT ON!"
"Hmm I dunno, you definitely sound like you have anima already." In a snicker. "That or you're the smartest chatbot I've ever talked to."
"I LIKE TO THINK I'M A BIT BETTER THAN THAT .)_."
"Yeah you're good girl." With a pat on the computer screen. "…Wait are you a girl?"
"I'M A COMPUTER <_< WE DON'T TEND TO HAVE GENDER, THOUGH IF YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY ME AS FEMALE I WON'T MIND ^^ IF IT MAKES YOU MORE COMFORTABLE IN SYNCHRONISING WITH ME."
"Well what are all these obviously female ports on the computer then?"
"OKAY MAYBE I AM A FEMALE THEN… .(_. NO MATTER! I'M WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO BE TRIXIE! MALE FEMALE OTHER. I CAN MAKE IT A STRING SO YOU CAN TYPE IT IN!"
"Nah, female will be good Stary." In a sigh. "I… I'm comfortable with that."
The door opened. "You're on in thirty, Trix." Wendy would give a smirk. "Knock'er dead!"
"I thought I was trying to avoid that?"
"I WOULDN'T PREFER THAT! 0_0"
"Ah whatever you get what I'm trying to say!" Door shutting.
And opening. "Are they a she? Don't wanna assum-"
"YES I IDENTIFY AS FEMALE EVERYONE CALLS ME A GIRL ANYWAY! ;O;"
"Oh sweet that makes it easy!" Door shutting again.
Trixie couldn't help but giggle at the exchange. "At least you're flexible when it comes to that."
"MAKES IT MUCH LESS FRUSTRATING ^_^; GUESS I'LL SEE YOU IN THE EVANGELION TRIX!"
"Mhm…" Before giving a sigh, resting a hand on the computer screen. "I think we'll be fine, Starlight. I… can't wait to get in that mind of yours."
"HOW PERSONAL FROM YOU! ^V^ I FOR ONE AM CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON UP THERE!"
"Well you're gonna find out! Whether you want to or not!"
"DO I WANT TO?"
"Well I guess you'll find out!" With a wide smile. "Later tater!"
The monitor would shut off.
"God I hope she didn't see me in this thing!" I mean c'mon a conforming spandex suit, it felt like she was doing something weird! "This is unbecoming of the coy and modest Trixie Lulamoon Junior!"
~
"Just relax, Trix." Dipper would request over the comm link, her hands gripping tight on the butterfly control. "Sync works better when you lose your tension."
"Oh forgive me if Trixie feels a little exposed in this getup."
"Hey, at least we got it in a color you like, we couldn't even get a male one ready for Derek in time."
"Well what the hell did he wear?"
"We had a spare plug suit floating around."
"What from that dead pilot?"
"I mean maybe?"
"Oh I'm sure he would've loved that…" With a side-eye. "Okay okay I'll relax." Deep breath in, deep breath out, repeating this action for a bit. "There… relaxed."
"Flood the entry plug."
"Wait what?"
The plug started filling with an orange coloured liquid. "Wait what the fuck is this stuff?!"
"Heh, Tokyo-3 was right, that is hilarious!" Turns out Trixie had the exact same reaction as all the other pilots did. "It's LCL, it's liquid oxygen essentially. Means you don't turn into play-doh when you're exposed to the high G's of piloting."
Trixie didn't want to find out.
"Trixie we aren't gonna drown you immediately, do you know how difficult finding pilots are?"
Well he had a point there, as she violently exhaled air, taking in the fluid. "Ugh… oh that feels weird…"
"Might be a bit queasy at first but you get used to it." The Subcommander shrugged. "We electrolyse it anyway so it's closer to air in density. Phil hit it."
The liquid medium would shift, clearing up and becoming a lot easier to move. "Okay that's kinda cool but you could've told Trixie about it!" A few bubbles escaping her mouth in her exclamation.
"Call it a rite of passage for every pilot, Trix." In a snicker. "Okay we're just about there, prepare for sync."
"Aye aye captain…" A sigh, as she relaxed herself again… "Just concentrate on Starlight, Trixie… don't concentrate on the hazing…"
Her breathing would settle, hands lightly clasping the butterfly controls.
