Previously, on Return of Evangelion...

"So you must be Shinji Ikari, right?"

"Yeah."

"Sounds like you never got along with your father."

"You are the new pilot."

"The pilot has become unresponsive!"

"Berserker..."

"Is that..."

"...Eva's true form?"

Episode 3: Mustn't Run Away

Misato had just gotten back from a night shift at NERV, and was in bed trying to sleep. However, for Misato, it is very hard to sleep during the day, especially with somebody to look after.

After the incident with the Angel, Shinji had moved in with Misato. Both Shinji and Misato were awkward first, but they have since grow more accustomed to each other. Shinji had also started school three weeks, but has been quiet about it. Misato was mildly worried about that.

However, right now, she was trying to sleep. Well, at least was until the phone woke her up. Misato leaned over sleepily for the phone.

"Hello?" Misato said with a yawn, "Oh hey there Ritsuko." On the other end of the line was Ritsuko, once again calling her at an early hour. She needed to stop doing this, Misato thought.

"How's it going? Is Shinji doing well?" asked Ritsuko.

"Well, it's been about 3 weeks since he started school, but he hasn't really changed. No one ever calls him on his cell. I'm getting a bit worried."

"Maybe... Shinji just doesn't make friends that easily."

Toji's punch hit Shinji hard. Shinji fell back and hit the ground. There was now a bruise on his face, putting a big black mark right now his cheek. Toji cracked his knuckles.

"Sorry kid. But I had to hit you," Toji said. Toji was one of Shinji's classmates, and he was the stereotypical jock of the class. He had black hair, and around Shinji's height. A distinguishing feature about him was that he never wore his school uniform. Instead, he wore sports clothes to school. Another kid was with him. He was nerdy looking kid with glasses, and had brown hair.

"Sorry kid," the nerdy kid said as Toji was walking away, "His sister got seriously injured in that battle, so it isn't personal. Name's Kensuke." Kensuke got up and started to walk away with Toji. That is, before Shinji responded.

"I didn't want to pilot it," Shinji said, "They made me do it." This made Toji incredibly angry, even more then he already was. Toji walked over to Shinji and picked him up by the shirt. Shinji knew he was going to get punched again. So he just looked away as Toji hit again, this time harder then the previous. After this, Toji and Kensuke walked off, and went back to class.

Shinji lay there, just looking at the clouds passing by. He hadn't noticed until now how beautiful the scenery was. Tokyo-3 was surprisingly beautiful city. When Shinji first moved in with Misato, one of the first things they did together was watch the city rise up from the ground. It was a sight to behold, even if it was human-made.

He wondered why he should pilot now in the first place. It was obvious to him that people didn't like him piloting it, so why should he? At that specific moment, Rei appeared next to him. Still wearing her bandages.

"There's been an emergency," she said to Shinji, "I'll call in first." And then she suddenly ran off in a hurry. Shinji quickly followed.

In the distance, a red, squid like figure encroached onto Tokyo-3.

"Angel detected in the distance!" yelled Makoto.

"All hands to battle stations!" Fuyutsuki ordered as he came up the elevator.

"Fuyutsuki? Where is Commander Ikari?" asked Ritsuko worriedly.

"He's off on official buisness," Fuyutsuki statedm "He'll be back tomorrow."

"Just our luck that an Angel shows up with him away," said Misato, "Start guiding civilians to the shelters!"

Back in the city, the siren went off. Most of the civilians went in a orderly manner. They've been through this before, so this is an easy task for them. After all the civilians were sent to their shelters, the city began it's descent. The buildings went down into the Geofront, now dangling above it. The locks were put in place and the city stood there, motionless.

It was at this moment that the Angel arrived. It was long, red and looked mildly like a squid. It bone tentacles underneath, protecting a bright red core similar to the previous Angel. Machine guns from all directions shot at the thing, but none could get past it's powerful AT Field.

"It's a waste of the taxpayer's money," said Fuyutsuki sarcastically.

"Misato!" yelled Aoba, "The committee is demanding that we launch an Eva again!"

"I would have done so if they hadn't asked!" responded Misato.

Once again, Shinji was in Eva Unit 01 ready to be launched. However, this time he was wearing his plug suit, specially designed to help him synchronize with his Eva. However, Shinji was not happy to be in the Eva. After Toji beat him, he had no real incentive to go back in. Why should he pilot if no one liked the results?

Then there was the issue of this father. He only piloted to gain recognition from his father. But his father was nowhere to be seen today. So if his father didn't bother caring enough to see him pilot, why should he pilot?

Why should he pilot? That was the question going through his head over and over again. But right about when he was about to ask to leave, Misato voice came through the radio.

"Ok Shinji, do it just like we practiced. Aim for the center, and pull the trigger," Misato explained.

"Yeah..." said Shinji unenthusiastically. Shinji gripped the Eva controls as he prepared for launch.

