NEON GENESIS
EVANGELION:
R
ILLUSTRATED ORIGINAL
FICTION
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Episode 40: "What you can hear, you can feel/ Midnight Vigil
"
(On the eastern edge of the horizon, not far
from the Balcony of the apartment of Major Misato
Katsuragi, Construction and demolition crews can be seen undertaking
the momentous task of clearing
away all the destruction caused in the northeastern sector of Tokyo
3 only 2 days earlier. As the Noon
sun shines down on the shattered windows and broken pavement, Asuka
Langley Soryu looks on, resting
her elbows on the balcony's edge.
She sighs deeply, watching the titanic earth
movers and scurrying construction workers as they clear
away the debris of the latest confrontation. Despite being a
considerable distance away, the sounds of
diesel engines and air hammers is detectable even from her vantage
point, so far from the actual destruction. . .
Sighing, Asuka rests her chin on her hand as
a warm midday breeze blows in lazily from the east, running
through her hair and ruffling the edges of her yellow dress.
So soothing, so gentle is its touch, that she loses
herself in the moment completely . . .
. . . and almost misses the sound of the balcony door sliding
shut, followed by the subtle "click"
of its latch being locked.)
Asuka: What the-
(she turns, only to see a stern-faced Pen-Pen on
the other side of the glass door--
his left flipper still on the door-handle. . )
Asuka: HEY!!
(She grabs the latch, attempting to pull the
door open;
but it is firmly locked, and only rattles with her struggles-)
Asuka: HEY!! Open the door!
Pen-Pen: Qwuaaa!
(Enraged, Asuka begins pounding on the glass frame)
Asuka: I said I was SORRY!! WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?!
Pen-Pen: Qwuaaa! Qwuaaa!
Asuka: OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Inside, the racket caused by Soryu's pounding can
be heard in the living room,
where Shinji, Lyn, and Aoi sit at the table, attempting to eat lunch
. . .
(Shinji starts at the sound of the banging, which
is accompanied by the girl's angry
shouts at the vengeful penguin . . .)
Shinji: (sighing) He locked her out again . . .
Lyn: (chuckling) . . .
Aoi: I didn't birds could be so vindictive . . .
Shinji: Aoi, would you let her in?
(The young girl sighs, standing . . .)
Aoi: Yes, yes. . .
(As Aoi Tamashii stands to leave the room, Lyn Anouilh turns to young Ikari)
Lyn: Okay--now how did it go again?
Shinji: (raising his chopsticks) You put one in-between your forefinger and your middle finger, like this . . .
Lyn: (doing the same) yeah . . .
Shinji: (continuing) Then you put the other one between your forefinger and thumb--like that . . .
Lyn: Uh-huh . . .
Shinji: That's it . . . then you can pick stuff up easily
(Ikari demonstrates, taking a bit of rice from his plate)
(Anouilh's eyes seem to focus on his objective as he concentrates on the task at hand . . .)
Lyn: . . .easily. . .
(the chopsticks abruptly cross each other in his fingers, dropping the morsel in his lap)
Lyn: . . .oh . . .
Shinji: (snickering)
Lyn: (returning the food to the plate) Oh, well thank you.
(He shifts to one side, producing a fork from his pocket)
Lyn: . . I'll just stick to the western style of eating, thanks.
Shinji: (Taking another bite) mmph. Whatever Suits you . . .still, you've adjusted pretty well as it is.
Lyn: Really?
Shinji: Yeah.
Lyn: (taking a bite) That's good to know . . .
Shinji: (looking down at his plate) At least some things . ..
Lyn: I guess . . .
(Lyn Looks down at his plate for a moment,
contemplating something . . . finally, he makes his decision-)
Lyn: (still looking down at his plate) Shinji?
Shinji: Yeah?
Lyn: Um--I've been meaning to ask you something-
Shinji: What?
Lyn: Um-
(He pauses, moving his rice around with his fork as doubt once more enters his mind)
Lyn: A-- few days ago--when that Angel attacked--in the car, you said-
(he is interrupted, however, by an angry voice calling loudly from the next room)
Asuka: Well it's about time!!
(Lyn stops abruptly as Soryu and Tamashii enter the
room--Aoi is smiling, almost laughing,
carrying Pen-Pen in both arms. . Asuka, however, is noticeably
less than pleased . . .)
Asuka: (hands on hips) What took you so long?!
Aoi: (embarrassed) I--um--Didn't know you were out there until-
Asuka: Liar! I know you were watching me from behind the door!
Aoi: I was not!
Asuka: You were too! I could hear you laughing!
(Aoi puts down the penguin, returning to her seat)
Aoi: I was not! 6, you tell her-
Lyn: (looking away) Don't see what good that'll do . . .
