Phase 20 - Lost and Found
During the aftermath of Themis's attack, and Tetsuo using the AT Field Sword, SEELE calls a special meeting in secret, excluding Akira from the proceedings. They discuss how EVA-Alpha's actions weren't influenced by the Gekido Trigger, and how it seemed to act on it's own after the AT Field Sword was used. They conclude that the EVA was unable to handle the power of the AT Field Sword, and consumed the Titan's S2 organ out of necessity, making itself an S2 entity and giving itself nearly limitless power. This concerns SEELE, as they had no intention of ever giving NERV any sort of access to the knowledge necessary to construct artificial S2 organs. Now with EVA-Alpha in their possession, they would be able to study the new power source, and build them for each of the remaining EVAs. The focus of the conversation shifts, SEELE starting to question Akira's loyalty as he had made no effort to report this incident to them, forcing to fall back on secondary information gathering. Lukas makes the decision to focus their attention on Akira's actions, to try and ferret out his treachery.
Elsewhere, construction efforts have been started to rebuild the damage to NERV headquarters, as well as repair the badly damaged EVA-Beta and EVA-Delta. Commander Yayashi orders that the command center be removed to a smaller one deeper inside the facility for the time being, until NERV is back to full capacity. In the hangar, Ayako and Keiko stand before EVA-Alpha, discussing the source of Alpha's ability to boost Tetsuo's combat skills. Keiko admits that she knows very little about it, but believes it capitalizes on the powerful negative emotions that Tetsuo has for Akira, and NERV in general. Ayako nods, commenting on how that would explain the state of mind that Tetsuo slips into when he gets into situations like that. She then looks to Keiko, asking her if there's any progress in the effort to restore Tetsuo. Keiko nods, explaining that as far as she's been able to gather from the combat recordings, EVA-Alpha's use of the AT Field Sword while not having access to a powerful source completely drained any source of power inside it, including Tetsuo himself. As a result, Tetsuo has been reduced to a fundamental state within the LCL, the entry plug the only thing keeping him together. Ayako seems alarmed by this, asking if Tetsuo is even alive in there. Keiko nods, saying that something inside the Alpha is still giving off a faint mental signature, which she believes to be Tetsuo's higher mind. Ayako grabs Keiko's arm, asking her if she has a way to fix things or not. Keiko admits that she's yet to find a feasible way to save Tetsuo from the state that he's in. Ayako is angered by this, striking Keiko by the cheek and telling her all the things she knows about the EVAs isn't worth a thing if they can't save Tetsuo. Keiko rubs her cheek, and replies that she's doing all that she can, adding that as long as they keep the entry plug contained, they should still have a chance to restore him. Ayako frowns and walks off, finding herself unable to look at EVA-Alpha any longer. Keiko gazes up at the EVA, which stands with most of it's chest armor peeled away, the newly glowing S2 organ exposed. Keiko is approached by a NERV scientist, who tells her that analyzation of the S2 organ is nearly complete, then asks her if she'd like to come take a look. Keiko nods, thinking to herself how she hopes that Tetsuo's mind is able to keep itself together while they finish the study of Alpha's new-found power source.
Elsewhere, Kenji shoves his way into Akira's office. Standing face to face with him, Kenji demands to know how he's going to explain the incident with EVA-Alpha to SEELE, as well as Tetsuo's apparent disappearance. Akira adjusts his glasses, and tells Kenji to drop the act. Continuing, he states that Kenji has most likely already passed information on to SEELE about EVA-Alpha's S2 Organ. Kenji crosses his arms, and admits that SEELE doesn't know about Tetsuo yet. Akira nods, saying that they have no reason to know about him. Kenji narrows his eyes, asking Akira what he plans to do about Tetsuo's situation. Akira replies that it's out of his hands, but if Keiko is able to bring him back, he'll reinstate Tetsuo into NERV. When Kenji asks Akira how he can be sure that Tetsuo would accept that arrangement, Akira replies that above all things, Tetsuo is predictable.
Several days later, in the NERV infirmary, Haruko finally regains consciousness, having slipped into a coma for several days following Themis's attack. She sits up in bed, looking herself over. Sighing faintly, she quietly comments to herself that she's still alive. A voice speaks up from the bed across of her. Mari is laying there, telling Haruko that they both got off lucky. When Haruko asks what Mari means, Mari curls up on her side, frowning deeply and telling Haruko that Tetsuo has disappeared inside Alpha. Haruko looks down, just replying with a simple "I see". This angers Mari who sits up and glares at her, asking her if that's all she has to say. Haruko replies that she doesn't know what else there is to say. Mari scowls, saying that because they were too weak, Tetsuo had to get involved, so it was because of them that Tetsuo was gone. Haruko refutes this, saying that there wasn't anything they could have done, adding that she knows Tetsuo wouldn't want them to blame themselves if he got hurt. Mari lays back down, glaring up at the ceiling and saying that there's no one else to blame.
The next day, Keiko calls Ayako to the command center, announcing to her that she thinks she's found a way to potentially restore Tetsuo back to normal. As Ayako listens, Keiko explains the process, detailing how they'll focus a special energy field around Tetsuo's plug suit, which should hopefully attract the fluid inside the entry plug that makes up Tetsuo to it, forming his mass back together. Ayako asks how likely this is to work, with Keiko replying that alot of it depends on Tetsuo's mind forming conscious thought when his mass is closely reformed, something that Keiko believes will happen. Ayako takes a breath and nods, telling Keiko to do what she has to do to get the operation done.
