Phase 1 - Titan Attack
The year is 2019. The city of Tokyo-3, it's construction coming along smoothly, is calm and quiet. However, somewhere below it, the same cannot be said. An alarm blares throughout a military facility, as operatives bustle about, as if looking for something. Elsewhere, a young boy, tears streaming down his cheeks, is fleeing from a group of these operatives, using a stolen access card to create shortcuts for himself. As he rounds a corner, he sees another group of men in suits and briefly freezes, before darting into an elevator just across from him. Believing the boy to be trapped, the men radio to their apparent leader, an older man who is sitting with a slightly younger man in a office tucked away deep in the facility. The commander orders the squads to wait on each floor that the elevator stops in, to see which floor the boy is moving to. The younger man wonders out loud if the boy will be of any use to them anymore. The older man doesn't respond. Meanwhile, a group of operatives is waiting in front of the elevator door of the top level of the facility. The elevator has passed by all the other levels, and there is no other place for it to go. Slowly, the doors open. However, as the operatives step inside, they realize that the boy is no longer inside, and a service panel on the elevator's top is open. The men determine that the boy has gotten into the air ducts, but are unable to find him in the twisted maze. Their commander tells them to call off the search inside the building, and expand it out wards. Leaning back in his chair, he says that Alpha is lost to them. The younger man stands, sliding his glasses up his nose, and gestures with his hand, stating that Beta is still a viable option. In the direction which the man had gestured, a young girl is standing silently, her face partially hidden by shadows.
Three years pass since the incident at the facility. A teenager wheels his bike out of a woodshed, pushing it along a dirt driveway next to a humble mountain cottage. An older woman calls out to the boy, calling him Tetsuo, and reminds him to pick up eggs while he is out. Tetsuo nods and smiles faintly, telling her that she shouldn't eat so much eggs, as the doctor has already told her. Climbing onto his bike, he rides off, waving to the old woman as he heads off toward a nearby town tucked away in the mountains. His trip is uneventful, picking up a few things for back at the cottage, and running a few errands for the old couple that he lives with. Tetsuo takes the time to get some lunch at a noodle stand, before getting back on his bike, and riding back up to the cottage. As he approaches it however, he notices a big black car sitting in the dirt driveway, and stops his bike. Staring at the car for a few moments, he looks up to the cottage, to see a pair of men in suits, talking to the old lady. A look of stunned anger crosses his face, as the old woman spots him, waving him over. The two men in suits turn to face him, just as he turns his bike around, and speeds off in the opposite direction, throwing the groceries off to the side. The two men quickly make their way to their car, and drive off in pursuit of him. Tetsuo looks over his shoulder and curses, realizing that he can't outrun the car on the main road. He sharply turns his bike onto an off road trail, hoping to lose the car in the woods. The car turns onto the trail after him, but has a difficult time keeping up due to the roughness of the trail. Eventually, Tetsuo is able to cause the car to spin out, avoiding a collision with a tree. Tetsuo thinks he is safe as he attempts to make his way back to the main road, but freezes as he sees the exit is entirely blocked off by more black cars. Stopping his bike several yards away, he glares as men in suits climb out of the car, instructing him to surrender immediately. He starts to turn his bike around, but stops when one of the men fire a warning shot into the air with his gun. Cursing, Tetsuo slowly raises his arms into the air, as a pair of men in suits restrain him, and throw him in the back of one of the cars.
A few hours pass, and the black sedans are making their way down a road, toward Tokyo-3. Tetsuo is still in the back of one of the cars, his hands and feet binded. Despite his anger, he quietly stares out the window, knowing that there's no point in saying anything. As they drive along, Tetsuo notices a sports car parked to the side up the road quite a bit, with what appeared to be a woman standing outside it. As they approach, Tetsuo's eyes narrow, as if he recognizes the woman. The sedans pass the woman and the sports car before pulling over to the side as well. One of the men opens the door, and tells Tetsuo to step out. Slowly, Tetsuo rises out of the car, his back to the woman. The men unbind Tetsuo, as the woman calls out to him. Rubbing his wrists and shaking his head, he steps around the car, and toward the woman, his head slightly lowered. As he gets close, the woman smiles at him, asking him how the trip was. Tetsuo blows her off, calling her Ayako and asking her why NERV came calling all of a sudden. Ayako sweatdrops, saying that if he hadn't hid himself so well, they wouldn't have had to send professional agents to go find him. She then asks him to get into her car, and that she'll explain things as they go. Tetsuo gives her a long hard look, before wordlessly climbing into the passenger's seat. Ayako sighs, looking up into the sky, and wonders if they'll be on time.
