EVANGELION: REWIRED
By Anguirus1955
Disclaimer: Neon Genesis Evangelion and all related characters therein are the intellectual property of Studio Gainax and Hideaki Anno.
As with the previous episode, there are no Angel battles to be found here, although, you know... Kaworu appears, and anyone who's seen NGE and Rebuild knows what he is. In this episode, Rei must come to terms with her relationship with Ritsuko Akagi, while Asuka begins training for her new job as a NERV desk jockey, since her pregnancy will soon make her completely unfit to pilot Unit 02.
Now, unlike the TV and Rebuild versions of Kaworu, this version did grow up alongside Mari and Asuka, so he has a much greater understanding of human social behavior than his canon counterparts. That being said, he's still Kaworu.
Music I listened to while writing this episode includes Neon Genesis Evangelion Original Soundtrack 1 - 3 (1995 - 1997) by Shiro Sagisu, Evangelion Wind Symphony (2009) by Shiro Sagisu and Masamichi Amano and Yoichi Murata, Patlabor The Movie 2: Sound Renewal Version (1994/2002) by Kenji Kawai, Far From Heaven (2001) by the late Elmer Bernstein (I personally find the score to be Bernstein's Swan Song, given its beauty), Shiro SAGISU Music From Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo (2012) by Shiro Sagisu,
Please note that listening to this music while reading the story is not a requirement. I simply provide this as a little something extra to help enhance the reading experience, if you the readers so wish to do so. Most of this music can be found and heard on YouTube or any number of anime soundtrack websites.
P.S. While the soundtrack to Far From Heaven can be found on YouTube, the person who uploaded most of the tracks misspelled the film's title as Farm From Heaven for nearly every track title for some reason. Keep this in mind if you decide to look up the music tracks that I've recommended.
Sudden and Suspicious Disclaimer: I also advocate the purchasing and obtaining of official soundtracks through legal means.
Music From Far From Heaven (2001): Autumn In Connecticut, Evening Rest, Mother Love, Crying, Hit, The F Word, Turning Point, Stones, More Pain, Beginnings,
Music From NGE OST 1 - 3 (1995 - 1997): Ritsuko, Rei-I, Depression, Introjection, Hostility Restrained, The Crime Of Innocence, Hedgehog's Dilemma, Misato,
Music From Evangelion Wind Symphony (2009): F02 - Preview Of Next Time,
Music From Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo (2012): From Beethoven 9, L'Apotre de la Lune (Orchestre Cordes), L'Apotre de la Lune (2 Pianos), Quatre Mains (a quatre mains), Tout est Perplexe (Theme Q), Quiproquo 131 (2 Pianos), Quiproquo 140 (Piano),
Music From Patlabor The Movie 2 Sound Renewal (1993/2002): Theme From Patlabor 2 (2002 Version), From Asia (2002 Version), Wyvern (2002 Version), Portent (2002 Version), ...With Love (2002 Version), Outbreak (2002 Version) (This track is over ten minutes long), Unnatural City I (2002 Version), IXTL (2002 Version), Hallucination (2002 Version),
Music From Patlabor The Movie 2 Original Soundtrack (1993): Theme of Patlabor 2, IXTL, Outbreak (this track is over ten minutes long), Wyvern, Hallucination,
Track Order Listing - All After Opening Theme And Before Ending Theme
01. Crying (Rei confronts Ritsuko), 02. Mother Love (Ritsuko's self resentment), 03. Quatre Mains (a quatre mains) (Kaworu's news), 04. ...With Love (2002 Remix) (Kaworu's arrival), 05. Hedgehog's Dilemma (Kaworu meets Rei), 06. Stones (Mana's discovery), 07. More Pain (Mana returns home/Mana speaks with Kaji), 08. IXTL (Mana and Kaji enter NERV HQ/Mana's plan goes awry), 09. Hit (Mana and Kaji's retreat/Mana's grief and sorrow).
Music After Ending Theme
10. F02 - Preview Of Next Time Take 1.
OPENING THEME: A Cruel Angel's Thesis (Director's Edit - Ayanami Version), Performed by Megumi Hayashibara
Episode 21: Ode To Joy
The Infirmary, NERV HQ, Sunday Morning, January 31, 2044
Reclining back in her bed, Rei looked at the clock on the wall. Glancing over to her right, she saw Shinji sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor. She smiled as she watched him sleep, until the door to the room slid open and Ritsuko Akagi stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
Ritsuko and Rei locked gazes before nodding at each other. "Good morning, Rei. How are you feeling?" Ritsuko asked the blue-haired girl as she stepped carefully around Shinji's sleeping form on the floor. Unknown to her, however, the boy was already starting to wake up quietly. He was about to speak up when he Rei finally opened her mouth to respond to Ritsuko's question.
"I am feeling well... mother," Rei said pointedly, causing Ritsuko to pause mid-step and widen her eyes with a sharp intake of breath. "I spoke with the soul of Naoko Akagi while in the Eva. We had... many enlightening discussions," Rei said as she narrowed her eyes at Ritsuko.
"Oh... did you now?" Ritsuko asked her nervously. Rei simply nodded her head in affirmation.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Rei asked her pointedly.
"W-Well, I... things have only changed recently," Ritsuko said shamefully.
"This whole time... I was a clone of you," Rei said sharply. "This whole time... you were my mother. And you never even told me. Not once did you ever tell me that you cared for me," Rei said darkly. Still lying on the floor, Shinji's eyes widened as he listened to Rei rant at Ritsuko.
"Do you know? Do you know how many times I would see young children with their parents while walking home from school and secretly wish that I had that kind of love? Do you know how many years I silently yearned for someone, anyone, to hold me and tell me that they loved me?" Rei asked her, tears starting to fall from her eyes.
"I told myself over and over again that it was unnecessary. That I didn't need a mother or a father because the Commander's scenario was my sole purpose in life. I would tell myself that every night when I went to bed, and every time I saw a young child laughing or playing with their parents. But sometimes... seeing those families together... it hurt. Thinking that I could never have that, and thinking that I would never get to experience that kind of happiness... it hurt," Rei said angrily, frowning at Ritsuko with red cheeks and tears streamed down her face.
"Just over two years before Shinji arrived, I finally numbed myself to that pain, and I was able to go about my daily routine without thinking or feeling anything at all. But now... now I realize that everything I've ever believed is a lie," Rei snarled. "You. Lied. To. Me. You, Vice Commander Fuyutsuki, and Commander Ikari all lied to me... and I believed every word of it, because I trusted you," Rei spat.
"I thought that I had no parents, and that I was destined to die as a sacrifice for a sad old man just so he could see his dead wife again! And this whole time... my mother was right under my nose," Rei continued, glaring at Ritsuko and causing the older female to wilt under her gaze.
"You've had so many chances to tell me the truth... Mother!" Rei spat, her voice laced with venom. "I'm glad my last name is Ayanami, because I certainly don't want to go around being known as an Akagi," Rei said with a frown. "Maybe I should change it to Katsuragi instead," Rei mused out loud, watching as Ritsuko flinched at the very suggestion.
"I... I see," Ritsuko said, biting back the tears that were threatening to spill. "Well, m-maybe I'll come back when you're feeling... l-less bitter," Ritsuko said shakily as she turned around and marched out the door. As the door closed behind her, Shinji blinked in bewilderment.
Doctor Akagi is Rei's mother? Well, that certainly explains the mole, Shinji thought to himself. No, she just said that she was cloned from Doctor Akagi... so I guess that kind of makes her Rei's mother, Shinji corrected himself. I suppose I should let her know that I'm awake now, he thought to himself as he pretended to just start waking up.
"Good morning," Shinji said "tiredly" as he yawned and stretched out his arms.
"Good morning, Shinji," Rei said as she exhaled through her nostrils. "How long have you been awake?" she then asked him with puffy eyes. Shinji contemplated telling her that he was just now waking up, but he really didn't want to lie to her.
"Long enough," Shinji said simply. Rei silently nodded her head in understanding. "So... I guess that explains the mole under your left eye," Shinji said in an awkward attempt at humor.
"Yes, I suppose it does," Rei replied. "It was so obvious. Shinji... I need to tell you something. It's important," she added, looking Shinji in the eyes. Shinji nodded his head and moved closer to Rei's bedside. "Shinji, I... I am not merely a clone of Ritsuko Akagi. I am... also a partial clone of the Angel Lilith," Rei said.
Shinji's eyes widened in response. "Oh," he finally said in surprise. "So... that's where the blue hair and red eyes come from?" Shinji asked cautiously. Rei nodded her head in confirmation.
"Are you... afraid of me now?" Rei asked him softly.
"No," Shinji replied almost immediately. "I'm not afraid of you," he added firmly. Rei looked at him in surprise. Shinji then leaned forward and wrapped both arms around the girl, pulling her into a hug. "I love you, Rei. No matter what you're made from or where you came from, I'm not gonna let that change how I feel about you," Shinji said firmly.
"Shinji, I... I... I l-love you, too," Rei said with a smile as she returned Shinji's hug, burying her face into his shoulder. The two of them stayed that way for a while, simply holding each other and being content in each other's presence. "Shinji? When I am discharged from the infirmary, can we go straight to the apartment?" Rei asked after several minutes of silence.
"Whatever you want, Rei," Shinji replied softly.
Rei smiled in response. "Thank you," she said quietly.
Meanwhile, In Another Part of NERV HQ...
Ritsuko Akagi leaned back against an alcove to stay out of sight as she wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered. Rei already knew about their connection... and she despised her for lying about it. While Ritsuko did not despise herself, she was indeed angry at herself for not saying anything sooner. She could have told Rei at any time and convinced the girl to keep it a secret from everyone. But Rei was a very bad liar, and Ritsuko knew that the girl would have eventually told Gendo the truth before his change of heart had happened, be it by accident or by intent.
