Hostile intentions

After reading the materials, Shinji Ikari looked a little surprised and couldn't help asking Ritsuko Akagi, "This thing's main power source is a built-in nuclear reactor?"

"Don't get excited. Can you withstand a radiation leak?"

Ritsuko Akagi saw right through his little scheme. He had made unreasonable requests more than once, asking the technical department to install an unlimited power source in Unit-01.

"I know what you're thinking, but you're going to be disappointed. You laypeople hear 'nuclear' and think it must be impressive, but nuclear reactors are actually inferior to N² reactors."

"An N² reactor produces energy comparable to a nuclear reactor without requiring fission. It doesn't cause radioactive contamination, either, so there's no risk of radiation leaks."

"But N² reactor technology isn't mature yet, and nuclear reactors have obvious flaws. Neither is suited to the demands of high-intensity EVA combat."

"An EVA's internal power supply actually has decent endurance. It's just that an EVA consumes far too much energy."

Ritsuko Akagi waved a hand. The armor had to function as a "restraint" that suppressed the biological weapon inside while also controlling its movements. Of course the energy consumption was high.

At that, Shinji Ikari immediately lost interest. If he'd known, he wouldn't have come. Rather than taking a trip on the company dime, he would have preferred to stay at headquarters and preach to his adorable lost lambs.

Misato Katsuragi had no interest in technology or giant robots. She yawned and said, "It's hard to imagine this was once the metropolis known as the City of Flowers."

"We're here!" Ritsuko Akagi also looked out the window. Most of what she saw was abandoned rubble left behind after the Second Impact.

"So what's your plan?" Misato Katsuragi asked.

"Expose their inferior technology to their faces, of course." Ritsuko Akagi frowned. She thought Misato Katsuragi's question was far too stupid.

"Something that boring? I thought you'd do something earth-shattering," Misato Katsuragi said in surprise.

"This is a technological showdown. A scientific showdown is a clash of ideas. How could that be boring?" Ritsuko Akagi's voice grew cold, carrying a researcher's gravity and earnestness.

Shinji Ikari thought it was boring too. He already had Unit-01 and had no interest in other giant robots.

The UN fighter landed vertically atop a high-tech building. The landing area below was packed with helicopters of every color, making their aircraft stand out like a crane among chickens.

As soon as they disembarked, staff escorted them straight to the conference hall. A banner reading "JA Product Unveiling" hung above the podium.

JA was short for Jet Alone.

Upon entering, Shinji Ikari, Ritsuko Akagi, and Misato Katsuragi were shown to seats in the very center of the hall. They were the only three people at the large round table, making it obvious who the main attractions were.

"Talk about stingy. A table this big, and all they put out is a few bottles of booze. They could at least give us a couple of dishes!" Shinji Ikari was quite unhappy with the empty table and its few bottles.

"Exactly! How are we supposed to enjoy a drink without any snacks?" Misato Katsuragi agreed, opening a bottle and pouring a glass each for herself and Shinji Ikari.

Ritsuko Akagi glanced at the two of them, not bothering to respond. All the other tables were laden with food, while theirs had none. They were clearly being singled out.

"They clearly have hostile intentions," Ritsuko Akagi said, narrowing her eyes.

"You're the one who came to them," Misato Katsuragi reminded her.

Ritsuko Akagi shot her a glare, making her sheepishly shut her mouth. Shinji Ikari chose that moment to offer the unhappy Ritsuko Akagi a glass of liquor.

"Instead of worrying about those people, why not let God guide you?" Shinji Ikari said.

"Thanks, but I'm an atheist. What you call gods are nothing more than rather unusual organisms to me." Ritsuko Akagi accepted the glass and took a dainty sip.

If Adam and Lilith, the origins of life, were gods, then the EVAs she had created were the greatest blasphemy against them. After all, the EVAs' biological components all came from those two.

The representative of Japan Heavy Chemical Industries stepped onto the stage and began introducing his company's new product.

"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the Japan Heavy Chemical Industries product launch. Shortly, we will invite you to the control room for a public test run of JA. If you have any questions, you may ask them now."

The representative had barely finished speaking before Ritsuko Akagi became the first to raise her hand. As expected of a star student, she was always the most eager when it came to raising a hand to answer questions.

"I do!"

"Why, if it isn't the renowned Dr. Ritsuko Akagi! We're truly honored by your presence." The representative was delighted. After all, they had invited her themselves.

"May I ask a question?"

"Please do!"

"From what you just said, is the engine installed internally?"

"Yes. That's one of this model's key features. It guarantees 150 days of continuous combat operations."

"But for a ground-combat weapon designed to engage in close combat, isn't placing the reactor inside the unit far too risky from a safety standpoint?"

"I believe it's far more useful than a decisive weapon that can only operate for five minutes..."

What followed was a heated exchange full of advanced technical jargon. Shinji Ikari and Misato Katsuragi couldn't understand a word.

Even after finishing his secondary-school textbooks, these technological achievements at the pinnacle of human knowledge were still far too advanced for Shinji Ikari.

It was also Shinji Ikari's first time seeing the composed, intellectual scientist argue with someone until her face flushed. It was a truly rare sight.

And the final result was unexpected as well: Ritsuko Akagi actually lost.

Yet Misato Katsuragi was the one who flew into a rage. She even kicked a dent into a storage locker in the lounge. Who knew what her high heels were made of?

"Those petty people must be jealous of our special treatment. They just wanted a chance to vent. I'm so mad!"

Her reason for being angry was simple. At the end of the question-and-answer session, the representative had disparaged the role of human will in fighting the Angels, claiming unmanned machines were superior.

Misato Katsuragi was the operations commander, and Shinji Ikari was an EVA pilot. Looking down on human will was essentially looking down on them.

"Shinji, say something!"

"How about we dig a hole and bury him when he's out walking at night? There are ruins everywhere here. If we pick some random spot, nobody should find him."

Shinji Ikari spoke solemnly. He actually dared to question my bond with Unit-01. He's nothing but a monster in human skin. A devil like that belongs in hell.

"That's... a little too extreme, isn't it?" Misato Katsuragi turned around and held Shinji Ikari back, hurriedly soothing him and urging him to calm down.

"Stop making a fuss, you two. You're acting like children. They only want to show off and win praise. They're nothing special."

Ritsuko Akagi's voice was calm, but the looks Shinji Ikari and Misato Katsuragi gave her were anything but.

She was using a lighter to set the JA brochure on fire, and the flames illuminated her grim expression... In Shinji Ikari's words, she looked like Satan himself had crawled out of hell.