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Episode 46: "Gift of the Magi / A day of Reckoning . . .?"
(Deep in the heart of the northwestern
United States . . . in the
sand covered hills and valleys of the Central Nevada Desert . . . A
long, cold night is coming to an end.
As the sun peeks out from behind the
eastern hills in the horizon, the landscape is slowly set awash with color—
oranges, reds, purples, and blues—in a synergy of light that seems
to announce to the world of the final passing of
darkness, and the advent of the new day.
As Nocturnal creatures scurry into their
homes to rest, and daytime animals leave their nests to hunt for the new
day’s meal, the calls of life once more begin to fill the quiet, desert
air. Indeed, the very warmth of the morning sunlight,
which shines uninterrupted through the clear blue sky, is gradually
complimented by the eastern desert wind—blowing
gently over the dunes and foothills, carrying with it the sounds of
the cliffs and valleys below.
Today, however, the noises that pervade the morning
air of the central Nevada desert are not just those of the
wildlife . . .
They are, in fact, the sounds of heavy machinery . . .
Were one to follow the sound through the rocky cliffs and
sandy slopes, one would find a most complicated site—
for, Visible from the hilltops and sand dunes that dot the northern
landscape, a salvage operation of some sort is
taking place. . .
Large transports, bearing the markings of the American Military
forces, have begun to gather in droves around the
site of what was once, long ago, Nerv’s second branch . . .
The installation, which had disappeared due to a freak accident that
took place during the testing of Evangelion
unit 04’s S2 engine, has once more reappeared to grace the sun-drenched
sands of the Nevada countryside. . .
Of course, It has been seen as no small amount of good fortune
by the powers that be—leaving nothing to
stop the Government retrieval crews as they go about, essentially,
raping the ghosts of the past:
Numerous buildings, which until recently had long been absent
from the earth’s surface, are quickly torn down,
and reaped for whatever valuable materials may still remain inside.
Barracks, apartments, hangars, and bunkers,
though vacant of life for many months, are ripped open—and cleaned
of anything related to the installation’s true
purpose . . .
Indeed, as the salvage crews make their way to the very
heart of the facility, greater and greater treasures are found—
some in the form of computer data and machinery, while others in the
form of long lost construction plans and secret documents . . . But
it is all secondary however, to the expedition’s true target . . .
Discovered in the same area it had been in when the center disappeared,
the object is quickly loaded onto a
massive flatbed truck specially designed for the transport of large
craft. To preserve whatever secrecy may remain,
a large tarp is pulled over the cargo, and tied down to secure it to
the conveyance. . .
Beneath the weatherproof shroud, however, can be seen a vaguely humanoid
form—held tightly under the cables
like some modern day Gulliver. . . though still and silent, it is obvious
that the juggernaut is, in fact, the searcher’s
primary target, as the transport is quickly whisked away from the site,
accompanied by a substantial military escort . . .
As the workmen and soldiers watch the ominous procession disappear over
the desert hills, the sounds of the
retrieval die down for a moment—and, for that brief instant, the Nevada
wind can once more be heard, howling
to the skies of yet another horrid mistake about to be made in man’s
arrogance . . .
And then, only moments later, the pillage continues. . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Seele: This is INSANE.
Seele: . . .
Seele: . . .
Seele: Indeed, it is quite—uncooperative—with the current parameters of the established scenario.
Seele: Indeed . . .
Seele: . . .
Kihl: What is your explanation for this?
Seele: . . .
Seele: . . .
UNSynaps: . . . there is . . . None.
Seele: NONE!?
Seele: To say this is a catastrophe-- is an understatement on the grandest of scales!
Seele: . . . To think . . .
Seele: . . . We have been limited further . . .
Kihl: Have we, or have we not, been able to verify that the United
states government succeeded in
recovering Evangelion unit
04?
Seele: This is not good.
UNSynaps: . . . As of yet, the U.S. Government has denied the
very existence of the second branch on their soil. But-in all
probability, it is highly unlikely--
Seele: Surly, your influence runs a bit deeper than THAT. . !
Seele: Or , is there something you’re just not telling us?
UNSynaps: . . .
Seele: You are well aware of the penalties for withholding information from this committee, are you not?
Seele: Let alone those for Lying . . .
UNSynaps: Yes. . .
Kihl: Then explain yourself!
UNSynaps: . . .
Seele: We’re waiting. .
Seele: . . .
Seele: . . .
UNSynaps: It. . .May have something to do with the last operation.
Seele: . . .
Seele: Go On . . .
UNSynaps: I can tell you nothing more than that. Without time to analyze—
Seele: We agreed that that would not be a factor in our bargain!
Seele: See how quickly accountability is redirected in the face of adversity—
UNSynaps: No! What-- I bring to this council are facts, not excuses-
Seele: Indeed. . .
Seele: Bold words—
Seele: Yes, bold words are most—unwise—in a place such as this.
Seele: . . .
Kihl: Nevertheless, this represents a possible thorn in our side!
UNSynaps: . . .
Seele: Will there be enough time to adjust—?
Seele: No
Seele: No
Seele: Highly improbable,
Seele: Inconceivable, considering how close we are to the final, promised day!
Kihl: Very well. You will work to make this FIT our established
scenario, or suffer the supreme
consequence!
UNSynaps: . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuyutsuki: . . . I believe I understand . . .
Gendo: And, We can at least take satisfaction in knowing that
this is at odds with Seele’s designs, as
well.
Fuyutsuki: (quietly) . . . But you realize . . . the old men aren’t just going to sit on their hands.
Gendo: That may be so. But the fact that this represents
a complication for them, as well as us, means
the grounds are still equal . . .
Fuyutsuki: Assuming, of course, that they were ‘equal’ in the first place . . .
(Deep in the heart of the Nerv subcomplex,
below the steel spires and glass towers of the third Tokyo
city. . . in the Supreme commander’s darkened, spacious office,
Gendo Ikari and Kouzou Fuyutsuki discuss
the events of only a day earlier . . . before them, a game of mahjongg
is being played out –and, from the positions
of the pieces on the board, it is quite obvious that it is nearly finished.
. .
. . . the air present in the room, however,
seems to be concentrated on a different game of sorts--from the
tone of the two men sitting at the wide, imposing desk, one might assume
that the current circumstances, in fact,
border on crisis . . .)
Gendo: That, truly, is not the case in question.
Fuyutsuki: But still—
Gendo: (interrupting) We can still rely on the predictions.
All that concerns us now is tailoring our
current plans to fit the new scenario.
(Fuyutsuki is silent as he places another piece on
the board—the sound of the small, wooden token echoes
loudly through the nearly vacant room . . )
Fuyutsuki: Then . . . you’re not going to return to the scrolls?
(Ikari takes his time to answer, as he leisurely places his next piece . . .)
Gendo: As I said, time is short—we cannot be bothered with such . . .trivialities. . . now.
Fuyutsuki: (stunned) T—Trivialities?
Gendo: . . .
(The old man presses no further—and pauses to position yet another Mahjongg token . . )
Fuyutsuki: Well . . .Dr. Akagi informs me the Magi’s start-ups will begin soon.
Gendo: Hmmph. . . She is performing as expected.
Fuyutsuki: And—what of her primary project? Do you intend to let her stall any further?
Gendo: . . . Dr. Akagi knows that EV.N. is in all our best interests—even hers.
Fuyutsuki: According to what you have told her. . .
Gendo: Don’t worry. She will be dealt with once she has outlasted her usefulness.
(Fuyutsuki seems to ignore the man’s callous tone as he places his next gamepiece--)
Fuyutsuki: And--What about the Unit 06 ordeal?
Gendo: . . . what of it?
Fuyutsuki: Don’t tell me that fits into your plan—
Gendo: . . . Oh, but it does.
Fuyutsuki: How?!
(Ikari smirks, putting his last piece into play-)
Gendo: You would be surprised, professor, how some things simply fall into place.
Fuyutsuki: Of . . . course . . .
(The old man stands, realizing that, in the course of their discussion,
Ikari has won yet again.
Removing the pieces from the board with a sweep of his hand, Fuyutsuki Nods, taking his leave of the man. . .)
( In his mind, however, the Sub commander still voices
his doubts . . . which echo as loudly in his thoughts
as the sound of his footsteps off the empty walls of Ikari’s office
. . .)
Fuyutsuki: (thinking) You’re Still good at chess, Ikari.
But I can’t help but wonder if you mean for all of us to go to our
graves a bit early . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Touji: Hey—Shinji . . . can we go now?
Shinji: . . .
Touji: This place really gives me the creeps. . .
(Far above the underground Nerv installation,
on the flats located in the outskirts of Tokyo 3, Shinji Ikari
and Touji Suzihara stand among the dead. . .
Surrounded on all sides by thousands of stout, black-marble
monoliths ( each inscribed with name of a soul
no longer of this world) it is apparent the two children have made
their way to the burial grounds far outside
the city limits. . .
Shinji kneels before the marker bearing the
name of Yui Ikari. His eyes locked on his reflection in its
smooth, ebony surface, The child is lost in thought-- ignoring his
friend’s words entirely.
It seems can only hear the voices in his head, as
his darkest memories seem to play about the letters of his
mother’s name . . .)
Shinji: It’s . . . It’s been almost 6 months since I was last here.
Touji: . . .
Shinji: . . . The last time I came. . .I was with my . . father . .
Touji: . . .
Shinji: . . .
Touji: So—why did you come here now?
Shinji: . . I-
(At once, a new wave of images and sounds assaults the boy’s memory-)
-(flashback)- Misato: Why DID you come, Shinji?
