Episode 51'  "The Greatest Loss . . . / The Greatest Loss . . ."
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     (It is early dawn . . .

    Miles from the shining spires and steel structures that comprise the
majesty of the reconstructed fortress of Tokyo 3. . lies a wasteland . . .

     In an area that, for a time, was home to millions, now stands a flooded ruin . . . the once
proud city of Tokyo, a barren waste of death and isolation spanning dozens upon dozens
of square miles, lies here.

     Where, once, throngs of people walked and drove municipal roads and intercity highways,
now sits a crumbled ruin--devoid of life, it remains as a solemn memorial, to Japan, the west, indeed,
the rest of the world, of the level of madness man fell to in the hysteria of the post-second
impact conflict, and in his desperation to survive.

     Near what was once the center of a metropolis, a scorched landscape burned by a raging
nuclear fire can be seen--the path of destruction radiating outward, encompassing everything
within a hundred miles' circular area.  Here and there, there are only the husks of buildings to
be seen; crumbling concrete and broken glass and steel; naked girders rusting in the moist air;
submerged structures poking from above the surface of water, where once reclaimed land has
again sunken down into the murky depths of the surrounding lakes. . .

     Indeed, there is nothing left living in what was the very epicenter of this place--where
the ambient radiation from the unholy weapon used to wreak this destruction remains
strong enough  to kill anything unlucky enough to travel too close to its vicinity, as
apparent by the corpses of hundreds of birds decaying in the sweltering heat of the
now year-round sun . . .Indeed, it shall remain so for many years, to come . . ..

     Near the flooded base of what was once a place called Shinjuku, however,
something is different . .

     . . . for here, something stirs .  .

     It is, at first, nearly undetectable from the wind-tossed motion of the water
that has flooded this region; a slow, lingering motion, that creates lazy ripples
in the vast lake encompassing it . . .

     Then, however, there is another . . . and another . . .

     And soon, the obscured silouhette of an ungodly form--impossibly huge and
menacing--can be seen under the water.  its oblong shape obscured by the play
of light on the surface of the liquid, it nonetheless can soon be seen from high above
the waves of the slowly darkening mire . . .

     For, as the motion underneath reaches its apex, so does that of the
water in the lake surrounding it .

      .which has begun to boil . . .

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Teacher:  . .  But, despite the molecule's complexity, you will find that through
               utilizing the step by step IUPAC procedure, naming the compound is a
                simple process . . .

Touji:  ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz

Kensuke:  (whispering)  Touji . . .!!

Touji:  ZZZZZZzzzzzzzz

Teacher:  you will see here, on the foremost carbon of the primary chain,
            there is a methyl substituent. Remember, from your text, that the
            most highly substituted carbon is where numbering on the chain
             begins . . .

Touji: (snoring)

Kensuke:  (whispering louder ) Toujiii!

     (Despite Kensuke's continued attempts to awaken him, Touji Suzihara
remains blissfully unaware of the organic chemistry lesson going on around him . . .
indeed, as the aged and aging professor continues with the lesson--himself unawares of
what is occurring in the back of his classroom-- Aida looks to the second of his
companions to take note of his friend's--condition . . .)

Kensuke:  . . .!

Shinji:  (whispering)  Wake him UP!

Kensuke: (whispering) I tried, but he's out of it totally this time!

     (Ikari quietly slaps his forehead, shaking it in disdain . . .)

Shinji:  (whispering) what do you expect me to do!?

     (Kensuke shrugs--glancing back worriedly at the teacher . . .)

Kensuke: (whispering) I don't know--but you KNOW if he gets in trouble the
                                'teach is going to punish us along    with him!

Shinji:  (whispering) you don't know that for sure!

Touji: ZZZZzzzzZZzzz ..  .

Kensuke: (darkly) Care to try your luck?

     (swallowing, Ikari looks once more to the sleeping Touji, then back to
Kensuke, then to the teacher--before he turns back to Suzihara, shaking him
with renewed strength . . .)

Shinji:  (whispering) Wake up you dummy! You're going to get us on clean up duty again!!

Touji:  (groggily) Wh--what . . !?

     (Both Shinji and Kensuke wince as Touji begins to mumble aloud--looking
around himself, disoriented, as he tries to remember where he is . . .

     Before he can further speak, however, a delicate pair of hands
comes around from the desk behind him--covering his mouth before yet more
monosyllabic nonsense can spill forth . . .)

Aoi: (whispering) it would do you well to keep your mouth shut,
                            Touji--school isn't over yet.

     (blinking several times to cure his blurred vision, the boy cranes
his neck to see the smirking girl behind him . . .)

Touji: (muffled) Aaaooi?

     (stifling a laugh, Tamashii grins--releasing him with one hand,
while playfully knocking his head forward with the other.  As the
boy at last regains his senses, the other two stooges breath a sigh of relief . . )

Teacher:   . . . and from here, you can see that the most hydrogen rich carbons on the
                alkyl chain come last . .

     (As Shinji glances back at Aoi, however, he is surprised to find
her staring straight at him.  as their eyes meet, Tamashii motions to
herself, mouthing three words . . .)

Aoi: (whispering) You owe me. . .

     (shutting his eyes again, Shinji nods complacently--turning back
to the teacher giving the lesson at the head of the room . . .)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Several moments later . . .)

Kensuke:  I can’t believe what a bum you are!

Touji:  Sorry--the lesson wasn’t exactly thrilling!!

Shinji:  Still, you were the only one asleep, Touji . . .

Kensuke: No kidding! And you know how he treats us--You screw up
                and we’re all on garbage duty for a week!

Touji:  Come on, nobody saw me!

     (It is at this point, as a crowd of students saunters by on their
way to the exit, Aoi steps past, whistling "Silent Night" . . .)

Touji: -!- . .

Shinji:  . . .

     (Across the room, Asuka Soryu stands with her arms
crossed, glaring at the three stooges with an oddly placed contempt . . .)

Asuka:  Mein Got, what a Buncha morons . . .

     (next to her, Hikari giggles--looking amorously at the tallest of the three boys . . .)

Hikari:  Isn't Touji cute when he's asleep?

     (Twitching, Asuka glares at her friend with a look of sheer disgust . .)

Asuka:  Are you TRYING to make me throw up!?

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Announcement:  Will the CMA Chairperson, Dr. Ugai, please contact the head of the secondary
                          cranial nerve division, Dr. Tezuka, at once . . .

Misato:  (moaning) AAARGH!!!  Can’t you just STAY in one place for once!?

     (In the nearly vacant control nexus below the central DMA division,
Misato Katsuragi slumps against the wall next to the doorway of the computer area.
Seyoko sits, seemingly relaxed, at a terminal-lounging in a cushioned chair as
data streams up the monitor, downloading through direct cable connections
into her small portable hard disk . . . )

Seyoko:  (smirking satisfactorily)  Oh come ON, Major . . I would have expected you
                                                      to have a bit more  patience--what, with living with
                                                    two children and a . bird, was it?

     (Misato growls under her breath, slumping down further on the wall . . .)

Misato:  (coldly) none of THEM give me this much trouble, especially on the job . . .

     (undaunted, Seyoko closes her eyes, grinning to herself . .)

Seyoko:  What can I say? I must fulfill my duty as a representative of the UN’s interests . . .

Misato:  Your sense of "duty" is pretty sadly misplaced, Lieutenant. . .
            especially when it makes others get up at 2 am!

Seyoko:  Maybe so . . . but it pays the bills . . .

     (Misato shifts her eyes away from the back of the chair, mumbling to herself . . .)

Misato:  (grumbling) yeah, what about the day care . . stupid runt . . .

Seyoko:  What was that?

Misato:  (moaning) look, how much longer . . ?

Seyoko: These things take TIME, Major . . !  If I rush I might miss something .  . !

Misato:  I’ve had it with you taking your time!  I know you’re just doing this to annoy me . .

Seyoko:  Don’t flatter yourself . . .

Misato:  What do the medical histories of the deceased cage
            technicians have to do with UN Security!?!?

Seyoko: Plenty.  Besides, I can’t tell you.

     (Misato leans forward, narrowing one eye . . .)

Misato: And just why not!?

     (To this , Okazaki turns up her nose, crossing her arms almost defiantly . . .)
 
Seyoko: It’s classified . .

Misato:  Oh PLEASE . .!

Seyoko:  I expect to be taken seriously, Major Katsuragi!

Misato:  S . .Seriously!?

     (it is at this point, Katsuragi stands-seemingly, she has finally
found herself totally fed up . . .)

Misato: (growling) Please tell me HOW I am suppose to take a nosy,
                            stuck up little brat and her idiotic surveying assignment seriously!?

