Answers:
Fanus: Now that comment there is just plain scary.
Dude: He takes it pretty well, actually...
Kaizer: The oshits aren't all used up, yet!
ANON: That ending is too easy for Gendo...
Disclaimer: See Prologue
Chapter 23: Memory
"Well, Commander, I don't want to sound too callous, but how do you plan to explain this to the old bastards? The Committee will have me shot if I don't get them a report, and soon."
"Report that Units 00 and 02 were damaged from combat only. There was no psionic contamination in either of them."
"And Unit-01?"
"Tell them that, at the end of the day, Unit-01 is still technically a prototype. So far, Unit-02 is the only Unit not to go completely berserk at some point in its history. Unit-01 had entered a berserk state, resulting in a loss of control from NERV. We were physically incapable of influencing its behavior. I am willing to conjecture that the personality inside the core is what drove Unit-01 to its rage. Emphasize the point that this was against an immensely destructive enemy, and that all physical and psychological limiters in Units 01 and 02 had to be removed in order to eliminate it. There was nothing we could do to stop Unit-01 by that point."
"I hope, for both of our necks, that they buy that story, Commander."
"Do not give them any extraneous information, Inspector. This is the only 'story' that exists. They have no choice but to accept it."
Kaji left the Commander's chamber, and Fuyutsuki spoke up.
"Do you really think that he's going to side with us before the UN, Gendo?"
"We know that Kaji will do anything to ensure Colonel Katsuragi's well-being, Professor. He has everything to lose and absolutely nothing gain from double-crossing us. He's self-aware enough to know that himself."
Misato and Ritsuko were overseeing the manual suspension of Unit-01.
"We've got it restrained, but what's the danger of it restarting on its own?"
"I honestly don't know, Misato. The entire system is shut down, like it blew every fuse in its power supply."
"Then how do we get the plug out?!"
"We have to wait. I'm sorry Misato, but this is an experimental extraction. The Unit has never gone dormant like this before. We have to follow the scientific method to the letter, any precision we sacrifice ends with Shinji's death."
"Dr Akagi, Colonel Katsuragi, we have the final video transmission from the plug." Hyuga arrived at Unit-01's bay and brought the two to the auxilliary bridge.
"This place is not equipped for warfare." Misato stated as she entered the less impressive of the two command areas.
"Yeah, but it's what we've got to work with. Construction's gonna have to work on the main bridge for at least a month to restore it to a usable state. The story on our end has Shinji's suit sending vital signs until this point in time." Aoba brought up a timestamp from Unit-01's broadcast and displayed it on the main viewscreen.
"WHAT IN HELL!?"
The video feed showed a sealed, empty entry plug with Shinji's blue and gray plugsuit drifting aimlessly in the LCL. Misato and Maya gasped while Ritsuko's face hardened into a glare.
= Well, Unit-01, that's the second time for you, isn't it? =
"Where's Shinji! What happened to him?!"
"I have a hypothesis, Misato. LCL is essentially the primordial ooze from which life on Earth was created. As Shinij dove to the 400% sync, his consciousness merged with the Evangelion and left his body to whither. His body then rapidly decomposed, at lightning speed, and returned to the organic compounds that our biologic processes alter into sustainable organ tissue. However, Shinji's body is essentially still in there. Seeing as the Artificial Evolution Laboratory is still open, we can use its resources to research a process for reconstruction."
"What do you mean 'reconstruction'?"
"We can Rebuild him. We have the technology."
"What am I looking at? There's my plugsuit! When did I get undressed?"
"Did I beat the Angel? When are they gonna let me out of here?"
Shinji tried holding his hands in front of his face and saw nothing, just the empty entry plug.
"Where am I? Aren't I inside Unit-01? WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!"
Shinji felt like he was dry heaving, but he felt no reaction from his lungs or stomach. He felt afraid, but he couldn't feel his heart rate race or his temperature drop. He knew that he was afraid and was well-experienced with the physical reaction to fear, but he felt...nothing. No physical reaction whatsoever, and that made him feel even more fear.
"Did I lose?! Am I dead?! Is this my own personal Hell? SOMEBODY LET ME OUT OF HERE!"
One person did hear him.
"Shinji, I'm disappointed in you. You are more than intelligent enough and more than brave enough to act more mature than you are right now."
"Who else is in here?!"
"I guess you wouldn't remember my voice after almost 12 years, would you?"
"12 years...what was 12 years ago?"
"The activation test."
"Activation test?"
"Hmm, You must have suppressed the trauma...Let me fix that."
He suddenly felt the warm outline of a human hand where he thought his forehead might be. He couldn't see anybody until an image rushed into his head at the touch.