-(flashback)- Asuka: Why are YOU here!?
-(flashback)- Gendo: WHY are you here?
-(flashback)- Rei:
I want to see my SON! SHINJI!! PLEASE!!
Shinji: (quietly) I just—I had to be sure of something.
(At last, the boy stands—brushing the sand
from his pant legs, he turns to his companion—who wears a
somewhat quizzical expression on his face-)
Touji: You ready?
Shinji: Yes.
(As the two walk among the tombstones, Touji slings his school bag over his shoulder—looking once more to Ikari-)
Touji: You know—
Shinji: Hmm?
Touji: . . you forgot to bring flowers . . .
(Shinji looks at his friend for a moment, contemplating his words—then, he slowly shakes his head.)
Shinji: Oh . . . No, I . . I didn’t.
Touji: . . ?
Shinji: (quietly) There’s . . nobody here to receive them . . .
Touji: . . ?!
(Suzihara grunts, more confused at his friend’s
words than ever—and presses no further as the two
walk toward the city in the distance . . )
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Misato: . . . So?
Ritsuko: . . .So . .
Misato: . . . what’s the story, Ritsuko?
(Ritsuko sighs, taking a long drink from the glass on the table before her . .)
Ritsuko: . .. It’s short, sad . . . and has a quick ending.
Misato: Ha. ‘Least your sense of humor hasn’t changed.
Ritsuko: Hasn’t it?
Misato: You tell me . . . ‘friend.’
(nearly 100 meters below the streets and sidewalks
of Tokyo 3—in a dimly lit restaurant which hangs
among the buildings that overlook the Geo-Front—Misato Katsuragi and
Ritsuko Akagi sit across from one-another,
alone, at table in the far eastern corner of the room. Next to
them, a large window affords a view of the lush, green
interior nearly a mile below . . . which is lit by sunbeams that stream
in through holes in the cave’s armor plated ceiling.
Ritsuko seems to admire the view for a moment—then returns her drink to the large, round table, grinning at her companion--)
Ritsuko: It’s been a long time since we last did this.
Misato: . . . It has . .
Ritsuko: . . . Frankly, I’d thought you’d finally given up this sort of thing.
Misato: (quietly) Old habits . . .die hard.
Ritsuko: "Once in a while," eh?
Misato: . . .
(Katsuragi is silent—looking at the abyss that
sits on the other side of the window just 3 meters away. Outside,
the stillness of the afternoon air is broken by the sight of a car-train
traveling down one of the many access tubes that
connect the man-made haven of the Geo-Front to the city above . . .)
Ritsuko: . . Actually, I wasn’t talking about drinking.
Misato: . . hmm?
Ritsuko: I—meant your ‘digging.’
Misato: What?
Ritsuko: That’s why you asked me out for lunch, isn’t it?
Misato: . . .
(Misato says nothing as Ritsuko takes her drink
in hand once more—after a short sip, Akagi leans back in her seat--dangling
the glass leisurely from her fingertips . . )
Ritsuko: . . .You’re still looking for answers.
Misato: Well . . . you’re wrong.
Ritsuko: . . ?
Misato: I asked you down here because I wanted to talk to YOU.
Ritsuko: . . .
Misato: After all this time . . .
Ritsuko: I thought . . . you’d never forgive me.
Misato: (sharply) I haven’t.
Ritsuko: . . .
Misato: (distantly) But that doesn’t mean I won’t.
Ritsuko: (grinning) that means I have something more to look forward to, eh?
Misato: Don’t be rude . . .
Ritsuko: Sorry. It wasn’t--my intent-- to insult . . .
(At last, Akagi returns her glass to the table.
For a long time, she simply sits there- looking at the pale red
liquid held within the crystal chalice through serene, tired eyes .
. . moments later, not taking her gaze from the
drink, she continues--)
Ritsuko: Actually, I’d assumed you were the type of person who’d hold a grudge for a long time . . .
Misato: Really . . And just what do you base that on?
Ritsuko: The Angels . . need I say more?
(Once again, Misato falls silent as Ritsuko cites her personal vendetta against the celestial invaders . . . )
Misato: . . .
Ritsuko: I thought not. Although, as of late, I’d say you’ve run short on things to hate.
Misato: Maybe so . . .
Ritsuko: (sighing) I’m already well aware of your suspicions, Misato.
Misato: (quietly) Are you?
Ritsuko: I should be. Let’s just say I verified them myself well over a month ago.
Misato: . . ?
(Misato at last takes her eyes from the observatory window, looking at Dr. Akagi . . . )
Misato: Then--?
Ritsuko: The last three attacks on this city—
Misato: . . .
Ritsuko: Were not caused by Angels.
Misato: And how do you explain that?
Ritsuko: Oh, I’m sure you know. Our detection system.
The Magi. The Mt. Fuji and Futagoyama centers. All of the
evidence is right here. And all of it points to the same conclusion—we
are simply not dealing with the same Angels
anymore.
Misato: Then—what ARE we dealing with?
Ritsuko: That would take me a year to explain to you—
Misato: (Interrupting) I’ve got time.
(Ritsuko, however, gives her a smirk—shaking her head . . )
Ritsuko: I wasn’t exaggerating.
Misato: . . .
Ritsuko: No . . What we’ve got here is something very similar—maybe a bit more dangerous.
(Misato leans back in her seat, folding her arms-)
Misato: That’s obvious . . .
Ritsuko: Hmm . . .
(For a long time, nothing more is said as the
two dwell in their own thoughts. . . then, Ritsuko’s finger finds its
way to the lip of her drink—tracing the edge of the crystal wineglass
in small circles, producing a high pitched,
sonorous tone . . .)
Misato: Hey . . . cut that out.
Ritsuko: (smiling) hmm. . Resonance.
Misato: What?
Ritsuko: Intonation. Striking a chord with something—or someone. You know what I mean?
Misato: I think you’ve had too much.
Ritsuko: (jokingly) Ow, Misato! That hurts—especially coming from someone like you . . .
Misato: Probably . . . Why’d you order Wine for lunch, anyway? That’s not like you.
Ritsuko: Oh . . I’m just celebrating. Today’s a very special day, you know.
Misato: You mean—
Ritsuko: Yes. But not in the sense YOUR thinking of.
Misato: . .
Ritsuko: So, tell me, has he said anything?
Misato: Huh? Oh. No. He’s been pretty quiet about it . . . as usual.
Ritsuko: That’s something to be expected.
Misato: Yeah—I thought he’d changed, but . . .
Ritsuko: "but—" . . You mean he’s still just like you?
Misato: . . .
Ritsuko: I thought so . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lyn: . . .
(Meanwhile, many meters above the Geo-Front,
on the balcony of Misato Katsuragi’s apartment, a
lone figure stands—gazing over the rooftops of the city around him.
He is completely silent, almost totally lost
in thought. . . the sounds of the city below seem distant and
vague; a mere afterthought of the issue currently plaguing both his
memory . . .
. . . and his conscience . . . )
Lyn: (Sighing) . . .
(A moment later, however, the serenity is broken—by a call . . )
Aoi: Hey!
(Lyn nearly jumps as a pair of arms are wrapped
around his shoulders in an affectionate 'hold'—Aoi,
behind him, smiles gleefully as he struggles in surprise . . )
Aoi: Ha! I’ve got you now, English!
(As a red-faced Anouilh gently attempts to
shrug the girl off, Tamashii simply interlocks her fingers—
creating an almost unbreakable ‘grip’ . . .)
Aoi: (shaking her head) Ah-ah-ah! You can’t escape yet! Not until I’ve questioned my prisoner!
Lyn: (sighing) Aoi . . . please, I’m really not in the mood right now . .
(The girl relaxes her hold, her cheerful demeanor momentarily replaced by genuine concern . . .)
Aoi: Oh 6, Why the sad face?
Lyn: . . .
Aoi: Come on! You know you can tell me!
Lyn: . . .
Aoi: Please?
Lyn: . . I have my reasons.
Aoi: . . .
Lyn: Aoi?
Aoi: Yes?
Lyn: Would you mind—letting go?
Aoi: Okay . . . you really know how to break a girl’s heart, you know.
(Reluctantly, Aoi releases him. . . Lyn turns, facing her-)
Lyn: Well, I wouldn’t say that I KNOW how to—
(As Anouilh’s gaze falls upon the girl before
him, however, he becomes silent—his eyes widening
slightly with his surprise)
Lyn: !
Aoi: What? What’s wrong?
Lyn: You – You changed your hair?
(Indeed, the girl’s raven-hued locks are no
longer tied back in a petite ponytail, but instead hang freely over
her shoulder, held together by a small braid . .)
Aoi: (warmly) Aww, you noticed!
Lyn: But—why?
(At the boy’s question, Aoi suddenly becomes serious—her hands falling to her hips . . . )
Aoi: (indignantly) Hey—can’t a girl let her hair down once in a while?
Lyn: Well, yeah, but—
Aoi: (interrupting) Besides—today’s a VERY special day, you know . . .
Lyn: Huh? It is?
(At his response, the girl folds her arms and
gives him a ‘look,’ tapping her foot impatiently . . . Almost
immediately, the EVA pilot realizes to what she is referring—and nearly
slaps himself--)
Lyn: OH! Yeah! The—
Aoi: (interrupting) You got it.
(She sighs, shaking her head)
Aoi: Boys these days are so forgetful!
Lyn: sorry.
Aoi: Don’t worry, I forgive you. . .
(suddenly , The girl grins mischievously)
Aoi: . . .Anyway, those bandages on your head look tight.
Lyn: eh . . .
Aoi: So, what did you get him?
