Disclaimer: See the Prologue


Chapter 25 – Job Propositions


Shinji's eyes stirred as he floated in a state of nothingness. He slowly opened his eyes, and found he was back on Xen.

"What the…?" he begun, picking himself up.

He almost cried out when he found he was on a small floating island, and that the abyss was directly below him.

'Where am I?' he thought, brushing the dirt off his plugsuit, 'Where's Gordon?'

He looked around where he was, till a familiar, sly voice sent a shiver down his spine.

"Pilot Ikari."

He spun round to find the Man in the Suit, Gordon's boss. Shinji felt scared.

"What do you…want from me?" he asked, almost stuttering.

The G-Man smiled.

"Relax Ikari," the G-Man begun, "I only wish to extend my congratulations on behalf of my employers."

"Huh?"

"Don't sound like you don't know," the G-Man said, "Because of your…efforts in assisting Mr. Freeman and your mother in doing their jobs, the Union will not find anything worth assimilating on this world, namely the Aline Slaves."

'The Vortigaunts?' Shinji thought.

"I took the liberty of redirecting your displacement her so we can talk," the G-Man said, "We have few matters to discuss regarding yourself and Evangelion Unit-01."

"Right," Shinji said, relaxed as if by magic.

"Let's change the setting, shall we?" the G-Man said, smiling.

Suddenly, Shinji was blinded by yet another green flash. When he opened his eyes, they were standing on a beach area. The sand was white, the sky and the sea was red. Shinji look around.

"Where are we?" Shinji asked.

"We are in what would happen if Instrumentality had taken place," the G-Man explained, "But thanks to Mr. Freeman, this will not come to pass. But…"

Shinji stared at him.

"…we are not finished yet."

"We're not?" Shinji asked.

"Like you have witnessed, the alien creatures are determined to manifest themselves into Earth. But they are not our main adversaries."

"The Union?" Shinji said.

The G-Man nodded.

"What is the Union?" he asked.

"Do you really want to know?" the G-Man asked.

Shinji blinked, "I can take it."

"Very well," the G-Man said smiling, "You have suffered far worse over the course of your existence, this knowledge will not add to your misery."

Shinji said, "Ok."

"The Universal Union are the ones responsible at the beginning. Their only will is to control all life in the universe. They have already many galaxies and systems and their control and were the instigators for the Second Impact, as they exiled the Angels from their original home."

"You mean Xen?" Shinji asked, almost stunned to hear that, "They come from Xen?"

"Precisely, Pilot Ikari," the G-Man said, "Once the Union landed on Xen at the beginning of the 21st Century, they took it over and it's populace, the Vortigaunts. But they found the Angels would not submit to their authority. So they fought them and threw them down to the Earth. Except one whome the captured and processed. This Angel was the 20th Angel Nihilanth. Freeman destroyed it, not knowing, until now, what he fought was an Angel.

'Gordon killed an Angel before Lilith?' Shinji thought, 'That guy is unbelievable.'

"They saw Earth as a potential target as if was to survive the Angels, they would invade. But due to your efforts as a pilot alongside Pilots Sohryu and Ayanami, you vanquished them, including the 17th."

"Yes," Shinji said, head down in lament, 'You mean Kaworu."

"So that was when they decided to act and waited until the Resonance Cascade happened this year," the G-Man said, "The Angels are gone now, but they are coming."

"Can the Union be stopped?" Shinji asked.

"That is yet to be seen," the G-Man said, "But at the moment, let's get back to you."

Shinji gulped.

"I have been evaluating you ever since you arrived in Tokyo-03 and NERV," the G-Man said, "I have recommended your services to my employers and they have authorised me to offer you a job alongside Mr. Freeman and your mother."

"Why do want me?" Shinji asked, "There is no more use to pilot the EVA."

"Oh but there is," the G-Man interrupted.

Another green flash blinded Shinji. He then found himself inside a JSSDF Osprey.

"My employers see limitless potential within you," the G-Man said, "They see you as a survivor, hence they want to make life easier for you if you were to pilot the Evangelion for them in the near future."

"If I refuse," Shinji asked, deciding to be defiant.

The G-Man sighed, "Then I'm afraid you will be left here to die in this city. Take a look."

Shinji looked out the Osprey and gasped.

Tokyo-03 was burning. Alien creatures of various breeds, not including the Vortigaunts, were destroying it, killing everyone they se. Shinji was devastated. They didn't save Tokyo-03 after all."

The G-Man frowned, "Will you accept, Pilot Ikari?"

Shinji sighed in defeat.

"I…accept," Shinji said, getting the words out.

The G-Man stretched his hand forward. Shinji reached out and they shook hands, sealing the deal.

