Chapter One:

Angel Attack!

"We're sorry, but due to emergency situations, no phone lines are available at this time. Thank you, please try again later."

"What? They called me here, during an emergency?" the young man looks down at his watch. It read 3:12 PM. He sighed. The woman his parents had sent to pick him up was around two hours late. He lowers his hand, reaching into his sweater pocket, and pulls out a picture of her. In the photo, she had purple hair, pulled back into a ponytail, as she sat on the hood of her car in shorts and a t-shirt. He sighs, scratching his head. Hopefully this 'Misato Katsuragi' would be here soon. It made him uncomfortable to be outside in an emergency. Especially if said emergency was in the area that he was standing in.

Seventeen year old Shinji Ikari, 'the child genius of Kyoto University', waiting for some lady sent by his parents to pick him up, turned around, after hearing some noise. There, he sees something odd, a blue haired girl about 170 centimeters tall, who appears to be around seventeen years of age, standing in the middle of the deserted city. Shinji's eyes go wide. What was she doing here?

"Rei?" Shinji asks towards the girl, curiously, wondering why he saw his twin sister standing in there. As he steps forwards, a flock of birds flies overhead, quickly diverting his attention away from his sister, only for her to disappear when he looks back.

Shinji steps back, shocked at the figure he saw, only to notice that the ground was trembling beneath him. Suddenly, a large green foot dripping with water walks over the village, as VTOL gunships fly in. It lumbers slowly across the valley, holding near where Shinji is. Slowly, it raises it's arm and fires a rod of pink light, penetrating one of the VTOLs and sending it crashing to the ground. It crashed not even 15 meters away from Shinji, and all he does it stare at it as the Angel leaps over several buildings to to land on the downed VTOL. Just as the explosion from the gunship being destroyed reaches around 10 feet from Shinji, a blue Alpine screams to a halt right before him.

The door opens, and the woman in the picture is there.

"You Shinji Ikari?"

Shinji just nods.

"Get in! Quickly!"

He grabs his bag and scrambles to get inside the car, throwing his duffel bag into the back, and clicking on the seat belt.

When he finishes that, Misato smiles, and says to him, "Hold on tight! It'll be a little bumpy!"

She presses down on the gas, and zips straight ahead, far from the angel.

Meanwhile, deep inside the Geofront, in the Operations Center, three of the JSSDFs generals were screaming in confusion about their weapons ineffectiveness.

"Is it protected by an AT Field?" asks Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki, to his old pupils.

"Yes, it must be Fuyutsuki-Sensei. Gendo, prep Rei incase the spare cannot be counted on," says one of his pupils, a certain Dr. Yui Ikari, wearing a lab coat, a simple pink blouse, black slacks, and her hair in her own typical (surprisingly long) bob cut.

Commander Gendo Ikari stares at his wife, concerned.

"You don't mean that plan do you? Also you could at least refer to Shinji by his name, rather than "the spare"."

"Yes, that plan. Do what you must. Also, he is a spare pilot. So why not refer to him as such?"

Gendo looks at her. He sighs, and turns to walk towards an elevator, holding his right hand in his pants pocket. He turns, and as the elevator descends, says "Fuyutsuki, take over the rest. Also Yui, prep Unit-01 for launch when you get the all-clear. I will be in the medical wing."

The elevator descends, leaving Fuyutsuki and Yui on that platform. She smiles to herself, a small, evil grin.

One of the generals, holding a red phone to his ear, says "Yes sir, I understand. We'll execute the plan at once," he turns towards Yui and Fuyutsuki, "Sub-Commander, Dr. Ikari, we have received permission from the Prime Minister for an N2 strike. However, there is a civilian vehicle registered to your Operations Director in the area. Should we commence?"

Yui looks at the screen, zoomed into Misato's car. "It's no problem. Launch the N2 strike."

Makoto leans over to Aoba and whispers to him, "I know it's non-nuclear, but nuke the fucker!"

Aoba just snickers, and nods, replying with "What the fuuuuu-boom!"

Maya just rolls her eyes, and says "You'd better not be making nuking jokes again."

Back at Misato's Alpine, Misato is currently hunched over looking out the window with her binoculars.

"Hold on...wait! They're going to use an N2-mine! Get down!"

She roughly pushes Shinji into the car seat, as the mine gets set off, sending the car, and therefore them, spinning over dunes of sand. As the dust settled, two figures remained in the newly created wasteland.

"You OK?"

"Yeah…just got sand in my mouth. Thankfully that was non-nuclear."

"Great. Let's go! Push!"

They stood with their backs to the car, pushing with all their might. After a couple of tries, the car shifts and lands right side up.

"Ah! Thanks for the hand! You were great!" Misato says to Shinji as she dusts her hands off, then places them on her waist.

