Disclaimer:
I, unfortunately, don't own NGE or any of its characters. I also do not profess to being anything resembling a political analyst, so if the following depiction of events in Europe and the world at large sounds outrageous, if not impossible, that's because it probably is. I also do not mean to offend any persons living in or hailing from the nations involved in this fictional dispute or to portray any particular countries in an unfavorable light. There are no "good guys" or "bad guys" in war…just casualties.
"The only problem with dreaming is that, eventually, one has to have to wake up." – Anonymous
Music: "a warm place" – Nine Inch Nails
EXT. GRAVEYARD. DAY.
Overcast and rainy. A lone figure walks down a narrow pathway winding through a cemetery, his dark trench coat the only concession he makes to the downpour around him.
Beside the path are rows upon rows of small white crosses, some adorned with small medals and plaques; obviously a military burial ground. His head down, the man walks on, unhurried.
Looking up, he finds himself in a fenced-in area bordered by trees, the branches overhanging the clearing and creating a natural archway.
In front of him are more crosses, every other one adorned with small flags of various nations and some with small personal items or flowers. He moves to the nearest one, crouching and resting his hand upon the marble.
We see his face clearly for the first time and realize he's rather young; somewhere around his early twenties. Short, silver-gray hair hangs wetly from his head, strands of it leading to his eyes: a dulled crimson that contrasts with his noticeably pale skin. Despite his age, his eyes tell of many hardships and show a weariness more commonly found in one twice as old as he.
For a moment, all he can do is look at the field of graves before him. At length, he addresses them.
Kaworu:
I…wasn't sure how I'd feel coming back here… or if this was even the right thing to do. But I felt I should at least stop here one last time before I go… just to let you know what's going to happen.
(He pauses before continuing)
We've voted…the others and I…and…we've reached the conclusion that this is the only way. I wish to God it wasn't. I've tried to get them to see reason. You all know I've tried. But they still refuse to listen… Most of you I never even knew and the ones that I did…well, right about now, you're probably wishing you'd never met me. I just… I needed to say that I'm sorry. Sorry for leading you down the path I chose. Sorry for letting them use you… use all of us, for that matter, without question. They fed you lies and I encouraged those same false promises…
Kaworu looks to the uncaring, slate-gray sky, as though searching for the right words to say.
Kaworu:
…But that's going to change. After this…everything is going to change. Consider this atonement for the lives ruined by my hand, including yours. I don't expect you to agree with or even condone what's going to happen. I only ask that in the end, you can forgive me.
The sound of footsteps behind him stirs Kaworu from his reverie. He looks over his shoulder to find a young woman similarly dressed as him approaching, carrying an umbrella.
Kaworu manages a tired smile, feigning annoyance.
Kaworu:
I thought I told you to wait in the car.
She walks up beside him, returning the smile and holding the umbrella to shelter both of them from the rain. She has dark brown, wavy hair that falls to her shoulders, a slender build and youthful features that show her to be about Kaworu's age. Like him, her azure eyes show more years of experience than her appearance would lead most to believe.
Elsa:
You look like you could use some company.
Kaworu turns back to face the graves.
Kaworu:
I have company. They're just not as talkative as they once were.
The two of them stare silently at the graves that pour from the ground in front of them, extending more than the length of a football field. Elsa puts her hand upon Kaworu's shoulder. He reaches up to cover it with his own, squeezing gently.
Kaworu:
There's too many to count anymore… How can we possibly be wrong in doing this?
Elsa:
Simple - we're not.
He manages a sad smile and stands, taking a final look at the graves.
Kaworu:
Let's begin.
They turn and walk back up the path, not looking back.
As they leave, we see a close-up of one of the graves in the front row. It reads:
PILOT NAOTA NAGISA
4/6/06 – 5/15/20
WARSAW OFFENSIVE
TWENTY MILES WEST OF KIEV
Fade to black
Fade up on sequence of images, inter-cut with titles:
HOLLYWOOD PICTURES PRESENTS
Photos of Tokyo-3 and the inside of Nerv. Seele's invasion. UN troops overseeing the capture of the facility.
Narrator (v.o):
In twenty-fourteen, Nerv's third branch is overtaken by outside forces via hacking of the three Magi super-computers. With their defenses rendered useless, Seele's forces attack Nerv using their organization's full military assets. Seeing the destruction taking place, the UN is fortunately able to halt the invasion before casualties rise too high and assume command of Nerv…
Newspaper headlines: TURMOIL IN JAPAN: UN SIEZES THIRD BRANCH OF NERV / TOKYO 3 FACILITY GUILTY OF CLANDESTINE ACTIVITY
Narrator (v.o):
…With the decommissioning of the facility, all personnel are reassigned while the installation itself is placed under joint custody of the Japanese government and the UN; neither of whom seem to know what to do with it.