(suddenly, the girl wraps her arms around the boy's neck, pulling him close--)
Aoi: Awwww!! Aren't you going to protect me!?
Lyn: Aoi! Cut that out!
(Asuka mumbles to herself as she takes her seat next to Shinji . . .)
Asuka: Well, I didn't think it was funny! Not in the least!
Aoi: (releasing Lyn) Really, Soryu, you've got to lighten up-
Asuka: (glaring at Pen-Pen) Hmmph! Blöder Bruchpilot!
(As Asuka and Aoi carry on, Shinji turns once more to Anouilh)
Shinji: Anyway, Lyn, what were you about to ask me?
Lyn: Oh . . . really, It's nothing. I guess. . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Misato: So, how do you feel?
Rei: . . . I feel the same.
Misato: The same?
Rei: yes.
Misato: The same as--what?
Rei: The same as before.
Misato: Before?
Rei: . . .
Misato: Before what?
Rei: The same as when you asked me that question a moment ago.
(In the service hospital located several miles away
and nearly a 100 meters below her apartment,
Major Misato Katsuragi is paying an interesting visit, of sorts, to
Rei Ayanami, The first child and
designated pilot of unit 00, who was injured 3 days earlier . . .)
Misato: (embarrassed) oh, yeah. Right . . .
Rei: . . .
Misato: Oh--well,the Dr. says you can go today. What do you think of that?
Rei: . . .
Misato: You can leave right now, if you want.
Rei: . . . I think I will . . .
Misato: (her eyes going to the ceiling) Yes, Well . . .
(Rei stands, taking off her nightgown and putting
on her dress, which has been laid
out for her on the chair. A moment later, as the girl reaches
for her things, she eyes Misato-)
Rei: Major Katsuragi-
Misato: Yes?
Rei: . . . Why are you here?
Misato: What do you mean?
Rei: (almost smiling) . . . you did not come here just to tell me I could leave.
Misato: (scratching her head) ulp--well, They said
you would be discharged today, so . . .
I wanted to know if you wanted to leave before telling you. . .
Rei: . . . Telling me what?
Misato: You--can't actually go home.
(though she makes no sound, Rei's eyes widen slightly)
Misato: They've just started repairing the damage to the northern
part of the
city--and you're building was pretty badly damaged in the attack . . .
so it'll be another few days before you can move back in.
(Rei sighs, sitting on the bed as her eyes fall to the things in her hands; a wallet, a watch, and a pair of glasses . . .)
Misato: Ah, But don't worry--I've got a solution to the problem!
Rei: . . .?
(Ayanami looks up at Misato, who winks at her, a smile on her face)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Announcer: Attention: The 42nd through 51st maintenance
crews, report to component
repair teams in cages 01, 02, and 04. All analysis teams, submit preliminary
estimates to fabrication assessment division A . . .
Hyuga: Doctor? The secondary tests have been completed.
Ritsuko: Have they? Bring up the results now.
Hyuga: (typing in commands) yes, sir.
(within seconds, the Data is onscreen)
Ritsuko: (looking at the monitor) THIS is the data?
Hyuga: affirmative.
(Ritsuko leans back, folding her arms -)
Ritsuko: Hmmm. Well, I shouldn't be surprised, really.
All of our
Statistics Gathering Systems came up with the same thing . . . this just
verifies it.
(she pauses, sipping her coffee)
Hyuga: Verifies what?
Ritsuko: -Verifies that, for all intents and purposes, The thing
that attacked Tokyo 3
two days ago was not an Angel. . .
(Below the main control center, on the giant, octagonal
tower which houses the Magi supercomputer
Balthazaar, Dr. Ritsuko Akagi, current chief scientist of Nerv's
EVA operations, and Hyuga, one of the
head technicians, examine the data gathered on the angel attack only
2 days prior . . .
. . . although, at the moment, It would seem that the designation "angel"
no longer suits this particular invader-)
Hyuga: Not an Angel. . .?
Ritsuko: (placing her cup on the terminal) That's right.
Hyuga: But . . .how-?
(Hyuga shifts to one side as Dr. Akagi reaches over his shoulder, pointing out the data on the illuminated display)
Ritsuko: Just look at the figures: Waveform pattern analysis
was inconclusive--and the spectrum analysis
remained orange throughout the entire confrontation with the EVAs.
The Magi are unanimous in
their assessment. This thing was not an Angel.
(she pauses, stepping back--)
Ritsuko: At least--not like any we've fought before.
Hyuga: Should . . should I inform commander Ikari about this?
Ritsuko: (grinning) Thanks for volunteering, but that's my department.