Seyoko: (irate) I am not a brat! And it’s not surveying, it’s investigating!!

     (Misato whips her hand out, gritting her teeth . . )

Misato: Call it what you want little miss detective!  I’ve got you dragging me to
            parts of this place nobody knows EXISTED before you came, and even
            then, nobody CARED! All so you can copy stuff into that stupid little BOX of yours!

Seyoko: It’s not stupid! Don’t insult something just because you don’t understand it!
             And don’t forget that subordinates aren’t the only ones WHO CAN GET REPORTED
             FOR VERBAL MISCONDUCT!

Misato: (shouting) SHOVE IT, Girl! I’ve had enough of your 'goody-two shoes
                            the model lieutenant' crap! You wouldn’t last 5 SECONDS in
                            a real serious situation no matter what rank those Dumbasses at DSI
                            decide to give you!

     (It is at these words that Seyoko nearly leaps up from her chair,
standing toe to toe with Misato- though the girl comes up several inches shorter,
she is audibly growling as she stares up into Katsuragi’s face . .)

Seyoko: It’s not as dumb as the joke YOU’RE pulling on everyone with that pathetic
            "Major Katsuragi"  stupidity!!  I read your records when I was assigned here,
            "MAJOR!" Interesting reading for a SOAP OPERA script, but not what I’d call
            ideal for a Military officer!!

Misato:  RRRGH!! LOOK at you!! Acting like you’re just an obnoxious little girl
             that found daddy’s GUN!  I don’t know how rigorous you’re training was
            in high school, But it’s time you learned there aren’t any teachers here to run to!!!

     (Okazaki fumes, her hands balling into small fists . . .)

Seyoko:  (shouting) AAARGH!!! There you go again making fun of my age!!!
                                Although I don't suppose I can blame someone like you!
                            Hell!! Everyone must seem real young to a . .a. . .a sagging old maid!

     (a vein in Katsuragi’s forehead seems to bulge outward as she grabs Seyoko’s collar--)

Misato: Big talk coming from a scrawny BITCH with NO Breasts, NO figure and an snotty little
             accent that GETS MORE AND MORE ANNOYING BY THE MINUTE!!

Seyoko: WHY YOU---
 
     (Suddenly, Seyoko is cut off as the sound of alarm klaxons fills the air--)

Seyoko: Wh-what in the bloody--!!

Misato:  SHIT!!

     (Katsuragi curses, forcefully letting go of Seyoko, and running to the doorway . .)

Seyoko: W-Wait!  What’s going on-!?!

Misato:  (calling) That’s an alert siren, idiot!

Seyoko: Alert!?

Misato:  An Angel attack!!

Seyoko: WHAT!?
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     (Meanwhile . . in the control center that is at the very
heart of Nerv operation . . .)

Gendo:  Can you pinpoint the source of the reading?

Hyuga:  The information is coming now, sir!

Shigeru:  I’ve initiated the first stage alert procedure-the city is being evacuated.

Fuyutsuki:  What is the origin of the signal?

Hyuga:  There’s a high level of upper band  interference--
             Melchior is trying to compensate--

     (Maya stands-looking almost incredulously at Makoto’s control panel . . .)

Maya:  The angel’s core reading is being partially masked by high levels of ambient radiation-

Yuri:  I’ve got a fix--

Fuyutsuki:  Explain this!

Yuri: The Magi have triangulated the signal source --
        somewhere within the vicinity of old Tokyo!

     (As she says this, a partially obscured satellite map is drawn up on the main viewscreen--)

Fuyutsuki:  The old city!?

     ( bewildered, the man looks to Gendo . .who, in turn, stares at the map silently . . .)

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Rei: . . ?

Asuka: What?

Shinji:  Can--can you say that again?

Maya:  About half an hour ago, the Futagoyama observation center
            began registering a high-level energy reaction in the ruins several
            miles east of here-the signal was badly scrambled, and it required
             a complete analysis by all three magi just to determine if it was actually there . . .

     (Grimly, Misato completes the woman’s sentence . . .)

Misato:  The Shinjuku district of old Tokyo . . .

     (Shinji shifts uneasily, glancing at the other three pilots standing
next to him, then to the semicircle of adults across from them . . . the
shadows of the situation room seem to accentuate the seriousness of
Katsuragi’s words, as Commander Ikari finally nods-glancing down
on the map projected onto the table before him . . .)

Gendo:  And what have your analysis concluded, Miss Ibuki. . ?

Maya:  (quietly) We cannot ascertain the nature of this Angel . . .
                        the spectral pattern can’t be verifiably identified by
                        any of our equipment, since the diffusive radiation in the
                      immediate vicinity of the target area is well above tolerance limits.
                        Our more sensitive detection methods can’t penetrate interference,
                    and aerial reconnaissance hasn’t been able to find anything out of
                    the ordinary . .

Fuyutsuki:   That’s a large area to cover . . .

Hyuga:  What we have is based on preliminary scans, as well as the Magi's
            probability assessment . . . even then, it's only about fifty-fifty
            odds that the pattern is actually blue . . .
 
Gendo:  Very well.  We will assume that whatever it is, it is hostile.  That in mind, I want
             possible scenarios for eliminating this threat.

Misato:  Sir.

Gendo:  Major Katsuragi?

Misato:  After analyzing the situation closely, I’ve . . . come to the conclusion
                that our best course is to  send out all three remaining EVAs, as
                well as a small aerial and ground contingent . . .

     (Fuyutsuki looks up with a creased brow, shaking his head . . .)

Fuyutsuki:  I don’t see the efficacy of that.  This offensive
                route has only been tried twice, and has failed
                on both separate occasions.  Miserably, I might add . . .
 
Misato:  I understand fully, sir.  But our tactics have changed. . . we intend on setting up a mobile
            command OPS outside the city, for coordinating reconnaissance and, if necessary,
            an organized assault from there.

    (She pauses, looking at the pilots . .. )

Misato:  We won’t go rushing in unprepared again.

Fuyutsuki:  Even so, we risk leaving Tokyo 3 unprotected . . .

Misato:  We’ve taken that into account as well, sir . . . and, up to this point, the signal has
             shown no signs of moving outside the target area.  But still, as we
             don’t fully understand what this angel may be capable of, it may not be wise
             for us to sit and wait . . .

Fuyutsuki: What about the high levels of radiation in that area?  Are the EVAs’ armor
                 suited to operating in those conditions for an extended engagement?

Maya:  While the pilots themselves would be protected from any danger of
            contamination, The B-type equipment does not offer such adequate protection
            to the EVAs.  Their tissue can withstand, at most, 30 seconds to a minute
            of exposure, before system-wide cellular breakdown begins. .

Fuyutsuki:  I assume you have taken this into account . . .

     (Maya nods, looking up from the surface map--)

Maya:  Yes, Commander. Heavy duress gear-the D-type Equipment-would offer the necessary
            external protection . . . however the use of it would limit the Eva’s mobility, decreasing
            the probability for success substantially. . .

Gendo:  What is your alternative?

Misato:  R2 equipment.

     (Fuyutsuki’s eyes narrow as Katsuragi says this, and he looks up, questioningly . . .)

Fuyutsuki: R2 ?  But I thought that was only to be used for operations outside
                        our upper-atmosphere . . .

Maya:  That is correct.  The R2 development program was put into effect after
            the attack of the 15th angel. .

     (The girl shifts, placing her clipboard under her arm . .. )

Maya: However, the R2 equipment was also designed to provide protection from
            the high-bandwidth solar radiation the EVAs would encounter in space-The
            apparatus itself was built to the specifications of Radiation and Thermal Reduction
            Gear, and the circulatory coolant system is water based, which provides an excellent
            radiation shield without the same hindrance of movement that comes with using D-type
            equipment.

Gendo:   How long will you require to prepare?

Yuri:  Approximately 2 hours. The equipment can be installed while
        the EVAs are in the containment cages. . .

Gendo:  Very well.  You will then head the operation, Major Katsuragi.

Misato:  Yes Sir.

Gendo: Lieutenant Ibuki-

Maya:  Yes sir. . .?

Gendo:  The EVAs are to be ready for launch as soon as possible.
            Have your team install the Ev.N.  augmentation module on unit 00’s entry plug.

     (At the sound of this, strangely, Rei’s eyes widen a fraction-her breathing
becoming noticeably still . . . at least, to the other pilots . . .

      . .she says nothing, however . . .)

Maya:  . . understood, Commander.

     (Ikari glances at the pilots, straightening his glasses as his eyes fall upon Anouilh . . .)

Gendo:  The sixth child will remain here on active standby.
            Fuyutsuki,I want Tokyo 3 to remain on second-stage
            alert status until there is any further development.