A DON SIMPSON / JERRY BRUCKHEIMER PRODUCTION
"Focus" Magazine cover: Sketches of an Eva unit with the words, "The Next Arms Race".
Narrator (v.o):Amidst the turmoil of relocating Nerv personnel, Evangelion technology disseminates throughout the world. Within the next year, France, England, and Russia begin their own Evangelion programs…
Video: A fancy celebration. As we watch, several beaming scientists unveil a large red object bearing a resemblance to an Angel's core.
Narrator (v.o):
…Twenty-sixteen also sees the perfection of the S2 engine which, when coupled with a piloted entry plug system, proves more combat effective and cost efficient than Japan's own Mass Production models; formerly held as the benchmark of Eva technology until now. By twenty-seventeen, most world powers have reduced their standing armies to garrison size, making Eva squadrons the backbone of their armed forces. A FILM DIRECTED BY MICHAEL BAY"Newsweek" magazine cover: "Russia and NATO: Should we be worried?"
Narrator (v.o):
During this time, tensions run high in Eastern Europe as Lithuania, Ukraine, and Belarus prepare to become member countries of NATO. Russia disagrees with this development, instead urging the members-to-be to refrain from entering into an allegiance with the western powers and consider one with it instead. NATO tries to dissuade Russia from any actions that could be potentially damaging to European relations. Russia, in turn, respectfully advises NATO to mind its own business…
SHINJI IKARI
Newspaper headlines: FAILED ASSASINATION BREEDS FEAR, MISTRUST IN BALTIC COUNTRIES / THE BALTIC ALLIANCE: RUSSIA RESPONDS.
Narrator (v.o):
…Representatives from the countries involved in this dispute meet to smooth out a potentially volatile situation in the making. Yet, the conference is disrupted as a failed assassination attempt is brought to light with the arrest of several individuals planning to bomb the building and the assembled world leaders therein. While the men responsible are Russian loyalists, the fact that they all hail from nearby NATO-member countries sets the three prospective members at odds with NATO. Afterwards, Russia is successful in establishing a political and military treaty between itself, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Belarus, forming The Baltic Alliance and establishing a "unified eastern front."
REI AYANAMI
Newspaper headlines: ALLIANCE GAINS GROUND AS OTHERS JOIN / HUNGARY TO ALLIANCE: "WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED".
Narrator (v.o):
The Alliance concentrates troops near its borders, unnerving nearby countries that understandably see it as a prelude to war. Latvia and Estonia join the Alliance, fearful of possible invasion. This tactic of recruiting nations through fear helps them assimilate Moldovia as well, stretching the Alliance's common borders further west. Shortly thereafter, Hungary is approached with and rejects an offer by the Alliance to join its ranks, ignoring the sudden clustering of Ukrainian troops along its borders…
ASUKA L. SOHRYU
Newspaper headline: UKRAINE INVADES HUNGARY
Narrator (v.o):
…A tenuous truce between Hungary and the Alliance is maintained for a short time until, following the addition of Romania to the Alliance, Ukraine begins to see Hungary as the first step in pushing their territory west. Without the approval of any other member nations, Ukraine invades their neighbor to the west in a surprise assault that lets them take the capital of Budapest in short order. In one of the worst political blunders since World War I, Ukraine either fails to take into account, or just outright ignores the fact that Hungary is a member of NATO. It isn't long before NATO forces move in to liberate Hungary while Polish forces move east to invade Ukraine…
KAWORU NAGISA
Newspaper headline: NATO RETALIATES / CASUALTIES RISE ON EASTERN FRONT
Video: A static-lined relay from a news camera. Two Evas are fighting. One of them brandishes a two-handed sword that it swings in a wide arc as it charges the other. Its opponent ducks the attack and grabs the other's weapon; the two of them grappling and the camera shaking from the movement. They both fall to the ground, still wrestling, and roll towards the camera, churning up clouds of debris in their wake. The camera's POV jars as the operator drops it to the ground. We see several pairs of feet running by as the camera cuts to snow.
Narrator (v.o):
…It is just seven miles within the Ukrainian border that the future of combat is seen. Evas from the Poland-based NATO guard engage those of the 2nd Russian Mechanized Infantry, resulting in some of most devastating combat the world has yet seen as dozens of towns and even more miles of woodland are destroyed outright in less than a few hours. By the end of twenty-nineteen, NATO and Baltic Alliance forces are fighting along a combat front stretching from the Gulf of Finland to the Aegean Sea. As the armies of the West clash with those of the East and the industries of the world revel in the profits of war, the body count climbs ever higher day by day, with no end in sight…
Cut to black.
Narrator (v.o):
It is the second year of the war.
EVANGELION: INCURSION
Fade up on:
EXT. TOWN. DAY.