(She sighs, looking at the data once more)
Ritsuko: (thinking) Besides--I'm sure he knew about this already.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuyutsuki: . . . Still, It was sooner than expected.
Gendo: All the signs pointed to the storm-
Fuyutsuki: As you said before . .
Gendo: We will simply have to be better prepared.
Fuyutsuki: If such a thing is possible . . .
(Far above the clamor of the Magi's Control towers,
in a helicopter flying over the titanic
crater left in the very center of the Northern District, Nerv's
Supreme commander, Gendo Ikari,
and Vice-commander, Fuyutsuki, also discuss the events of just
3 days earlier . . .)
Gendo: Barakiel's descent was sudden--to the point of being surprising
for our forces. . .
But it was not unanticipated.
Fuyutsuki: so you say . . .
Gendo: The problem lies within our early warning protocols.
Fuyutsuki: Oh?
Gendo: Yes. Had the Mt. Fuji Center been able to track the
creature, the damage done to the city
might have been kept to a minimum.
Fuyutsuki: Of course . . . we wouldn't want to jeapordize Nerv's shield . . .
(Oddly enough, there is a note of disgust in the sub-commander's voice . . .)
Gendo: precisely.
Fuyutsuki: And-- how do you intend to rectify the little . . . problem . . . in our detection system?
Gendo: Elementary--By upgrading it.
Fuyutsuki: Upgrading . .?
Gendo: Yes. . . The Mt. Fuji center has already gone
to SETI and UNSynaps for the
appropriate accouterments. As soon as funding passes, the Yoshima
and Futagoyama
centers will begin the update as well.
(he pauses, grinning)
Gendo:. . . As usual, disaster has played into our hands quite nicely. . .
Fuyutsuki: And what about the 18th "Angel?"
Gendo: As par my orders, the details of this incident have been deemed top secret.
(Fuyutsuki tilts his head, indicating the giant scar in earth far below . . )
Fuyutsuki: And this?
Gendo: Hmmph. The destruction to New Kanto and the northern
district will be
attributed to a "meteor impact."
Fuyutsuki: Of course . . . how ironic.
Gendo: You needn't worry, professor--The situation is well under
control.
(Fuyutsuki turns away from the younger man, looking
at the stretch of scorched earth beneath them.
Despite his colleagues reassurances, the Sub-commander wears a troubled
look upon his brow. . . )
Fuyutsuki: (thinking) Say what you will, Ikari. But
the question is, under who's control . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Asuka: Shinji--what did you put in this rice?
Shinji: Nothing, really . . . it's just not instant.
(The girl shrugs, taking another mouthful)
Asuka: Well, it's not bad. . .
Shinji: I picked it up yesterday when I was at the market.
Asuka: The market? But yesterday was Misato's turn to do the shopping-
Shinji: I know. But she had work, so-
Asuka: Hmm . . .
(Soryu pauses, taking another bite)
Asuka: She's been working a lot recently . . .
Shinji: Yeah . . .
(It is nearly 6 hours later-Shinji and Asuka sit down to dinner, as the television drones on in the background, ( though no one is really watching ), While Pen-Pen feeds at his bowl (set in the far corner of the room by none other than Soryu . . .))
Shinji: (continuing) But It's not like things have been quiet or anything . . .
Asuka: (smiling coyly) Hmmm, Looks like you were wrong, eh?
Shinji: What? What do you mean?
(Asuka stands and leans over the table, wagging a finger at Ikari)
Asuka: "No more angels" you said. Looks like one of us was being just a tad 'presumptuous, eh?
Shinji: (turning red) well . . I
(He is interrupted, however, by the sound of the front door sliding open)
Misato: I'm Home!
Asuka: Misato-!
Shinji: Oh-
(As both pilots go to the door, they find Major
Katsuragi--still dressed in her uniform--
standing in the hallway. Strangely enough, she seems to be hiding
something . . . )
Misato: Oh, you're both here, good!
Shinji: What do you mean?
Asuka: Yeah. And why are you so late?
Misato: I had to go get some things from the other side of the city-
Shinji: -?-
Asuka: What?
(As if to answer their questioning glances, Misato steps to the side--revealing, behind her, Rei Ayanami.
In her hands, the EVA pilot carries a petite suitcase . . .)
Misato: Her apartment was pretty smashed up in that incident a
couple days ago, so
she's going to be staying with us for a while. . .
Asuka: WHAT?
Shinji: -!-
Misato: It'll only be three days. Until she can go home.
(As Misato steps inside, Rei follows, obediently. . .)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Nearly an hour later, inside Shinji's bedroom. .
. the young pilot lays sprawled on his bed,
his knees curled up to his chest. In his hands he holds his Walkman,
its tinny music playing loudly
through the small headphones in his ears . . . on his face is a look
of apprehension, almost surprised horror . . .
