Chapter 12
A lone figure sits in the darkened room. There are no windows or any forms of lighting in it. He sits on the folding bench along the end of the wall. Behind him is a large red logo, the logo of NERV. The person sits in the cell not with a mask of sadness or anger on his face like what others would have, but a mask of slight happiness. Shinji smirks as he remembers how he got in this situation.
FLASHBACK
Earlier that day…
Shinji sits in the entry plug of Unit 01.
"Concentrate Shinji," comes Ritsuko over the comm.
That day, Ritsuko had decided to hold sync tests, but these were different. She had decided that the tests would be held inside the Evangelions, instead of in the simulation plugs, to get a better reading as she had said. She had the bridge crew help with the tests just in case something happened. The crew sits in one of the activation cages, like the one where Unit 00 was activated. Across the large room, Unit 01 stands, restrained to the wall by metal restraints. In the command area, the Commander stands in front of the glass, staring out of the protective window at Unit 01.
"How's he doing?"
"He is currently at 65 percent, sempai."
"I see. That's a little better than…."
The entire crew stops their actions at the sound of tearing metal.
"What was that?!"
Aoba stares wide-eyed at the protective glass in front of him.
"It..it…it's Unit 01! It's trying to break free of the restraints!!"
The rest of the crew follows his gaze. At the other end of the test area, Unit 01 is struggling to free itself from the metal bonds that hold it to the wall. The restraints don't last long against its power as they are torn out of the wall. The Eva pulls what's left of the restraints off of its shoulder wings and make sits way towards the crew.
"Has it gone berserk?"
"No. Sensors show that the pilot is still in control."
Ritsuko rushes over to the comm and opens a link to the Eva.
"Shinji! What are you doing?!"
On the monitor, she sees Shinji sitting in the plug with a very determined face, mixed with anger and pain. Suddenly, the screen goes blank and all she can get through the comm is static.
"The pilot has cut all communication from the inside!"
"Cut the power!!"
The umbilical cable is ejected from the Eva. As it falls, thrusters on the connection unit fire to slow its decent to the floor. It lands on the ground with a thud.
"Unit 01 has switched to internal power! 30 seconds of power remaining!!"
CRACK!!
The fist of Unit 01 slams into the glass, creating several cracks on its surface. It pulls its fist back and brings its other fist onto the glass.
CRACK!!
"15 seconds remaining!!"
"Commander! It isn't safe there! Please step back!"
Gendo just ignores her and stands his ground and stares at the attacking Eva.
CRACK!!
CRACK!!
"10 seconds of power!"
CRACK!!
"5 seconds! 3..2..1..internal power depleted!!"
The crew breathes a sigh of relief.
CRACK!!
"What?!"
Ritsuko turns to Maya.
"I thought you said it has no more power?"
"It doesn't. At least, it's not supposed to!"
Realizing what is happening, Gendo takes a step back from the glass, a slight look of fear on his face.
Unit 01's fist connects with the glass again, shattering it. The crew dives and hides behind the consoles to protect themselves from the flying glass. Gendo takes another step back, unscarred from any of the flying glass.
The Eva brings its fist back and hurls it towards Gendo. Most of the crew closes their eyes, not wanting to see what was about to happen. After what seemed like ages, they peer up from behind the consoles. Unit 01's fist is suspended 10 feet from the Commander, as if frozen in time.
Gendo regains his composure and pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his right hand.
"Remove the pilot and take him to the brig."
The crew nods in reply and sends the message over to the security team. Gendo turns and heads to the door. Part of the ceiling gives away, damaged during the attack, and falls onto Gendo's head, producing a large gash on his head and knocking him to the ground.
"Get a medical team out here, stat!!"
END FLASHBACK
The heavy door to the dark room opens, allowing for some light to enter the room. Outside of the door, stands a pair of security guards holding a set of handcuffs. Slowly, Shinji stands up and walks towards the open door. The guards cuff his hands behind his back and lead him away.
After a few minutes, Shinji stands alone in front of the Commander's desk still in handcuffs. He stands there, an emotionless look on his face. The person in the chair behind the desk turns around and faces the pilot. Fuyutsuki looks at the pilot.
"You do know why you are here, pilot Ikari?"
Shinji just nods in reply.
"Now then, as a result of your actions, you will be placed under house arrest. The only times you can leave is to attend your classes at school. You will also be suspended from all duties at NERV for a period of 30 days. Is that understood?"
Shinji nods.
"Very well. You are dismissed."
Shinji turns and heads out of the office. Fuyutsuki leans back in the chair and gazes up at the ceiling.
"I don't blame you for what you did. Far as I'm concerned, he deserved it."
"HE'S WHAT?!!"
Misato cringes at Asuka's outburst.