The sky overhead is an ominous slate gray, making it hard to discern between afternoon and morning, as everything touched by the sparse light from above appears in dull hues of normally vibrant colors. A deserted street lined with empty cars stretches before us. The buildings on each side show signs of wear and tear from bomb blasts and shelling as some are missing entire sections of walls, their blackened interiors visible through gaping holes in the façade.
Churned by a stir of wind, bits of newspaper flutter from an overturned vendor's booth riddled with bullets, smoke wafts out a window from a small fire in one of the ruined shops, and an open door creaks on its hinges.
The silence is broken by the sound of footsteps approaching from off-camera. They grow nearer; stopping suddenly as a cigarette butt is dropped into frame from above and then extinguished by a boot stepping on it.
In panning up from the ground, we see a figure dressed in combat fatigues of a woodland motif (dark green and black on olive drab). We watch as the soldier moves forward, stepping lightly over the debris strewn across the road and crouching behind the back end of what used to be a Lada town car.
After taking a look down the street and seeing nothing but desolation, she turns toward the camera, motioning for someone else to follow. The girl looks no more than twenty, yet her crimson eyes appear determined and focused in their gaze. Her rather delicate features are accentuated by the tone of her skin; so white that it resembles porcelain. Though she wears a green beret, we cannot help but also notice her short, lavender-blue hair falling in wisps across her face.
She unslings the sniper rifle she carries (a procured Russian Druganov) as another soldier joins her behind the makeshift cover. From his chevrons he appears to be an officer, though the boy looks, at the most, only a few years older than her.
Commander:
(In Polish)
What you got for me, Ayanami?
The girl motions him closer to where she's crouched and directs his view to the buildings near the intersection up ahead.
Rei:
The building at the end that looks like a bank. See it?
He looks towards where she's pointing, noticing a three-story structure with large wooden doors and gothic architecture up ahead. In front of it is a circular plaza where three streets meet. A small fountain filled with dark, stagnant water sits at the center.
Commander:
What about it?
Rei:
Why board up all the windows except on the third floor?
The Commander looks again, noticing that, while each of the first and second floors' windows are shoddily covered with several boards, the third floor's remain unobstructed; hanging open.
Rei:
They're getting careless…
Commander:
You think someone's up there?
Rei:
That's where I'd be.
Commander:
I still don't see anything, though.
Rei:
Well, sir, that's kind of the point.
He pauses, thinking.
Commander:
Alright, stay here. I'm gonna send Basia over.
Rei:
Understood.
The Commander moves out from behind the car and runs to the opposite side of the street, where we see three other soldiers similarly dressed as him (two boys with AK-47's and a girl with an SWD sniper rifle). He crouches next to them.
Kopernik:
You have some targets for us, sir?
Commander:
Change of plans. We've got Ivans in the bank up ahead.
(Indicating the girl)
Basia, I'm pairing you off with Ayanami. Head over to her position and put some covering fire on those upper floors.
(Pointing to the two boys)
You two smartasses come with me. We'll try and take the rear of the place.
Milosz:
You always did like entering from the rear.
Commander:
Milosz, shut the hell up.
Leaving the three behind, Basia runs across the street to where Rei is still crouched. She joins her behind the wrecked car.
Basia:
(Grinning)
Commander sent me over. He thought you might be getting lonely without him.
Rei:
(Deadpan)
Oh yes, the strain was almost too much to bear. What are we doing now?
Basia:
They're going to enter from the back. We need to find a better position if we're to cover them, though.
Rei:
One of those shops across from it should work.
Basia:
Any plans for getting there?
Rei:
By foot, of course.
Rei's face remains neutral. Basia looks momentarily perplexed, then rubs her eyes, groaning as the joke drives home. Rei smirks.
Rei:
You had to ask.
Basia:
You're a pip, you know that?
Rei points to two buses at the end of the line of empty cars, obstructing the intersection in front of the bank.
Rei:
Enough cover for you?
Basia:
It'll do.
Rei:
Follow my lead.
The two snipers move out from behind their cover, crossing the street.
Suddenly, the bank's third floor widows come alive with points of light as the Russians inside open up on the other three Polish troops.
Milosz and the Commander duck to the left, taking cover behind a low brick wall bordering a coffee bar's outdoor terrace. Kopernik runs forward, diving behind the fountain. Rei and Basia run to their left as well, reaching the nearest bus as tracer fire tears up the ground in front of them.
CUT TO:
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR OFFICE.
From the bank's third floor, a Russian KPV heavy machinegun roars to life as its rounds tear into the brick wall of the coffee bar, chipping away at the Polish soldiers' cover in a cloud of dust and debris.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – COFFEE BAR.
Milosz and the Commander lie prone; shielding themselves as the 14.5mm monstrosity demonstrates why it's still in use more than seventy years after its inception.
Commander:
CAN YOU SEE THEM?
Milosz:
WHAT?
Commander:
DO YOU HAVE A SHOT?
Milosz:
FUCKING NO, I DON'T HAVE A SHOT! YOU WANT TO STICK YOUR HEAD OUT THERE, BE MY GUEST!