Shinji Ikari is depressed once more . . .)
( In his mind, he replays the incidents of two months
ago for nearly the thousandth time. . .
The twisted, tangled rosary of pain and misery that has haunted his
memories of Rei Ayanami
ever since the destruction of Unit 00 . . . )
-(flashback)- the destruction of unit 00 . . .
-(flashback)- Ritsuko: Rei Ayanami
-(flashback)- Rei: I think, probably, I am the third
-(flashback)-Ritsuko: These are the core of the Dummy System
-(flashback)- Ritsuko: Parts for Rei . .
-(flashback)- Ritsuko: Parts for Rei . .
-(flashback)- Ritsuko: Parts for Rei . .
-(flashback)- Ritsuko: Parts for Rei . .
-(flashback)- Ritsuko: Parts for
Rei . .
-(flashback)- ". . .your Mother . . ."
-(flashback)- "A mother . . . ?"
(With this final vision, Shinji's finger hits the
volume control on his personal stereo; causing the music to become
much, much louder . . . to the point that every note becomes a burning
dagger in his ears . . .
to the point the sound becomes painful . . .
. . .but it does not matter . . .
. . . if only to block out the thoughts for a short while . .
.)
( suddenly, there are 3 short knocks at the door. )
( Shinji does not move or answer, however.
And for several moments,
there is only the sound of his music . . . )
( Finally, Misato's voice can be heard, muffled by the door- )
Misato: Shinji?
Shinji: . . .
Misato: Shinji, I'm coming in, okay?
(Young Ikari makes no movement as the door to his
room is slid open, then shut behind
Major Katsuragi. She is no longer dressed in her uniform, only
a sweatshirt and shorts. Her hair
is pulled up in a ponytail behind her head, giving the impression of
someone much younger . . .
She stands there, silent, looking down at the boy on the bed, the music blaring loudly in his ears. . . )
Misato: Shinji . . .
(with this, she hears the sound of the music
fading, followed by the "click" of the automatic rewind
as the tape ends . . . save for the sound of the small motor,
all is now quiet)
Misato: (continuing) Shinji, I haven't forgotten.
Shinji: . . .
Misato: What we saw . . .
Shinji: . . .
Misato: . . . what you saw . . .
Shinji: . . .
Misato: I . . . know how you feel about her. And why you act the way you do around her.
Shinji: . . .
Misato: But--that's all behind us, now.
Shinji: . . .
Misato: She's all alone . . .
Shinji: . . .
Misato: Shinji-
Shinji: I know that, Misato . . . !
Misato: Then-
Shinji: I can't control it .
Misato: . . .
Shinji: I can't help it.
Misato: Then what would you have me do?
Shinji: . . . I don't know . . .
Misato: Well, I have an idea. . .if you'd like to hear it.
Shinji: . . .?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lyn: No. It's no problem. None at all.
Misato: (her voice is tinny over the phone) Are you sure? It'll only be for 3 days.
Lyn: Really. It's no problem. Send him up here whenever. I'll leave the door open.
Misato: Thanks a lot, Anouilh.
Lyn: It's nothing, Major.
Misato: . . .
Lyn: Um-Misato. I mean, Misato.
Misato: (positively) That's better.
(Two floors above, in the nearly empty apartment
of Lyn Anouilh, the 6th child cradles
the telephone in his ear as Misato makes preparations with him.
As the call ends, he returns
the phone to his desk, humming loudly to the tune of "Us and
Them")
(He walks over to the bed, taking the bedcover in
hand, setting it on the floor. He then takes
one of the pillows, setting it on top of the makeshift futon. )
(Lying down on the floor, he places his hand behind
his head, staring up at the ceiling as the
minutes tick by-
until finally, there is a knock at the door . . . )
Lyn: It's open.
(there is the subtle "whoosh" as the
door slides open. Shinji shifts his things to one arm, looking
into the apparently empty, darkened apartment . . . )
Shinji: Hello . . . ?
(he then sees Lyn's hand waving from behind the bed-)
Lyn: Down here. You got the bed, since you're the guest.
(the hand points to a door on the left) Bathroom's
over there, and the kitchen's in there.
Feel free to help yourself to anything, I just went shopping.
Shinji: Uhm! . .Thank-you . . .
Lyn: (suddenly, the hand beckons him in) Well? You're not sleeping in the hallway, are you? Come on in . . .
Shinji: You're sure it's no trouble?
Lyn: Look-there aren't enough words in the Japanese OR English
language to properly
stress how little trouble
it is- Just don't snore too loudly, and you'll be fine.
