Disclaimer: See the Prologue
Chapter 2 – NERV
The drive to the NERV complex was fairly short. Gordon and Misato had only passed a few streets before pulling up to the building with the vehicle elevator.
They drove into the lift, where Misato looked at Gordon, smiling.
"Ever seen a Geo-Front, Dr Freeman?" she asked.
Gordon shook his head, "I've only heard of them."
The lift shook as it took them down to the massive underground facility. A few minutes going down Gordon looked out the window.
"Whoa!"
He caught his first glimpse of the Geo-Front. His colleague back at Black Mesa, Eli Vance, described how the beauty and wonder of this kind of shield could bring a full-grown man to his knees. Gordon would gladly fall to his knees if he weren't sitting in the car.
Misato noticed his deep fascination of the Geo-Front. What was so special about this shield? It keeps the Angels from attacking NERV?
"Take a picture," she said snidely, "It'll last longer."
"I would if I had a camera," Gordon replied, 'Dammit, I wish a did!'
After they past the Geo-Front, much to Gordon's disappointment, they stopped when they were outside the main entrance. They stepped out of the car.
Gordon was glad he could stretch his legs. That lift down, apart from marvelling at the Geo-Front, was a lot worse than riding that train to Sector 3 every morning back at Black Mesa.
They walked up to the entrance, where a NERV Guard stood watch. He saluted.
"Major Katsuragi, ma'am," the guard cried in the best militaristic voice he could manage.
"At ease," Misato replied.
They stepped through the entrance, and to another elevator. Gordon was stunned! How far were they going underground?
Another minute later, they stepped out…
"HOLY SHIT!" Gordon cried.
He found he was staring straight into the metallic purple face of Evangelion Unit-01. He had the right to swear, he thought that the Evangelions were fairytales to amuse people who gave up on hope.
Misato led Gordon into the main facility, where the personnel were hard at work. Gordon took in his surroundings.
'This place ain't so bad,' Gordon thought, smiling, 'It kinda reminds me of…'
"Greetings, Major Katsuragi."
Gordon noticed a blue-haired girl in school dress standing before them.
SUBJECT: Rei Ayanami, Female, Age 15 (Confirmed)
POSITION: Pilot of Unit-00 (Destroyed)
ASSIGNMENT: NERV Japan
CLEARANCE: Level 1
Subject is confirmed to be the anomaly.
MISSION PRIORITY ALERT
Subject is connected to the Human Instrumentality Project.
Subject must either be convinced to not go forward with Instrumentality or risk termination.
Further Evaluation Pending...
"Hello Ayanami," Misato responded to the blue-haired girl, smiling.
Rei turned to Gordon, questioningly.
"Oh," Misato begun, "Dr. Freeman, this is Rei Ayanami."
"Hello," Gordon begun, smiling, "I'm…"
"Dr. Gordon Freeman," Rei finished her sentence, "I have heard of you. The commander requested your presence here personally. And I must assume you will be taking part for the experiment."
Gordon stared at here questioningly. He read in that letter of some kind of experiment, but it didn't say what it involves
"What experiment would that be?" Gordon asked.
Misato decided to cut in.
"Well...er…nice to see you again Rei," Misato said, smiling uncomfortably; not wanting to allow the former pilot of Unit-00 to overwhelm Gordon with her uniqueness.
"We should move in. The commander's expecting us," Misato finished.
Gordon nodded, before saying to Rei, "It's nice to meet you, Ayanami. I hope to see you around."
"As would I, Dr. Freeman-san," Rei replied respectfully, smiling softly.
As Rei walked away, Gordon thought, 'She's…different."
And Misato thought, 'Did she just smile at Freeman?"
Misato led Gordon through NERV towards the commander's office, where the many cameras were watching him. And where someone else was as well.
In that dark office, the commander Gendo Ikari sat back and waited for Freeman's entrance.
"So this is Gordon Freeman?" he said aloud, studying his file and image, "I did not expect as much."
Standing nearby was Gendo's long time friend and colleague Kouzou Fuyutsuki, the sub-commander.
"He is not what you expect?" Kouzou asked, "He is from the Black Mesa Research Facility."
"I did not expect that anyone would have escaped alive from Black Mesa," Gendo replied, "SEELE was efficient at destroying that complex with an obsolete nuclear warhead."
"What do you think SEELE would do now?" Kouzou queried.
"That remains to be see, my old friend." Gendo answered, smiling.
Gordon and Misato were standing outside Gendo's door.
"Is this the commander's office?" Gordon asked.
"It sure is," Misato replied, then she peered in closer to him, "A word of advice…"
Gordon listened curiously.
"Don't piss him off. Just acknowledge him and what God awful things he says."
Gordon nodded nervously, "O…kay."
The door opened and Gordon stepped through, all the while thinking of kind of title is 'Supreme Commander' for the administrator of NERV Japan?
His thoughts stopped when he entered that dark room and where he was before some guy dressed in a black cloak with dark hair and glasses.
"Dr. Gordon Freeman," Gendo greeted, smiling darkly, his glasses shining despite the little light in the room, "Welcome to NERV."
Gordon smiled softly, "Thank you."
"Please sit."
Gordon sat down in a chair before his heavy desk.
'This is a first,' Kouzou thought, 'Gendo's actually being hospitable.'
"I trust you know why you're here," Gendo begun.
Gordon blinked, before saying, "I received your letter. You requested my presence for some experiment."
"Involving Evangelion Unit-01," Gendo said, "This experiment involves handling a new type of engine to be inserted into the Unit's core. Only a few in the world know how to use a Mark 4 Hazard Suit. Since you were in range, we merely contacted your administrative sponsor."
"I…see," Gordon said.
"In an hour the experiment will take place in the EVA Cages, and you will be given instructions on what to do. If this experiment is successful, we would welcome you with open arms to stay here and become part of this great organisation," Gendo finished.
Gordon thought, 'This guy can't be serious. In fact, he doesn't look serious.' Gordon noted Gendo's bad taste in dress, but he just nodded.
Gendo stood up from his desk, "Report to the EVA Cages in a hour. You are dismissed."
Gordon stood up and left the office. When he stepped through the door, he took a deep breath and sighed, relieved to be out of there.
"Hey Dr. Freeman?"
Gordon turned to see Misato waiting for him.
"I see you survived the commander, Misato said, smiling, "You trunk is in the locker room. And it's a big one indeed."
"Oh yeah," Gordon replied, smiling back.
"Do you want a tour of the place?" Misato asked, still smiling.
Gordon's brightened up.
"Sure," Gordon replied, also still smiling, "Lead the way."