Hidden behind the left side of the first bus, Rei peeks around to see Milosz and the Commander pinned down, but is unable to get a better view of the machinegun's position.
Rei:
Dead space to my right, I don't have a shot!
Basia moves to the door of the bus and forces it open with her rifle butt. She turns to Rei.
Basia:
Follow me and stay low.
They both enter the bus.
EXT. STREET – FOUNTAIN.
At the plaza's center, Kopernik eases his way around the side of the fountain, watching as the Commander and Milosz take shelter. Seeing that he's unnoticed by the gunners, Kopernik sits up and peeks over the fountain's edge to gauge the distance to the bank's doors.
From the third floor, a brief muzzle flash is followed by the ting of a sniper's bullet hitting the lip of the fountain mere millimeters from Kopernik's face. The boy quickly drops back down, cursing.
CUT TO:
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR OFFICE.
The KPV ceases its barrage. The gunner and loader scramble to change belts as the gun clicks dry.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – COFFEE BAR.
Seeing this, the Commander and Milosz emerge from cover and open fire, aiming for the third floor windows.
Commander:
Covering fire!
CUT TO:
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR OFFICE.
The Russians duck to avoid the retaliatory fire from their targets. One of them crawls towards the door frame, calling for assistance from down the hall.
CUT TO:
INT. BUS.
Rei creeps down the center aisle, stopping at the front. She braces herself against the driver's seat, bringing her rifle to bear on the machinegun's position through the front windshield. Basia crouches beside her, setting down her rifle and unholstering her sidearm.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – COFFEE BAR.
Milosz stops shooting long enough to shout to Kopernik across the way.
Milosz:
Jozef! Move your ass!
EXT. STREET – FOUNTAIN.
Kopernik hesitates, glancing for any signs of movement from the bank's upper floors. With a muttered prayer, he launches himself out from the safety of the fountain, sprinting across open ground towards an alley on the bank's left.
CUT TO:
INT. BUS.
Basia fires several rounds into the window; the glass cracking spider-web style. Without pause, she delivers a solid kick to the center of the already weakened windshield, causing it to fold and fall out of the frame in one piece.
Her aim no longer obstructed by the glass, Rei keeps her rifle trained on the third floor window, exhaling calmly as she flicks off the safety.
CUT TO:
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR OFFICE.
Another Russian soldier enters the room where the gun crew crouches, carrying a sniper rifle and shouting at them to move out of the way. He reaches the window, drawing a bead on Kopernik as he runs for cover. With his target's head in the crosshairs, he squeezes the trigger-
The rifle report that follows is obviously not his own. The Russian's head snaps back in a spray of red with a sizeable hole in his forehead.
CUT TO:
INT. BUS.
Through her scope, Rei watches the Russian collapse; his final shot going wild. Confused as to the previous bullet's origin, one of the two soldiers starts firing at Milosz and the commander's position, taking care to keep out of their line of sight.
Non-plused, Rei chambers another round and sights her next target. The rifle kicks against her shoulder as, through her scope, she sees the shot strike home. The soldier reels back, coughing blood and clutching his chest.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – COFFEE BAR.
Lying prone, the Commander listens as the sounds of gunfire from the bank are silenced by Rei's last shot.
He pauses, listening for return fire. After several tense moments, he peeks over the edge of the wall to see Kopernik crouching against the bank's front. Kopernik signals "all clear".
Commander:
About goddamn time…Milosz, move to his position!
(Shouting towards the bus)
Rei! Basia! Move up!
INT. BUS.
Rei:
Cover me.
Rei climbs out through the windowframe. Basia moves to cover her advance, readying her own rifle.
EXT. STREET.
Milosz hops over the wall, moving towards the bank-
-as a second machine gun, two windows over on the right, opens fire. A hail of bullets peppers the ground near Milosz, the line of fire walking towards him faster than he can react. Several rounds tear into his side, sending his riddled body flailing to the ground.
Rei breaks into a dead run, sprinting towards Kopernik as the trail of bullets turns her way.
CUT TO:
INT. BUS.
Basia moves to assist, taking aim at the new target.
Without warning, the original machinegun opens up, concentrating on her position. Bullets ricochet off the front of the bus and its exposed interior, shattering the remaining windows and sending Basia diving for cover behind the dashboard.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – COFFEE BAR.
After a moment of deliberation, the Commander sits up into a crouch, shouting towards the bus:
Commander:
Basia! Surpressive fire on the left!
With that, he launches himself over the wall, firing at the second machinegun while running. His shots strike within the general vicinity of Rei's attacker in the rightmost window. While not hitting anything, the Commander's volley achieves the desired effect of making the gunner take cover, allowing Rei to reach the steps of the bank safely.