"Th-thank you too Miss. Katsuragi. I'll pay for the damages."

"Ah! It's OK! I'll pay for them myself, and calling me Misato is fine. Well, it's nice that we've officially met, Shinji Ikari."

Back in the command center, things were starting to get hectic.

"We've got an energy reading at the explosion's epicenter!"

"It can't be!"

"Visual display restored."

The three generals stare at the form of the angel on the screen.

"That was our last resort…"

"No effect...I can't believe it."

"It's a God-damned demon!"

"Just as we predicted, it's regenerating itself."

"If it couldn't, it wouldn't be a practical autonomous invasion weapon. Truly, I am curious as to how the S2 Organ works as to speed up cellular regeneration," says Yui with a smirk.

Gendo steps back onto the platform, adjusting his glasses. He watches as Sachiel fires a beam into a recon-gunship, destroying it instantly.

"Impressive. It appears that it can even upgrade it's own operational functions."

Gendo sits in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of his facing and taking the classic 'Gendo pose.'

"It is also learning...interesting," Yui continues smirking, her legs crossed as she sits on a table.

"It will continues it's assault any minute now," says Fuyutsuki, hands clasped behind his back.

The video snaps on, rerouted through another camera.

The gates for the express elevator to the Geofront close behind Shinji and Misato.

"The special agency, Nerv? Wasn't it a research company six years ago?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah it was. But now, it's a secret organisation under the control of the United Nations."

Shinji looks out his window. "My parents work here, right?"

"Yeah. Do you know what they do?"

He continues to stare out the window. "Not really...no. My aunt and uncle said that it's for the survival of all humans."

"Well, they're not wrong there."

The general places the phone back down and sighs.

"From now on, command of this operation is entrusted to you. Do not fail."

Gendo nods. "Yes sir."

"Mr. Ikari, we must admit that our weapons have no effect on the target. Are you sure that you can beat these...things?"

Gendo takes off his glasses, cleans them, then places them back on.

"Sir, that is what Nerv was created for."

"We're all praying that you are correct."

The platform the generals are on descends downwards, as Yui stands up.

"Target is still stationary. Our ability to intercept is only 7.5%," one of the bridge techs says over the intercom.

"Even the U.N. forces are exhausted. What do you plan on doing?" Fuyutsuki asks.

"I intend to activate Unit-01 Fuyutsuki-sensei. Gendo, start the preparations for launch," Yui says, as she stretches her arms.

"Unit-01? But we don't have a pilot."

"My son will pilot it." Gendo sits down, and opens a folder, passing it to Fuyutsuki.

He reads it, with an eyebrow raised, and smiles, placing it down. A piece of paper lies out of it, with the name "(Dr.) Shinji Ikari" written across the top.

"Are...you taking me to see my parents?"

"Yes. I believe so."

He closes his eyes, thinking back to when he was three. His father, gently smiling, patting his head as his mother looks down in anger. Him, crying at the train station. "Mother…"

"Ah, I almost forgot. Did they send you an ID card?" Misato asks. Her arms were placed behind her head, as she looked at him.

Shinji blinks, then reaches into his bag, "Yes," he searches for a moment, then pulls out a crumpled piece of paper, "Here it is."

Misato takes it from him and unfolds it. It was simply a largely blacked out information sheet, with a temporary ID and the words "Come. -Yui Ikari," written across.

"Here. Read this." Misato passes him an introduction package.

Shinji holds it up, staring at it. "Nerv...my parent's agency...am I going to work for them too?" Shinji turns towards Misato as she just stares out of the window, "Of course. They wouldn't have sent a letter for me unless they needed something."

"I see. So you don't get along with your parents. It's similar with me."

Shinji looks over at Misato in shock. Her hands were still rested behind her head as the elevator descended downward. Soon, it opened up to reveal the GeoFront. Shinji's eyes open in shock, a smile tugging at the side of his lips.

"Amazing...it's a GeoFront! A real GeoFront!" he says.

"Yep! This is our secret base. Nerv Headquarters. This is the key to rebuilding our world. A fortress for all mankind."

The elevator doors open. A relatively tall woman, with her hair dyed blonde, wearing a lab coat and a simple uniform steps in. She looks between Misato and Shinji, then sighs.

"So, this is the boy?"

"Yeah. According to the Marduk Report, this is the Third Child. Ritsuko, this is Shinji Ikari, Shinji, this is Dr. Ritsuko Akagi, one of the heads of the Technical Division and a good friend of mine."

"N-nice to meet you, Dr. Akagi. I've read all of your work." Shinji says as he quickly bows.

"Ah yes...I forgot that your father mentioned that you have a degree. Well, I remember that your thesis was very interesting, Dr. Ikari."

Shinji steps back, a slight smile on his face. "Th-thank you!"