As the tears started falling, Ritsuko tried her best to hold back the sobs, but it was no use. Sinking down to the floor, Ritsuko brought her knees up to her chin and choked out several sobs as quietly as she could to avoid drawing attention to herself. For several minutes, she sat there, sobbing as she realized that she had already lost her chance to connect with her 'daughter'.
"I'm so sorry, Rei," Ritsuko sobbed. Her face became red and her throat hurt as she voice became hoarse. "I wish I could've told you sooner," Ritsuko choked out hoarsely between sobs.
As she continued crying, she failed to notice the footsteps approaching her, until she felt someone's hand on her shoulder. Looking up at the face of Maya Ibuki, Ritsuko quickly buried her face again. "Sempai?" Maya asked with concern.
"She knows, Maya. She knows and she hates me for staying silent about it," Ritsuko sobbed. "I waited for so long to be able to tell her the truth... it wasn't supposed to be like this," she wept.
Maya glanced around the corridor to see if there was anyone else around. Satisfied that they were alone, she crouched down and gave Ritsuko a hug. "It's okay, Sempai. I'm sure she'll forgive you in time," Maya said comfortingly.
"Just give her some time. I'm sure she'll come around," Maya added. Ritsuko shook her head in response.
"I had twelve years, Maya. I had twelve years to tell her the truth, and I blew it!" Ritsuko sobbed. Maya let out a sigh before tightening her embrace around her mentor.
"It's okay. Just let it all out," Maya said softly as Ritsuko cried into her uniform. "Just let it out," she cooed softly. "Just give it some time, Sempai. I'm sure things will work out eventually."
The Katsuragi/Ikari/Ayanami Apartment, Thursday Morning, February 18, 2044
With a groan, Misato Katsuragi lifted herself into the wheelchair using both of her arms. With her other arm having healed now, Misato was more able to take of herself. Her legs, however, needed a lot of work. "Do you want any help?" Makoto Hyuga asked her.
"N-No! I can do this!" Misato snapped in response as she used her arms to position her legs on the wheelchair. "See? I can do this," Misato said roughly, more to convince herself than to convince Makoto. Makoto nodded his head in response.
"Alright. Ready to go to your appointment now?" Makoto asked Misato. Misato nodded her head in response. "Okay. Let's get you into the car," Makoto said as he wheeled Misato over to the elevator. The ride down to the bottom floor was mostly quiet, save for the sound of the elevator moving.
"Hey, Makoto?" Misato asked as she tilted her neck to look up at the bespectacled man.
"Yeah?" Makoto asked her in response.
"Thank you," Misato said softly. "I know it hasn't been easy putting up with me, but I appreciate everything you've done for me," Misato continued. "I just... I hate feeling do helpless all of the time," she added.
"I can't even go to the bathroom without you or Shinji or Rei helping lift me over to the toilet, and even though my legs aren't shot... they feel so numb," Misato whined. "I hate this," she spat. "I hate being so helpless."
The elevator soon stopped and the doors opened, letting Makoto wheel Misato out into the lobby. "Well, don't worry too much," Makoto said reassuringly. "After all, that's what the physical therapy is for," he added. "I'm sure you'll be back on your feet in only a few months."
Misato let out a sigh. "I hope so," she said in response. "I feel like dead weight most of the time. I hate it," Misato said bitterly. "I can still give orders when I need to, but I... I feel like an invalid. I feel so useless," Misato said softly and miserably.
"You're not useless," Makoto said as he wheeled Misato out into the parking lot and took her over to her blue Renault Alpine A310. Handing Makoto the keys, Misato took a moment to observe how clean the car looked. Because Makoto was basically her chauffeur, Misato had told him to use the car until her legs were usable again, meaning that Makoto had been taking care of the car for her for the past month.
After Makoto had opened the front passenger door, he helped Misato lift herself out of the wheelchair and into the passenger seat, securing her legs for her as she buckled her seat belt. He then opened the rear passenger door and folded up the wheelchair before securing it onto the back seat. Misato inhaled and exhaled softly through her nostrils as she waited for Makoto to make his way over to the front driver's seat.
"Okay, here we go," Makoto said as he closed the door and inserted the key into the ignition. Misato quietly nodded her head in acknowledgement. She both dreaded and looked forward to her physical therapy appointment.
Inside A Fancy House in New Berlin, Germany, Saturday Afternoon, February 20, 2044
"Ikari must be disposed of!" SEELE 04 shouted. In a dark room in a mansion, Chairman Kiel Lorenz and his fellow SEELE members, most of whom were using holographic monoliths with their assigned numbers on the front, were arguing with each other over how to proceed with the Human Instrumentality Project following the reports from NERV Japan regarding the damage caused by Zeruel. With how close the Angel had gotten to reaching Lilith, the men were beginning to panic and look for someone to blame.
"No. Not yet," Kiel said firmly. "Commander Ikari has not swayed from the path set forth yet. At this point in time, replacing him would be too costly and dangerous a maneuver. However, it is true that he can be disposed of after the final Angel has been dealt with," Kiel added.
"How long is it until the Mass Production units are ready?" SEELE 02 asked.
"All twelve of them are nearing completion," SEELE 06 said. "Thanks to the data provided to us based on the Dummy System used by Japan Branch in January, we have already begun re-writing our own Dummy Plug operating system so as to remove the errors that have been plaguing our simulations so far. The results of the Dummy Plug tests in the future should be quite promising," SEELE 06 finished.
"Excellent," Kiel said.
"Chairman, what of Agent Kaji?" SEELE 09/Hiroshi Ikari asked. "One of our other moles in NERV HQ spotted Kaji giving sensitive data to Pilot Kirishima. I had another operative speak to Kaji about this and he claimed that his actions were ordered by Commander Ikari as part of the false trail he spoke of prior to the Fourteenth Angel's attack," Hiroshi Ikari said.
"Then what is the problem?" SEELE 11 asked curiously.
"I do not believe that Agent Kaji was being truthful when interrogated. I believe he is actively working with Pilot Kirishima for his own benefit, perhaps even for the benefit of a very annoying U.N. subcommittee that does not contain anyone submissive to us," SEELE 09/Hiroshi Ikari said.
"Agent Kaji will be dealt with when the time is right. He is still of some use to us, although his usefulness is coming to an end. If Agent Kaji openly moves against us, eliminate him. Despite his usefulness to us, he is not irreplaceable," Kiel said to SEELE 09.
"I understand. I will wait for him to make his move, and then I will have him eliminated. But what of Pilot Kirishima? Do I have permission to eliminate her as well?" SEELE 09 asked.
"Only is she proves herself to truly know more than she should. Otherwise, allow Commander Ikari to deal with her," Kiel replied. "After the final Angel has been dealt with, however, you are free to remove all but the pilot of Unit One in any way you see fit," Kiel added.
"Of course," SEELE 09 said in response.
"This meeting is now adjourned," Kiel said firmly, dismissing his colleagues. After the holographic monoliths used by his SEELE cohorts had disappeared, Kiel pressed a button for the lights in his special study room to return to normal. With a blank face, Kiel slowly stood up and made his way out of the room.
As he made his way through the halls of his estate, the sound of a piano could be heard echoing. Tabris, Kiel thought to himself as he made his way to the source of the music, a large room with several musical instruments stored within. In the center of the room was the grand piano, with a gray-haired boy sitting in front of it, moving his fingers deftly across the keyboard to play Quatre Mains.
The half-human Angel hybrid certainly had an ear for music, something that no one had expected when they had cloned Adam's flesh. Staying silent, Kiel approached the young man as he played, standing to the side and watching how the Angel moved his fingers across the keys without having his eyes opened. A large satisfied smiled was spread across his face as he played.
One stroke after another produced a harmonic melody as Kaworu Nagisa played to his heart's content. Not once did he fumble. Not once did he miss a key. Not once did he pause too long.
He played with the skill of a professional, and indeed, he was one. Kaworu Nagisa had been playing musical instruments since the second month of his activation. Music was his greatest passion, and his second-most beloved aspect of the world.
With gusto and perfect timing, Kaworu pressed and tapped each key for the proper tune as he neared the end of the piece. Kiel saw the slight movements of Kaworu's nostrils indicating that the boy was humming along with the music as he played. With a few more strokes, Kaworu reached the end of the piece with a flourish, before he sat back and twisted his body to look at Kiel with an expression of mild curiosity.
"Chairman," Kaworu said in acknowledgement.
"Tabris," Kiel said, feeling safe enough to acknowledge Kaworu by his true name while in his own home. All other times, he referred to the boy by his human name of Kaworu Nagisa.
"You have news for me?" Kaworu asked Kiel. Kiel nodded his head in response, prompting Kaworu to look at him expectantly. "May I hear it?" Kaworu finally asked after a moment of silence.
"By the end of next month, you will be sent to Japan," Kiel said.
Kaworu's eyes lit up in anticipation. "Ah, to see Mari and Asuka again!" Kaworu said happily with a smile on his face. He never was one for hiding his feelings about anything, although interacting with Asuka and Mari throughout the years had taught him a few skills in regards to thinking before speaking when in public.
"Yes," Kiel said with slight annoyance at the thought of Mari Illustrious Makinami. She was the one thing that Kaworu placed more value on than music. She was the one thing which could sway Kaworu from fulfilling his purpose, and she didn't even know it. Kiel knew that Mari would have to be dealt with at some point, but he also knew that eliminating her outright could potentially backfire, as Kaworu's S-2 organ had not been stumped or kept in check with medication as Rei had been.
Kaworu knew how to use his Angelic abilities, and Kiel was aware that if Kaworu could trace the death of Mari back to SEELE, then all of their plans could easily become forfeit. Until the Mass Production Evas were finished, Kiel knew they couldn't afford to have Kaworu turn on him and the rest of SEELE.
