DISCLAIMER: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion, or its associated brandnames.
Edmond_Dantes presents:
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Remade
Season 1: Episode 1: Shinji's Debut
[2015]:
"Target Status?"
"We can't see it due to the EMP effects"
"It was such a massive explosion. It must have been destroyed" One general stated confidently, hands folded across his chest.
"Sensors on line...Energy reaction in the centre of the explosion!"
"WHAT?!" The general exploded out of his seat, his smug expression replaced by a look of disbelief.
Visual was restored on the command screen, revealing the terrifying visage of the Angel.
The JSSDF Generals slumped into their seats, dumbfounded.
Above the JSSDF Generals, a middle-aged man with dark, rimmed glasses sat at a desk, flanked by a tall, older man who looked to be in his early 60s.
"As we thought. An Absolute-Terror Field." The older man said.
"Yes. Conventional firepower is useless against an Angel."
"And it seems to be regenerating."
"It is necessary for the Angel to be a self-sufficient weapon."
"Just as predicted in the Scroll, eh, Ikari?"
Commander Gendo Ikari didn't respond. He looked down at the JSSDF High Command, with a smug expression on his face. "Fuyutski, is the Third Child ready to sortie?"
"Lieutenant Kaji informs us Section 2 has taken the Third into custody. ETA 12 minutes." Replied the older man.
A hologram appeared to the Commander's right, displaying the caption 'SOUND ONLY" in bold. "Commander, Unit-01 is ready to sortie, awaiting arrival of pilot. Configured for designated pilot, Third Child Shinji Ikari." The methodical voice of Ritsuko Akagi came through the speakers.
Vice-Commander Fuyutski spoke. "It's a pity that Unit-00's last activation was unsuccessful. Another EVA would have increased our chances of success"
Only a soft grunt of acknowledgment.
Fuyutski spoke again. "Ikari, is it wise putting so much faith on your son?"
The Commander smirked underneath his hands. "The Third Child will be...adequate."
"Nonetheless, the old men are not impressed that you are using your son. Ikari, they are afraid of your influence on him. There is also fear of his talents. Training a third pilot since youth was not part of SEELE's scenario."
"They will not complain too loudly. SEELE knows that their scenario is impossible unless the Angels are defeated. Tell the old men that his training was a necessary precaution to increase our chances of defeating the Angels...and with Rei unable to sortie, a justified one."
"Is that the truth?"
"Part of it."
A JSSDF aide approached them. "Sir, General Yashimoto requests your presence."
The Commander stood, fixing his glasses with a gloved hand, and followed the aide down the stairs.
Fuyutski watched his retreating back, a look of apprehension on his face. What are you really upto, Ikari?
"A-10 Nerve connection successful."
"Default language set at Japanese."
"Connection successful."
"Synchronization rate at 89.08%."
Shinji sat in the entry plug of Unit-01, a serene expression on his face. Suddenly, a screen emerged, with the face of a purple-haired woman, a concerned frown etched on her attractive face. "How are you feeling, Shinji?"
The boy managed a weak smile. "Ready to sortie, Misato-san. Let's get this over and done with- I promised Kaji to go to the bar with him tonight."
Captain Misato Katsuragi scowled. He's been spending too much time with Kaji as it is. Her expression turned serious. "Shinji-kun, the target's ETA is in 15 minutes. We are going to launch you through Gate-F in 10. The weapons caches are still a month from completion, so we'll launch you with a pallet rifle. Engage the target on the edge of the city from range. Don't forget to get to neutralize it's AT-Field. "
He nodded, the small smile still on his face disappearing, replaced by a look of intense concentration. He's nervous. Misato thought. But why shouldn't he be? He's about to go out in a 50-foot tall biomechanical behemoth and engage in solo combat against a monster that eats N2 Mines and Armoured Divisions for breakfast. Misato sighed.
Another voice suddenly crackled through the entry plug's speakers. "Yo, Shinji, how're you doing in there?"
Shinji's eyes opened. "Kaji-san?" he asked.
Kaji chuckled. "The one and only... How're you doing kiddo?"