Yui harnessed herself into the entry crane—an unwieldy scaffolding that would lower her into the core directly, and as the test was started, all personnel were ushered behind the bulletproof windows. Unit-01 was plugged into its ultra-high-voltage power conduit and Yui was lowered. A flash of light from the Core and the MAGI displayed the simple text 'success' on their terminals. Dr. Akagi hushed the celebrating and gave the order "All right, let's get her out!" A technician at the next terminal gave her the warning: Yui's mind was synchronizing with Unit-01 well beyond the 1:1, 100% threshold. At this rate, the Evangelion was going to take control of her.
"EMERGENCY STATIONS! All personnel focus on deactivating Unit-01!" Akagi shouted across the facility. "Cut power! Lower the crane, we'll fish her out if we have to!"
The entry rig attempted to remove the endangered pilot, but Unit-01 tore the scaffolding away with its newly-activated arms, halting the intended rescue attempt.
"My God," the tech gasped out. "She's going to a 400% sync…she's dissolving in the core!"
"What!? Why isn't it deactivating?"
"Ma'am, 14 seconds until internal battery is depleted"
"That's too long! 10 seconds."
"Yui, please," Gendo whispered to himself. "6 seconds"
"5…4…3…2…1" The robotic weapon's eyes darkened and its arms fell slack.
Silence.
The room felt silence for over a minute.
"Dr. Akagi…" Naoko looked down at the boy by her leg.
"Wasn't my mom out there?"
"Yes she was, but we'll have her back in the office in no time," the motherly scientist lied, but she doubted he believed her.
She picked him up and carried him over to his father, who was still staring out over the failed test.
Gendo Ikari wasn't a cold man, but his heart broke that day. Something in his mind broke as well. He spoke to the lifeless robot, "I'll save you Yui, even if it kills me and everyone else here."
"Is that a memory? Did...did I see all that?"
"Yes, you did, Shinji. That day when your heartless father abandoned you was the first time you saw Unit-01."
"Then...you're-"
"I love you, Shinji."
"...Mom…?" Shinji squeaked out, his disembodied voice breaking due to fear and sadness.
"Yes, Shinji, I'm...mostly alive, anyway."
"Mom...why? Why did you do that test? You-"
"I knew from the beginning that it wouldn't kill me, Shinji. I made a mistake with my life: Your father was never as smart or good as you are right now, I saw that fact much too late. I never should have been with him, but I had to thank him for what he gave me. What he did give me was you, Shinji, and I was never happier than to see you coming to work with us that day, but I always had a hunch- call it a woman's intuition –that I knew exactly who would be in control of Unit-01. I love you so much, Shinji, that I was not going to let your father put you in danger. I willingly tricked the science team into letting me enter Unit-01's core. From there, I could help you, keep you safe, I would always know how you were feeling and what you were thinking, and I was so proud of you when you refused to harm your friend Touji. I wish I could have met him, I'll bet he's as nice of a boy as you are!"
"Um, yeah, Mom." = Okay it feels really weird to call Unit-01 'Mom' = "Touji is really cool and friendly...that's why I couldn't fight him..."
"Shinji, that's nothing to be sad about. You refused an unlawful order. In the JSDF branches, they call that the Duty to Disobey, and it takes integrity and courage to stand up to those above you. We both tried to fight that autopilot that took over us, but it got activated in the end...I happen to know how to resist it, now, so it has no power over Unit-01, anymore."
"But my dad's still trying to build the dummy plugs, and he's been hurting Rei to do it. I've got to find some way to stop it from happening!"
"Rei is your pretty friend with the blue hair, isn't she?"
"Yes, mom-"
"She's pretty much the only thing you think about while you're in here, lately!"
"Mom! I mean...it's not...she's just-"
"Shinji, I approve."
"...You do?"
"I can only see as far as Unit-01 can, so that means I spend a lot of time staring at the holding bay walls, but I do see the world around us when we're out on the job. I've seen that Rei is a kind, brave, determined girl. She isn't anything like that redheaded pilot that always mistreats you."
"Asuka?"
"Asuka? Asuka Langely Soryu? She's the Unit-02 pilot?"
"Um, yeah. Did you know-"
"I knew her when she was just a baby. Her mother worked in the German branch. I would have expected Kyoko to raise her better than she turned out. I'll admit, Shinji, I've had to restrain myself from punishing Unit-02 with all the insults and degrading comments I hear coming from her across the radio."
"Well, she's hurt and in the hospital, Mom. Maybe they can get her counseling, there."
"It would certainly be nice if they could make her a kind, caring teen girl, but I'm not crossing my fingers. Some people simply thrive on hate; I'm glad to know that you stand up for yourself, now. Now, I'll bet you think Rei looks really good in that plugsuit of hers!" Shinji realized that, even safely inside Unit-01, he couldn't escape being teased about Rei.
"MOM!"
"It's okay, Shinji. I designed the suits that way because I needed close nerve connections to the body. The fact that it shows off a girl's figure well is just a side effect."
