After school, Rei Ayanami came over to tell Shinji and Asuka that they needed to do synchronization training today.
"Fair enough. You still need to get familiar with the controls, even if this is definitely easier than yanking on two sticks," Zero quipped, recalling the Eva's two control levers.
Asuka was quite happy about it. After all, she now knew her mother was inside Unit-02.
Looking at the silent Rei Ayanami, Zero smiled and asked, "How's your search for the meaning of bonds going?"
"I'm still looking..."
"But now I've started to feel what it means to be 'alive.' I don't have to obey orders forever."
Just as Zero had expected, Rei Ayanami was gradually escaping the shadow of living only to follow orders.
Of course, that also had a little to do with Gendo Ikari no longer caring about Rei Ayanami after Yui Ikari's resurrection.
Shinji patted Rei Ayanami on the shoulder. "That's good. You're not alone, Rei."
"We'll all help you."
"Mm." Rei Ayanami smiled again.
"Hey, idiot?"
"Are you two done being sappy yet?" Even though Asuka knew Rei was Shinji's sister, she was still a little unhappy.
Watching the two bicker in front of him, Zero couldn't help sighing.
"Too bad I probably won't have that kind of luck for another twenty thousand years," he said self-deprecatingly.
He claimed he had no time to think about that sort of thing right now, but in reality...
He'd endured plenty of lovey-dovey displays while possessing Dan Moroboshi, yet seeing these teenagers still made Zero feel as though their sweetness was being shoved down his throat.
After all, by the Land of Light's standards, he was only a seventeen-year-old boy.
Once they reached the Eva Hangar, Shinji entered Unit-01's Entry Plug.
Since Shinji now controlled the Eva through the Palaj Bracelet, no LCL was pumped in.
He didn't even need to change into his Combat Suit.
The Palaj Bracelet began to glow, and Unit-01's hands started moving along with Shinji's.
Just then, a hologram of Hikari suddenly appeared.
"Holy sh-!" What was that?! Shinji and Zero both jumped.
"Ahem. By the time you see this recording, I'll already be back in the Land of Light. What you're seeing now is just a recording."
"I've given Unit-01 a special upgrade. There's a button in front of the seat in the Entry Plug."
Shinji found the button and pressed it. A slot popped out.
"Place one of the Ultra Brothers' Capsules inside and push it back in, and Unit-01 will be able to use some of that Ultra Brother's abilities."
"But don't expect them to be as powerful as the originals. I was pressed for time, after all."
"And pay close attention: even a minor ability can only be used once a day. After using a major finishing move, you won't be able to use any Capsule abilities for an entire day, so use them carefully."
"The data for the Training Space will be sent to you automatically once my recording disappears."
"Finally, I wish you every success in completing your mission. The Land of Light will always have your back."
"Bye-bye."
Hikari's hologram vanished, and a beam of light flew into the Palaj Bracelet. Zero absorbed the data inside.
"That's Hikari for you..."
"Big Brother Zero, can I try it?" Shinji asked curiously.
"Just look at the ability list. Using a beam attack here would definitely blow up the base..."
"Let's try this one." Shinji took out a Capsule. This time, it was Ultraman Jack's Capsule.
"What a coincidence. He's the warrior beneath the sunset I told you about. He came up with the Five Ultra Oaths."
"His name is Jack, and he's also the fourth of the Ultra Brothers."
Shinji placed the Capsule in the slot and pushed it back in.
The electronic screen appeared again: Ability selection [Specium Ray (Jack version)] [Ultra Bracelet (one-minute limit)] [Cinerama Shot] [Fog Beam] [Meteor Kick] [Ultra Rocket] [Ultra Beam] [Ultra Flash] [Ultra Barrier (Jack version)]
The sheer number of abilities left Shinji dazzled.
"Just look for now. I'll walk you through them one by one during tonight's training. Mostly, I'm worried we'll tear the base apart."
"Shinji, stop spacing out and keep training." Unaware of what was happening, Misato assumed Shinji was daydreaming because he wasn't moving.
Shinji removed the Capsule and put it back in its case. The ability selection screen closed automatically.
"Just watch me." Shinji resumed practicing his poses.
Meanwhile, Asuka and Rei Ayanami had completed their connections with Unit-00 and Unit-01.
The technician stared at the synchronization readings in disbelief.
"Unit-02's synchronization rate with its pilot has reached eighty-five percent!"
"Unit-00's synchronization rate with its pilot has reached sixty-five percent too!"
"Rei, Asuka, you're both doing very well today!" Misato praised them.