"You will be able to see Miss Makinami again. You may even be fighting the remaining Angels alongside her," Kiel said. Kaworu nodded his head in understanding.
"And what of Asuka? I have not heard much about her since November," Kaworu asked in response.
"She is alive, but she is also no longer capable of piloting Unit Two. You will be her replacement," Kiel explained. Kaworu's eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh my. What happened to her?" Kaworu asked Kiel in concern. Kiel simply grunted in response.
"I feel it is best for you to learn of her condition in person," Kiel said. "She has not been crippled, but she will very soon be unable to synchronize with Unit Two, and the Eva needs a pilot," Kiel added.
"You have synchronized with Unit Two in the past, as well as Unit Five," Kiel said.
"Yes... I already know that, Chairman. I do not need to be reminded," Kaworu said, slightly annoyed by Kiel's habit of stating the obvious just to make himself seem like a know-it-all. "I supposed I will be expected to synchronize with the other Evas as well?" Kaworu then asked.
"Of course," Kiel replied with a nod of his head.
"May I take some personal effects with me to Japan?" Kaworu asked him.
"Yes, but only what you are able to carry," Kiel replied. Kaworu nodded his head in response before looking around at the various instruments throughout the room. "Make your selection wisely, for you will not be returning here after arriving in Japan," Kiel added.
"The promised time is drawing near," Kaworu said. "At least I will be able spend my remaining time with Mari," Kaworu added with slightly bitter smile. Kiel noticed this and frowned.
"Remember your purpose, Tabris. Nothing must stand in your way when the time comes," Kiel said sternly. Kaworu nodded his head with slight reluctance in response to Kiel's words.
"Of course, Chairman. I will bring true happiness and salvation to you and the other Lilin, but I must understand happiness first in order to truly appreciate my purpose," Kaworu said. Kiel sighed and nodded his head in affirmation.
"Yes, Tabris. To bring happiness unto others does require understanding and experiencing it for oneself," Kiel said in compromise. "Remember, fulfilling your purpose also ensures Miss Makinami will experience eternal bliss with the rest of humanity as well," Kiel added, hoping to ensure Kaworu's cooperation.
Kaworu's smile brightened slightly in response, and Kiel smirked mentally at his success.
NERV HQ, Japan Branch, Sunday Morning, February 21, 2044
Asuka looked at the instrument panel in front of her. "Okay, I've done this enough times now," she said to herself as she waited for Makoto to give her the first set of instructions. "I'm ready when you are," Asuka said.
Standing behind her, Makoto nodded his head while holding a data pad with a training sheet on it. "Okay, I want you to enter your ID number into the terminal and access the time log program," Makoto said. Asuka nodded her head and quickly did as instructed.
Makoto nodded his head as he watched her complete the first assignment. "Good," he said after two minutes. "Now, I want you to pull up a menu for the main programs list and select the sub-menu for the communications options," Makoto said. Asuka nodded her head in affirmation as she briefly reached for a mouse that wasn't there before she reminded herself to use the keyboard and the shortcuts she had memorized.
Makoto frowned slightly. Asuka still hadn't gotten the hang of using only a keyboard for her duties. Still, she was improving. At least she didn't accidentally shut off the terminal with a keyboard shortcut this time.
"All right, I've got it. What's next?" Asuka asked as she kept her eyes glued to the screen.
Nodding his head, Makoto then began reciting the next set of instructions on the training sheet.
The Kaji/Sohryu/Makinami Apartment, Tokyo-3, Saturday Afternoon, March 19, 2044
Mari Makinami smiled as she entered the apartment before taking off her shoes. Walking into the kitchen, she opened the fridge and grabbed a soda before heading into the living room. After plopping herself down on the couch, she turned on the TV and began channel surfing, looking for something to watch.
She turned her head to ask Asuka what she wanted to watch, only to remember that Asuka was at NERV HQ on weekends as part of her new job. Mari sighed and slumped back against the couch. "Right," she mumbled to herself, rolling her eyes before resuming her channel surfing.
After a few minutes of channel surfing, the doorbell rang. Glancing away from the TV, Mari raised an eyebrow. Asuka wasn't scheduled to return from NERV HQ for another few hours, and Kaji was at NERV HQ as well. Getting up from the couch, Mari curiously walked over through the kitchen and down the short entry hall to the door.
Looking into the small peek-hole, Mari saw a white shirt and heard faint humming. The tune sounded vaguely familiar to her. A curious expression came over her face as she unlocked the door and opened it. When she saw who was on the other side, her breath caught in her throat.
Red eyes stared into blue ones as an eternity of silence passed, and a large smile soon spread out across Mari's face. Reaching a hand out to trace the face of the young man in front of her, Mari's breath hitched when skin met skin, and her heart began to beat faster as she realized he was real. "K-Kaworu?" Mari asked with hope and joy in her voice.
"The one and only," he replied with a smile as he gently wrapped a hand around Mari's wrist to bring it to his cheek. Tears of joy threatened to spill out from Mari's eyes as she rushed forward to close the distance between herself and Kaworu, enveloping the gray-haired boy in a hug. "I missed you, too," Kaworu said as he wrapped his arms around Mari's back and returned the hug.
The two stood in the hallway for a minute until Mari finally regained her senses and pulled Kaworu into the entry hall, quickly closing the door behind them. "Take off your shoes," Mari said as Kaworu nodded his head in agreement. After placing his shoes on a small mat next to the door, Kaworu followed Mari through the short hallway until they entered the kitchen.
As Kaworu looked around the kitchen, he opened his mouth to speak, just before Mari grabbed him and crushed his mouth to hers in a passionate kiss. Their tongues intertwined with one another until Mari had to pull away to breathe. With a deep red blush on her face, Mari panted with a smile before she pulled Kaworu towards her again and rested her chin on his shoulder.
Wrapping his arms around Mari once again, Kaworu smiled. "You know why I'm here, don't you?" Kaworu asked Mari. Mari nodded her head in response, keeping her arms wrapped around Kaworu the whole time.
"You're here to replace Asuka as the pilot of Unit Two," Mari stated.
"Mm-hm," Kaworu replied. "I haven't been told much about why she can't pilot, though, so I'm a bit in the dark," he added. Mari shifted and pulled away from him, looking at him curiously.
"No one's told you?" she asked him skeptically.
"No," Kaworu said, shaking his head. "Chairman Lorenz only said that she was no longer fit to pilot the Eva, but he would not elaborate on why," Kaworu explained. "I'm hoping you can give me some answers," he added.
Mari nodded her head in understanding. "Well, it's a bit of a long story. The short version is that... Asuka is pregnant," Mari explained.
Kaworu's eyes widened at the news. "Really? Her? I must admit that I find that rather surprising," Kaworu said.
"It... was an accident," Mari said. "She miscalculated her menstrual cycle a few months back before deciding to have unprotected sex with her boyfriend, and... well, here we are," Mari added. Kaworu nodded his head as he processed the information.
"I see. So, who is the father of Asuka's child anyway? I'd like to meet him and find out just how he managed to worm his way into Asuka's heart," Kaworu asked curiously. Mari frowned and looked down at the floor briefly. "Mari? Is something wrong?" Kaworu asked her with concern in his voice.
"The father of Asuka's child is... was Toji Suzuhara, the pilot of Unit Three," Mari said. Kaworu's eyes widened before an expression of grim understanding formed on his face. "You heard about what happened to Unit Three, didn't you?" Mari asked Kaworu.
Kaworu nodded his head in response. "Yes, I've read the official report. The report listed Unit Three's pilot as Killed In Action," Kaworu said with a frown. "Did Asuka see it happen?" Kaworu asked Mari.
"Yes," she replied with a forlorn sigh. "She was inside Unit Two when the Dummy System was activated, and... it didn't stop until the Angel had been eviscerated and the entry plug was crushed. We still don't know if Toji was killed right then or if he had died earlier, though. All communications with the entry plug were lost when the Angel took over, leaving only the emergency remote ejection system intact," Mari explained with a frown.
"That must have been... truly horrifying. Not knowing whether or not the pilot could be saved at all," Kaworu said sympathetically. "I'm sorry you all had to experience that fear and sorrow," he added solemnly as he hugged Mari tightly.
The two stood there in the kitchen for several minutes quietly, simply allowing themselves to enjoy the comfort of their embrace. "I missed this," Mari finally said softly with a smile after a few minutes. "I missed you," she emphasized.
"I missed you as well, Mari," Kaworu replied softly. "Kaworu... I... I've shared my bed with others," Mari said guiltily. Kaworu nodded his head in understanding.
"You are free to share your love with whomever you wish, Mari. I do not see why you would feel guilty about this. I hold no ill against you," Kaworu said understandingly, although given his nature, he didn't quite succumb to the same vices as humans. He didn't really understand the viewpoints that humans had regarding certain things such as sexuality and love, although he did understand them on a basic and physical level, but not on the emotional level that most humans did.
Smiling, Mari nestled her head against Kaworu's shoulder in response. "Thank you," she said gratefully, before a flood of thoughts entered her brain. "Kaworu... would you like to make up for lost time? Asuka and Kaji won't be back from NERV HQ for a few hours," Mari asked with a grin on her face.
"Well... it has been a while, hasn't it?" Kaworu asked her in return. Mari nodded her head and soon leaned forward to kiss him. The duo eventually made their way to Mari's bedroom.
A Few Hours Later...
"My feet are killing me," Asuka complained as she took off her shoes. "Hey, wait a minute," she said as she noticed the new pair of shoes next to Mari's on the mat. "I guess Mari has a guest over," Asuka said, until she remembered what time it was in the evening.
As Kaji took off his shoes, he shook his head. "Knowing Mari, I think we know where she and her guest are at," Kaji said. Asuka nodded her head in agreement. "I just hope they used protection," he added, causing Asuka to nod her head in agreement even more.
