Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion, support official release.
Adam walks through the city as dozens of trucks drive past him.
"ATTENTION, THIS IS AN URGENT BROADCAST: FROM MIDNIGHT 12 AM TO DAWN, THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF JAPAN WILL EXPERIENCE A LARGE-SCALE BLACKOUT." Across all of Japan, people are watching the same warning playing out as they evacuate to the bunkers. "WE ASK ONLY FOR YOUR COOPERATION. ATTENTION, THIS IS AN URGENT-"
"..." He turns to the silhouette of the Angel in the distance compared to the past two, this one is prepared with the best defense and best offense. Even if NERV can match it in firepower, that doesn't mean they'll have a fighting chance.
"We could have probably learned more if we had used decoys, but Misato had to go ahead and ruin it all." Adam states and folds his arms. "Despite what she lets on, it's clear Misato is obsessed with defeating the Angels, like she has some kind of vendetta; this will bite us all in the ass someday." He sighs and looks at his wristwatch. "If worse comes to shove, I may have to use you."
NERV Control 01 truck, across Lake Ashino
Misato, Ritsuko, along with the Bridge Bunnies have been stationed at a control station/van in a parking lot surrounded by several military troops and vehicles. The truck itself is equipped with computers and communication systems and is heavily fortified.
Unless they use N2 missiles, there is no reason to drive away from the fight.
"The Angel has just broken through the 7th armored plate!" Shigure exclaimed, watching the 3D simulation of the GeoFront map and the needle slowly descending to the base in real time.
"What's the status of the energy system?" Misato asks Hyuga, who looks up from the screen.
"Power will be fed directly from the Shingotenba substation and two backup generators." Hyuga reports, showing a camera feed of the many electrical cables being retracted for movement. Another feed shows the many men and troops surrounding wire and cables which lead up to the mountain range through the street. "Superconductor power lines are now being laid towards lower Futagoyama. And the transformer relay system is scheduled to be up and running at 10:50 PM Japan time."
Misato nods. "What's the status of the Positron Cannon?"
"No problems in assembly, ma'am." Maya reports, watching the construction process of the cannon. "We'll have no trouble making it by operation start time."
"And Unit-01?"
"Currently being outfitted with G-Type Sniping Equipment." The comms from the GeoFront replies. "Should be ready for deployment in 2 hours."
"Unit-00 just touched down, it should arrive within the hour."
"Perfect," Misato cheers, before her next statement makes her chest wince in pain. "Now all that's left is the pilot…"
"But after the last encounter, do you really think he'll pilot?" Ritsuko asked with a look of uncertainty in her eyes. "And even if he doesn't, I doubt that Adam will do the same."
Misato didn't answer, truth be told she didn't have one. She told Shinji that piloting was something for him to choose, but in the end the fate of humanity rests on him. Adam didn't seem as hesitant as him, but that didn't mean he didn't have his share of second thoughts about it. She only hoped that both boys would respond to the call.
Gendo's Office, NERV HQ
"So, Ikari. How do you propose we handle the matter of Unit-01's pilot?" Fuyutsuki asked while looking outside to the sunset on the GeoFront's many reflective mirrors.
"Unfortunately, we have yet to run a successful test on the Dummy Plugs." Gendo said, leaving back in his chair. "We'll try to keep the current pilot in place until they are more practical in use."
"Worst case, there's always brainwashing. Fuyutsuki suggested.
"No, if it doesn't work out we'll use the John Doe." Gendo said.
Fuyutsuki turns around surprised at the statement. "Have that boy pilot Unit-01 again? You're taking an enormous risk, SEELE wouldn't be happy."
"We'll resort to whatever means are required. If we are to succeed, there are eight more Angels that must be defeated." Gendo looks at his table and in front of him are two pictures of Shinji and Adam. He can't help but notice how their faces look remarkably similar to one another, like twins. He picks up the picture of Adam and stares at it. "Only then will it all begin." He crushes the photo.
Shinji opens his eyes and is met by the familiar sight of a train cart. He watches the buildings pass and light flicker through the tram windows. "Back on the train… sitting here like a fool… just what is the point of this?" He asked. "I don't give a damn about the world or the EVA, yet I still came to this godforsaken city for some reason…"
"Wasn't it for the sake of being with your father? To be a family again?" A dream-like shadow of Rei asked, sitting in front of him reading a book.
Shinji looks back to his younger days, a boy sent to live with an indifferent guardian who gave him the bare minimum of attention or anything only to fall into his father's clutches to pilot the EVA. He hated his younger self for never speaking back, never asking questions about his father's past while enduring the gossip and ridicule of his neighbors. "I thought things would change here at NERV, and that maybe good things were possible with my father. I didn't come here to be put through this hell with robots and demons and shit… and you just had to come in and ruin everything." He glares at Rei with anger.
Rei Ayanami.
The best EVA pilot, the Ice queen, the commander's favorite… the doll!
"What does he see in you that he doesn't see in me?" Shinji stands up. "What makes you so special in his eyes!?"
The Rei in front of him raises her head, looking at him with a neutral expression on her face like always.
