Chapter 15
The 13th day…
NERV hospital…
A young doctor in his mid-thirties walks down the halls of the hospital. He stops as he hears a girl's voice. He follows that voice until he reaches a partially closed door. Curious, he peeks inside the room. Inside, he sees a young girl in a school uniform sitting by the bed in the room.
"Toji, please wake up…"
The doctor is about to enter the room, but is stopped by a hand being placed on his shoulder. He turns around and faces an older doctor.
"Dr. Hikura! What are you doing here?"
"Traffic wasn't as heavy so I arrived early."
"I see."
"So, what were going to do, Dr. Tamura?"
"Well, I heard a voice so I thought I'd investigate."
Dr. Hikura glances over the younger doctor's shoulder and into the room.
"No need. The boy is just having a visitor."
"Um, but isn't this facility accessible by NERV personal only?"
"Yes it is, why?"
"Well, how can he have visitors? As far as I know that boy's only relatives that work with NERV are his father and grandfather."
"Well, you got me there. You're right, she doesn't work with NERV."
"Well, then she's here without proper authorization. I'll have her removed immediately!"
Dr. Tamura steps past the older man and heads over to the nearest phone. He picks up the phone, but is stopped by Dr. Hikura.
"What are you doing? You said it yourself that she isn't suppose to be here."
Dr. Hikura shakes his head.
"I never said that. I just said that she doesn't work with NERV. Besides, its in the best interests of the boy."
"What do you mean?"
"Come with me."
Dr. Tamura puts down the phone and follows the older doctor. They end up at the files area. Dr. Hikura pulls out a folder labeled 'Suzuhara, Toji.'
"Look at these."
Dr. Tamura takes the folder and leafs through it.
"What is it?"
"It's the boy's medical file since he was admitted."
Dr. Tamura heads though the files for a few minutes.
"Notice anything?"
"Yeah."
He points to one of the daily reports.
"After this point, he begins to recover at a faster rate."
"Very good. Can you guess what caused it?"
"Um, some new medication or something?"
"Nope."
Dr. Hikura leans the other doctor back to Toji's room and points into the room.
"She caused it."
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since that day she started to come and visit him, his recovery rate increased."
"That can't be a reason. Maybe his body finally began to repair itself."
Dr. Hikura shakes his head.
"No. This was caused by something that not even science can explain. It is one of the great mysteries of the universe."
Dr. Hikura turns and walks down the hallway that he had originally come from with his hands in his pockets.
"What do you mean? What is it?"
Dr. Hikura turns his head.
"It's love my fellow doctor. It's the power of love."
Inside Unit 01…
Shinji sits under the tree next to his mother, staring up at the blue sky.
"Where are we, mother?"
Yui looks down at her son.
"We are inside Unit 01, Shinji."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it would seem that you opened yourself up to the Eva."
"I don't understand."
"You know how you control the Eva with your mind as you would your own body and how its pain is your pain, right?"
Shinji nods.
"Well, this is sort of the closest you can get to controlling an Eva, you become one with it."
"How is that possible?"
"Well, in your case, you fully opened yourself to he Eva because you wanted to accomplish something with all your heart and would do anything to accomplish it."
Shinji leans back against the tree, thinking about when the Angel was pounding at his Eva when the power had run out.
"Yeah, I guess I did want it that badly, but what about you? How did you get absorbed?"
Yui looks up at the sky.
"You were there when it happened Shinji, but you were probably too little to remember."
Shinji looks up at his mother.
"10 years ago, we had completed Unit 01. I had wanted to test it personally to make sure it was safe for whoever would happen to pilot it. I wanted to make it safe for everyone. I had known that there was a one in a billion chance that I could be absorbed due a 400% sync-ratio, but I did it anyway. It came to pass that that was that one in a billion chance and I was absorbed into the Eva. I've been in here ever since."
"You've always been in here?"
"Yes, Shinji. I've always been here, protecting you."