As the duo made their way through the entry hall and into the kitchen, they saw that the TV was turned on in the living room. Walking over to the couch, Kaji picked up the remote and turned the TV off. A minute later, he turned it back on before channel surfing while standing up, causing Asuka to raise and eyebrow at him and shake her head.
Making her way down the hall Asuka noticed that the door to Mari's room was slightly ajar. She carefully made her way over to the door to see just who Mari had decided to screw. Peeking into the gap in the doorway, Asuka saw Mari lying on top of the other person, completely naked. The room also reeked of sex and sweat, a combination with which Asuka was very familiar.
Stepping back a foot, Asuka raised a hand and gently rapped her knuckles against the door. "Hey, Mari? Mari, wake up," Asuka said. She peeked into the doorway again and saw Mari slowly stirring on top of the boy. "Mari, please answer the door," Asuka implored.
Grumbling impatiently, Asuka shook her had and simply pushed the door aside. Stepping into the room, she marched over to Mari's naked body and placed her hands on a spot on the girl's back that didn't look like it was covered with dried bodily fluids before shaking her. "Come on, wake up!" Asuka growled.
Mari finally began to wake up. "Huh? Wha-oh! A-Asuka," Mari said groggily as she sat up and raised her arms over her head to stretch. With Mari's torso upright, Asuka took the chance to look down at who was beneath her.
"No way," Asuka said incredulously as she saw the mop of silver hair. "Mari? What is he doing here?" Asuka asked her sister-in-arms pointedly.
"Isn't it obvious? He's rocking my world," Mari replied with a lecherous grin on her face. Asuka rolled her eyes at Mari before crossing her arms and shaking her head. A slight groan soon caught Asuka's attention, drawing her focus to the silver-haired young man lying beneath Mari on the bed.
"Hello Asuka," Kaworu said calmly as he glanced up at Asuka. "As you can probably guess, I have been transferred here from Germany as the replacement pilot for Evangelion Unit Two," Kaworu said nonchalantly. Asuka flinched slightly at hearing those words.
She was being replaced. She knew it was necessary, and she knew exactly why she couldn't pilot Unit 02 anymore, but it still hurt on an emotional level to hear those words being said to her anyway. She had spent so much of her life piloting the Eva, but with the arrival of Kaworu to replace her, that part of her life was completely over now.
"Uh... y-yeah," Asuka said in response, nodding her head slowly in acknowledgement of Kaworu's words. Sucking in a breath, Asuka rubbed her temples. "So, where are you staying?" Asuka asked Kaworu.
"I have been assigned to an apartment unit in this building. My belongings were already moved into it earlier with help from Section Two," Kaworu replied. Asuka nodded her head in response. "I... heard about Pilot Suzuhara," Kaworu said, noticing the way Asuka flinched at hearing Toji's name. "I am... you have my condolences on your loss," Kaworu said carefully.
Asuka nodded her head in appreciation of his words. "Thank you," Asuka said softly. She then turned around and left the room, sliding the door shut behind her. As she made her way into the living room, Asuka saw Kaji sitting on the couch. The TV was turned on, but he clearly wasn't paying attention to it.
"My replacement is already here," Asuka said to Kaji. Kaji slowly nodded his head and glanced in her direction before gesturing for her to join him on the couch. After sitting down next to her surrogate father, Asuka leaned into his shoulder. "It's Kaworu," she said after a minute.
Kaji nodded his head again. "Mister red eyes and silver hair?" Kaji asked her. Asuka nodded her head in confirmation. "Do we know where he's staying? I'm not having a boy rooming with Mari the rest of the time we're here," Kaji said with a hint of protectiveness in his voice.
"He's already been assigned to another apartment elsewhere in the building. He's already got his stuff moved in, so I think he and Mari are just making up for lost time," Asuka said. Kaji nodded his head with an annoyed frown on his face.
"She'd better be using protection. We don't need two pregnant pilots," Kaji said. He then glanced down at Asuka worriedly. "I-I don't mean-" "I know what you mean. With how badly the last battle went, we can't afford to take any more pilots off the roster," Asuka said in understanding.
Kaji quietly nodded his head before he and Asuka simply turned their attention to the TV.
The Pilots Apartment Complex, Sunday Morning, March 20, 2044
Stepping out of her apartment, Mana Kirishima closed the door behind her and locked it before pocketing the key. As she turned to walk away, she was greeted by Mari and... a boy with red eyes and silver/gray hair. She faintly recognized the boy from the Pilot Corps database files, but she couldn't remember his name. His red eyes and plae skin instantly reminded her of Rei, and given what she knew about Rei's origins... she wondered if Kaworu shared a similar background to the girl. "Hey, Mana! What's up?" Mari asked jovially.
"Oh, just heading out for a morning jog," Mana said as she pointed a finger at the track suit she was wearing. "So, uh... how are you?" Mana asked Mari. Mari smiled brilliantly with a blush.
"Me? Oh, I'm fantastic! Mana, this is Kaworu Nagisa from the German Branch!" Mari said happily as she introduced the two pilots to one another. Kaworu raised a hand and briefly waved at Mana, who briefly waved back at him.
"Uh, hi," Mana said politely. "I'm Sergeant Mana Kirishima. I'm currently the leader of the Pilot Corps," Mana added. Kaworu raised an eyebrow at the statement.
"Oh? But doesn't Mari here have a higher rank?" Kaworu asked her.
"Yes, but she's made it clear that she'd rather follow orders than give them to others. So, I've taken the reins," Mana replied. "By the way, why are you here?" Mana then asked him.
"Kaworu is here to take Asuka's place as Unit Two's new pilot," Mari said.
"Oh," Mana said, nodding her head. "Well, um... I'd love to stay and chat some more, but I've gotta get my jog in, so... see ya," Mana said politely as she waved at the two and made her way down the hallway. Mana did not stop moving as she made her way to the stairs, wanting to get away from Mari and Kaworu as quickly as possible. While Kaworu hadn't done or said anything to offend her, there was still something about him that seemed... off.
Again, while she wasn't really bothered by the possibility of the boy being a clone of someone else, the question that came to mind was, "who was he a clone of, and why did he resemble Rei so much?" If he was from the German Branch... was he sent by SEELE? Did this mean the final Angels were soon to be upon them? Mana shrugged these thoughts aside as she made her way down to the bottom floor to begin her morning jog.
The Katsuragi/Ikari/Ayanami Apartment...
Rei walked over to the coffee table in the living room and sat down next to Shinji. On the coffee table in front of them was a large folder with musical notes on multiple papers. Shinji was currently using a reference sheet as he wrote down his own notes. "Are you composing a pice for yourself?" Rei asked him curiously.
"Well, sort of," Shinji replied as he looked at Rei with a smile. "I've been working on this for nearly two months now, and I'm just getting the hang of it," he admitted. "Although, it's not really for me," Shinji added.
"No?" Rei asked him curiously. Shinji shook his head in response.
"It's... for you," he said as he looked her in the eyes. "I'm writing a cello suite for you," Shinji admitted with a smile that Rei found absolutely adorable. Rei found herself blushing as she processed Shinji's words.
Reaching over to gently grasp one of Shinji's hands in her own, Rei smiled. "Thank you," she said softly, before moving her other arm around Shinji's waist to pull him into a semi-hug. "How far along are you?" she soon asked her boyfriend.
"Well... um, it's... not finished yet," Shinji said nervously. It was his very first attempt at writing original music, after all. "I should have it finished before the end of next month, though," he added.
"Take your time," Rei said softly as she simply rested herself against Shinji, enjoying his presence. "There's no need to rush," she added before she closed her eyes and inhaled Shinji's scent through her nose. Shinji smiled as Rei cuddled up to him, before he resumed working on the note sheets in front of him.
Several minutes went by peacefully until the doorbell rang. Lifting her head from Shinji's shoulder, Rei frowned at having her cuddling session interrupted. "I will go see who is at the door," Rei said as she stood up. Shinji's gaze followed her as she walked through the kitchen and down the entry hall.
As Rei reached the front door, she felt a strange sensation in the air around her. She brushed it off and opened it to reveal Mari Makinami... and a boy who could have been mistaken for her sibling. He had red eyes, silver hair, and a very friendly expression on his face, but Rei could tell, almost instantly, that this boy was not what he seemed on the outside. Something about him just seemed... off.
"Good morning, Rei-kun!" Mari exclaimed loudly with a smile on her face while waving a hand in the air. She practically radiated happiness.
Rei nodded her head in acknowledgement of the other girl. "Good morning, Mari," Rei said with the slightest hint of irritation in her voice.
"Rei, I'd like to introduce you to our replacement pilot for Unit Two! This is Kaworu Nagisa!" Mari said proudly, as though she were showing off a hard-won prize. Kaworu simply nodded his head at Rei.
"Good morning," Kaworu said in a calm manner. Rei nodded her head in response. Kaworu seemed pleasant enough, but there was still something about him that felt off. Something about him had Rei on edge. Looking at his eyes and hair, suspicions began to form in her mind.
"Mind if we come in?" Mari asked sweetly. Rei reluctantly nodded her head and stepped aside to allow the couple to enter the apartment. Rei watched as they took off their shoes before Mari looped her left arm through Kaworu's right one and led him through the entry way and into the kitchen. Following closely behind them, Rei began running her numerous suspicions through her head regarding Kaworu Nagisa.
Despite the obvious similarities in their physical appearances, there was something else about the young man that seemed familiar to Rei. It was... something that she recognized on a subconscious level. He was familiar somehow, despite neither of them having met each other until today. Rei decided that she would have to observe the boy to find out more.
As the trio entered the living room, Mari and Kaworu sat down across from Shinji, with Mari quickly introducing them to one another. Rei noted the way that Mari radiated happiness while she was in Kaworu's presence, a stark contrast from the brief expression of unease that Shinji formed on his face before adopting a more pleasant and friendly expression as he bowed briefly at Mari and Kaworu. Walking over to Shinji, Rei sat down next to him and placed her left hand on his right one, gently squeezing it to comfort him.
