The Translation Services Department Presents

                                Neon Genesis
                                 Evangelion
                      volume 1: Disciple and Invasion
                         manga: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
                           Original Story: GAINAX
                           concept: Hideaki Anno

                translation/interpretation by Reiji Muskett

      Disclaimer: As a derivative of a copyrighted work the following
       translation/interpretation is covered by the active coypright
       (©1996 Yoshiyuki Sadamoto and GAINAX). This is an unauthorized
           translation/interpretation for the personal use of the
       translator. Derivative copies and further distribution of the
      translation for other than personal use may be prohibited by the
      original copyright holders. Neither Reiji Muskett nor StudioUFO
                           is affiliated with GAINAX.

   Translator's note. The current edition of the translation to the first
    edition of the Kadokawa Comics A manga Shin Seiki EVANGELION is 2.3.
   Further updates and changes will be made without notice. Comments are
  welcome. In order to maintain a contextural continuity of the story, the
 introduction to the series, scene introductions, and chapter introductions
 are elaborations on the original but intended to be informative. Character
  dialogs are as close to the orginal as possible. Please enjoy the story.
   Thank you Anno Hideaki Anno san and Sadamoto Yoshiyuki san for such a
                  wounderful work. Arigatoo gozaimashita.

                           Disciple and Invasion.

In the year 2000 of the Western Calendar a massive "asteriod" impacted the
East Antarctic ice sheet, vaoprizing it and much of the Antarctic crust
beneath it. Not since the dawn of history, the "second impact" brought
about unprecented catastrophies. Sea levels rose, the climate and weather
of Earth were irrevocably changed. The survivors, humans and nonhumans
alike suffered from further natural disasters. For Human Kind, the national
econimies collapsed, rioting and internal-regional conflicts ensued. In the
first year afterward, Human population fell by one half. After 15 years,
mankind though partially recovered was visited by yet another crisis. The
"Angels" had arrived. One by one their invasion began. Military combat
ensued. The motives and intensions of the Angels were unknown. The whole
world was engaged in war with the survival of humanity at stake. In ancient
writings the invasion of the "disciples" had been predicted by a "divine
messenger" with calamitous results for humanity. The surviving people of
the world banded together to use military countermeasures against a common
threat. In an early decisive battle, an Angel was captured and turned to
use against the remaining invaders. This became the secret EVANGELION
Project, administered by the reformulated United Nations, for further
military development.

By 2015, 3 EVANGELION units had been fabricated for military defense
against the Angels. As part of the development, 3 children, two girls and a
boy, were specifically born to be pilots of the EVA units. As it would turn
out, the fate of humanity rested on the shoulders of the boy and his
friends. Their ability to fight, their life or death would be the life or
death of the human race.

Now it begins.

                               
In the year 2000 of the Western Calendar a calamitous event occurred which
changed both human history and human evolution. Not since 65 million years
ago had an asteroid of enormous mass struck the planet. In that impact
event, the first coming, occurred near the Yucatan Peninsula of the North
Western Hemisphere of the Cretateous Earth. At that time the Yucatan was a
carbonate shelf below 30 meters of seawater (the trailing southern edge of
the North American plate). Even though the seawater provided a cushioning
effect, the outcome was devastating. 66% of all life on earth would die out
in the next 100 years: 70% of all land animals and 60% of all land plants.
The life of the seas was not spared either. The climate changed in profound
ways. Ocean circulation was completely altered. For the 125 million years
of Earth history which is known as the Mesozoic Era, there were no glaciers
and no continental ice sheets. With the first impact, the profound changes
in the Earth's climate and oceans heralded the return of glacial winters
and continental ice sheets.

The second impact in the year 2000 was even more devastating. The
asteroid's descent into the Earth-Moon gravity system was perturbed by a
close approach to the Moon. The close approach swung the trajectory at a
high angle to plane of the ecliptic. Had the descent velocity of the
asteroid been only a few 10s of meters per second higher the asteroid would
have been flung back out into space. Yet, such is fate. The high ascent
angle of the asteroid as it passed the Moon meant that it would be captured
by the Earth's gravity field and taken into a fast decay polar orbit.
Astronomical observatories and military satellite tracking instillations on
Earth watched in silent horror as the asteroid plummeted on its fateful
journey. Not until the last 10 hours of descent did calculations from US
and Japan supercomputers confirm that the impact sight would be the East
Antarctic ice sheet. The impact and the catastrophe that followed were
unprecedented.

The East Antarctic ice sheet was partly vaporized and the whole of the
remainder completely melted. Seismic sea waves, Tsunami, over 2 kilometers
in crest height and traveling in excess of Mach 10 raced out from the
Antarctic impact sight to traverse the earth's oceans in a matter of
minutes. The wave base of the tsunami were almost as deep as the mid-ocean
depth. Where the ocean depth was shallower than 2 km their immense power
was focused at the air-ocean interface. As the wavegroup raced along, their
phase power was strong enough to break oxygen-hydrogen bonds in the upper
meter of the ocean water. The churning of the waves produced a
self-actuating electromagnetic field: a wall of plasma 1000's of degrees
Celsius and shining like the light of the sun with over a million watts of
electrical energy.

In the top 50 meters of the world's ocean lives 80% of the world's biomass:
plankton. Passage of the tusnami caused the virtual extinction of the
bottom of the world's food chain. Within a year the world ocean would seem
devoid of all life.

The Japan - United States Naval 7th Tactical Group (the nuclear aircraft
carrier Jim Broade with surface ship and submarine escort) on UN maneuvers
in the Antarctic Sea were the first to witness the tsunami from the impact.
Radio dispatches from the USS Broade reported seeing the plasma discharge
of the impact event followed by the plasma wall of the approaching lead
tusnami. GPS (Global Positioning System) navigations officers on board the
carrier and the escort submarines, using the Auckland base station for
reference, reported gravity wave disturbances radiating from the impact
site on East Antarctica. Against such powerful forces the surface ships had
no defensive measures. The submarine commanders on the other hand attempted
a daring maneuver. At one hundred meters depth they flooded the forward
compartments of the sub and with full reverse power upended the subs into a
near vertical position. When the tusnami passed overhead the wave orbital
motions nearly tore the subs apart and pushed them like twigs in a
whirlpool 50 kilometers north of their last known position. Though heavily
damaged and on minimal power, the submarines broke the surface to look for
survivors of the surface ship task force. Five survivors were rescued
though one died shortly after of massive burns to 100 percent of the body.
One of the submarines was too badly damaged to return to port and was
scuttled. The two remaining submarines survived to return to UN Naval
Pacific Operations in Honolulu, Hawaii.

World wide sea levels rose by 50 to 75 meters, thus submerging most of the
major industrial centers. 50% of Humanity ceased to exist. In one fantastic
event, Homo sapiens was back to the dawn of its history. Political and
cultural cities such as Brussels, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, London, New York,
Rio de Janario, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Washington D.C. and many others
were destroyed within minutes of the impact. Oil freighter transport lines
over the worlds oceans was severely disrupted. Microwave and satellite
radio communications was disrupted for months due to the water and
particulate matter thrown high into the stratosphere by the impact. For
weeks the troposphere was on average 12 ¡ Celsius warmer, killing sensitive
vegetation in the equatorial tropical rain forests and high northern and
southern latitudes. However thereafter the troposphere cooled due to the
high concentration of particulate matter in the stratosphere.

The only effective world political organizations surviving the second
coming were the United Nations and the North Hemispheric Defense Treaty
Organization. Literally the entire governments of the United States, Japan,
Confederated Commonwealth of Britain along with most of the Pacific rim
countries were wiped out. The surviving UN agencies quickly organized
continental Political and Emergency Service Prefectures with headquarters
located at Moscow, Beijing, Denver, Mexico City, , Darwin, and Cairo.

Soon after the second impact the surviving humans were visited by a new and
even greater threat: alien invasion. The asteroid that had impacted the
East Antarctic ice sheet had been in reality a space ship. The inhabiting
life forms were nothing like to be encountered on Earth. Later known as
"Angels" 100 meter tall sentient biomachines their ultimate purpose was
unknown. However, their immediate motives judging from their actions seemed
to point to multiple possibilities with no single one satisfactory.
Historians in reviewing surviving manuscripts of ancient human cultures
came to the conclusion that the sentient machines had visited Earth at
least once during Homo sapiens sapiens early evolution: perhaps the
biomachines had visited Earth at the end of the Cretaceous.
Reinterpretation of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and similar newly found documents
from western China indicated that Homo Neanderthals and similar early human
cultures were visited by the biomachines. The cryptic writings of the Book
of Revelation of early Christian theology seemed to take on new and
poignant meaning. Leaders of the neo UN resolved to marshal material and
personnel for defense of the the species. Distributed command and control
centers were established at Beijing, Denver, Cairo, Moscow, New Delhi, and
New Sydney. Scientific and engineering resources were focused to initially
understand the biomachines. Surviving USDOD and Russian military
reconnaissance satellites were trained on Antarctica to monitor the
biomachines. Before sufficient military resources could be brought to bear,
small scale attacks at sea with Navel units of the Republic of China and
Australia occurred. Soon after attacks occurred in Japan, South America,
India, and Africa. Japan was particularly hard hit. A new city, 2nd New
Tokyo in Nagaya Prefecture west of the former capital was obliterated in a
brutal night-time attack. Elements of the former Land and Air Defense
Forces fought courageously. However, with limited resources and no obvious
strategic plan discernible of the Angels resulted in high casualties.
Fortunately one of the angels was disabled and captured. Soon after, the UN
ordered material and funds to be allocated for a new city to be constructed
underground, 3rd New Tokyo, and a crash research program began using
elements of the former Human Gnome Project and elements of the
Biotechnology Science City. The new project instillation was named NERV.
There an international team of scientists and engineers deciphered the
functions and mechanisms of the Angel. With the new knowledge in genetic
engineering and physiopsychometry the captured Angel was rebuilt, referred
now as the "disciple", and two new models constructed, code name
EVANGELION. The new knowledge was applied to the Human gnome project to
produce a team of genetically altered humans with special psychometric
abilities. They were born to pilot the Disciples. In all the NERV Gnome
project produced more than 20 children: a select group of which were
specifically chosen for a classified TOP SECRET Human Evolution Advancement
Program and out of this group three children were chosen as the first
"pilots" of the EVANGELION units. Although the Public Information
Directorate at NERV made it known that the three children were to use the
EVANGELIONS in combat against the Angels, the primary objective was
classified TOP SECRET ALPHA. Only three human beings on Earth had such a
high clearance: the Secretariat General of the UN, the Director General of
NERV, and the Director General of EVANGELION Project.

