in an act of compassion, Kaworu draws the play to a close one act early. The Evas and lilith gone, Tokyo-3 condemned, and Shinji's reasons for staying evaporated. This is the story of how a lifestyle in Tokyo-3, 2014, was disassembled.

Then, it just simply Ended.

All the loose ends just tied together suddenly, on a whim, from Kaworu of all people. Introducing himself in place of the fourth children, he used the unmanned Evas 00 and 02 to descend into the geofront. And when Shinji confronted him in unit 01, the Angel had simply said, "I'm sparing you the final act of this play, Shinji. Go and rest now."

Without further fanfare Shinji's entry plug was ejected up the terminal dogma shaft.

Then with the Evas together with Lilith itself, Kaworu self destructed all of them. The terminal dogma collapsed, and all the tools needed for SEELEs instrumentality were gone. The Geofront, now a site of geologic instability, had to be evacuated. The experiment of Tokyo-3 was over.

This is the story of how a lifestyle in Tokyo-3, 2014 NERV, was disassembled.

Leaving

Norsehound

Dusk painted the tops of the condemned city. Looking west Shinji could see the spears of the city skyscrapers now silent and unlit. The only activity there was the Tokyo-3 decommissioning committee, working to close up the once magnificent city now that it threatened to turn into the largest sinkhole known to man.

Ritsuko, come to visit, was speaking in the living room. "MAGI was one of the first things to be evacuated. The official location is classified, but rumor has it Tokyo-2 is the final destination."

Misato said nothing as she sat holding her beer. Both women were seated at the coffee table. News on the TV was muted.

Finally the ex tactical officer of NERV asked, "Has anyone heard from the commander?"

Ritsuko was quiet. Then, "you mean you haven't heard?"

"Heard what?"

Ritsuko glanced at the balcony and Shinji's back. Then she said to Misato, low, "He was found in his office after taking his life. His confession note admitted to his plans, he evidently wanted to hijack the instrumentality project to see his wife again. It's funny, too, his confession letter is creating a scandal in the committee now."

"It is?"

"Chairman Keel has been ousted from the committee and placed under arrest. He's being held responsible for the destruction of the project, starting with his trust in Ikari. Details in the commanders notes tipped off the investigators."

Misato glanced through the glass at Shinji and asked Ritsuko, "He didn't leave anything to Shinji?"

"Not that I knew." Ritsuko responded.

Misato just nodded quietly. Then she asked, "what about Rei?"

Ritsuko, behind her own beer, smiled. "It's funny you should ask about her. I've taken her in."

Misato blinked. "You? That is a surprise."

"I'm surprised myself. She came to me two days after HQ was destroyed and asked if I would be her guardian. I still don't know what surprises me more; that I said yes, or that I seem to be fine with it."

"The subcommander didn't have any say in that?"

"No, Rei asked me first, actually." Ritsuko glanced at the table. Then she said, "it's… strange. All this time I was envious of the attention Gendo would give to his… 'project." She splayed her fingers upward sarcastically. "But then she comes to me and asks this and I accept without hesitation. What's… what's wrong with me?"

"Our whole world suddenly turned upside down overnight." Misato said, "maybe it's a trauma response?"

"Maybe." Ritsuko dismissed. Sighing she asked, "what about you and the kids?"

"We haven't talked about it yet. I think we're still all in shock, Shinji most of all. He didn't even want to pilot Eva, but did it for his father. Now they're both gone, what does he have left?"

"He has you. You're still technically his legal guardian."

Misato stared at her beer. "It was one thing when I was his commanding officer… but… other than that, what are we?"

"That depends on you. And him." Ritsuko said. Sipping her beer she set it down and said, "You and I are going to have to learn quickly how to live with dependents. We're suddenly saddled with them, but they have no one else. Except Asuka."

Misato nodded. "Of all of us she's the one with the most direction. A family back in germany… and an offer to become the pilot of unit 03. I have the feeling she's going to take it- I can't see her living without being a pilot."

"Where is Asuka?"

"She's in the hole collecting her things. I think she was hoping to catch a glimpse of Kaji down there. She still doesn't know he's been reassigned."

"Mmmh. It's not going to work."

Misato stared at Ritsuko as she tried to figure out what she meant. "Asuka piloting unit 03?"

Ritsuko nodded. "The Americans don't have unit 02s core data. They just think Evangelions are dumb, giant robots. They're going to plug Asuka in with some core data they found, it won't work, and they'll scrap what they think is a faulty Evangelion. They'll likely scrap Asuka with it."

"Are you thinking of becoming a consultant to tell them all this for an unfair amount of money?"

"That, or a cushy job as primary technical director of MAGI operations for the Japanese government. I tell myself it depends on how much I want to spite my mother." Ritsuko tapped fingers on the table and said, "you should… prepare Asuka for a life after Eva. Her piloting days were over the moment Eva unit 02 was lost."

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Misato looked at the table. "Kaji is probably the best person to talk to her. He could reach her better than I could."

"She's infatuated, so of course. But Kaji isn't here, and she shouldn't go too long believing something that can't be true."