     (the older man nods, turning to the rest of the command staff . . .)

Fuyutsuki:  Dismissed!

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    (nothing more is said as the room finally empties, save for the four pilots . . . Indeed,
little more than a moment passes before the solemn silence is broken, once more . . .)

 Asuka:  Oooh, I think I detected some fear in the first child! Hell must have finally frozen over . .

Rei: . . .

Shinji:  Knock it off, Asuka . . .

Asuka:  Oh, come on . .just why do you always take her side?

Shinji:  I don't always take her side. . .

Asuka: (tauntingly) What'sa matter, Rei . . . afraid you'll be put up in the
                            front again . .?  Don't want to handle a little heat??

Rei: (silent)

     (Ayanami eyes the girl coldly, not uttering any response at all as she
walks by the second child.  Asuka seems to step back a bit--the first child's
piercing gaze having spoken more than mere words alone could convey . . .

     As Rei exits the room, Asuka seems to shunt the ordeal away--turning back to
the two remaining children .  . .)

Asuka:  At least you don't have to worry about fighting anymore . . .

     (Anouilh glances at Shinji, then indicates his cast . . .)

Lyn:  (quietly) As I recall, you were the reason I had to break this arm.

Asuka: . . ??

     (Soryu blinks--not quite understanding the boy's logic . . .)
 
Asuka:  What the hell are you talking about!?

Lyn:  (shrugging) Oh . . .what's the point . . .

Asuka:  At least the view will be good from the sidelines  . . .

Shinji:  (quietly) Don't you ever stop?

Asuka:  What?

Shinji:  (thinking) if apologizing is my conditioned response to everything, then hers must
                              be confronting everybody . . .

Asuka:  Oh, don't look so insulted, Shinji--I was only joking!

Shinji:  you didn't say anything to me . . .

     (Satisfied, Asuka grins . . .)

Asuka:  That might be why you're feeling left out . . .

Shinji: . . ?

     (the girl sighs in reluctance--)

Asuka:  Look, I didn't mean it, okay?

Shinji:  I  . .suppose . .I mean . . .

     (The girl shakes her head--)

Asuka:  Boys . . .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (almost 40 minutes later--as cage support crews maneuver
the massive components of the protective exo-suits into place around
the bodies of the EVAs in stasis . . . Yuri Furikawa sits in the monitoring booth high above--)
 

Announcer:  Containment cage 07, R2 equipment installation procedure complete.  Will the Ev.N project
                 support group, please report to the project chairman for final instructions . . .

Technician A:  Air seal on the right shoulder is complete.  However the wrist seal and socket
                       attachment is having some difficulty . . .

Yuri:  (over the PA) What's the problem?

Technician A:  the right rotary joint isn't large enough to accommodate the entire Hand--

Yuri:  Yes it is!  that was built to the exact specifications of Unit 02--
            unless the part is defective,  keep trying.  I'm not going to bother Miss
            Ibuki with something like that unless its  absolutely necessary . . .

     (Yuri pauses, considering what he has just said, with a short chuckle . . .)

Yuri:  (to herself) "Miss Ibuki . . ."
 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Meanwhile--)

Misato:  Tell them to bring back up equipment--and make sure there are
            enough spare suits this time!

Hyuga:  right . . .

Misato:  I want to set up this mobile operations center a safe distance outside the battle area, but not
             too far away. . . and that's going to mean we'll be near the hot zones . . .

     (In the control center high above, Misato stands over Makoto Hyuga
on the armored tier housing the magus Melchior . . . under the technician's
fingertips, a map of the battle area can be seen, highlighted by various color
displays . . . Hyuga shifts as Katsuragi leans closer, her face within inches of
his as he begins to point out luminous areas on the city map . . .)

Hyuga:  right . . .um . . . we'll be protected by the radiation suits,
            and the levels here, here, and here  won't be high enough to cause
            serious damage if there's any accidental exposure . . .

Misato:  You can select your support group--just make sure they've all
            had Hi-RAD training, understood?

Hyuga:  Of course. . .

Misato:  I want us to touch down here—but only if it's big enough to accomodate
            both transports . . . Hyuga?

     (The woman leans over further—indicating, on the map,  a clearing
surrounded on all sides by buildings . . . as she does so, however, her
proximity to Makoto increases . . . causing the young technician to find
himself turning bright red . . .)

Hyuga: . . um . .

Misato:  Do you think it’s big enough?

Hyuga:  Huh?  OH! Yes sir . . .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (elsewhere . . . nearly 30 minutes later, in the armored test chamber
constructed for synchronization tests and Unizone trials, EVA unit 02 stands, fully suited;

     Its entire body is covered by a slightly bulky series of augmentative armor
segments, connected by a myriad of short tubes and covered by a type of black
sealant material.  The vision is complete with a sealed helmet and large, angled
crystal visor . . . As the EVA hands rise to its chest level, Asuka Soryu's
frustrated voice can be heard, tinny over the short band comm. system . . .  )

Asuka:  God . . . it feels like I'm wearing lead weights!  What are these stupid things?

Maya:  The fluid nexuses on the EVAs arms and legs regulate the water pressure
             in the coolant tubes . . . understand that the system was designed with
             the weightlessness of space in mind.

Asuka: But we're not going INTO space!

Maya:  That's the point of this orientation trial, Asuka.

Asuka:  you mean we have to maneuver around in these the ENTIRE time!?

Shinji: (over the comm.)  weren't you listening at the briefing--?

Asuka:  Of course I was, Dumkopf!  But I didn't think I'd be walking around in a stupid space suit!

Misato:  Quiet, both of you. You have to familiarize yourself with the limits of motion the
             suits are going to cause . . !

Asuka:  (reluctantly) Alright . . !

Maya:  Rei?

     (On the console directly in front of Lieutenant Ibuki, the sullen,
quiet image of Rei Ayanami can be scene, superimposed over
which are the various signform and synchronization data . . .)

Rei:  Yes . .?

Maya:  Are you experiencing any difficulty of motion?

Rei:  No.

     (Maya seems to shift uneasily for a moment--glancing up at
Major Katsuragi.  Misato remains unaware of this, however, as
she stands bent over the console, concentrating on the faces of the other two pilots . . .)

Maya:  Are . . . you feeling any nerve pulse backflow from the supplement casing?

Rei: . . . I am not.

     (With this, the girl's eyes shift--seemingly, staring straight at
Maya through the visual com-link . . .)

Maya: . . .

     (Ibuki does not hold the gaze for very long--soon, she turns in her
chair, concentrating on the readings from the remaining two pilots . . .)

Misato:  Do you think this is going to work . . .?

Maya: . . .

     (Katsuragi turns, curiously, when Maya fails to respond--the younger
woman appears lost in thought, her hands hovering inches above the
keyboard as she stares straight at the suited figures on the three screens before her . . .

     concerned, Misato places her hand upon the woman's shoulder, shaking it gently . . .)

Misato:  Maya?

Maya: (blinking) wh--yes Major?

Misato:  Is everything okay?

     (Ibuki glances up at Katsuragi--but is obviously unable to keep
eye contact as she responds . . .)

Maya:  Everything is fine, Major.  The trial is almost complete.

Misato:  okay . . . as soon as the last of the tests is finished, inform Mister Hyuga that the EVAs are ready
             for transport to the target area.  Be suited up and ready to go right after.  understood?

Maya: (slowly)  Yes . . . ma'am.
 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (meanwhile . . . in the dimly lit lounge outside the test cage
area . . . Lyn Anouilh sits in the dark, his ear pressed to the
earpiece of a NERV telephone.  The child is fully suited up,
but, as the old adage goes, he is properly dressed, with nowhere to go . . .)

     (he clears his throat quietly, as the sound of Aoi Tamashii's
concerned voice is heard over the phone)

Aoi:  You're not going with them?

Lyn: N . .no.  I'm a bit of a fifth wheel now.  I'm going to be on standby the whole time . . .

     (The boy speaks with hushed tones, listening to the sound of the
girl's subtle breathing on the other end of the line as she considers his words

Aoi: . . . Don't feel bad, 6.

Lyn: . . .

Aoi:  you will probably get mad at me for saying this .but . . I . . I'm glad you won't be going.

Lyn:  (softly) Why is that?

Aoi: . . I . . don't want to see you get hurt again .

Lyn:  Aoi, I can take care of myself.

Aoi:  I know . .but . .I . .

 (Aoi’s words slowly trail off as she sighs with indecision . . .)

Lyn: . . . don't worry about me, Miss Tamashii.

