Phase 9 - Red-Haired Devil

In a unknown military base located on what's left of the USA's west coast, a brand new EVA is being loaded onto a massive aircraft carrier. Covered with tarps, great measures are being made to keep it's departure a secret, as worries of sabotage are high. Watching on, Kenji Satô grips a briefcase in his hand, looking to his side at a young red haired girl. The two exchange a conversation in german, with the girl expressing her excitement over finally getting in on the action seen in Tokyo-3. Kenji nods his approval, while wondering how interesting this mission will be. Back at NERV headquarters, Ayako is informing the rest of the EVA pilots that another pilot will be joining their squad, a young half-Japanese half-German girl named Mari Reichmann, who'll be piloting the first production type EVA, EVA-Delta. When Toby inquires as to what the difference between their EVAs and this new EVA is, Ayako explains that the data taken from the operation of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma have been used to better construct Delta, in order to avoid any problems the first three had. Continuing, it is explained that Beta and Gamma were test-type EVAs, each geared to function in a specific manner in combat. When asked what Alpha is, Ayako explains that Alpha is special as it is the first ever functioning EVA, and as such lacks certain systems and benefits the others have.

Toby openly wonders how Tetsuo is so much better then him if he's using an out of date machine, to which Ayako explains that Tetsuo has trained to use Alpha since he was a child, and that he is the only one that can possibly get the high synchrorates out of Alpha that he gets. Tetsuo cuts off this question period by inquiring when the new EVA will be arriving. Ayako explains that the EVA is coming under secret cover, as NERV is being careful about sabotage from other organizations after the Gilgamesh incident. Laying out the plan, Ayako details that a fleet of ships is being sent out into the Pacific under the cover of a decommission ceremony. EVA-Delta and it's pilot will be on one of those ships. Ayako then explains that they are going out by helicopter to meet the fleet to oversee the rest of the EVA's journey to Tokyo-3. Haruko asks why they are being dispatched, and it is confirmed that it is under special order by NERV's highest command. In short order, the EVA team board a helicopter, and are on their way out to meet the new EVA pilot. Elsewhere in NERV, Commander Yayashi speaks with Akira, telling him of the approaching convoy. Akira asks if it's been confirmed that 'it' is with the convoy, to which the Commander nods his head. Akira suggests that the Commander forgets that 'it' exists if SEELE asks about it. The commander shakes his head, and heads off, leaving Akira to brood alone in his private office.

Back in the air, Tetsuo is seated next to Ayako, looking over the report on EVA-Delta. Commenting on how much new weaponry has been developed for the use of the new EVA, he wonders if he will still be needed at NERV. Ayako pats him on the back and reassures him that despite Delta's high performance, both Tetsuo and Haruko's presence will always be required at NERV, given their overall experience with their machines. Tetsuo seems disappointed about this, and gazes out the window at the approaching fleet of ships. The helicopter slowly lands on the deck of the carrier, and the EVA team climb out. Kenji heads out to meet them, flanked by Mari. Ayako looks annoyed as she spots Kenji, asking him why he seems to show up every time she leaves Tokyo-3. As the two discuss things, the EVA team approaches Mari, who is standing there smiling confidently. She barks out a greeting in German, introducing herself. Haruko and Toby don't seem to understand, but surprisingly Tetsuo replies with a German greeting of his own, then reminds Mari that the others don't speak German. Mari is caught off guard, hoping to show her dominance over the others by her handing of the German language. Annoyed, she switches to Japanese, begrudgingly restating her greeting for the other two.

Toby makes a snide remark about Mari speaking like a normal person, to which Mari takes offense. The two begin to argue while Haruko and Tetsuo watch on. Just then, the helicopter lifts off behind them. The sudden whoosh of air blows Mari's dress up, providing a rather embarrassing moment. Tetsuo immediately looks away, somewhat red in the face. Toby however leers, a goofy expression on his face. Mari quickly pushes her dress down, then clocks Toby, calling him a monkey pervert. Toby stumbles backwards and rubs his cheek, then expresses his apology by offering to drop his pants for Mari. Before she can respond, Toby undoes his trousers, and drops them around his ankles, declaring them as even. Mari looks stunned and exasperated while Haruko looks away, red in the face herself. Tetsuo reaches over and smacks Toby upside the back of his head, and tells him to get some class. Ayako finally notices this exchange and blows Kenji off, telling the EVA pilots to knock off the troublemaking. Mari nods, stating that the Tokyo-3 pilots must not have been trained right to cause such trouble. Toby is ready to let Mari have it, by is dragged off by Tetsuo and Haruko.