"I'm used to it by now..." Ritsuko had become mostly numb to things exceeding her expectations.
From a concealed location, Gendo Ikari and Yui Ikari watched the test.
Gendo Ikari had two more slap marks on his face.
Fuming, Yui Ikari pointed at Rei Ayanami and demanded of Gendo Ikari, "You've really outdone yourself. You went and made me a 'daughter' without saying a word..."
She had learned Rei Ayanami's true identity from Fuyutsuki.
"I was wrong... Yui." In front of Yui Ikari, Gendo Ikari had no temper whatsoever.
Training ended. Asuka climbed down from Unit-02 and hugged its face.
"I'll come see you again, Mom."
Then she composed herself and walked confidently into the changing room to get dressed.
She ran into Shinji just as she came out.
"That was amazing, Asuka. Your synchronization rate is so high now."
The praise made the corners of Asuka's mouth rise uncontrollably.
"Of course. Who do you think I am?" Asuka lifted her chin proudly.
"You did great too, Rei." Seeing Rei emerge, Shinji didn't hold back his praise for her either.
"By the way, just because you don't need a synchronization rate doesn't mean you can slack off, idiot Shinji."
"I would've forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it. I won't let his training slide." Zero popped out with a wicked grin.
"That goes for you too, young lady. I've prepared a new special training plan for both of you."
"This is going to kill me... Why did I bring that up...?" Asuka felt faint.
That evening, Asuka and Shinji entered the Training Space again.
Zero fitted them with Training Armor.
"Idiot Zero! Why are you making us wear this again?!" Asuka was afraid Zero was going to put them through jeep training again.
"Ahem. No jeep this time."
Zero conjured two wooden staffs and tossed one to each of them.
In a world a certain warrior had once visited, there were giant mechs similar to Evas.
"The pilots in that world used this kind of sparring to find the most compatible partner, and even to further improve their synchronization."
"Now, pick up your staffs and start sparring."
"You've got five hours."
"Five hours?! Are you insane?!" Asuka demanded incredulously.
"As long as it's not the jeep..." Shinji, on the other hand, had gone numb to it.
Zero opened a gate of light and prepared to leave.
Then he remembered something and stopped.
"Oh, right. If you don't train, slack off, or just let one person beat up the other, the timer won't move. Good luck."
"You really are a damned bastard..."
"I won't get in your way. I'm off."
Zero left the two of them alone on the training ground.
After Zero left, Asuka and Shinji exchanged a look. Through the visors of their Training Armor, they could see the helplessness in each other's eyes.
With no other choice, Asuka swung her staff first and attacked Shinji. He hurriedly raised his own to block. "Ha! Take this, idiot Shinji!"
Asuka shouted, her attacks growing fiercer. Shinji defended while watching for an opening.
Since he had learned a little about using a spear from Zero before, he decided to go easy on Asuka.
Asuka had never trained with a staff, after all. Gaps began appearing in her defense, and her movements slowed.
Shinji spotted an opening and swung his staff toward Asuka's head, stopping just short.
"That doesn't count! Again!" Asuka refused to accept it.
Just as the two prepared to exchange blows again, Zero suddenly poked his head through the gate of light. "Zero to one."
"A winner already? Not bad, not bad. Looks like the special training is working. But time's not up yet, so keep going."
With that, he disappeared again. Asuka and Shinji sighed helplessly, readied their stances, and resumed sparring.
Five hours later.
Zero's head popped out quietly. "Forty-four to forty-eight. Shinji wins. That's it for today's training."
"Still want to familiarize yourself with the abilities, Shinji?"
"I'm done..." Shinji tossed away his staff and collapsed on the ground like a puddle of mud.
"Me too..." Asuka collapsed as well.
Since their previous training had improved their stamina, Shinji and Asuka barely managed to make it to their bedding after being pushed out of the Training Space.
But... they simply tossed their bedding onto the floor and lay down, without noticing they had thrown it together.
And so the two ended up lying together again. Before long, deafening snores filled the room.
"What did you do to them...?" Misato demanded of Zero, unable to stand the noise.
"I only trained them for five hours," Zero said casually.
"Five hours?! As an old Dragon Country saying goes, you're working them like donkeys on a production team..." Misato was rather speechless.
"The harder they train, the less they bleed in battle."
"After all, I can't protect them forever..."
Early the next morning, sunlight fell across Shinji's and Asuka's faces, but they were still fast asleep.
Hurried footsteps approached, and Misato rushed in with her hair a tangled mess, shouting:
"Wake up! An Angel's here!"
Before you continue