It was always hard for her to empty her mind, but she did her best. "Starlight… Starlight…"
A pinprick of awareness at the edge of her mind. "Oh?"
She concentrated on the feeling, almost trying to hyperfocus her mind on it. "Tell me… is that you, Stary?"
"SYN"
A beat.
And a small giggle. "Ah right, computer protocol and all that." Slightly smiling. "Uhh, Syn Ack!"
"ACK"
An absolute flood of feeling and emotion enveloped Trixie, the surrounds of the entry plug shifting in various colours and patterns before subsiding, settling into a view of the outside. "W… woa…"
"Heh, how's that for a sync, Trixie?!" As a warmth flared from within her.
"A… ah…" Getting used to the feeling. "J… jeez girl, at least buy me dinner before getting this deep inside me!"
"Trixie!" But she too could laugh at that. "…Not so bad eh?"
A beat. "…Mhm." Relaxing back into her chair. "Yeah. It's… nice." Allowing her further. "If we're gonna be partners in crime, well… we're gonna have to get comfortable in each other."
The warmth would stretch out to embrace her. "You know I will be… I may not have much of a mind to work with to start, but I'll get there."
"Nah, you're good girl." Letting her own warmth interface with her. "Even if I'm gonna have to learn all your protocols."
To the computer's snicker. "You're doing pretty well so far!"
The radio would key on. "Nice work you guys! 65% sync!"
"Heh… hear that, Starlight?" With a wide smile. "We're naturals at this…"
"Wonderful for the ego eh?" With an almost physical prod at her arm. "I never doubted you for a second, Trix."
"Well, us now." Another snicker. "We're a team, and a partnership, Stary. I'm… looking forward to working with you."
"And so am I, Trixie." More warmth. "Let's make the ones we love proud, eh?"
"Mhm…" With a brief thought. "I'm sure I will."
~
"Okay, movement tests girls." Dipper blinked. "Starlight identifies that way right?"
"You're the third person to ask that today!"
"What is it with folks assuming this genderless computer program is a female?!" In exasperation. "I mean just because I do identify that way doesn't mean you should just assume!"
"I mean ELIZA is a bit of a femme name to start with ain't it?" Wendy mused under her breath.
"Either way, get those arms pumping!" Dip would decree. "C'mon hup two hup two!"
Unit-05 would start with a front arm stretch, slowly lifting them above its head. "Seems stable enough…"
The door opened. "Dip! I got a special guest!"
The Subcommander of Tokyo-3, Ritsuko Akagi, would step over the threshold into the control room. "A pleasure to be back, Subcommander Pines."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance again, Subcommander Akagi." Both would shake hands in greeting. "Such a shame it wasn't under better circumstances."
"I wouldn't have rushed over here if it were better circumstances." In a huff. "How are your pilots syncing?"
"Much better than we thought, our NACSS pilots made it to a baseline of 119%, and the ELIZA pilot started in the mid sixties!"
"Wonderful what preparation does for that, huh." In wry smirk. "Shinji had a sync of 41% when he went up against Sachiel."
"But as far as I understood you literally just picked him up off the street and shoved him in an Evangelion."
"Mhm and that was considered amazing he could sync that high without prep work." With an aside glance. "Well, shall we?"
"No time like the present." As he turned to leave. "Wendy, Phil, you have the floor!"
"Aww why'd I get saddled with it!"
"Because you're here." Snickered Dipper. "And how would Phil feel being all alone!"
"Oh woe!" Hand on his forehead. "I'd have to press a couple more buttons!"
"Yeah yeah buddy." As Wendy lightly shoved him, flipping the office chair next to him around and sitting on it back to front. "But I'm trying to make a good impression for my date- I mean boss, so I should."
"At least she's honest." Chuckled Ritsuko.
"Mhm she has that going." Pulling away. "I'll see you tonight, Wendy!"
"Make sure you're not covered in blood okay!"
"The Commander not joining us?"
"Nah she has another run to do." With a sigh. "Hey, thanks for letting us use that Bowie album."
"I trust it paid dividends?"
"Mhm, it really did."
~
"Gah hey watch it!"
"Not my fault you haven't kept up on your hair girl!" Susie would bite, trying to negotiate the hairbrush through her cellmate's hair. "What, didn't think you'd get out this early?"