"So, you're, uh... from NERV Germany?" Shinji asked as he gently squeezed Rei's hand in return. Kaworu nodded his head in response.
"Yes. I stayed back when Mari and Asuka left as I do not have an Eva of my own, or rather, I didn't until recently," Kaworu replied. Shinji nodded his head.
"Oh, is it a new one?" Shinji asked him. Kaworu shook his head.
"No, I am the replacement pilot for Unit Two," Kaworu stated. Shinji's eyes widened briefly as he processed this knowledge.
"I see. So... does Asuka know?" Shinji asked him.
"Yes. I informed her last night," Kaworu said in response.
"Oh. So, uh, where are you staying now?" Shinji asked Kaworu.
"I was assigned to an apartment unit in this building. It's not far down the hall from Mari and Asuka's unit," Kaworu replied.
"Yup, but I've got no qualms about letting him share my bedroom with me," Mari added with a smile. Shinji and Rei both nodded their heads in understanding of Mari's statement. Given her upbeat attitude around Kaworu, it was easy to figure out the implications of her statement.
Looking between Rei and Kaworu, Shinji couldn't help but notice the physical similarities between them. "So... uh, I can't help but notice that you and Rei both have red eyes," Shinji said with slight awkwardness. Kaworu smiled at Shinji's statement, while Rei almost imperceptibly narrowed her eyes at Kaworu.
"Well, although I've been aware of her thanks to NERV's Pilot Corps database, I've never met the lovely Rei in person before today, but I can assure you that we are not siblings if that is what you are wondering," Kaworu said in a friendly manner. "Granted, I would rather enjoy getting to know her, if she will allow it. If I may, I would also wish to learn more about you as well, Pilot Ikari," Kaworu said.
Looking down at the music sheets on the table, Kaworu's eyes lit up. "Oh? Is this music you are writing?" Kaworu asked Shinji eagerly. Shinji nodded his head in response. "May I read it?" Kaworu asked him.
"Uh... sure," Shinji said with a hint of nervousness in his voice.
Kaworu gingerly picked up the music sheets and looked them over. "Hm... is this written for cello?" Kaworu asked Shinji curiously.
"Y-Yes. It's a cello suite that I'm writing for Rei," Shinji said with a smile, gently squeezing Rei's hand in his own. Rei blushed slightly, both at Shinji's words and at his affectionate touch.
Kaworu nodded his head as he read over the music sheets once more. "Well... is this your first composition?" Kaworu asked Shinji curiously. Shinji nodded his head in confirmation. "I see. Well, it seems rather decent," Kaworu said.
"R-Really?" Shinji asked him.
"Oh yes. I take it this was written out of love for her, was it not?" Kaworu responded. Shinji nodded his head in affirmation.
"Then it does not matter what I think of it, Ikari. What matters is how she feels when she hears you play it for her," Kaworu said as he pointed a finger at Rei. "She is your muse, and it is only by her reaction that you will tell if the music is good," Kaworu said with genuine conviction in his voice.
"Music is the joy of the soul, the art which transcends all of Lilin culture," Kaworu said, causing Shinji to pause and raise an eyebrow at the boy. Rei, however, widened her eyes before narrowing them again. She now knew what Kaworu was. The only question remaining was whether or not he was on the side of Humanity... or SEELE.
NERV HQ, Saturday Afternoon, April 09, 2044
Inside Gendo Ikari's darkened office, the twelve monoliths of SEELE surrounded him and Fuyutsuki. Gendo was sitting at his desk in his usual pose, while Fuyutsuki stood silently by his side. Kiel Lorenz, the Chairman and leader of the organization, was being represented by monolith as well, with the title SEELE 01 on the large rectangular hologram.
"Ikari, we have made it clear to you that our decisions are final and not to be questioned," SEELE 03 said.
"Be that as it may, gentlemen, the fact remains that our defense budget has seen a significant reduction in the past two months. Given how devastating the battle against Zeruel was for not only NERV but also the Self Defense Force, it is imperative that we be given the necessary funds to keep the Geofront properly maintained," Gendo said calmly. He had performed this dance before on many occasions in the past.
"Ikari, you have been given what is necessary. We have reviewed the damage assessments given to us regarding the previous Angel's attack, and we know what we are doing. We would never allow Lilith to be compromised by a low budget, but you must realize that the terms of our agreement cannot be changed either. What was promised when this journey began will remain constant," SEELE 02 spoke.
"And if the next Angel to appear breaches the Geofront as well? If the next Angel manages to make contact with Lilith? What then, gentlemen?" Gendo asked them pointedly. "What will you say, should that occur?" he added.
Meanwhile, several floors below Gendo's office, in a server room surrounded by wires and server racks while wearing a NERV janitorial uniform, Mana Kirishima listened in on Gendo and SEELE's conversation thanks to her wiretapping efforts and various pieces of equipment given to her by the late Lieutenant Colonel Conrad Barnes and Inspector Ryoji Kaji. Holding a headset up to her ears, Mana wrote down pieces of the conversation on a note pad on her knee. Gendo's meetings with SEELE had begun taking a more interesting turn in the past couple of months, as SEELE kept mentioning some kind of promise or a journey that was crucial to their mission.
Barnes had informed her of SEELE's goal of somehow obtaining godhood through Lilith, but he had also informed her that Gendo was planning to turn on them when the time was right. So far, Gendo had played the role of SEELE's puppet very well, so much so that Mana had begun to wonder if the man was truly planning on turning against the group.
Back in the office, Gendo listened to SEELE 07 go on a short rant about his need to be obedient, before SEELE 01 spoke up. "Ikari, do not forget that you are responsible for ensuring Lilith's protection until the promised time," Kiel said firmly. Gendo remains silent for a moment before speaking.
"Of course, gentlemen. Have I let you down yet?" Gendo asked in response.
"Ikari, do not ask such questions when you know that we are aware of your inability to fully comply with all of our requests. For instance, you still have not eliminated Pilot Kirishima, as we have asked of you on several occasions in the past. She is not needed anymore, now that Unit One has a functioning S-Two Organ," SEELE 09 said.
"Gentlemen, I believe I have told you that eliminating Sergeant Kirishima would bring about unwanted attention to us," Gendo replied.
"Unlikely. With Barnes dead, no one will retaliate over her death," SEELE 09 retorted.
"Are you so sure about this? The death of Pilot Suzuhara had a negative impact on all of our remaining pilots, and the aftermath of Zeruel's attack took an even further toll on them. The Evangelions are Lilith's greatest defense, but without the pilots I'm afraid they are unusable," Gendo said.
"I have already transferred Lieutenant Sohryu to a desk position within NERV command, making Kirishima the de facto leader of the pilots," Gendo continued. "In order to effectively combat the remaining Angels, we need all of our pilots to be functional and capable of synchronizing with their Evas. Eliminating Sergeant Kirishima could have a negative effect on the remaining pilots and their ability to pilot their Evas when the next Angel appears," Gendo said.
"We are growing tired of this, Ikari. Either eliminate Kirishima or sacrifice her in the next battle. We want her out of the way when the promised time comes, and if she is not dead before then... you will be unable to join us," SEELE 09 said coldly.
"Very well," Gendo said as he began ruminating on possible ways to keep Mana out of SEELE's sight without killing her outright. "Sergeant Kirishima will experience a malfunction in her Eva during the next battle. I will have Inspector Kaji perform the task himself," Gendo said in an effort to appease SEELE.
"And if that does not kill her?" SEELE 06 asked him.
"She will suffer an 'accident', should she survive the sabotage. I will oversee the operation directly," Gendo said in a very convincing manner. "Sergeant Kirishima will not interfere with our scenario. I will see to it personally if necessary," Gendo said.
"Good. But be aware, Ikari, that we have eyes and ears everywhere. If you should fail in this task, or try to go behind our backs... we will know," SEELE 09 said with a warning tone.
"The complementation of humanity, the Human Instrumentality Project, must proceed as promised in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Lilith must remain untouched until the final Angel has been dealt with. Only then can we safely initiate Third Impact and join humanity together in eternal bliss. We have sent Pilot Nagisa to watch you, Ikari, and if you will not follow our orders, he will take care of Kirishima instead. He is our... insurance, so that the scenario proceeds as planned," SEELE 01 stated.
Inside the server room, Mana's eyes widened.
"Of course, gentlemen," Gendo said in his usual manner. "Sergeant Kirishima will be killed or incapacitated before the promised time. I will begin making arrangements once the meeting is over," Gendo said.
In the server room, Mana began to panic. What do I do!? What the fuck am I gonna do!? Looking down at knife strapped around her leg, Mana began to form a plan in her mind. The last Angel we fought broke through the Geofront and almost breached Terminal Dogma. The next Angel may be even more powerful, Mana thought to herself as she started to disengage her equipment and pack it up. As she looked around the server room, she felt a lump form in her throat.
SEELE wants to initiate Third Impact. Commander Ikari may actually be working WITH them instead of plotting against them, and Nagisa... is here as a mole. Kaji may not follow the orders to kill me, but if he does... no, he won't. And SEELE may eliminate him for failing to kill me. But I don't wanna die! I... I... I-I... wait a minute, Mana thought to herself.
The key piece in all of this... is Lilith. SEELE needs Lilith for their scenario. The Angels need Lilith to do their... thing. If Lilith is removed from the equation, then SEELE and the Angels can't initiate Third Impact. I... I have to destroy Lilith, Mana thought to herself with grim resolve.
"For the future of humanity," Mana whispered to herself. But how? How do I destroy Lilith? I can't just activate Unit Four. But... I do have some toys hidden inside of it that might do the trick. I just have to locate Lilith's core, and then... boom, Mana thought to herself as she carefully exited the server room and made her way down the corridors of NERV HQ.
