Shinji's Decision

by Jeff2

Set after the 17th angel, Shinji tries to come to terms with his feelings and comes to a decision. 10th and final part added (finaly).

4. Why? The truth is revealed

Shinji's Decision

Part 4  - Version 1 completed 9/3/2000

             Version  2 completed 13/5/2001

By Jeff Mullier

Email: jmullier@idl.net.au

Copyright notice

Neon Genesis Evangelion and associated characters are copyright Gainax and associated companies.

Author Notes

I hope I haven't made any of the characters act wildly out of character. Also this fic contains spoilers. It takes place after episode 24 and ignores events in episodes 25,26 & the movies.

Any comments and suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks to Greg Thomas for pre reading this part.

Additional notes for version 2

Well I have changed the writing style of this part. Also reworked several areas.

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Shinji's Decision

Part Four - Why? / The truth is revealed

The Surface of Tokyo 3

As the smoke and dust settle from the explosion, Kaji removes some debris off himself and stands up. He is in the same ruined house across the lake as he was in when he was observing the angel previously. Coughing from all the dust he comments aloud to himself, "Well that was certainly a sudden and climatic ending to the battle. A final and fatal one for both of the combatants. As neither Shinji nor the angel was gaining the upper hand, I suspect that it was Shinji in Unit 01 who caused the explosion. ..........No matter who caused it, I doubt very much that Shinji will have survived it........ I would imagine that Misato isn't taking this very well."

Kaji finishes climbing out of the ruins of the house and then looks across the lake to where the battle was being fought. He notices that there is a new crater overlapping the previous one, but what gets his attention is the remains of Unit 01's right hand sticking out of the ground on the outskirts of the new crater. "Oh no. Misato isn't going to take seeing that very well. I suppose I should go and get her. Hopefully my bag is undamaged amongst all of this." Kaji climbs back into the ruined house and picks up a bag and gets out his Nerv uniform. "Well this and my id card should get me into the command centre. I just hope that commander Ikari isn't there. Although I would imagine that he is back in his office planning what to do next, especially after having all of his little plans destroyed by his son. Actually as far as I know neither Ikari nor SEELE can cause third impact now."

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Command Centre

Misato is still collapsed on the floor crying, the rest of the bridge crew are just sitting at their posts, stunned by what has just happened.

Touji is still slumped in his wheelchair and staring at the floor trying to come to terms with what he has just seen Shinji do. 'So the two of you did care for each other ....but the two of you left it too late ..........gee considering how she always treated you Shinji, you still fell for Asuka. I always would have thought that you and Ayanami would become a couple, not you and the she devil.......  '

Staring intently at the static filled main screen Rei is deep in thought trying to understand her feelings, 'Shinji said that he considered me a close friend. I am not sure how I feel about this. I have a feeling that the second cared for him deeply. How do I feel for him? ........now that he is gone.......'  Rei's eyes start to water and she hangs her head, 'Is this how you felt after the second sacrificed herself Shinji? Rei starts crying. 'I am crying again .... But this time I know why...'

Touji hears someone close crying, which confuses him as Rei and himself were the only two people in this area of the command centre. He looks up at to see that it is Rei crying. '......Rei's crying! I suppose that she did care for him as well.'

The door to the command centre opens revealing Kaji in his Nerv uniform. He quickly looks around, 'Good, commander Ikari has left.'

Fuyutsuki does notice Kaji's entrance and looks straight at Kaji and nods, "Agent Kaji." 'I was right major Katsuragi didn't kill him. He didn't deserve to die, just because he was getting too close to the actual truth of what Ikari planned to do once all of the angels were defeated.' "Don't worry I never saw you here."

Kaji returns Fuyutsuki's nod and replies, "Thank you vice commander." He then walks up to Misato and gently shakes her shoulder as he tells her, "Come on Misato, lets get you home."

Misato looks up in surprise at hearing Kaji's voice and in between sobs asks him, "......Kaji!! What are you doing here? You are taking a big risk coming in here."

Kaji bends down and offers a hand to Misato. "Helping you, now lets get you home."

Misato accepts the hand from Kaji and pulls herself up. "Sniff....We better go and get Asuka as well, she shouldn't be facing this on her own. Especially after what she has just been through."

"You mean that she is out of her coma?"

"Yes. She was here and saw it all happen. I think that she must have finally decided to show her feelings for Shinji, as she tried to talk him out of doing............." Misato starts crying again, after a minute she stops, "Sniff ...after the....... explosion she ran out of the room."

'So it was Shinji who caused the explosion. So Shinji, did you sacrifice yourself to free those you care for from the pain of fighting the angels, or were you running away again? No, you appeared to be over your problems when you left the hospital, so I would say that you did it to put an end to all of this I hope that your sacrifice has been worth it, more importantly I hope that others realise and appreciate what you have done.'  Kaji then asks Misato, "Where is she then?"

"We could try the hospital room that she was in, room 303." Kaji and Misato make their way to the door, as they near the door Misato realises that both Rei and Touji are still sitting there. "..... You two best come along as well."

Rei answers, her voice quieter than normal, "Yes, major."

Touji wearily replies, "Yeah, lets get out of here." 'I don't want to be here when they put the picture of the what's left on the main screen.'

Rei slowly gets out of her chair and joins Misato, Kaji walks over to Touji and starts pushing the wheelchair towards the door. Misato and Rei follow and they all walk out of the command centre.

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Hospital Room 303

Asuka is sitting on the bed crying with her knees tucked under her chin, she is clutching Shinji's SDAT player. In between sobs she weeps, "Why, why, why did he always have to be so brave when he was in his Eva?........ and why did he have to do that now..........when I finally was going to tell him how I love him..... but now its.... its ...too late. I always called you a baka Shinji, but it's me who is the baka. You took all the anger and beatings I gave you but did you really retaliate? No, you may have answered back once or twice, but most of the time you just sat there and took it in your silent way."

         "You may have had a chance if I was there to help but..........." Asuka then pulls the neural transmitters out of her hair and throws them against the door where they smash into pieces. "....I wasn't......I was too busy running away from the demons of my past. Despite how I treated you Shinji, you still wanted to help me when I lost against the fifteenth angel, but my stubborn pride wouldn't let me let you......... I just yelled insults at you instead....... If I had let you help me I may not have fallen into the state I did............ But I was too lost in my ........... own private hell."

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SEELE Chamber

SEELE 02 angrily states, "It would appear that everything that we have worked for over the last seventeen years has all been for nought."

SEELE 04 responds, "Yes by Ikari's son defeating the angel by destroying both it, himself and Unit 01, instrumentality is now no longer possible by either us or Ikari."

SEELE 03 comments, "As the pilot of Evangelion Unit 01 everything has always depended on Ikari's son, but who would have thought that he would end the war against the angels in this manner?"

SEELE 05 adds, "If the Japanese government hadn't stolen Adam, this unfortunate turn of events would never have happened. Neither us nor Ikari would have never thought that Nerv would have had to battle the first angel Adam."