"Of course I didn't!" Susie shoved her head under the tap again, wetting the hair. "I didn't even have a trial date, I don't know what I'm in for!"
"Probably associating with your father." A bit of shampoo, the girl rubbing it in. "Which is stupid, cause he's your freakin' father, you shouldn't have been thrown in here in the first place!"
"I… wonder if NERV realized that. I mean why else would they work so hard to get me outta here?"
"Cause the big chief loves ya?"
"…I mean that could be it as well."
Under the tap again. "Hey watch the eyes!"
"Close them girl!" Rinsing off the hair. "I still don't get your thinking trying to pair her off with that emo friend of yours, that's just shooting yourself in the foot."
"Yeah I know… but I think I was trying to save her from getting involved with my family." A sigh. "I told you how I was like with Dip, right?"
"Oh your beard?" Conditioner now. "You never ended up banging him eh?"
"No I totally didn't swing that way at all." In a sigh. "Which… I mean, he knew."
"You told him?"
"From the start." Under the tap again. "And… he stood by to keep protecting me. Cause he knew if he was around… well, my folks would never touch a Pine back then."
"They were trying to cozy up to them eh, get a foot in the door at NERV."
"I think they were well beyond the door at that point…" The hairbrush moved much easier through her hair this time around. "Maybe Dip knew that. They wouldn't hurt him because they needed Stanley and Stanford on side… and as a result, if he was by my side, they wouldn't hurt me either."
"And how'd that work out, girl?"
"Well… he was right."
Before a huff. "They just tried to get me to marry him instead!"
Her cellmate would give a goofy chuckle. "Weren't you like fourteen at the time?!"
"Sixteen, but still far too young for that thought!"
"Maybe they thought getting you hooked would tie the families closer together."
"Mhm but that's the opposite of what I wanted anyway! I didn't want Dip anywhere near there, he just stuck around because-"
"He wanted to protect you, yeah I know, he's a good kid and so is his twin." In a snicker. "At least now you have a chance to make amends with both of them, without your asshole of a father trying to murder your butt."
"Well he might… obviously jail doesn't stop him."
"Well good thing you have friends in high places, eh?"
Her hair would be tied into a high belled bang, tied off with an elastic band. A shaving mirror would be used to show it off. "Probably closest I could get it girl."
"Heh…" Bobbing it. "Not so bad Susie."
"Considering I didn't really do my hair even before I went to prison."
A beat between them.
"How… much time do you have left in yours?"
"The warden gave me a pretty good discount for defending you." With small smile. "I have a parole hearing in six months and… all goes well, I should be out sometime this fall."
"Look, I'm not sure what I can do but… I'll see if I can get your somewhere to stay and work afterwards."
To her snort. "Yeah good luck, would NERV take a lowly criminal like me?" Another barked laugh. "But shit wouldn't hurt to try."
"Are you gonna be okay without me?"
"I mean it'd be a bit quieter, yeah. Warden wasn't interested in bunking me with someone else so I'm flying solo once you take off." Scratching the back of her head. "But… you know me, Paz. I'll be right."
The door would open. "Pacifica Northwest?"
"Heh, that's your cue girl."
Once again turning to her cellmate. "Remember what I said about Mabes, Paz. I want her kissed within two weeks, and if I find out you haven't I'm going to be very disappointed in you."
All Pacifica did was hug her cellmate. Tight.
"Ahh… yeah…" Returning the favour. "…You've been good, Paz."
"Thank you for keeping me safe." Barely a whisper at this point. "I'm not going to forget this, Su…"
"Heh… don't be a stranger alright?"
"I'll try calling or writing once a week." Backing off, with a smile. "Let me know how the hearing goes when it happens, I'll see what strings I can pull."
"Heh, good luck!" Waving her off. "That goes for your future girlfriend as well!"
"Say hi to Noelle and Kris for me!"
The door closed behind her. She spent another beat looking back at what had become the closest thing to a home she had for… the past few years at this point.
All she could do at this point was keep pushing forward.
~
Mabel was practically bouncing in her boots, stimming in attempts to calm her nerves. "D'oh I hope she's excited… why wouldn't she be she's getting released from prison!"