He calms down and collapses on his seat. "I try so hard for others to look at me, but all I get is their scorn or their apathy. I used to think I didn't have a choice in the matter. Whether it's my father or Misato, no one really needs me in the end. I'm just a useful pawn to them. And if I don't then Adam will pilot it, sacrificing himself for my selfishness."
NERV Hospital Sector, NERV HQ
Shinji wakes up and gasps, "I hate the ceiling." He whispers to himself, before calming down.
Rei looks up, calmly staring at Shinji who slowly sits up in his bed. "R-Rei?" he asked, her emotionless stares to the open book in her hands. "Were you waiting this entire time?"
Re shuts her book and places it on a small table beside the bed. "Adam asked me to watch over you while he's gone." She explains. "I am also here to tell you about the detailed schedule regarding Operation Yashima, which will commence at midnight tomorrow."
She takes out a booklet from her school bag and opens it. "Pilots Ikari and Ayanami are to report at Terminal 2 at 19:30. At 20:00, Unit-01 accompanied by Unit-00 will be transferred." She reads out, Shinji simply sighs and looks away with a look of displeasure on his face. "After that, they will await further orders. When the clock strikes midnight, the operation will begin." She closes the booklet, "your food". She pulls open one of the drawers to show packaged hospital food.
"No thanks," Shinji replies, fixing his blanket over his shoulders and back. "I'm not hungry."
"Your new plugsuit is here as well." Rei opens her bag, pulling out a packaged purple and green plugsuit (AN: Think of Shinji's original plugsuit but with Unit-01's colors). "We leave in 10 minutes."
"So I still have to pilot, huh?" Shinji asked softly, pulling the plugsuit package open and extending it across the bed side. "I don't want to pilot anymore. I don't want to be riddled with pain and end up here every time I launch out of the cage shaft." He states. "It terrifies me but in the end I have no order choice."
"Do you want Adam to pilot?" Rei asked.
"No, I don't want him anywhere near that thing again!" Shinji exclaims.
"Then why are you doubting yourself?"
"Because I didn't come here to fight monsters, I came here to try to reconnect with my father and now I realize that it was a fool's errand!" Shinji exclaimed, letting his emotions run wild. "He doesn't give a damn about me, I mean why else would he abandon me with some third-rate teacher for most of my life only to call me back because he has a need for me. And the worst part is that I actually came." He turns to Rei. "And then there's you, his little girl, the one person in this goddamn place that he seems to give a shit about! Do you have any idea how it feels, to see him smile and be happy at some stranger while giving me the cold shoulder!? To be seen as a nuisance by your own father!? No, of course not because you have him by your side and why is that? What the hell makes you so goddamn better than me!?"
He breathes in and out, letting his emotions slowly turn back to normal. "Just go… get out of my sight."
"..." Rei says nothing as she grabs her bag and making her way to the door. "...I will be waiting outside for your arrival."
Shinji just stares as the door opens and closes before throwing his plugsuit at the wall.
2 hours later, Tokyo-03 Mountain range.
"Target has broken through the 17th layer!"
"The Angel will be above NERV HQ within 4 minutes and 11 seconds and counting!"
"The new western Hakone line and southern Tounosawa overhead lines have been electrified."
"Currently the 16th substation is counting to establish it's…"
"So, this is the Positron Cannon?" Hyuga stands beside an armored truck, with Ritsuko and Maya in the empty ceiling opening. He stares at the EVA-sized sniper rifle, a large white and blue striped rifle with several large wires connecting to the scope and to the small cables of electricity.
"Yep, right now we're zeroing the alignment on our end and getting it ready to link with Unit-01 G-Type Equipment." Ritsuko explains. "Misato, I hope this works…"
Tokyo-03 hotel towers, middle bridge
Misato walks towards the young Ikari, dressed in his new plugsuit overlooking the city below. "Nice to see you've answered the call Shinji." Misato states, keeping a neutral expression. "You realize you were supposed to report to Unit-01 after your recovery, right? If you're staying, then do your job properly!"
"... where's Adam?" Shinji asked, not bothering to face her.
"He is stationed at the mobile command center with us in case something goes wrong." Misato replies.
Shinji sighs before letting out a hollow chuckle. "You know Misato, I don't think you get it." He turns around and glares at her. "All this crap about doing my job and yet you don't seem to understand what I have to go through. I'm scared of piloting, I'm not going to deny that." He begins to walk towards her in a menacing manner. "But you, the commander and the others, don't risk your lives to fight. No, all you do is yell from the safety of your little bunker while I risk my life and when I don't do what you say, you get angry and start making excuses that don't even matter in the long run." Misato flinches as Shinji is standing right in front of her with an expression that screams bloody murder. "You are all just fucking hypocrites!"
Misato stares at Shinji, before eyes look away in contemplation. The truth is... he was right. No one really knows what it's like to pilot the EVA, to feel true pain inside a walking death trap and to be the biggest target on the map but that doesn't mean they didn't know anything about sacrifice…
Sighing, Misato turns back to Shinji and grasps his gloved hand. "Come with me for a sec." She told him.