"I'm ok...a bit nervous though"
Kaji nodded, though Shinji couldn't see, as only a hologram with "SOUND ONLY" was visible in his entry plug. "You'll be find kiddo, besides-"
His response was interrupted as a screen displaying an annoyed Misato Katsuragi popped up on Shinji's right. "Kaji! What the HELL do you think you're doing?! Last time I checked, Section 2 wasn't authorized to interrupt military operations!"
"It's ok Katsuragi, I'm just trying to calm the boy's nerves bef-"
"Last time I checked, that was MY job, you asshole!"
"Er, Katsuragi, you do realize that we're JOINT guardians?"
What was left of Shinji's dignity was saved by the timely interruption of Doctor Akagi. "ENOUGH! You are his acting guardians, now stop acting like brats and get on with the mission!"
"It's ok Rits, Misato's just upset because Kaji wasn't good last night." A roar of guffaws came through the speakers. The broadcast had just been transmitted throughout Central Dogma.
Back in the command room, Misato's face was bright red with embarrassment. Atleast he can make a joke. Nonethless, she shot Shinji a glare promising a slow and painful death, and he instinctively cowed in his seat, raising his arms protectively. So much for backbone, Ikari.
"You're stuck with all the household chores for a month now, Shinji!"
"But Misato-san, I already-" Shinji's response was cut short as the link was terminated.
"At least that managed to settle his nerves a bit" Ritsuko commented.
"I hope so. I still don't like the idea of sending children to fight our battles. Especially one you've been living with for 6 years."
"We don't have a choice. No-one else can pilot an Evangelion."
Misato sighed. "I know"
She looked back up to the command screen. Be safe, Shinji.
"Launch Eva!"
The familiar g-force gripped Shinji Ikari as EVA Unit-01 launched to the surface of Tokyo-3 at high speed, exposing it to the cool night air.
Misato's voice came through the speakers. "Shinji-kun, there's a power plug at silo 4, 200 metres to your left."
"Got it, Misato."
"ETA 1 minute!" Maya Ibuki's voice came through.
Shinji took a deep breath of LCL. This is it, Ikari. This is for them. Don't you forget it. He tightened his grips on his butterfly controls, his mouth forming the bare outlines of a snarl. I won't lose. No, I CAN'T lose! For them...
Over the mountain range overlooking Tokyo-3, the misshapen form of the Third Angel emerged. It seemed almost comical, how its enormous upper torso could be supported on its narrow hip, the giant red core located just above it, protected by a bony exoskeleton. There it is.
"EVA Unit-01 awaiting instructions!"
"Deploy AT-Field and engage from medium range."
"Got it, Misato!"
Shinji focused on developing the protective field from the EVA. Suddenly, the Angel's head reared, and it charged at top speed towards Unit-01.
Bright yellow lights flashed across the night sky of Tokyo-3, as car-sized depleted uranium rounds were emitted from Shinji's rifle, straight at the Angel-
A deafening crash echoed through the night air, as Unit-01's AT-Field met the Angel's.
"High energy reading from target!" Makoto yelled from the bridge.
Shit. "Shinji-kun!"
Shinji's eyes opened in astonishment as the left arm of the Angel slid through the orange-red hexagonal barrier of his AT-field and-
A flash of purple light drove Unit-01 back, crashing on its backside into a weapons silo. Shit.
Shinji was back on his feet immediately, narrowly avoiding a slashing blow that would have disembowelled Unit-01 with a graceful leap into the air.
A flash and warning light began to emit from within the entry plug, as a timer reading 1:02 began its countdown. Double Shit. Shinji thought, as he barely dodged another energy spike.
"Shinji-kun!" Misato's voice again. "Retreat back through Gate-E, 400m south-west. We'll re-group from there."
He hesitated, then nodded. "Yes." He willed Unit-01 around, just as the Angel lashed out, catching Unit-01's right shoulder and sending it crashing into a nearby skyscraper.
"Ughhh..." He moaned, clutching his 'injured' right shoulder with his left hand. His eyes suddenly widened. "Misato, what's that building that the Angel is approaching now?"
There was a slight pause before she responded. "The general hospital."
There might be people still left inside...
"Progressive sword drawn!" Hyuga yelled.