SEELE 10 replies, "Yes, although one would not have expected Nerv to defeat Adam in the manner that it did. Apparently Ikari's son initiated the self destruct when he thought that there was no way that he could overcome Adam, as both Unit 01 and Adam were equal in strength and neither was gaining the upper hand."

"This is all of no concern. What is done is done. We must try to contain the damage that has been done."

SEELE 09 yells in frustration, "Contain the damage! How can we contain the fact that there is now no way to obtain our final goal. We are finished!! We can only hope that none of the truth about the events of the last seventeen years gets out. Otherwise we may be lucky to escape with our lives."

SEELE 03 replies, "Yes that is our only hope now."

SEELE 01 angrily asks, "What's going on in your mind Ikari? What scheme are you planning now?"

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Gendo Ikari's Office

Gendo sits down at his desk and opens the desk draw and gets out a framed photo, it is a photo of himself, Yui and Shinji. He holds the photo looking at it with a pained look on his face, after looking at the photo intensely for several minutes he places it on the desk and in a regretful tone of voice comments aloud, "Forgive me, I am sorry Yui. I have failed both you and Shinji."

Gendo then removes a pistol from a shoulder holster under his jacket and places it on the desk. He picks up the phone and dials a number, once the person at the other end answers, he orders, "This is the commander. Do you have all of them under surveillance? Good. Make preparations to carry out Operation Closure within the next four hours. Yes that is correct. You will be contacted at the required time. That is all." He then hangs the phone up and then gets several pieces of paper out and starts writing.

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Hospital room 303

Asuka is still sitting on the bed clutching Shinji's SDAT player, her head is slumped and she is still quietly sobbing. The door slides open revealing Misato who isn't in a much better state than Asuka. Kaji starts to follow Misato into the room but he sees the state that Asuka is in, so he steps back out into the corridor where Rei and Touji are waiting. As Misato steps inside the room she hears something crunch under her feet. She then looks down to see what she has stepped on, and sees that it is the shattered remains of one of Asuka's neural transmitters. The other is laying nearby, broken in half as a result of being thrown at the door. 'Uh oh, this doesn't look good.' Misato then looks at Asuka on the bed clutching Shinji's SDAT player, she also sees the large bunch of red roses that Shinji left Asuka. 'So he did really care for her. She must have really cared for him and much deeper than what I suspected, by the way that she is reacting to his........death. Why did they have to leave telling each other until it was too late?' Misato then slumps wearily down into the chair next to the bed and she quietly says to the crying pilot, "Asuka........"

Asuka lifts her head up and looks at Misato in between sobs she manages to ask Misato, "Why Misato? Why did he always have to be so brave........ he was........ always so brave. I know that he hated piloting Unit 01, he used to get this worried look every time we got a phone call alerting us of an angel attack, but he still kept on piloting. I always called....him a......wimp but ............ I am the one who was a wimp for not facing up to my feelings for him...... He....still .....cared for me despite all of the abuse I gave him..... Misato could you tell me..... did Shinji really try to help me during ....... the...... attack of the 15th angel?"

"Yes he did Asuka. He tried his hardest to get Unit 01 released so he could help you. He virtually demanded that his father release Unit 01 so he could help you. I would say if the commander hadn't had Unit 01 so heavily restrained and the controls locked out, that Shinji would have activated Unit 01 on his own and without permission. I know that Shinji felt really bad for not being able to help you Asuka."

"And all I did was yell at him when he told me that he was glad that I was all right."

"I don't think that he held that against you Asuka," Misato replies. She becomes even more concerned as she continues, ".........Asuka........I suspected that you did actually care for Shinji......but I never would have thought that you cared this deeply for him."

"....I.....I was too stubborn .....to openly admit it to myself, ......much less tell him. B...but...... its too late now..... I left it too late...... I never told him........I never will be able to............" Asuka then starts crying again.

"Asuka if it means anything, you did try to tell him right at the very end."

The tears still falling from her face, Asuka looks up and asks Misato, "What do you mean?"

"You showed that you cared for him by trying talk him out of........ sacrificing himself."

"For what good that did. Tell me Misato did he really try to commit suicide?"

"Unfortunately, yes he did. The events of the last couple of weeks were just too much for him. First you were affected by the angel and then you disappeared. Then soon after he found out the truth about Rei, about her being a clone. Then the fifth child came along and turned out to be an angel, Shinji took that really badly. Then ....... he asked me the truth about ........ what happened to Kaji, soon after that ....... That's when he tried to kill himself."

Puzzled about what Kaji has to do with Shinji's suicide attempt, Asuka asks Misato, "What do you mean about the truth about Kaji? I thought that you and him had an argument and he left Tokyo 3."

"It wasn't that simple, the commander ordered me to kill Kaji for he was getting to close to the truth for the commander's liking and he gave me no choice in the matter. I was only going to wound Kaji and warn him, but it looked like that I was a little too good of a shot and that I had actually killed him. Shinji somehow suspected that I knew something about Kaji's disappearance. I tried to tell him the truth, but ......" Misato then starts to cry as she continues, "I ran to my bedroom crying and when I came back .......he ......he was laying unconscious on the lounge after taking a large number of sleeping tablets. But..... thankfully I found him in time, and he was rushed to the Nerv hospital. Where he was stabilised and remained sedated for the next 3 days until...... the angel turned up suddenly."

Asuka angrily asks Misato, "So after all that you still asked him to pilot once more?"

A pained look appears on Misato's face before she replies, "Asuka, the last thing I wanted to do was to ask Shinji to pilot again, but I had no choice. He was the only pilot left that could pilot."

"What about wondergirl?"

Misato shakes her head before answering Asuka's question, "The day before Shinji tried to kill himself, we tried Rei in Unit 01and had no luck. We even tried both her and Shinji in Unit 02."

Asuka explodes at Misato, "WHAT!!!!!!! YOU TRIED SOMEONE ELSE IN MY UNIT 02! SHINJI, WELL HE HAS BEEN IN IT BEFORE, BUT WONDERGIRL!!!!! HOW COULD YOU LET HER TRY TO USE MY UNIT 02?"

"Sigh.... Don't worry Asuka, Shinji just managed to get over the start up threshold, though he may have done better if it wasn't for his state of mind at the time. As for Rei she couldn't sync with Unit 02 either. So you see we had no choice but to ask Shinji to pilot Unit 01 one last time."

Asuka calms down somewhat before asking, "And he agreed? Without being forced?"

"Yes he did it of his own free will, he didn't have to be forced into piloting it."

"Why was there this extra angel? I thought that there was only supposed to be seventeen."

"It wasn't an extra angel, it was the first angel Adam back again. And we had to stop it straight away, as last time this angel was loose it caused second impact. If it came into contact with the other angel that Nerv holds it would cause third impact, the extinction of the human race."

Asuka momentarily stares at Misato in shock, before yelling, "WHAT!!!!!! The other angel that Nerv holds! You mean that Nerv has been holding two angels captive for all this time?"

"Yes, Nerv still holds the second angel deep in terminal dogma. It also held the angel that Shinji fought, but it somehow escaped. These two angels have been the true reason behind all of the other angel attacks, but they were mainly after the one that Shinji fought today."