Lyn: (Scratching his head) Ahhh—I really wasn’t sure . . .
Aoi: Huh?
Lyn: You see—I really don’t know him that well.
Aoi: What do you mean? 6, You’ve been here almost 4 months!
Lyn: Yeah . . . but, in that time, I really haven’t gotten the
chance to—you know . . .
(Without another word, Lyn turns back to the
city, leaning on the balcony railing. Aoi follows in suit next
to him and, for a while, the two simply look at the rooftops in the
distance.
Several moments pass in the silence, as Anouilh’s
mind once more begins to dwell on the events of the past . . .
his reverie is broken, however, By Aoi once more . . .)
Aoi: Well?
Lyn: Huh? Well what?
Aoi: You were going to tell me what’s bothering you.
Lyn: . . . I . . .
Aoi: You know what I said to you before, 6.
Lyn: . . yeah . .
Aoi: You can tell me everything. . .
Lyn: . . .
(Lyn is quiet, contemplating what to say next. . .
. . .finally, however, he seems to make a choice-)
Lyn: Um . . . Aoi?
Aoi: yes?
Lyn: . . . do you think . .
(The boy suddenly becomes hesitant—seemingly afraid of the response his question may evoke . )
Aoi: Do I think what?
Lyn: Do you think . . . I . . .
Aoi: . . ?
(At last, the boy’s words come out—albeit
in the form of a whisper . . .)
Lyn: I- - -do you think a person like me . . . could . . . could Kill someone?
Aoi: . . !
(At first, Aoi is silent; looking at the EVA pilot with disbelieving, blue eyes . . .
. . . then, strangely,
She smiles . . .)
Aoi: Actually . . . I was wondering when you’d ask me that . . .
Lyn: ?
(The girl turns away from him, returning her
eyes to the city—her voice seems distant, as she delicately runs
her fingers through the braid resting on her shoulder . . .)
Aoi: You know, 6, I once noticed . . . that when a boy meets
a girl that he finds ‘cute,’ he usually thinks about
one of two things:
Lyn: . . .
Aoi: He either imagines being intimate with the girl . . or killing her . . .
Lyn: . . .
Aoi: And sometimes. . .
Lyn: . . .
Aoi: . . .just sometimes . . .
Lyn: . . .
Aoi: . . . he even imagines both.
Lyn: . . .
(Suddenly, her eyes dart back to him-)
Aoi: Whichever one he thinks about first is what truly tells him if he can really care about someone—or murder them. . .
Lyn: . . .
Aoi: The reason for this is simple: This is human nature.
(Lyn is silent . . .perhaps from shock . . .
. . .or perhaps from something else . .
Aoi, of course, easily
takes notice of this—
the girl puts her
lips to his ear, whispering softly--)
Aoi: And That’s why It’s not something to be ashamed of, silly. . .
Lyn: . . .
Aoi: . . .and, um, besides . . .
Lyn: . . ?
Aoi: I’m still here, even though you haven’t told me, 6—
(Lyn turns away from the girl—his eyes falling once more to the steel towers in the distance . .)
Lyn: (quietly) . . wh—what . . ?
Aoi: You still haven’t said. . . Just What you imagined when you first met me . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hikari: Well, what is it?
Asuka: No!
Hikari: Come on, Asuka!
Asuka: It’s my business, Hikari!
(Meanwhile, away from the noise of the city
around the balcony, inside the apartment, a very different
sort of conversation is going on . . .
The subject of which, however, is far more serious than either of the participants may at first be led to believe . . .)
Hikari: But, I told you what I got . . . it’s only fair that you tell me . . .
(Asuka, however, turns her eyes away . . . )
Asuka: You’re the one who decided to tell me—I don’t have to tell you.
Hikari: Not even a little hint?
Asuka: No. and you shouldn’t be so nosy!
Hikari: . . .
Asuka: You’re almost as bad as Aoi . . .
(suddenly, their conversation is interrupted by the sound of a doorbell . . .)
Hikari: Who could that be? Isn’t it still a bit early?
Asuka: (annoyed) That hasn’t stopped SOME people . . .
(With this, Asuka stands, walking slowly down the hallway to the front door--)
Asuka: It had better be Misato . . .
(As the girl presses the small panel by the threshold, the door slides open, revealing the visitor—
Much to Asuka’s apparent disgust, however . . .)
Kensuke: Hi.
Asuka: Oh, GREAT.
Hikari: (distant) Who is it?
Asuka: It’s the Three stooges’ third brain cell . . .
Kensuke: (angry) Hey!
Hikari: Oh, is it Mr. Aida?
Kensuke . . .
Asuka: Well? Are you going to come in or are you waiting for a personal escort?!?
Kensuke: —yeah, yeah . . .
(As Aida steps inside, the door shutting swiftly
behind him, Asuka returns to the living room—mumbling
irately under her breath . . .)
Asuka: . . . Rrrgh . . . Sheiskopf . . .
(returning to her seat on the floor by the
table, Soryu begins to busy herself with yet another magazine,
as Kensuke steps in—giving an almost relieved smile at the site of
Horaki . . .)
Kensuke: Hi, Hikari . .
Hikari: Hi, yourself . . .
(The girl pauses, taking note of something missing--)
Hikari: Say . . . Where’s Touji?
(Kensuke drops his school-bag to the floor, taking a seat on the couch -)
Kensuke: He an’ Shinji left before I had a chance to follow ‘em—though he didn’t say where they were going . . .
Asuka: (mumbling) Probably off doing something ‘moronic . . .
Kensuke: . . .
Hikari: So, Aida, did you bring your – you know --
Kensuke: (interrupting) Oh, yeah—it’s in my bag. . .
Hikari: Great!
(Just then, however, the sound of the balcony
door sliding open can be heard—and Aoi Tamashii steps in,
looking around the room curiously--)
Aoi: Who’s here? I thought I heard the doorbell—
Kensuke: Hey, Aoi.
Aoi: (smiling) greetings, Captain!
(with this, the girl bows slightly—offering an exagerrated salute . . )
Kensuke: -!-
(Aida, however, turns a shade redder at the sudden attention . . )
(Asuka, meanwhile, looks up from her magazine for a moment—scowling at Aoi-)
Asuka: Flitchen! Can you be any MORE of a Flirt?
(Tamashii simply chuckles—sitting on the floor next to Soryu--)
Aoi: It depends—was that a Rhetorical question?
Asuka: No . .
Aoi: Then yes. . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Touji: What do you mean "go on without me? "
Shinji: I told you—I’m not going home yet. . .
Touji: then where ARE you going?
(The boy shifts uneasily, looking at the ground as he answers)
Shinji: It’s . . . mmh, I –Can’t explain it right now . . .
(Several kilometers from Major Katsuragi’s
apartment, in the streets near Tokyo 3’s northern district, Shinji
Ikari and Touji Suzihara stand on the sidewalk—nearby, afternoon traffic
rushes by at an almost frantic pace, kicking
up small drafts which rustle the children’s clothing with the passing
of each car.
A moment later, the taller boy grunts, looking at his companion impatiently . . .)
Touji: so, what’s up?
Shinji: I . really don’t know . . . I just can’t talk to you about it right now . . .
Touji: You can’t tell ME?
Shinji: How can I—I’m not even sure myself . . .
Touji: . . .
Shinji: I just—need to go this way alone, okay? Um—thanks for walking all this way with me . . .
(with this, Ikari turns his back to his friend—walking
down a side street in the direction of the very heart
of the northern district. . .)
Touji: . . no . . .problem, I guess . . .
(at once, the boy smirks . . )
Touji: Besides, I got somewhere I need to be, anyway . . .
(At this, Shinji pauses—facing Suzihara once more, curiously-)
Shinji: What?
Touji: nothing—just talking to myself . . .
Shinji: . . .
Touji: See ya . . .
Shinji: Yeah . . see you . . .
(Touji turns, walking in the opposite direction as the two part ways—
As he begins his journey into the north side
of the city, Shinji finds his mind constantly filled with the same
bombardment
of images—both pleasant and disturbing—that haunted him at his mother’s
grave . . . as he steps from the side street into
a busy crowd of pedestrians, he seems to disappear—merging with the
mass of people as they all make their way in the
same general direction . . .
From the top of the hill, however, Touji has
stopped—watching his friend’s progress and subsequent assimilation
into the throngs of passers-by . . .
Then, the boy shakes his head—
--for he has realized where his friend is headed . . )
Touji: (to himself) I don’t know if you’re as clueless as
you say , Ikari—but it doesn’t take an idiot to figure
out you’re going in the direction of Ayanami’s place . . .
(The boy continues to shake his head as he
begins on his way once more—albeit, in the direction opposite
that of his friend . . .)
Touji: (thinking) Suits me—at least that puts me off of guard duty for a while . ..
(The boy says no more as he turns down the
main road—like Shinji, however, the direction in which he travels is
not that of his home . .
. . . he is, in fact, on the most direct route
to Major Misato Katsuragi’s apartment . . .)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ritsuko: So?
Maya: No change. And we’ve been repeating the tertiary OB interactions just like you said.
Ritsuko: What about the nerve pulses?
Maya: I’m reading only minimal gain again . . .
Ritsuko: . . .
Maya: It seems the impulse rate won’t go above 600. . .
(Far below the streets of Tokyo 3—in a room
deep in the very heart of the Nerv Subterranean complex, Maya
Ibuki and Ritsuko Akagi go about their work on their project that,
in light of the recent attacks on the city, has gone
all but neglected . . .
In the very center of the room sits a familiar,
translucent yellow vial which, in the cold light provided by the
ceiling lamps, casts and eerie glow about the room as Dr. Akagi goes
about examining the data from the most
recent tests . . .)