"Shinji-kun!" Misato yelled into the communication. "I ordered you to retreat!"
"Let it go, Captain." Commander Ikari, overlooking the battle from above, looked down at the Operations Manager, his face hidden behind his white-gloved hands.
"But sir, he has less than 30 seconds of battery left, and the progressive sword draws on the EVA's own battery for power!"
This time, Vice-commander Fuyutski spoke. "You have your orders, Captain."
All heads turned back to the battle, the moment of insubordination already forgotten, as a blood-curdling scream came through the speakers...
The enormous, single-bladed weapon came down in a graceful arc, cleanly decapitating the Angel's left arm. The creature swayed back, its balance lost by the loss of its limb. Its right hand then came forward, from it emerging a stream of purple energy.
Shinji moved on instinct, years of EVA training coming to the fore. He sidestepped to the left, not even watching the path of the beam, as his left shoulder pauldron opened, revealing his progressive knife; then a smooth throw with the EVA's free left hand, the graceful arc of the knife burying itself in the Angel's torso, narrowly missing its core.
12 seconds left.
Unit-01 charged forward, the progressive sword drawn in both hands...
11 seconds
Reaching the crippled Angel within moments...
10 seconds
Raising the blade in a wide arc...
9 seconds
Bringing it down towards the core...
8 seconds
To impale the weapon on the Angel's...arm?
7 seconds
The Angel's right arm had caught the blade on its side, pushing it harmlessly out of the way.
6 seconds
Shinji drew back the weapon and raised it again over Unit-01's head.
5 seconds
Suddenly, the Angel's remaining arm was in Unit-01's face
4 seconds
A bloodcurdling scream emerged from the mouth of the young pilot, even as Unit-01 flew back, blood and core streaming from its mutilated left eye and face.
3 seconds
Nerv command in Central Dogma looked in absolute horror, hearing the boy's screams of agony.
2 seconds
"Pilot suffering nerve damage from bio feedback...his psychograph is unstable...he's in pain!"
1 Second
"Cut the connection, now!" Misato screamed.
Out of Power
"Delay that order" boomed Commander Ikari's voice.
The entirety of the bridge looked at the Commander in astonishment. He merely smirked.
Inside the entry plug of Unit-01, sat Shinji Ikari, his screams reduced to a pained whimper, even as he clutched uselessly at his butterfly controls.
"Come on you useless piece of shit! If you don't move, we're all going to die!"
Misato
Kaji
Ritsuko
Makoto
Maya
Aoba
...Father
"Oh god" he sobbed in the entry plug, his arms still moving the butterfly controls in a futile effort.
"Help me...please." he whispered hoarsely. His left eye felt as though it had been poked with a red-hot iron, and his body was wracked by uncontrollable sobs.
Suddenly, he felt a shadow looming over his field of vision. The Angel...
He looked up with his good eye at the monstrosity, battered, one-armed and still with his progressive knife impaled into its stomach.
He felt a sense of peace and contentment come over him, despite-or perhaps due to- his impending death. I can't even keep a promise...I'm such a failure...
He smiled, a small bitter sweet one. Atleast there won't be anymore pain.
As the Angel's right arm came down in an arc, he closed his eyes. Mother...
"Unit-01 has reactivated!" Maya yelled in disbelief
"Impossible, it's out of power!" Ritsuko.
"Pilot's Synchronization rate at 125.23%!" Aoba.
"Berserker..." Ristuko whispered.
Up in the command bridge, Commander Ikari smiled. Just a little.
"Looks like we've won." Fuyutski commented bitterly.
Unit-01's remaining eye flashed, as its arms came up to grab the Angel's wrist in a death-like grip.
With a powerful jerk, the forearm of the Angel's right arm was ripped off, leaving a bloody stump in its place. With a mighty roar, Unit-01 smashed its left fist into the face of the creature, driving it off of Unit-01 and into a nearby mountain. Before the mortally wounded creature could react, Unit-01 leapt from all-fours onto the creature. Unit-01's arms latched around the progressive knife impaled in the creature's chest, driving it lower...into the creature's core.