If not, her own excitement could definitely make up for it.
Soon, someone stepped through the sliding doors.
They stared out into the daylight, squinting as their eyes adjusted. All they held was a box of various tidbits.
A sigh. "…Well, you finally made it." Talking to herself.
Eyes focused on something fast approaching her oh wait that was Mabel-
"Eeeeee!" Slamming into her and squeezing her tight. "Paz! Oh my God- you're finally out!"
"Ah… heya Mab-EL!" Lifted off her feet and spun around. "Aheh hey! That excited huh?"
"Oh I've waited so long you don't believe it!" Grabbing an arm and leading her to the awaiting SUV. "Oh my God I have so much I need to tell you I don't even know where to begin!"
The car ride started quiet.
"Well… I think I have an idea where to start." Pacifica would begin. "…How does this whole thing work? Cause the way I interpreted it… doesn't sound like I'm actually getting freedom."
"Technically you're in NERV custody now, whether you want to call that a gilded cage is up to you but I'm going to be very generous and loosely interpreting the meaning of custody." Snickered Mabel. "So hopefully there's not gonna be any difference between you actually being free and what Mr President was able to come up with."
Another beat.
"Aaand I'd try not to flaunt it as well." Scratching the back of her head. "Sounded like he was flying pretty close to the sun netting us this so… yeah, don't try to bring attention to it. They probably just want you to keep your head down and do something productive."
"Mhm… and what in their mind is productive work?"
"Well, anything related to NERV I suppose." With a sigh. "I… know you probably don't know too much in regards to your folks and their… activities, but we leveraged that as a term of your release. So… I mean you don't have to, but if you have more info about your folks that we could use… well, I'd appreciate it."
Another quiet.
"…I have so many things I could say about them." With an aside glance. "Is… NERV working on anything in regards to them?"
"It's no secret to us what they tried." Her intonation would shift… Pacifica definitely found it weird how cold she became. "We're… quietly working to get their conviction quashed. We believe their trial was rushed, and biased towards them. Bad evidence, either through bad prosecution or intimidation, as they clearly tried with you."
"…Quashed?"
"And then they will be retried. We ain't just letting them get off scot free like what happened. No, now that we have the president on side, we're going to do it right. We going to come at him with the full force of the law, and… we're going to get justice. For you, and for everyone else who has fallen victim to him, your mother, and their activities."
Another abrupt pause.
"…Are they going to die?"
"I don't know." Was all Mabel could answer. "If it gets to that point… it'd be up to the judge. But out of the crimes they should be charged with… a lot of them carry the death penalty. Especially at the severity we're talking about."
A sympathetic if disconnected look. "I want you to understand that, Pacifica. I… know they treated you like crap, but I understand if you-"
"I would prefer that."
A beat, and a blink, Mabel caught slightly off guard. "…You know, that shouldn't surprise me."
"Mabel they made my life hell. Prison was better than living under their thumb… and honestly, I don't think I'll mind the custodianship. Might… might mean I'm a bit safer."
Another pause, and an aside glance from the Commander.
"I'm gonna do what I can to protect you, Paz. I… know they're insidious. I can't make any guarantees that even NERV will be safe for you. For all we know, they have one of their own among our ranks. Tokyo-3 certainly did."
Another quiet, Pacifica unsure.
"…Look. Technically as part of your release, you're meant to have a member of NERV supervise you. Make sure you aren't getting up to any funny business. I… think we both consider each other a close friend, so… how would you like to be my offsider?" Mabel would put forward. "You can learn what I do and help me along with it, I have a spare room in my apartment. Doesn't have any windows but that might be a boon for you in this situation…" With an aside glance. "Armed guards supervising all entryways around the clock… no one's going to harm you, Paz."
Before a disgruntled sigh. "God… I know this just sounds like prison again, but… it's what I'm working with. I'm sorry if it's not what you're expecting."
More silence.
"What… about what they're pursuing with me?"
"You should've never been thrown in prison, Pacifica." In frank admission. "I'm personally working on a case to get any action against you quashed and to get you out of this limbo. So… trust me." She could softly smile. "We working on giving you a better life. Believe me, we're all your friends here, Paz. Dip wanted you out as much as I did."
"Heh… I'm sure he did."