The elevator reaches it's destined floor. Once the doors open, Ritsuko steps out, saying "This way. An be quick."

The lights in the hanger clicked off as the door shut.

"Huh? It's completely dark." Shinji says, just as Ritsuko presses the light switch.

The sound of over 100 light bulbs turning on simultaneously rings out. As it does, Shinji steps back in shock, his eyes wide and mouth gaping.

"A...a face? It's a giant...wait...oh god…" he says in shock.

The manual drops to the floor, as Shinji continues to stare up at the robot.

"Well, at least he didn't look in the manual for it. This is mankind's ultimate decisive multi-purpose weapon, the synthetic human, Evangelion Unit-01," Ritsuko says to Shinji as he continues to stare at the giant purple figure. "Built in absolute secrecy, it is mankind's trump card."

Shinji just continues to stare up, at the giant purple armored face. "Is-is this part of what my parents do?" he asked tentatively.

"That's right," a voice sounded out from above. "It's been a while," Yui says, staring down at him menacingly.

Shinji looks at Yui, shaking. "Mother…"

Shinji looks away, towards the floor, not wanting to see Yui. Yui, however smirks, as if she had just been guaranteed to win something amazing.

"Dr. Akagi! Prepare Unit-01 for launch! We're moving out to face the Third Angel!" Yui says.

"Unit-01? You can't be serious!" Misato yells.

"There's no other way," Ritsuko replies with, calmly. "Unit-00 is still in cryo-stasis."

"Hold on! Rei can't pilot yet, can she? We've got no pilot!"

Yui laughs from above. "Major, you just hand delivered our pilot."

Misato's face goes completely serious. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Shinji Ikari," Ritsuko says, looking over at Shinji.

"Y-yes?"

"You will pilot Unit-01."

"But even Rei Ikari took seven months to synchronise with her Eva! It's impossible for him to do it! Those two are siblings, and by that seven month standard, he wouldn't be able to do it!" Misato argues.

"He just needs to get into the entry plug. We expect nothing more than that," Ritsuko continues with.

"But…"

"Killing the Angel is our top priority. To do that, we have no choice but to put aboard the Eva whomever has the chance to synchronise with it, no matter how slight. I believe you know that, Major Katsuragi."

"I suppose..." Misato says.

"Mother, why did you send for me?" Shinji asks, with his head still dipped over, facing the floor.

Yui snorts. "You know exactly why. Dr. Akagi just said why."

"So...you're asking me...to pilot this thing, based off of theories, and fight the other thing?" Shinji says.

"Correct."

"No way! Why are you doing this now?! I thought you didn't need me!" Shinji yells up.

"I called you because I have a use for you. Nothing more, nothing less," Yui says, disgust and anger hinting her voice.

Shinji looks back at the floor. "Why me? Why not your ever precious Rei?" he mumbles.

"Because no one else can."

"No...I can't...I've never seen this thing before! I can't do this!" Shinji yells.

"You will be instructed. Also, you seem to know about the theories this was based off of, so that should show you have some knowledge of this," Yui replies.

"But there's no way I can do this! I can't pilot it!"

"Fine then. Either pilot it, and quickly, or leave my sight!" Yui yells down at him.

Misato, Ritsuko, and the entire maintenance crew just stared at the scene, not wanting to interfere and possibly provoke the wrath of Yui Ikari.

On the surface, Sachiel, the Third Angel, stops on a hill overlooking the location of the city. It fires an energy blast, causing an explosion and subsequent shaking to happen in the Geofront.

"It was only a matter of time before it found us," Yui says while looking at the ceiling.

Sachiel fires another blast into the city, causing the Geofront to shake even more.

"Shinji. We don't have time," Ritsuko says.

Shinji turns towards Misato, just to hear her say "Get into it," with a stern expression on her face.

Shinji looks back at the ground again. "N-no...I didn't come for this! This isn't fair!"

Misato leans down a little, to look up at Shinji's face. "Shinji, just why did you come here? "

Shinji looks at her quickly, then back towards the Eva.

"You mustn't run! Not from your mother, and most of all, not from yourself!" Misato continues.

"I know that! But there's no way I can do it!" Shinji replies with.

Misato stands back up.

Yui sighs, then turns towards the monitor beside her. "Gendo. Send in Rei."

"Yui, please, don't use her."

"She will be fine. Send her in."

"I don't like this, but I'll trust you. She's on her way."

The monitor clicks off, and another one clicks on. "Rei," Yui says, "You will pilot again. Your brother is useless."

"Yes mom."

Ritsuko looks over towards some of the maintenance crew. "Reconfigure Unit-01's systems to Rei, then reactivate!" she says.

"Roger. Call off present work, and begin reactivation," someone says over the intercom.

Ritsuko turns, and walks away, presumably to start the reconfiguration, while Misato turns towards the path to the command center.