Ritsuko: According to this, the hippocampus and cerebellum are
now fully formed—but the speech centers and
higher cognitive faculties are almost nonexistent . . .
Maya: Without the Magi, ma’am—
Ritsuko: (interrupting) Yes, I know—we have no way to explain this.
(Dr. Akagi pauses, casting a worried eye on the object of all their troubles, which sits silent before her . . )
Maya: The secondary system just isn’t equipped to handle so many calculations at once—
Ritsuko: That’s obvious, Maya . . . it wasn’t designed to.
Maya: Ma’am?
(With this, Ritsuko frowns--)
Ritsuko: The secondary system was here before the Magi were completed.
It’s what handled the subcenter’s computer
network—you know, sensors, security doors, access ports, that sort
of thing-- long before the Magi’s initial
theorems were even in place.
Maya: Then—why are we using it as a backup?
Ritsuko: Because it has all the same parameters and subroutines that the Magi do—albeit far simpler, of course. . .
Maya: How come you haven’t mentioned this before?
Ritsuko: (smirking) Well, to be truly honest, I’ve never needed to—
(Ritsuko pauses, removing her glasses and rubbing her eyelids . . )
Ritsuko: Besides, when the Magi were completed , the secondary was just pushed aside and forgotten . . .
Maya: . . .
Ritsuko: . . .like so many relics these days . . .
(Dr. Akagi turns to the girl, sighing)
Ritsuko: (quietly) It’s painfully clear just how dependent we
are on our creations to make our lives easier . . . but, in the end,
they just make things all the more complicated—
Maya: . . . leaving us to play catch-up.
Ritsuko: precisely . . .
(As she finishes her sentence, Ritsuko is interrupted
by the telephone on the desk behind her, which has begun to
beep incessantly. )
(At once, Maya is upon it—putting the receiver to
her ear. A moment later, she turns back to
Dr. Akagi-)
Maya: That was Mr. Hyuga—they’re ready to begin the Magi’s startups, ma’am.
Ritsuko: . . .
Maya: . . .They’re waiting for you in the control center.
(At first, Dr. Akagi offers no response.
Then, she turns from her assistant, back to the large vial.
Unceremoniously, she places her keyboard on the desk beside her, shaking
her head . . )
Ritsuko: (sighing) There’s nothing more we can do here at the moment. Let’s not keep them waiting.
Maya: (standing) Yes Ma’am . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hyuga: M.C.E speed is plus 120. Initiating first stage reboot protocols.
Ritsuko: Begin primary startup of Caspar and Melchior. Keep
Balthazaar’s induction rate below 510 until the
system has had a chance to warm up—I don’t want to have to go in and replace
any melted mainframes . . .
Shigeru: Yes sir. . .
(Almost 10 minutes later, on the Magi I/O towers
in the main control center, Dr. Ritsuko Akagi along with the
team of Maya, Shigeru, and Makoto, stand atop the magus Balthazaar
as they go about bringing the massive
supercomputers back to life . . . on the other two towers, similar
teams are in place, awaiting instructions . . .)
Shigeru: Induction speed is nominal. Ready to begin heat-sink process.
Ritsuko: Release the liquid nitrogen—
(Hyuga immediately complies and, seconds later,
the sounds of gaseous hissing fills the room as super-cooled
fluid is poured into the Magi’s internal systems . . .)
Hyuga: N2 release completed. No problems in the duct system-
Shigeru: Venting the gas—internal pressure is plus 15 torr and dropping . . .
Ritsuko: What’s our heat level?
Shigeru: temperature in boards 1 through 360 is 24 Kelvin—well below recommended startup safety levels.
Ritsuko: Very good. Begin the first stage.
Hyuga: Roger-
Shigeru: Roger-
Maya: Beginning first stage . . .
(As Maya says this, a low pitched hum begins
to reverberate through the very tower they stand on, sending
vibrations running up from her console into her fingertips. The girl
is somewhat startled by the sudden feeling, but
then quickly recovers--)
Maya: Er—backup system 3 indicates first stage successfully completed—all safeties have been removed.
Ritsuko: (quietly) Maya—I want you to run security measure alpha—
Maya: Yes ma’am . . .
(At this, Shigeru looks over his shoulder to the doctor, a somewhat confused look on his face--)
Shigeru: You want to run the security program this early?
Ritsuko: Yes—It’s when we begin the second stage that the Magi
are most vulnerable to outside invasion. I want to be sure
the system’s clear before moving on . . .
Maya: Security measure alpha completed . . .
Ritsuko: Any sign of intrusion?
Maya: None.
Ritsuko: What about the memory core?
Maya: No anomalies detected yet.
(for a moment, Ritsuko looks silently to the other two towers. Seemingly, she regards them not as computers—
--but as patients . .. )
Ritsuko: . . . fine then. Begin the second stage protocols . . .
Hyuga: Yes Ma’am—
Makoto: Yes Ma’am—
Ritsuko: Maya—I want you to run backup system 2’s security program
every 6 seconds—If you spot anything out of the
ordinary--
Maya: understood . . .
Ritsuko: (thinking) Time . . to come back, mom . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Asuka: Wake up, dummy!
Lyn: Mmhh—what?
Asuka: you fell asleep, stupid!
Lyn: Oh—I did? Jeez—I’m . . sorry . . .
(Far above the tension of the Nerv control
center, on the balcony of the apartment belonging to Major Misato
Katsuragi . . . Lyn Anouilh wakes, finding himself still leaning on
the balcony edge. Beside him, Asuka Soryu now
does the same, shaking her head slowly . . . )
Asuka: Lazy . . .
Lyn: . . .
(it takes a moment for the boy’s groggy mind to clear—when it does, he notices that the sun is slightly lower in the air, meaning almost an hour has passed . . .)
Asuka: . . .
Lyn: What are you doin’ out here?
Asuka: Oh, please, like you can talk! .
Lyn: . . .
(Asuka sighs, peering over her shoulder through
the glass balcony door behind them. Inside, it is evident that a
conversation of sorts is going on, between Kensuke, Aoi, and Hikari.
. .)
Asuka: If you must know, It was getting too damn crowded in there
. . .
Lyn: . . oh . .
(A few seconds later, the girl turns back
to the view, closing her eyes as a warm breeze billows in from the east
. . .)
Lyn: . . .
Asuka: Although, I really can’t blame you for falling asleep—it’s pretty cool out here . . .
Lyn: yeah . . .
Asuka: . . .
Lyn: . . .
(A moment passes in silence—then, Anouilh stirs--)
Lyn: A—Asuka?
Asuka: What . .?
Lyn: I’ve been doing some thinking . . .
Asuka: Ha! There’s hope for you yet . . .
Lyn: . . .
Asuka: . . .
Lyn: Anyway—I’m sorry . ..
Asuka: ?
Lyn: I-- must’ve really screwed things up—before . . .
Asuka: (mumbling). . . Though I’ll agree with you, you probably know THAT’s a strictly a matter of opinion . . .
Lyn: . . .
Asuka: . . .
Lyn: (quietly) Things just aren’t turning out the way I thought they would . . .
Asuka: Oh, really? And just HOW did you expect them to ‘turn out?’
Lyn: I don’t know—maybe doing something worthwhile—and feeling good about it . . .
Asuka: . . .
Lyn: An’ instead all I’ve felt like doing lately is sulking . . .
Asuka: So? What am I supposed to do?
Lyn: Um . .?. . . I guess I was hoping you knew how to make the feeling go away . . .
Asuka: Look, If I knew how to make—to make the feeling-
(Suddenly Asuka pauses, seemingly surprised at her own words—
(Then, she shakes her head quickly, as if trying to clear it--)
Asuka: --Oh, What the hell am I talking to YOU about it, for!?!
(With this, Asuka growls, turning away from
the balcony and opening the sliding door—for a moment, the sounds
of laughing can be heard coming from inside, and then, they are quickly
cut off as Soryu enters, shutting the door behind
her . . .)
(Lyn peers at her for a moment, then shrugs, returning to the view . .. )
Lyn: Hmm . . . Didn’t think you would . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(meanwhile, inside--)
Hikari: Asuka, you’re just in time!
Asuka: In time? In time for what?
(the response, however, comes from the floor . . .)
Aoi: We were going to play a game. . .
(inadvertently, Asuka’s eyes fall to Tamashii,
who is seated on the ground. In her arms, the girl holds Pen Pen.
The stout, warm-water bird has seemingly found himself in a comfortable
position, for he has fallen asleep . . .)
Aoi: Well?
(At this, Soryu turns up her nose to the girl--)
Asuka: Hmmph! I don’t play ‘games.’
(Hikari cannot help but cast a worried eye over to the EVA pilot . . .)
Hikari: Uh—I guess if you don’t want to . . .Ah-
(before she can finish the thought, however, Hikari is cut off by the sound of the doorbell . . .)
Kensuke: What?
Asuka: Oh! That might be Misato!
(before anyone else can stand, Asuka is already off in the direction of the front door--)
(Behind the girl, Aoi shrugs . . .)
Aoi: (mumbling) For someone who doesn’t play games, she sure is competitive . . .
Kensuke: I don’t get it—
Hikari: What?
Kensuke: Why would Misato use the doorbell?
(As if to answer the boy’s question, all three children are startled at the sound of Asuka’s disappointed wail . . .
. . .which, in turn, is quickly followed by an equally angry response . . .)
Asuka: Aaargh! Mein--Gott en Himmel, not YOU!
Touji: Aw, take a pill!
Hikari: Touji?