(At this, Ikari's face relaxes into an almost . . serene . . smile)
Shinji: Okay.
(He steps inside, the door shutting behind him)
(as Shinji places his things on the bed)
Lyn: Yeah, Make yourself at home. It's just
be gonna be us chaps for the next couple days . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Misato: Looks like it'll be just us girls for the next couple of days . . .
(Rei and Asuka both look at Misato as the Major winks
at them, lifting her chopsticks to her mouth.
Behind her, Pen-Pen glares at them, not too surprised at
being ignored . . .)
Rei: . . .
Asuka: Yeah . . .
(Caption)
The 1st Night:
Asuka: . . . Right.
Misato: By the way, Asuka,
(She pauses, taking a bite)
Misato: . . .Ritsuko told me unit 02 will be ready to fight again
in another day or so.
What do you think of that?
Asuka: Ha! I think it's no thanks to that moron. . .
Misato: -!-
Asuka: (crossing her arms) Hmmph! Falling on my EVA like that!
Misato: Well, if it wasn't for him, we might not even be here right now . . .
Asuka: Oh, come on! . . .
Rei: . . .
Asuka: You saw what happened when he fell--He did it on purpose!
Misato: (taking another bite) Unit 06's wings disappeared because
its power shut down.
He had no way of controlling his fall--
Asuka: A likely story.
Misato: Besides, from where I was--It looked like you were trying to catch him . . .
Asuka: WHAT? Arrgh!! No way!
(She turns from the table, fuming)
Asuka: It was so humiliating . . .
Rei: . . .
Misato: (holding up the plate of rice) Rei--want some more?
Rei: . . . No Ma'am.
Asuka: First Child's on a diet or something . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lyn: Shinji? You asleep?
Shinji: No.
Lyn: Look, there's something I've been wanting to ask you. . . for a while now . . .
Shinji: -?-
Lyn: And, so far, every time I've tried, I didn't have the guts to come out and say it. . .
Shinji: oh . . .
Lyn: I'm not really a very decisive person, you see . . .
Shinji: . . .
Lyn: Anyway . . . What I wanted to ask you . . .
(Lyn sits up, looking at Ikari)
Lyn: A couple days ago--when we were in the car--and Ayanami was bleeding . . .
Shinji: . . .
Lyn: You said "don't die again."
Shinji . . !
Lyn: Normally, I'd think something like that was a slip . . . but you said it twice . . .
( he pauses, noting Shinji's total lack of any reaction)
Lyn: . . . what did you mean?
(The third child is silent as the words sink in .
. . for a long time, he offers no response. .
.
Finally-)
Shinji: . . . Nothing . . .
Lyn: -?-
Shinji: She's been hurt bad before.
Lyn: . . .
Shinji: we thought she died the last time. . .
Lyn: oh. . .
Shinji: . . but I was wrong.
Lyn: I'm Sorry . . .
Shinji: . . .
Lyn: I didn't know it was a sensitive subject . ..
Shinji: . . .
Lyn: . . . Uhm . . . Good night, Shinji . . .
Shinji: Yeah . .
(Lyn lies back down, looking up at the ceiling once
more. As the sounds of the
Cicadas outside drone in his ears, one thought pervades his mind .
. .)
Lyn: (Thinking) you're not a very good liar, Ikari . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ritsuko: Are you getting all of this?
Maya: Yes Ma'am-
Ritsuko: It seems that the nerve impulse rate has jumped another 10 points . . .
Maya: It would appear to be the result of the increased stimulation to the hippocampus-
Ritsuko: Very good. Continue the treatment until the effect
is nullified, then move on to the
cervical nervous system.
(nearly 2,800 meters below the lights of Tokyo
3,in a darkened laboratory not unlike a high tech tomb,
Ritsuko Akagi and Maya Ibuki continue their work on the special "project"
to which they were assigned
nearly two months ago.
( In the center of the room is the same, large vial
that has pervaded The Dr.'s thoughts ever since the
project's inception. The clear yellow fluid inside has now become
dark and cloudy, making it easy for
Ritsuko to see her reflection on its mirror-smooth surface.)
Maya: Affirmative . . .
(She pauses, keying in the commands)
Maya: . . . You're certainly more alert than usual, Ma'am.
Ritsuko: Thanks for noticing-The result of too much sleep, I'd gather.
Maya: Too much?
Ritsuko: Yes. We've still got quite a bit of work ahead of us, you know.
Maya: What's our projected timetable?
Ritsuko: It's still 3 months--but anymore delays like the one
last week, and you can expect the
deadline to get a lot closer . . .
Maya: At least the worst is over.
Ritsuko: For you, maybe.
(Ritsuko leaves her desk, staring directly into the vial from only inches away. . . )
Ritsuko: . . It's too bad, really. It's such a nice night out.