Now, the horror begins.

                           Fiery the angels fell
                  Deep thunder rolled around their shores
                       Burning with the fires of Orc.
                           (Roy - "Blade Runner")

                                
Japan is quite a lovely place again after the upheavals of 15 years ago.
But the peacefulness of the country side will be shattered forever. On a
train bound for New Tokyo 3, Shinji Ikari, a 14 year old boy contemplates
his life as if he were going to his death.

"My future has turned into an empty dream of hopelessness, stale
meaninglessness, where each day is but a mockery of life, images in a
mirror, a shadow world. The view from the window of the train as it speeds
along is a blur beyond reach, beyond feeling, that I can only passively
watch and never touch. Although I'm 14 years old I feel weary of this
world, this life. But I suspect that even death would be no different.
Neither life nor death matter; they both possess a neutral formlessness. My
teachers told me to be "serious". Whether writing compositions or anything
else, I was a constant source of irritation to them, like a fly on a dog's
back. My existence offended their own sense of being. So their treatment of
me reflected their heart felt desire to be ride of me."

This would have been early spring. The world is quite different in 2015, 15
years after the destruction of the East Antarctica and the invasion of the
Angels. Humanity had recovered though the population had stabilized at half
of that prior to the Second Impact. Attacks by the Angels had been
sporadic, as if an army were sending out scouts to probe the defenses of
the victim. It was for certain that the Angels knew more about Homo Sapiens
than vice versa. The Angels, their purpose, their motives, were as foreign
now as in the first terror attack. With each new attack the Angels
demonstrated a growing appreciation for UN Force strengths and weaknesses.
They were learning about us, but why?

As Shinji looked out from the window of the train speeding toward his fate,
the scene was a tranquil spring day. In the world of 2015 every day was
spring in the middle latitudes. With Antarctica gone, Earth's climate had
changed. The extremes of temperature, precipitation and the like had
vanished. Earth had become as expressionless and withdrawn as Shinji
himself. Today was different though for one reason. A few kilometers east
of the train carrying Shinji, in what was the city of Tokyo once thrived,
now a bay of the sea, a third Angel was coming. Its purpose like the rest,
a mystery. This encounter however would change the life of Shinji, and the
lives of others, forever.

The shattered remnants of the buildings of Tokyo give testimony to the
horrific events of 2000. Partly submerged by the sea, toppled to and fro
like large dominoes capped with vines and mangrove trees, the buildings are
like pinnacles. Between them an Angel glides silently beneath the waters.
Scavenger fish swim close to it, waiting for the spoils of a carnage to
come.

Along the highway of the coastal hills, tanks and mobile artillery units of
the UN Northeast Asia Defense Forces are stationed. Their turrets point
seaward. A great wall of a new century. They wait for for the coming on
slot. Today they will make a stand knowing that the most they can do is to
give others time.

A kilometer from the front line, in the sea among the remnant buildings the
water explodes into the morning air 100 meters or more. A line of anchored
depth charges announces the arrival of the Angel.

NERV HQ, Battle Control Room, 1st Reconn Ofc:

... the shape of the approaching object is unclear form telemetry. Once it
breaks the ocean surface we will have it on visual.

2nd Duty Ofc:

OBJECT CONFIRMED! ...remote video locked on target. Telemetry coming in.

3rd Duty Ofc:

... it's turning toward the primary monitor pod. It's going to ATTACK!

Command Over PA:

1st Ofc, switch to secondary... spin up the GPR Satcom, current
coordinates, ... Quickly before we loose primary telcom.

Under Director Fuyuzuki Kouzou:

Just as it was 15 years ago, isn't it.

EVANGELION PROJECT Director Ikari Gendo [Supreme Commander of the special
agency, NERV, Chief Director of the Evangelion Development Project, Age:
48]:

So it is... there can be no doubt... an ANGEL! At last one has come...
alone. Homo sapiens can not avoid the responsibility of action: the day of
the trial has come...

Several kilometers west in the interior of Japan away from the carnage on
the coast a small city sits deserted. The populous have long since taken to
underground shelters in the surrounding hills and beneath the city. A ghost
town. Only the Public Address System echoes warning of the doming danger.
...This is an emergency broadcast warning announcement. All services to the
Eastern Seashore region and Kanto Prefecture are hereby discontinued by
proclamation of Special Emergency Declaration as of 12:30 local time.
Please rapidly assemble and take refuge in Special Reserve Shelter.

As the announcement drones on the monorail station is deserted.
...Repeating Announcement. Rapidly assemble and take refuge at the Special
Reserve Shelter. The information board shows that all departures-arrivals
read, out of service. Shinji didn't go to the shelter with the crowd.
Instead he tries the phone. No use.

"Damn." says Shinji slamming the phone down on the holder.

"Even the phones are useless. The monorails have stopped running. How this
place functions as a transportation center is beyond me."

Shinji decides to strike out on his own leaving the station. However with
no police to ask directions and no map it seem that his efforts will do
little more than leave him more lost than he already is. The station is a
huge maze. Finally Shinji finds the front portal that opens down to an
amphitheater like facade and the city streets beyond. Resting on the steps
he considers his options. Throwing his clothes bag down on the steps the
sound reverberates round the portal like a canyon.

"This is so annoying." Shinji says. "Will I may as well wait here a while
and maybe someone will show. This is just great, not! `Shelter'? Well it
doesn't look like much of a war to me right now."

Feeling a little dejected Shinji reaches in the clothes bag and pulls out a
letter. It's from NERV. He's read the letter before, but decides to read it
again and think about his past and what may be his future.

"Father..." says Shinji. "Now that I'm almost grown up you take an interest
in me. I doubt that you never once felt the ridicule that I did living at
Uncle's house."

With the letter is a photo. It's the contact from NERV who will accompany
Shinji. Katsuragi Misato, a high ranking officer in the EVANGELION PROJECT
is sporting her favorite bikini top and high-cut jeans. She strikes a pose
as she bends down to the camera. She writes that she can't wait to meet
him. A big smudged lipstick kiss mark and arrow point to her bikini top and
"attention" is written. Shinji just thinks she's weird.

"annnnn......." says Shinji. " This is one strange woman. She must think
she's a sex symbol or something? Well ... I'm not going to stay here all
day."

Shinji decides to walk. Perhaps he feels like getting away to anywhere bit
where he's at.

"Let's see..." says Shinji. "If I follow the rail line to the second
station, then I might run into this Miss Crazy Woman. Beats sitting around
here doing nothing."

While Shinji walks down a deserted boulevard fighter jets streaks through
the sky over head. Their white contrails like pixel lines on a blue field
vdt at school. Crossing chaotically, they begin to fill the sky. Each pair
of fighters successively passes lower over head.

"That's damn low for a military jet to fly over a city." says Shinji.
"...AAAHHH...."


Sound explodes meters above Shinji's head as an air launch cruise missile
careens down an adjacent street. The rush of air from the shock wave almost
blows Shinji off his feet.

"Jeeezzz ... a guided missile!?" says Shinji, disoriented by the sudden
motion and sound.

Two cruise missiles rise into the sky from their low approach, a cork-screw
maneuver designed to evade an enemies counter-measures. Behind and above
the hill that encloses the side of the city the missiles impact their
target in horrific violence but leave their victim little scathed.

"Wha ..... what the ... THAT ..." cries Shinji in stunned horror.

In the Situation Review balcony of the NERV Central Control room, UN Force
Generals Staff begin to realize that their conventional weaponry and
tactics are no match for their foe, the Angel. Command-Control Officers
(CCOs) on the floor of the room bark out status and results. Like frenzied
soccer commentators at a World Cup Event.

"Missile impact confirmed, target still standing." barks out the 1st
Officer.

"All direct hits; target displays no damage, advance unimpeded." relays the
2nd Officer.

3rd Command General of the Air Defense Force (3CG-ADF) is standing at his
seat in bewildered exasperation.

" What the HELL's ... relay to all units, break coordinated attack;
disperse in random configuration; fire on target at your desecration ...
give it everything you've got!!" orders the 3CG-ADF.

"RETREAT!!" ... "RETREAT!!" ... turn... AAAAHHHH!!..., the 3rd UNADF Pilot
broadcasts before being hit by the charged particle beam of the Angel.