"So if Adam was destroyed the war with the angels and everything associated with it would be over?"

"Yes, I told Shinji if this angel was killed then it would be all over. No more angels, no more pain associated with fighting the angels and piloting, so I guess he did what he did at the end to free all of all of that."

Asuka's voice begins to waver as she replies, "Well......I am glad he ended it all, but........ not at the price that it came at. Damn it..... why did he all ways have to act so brave in Unit 01, its almost like he become a different person while piloting it. It affected him in some way. Misato, could you please answer this question truthfully, what's so special about Unit 01? Why does the commander always seem so protective of it?"

"Both Units 01 and 02 are unique, in their own special way, Unit 01 more so. In the case of Unit 01 it is this reason why the commander is always so worried about its safety. He was never worried about Shinji's safety, he was always only worried about Unit 01."

"How are they different? And you still have answered my question about what's was so special about Unit 01."

'She isn't going to like this, but I don't know how else to tell her...... after all this I think that she deserves to be told the truth.' Misato warily tells Asuka, "Asuka, prepare yourself for some shocking news, and before you say anything I only found out myself ok. You won't like what I am about to tell you, but I think that you deserve to know the truth behind Units 01 and 02."

"Tell me, I want to know." 'What in the world is she going to tell me?'

Misato hesitates before continuing, "Asuka, you and Shinji were alike in more ways than you would expect."

Confused by Misato's answer, Asuka asks her, "What do you mean Misato? I know that Shinji's mother died when he was young and that he hates his father. We are both alike in that manner."

'Oh if it was only that simple Asuka.' "Both you and Shinji were chosen as pilots for your respective Eva units for a rather disturbing reason."

Anxious to find out the truth behind why both her and Shinji were chosen as pilots, Asuka impatiently asks, "Well what was the reason?" 'It must be something that she thinks that I will react badly to, by the way that she is hesitating.'

Misato cautiously asks, "Do you really know the full story of what happened to your mother?"

Asuka stiffens at hearing this; she quickly recovers and angrily yells, "AND WHAT ABOUT MY MOTHER? JUST WHAT HAS SHE GOT TO DO WITH THIS?"

Misato wearily asks Asuka, "Please, Asuka, just hear me out."

Realising that Misato is only trying to tell her the truth, Asuka replies, "Sorry."

"You know that your mother suffered major mental instability after an accident, right?"

Asuka answers, her voice only a whisper, "Y.....yes."

"But you never knew what the accident was do you?"

"N n n.....no. I ...I know that she worked for Gehirn, but what she actually did I....I ..I can't remember."

"Try to take this calmly Asuka, it was during an synchronisation test with........ Unit 02. There was a problem during the test, Unit 02 went berserk and she received a severe case of mental contamination as a result."

The colour drains from Asuka's face after hearing this and she yells, "WHAT!!!!!!"

"I told you that it was disturbing."

"Yes.......it.........is. ....I would have....never thought that I would be using the very thing that took my mother away from me."

"I am sorry Asuka, but like I said, I thought that you deserved to know the truth after everything that has happened to you because of the Evangelions."

"Thanks Misato. So...so what happened to Shinji's mother then?"

"A similar accident happened to Shinji's mother, but in Shinji's case he actually saw the accident happen. His mother was absorbed into Unit 01 before his eyes. And they were never able to retrieve her. Both her body and soul are trapped in Unit 01."

Misato's answer stuns Asuka and she just stares in shock at Misato for a few moments before eventually managing to ask, "…..What, you mean like Shinji was after the 14th angel?"

"Yes. He may have sensed his mother while he was absorbed, which may have been the reason we had trouble recovering him. It's probably the reason why Unit 01 has gone berserk when it has."

"……..And he actually saw his mother's accident?"

"Yes. Although I think that he was so traumatised by it and by his father's reaction to it, that he locked away all memory of it and to prevent being hurt again he has since avoided getting to close to anyone else for fear of being hurt again."

"So we both have buried our painful memories of our mothers' deaths. And the way we act towards others is just our way of avoiding being hurt again, we just do it in different ways."

"Unfortunately yes."

"So let me get this straight, our mother's souls are in our respective Eva units?"

"Yes they are."

"I see, everything is starting to make sense now."

A awkward silence descends between them, after a couple of minutes Misato gets up out of the chair and starts to head towards the door, "Come on then Asuka, lets go home."

An a flat almost emotionless tone of voice Asuka replies, "Yeah, the last place I want to be at the moment is in this hospital." Asuka then slowly gets up off the bed and walks over to the vase holding the roses that Shinji left for her.

"You can leave your stuff here, we can come back later."

Asuka quickly turns around to face Misato and angrily yells at her, "I AM TAKING THE ROSES MISATO."

Misato is shocked by the ferocity of Asuka's outburst, 'Good one Misato, you should have seen that coming' "Ok, sorry. You can take them, they are obviously important to you."

Asuka's voice starts to tremble again as she replies, "Yes, Shinji... gave them to me........" She then starts crying again.

Misato walks over to Asuka and wraps an arm around her. "I am sorry Asuka. I guess we both feel deeper for Shinji than we would have ever would have admitted."

"Sniff......yes...."

"Well lets get out of here."

Misato and Asuka walk towards the door to the corridor.

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Meanwhile in the corridor outside of Asuka's Hospital Room

Kaji gets out his mobile phone and dials a number, once the other end has replied he starts to speak into it. "Hello, motor pool. Yes. This is Agent Kaji here I would wish to organise the use a car please. A four door sedan, yes. No I will not be requiring a driver. I will need it in the next half an hour or so, for how long I don't know, possibly a day. Thank you, goodbye." Kaji ends the call but he doesn't put the phone away. He turns to Touji and asks him, ."Mr Suzahara, you know Asuka's friend don't you?"

Startled, Touji replies by asking, "Who? The class rep?"

"Yes that's who. I take it that you know her phone number?"

"Yes, why do you want to know for?"

"I want you to call her and see if she can come to Tokyo 3. Asuka needs all the help that she can get at the moment, as she is taking what happened to Shinji rather badly. Here is my phone." Kaji hands Touji his mobile phone.

Touji takes the phone from Kaji and asks him, "Ok then. Is it all right if I call Kensuke after I call the class rep?" 'Well I never would have thought that I would be doing something to help the she devil. But Shinji did care for her, so I am doing this for him as much as for Asuka.'

"Yes, you may"

"Thanks." Touji then dials Hikari's phone number.

Hikari answers the phone, "Hello."

Touji flatly replies, "Class rep."

Hikari excitedly replies, "Touji!" 'Damn, I was hopping to surprise you, Touji.' "You weren't supposed to ring until tomorrow night......." She then notices the sombre tone in Touji's voice and worried by this she asks him, "What's wrong? I heard that there was an angel attack? Or has something happened to Asuka?"

"No. Asuka is fine considering what has happened, she is even out of her coma."

Touji's answer puzzles Hikari, "That's great news, what's wrong then?"

"It looks like Shinji may be dead, .....he self destructed Unit 01 to kill the angel."