     (The girl is quiet for a moment, as Anouilh gazes down at the
arm of his plug suit--the entire sleeve having been removed to
accommodate the large cast covering his right forearm . . .)

 (then . . .)

Aoi:  I'm . . . sorry, 6.

Lyn:  Sorry? For what?

Aoi:  I wasn't at the hospital when you were released . . .

     (Tamashii swallows, heeding the boy's silent response . . .)

Aoi:  I had--planned on being there, but something
         came up and I lost track of time . . . But I should have been there . . .

Lyn:  Well--

Aoi:  I should have been there . . .
 
     (The girl's voice cracks  . . . the sounds of her trying to hold
back quite detectable even to the young boy on the telephone . . .)

Lyn:  (soothingly) Shhh . . . Aoi, it's perfectly alright.  I'm fine.  don't feel bad . . .

Aoi:  But I didn't even visit you!  I tried to but they wouldn't let me in the room to see you--

Lyn:  That's not your fault.  I'm . .glad you told me you tried.

Aoi: you are.  . .?

Lyn:  That's what's important to me.

Aoi:  (sniffling) . . . it is?

Lyn:  Yes.  It's the thought that counts, right?

Aoi:  My intention . . . but . . .

Lyn:  Don't be silly, Aoi.  I’m not upset with you at all . .

Aoi: . . .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Simultaneously--in a small, scarcely furnished room in a house set on the
outskirts of Tokyo 3 . . . Aoi's ear, too, is at the earpiece of a small portable phone . . .
the girl sits on a small cot under the only window in the room, her bedsheets still unmade.
Around her, a collection of textbooks lies in a clumsy circle, open to various pages atop
one-another.  She runs a hand through her somewhat unkempt hair, which flows straight
down her back, to the very base of her pale blue uniform-- . . .)

Aoi:  I just . . . wanted you to know.

Lyn: (over the phone)  Thank you for telling me . . . Look, my problems--are my own.  But you aren't
                                   the cause of any of them . . .

Aoi: . . .

Lyn:  Aoi? look,  I have to be going now . . .

Aoi: l . . Lyn?

     (Anouilh pauses for a second, almost stunned at the sound of his name coming from this
 girl's lips . . .)

Lyn:  Yes?

     (Tamashii shuts her eyes, inhaling a single, shallow breath--)

Aoi:  I love you. . .

     (The voice at the other end seems to fall quiet for a moment, before answering.)

Lyn:  I know.  I'll--see you later, then, okay?

Aoi:  Okay . . .

     (It is with an audible "click" that the connection is closed.  The girl
pulls the phone away from her ear, looking at it through disconcerted eyes
before she presses the "off" switch . . .)
 
Aoi:  (softly)  goodbye.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Almost an hour later . . . in the hills surrounding the
eastern quarter of Tokyo 3 . . )

     ( From miles around, the high-pitched whine of aircraft engines can be
heard splitting the calm afternoon air as dozens of armored transports lift
off from docking bays beneath the forested hills and under the armored
streets and roadways of the great metropolis.  In threes and fours, the
craft take formation, encircling the city in a steady holding pattern . . .

     soon, the noise is accompanied by the almost deafening drone of three
massive jetcarriers--the flying-wing like F-equipment--as they lift free of the
runways on the outskirts of the city, their engines kick up tumbling clouds of
dust that hang in the turbulent air left behind. . . locked into place aboard each
of the planes, a large, Humanoid form can be seen, covered in the pale white
armor of the R2 protective equipment . . .)

     (Inside the lead Vertical Take-Off and Landing craft, Misato Katsuragi listens
carefully to the pensive voice coming from the receiver of her cellular.  Her finger
is pressed into her other ear, in an attempt to cut out the cacophony of the engines
around her . . .)

Gendo:  Have all the preparations been made?

Misato:  (shouting over the roar of the engines) Yes sir!

Gendo:  Very well.  you are now in command of this operation, Major Katsuragi.

Misato:  Understood, commander.  We are moving out.

     (With this, the woman cuts the connection--giving an affirmative signal to
the pilot at the front of the cockpit . . .)

     (at once, the man responds--and immediately, the craft lurches forward,
followed in suite by the waiting squadron of nearly 20 others,

     and finally, by the 3 F-type craft in the very rear of the formation . . .)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Seele:  So. . .they have begun to move out.

Seele:  Strange that neither an A-12 nor an A-17 has been issued. . .

Kihl:  Ikari grows more arrogant with each passing moment. . .

     (Meanwhile . . .in a secluded chamber far outside any man's reach . . .)

Seele:  You . . . you have warned us of possible changes to the scheduled series of events?

UNSynaps:  Yes.  Another development has occurred which has altered Seele's options.

Seele:  in what manner?

UNSynaps:  Within the command structure of NERV-- it has become apparent to us that
                          our infiltration runs far deeper than we had expected.

Seele:  So . .an optimistic turn of events?

UNSynaps:   Indeed.  Now, it seems seizure is not our only course of action . . .

Seele:  Perhaps . . .or perhaps this new state of affairs now simply mirrors this council's original
             expectations.  They were, it seems, far more ambitious than Ikari's organization would
             commit itself to.

Seele:  The same can by said for SYNAPS . . .

UNSynaps:  We cannot control what has been foretold, we can merely affect it--

Seele:  The limit of your vision, such as it is.

Kihl:  All paths lead to the same summit.  Whether now, or a month from now, it is the goal that is
         of the most dire importance.

Seele:  Although . . . you are obviously expected to provide us with the more timeworthy
             method of achieving that goal.  That is . .understood?

UNSynaps: . .understood. . .

Seele:  hmmph. . .

Seele: . . .

Seele: . . .

Seele:  The most prudent course of action, then?

UNSynaps:  To continue with the planned sequence of events.
                    Our resources have nearly doubled their
                      efforts, as our recent victory came at a sparing cost . . .

Seele:  And now?

UNSynaps:  The next stage has already begun.  Seele's goal will be nearly assured . . .

Seele:  Determined words.

Kihl:  See that it remains so. . .

UNSynaps: . . .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Elsewhere . . . high above the hills and valleys nearly 100 miles
outside the area of the western quarantine zone . . .seated aboard the
almost cramped confines of the lead transport craft, Misato Katsuragi
glances worriedly at the status console near Lieutenant Maya Ibuki . . .)

Misato:  What's our estimated time of arrival?

Maya:  The area designated for our base of operations is still more than an hour from here . . .

     (Misato sighs, leaning back in her seat, placing her feet upon the helmet
of her protective gear, which lies on the floor in front of her.  The woman
glances around for a moment, listening to the drone of the engines around her,
eyeing the orange trim of her HAZ-MAT suit  . . .)

     (finally, though, the monotony seems to get to her . . .)

Misato:  How are the children doing?

     (Maya looks to the terminal, reading the data aloud . . .)

Maya:  Their nerve pulses are all stable . . . Biosynch readings are normal . . .

     (Katsuragi , however, shakes her head--looking at the woman sullenly . . )

Misato:  But they're not talking to each other . . .

Maya: . . .

Misato:  (quietly)  Why is it always like this?  I hate this silence . . .

Maya: . . . I suppose it's the seriousness of this situation . . .

Misato:  Even then . . . they're not acting like they even expect to come back . . .

Maya: . . .

Misato:  I've been seeing it in their behavior outside the EVAs, as well . . . especially Asuka.

Maya:  The second child has made some progress lately . . but the last angel
            attack seems to have caused a severe drop in her test ratios . . .

Misato:  It's not like I can blame her . . .

Maya: . . .

Misato:  Shinji seems to be doing fine, though . . . he's not putting as high
            a price on victory than she is, as long as he helps get the job done . . .

Maya:  It seems that way . . .

     (suddenly, Katsuragi unfolds her arms, turning her gaze to Maya herself--)

Misato:  What about Rei?

     (Ibuki stays quiet for a second, before answering slowly . . .)

Maya:  (flatly)  What . .about Rei?

Misato:  How have your tests been going with that neural complement thing?

     (Maya seems to shift uneasily, glancing at Major Katsuragi . . )

Maya:  . . . they've been . . . promising.

Misato:  Commander Ikari seemed pretty eager to use it for this mission  . . .

Maya: . . .

Misato:  Though I can't imagine why . . . the Magi's probability assessment didn't change
                 one bit when we factored in the event that we would be using that thing . .

Maya: . . . The Magi have been wrong before. . .

     (Katsuragi seems to remain unaware of Ibuki's morose tone, as
she folds her arms behind her head, leaning back in her chair . . .)

Misato:  Still . . . I Don’t like to think what kind of thing can create the sort of destructive
               force we saw a couple weeks ago . .