The realization was too little and too late for the fate of the air attack
units. The Angel is a living entity; it recognized and analyzed the attack
pattern. Now it fires a high energy particle beam at the air units. Picking
them out of the sky with uncanny precision and accuracy. On the ground,
Shinji is darting through the street trying to dodge the falling wreckage
of the failed air assault form overhead.

"AAAAAaaaaa..." cries Shinji.

Katsuragi Misato [NERV Operations Chief, superior, Evangelion Unit 01, Age:
29.]

"I'm here! , Shinji. This way. Quickly! Get in."

" Ka ... Ms. Katsuragi?" asks Shinji sheepishly.

"I said MOVE IT!!" shouts Misato.

"Ah ... Yes Ma'm!" answers Shinji.

As Shinji steps into the car, Misato revs the engine and accelerates down
the street and full throttle. Shinji is thrown in to the seat an barely has
time to get the restraining belt on. Ordinance explode all around them with
blinding flashes of light and smoke. Debris fly to either side of them.

"Grab something and hold tight." says Misato demandingly. "We're in BIG
trouble and no time to loose!"

Misato takes evasive steering down alternate side streets to avoid being
hit by debris. Before long they reach a section of street leading to the
autobahn. With the battle zone behind them Misato feels talkative.

"Sorry honey." says Misato. "Looks like I'm a little late."

                               
"That's OK." says Shinji. "It's my fault."

"All of the heavy artillery and tank units of the UN GDF [Ground Defense
Force] failed in their defense at Gan Bay... you saw what happened during
the missile attack." says Misato. "It was worse for the GDF. See any
damage? The missiles had no affect."

" Excuse me." says Shinji. "But what are you talking about? That ... ?"

Misato then realizes that she's not talking to a seasoned employee of NERV
and decides to shift subjects.

"We're going to rescue this miserable situation!" says Misato.

"Really!" says Shinji.

"That's right." says Misato. "The DISCIPLE!"

" Disciple?" questions Shinji.

"OH NO!" shouts Misato.

A few meters ahead and to the right a cruise missile explodes as it impacts
a building. Debris is scattered all over the road ahead. Misato steers the
car accurately through the debris and shockwave.

However, a secondary explosion from the side causes a loss of vacuum
beneath the sports' car's body. The car with Misato and Shinji inside flips
in the air and lands on the roof skidding on the road surface to a stop
against a debris pile.

"Damn ... mmmmhhh!" says Misato. "You'd think these guys could tell the
enemy from friendly. Are you all right Shinji?"

"I'm fine." says Shinji.

They crawl out of the car to inspect the damage and to git a grip on the
situation.

"What is it?"

"AAAA...!!" shouts Misato. "OH NO. I don't believe it! What a waste and I
still have 33 loan payments to make ..."

Misato is a little upset at seeing her car lying on the road upside down?

"Now that's just too much." says Misato. "These glasses were the most
important part of my uniform. How awful. I'm filthy, and my shades!"

"I knew it." says Shinji with much sarcasm. "She is weird."

"AAAAhhhh...." shouts Shinji.

"Shinji, get down!!" screams Misato.

A thunderous noise distracts them and them turn to look behind them.

"Nooo... another creature." says Shinji. "Did it multiply?"

"No Shinji." says Misato. "This one's our friend."

"A robot?" says Shinji in disbelief. "... can it be?"

"Oh no." Misato says looking at her watch. "We haven't any time to loose!
This is not a place to discuss particulars so get in the car quickly. Time
is up."

"Time?" asks Shinji.

"We have to get as far away from here as we can." shouts Misato. "Space is
the only thing that can save us now!" climbing back into the car, they
speed off down the street.

                                
Once again Misato floors the accelerator to maximum. She know that there is
no time left and decides to find a defensive portion of the autobahn as
quickly as possible. Behind them the EVANGELION 01 unit is in a pitched
battle with the Angel that recovered from the fall. The coordination of the
EVANGELION 01 is off and the Angel takes advantage. The Angel uses its
powerful body and particle beam to critically damage EVANGELION 01. Thrown
10s of meters into the air, EVANGELION 01 crashes into buildings and is
partially immobilized. It struggles to its knees. Fortunately it rests on a
massive elevator platform to a concealed tunnel below ground. Motorized
locks grind, and the platform disappears below the surface and none too
soon.

"The fight seems very one sided." observes Shinji.

"I knew this would happen." thinks Misato to herself. "I hope Rei can cope
with the psychological stress."

NERV CONTROL ROOM

"The pilots pulse rate and blood pressure are falling." calls out the 1st
Ofc. "A10 brain waves are down to 5%."

"Pilot is undergoing massive trauma ... loosing blood from chest injuries!"
shouts 2nd Ofc.

"180 seconds to NN operation!" calls out the 3rd Ofc.

"Stop systems." shouts Ikari Gendo. "Level 192, prepare for high speed
pilot recovery!"

Speeding down the highway at full speed Misato known that she can't put
enough distance between them and the coming explosion. However the section
of roadway they are now on is partly submerged with high earthen shoulders
to either side. With a little luck this might save them by deflecting the
blast wave over their heads.

"All of the forces are retreating from the monster." says Shinji
apprehensive. Contrails of the remaining ADF units can be seen high above,
making a radial vector pattern. They definitely don't want to be in the
area for what is about to happen.

"The ADF is going to give it one last BIG shock!" Misato says above the
roar of car engine at full speed.

At this moment they are shocked by a titanic explosion flash.

AAAAAAAAAA....!!!" both Shinji and Misato cry out and the explosion occurs.

NERV CONTROL ROOM

"All right!" the 3GC-ADF.

"Are you hurt?" asks Shinji. "Ms. Katsuragi?"

"Not again..." says a shaken Misato.

NERV CONTROL ROOM

"AH HA ..." the Generals shout out in unison.

"See that!!" shouts the 1st General. "Our NN enhanced weaponry did it!"

"You seem very confident in this new weapon of your's." says the Senior
General. "Better use another two for good measure."

"Radio telemetry from the detonation area is broken up by interference from
residual radiation." says the 1st Ofc. "We'll have to wait for visual
confirmation."

                                
"There is an unknown type of energy being radiated from the target point."
says the 1st Ofc. "The explosion energy is being absorbed!"

"That's IMPOSSIBLE!!" snorts the 3rd General.

"Video image form target is resolving." says the 1st Ofc.

"OOOHHHH ....!" the Generals form a chorus.

"Damn!" chides the 1st General. "Our gamble didn't work. It was useless. "

"We made a sacrifice of the city for nothing." says the Senior General.

"Monster!?" gasps the 1st Ofc.

In the rear of the observation platform the Senior General is in a
telephone conference with the political secretariat of the UN. A change in
plans is underway.

"Yes Sir." the Senior General responds to the videophone. "I understand."

Ikari Gendo, sitting a few meters away overheard the conversation.

"Yes." says Ikari Gendo under his breath. "However you must forgive my
impoliteness, if I may."

He rises out of the chair, turns to face the General, and adjusts his
glasses,... bowing his head slightly and staring intently.

".... Dr. Ikari." huffs the Senior General. "From now on, you are in charge
of all tactical operations. I will have the honor of receiving your
acceptance. The UN Political Command has obediently admitted that the UN
Force's weapons are useless against such a target as the Angel.

The General adds in a moment of sarcasm.

The situation has become convenient for you hasn't it, Ikari!"

"Sir." says Ikari Gendo. "This problem has become a matter for NERV to deal
with."

" `Special Operations, N-E-R-V?' " reads Shinji from the top screen of the
NEOM-PDA. "So it's like NERV is a secret organization under the direct
control of the United Nations ... ." asks Shinji.

"I'm also an employee of NERV." says Misato. "And so is your Father."

" `Defending Humanity is the Greatest Calling' '". reads Shinji from the
PDA. "Those are very true words aren't they?"

"What's that ... you being cynical or something?" asks Misato.

"Especially ... well ... I'm sorry." says Shinji.

"Ms Katsuragi ..." Shinji injuires.

"mmm ?... you can call me Misato." says Misato in a school-girl tone.

"Father; can you tell me what he's like?" asks Shinji. "I ... I guess I
don't really have any memories of him."

Their journy into NERV has thus far been like a maze of short stretches of
corridors and abrubt turns.

"Well, ... we're heading directly to your father right now." says Misato.

"So it is true that we're going to Father's ... office." says Shinji.

"I guess I'd feel like running away from meeting my father too." says
Misato sympathetically. "Especially if it could be troublesome."

                                
The car now comes to rest on a large platform shuttle, the deck of which
can rotate 360 degrees in a circle. Slowly the shuttle pulls out from the
loading platform, driven by an internal program. It slowly spins the deck
so that car is facing forward and now moves into a darken tunnel. The
tunnel begins level but soon starts a 45 degrees descent. The platform
however rotates to keep the car at a level attitude. Low watt lighting on
the walls of the tunnel give the sensation of very fast travel. A descent
into hell of the center of the Earth, Shinji thinks.

"From what I understand your meeting could be a big shock." says Misato.

Getting no reply to her statement, Misato looks over to see what Shinji is
doing. Shinji fell asleep. Her expression softens and she smiles. Seems
that all the excitement has worn down Shinji. Perhaps he's been a little
hyper though able to hide it, being that this meeting with his father is a
big event for him. She decides to be quiet for the remainder of the tube
journey.

