That could've been a shorter update. Again, sorry to anyone anticipating chapters, but I can see this being a fairly common occurrence throughout the story's run. But then, what's done is done. Enjoy.

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FADE UP ON:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE. DAY.

A desolated town somewhere in the Ukraine. Gray clouds hang low overhead, threatening rain.

A checkpoint sits near an intersection currently flooded with all manner of vehicles and pedestrians. A parade of military trucks and troops march one way, while an equally long line of civilians and non-combatants head in the opposite direction: a sort of combat zone rush-hour.

Situated beneath a hastily-erected tarp, groups of soldiers at a machinegun nest try to clear personnel through as quickly as possible. 

EXT. TOWN SQUARE – CHECK POINT. SAME.

Off to the side sit two NATO soldiers. Having realized the futility in managing the chaos before them, they appear to be taking a break. A nearby radio plays rock music. One soldier reads a magazine while the other chucks pebbles at a puddle in the street.

Solder 1: "Muffin Man." As in, one who sells muffins. A muffin vendor, if you will.

Soldier 2: Bullshit.

The first soldier looks up from the magazine in exasperation.

Soldier 1: Dude…!

Soldier 2: He's a muffin with LEGS!!

Soldier 1: He "lives on Drury Lane". How does a giant, walking muffin rent a loft?!

Soldier 2: I never said he was a giant. Also, it only says he LIVES on Drury Lane. Nothing about "he runs his bakery from the shop on Drury Lane".

Soldier 1: Okay, but don't we assume that this vendor – of muffins – lives in AND operates his muffin shop from the same place?

Soldier 2: No, because that doesn't make any sense.

Soldier 1: Oh, but a sentient muffin does?

CUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE.

A truck roars past, revealing two particular travelers amongst the throng of military green and gray.

Fuyutsuki holds a crumpled map in one hand as he looks around, trying to get his bearings. He wears dark khakis and a light-colored sports jacket with a flak vest strapped over top.

Cameron is with him. The combat fatigues he wears are an amalgam of east and west; resembling those of the soldiers around him but without patches or identification of any kind, save for a UN armband on his right. He wears a U.S. Officer's cap as opposed to the standard red beret. Over his shoulder is slung a modified assault rifle.

The pair makes their way past a traffic jam involving two jeeps and a mule. They head towards the checkpoint in front of them.

EXT. TOWN  SQUARE – CHECKPOINT – CONTINUOUS.

The soldiers are still arguing as Fuyutsuki and Cameron approach.

Soldier 1: Don't start with this.

Soldier 2: What!?

Soldier 1: This! What you're doing right now!

Soldier 2: What am I doing!?

Soldier 1: You're getting upset over stupid shit!

Cameron: (Clears throat) Um… excuse me…?

The soldiers ignore him.

Soldier 1: Remember that whole 'Beatles/Hard Rock' debate you had with Mikal?

Soldier 2: Oh my God…

Cameron looks around, biting his lip. Fuyutsuki checks his watch.

Fuyutsuki: They can understand you, right?

Cameron: If they'd listen, they would understand me just fine…

Soldier 2: Okay… First: Mikal is a complete tool. Second: his thing was that The Beatles were the greatest HARD rock band of all time. But since The Beatles are not in any way, shape, or form HARD rock, it makes no sense.

Soldier 1: They influenced a lot of future hard rock artists…

Soldier 2: I'm sorry, but simply influencing a genre doesn't make you a part of it.

Cameron: HELLO?!

Annoyed, the soldiers turn to Fuyutski and Cameron.

Soldier 2: Do you mind?

Cameron: Actually I do. We're on official business. We want to get through here quickly.

Cameron pulls a few crumpled papers from one pocket and slaps it down on one of the sandbags in front of the soldier.

Soldier 2: Nobody's stopping you…

Cameron: I gathered as much. But we're gonna' be traveling through some bad neighborhoods in this lovely country so I'd like the added insurance of diplomatic immunity…

Cameron points to a small, worn document stamp next to the soldier's elbow.

Cameron: So, uh, if you'll just do whatever it is you're supposed to be doing, we'll be on our way.

Soldier 2: Or I could just keep you here as long as I feel like…

Meanwhile, a young girl in a skirt and light jacket has approached the checkpoint. From a backpack, she pulls out a Matryoshka doll and begins playing with it; pulling each successive shell off until the smallest doll remains.

Fuyutsuki watches this as Cameron tries to reason with the guard.

Cameron: We're here under the provisions of the U.N. You keep us any longer than need be and you'll be obstructing a diplomatic mission.

Soldier 2: What? You negotiators?

Cameron: We're looking for someone.