Kensuke: finally . . .
(Aoi, strangely enough, whispers to the sleeping penguin in her arms . . .)
Aoi: (to Pen Pen) So . . . the fourth one is here . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Elsewhere, far from the noise of Misato Katsuragi’s apartment . . .
in the very center of the Northern District of the Third Tokyo city . . .
A boy stands in front of a doorway that has haunted
his dreams for many months--)
AYANAMI
402
Shinji: . . .
(Ikari is speechless, realizing just where
his wandering has brought him . . .
around him, the monotonous droning of construction work hammers loudly
in the air as he stares,
dumbfounded, at the nameplate on the door before him . . .)
Shinji: . . .
(slowly, in a motion that comes almost automatically,
the boy’s hand reaches to the doorbell-- a small,
old looking plastic box with the words "pin pal" stenciled conspicuously
across the front . . .
But, an instant later, he stops—thinking twice about what to do. . .
And then, he places his hand, instead, on the doorhandle . . .)
Shinji: (Whispering) . . . what?
(The boy exclaims, perplexed, when he realizes the door is, in fact, locked. . . )
Shinji: . . . mmh . . .
(He tries several more times, but to no avail—the steel bolt simply will not yield . . .
. . . this becomes a moot point, however, as
the door suddenly is opened from the inside—swinging wide
on its rusty hinges with a high-pitched metal creak)
Shinji: Oh!
Rei: . . .Ikari . . . ?
Shinji: (embarrassed) Oh . . oh . . .nnnn . . .hi, Rei . . . .
(indeed, it is Rei Ayanami, dressed in her
school uniform, who stands on the other side of the open door . .
on her face the girl wears a familiar, blank expression—
but to Shinji, however, her crimson eyes seem to
stare into the very depths of his intention . . .)
Rei: What do you want . . . ?
(The girl’s voice, meanwhile, is quiet—almost
a whisper. . .)
Shinji: I . . .I . . .
(Ikari’s eyes fall to the floor, as whatever
semblance of strength of will that he has left crumbles under
the force of his fear . . . and, perhaps, his shame . .
.)
Rei: . . .
Shinji: . . .
Rei: . . .
Shinji: . . .
(Without warning, the girl turns, walking inside the apartment . . . )
Shinji: . .huh . .?
(Shinji, at first, can only watch as Rei leaves him at the door, seemingly ignoring his presence altogether . . .)
Shinji: . . .
(At last, the boy swallows—stepping inside, he closes the door behind him, removing his shoes in the process . . .
Then, in a quaky voice, he tries to explain his presence . . .)
Shinji: (nervous) I . . .I don’t know . . why . . .I came . . .
Rei: . . .
Shinji: At least, I don’t think I knew . . .
Rei: . . .
(The girl says nothing to him as she returns
to her desk, where the weekend’s worth of schoolwork
has been laid out . . . .)
Shinji: . . . I . . . oh, . . . .
Rei: . . .
Shinji: Rei . . .
Rei: . . . yes . .?
Shinji: I think—I came here---to ask you something . . .
Rei: . . . what. .
Shinji: . . .
Rei: . . .
Shinji: I think—It was . . maybe . .
Rei: . . .?
Shinji: Do you remember---anything—anything. . .about. . .a—
(The boy’s voice trails off as his resolve waivers. . .)
Rei: About . . what. . ?
Shinji: Well,--you . . .Misato told me . . .about how you . . .piloted unit 01—
Rei: . . !
(At the sound of the word ‘unit 01,’ Rei’s eyes seem to widen for an instant – indeed, her entire body tenses . . .
Shinji immediately takes notice of her reaction, freezing . . .)
Shinji: . . ahp . . .
(seconds later, however, the girl seems to
relax—not taking her eyes from the Physics, history, and
calculus books laid out before her as she pushes the boy on . . . )
Rei: (quietly) . .go on . . .
Shinji: . . .
(The boy takes a stifled breath—swallowing hard-)
Shinji: She . . told me—how. . .how . .
(As he stumbles over his words, Shinji Ikari,
strangely, finds that his right hand has begun to shake—and
slowly, almost involuntarily, he begins to flex his palm . . )
Shinji: how . . you. . .were . . .you—
Rei: . . .
Shinji . . you . . thought –
Rei: . . .
Shinji: . . . you . . thought . . .you were my . .
Rei: . . ?
Shinji: . . .my . .
(It is Ayanami, however, who completes his sentence . . )
Rei: (quietly) . . . Mother?
Shinji: . . .!
(Shinji finds that he can only stare at her
in surprise . . .as the moments tick by, it is Rei who is
the next to speak . . .)
Rei: Dr. Akagi . . . informed me of this as well . . .
Shinji: Ritsuko?
Rei: Yes . . .
Shinji: Then it’s—it’s true?
Rei: . . ?
Shinji: . . . that . .
Rei: . . .?
Shinji: . . .you don’t . . remember . . what happened?
Rei: . . .
(silently, the girl nods . . )
Shinji: You don’t remember?
Rei: . . . no . . .
(oddly enough, Shinji’s voice seems to take
on a desperate tone . . .)
Shinji: anything?!
Rei: . . .no . . .
Shinji: . .Any—anything?
Rei: (quietly) . . .I do not remember . . .
Shinji: . . uh . .
(At that very moment, the girl’s gentle words evoke a fresh wave of images in the boy’s mind . .)
-(flashback)- Shinji: Don't you remember. . .?
Rei: No, I do not.
Rei: I think, probably, I am the third.
Rei: I do not remember . . .
Rei: I am the third
Rei: I do not remember
Rei: I am the third
Rei: I do not remember
Rei: I am the third
Rei: I do not remember
Rei: I am the third
Rei: Shinji . . . )
Shinji: No . . !
Rei: . .
(Ayanami stands, facing Ikari--)
Rei: I’m sorry . . .
Shinji: . . .
Rei: I do not know what to say to you . . . or how . . .I do not feel-
(The girl is cut off, however, as Ikari takes a sudden step toward her—
And, As Rei’s gaze falls to his face, she gasps—
For Shinji’s eyes have become vacant, seemingly possessed of a will not his own . . .)
Rei: Uunh! Ikari!
(Ayanami cries out as the boy grabs her roughly
about the shoulders—digging his fingers into the flesh
of her arms . . .)
Shinji: . . . have to . . .
(Shinji, meanwhile, only stares down at the girl with wild, frenzied eyes as he pushes her to the bed. . .
. . . where he slowly forces her down--)
Shinji: have. .to. . .know . . .
Rei: . . .
(At last, Rei falls motionless—perhaps from
shock, perhaps from resignation-- as the boy atop her pulls
away the blue vest of her school uniform--)
Shinji: . . .
Rei: . . .
(Ikari’s eyes are wide and his breathing quick
and shallow as the perspiration begins to gather on his
forehead . . .small whimpers escape his lips as he struggles with her
shirt-collar, fumbling with the buttons that lie
directly below her neck . . .
And, it is then that Ayanami realizes:
He is looking for something . . .)
Rei: . . .
Shinji: . . .
(at last, Shinji gives in to some unseen force
of his madness—pulling one final time at the collar, which tears
away with a loud ripping sound as the buttons pop free. The boy’s
pupils dilate at the sight of the skin below, which is
ashen and white as marble, save for the small red scratches that are
the product of his crazed struggles . . .)
Rei: . . .
Shinji: . . .
(Finally, the boy pulls the ruined collar down around the girl’s arm—revealing the object of his hysteria . . .
. . . He places his hand upon it, his fingers trembling as they trace its slender, graceful curve . . .
. . .For, it is the long, discolored scar on the girl’s shoulder . . )
Image by Elaine Cardenas
Shinji: . . .
(for what seems like an eternity, the two remain
there, unmoving, as Shinji stares at the remnants of the wound
the girl incurred nearly a month ago . . .)
Shinji: . . .
Rei: . . .
Shinji: . . .uuhh?
(At last, however, Ikari seems to snap out of his daze—his eyes falling to Ayanami’s own . . . )
Image by Elaine Cardenas
( and suddenly, he gasps . . )
Shinji:. .! OH GOD!!
Rei: . . .
(As he is shunted mercilessly into the real world once more, Shinji stands so suddenly that he falls to the floor, hitting his head roughly as his cries pour forth . . )
Shinji: . . .Oh, god. . . .in . . .oh, GOD . . .!
Rei: . . .
(For a long time, Ayanami does not move—
then, she slowly stands; pulling the remnants of her shirt back over her shoulder.
For several moments, she looks down at Shinji—her eyes betraying not a hint of emotion . . . )
(And finally, Ikari finds the will to stand
himself—already shaking with sobs as he realizes, to his horror,
just what he has done . . )
Rei: . . .
Shinji: (crying) Oh, God—I’m so sorry, Ayanami . . I – I’m So sorry . . . I . . .I . . .
Rei: . . .
Shinji: .. I . . . .what did. . .
Rei: . . .
Shinji: (panting) Why . . did . . I’m sorry, Rei! I’m so sorry! I’m –so—s--sorry!
(Soon, however, the boy’s words are lost in his cries . . .)
(It is then that Rei finds the will to speak—)
Rei: . .Why are you crying?
Shinji: (crying )
Rei: . . .
Shinji: (crying)
Rei: (quietly) Why --did you do that . . . ?
Shinji: . . .I . . .I . . .
Rei: Ikari . . .
Image by Elaine Cardenas (edited/colored by Maher Al-Samkari)
Shinji: (crying). . I . . .was afraid you weren’t . . .and . . . I wanted . . to be sure . . you were . . . you . . .