"Eva launch!" The Eva launched up immediately. The door at the top opened and the Eva grinded to a screeching halt. In front of him stood the Angel. Seeing him, the Angel stood up, revealing it's red orb in the centre. Two whips made entirely of energy were created, and were aimed at the Eva.

"Ok Shinji, grab the gun, and aim for the centre," explained Misato. A building opened up next to him, and it held a rifle. Shinji grabbed it and turned it at the Angel. He pulled the trigger immediately upon facing it, causing a massive cloud of smoke to appear.

"You idiot!" Misato yelled at Shinji, "You hit the enemy with your own smoke!" The smoke quickly dissipated and the Angel attacked Unit 01. The Eva quickly moved out of the way, running for it's life. The energy whips that the Angel was using destroyed building after building, until evantually it ended cutting Unit 01's umbilical cable.

"The umbilical cable's been snapped off!" yelled Aoba.

"Damn it!" Misato said to herself before yelling at Shinji, "Shinji! Get out of there!" However, Shinji was unable to run fast enough before the Angel grabbed his leg and threw him away. Shinji went so far out that he ended up landing on the hill far outside the city. Shinji had a hard time getting up, but it isn't physical injuries.

Shinji was still affected by Toji's punch from earlier.

"Shinji, get up!" Misato yelled in concern. However, the scanners were picking up something strange.

"Foreign bodies detected outside the Eva!" yelled Makoto. On the screen appeared Toji and Kensuke, the people Shinji met after class.

"Students?" yelled Ritsuko.

"They must be Shinji's classmates!" said Misato. "Shinji, put them into the cockpit!"

"Captain, I believe that might not be the best idea," Ritsuko warned Misato. "Putting 2 foreign bodies in the Eva may disrupt the connection."

"It's a risk we gotten take! Shinji can't move otherwise!" Ritsuko reluctantly backed off after Misato said that. "Shinji, let them in!" Shinji opened the entry plug.

Meanwhile outside the Eva, Toji and Kensuke were terrified. Kensuke had begged Toji to being him outside so could see the fight, but now he was regretting. So when the entry plug, they found it a safe haven. They ran inside as quickly as they could, and the door shut behind. In front of them stood Shinji, looking rather distressed.

"Shinji, retreat backwards and drop them off! We can plan this out afterwards!" Misato yelled through the mic at Shinji. However, Shinji did not move or respond.

"Hey, new kid!" said Toji, "That chick's telling you to move! So move, goddamnit!" But Shinji something different. He yelled back at Misato.

"So... you tell me before to not run away...but now you do!" Shinji yelled, "How much of a hypocrite can you be!?" Misato was stunned at Shinji's behavior.

"I gave you an order! Obey it!"

"And allow this city to be destroyed? I still have time! I can destroy this Angel! Just let me do it!" Shinji screamed, reaching tears. Toji and Kensuke just sat there in disbelief at what Shinji just said.

"...Fine. Good ahead. I won't stop you." Misato had anger in her voice. But at the same time confidence. She knew that if Shinji put his mind to things, he would be able to accomplish anything.

Shinji screamed and ran towards the Angel, with his progressive knife in hand. With both hands on the blade, he stabbed the Angel at it's big red core with all his might. It felt as if knife was piercing metal the core was so rough.

The Angel threw it's whips at Shinji and they went through the Eva. They went through the Eva, but Shinji ignored the pain.

The timer reached 0. The Eva shut down, unable to move from it's position. However, outside, the core of the Angel slowly cracked, and then exploded. The Angel soon melted afterwards, turning into bright red blood.

Inside the Eva, Shinji wept.

"Why did you talk back to me?" questioned Misato, "Why?" Shinji had just gotten out of the Eva. It had to be moved because it losing power.

"I had to do the right thing," explained Shinji, "And you said I mustn't run away-"

"Cut that crap!" yelled Misato, "You could have gotten killed! I was only looking out for your well being! God, why do you have to be such a idiot!" Misato ran over and hugged Shinji.

Shinji just stood there confused. Nobody had showed him this type of affection before. Not even his father. All he remembered was his mother.

"So, the Third Child is demonstrating great potential," said black stone tablet that read SEELE 01. Gendo was there at the conference as well, dicussing important matters concerning NERV and the Angels.

This was SEELE, the organization who is in control of NERV. However, there motives are unknown to most of NERV, and only Gendo and Fuyutsuki know about what they are truly planning.

"But we cannot dismiss the fact the Project is falling behind on schedule," stated SEELE 04, "And Adam has yet to be delivered to us."

"Do not worry," explained Gendo with his hands folded as usual, "Adam on it's way here. Along with the Second Child."

"It seems that the Second Child has been prepared for full scale combat," said SEELE 06, "Soon Unit 01 will not be needed as much."

"The rest of the meeting does not concern you," said SEELE 01 before all of the stone tablets disappeared, leaving only Gendo and Fuyutsuki left.

"Do you think...?" asked Fuyutsuki.

"No. The old men too concerned with their own delusions that they can't see our real plans," explained Gendo.

"I hope you're right..."

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please vote in the new poll on my profile!