Maya: (still typing) Oh really?
Ritsuko: Yes. . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(The next day . . . in the boy's locker outside the EVA test-plug area . . .)
Lyn: Wh--what do you mean we have to take our clothes off!?!
(Dr, Akagi's slightly irked voice is heard over the intercom, responding--)
Ritsuko: You heard me. This is a clean room environment--You
cannot bring
foreign material into the chamber. the slightest contaminant will
interefere with the test . .. now get undressed . ..
Lyn: Dr. Akagi, you've got to be kidding!
Shinji: (placidly) No . . . she's not kidding . . .
(Still in shock, Lyn falls to the bench on which Shinji is sitting, covering his face with his hands--)
Lyn: Oh, Crud . . .
Shinji: What's to worry about?
Lyn: Sorry, Ikari--I'm not as comfortable about getting buck naked as everyone else here is . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Several moments later, in the clean room directly
outside the test chamber, the wash cycle
completes its 18th phase, opening the divider to reveal 4 small cubicles,
each separated by a
shoulder high wall, and covered by an opaque plastic screen.
Behind each, stands the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th child . . .
. . .all uncermoniously unclothed , though thankfully, covered from view. . .
In the first compartment, Rei Ayanami stands still,
waiting for further instructions
as the mist begins to clear . . .
In the cubicle next to her, Asuka Soryu also stands--noticably
less than patient,
tapping her foot with hands on hips . . .
Next to Soryu, Shinji Ikari slouches in his compartment,
wearing a look of dread,
for he knows what is to come next . . .
. . .And finally, Lyn Anouilh is in the last
cubicle--albeit, he is noticably less than comfortable,
as his face is bright red with embarrassment . . . indeed, the boy
is on the verge of insecure panic,
his hands covering his shoulders, and his legs crossed over each other
in an attempt to conceal his . . .
. . . insecurity . . .
At last, the sound of the intercom above being activated
finally rings through the chamber . . .
It is, of course, Dr. Akagi's voice which is heard an instant later
. . )
Ritsuko: Okay, you four. You know the drill . . .
Rei: . . .
Asuka: (mumbling) Ach, nein . . .!
Shinji: . . .
Lyn: Whoa, wait a minute--what drill?
(Shinji shakes his head, wary of what is to come . . .)
Ritsuko: You are to exit the clean room, and allow the sensors
to make a full sweep of your bodies
before going directly to your entry plugs . . .
Rei: . . .
Asuka: . . .
Shinji: . . .
Lyn: WHAT!? Are you some kind of Bloody perverts!!?
Ritsuko: (Irate) The purpose of this test, Anouilh, is to
re-assess the conduction and synchronization
link up to your EVAs without intereference from your plug suits.
This means entering a plug environment
free of the said . . . suit.
Lyn: Get real! I'm not about to start trotting around in
my skin for your cameras!
Ritsuko: The visual monitors have been turned off. We do respect your privacy . . .
Lyn: Yeah, great, like I can take your word for it . . .
Misato: this is not a request, Lyn--
Lyn: But Major--
Misato: That is an order.
(irate, the boy curses under his breath in English--eyeing
the three other pilots in the adjacent cells . . .)
Lyn: . . . fine then . . but I'm not going first!
Shinji: (quietly) here we go . . .
Asuka: Fadante! Stop being such a baby--grow up and quit complaining!
Lyn: Oh yeah? I don't see you strutting your stuff!
Rei: . . .
Asuka: Oh, you'd just love that, wouldn't you !?!
Lyn: What the hell's that supposed to mean?
Asuka: It means you keep your eyes to yourself, Perversling!
Lyn: Oh, don't flatter yourself, Lady.
Asuka: What?
(Caught in between the two "comabatants", Shinji
Ikari slouches even more--dropping his eyes as
the two yell across his divide . . .)
Shinji: . . .
Lyn: You know! Acting like you're God's gift to men--
Asuka: Which doesn't include you, of course!
Lyn: Aw, please! for all we know, your a little boy under all that brass--
Asuka: You twit! You wouldn't know a real woman if she came up and bit you on the--
Lyn: (interrupting) What, is that a request or something!?
Asuka: Oh, you wish, Schweinehund--!
Misato: (shouting) KNOCK IT OFF, YOU TWO!!
Lyn: She started it!
Asuka: Like hell I did--!
Misato: Cut it out, or you're both going to walk out at the same time!!
Asuka & Lyn: WHAT!!?
Rei: . . .
Shinji: -!-
Misato: Is that clear!?
Lyn: . . .
Asuka: . . .
Ritsuko: That's better . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rei: (sighing) . . .
