That day, as on most days, the sun bathed the majestic skyscrapers of Tokyo-3. The wind blew warm as it always did. The sky stretched in a blue sea overhead as it always did.

And miles below, in the Geofront, NERV personnel panicked as they always did.

"Code Blue!" Makoto Hyuga shouted, his eyes glued to the computer screen in front of his. "Angel confirmed!"

"What?!"

Lieutenant Misato Katsuragi darted forward, grabbing the back of the seat as she leaned forward to look over his shoulder. Her dark eyes narrowed as she glanced at the data displayed.

"What's the location of this one?" she asked.

"Right above us, ma'am."

"Send Unit 01 up to intercept it! Now!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Within moments, orders relayed from one NERV employee to the next. Many of these involved first locating and second hustling Third Children Shinji Ikari through pre-battle preparations. He had no time to think as he quickly donned his form-fitting armor to be the hero of the day once again, and before he could stop, he found himself within the dark and familiar cabin as it filled with warm, viscous fluid. The entry plug spun into the back of the armored Evangelion. Visuals flickered and swam as Shinji's nerves connected with those of the beast he commanded. As he moved towards the launch pad, he quickly searched for that place in his mind that allowed him to face the Angel threat. The same mantra ran through his head: "Mustn't run away. Mustn't run away." His voice echoed through the entry plug as he felt the rush of being launched upwards to the surface of the city. When the elevator stopped and the door opened, he calmly maneuvered Unit 01 to the outside world.

At that point, Misato opened a channel of communication between the command center and the pilot, who was already in motion and heading towards an open locker to pick up a weapon.

"Shinji," she said, "when you make contact with the Angel, push it out of the city. Got that?"

Without hesitating, Shinji ran past the locker as he grabbed the pistol on his way.

"Got it." He turned a corner. "Where's the Angel now?"

"Right in front of you!"

Immediately, Shinji stopped. His eyes blinked as he stared straight ahead at absolutely nothing. Perplexed, Shinji looked up, expecting the angel to be airborne. Still nothing. Then, he looked down, stopped, blinked, shook his head, and looked at the spot at his feet again.

"Uh, Misato?"

"Yes, Shinji?"

"Are you sure about this?"

"Of course I am! Don't let your guard down just because the Angel happens to be a little smaller than usual!"

"Uh…"

Shinji blinked and stared at the two forms at his feet again. The one on the left gazed calmly at him with eyes perpetually behind a pair of sunglasses. Meanwhile, his companion, the target, placed a hand over his wide mouth and fixed his pale eyes on the purple and green giant pointing a rather large gun at him.

"Crowley, dear," he said with a faint voice.

"Yes, Aziraphale?"

"Let's never do authentic sushi again."

"Agreed."

The man in black lifted a hand, and with a snap of manicured fingers, both he and the target vanished. Suddenly, not a single member of NERV could remember why Unit 01 had been dispatched.