Ahead in the twilight of the tube is a growing spit of white light; the
tube exit. The light filtering in is a broad spectrum so that the effect is
to mimic the surface world. Like the glow of morning light, Shinji's face
is illuminated. As the car comes closer to the exit portal the light grows
stronger in intensity. A few seconds before the car exits the tube, Shinji
is aroused from his nap by the light. At first he is startled, but adjusts
quickly.

As in the old story of the journey to the center of the Earth, Shinji has
arrived at another center, the fortress to preserve the human species. The
car exits the portal in excess of 200 km/hr. Magically, the sense of
velocity disappears due to the immensity of the cavity carved in the
Earth's crust. For a moment the sensation is one of floating in
weightlessness.

"What is this place?" asks Shinji.

Even for Misato the sensation of entering a "closed world" has never
changed.

"Wow!" says Shinji in amazement. "This is the GeoFront!"

The GeoFront is a hemispheric shell several kilometers in radius.

"So it is." says Misato. "This is where my friends and I work; the main
instillation of the secret base, NERV."

"A world reconstructed ..." says Shinji.

Within the GeoFront a surface world, close world, representation of Earth
has been reconstructed. The effect is very convincing and meant to be so.
Given the enormous security apparatus surrounding NERV most of the workers
will spent their tour of duty in NERV without leaving. Therefore to
minimize psychological stress, a close replication of Earth's surface was
achieved. The major difference is the armor buildings that hang from the
roof when not in combat configuration.

"This place has become humanities fortress." says Misato.

Downward they spiral around the periphery of the hemisphere. At ground
center of the GeoFront in the headquarters of NERV; a pyramid fashioned
like the ones of Egypt.

CORRIDOR INSIDE NERV LEADING TO MEDICAL EMERGENCY CENTER.

Two Evac Medics are running along side a stretcher bed. The bags of plasma
and blood jostly. An auto respirator and blood transfusion pump with remote
control and monitor capability attempt to keep the victum alive. But
psychological trauma is a given at this point.

"The EVA mindlink actuator completely malfunctioned!" says Medic 1.

"The pilot is seriously injured." informs Medic 2. "A ruptured spleen is
likely."

NERV CONTROL ROOM

Under Director Fuyuzuki Kouzou.

"Is the UN Secretariat behind this also ..." says Fuyuzuki.

                               
"Once more the neural transmitter worked unpredictably." says Ikari Gendo.

"That thing can't be understood!" says Fuyuzuki. "We have no other pilot!"

Akagi Ritsuiko [Head of the Evangelion Development Project. Has known
Misato since they were in school together. A cool, intellectual beauty.
Age: 30.]

"There is no one else other than Rei ..." objects Ritsuko.

Ikari Gendo looks down at the floor. The frown on his face seems to never
change. To his right the banks of monitors display and record the coming
and goings of NERV personel at various security check points. The motion
and characters on one moniter attracts his attention. As he watches the
moniter he allows himself a small smile, but not one of happiness.

"I think our solution has arrived." Ikari Gendo says smugly. "Perhaps now
we have a substitute."

As Shinji and Misato walk through the halls of NERV Shinji's thoughts are
of the reasons surrounding his being requested. The school year had just
started. Though he never had any close friends, being shifted to another
school as well as another city to live was a difficulty that he as always
suppressed.

Why did Father call me to come here? My thoughts are so strange. So long
ago ... will this meeting answer my questions or am I doomed?

Stage.2 The Meeting

Like bees in a gigantic underground hive Misato and Shinji walk past level
20 toward a meeting that Shinji is dreading with each step. The sound of
their footsteps reverberates and echoes back to them. Ghosts of the past
the sound of their foot steps demand attention. Shinji has very little idea
of his "real" past that would become so all too apparent in the coming
months. In his mind, he was an orphan. His father abandoned him, his mother
he never knew, and society never seemed to accept him. Each day was
drudgery. Words like hope, expectation, happiness, were foreign.

"Ms Misato." asks Shinji.

"What?" replies Misato.

As they walk down the corridor Misato had been reading the PDA; a map of
NERV with directions.

"We've been walking a long time now; can you tell me when we'll meet
Father?" asks Shinji.

"What!" says Misato not really listening. "Ohm... Be quiet. Be a a good boy
and just follow me without talking."

"I knew it" Shinji thinks to himself. "We're lost."

Misato thinks to herself as they walk down the corridor, "Jeezzz this boy's
perceptive. Surely we're going in the right direction."

A door slides open behind them.

"So just where are you two going?" says Ritsuko. "You know you're late as
it is Katsuragi."

"Aa! Ritsuko..." says Misato turning around.

"You've had more than enough time to walk here so I came back to help."
snaps Ritsuko. "You're not on a holiday you know."

"Ss... Sorry!" says Misato turning red. "I promise not to get lost again."

"So this is the boy." says Ritsuko. "He certainly looks the fittest of our
three pilots."

She thinks to herself how sad these children seem, how weary of life, and
how sad she feels for them.


" Aa... How do you do." says Shinji. "My name is Shinji."

"I'm Dr. Ritsuko Akagi in charge of the E project Technology Section 1."
says Ritsuko in an introduction. "Pleased to meet you. Welcome to NERV
Shinji. Come with me and we'll go see what your Father has to show you."

"Something to show me ... ?" Shinji wonders aloud.

On the surface above the situation grow desperate for the UN Forces futile
attempts to halt the advance of the Angel toward New Tokyo 3. What
interests the Angel? Why New Tokyo 3? It's movements, actions are
purposeful, knowledgeable.

"Commander!!" the 1st Ofc call out. "The Angel is still advancing! The
final defense perimeter has been broken through."

"Our tactics are ineffective." reports the 2nd Ofc. " `Baker 5' fall back
and regroup."

"New Tokyo 3." says the 3rd Ofc. "Take immediate necessary ground
measures!"

"All right!" Ikari Gendo calls everyone's attention. "All hands. Battle
mode, action station."

"Yes Sir!" the Staff reply.

"Fuyuzuki ..." says Ikari Gendo. "You have the command."

"Sir." says Fuyuzuki. Then to himself the thinks ... "I wonder if he'll
recognize his own son after three years."

Ritsuko, Misato, and Shinji enter the core of NERV. From dock platform C-2
they board a small boat. The core of NERV is an enormous cavern of steel
shielding, pumps, conduits, and permanently flooded. The lake water above
is used for various operations functions of NERV. However, its main
function is to act as a neutral buoyancy mechanism for the EVA units.

A voice on the intercom booms and echoes through the tunnel punctuated by
electromechanical beeps.

"All hands. Battle mode action station. Repeat. All hands. Battle mode
action station."echo's the ANC.

"Start Battle mode. Cycle up machine-brain processes." says the ANC.

"Wait .." says Misato. "Do they know what their doing?"

"The mecha start-up procedures will be from B equipment settings instead of
a cold start." explains Ritsuko. "When necessary they can do recovery
work."

"That's not what I mean!" says Misato. "Rei's not capable to do this is
she? No one else is trained as pilot. What is the Commander thinking that
this will accomplish ..." she says not finishing the sentence. " So." she
continues. "The GDF's NN device had no affect on the Angel?"

"Yes." explains Ritsuko. "Only the head unit suffered damage; which it
quickly regenerated to continue the advance. I hope EVA-01's AT field is
strong enough to hold up. In any case EVA has a special learning capability
that is reciprocal with the children. The exterior is controlled by a
profound program. According to design specs. the type 01's mental capacity
and character are controlled by MAG-Shisutemo - a supercomputer onboard so
that thought processes of the pilot are instantaneously transmitted to the
mecha."

"That so." says Misato.

"Yes!!" says Ritsuko. "Together with EVA ..." she ends the statement
unfinished. A glance toward Shinji, and nothing else is spoken.

                               
Ritsuko steers the boat to a drop platform at the waters edge and stops.

"We'll leave the boat here." says Ritsuko. "It's only a short distance
now."

"The chamber is kept dark to conserve energy." says Ritsuko.

"AAAAHHHHH ..." shouts Shinji in surprise. "This is ... This is the robot
that saved us!?"

"Strictly speaking, this is not a robot." explains Ritsuko. " `He' was
produced to be used as the ultimate battle weapon! This is the artificial
human, ... EVANGELION."

"This then is the focus of our purpose ... to begin a new order of human
machines, a new life form, to the last draw of the deck." explains Ritsuko.

"This too is Father's creation?" says Shinji.

"So it is!" says Ikari Gendo.

Shinji looks up and for a long moment only stares. His Father, standing in
the entrance of the upper level corridor, above the EVA's head is almost a
ghost like apparition, whose front is in darkness from the bright lights
behind. The moment that Shinji has feared, ... and wanted ... has finally
arrived.

"It's been a long time." Ikari Gendo.

"Father!" says Shinji startled by the voice and sight of his father.

"Shinji." says Ikari Gendo. "I have important things to tell you so listen
carefully. You will ride inside what you see before you, ... and battle the
Angel."

"Wha ..." says Shinji.

"Commander, wait a minute!" objects Misato. "It took Rei several months to
synchronize with her EVA unit. This boy only came here today. Having him
ride EVA-01 is foolish and unreasonable without proper instruction."

"You're in no position to make that evaluation; more over to even give
advise." retorts Ikari Gendo.

"But!! ..." responds Misato.

"One more outburst like that Katsuragi and you'll be dismissed from duty!
The Disciple is now our highest priority. Or else you may want to consider
another line of employment." commands Ritsuko.