"............" 'Asuka, you never told him about your feelings towards him, did you? I would say probably not, as you were having trouble acknowledging those feelings yourself, as for telling Shinji……'

"How soon can you be in Tokyo 3? Asuka needs some support, she is taking this rather badly."

'Did Shinji gather up enough courage and actually tell her? Or did Asuka overcome her stubbornness and actually tell him the truth of her feelings for him?' "I am actually already on a train from Tokyo 2 heading for Tokyo 3. My father was coming to finalise some business regarding a new home in Tokyo 3, so I decided to go to Tokyo 3 with him. I wanted to give you a surprise visit, as well as visit Asuka. We were nearly in Tokyo 3 when we had to stop for the angel attack. Once it was over they let the train start on its way again. The train will be in the station in another five minutes."

"Could you please come straight to Misato's apartment then, please?"

"I will be there as soon as I can."

"Thanks class rep. I will see you when you get here."

"Goodbye Touji."

Goodbye." Touji then ends the call and then dials Kensuke's phone number.

Kensuke answers the phone, "Hello."

"Kensuke."

Once Kensuke realises that it is Touji he excitedly asks, "Touji! I heard that there was another angel attack, what happened? Did you see it?"

After hearing Kensuke's question Touji sighs and replies in a sad tone, "Yeah, you could say that." 'I can see now why you always hated talking about Eva so much Shinji.'

"What did it look like? How did Nerv destroy this one?" He then realises that Touji is talking in a sombre tone, ".........Something is wrong isn't it?"

"You could say that............it looks like Shinji may be dead."

Although shocked by Touji's answer Kensuke manages to ask, "What! How?"

"None of the longer distance weapons that they tried seemed to work so Shinji had to close in for hand to hand combat. But before he got close enough to fight the angel it knocked him down with an energy beam. He got up and started wrestling for control with the angel but they were evenly matched. As soon as he realised that Unit 01 and the angel were equally matched and he wouldn't be able to overcome it, he self destructed Unit 01 destroying the angel, most likely killing himself in the process. They don't think that he managed to eject, so we are all fearing the worst."

"I see. I am going to leave for Tokyo 3 right away."

"There is no need to do that."

"Hey! He was my friend too. Where will I meet you when I get there?"

"We will be at Misato's apartment."

"I will see you there in about 2 hours then."

"Yeah, see you then," Touji ends the call and hands the phone back to Kaji. A minute latter Misato and Asuka walk out of the hospital room. Asuka is clutching the vase of roses and Shinji's SDAT player with a determined grip as if her life depended upon them. Touji notices what Asuka is carrying, 'Red roses? And is that Shinji's SDAT player Asuka is holding? ........You must have really loved her, Shinji.....'

Asuka sees Kaji and stares at him in surprise, "Kaji! But........"

Kaji smiles at Asuka and tells her, "I will explain latter Asuka. Come on lets go to the garage. I have organised a car from the Nerv motor pool."

Puzzled by how he did that Misato asks him, "Why? How did you organise that?"

"I didn't think that the five of us plus Touji's wheelchair would fit in that car of yours. Anyway I could never get the hang of driving that car of yours, and I don't trust your driving at the best of times." 'Much less in your current state of mind Misato.'

Misato gives a half hearted laugh at Kaji's comment on her driving abilities, before asking him, "But how did you organise a car officially? You are supposed to be dead,  you wouldn't even be listed as being a Nerv employee, as for being able to organise an official car....."

Kaji gives a sly grin as he answers Misato's question, "Ah, but that's where you are wrong Misato. Realising what was going to happen to me I arranged a little bit of computer trickery. I arranged that according to Nerv's personnel files that I am still alive and an employee of Nerv. I also revoked the orders that the Second Section of the Intelligence Division had to detain me. How do you think I got into headquarters without any problems Misato?"

"I did wounder about that. I thought that you were taking a big risk."

"Only if commander Ikari saw me, but luckily he had gone to his office as I thought he would. Come on let's get out of here." Kaji starts to push Touji's wheelchair down the corridor to the lift, Misato, Rei and Asuka follow.

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Nerv Motor Pool car park

Misato, Rei and Asuka are standing together near a group of official back Nerv cars, Touji in his wheelchair is beside them. Kaji walks back from the motor pool office and starts pushing Touji towards one of the cars. Kaji tells the waiting group, "Touji you will be riding in the front. The three ladies will travel together in the back." He then pushes Touji's wheelchair next to the front passenger side door. He opens the door lifts Touji into the seat and buckles him in, he then pushes the wheel chair around to the rear of the car and folds the wheelchair up, he then opens the trunk and places the wheelchair inside it, closing the trunk. Rei gets in the rear driver's side door followed by Misato; Asuka gets in on the other side. As Asuka sits down she glances across at Rei and Misato, and to her amazement she notices that Rei actually has a sad look on her face and that not just her irises are red, in fact to Asuka's amazement Rei's eyes are red and watery like she has been crying. '.......... What!!!! ......wondergirl has been crying..... about Shinji. I guess that she does have emotions after all.'

Rei notices that Asuka is studying her and that she is surprised by her appearance. Rei turns to face Asuka and tells her, "I miss Shinji too. He was the only person who tried to understand me, who wanted to be my friend. He cared for me, but he cared for someone else deeper."

Shocked by Rei's statement, Asuka manages to blurt out,  "Wha......... ," before turning her head away to avoid Rei's gaze.

Kaji hops in the driver's seat and drives off out of the car park

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On the Road to Misato's Apartment

The car has cleared the main area of what was Tokyo 3 and is now travelling along the foothills on the way to Misato's, they are nearing the area of the lookout where Misato took Shinji after the attack of the 3rd angel. As the car rounds a bend in the road, a clear view of the remains of Tokyo 3 can be seen. The devastation of the city is not however what gets everyone's attention, it is the distant sight of what is unmistakably the remains of one of Unit 01's hands standing up out the ground on the outer edge of the new crater.

Misato is the first to see the hand and she quickly turns away and weeps, "Gasp.......No......Shinji......."

When she sees the hand Asuka softly cries out, "…No…." and she starts crying again.

Rei sadly whispers, "Shinji........"

Touji sees the hands shakes his head, 'Shinji....... Why did you do it? Did we do the right thing asking you so soon after you tried to kill yourself, or did you want to make sure that we were free from having to fight the angels? If you could only see what a certain red head German devil's reaction was Shinji. ...... Damn you could  be stubborn at times Ikari.........'

Kaji sees the hand as well as hearing the reaction of the three ladies, 'I was hoping that we wouldn't see that.' He then accelerates the car so the view quickly fades from sight.

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Misato's Apartment

A rather worried looking Hikari is pacing back and forth outside the door to Misato's apartment. She stops pacing and turns to look when she hears the lift stop. The lift doors slide open revealing Misato, Rei, Asuka, Touji and Kaji. As soon as she sees Asuka, Hikari yells, "Asuka!" and runs up and hugs her. "I glad to see that you are out of your coma. You had me worried."

Asuka replies her voice quivering and on the verge of tears, "Hikari....... you were right about both me and Shinji. But I left.......it too late....."