"Wisely done, Shinji Ikari," the G-Man said, smiling, "Let's see if your friends would want to join us as well.

Shinji nodded, knowing it's their best chance for survival.

Outside the NERV complex, Gordon, Misato, Asuka, Rei and Yui were still in a state of shock of what just happened: Shinji disappearing before their eyes.

"Er…Gordon?" Misato began, calmly.

"Yeah?"

"WHERE THE HELL IS SHINJI!" she screamed.

Gordon cringed.

"It don't know," Gordon replied, "I don't know what the hell happened."

"Look," Rei said, pointing up at the sky.

A JSSDF Osprey was touching down before them and out stepped the G-Man…and Shinji.

"Hey!" Shinji called out, smiling.

Misato and Asuka smiled big, and ran to Shinji For. Asuka quickly embraced him.

"Shinji!" Asuka cried, for once in her life happy that her friend was alive.

Misato hugged him as well, relieved that he was ok. Gordon, Yui and Rei stepped forward.

"Glad you made it Shinji," Gordon said smiling as he patted his shoulder.

Shinji smiled back.

Yui noticed the G-Man looking at her. She stepped forward towards him.

"Hello Ms. Ikari," the G-Man begun, "It's good to see you again."

Yui smiled back, "Likewise."

"My employers will be delighted to hear of your well-being," he said, the stepped aside, motioning everyone to step on board the Osprey.

They did so, and it took off. They were all before the G-Man. Misato frowned at him.

"You have a problem with me, Major Katsuragi?" the G-Man asked, calmky.

"Yeah! Where the hell did you take Shinji?" Misato demanded, peeved.

"I offered him a job, that's what I did," the G-Man said, "He accepted my offer, much to my employer's delight when I tell them."

"You what?" Asuka cried.

'He what?' Gordon thought, sharply.

'It's happened,' Yui thought, 'Shinji has joined us.'

Shinji spoke up; "I accepted his proposal of piloting Unit-01 for him. It's the only to survive."

"You mean," Asuka begun voice shaking, "This isn't over?"

Shinji shook his head.

"I was hoping that you three would join him, his mother and Mr. Freeman in preserving Earth's future," the G-Man said, referring to Asuka, Rei and Misato.

"Screw you!" Asuka cried, "I'm not working for you!"

Rei stepped forward.

"I accept," Rei said.

All eyes turned to her.

"What did you say?" Misato asked.

"I would like to join Pilot Ikari, Dr. Freeman and Dr. Ikari," she answered, "I wish to continue to defend Earth and joining them is the only way."

The G-Man smirked.

"Then welcome aboard, Pilot Ayanami," the G-Man said.

"If Shinji's going, I'm going too!" Misato said, determination in her voice, "He goes nowhere without me!"

Shinji smiled, "Thanks, Misato."

Misato smiled back, nodding.

"And you, Pilot Sohryu?" Rei asked, "Will you join us?"

Asuka's mind was in turmoil. Everyone, including Shinji, was going to be employed by a freakish agent, leaving only her. She gritted her teeth and she thought about it.

"Come on Asuka," Shinji said, taking her hand, "I'll watch out for you."

Asuka looked at him.

"Promise?" she asked.

"Promise," Shinji agreed.

Asuka nodded, before saying to the G-Man, "Count me in."

The G-Man smiled, "Just step into the portal and I'll see you all up ahead."

The door leading into the cockpit opened, revealing a portal. Shinji and Asuka, stepped through first, followed by Rei, then Misato.

'This better be worth it,' Misato thought, before disappearing.

Only Gordon, Yui and the G-Man were left in the Osprey.

"Mission accomplished, Mr. Freeman, Ms. Ikari," the G-Man said.

"Of course," Gordon said.

"What now?" Yui asked.

"The both of you will be reassigned shortly," the G-Man, "You, Ms. Ikari, need not worry about your son, as you will be assigned to him."

Yui nodded.

"As for you Mr. Freeman," the G-Man said, "I'll be assigning you something high-calibre. In the meantime, the both of you can join our new employees.

Yui turned to Gordon.

"Good luck on your new assignment," Yui said, hand on his shoulder.

Gordon smiled, "You too. Take care of Shinji."

"Count on it," Yui replied, before stepping into the portal, leaving Shinji and the G-Man alone.

Gordon turned to the G-Man, "They will not be in any danger?"

"Only time will time, Mr. Freeman," the G-Man said, smiling, "Only time will tell."

Gordon nodded, and stepped into the portal.

'I'm not alone any more, in my struggle,' his last thought was.

Darkness engulfed him again, totally unaware that 5 seconds later, Tokyo-03 went up in smoke as an N2 Mine destroyed it, wiping out alien and human alike.

But soon, they will come. And that is when humanity will truly be tested.