"Is that the reason it feels so comforting in the entry plug?"
"Yes, it is."
"But, what about when it does berserk?"
"Well, I really don't control the Eva, but I do control its reason to go berserk, which is to protect you. The Eva then fights for that reason."
"Mom…"
Shinji hugs his mother, tears in his eyes.
"So, Shinji. How is it going with Asuka?"
Shinji blushes.
"What? How do you…?"
Yui smiles at her son.
"Have you forgotten that when you pilot, you share your thoughts with the Eva? And since I'm in the Eva, I can see your thoughts. Beside, you can never hide anything from your mother."
Shinji turns redder and looks at the grass under his feet.
"Well, um…"
"Do you truly love her, Shinji?"
"Huh? But I thought that you said you could see my thoughts?"
"Yes, I could see your thoughts, but not what's in your heart."
"Yes, I love her. I love her with all my heart."
"That's all I needed to know Shinji. I'm glad that you finally found someone."
Shinji smiles.
"I know, mom. I know."
"From what I gather from you, she's like her mother."
"You knew her mother?"
"She was the head of the team that worked on Unit 02, that is, until the accident."
"What accident?"
"Well, a similar incident happened to her when she was testing Unit 02, except that she wasn't completely absorbed, only her mind. She was just an empty shell after. She was kept in the hospital and kept on referring to a doll as her daughter. Soon after the accident, she committed suicide and hung herself, and the doll."
Shinji looks in bewilderment at his mother.
"So that's why Asuka cries and calls for her mother in her sleep and why she keeps on calling Rei a 'doll.'"
"Yes. The whole incident probably also made her the way she is today. I really can't be too sure, but she seems to show her true self when she's with you."
"Yeah."
"You just have to be patient with her, Shinji. Thanks to you, she has started to heal those wounds."
"I hope so. It's just too bad about her mother. I mean, I have you here."
"That's not entirely true."
"What do you mean?'
"Remember how I said she had a similar incident to mine?"
"You mean, Asuka's mother is inside Unit 02?"
"Yes."
"Wow. This is something she'll want to know!!"
"I wouldn't be so rash, Shinji. She's been through a lot. If you're going to tell her, tell her slowly."
Shinji nods.
The 31st day…
Secondary Control Center…
"We are ready to begin the operation, ma'am," says Hyuga.
"Excellent. Now all we have to do is what for Misato…," says Ritsuko.
As if on cue, Misato enters the control center accompanied by Asuka.
"What is she doing here, Misato?" asks Ritsuko.
"She wants to be here so I'm allowing it," responds Misato.
"Fine. Let's begin the operation."
"Ego boarder pulse connection is complete," says Maya.
"Roger. Transmitting the first signal," says Hyuga.
"The Eva has received the signal. No rejection confirmed," says Aoba.
"Proceeding to second and third signals," says Maya.
"Subject cathexis is normal," says Aoba.
"Shift subject to stage 2," says Ritsuko.
Shinji sits with his mother under the tree. Suddenly, the world around them begins to shift and twist.
"What's going on?"
"It looks like they are trying to bring you back."
"But…but I don't want to leave you!"
"It's no good. The ego boarder line is frozen in a loop," says Maya.
"Irradiate the wave patterns in all directions," orders Ritsuko.
Ritsuko looks over at Maya's minitors
"It's won't work. The signals are trapped in Klein space."
"What does that mean?" asks Misato.
"It means that we've failed," answers Ritsuko.
Ritsuko turns back to the bridge crew.
"Abort the intervention! Reverse tangent plug! Return additions to zero!" orders Ritsuko.
"Destrudo reaction in the old area! Pattern sepia," says Aoba.
"A change is confirmed in the core pulse, too! Plus 0.3 is confirmed!" shouts Hyuga.
"Maintenance of the status quo is top priority! Prevent backflow!" says Ritsuko.