As soon as she sees that Misato has unlocked the door Asuka breaks free of Hikari and quickly disappears into the apartment crying. Hikari cries out at the rapidly departing Asuka, "Asuka wait!" Before going after Asuka she walks up to Touji and asks him, "Touji, how are you?"

Touji gives a half hearted tired smile at Hikari as he replies, "As well as can be expected. Go to Asuka class rep, she needs you more than I do at the moment. She saw it happen on the viewing screen at Nerv. She is taking it a lot worse than I thought she would. I think that while she was in her coma she finally decided that she does actually like Shinji."

"But she never actually told him?"

"No. She tried to talk him out of self destructing Unit 01, but it was too late........."

'I see, you finally faced up to your feelings for Shinji, Asuka. Just in time to see him die........' "Touji, just why are you so worried about Asuka? I thought that you hated her."

"She is your friend, and Shinji did care deeply for her, he would hate to see her like she is now...... Don't worry about me, go and help Asuka."

Hikari smiles at Touji and tells him, "Thanks Touji." She then turns and goes into the apartment looking for Asuka.

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Gendo Ikari's Office

Gendo has finished writing, there are two sealed envelopes on the desk one is addressed to professor Kouzou Fuyutsuki, the other to major Misato Katsuragi. Gendo picks up the phone and dials a number, he immediately starts giving orders. "You are to release Dr Akagi from custody, all charges against her are hereby dropped, she is to be returned to her former status. Once she has been informed of her release, but before you actually release her she is to be taken to the nearest room with video facilities. You are to let her view security video #248504314092010, which I will release from high security storage."

Gendo hangs the phone up. He then gets a special communicator out of the desk drawer. He picks up the handset and starts talking into it, "I wish to address SEELE regarding today's events. Yes. No, an hour will be fine." He hangs the communicator up and starts accessing some files on his computer.

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Misato's Apartment

Hikari is heading for Asuka's bedroom when she notices that the sound of Asuka crying is actually coming form Shinji's bedroom. She turns and heads for Shinji's bedroom instead, once she reaches it she slowly slides the door open, revealing Asuka sitting on the floor with her back against Shinji's bed. The roses are laying on the bed and Asuka is still clutching Shinji's SDAT player. Hikari walks into the room and slides the door shut once more; she then sits next to Asuka and tries to comfort her, "Asuka……"

Asuka turns her head to look at Hikari and in between sobs tells Hikari, "I never really told him, I was going to tell him how I felt for him......... but....."

"So you faced up to your feelings for him?"

"Y....yes. Realising that I do care for him and that I should show my feelings towards him was one of the reasons that brought me out of my coma. ...........And look where that got me........ I left it too late......"

"You did try to tell him at the end didn't you?"

"I started to, but I didn't get the chance to tell him that I love him......... Unit 01 self destructed before I could tell him and because of that I didn't get to hear him actually say that he loved me in return. All I have is this note that he left me." Asuka then hands Hikari the note that Shinji left her.

Hikari reads the note, 'I knew it, so he has liked Asuka right from the very beginning.' She then tells her, "Asuka, I know that he did love you, he has for sometime."

"How do you know?"

"Touji told me that Shinji cared deeply about you. They probably talked about it when Shinji went and visited Touji in hospital the other day. Anyway I have seen him looking at you in school when he thought no one was looking. I also saw you looking at him as well Asuka, I was wondering when the two of you would come to your senses. The only two people who didn't see how you two felt for each other were Shinji and yourself Asuka."

Asuka looks at Hikari surprised and asks, "We were that obvious?"

"Yes. Come on Asuka, I know that you miss him, but Shinji would hate to see you like this."

"Sniff ....Thanks Hikari......."

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Command Centre

The atmosphere in the command centre is still rather subdued, with everyone mindlessly going about their tasks. But this is shattered when alarms start sounding again. Looking up in surprise from his terminal Shigeru turns around and reports to Fuyutsuki, "Sir! Somebody is accessing all of the highly classified files. They are being copied to all the major news networks and internet news sites."

Startled by this disturbing news Fuyutsuki asks, "What! Any idea of where the hacker is?"

"There is no evidence of hacking sir! It would appear whoever is doing this had the correct access codes."

After double checking the location of the hacker, surprised at the location of the hacker, Makoto reports to Fuyutsuki, "Sir! The source is coming from......... commander Ikari's office!"

Shigeru also reports, "I can't stop the information being transferred. Whoever is doing this is using the commander's security codes. Even you can't override them, sir."

Fuyutsuki frowns after hearing this and asks, "Where is the commander?"

Makoto quickly replies, "The security log shows him entering his office alone 5 minutes after he left the command bridge."

"Can we open a phone line and try to contact whoever is doing this?" 'I have a good idea of who it is. But just what are you doing Ikari and why?'

Shigeru answers, "No, all lines are either blocked or being used for the outgoing information. And we can't cut them, the commander is the only one with a high enough security clearance."

Makoto then asks Fuyutsuki, "Shall I dispatch security to the commander's office, sir?"

Fuyutsuki replies,  "No. I think I know what's going on. I will deal with it myself." 'What other surprises are you going to spring on us Ikari?'

"Yes sir."

Fuyutsuki boards the lift to Gendo's office.

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A security cell deep in the heart of Nerv headquarters

It is an extremely dimly lit cell, a red Nerv logo can be faintly be made out on the far wall. The furniture in the cell consists of a steel framed prison bed and a single chair. Sitting in the chair is the former project E chairperson Doctor Ritsuko Akagi, who is deep in thought trying to work out what was the cause of all the commotion that she could here even down in her cell, deep in the bowels of the geofront. 'I wonder what that explosion was? I thought I heard a red alert for Evangelion launch earlier on, but there shouldn't be any more angels. From all the commotion that I heard the 17th and final angel must have came not long after Misato saw me last. So what was the cause of the explosion? Is SEELE coming to take back control of Nerv from that manipulative bastard Ikari?'

The sound of approaching footsteps can be heard, they stop outside of Ritsuko's cell door. The door to the cell slides open and two agents of the second section of intelligence Division stand in the doorway. One of the agents orders her, "Doctor Akagi, please come with us."

Ritsuko calmly replies already resigned to her probable fate,  "Yes." 'This is it, either Ikari has found a further use for me, or he has decided to dispose of me.' She then stands up and walks out of the cell. When she steps out into the corridor she is surprised by what the agents are doing, as one of the agents is holding the bag of her belongings that were taken from her when she was imprisoned, instead of preparing to place her in handcuffs, the other is standing to one side, with a curious look on his face. Puzzled by this she asks, "Uh? What's going on?" 'Just what game are you playing with me now Ikari?'

As the closest agent hands over the bag, he tells her, "Doctor Ritsuko Akagi, you are herby released from custody. All charges against you have been dropped, all of your security clearances have been restored, and you are free to go about your normal duties."

'Ikari is definitely up to something here.'

The other agent then informs her, "Before we let you out of our custody we have orders from the commander to show you a video recording. Apparently it won't take long. We have it prepared in a room. If you would follow us please."