"I said that Shinji's under house arrest and is suspended from NERV for 30 days. He's only allowed to leave for school."
"And what did he do, exactly?"
"Well, basically, he tried to kill the commander with Unit 01 during the sync tests earlier today."
"Ha! Shinji actually got the balls to stands up to that bastard!!"
"You shouldn't talk about the commander that way, even though he did deserve it after what he made Shinji do during the 13th……"
Misato takes another drink of her beer.
Just then, the door to the apartment opens. Both women look up and watch as Shinji walks towards his room. He opens the door and steps into the room, shutting it behind him. Asuka stands up, but is stopped by Misato.
"I think it's best that we just leave him alone for a while."
"But…"
"He's had a long day, Asuka. Just let him be alone for a while to gather his thoughts, ok?"
Asuka looks at the closed door, the image of Shinji's depressed face filling her mind.
"Fine Misato."
She stands up and heads to her room.
Shinji lies down, listening to his SDAT player. He glances at his clock, which reads 11:00 pm. He lets out a sigh and turns around, facing the wall. He begins to close his eyes, but is stopped by the sound of his door opening and then closing. He pretends to be asleep.
"I know you're awake, baka. You can't fool me that easily."
Shinji sits up and takes his buds out of his ears.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Yup."
Shinji lets out a chuckle. Asuka walks over and sits next to Shinji.
"So, you're stuck here for 30 days, eh?"
"Yeah."
"It wouldn't be that bad, but you still gotta go to school."
"Yeah. I guess it shows that they really care about our education, huh?"
The pair doesn't say a word to each other for a few minutes.
"So, why'd you do it?"
Shinji sighs and then stretches.
"I wanted to make him pay. To make him pay for all those times he hurt me, used me, and made me hurt my friends. I just wanted to get back at him."
Unknown to Shinji, he is clenching and unclenching his left hand. Asuka notices this.
"You gotta have a lotta balls to do something like that. Guess you aren't that much of a coward anymore."
"Guess not. Guess not."
"Can I stay with you tonight, or are you restricted from doing that too?"
"Far as I know, no."
They smile at each other and then lie down to sleep. Asuka wraps her hands around his waist and rests her head on his chest. Shinji wraps his arms around her shoulders and gazes down at Asuka.
"Goodnight Asuka-chan."
"Goodnight Shinji-kun."
With that, they fall into a peaceful slumber.
A lone figure sits in the darkened room. There are no windows or any forms of lighting in it. He sits on the folding bench along the end of the wall. Behind him is a large red logo, the logo of NERV. The person sits in the cell not with a mask of sadness or anger on his face like what others would have, but a mask of slight happiness. Shinji smirks as he remembers how he got in this situation.
FLASHBACK
Earlier that day…
Shinji sits in the entry plug of Unit 01.
"Concentrate Shinji," comes Ritsuko over the comm.
That day, Ritsuko had decided to hold sync tests, but these were different. She had decided that the tests would be held inside the Evangelions, instead of in the simulation plugs, to get a better reading as she had said. She had the bridge crew help with the tests just in case something happened. The crew sits in one of the activation cages, like the one where Unit 00 was activated. Across the large room, Unit 01 stands, restrained to the wall by metal restraints. In the command area, the Commander stands in front of the glass, staring out of the protective window at Unit 01.
"How's he doing?"
"He is currently at 65 percent, sempai."
"I see. That's a little better than…."
The entire crew stops their actions at the sound of tearing metal.
"What was that?!"
Aoba stares wide-eyed at the protective glass in front of him.
"It..it…it's Unit 01! It's trying to break free of the restraints!!"
The rest of the crew follows his gaze. At the other end of the test area, Unit 01 is struggling to free itself from the metal bonds that hold it to the wall. The restraints don't last long against its power as they are torn out of the wall. The Eva pulls what's left of the restraints off of its shoulder wings and make sits way towards the crew.
"Has it gone berserk?"
"No. Sensors show that the pilot is still in control."
Ritsuko rushes over to the comm and opens a link to the Eva.
"Shinji! What are you doing?!"
On the monitor, she sees Shinji sitting in the plug with a very determined face, mixed with anger and pain. Suddenly, the screen goes blank and all she can get through the comm is static.
"The pilot has cut all communication from the inside!"
"Cut the power!!"
The umbilical cable is ejected from the Eva. As it falls, thrusters on the connection unit fire to slow its decent to the floor. It lands on the ground with a thud.
"Unit 01 has switched to internal power! 30 seconds of power remaining!!"
CRACK!!
The fist of Unit 01 slams into the glass, creating several cracks on its surface. It pulls its fist back and brings its other fist onto the glass.
CRACK!!
"15 seconds remaining!!"