(Shinji does not need to complete his sentence for the girl, however—
it seems she already knows the answer . . .)
Rei: . . . you . . were looking for something. .?
Shinji: . . .
(A small shudder passes through Ikari’s body as he tries to stifle his tears--)
Rei: . . . ?
Shinji: . . .
(Shinji, however, does not respond:
for his eyes have found something new to stare at—a vision far
worse than many of those currently racing about his mind--
Rei follows his gaze, which leads to her desk. . .
Image by Elaine Cardenas
. . .On which, among her schoolbooks, sits Gendo Ikari’s glasses . . .)
Rei: . . .
Shinji: . . .
(At last, the boy resigns himself to his despair—collapsing
to his knees, burying his face in his hands . . . )
Rei: . . .
(Ayanami stands there for a moment, fingering
the torn edges of her shirt as she regards the child weeping
on the floor before her. Then, without another word, she turns
away from him, slowly making her way from the room . . .
Suddenly, however, She stops-
As a single, abrupt thought enters her mind.
It comes without warning—
Vague at first,
Almost an instinct,
then, slowly, it becomes clear.
In the very back of her mind, from a part of her conscious long forgotten, an idea springs forth.
It is a thought that has been buried deep; locked
away in the genetic sequences that compose the very fibre of the girl’s
being. . .
For the split second it is there, she puzzles over it.
A concept completely foreign to her—
yet, at the same time, also natural . . .
And, it is in this that the first child realizes—
It is what she feels must be done . . .
At last, As Shinji Ikari begins to close himself
off from the rest of the world for perhaps the last time, Rei Ayanami
makes a decision. . . .)
Rei: . . .
Shinji: . . .
(The girl turns, facing the disshelved pilot on the floor below her. . .
. . . and does something unexpected:
She kneels in front of the boy,
holding him.)
Shinji: . .!
(At first, Shinji makes a halfhearted attempt
at pushing her away—but, inevitably, the rest of him soon resigns to
her touch. . .)
Shinji: . . .
Rei: . . .
(Finally, he ceases his struggles altogether . . .)
Shinji: . . .
Rei: Did --you find what you were looking for . . . ?
Shinji: (between sobs) y-yes. . .
(At his answer, Rei falls silent, pulling the boy closer . . .
For a long time, the two sit there: Ikari weeping
on the girl’s shoulder—the same shoulder he had wanted so
desperately to see –as his emotions pour forth in a tide of heartache
and sorrow which seems to radiate from every
spiritual vertex in the frail composition of his tormented soul . .
.)
(And then, moments later, as the child’s gasping sobs begin to grow quiet, Rei Ayanami speaks once more . . .)
Rei: . .Shinji . . .
Shinji: . . .
Rei: . . Shinji. . .
Shinji: . .y—yes . . .?
Rei: today . . . is the day, is it not?
Shinji: . . .
(Without a word, Shinji nods . . )
Rei: Then . . . we will tell no one of this. . .
Shinji: . . n-no one?
Rei: (quietly) . . .no one.
(As the two sit there, huddled together on the floor of Ayanami’s apartment, Shinji Ikari wipes away his tears--)
Shinji: . . .
Rei: . . .
Shinji: . .R . .Rei?
Rei: . . yes. .?
Shinji: Th- .. Thank you . .
Rei: . . .
(Ayanami, however, blinks as yet another thought enters her mind. . .)
Rei: (thinking) ‘thank-you . .?’
Shinji: . . .
Rei: (thinking) . . .words of . . . gratitude . . ?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Asuka: (Sarcastically) Thanks a BUNCH! A lot of help YOU were!
Touji: Ah, will you lighten up already? I told you I couldn’t stay with him forever!
Asuka: You could have at least told US!
Touji: What do you think I’m here for?!
(far from the northern district of Tokyo 3,
in the apartment of Major Misato Katsuragi . . .The situation has
begun to deteriorate somewhat . . .)
Asuka: What good is it if you leave him an hour before you were supposed to?
Touji: I’m not exactly practiced at this sort of thing—
Asuka: THAT’s OBVIOUS!!
Touji: Hey, don’t talk like that to me!
Kensuke: Oh, boy . . .
Asuka: Why not!? You deserve it!
Touji: Eh, Shut up!
Hikari: They’re really going at it this time . . .
Asuka: You Shut up!
Touji: No, you Shut up!
Asuka: No, YOU SHUT UP!!
Kensuke: Jeez, you guys, calm dow-
Asuka & Touji: (interrupting) STAY OUT OF THIS!
Kensuke . n. . . .never mind . . .
Asuka: (turning back to Suzihara) Why don’t you admit it! You just screwed up!
Touji: You’re the screw up!
Asuka: WHAT!?
Touji: you heard me-!
Asuka: How dare you call me that!
Hikari: Asuka—
Asuka: NO! I don’t have to take that kind of crap from a MALE!
Touji: Will you listen to the demon here--!?
Asuka: Demon? What the hell do you know about listening, Dumkopf?!
Touji: 'Lot more than you!
Asuka: Bull-shit! you NEVER stop talking, you pea-brain-
Touji: (shouting) Aw, You're nothing but a loud mouth, flat-chested, egotistical--
Asuka: (interrupting) . . . Slow witted, Thick-skulled, Dumb-ass jock with no manhood whats-
(suddenly, a new voice intervenes-)
Aoi: HEY! Both of you! Stop that right now!!
Touji: . . .
Asuka: . .
(Oddly enough, both Soryu and Suzihara comply—falling
silent at the uncommon thunder of Aoi Tamashii’s
angered voice . . )
Aoi: Hmmph . . .That’s better. Honestly, You’d think you two were married or something . . .
Hikari: . . .
Kensuke: . . .
(With this, Aoi stands, releasing Pen Pen and turning to the others--)
Aoi: I’ll assume we don’t have much time left?
Touji: Yeah.
Aoi: Then we’ll get ready now—I’ll go get 6 . . .
Hikari: (walking toward the kitchen) I’ll start the food--
Kensuke: (turning to his bag) I guess I’ll grab my camera . . .
(Touji and Asuka leer at each other for a moment, then turn in a huff—walking in opposite directions . . .)
Touji: (following Horaki) Hold up, Hikari—Let me help you in there . . .
(Within seconds, Asuka finds herself standing
alone in an almost empty room. Looking at Aida (who fumbles
around in his school-bag for his ever-present camera), The girl shakes
her head, and turns, walking in the direction
of the kitchen . . .
She stops, however, as the ringing of the telephone sounds loudly in her ears . .
The girl looks around once more and, finding
no one else available to answer, picks up the receiver which hangs
on the wall near the kitchen door . . .)
Asuka: Hello?
Ritsuko: Hello? Who is this? Asuka?
Asuka: Dr. Akagi?
Ritsuko: (sighing) It’s a good thing I found you—
Asuka: Why? What’s wrong?
Ritsuko: Listen carefully . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Misato: Yes, Sir. . .
Gendo: What shall be said in here is not to leave this room, under
any circumstances. Do you
understand?
Misato: Yes, Sir.
(Far below the turmoil of Misato Katsuragi’s
apartment, in the dimness of the office of Nerv’s supreme
commander . . )
Gendo: As you know, the events of yesterday have thrown the component UN forces into a frenzy. .
Misato: You mean—the incident involving the second branch-?
Fuyutsuki: Although Dr. Akagi has informed me that we cannot be
absolutely sure until the Magi’s
uplinks have been reestablished . . . yes, At this time it is safe to assume
the obvious . . .
Gendo: You Of course understand that this situation requires a high degree of discretion . . .
Misato: Yes, sir.
Fuyutsuki: Then you are well aware of your duties with respect to the handling of all information regarding this incident?
Misato: Yes . .
Gendo: Major Katsuragi, We have called you here to inform you of a change in those duties.
Misato: Sir?
Fuyutsuki: Nerv has formally agreed to allow the UN security council
full reign of the matter regarding the re-appearance of
the US second branch—And, among them, it has been decided that an independent
third-party, within the
organization, shall be delegated all the responsibilities concerning both
diplomatic and tactical policy. . .
Misato: Pardon my saying so, sir, but—is that really wise?
Fuyutsuki: (sighing) On the surface, it would seem not—but
tensions between Nerv and elements within The United States
Government have been somewhat high ever since the unit 03 incident . .
. and it is safe to assume that once the
second branch’s existence has been confirmed, we can expect the US to enforce
their claims of full salvage rights . .
Gendo: . . .
Fuyutsuki: It was, in fact, the United States government who INSISTED that Nerv not be allowed to handle the proceedings . . .
Misato: Has the committee had any say in this-?
Gendo: (interrupting) The committee’s stake in the affair does not concern you, Major.
Misato: yes, sir.
Fuyutsuki: However, Nerv’s own hand does.
Misato: . . ?
Gendo: Once a commission has been chosen and the decisions made,
a delegate from the council in charge shall be sent here
as a ‘representative’ to Nerv of the US’s interests.
Misato: And—my job?
Fuyutsuki: As this person may, in fact, impose a possible security
risk, It will be up to your department to keep an eye on him
--or her-- until the matter has been resolved.
Misato: Pardon my asking, sir, but why me? Why not the Intelligence division . .?
(Fuyutsuki eyes Gendo for a moment, waiting for any indication. When none comes, the man looks back to major Katsuragi . . .)
Fuyutsuki: There have been indications of several "leaks"
within the ranks of in the intelligence department, as well as in our
special investigations division. In order to keep as tight a reign
as possible on any further breaches of security,
we’ve decided to put our trust in you.
Gendo: You Are, of course, up to the task at hand?
Misato: Yes, Sir.