     (Maya, however, does not answer . . .)

     (Heeding the newfound silence, Katsuragi shuts her eyes, sighing with reluctance . . .)

Misato:  I don't know how I came up with this idea . . . I've always hated these long trips . . .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (Meanwhile . . . in the solemn confines of the entry plug of EVA unit 01,
Shinji Ikari has found himself in an almost comfortable state--alone, with but
the dull hum of the Evangelion's shielded systems to keep him company . . .

     His movements are seldom and minimal, as he recounts the events of
mere hours ago:  the briefing, the confrontation with the second child
afterwards, and the spoken words that have branded themselves into his memory . .)

     -(flashback)- Asuka:  Look, I didn't mean it, okay? Boys . . .!

     (It is almost with ludicrous realization that the boy finds himself smiling
at these words . . . a deep sense of knowing for which he cannot account,
nor can he justify.  Regardless of his reason, Shinji finds these thoughts a
welcome beacon of hope, as the fear mounts with every approaching mile below . . .)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Elsewhere . . . below the now still waters of the flooded Shinjuku
district, at the center of the barren tomb once called Tokyo . . . something
has begun to rise to the surface of the irradiated lake . . .

     it emerges slowly at first; a long, spearlike projection that rises from
the water with an unnatural grace and calm . . . so careful is its soundless
ascent, that the surrounding liquid is hardly disturbed  as the thin, bony pillar
raises higher and higher into the air . . .

     Then, as last foot of the object ascends, the base of it begins to rise to the surface--
dozens of meters long and wide, water streams from its mottled, pale hide as it is at last
struck by sunlight--a vaguely organic, armored shape that is obscured by the ruins
of the buildings surrounding it . . .

     it is here, as the last of the fluid falls from its body, that the creature comes to a
halt--and it is here, that the air begins to resonate once more,

     with the tormented sound of soulless screams . . .)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (nearly an hour later . . . in the Control center at the median of the Nerv subcomplex . . .)

Shigeru: (into the phone) that's an affirmative . .

Fuyutsuki:  have they reached the drop zone yet?

     (Aoba turns in his seat, setting the phone upon the receiver at his right . . .)

Shigeru:  Yes sir. . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Simultaneously, several hundred miles away . . .)
 
Misato:  (loudly) Set it down here!  the surrounding buildings should provide us with a little extra cover . .

Yuri: Affirmative . . . radiation levels here are still below tolerance limits. . .

Misato:  This isn't the best place for a picnic, but it'll do . . .

     (Misato utters bemusedly to herself as, outside the small window
next to her seat, she sees the bulbous form of the Special Carrier class
NERV VTOL land steadily on the broken pavement of the street below.

     The craft is a bit larger than the other planes: its underbelly wider at the
base, its wingspan several feet longer than its smaller counterparts. . . all of
which are, of course, necessary to transport the mobile command unit housed within . . .)

Misato:  Unnhh--!

     (Katsuragi is jarred as her own transport begins to land--the high-
pitched shrill of its engines reaching an ear-piercing crescendo as its
wheels at last find purchase on the crumbled and crumbling tarmac
below. . .Then, almost immediately afterward, there are a series of
successive booms as truck-sized containers land nearby, kicking up
chunks of pavement as they set down roughly despite the drag
provided by their parachutes . . .)

Misato:  (loudly) Make sure everyone is suited up before going to the M.C.U.

     (the woman comes to her feet , securing her protective helmet in place with
the sterile hiss of an airtight seal  . . .)

Maya:  The mobile command unit has safely landed, ma'am.

Misato:  Did the Eva's power sources arrive okay?

     (Maya pauses for a moment, listening to the incoming transmissions in her headset  . . . )

Maya:  All three generator transports report no problems.

Misato:  Tell the F-equipment pilots to drop the EVAs about half a kilometer
            from our position, then let them return to Nerv central.

Maya:  Understood. . .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rei: Unngh . .

     ( the first child grunts as her EVA lands hard upon the ground, clouds of dust
and debris momentarily filling her viewscreens as the systems around her hum to life . . .)
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Asuka:  Mein Got . . . this place is a wasteland . . .

     (Asuka remarks under her breath, with a sense of terrible awe, at the site of the
devastation spread out in the sobering expanse before her . . .)

Asuka:  (quietly) what kind of force does something like that . . .?

     (it is then, however, that Misato’s solemn voice is heard over the communicator,
answering quietly . . .)

Misato:  (over the Comm.) A mistake that wasn’t suppose to be repeated, Asuka.
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Asuka:  (over the Comm.)  Sheist . . .

(meanwhile, in the entry plug of EVA01 . . .)

Shinji:  Misato—This place is so big . . . where do we start?

Misato:  Hyuga’s tracked the readings to within a 6 square kilometer area
            around the center of  that grouping of buildings north of your position . . .

Shinji:  So . . .it’s waiting for us . . .?

Misato:  It’s possible that the Angel is still in its dormant state.  The
            sooner we find it, the better our chances for ending this as quickly as possible . . .
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (In the mobile control center, Misato pulls uncomfortably at
the collar of her HAZ-MAT suit, fanning herself with her free hand . . .)

Misato:  Can’t we get some better AC in here?

Hyuga:  (smirking) the output’s at maximum . . . environmental planning didn’t put
                              too much work into the air conditioning system . . .

Misato: Shit . . .

Maya:  Ma’am? The EVAs have been connected to the mobile generators . . .

Misato:  Alright.  Rei?

Rei:  Yes ma’am . .

Misato:  You’ll be taking the point.  Shinji, you’ll cover her flank.  Unit 02 will take up the rear. . . I want
             you to remain relatively close to each other, is that understood?

Rei: Yes.

Shinji:  Yeah . . .
 
Asuka: . . .

Misato:  Asuka?

Asuka:  (reluctantly) I Heard you, alright?  Let’s just find the damn thing and kill it . . . !

Misato:  Good.
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Asuka:  god damn Rei and her damn Eva . .Shinji you insufferable . . . clueless Moron . . .!

 (Asuka utters acrimoniously to herself as Unit 00’s armored form fills the foremost point in
her viewscreen . . . the second child subconsciously balls her hand into a tight fist, her nails
digging deeply into the palm of her gloved hand, as she recalls her enmity for the mere sight
of the first child in her monitor window . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

 (meanwhile, in the entry module housing the pilot of EVA-01, Shinji gazes
at Asuka’s image out of the corner of his eye—taking note of the girl’s icy
stare with apprehensive certainty . . .)

Shinji:  We’re ready here . . .

Misato:  (over the comm.) Move out!
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (The creaking of Elastic seals and huge, metalshod joints can be heard as
the EVAs begin their advance—fanning outward in a tight ‘V’ formation as
they make their way toward the mist-enshrouded collection of buildings far in the distance . . .

     with each step, a small cloud of dust and debris is kicked up into the air—the
years of weathering and disuse having taken their timeworthy toll on the once
magnificent city . . . indeed, the ghostly silence that pervades the interior of the
hot zone serves only to play upon the nerves of the three pilots like bloodless
fingers upon the surface of their skin . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

 (In the MCU  . .. .)

Misato:  Anything yet?

Hyuga:  No reactions detected.  The R2 surface scanners haven’t picked
            up anything out of the ordinary yet . . .

Misato:  Keep your eyes open . . .

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Rei: . . . .

     (The first child comes to a halt for a moment, midway through her search,
and looks about; her view now partially obscured by the condensation on the
crystal visor covering Unit 00’s head. . .)

Shinji:  What is it?

Rei: . . .

Shinji:  Do you see something?

Rei:  No. It’s nothing.

     (The girl answers in an uneasily calm whisper, taking up the lead once more . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Asuka:  Where are you, you bastard . . .?

     (Asuka mutters quietly to herself as her EVA grips the handle of its spear
a bit tighter—holding the weapon at the ready as unit 02 continues on its course
into the Shinjuku district . . .)

Asuka: . . ?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (small pieces of broken glass and concrete fall almost noiselessly to the
ground as the Shoulder unit of EVA-01 brushes lightly against one of the
leaning towers that overhang the main road.  Shinji cringes to himself
subconsciously as the rubble strikes the pavement, his own EVA coming
to a sudden halt . . )

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Shinji:  (whispering)  Asuka, did you hear something?

     (Soryu’s annoyed voice answers over the comm. .  .)

Asuka:  (whispering)  why are you whispering, you twit?

Shinji:  You’re whispering too . . .

Asuka: . . . I didn’t hear anything.  Don’t start with that now . . . !

Shinji:  Alright, Alright . . .