Elsewhere, Commander Yayashi has called Koichi to his office, to discuss his involvement in Tetsuo's current predicament. The commander questions him, asking Koichi why he let Tetsuo, who at the time wasn't a member of NERV, to board EVA-Alpha. Koichi smiles, explaining that the only person who has a right to Alpha is Tetsuo himself, saying that he himself couldn't trespass on the EVA in good faith. The commander tries to make it clear that Koichi could get in trouble for his actions, but Koichi reminds him that isn't likely to happen. The commander sighs, then asks him where the AT Field Sword came from. Koichi explains that it was a gift from SEELE, and that they had originally intended for him to use it. However, Koichi felt that Tetsuo was far more deserving of the gift, saying that he had no use for it. Koichi then rises and excuses himself, saying that he has a concert to put in to distract people from the distress that NERV has found itself in. The commander dismisses Koichi, feeling that the latest EVA pilot is by far the strangest one.
While all of this is going on, Tetsuo's mind drifts inside EVA-Alpha, displaced but still very much there. He thinks about his life, and all the things that have happened to him. About Haruko, and how distant they have become, as well as happier memories from when they were children. He then thinks about Mari, and the emotions she's made him felt, many of which were new to him. He thinks fondly of Mari, likening her to the humanity that he himself never seemed able to fully achieve. He then thinks about Ayako, his feelings torn about her. He still feels a good deal of resentment toward her for not believing him when it truly mattered, but admits to himself that he still loved her for all her frailty, even admitting to himself that he had a crush on her growing up. Tetsuo's thoughts revolve around the three females in his life, noting how each of them fills a niche in his mind that he seems to desperately be seeking out. Their faces blur together, to make the face of Yuriko Kimura. Tetsuo floats there in his subconscious, gazing down the wife of a man he truly hates, and wonders why it is that she makes him feel so at peace.
Weeks pass, and Keiko is still fine tuning the process that she hopes will restore Tetsuo. It is the day of the operation, and everyone has filtered into the command center, including Mari and Haruko. Inside Tetsuo's subconscious, his thoughts still focus on the three females in his life, images of Mari, Haruko, and Ayako standing before him. Mari's image steps forward and tells him he should stay with her, saying how happy they are together and how they complete each other. The image of Ayako speaks up, saying that Tetsuo should come with her, saying that she's far more experienced then Mari, and could make him a very happy man. Finally, the image of Haruko turns away from Tetsuo, saying that she can be the only one for him, stating how they're destined to be together as one. As Tetsuo's mind drifts between the three, Keiko begins the operation to bring Tetsuo back. Immediately, the images in Tetsuo's mind change, dredging up all the painful memories in his life, from Ayako's apparent betrayal right up to Toby's death. Tetsuo screams out in his mind, curling up and trying to escape within himself to hide from the painful memories.
Outside, the operation seems to be working, but then a prompt comes up, saying that Keiko's connections to the entry plug are being denied. Ayako bites her lip, quietly asking if Tetsuo even wants to come back. In Tetsuo's subconscious, he remains curled up, shielding himself from his perceived failures. But then, he hears a man's voice telling him to stand up. The voice gets louder and more commanding, until it drowns out all the painful memories. Tetsuo looks up, finding Kazuo Honda standing there before him. Tetsuo slowly rises to his feet, asking Kazuo what he wants. Kazuo tells him that nothing can be accomplished by hiding from pain, and that Tetsuo shouldn't want a future sheltered in a prison of solitude.
Back outside, the image from the entry plug shows Tetsuo's form, quickly forming and dissipating, flickering between both states as he struggles with his sense of self. All of the NERV crew watch on with baited breath. In Tetsuo's subconscious, Kazuo tells Tetsuo that he still has things to do in the real world, and that he still has people to fight for. Tetsuo's shoulders slump, asking what's the point of any of his struggles if he has no control over his fate. Kazuo crosses his arms, saying that Akira and NERV can only control Tetsuo's fate if he allows them to, and that if he wants to change the path he's on, he has to fight. Fight with everything he's got, and never surrender. Never give in to what is expected of him. Tetsuo gazes at Kazuo, and nods, saying that he's right. That he cannot just lay down and die here. That there is more out there for him to do, and that he won't allow himself to be defeated by the hubris of others. Tetsuo gazes upwards, letting out a loud shout, declaring that he won't die.
Back outside, the NERV crew is shocked as the protocol for entry plug ejection starts up. Alarmed, Ayako tries to stop it, but is too late. The entry plug shoots open, ejecting the LCL fluid inside. Along with that fluid, however, Tetsuo falls to the floor, coughing and gasping for air. Koichi stands over him smiling, welcoming him back. The crew in the command center cheer, most of them filtering out to greet Tetsuo. Commander Yayashi remains behind, admiring Tetsuo's strength.
A while later, Ayako and Keiko are sitting by themselves in the command center, the rest of the crew having gone to the infirmary with Tetsuo to keep him company. Keiko asks Ayako if she'd like to go out for a drink to celebrate, but Ayako declines, saying that she has other plans. Ayako leaves NERV, and sneaks about to a discrete hotel. She meets Kenji there, and the two embrace, kissing each other before heading up to a room. Some time later, they're both laying in bed, Ayako curled up to Kenji's side. Kenji asks Ayako how Tetsuo is doing, and Ayako replies that he seems to be completely fine, despite the situation he was in. Kenji nods, saying that Tetsuo is far stronger then any of them could possibly give him credit for. He then tells Ayako that he has a gift for her. Ayako raises an eyebrow up at him as Kenji produces a disk from his pants pocket on the floor. He presents it to her, saying that he's kept his promise to her, and that if she doesn't want to let Tetsuo down again, she can access the data on the disk. As Ayako takes the disk, Kenji remarks that it could very well be the final gift he gives to her.