Gendo: Then so it shall be. You will be given all the necessary information once a delegate has been chosen.
Misato: Yes, Sir. I believe understand fully . . .
Gendo: Very well. You are dismissed, Major.
(As Gendo says this, Misato manages a stiff salute—and turns, walking slowly to the exit. Her footsteps seem to echo off the cold, marble interior of the room long after she has left, as the two old men sit in silence, considering the state of affairs . . .)
(Finally, Fuyutsuki finds the words with which to voice his thoughts . . .)
Fuyutsuki: Are you sure we can trust her?
Gendo: She is the only one within her rank that could truly prove to be effective . . .
Fuyutsuki: Then—you don’t think she knows too much?
Gendo: It is what she is unaware of that makes her so useful. . . she will perform as expected. Don’t worry . . .
Fuyutsuki: . . . Of course . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Meanwhile, in the corridor outside . . .)
Misato: (thinking) Hmmph . . . ‘security risk . . ‘
(Major Katsuragi walks briskly down the hallway toward the nearest elevator . . . from the serious expression she currently wears, it is obvious she is deep in thought . . )
Misato: (thinking) . . . ‘ diplomatic interest . . ."
(She stands before the twin steel doors of the main lift, pressing the call button on the panel to her left impatiently . . .)
Misato: (thinking) . . . It’s obvious that commander Ikari does have his own agenda . . .
(after a few moments, the doors finally open—and, as Katsuragi steps inside the empty elevator, she sighs, pressing the button for G15 . . .)
Misato: (thinking) Maybe even commander Fuyutsuki . .
(At last, she cannot help but express her frustrations aloud . . )
Misato: But . . . why does this smell like a set-up?
(She looks to the small, cylindrical floor indicator above her head as it counts upward toward the fifteenth sublevel . . .)
Misato: Dammit, Kaji! What am I not seeing here?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Meanwhile--high above the silent corridors of Nerv, in the afternoon air of Misato’s own apartment . . .)
Hikari: (quietly) Are—are you sure, Asuka? You--you know you’ll miss the whole thing—
Asuka: I know that . . . but I got no choice . . .
Hikari: It’s okay . . . I understand . . and . . I know he will, too.
(Asuka Soryu stands at the door to the apartment, facing Hikari, who is on the other side of the threshold.
Strangely enough, it seems she is about to leave. . . )
Asuka: Yeah . . . I guess . . .
(Soryu seems to drift off in thought for a moment, then quickly recovers--)
Asuka: Er—that is, I really don’t care, but He might, you know, so . . .
(inevitably, however, her voice slowly trails off)
Hikari: Right . . .
(Asuka sighs, looking at the floor . . .)
Asuka: I—I won’t be back till late . . . Make sure those four don’t screw anything up . . .
Hikari: . . . I will . . .
(Without another word, Asuka turns—walking
slowly down the hallway toward the closest elevator . . .)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Mere minutes later, on the street outside, as Asuka
slowly walks in the direction of the subway station,
she replays, in her mind, the events of only 20 minutes ago . . .)
-(flashback)-
Ritsuko: (over the phone) Listen carefully . . .
Asuka: I am . . .
Ritsuko: You know we’ve been working on bringing the Magi back on line today, right?
Asuka: Yeah . .
Ritsuko: While we were in Balthazaar’s memory core, we discovered
a problem—it concerns
your pilot data. . .
Asuka: What do you mean? My pilot Data?
Ritsuko: Yes--It seems Part of Your RAM was deleted when the Magi
were shut down—without
it, we can’t re-load your pilot configuration into Unit 02’s system.
Asuka: . . .
Ritsuko: It’s imperative that you get down here immediately, so we
can run a harmonics and
synchronization test to replace what was lost.
Asuka: . . . now?
Ritsuko: Yes.
Asuka: (hesitantly) . . . how long will it take?
Ritsuko: 5 to 6 hours . . .
Asuka: (desperately) 5 to 6 hours?! But Dr. Akagi—
Ritsuko: (interrupting)Asuka, I know you have plans right now—but
it can’t be helped. If
there’s an emergency, we have no way of preparing Unit 02 for combat .
. .
Asuka: . . .
Ritsuko: I don’t have to tell you that this is an order . . .
Asuka: (reluctantly) All—alright. . . .alright. . . I’ll . . .come. . .
Ritsuko: Good. We’ll be waiting for you. . .
(There is an abrupt ‘click’ as the other end is disconnected . . . )
Asuka: (to herself) nnh. . . Nein . . .
(her voice, obviously, is filled with anything But enthusiasm for the sudden
turn of events . . .)
(As the cascade of images finally comes to a close
in her memory, Asuka shakes her head—stepping over the
threshold of the traincar which is to take her deep into the heart
of the City and ,eventually, the Geo-front itself. . .
And, once again, her heart is filled with regret . . .)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Almost an hour later . . .
As the sun finally sets behind distant hills in the western horizon . . .
Another lone figure can be seen walking the dimly lit streets outside Misato Katsuragi’s apartment building.
Unlike those before it, however, this figure walks with his head held low—)
(Shinji Ikari makes no sound as he enters the apartment
complex he has come to call home—his mind, no longer
dwelling on the events of the past, is now focused on the concerns
of the present; of the day’s events, and of his
own feelings . . . of problems created, and problems solved . . .
And of questions asked, and questions unanswered . . .
Indeed, moments later, as he stands in the
elevator as it slowly ascends to the seventh floor, he cannot help
but stir, shifting his school-bag to one shoulder. . .
. . . for a whole new set of doubts has begun to plague his mind . . .
with a troubled brow, Shinji stares at the scuffed
vinyl flooring under his feet—seemingly, he begins to search for
answers in the criss-crossed tiles far below, as images of those he
loves . . .
. . . and those he hates . . .
. . .dance around his mind, both soothing and tormenting him. )
(And, inevitably, the shroud of loneliness begins to encroach once more on the fragile edges of his senses . . .)
Shinji: . . .
(As the elevator finally comes to a halt, Ikari
shakes his head—clearing his mind, if only momentarily, of these
many woes. He clutches his bag tightly to his side, walking the
long hallway to the familiar door at its very end . . .
As he fumbles with the keypad on the wall,
He notices a distinct absence of the sounds of life within the
apartment. This is verified, furthermore, when the door slides
open to reveal a darkened interior. . .)
Shinji: . . . Huh?
Shinji: (calling) Hello? . . . I’m home. .?
(when there is only a still silence in response,
Ikari relaxes, stepping inside. He mumbles to himself as the door
closes swiftly behind him . . .)
Shinji: . . .Not that anyone’s here, anyway . . .
(Suddenly, however, the still quiet is broken—
By a light--)
Shinji: Wh—What the--?
(Ikari jumps as the room lights are suddenly turned on, revealing a surprising sight: )
Misato: Welcome home, Shinji . . .
Shinji: What—what is this?
Aoi: You didn’t think we’d forget, did you?!
Kensuke: Yeah, you didn’t think we’d forget!?
Touji: If he knows what’s good for him!
Hikari: Of course he does—right , Mr. Ikari?
Goro: Eh, I think He’s just modest!
Pen Pen: Qwuaaa!
Shinji: . .!
(The boy is, in a nutshell, speechless.
Gathered before him is an assemblage of his closest friends—both old
and new, in what can be equated as a thoughtfully, brightly decorated
living room. On the table, an assortment of
beverages and snacks have been laid out. . .
. . all of which seem to indicate a celebration
of some sort . . .
Shinji, meanwhile, is nearly in shock, reeling as if from the sudden blow. . .
. . . understanding his reaction, Misato steps forward, resting her hands on his shoulders. . . )
Misato: (smiling) I know how you feel about being the center of attention, Shinji . . . but, in this case, it couldn’t be helped. . .
Aoi: Yeah—you’ve just got too many friends, Ikari . . .
Goro: -!-
Kensuke: . .well . . .
Touji: . . He can’t do too much about that . .
(At that moment, Lyn Anouilh steps from the
kitchen—holding a small piece of paper with a hastily
scrawled message written in English across the front--)
Lyn: I found it! It was on the table—Oh! He’s here!]
(At once, The boy finds his composure, smiling. . . )
Lyn: Shinji, on behalf of everyone here—and everyone who couldn’t make it—I just want to tell you—
(He pauses, squinting at the lettering on the paper—and slowly, pronounces a disjointed string of phrases .. )
Lyn: I –er—I want to say—um—o--Omedetou !
Shinji: . . .?
(Anouilh smiles to himself. . .)
Lyn: Well? How was that?
(Shinji, however, is at a loss for words . . . as is everyone else . . .)
Lyn: Huh?
(Anouilh looks to the others, and notices—
they are slowly shaking their heads . . . )
Touji: -!-
Kensuke: -!-
Hikari: -!-
Goro: -!-
Lyn: What . . what’s wrong . .?
(Aoi pats him on the cheek, sighing)
Aoi: Maybe you’d better stick to just saying it in English, 6 . . .
Misato: . . .
Shinji: . . .
Lyn: . . oh . . .
(Misato, meanwhile, turns once more to Ikari)
Misato: Well—you get the idea, Shinji!
Touji: Yeah!
Shinji: (meekly) thanks, everyone . . . all of you . . .
(from the tone of his voice, however, it is obvious that Ikari is more than a bit overwhelmed . . .)
(Just then, however, Shinji seems to notice an absence . . .)
Shinji: S-say—where’s. . . Asuka?
(As he says this, Touji and Kensuke fall quiet. It is Hikari, however, that responds--)
Hikari: She couldn’t make it, Shinji—
(She pauses, eyeing Touji)
Hikari: But she did want to come . . .
