Chapter 9


	Episode 9: Magma Diver/The Unknown factor. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (The scene is a beautiful day in Tokyo-3, the sun shining down on the local shopping mall. Walking in amongst the shoppers, a rather smug looking Kagi strides, with Asuka holding tightly onto his arm.) Asuka: I�m so glad to be going shopping with you, Kagi!! (But Kagi�s smug attitude suddenly vanishes as Asuka drags him into a swimsuit store.) Kagi: Hey, isn�t this the swimsuit section?! (Asuka steps out from behind a rack of suits, holding up a paticularly brief looking one.) Asuka: That�s right!! What do you think of this one? Kagi: Uhhh....aren�t you a little young to be wearing something like that? (Asuka pouts, holding the suit up.) Asuka: Oh, come on! This is what all the girls are wearing! (A short time later, the two are sitting at a table on a huge balconey. In front of them sits the remains of their lunch.) Asuka: Oh, I�m so anxious to go on this field trip!! Kagi: So, where are you going? (Asuka shows Kagi a copy of the field trip timetable.) Asuka: Okinawa! Oh, I can�t wait!! We�re going scuba diving and everything! (Kagi sits back, smiling.) Kagi: Hmm, it�s been years since I went diving... Asuka: Say, where did you go for your field trip? Kagi: Actually, we didn�t have one. (At this, Asuka looks at him with a frown.) Asuka: Why is that? (Kagi grins, remembering.) Kagi: Just a little something called the Second Impact. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------- Asuka: What?!! What do you mean we can�t go on the trip?!! (This is followed by a loud clanking of a dinner plate. The scene is later that day, in Misato Katusuragi�s kitchen. It seems that Misato has just delivered some very bad news to the two EVA pilots.) Misato: We can�t afford to let you go! Asuka: You mean we�re on permenant standby?! Misato: You got it. Asuka: What idiot decided that?!! (Misato grins from behind her beer.) Misato: This idiot, the operation�s planning manager. (Asuka goes silent, sitting back with an angry sigh. Turning to Shinji, she scowls.) Asuka: Shinji, why don�t you stop hiding behind that cup of tea and talk some sense into this woman. Act like a man!!! (Shinji looks up from his tea, and smiles.) Shinji: Well, actually, I kind of figured that we wouldn�t be able to go.. Asuka: So you�ve already given up, hmm? (Shinji smiles, nodding his head.) Matt: Sorry guys. (Asuka looks off into the corner, and talks to herself.) Asuka: Hmmph. Pathetic. There�s nothing more useless than a housebroken male.... Shinji: Hey!! Don�t talk about me like that!! (At this, Misato puts her beer down on the table, and looks at the two sternly.) Misato: Look, think about this as a chance to get ahead of your schoolwork while your friends are out on the trip. This could be a good chance to pick up on your homework.....or didn�t you think we�d seen these report cards? (At this, Shinji cringes, and Asuka starts.) Matt: (laughing) Oiii, busted!! (Misato holds up the two report cards as Matt becomes serious.) Misato: All of your test results are forwarded directly to our terminals.. Matt: And we can�t say we�re very pleased. You two should be getting better grades than this! (Asuka looks away, worried.) Asuka: Ahh, this is so stupid....and the fact that Japenese schools still use the old fashioned grading system... Misato: In rome, do what the romans do..... Matt: You could at least try to get along with what you have. Asuka: THIS SUCKS!!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- ------------ (A short time later, as Shinji and Asuka watch the airliner carrying their classmates lift off into the skies from their balconey, the last words of their friends ring in their ears.) Hikari: Hey Asuka!! I�ll bring you back something nice! Kenske: Ha ha!! Sayonara suckers!!!! Touji: Don�t worry: I�ll have enough fun for the both of you!!! Ha ha ha ha!! ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ (Next day, in NERV H.Q.