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (countless, uneasy moments pass as the three Evangelions at last find
themselves at the very center of the lifeless district.  Finally, Misato’s distressed
voice can once more be heard over the communication network linking them to
the Mobile command unit almost six kilometers away . . .)

Misato:  We may have a small problem here . . .We’re not registering
            anything on your EVAs external sensors.  Hyuga’s informed me
            that the high levels of gamma radiation could be masking the
            angel’s signal, so you’ll have to depend on your visuals . .

Asuka:  Are you joking? I can’t see anything in this fog!
            How are we suppose to depend on our eyes if we can’t see 2
            meters in front of us . .!

Misato:  There’s no other options here, Asuka!  Just stay on your guard.

Asuka:  (mumbling) All the best technology in the world and we gotta
                            depend on our sight . . . pathetic . .
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Rei:  Uh?

     (The first child intones curiously as, while continuing into the mist, her EVA’s
foot is momentarily immersed in ankle deep water . . . the splashing of the liquid
can plainly be heard in her external pickups as she makes her way through the
flooded portion of the district, her movements becoming a bit restrained due to
the fluid’s tactile resistance . . .)

Rei: . . .

     (Suddenly--)

Tenkei: (screaming) REI!!!!

Rei: AAAgh!!!

     (the shout comes like a despondent shriek in Rei Ayanami’s mind as, in
a single, horrifying instant, her EVA is suddenly born into the sky by an unseen
force, and launched in a 200 meter airborne arc into a looming skyscraper,
which disintegrates into a churning cloud of concrete, steel and glass beneath
the incredible impact  . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Inside the entry plug of EVA02, Asuka stares at the stunned
form of Unit 00 with disbelief--)

Asuka:  WHAT the HELL!?!

Misato:  (over the Comm.) REI! Are you alright!?

Shinji: (shouting) What was that!?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Inside the MCU, instrumentation springs to life as data begins streaming in--)
 
Hyuga:  I’ve got a reading!!

Misato:  Unit 00, do you read me!?

     (on the viewscreen, Ayanami clutches her forehead as
her EVA slowly finds its footing . .. )

Rei:  (dazed) Y . .yes . .

Hyuga:  Unit 01, the signal’s directly ahead of your position!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Shinji:  Where!?

     (Unit 01 holds its rifle at the ready, as Shinji looks desperately at
the empty streets before him. . .)

Shinji:  I don’t see anything!

     (As the moments tick by, however, it seems all movement has ceased . . .)

     (gritting his teeth, the boy squeezes the trigger under his thumb,
spraying the area in front of him with an extended burst of
gunfire . . .the rounds tear into the earth with large spurts of smoke
and rock, some of them ripping into the decaying carcasses of
buildings, with ricocheting sparks and brief flashes of light . . .)

Misato:  Unit 01, Don’t waste your ammo!

     (hesitantly, the EVA lowers its rifle, gazing into the distance as the smoke
from the weapon’s discharge slowly begins to clear . . .)

Shinji:  But Misato—

Asuka:  (shouting)  SHINJI, BEHIND YOU!!!

     (The second child’s cry comes an instant too late as,
without warning, a gigantic, shadowy form emerges from the
blistered earth directly behind EVA01 . . . Shinji barely has
the chance to glimpse his attacker as the creature wraps a massive
forelimb around the Evangelion’s waist—hurling it like a
oversized rag doll through nearly three city blocks . . .countless
structures are pulverized beneath unit 01’s immense weight, as
car sized chunks of concrete bounce off its armor with a staccato
of heavy-metal clangs . . .)
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Misato: SHINJI! Are you alright!?

Shinji: (groaning)

Hyuga:  He’s uninjured—R2 integrity is stable!

     (Misato nods quickly—turning to Asuka’s Image on the control screen . .)

Misato:  Asuka, do you see it?!

Asuka:  Yes!

Misato:  (shouting) Engage the target!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Asuka:  EAT THIS, FREAK!!

     (sharpened steel whistles through the air as Evangelion unit 02’s lance is thrust
at lighting speed into the vaguely insect-like form still emerging from the earth before
it . . . the weapon halts mere feet from its target, however, as the polyphasic
distortion of the Angel’s AT Field manifests itself in the superheated air . . .)

Asuka: AAAAARGH!!!

     (Soryu screams in venomous outrage as she strains against the force-field,
her EVA’s heels digging meters into the pavement as it pushes the weapon
into the target with all its might . . )

Asuka: NOT –THIS-- TIME!!!!

     (Perhaps it is due to the EVAs monstrous strength, or perhaps the sheer
force of will of its pilot .  . whatever the cause, Suddenly, the very air itself is
torn as the field warps, then splits wide open—allowing the spear to finally
strike home . . . the bladed end sinks into the beast’s hide with a sickening
crunch, spewing forth a cascade of viscid blood and organic matter as the
Evangelion twists the weapon in its grip, causing the creature to shriek in a
horrified surprise . . .)

Asuka:  Uuungh!!!

     (Asuka shouts in astonishment, however, as the Angel whips one of its
armored limbs through the air—catching EVA02 in the abdomen with enough concussive force to knock
the very breath from its pilot, and shatter countless windows throughout the derelict city for
nearly half a square Kilometer . . .)

     (Seconds later, the red Evangelion lands almost 500 meters away,  collapsing several
of the buildings by chance in its wake—dazed, the second child opens her eyes, attempting
to chase the stars from her vision as she catches sight of the angel through the cracked and
fractured visor of her EVA’s protective helmet . . .)
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (Inside the MCU . . . as the residual vibrations of the Evangelion’s
impact are felt by the command crew . . .)

Misato:  DAMMIT!  Can’t we track the thing at ALL!?

Hyuga:  Negative!

Misato:  All three of you, pull back and regroup!!

Asuka: D . .  . v-verdamnt . . . why do we--

Misato:  Did you hear me!?  I said pull back and regroup!!

Shinji:  Nngh—Roger!

     (Katsuragi breaths a short sigh of relief as, one by one onscreen, the EVAs
manage to pull away to a comparatively safe distance . . .)
---------------------------------------------------------------------

    (Moments later . . .)

Misato:  That was terrible!  We’re heading for the exact same outcome as twice before . . .

Asuka:  What do you mean?  The thing bleeds, doesn’t it!?  Why don’t you let me finish what
             I started!

Misato:  Asuka, we have no indication that this type of brute strength will do more
             than annoy that angel.  That AND the fact that it’s throwing you around
            like toys mean that we’re going to have to adjust our objectives a little!

Asuka: Like How?!

     (Misato’s brow furrows as she considers her thoughts for a moment . . .)

Misato: Maya . . . has that thing moved from the area around the old Shinjuku district yet?

     (Ibuki does not look up from the control terminal beside her—indeed, her tone is one
of almost utter bafflement . . .)

Maya: Negative . . . it took a stationary position near the district
            center, and hasn’t moved . .since . .

Misato:  Are you sure?

Shinji:  you’re saying  . .it’s just sitting there?

Asuka:  (quietly) probably waiting for us . . . This is stupid.!!

Misato:  I don’t understand—why hasn’t it persued the EVAs?

Maya:  any number of reasons . . . perhaps it feeds off something
            in the area?  The high levels of  radiation?

 (Katsuragi, however, shakes her head . . .)

Misato:  No.  It’s got to be something else . . . we have to be realistic here . . .

Maya:  It can be wounded, however . . . it doesn’t seem to have
            an especially strong AT field . . .

Asuka: (irked)  And What are you implying by that!?!

Shinji:  Asuka . . .

Misato:  But it’s dangerous to get within range of that thing’s arms . . .

Maya:  A long range assault, then?

     (Misato nods, turning to the young technician seated to her right . . .)

Misato:  Miss Ibuki is right . . . Hyuga?

Hyuga:  Yes sir?

Misato:  Get on the horn to HQ.  I’ve got a requisition for them, priority one . . . !

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Outside . . . as plans are made, and the frenzied moments slowly turn into
an anxious hour, the creature centered in the ruins of the district of Shinjuku remains
still-- statuesque and imposing, unmoving, unswayed, and silent, like a juggernaut
carved of the blackest marble . . .

    It is under this Angel’s quiet gaze, that, can be seen, a number of new
transport craft—carrying, beneath their armored underbellies and suspended by
multiple lengths of tow cable, a long, cylindrical object, wrapped in folds of a
pale-gray tarpaulin.  The crafts place their cargo with the utmost care upon the
ruins surrounding the target area, directly in front of the hunched over form of
EVA-01, which pulls away the cloth to reveal the object beneath . . .

almost immediately, crews dressed in HAZ -MAT suits and high
radiation gear attend to the newly delivered weapon, connecting it by
dozens upon dozens of cables to the mobile power generators scattered
about the target area . . .
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Misato:  You remember how to work this thing, Shinji?