Misato: Don’t worry about it, she’ll be here soon enough.
Shinji: . . . !
(Ikari does not respond, however, as he has turned an interesting shade of red . . . )
Goro: Come on! Open your gifts!
Shinji: well—
Aoi: No better time like the present. . . !
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Elsewhere, nearly 4 hours later . . )
Ritsuko: Okay, Asuka, we’re finished . . .
(Asuka’s voice is tinny over the communicator . . .)
Asuka: (angry) Well It’s about time! . . . . how . . how did I do?
(Ritsuko considers her answer for a moment before responding . . . )
Ritsuko: Don’t worry—it’s exactly the same as before . . . good work . . .
(Asuka sits upright as the test-plug door opens,
sighing deeply . . . the girl rubs her tired eyes, taking a glance
at glowing digits of the plug-suit chronometer on the top of her hand
. . . )
Asuka: (to herself) Dammit, out of time! And . . . I already missed the whole thing . .!
Ritsuko: . . .
(Ritsuko watches the girl through the glass
partition that separates the control room from the test-plug bay on the
other side . . . strangely, she wears an expression that borders on
. . . self pity . . )
(Slowly, Soryu stands—climbing onto the catwalk above the test plug . . .)
Soryu: Ach, Nein . .! Now what am I going to do?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Misato: (calling) thanks again, you guys!
Touji: Don’t mention it!
Kensuke: Good night, Misato!
Hikari: Bye, Shinji!
Lyn: See you later!
Goro: (distant) Has anyone seen my jacket . .?
Aoi: (distant) you’re wearing it, dummy. . .
(The voices in the hallway are finally cut
off as the front door closes. Closing her eyes, Misato sighs, leaning
against the wall . . .)
(She opens them, however, to the sound of someone cleaning . . )
Misato: Huh? Shinji?
Shinji: Oh! Uh—thanks again, Misato . .
Misato: Shinji—what are you doing?
(Katsuragi steps toward him, indicating the dirty dishes he has begun gathering in his hands . . .)
Shinji:--I—I was just cleaning up. . .
Misato: No! You don’t have to do that! Not today!
(Shinji is nearly speechless once more as Misato takes the dishes from him . . .)
Misato: I’ll take care of the mess—besides, you look tired. Go and get some rest . .
(Ikari stands there for a moment, astonished, as Misato goes about cleaning up after the party . . )
Shinji: Are you sure? I can-
Misato: (interrupting) I said I’ll handle it! You go to
bed—we’ve got an early morning Harmonics and
synchronization tests at 6:00.
Shinji:--O—okay . . .
(As Shinji stands to leave the room, however, Misato calls after him once more--)
Misato: Oh, and one more thing—
Shinji: . . ?
Misato: Congratulations, ‘Mr. Ikari . . .’
Shinji: . . .um. . yeah . . .
(The boy manages an uneasy smile, and turns—walking in the direction of his room . . . )
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Asuka: Oh, shit . . .
(meanwhile, far from the apartment—in the shopping
district of Tokyo 3, Asuka Soryu stands before the
darkened windows of one of the many stores that line the street. .
. "Closed" signs hang prominently in the
storefront windows, seemingly to mock the girl as she passes them one
after another.)
Asuka: (to herself) What was I thinking!? There’s no place open at this hour . . .
(The girl mumbles, shaking her head )
Asuka: Asuka, your such an idiot . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(elsewhere, a short time later . . .)
(As Shinji stands before his bed, already dressed
in sleeping clothes, he realizes that, at the back of his mind,
something has begun nagging him . . .
And, strangely enough, he finds that he cannot quite lie down.)
(It is this feeling, in fact, which prompts him to
then take his pillow and blanket in hand, and open the sliding door.
He steps out into the living room, which is now darkened and silent
as Misato has already retired to bed . . .)
(The boy looks at the front door for a moment, then finds a spot on the floor and lays out the bed-sheet and pillow . . .)
(As he lies there, in the dark, wondering about just
what has caused him to come out here, his ears pick up a
sound growing in the silence outside. It begins slowly at first,
then gradually increasing in frequency and volume . . .
It takes him only a few seconds to realize that it
has begun to rain . . .)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Asuka: Oh no, not now!!
(Nearly 6 blocks from home, Asuka has suddenly found herself caught in the beginnings of a summer storm. . . )
Asuka: (shouting) Nnnnnnnngh!! Sheist!
(with neither an umbrella nor a raincoat to
stop her from getting soaked, the girl breaks into a run—water
splashing up around her feet as she makes her way quickly down the
street in the direction of the apartment,
which is already visible through the pouring rain. . .)
Asuka: Why does this have to happen!!?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(In the darkness of Major Katsuragi’s apartment,
Shinji Ikari’s tired eyes fall to the balcony door window—
where the view outside is oddly obscured by flowing sheets of water
that run down the glass in the tumultuous
downpour.
Shinji sighs once more, as his consciousness begins
to flutter under the weight of his eyelids. He manages a
glance at the clock, which reads 1:00 am, before his vision blurs and
his thoughts become clouded. . .
Finally, as he waits in the darkness for an arrival,
Shinji Ikari succumbs to his exhaustion, falling asleep as
the rain continues to pound the world outside . . . .)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Asuka: . . .
(As the doors to the apartment complex open,
a miserable looking Asuka Soryu steps slowly inside. Soaked
head to toe, she is a sheer vision of discomfort; her hair hanging
in dripping, wet ropes around her eyes as she shivers
in the air-conditioned hallway, waiting for the elevator.
When the lift doors finally open, the girl
steps inside, rubbing her arms in a vain attempt at warming them up.
Pressing the button for the seventh floor, a single, stifled shudder
passes through the girl’s body as the elevator finally
begins its slow ascent . . .
Asuka: (depressed) Why did I wait until the last minute!? I should of got him something when I had the chance . . .!
(Soryu begins to pace around the confines of the tiny room, as her thoughts turn not to herself . .
. . . but to someone that, in her heart, she cares for . . . if not just inwardly,
. . .then quite deeply. . . )
Asuka: (thinking) He’s going to think I’m some kind of jerk . . !
(As this revelation dawns upon her, the girl curses herself under her breath—kicking the elevator door . . )
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(At last, nearly five minutes later, the sounds
of the front door sliding open can be heard inside Major Misato
Katsuragi’s hushed apartment.)
(Asuka Soryu steps inside, allowing the door
to shut swiftly behind her. The girl looks around herself as her
eyes adjust to the darkness, verifying what her doubts have been telling
her all along. . .)
(As she makes her way to the living room, the
only thought on her mind seems to be focused on changing her
wet clothes, and collapsing into bed . . .
. . . It is then, however, that she sees him . . . .)
Asuka: (Whispering). . . Shinji?
(Curled up on the cold floor, Shinji Ikari is deep
in sleep. The boy’s usually distressed face now seems serene and
peaceful, as he has become oblivious to the worries of the outside
world for the night. . .
Asuka stands over him for a long time, looking at
the child’s sleeping form through disconcerted eyes. In her mind,
a tumult of feelings as disorderly as the rain outside dances around
her brain . . . and, eventually, her thoughts fall back
to the past. . .
. . . of things she said to him. . .
. . . of what he said to her . . .
. . . of her jealousy . . .
. . .of his cowardice . . . .
. . . of her hatred. . .
. . . of his fear . . .
. . . of her debilitating self-doubt . . .
. . . of his meek, naïve nature . . .
. . . and, finally.. . .
. . . of her true feelings for him . . . .
Asuka: (whispering) I wonder . . . if you really don’t know . . .
(the girl falls to her knees—gazing at the sleeping EVA pilot.)
(Shinji Ikari does not stir when she pulls
her face within inches of his, staring at his peaceful expression as she
contemplates what to do . . .)
(And then, at last, the answer seems to simply come to her . . .)
(she moves her face closer, hesitating for an instant. . .
then, finally,
pressing her lips to his. . .)
image by Elaine Cardenas
Asuka: . . .
Shinji: . . .
(She remains there for a long time, no longer minding the possible outcomes of her actions . . .
. . and, strangely enough, she is filled with
the same sense of peace that is written all over the boy’s sleeping
countenance . . .)
Asuka: . . .
Shinji: . . .
(After countless seconds, the girl finally pulls away, watching the boy’s face for any reaction . . .)
Shinji: . . .
(there is, however, none.)
Asuka: . . .
(Asuka stands—her heart filled with a sense
of warm relief. But, as she looks down at him once more, she
finds it is also filled with slight. . . disappointment. . .)
image by Elaine Cardenas
(finally, the girl grins, shaking her head.
. .. . .)
Asuka: Hmm . . .
(She steps over him, making her way to her room . . .)
Asuka: (warmly) . . .Happy birthday, stupid . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
. . .
Elsewhere . . .
. . .
Far below Tokyo 3 . ..
. . .
in the very deepest confines of the Nerv Subcomplex . . .
A large, cylindrical vial sits—cold and silent, in the stillness. . .
It is unmoving. . .
quiet . . .
dead . . .
. . .
. . .
and then..
a spark.
a light.
as, in the solitude of the empty room,
awareness dawns. . .
sight—
contemplation—
sentience—
and spirit—
awareness, followed by confusion;
confusion, followed by fear;
fear, followed by sadness;
Sadness, followed by longing;
and all concluded,
by a stifled scream. . .
Suddenly, in the darkness of terminal dogma,
the silence is broken—
as the glass tube
violently Shatters,
.
and a new vessel,
is painfully,
and finally,
Born. . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
To Be Continued . . .
