Shinji Ikari stood before Eva Unit 01 for the first for what seemed like the hundredth time. He knew it wasn't that many times yet, but at least it was closer to a hundred than it was the first time. He was fatigued, mentally and emotionally, to the point that everything seemed pointless. He wouldn't give up, but this time he would just sit back and roll with the punches rather than actively fight to invoke changes.

The lights came on, and he said the same thing he had for all but a handful of cycles. He had quickly learned that trying to implement significant change at the beginning resulted in horrific failure. In one cycle, his father came down from the observation deck and placed a nine millimeter round through his skull. The bastards held all the cards, and he just couldn't win with the hand he was dealt. One time he had even tried folding immediately. That action had ended with Rei in the entry plug. Poor Rei passed out, ending with the destruction of the Eva and the self-destruction of the Geo-front.

Resigning himself to the same lines as if he was an actor in a play. He spoke as soon as the lights came on. He showed no sign of shock, which drew some surprise from the two women standing on either side of him, Ritsuko Akagi and Misato Katsuragi.

Akagi, the Chief of Project-E and Head of the Technical branch of Nerv HQ, cautiously observed Shinji as he took in the giant cyborg he was expected to pilot. When he initially saw the purple Oni head-casing of the Eva she witnessed something that chilled her to core, hatred. She pulled her lab-coat tightly around the one-piece swimsuit she was currently wearing in a futile attempt to stop the chilling effect of his gaze. When she blinked a second later, the look was gone in its place a look of resignation. She ran a hand through her bottle-blonde hair in a nervous reaction.

Katsuragi, Nerv Captain and head of the Tactical Operations branch of Nerv HQ, observed the same hatred she felt for the angels fill the eyes of the child before her. In her short time with him, he had seemed so overly mature. Someone much older and wiser in the ways of the world than any child had a right to be. This look uncharacteristic for the so far emotionless teen that she had escorted to Nerv HQ. She shook her head. The cascade of raven black hair shifting in the light reflected a dark, almost purple hue. She clutched the cross-shaped pendant on her chest as she tried to push away the mixture of emotions she felt that these children would fight and possibly die for humanity.

"Is that a robot?" he asked flatly forgetting to pretend he was shocked by the reveal

"The ultimate, manmade, multipurpose decisive combat weapon, the artificial human, Evangelion. This is Unit One," Ritsuko boasted, "Built in absolute secrecy, it is humanity's trump card against the Angels."

"This is my father's work?"

Shinji waited for his father's voice, but it didn't come. He looked up to the observation window and met with darkness. His head subconsciously tilted in confusion as Ritsuko carried on with her lecture.

"It is the work of Nerv. To provide a way to defeat the Angel's and protect all of mankind," Ritsuko continued, "This Eva is the result of that work. It is an achievement of ingen..."

"That is enough." Gendo's voice echoed through the cage pulling Shinji's eyes down to the entrance from the stairwell where his father usually boasted safely from his perch.

"Father…" Shinji muttered as his right fist clenched and relaxed repeatedly. The change of the play put Shinji on the defensive. A bullet through the skull will do that to anyone, even if it only happens once.

"Son, it is good to see you," Gendo replied, flashing a small but not so insignificant smile to the teen as he approached. The unusual expression and welcoming words drew concerned looks from the present audience.

"Sir?" Ritsuko and Misato both questioning his out of character actions.

Gendo appeared to be reaching out to hug his son, but he stopped when a fist met his nose in a blur of movement. Blood splattered from his nose and lip as Gendo dropped to a knee. Misato grabbed Shinji tightly from behind before he could unleash any further violent acts. Ritsuko stood silently, stunned by the unexpected actions of both father and son. The three jumped when a peal of pained laughter filled the cage. Gendo rose to his feet and wiped some of the blood onto his sleeve.

"Can't say I didn't deserve that after everything," Gendo said, continuing to chuckle. "Captain Katsuragi, release my son and prepare the Eva for launch."

"Sir? You aren't talking about Unit One, are you?" Misato questioned, raising her doubts about the decision.

"There is no other choice." Gendo stated firmly, "Unit Zero is grounded."

"And who the hell is going to be the pilot?" Misato demanded her usual professionalism lost in the bizarre sequence of events that led to this moment, "Rei is too injured to pilot. We don't have any other pilots!"

"One was just delivered," Ritsuko bluntly pointed out to the Operations director.

"Are you insane?!" Misato roared at her friend as she glares daggers.

"I will pilot it," Shinji interrupted. The tone of his voice that of a broken man resigned to their fate.

"But, Commander!" Misato pleaded.

"WHAT CHOICE DO WE HAVE?" Gendo roared furiously, "Do you think I want to send my son out there to possible mutilation or death!? No. This is the only way we have even a hope of success. Now follow my orders and prep the Eva!"

At this moment, the Angel launched a blast of energy dislodging several buildings from the top of the Geo-Front to rain down around Nerv HQ. Lights flickered, and the large, heavy fixtures broke free from the ceiling falling toward his son. A roar and screech of twisting metal filled the cage as Unit 01 broke free of its restraints. The right hand of the Eva blocked the falling debris protect him from injury.

"Protective as always, eh Yui?" Gendo said just loud enough for Shinji to hear. His eyes shot up and met his father's on knowing look. Ritsuko and Misato stared at the hand further confused by Eva's supposedly impossible movement.

"Shinji, we need to talk," Gendo waved for his son to follow, "The very fate of humanity rests on our shoulders."