Shinji: Well . . .

     (Inside the pilot compartment of Evangelion Unit 01, Shinji Ikari confronts
the familiar looking augmentory computer-aided display before him with a
combined sense of familiarity, understanding . . .

     . . .and dread . . .)

Shinji:  Um . . . wait for the target to center, and . . .

Misato:  Correct.

     (The boy frowns to himself, gazing upon the imposing sight of the experimental
positron rifle on the ground below . . . the weapon stands at the ready upon the
three-legged scaffold beneath its barrel—)

Misato:  We’ve connected the rifle to the remaining auxiliary
            generators we brought with us, plus the two
             extras they managed to deliver with it . . . This only
            limits us to three shots, but it should
             provide enough of a kick to do serious damage . . .

Shinji:  It . .should?
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Inside the command unit, Misato nods at the image
of the boy onscreen, forcing a smile--)

Maya: We've managed to acheieve a probable output of
            nearly 70 Gigawatts from the portable power plants . . .

Misato:  Yeah. It’s not the power of all Japan this time, so don’t
            let the pressure get to you . . .

Shinji:  I . .guess . . .

     (Katsuragi folds her arms, standing back as she regards the
secondary team leader seated before her for a moment . . )

Misato:  Maya?

Maya:  sir?

Misato:  If I put Rei back in the field . . . can we utilize the
            Neural compliment to provide an extra disruption to that thing’s AT field?

Maya:  It’s not certain . . . it's not designed to really work that way . . .

Misato:  But the report I was given clearly stated that the
            complement has been working out to your expectations . . .

     (Ibuki seems to shift under Misato’s gaze, tapping her
finger nervously upon the edge of her control console . . .)

Maya:  There are still some . .bugs . .that need to be worked out . . .

Misato:  But will it work now?

Maya:  I can’t give you a definitive answer, Major . . . but the odds are it will . . .

Misato:  (sighing) That’s better than nothing . . . alright, Unit 00! Take point one!

     (a compliant Rei Ayanami is soon heard over the communicator . . .)

Rei:  Yes Ma’am . . .

Misato:  Rei—try to keep a safe distance, and if possible, neutralize the Angel’s field with
             your own . . .

Rei: I will . .try . . .
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Inside unit 00’s pilot compartment . . .)

Misato: (over the comm.)  Good .  .  . we’re counting on you . .

Rei: . . .

     (A moment of uneasy silence ensues, as Ayanami contemplates this new set of orders . . .

     After a while, however, she hears another voice emitting from the communicator . . )

Tenkei: . . Rei . . .

Rei: . . ?

Tenkei:  What is happening . . .?

Rei:  We have to do it again . . . as we did before . . .

     (The voice remains still for a long time, seemingly, at odds with itself over what to say next . .)

Tenkei:  I . . . I don’t . .want to . . .

Rei: We must . . .

Tenkei:  . . .

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Asuka: Backup? Are you kidding me!?

Misato:  This is a very dangerous situation, especially if Unit 01 were to misfire! I don’t want
             anyone in the path of that beam except the target.

Asuka:  But you have no problem with Putting wondergirl out there! And how the hell is he
                going to misfire with a gun that’s idiot proof!?

Misato:  It’s happened before . .

     (Soryu bangs her fist on Unit 02’s entry console, uttering vindictively through
clenched teeth . . .)

Asuka:  Shinji . . Du . . . IDIOT . . .!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

 (Moments later . .  as the last of the teams clear the firing zone,
the positron rifle hums with the gigawatts flowing through its systems,
as unit 01 positions the weapon uneasily . . .)

Misato:  Are you ready, Shinji . . .?

Shinji: . . . .

     (Ikari bites his lower lip, concentrating on the glowing triangle in
his field of vision as it circumscribes the small round targeting reticule
in the center of his viewscreen . . . )

Shinji:  R .ready . . .

Misato: Alright.  Unit 00, Move out!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Rei:  Hungh!

     (The first child grunts with renewed effort as her EVA springs to life—
bounding quickly over the amassed wreckage of city before her, toward
the still stoic, unmoving form far in the distance . . . as the end of the EVA’s
spear brushes occasionally against the street with a short spurt of sparks, Unit 01
seems almost to fidget uneasily as it lies on its belly, holding the rifle steady as
EVA 00 moves closer and closer to the target . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (After nearly fifteen seconds, Misato looks at Maya with uncertainty . . .
when Ibuki shakes her head in response, the major turns her eyes back to the viewscreen . . )

Misato:  Rei—activate your field weapon!

Rei:  I’m  . . Unnh . . .

Misato:  Huh?

Rei: (restrained) I’m . . . trying . . .
 
     (The words come  slowly as, onscreen, EVA 00’s hands raise
to its sides as it comes to a stop in midstride, nearly 500 meters from its target . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Inside the entry module, system-wide information permeates
the main viewscreen as Rei shuts her eyes, concentrating on the EVA’s AT field . . .)

Rei:  Unnnngh . . . nngh . . .

     (The girl closes her fists about the control handgrips, slowing her
breathing as the seconds stretch onward . . .)

Rei: . . .

     (Finally, as the tension mounts even further in the MCU far behind,
Ayanami breaks her concentration . . )

Rei:  Tenkei . . .

Tenkei: . . .

Rei:  you have to . .help me . .. !

Tenkei: . . .

Rei:  We must do this together . . . !

Tenkei:  . . .

Rei:  What are you afraid of . . .?

Tenkei:  (panting) Ana’ Ma’ fe . . .Roh . . .

Rei:  I don’t understand . . .

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Misato:  Any signs of interference with that thing’s field?

Hyuga: None—

Misato: Nothing’s happening . . .!

     (Suddenly, however, a flash of movement catches the attention of nearly
every man and woman situated in the MCU, as the Angel’s appendages
suddenly drop—and something emerges from beneath the armor on its back with blinding speed . . .

     strangely enough, they are six, massive, seemingly gossamer wings . . .)

Misato:  What the hell . . .?

Yuri: We're reading a sinewave shift in the Angel’s AT field!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Shinji:  Wh . . what’s that?!

     (The moment of shock soon passes as Misato once again regains her
composure, her voice filled with renewed authority as it is heard in Shinji’s communicator . . .)

Misato:  Let’s not wait to find out! Is Unit Zero effectively out of range?

Shinji: I think so . . .

Misato: then fire on my mark—
---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Within the Mobile command unit . . .)

Misato:  Is the weapon charged?

Maya: ten more seconds—it can only hold it for two before it will overload the circuit--~

Misato:  okay . . . You heard her, Shinji! Make this count--

     (Suddenly . . . as the seconds tick slowly away . . . Katsuragi stops in mid sentence . . . .)

Misato: . . .

     (It seems almost beyond the range of her perception . . yet she feels pass over her like
a winter chill . . .)

Misato:  . . .

     (The woman blinks, as if having awoken to some sound or another,
ringing incessantly in her ear . . . with a look of curious concern, Katsuragi
peers over her shoulder, holding her breath as, without warning, the s
ensations reaching her seem to amplify exponentially. . .)

Misato: . . . .??

     (It is then, however, when her eyes fall upon the window situated
directly behind her, that her expression changes . . .)

Misato: . . w . . .what the . . .

     (Katsuragi’s pupils widen, as they catch sight of buildings in the far distance,
their image blurring with an intense vibration . . . as if struck like a series of tuning
forks, the structures have begun to shimmer and distort: each disruption moving
from building to building toward their position with a quickly growing intensity . . .)

Misato:  . . . hell?

     (Suddenly, Misato finds she can hear a sound not unlike handfuls of silverware
being rattled together: a shrill clatter growing in volume and power, as skyscrapers
in the distance behind begin to shudder in violent upheaval, collapsing upon
themselves in growing cascades of dirt, dust and smoke that moves ever closer
to the MCU . . .)

Misato: . .. . !!!!!!

     (It is then, At last, that Katsuragi’s mind seems to register, with a mental shriek
of abject horror, what is about to hit . . .)

Maya:  Three . . . Two . . .

     (Maya Ibuki’s countdown, however, is never completed . . .)

Misato:  (shouting) EARTHQUAKE!!!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Tenkei: . . .!!

Rei: . . !?
---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (A collective, surprised gasp seems to radiate through the room as, all
of a sudden, the initial vibrations of the approaching geological shockwave
make themselves obvious to the crew of the MCU . . .)

Shinji:  (over the comm.) What did you say!?

Misato:  (shouting)  IT’S AN EARTHQUAKE!! GET THIS THING OFF
                            THE GROUND, NOW!!!!