The left machinegunner ceases his assault on the bus; swinging the gun to bear on the Commander as he runs towards Basia's position. Seeing this, Basia uses the machinegunner's momentary distraction to grab her rifle and take aim at him.
CUT TO:
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR OFFICE.
The loader from before mans the machinegun. Below, the Commander dives for cover behind the bus, losing his beret as he rolls out of the gun's field of fire.
The loader curses loudly as, simultaneously, his target escapes and his machinegun clicks dry. Moving to reload, his eye catches a flicker of motion inside the bus…
CUT TO:
POV SHOT – RUSSIAN SOLDIER.
…He pauses, looking up to see a point of light flare briefly in the bus's front. The loader has just enough time to recognize it as a muzzle flash before the screen goes dark with the accompanying "thwap" of a round striking home.
CUT TO BLACK.
CUT TO:
INT. BUS.
Basia chambers another round, swinging her rifle to the remaining machinegun on the right, the operator of which has resumed firing, this time aiming for her. Basia dives for cover again as bullets pound the frame of the bus.
She crawls down the alley towards the exit door at the center. Reaching it, she kicks the door open to see the Commander crouched right outside.
Commander:
Nice shot, Basia.
Basia:
Just doing my job, sir. What about the other one?
Commander:
No worries, corporal, I think Mr. Kopernik and Ms. Ayanami have it well in hand.
As if to underscore the Commander's words, a series of explosions echoes from the bank on the far side of the bus. The machinegun's chatter ceases. After a period of silence, Rei's voice is heard calling from afar.
Rei (VO):
Clear down!
The Commander gets up, motioning for Basia to follow.
Commander:
Come on.
EXT. STREET – CONTINUOUS.
They move out from behind the bus, crossing the plaza to where Rei and Kopernik are.
EXT. BANK – FRONT – CONTINUOUS.
As they approach, Kopernik fixes a rifle grenade to the end of his AK, launching it in an arc through the window where the machinegun formerly resided. The grenade explodes with a sharp bang, echoing across the plaza and sending a cloud of debris billowing out.
Rei:
Stop it.
Kopernik says nothing; his hands reaching for another grenade on his belt.
Rei:
Kopernik…
He says nothing.
Rei:
Kopernik!
The rifle grenade slips out of his grasp. He fumbles for it with his shaking hand as it falls to the ground. Cursing, he turns to Rei.
Kopernik:
WHAT!?!
Rei:
You're wasting ordinance.
Kopernik looks ready to hit something; namely, the girl standing in front of him. The Commander steps forward to intervene.
Commander:
Talk to me, Private.
Kopernik looks from the Commander to the window and back again, shaking.
Kopernik:
That piece of shit killed Jacek…sir.
Commander:
(Sighs)
I know. But that doesn't mean we should expend most of our demolitions materiel on one gun emplacement.
Kopernik tries to look over the Commander's shoulder to where Milosz's body lies.
Kopernik:
Fucking Ivans didn't even give him a chance…
The Commander grabs Kopernik by the shoulder, looking him in the eyes.
Commander:
Listen to me! I'm sorry about Milosz, but this stuff happens. You've seen it before. Now do you want to stay out here shooting rounds at a dead body or do you want to get even with the rest of those sons of bitches in there?
Kopernik settles down, somewhat, coming to his senses.
Kopernik:
Sir, I'd very much like to get even with those sons of bitches in there.
Commander:
Alright then, follow me.
(Turning to the others)
Ayanami, Basia, it's time to clean house.
Rei & Basia:
Yes sir.
The group moves back towards the alley on the bank's left side, disappearing down it.
INT. BANK – MAIN LOBBY.
A door on the left wall flies open and the trio emerges into the spacious front lobby. A large oak desk sits in the center, surrounded by benches and chairs, most of which have been put to use in barricading the front door. The ceiling extends up through the first two floors, a balcony on each level bordering the room and looking down on the lobby below.
Commander:
You two hold this area for now. Ayanami, cover me.
Kopernik and Basia keep a watch on the balcony for movement while Rei and the Commander move towards the back. Finding a door marked "STAIRS", they enter it.
INT. BANK – STAIRWELL.
Rei and the Commander move up to the third floor, clearing as they go.
INT. BANK. THIRD FLOOR.
The two of them emerge from the third floor stairwell into a plush hallway connecting several offices. The office doors hang open, some riddled with bullets. Shell casings litter the floor along with dirty bootprints. The Russian army has been using this place for quite some time.
They move down the hallway, glass crunching underfoot. Halfway down, the Commander signals Rei to halt. In the silence, the sounds of static and a voice whispering can be discerned coming from the end of the hall. Rei signals that she hears it too.
As quietly as they can, the two of them move down the hall, the noise becoming clearer as they stop outside a door left ajar. From inside, a voice talks quickly and fiercely in Russian.
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR – OFFICE – CONTINUOUS.
