Day of Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu gets a little bit confusing. And a little bit hotter.
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Chapter 3., part 2. – Into the fire
The following tea time was somewhat silent. Cluttering of teacups and sound of cutlery touching the plates were the only sounds; even the insects that were usually making time-and-season-appropriate sounds in the bushes were absent. Kyoko found this odd but was somehow at a loss how to break this awkwardness without making it worse.
To her relief, Yui broke the silence first. "I'm sorry, Soryu. I…"
Kyoko tilted her head a bit. "For what?"
"I… I believe I made you uncomfortable. I apologise for…", she trailed off, seeing the confusion on Kyoko's face.
"You… haven't… why?" she asked, her voice underscoring the state confusion.
"I… I was under the impression it was… never mind", Yui waved her hands in front of her and produced a large fan from nowhere. She spread it and hid most of her face behind it.
Kyoko raised her eyebrows at the theatric prop, decided to ignore it, and shook her head. "Ikari. I just had a strange day… night and a day… Time. Strange time. Weird time. The time when I was poked and prodded my… Core?" she sighed in confusion. "I'm sorry, it's hard to describe, and even harder to avoid making it sound weird. No, you did not make me uncomfortable. I'm fine", she paused and smiled. "If anything, your company makes me feel better."
Yui made an indistinct sound and kept hiding her face behind the fan. 'Is that a blush?', Kyoko stared at her host – well, at what was visible of her host. 'No, not possible. She's just as confused as I am with the situation', she decided and reached for more cake.
Yui took a deep breath and calmed herself. Well, tried to calm herself. The thought that her current mood could trigger another alarm was adding to a vicious cycle that could only be broken by diverting her thoughts elsewhere. It was time to act.
"Soryu!" she slammed her fan on the table so fiercely that all the china and cutlery clanked in unison; Kyoko jumped up, immediately focusing on Yui's face.
"What is it?! Another alarm?"
"No!" Yui shook her head, determination clear in her eyes. "Tell me about poetry. German poetry."
Kyoko tilted her head so much and so fast that she felt pain in her neck. "What."
"Or music. I had very little education in that culture. Please", Yui's tone was almost pleading; fingers of one of her hands were gripping the seat, while the other hand was wrapped around the fan. Something was creaking from the pressure, Yui was not sure which one it was.
Kyoko shook the surprise off. She was slowly becoming used to strangeness around here, but every once in a while, her host managed to throw her off track.
"Well, I'm not exactly the best person to talk about it", she started reluctantly, but Yui's focus definitely made her reconsider. "… but I guess I can try. Are you familiar with works of Goethe and Schiller?"
"Superficially. Tell me", Yui blurted out.
'This is weird. But hey, this is not the weirdest thing to happen to me today. She has reasons, I'm sure. I just have to remember to ask her what they were. Before I start to think up my own', Kyoko shrugged internally and entered the lecture mode.
"As far as I remember – and this was not my degree, so my knowledge ends on high school, both of them began in the movement that was called Sturm und Drang…"
***
Kyoko went on the subject for a while. This was, obviously, not her specialty, but a good lecturer should be able to take several facts and weave a narrative around them; if the lecturer can additionally keep the narration itself interesting, they can hold the attention of students – or student, in this case – for a while.
Kyoko had no idea whence the unusual request came, but she came to trust Yui's judgements along the way… and there was no harm in indulging her host. After all, Yui was listening intently, clearly focused on Kyoko's voice when she described literature she became familiar with in high school.
"… and that's about as much as I can tell you without making a proper lecture plan, thinking what else I can remember, and referring to external sources… which might be rather difficult now", Kyoko finished, taking a deep breath.
Yui closed her eyes and reclined in her chair. "Thank you", she whispered. Kyoko remained silent and kept looking at her host; her face was actually the only one Kyoko ever saw nowadays, maybe except her own in the mirror. Nonetheless, despite the exposure, some of Yui's mimic expressions were still unreadable for her. The expression Yui now held could indicate tranquility or maybe deep thought… but also a state of intense focus from which she'd jump out with an idea or sudden action.
Nothing like that happened. After several minutes – in which Kyoko realised she hears the cicadas again – Yui opened her eyes and sighed contently. "Thank you", she repeated louder. "I apologise, this must have been… confusing."
Kyoko nodded in response. "Just a little bit. It's the first time I had to recall my knowledge on the subject since…" she trailed off, her throat suddenly a bit tight. "Since I told Asuka about it. Since I read the poems to her", she finished in a small voice, closing her eyes.
She felt a hand touching her own. A soothing voice came. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to remind you of that. Remember, your daughter is out there, quite fine."
Kyoko took in a sharp breath, trying to keep her emotions under control. The last thing they needed now was another alarm for that Akagi person. "She is, yes, I know. I saw her. But I still can't go hold her whenever I want, and I can't tuck her in at night, and can't comfort her if she has a nightmare", she stopped to take a deep breath. "I know she is not four anymore, I know she likely has friends", she continued in a calmer voice, "but it still hurts. I still miss her."