"Commander! It isn't safe there! Please step back!"
Gendo just ignores her and stands his ground and stares at the attacking Eva.
CRACK!!
CRACK!!
"10 seconds of power!"
CRACK!!
"5 seconds! 3..2..1..internal power depleted!!"
The crew breathes a sigh of relief.
CRACK!!
"What?!"
Ritsuko turns to Maya.
"I thought you said it has no more power?"
"It doesn't. At least, it's not supposed to!"
Realizing what is happening, Gendo takes a step back from the glass, a slight look of fear on his face.
Unit 01's fist connects with the glass again, shattering it. The crew dives and hides behind the consoles to protect themselves from the flying glass. Gendo takes another step back, unscarred from any of the flying glass.
The Eva brings its fist back and hurls it towards Gendo. Most of the crew closes their eyes, not wanting to see what was about to happen. After what seemed like ages, they peer up from behind the consoles. Unit 01's fist is suspended 10 feet from the Commander, as if frozen in time.
Gendo regains his composure and pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his right hand.
"Remove the pilot and take him to the brig."
The crew nods in reply and sends the message over to the security team. Gendo turns and heads to the door. Part of the ceiling gives away, damaged during the attack, and falls onto Gendo's head, producing a large gash on his head and knocking him to the ground.
"Get a medical team out here, stat!!"
END FLASHBACK
The heavy door to the dark room opens, allowing for some light to enter the room. Outside of the door, stands a pair of security guards holding a set of handcuffs. Slowly, Shinji stands up and walks towards the open door. The guards cuff his hands behind his back and lead him away.
After a few minutes, Shinji stands alone in front of the Commander's desk still in handcuffs. He stands there, an emotionless look on his face. The person in the chair behind the desk turns around and faces the pilot. Fuyutsuki looks at the pilot.
"You do know why you are here, pilot Ikari?"
Shinji just nods in reply.
"Now then, as a result of your actions, you will be placed under house arrest. The only times you can leave is to attend your classes at school. You will also be suspended from all duties at NERV for a period of 30 days. Is that understood?"
Shinji nods.
"Very well. You are dismissed."
Shinji turns and heads out of the office. Fuyutsuki leans back in the chair and gazes up at the ceiling.
"I don't blame you for what you did. Far as I'm concerned, he deserved it."
"HE'S WHAT?!!"
Misato cringes at Asuka's outburst.
"I said that Shinji's under house arrest and is suspended from NERV for 30 days. He's only allowed to leave for school."
"And what did he do, exactly?"
"Well, basically, he tried to kill the commander with Unit 01 during the sync tests earlier today."
"Ha! Shinji actually got the balls to stands up to that bastard!!"
"You shouldn't talk about the commander that way, even though he did deserve it after what he made Shinji do during the 13th……"
Misato takes another drink of her beer.
Just then, the door to the apartment opens. Both women look up and watch as Shinji walks towards his room. He opens the door and steps into the room, shutting it behind him. Asuka stands up, but is stopped by Misato.
"I think it's best that we just leave him alone for a while."
"But…"
"He's had a long day, Asuka. Just let him be alone for a while to gather his thoughts, ok?"
Asuka looks at the closed door, the image of Shinji's depressed face filling her mind.
"Fine Misato."
She stands up and heads to her room.
Shinji lies down, listening to his SDAT player. He glances at his clock, which reads 11:00 pm. He lets out a sigh and turns around, facing the wall. He begins to close his eyes, but is stopped by the sound of his door opening and then closing. He pretends to be asleep.
"I know you're awake, baka. You can't fool me that easily."
Shinji sits up and takes his buds out of his ears.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Yup."
Shinji lets out a chuckle. Asuka walks over and sits next to Shinji.
"So, you're stuck here for 30 days, eh?"
"Yeah."
"It wouldn't be that bad, but you still gotta go to school."
"Yeah. I guess it shows that they really care about our education, huh?"
The pair doesn't say a word to each other for a few minutes.
"So, why'd you do it?"
Shinji sighs and then stretches.
"I wanted to make him pay. To make him pay for all those times he hurt me, used me, and made me hurt my friends. I just wanted to get back at him."
Unknown to Shinji, he is clenching and unclenching his left hand. Asuka notices this.
"You gotta have a lotta balls to do something like that. Guess you aren't that much of a coward anymore."
"Guess not. Guess not."
"Can I stay with you tonight, or are you restricted from doing that too?"
"Far as I know, no."
They smile at each other and then lie down to sleep. Asuka wraps her hands around his waist and rests her head on his chest. Shinji wraps his arms around her shoulders and gazes down at Asuka.
"Goodnight Asuka-chan."
"Goodnight Shinji-kun."
With that, they fall into a peaceful slumber.