The soldier points to a cluster of people sitting around the other side of the checkpoint.

Soldier 2: You're not the only ones. Take a number.

The little girl collects the pieces of her doll and puts it back in her bag as her mother approaches. The girl takes her mother's hand as the two of them scurry away.

Fuyutsuki watches them go before turning to look at the people awaiting clearance. He scans the crowd, taking in the tired faces of both the guards and the civilians under their watch. As he watches, one guard shoulders her rifle, reaches up to take off her beret, and runs a hand through her white hair.

Fuyutsuki steps forward. Something familiar about her…

The guard under his current scrutiny turns in his direction. After a moment, she notices the old man staring at her. Though her hair is now much shorter (closely copped to her head, almost like a crew cut) and bleached white, there is no mistaking Rei Ayanami's crimson eyes.

Fuyutsuki looks closer to make sure his eyes don't deceive him.

Rei looks puzzled, not sure who the man is looking at.

Fuyutsuki: Rei?!

A hint of recognition can be seen as Rei matches a name to the face and voice.

Just then, a truck in the congested intersection to their right explodes in a burst of flame and metal.

CUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE.

The truck and several nearby vehicles burn as soldiers move to help the wounded.

From the upper stories of several buildings, shutters are thrown open as gunmen begin to open fire on the crowd below.

Soldiers take cover, returning fire as best they can as the intersection quickly becomes a shooting gallery.

CUT TO:

EXT. TOWN SQUARE – CHECKPOINT.

Fuyutsuki is pulled to the ground by Cameron. He has to shout to be heard over the screaming and gunfire.

Fuyutsuki: WHAT'S GOING ON?!

Cameron: PARTISANS! THEY'RE AFTER THE CONVOY! WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!

Fuyutsuki: I FOUND HER!

Cameron: WHAT?

Fuyutsuki: I FOUND HER!

Cameron: WHO?

Fuyutsuki: REI!

Fuyutsuki points to…

…where Rei was standing.

Fuyutsuki: DAMMIT!

Cameron: WE'LL FIND HER! COME ON!

With that, he and Fuyutsuki get up, stumbling towards cover.

EXT. TOWN SQUARE – CONTINUOUS.

Crouching, they run behind a nearby group of cows. The bovines loudly protest the noise and their current use as shields.

Cameron peers around the side of his cover. Across the street, he sees two NATO soldiers lobbing grenades into the second story window of a bakery. The grenades are thrown back out just as quickly, making the soldiers take cover from their own munitions.

In front of him, a couple of soldiers return fire from behind a rust-colored VW bus, ducking back down as fire from the nearby windows laces their position. Several rounds strike near Cameron, causing him to duck back.

A keeling wail comes from the right. Cameron looks over to see two of the unfortunate livestock wounded on the ground, pockmarked with bullet holes. Fuyutuski scrambles towards him, wheezing

Fuyutsuki: (Panting) I'm getting too old for this shit… (To Cameron) We need cover that doesn't bleed!

Cameron points.

Cameron: To the left. See that truck? Run for it, I'll cover you.

He readies his rifle.

Fuyutsuki: You're kidding, right?

Cameron: Ready? GO!

Fuyutsuki stays where he is.

Cameron: What are you doing?

Fuyutsuki: I'm sixty-two. I don't run.

Cameron: (Eying the distance) You can make it…

A high-pitched whistle is followed by a loud explosion as an RPG strikes its target. The truck in question detonates in fire.

To their right, several soldiers come running by, diving over a low wall up ahead.

Sniper fire kicks up around a straggling soldier, forcing him to veer left towards the cows and the two envoys crouched behind them. He scrambles to safety, losing his beret in the process.

The soldier glances over at the two of them while reloading his rifle. Up close, we see that "he" is actually a "she". Moreover, "she" happens to be Rei. She freezes.

Cameron and Fuyutsuki just stare. There is the sound of heavy machinery approaching.

Cameron offers his hand to shake.

Cameron: Miss Ayanami!?

Rei's attention is held by something behind them.

Rei: Duck…

The gap behind Fuyutsuki and Cameron is suddenly filled by tank treads as something very large and very well-armored grinds into view. Hand still outstretched, Cameron shakes his head.

Cameron: What?

Rei: DUCK!

Rei dives on top of them, pulling the two to the ground.

Simultaneously, the cannon of the tank behind them belches orange flame, firing into the partisan-occupied buildings. The ground shakes from the discharge not less than a dozen meters away. The noise is deafening.

Fuyutsuki coughs as the dust around them billows and settles back in a thick cloud, obscuring all vision.

FADE TO BLACK.

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