The Commander covers Rei as she eases the door open. Rei trains her weapon on the first target that comes into view (and the only one in the room, for that matter). Oblivious to their presence, a radio operator sits with his back to them, headphones covering his ears as he speaks into a microphone. Rei moves forward, drawing her pistol.
Without looking, the radioman reaches towards a table on his right covered in dog-eared maps, his fumbling hands obviously searching for a spiral-bound notebook labeled "Target Listing", in Russian, that lies just out of his reach.
Rei picks up the notebook and hands it to him. Still talking, the radioman grabs it and begins flipping through pages. There's a beat before he freezes in place; the realization dawning on him that you're no longer alone in a room if people are handing you things. He spins around in his chair to find two high-powered firearms trained on his head.
Rei:
Sir, I believe we have a prisoner.
Commander:
No – just a corpse.
The Commander fires a short burst at the radioman, knocking him and the chair over backwards, blood flecking onto the equipment and documents behind him. Rei turns to face her superior; disbelieving of what just happened.
Rei:
He was unarmed–
Commander:
He was a Russian soldier. Remember? The people we're at war with?
Rei:
We could have at least grilled him for intel…
Commander:
I believe the point is moot.
With that, he steps by her, picking through the bloodstained documents on the table.
Commander:
Why don't you make useful and start packing up those maps? Intelligence might be interested in them.
Rei glares at the Commander, her eyes boring holes in the back of his head. He chooses to ignore her. After a moment, she moves to the table and begins shoving crumpled papers into any available pockets.
INT. BANK – LOBBY.
Basia sits on the front desk, pulling out a pack of smokes. Kopernik paces by the windows, keeping a wary eye towards the streets.
Kopernik:
They've been gone awhile.
Basia:
(Distractedly)
Hm.
Basia lights up, she sees an old newspaper lying next to her and starts flipping through it.
Kopernik:
Wonder what's keeping them?
Basia:
Hm.
Kopernik:
Anything interesting in there?
Basia:
Hm.
Kopernik:
You listening to me?
Basia:
Hm.
Kopernik:
Wow, look at all the Russians outside.
Basia:
Hm.
Kopernik:
Mind if I have the last of your smokes?
Basia:
Piss off.
Kopernik:
Gasp! She does have ears!
Basia:
Listen to this:
(Reading from the paper)
"…There are those amongst you who would oppose the use of such powerful machinations on the grounds that they are 'untested' and 'unproven'. Under any other circumstances, I would agree. Yet, in our darkest hour, I say that we should not concern ourselves with the unconfirmed and the unsubstantiated. Rather, we should look to these 'Evas' as our saving grace; as our means of deliverance from the capitalistic hordes of the west and their belligerent armies. To meet them on even ground would be as powerful a statement as any that words could evoke..."
…That was Premier Vasilov addressing the Politburo two weeks before Hungary was invaded. Only two years ago…
Kopernik:
You just know Vasilov ordered it. I mean, the guy was too much of a control freak to let Ukraine go out on their own like that.
(Thinking)
Two years ago…I was planning to move to Legnica after I graduated and help my brother run his business.
Basia:
(Thinking)
Two years ago…my brother was still alive.
Kopernik:
Two years ago, Milosz was still alive.
They sit for a moment, silent.
Basia:
We're doing the right thing, aren't we? After all, they attacked US. How can we be in the wrong?
Kopernik:
We're not.
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR – OFFICE.
After looting the room of anything vital, the Commander steps out the door, motioning for Rei to follow.
Rei turns and grabs the codebook off the table. In doing so, she pauses; hearing a voice coming from the radio's headphones.
The Commander comes back into the room as Rei puts the headphones on, listening.
Commander:
What is it?
Rei:
I don't know exactly, they're talking really fast. You know any Russian?
Commander:
A little.
The Commander walks over to the table, pulling out the headphone cord and letting the voice spill out into the room from the speaker.
CUT TO:
INT. BANK – LOBBY.
Kopernik and Basia sit, waiting. Kopernik slowly gets up, walking to the window.
Kopernik:
Do you hear that?
Basia:
Hear what?
CUT TO:
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR – OFFICE.
The Commander listens to the last part of the message before it ceases; white noise following in its wake.
Commander:
(Translating)
"…ETA…ten minutes."
(To Rei)
What'd they say before that?
Rei:
Uh…. Something like, "div-eez-oosh-chi-yee…kvash podo…zen-e-ye?"
Commander:
"K" and "Vash" are separate; they mean: "to your." "Dvizhushchiy" means "moving" and "Podozhenye" is "location".
Rei:
"…moving to your location. ETA: ten minutes."
They both exchange wary glances.
Commander:
(Apprehensively)
Anything else?
CUT TO:
EXT. BANK – FRONT.
Kopernik squeezes through the front door, dislodging some of the chairs used to barricade it. He descends the front steps halfway, scanning the streets.
Basia steps out the door a moment later.
Basia:
Come back inside.