"Plus 0.5! Plus 0.8! This is odd. I can't stop it!" responds Maya.
"What is this?! Why? Don't you want to come back, Shinji?" mumbles Ritsuko.
"Eva is rejecting the signal!" shouts Maya.
"LCL self-replenishment is dropping," says Aoba.
"Pressure in the plug is increasing!" says Hyuga.
"Abort all operations! Cut the power!" orders Ritsuko.
"It doesn't work! The plug is being ejected!!" shouts Maya.
In the cage, the main hatch of Unit 01's entry plug opens, spilling its contents into the coolant below. An empty plug suit falls out with the LCL and floats on the surface. Everyone stands and stares in horror as the events unfold. The silence is broken by two individuals shouting the same name at the same time.
"SHINJI!!" yells Asuka and Misato.
Asuka turns and runs off the control center, heading for Unit 01's cage.
"Asuka!"
Misato runs after Asuka.
Asuka runs down the catwalk in front of the Eva. She passes the purple giant and falls to her knees at the edge of the catwalk. She reaches into the coolant and pulls out the empty plug suit. Asuka begins to cry as she hugs the plug suit. Misato catches up with her and kneels down next to her, placing her hand on her shoulder.
"Why won't you give him back?!" Misato shouts at the Eva as she begins to cry with Asuka.
Yui embraces her son.
"You have to go back, Shinji. You can't stay here."
Shinji looks up at his mother.
"But…"
"There are those that still love you, or have you forgotten the reason you were sent here?"
Shinji looks at the ground for a moment before looking back up at his mother.
"You're right. I have to go back, but I'll miss you."
Yui smiles.
"I will always be here with you, protecting you."
Shinji smiles.
"I love you, mom."
"I love you, too, Shinji."
They hug one last time. Shinji takes one last look at Yui and then walks off towards the horizon.
"I'm coming, Asuka."
The core of Unit 01 begins to glow, unnoticed by anyone. Asuka and Misato weep over the failed recovery of Shinji. Then a thump is heard to their left. Both women turn to see what caused the noise. They both stare in shock. In front of a now inactive core is the naked body of Shinji Ikari. Asuka releases the plug suit and runs over to the unconscious boy.
"Shinji!!"
She cradles the boy in his arms. Misato stands up.
"Get a medical team over here, now!!" she shouts.
Shinji moans slightly. He slowly opens his eyes.
"Where am I?"
"Well, look who decided to finally get up."
Shinji turns his head to his right.
"Toji!"
Toji looks at the boy from his bed.
"The one and only."
Shinji smiles. He attempts to get up but is restrained by his left arm. Wondering what's holding his arm down, he looks at his arm. What is finds is a sleeping Asuka on his arm. A smile creeps up on his face.
"See you're in the same situation I'm in."
Slightly confused, Shinji looks over at his friend and finds his answer. From his bed he can see Hikari asleep on Toji's right arm.
"I guess so."
"What's say we wake 'em up, Shinji?"
"Fine with me."
Both boys adjust themselves in their beds and lean towards their girlfriends, giving them a kiss on the forehead.
"Time to get up, Asuka."
Asuka stirs and slowly sits up. Hikari does the same. Both girls rub their eyes. When their eyes had adjusted to the lighting, the stare into the smiling faces of their boyfriends. Asuka and Hikari then jump at their respective boyfriend and hug him. Shinji returns the hug, as does Toji.
"I thought I had lost you, Shinji!"
Shinji brushes a strand of hair out of Asuka's face.
"I would never leave you. I promised myself to always be there to protect you and everyone. I don't intend to break that promise."
Tears begin to fill Asuka's eyes as she embraces the pilot once again. Shinji lifts the girl off slightly and then kisses her. Toji, who was still being hugged by Hikari, lifts her head and kisses her.
Outside of the room, Dr. Tamura glances into the room. He smiles and walks away.
"The power of love…," he mumbles as he walks off.