Yui smiled sadly, not letting go of Kyoko's hand. "Soryu… I know. I have the same with my son. We both miss them… and hope for the best for them. And we will give them the best, bright future we can, right?"
Kyoko opened her eyes and nodded. "Well, just like mothers should. I just hope we're able to."
"We will be. More tea, Soryu? We still have some things to discuss, I believe."
Kyoko smiled and presented her cup. The familiar face of Yui Ikari was back.
***
Kyoko focused, as Yui instructed her to do. She felt her limbs move, sensed her hands wrapped around the controls of the thermal suit claw. The sensation, now conscious, was adding to the discomfort she still felt when operating her current body.
They spent the last few hours of perceived time discussing the intricacies of Evangelion systems, decided on some more tests, and even managed to take a walk. They even reached the hedge maze, when Yui tensed up and realised something was up – namely, they were being moved. Kyoko took that opportunity to put their theory into practice and test her remote perception of Unit-02. While the results were minimal and confusing, she was able to confirm Yui's assessment – and she realised Unit-02 was being re-armed.
Being sent back – or, more accurately, returning to her body under careful Yui's guidance, another thing they wanted to put into practice – felt as usual. The cold waters, the hushed whispers – less pronounced than last time, for sure, but never silent – and the awkwardness of the Evangelion body. 'Business as usual, I guess. At least this… thing is less aggressive after I yelled at it', she noticed with some satisfaction. 'Maybe the violence is the answer sometimes', she thought wryly, before refocusing on the present. 'Eh. I'm not sure if I should treat this as life and my time with Yui as a dream, or the other way around…'
"No! What is that?!" came the familiar voice; the auditory input as on again, and this was Asuka's voice.
"The suit is designed to protect you from heat, pressure, and radiation", came the reply in a calm, measured voice Kyoko already heard somewhere; it took her a moment to recall it – it was Akagi's. "This is Type-D equipment, for combat under extreme environmental duress", the scientist continued. Kyoko started to worry – extreme environmental duress did not sound exactly like something she would like to experience.
"Is that my Unit-02?" Asuka continued in a confused voice. She started to argue and several comments were exchanged, before another, strangely collected voice cut in.
"I will go in Unit-02."
This elicited a strong protest from Asuka. "Sorry, but I don't want you touching my Unit-02! I'd rather do it than let the First take my place."
Kyoko listened to the discussion with mixed feelings. 'Well… it's good that she's so assertive, this certainly helps her in life. But I'd wish I taught her how to stand for herself without antagonising people around her…'
'On an unrelated note, that voice… She spoke of "going in Unit-02", so she must be a pilot as well. But this voice sounds familiar…'
"I know it's uncool, but put up with it, okay?" Kyoko heard Asuka again. 'Is she speaking to me?', she wondered for a moment. 'I still didn't figure out how to turn visual on without activation… but I guess she is. I wish I could nod or smile to her', she thought glumly. 'And no, she's not talking to me, she's talking to the machine she pilots', Kyoko forced a tinge of sadness down.
'She does not know of me, after all.'
***
The visual input came in along with the Entry Plug insertion. For a moment, Kyoko was confused. The familiar wide field of vision was limited by a front-facing porthole. Moreover, Asuka looked like a red balloon with a head instead of the familiar appearance of a teenaged girl. 'War zur… is that the "special equipment" they were talking about? Well, I guess Evangelion technology was progressing after we were gone…'
"Roger that!" came Asuka reply to some indistinct chatter on the comm, and Unit-02 started to walk. Kyoko focused on her body again; she felt the limbs moving, but it was her will they followed; they moved on external orders. On Asuka's orders. Or, actually, Kyoko moved them as Asuka willed; she wanted to move them as Asuka dictated, it just felt… right. It felt good.
'I wonder what will happen if I…'
She resisted that good feeling for a moment and willed her leg to remain stationary instead of letting the order flow from pilot to Evangelion.
***
"Was zum Teufel…", Asuka startled when Unit-02 stumbled and almost fell. She managed to grab a railing, but this felt really wrong.
"Asuka? Are you all right?" Misato called out to her.
"This equipment is jamming! It just blocked my joint!" Asuka yelled with annoyance. "How I am supposed to dive in that?!"
***
'I… probably shouldn't have done that', Kyoko realised with worry when she felt the loss of balance, momentary recovery – and Asuka's embarrassment. 'On the other hand, this is how this works… at least functionally', she noted while simultaneously and instinctively relaying the commands of her daughter's mind to uncomfortable alien flesh she now wore. Resisting this was actually so difficult that she felt tired.
'I have no real body, how can I be tired?' she wondered for a moment.
Realising that the conversation continued over the comms broke her out of her reverie.
"I'm telling you, Misato, it jammed!"
The response was inaudible, but it clearly annoyed Asuka. Kyoko focused on the system – 'All right, Ikari has explained its workings, now it's just a matter of applying the knowledge…'
It felt like trying to rearrange her internal organs, but to her surprise, a sudden stream of information assaulted her. Filtering the conversation took her a moment.