Kopernik:
You don't hear that?
Basia:
Obviously not. What are you hearing?
Kopernik:
Listen.
As they both go silent, we can discern a low vibration on the air; a slight rumble growing in intensity.
CUT TO:
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR – OFFICE.
Rei:
Um…there was one word before all that which caught my attention.
Commander:
What?
CUT TO:
EXT. BANK – FRONT.
Kopernik walks down a few more steps, looking down the street branching off to the bank's left. The rumble is now faintly mingled with what sounds like the squeaking of gears.
CUT TO:
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR – OFFICE.
Rei:
Sir, please tell me "Pantcir" doesn't mean the same thing it does in Polish.
CUT TO:
EXT. BANK – FRONT.
Kopernik's eyes go wide as a Russian T-90S tank – bristling with more mounted weapons than any vehicle should rightfully have – rumbles into view; emerging from a side street not too far down from the bank.
Basia:
You've gotta be kidding…
Kopernik:
Get back inside! MOVE!
Kopernik clambers back up the steps, stumbling through the door after Basia.
CUT TO:
INT. BANK – THIRD FLOOR – STAIRWELL.
The Commander and Rei race down the stairs, taking them two or three at a time.
INT. BANK – LOBBY – CONTINUOUS.
They emerge from the stairwell door as Kopernik and Basia come in from outside.
Basia quickly tries to restack the nearby chairs into the barricade they once formed as Kopernik runs to meet the Commander.
Commander:
Corporal!
Kopernik:
Commander!
They meet each other halfway.
Kopernik & Commander:
We've got trouble!
(They pause, confused.)
What?!
The Commander shushes him before he can continue.
Commander:
We've got less than ten minutes before armored re-enforcements show up! Grab your gear and let's get out of here!
Kopernik:
In that case, sir, might I advise exiting through the back?
Basia sprints by, not slowing down.
Commander:
What's wrong with the front?
In response to his query, the sharp boom of a cannon from outside is followed shortly thereafter by a deafening noise as the front wall of the bank explodes inward in a cloud of dust and mortar, the force of which knocks both solders to the ground.
The Commander and Kopernik scramble to their feet, coughing, as they race towards the back where Basia and Rei are already headed.
Commander:
This has NOT been ten minutes!
Rei:
Tell that to them.
CUT TO:
EXT. BANK – PARKING LOT.
The Commander, Basia, Kopernik, and Rei emerge from the back door of the bank and into a deserted parking lot.
As they cross the tarmac, a group of Russians emerge from a line of shrubs running the length of the lot's left side. Kopernik fires while running, as bullets pick at the ground around them. They reach the opposite end, vaulting over a low wall and emerging onto an adjacent street.
EXT. STREET – CONTINUOUS.
Rei glances to her left, where the street gradually slopes uphill. At the top, Rei sees several figures moving towards them. Some drop to their knees and take aim, the echoing gunfire spurring Rei to action as much as the Commander's voice.
Commander:
Keep moving! Head for the alleyway!
He gestures toward an offshoot between two buildings on the right. They follow his lead as Basia and Kopernik fire at the approaching Russian troops.
EXT. STREET. ALLEYWAY – CONTINUOUS.
The Commander stops at the entrance, providing covering fire as the others race past him and down the alleyway. They stumble over trash and debris, clawing at the walls on either side for stability and momentum.
EXT. STREET.
From the alleyway, they emerge in front of what used to be a hotel, its four story front now collapsed and torn open by a previous explosion, the wreckage clogging the street in front of it. The burnt hulk of a Hind–D gunship lies twisted and smoking in the road as well, blocking any passage to the left.
Koperik pauses to reload. The Commander climbs onto a nearby block of rubble, looking down the street. Rei and Basia follow his gaze.
Kopernik:
Sir, if we stick to the back alleys we might be able to loop around them.
The Commander jumps down, running past him and towards the hotel.
Commander:
No, we won't.
Kopernik:
Sir?
Rei and Basia watch as, in the distance, a Russian BMP and several groups of infantry come into view. Rei remains motionless, her frightened gaze fixated on the encroaching enemy.
Basia:
Shit… Ayanami, come on !
Basia grabs Kopernik as she runs towards the hotel as well. Rei snaps out of it, stumbling after the others.
EXT. HOTEL – CONTINUOUS.
The three take shelter with the Commander behind several large blocks of rubble. Basia begins picking off soldiers with her rifle as Rei joins in, going prone alongside her.
Kopernik opens fire as well, aiming for the foremost soldiers. He looks over to the Commander, slowly and methodically reloading his AK, his face devoid of expression.
Kopernik:
Don't look so down, sir. Today wasn't a total bust…
The Commander makes no reply
Kopernik:
Hey, at least we'll have something to tell the grandkids.
A burst of gunfire stops his attempts at small talk. Kopernik turns to see a group of soldiers swarming from the alleyway he and the others just came from. They take cover where they can as Rei returns fire.