I'm going to need some help, though. This isn't something I can do by myself, Mana thought as she peered around a corner before making her way over to an elevator. I need to find Inspector Kaji.
The Pilots Apartment Complex, Later...
Stepping into her apartment, Mana quickly changed out of her disguise before running into her room to change into something more appropriate for her mission. Opening a drawer in her bedroom, she began putting on a black tank-top, along with dark camo pants. She quickly inserted some gel pads into two combat boots before putting them on and looping a belt through her pants.
Pulling out another drawer, she removed a false bottom and pulled out several pieces of a disassembled Beretta 92FS sidearm, along with three magazines. Quickly putting the gun together, Mana slapped the first magazine inside and pulled back the top to chamber a round. She then checked the safeties before grabbing the holster for the gun and tying it around her waist. Putting the gun into the holster, Mana clipped the flap over the grip and opened her closet before grabbing a large jacket.
"This is for humanity's future," Mana told herself with a gulp. I could die trying this, but... I'm already marked for death by SEELE, and I can't count on the Commander to NOT actually be in cahoots with them by this point, Mana reasoned to herself as she stashed the two spare magazines into her pants pockets. She checked her combat knife to make sure that it was secured around her leg, before making her way into the living room of her apartment.
"Save the world... or die trying," Mana said to herself as she glanced at her reflection in a nearby mirror. "This could be my last mission. Better to die making a difference tan to stand around doing nothing, though," Mana said to her reflection before turning away and heading for the door. She paused, however, before she made her way over to her laptop. There was one last thing she wanted to do before embarking on her mission.
The Kaji/Sohryu/Makinami Apartment, Some Thirty Minutes Later...
"Yes... I understand," Kaji said into the phone before he hung up. He frowned at the device in his hands before setting it on the table and holding his head in his hands. Hearing the doorbell ring, Kaji made his way through the kitchen and into the entry hall before peering through the peephole. His eyes widened as he saw who was standing on the other side.
He glanced away from the peephole, remembering the orders given to him by SEELE over the phone just minutes earlier. I... I can't do this. I CAN'T! But... if I don't, then Asuka... Kaji felt a knot twisting in his stomach as he remembered the threat made by the SEELE agent over the phone.
Taking a deep breath, Kaji opened the door to reveal Mana Kirishima. "Can I help you, Miss Kirishima?" Kaji asked her politely. Mana nodded her head and stepped into the apartment, keeping her boots on. "Um... your boots-" "Are staying on. I need your help," Mana interrupted him sharply.
Kaji blinked in surprise. "Help with what exactly?" Kaji asked her curiously. Mana narrowed her eyes at him.
"Saving the world," Mana replied tersely. Kaji blinked at her.
"Um, I think you already do that every couple of months," Kaji said.
"No, I mean preventing Third Impact," Mana said.
"Again, you guys-" "By stopping SEELE," Mana said, causing Kaji to close his mouth.
"Grab a weapon, stay where I can see you, and maybe we'll both live through this tonight," Mana said, before she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small thumb drive. "I want you to put this somewhere safe," Mana said as she handed the thumb drive to Kaji.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"It's something that the other pilots will need if I don't make it back here alive tonight," Mana said with a frown. Kaji's eyes widened at her statement.
"Mana... what are you planning?" Kaji asked her worriedly.
"I'm planning to stop the Human Instrumentality Project," Mana said bluntly, not caring if anyone heard her. "I need your help, Ryoji," Mana said, emphasising Kaji's first name. Kaji narrowed his eyes at her.
"I didn't give you permission to use my first name," Kaji said.
"I don't care. I'm already marked for death by SEELE, and you know it. Don't you?" Mana responded with narrowed eyes of her own. "Whether it's by your hand, the Commander's, or Airman Nagisa, SEELE wants me dead because they've realized that I know too much, or they believe that Unit Four is detrimental to their plans. Either way, they want to eliminate me, so I probably don't have much time," Mana said.
"How much do you know?" Kaji asked her carefully.
"Enough that you'll probably receive orders from them to kill me soon," Mana said. Kaji kept his best poker face on as he processed Mana's words. "I know that you're working for SEELE, Ryoji. I also know that you're working for the United Nations, and I know that you're working for Commander Ikari," Mana said.
Kaji's poker face faltered.
"What's your plan?" Kaji asked as he gestured for Mana to enter the entry way. Kaji stayed in front of Mana as she followed him into the kitchen. "I'm only asking because you're making a big deal out of this whole thing," Kaji said, listening as Mana's boots continued past him and into the living room, where she grabbed his cell phone from the coffee table and flipped it open.
"Hey!" Kaji barked as Mana accessed his phone's call history.
Mana glanced over at him with narrowed eyes. "You've already been called by them, haven't you?" Mana asked Kaji darkly. "SEELE has already contacted you with orders to kill me," she stated. Kaji glanced to the side, only for Mana to growl at him.
"Yes or no, Ryoji. You were given orders by SEELE to eliminate me shortly before I got here, weren't you?" Mana asked him forcefully. Kaji looked over at Mana and frowned before sighing in defeat.
"Yes," he said with shame in his voice.
"Are you gonna do it?" Mana asked him as she carefully slid an arm into her jacket.
"I'm hoping I can fake your death to get them off my back," Kaji admitted. Mana raised an eyebrow at him, perplexed by his response.
"You would try to fake it? You'd make it look like you've killed me?" Mana asked him. Kaji nodded his head. "You don't sound like you wanna fake my death or kill me, though, even if they've threatened your life," Mana said.
"They didn't threaten my life," Kaji said solemnly.
"Really? Then why do you seem so troubled, aside from the obvious moral dilemma?" Mana asked him cautiously.
"They threatened Asuka's life," Kaji said bluntly, staring Mana in the eyes.
Mana's eyes widened in response.
"She may not be related to me by blood, but dammit she's my daughter!" Kaji said firmly. "I... I'd do anything to keep her safe," he said.
"Does that include killing me?" Mana asked him, pushing her jacket aside to reach her holster and unclip the strap covering the grip of the pistol.
"I... I... I don't know," Kaji said in defeat. "That's why I'm hoping we can fake your death somehow. I know it's something I've just come up with on the fly, but if you hear me out-" "No."
"No one's faking anyone's death. These bastards caused the destruction of Second Branch, and they're planning on making Third Impact happen after the final Angel is killed. We have only one choice in this matter," Mana said to Kaji.
"Yeah? What's that?" he asked her curiously.
"We fight back by force. I know you must not be thinking highly of that idea, given that you're, well, a spy and all, but it's the best solution I can come up with right now," Mana said. Kaji looked at her curiously. Something about the girl seemed a little off. Her behavior was slightly... manic.
"Okay, but how do we fight back?" Kaji asked her carefully.
"We destroy the one thing they need to bring their plans to fruition," Mana said. "We need to destroy Lilith."
Kaji gaped at Mana. "Y-You're joking, right!?" Kaji asked her incredulously. "How the hell do you plan to destroy Lilith!?" he asked her, running a hand through his hair and letting out a chortle.
"I have some explosives hidden away inside Unit Four's emergency armor compartments. I've also got some spare weapons hidden inside the Eva as well. We get inside NERV HQ, make our way into the holding cage, and I'll grab the stuff we need," Mana explained. "Once we have what we need, we can make our way to Terminal Dogma. I trust you've already figured out a way to get in there," Mana said.
"Okay, Mana? I think you're going a bit too far," Kaji said.
"No! This is the only option!" Mana retorted. "Ryoji, the last Angel we fought managed to breach the fucking Geofront and enter NERV HQ through sheer brute force!" Mana exclaimed in an almost manic tone. "The next Angel may be even stronger, and there are still sections of Geofront armor that need to be replaced," Mana added.
"When the next Angel appears... we not be able to stop it at all. We need to destroy Lilith before the next Angel appears, Ryoji. Because after the Angels are stopped, SEELE is gonna walk through the front doors of NERV and seize Lilith for themselves," Mana ranted.
"The future of mankind... is up to us. We have the knowledge, and that means we have the responsibility, to safeguard the continuation of life on Earth. The Commander is probably working in cahoots with SEELE, and even if he isn't, we can't trust him to actually stand up to them when he really needs to," Mana continued.
"That leaves only us. You and me," Mana said. "We're the only ones who really know what the hell's going on here, and that means we're the only ones who can prevent Third Impact before the next Angel appears. I need you, Ryoji. Asuka needs you. Mari needs you. Shinji and Rei need you. Misato needs you. The world needs you. The world needs us both to do what's necessary, even at the cost of our own lives, to keep it safe," Mana said with a gulp.
"I'm not just a pilot, Ryoji. I'm a soldier, and that means I'm willing to lay my life on the line to keep the people I care about safe," Mana concluded. "Are you willing to do the same?" she asked Kaji. "What happens if SEELE sees through your effort to fake my death? What if they decide to kill Asuka before threatening Mari next, just to keep you in line? Strike now, before they have the chance to do anything," Mana said.
"We destroy Lilith and we prevent Third Impact. SEELE's plans will be crippled without Lilith, and you know it! So let's do it! Let's get down to HQ and do what needs to be done," Mana said. "What do you have to lose?" she asked him.
"My life. Asuka. Mari," Kaji said somberly.
"Ryoji, if we don't do this, then SEELE will just kill them anyway. They'll likely kill you as well just to cover their asses once I'm dead. The only Eva they really need for their plan is Unit One, meaning they may only need Shinji to pilot it. But, with Airman Nagisa, who did successfully cross-synchronize with Unit One on two separate tests already, they may not even need Shinji alive. They definitely don't need the others, so they won't have any qualms about killing Mari and Rei and Asuka either once they decide to set their plan into motion," Mana said.