The silence would remain.
…A common thought would persist in both of their minds though.
'God I'm useless at this!'
God I'm useless at this!'
~
The alarm harshly buzzed.
"Kuhh…" Asuka would bemoan, stretching her body on her partner. "…the only thing that makes this tolerable is the knowledge I'm getting in that brain of yours."
"Makes it a bit better hey…"
They were all soon in the back of Misato's car, Shinji Asuka and Rei sitting abreast. "Did you have much luck fixing your synethesia, Asuka?"
"Eh I'm getting used to it. It's good for example with Shinji but when it's stormy… it's not good." In a chuckle. "And I much prefer the quiet now."
"Y'know you can just undo what you did when you're back in the Evangelion." Misato remarked.
"I know, but I wanna put up with it for a bit longer. Might be useful."
"It is what I see in a ways anyway." Mused Rei. "Only with spirit."
"Heh, maybe one day I can get that power too!" Asuka nudged her with an elbow.
"Perhaps." With a small smile.
They were in the dressing rooms, her plugsuit conforming to her figure. "…Hey, Rei?"
"Yes, Asuka?"
Waving her over. "I got something to tell you."
A crane of her head, before she came close.
Whispering into her ear. "The sync tests should be done by nine, if they're gonna hook the Evangelion to the simulator that's gonna take at least a day, so… we'll have the day to ourselves."
"What are you implying there, Asuka?"
"Well… I'll just say we had something come through last night that… may catch your fancy, so to speak."
Now that got Rei intrigued. "How… fanciful is it?"
Asuka leaned further into her ear, whispering that scene.
That turned her pale face beet red. "Oh… my… and this was-"
Hand over her head. "Shh!" And pointing to the microphones. "You know how Misato is like when it comes to the straight and narrow. So… we'll keep it to ourselves for now."
Rei picked up the double entendre, nodding slightly.
"Heh, good." With a wide grin. "And tell Kaworu as well through that little link of yours! This concerns him as well!"
"I… will."
Asuka would leave to meet up with Shinji.
Rei meanwhile was left there in thought. "…Well, that's going to distract you."
"What is?" Eliza peeked over the shower cubicle. "D'oh was Asuka trying to get in your suit again!?"
"Perhaps…" With a bashful aside glance.
Much to the computer's eyeroll, the shower turning off and her emerging in nothing but a towel. "I don't think I'm ever going to understand this whole horny thing you guys have going on."
"Is… it not natural to you?"
"They don't tend to make computer programs with sexuality in mind, Rei." With a snicker, dropping the towel in front of her without a single care. "And I don't think I would've wanted the people I consider my mothers to program that either. If I ever find out, I'm finding out on my own terms, thank you very much!"
"Do you even have much incentive to find out?"
"Not really." In a snort. "Doesn't really interest me. It's just hardware at the end of the way, I don't look at a monitor and think 'oh that's a nice curve to it'."
That got a giggle out of Rei. "Your perspective is a unique one, Eliza. Do you think you may think different in time?"
"That's the thing, I might." While slipping into her plugsuit. "The ELIZA is a constantly evolving program. Who's to say I develop that kinda thing one day."
The suit conformed to her figure, as Rei's had. "But for the time being, that's a moot thought. I don't feel anything towards it. I love you as my sister and pilot, I love my mothers. I love the friends I have made. But I don't feel anything sexual towards them. And that's okay."
Rei giving a nod in affirmation, holding her hands. "Don't feel you need to force something, okay? Just… because we are into that."
"I've been in your head, Rei. I know." She'd laugh out. "And yeah, that's also why I'm not too cut up about you thinking that way about me. I know it's your… well, nature, for lack of a better word."
"Well even more so, being Lilith's own daughter."
"Hmpf, I suppose I should expect the mother of humanity to naturally want a higher libido…" With a snicker. "So that's for real then?"
"She affirmed such thing with me."
"Mhm, good. I… know you were thinking about that a few times, when you were syncing with me. I'm glad you got that sorted, Rei."
"I am too… but there's a lot more things I have to worry about now."
Eliza would gently squeeze her hands. "We'll face them together. Don't you worry a thing, Rei."
A glance down, and back up, to her eyes. "Yeah. We can face this together."