NERV HQ, lowest levels of the GeoFront
The pair stand silently inside the lone elevator, traveling god knows how deep into the GeoFront. They've already passed level D9, which to Shinji's knowledge, was the end point of the NERV base.
'What else could they possibly be keeping down here?' Shinji thought.
"Shinji… as you know, fifteen years ago Second Impact destroyed half the human race." She explains, gripping Shinji's hand tightly as the young man glaces away in annoyance. "If the Angels start Third Impact, we'll be wiped clean off the ecosystem. No one would survive."
"You say that as if I don't know the story." Shinji replies. "What's the point of telling me this?"
"If an Angel, by any means, manages to get past Level EEE an automatic self-destruct will activate in the GeoFront, destroying it and Tokyo-03 with the power of 500 M2 Mines." Misato explains as the elevator screen now reads "LE-EE". The elevator flashes red and the walls move to create a window opening across the elevator to reveal a dark shaft. "We willingly sacrifice ourselves to prevent Third Impact from triggering. Everyone who works here understands and accepts this risk."
The shaft vanishes as the elevator descends, revealing to Shinji just what lies below. A large red, almost pink chamber that spans for miles housing tree-like structures that reach the top and bottom of the chamber, with odd looking nerve cell-like objects floating, and eerie looking blood veins coming from the tree and possibly beyond.
The pair finally exit the elevator at their final destination, revealing a long catwalk surrounded by a lighted stone-like cavern that ends with a single large, bulky red door. When they stop at the end, Misato swipes a card which causes the screen beside the door to green and read:
"NERV SECURITY LEVEL EEE
TERMINAL DOGMA FINAL GATE."
The large door slowly opens, with multiple covers and metal panels shifting to reveal…
"What is that…?" Shinji found himself before a large chamber, with a pool of LCL and a red Evangelion-size cross in the center. On the cross is a vaguely-formed roughly Evangelion-sized humanoid upper torso with blubbery white flesh, of non-distinct gender. It has no legs or hips, its torso terminating in blobby masses with dozens of humanoid-sized pairs of legs growing out of them. Its arms are spread across the cross with large nails driven through its palms into the cross from which it hangs. It has five fingers on each hand.
Just like a human.
The legs twitch and sway as, what Shinji believes, LCL pours down the cross and into the lake below. A large red spear or lance is plunged into the chest of the white being, with a large scar and several cross-like objects driven into the end points of the scar's many cuts. Finally, the head sat there tilted forward, with an ossified mask or face-plate similar to the face Fourth Angel with two eye holes and a small beak protruding out of the lower end of the mask.
"Is that… an EVA?"
"No," Misato says, looking up at the crucified creature. "This is the bringer of all life on Earth as well as its end… Lilith."
"Lilith…?"
"Yes, and it is believed that it is the main tool used to trigger Third Impact should an Angel make physical contact with it. In the end, we fight to protect Lilith with the EVAs, something only you and Rei can accomplish." Misato continued. "We entrust all of humanity to you two and EVA."
"You guys make fighting Angels sound so easy." Shinji mutters, looking down slightly. "Why would you so easily give us, children, such a powerful and painful responsibility?"
"No reason," Misato replies, giving the boy a half smile. "Fate just chose you two is all."
Shinji doesn't respond, but he did make Misato's go slightly wider when she heard him utter to himself, "Fuck you, Fate…"
"But you aren't the only one putting your life at stake, Shinji."
"You say that so easily like I'm some saint…"
Misato chuckles. "You're right, I do. But in the end, you've pulled through each and every time, even if you needed a little push at times. And it's because of that, we're still fighting for our right to live. No matter how bad things get, no matter how much everyone hates you, I'll trust you to do the right thing. And so will Adam, so will everyone else. We've survived Second Impact, built the GeoFront, NERV and the EVAs and have endured since… and we'll do it again if that's what it takes to survive, together."
She kneels to meet his gaze. "I know this is a lot to ask of you Shinji but please," She tightens her hand around Shinji's. "Pilot Unit-01 again, for humanity, for Adam… for me..."
Shinji looks up at that. 'She has this much faith in me.' He thought in shock.
In the end, this all still fell onto him and he just wanted to vanish because of it. He can't just accept it with ease, the fate of their race clinging to his shoulders. If anything, he wanted it all to vanish. But, like everyone else, didn't want it all to end without a fight. No, if anything he at least buys humanity time and possibly its right to live.
"...fine, I'll pilot Unit-01… for you." Shinji replied, his fingers softly massaging Misato's hand. "Once more into that hell."
Adam is seen standing on the mountain side overlooking the 6th Angel, "let's get started."
Author Notes
It's been a while, huh? I wanted Shinji to be more expressive about his feelings than his canon version. His jealousy of Rei and his rant at Misato for demanding something that brings him hurt, like his feelings and opinions don't even matter. I kind of made Shinji act like Asuka in this one because, well, I just thought that's how anyone would react to the situation they're in and they have no say about it. I'll admit that Rei didn't deserve that but it is just something that needed to happen, regardless of how she feels about it.
Anyways, leave a comment/review and tell me your thoughts. Also check out my other stories, I really appreciate it.
Peace~