"If we wait, then SEELE gets closer to winning. If we strike now... maybe we can topple their house of cards before they even know what hit 'em," Mana said. Kaji looked at Mana with a sorrowful expression on his face.
"Look, how about this? You only need to get me into Terminal Dogma. I'll grab the weapons, and you can hang back and feign ignorance while I do the dirty work, okay? You have more to lose than I do, so I'll do most of the risky stuff. Sound fair?" Mana asked Kaji.
Kaji processed Mana's plan and gave thought to it. Finally, after a dreadful moment of silence, Kaji looked Mana in the eyes with a weary expression. "Okay. I'll go along, but only far enough to get you into Terminal Dogma. I don't want Asuka to lose another person she cares about," Kaji said.
"Deal," Mana said with a nod. "Now, put that thumb drive somewhere safe and let's get a move on. I'll be waiting right here," Mana said. Kaji nodded his head and made his way into Asuka's bedroom, where he placed the thumb drive on her shelf and wrote a small note before making his way out into the living room to join Mana.
Unknown to Kaji, Mana had made a second copy of the data on the thumb drive, and had already given it to Pen-Pen with orders to place it where Misato could find it. It was an insurance policy so that if neither of them made it back alive, someone would know the truth.
NERV HQ, A Short Time Later...
Driving Kaji's car, Mana allowed herself a brief respite as she pulled the car into a parking space inside the garage. She turned to look at Kaji with a smirk on her face. "You know it's illegal for someone to drive a car in Japan if they haven't graduated high school, right?" Kaji asked Mana as she turned off the engine and opened the door.
"Fuck that noise. I pilot a giant cyborg to save the world from destruction. Besides, I have a license to operate pretty much any vehicle I can get my hands on. If the Japanese government doesn't like it, they can kiss my sweet round ass," Mana replied dismissively as she looked around the interior of the parking garage. She closed the driver's side door and watched Kaji step out before closing his. Mana then pressed the button to remotely lock the car with the key fob. "Let's go, and stay in front of me," Mana said firmly as she and Kaji began making their way to an elevator that would transport them down into the Geofront Tram System.
After entering the elevator, Kaji glanced at Mana. He saw the girl try to keep her emotions under control as she took quit breaths to calm herself. She was scared, just as he was, but if Mana was right, then a preemptive Strike against SEELE might really be the only option available to them.
"There's still time to turn back," Kaji said quietly as the elevator began its descent.
Mana furiously shook her head in response. "N-No. No, we have to do this. We may not get another chance. If you don't kill me, SEELE will just use another mole hidden in NERV's staff to do the job, and then they'll take you out too. If we destroy the linchpin to their plans, then they have nothing to gain anymore," Mana said.
The duo remained silent as the elevator made its way down into the Geofront Tram System. After exiting the elevator, Kaji and Mana quickly found a tram that was parked and got inside, activating it and taking a ride down to HQ. Mana sat down on a seat nearby and held her head in her hands as she took several deep breaths to calm herself.
When the tram car finally arrived, Mana and Kaji stepped out and made their way through the security checkpoint, with Mana skillfully tossing her gun and holster over to Kaji while passing through, before gesturing for Kaji to toss the weapon over to her. He complied and Mana quickly re-holstered the weapon around her waist as Kaji made his way through the checkpoint.
Looking around, Mana saw a single security guard walk up to her with a concerned expression on his face. "Excuse me, Ma'am? What was that you just attached to your waist?" he asked her. Mana sighed and gestured for Kaji to approach them.
"I can explain," Kaji said, grabbing the guard's attention. That was when Mana struck. Using close-quarters combat techniques that Kaji had only seen military personnel perform, Mana kicked at the guards legs and brought him to his knees. She then lunged in front of him and jabbed him in the gut, knocking the wind out of him before hitting him in the back of the neck, knocking him out.
"Come on, let's tie him up and get moving," Mana said as she forced Kaji to help her drag the unconscious man into the security booth. When they were done, Mana and Kaji returned to the lobby and began making their way to the nearest elevator. "Alright, we're not gonna have much time after that guy fails to report in," Mana said as she picked the floor that contained the Pilots' locker room.
"When we get to the holding cage... just let me do the work," Mana said as the elevator ascended to the proper floor.
The Pilots Locker Room, A Short Time Later...
"Just wait outside," Mana said to Kaji as she jogged through the locker room and into the small corridor that led to the holding cages. Kaji glanced around the hallway cautiously before letting out a sigh. Meanwhile, Mana was quickly making her way across the walkways as she approached Unit 04.
"Hey Dad, miss me?" Mana asked Unit 04 as she ran up to the open entry plug and climbed aboard before scaling it downward. Carefully grabbing onto the handle bars lining the armor, Mana made her way over to an emergency compartment and opened it, retrieving a large briefcase. She then threw the briefcase up onto the catwalk before making her way around to another compartment and opening it up to remove an emergency medical kit, revealing a small compartment inside the larger one. She pulled out a large opaque container and put the medical kit back inside the compartment before she repeated this process with several more compartments across the Eva's armor.
When she returned to the catwalk, she opened up the first briefcase and began assembling the MP5 pieces held within. She then grabbed the magazine and inserted it into the weapon before grabbing the spare and stuffing it into her jacket's inner pocket. Grabbing a shoulder strap, she hooked the ends of it to the weapon and threw it over her shoulder before grabbing some fingerless gloves inside the briefcase and slipping them on.
Mana then grabbed the straps connected to the opaque tubes and carried them with both hands back across the catwalk and over to the entrance to the locker room. When she re-entered the locker room, she called out for Kaji to enter the room. Stepping inside, Kaji looked at her in bewilderment as he saw the MP5 submachine gun strapped to her shoulder.
"Mana, why do you have that?" Kaji asked her.
"Insurance. Don't worry, I'm not giving it to you," Mana replied tersely as she began unscrewing the lids of the opaque containers. She reached inside and retrieved several blocks of a putty-like substance, along with several wires and what appeared to be remote detonators. Kaji's eyes widened as he observed all of the military gear that Mana was packing.
"Were you expecting to use this stuff at some point?" Kaji asked Mana incredulously.
"It never hurts to be prepared," Mana replied as she finished checking her haul and reloaded the supplies into the containers. She then handed the containers to Kaji and forced him to lead the way through the halls. "Let's go, Ryoji. We've got an Angel to slay," Mana said quietly as she glanced around the corridors.
"And if anyone asks, I forced you into this at gunpoint," Mana said with a sly smile. "If you'd like, we can work on faking my death while we make our way to Terminal Dogma. You wanna think it up on the fly?" she asked him a little excitedly as they made their way down the corridor.
"Mana... are you feeling okay?" Kaji asked the clearly not-mentally stable girl.
"Am I okay? Well, I guess that's a complicated question to answer. Physically, yes. Emotionally and mentally? I guess we'll have to find out," Mana said with a nervous chuckle as they neared what Mana remembered as being a secret elevator that Rei had used once.
"Okay, you need to enter the proper code to take us down to Terminal Dogma," Mana said as they approached the elevator. Mana opened the cover for the control panel and let Kaji go to work. Mana didn't pay any attention to the security cameras following their every move. She was already aware of the fact that she'd been detected the moment she'd assaulted the security guard earlier.
After Kaji entered in a code, a red light flashed on the panel. "Ah shit," Kaji swore as he re-entered the code, this time getting it right. "I must've hit a wrong key by accident the first time," he said to Mana.
"That's fine," Mana replied tersely as she unslung her MP5 and gripped it with both hands as the elevator door opened. She roughly shoved Kaji into the elevator as she backed into it. "I'm gonna need you to get me back up top once I'm finished," Mana said. "I'll also need you to... help me fake my death, if necessary," she said with a nervous smile.
"Security is already onto us, aren't they?" Kaji asked her as the elevator doors slid closed. Mana nodded her head in confirmation. Kaji frowned in response.
"Fuck," Kaji swore indignantly.
"Don't worry. As long as you pretend to kill me after I've set the charges and blown up Lilith's core, you should be able to get out of here in one piece," Mana said as the elevator made its descent into Terminal Dogma. "Just tell the Commander that I held you at gunpoint and threatened you for compliance," Mana said.
"Do you think he'll believe me?" Kaji asked her.
"Well, remind him that Mari and Asuka need you, and he might be lenient," Mana replied as she leaned back against the interior wall of the elevator. "I mean, I'm the one with nothing to lose here," Mana said as a worried expression crossed her face. "I've got only my life, right? I mean, my mother's dead. Colonel Barnes is dead. Harold is dead. Everyone I ever loved is dead, and my father's soul is trapped inside a giant cyborg," Mana said with a manic chuckle.
"It's the fucking Twilight Zone," she added. "You know that's how the Evas operate, right? They have the souls of the pilots' mothers and fathers trapped in their cores?" Mana asked Kaji. Kaji blinked at her in response.
"Wait... what?" Kaji asked her. He thought back to the explanation Gendo had given him on the trip to Second Base the previous year. "You mean they don't need compatible genetic signatures to synchronize with the pilot?" Kaji asked Mana.
"What!? Pfft! Fuck no!" Mana replied, rolling her eyes. "And here I thought you had actually done some proper snooping in the time you've been here," she added. "You disappoint me, Ryoji. I mean it. Hell, the fact that the Evas can cross-synchronize with other pilots should have been your first clue that something was wrong," Mana said.
Kaji groaned as he leaned forward and pressed his head against the wall of the elevator. "You're right. I should've figured it out a lot sooner. The contact experiments... and the incident with Ayanami in Unit Zero," Kaji said. "I feel so stupid," he added.
"Well, don't be too hard on yourself. After all, you've had to raise Mari and Asuka by yourself, and that would take a toll on anyone's intelligence," Mana said with a snicker. Kaji glanced at her with a wry smile, before returning a mirthless chuckle of his own.