Elsewhere, in the facility beneath Tokyo-3 known as NERV, Eiko Maekawa is tracking movement beneath the ocean, saying that a large unidentified object is making it's way toward Tokyo-3. The Japanese Strategic Self Defense Forces, or JSSDF, is deployed, setting up an armed perimeter along the coast line. A general invited inside NERV states that his forces will be able to deal with the threat, and that NERV will have wasted time and money for something that wasn't even required. As the unidentified object gets closer and closer to shore, the general orders his forces to open fire on it, hoping to take it out quickly. The deployed forces unload their arsenal, giving the unidentified object all they've got. However, the object shows no sign of slowing down, in fact speeding up. As it bursts from the waters, it's energy signature is confirmed and Eiko confirms it to be a Titan. Commander Kazuhiro, leader of NERV, gives the Titan the codename Tethys, and asks the JSSDF general if he still wishes to engage this enemy. Cursing, the general blows him off, deploying his aerial forces to assist in the attack, as Tethys pushes through the coastline forces. As Tethys makes it's slow path toward Tokyo-3, it becomes abundantly clear that the JSSDF's forces are having little to no effect on it. The general refuses to give up, however, and appeals to the UN to allow him to use a N2 Mine to put down the Titan for good. Commander Kazuhiro watches on, content with being patient. The UN gives it's approval, and the general opts to use it immediately, while the Titan is still a good distance away from Tokyo-3. A flyby is executed, and the N2 mine is dropped directly onto the Titan, causing a colossal explosion.
On the highway approaching Tokyo-3, Tetsuo witnesses the explosion in the distance. He turns to Ayako, who comments on how the UN actually decided to blow an N2 Mine. Tetsuo asks her if 'they' are finally here. Ayako looks at him briefly, and responds that there would be no other reason for NERV to come looking for him after three years. Tetsuo says that he'll never get into Alpha again, and Ayako says that if worse comes to worse, she supposes he won't have to, leaving Tetsuo somewhat confused.
Back at NERV, the JSSDF general is boasting about the strength of the N2 Mine, as early sensor readings cannot find any sign of the Titan. However, there's a sudden spike and energy, and visual is finally restored, revealing that the Titan is still alive, although somewhat injured. The general is stunned, but Commander Kazuhiro doesn't seem surprised. After a short phone call from the UN, the general announces that full control of the situation has been handed over to NERV immediately, giving Commander Kazuhiro full control. The commander immediately calls for 'EVA-Beta' to be deployed, to intercept the Titan.
Ayako's sports car tears through Tokyo-3's empty streets, when the ground starts to rumble. Looking out the window, Tetsuo sees first-hand the visage of the Titan. Ayako grimaces and wonders out-loud where EVA-Beta is. Tetsuo blinks, but before he can inquire about EVA-Beta, the Titan fires a blast of energy from it's hand, which nearly hits them. Ayako swerves and struggles to keep control of the car, as the Titan aims again. Tetsuo's eyes lock on the Titan, as he clenches his fists. Just before the Titan can fire, it is suddenly tackled by large armored robotic-like construct. Tetsuo appears shocked, asking Ayako if this is EVA-Beta. Ayako responds that it is, but the pilot isn't in any shape to last very long. She then pulls the car onto a section of the road that appears different from the rest. As Tetsuo watches the Titan battle EVA-Beta, the car shakes, as the road below them lowers into the ground, into a 'tunnel' of sorts.
Meanwhile, the Titan batters EVA-Beta, which seems unable to properly defend itself. Yasuo Morita, another NERV operator, tells the commander that Beta's pilot is badly wounded, and cannot survive much longer. The commander notices on a separate camera monitor that Ayako has finally arrived and stands, telling Yasuo to call Beta back, and that prepare shortly for Alpha's launch. Yasuo is and the other operators look between each other in shock and confusion, as the commander disappears from his position behind them. Yasuo gives Beta the order to retreat, and Beta manages to make it's way to a deploy chute similar to the one Ayako escaped down, collapsing as it lowers into the ground.