Asuka: (asleep) Zzzzz. . . ggmmnph. ..
(The very next night, in the apartment of Misato
Katsuragi--all is quiet, as the occupants of the house have all
retired to their beds . . .
All but one, that is. . . )
(Rei Ayanami sits up on her Futon, which has been placed next to Asuka's. )
( The girl is in a restless state, and watches quietly as the second child mumbles inaudibly in her sleep . . . )
Rei: (whispering) Asuka Langley Soryu . . .
Asuka: . . . Zzzzz . . .
Rei: (looking at her hands) the second child . . .
Rei: I know this name, and I know this person . . .
Asuka: . . .
Rei: But . . . I feel as though I have known these before . . .
Asuka: . . .
Rei: . . . before I knew them . . .
Rei: Why?
Asuka: . . .
Rei: Who are you?
Asuka: . . .
Rei: Why do I know of you . . .
Asuka: . . .
Rei: You act as you know me . . .
Asuka: . . .
Rei: But I do not know you . . .
Asuka: . . .
Rei: And yet-I do . . .
(Suddenly, Asuka Sighs loudly--and awakens.)
( Groggily, she sits up--and nearly Jumps at the
sight of Rei Ayanami, staring at her from her bed,
only a few feet away . . .)
Asuka: (rubbing her eye) What---are---what's going on?
Rei: . . .
Asuka: (sighing) You woke me up . . .
Rei: I am sorry.
Asuka: Why are you still awake?
Rei: . . .
Asuka: well?
Rei: . . . I do not want to sleep.
Asuka: ?
(Ayanami stands, walking in the direction of the lavatory . . .)
Rei: I didn't mean to wake you. . . it won't happen again.
(in the darkness, Asuka can hear the door sliding shut behind her)
Asuka: (Lying back down) Weird . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Meanwhile, in a similar room not 2 floors up, Shinji Ikari is equally as restless.
For a long time, he stirs in bed, attempting to sleep.
Finally, though, he
succumbs to insomnia, turning to his companion on the floor below)
Shinji: . . . Anouilh?
Lyn: Yes?
Shinji: You're not asleep, are you?
Lyn: (sarcastically) I don't think so.
Shinji: Ah--sorry. . .
Lyn: don't worry--I was just kidding. What is it?
Shinji: I can't get to sleep.
Lyn: What's on your mind?
Shinji: Well, Today--after the synch test--you mentioned your family.
Lyn: Yeah.
Shinji: I was just wondering-
Lyn: What?
Shinji: . . . just where are you from, exactly?
Lyn: (sighing) Well, you know I'm from England, right?
Shinji: yeah.
Lyn: I came here from Oxford--that's where my family lives. That's also where I was going to go to school . . .
(he pauses) er. . . at least, until now.
Shinji: . . .
Lyn: I wasn't born there, though-I'm actually from Shrewsbury.
It's a small town a few miles west.
I really liked it there--That's
where my mother was born . . . Pity we had to leave.
Shinji: . . .your . . .mother?
Lyn: Yeah, my mum. She wanted to stay there, too.
(he shifts to his side, resting his head on one arm)
Lyn: . . . But my father thought it best to move to where
there was more opportunity. . .
So he could have a more
'prestigious location' for his company. . . or something like that.
Truth is, he really
didn't know any better.
Shinji: What do you mean?
Lyn: Well, You see--my dad's not English. He's from France--Though I can't remember where-
Shinji: You mean-
Lyn: Yeah. 'Anouilh' is my Father's family name-
(Lyn sits up in bed, looking at Shinji)
Lyn: Weren't you the least bit curious as to why I had a French last name?
Shinji: Actually--I couldn't tell.
Lyn: (lying back down, closing his eyes) Of course . . .
Shinji: Er . . .sorry . . .
Lyn: Don't worry about it. It's not something I'm really proud of, actually.
Shinji: Why?
Lyn: Um . . . I don't really care for my father's family . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Far below, in the office of Dr. Ritsuko Akagi, located in the very Depths of Nerv's command center-)
Maya: Ma'am? The preliminary projections you wanted are in.
Ritsuko: (setting down her clipboard) Hmm? Oh. Put it on the desk with the rest of them, will you, Maya?
Maya: Sure.
Ritsuko: (returning to her work) Reports, reports, reports, Reports!
Maya: Hmmm?
Ritsuko: Why can' t they find someone ELSE to be Nerv's T3PR chairperson?
There can't be a more tedious line of work out there . . . this is
such a waste of time . . .
Maya: I hear there's a couple openings for some new bean counters up in the mess . . .
Ritsuko: (smiling) You're lucky I'm in a good mood--otherwise,
I might have
taken you up on that offer.