"There ... Shinji, come this way." says Ritsuko.

Shinji seems paralyzed ... the events ... the moment ... it's just too
much. It's as if all his worst possible fears are happening before his
eyes. His father only thinks of him as a "thing" to be used without any
concern for his own feelings, his own rights.

"A ... I ... ride inside this ... to fight that hideous monster outside?"
objects Shinji. "... Why? You've got to be joking!? How can I do that when
I don't even understand what this is all about!"

"The explanation is that you're the 'fittest'." replies Ikari Gendo.

The tension in the air is electrifying. Misato and Ritsuko are surprised by
this. Director Ikari has the highest security clearance, both operational
and political at NERV. NERV was HIS entire conception. Now there were
subtilities being revealed that went beyond the official operative mission
statement of NERV. There had been rumors of human gnome experiments with
tissue cultures of the EVANGELION units and live human subjects. The
purpose of this, if true, was unknown.

                               
"It would be unreasonable to use any other human being." says Ikari Gendo.

With those words Shinji begins to tremble. Perspiration soaks his clothes.
The strange dreams, the nightmares, the hallucinations, his inability to
remember much of his childhood (even to the point of whether he had a
childhood) are now brought into focus and flooding his mind.

"... why me?" objects Shinji. "NOTHING MAKES SENSE!!"

"Now understand well what I say ... You WILL do this!" snarls Ikari Gendo.

"That's not fair!" shouts Shinji. "I don't understand how. I don't
understand how to operate this thing!! Did you just call me here to do
something impossible? I'll be killed. I'm not an insect in one of your
experiments."

"Choosing not to act will mean the death of all human kind." says Ikari
Gendo. " You alone will shoulder the burden ... of the death of humanity."

"STOP IT !" shouts Shinji. " How can you be telling me this ... I WON'T DO
IT!!"

In silence, tears streaming down his face, trembling and breathing heavily,
Shinji stands alone. The holding chamber is like a huge court, with Shinji
in the middle of it ... alone. Commander Ikari has a reputation for
harshness no doubt instilled in him by the events of the Second Impact, 15
years ago. He does not tolerate questioning of his directives, let alone
insubordination. His methods are viewed as cruel, but the UN Political High
Command backs him because he achieves results.

"Is that so. ----- " retorts Ikari Gendo. "You give me no alternative. You
are not essential to this project [a bluff], so return. I suppose you think
a 100 million dead are not worth fighting for."

Shinji is even more stunned by the words of his Father. Ikari turns to a
console on his right, and reaches for the communicator panel.

"FUYUZUKI!" shouts Ikari Gendo making sure that Shinji and the others can
hear his words. "Prepare Rei for duty!"

"You did say you wanted to use her?" responds Fuyuzuki surprised.

"She's not afraid of dying." says Ikari Gendo. "Send her here at once."

"Start up all systems." says Ritsuko to the technicians in the chamber and
through her collar communicator. "Suit up Rei. Prepare for plug entry."

"Shinji ..." says Misato

As Ritsuko walks to the platform edge to direct activities, Misato is
totally surprised. She felt very sorry, even felt pity, for Shinji. This
exchange had changed her attitude about much. She would perform her duties,
but she would be cautious. A decidedly nasty undercurrent of office
politics had been revealed. In some ways Misato felt like a big sister to
Shinji and now placed a hand on his shoulder as if to give support. On the
other side of the gentry bridge medics entered with a a stretcher bed. Rei,
lying on the bed is being brought to enter the plug. An IV tube still
attached to a bag of plasma, she lies on her back, shaking, sweating, and
gnashing her teeth from the pain and the uncertain fate of another neural
connection with EVA-01. As the bed rolls past Shinji, they exchange a
glance at each other, and Shinji is stunned at feeling that he knows her.
The sight of Rei has focused Shinji's attention and thoughts, his shaken
condition of moments before gone.

"Rei ... prepare yourself for use, ... [softly] one more time." says Ikari
Gendo.

Ikari words to Rei are an apology of sorts, a stark contrast to his manner
with Shinji.

"Yes Sir." says Rei without hesitation.

                 Rei struggles to rise from the bed. Her trembling becomes so strong that
the bed rocks upon the composite alloy floor of the bridge. It's as if
she's summoning the last strength of her shattered body just at the effort
of sitting up. Misato looks on in quiet shock of the sight. Shinji can only
stare, ... stunned wordless.

"Uuuuhhh ..." grunts Rei straining to get up.

As Rei labors to breath alarms sound off thought the chamber an the whole
of the GeoFront. Another sound can be heard too ... its not part of the
GeoFront.

"That sound." says Misato.

She looks to the ceiling in disgust. Shinji hears it too. It's an auditory
hologram projection. The ANGEL.

"The demon has found us!" says Ikari Gendo in disgust.

Above on the surface, New Tokyo 3's defenses are no match for the Angel.
From the power orb of it's chest, it unleashes one of it's weapons. A
glowing ball of changed space-time, a topology inversion, rushes out to
impact a building on the perimeter of the city. An explosion follows with
the tell-tale shock wave front and debris plumb rising a kilometer above
the city in the shape of a crucifix. The Angel has arrived.

STAGE.3 EVA Start; Move Out

The blast from the Angel's chest orb is enough to disable the defensive
weaponry within New Tokyo 3. It then begins a methodical pattern of precise
hits to power and communication instillations on the surface. It's letting
the GeoFront know that there is no place to hide.

Within the GeoFront the inverted Armor Buildings are being weakened by the
barrage from above. Some are beginning to give way and fall to the GeoFront
floor, and upon NERV. Within the chamber Misato and Shinji are thrown
sideways as in an earthquake. Parts of the chamber crashes around them.

"The ceiling city is beginning to collapse!" Misato shouts looking to the
ceiling.

Two getters fall upon the gentry bridge next to Rei. One getter lands on
the bed, flipping it like a toy into the air. Rei is thrown to the bridge
floor like a puppet whose strings have been cut.

"Aaaa ....!!!" screams Rei in pain.

Rei lands partly on her her right hip and is thrown cartwheeling on the
floor in pain.

"LOOK OUT!!" shouts Shinji.

Shinji rushes to her side. He lifts her partly off the floor but Rei is
unconscience. In his arms, Rei seem even more frail than before. Her
bandages are stained red; the wounds are reopened. For a moment she regains
partial awareness. She stares into Shinji's eyes and twists her body as if
trying to get up, but the strain is too much and she again collapses into
Shinji's arms. For only a moment at strange scene unfolds. Like the ancient
Italian statue of Madonna and Christ, though now reversed, Shinji cradles
Rei in his arms. Two gulfs of time are bridged.

"She's dying!" says Shinji. To himself he thinks " ... how! ... ".

"Shinji." pleads Misato. "My friends are essential. And so are you, because
EVA need you inside her. You're not a puppet. You're important. We need
you."

"What does that mean?" asks Shinji.

"Don't you realize that you were not brought here just for a happy little
family get together?" says Misato. "What good would have come from that?
Here? Now? You're going to return without even a word to your Father over
there? You're just going to leave this wounded girl to take your place? Are
you only wanting self pity ... can't you think for a moment of the pain of
others around you!?"              


"Very well ... leave us while you can." says Ikari Gendo. "That's enough
Katsuragi. Shinji! If you don't leave now ... you'll be tardy. Find your
way back 'home' yourself!"

"Damn ... " Shinji says in a curse.

Shinji embraces Rei. Her body, limp, moist by perspiration, breathing
shallow and halted, he whispers to her.

"I understand." says Shinji to Rei.

Shinji looks at Rei once more.

"Father ... I hope I can ride it good enough?"says Shinji. "I will ride
inside it."

The sound of servo motors, transformers begin to come to life and fill the
chamber. Shinji gently lays Rei down on the gentry bridge floor. He stands,
still not taking his eyes from Rei.

"Shinji ..." says Misato feeling concern for Shinji.

Ritsuko walks to Shinji to take charge of briefing him for the experience
he will face.

"Those were good words, Shinji." says Ritsuko. "Well ... this way. The EVA
has a simple operating system ... "

As Ritsuko leads Shinji away to the off the bridge to the prep room, Ikari
Gendo looks on the scene from above. Shinji turns to give a final look to
his Father. Shinji's been betrayed his entire life. He never knew who he
was or what he was. It was all a carefully planned conspiracy, controlled
by his Father and who's ultimate purpose and end were still unknown. But
for now Shinji knew he was a prisoner, a prisoner of his life. With a deep
feeling of disgust, perhaps he too like other prisoners would plan his own
conspiracy, his own escape. How could his Father have done this; why was he
never told. From above Ikari Gendo looks on as Shinji departs. He allows
himself a small smile in proud satisfaction. His program will go forward.
He will achieve his ultimate goal.

Out of sight within the wall of the chamber, pumps begin to drain the
fluid. In the upper corridor, Shinji boards the plug. The plug, control and
interface capsule of sorts, that will be injected into the brain stem of
EVA-01.

Shinji has entered the Plug. Strapped to the riders seat he waits and
reflects.

"`I am an essential element with this robot that Father built ...' " says
Shinji. "What difference does it make? Huh! This is not amusing. What's one
more death to the total? I'm not the coward that Father thinks."

"Refrigeration Complete!!" reports the Loading Officer. "Inner cage
complete and in docking position."

"Pilot ... inside entry Plug." reports the Loading Officer 2. "... Plug in
position, locked, ready!"