The 13th day…
NERV hospital…
A young doctor in his mid-thirties walks down the halls of the hospital. He stops as he hears a girl's voice. He follows that voice until he reaches a partially closed door. Curious, he peeks inside the room. Inside, he sees a young girl in a school uniform sitting by the bed in the room.
"Toji, please wake up…"
The doctor is about to enter the room, but is stopped by a hand being placed on his shoulder. He turns around and faces an older doctor.
"Dr. Hikura! What are you doing here?"
"Traffic wasn't as heavy so I arrived early."
"I see."
"So, what were going to do, Dr. Tamura?"
"Well, I heard a voice so I thought I'd investigate."
Dr. Hikura glances over the younger doctor's shoulder and into the room.
"No need. The boy is just having a visitor."
"Um, but isn't this facility accessible by NERV personal only?"
"Yes it is, why?"
"Well, how can he have visitors? As far as I know that boy's only relatives that work with NERV are his father and grandfather."
"Well, you got me there. You're right, she doesn't work with NERV."
"Well, then she's here without proper authorization. I'll have her removed immediately!"
Dr. Tamura steps past the older man and heads over to the nearest phone. He picks up the phone, but is stopped by Dr. Hikura.
"What are you doing? You said it yourself that she isn't suppose to be here."
Dr. Hikura shakes his head.
"I never said that. I just said that she doesn't work with NERV. Besides, its in the best interests of the boy."
"What do you mean?"
"Come with me."
Dr. Tamura puts down the phone and follows the older doctor. They end up at the files area. Dr. Hikura pulls out a folder labeled 'Suzuhara, Toji.'
"Look at these."
Dr. Tamura takes the folder and leafs through it.
"What is it?"
"It's the boy's medical file since he was admitted."
Dr. Tamura heads though the files for a few minutes.
"Notice anything?"
"Yeah."
He points to one of the daily reports.
"After this point, he begins to recover at a faster rate."
"Very good. Can you guess what caused it?"
"Um, some new medication or something?"
"Nope."
Dr. Hikura leans the other doctor back to Toji's room and points into the room.
"She caused it."
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since that day she started to come and visit him, his recovery rate increased."
"That can't be a reason. Maybe his body finally began to repair itself."
Dr. Hikura shakes his head.
"No. This was caused by something that not even science can explain. It is one of the great mysteries of the universe."
Dr. Hikura turns and walks down the hallway that he had originally come from with his hands in his pockets.
"What do you mean? What is it?"
Dr. Hikura turns his head.
"It's love my fellow doctor. It's the power of love."
Inside Unit 01…
Shinji sits under the tree next to his mother, staring up at the blue sky.
"Where are we, mother?"
Yui looks down at her son.
"We are inside Unit 01, Shinji."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it would seem that you opened yourself up to the Eva."
"I don't understand."
"You know how you control the Eva with your mind as you would your own body and how its pain is your pain, right?"
Shinji nods.
"Well, this is sort of the closest you can get to controlling an Eva, you become one with it."
"How is that possible?"
"Well, in your case, you fully opened yourself to he Eva because you wanted to accomplish something with all your heart and would do anything to accomplish it."
Shinji leans back against the tree, thinking about when the Angel was pounding at his Eva when the power had run out.
"Yeah, I guess I did want it that badly, but what about you? How did you get absorbed?"
Yui looks up at the sky.
"You were there when it happened Shinji, but you were probably too little to remember."
Shinji looks up at his mother.
"10 years ago, we had completed Unit 01. I had wanted to test it personally to make sure it was safe for whoever would happen to pilot it. I wanted to make it safe for everyone. I had known that there was a one in a billion chance that I could be absorbed due a 400% sync-ratio, but I did it anyway. It came to pass that that was that one in a billion chance and I was absorbed into the Eva. I've been in here ever since."
"You've always been in here?"
"Yes, Shinji. I've always been here, protecting you."