"… and now, if you could be so kind, Asuka, place yourself in the range of the transporter grip; our automatic deployment system cannot work with this armour. Angel might not be attacking, but I'd rather not be here all day, and Shinji is already waiting", woman's voice came as clear as Asuka's was before – and she seemed annoyed.
"Yes, yes, yes. In position, Captain", Asuka responded in a sullen voice. She brought Evangelion to a stand and clearly waited for something to happen. That 'something' came in a form of a jolt. 'This must be the transportation device… I'm not sure I like the concept of being hauled like that', Kyoko thought absentmindedly. She started to feel uneasy, despite it not being her first time in flight. She pushed the feeling down; burdening Asuka with her emotions almost created a serious problem before, and certainly created an inconvenience.
***
Fields, roads, rivers, and buildings were passing fast. Kyoko was slowly getting used to it. Asuka's calm mixed with her slowly rising excitement provided an emotional anchor. 'Well, I know it should be the other way around… but no harm is done in having an anchor in the real world… even if it is my own daughter.'
She was still withholding any contact with Asuka except giving her the faintest impression of support. Not alarming her daughter – and everybody else, for that matter – was paramount.
They landed. Kyoko felt the unusually gentle drop from low attitude and noticed Ikari's Evangelion dropping not far from her.
"Hey, where's Mr. Kaji?" Asuka looked around, clearly expecting someone else on site.
"That jerk won't be here! There's nothing for him to do", replied the familiar voice of the woman whom Kyoko considered the pilot's military commander – Captain Katsuragi.
"Damn, I wanted him to see how great I am", Asuka noted in a sulky voice, her disappointment clear, tinged with longing. 'Oh. My. Does this mean…'
She facepalmed mentally. 'Of course. She's a teenager, she has to have some crush. Who could it be? One of the officers, maybe?'
Kyoko sighed internally, trying not to spill her mixed feelings of amusement and sadness to Asuka. She was certainly glad her daughter had feelings and emotions of a normal teenager, despite a childhood without her mother… on the other hand, she would give up everything now to have been with her for those ten years-
She realised too late that her feelings were no longer properly contained.
"… focus, your synch rate is fluctuating. Asuka!" Katsuragi's voice was stern.
"Sorry, Misato", Asuka took a deep breath, ignoring the fact she was breathing liquid with an ease that showed her years of practice. "I just remembered something. I'm with you now."
Kyoko felt the turmoil her daughter was successfully hiding. This could be simply teenager's normal emotional chaos, but there was something else to it, something deeper. Regrettably, Kyoko was far too focused on maintaining her own control to analyse her daughter's feelings. 'Besides, reaching to her now might not be the best idea…' she concluded.
"What are those?" came the boy's voice, shaking her out of her reverie. The emotions have calmed down sufficiently – for now.
"The UN's Air Force is on standby alert", came a reply. 'It sounds like one of the scientists… Akagi?'
"Until this mission has been completed", another voice supplemented.
"Are they going to help us?" Asuka asked, her voice chirpy. 'She sounds happy, but her emotions say something else…'
"No, they're here to clean up", the explanation came in.
"In case we fail", second voice supplemented again.
"What do you mean?" Asuka inquired, worry clear in her voice.
"They will use N2 depth charges to destroy the Angel, and us with it", came a dispassionate reply in Akagi's voice.
"That's… awful", Asuka sounded appalled.
"Who would order something like that?" the boy's voice sounded equally shocked.
"Commander Ikari", came the answer.
'What? They want to nuke the site if this fails? I wonder what Ikari would say about that brilliant idea coming from her husband… she certainly heard that', Kyoko pondered, ignoring voices of the command station that were going through some operational checklist. Only when she realised her body has been grasped and moved once more, her attention returned.
"Unit-02 is in position!" a technician's voice announced. The porthole afforded her very little view, so she focused on Asuka. She was clearly excited, previous distress swept away.
"Roger", came acknowledgement from outside. "Asuka, are you ready?"
"Anytime you are", came a focused reply.
"Launch!", came the order, and with it, Kyoko felt her body being lowered into the boiling magma. The air temperature was increasing with every meter she approached the molten rock surface.
"Uh… looks hot", Asuka noted in slightly worried voice. Her excitement was tainted with worry.
It did not last long; Asuka refocused her attention on the outside, ignoring the rising heat. "Watch this, Shinji!" she yelled over the comm. "Giant stroke entry!"
Kyoko chuckled. 'Danger or not, a sense of humour is always helpful…'
Heat and pressure surrounded her. With it came darkness.
'Well, at least this is familiar… at least it is not cold.'
A whisper answered indistinctly in the darkness. Suddenly, she felt very cold, despite swimming in a volcano.
'Not. Now', she gritted her teeth.
Asuka reacted with a tinge of confusion and moved her jaw. A moment later, she shook her head and refocused on the dark outside. A technician's voice started to list descent parameters: "Current depth, 170. Speed of descent, 20. No problems detected."
The operation has entered the most dangerous phase. There was no time for distractions.
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Thank you for your patience; next update is more likely to come on time.