Like a gigantic and grotesque hypodermic syringe, the Plug with Shinji
inside is injected into the brain stem of EVA-01. Electromechanical doors,
sensors, levers, come to life as the Plug enters the stem to connect to
EVA-01's R-complex. Mechanical levers with grasps take the Plug. Electrical
leads disengage and electricity and sparks ark through the moist air of the
chamber. Flashes of light from the discharges give EVA-01 an eerie glow
about its head. Frankenstein lives ...

"Confirmed!" reports Loading Officer 3.
"Entry Plug in place and operational!!"

NERV CONTROL

Activity in the NERV control room is at a frenzied pace.

"Plug fix completed!!" reports the 1st Cmd Ofc. "Commence first order
connections!!"

Within the Plug, Shinji listens to the intercom traffic.

"Begin Plug fluid injection." orders the 1st Cmd Ofc.

"What the ... !" says Shinji in alarm. "What is this stuff!?"

                               
A thick yellowish fluid begins to flood the interior of the Plug. Shinji
begins to panic at the thought of being drowned.

"There's a problem." reports the 1st Control (Cnd) Ofc.

"Calm down and let the LCL fluid fill your lungs." orders Ritsuko. "Oxygen
will be delivered faster. You're not going to drown."

"You have to endure this!" says Misato. "Just relax, you'll get acclimated
in a few seconds."

The Plug is completely flooded with the LCL fluid. Shinji had struggled to
release himself form the straps of the pilot couch. Having held his breath
to the point of passing out, he gives in and inhales the LCL fluid.

"Damn ... in order to fight the Angel you have to die." Shinji thinks to
himself. At the moment all he can do is to sit in the Plug and wait.
Listening to the message traffic on the communications link is unnerving in
it's military tone.

[The LCL fluid is a super-oxygenated neural conductive substance similar in
composition and function to placental fluid. It allows the pilot (EVA-01's
higher level consciousness) to interface with the neural-motive and
neural-sensory processes. Some experiments and neural computational models
point to schizophrenic side effects.]

"Main power source connected and online." reports the Cnd Ofc.

"Start Sequence!!" barks the Cmd Ofc.

Shinji begins to experience a hallucinogenic tunnel vision. His visual
perception seems to contract to a point in front of him, them expand. The
interior of the Plug fades to a translucent shadow world and he sees the
chamber where he stood moments ago though the perspective is higher. His
sense of touch fades as well though regains to something else. His hearing
too fades then recovers, but he hears sounds in the chamber not the Plug.
What EVA hears, Shinji hears. What EVA feels, Shinji feels. He has become a
ghost and spirit, the conscience of EVA-01.

"The A10 system is registering an unusual nervous system condition."
reports the 2nd Control (Cnd) Ofc. First stage contact, direct line open.
EVA's starting up by itself!

"Amazing ... the synchronization error indication is no more than 0.3%"
says Ritsuko.

She turns to Misato and give a nod of approval.

"GO." says Ritsuko

"EVANGELION UNIT 1, Prepare for launch!!" says Misato.

"Release no.1 docking bolts!" barks the Cmd Ofc 1.

The chamber begins to disassemble itself. The EVA now stands by its own
power on the launch pad.

"Bolt removal confirmed!" reports the 2nd Control (Cnd) Ofc.

"Move umbilical bridge!" requests the Cmd Ofc 1.

"Remove no.1 and no.2 mobile support stands!" barks out the Cmd Ofc 2.

"Remove safety struts and fail-safes no. 1 through no. 15!" says the Cmd
Ofc 1.

"EVA-01 is on full internal power." reports the 2nd Ground Officer. "All
electrical systems functional. External power is registering at and unusual
state!!"

                               
"EVA-01 ejection launch port open!!" the Cmd Ofc 1 reports from station.

"No. 5 Gate Stand by!" the 1st Gnd Ofc barks out.

The small launch pad upon which EVA stands is moved up an inclined ramp to
the real wall of the larger chamber. The wall is lined with sled like
runners, electromechanical hoists devices. Though NERV has only three EVA
units at present there appear to be a forward design plan for NERV to be a
functional hive of hundreds of EVA units. However, the planning of NERV and
the Human Gnome experiments predate the Second Coming.

"Tunnel Coarse clear!" informs the 2nd Gnd Ofc.

"All Systems Green!" says the 3rd Gnd Ofc.

"Acknowledged!!" says Misato.

Katsuragi turns to address Ikari Gendo who is watching the proceedings from
the rear observation deck.

"Commander Ikari! Your Orders!" says Misato: she knows the answer but regs.
requires one to follow decorum.

"Needless to say that the days to come are in the hands of this Disciple."
says Ikari Gendo.

Misato turns back to face the wall control monitors and officer crew of the
command consoles.

"LAUNCH!!" commands Misato.

Beneath the pad, solid hy - Ox thrusters ignite to boost Shinji and EVA-01
out of the chamber and into the tube leading to the street level of New
Tokyo 3. When in the tube, electromagnetic rails complete the lifting
process. Inside the Plug Shinji feels the 1G acceleration as EVA-01 feels
it. Approaching the street level, lights in the tube give a star-light like
glow to the otherwise dark interior.

10s of meters from the street level the electromagnetic field reverses and
acts as a brake to decelerate the pad. On the street, the scene is
deserted. None the less warning lights come to life and sirens sound in the
night. Doors hidden in the street open and slide to either side. Flood
lights in the tube turn on. Mechanical brakes finish the deceleration and
EVA-01 emerges on the surface. During the journey to the street
electromagnets in the floor of the pad held EVA-01 from sliding by
vibration during transport.

In the tube Shinji (EVA) kept his eyes shut. Now Shinji (EVA) opens his
eyes. Meters in front of EVA down the street is the Angel. Standing still,
the Angel seems to the accessing its objective; thinking, perhaps looking
for a weakness. The strange audio hologram changes frequency, and
discontinues. Does the Angel recognize EVA?

"Listen up Shinji!!" says Misato in command voice.

"Ah ... Yes Sir!" says Shinji.

Misato turns to the 1st Cnd Ofc.

"Remove the last safety magnets!!" says Misato.

"EVANGELION UNIT 1, LIFT OFF!!" instructs Misato in a command tone of
voice.

EVA takes its first step off the pad. The shoulder fin restraints release.
Shinji is terrified by the sensation of walking.

"Do your best, Shinji ... " Misato says trying to conceal her misgivings
about the operation.

For what seems an eternity, the two metacreatures face of in silence.

"I hope the underground monitors record how Shinji's movement sense
functions." Misato says to herself.

                               
From moment to moment, Shinji desires will be EVA's desires; She will act
as he acts. They will be one living organism.

"Shinji!" Misato shouts to get Shinji's unqualified attention.

"Sir!" Shinji says feeling like `canon fodder'.

"This will be your first step unassisted, your first time to walk." says
Misato.

Over the intercom, Shinji's works boom out in response.

"Wa ... WALK!" shouts Shinji in disbelief. "... How do I do that!"

"To walk, you have only to use your consciousness to focus your thoughts;
your desire for `walking'." says Misato to a very scared Shinji.

Inside the Plug Shinji hesitates; he's soaked in perspiration.

"Just think about walking." Misato tells Shinji. "Trust me!"

Shinji grabs the hand supports on the sides of the pilots couch. They're
not used to steering in the usual mechanical sense. They help to transmit
sensations to EVA which are diagnosed and amplified.

"Walk ... ?" Shinji thinks to himself. "Walk ... "

Shinji begins to visualize the sensation of walking in his mind (EVA mind);
taking a step. EVA responds, a little hesitantly and then lifts its left
leg, and shifts its weight slightly forward to left of center.

"Wa .... " Shinji says. Unlike in a dream, there is a sensation of
"feeling" the action of walking even though he's strapped to the "pilot"
couch.

EVA's left foot comes to a rest on the pavement of the street, and stops in
motion.

"He did it!" Ritsuko says almost not believing.

"He walked!" Misato shouts in excitement.

"St ... Stop." Shinji thinks the emotion but something else is going on
inside his head.

EVA takes another step. Shinji begins to feel strange. Emotions seem to be
running wild in this mind.

"ST ... STOP ... Na ... NO!!" shouts Shinji but he looses control of his
emotions.

But the emotions flooding his mind seem uncontrollable. He feels anger,
hatred, he wants ... revenge.

"GOOOO!!!" cries Shinji.

EVA launches into a wild run toward the Angel. The Angel seems even
surprised by the display. The control room staff are shocked. Something is
terribly wrong, or so they think. They begin to panic.

"Don't do this!!" shouts Misato. "Shinji, please wait your not ready!"

Shinji is engulfed by rage. The Id has taken over, but who's, EVA or
Shinji, both?

"AAAAAAAA ...." cries Shinji.

The Angel prepares a defense by a wide angel blast from its neutral
particle beam. The blast seems not intended to injure EVA, just to blind 
its vision, ... why? Does the Angel recognize EVA as a former Angel?

"WAAAAAAA ....!!" shouts Shinji.

Blinded by the flash, EVA raises its arms to coves her eyes. EVA runs past
the Angel, missing it by meters. EVA continues out of control.

"AAAAAAA .... !?" shouts Shinji as he realizes his folly .

"Shinji ... in front of you!!" shouts Misato trying to direct Shinji.

