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In her office, Ritsuko called up the Commander.
��What is it, Doctor Akagi?�� Gendo Ikari asked, his tone was even, but hinted that he was being interrupted.
The bottle blonde paused for a moment before continuing. �Some of the support staff have been asking about why Captain Katsuragi was in a plugsuit. I�ve tried to stop things from getting out of hand, but I want to know how you want to continue with this.�
The Commander remained silent for a moment. ��There will be questions and I want to be able to answer them. We need more data before we can properly brief the UN. Get Unit-00 ready for synchronisation testing with Captain Katsuragi. That is your new priority.��
�Yes, sir,� Ritsuko answered before the Commander ended the call from his end. �As polite as ever, I see.�
Shaking her head, the scientist saved the document that she was working on before phoning Aoba and Hyuga.
Five minutes later, the two men knocked on her door.
�Come in.�
�You wanted to see us, Dr. Akagi?� Hyuga asked.
�Yes. I have spoken with Commander Ikari and he�s given me a new priority: Unit-00. It needs to be made ready for synchronisation testing as soon as possible,� the faux-blonde explained. �There is a reason for this, and it can be summed up in four words: we need more data.�
�Does this have anything to do with Captain Katsuragi?� Aoba asked with more than a hint of hope in his voice.
�What I�m about to tell you is not to be repeated outside of official briefings, is that clear?�
�Yes, ma�am,� the two men replied in unison.
�Good,� Ritsuko nodded. �During a recent training session, it was discovered that Captain Katsuragi was able to synchronise with Unit-01. The ratio was 29 percent. Because there was a chance that this was an instrumentation error, everything was replaced and the tests repeated. The result was a sync ratio of approximately 29 percent.
�Earlier, there was further synchronisation testing. Pilot Ikari was used as a baseline for this test. Captain Katsuragi was wearing a plugsuit for this testing.�
Ritsuko reached over and took a sip of her coffee before continuing. �Now, since we have confirmed that Captain Katsuragi�s synchronisation with Unit-01 was neither a fluke nor instrumentation error, we need to see if she can sync with Unit-00.�
The two men nodded in understanding.
The scientist saw that she needed to dangle a carrot rather than just wield a stick. �Of course, the sooner that Unit-00 is ready for this testing, the sooner we can start. And it goes without saying that I will need someone to monitor this important test.
�You have your orders. You are dismissed.�
�Yes, ma�am,� the two men saluted before rushing off to attend to their duties.
Ritsuko shook her head and turned her attention back to the results of the day�s testing.
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Elsewhere at NERV, Shinji and Misato were discussing their experiences in the entry plugs.
�So, Shinji-kun, how did today�s testing compare with an actual mission?� the Captain asked, looking at her ward intently.
�Well, it wasn�t as rough. I mean, it didn�t feel like I was going to lose an arm or have my skull cracked open,� the young Ikari answered. �Sometimes, when the Evangelion is hit and thrown about, it can make you feel a bit dizzy, like when they increased the pressure of the LCL.�
�I�m not that hot on physics, but I think increasing the pressure is the only way we can simulate impacts short of hitting the entry plugs with big hammers.�
Shinji smirked at the image of technicians hitting the entry plug with large hammers.
Misato noticed the expression on Shinji�s face and added, �Entry plug no baka.�
That was enough to cause the young man to laugh out loud, drawing the attention of Maya Ibuki.
The young lieutenant approached the pilots.
�Is everything alright?�
�Everything�s fine, Ibuki-san,� Shinji answered. He seemed to become a little more withdrawn at Maya�s presence.
Misato picked up on the change in body language in her roommate. �Can we help you anything, Maya?�
�Oh no, nothing�s wrong, Captain Katsuragi, it�s just that I don�t think I�ve ever heard Ikari-kun laugh before,� the short-haired woman answered.
The Captain shrugged. �I guess that�s just because you only see Shinji here at NERV. At home, he�s a lot more fun.�
�I should get back to work,� Maya smiled before bowing politely and leaving them alone.
When they were alone, Misato turned to Shinji. �In all seriousness, Shinji, is everything alright? I saw you tense up when Maya came up to us.�
�I�m just not used to people coming up to me and talking to me,� the teenager answered.
�So what makes me different?�
�I don�t know,� Shinji shrugged nervously.
The purple-haired woman leaned in to whisper into his ear. �Maybe it�s because you don�t want to give up the chance to see me in a towel when I get out of the bath?�
�It�s not that,� the young pilot insister, his cheeks turning bright red.
�Or maybe it�s the wrestling?�
�M-Misato-san��
�And there�s our answer,� Misato smiled knowingly. �Anyway, it�s time for us to go back to work, Shinji. We�ll go see Ritsuko in her office and see what she has to say about our sync scores.�
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There, you are all now up to date.