Basia:
Commander! More targets across the street! I need support!
Commander:
(To Kopernik)
What does your brother do?
Kopernik:
(Momentarily thrown)
Sir?
Commander:
You told me once that your brother ran a store. You never said what, exactly.
The Commander remains calm, looking at Kopernik for an answer. Kopernik cringes involuntarily as bullets whiz above his head.
Kopernik:
Uh…um…He runs a plastics plant. They make injection molds for industries and stuff.
Commander:
Plastics…that's good.
Rei drops a soldier with her last shot. She discards the rifle and grabs her sidearm, unloading it at the troops coming from the alleyway.
Basia:
Commander!
Down the street, the BMP halts, bringing its cannon to bear on their position. With a bellow, the gun fires, blowing apart more of the hotel behind them in an explosion of debris and smoke.
The Commander smiles half-heartedly at Kopernik as he gets up, moving next to Basia and Rei as they return fire through the smoke.
Bodies line the street, making progress somewhat slower for the Russians as they try to move the wounded to safety. Nevertheless, they still advance. The BMP rumbling forward like some armored beast of war, closing in on the Polish troops' position.
With the enemy so close, Basia has ditched her rifle in exchange for her sidearm, opting for something with a faster firing rate. Kopernik is the only one still using his AK.
Rei pulls the last clip from her belt and reloads. She watches as the Commander drops his AK and begins firing with his own pistol. He catches her worried gaze and stares back with equally frightened eyes. Finding no answers or orders to give, he can only whisper:
Commander:
(Softly)
I'm sorry.
Basia:
GET DOWN!
Rei jerks her head up in time to see the BMP's cannon flash and roar again as Basia dives on top of her, pulling her to the ground.
The ground to her left explodes in a deafening boom. Dirt and clumps of pavement rain down as Rei looks behind her, seeing the Commander lying against a chunk of concrete, holding his head as blood trickles from his ear.
Rei:
(Coughing)
Commander…!
Basia crawls to a sitting position, hefting Kopernik's discarded AK…still gripped by its previous owner's right hand. She hesitates momentarily before pulling the grotesque souvenir free and tossing it beside her. It lands next to Rei.
FREEZE PICTURE.
Rei stares at the disembodied hand.
CUT TO:
FLASHBACK – INT. BARRACKS. NIGHT.
NO SOUND - Kopernik and Milosz arm wrestle as several others, including Rei, watch and cheer. Milosz slams Kopernik's hand on the table, winning. He gets up and does a goofy victory dance. Kopernik laughs and rubs his hand as though mortally wounded.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOTEL – RESUMING.
Rei breathes shallowly, forcing herself to look away from the appendage beside her. She crawls to where the Commander lies, carrying him by the shoulders to the rubble where Basia is crouched.
Basia:
How is he?
Rei:
I don't know, he's bleeding pretty bad. He might have a concussion.
Commander:
(Slurred)
Oh, I-I'm fine…I just got the wind knocked out of me is all.
Unsure of what to do, Rei holds the Commander, wiping away the blood trail while cradling his head. Basia drops the now empty AK, grabbing her pistol again. Her eyes meet Rei's, who looks at her hopelessly. In spite of the situation at hand…
FREEZE PICTURE.
…Basia smiles reassuringly at Rei.
CUT TO:
FLASHBACK – EXT. TRAIN STATION. DAY.
NO SOUND – Rei and Basia are waiting at the platform. A young man steps off the train, waving to them. Basia runs forward and jumps into his arms, hugging him and laughing with joy; obviously her boyfriend. She smiles, talking excitedly.
CUT TO: EXT. HOTEL – RESUMING.
Part of Basia's head is torn away in a mist of blood along with a portion of the rubble wall in front of her as the BMP's machinegun opens fire.
Rei ducks her head as much to avoid the bullets as to avoid seeing her friend's twitching remains.
Rei:
Commander…what do we do…? Commander…?
The Commander makes no response. His bleeding has stopped. His eyes stare blankly ahead.
Rei bites her lip, trying not to scream. Instead, she rocks back and forth, whispering quietly to no one in particular.
Rei:
(In Japanese)
Make it stop…Make it stop… Make it stop…(cont'd.)
The machinegun opens fire again, tearing at the rubble Rei is crouched behind. Her mantra becoming louder and louder as the bullets whine overhead and the soldiers' voices get closer and closer…
Author's Note:
What's the deal with Kaworu? Who the hell's Elsa? Why no Evas yet? What about Asuka, Shinji, and the rest of the cast? Patience, grasshopper, patience...
Reguardless, here's the start of something that's been lolling around in my head for some time. I've got the story mapped out for the most part and am hoping that I can write it all without too much of a wait between updates. Rest assured that this is one fic I'm particularly excited about writing and am fully set on finishing. As always, let me know what you think.