�s contol centre. The area seems to be a situation of relaxation, as for the moment, there seems to be nothing to do.....Hyuga reads a comic, laughing quietly to himself, Maya reads a sad book, tears seeming to form in her eyes, and Aoba plays an imaginary guitar to himself. Above them, Ritsuko pours herself another cup of coffee while talking to Misato.) Ritsuko: A field trip? That sounds pretty reckless in times like these. Misato: (sighing) I guess the idea is to let them get out and act like children for a change...while they still can. Ritsuko: I guess so. (Meanwhile, still in the control centre, but far from anyone�s view, a lone figure stands in front of a terminal on a deserted part of the control centre.) Matt: .... (Matt seats himself aat the terminal, looking intently at the screen, which is currently black, so to save power. Closing his eyes for a moment, he takes a small object out of a very secure pocket, and stares at it for a moment....it can be seen that it is in fact a very compact, smooth instrument, with a long probe at one end, obviously meant for a disk slot. Pressing the instrument to the disk slot on the terminal, Matt watches as the unit hums for a moment before suddenly, the screen comes to life.) Screen: DATA TRANSFERAL NOW IN PROGRESS: MAGUS BALTHASAR: PLEASE WAIT. (As the unit continues retrieving data from the second Magi supercomputer, Matt glances around, making sure no one has seen him. Finally, after five minutes, the unit whirs, and the screen beeps. Screen: DATA TRANSFERAL COMPLETE. HAVE A NICE DAY. (With this, Matt withdraws the small instrument from the disk slot, and watches as the computer shuts itself down. Then, turning away from the computer, he presses a small button on the unit, and watches its small Liquid Crystal Display come to life. Unit: DATA TRANSMISSION COMPLETE IN 5, 4, 3, 2, 1-TRANSMISSION COMPLETED. SELF DESTRUCT SEQUENCE ACTIVE. PLEASE DISPOSE OF THIS UNIT AS ORDERED. (As Matt puts the unit into his pocket, a small amount of smoke can be seen coming from it�s interior as it�s delicate insides are melted. Soon, the area is silent again as Matt leaves, the staff of NERV still unaware of the fact that Matt has just commited an act of espionage never before seen on earth. With a long, easy stride, he walks back up to where Misato and Ritsuko stand.) Matt: G�day all. Misato: And just where have you been? Matt: Just checking a few last things on the Black Templar. (Ritsuko is not so sure about this however, as is indicated by her look.) Matt: If you don�t believe me, just check the MAGI data recorders. (Ritsuko proceeds to do so, typing in a few quick commands as the screen flashes with data.) Screen: DATA RECORDER TIME: 0900 HOURS. LOCATION: EVA CAGE FOUR. NO DATA AVAILIBLE: SCANS BEING BLOCKED BY SECURITY SCREENS. (However, the cameras show Matt walking around the outside of the Black Templar, running some sort of diagnostic device over it. Ritsuko shrugs, turning off the screen.) Ritsuko: No offence, colonel. Just checking. Matt: None taken. If I were in your situation, I�d be doing the same. Well, I might head off and see what the children are up to....any idea where they are? Misato: I think they�re down in the swimming pool. Matt: Okay. See you later. (With that, Matt turns and leaves, his trench coat swishing before falling back to his sides easily.) Ritsuko: He seems cheerful this morning....URK! (As she swallows some of her coffee, she suddenly coughs, sputtering on the dark fluid. Placing a handkerchief to her mouth, she takes it away to reveal a small bug that Ritsuko swears she put on Matt�s clothing that morning....As Misato sees it, she can be seen to laugh quietly to herself.) Ritusko: Damn him...he could have just handed it to me..... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------ ------------- (A short time later, down in the swimming pool at NERV, the full body swimsuit clad form of Rei Ayanami dives into the water, swimming easily in the cool water. Above her, and on the side of the pool at a table, Shinji sits, typing commands into a computer. The subject, it seems, is some of the afore mentioned homework that Shinji is behind in. As he types, he hears Asuka�s voice.) Asuka: Hey Shinji, what have you got there? Shinji: Basic Physics Primer. Asuka: Oh, you�re such an obedient student. Shinji: Well, I�ll have to do it eventually, so-Gnn! (Shinji has looked up at the approaching form of Asuka Langely Soryu....now wearing a rather brief two piece swimsuit.) Asuka: Well, if we can�t do it in Okinawa, let�s do it here! Shinji: Err...do what? Asuka: Diving of course! So, what are you doing here? (Asuka leans over Shinji, staring at the small screen. As she does, her proximity to Shinji increases, making Shinji blush slightly as Asuka types on the keyboard.) Asuka: You can�t solve an easy problem like this? There, all done. It�s easy when you know how. (As Asuka leans back, Shinji regains some of his composure.) Shinji: How can you answer a problem like that, and still get such bad grades? Asuka: (Sigh) It�s because I have difficulty knowing what the questions are. Shinji: You can�t read the questions in japenese? Asuka: Yeah...I