"Is that the reason it feels so comforting in the entry plug?"
"Yes, it is."
"But, what about when it does berserk?"
"Well, I really don't control the Eva, but I do control its reason to go berserk, which is to protect you. The Eva then fights for that reason."
"Mom…"
Shinji hugs his mother, tears in his eyes.
"So, Shinji. How is it going with Asuka?"
Shinji blushes.
"What? How do you…?"
Yui smiles at her son.
"Have you forgotten that when you pilot, you share your thoughts with the Eva? And since I'm in the Eva, I can see your thoughts. Beside, you can never hide anything from your mother."
Shinji turns redder and looks at the grass under his feet.
"Well, um…"
"Do you truly love her, Shinji?"
"Huh? But I thought that you said you could see my thoughts?"
"Yes, I could see your thoughts, but not what's in your heart."
"Yes, I love her. I love her with all my heart."
"That's all I needed to know Shinji. I'm glad that you finally found someone."
Shinji smiles.
"I know, mom. I know."
"From what I gather from you, she's like her mother."
"You knew her mother?"
"She was the head of the team that worked on Unit 02, that is, until the accident."
"What accident?"
"Well, a similar incident happened to her when she was testing Unit 02, except that she wasn't completely absorbed, only her mind. She was just an empty shell after. She was kept in the hospital and kept on referring to a doll as her daughter. Soon after the accident, she committed suicide and hung herself, and the doll."
Shinji looks in bewilderment at his mother.
"So that's why Asuka cries and calls for her mother in her sleep and why she keeps on calling Rei a 'doll.'"
"Yes. The whole incident probably also made her the way she is today. I really can't be too sure, but she seems to show her true self when she's with you."
"Yeah."
"You just have to be patient with her, Shinji. Thanks to you, she has started to heal those wounds."
"I hope so. It's just too bad about her mother. I mean, I have you here."
"That's not entirely true."
"What do you mean?'
"Remember how I said she had a similar incident to mine?"
"You mean, Asuka's mother is inside Unit 02?"
"Yes."
"Wow. This is something she'll want to know!!"
"I wouldn't be so rash, Shinji. She's been through a lot. If you're going to tell her, tell her slowly."
Shinji nods.
The 31st day…
Secondary Control Center…
"We are ready to begin the operation, ma'am," says Hyuga.
"Excellent. Now all we have to do is what for Misato…," says Ritsuko.
As if on cue, Misato enters the control center accompanied by Asuka.
"What is she doing here, Misato?" asks Ritsuko.
"She wants to be here so I'm allowing it," responds Misato.
"Fine. Let's begin the operation."
"Ego boarder pulse connection is complete," says Maya.
"Roger. Transmitting the first signal," says Hyuga.
"The Eva has received the signal. No rejection confirmed," says Aoba.
"Proceeding to second and third signals," says Maya.
"Subject cathexis is normal," says Aoba.
"Shift subject to stage 2," says Ritsuko.
Shinji sits with his mother under the tree. Suddenly, the world around them begins to shift and twist.
"What's going on?"
"It looks like they are trying to bring you back."
"But…but I don't want to leave you!"
"It's no good. The ego boarder line is frozen in a loop," says Maya.
"Irradiate the wave patterns in all directions," orders Ritsuko.
Ritsuko looks over at Maya's minitors
"It's won't work. The signals are trapped in Klein space."
"What does that mean?" asks Misato.
"It means that we've failed," answers Ritsuko.
Ritsuko turns back to the bridge crew.
"Abort the intervention! Reverse tangent plug! Return additions to zero!" orders Ritsuko.
"Destrudo reaction in the old area! Pattern sepia," says Aoba.
"A change is confirmed in the core pulse, too! Plus 0.3 is confirmed!" shouts Hyuga.
"Maintenance of the status quo is top priority! Prevent backflow!" says Ritsuko.