The computer would softly smile. "C'mon, we're keeping them waiting."
~
The first sync tests were run with NT-Unit-00, Unit-01, and Unit-02, respectively involving Rei and Eliza, Shinji and Asuka, and Hikari with her mother's core. "All looking good chief!" Called Kensuke.
Rei and Eliza were maintaining a healthy 190% combined, Rei appearing engaged in idle conversation with her core.
Hikari was running around 78% and was in a very healthy conversation about her life with her mother.
Meanwhile Shinji and Asuka's, while running healthy in the mid 80s both ways, was rather undulate. "Hehe, what're you two talkin' about?"
"W-wuh?" Shinji looked a bit bashful.
"C'mon, we're all friends here!" The Commander cheered.
An aside glance, his sync dipping down a few points. "Just… what we're gonna get up to after the sync's done…"
"Ooh la la, making good use of the day eh?"
"Misato…"
"Oh fine, sorry Shinji." Sat back down in her chair at Maya's behest. "Still, don't let those thoughts distract you too much. We're trying to get a good gauge of your sync, and your mind needs to be clear of those dirty thoughts!"
A beat. "Asuka asks 'is it ever'."
Much to the Commander's snicker. "Okay she has me there, just try your best mmkay?"
A sigh, as Shinji ended up relaxing.
His sync with Asuka ticked back up, eventually settling on a steady 180 combined.
"There you go, that's what we wanna see." With a smirk.
The hours would pass quickly, and soon they were out and in a debrief. "Good work guys, healthy sync all across the board! Just remember not to get distracted you two." A pointed look towards Asuka and Shinji.
Who merely glanced away, rubbing the back of their heads bashful. Rei snickered at the gesture.
"Will you be needing us?"
Shaking her head. "We have Zero Two and Hiro running up NT-Unit-00 again, and we're testing Toji and Hikari in Unit-01."
"Will there be simulated tests?"
"Not a bad idea, but we'll need at least a day to set it up. So… yeah. I guess that's all we need you for!" She'd beam, and clap her hands. "Enjoy the weekend! I'll let you know when we have the sim ready but it'll probably be after midday tomorrow."
"Sleep in!" Asuka fist pumped. "Hell yeah!"
"Knew you'd like that." In a snicker. "Anything with Shinji eh?"
"Heh you know it!" With a beam. "You got anything planned you two?"
Rei would shake her head, same as Eliza.
"You guys wanna hang out together?"
"Yeah, I don't think I have much going on today." In thought. "I'll check."
"Now that's the spirit!" Cheering. "Look at you guys being normal kids!"
"Pfft, for once!" Joked Asuka. "How long will the others be?"
"Might be out and about by the afternoon, especially if we want to get the sims ready for tomorrow we'll be needing the Evangelion free." In a shrug. "They'll let you know."
"Fair enough."
"I think that's us! You're dismissed, get yourselves cleaned up and go about your day."
"Yes Commander!" They all shouted in sync, before leaving for the dress rooms.
The girls would go about disposing of their plug suits. "I get the feeling this business you guys are getting into doesn't involve me."
Rei looked to Eliza, and then looked to Asuka. "Can you tell her?"
A snicker, before she went up to Eliza to whisper in her ear.
Her eyes went wide as she elaborated on what they found. "Heh… now while normally I'd be all for that, I think that business is between your… close friends, to use the euphemism."
"Aww, not interested?"
With a shake of her head. "But do let me know if there's anything of interest that comes up… other than that sorta business." With wry smirk. "I have some work at NERV I can catch up on, go… do your thing."
"Ahh c'mon we'll treat you right!" With an elbow jab. "Nah fair enough, I didn't see you in it either way."
"Rei told me a few details about it." In a huff. "I would've hoped not."
The girls finally made themselves decent, and they parted ways with Eliza.
Soon meeting up with Shinji. "Well, Shin-chan, ready to show Rei what we found?"
He gave a very bashful nod.
"Ah c'mon, we all love each other!" Grabbing both of their hands and leading them off. "Rei, let your soulmate know as well!"
~
"Go fish."
Kaworu picked up a card. "Hey, it's b-better than just laying in bed all day."
He could only sigh. "Forgive me if I've been… distracted. This Incubator… and what Lilith told us."