still haven�t learned all of the Kanji yet....I didn�t have to study it in college.. Shinji: You went to college? Asuka: Yeah...I graduated last year. So, what does this one say? Shinji: It�s to do with thermal expansion. Asuka: You can�t understand that? Well, to put it in terms you�ll understand, most things expand when they get hot, and contract when they get cold. Shinji: I�m still not so sure.. (Suddenly, Asuka places her hands upon her chest in a way that turns Shinji as red as a sun.) Asuka: Look, if I were to warm up my breasts with my hands, do you think they�d grow bigger or smaller? (Shinji looks away, annoyed, just as another figure enters.) Matt: Asuka, please, how is Shinji supposed to answer a question like that? He�s been brought up to be a gentleman, right Shinji? (Shinji nods as Asuka turns to Matt, laughing.) Asuka: Him? A gentleman?! I�d like to see that, especially with the way you two live. (Matt makes a mock pained expression.) Matt: I�m hiding the pain, I�m sure. (As Asuka walks over to one end of the pool, Matt comes around to Shinji�s side. As he does, Shinji hears the First Child come out of the water at the other end of the pool. Looking over, he sees her drying her hair roughly, making Shinji stare at her with more a sense of wonder....) Asuka: Hey guys!! Lookie lookie!! (Shinji and Matt�s attention is turned to Asuka, who is now wearing full scuba gear. She stands at the edge of the pool, ready to dive in.) Asuka: Back-roll entry!! (With a splash, she rolls backwards into the water. Matt just shakes his head whilst Shinji sighs to himself and goes back to his studies.) ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ (Meanwhile, in the Control Centre, the command staff of NERV stand around a huge tactical display, observing some aerial photographs taken of a volcano nearby. As the photos increase in density, a small shadow can be seen beneath the lava.) Fujutsuki: This just isn�t clear enough. Aoba: But the reports from the Mt Osuma observation platform said we should take this seriously. We can�t just ignore it. Ritsuko: What about the Magi? Maya: They say it�s fifty-fifty odds. Fujutsuki: Who do we have down there? Aoba: Captain Katsuragi is already on site. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------- -------------- (Meanwhile, in an armoured transport vehicle at the volcano in question....a tense scene is unfolding, as a heat resistant probe is lowered into the volcano to determine if something is alive in there..) Tech: Ma�am, you�re going too deep!! Misato: Send the probe down another two hundred. (Outside, with a loud clanking sound, the probe is lowered deeper into the volcano on a giant crane. Below, a huge crunch indicates that the probe is being damaged by the enourmous amout of pressure being exerted on it.) Annoucer: A crack has occured on the heat-resistant partition. Tech: Miss Katsuragi!! Misato: If it breaks, we�ll pay for the damage. Another two hundred, please. (As the probe reaches it�s new depth, suddenly, a change occurs.) Announcer: We�re detecting an energy field inside the volcano. Misato: Start recording! Hyuga: Right! (But it is with a massive tearing sound that the probe finally collapses in on itself, before exploding.) Announcer: The probe has imploded due to the level of exterior pressure.) (Misato leans in over Hyuga�s shoulder at his station.) Misato: Did you get it? Hyuga: Just barely. Pattern analysis is blue. Misato: The there�s no doubt. It�s an Angel. (She stands, addressing the science van.) Misato: This facility is now under the jurisdiction of NERV. All outgoing calls are now prohibited, and any informtion on this subject will be coded top secret!! (A few moments later, she stands outside the van, talking into a cellular.) Misato: I need an A-17 from Commander Ikari, top priority!! Aoba: (over the phone) Watch what you�re saying, commander. This isn�t a secure line. Misato: I know that. Switch me to a scrambled line immediately! ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- (Meanwhile, on the ocean far from Mt Osuma.....) Speaker: (Misato�s voice) I know that! Switch me to a secure line immediately! (The scene is on the bridge of the Righteous Endeavour. General Amy Patterson sits in the command chair, listening intently to the coded transmission, her head forwards, resting on one hand, in a position like �the thinker�.) Communications Officer: Sir, they�ve switched to a coded frequency. Shall we break the code? (Amy is silent for a moment before answering.) Amy: No. There�s no need. We already know what�s going to happen. Scramble a Spectre, and load it up with an A.M. Depth Charger. Get it out there A.S.A.P.. Comms Officer: Yes sir. (into the comm) Special Ops, you are go to scramble a Spectre. Payload will be an A.M. Depth Charger. Comm: Understood. Spectre will be ready to go in ten minutes. (In the Endeavour�s massive hanger, a long, sleek, jet black fighter is rolled out onto a launch catapault. As it is locked into position, a massive bomb is fixed underneath it, and a pilot clad in totally black armour climbs aboard.) Comm: Spectre is ready to launch. Amy: Understood. Pilot, you are to proceed to the coordinates indicated, and then proceed with the levelling of the area. Is that understood? (There is silence over the comm for a moment before a deep voice, heavily computer augmented, answers.) Pilot: Yes sir. (Amy looks once in the direction of the XO....who nods in return....before speaking.) Amy: Launch Spectre. (With a huge roar, the fighter�s engines come to life, throwing out a massive twenty foot flame before the catapault sends it hurtling out of the hanger, and screaming into the sky. As it leaves the Landship, it suddenly seems to vanish from existence.) Tactical Officer: Spectre has gone into Intrusive Mode. Contact has been lost. Amy: Excellent. Keep an eye on the Mt Osuma site. Tactical Officer: Yes sir. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- (Meanwhile, far from the ears and eyes of any normal man.....a meeting is taking place between Commander Ikari, Sub Commander Fujutsuki, and SEELE, the organisation that controls almost all human affairs.) SEELE: An A-17?!! You want to make an offensive attack?! Gendo: Correct. SEELE: No. It�s too risky. SEELE: Have you forgotten what happened fifteen years ago? Gendo: No. But think of this: this is our chance to move from an defensive position to an offensive posture. SEELE: The risk would be enourmous.... Keel: We will not tolerate failure. (Abruptly, all the other holograms vanish, save for Ikari and Fujutsuki�s...) Fujutsuki: (Snorting) Hmmph. Failure meaning the extinction of the entire human race......are you really going to do this, commander? Gendo: (sighing resignedly).... --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------- (Some time later, in the Command Centre at NERV..) Shinji: That�s an Angel? Ritsuko: Correct. This is some sort of chrysalis form before it reaches adulthood. Misato: The operation is simple. Using the B-TYPE equipment, we�ll lower an EVA into the volcano in an attempt to capture it alive. This mission will be very dangerous. Ritsuko: So, the pilot for this mission will be.. Asuka: Pick me!! I�d love to go diving!!! Shinji: (Thinking) It�s going to be me, as always... Ritsuko: Asuka. Shinji: ?! Asuka: Sure, it�s going to be easy!! (It is then that Rei looks up.) Rei: And me? Maya: The special equipment hasn�t been sanctioned for use with Unit 00 yet... Ritsuko: Unit 00 and it�s pilot will remain here on standby. Rei: Understood. (Asuka leans out, taunting Rei.) Asuka: Awww, poor little Rei, she doesn�t get to have any fun! (But Rei remains silent.) Misato: The Black Templar and Unit 01 will remain outside the crater, to back Unit 02 up if Asuka requires it. Got it? Matt: Got it. Shinji: Okay. Misato: Okay. There�s not much time. Let�s move out. All: ROGER! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- (A short time later, in the female locker rooms....Asuka is putting on her new plug suit. As she presses the button, it constricts, conforming tightly to her form.) Asuka: ? this heat resistant plug suit doesn�t feel any different... (Ritusko, standing nearby, looks up from her clipboard, and guestures with a pen.) Ritsuko: Press the button on your right wrist. Asuka: Okay.... (But as she does, suddenly, the suit inflates, filling with liquid until finally, Asuka is the size of a sumo-wrestler.) Asuka: ______ ______ _____!!!!! (Ritusko stops from smirking as she guestures outside.) Ritsuko: Unit 02 should be ready now.... -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- (In the EVA hangers.) Asuka: NO!!! NO WAY!!!! HOW COULD YOU?!!!! (She stands in her inflated plug suit, pointing to her beloved Unit 02. The Evangelion is now encased in a giant white suit, much like the ones used by old-style deep-sea divers.) Ritsuko: B-TYPE equipment is built for combat under heavy duress, not for high fashion. Asuka: But that�s my Unit 02 in there? The poor thing... (Spinning on Ritsuko, she glares angrilly.) Asuka: Forget it!! I won�t do it!! (Suddenly, she hears a voice from above that makes her turn in