"Plus 0.5! Plus 0.8! This is odd. I can't stop it!" responds Maya.
"What is this?! Why? Don't you want to come back, Shinji?" mumbles Ritsuko.
"Eva is rejecting the signal!" shouts Maya.
"LCL self-replenishment is dropping," says Aoba.
"Pressure in the plug is increasing!" says Hyuga.
"Abort all operations! Cut the power!" orders Ritsuko.
"It doesn't work! The plug is being ejected!!" shouts Maya.
In the cage, the main hatch of Unit 01's entry plug opens, spilling its contents into the coolant below. An empty plug suit falls out with the LCL and floats on the surface. Everyone stands and stares in horror as the events unfold. The silence is broken by two individuals shouting the same name at the same time.
"SHINJI!!" yells Asuka and Misato.
Asuka turns and runs off the control center, heading for Unit 01's cage.
"Asuka!"
Misato runs after Asuka.
Asuka runs down the catwalk in front of the Eva. She passes the purple giant and falls to her knees at the edge of the catwalk. She reaches into the coolant and pulls out the empty plug suit. Asuka begins to cry as she hugs the plug suit. Misato catches up with her and kneels down next to her, placing her hand on her shoulder.
"Why won't you give him back?!" Misato shouts at the Eva as she begins to cry with Asuka.
Yui embraces her son.
"You have to go back, Shinji. You can't stay here."
Shinji looks up at his mother.
"But…"
"There are those that still love you, or have you forgotten the reason you were sent here?"
Shinji looks at the ground for a moment before looking back up at his mother.
"You're right. I have to go back, but I'll miss you."
Yui smiles.
"I will always be here with you, protecting you."
Shinji smiles.
"I love you, mom."
"I love you, too, Shinji."
They hug one last time. Shinji takes one last look at Yui and then walks off towards the horizon.
"I'm coming, Asuka."
The core of Unit 01 begins to glow, unnoticed by anyone. Asuka and Misato weep over the failed recovery of Shinji. Then a thump is heard to their left. Both women turn to see what caused the noise. They both stare in shock. In front of a now inactive core is the naked body of Shinji Ikari. Asuka releases the plug suit and runs over to the unconscious boy.
"Shinji!!"
She cradles the boy in his arms. Misato stands up.
"Get a medical team over here, now!!" she shouts.
Shinji moans slightly. He slowly opens his eyes.
"Where am I?"
"Well, look who decided to finally get up."
Shinji turns his head to his right.
"Toji!"
Toji looks at the boy from his bed.
"The one and only."
Shinji smiles. He attempts to get up but is restrained by his left arm. Wondering what's holding his arm down, he looks at his arm. What is finds is a sleeping Asuka on his arm. A smile creeps up on his face.
"See you're in the same situation I'm in."
Slightly confused, Shinji looks over at his friend and finds his answer. From his bed he can see Hikari asleep on Toji's right arm.
"I guess so."
"What's say we wake 'em up, Shinji?"
"Fine with me."
Both boys adjust themselves in their beds and lean towards their girlfriends, giving them a kiss on the forehead.
"Time to get up, Asuka."
Asuka stirs and slowly sits up. Hikari does the same. Both girls rub their eyes. When their eyes had adjusted to the lighting, the stare into the smiling faces of their boyfriends. Asuka and Hikari then jump at their respective boyfriend and hug him. Shinji returns the hug, as does Toji.
"I thought I had lost you, Shinji!"
Shinji brushes a strand of hair out of Asuka's face.
"I would never leave you. I promised myself to always be there to protect you and everyone. I don't intend to break that promise."
Tears begin to fill Asuka's eyes as she embraces the pilot once again. Shinji lifts the girl off slightly and then kisses her. Toji, who was still being hugged by Hikari, lifts her head and kisses her.
Outside of the room, Dr. Tamura glances into the room. He smiles and walks away.
"The power of love…," he mumbles as he walks off.