A purple cross-shaped explosion emerged into the night sky...then Tokyo-3 was silent. The first battle of Tokyo-3 was over.
"Your son's performance in the last battle was impressive."
"The Third Child has received the best training. It was expected."
"Nonetheless, he did extremely well for his debut battle."
"The Third did not defeat the Angel."
"He would have if he had more power."
"Perhaps. Come, we must satisfy the old men."
Fuyutski looked at the retreating figure of Gendo Ikari with thinly-veiled disgust. At the very least, acknowledge that he is your son, you heartless bastard.
He turned to the gargantuan head of Unit-01 in front of him, fully repaired from its previous engagement. The ominous head seemed to be staring straight at him, its eyes the size of an adult human being weighing his soul. What have we become, Yui? He sighed, and turned to follow the Commander out of the EVA Cage.
"Eh? School?" Captain Misato Katsuragi, Nerv Operations Director, tactical genius, beer-drinking machine and the object of the dreams of Nerv's straight male population had heard a lot of strange (usually hentai) ideas before. But even so, this one has to be the one of the strangest.
It had been two weeks since Angel battle, and Shinji had been released from the hospital 3 days ago. He had suffered 3 bruised ribs, mild concussion and nerve damage to his left eye from the feedback-the drawback of having a high synchronization rate. While the inflammation on the ribs had died down quickly, the doctors informed her that his eye was half as good as it used to be. The doctors were baffled, however, at one thing. His left eye had been discoloured, rendering it a dark green. They had given Shinji a contact lens to restore his sight and for his left eye to match the dark blue of his right.
Good as new, right? His physical injuries were as good as gone. Too bad mental ones are harder to cure.
The battle had taken a serious toll on Shinji's psyche. It wasn't the fear of the pain that he had felt from the EVA, or the fear of death. If there was one thing that Misato had learnt from living with the introverted young pilot for 7 years it was this:
He doesn't pilot for himself.
At face value this seemed to lead to the conclusion, then that he's doing for everyone else. Of course. He's doing it for the good of the human race, right? Because he's a hero, right? Wrong. Ideals like heroism and selflessness sounded good in children's stories. In the real world, the one full of humans, it was far less pretty.
People only care about themselves.
It may seem like a cynical view of the world, but Misato knew it to be true. Human beings were selfish creatures. They did not do anything for others, unless there was something in it for themselves, regardless of how little. Not even Shinji, though Misato had never met someone as selfless, gentle and kind hearted as he.
So then, why does he pilot EVA? He pilots for others... but why?
It was most certainly not for his father, no. They hadn't spoken to each other since the day they had met. Misato remembered that day quite well. It was the day that she had met Shinji for the first time...
Flashback:
A 6 year old Shinji Ikari walked into Central Dogma, following a younger Dr. Ritsuko Akagi. As they entered, the NERV personnel turned and stared at him. Even at such a young age, the resemblance to the Commander was...uncanny.
Nervous, the boy hid behind Dr. Akagi's skirt, as though she could somehow hide him from the world. She suddenly stopped, and he ventured his head warily from its sanctuary.
Standing before him was a beautiful, purple-haired woman in her early 20's, wearing the red jacket of NERV's Strategic Branch. She smiled down at him, and chuckled when the boy retreated back behind Ritsuko's skirt.
"Whose the cute boy you got hanging on your skirt, Ritsuko?" Lieutenant Misato Katsuragi asked.
"Isn't he a bit young for you to be sleeping with, Misato?" Misato's left eye twitched dangerously in response, but Ritsuko ignored it.
"Funny, it's not my skirt that he's getting under right now? Besides, I already have a man..they're better than cats Ritsuko, you should try some time."
"If you're talking about your...indecent relationship with Ka-"
"Someone call my name?" Leaning his back across the wall, hands folded across his chest was Ryoji Kaji, wearing a black suit and his 5 o'clock shadow, hair over his shoulder in a black ponytail.
He began to walk towards them. "So, this is him, huh?"
He squatted down, so that he was at Shinji's eye level. Sometime, during the course of the bickering between the two women, he had managed to emerge from behind Ritsuko's skirt.' Probably when it became the topic of conversation'. Kaji thought, chuckling lightly.