Later on, the whole group is up in the bridge, as Ayako meets with the captain of the ship. While Ayako and Kenji speak, the young EVA pilots watch out over the ocean off to the side. Toby goes on a rant about how his father used to be an expert deep sea fisherman back before he joined NERV, and shares the exploits he had on fishing trips with his father. Haruko politely listens, but Tetsuo tunes him out, preferring to gaze over the water. Suddenly, Mari nudges up beside him, breaking his focus. She gives him a look over, and compliments him on his grasp of German. Tetsuo nods, and explains that he's picked up several languages over the years. As the two talk, Tetsuo is oblivious to the fact that Mari is attempting to size him up and drag him into a discussion about who the better EVA pilot is. Mari steadily gets more and more annoyed as Tetsuo seemingly ignores the jabs she subtly throws at him. Finally she gives up and storms away, calling him a fool in German. Before Tetsuo can answer however, the whole ship shakes as something disturbs it from below the water. Mari loses her balance, and nearly falls over a railing near some stairs, but is saved by Tetsuo as he catches her. Rather then appreciating the assist however, Mari slaps Tetsuo and tells him that she doesn't need a hero. Tetsuo, annoyed, lets Mari go with a thump and tells her to stop being so spastic. The two start to argue, when the ship is shaken again. Ayako's cell phone rings, and it is revealed that a Titan is actually attacking the fleet. Ayako is confused, as all other Titan attacks have taken place in Tokyo-3. Kenji suggests that the Titan is after EVA-Delta. Mari looks over and declares that no Titan is going to take her Delta away before she even gets to use it, then barges out of the bridge. Tetsuo swears, and follows after her. Toby groans, wishing that they brought their EVAs along with them. Haruko reminds him that EVAs can't fight in deep water conditions. Ayako asks Kenji what they can do, to which Kenji shrugs and tells them to leave it in Mari's hands.

Elsewhere, Tetsuo is looking for Mari on the ship, and accidentally barges in on her changing into her plug suit. Tetsuo throws his hands up and looks away, immediately apologizing. Mari seems upset for a moment, then brushes it off and forgives Tetsuo just this once. The two then get into an argument over Mari using Delta in open water, and how she can end up killing herself. The argument ends when Tetsuo decides he's going with Mari into Delta's entry plug whether she likes it or not. She hesitantly agrees, and the two head out to the deck. By this time, the Titan in the water, Oceanus, is attacking the other battleships as they try to shoot at it. The water around them is choppy, and getting to Delta is difficult. At one point a large wave rises up and splashes over the deck, washing Tetsuo and Mari away. Mari is briefly frightened as she feels she's going to die, but then she feels something grab onto the back of her plugsuit. Looking over her shoulder, she sees Tetsuo clutching her tightly, his other arm bent around behind him in a awkward position as he grasps a railing with it. Pulling her back up, the two make it over to Delta, and climb in.

Activating the limited batteries. Delta slowly rises up, breaking free from the restraints and tarps. The ship pitches and leans as Delta stands. Mari focuses on the Titan and leaps from ship to ship to get closer to it. Finally, she jumps on Oceanus's back, digging Delta's fingers into it's skeletal armor. The Titan thrashes and dives under the water, taking Delta with it. Mari grits her teeth, while Tetsuo tells her they can't let the Titan take them too deep, or the pressure will kill them. Mari leans forward and grips the Titan's 'nose' tightly, trying to pull it up so it will start to swim upwards. She struggles though, the Titan's strength matching Delta's. Tetsuo suddenly leans over Mari's shoulder and rests his hands on hers, a look of determination on his face. With the two working together, Delta seems stronger then before, and the Titan's nose juts upwards, swimming back toward the surface. Breaking water, Tetsuo tells Mari that if they can pry the Titan's mouth open, the battleships can fire inside it and kill it. Mari relays this message to Ayako, who tells the captain to order the ships to fire into the Titan's mouth when Delta opens it.

Mari and Tetsuo both cry out as they slowly rip the Titan's mouth open. Once open all the way, the remaining battleships fire into the Titan's mouth with their cannons, ripping it apart from the inside. The Titan goes still, dead, and floats there in the water with Delta straddling it's remains. Later on, Delta climbs back onto the carrier, which Mari and Tetsuo getting out of it. Tetsuo offers his hand to Mari, commenting on her pilot abilities. She looks at him for a moment before snubbing him, telling him she could have done better if he wasn't there messing her synchrorate up. Tetsuo clenches his fists and glares, calling her ungrateful and a brat. Mari ignores him and walks off. As she does so, she briefly looks over her shoulder at Tetsuo, now ranting to Ayako, and smiles faintly before heading off to change.