EVA runs head long into a building. Huge chunks of concrete, metal and
debris fly into the air and to the ground. Electrical systems in the
building arc wildly and ignite an inferno as EVA collapses to the ground.
Misato and staff are shocked by the display.

"Uuuuu ... uh ..." Shinji grunts.

The Angel turns and advances on EVA. Now on the offense the Angel attacks
like a wrestler.

" Shinji!" Misato shouts. "Behind you!"

EVA turns in the fire and debris on the street but its too late.

"Hurry!" Misato pleads. "Hurry, get up!!"

Shinji's mind has merged with EVA. The three fingered hand of the Angel
plunges down, grabs EVA's head and by great strength, lifts EVA into the
air like a doll.

"GAAAA ..." shouts Shinji.

"I beg you!" Misato says. "Shinji, ... Run away!!"

Too late. With its right hand the Angel grabs EVA's left forearm. Within
the Plug, Shinji feels tremendous pain throughout his left arm.

"AAAguuuu ... Shhhiii ..." shouts Shinji.

Terror fills his mind and EVA. The Angel begins to try to rip EVA's left
arm from the body. The scene is like a grotesque fight to the death by
animals without human qualities.

"GGGGUUUAAAAA ...." screams Shinji.

"Shinji!" shouts Misato.

Shinji and EVA are paralyzed by terror.

"Shinji! ... Calm down!!" says Misato. "Get a hold of yourself!! The pain
you feel is not real!"

In a defending sound of crushing metal and bone the Angel shatters the left
forearm of EVA.

"The left arm in inoperative ... reading null." says the 1st Cmd Ofc. "All
electrical sensors are reading null!!"

"AAAAAAAAAaaaaaa ....." screams Shinji.

"What's happening Ritsuko!" Misato pleads.

"This can not be happening." Ritsuko thinking to herself. She then shouts,
"The nervous system energy flow regulator is failing!?"

                               

"Yes Sir!" says the 2nd Cnd Ofc. "I see it!"

The Angel now raises the limp hulk of EVA high into the night air by its
grip on the head. It unleashes a blast of a particle beam from the orifice
of its palm directly point plank into EVA's head. The blast sounds like no
thunder ever heard on Earth.

"Not that!" says Misato. "Shinji!" "Don't look at the beam!!" Misato
screams into her communicator.

Too late. The beam impacts EVA's head in the right eye. Shinji screams as
his head feels as if being cleaved.

"GGGeeee ... AAAAAAAaaaaa ...!!!" screams Shinji.

"The head is taking a death blow!!" Ritsuko says almost choking.

As the Angel holds the head, the back plates are blown off by the exiting
beam. It continues to hold on for a second longer until the pressure is too
much even for it to withstand. The Angel release its grip. EVA is blown
backwards 200 meters into the side of a building and collapses. The control
room staff, Misato and Ritsuko watch helpless in utter horror. The head of
EVA slumps down and the body rolls forward. Blood and fluids gush from the
head wound.

"The monitors are scrambled." barks the 1st Cnd Ofc. "I can't tell if the
head is destroyed or not!"

"We've lost contact with the nervous system!" says the 2nd Cnd Ofc. "The
synchronization graph is reversing!"

"Pulse is in a counter flow configuration!" barks the 3rd Cnd Ofc.

"All electronic circuits are disconnecting!" says the 2nd Cnd Ofc.

"Respiration is dropping!" the 1st Cnd Ofc reports.

"Impossible!" the 2nd Cmd Ofc. says. "Signal communication is down!"

"Shinji!?" screams Misato.

"The monitors are not responding" the 1st Cmd Ofc. barked out. "I can't
tell if he's dead or alive!!"

"EVA-01 has experienced catastrophic failure!" the 2nd Cnd Ofc said almost
gasping for breath. "IT'S DEAD!"

"HALT OPERATIONS!" Misato said shouting. "Protecting the pilot is our top
priority! Eject the Plug!!"

"Impossible!" said the 1st Cnd Ofc. "The ejection mechanism had been
completely destroyed!"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?" shouted Misato.

STAGE.5 Into the looking glass.

                             Spiral arms beyond
                             Somewhere laughing
                         Tears of release caressing
                          Distant fingers touching
                                 ...Unknown

Awaking inside a dream. Floating in the void. Time irrelevant.

" ... warm" Shinji says not really speaking or thinking to himself.

"Here?" asks Shinji.

                               
" ... That's right!" a voice says.

"I never thought death would be like this." says Shinji.

Within the void a point of light. It grows larger, ... larger. Wisps of
light, like angel hair, stream and glide from it, formless, like vapor.
Snow flakes of light emanate from the center. Brighter, brighter glowing
brighter. Light engulfs the scene chasing the dark. Rays of light swirling.
A form within the light at its center, a human form. A woman's form.

"There?" says Shinji.

The form draws closer to Shinji. Shinji seems to recognize the form and
feels naked in its presence.

" Mother." whispers Shinji.

Even closer the form changes and reaches out with a hand, with both hands
toward Shinji. The form is distinct and grotesque now. It's like an EVA
with the right eye missing and blood streams from the empty socket.

" Waaaa ...." shouts Shinji.

The EVA grotesque embraces Shinji as he screams in terror.

"STOP!" screams Shinji.

"Wait ... Let me go!"

"I'm not ready to die!!"

"Someone help me ... Father! MOTHER!!"

At this moment on the street slumped against the building, the head of
EVA-01 snaps violently upward. A deep mechanical growl echoes and booms
throughout the city in a primal awaking.

"Power reading are online!" shouts the Cmd Ofc 1. "All systems are
resuming!!"

"The Synchrony graph is reading negative values!! and its moving ... could
it be!" says Ritsuko.

EVA jumps to it's feet and rushes headlong down the street toward the
Angel.

"Its gone berserk!?" shouts Ritsuko.

In a bizarre run toward the Angel, Eva leaps 10s of meters into the air.
Like a wild animal pouncing on an intruder, EVA descends upon the Angel. A
moment before impact the Angel fires a plasma beam. The heels of EVA crash
into the head of the Angel as the beam front impacts. At full power the
blast pressure would vaporize any substance but EVA is blown backwards,
tumbling in the air. Like a cat, EVA lands upon the street with feet and
hands. Another blast impacts to the side pushing EVA farther down the
street.

"Shinji!!" screams Misato. "How can he be fighting!?"

"Impossible!" Ritsuko says. "That can't be!"

Ritsuko is shocked by the full realization of the events unfolding before
her. EVA with Shinji inside can still function without direct power
linkage. In the back, sitting on the observation deck, Ikari watches with
satisfaction.

"Hummmm!" Ikari Gendo considers the options.

EVA makes another ferocious attack on the Angel. The Angel now employs its
most potent weapon, the AT field. From the chest orb strangely hexagonal
shaped holographic wavelets radiate. The AT field acts as a shining
crystalline wall of energy. Its existence is a topological space-time
technology partially existing in multiple dimensions.

" ... AT FIELD!?" say Ritsuko and Misato in disbelief.

"The Angel is already having to use it!?" Misato.

"The Angel must be reaching it's limit to have to use the field!" says
Ritsuko.

In a single motion of it's left arm, EVA reforms it, regenerating the
damaged portion.

"The left arm is restored!!" 1st Cmd Ofc says in disbelief.

"WHAT!" Misato.

"Did it grow a new one?" Ritsuko.

"The EVA unit is generating it's own AT field!" says the 2nd Cnd Ofc.
"Space-time topology in front of it is being neutralized!"

"OOOoooooo!!" says Ritsuko.

A fantastic scene unfolds. EVA is seen actually to interact, physically,
with the Angel's AT field as if it were a solid substance! Using it's
enormous hands, the EVA begins to spread a central opening in the AT field
of the Angel. In a rainbow play of color, electrical-like discharges arc
around the opening. EVA is now existing in multiple space-time topologies.
The psychological affects on a pilot are unknown. But Shinji is neither
dead nor alive.

"Wa ... Amazing!" says Misato. "A hole is opening in the Angel's AT field!"

EVA breaks through. The Angel in desperation fires its charged particle
beam from it's eye openings in an attempt to seal the hole in it's AT
field. EVA holds up it's arms as a shield. The interaction of the particle
beam and the AT field produces a wild display of power.

"The Angel's using it's particle weapon!!" says Misato at an almost
screaming level.

The interaction of the charged particle beam and the AT field is a mistake.
Both EVA and the Angel are blown backwards by the counter energy flow of
the topology. The Angel collapses to the street impacting a building. It
lies motionless in the rubble. It's seriously damaged; wounded.

"AAAA!!" Misato can hardly believe what she's seeing.

EVA quickly recovers; rushes the fallen Angel. Leaping into the air EVA
looks like an athlete. It folds its legs so that the knee struts protrude.
Like giant hammers, the knee struts crash upon the chest orb of the Angel!
The orb is cracked by the massive blows. Standing above the Angel, EVA
raises its clenched right fist. Upon the orb, EVA pounds its fist in
defiant blows. The orb cracks further. Again EVA pounds the orb until it
shatters. The Angel lets out a shrieking sound, as if in utter shock! The
Angel leaps up with its last energy and wraps itself around EVA. Then the
explosion!

"SELF DESTRUCTION!?" says Misato trembling as she stands behind the officer
staff.

A hemispheric blast front engulfs several city blocks around the titanic
fight that has just ended. The blast front rushes heavenward like a pillar
of light and fire. At the height of 3 kilometers the blast front spreads in
a cylindrical horizontal plane to form the shape of a crucifix.