"What's your name, kiddo?"
"S-Shinji. Shinji Ikari."
Kaji looked at him with mock surprise. "Oh, so you're the son of the famous Commander Gendo Ikari, eh?"
To Kaji and Misato's surprise, the boy looked down at his feet, his left hand curling and uncurling, as he mumbled a quiet "...yes."
Kaji recovered first. "So, what are you doing here, kiddo?"
Shinji didn't respond. Ritsuko however, did. "Shinji has just been chosen as the Third Child. He is going to be an EVA pilot." At this, cheers erupted across the bridge, as technicians and workers smiled at Shinji, and those closest came over to congratulate him, wishing him luck, telling him how they were with him all the way.
Shinji managed to smile at them. A little one, but it was real. 'Maybe I'm not so useless after all'
End Flashback.
I still don't know why he pilots EVA. Misato thought.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Kaji asked, bringing Misato out of her pondering.
"W-Wha? I'm sorry, what were you saying?"
Kaji stopped cleaning up the leftovers from the party and turned to Misato. "I think we should send Shinji to school."
Misato frowned. "Why? He's already finished his University degree."
"I know, Misato, he's a prodigy, just like his mother was." Kaji went back to clearing the apartment, while Misato continued to sip on her Yebisu.
"But he's struggling. That Angel battle took a lot out of him. He's lonely. He needs friends." He continued before Misato could interrupt, anticipating her reply. "Yes, I know he's got you, me, Makoto, Aoba, Maya, heck maybe even Cat-Lady Ritsuko. But seriously, he needs friends his own age...look, today was his welcome back party, and there was no-one his age. Besides," and Kaji grinned at this, "he might even score himself a girlfriend".
Beer erupted in a stream from Misato's mouth at this last statement. Kaji sighed. "I'll go grab a mop." And he walked out of the room.
Misato took this opportunity to think. It was true. The accelerated learning program Shinji was put through once he became an EVA pilot left no room for fun, or friends. In between the synchronization tests, military training, physical conditioning, pilot training and enormous coursework that he was required to go through, Shinji Ikari had never been given the opportunity to make friends his own age. The only people he knew were those at NERV.
"It's almost as though his father doesn't want him to make friends." Misato muttered.
"What was that Misato?" Kaji was back, mop and bucket in his hands.
"I said it's good to have a housebroken male! I guess Shinji learnt from the best." Misato snapped, annoyed that Kaji had twice broken her train of thought.
Kaji put on his best hurt expression. "But Misato, you couldn't live without me, right?" He received a glare in response, and decided not to push his luck. Wise.
"Seriously though, what do you think? Besides, he finished his EVA training just before the attack, so its not like he's got anything better to do. I know you'll have to push it by the Commander, but," he dropped the cleaning utensils and put his arms around her from behind, "I'll make it worth your while" he whispered into her ear.
Misato giggled, "Alright, if you insist...oh, and Kaji?"
"Yes Misato?"
"Touch me again without permission, and I WILL castrate you."
"...yes Misato."
Unknown to Misato, Shinji was having similar thoughts in his own room, as he lay in his bed, his loyal SDAT player held firmly in his left hand. He was exhausted, having yet to recover from his ordeal, having only been released from hospital today, and the party had gone late into the night. He was thankful that Kaji had offered to clean, because he knew that Misato wouldn't have done it. Despite his tiredness, he could not sleep. Instead, he stared without looking at the ceiling, deep in thought.
Why do I pilot EVA?
B-because...because people are relying on me!
It was true. If he didn't pilot, who would? But it wasn't the entirety of the truth, and Shinji knew it.
Why do I pilot EVA?
Because people praise me if I do! His gaze turned to the sword on his wall. Misato, Kaji, everyone at NERV...except Father...
But it brings me so much pain. His hand unconsciously went to the gauzes over his ribs.
It takes away those that care for me! He looked at his cello, on its stand in the corner of his room, and his grip on his SDAT tightened in his left hand.
Then why do I STILL pilot EVA?
The answer made him cry. Because without EVA, I'm useless. Without EVA, no-one will care for me. Without EVA, no-one will love me...
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