Maya: Are you talking about the Harmonics test today?
Ritsuko: (nodding) Mmm-hmm--even though we had all four children
this time,
it went a lot smoother than I'd expected.
Maya: The results were better-
Ritsuko: Yes-the 1st , 2nd , and 3rd all had higher
values since the last run. And the
6th's actually beginning to show signs of catching up. . .
Maya: Maybe we'll be better prepared for the next time . . .
Ritsuko: All the testing in the world's no guarantee . . . But in this case, I hope you're right.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Caption)
The 3rd Night:
Asuka: (whispering) First Child . . . ?
(silence)
Asuka: Ayanami . . .?
(silence)
Asuka: Rei . . .?
(silence)
Asuka: Where are you?
(silence)
(On the third night, in Misato Katsuragi's apartment--young
Asuka Soryu has
woken up to an surprisingly empty room. Beside her, Rei Ayanami's
futon is empty--
as the pilot is not in bed . . . and her covers haven't yet been disturbed.
. .)
(Asuka stands, walking toward the washroom--yet,
the door is open, and it is empty.
Above her head, the digital clock reads 2:31 a.m. )
(Curious now, she begins to look about the apartment,
checking Shinji's room--
which is empty--and looking in on Misato--who sleeps like a rock under
her covers.
Finally, the second child's attentions turn to the last possible place
for someone to hide . . .
. . . and yet, she is still surprised by the sight of a ghost on the balcony . . .)
Asuka: Mein Gott . . .
(outside the clear glass door leading to the spacious
balcony, Soryu makes out a vision of a
white, spectral figure-although, after a moment, she realizes it is
Rei, still dressed in her nightshirt,
watching the clouds flow by in the windy, night air. . .
Still, She thinks twice before approaching . . .)
(Ayanami does not move as the door behind her slides
open, and offers no greeting as
Asuka steps outside. The first child's gaze seems locked on a
far away horizon-oblivious to anything-
or anyone-
around her. . .
Finally, after several endless moments of simply watching her, Soryu finds the will to speak-)
Asuka: What are you doing out here?
Rei: . . .
Asuka: (annoyed) Rei-
Rei: (suddenly) . . . Do. . . you dream?
(her voice is quiet, almost inaudible above the light wind)
Asuka: . . . What?
Rei: (without looking) Asuka Soryu--do . . . you dream?
Asuka: What are you talking about? Why the hell are you out here so late?
(Rei looks at her hands, which are resting on the balconies edge. Finally, Soryu complies-)
Asuka: (sighing) Of course I dream.
Rei: . . . What is it like?
Asuka: What?
Rei: . . . Do your dreams frighten you?
Asuka: You mean nightmares? Sometimes, I guess . . .
Rei: . . .
Asuka: Why?
Rei: . . . I am afraid of dreaming.
Asuka: (annoyed) What do you mean?
Rei: . . .
Asuka: What do-
Rei: I do not like what I see.
Asuka: . . ?
Rei: The pain . . .
Asuka: . . .
Rei: The sorrow . . .
Asuka: . . .
Rei: (Thinking) The . . . eyes . . .
Asuka: Is that why you've been skipping sleep for the past few days?
Rei: . . .
Asuka: You can't keep that up, you know.
Rei: I know . . .
Asuka: ?
Rei: And that is what frightens me . . .
Asuka: What?
Rei: . . . I will dream again . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Shinji: . . . What the . . .
(the boy sits up in bed)
Shinji: . .Lyn?
(Elsewhere, 2 floors above, Much like Soryu,
Shinji Ikari has abruptly woken up
to an empty room as well--beside him, Lyn Anouilh's sheets are empty-
yet, for him , the search is not as long, or as hard, to find the wandering child. . .)
Shinji: Anouilh?
(Across the room, the door leading to Anouilh's balcony
is wide open-where the 6th child stands
at the railing, as the cold night air blows through his hair, kicking
up the edges of his shirt. . .
He is in a vacant, empty state--his eyes, half closed, are affixed on a point not 1 mile away . . .)
(He remains motionless, staring off into the distance
like some vague apparition, unheeding
of Shinji's concerned calls. . .)
Shinji: Are you okay? What's wrong?
(Anouilh makes no movement in response . . . the child's mind is far away, not in the distance:
But in the past. . . )
(Ahead of him, a single, narrow shape rises out of
the collection of towers, rooftops, and antennae
that is the 3rd Tokyo city. . . )
(It is, in fact, this shape that the boy's half-open eyes are focused on. )
(A shape which has plagued his memories before,
. . .in his darkest hours.)
Far in the distance, illuminated by the city lights
around it, is the cross on a church steeple . . . )
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
To Be Continued . . .
