Bab 16: Chapter 16
"Ah, Lieutenant, glad you could make it," Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki said as Maya entered his office, his warm tone making Maya all the more uncomfortable.
"With all due respect sir, would you please explain why I was summoned?" Maya said, her voice was merely a whisper. She was tired and angry at being recalled, and failed to hide it. Finally her work had allowed her to find some time to go home, and just when she was getting ready to leave, the Sub-Commander asked her for a meeting.
Fuyutsuki gazed at the young Lieutenant who stood before him, sizing her up. Maya felt as if she would fall asleep while talking to him. Her eyes where only half-open, and she had to blink constantly to keep herself awake. She was aware that to the Sub-Commander she likely resembled a prisoner that had been sleep deprived for weeks. She thought it would be nice if he decided she wasn't up to the task he had selected for her.
"I really must apologize," Fuyutsuki said, sounding like he meant it. "I know you were ready to call it a day, but there is some work that needs to be done. Doctor Akagi is much too preoccupied at the moment. You understand?"
Maya sighed, knowing that her hopes for going home had just gone down the drain. Another night on a hard, cold bunk for poor Maya. "Yes, sir."
"Good." Fuyutsuki slipped his hand in his pocket and came up with a small disk. "This is part of the coding for Unit-00's new programming interface that will go along with the operating system we will be implementing. It needs to be compiled. That will be your task since you are in charge of Lazarus. The Doctor has already written the required algorithms to accomplish this but it needs to be pushed through the MAGI."
Maya's back stiffened. She was suddenly more awake. "Sir, speaking about the new OS, I believe that we should activate Unit-00 using the old command program before switching to the new. We don't even know if Rei can use Unit-00 anymore," she said. "And, honestly, I'm a little concerned about the program. I mean, I trust Dr. Akagi, but … well, I've never seen anything like it. I'm not sure—"
"Lieutenant Ibuki, that code was designed for use with the formatting capabilities of the Eva's computer systems. You shouldn't be concerned with anything other than making the Eva work, by any means."
"The pilot's well-being concerns me as well, sir. I am responsible for Rei's life, and fear that using the new code will hamper her ability to synch with the Eva safely." She didn't mean to lecture him but realized that's how it came out. Her voice became softer as she added, "I just don't think it's safe, sir."
She hoped that the Sub-Commander would agree with her. He nodded, taking in her uneasiness. Maya had always thought he looked like the least likely person to help run an organization such a NERV. His lined faced and slick gray hair gave him a quality of wise age, but he had always seemed more like a kind uncle than a commanding officer to Maya.
And he definitely lacked the air of intimidation Commander Ikari had about him, making him easier to approach. Maya also knew he was always likely to listen.
"We are aware of the pilot's limitations," the Sub-Commander said with an expression of understanding. He was aware of her concern. "If we believed that Rei would be unable to use the Eva, we wouldn't have deemed this appropriate. We are not going about this without giving proper thought to every step we take."
"Yes, sir." Maya stretched out her hand and took the disk.
"Good, then. I should expect some progress for tomorrow. Have a good evening." And with that Fuyutsuki dismissed her.
Maya saluted and left.
The hallways in Central Dogma were empty. The short-haired Lieutenant made her way to the small box-like quarters which had for the last weeks, become home. Maya slid the key into the lock and forced herself to turn it. She did not want to be here. The place was small and bare; there was a bunk on the far corner, and desk, a computer, and a door, which led to a bathroom.
Maya grabbed her coffee flask and noticing that it was empty decided to get it filled. She walked down the hall and took a flight of elevator to the nearest vending machine located just outside the main bridge. She smiled weakly when she saw Junichi Nakayima talking animatedly with Shigeru Aoba and Haruna Ieil, the member of the bridge crew who had taken up Maya's duties and Aoba's girlfriend of the month.
"Hullo, guys." Maya said, with all the cheerfulness she could muster, but not nearly enough. She placed her flask bellow the machine's nozzle intended for cups and swiped her card. It beeped and started pouring.
"Good evening, ma'am," Haruna said. A smile came to her sharp features.
Technically, Maya was her superior officer, but she had never cared much for rank. She waved away the salute. "Don't do that. I'm not in the mood."
"Are you going home, Lieutenant Ibuki?" Nakayima said. He was holding onto a cup of the machine's barely-excusable coffee and a nutritional—or so they were labeled—granola substitute bar that was already more than half eaten. Apparently, she wasn't the only who hadn't gotten a descent meal and that made her feel a little better.
"No. Can't. I have work to do." Maya said, retrieving her flask and taking a swig, recoiling from the bitter taste but thankful for the much needed intake of precious caffeine.
"Come on, Maya. How much longer can you keep going like this?" Aoba sounded concerned. "I mean, you'll work yourself to death."
"THEY will work me to death," Maya said, regretfully shaking her head. "It's not like I'm a fan of ritual suicide. And the Sub-Commander just gave me some more things to do."
Aoba shook his head too, sympathetically. "Maya, Maya, you've got to tell them that you are not a robot."
"It comes with the territory. If you want to be boss, you gotta put in the long hours."
"Spoken like a true workaholic." Nakayima said.
Maya just nodded absently, then she turned to the agent. She hated that uniform, it made all those who wore it seem ... nasty somehow. It was the color: NERV's was a nice, neutral tan and white, cut along military lines but without the rigidity; the MOI's was black, the sort of thing one would see on storm troopers from an age past; ominous.
Nakayima was a nice enough guy, at times he could even be charming and if she weren't—well, if she wasn't herself she might have liked him. Anyway, the uniform didn't suit him at all.
"Don't you have to be somewhere?" Maya asked.
"Me?" Nakayima said, exaggeratedly mocked indignation. "You mean doing something other than vending machine talk? Pushing papers? Oppressing the townspeople?"
"Precisely." Maya said and turned to Aoba and Haruna. Damn, I can see why he likes her, she thought "You guys going out?"
The operator nodded and slid his arm around his girlfriend's waist. "Yep. I am gonna show her that Tokyo-3 is not only Angels and mayhem, well, maybe a little mayhem. You can tag along if…"
Maya cut him off with a hard glance.
Aoba rubbed the back of his neck apologetically with his free hand. "Sorry. I forgot."
"You better go, before you feel the necessity of staying to make me company." Maya said, noticing how Haruna was tugging at Aoba's sleeve.
Aoba nodded, though Maya noticed he did so rather hesitantly. "Good night, Maya," he said.
"Good night, Lieutenant," Haruna said.
Maya waved them goodnight as they walked away, hoping she could go with them if only for the change of scenery that being outside and getting some fresh air would bring. When they were gone she was felt alone with Nakayima, chewing his fake granola bar.
"It seems that everyone's got a life but me." She said without bothering to look at him.
"I bet it is not because you don't want to." Nakayima said.
"No, because I can't. And now, if you excuse me, I wish I had time to stay and chat, but I have work to do."
Nakayima made a face, his narrow features opening in an imitation of curiosity. "Why are you NERV people always looking for excuses to avoid me? I don't have the plague or anything. I swear, I'm up on all my shots."
Maya found that amusing, which she thought was just the effect it was meant to have. Charming alright, she thought.
"We don't need excuses to avoid you," she said, keeping her voice light, and began walking away. "You are MOI. All we need is common sense."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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