-THE SAME DAY, TIME UNKNOWN- INSIDE EVANGELION UNIT-ONE ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE

Slowly, Shinji Ikari opened his eyes to the world. He had no eyes, but he could see; he had no body, but he was slowly becoming aware of everything around him. He was...floating. The water around him was warm and thick, and light rippled in the orange (orange?) water, somewhere far, far above, though Shinji couldn't see from where. In his head (or what should have been a head), his own voice echoed distantly.

What's this? Where am I? Entryplug of Unit One? No one is here. I'm not. What's this? Shinji stared, as far in the distance in the water, a light began to flicker, and images flashed across his vision. They slowly resolved into place, and slowly, Shinji understood who they were.

Maya Ibuki. Kensuke Aida. Ritsuko Akagi. Hikari Horaki. Shigeru Aoba. Sensei. Uncle. Toji Suzuhara. Rei Ayanami. Asuka Langley. Misato Katsuragi. Pen-Pen. Kaji Ryouji. Over and over and over and over.

What's this? What's this? I don't know. These people. Yes. The people who I know, the people who know me. I see. They are all my world. What's this? I don't know it, even though this is my world.

The flickers came faster and faster, and suddenly Shinji understood what they were. Angels. Sachiel. Shamshel. Ramiel. Gaghiel. Israfel. Sandalphon. Matarael. Sahaquiel. Iruel. Leliel. Bardiel. Zeruel. Shinji didn't know how he knew them, but their names flashed unceasingly, alongside the images of the Angels, whether they came from newspapers or photos he'd seen, or whether the images came from when he was in the entry plug itslef, fighting them directly.

An image from outside. An unpleasant image. I see. An enemy. ENEMY, ENEMY, ENEMY, ENEMY. Our enemies called Angels which have angelic names. The targets of Eva and Nerv. Revenge for Misato's father. Why am I fighting? I do it even though it leads to such bitter experiences.

Unbidden, his co-pilot, Asuka Sohryu Langley, dissolved into the air. She was in her plug-suit, and her fists were placed haughtily on her hips. "Are you an idiot?," she asked him. "Unknown enemies are coming and attacking us, you know. Of course we have to deal with a lot of unexpected difficulties."

I don't need a reason. I shouldn't think about it? ENEMY,ENEMY, ENEMY, ENEMY, EVERYONE IS AN ENEMY! Something threatening me, us. That's an ENEMY. Definitely. Nobody will think badly of me if I protect my own life, our lives! ENEMY, ENEMY, ENEMY, ENEMY. My ENEMY! My ENEMY! Father!

Suddenly, looming before him, Gendo Ikari stood. His broad-shouldered frame blocked out the light, which glinted off his glasses and rendered his face unreadable. Shinji fought the urge to take a step backwards.

Are you telling me to get into this and experience terrible things, Father? Behind them, Eva Unit-1 watched, silently as a stone.

"Yes."

What! I won't. What are you saying now?! Father, can't you need me?

"I called you out of necessity," Gendo simply stated.

Why me?

"Because other humans can't."

I can't. I can't do that. I've never seen it or heard about it before. No. I knew about it. I remember. I knew about Eva. And then I ran away from Father and Mother.

Suddenly, everything changed again. Now he stood in an elevator, cold and lonely save for another person standing in front of him, but with their back turned to him. Muzak piped in from overhead speakers, as the background noise of whirring elevator cables droned on. Slowly, Shinji realized it was just Ayanami in her aqua school uniform.

Ever so slightly, she turned her head towards him. "What is loneliness?" she asked, her voice a whisper.

I've never known it. But I seem to know it now.

"What is happiness?" she asked again, and Shinji caught himself staring at her pale, thin lips.

I've never known it. But I seem to know it now.

"Are others kind to you?"

He hesitated, but answered, Yes.

"Why?"

Shinji clenched his fist, and the world changed once more. He was in his plug suit now, and he was screaming, though he didn't know why. It's because I'm a pilot of Eva. They are kind to me because I get into Eva. It's the reason why I can stay here. It's all that supports me. So I must get into Eva.

"Get into?" she asked, without raising her voice in the slightest.

Shinji ignored her, as the images of the Angels played in his mind once more. His spittle flew and flecked across his face, and he tightened his fists into balls as, slowly, his father flickered before his eyes. Enemy. Yes, I must fight against the ones which everyone calls the Enemy.

"Fight," she said.

I must win. Yes, I mustn't lose. I must get into Eva as they say, and I must win as they say. Otherwise, nobody, nobody, nobody... His voice faded into a soft whimper.