The agent's statement puzzles Ritsuko as she has no idea of what is happening. She asks him not expecting an answer, "A video?" 'Just what are you trying to achieve Ikari?' She then follows the two security agents down the corridor.

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Outside the outer door of Gendo's office.

Fuyutsuki has just arrived and walks up to the door and enters his code on the security panel at the door but an error message flashes on the screen. "Invalid code. A higher level security clearance is required to open this door. Any further invalid codes will notify Nerv security. The use of deadly force is allowed to stop unauthorised entry."

Surprised by this Fuyutsuki yells, "What!" 'Ikari has changed the code.' He then presses the intercom button next to the security panel and demands, "Ikari! Just what in the world do you think you are doing?"

To Fuyutsuki's surprise Gendo answers, "Making use of some paperwork a certain professor gave me several years ago. As well as taking care of some business that should have been done 17 years ago. Don't try to stop me as it is too late."

'Paperwork from a certain professor........ you kept them! And knowing you probably added to the contents.' "Open the door."

"I cannot do that professor. If you would excuse me I have a meeting with SEELE." The light on the intercom which shows that it is activated then turns off.

'Professor!!!!!!! You haven't called me that since...... Just what are you going to do with SEELE Ikari?' Fuyutsuki then gets his mobile phone out and dials a number. "Yes, this is the vice commander. Please dispatch a security team and some workmen with cutting equipment to the commander's office immediately."

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SEELE Chamber / Gendo's Office

Gendo is still sitting down in his chair, his elbows resting on the desk, his hands are clasped together in front of his face. The twelve holographic SEELE monoliths appear in the darkness around Gendo's desk.

SEELE 04 contemptuously addresses Gendo, "You have some nerve calling us after what you let happen Ikari."

SEELE 03 scornfully adds, "Yes, how could you let a third party gain possession of Adam?"

"Especially since due to their total lack of understanding of what they were dealing with they managed to awaken Adam. Which to say the least was a extremely unfortunate thing to happen, we all know what could have happened."

SEELE 01 angrily adds, "Yes. You won't be able to talk your way out of this Ikari, due to the destruction of Adam, you are aware that the Human Instrumentality Project is no longer possible."

Gendo calmly answers, apparently unperturbed by SEELE's threats, "I am fully aware of that fact."

SEELE 10 coldly comments, "In fact due to what happened today, all of our efforts for the last seventeen years have been wasted."

"I am fully aware of the consequences of today events."

SEELE 05 sarcastically asks, "Ah. Yes you lost doubly today didn't you Ikari?"

Gendo coldly replies, "I do not know what you are referring to. I hardly knew my son, what happened today was one of the risks of defeating the angels, I knew that and so did he. As for my wife, she died in an activation test with Unit 01 in 2004."

SEELE 02 mockingly replies to Gendo's statement, "Yes, your wife. The reason behind your deviation from SEELE's scenarios. You wished to obtain instrumentality on your terms so you could be reunited with your wife."

Gendo grimaces and clasps his hands tighter at this comment. He momentarily lets his true feelings show as he angrily replies, "We all have our own reasons for wanting the Instrumentality Project to succeed."

SEELE 11 sarcastically replies, "Yes we do. But we abide by the decisions of SEELE, unlike some.........."

Suddenly SEELE 08 yells out, "Don't  you know that I am in conference? WHAT? TELL THEM NO COMMENT!"

Hearing the unprecedented commotion coming from SEELE 08, SEELE 01 asks, "What's going on?"

Gendo hears this and smirks behind his hands.

His voice shaken from what interrupted him, SEELE 08 replies, "A most disturbing development." His voice then takes on a rather sarcastic tone as he continues, "It would seem that someone has leaked the truth about SEELE, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Evangelions, second impact and the Human Instrumentality Project to the public."

SEELE 09 asks, "How did you find this out?"

"Apparently there are several reporters outside of my office hounding my staff for my whereabouts, so they can obtain a comment about these stories."

SEELE 02 asks, "Can we stop this development?"

SEELE 05 replies, "No. I have just been informed of this development by my agents and it would appear that we are too late. Whoever did this knew what they were doing. The information has been released to too many parties for us to effectively stop the flow of information. The damage has been done."

A furious SEELE 01 asks Gendo, "This is your doing isn't it Ikari?"

Gendo smirks behind his steepled hands as he replies, "Correct."

Fuming at Gendo's answer SEELE 02 yells,  "HOW DARE YOU BETRAY SEELE LIKE THIS IKARI?"

Gendo places his hands on the desk and grins as he replies; "As some of you have pointed out I lost any chance of obtaining instrumentality on my terms today. I have nothing else to live for now, but I am going to make sure that after today SEELE will or its members will no longer try to control the world."

Realising what Gendo is doing SEELE 01 angrily yells, "YOU CAN'T DO THIS IKARI!"

Gendo takes his glasses off and places them on the desk, and grins at chairman Kihl's discomfort as he replies, "Oh but I already have." He then gets a phone out of his desk draw and speaks into it, "You may proceed with the operation."

Worried that Gendo may have further actions planned against them, SEELE 10 asks Gendo, "What did you just do Ikari?"

Gendo places the phone back into the draw and smugly answers, "You will find out soon enough."

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Interrogation room 06 - Nerv security facilities

The two intelligence division agents stop outside the door to the room. One of the agents turns to Ritsuko and informs her, "We will be waiting outside. The video has been prepared all you have to do is press play on the controls."

Ritsuko replies,  "Very well." 'I still don't see what you plan to gain from this Ikari. Just what could the video be of?' She then walks into the room and the door slides shut behind her. She sits down in front of the security monitor and presses play on the monitor's controls. A title comes up on the screen

Gehirn Security video #248504314092010

Security Classification: Top Secret - Level Alpha

Area: Command Bridge

Date: 14/09/2010

Time: 17:47.15

Curious to what the security video is of, Ritsuko presses the pause button so she can read the title properly. 'Level Alpha Security! That's where Ikari normally hides Eva's darker secrets. Why are you showing me this Ikari?' She then realises the significance of the date and place of the video. "Gasp........ mother....." She nervously presses play on the controls once more.

The title disappears off the screen and the actual security camera recording starts to play. It reveals Ritsuko's mother sitting in a chair, Ritsuko is standing next to her. Ritsuko tells her mother, "First I have to find a definition of happiness. It's been a while since I went out drinking."

As Ritsuko prepares to leave Naoko tells her, "Well have a good one."

Ritsuko replies "See you later," she then leaves the command bridge. Naoko remains sitting there, a minute later the door hisses open again revealing a young Rei. Naoko turns around on hearing the door open. "Huh? .....Oh... Do you need me for something Rei?"

Rei answers, "I lost my way, doctor."

"Is that so." She then leans forward in her chair and asks Rei in a friendly tone, "Do you want to come with me then?"

"No doctor."

"But, how will you get home all by yourself?"

"That is none of your business, old hag."

Surprised by what Rei has just said to her Naoko stares at her and asks, "What...... old hag?"

"I can find my way home myself old hag."