Shinji looks down, his hand loose, the Nerv Manual lying on the floor.

"I knew it. I'm not needed after all," he thinks.

A door or the other end of the holding bay opens up, to reveal a medical team carrying in a girl on a stretcher. She was covered in bandages, an IV drip hooked up to her arm. They wheel her up to in front of the Evangelion, where she struggles to sit up.

On the surface, Sachiel fires another round, causing buildings to crash from above into the Geofront. The buildings crash down, sending Shinji and Rei to the ground, as well as making everyone else lose their footing. A light fixture unhooks from the ceiling, falling straight towards Shinji. He screams, raising his right arm above his head, as Misato screams to look up. Suddenly, rising up from the LCL tank, is Evangelion Unit-01's right arm, blocking the debris from the ceiling from hitting Shinji and Rei.

"The Eva moved!"

"What's going on here!"

"It broke the right arm restraint!"

Voices, sounds of people analysing what happened ring out over the speakers.

"No..that's impossible!" Ritsuko says, still crouched on the floor, "It didn't even have an entry plug inserted! There's no way it could have moved!"

Misato stands up, looking around "It looked around without any interface? Or was it protecting…them?"

She looks over at Shinji, cradling Rei's body, murmuring something to her.

"We can do this," Misato says.

"Rei...it's ok...you'll be fine…" Shinji says. He looks around the room. The Eva's arm was still up, and it just sat still dead, until it's eyes started glowing out of no-where, a faint yellow colour. He looks down at the blood on his hand, his sister's blood, and closes his eyes.

"I mustn't run away. I mustn't run away. I mustn't run away. I mustn't run away. I mustn't run away!"

Shinji looks up, scared, as Rei continues to flinch in pain. "I-I'll do it. I'll pilot it!" he says.

"First stage connection, started."

The interior of the entry plug starts flashing a variety of colored lights, before settling with no color filter.

"Filling entry plug."

As, the LCL entered the plug, Shinji looked down in panic.

"What is this?" he says, feeling the liquid rise.

"Don't worry. Once your lungs are filled with LCL, your blood will be be oxygenated directly," Ritsuko says over the radio, "You'll get used to it."

Shinji forces himself to breathe out, allowing the orange liquid to enter his lungs.

"Connecting main power!"

"All circuits transmitting power."

"Roger. Commencing secondary contacts."

The coloring in the entry plug changes again, removing the orange tint of the LCL, only for it to change into a rainbow on the screens of the plug.

"A-10 nerve connection, normal. Initiating synchronisation. Set the thought configuration to Japanese."

The screen fades out of the rainbow, becoming a solid screen shown through the Eva's eyes.

"All preliminary contacts established. Performance nominal. Bidirectional circuits are open."

"Synchronisation rate at… 54%," Maya says, reading out the synchronisation rate to everyone.

"Amazing," Ritsuko says to no-one in particular.

"Harmonics are all normal. No disturbances identified," Maya continues.

"We can do it," Ritsuko says, turning to Misato.

Misato nods, and says "Prepare to launch!"

Bridge techs continue with the checklist, as the cage gates open up.

"Prepare to launch!"

"Disengage primary lock bolts!"

"Disengage confirmed. Disengaging the umbilical bridge."

"Disengage secondary lock bolts."

"Disengage primary restraints. Likewise, disengage secondary restraints."

"Release safety locks numbers one through fifteen!"

"Release confirmed. Currently, Unit-01's condition is free."

"Internal batteries fully charged. External battery outlet, normal."

"Roger. Move Evangelion Unit-01 to the launch pad," Maya says over the intercom.

Unit-01 starts to slide backwards up to the launch platform, until it locks in with a loud click. The blast doors above the launch pad open up, then send a signal to the bridge crew showing that Unit-01 was ready for launch.

"Launch pad is clear! All is green!" Maya reports.

"Eva Unit-01 is ready for Launch Major," Ritsuko adds.

"Roger," Misato says. She turns around, to face Gendo, Yui, and Fuyutsuki. "Can we really do this?" Misato asks them.

"Of course we can. Unless we defeat the Angels, we have no future," Yui says, replying to the Major.

Gendo just stares out. "You are cleared to launch Major Katsuragi," he says, a sad tone in his voice.

"Yui, you're really sure about this?" Fuyutsuki asks rhetorically.

"Launch Unit-01!" Misato yells, and as she does so, the list activates beneath Shinji and Unit-01, rocketing them to the surface.

Sachiel lumbers onto the street, as the final blast doors on the launch platform open, allowing Unit-01 to come face to face with the Angel, less than 100 meters away from each other, in a fight to the death. Two 80 meter tall behemoths, ready to kill one another.

Misato picks up the microphone for the communications system, and says "Shinji. Don't get killed out there."