After several more minutes, the elevator soon came to a stop and slid open to reveal a short corridor. "Okay, just get me inside Terminal Dogma proper, and you can go hide in a corner until I'm ready," Mana said as she and Kaji stepped into the darkened hallway with GEHIRN labels still present.
Making their way over to a large set of doors, Mana told Kaji to set down the containers with the explosives. "Get this door open, and I'll do the rest," Mana said as she slid off her jacket and retrieved her spare MP5 magazine, stuffing it into a back pocket before slinging the weapon over her shoulder by its strap. Setting the containers down, Kaji then went over to the control panel on the door and used a code that Gendo had given him months earlier.
Mana picked up the containers and began jogging into the Gouff Chamber as the doors slid open to reveal the massive figure of Lilith crucified near the other end of the room. A huge lake of LCL filled the room's bottom area, and a small boat could be seen anchored near the small dock inside. Mana turned to look at Kaji. "Go on. Find a place to hide. This is my show now," Mana said as she began jogging over to the small boat. Dropping the containers inside the boat, Mana made her way to the main cabin and grabbed the keys before turning on the engine.
"Okay... here we go," Mana said as she started the boat up and began speeding toward Lilith.
Gendo Ikari's Office...
Sitting at his desk eating a sub, Gendo raised an eyebrow as the phone on his desk rang. Swallowing his food, Gendo picked up the phone. "Yes?" he asked into the receiver.
"Commander, Pilot Kirishima has entered Terminal Dogma with Inspector Kaji. She has several unidentified objects with her and she is making her way toward Lilith on the patrol boat. What are your orders?" a security officer asked.
Gendo's jaw dropped. "Is she armed?" Gendo asked after recovering from his brief stupor. "She appears to be armed, sir. She has a small submachine gun with her. Sir, she's a pilot. What should we do about her?" the security guard responded.
"Detain her at once. Lock down Terminal Dogma and detain Pilot Kirishima," Gendo said.
"What about Inspector Kaji?" the guard asked.
"Detain him as well. I want both of them alive," Gendo said firmly. I need Kirishima, anyway. When the final Angel has been dealt with, I will need her to pilot Unit 04 in defense of Lilith when SEELE undoubtedly launches their assault on us, Gendo thought to himself.
Terminal Dogma...
Looking up at the imposing white figure of Lilith, Mana noticed the seven eyes in its mask staring down at her. With a gulp, Mana began her task. Gathering some climbing gear she'd found stashed in the boat, she began making her way up Lilith's gigantic right leg. As soon as she made physical contact, however, she felt a strange sensation in her head.
"W-What the... a-aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrgh!" Mana cried out as she fell back onto the boat. She writhed around in pain and panic before finally regaining her faculties. "W-What the hell was that!? What the hell happened!?" she asked herself before she looked up at Lilith's giant form.
She then gulped before stepping up to Lilith again, this time carefully placing one hand onto the giant let and grabbing the rope she had attached to a hook.
"Attention all security personnel! Please proceed to Terminal Dogma at once! I say again, please proceed to Terminal Dogma at once! Detain Pilot Kirishima!" the voice of Gendo Ikari boomed over the speakers lining the walls of the chamber.
"Shit!" Mana swore as she turned to see another boat leaving a dock positioned in another location inside the chamber. "Dammit!" she cried out as she gripped her MP5 with one hand and aimed it up at Lilith's mask. "Fine! I'll do it this way!" she exclaimed angrily as she squeezed the trigger to send a brief burst of bullets upward.
A shot rang out from nearby, and Mana quickly swung herself around Lilith's leg with her rope to avoid the shots sent her way. She aimed her MP5 in one hand at the security guards lining a catwalk nearby before squeezing the trigger. A short barrage of bullets flew through the air. Given the distance between Mana and her targets, however, very few of said bullets would actually hit the guards. Gravity would pull them down just low enough to hit the bottom of the catwalk.
However, the guards did manage to scatter to avoid being hit, which gave Mana the opportunity she needed to make her way back down to the boat. After letting go of the rope and making her way to the cabin, Mana backed up the boat and sped away through the lake of LCL surrounding Lilith. On the boat approaching her, one of the security officers pulled out a megaphone.
"Pilot Kirishima, please stand down! We have orders to bring you in for questioning. Please remain where you are and this will-" "Lick my clit!" Mana spat as she turned the boat to speed past the other one. You open fire at me and expect me to come peacefully? Like hell, Mana thought to herself as she steered the boat away from the other one.
"Pilot Kirishima, if you do not surrender peacefully, we WILL use force!" the guard shouted over the megaphone. Mana simply ignored the request and kept speeding towards the dock, weaving the boat slightly in a sidewinder fashion so as to make herself a more difficult target.
Upon reaching the dock, Mana saw Kaji in the distance near the opened doors. She quickly turned off the engine as the boat rocked into the dock roughly, knocking her over. Mana quickly pushed herself back up and grabbed a hold of a ladder attached to the dock to pull herself up.
She started running as she heard the shouts in the distance from the security officers heading her way. Turning around, she fired a warning shot into the air from her MP5. She didn't aim it at the guards, but instead fired upward towards the ceiling to ward them off.
She quickly turned back and ran over to Kaji's position. "The mission's a bust!" Mana spat as she and the special agent began retreating from the chamber of Gouff. "You're gonna have to fake my death to give me time to-shit! I left the explosives back on the boat!" Mana exclaimed as she glanced over her shoulder.
"Don't worry about that now!" Kaji said as he grabbed her by the left arm and dragged her behind him towards a turn in the corridor. "I have a few more access codes we can use to hide in restricted areas," Kaji said to Mana as they both jogged through the corridors of the bottom level.
Soon, footsteps were heard behind them, and Mana turned around to see several armed security guards following them. "Shit!" Mana swore as she unslung her MP5 and fired a short burst at a ceiling light above the guards. The light exploded in a shower of sparks and glass.
In a panic, several guards began to open fire with their weapons, forcing Mana to duck as she and Kaji turned a corner. "How far until we get to one of those restricted areas!?" Mana asked Kaji.
"Not too far!" Kaji replied as they neared a T-junction in the hallway. After making a left turn, the duo soon came across another contingent of armed guards, forcing Mana to fire at another ceiling light. Several guards returned fire in the process as Mana ducked behind a corner.
"Shit! Ryoji, we need to turn around!" Mana shouted as she returned fire at the guards. She soon pulled back as another burst was sent her way, before she fired a returning burst towards the guards. When her gun clicked dry, she ejected the magazine and inserted the spare. "Ryoji, did you hear... me?" Mana asked as she looked around and saw Kaji lying on the floor.
"R-Ryoji?" Mana asked as she saw the blood pooling under him. Her eyes widened as she held her MP5 limply in her hands. "N-No. No, this wasn't... you weren't supposed to die," Mana whispered as she heard a door opening behind her. She quickly turned and looked to see Gendo Ikari standing nearby, holding a revolver aimed at her.
With a gulp, Mana soon weighed her options. The sound of boots tapping on the floor caught her attention as she turned to see several armed guards flanking her, their weapons aimed in her direction. Mana looked around at the men surrounding her.
"Give up, Sergeant Kirishima," Gendo said firmly. Mana still had her finger near the trigger of her MP5. "You can surrender peacefully... or you give these men and myself a reason to shoot you. It's your choice," Gendo added. Glancing between the guards at Kaji's body, Mana felt tears beginning to stream down her face. What have I done? What have I done? Asuka, Mari... I'm so sorry. Glancing back up at Gendo, Mana tightened her grip on her submachine gun as she made her decision.
ENDING THEME: From Beethoven 9, Arranged by Shiro Sagisu for Rebuild of Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo (2012).
PREVIEW OF NEXT TIME
On the next episode of EVANGELION: REWIRED, Asuka and Mari must come to grips with news of Kaji's death, while Ritsuko tries to mend her relationship with Rei. Meanwhile, a new Angel makes its appearance in the most unlikely of places.
Author's Notes: And that was the 21st episode! Sorry it took so long, but I... had some writer's block. I also was recently introduced to the Dead Space video games, and... I may have spent more free time playing those than writing this episode. Eh-heh. Heh-heh. Sorry.
So... yeah, Kaji's dead, Mana's fate is in the air, and Asuka and Mari have now lost one of the most important pillars of stability they've ever had in their life. Also, Kaworu has made his proper introduction, and Ritsuko is paying the price for waiting too long to tell Rei the truth.
I'm not trying to pain Ritsuko as a villain, but please keep in mind that prior to Gendo's change of heart, it's likely that the consequences of her revealing Rei's true origins could have been severe. At the same time, she could have also found a way to tell Rei and keep things secret, so... you know, flawed human beings and stuff.
As for Mana, she is clearly not in the right state of mind by the time she forces Kaji to go along with her mission. I hope I didn't make her seem to crazed, but she's clearly not well by this point in the story. Despite receiving therapy, the destruction of NERV Second Branch, her time in Leliel, her failure to save Toji, the battle against Zeruel, and her knowledge regarding SEELE's plans have all finally taken their toll on the girl. The fact that SEELE explicitly wants her dead and even ordered Kaji to eliminate her is what finally caused her to snap and go through with her not entirely thought-through mission, in case anyone's curious.
As you may have noticed, Kaworu isn't as socially... naive as he was in Episode 24 of NGE, but he is still a very honest person. Of course, Kaworu also does have orders from SEELE to do certain things when they tell him.
So, given how dark I've made things so far, and how dark they're gonna keep getting, what do you guys think Mana's fate is going to be? Is she still alive? Did she choose Suicide By Cop?
I'd also like to know what people think of Rei's behavior now that she is fully aware of her origins.
Please be sure to let me know what you think of the episode and/or story so far in your reviews! They're always appreciated!