Naoko straightens up in her chair and frowns as she replies, "You shouldn't call someone an old hag, Rei."

"But, you are a old hag, aren't you?"

Naoko gets angry after hearing this and tells Rei, "I am getting mad. I'll have to get commander Ikari to smack you. You little……."

"The  commander the one who calls you that."

Naoko's eyes widen in surprise at hearing this, "Wh........"

"That old hag is annoying, that hag is no use any more."

Naoko looks at Rei for a moment, deep in thought. Her expression changes to that of rage at the young child, she then gets up out the chair and grabs Rei by the throat and starts to strangle her. "You little bitch.... You are replaceable to Rei. You are just as replaceable as me." She then realises that Rei's body is now limp and looks at the body in shock. "Oh............" Naoko drops Rei's body and climbs the railing and jumps off, landing with a sickening splat on the level below.

The security video stops once Naoko hits the level below the command bridge.

Once the tape has finished Ritsuko just sits there staring at the blank screen, '............mother....... I knew you killed yourself after killing the first Rei, but now I know why. So he disposed of you as well.......once you had served your purpose. He sent his.......his creation to do his dirty work. He couldn't face to do it himself............ Just why are you letting me see this Ikari?' She then gets up and walks to the door which slides open revealing only one of the intelligence division agents waiting for her.

The agent tells her, "You are free to go now Dr Akagi."

Ritsuko asks him, "Could you answer one question first? Was that explosion earlier on a angel attack?"

"Yes it was. I do not know any further though. You would be best to check with the command centre."

Ritsuko replies, "I will do that." 'Maybe I will also find why Ikari has let me go. Though I don't know if I could face that bastard at the moment and stay calm.' She then walks away from the security area and starts making her way to the command centre.

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Misato's Apartment

The doorbell rings and Kaji goes an answers it. The door slides open to reveal a worried looking Kensuke. Kaji greets him, "Come in, Touji is in the lounge room."

A rather subdued Kensuke quietly replies, "Thanks." Kensuke walks into the lounge room, and slumps into a chair next to Touji's wheelchair. Touji turns at looks at Kensuke and comments, "Well you got here quick."

"I used some of my connections. Anyway how are you Touji?"

"As well as can be expected after seeing one of best friends blow himself up to destroy the angel."

Kensuke replies shaken, "......I could imagine. I have seen photos of the ruins of Tokyo 3, but I haven't actually seen Tokyo 3 myself since it was destroyed. But seeing the ruins on the way here, made it all seem that much more real. But something puzzled me, the crater seemed bigger, and then I saw why, I ...... I saw.... The hand of ..... Shinji's Unit 01 sticking up of the ground on the outskirts of the crater........  That's when it hit me....... but I still find it hard to realise that Shinji is gone. .......Why was it only him piloting?"

"He was the only one left. But knowing that doesn't make me feel any better after asking Shinji to pilot once more, and sending him to his death."

Puzzled by Touji's answer, Kensuke asks, "What do you mean? Why did you have to ask him? And why was the only pilot left? Asuka and Rei are still here, so why couldn't they go in their Evas as well?"

"Lets just say that they haven't exactly had an easy time lately either. Their reactions to what Shinji did today have surprised me though. Especially the she devil's, her reaction to his...... sacrifice was rather surprising ……I actually think that she may have cared for him."

"Those two, nah... they fight too much......... But then again .... I have seen Shinji looking at Asuka with a thoughtful expression on his face, and I have even seen her studying Shinji when she thought no one was looking."

"Yeah, I noticed that as well."

"Anyway, you still haven't told me why you asked Shinji and not Misato."

"Well three days ago after coming and seeing myself and Asuka in hospital, Shinji attempted suicide."

Shocked by this Kensuke falls silent for a few moments before asking Touji, "Do you know why?

"I think that he finally decided that he couldn't take it any more. The pain had become too much for him to stand. He hadn't really got over what happened to me, and with what happened to Asuka and Rei soon afterwards. But the attack of the seventeenth angel was what pushed him over the edge."

"Why what happened?"

"I can't say other than it really got to him though. He looked like shit when he came and saw me the other day. And when he left it was almost like he was saying goodbye for the last time. Later that night he……….."

"He mustn't have hurt himself too badly though."

"No. He took some sleeping tablets, and Misato found him just in time. She rushed him to hospital and the doctors stabilised his condition, they then kept him under sedation for the next three days so he could recover. Misato got the doctor to wake him up when she wanted us to ask him to pilot. As for Misato's reason for getting Rei and myself to ask Shinji to pilot again, apparently Shinji and herself had a rather unpleasant conversation just before he tried to commit suicide, and she wasn't sure how Shinji would react to her asking him to pilot once more."

"And did you have any problems convincing him to pilot again?"

"Not really. He seemed more ashamed of what he had tried to do to himself. I think that the main reason he did pilot again was knowing that this would be the last angel. Once this angel was killed it would be all over. And that is the reason why when nothing else worked........... he did......what he did to....... destroy the angel and free those he cared for from the pain associated with fighting the angels."

Kensuke sadly shakes his head and sighs before telling Touji, "After hearing all of that I am ashamed of myself for wanting to become a Eva pilot for the reasons that I had. I thought it would be all glory and action, but I was wrong, it only brings pain to those involved. I can now see why Shinji hated talking about his battles with the angels so much, I only wish that I could have told him.............."

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SEELE Chamber / Gendo's Office

Gendo is sitting at his desk and has replaced the glasses back onto his face, his hands are clasped together once more in front of his face. He has a smile on his face while he ignores the angry demands are coming from the SEELE monoliths. 

Enraged by what has happened SEELE 02 demands, "IKARI! Answer us what else have you done?"

Gendo calmly replies, "You will find out very soon."

Enraged by Gendo's toying with SEELE, SEELE 01 yells, "You will pay dearly for betraying SEELE in this manner Ikari."

Gendo lowers his hands to the desk and smiles as he replies, "I am not concerned by your threats Chairman Kihl. I would be more worried about my own position if I was you."

Worried slightly by Gendo's statement, SEELE 01 demands, "What are you implying Ikari?"

SEELE 09 asks, "Yes just what are you......." A shot can be heard coming from SEELE 09's monolith, "Aarrrrrgghh." The monolith flickers and then disappears.

"Who are you? How did you get...."  The sound of automatic arms fire can be heard and then the sound of a body falling can be heard coming from the monolith for SEELE 10, before it also flickers and disappears.

Realising what Gendo is doing SEELE 02 simply asks, "So you intend to eliminate us Ikari."

Gendo answers, "Eliminating SEELE is the most effective method of making sure that SEELE doesn't somehow find a way of continuing their goal of instrumentality using what is left after today's event."

SEELE 01 viciously tells Gendo, "You will join us in hell Ikari. Your hands are no cleaner than ours. No matter what you do, people will be after your blood as well."

Gendo calmly replies, "I am aware of that. Goodbye Chairman Kihl." He then presses a button ending the holographic conference and returning his office to its normal state. He then takes off his glasses and gloves and looks once more at the photo of Yui, Shinji and himself once more and in a sorrowful tone comments, "I am fully aware of that fact. I know that I have blood on my hands, ........especially since it includes both my wife's and son's blood."