"Is it wrong to let her live with the facts that bring her comfort?"

"It's a lie though, and it's going to come crashing down on her head when she discovers the truth. It might destroy her. Its better for her to face the end surrounded by people she knows, than alone in a country where she has no one after believing in a future she could never have."

Misato turned her head to look beyond the closed glass of the living room, seeing Shinji still on the balcony.

Misato said, "That's if we even survive all of this coming apart."

Ritsuko left by the time Shinji came in to make dinner. Misato had drifted between her room and the dining table, wrestling with what to say to her young roommate. Shinji couldn't escape the cloud he was under, as much as he tried to think of happier things.

Then the radiant one returned. "I'm home!" Asuka called into the apartment from the front door.

"Welcome home!" Shinji answered her.

Asuka rounded the corner into the kitchen wearing her yellow sun dress, carrying her red duffle bag. It was almost like she just stepped off the carrier again. "Making dinner?" She asked.

"Yeah, curry." Shinji replied, glum.

Asuka frowned, but they both knew about the commander. "Well," she said, "counting down the days until you get out of this dump, right?"

Shinji's shoulders slumped. "I… I,don't know…"

"Nonsense." Asuka said, dropping her bag on the table. "You're coming with me to America."

Shinji turned his head, surprised. "What?"

"I thought about it." Asuka said, "Eva units 03 and 04 are completed in America, but without any pilots. You and I will BE those pilots!"

Shinji paused, then looked at the meal he was making. "I… I don't know if I want to pilot anymore."

Asuka recoiled slightly. "What? What do you mean, you don't want to pilot anymore?"

"I… I just don't know why I would want to do it. It hurts, Asuka. Doesn't it hurt you? Every time we pilot it's painful."

Asuka stared at him. "Shinji, we're elite. Nobody else can do what we do. I don't care what they say, there are still angels out there that need to be beaten. After that, people are going to want to fight, and Evangelions will be there to stop them. The world needs us. You're going to throw all of that away, just because… what? You feel a little pain now and then?"

Shinji, face away from her, uttered, "I just want life to be normal."

"What did you say?"

"I said I want life to be normal!" He shouted, not facing her. Fists clenched he said, "I don't want to deal with Evas, or angels, or NERV or any of that anymore. All I want is a normal existence… just to live like a normal person with-"

He had turned to face her. Wide-eyed she stepped back as she asked, "With… with what, Shinji?"

Emotion was welling into Shinji's face as everything started up again. His father gone. The best times in memory, gone. His purpose gone. And soon… this family, with whom he had no relation or purpose to be with beyond Eva, would be gone too.

Most of all, she would be gone. And the pain of that realization drive the confession out of his face. "With you." He admitted.

Asuka took in what he was saying, and started to shake her head. "No… no!" A hand to her chest, she hollered, "I'm Asuka Langley Soryu! Second children! Evangelion pilot! I'm never going to live like some mundane high school girl in some anime fantasy! Do you hear me! I'm chosen! My entire life was meant to pilot Evangelion! And you're not going to take that from me!!"

Shinji blinked in astonishment. Why would he have any say over determining her fate?

Furious, she whirled away from him and stomped down the hall. He let her go, dismayed but not at all surprised that she had rejected his wish.

In her room Misato sighed deeply. She had heard her tirade; the task of letting Asuka down gently now seemed impossible.

NERV HQ had been closed down due to tectonic dangers. But, in order to maintain close to normal operations during the embalming process of the city, operations had been moved to a large prefabricated facility along the slopes of Mount Ashigara. Shinji had hopped a train to go to this facility after dinner in answer of special summons. "Y-you wanted to see me, subcommander?"

Behind his desk Fuyutsuki responded with, "It's commander, now. I doubt I could fill the space left behind by your father though. The corpse of this base is now technically my responsibility. Please, sit."

Shinji did as instructed and Fuyutsuki settled in his desk opposite of the young man. "So much has happened since the destruction of the terminal dogma, I haven't had the chance to debrief the most important remaining person in our facility; you, Shinji."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. None of this would have been possible if you had not agreed to pilot unit 01. Now that those days are behind you for good, and with both of your parents absent from this world, there is one final duty I must perform on their behalf."

Fuyutsuki had opened a folder on his desk and removed a photograph. He placed it face down and slid it across the table with a finger into Shinji's reach. The boy took it and flipped it. He blinked.

His father, his mother, him. "You are about three years old in this picture." Fuyutsuki said, "this is one of the few things I received from your mother. I found it again when my office was being disassembled. I thought it was fit to give to you."

Holding the photo Shinji said, "I thought my father destroyed all the pictures of her."

"Within his reach, yes." Fuyutsuki answered. "But this photograph is mine. Now, it is yours. I decided you must have it, since it will likely be the only thing you take with you of your parents when you leave this place."

Shinji looked at the commander. "We… we can't stay?"