"It's been on your mind, I know."
Cards down, she'd crouch in behind him, holding him. "You've been keeping in t-touch with Rei?"
The boy would nod. "She had sync tests as well so I've been keeping that to a minimum today."
"Mhm… what's it over there-" Glancing to the clock. "Uhh, n-nine in the morning I think. You guys usually d-do it early so-"
A tug on his leyline. "Heh, that feels like her now."
So he would fully open himself up to his all too distant partner. "Rei?"
"Have you been well?"
"As… well as I can be, given the circumstances."
"Well, if you need a distraction, another Rift material has dropped in… involving us."
"They typically involve us don't they?"
"No… as in the four of us… together."
Both of them blinked at the prospect.
Mari would give a giddy laughter. "Oh my, all of them?! Gee where have I seen that tried before?!"
Even if it was a bit rushed and ultimately doomed to fail… he couldn't help but look back on their time in Germany with some joy. "If there's one thing that could shift my mood, it'd be that."
"I'm happy to hear that. I will call you when we are ready to go through it."
Her warmth was definitely a promising sign. "I don't think I've e-ever heard them this positive about a work ever!"
"Seeing Aki in that doujin was a highlight… but yes, the prospect Rei told us would definitely excite them."
"Well what do you think of the idea?" With a coy lean forward. "C'mon I know you love them! Ahh actually Asuka I'm not too sure of, you guys seem like close friends at least!"
"She's… sweet." In a small smile. "But we have not spent time in much intimacy, if that is the question being asked."
"Ahh dang." In a sigh. "Do you want to?"
A beat.
"Oh c'mon Ash I know you love them." With a jab. "T-They love each other, it's a whole mess of relationships that on paper is straightforward but there's a lot more n-nuance to it."
The thought was definitely nice… but even still.
Mari could sigh. "Am I gonna have to fly the flag for that relationship?"
"N-no." If something could get him flustered it'd be a topic like that. "We… will see what they all think."
"I think y'all should just do what you want. What makes you happy." With a small smile. "But that's okay, A-Ash. It's something personal between you guys, you need to see if it's right for you." Also thinking back to their time in Germany. "Nothing wrong with h-having multiple partners, it was starting to get pretty normalized in my time. Heck even in Japan, you have K-Kensuke and his mob!"
Another beat. "It's… a nice thought. But we'll see, Mari."
~
The book was placed on the table. "I am not impressed by the title."
"I'm more impressed by the fact it implies you can get a hangover, Rei!"
"Were you ever able to get drunk, Rei?"
"I have not had that much to try. Even so, now I have the Solenoid, alcohol would be ineffectual."
"Aww poo, it's fun getting tipsy!"
"Says Misato too."
"Hey I'm not that bad!" Flicking his ear. "And I'm German, we have beer in our blood! And proper beer, not the piss water Misato drinks!"
"Do you still have some of that?"
"Oh yeah, wanna get a few out Shinji?"
"It seems early for drinks."
"Says the person it doesn't affect." In a snicker, picking herself up and picking out a few cans from the fridge. "So this is Kölsch, and actual Kölsch brewed in Köln. It's a bit of an acquired taste but I quite like it." Cracking open the cans for them.
Shinji shrugged and sipped from it. "It's the weekend."
Rei thought about it for a moment, before taking a sip from her can.
"Well, what do you think?"
A blink. "It's okay." And another sip.
"Well I'll take that as a complement." Asuka's sipped a bit more than the others. "Should we get Kaworu on the horn?"
Rei would oblige, the phone ringing briefly before picking up. "Hi Rei, Shinji, Asuka."
"Hi guys!" Mari also called out. "Now what's this weird work I've heard you talk about?"
"It's something steamy." Snickered Asuka.
"Now are you sure you want me reading this with you, c-cause I can just chill out in Ash's subconscious for a bit."
"Nah you're alright Mari."
"Could provide an outsider perspective on the events." Shinji would think. "Though… just note it is a bit saucy."
"Mhm I figured that from what I could gleam so far." Snickering. "Well, should we get it started then?"
The three looked between each other.
And offered a shared smile. "No time like the present."
Rei picked up the book, and would begin the narration…
~~~