embarrasment.) Kagi: Oh, I�m so dissapointed! I was looking forwards to seeing you in action!! (Asuka runs screaming out of the room as she realises what she is still wearing.) Asuka: Dr Akagi, I just can�t let Kagi see me in this disgusting looking thing!! (Maya�s voice comes from overhead.) Maya: (over a loudspeaker) Are we having any problems down there? Ritsuko: Well, yes, sort of.... (Suddenly, standing nearby in his normal plug suit, Shinji speaks.) Shinji: Excuse me, but I could- (He is cut off as Rei puts up her hand, guesturing to the EVA.) Rei: I will pilot Unit 02. (Asuka runs back into the room, slapping Rei�s hand away.) Asuka: RRRR!! Oh no you don�t!! The only way you�re gonna pilot my EVA is over my dead body!! I�d rather do it myself than let her take the mission!! (as she turns to look at the EVA, she groans in apology.) Asuka: I�m sorry, mishkin, they made me do it..... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- ------------------------ (A few hours later, the three units arrive on site, along with a small contingent of other units. As they prepare to attach Unit 02 to the crane hanging over the crater, Shinji watches from the entry-plug of Unit 01. In the distance, he sees silvery shapes lifting off the ground.) Shinji: What are those, jets? Ritsuko: (over the comm) That�s the UN. Shinji: Are they here to help us? Ritsuko: No, they�re here to clear up the mess. Asuka: What do you mean? Ritsuko: If we fail, they�ll use N2 depth charges to completely destroy the Angel, and us too. Asuka: !! This job sucks!!! Shinji: What sort of jerk would order something like that?!! (Matt cuts Ritsuko off.) Matt: Your bloody father, Shinji. Shinji: My father?! (Shinji goes silent as the realisation sinks in...) (Suddenly, outside, another message comes in over the comm.) UN Comm Officer: We�re detecting a small unidentified aircraft heading this way!! All units, move to intercept!! (As everyone watches, the jets in the air form up, and fly towards the object, which is still yet to be seen.) Misato: (over the comm) What�s going on? (Suddenly, the object comes into view: a small, sleek, black fighter moving at a supersonic speed. As it reaches the crater edge, it drops a large object into the lava before pulling up, and with the sound of screaming turbines, roars back off into the sky as the UN jets give chase. UN pilot: We�ve lost contact with it!! Where�d it go?!! (As the three units stand around the outside of the crater, Shinji looks up at the Black Templar, and wonders..) Misato: (over the comm) Matt? Do you know something about this? (Matt is silent for a moment before answering.) Matt: (sternly) Get the rim of the volcano clear. Now. Misato: Matt, this is no time to give up the misson just because- Matt: NOW!!! (With that, the Black Templar spins around, and leaps off the edge of the crater, taking Asuka�s EVA down with it. As Shinji realises what he means, he turns Unit 01 around, and jumps off the edge, rolling the EVA to safety.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- -------------- (In the command vehicle...Misato watches as the three units leap away from the crater before she suddenly clicks as to what the object was...) Misato: IT�S A BOMB!!! EVERYONE, GET CLEAR, NOW!!!! (With that, the vehicles situated around the edge of the crater pull up their moorings, and proceed to drive off the mountainside as fast as they can, just as a large rumbling sound makes itself aparrent....) Hyuga: We�re at a safe distance, I think!!! (Everyone watches in horrified awe as suddenly, the mountain seems to collapse inwards on itself, and with a deafening roar, the mountain is usddenly engulfed by an immense explosion that covers the mountain top and the area directly around it.....as the blast wave spreads out, it suddenly retracts quickly, vanishing into nothing. Behind it, now nothing remains of the eighth angel....all that is left is a massive crater, a reminder of where the volcano used to be. As the dust settles, no one speaks. Suddenly, Matt�s voice is heard over the comm.) Matt: Everyone, report!! Is everyone okay?!!! Misato: Matt!! What the hell was that?!!! (Matt is silent again for a moment before answering.) Matt: That....was the Australian Republic�s answer to the Angels..... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------- Gendo: So, General, would you care to explain just what you thought you were doing?!! (The scene is two days after the My Osuma incident. Gendo Ikari sits at his desk, talking by wireless communication to General Amy Patterson aboard the Righteous Endeavour.) Amy: I was doing exactly what I had been ordered to do, Commander. Destroy any Angels that represent a major threat to the human existence. Gendo: So you deliberately dropped one of those explosives in front of our units, in an attempt to destroy the Angel?! Amy: The bomb was timed. We were just waiting for your units to get clear before we blew it. I�m sorry if it offends you, Commander, but my government will not tolerate the live capture of any Angel. To do so would risk starting a Third Impact, something we will not stand for. Gendo: We had the situation under control. Amy: I�m not doubting your abilities, Commander. But by the same token, I�m not going to underestimate the Angels either. I apologise if any of your units or people were harmed in the incident, and we can compensate you for that. But I am not sorry about deploying the bomb. We would have waited another thirty seconds, and if your people had not been out of the way, we would have blown it after that. And if a situation like that comes up again, we�ll do it again. With or without your permission. (With that, the communication is terminated.) Fujutsuki: Hmm....it looks as though they are serious.... Gendo: Yes. An unknown factor has been introduced into the scenario. I�m sure it�s scared the old men. Unknown factors were not a part of their predicted scenario. Fujutsuki: So what should we do? (Gendo is silent for a moment before answering.) Gendo: There�s nothing we can do. The Australians did not attack any of us, and once they had destroyed the Angel, they left our airspace....for the moment, they are....untouchable.... Fujutsuki: ..... ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------- ----------------------- Misato: So you say you knew what they were going to do? Matt: I knew they were going to do something. But I did not know what. (The scene is at Matt�s apartment that evening. The song �Astronomy� by Metallica plays in the background.) Misato: So why didn�t you tell us? Matt: Because you might have tried to stop us from doing it. And because NERV is not in possession of all the facts. I�m sorry, Misato. I was under orders not to say anything. Misato: And you expect us to just trust you?!! (Matt goes silent, taking a long drink from his beer before answering.) Matt: I was not aware of the fact that NERV trusted me beforehand. Misato: Why do you think we let you come over here in the first place?! (Matt puts his beer down angrilly, and leans forwards to speak at Misato�s face.) Matt: (through his teeth) You let me come over here because NERV figured they could patch into the Black Templar, and learn some new technology. The fact that I could help in defeating the Angels was secondary to that. Ever since I�ve been here, Ritsuko and all of Commander Ikari�s flunkies have been trying to put bugging devices on me and the Titan-Mech, only to get each and every one of them back, destroyed and unused. If that�s your version of trust, I�d hate to see it if you mistrusted me. (Matt sits back, taking his beer up, and looking at Misato with a flash of apology.) Matt: No offence to you, of course. You, Shinji and Asuka are the only ones I really trust at the moment. (Misato remains silent as Matt finishes his beer.) Misato: I had no idea....I figured they were just leaving you alone after you had that anti-intrusion thing... Matt: Well, they decided to leave the Black Templar alone, but now they�re trying to bug me and you. (At this, Misato leaps out of her chair, looking over her cut off jeans and sweatshirt.) Misato: Me?!! Then why are we just talking here?!! Matt: Because it�s safe to talk here. Remember all that free time I had before the Titan Mech arrived? (Misato nods as suddenly it registers as to what he means.) Misato: You bug proofed your flat! Matt: I bug proofed our flats, yours included. As soon as you stepped through the doorway, an anti-bug field, as I�m calling it, instantly scans and detects any bugs you may have on you, and quickly fries their interior circuitry, rendering them useless. Pretty neat, eh? I�ve also got one fitted to my car and the Black Templar. Misato: I guess I owe you a lot more than I thought then.... Matt: What can I say? I like my privacy, and those fields make sure it stays undisturbed. Misato: Looks like you�ve got it all figured out. (Matt stands to get a new beer, and adds over his shoulder as he walks out to the fridge.) Matt: (quietly).....Almost everything. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------- To be continued.....

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