Fuyutsuki stared at Shinji. "The Lake Ashinoko valley is being evacuated and declared an exclusion zone. After this week only researchers will be allowed in this place. But this is beside the point." He steepled his hands before him. "Before you leave this office and likely, NERV employment, I wanted to share with you my memories of both of your parents."

Shinji looked up. The old man smiled and said, "your mother, Shinji, was the most gracious woman I had ever met. She was kind, but also one who assumed a lot of responsibility. She died attempting to divert the human instrumentality project by herself."

Shinji looked down at the photograph. "What about… my father?"

Fuyutsuki drew a breath before saying, "your father was a man terrified of human interaction, but desperate to return to your mother's side and damn the consequences. His aloofness was a front."

"My… my father was… scared?"

"Your father maintained the barest connection with other people. Even I would be considered the closest thing to a friend to him, and yet, our relationship was purely a professional one. But I also knew your parents best of everyone here."

Shinji asked more questions and Fuyutsuki was happy to answer them. At its end Shinji stood and thanked the commander.

"Thank you for your service, Shinji." Fuyutsuki said. Just before Shinji touched the door to leave, the old man said, "a bit of career advice, Shinji."

The boy turned.

"Leave NERV behind. This organization is for nothing but starry eyed old men pursuing the failed dreams of godhood. You and your co-pilots must look to the future, and the world ahead for you to claim."

Shinji took those words. Then, "thank you, commander."

"Farewell Shinji."

Misato needed something to fight.

She had this thought as she sat at the kitchen table, beer in hand, staring into space. She was recognizing that, for the first time since running from Kaji in college, she lacked an enemy.

The angels, her previous purpose, were no longer her responsibility. Lacking a target of Tokyo-3, it was doubted if they would even appear.

The mystery of her organization- NERV- was also no longer a target. The base was no more, the instrumentality project was cancelled, and NERV was now a shadow of its former self. What good would it do to chase ghosts?

Pen Pen was staring at her. She looked down at him and smiled. "What are you looking at, goofball?"

"Wark!"

"Yes, I know I'm ruminating." Misato said. Blinking, she decided to come off the chair and sit down on the floor beside the penguin. "Okay, brainstorm with me, pal. We're in trouble. Soon we'll be out of a job and I'll need to think of new career options. What do you think, will the JDSSF pick me up?"

"Wark!"

Misato frowned, then glanced away, "I already tried the Americans, but they aren't returning my calls."

"Wark!"

"I suppose I could be a private investigator. Or, I know! A spy! I've got the body for it, wouldn't you say?"

"Wark! Wark!" The penguin flapped his wings, agitated.

"Hmmf. All right, wise guy, what do you think I should be doing?"

Pen Pen platted his feet through the apartment and returned with his food bowl, thrusting it at Misato with his talons.

"A chef? A zookeeper?"

The penguin bopped Misato's hand as he thrust the bowl again. Misato sighed and took it. "Stupid bird. This is Shin-"

She stopped as she stared at the food bowl, as suddenly her enemy appeared.

It had been cute in the beginning to play house with her charge, but now it was time to play the piper. Misato was the only support to feed pen pen. She was the only parent figure for Shinji and Asuka, here.

She looked up and through the archway that led to the kids' rooms. Shinji had lost all purpose for existence. Asuka was about to face a major life change she had no clue how to handle.

Parenting. She lowered Pen Pen's bowl and heaved a massive sigh.

"Do I have to?" She whined.

Katsuragi. It was the Kaji in her mind speaking now, because the genuine article had bailed on her. This facsimile told her now, This isn't a joke. Their futures are a matter of life and death now, too. Combat isn't the only battlefield which leaves behind casualties.

A hand to her face, she uttered, "I wish you were here, Ryoji."

The facsimile just told her what she deeply suspected. I can't return because I'm protecting you from the committee. It's up to you to save the kids.

Misato sighed and leaned against the table. "I'd rather be hunting NERV secrets, honestly."

You aren't going to dodge this responsibility. Kaji's smirking face said within her mind. And you'll never forgive yourself if you fail at it.

"Damnit Ryoji."

Shinji asked, "Who are you talking to? Is Kaji here?"

Misato jerked from being startled. Shinji was standing just in the doorway leading to the entry hall of the apartment.

"No I'm just… talking to myself." Misato said. Straightening up she asked him, "how did the meeting with the subcomm… Mr. Fuyutsuki?"

"It… it went well!" Shinji answered her.

a/n: perhaps my first successful Eva fic I'm proud of was called Dusk. it's a little reishin piece but it was a poignant ending of the series when instrumentality didn't happen but the Evangelion experiment was over. one could say my love of melancholy works begins with that one. it's down more because it's badly written.

Leaving is the spiritual successor to this. it is the moment at sunset just before crossing into night, the moment you realize it's time to leave the party and go home. it is the time you need to say goodbye and go into an uncertain tommorrow.

this draft most of all is one I want to complete well someday, but I've written myself into a bit of a corner with regard to Asuka and Shinji.

this concludes the 2022 draft review. I hope you enjoyed this sample of my range of writing even if I can't seem to finish much. it's been a trip.

from here I will conclude the framing story of Alternates.