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Misato's Apartment

Misato, Kaji, Kensuke, Touji and Rei are sitting in the lounge room. Asuka and Hikari are still in Shinji's room. Everyone in the room is silent; the only sound is a news report coming from a radio softly playing in the kitchen. Although he is not really listening to it, the news report catches Kensuke attention and he yells out, "What!" He then quickly gets up and races over to the radio and turns the volume up, telling the others, "Shush. I think that everyone may want to hear this."

The voice of a news reader can be heard from the radio, "-------Repeating today's shocking headline news. Nerv today has released files that reveal the truth behind the second impact. And how the truth has been covered up by a secret organisation called Seele, who have been secretly controlling the UN and the governments of several major countries."

            "Second impact was caused by scientists working for Seele experimenting on a being which was actually the first angel Adam. This experiment caused the angel to explode, the enormous release of energy instantaneously melted the polar ice cap. The remains of the angel which miraculously was still alive was taken to Tokyo 3 and placed in secure storage. This angel was the one that attacked Tokyo 3 today, it had somehow escaped the secure storage facilities."

Upon hearing this information Misato looks at Kaji with a questioning look. Kaji looks back at Misato with a puzzled look and tells her, "Hey! It wasn't me this time, I am not responsible for this."

Misato replies, "I know that. I would say that SEELE isn't going to be very happy about, this information becoming public knowledge. Just who would gain from releasing this information?"

"Commander Ikari."

"But why?"

"Why not. Everything he has worked for since his wife was absorbed into Unit 01 has just come to an abrupt end. I would guess that he is making sure that SEELE can no longer control everything."

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Command Centre

The bridge crew have overcome the initial panic of the information leak and have fallen back into a state of shock from what happened earlier on and are mindlessly going about their tasks. The main screen is still full of static. The door to the command bridge opens, no one turns to see who it is as they are all still too stunned by Shinji's sacrifice in defeating the angel. The person who just walked into the command centre is Ritsuko, who looks up towards the command level where Gendo and Fuyutsuki are normally during an angel attack, but the bridge is empty. She then looks towards the main control area and notices that Misato isn't there either. 'Good, that bastard Ikari isn't here, but strangely neither is vice commander Fuyutsuki, or Misato. Just what has happened?'

Shigeru half heartedly announces, "Sensors back on line. Putting visual on the main screen." The image on the main screen reveals that a second large water filled crater which overlaps the crater caused by the destruction of Unit 00. A prominent item visible on the screen which immediately gets everyone's attention is the remains of Unit 01's right hand which is sticking up out of the ground.

Ritsuko finally notices the subdued atmosphere of the command centre. 'What has happened? I take it that the angel has been defeated. Normally everyone is so noisy and busy after an attack, this is like when Rei.......' She then notices Unit 01's hand on the main screen, '........... I see, this explains everything.' "Ahem."

Maya turns around in her chair to see who is making the noise. Her eyes light up once she sees who it is, "Huh? Dr Akagi! You're free!"

Both Shigeru and Makoto also turn around in their chairs and they say together in surprise, "Dr Akagi!"

Ritsuko replies, "Yes, I have been released." She then points at the image on the main screen and asks, "What happened? Was it an angel attack?"

Maya answers, "The first angel somehow returned right on the outskirts of Tokyo 3 and started heading straight for us."

Puzzled by the reference to the first angel Ritsuko asks Maya, "The first angel?" 'But Nerv already has the remains of the first angel.'

"Yes the first. Major Katsuragi was affected badly by the appearance of this angel. I would say that she was terrified of it initially."

"Yes I could imagine. The first angel was the true cause of second impact which she witnessed, she was the only survivor."

"That's what she said. Even the commander seemed worried about it, he gave me a file to compare the analysis of the angel with and when they matched he classified it as the first angel."

'Yes I  could just imagine Ikari's reaction, he wouldn't have allowed for that in any of his plans.' "So what happened next?"

"We couldn't dispatch an Eva at the time, so the major ordered the UN to drop an N2 mine on it to slow it up."

"What was wrong that you couldn't dispatch an Eva to fight it?"

"We had no pilots, both Units 01 and 02 won't let Rei pilot them, Asuka was still in her coma and three days ago Shinji apparently decided that he couldn't take it any more and tried to ..........commit suicide."

'Poor Shinji, so he finally snapped, I can't say that I would blame him after all he has been through.' "Well who was piloting Unit 01 then?"

"Shinji was. Misato got Rei and the fourth child to convince him to pilot once more."

"And he agreed with out any problems?"

"Apparently so."

"So what happened in the battle with the angel that caused him to self destruct Unit 01?"

"We tried all of the weaponry that we thought may have stood a chance of working, even the JSSDF's positron rifle, but nothing worked. So Unit 01 had to close in for hand to hand combat, but before it could attack the angel an energy beam from the angel knocked it down. Unit 01 got up and tried wrestling for control with the angel but they were too evenly matched. So Shinji....... activated Unit 01's self destruct sequence............ destroying both the angel and............ Unit 01."

"And what of Shinji?"

"We don't think that the entry plug ejected......as most of the few sensors that we had left after the 16th angel were destroyed in the N2 blast. What other ones that were left went off line after the self destruction of Unit 01."

"So unfortunately it would appear that Shinji is dead."

Maya sadly replies, "It would appear that way."

'So there ends everything Ikari, even SEELE won't be able to do a thing. It would seem that no one will be able to initiate third impact now, too many vital pieces are now gone.' "So where is the commander?"

" The commander left soon after..........the...explosion."

'Yes I would imagine that Ikari's world just fell apart. He would be more worried about no longer being able to proceed with instrumentality than the fact that his son just died.'

"The vice commander has not long left as someone was accessing and distributing the top level classified files from the commander's office."

'I would say that it is Ikari and one of this little schemes.' "And Misato?"

"Major Katsuragi left about fifteen minutes after the explosion. Mr Kaji came and got her, Rei and the forth child went with her. Asuka left right after the explosion."

'So you didn't kill him Misato.' "Asuka? Didn't she disappear after the 16th angel?"

"Yes. She was found by the secret service a week later, she fell into a coma soon after. She showed no signs of recovering, but she somehow recovered and turned up here just as Shinji started to fight the angel. She tried to talk him out of ....... self destructing Unit 01, but it was too late. I think that she may actually cared for him."

Ritsuko quietly mutters, "So the curse of the Evangelions strikes again."

Maya however heard Ritsuko say something and asks her, "Doctor?"

Ritsuko shakes her head and tells Maya, "Nothing. I was just mumbling to myself."

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Outside Gendo Ikari's office

The security men and the workmen with the cutting equipment finally force the door to the foyer of Gendo's office. Fuyutsuki races towards the door to the actual office and demands, "Ikari! Just what in the world are you doing?" He then reaches the door to Gendo's office and presses the button to open it, as the door opens a gunshot rings out.

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Well that's it for part 4. Again any comments etc appreciated.

Stay tuned for Part 5 – Unexpected Consequences / Memories