"Mom! I don't think like that! I'm not a pervert like that-"
"Being attracted to someone you're involved with isn't being perverted, Shinji. It's how you're supposed to think, and it shows you care about her. Asuka probably abuses you for any hint of affection you give her, right?"
"She just calls me a perverted idiot and hits me."
"And you're enough of a gentleman that you choose not to hit back. Tell me what your father's been doing."
"He's using LCL and the base computer to copy Rei's thoughts and memories. He's using her to build the dummy plugs."
"...Stomping my way around the base is probably out of the question, so I'll have to think of a more subtle solution to the plugs. I'll need some time."
"Mom, why did you and dad get involved? I wouldn't have ever thought about you fighting a war or anything like that."
"Because we lived through the Second Impact, Shinji; and, seeing how I'm a microbiologist and all, I knew that I could study the Angels and develop a way to protect the earth from them. I didn't want you to have to live through what we experienced, and up to this point, I've succeeded. I know fighting the Angels hurts, Shinji. I feel the same pain every time. Your father, on the other hand, let that desire for peace become perverted into a desire for power. I'm not going to let him have it."
"But why us?! Neither of us were soldiers or fighters before now, we weren't qualified to fight for Earth! There have to be better qualified people to fight the Angels."
"You shouldn't ask yourself such worthless questions. Aim higher. Try this: why am I here? Why do I exist, and what is my purpose in this universe?
(Answers: 'Cause you are. 'Cause you do. 'Cause the Eva hits harder than the Angels do!)"
"...You're braver than I am, Mom."
"No, I'm not, Shinji. Sure, I entered Unit-01 to protect you, but I also did it to run away from your father. I see now how much of a mistake that was. When the Angels are gone and I can come home, I'll have to face him for real. And I intend to give him a piece of my mind that he'll never recover from. Now, you're probably needed in the real world, and I know for a fact that Miss Katsuragi and your girlfriend both miss you; you need to take her some place really romantic! So get out of here!"
Shinji felt the entry plug flooding the LCL onto the base around it and he yelped in fear as he tumbled out on to the floor, naked as the day he was born.
"Doctor, I can't believe that you created all this documentation yourself!"
"That's because I didn't, Maya. Most of it was my mother's research. She was here before your time, but she was involved in the first experiments in core entry. She developed the plan to extract a soul from a Unit. All right, people! Begin the LCL electrification. We only have one opportunity to get Shinji out of there. When the liquid is charged, polarize the organic particles and ensure that they are attracted properly. Power the system on when I give the order.
5…4…3…2…1…Power On!"
The test facility blacked out and the system controls shut down as Unit-01 strained within the Eva cage.
"It's activating on its own! Activate the bakelite injectors!"
The floor of the room was flooded with the purple epoxy while the entry plug ejected from Unit-01's back, opened, and dumped kiloliters of LCL, one plugsuit, and eventually, one Shinji Ikari.
"SHINJI!"
Misato saw the boy tumble out and darted out of the test control room and ran to his side. She collapsed to her knees and cried hysterically while holding him. Shinji dazedly came to in Misato's arms, and screamed in humiliation as he saw his own body…and his plugsuit a few yards away. She composed herself, got his plugsuit on him, and hoisted him to his feet, hugging him again after they were both standing.
"Shinji, stop disappearing like that! It's the third time I've lost you and I get more and more depressed each time you leave!"
"...I'm sorry Misato, sorry I keep hurting you when I run away...But this time, I really needed it to happen. Don't worry about the future, Misato. I'm staying...How are Asuka and Rei?"
"Asuka's still in psych therapy. Rei's in a recovery room, she survived an N2 attack, but she's probably tired and weak. I'll give you her room number, but don't go doing anything to fatigue her!"
"MISATO!"
"Hey, that reaction proves you're the one thinking about it!" Misato laughed at his expense. "I could have been referring to you two sparring or something like that!"
"Misato, I wouldn't-"
"I know that, Shinji. I'm just keeping you sharp and making sure that you treat her like royalty! Now go get her!" She smacked his back and shoved him out of the room. = Those two have changed each other for the better, haven't they?...How soon can you be home, Kaji? = She thought, wistfully.
"…I am alive…"
Rei opened her eyes to the bare white ceiling as she felt a hand stroking her cheek. She rolled her head and saw him looking down at her.
"Rei, Misato told me about that N2 Stunt. The next time you decide to kill yourself, ask me first." His eyes told her that he was having fun with his prodding.
"Shinji-"
"Just keep resting, Rei, I'm staying right here until you're safe to go." He pulled a guest chair up to the hospital bed and took her hand. She gave him a weak smile- he fell harder for that face every time he saw it –and returned to sleep.
=...Okay, I admit it, Mom's right. = Shinji made sure that this particular thought would never be heard. = She looks amazing in her plugsuit. =
A/N: So the plot's architect has introduced herself...I wonder how strong Shinji can get now that he knows he's loved and cared for...