Blinding light floods the control room . Misato, Ritsuko and the staff are
stunned into silence; they turn away from the monitors to guard their eyes,
as in a repetition of an old myth. The very foundations of their psyches is
weakened. What is it they are fighting? What is the meaning of this? Ikari
Gendo knows that the moment of triumph has arrived. He is vindicated. His
project is validated. He will live to see the destruction of the Angels and
the next step in human evolution. Above Ikari Gendo, on the back wall of
the control room is the Emblem of NERV, reflecting
brightly in the dying light of the explosion. "God is in his place, All's
right with the world." Ikari's vow is coming true.

In the center of the dying light and fire of the explosion stands EVA-01.

"All systems are powered down and operational." says the 1st Cnd Ofc.
"Pilot is alive."

"Recovery group pill out." relays the 3rd Cmd Ofc. "Transmutation out,
over."

STAGE.6 Dream walking.

Nighttime. A deserted road. Street lights to either side give a dim
twilight. Run, Run, got to get away! Run, run, must run faster, farther.
Behind me! Is it behind me? Run, Run. NOOO!!

"AAAAHHHHh..." Shinji screams.

Swirling light and sound and an EVA emerges to grab Shinji.

"WWWAAAA ..." Shinji screams, and realizes it's a dream.

Daylight. A hospital room. The window's open. Sashes gently ripple in the
breeze making a soft "hush" sound. A monitor stands on the right. Flowers
on a table next to the bed. Breathing is hard, covered in sweat. Out the
window; trees, the mountains in the distance. The sun is high in the sky.
Could it be?

"A dream ... ?" says Shinji looking out the window.

Below New Tokyo 3, within NERV, Ikari Gendo is facing the assessment
committee of the UN in the executive conference room.

2nd General

Ikari.

The meeting is filled with tension. The generals and political directors of
the UN refuse to address Ikari by title. To do so would convey respect;
which is not their intent.

" Both NERV and EVA need to be more skillful in our tactics wouldn't you
say !?" the 2nd General sneers.

"We can bend to laws of this country only so much." says the 3rd General
who may be a supporter of Ikari Gendo but not at this meeting. "To affect
the necessary repairs to the buildings and such but substitute soldiers
come at a premium, and if public opinion should turn, then our continuation
can be questionable."

"Just the money being tight as it is makes it a bad situation, let alone
everything else." the 4th General says staring coldly toward Ikari Gendo,
who would not look up to acknowledge the source.

"Perhaps you think your job is indispensable?" the 2nd General said in a
huff.

"Enough!" the Director of Staff, UN (DSUN) booms across the room.

" `Human Complement Plan.' " reads Ikari Gendo.

We need to devise a political action-public relations plan to instill hope
and limit despair among the population without revealing our exact
condition and intentions.

---- with the understanding that my terms are agreed to.

"In any case ... the Angel's second coming is based on a schedule if you
have not noticed already [foretold in the Dead Sea Scrolls]." says the
DSUN.

" How will the report to the Directorate be made?" asks The 4th General.

"A resolution plan is already complete." says Ikari Gendo with a degree of
satisfaction. "The repair actions will
Misato's been hoping for a room mate for a long time. Before Shinji
arrived, her work friends when seeing Shinji;s picture commented on how
much they looked alike. Misato always fancied being a big sister to a
little brother when she was growing up. Now was her chance, but it was
wearing thin with Shinji. And she was beginning to think that Shinji didn't
appreciate her efforts.

"Isn't that good?" said Misato thinking that her efforts would win world
acclaim. "Do you want to be alone for a while?" was her comeback.

"You can fill out an application to live with my Father --- as far as I
care." replied Shinji. You'll have to provide for your own emotional
comfort through. Father has never once given me even the time of day for
that matter.

"Well ... moody today aren't we, Ha Ha ..." said Misato. "Don't think that
I'm trying to be your mother." " Like I said, I think you'll find it
agreeable if you give it a chance." she said not noticing Shinji boiling at
the thought.

"Will you please SHUT UP!!" says Shinji. "You're the one who's afraid of
commitment!" he says in a huff. It's going to take 4 seconds for this to
register with Misato and when it does Shinji is going on a "ride".

"Hay, what did I say wrong ..." she didn't expect this; she really is
concerned about Shinji. "I'm just trying to help your problem ... " she
says a little embarrassed.

"Whatever problem you think I have, it's none of your business!" Shinji
shouts at her; big mistake!

"You ... You Twerp!" says Misato; she's mad now. " ... So you think I'm
insincere or something ... you just wait there ..." she says and unbelts
her PDC. Very quickly she pokes-up Ritsuko's number, her apartment number.
Ritsuko is still at NERV but Misato is mad and making a ruse to scare
Shinji. However, she forgot that Ritsuko has a web-forwarder to her belt
personal digital communicator (PDC). Hearing the mid-tone [beep beep] and
Ritsuko's voice almost spoils the ruse but she keeps her cool and
continues, hoping for double-double talk not to give her away.

"Waaa .... ?" says Shinji but choking on the word.

Shinji has yet to see Misato angry, really angry ... But he didn't expect
this.

Misato wasn't about to be talked down to by a 14 year old boy, let alone
out maneuvered. Keeping the high security clearance limited, even
prohibited her from having friends or close associates outside of NERV.
Dating was a big problem for single women and men for the matter; security
and job regulations prohibited it for the most part. And besides, most of
the single men were geeks or jerks, or both. Perhaps she was thinking six
years in advance ... She grabbed her belt communications link and punched
up Ritsuko.

"Ah. Ritsuko?" says Misato. "Yea. It's me. Ahem."

"Mr. Shinji, you know the one, I'm taking him to my `mansion' to show him
where he'll be living while at NERV, ... if that's OK by you, per
instructions and all that." Misato says into the communicator.

"What?" says Shinji. His heart rate is going up fast.

Shinji's sweating bullets.

Misato

"Everything's OK." Misato says while veins pop out on her forehead, she's
really mad. "... Really." "Ha ... you know how cranky children get if you
don't feed them once in a while. See ye..."

[beep] Misato closed the connection as fast as possible.

"Wait a minute Katsuragi!!" she shouts into the communicator. "What the
hell are you talking about!?"

Ritsuko only heard the last of the message since it was on auto-transfer
while she finished a spec. checkout with one of the control officers. She's
clearly pissed. Katsuragi is up to something!

     

"It's settled." says Misato. "Well, let's go shall we?"

"Gaaa ... This has got to be some kind of a joke isn't it!" says Shinji.

"Would you please consider what I think? With all that's gone on, how can I
possibly live with you? " he says.

"If you don't SHUT UP and do what I what I say I'm going to drag you out of
here!" said Misato. She's clearly getting mad now. "Can't you here what
your BOSS is telling you?" she says to a stunned Shinji.

A ton of bricks would not have had the effect on Shinji as this! The result
is Misato dragging Shinji down the hall to the parking garage.

"She really didn't have to punch me in the eye." Shinji thinks to himself.

Speeding out of the entrance into the daylight of the surface was always a
relief, or release for Misato, and this morning was no different. She was
also feeling a little hyper at snagging her catch.

"Ha Ha ... We're going to party today ..." said Misato in her hyper-mood
way.

"Party ... What's to party about?" said Shinji staring out the window of
the car.

"Because everything is settled of course." says Misato clearly enjoying
this. "We're living together so we have to have a welcome home party!"

"That's not funny." he says.

"... What's on your mind ..." says Misato in her "big sister" voice.

"Nothing important..." says Shinji almost in a whisper.

Misato sees a road sign that a scenic vantage point-park is near by and
decides to exit the autobahn at high speed.

" Wait a minute ..." says Shinji as the car makes a sudden high speed turn.

"We're near a viewing park." Misato explains as she steers the car,
skidding across the pavement.

"I don't see what's so special about some picnic park." said Shinji in his
usual chagrin way.

"Jeeezzz ... you're such a grouchy kid!" said Misato. "Be quite. You're
going to see something special."

Both walk to the guardrail at the park's edge. The park did have a good
view of New Tokyo 3, down in the valley. Misato checks her watch.

" We're just in time." she said. "The armor buildings of New Tokyo 3 rise
from the underground to the street level at sun rise."

In the valley below, warning horns sound in the distance. As the sun rises
above the mountain rim to the east, buildings rise from the ground. It like
a magical sight, a fairy tale.

"WOW ... !?" said Shinji in excitement. "The buildings are rising from the
ground!?"

"This is the principle reason that you fought the Angel for." says Misato.
"This is my friends home. Your home."

"That ..." he starts to say.

"I haven't seen anything more beautiful. I never saw any of this while
riding inside EVA. Humanity was saved by a kid who can't even defend
himself ..." 


"I understand now." Says Shinji quietly

"No need for any other reason." said Misato. "You just need some
self-confidence. That's all."

In the glow and warmth of the morning sun Shinji also realizes the one
thing he most desperately wants. He can't look upon the scene any more. His
head lowers, and he begins to cry.

"Shinji ... ah... ah... I didn't mean to say something to upset you." says
Misato.

"Shinji" she says again.

"It's not that." he says wiping tears from his eyes.

"That look" Shinji thinks to himself. In his mind he flashbacks to Ikari
Gendo at the hospital.

"that time" Again he flashbacks to the suicide attempt.

"that place" All he can see is Ikari's frown. All he can hear is his
father's silence.

"without a word..."

To Be Continued.