Elsewhere, Ayako's car has finally come to a stop in what appears to be a huge hangar. As Ayako and Tetsuo climb out of the car, they are greeted by Keiko Takeda, who appears to be some sort of a scientist if her lab coat is any indicator. Keiko gives Ayako grief for taking so long, and Ayako complains about how well Tetsuo hid himself. Keiko eyes Tetsuo, and asks him how he's been all this time. Tetsuo barely acknowledges her, offering up a single world to explain how he's been: "free". Keiko cocks her head to the side, then shrugs, asking the two to follow her as she steps onto an automated lift. The two follow, Tetsuo much slower then Ayako. As the lift travels along the track, Keiko explains the situation to Ayako, telling her how the JSSDF was unable to slow the enemy down. Ayako asks about Beta, and Keiko comments that for the time being, it's been called back. This alarms Ayako, as it means that Tokyo-3 is at the mercy of the Titan. Keiko nods, and looks over to Tetsuo, saying that it appears that they only have one hope now. Tetsuo doesn't appear to hear them as he takes in the sights of the hangar, as if recalling old memories. They finally come to a stop alongside a catwalk placed in front of a pair of huge steel doors. As the three climb onto the catwalk, Keiko turns to Tetsuo, asking him if he knows why he's here. Tetsuo tells her that was a stupid question.
Keiko quirks her brow, as the huge doors slowly open, revealing the head of a massive construct similar to EVA-Beta. Standing on a platform above the construct is Commander Kazuhiro, who welcomes Tetsuo home. Tetsuo scoffs, comparing NERV to being more like a casket then being home. The commander tells Tetsuo that he has to pilot Alpha, that the future of humanity is at stake. Tetsuo scowls and shouts, asking why he should help NERV, after all that's happened. He continues, saying that he refuses to be their puppet, and that he won't pilot Alpha. The commander shakes his head, and tells him he doesn't have time for cowards. He uses a radio to call the infirmary, telling them to prepare Beta's pilot for combat again. Ayako steps up beside Tetsuo, resting her hand on his shoulder and begging him to reconsider. Tetsuo slaps her hand away, asking her for a reason why he should help. She grabs him by the collar, and tells him if he doesn't, then he'll be haunted by the consequences for the rest of his life.
Before he can respond, a team of medics comes hurrying down the catwalk with a stretcher, Beta's pilot on it. As Tetsuo looks to the pilot, he recoils in shock and horror, seeing who it is. Haruko Isshiki, Beta's pilot, is bandaged up, and can barely move. Tetsuo stops the stretcher and leans over Haruko, asking her why she agreed to become an Evangelion pilot desperately, telling her that she should of stayed away from this place. Though weak, Haruko is able to whisper a reply, telling Tetsuo that she wanted to be strong like him. The whole facility shakes, as Tethys is causing buildings from the sheltered Tokyo-3 to collapse in on NERV. Tetsuo holds the stretcher steady, even shielding Haruko from falling debris with his own body. He slowly looks up at the commander, a look of sheer hatred and contempt masking his face. He tells the commander that he'll pilot Alpha, but only for Haruko. No one else. The commander smiles faintly, saying that any reason is enough.
Shortly thereafter, Tetsuo is inside EVA-Alpha, still in his normal clothes. As the entry plug fills with LCL, he quietly compares it's scent to blood. Back in the main control room, the operators are stunned to see that Tetsuo is able to immediately sync up with Alpha, stating that it took Haruko years to get the same numbers with Beta. Ayako is surprised as well, but Keiko appears to have expected it. After going through all the motions, Ayako asks Tetsuo if he's ready to deploy. Taking a deep breath, and closing his eyes, he mutters a poem under his breath, almost inaudibly. The crew in the control room are confused, and Ayako tells Tetsuo to respond. Tetsuo opens his eyes, a look of determination crossing his face as he tells Ayako he's ready to fight. EVA-Alpha is then launched, rising up through the deployment tunnel quickly, and appearing before the Titan as EVA-Alpha comes up from the street.