Maya:  Roger!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Turbine engines scream to life as the VTOL craft housing the MCU lifts off from
the wildly cascading tarmac—the roar in the air has now become a continuous,
deafening tumult as the surrounding buildings begin to buckle as their foundations
are tossed about in waves of unbelievable magnitude . . .)

     (as the massive SCC VTOL launches quickly into the sky, the smaller transport
next to it does the same—the two crafts illuminate the surrounding structures with the
blue glow of their emergency rockets as they streak upward at incredible speed—
Meanwhile, the earth below is torn apart, as a deep rift splits the street in two . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (As the hull rattles with chunks of stone, glass, and concrete falling upon it, Misato
braces herself against a bulkhead--)

Misato:  Faster! We’ve got to get out of the range of these buildings—!!

Hyuga:  The engines are wide open!

Misato:  Tell the EVAs to brace themselves!  Get us out of here!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (As the first of the craft clear the danger zone, the second does not
find itself as lucky as, seemingly at the mercy of some unearthly whim,
the shorter of the two skyscrapers towering above it finally collapses—
tumbling forward in a shower of stone and steel, the building breaks up—
catching the smaller VTOL craft underneath . . .

     The crew aboard hardly has the time to react, as the plane’s hull is
ruptured by a chunk of rubble three times its size, and sent crashing to
the tumultuous earth below in a resounding fireball . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hyuga: We just lost the Secondary transport!

Misato: DAMMIT!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Rei: . . y . . Tenkei ?

Tenkei:  What’s happening—!?!!?

Rei:  (screaming)

     (As Unit 00 at last shudders with the arrival of the shockwave’s brunt ,
Ayanami succumbs to her fear—screaming within the fluid filled entry plug as,
without warning, she is overwhelmed by the sensation of falling-- and the
viewscreens before her suddenly darken, casting her into a terrifying
blackness as she plunges into the earthy depths . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Soon . . . as the rumblings at last die away as quickly as they had begun,
the Special Carrier Class Vertical Take-Off and Landing craft encircles the
surrounding buildings, and within, Misato turns to Hyuga--)

Misato:  How many people were in that transport!?

Hyuga:  Four . . .

Misato: . . .

Maya:  Seismic, atmospheric, Reflective, Nothing! Our sensors
            didn’t even see it coming . . !!

Misato: . . .

 (Suddenly  . . . a desperate Shinji is heard over the transmitter--)

Shinji:  (gasping) Wh—where’s unit 00??

Misato:  Rei!?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (At once, all eyes are upon the devastated Shinjuku as EVA01
slowly rises to its knees—behind it, Unit 02 finds its footing, having
fallen into a collection of buildings in the calamity . . . )

Misato:  It’s gone!!

Hyuga:  I’ve got no visuals---

Misato:   Where the hell did it come from!?  What happened to Unit 00??

Maya:  I’ve triangulated the epicenter to a position about 30 kilometers east of here --- but—

Misato:  What is it?

Maya: There has never been any severe earthquake activity in that area! There are no
         fault lines in the vicinity that would produce something of that magnitude . .!

Misato:  Then what did?!

Maya: . . .

     (At once, Both women seem to come to the same realization . . .)

Misato: The . .the quake was targeted at the EVA!!

Maya:  The Angel—

Misato:  Rei!!

Hyuga:  I’ve got a reading---the R2 power system is still transmitting!

Misato:  From where?!

     (Makoto Hyuga, however, can only stare at his instrumentation in disbelief . . .)

Hyuga:  (breathlessly) . . . a . . . almost 600 meters beneath its original position!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Moments later . . . back within the control center at Nerv central . .. )

Fuyutsuki: They WHAT?

     (Shigeru Aoba looks up to the old man upon the command
platform high above, shifting the telephone receiver cradled on his shoulder -- )

Shigeru:  They were caught in some seismic activity—Major Katsuragi reports that Unit 00 is trapped
            more than half a kilometer below the surface!

     (The old man gasps sharply at the repeated news,
before turning to one of the substitute technician’s to Aoba’s right--)

Fuyutsuki:  Notify commander Ikari, at once!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Asuka:  You mean---it was . . . How could it have been  swallowed by the earth??

Shinji:  I don’t know, it was just---gone!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Misato:  (desperately) are you receiving any more signals!? Any radio transmissions, Anything?

Maya:  Negative—The EVA’s powerplant has been disconnected from the umbilical cable—it must
             have sheared off in the quake—

     (Katsuragi swallows, pointing to the rubble where unit 00 once stood . . .)

Misato:  But—Can the EVA withstand all that weight? What about the pilot!?

Maya: . . . If the R2 equipment hasn’t ruptured, it should be able to withstand the pressure—But
            the secondary system wasn’t fully charged!

Misato:  How much life support does she have?

Maya:  It’s hard to say—with a full systemwide shutdown of everything
            but life-support, at most, six to seven hours. . .
 
     (Misato runs a hand through her hair, obviously at the edge of her limit . . .)

Misato: . . .Alright—we’ve got to take out this thing NOW, and then recover unit 00! . . . Have
            Unit take its original position, Unit 02 will provide backup--!

Hyuga:  Ma’am?

Misato: . . ?

Hyuga:  That may be a problem . . .
---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Moments later . . . in the command center several kilometers away . . .)

Fuyutsuki:  Damaged!?

     (Shigeru cringes at Kouzou Fuyutsuki’s response, nearly
dropping the telephone pressed against his ear . .. )

Shigeru:  Y . yes sir.  The Positron rifle’s targeting interface was seriously damaged in the
             earthquake we registered about twenty minutes ago . . .

Fuyutsuki: What Is the extent?

Shigeru:  The Input’s been completely destroyed . . . it can’t interface
            with the EVA’s onboard targeting system . .

Fuyutsuki:  Can they repair it?

Shigeru:  Lieutenant Ibuki reports they’ve lost four members of the team—They estimate about 2 days
                lead time to repair the damage . . .

Fuyutsuki:  They’ll have to come up with an alternative, that’s too long!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Elsewhere . . )

Shinji: We can’t wait that long! We have to get her out of there!!!

Misato:  (over the comm.) I know, Shinji, I know!
                                        But we’re running out of options!

Shinji:  Why don’t I just fire the stupid gun without the targeting—

Misato:  You can’t think you can aim that thing, Shinji!
            It’s too precise for your training!

Shinji: But . . .

Misato:  Listen--

Asuka:  (over the comm.) That’s it! To hell with this!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Hyuga:  Unit 02 is moving in!

Misato: Asuka, NO!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (thunderous footsteps rumble through the air as EVA 02 runs
toward the target at breakneck speed, raising its spear into the air
as it bears down on its objective--)

Asuka:  I’ll finish what I started!!!

     (within seconds, the scarlet Evangelion is upon the Angel—their
AT fields interact with a thunderous boom as Asuka brings her weapon
about—plunging it once more into the Angel’s armored flesh . . .)

Asuka:  Aaaargh!

 (The second child shouts in fury as her EVA drags the weapon downward,
widening the stab wound into a massive gash that runs almost half the beast’s vertical length . . .

 withdrawing the weapon, the Evangelion brings it about once more, in a single,
swift motion aimed at the Angel’s stout head . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Maya:  She’s penetrated the thing’s field again!

     (Katsuragi cringes as, onscreen, the EVA’s spear sinks deeply into the creature’s
hide again—the angel’s shriek is audible even within the confines of the MCU as it
flails its limbs wildly, each blow missing the attacker by hairbreadths . . .)

Misato:  I don’t like this—something’s up here, she got in too easily . .!

Maya:  Major Katsuragi—

     (It is to the dismay of the MCU crew, as well as that of the pilot of EVA 02,
when, seemingly in an instant, the wound on the Angel’s hide seals itself—the torn
sinews and tissue kneading themselves together at impossible speed . . .)

Misato:  Dammit!!

Maya: This . . . this is worse than we thought!

     (Maya squints at her console, shaking her head at the information materializing before her . .. )

Maya: The—the computer’s finished analyzing the Angel’s spectral pattern---but . ..

     (Katsuragi turns her eyes away from the screen for an instant--)

Misato:  What is it?

Maya:  It’s showing the same resonant properties as three of the last four we encountered . .but . ..
            According to the reading--nearly one-third of the Angel’s mass is situated underground!

     (Maya points to her readout, indicating a simulated display
not unlike the root system of a tree . . )

Maya:  It’s innervated the underlying rock for nearly a square
            kilometer—and it’s growing!

     (Misato’s attention is once more drawn to the viewscreen,
however, by the sound of the second child’s scream--)

Asuka:  NO!
 
Misato:  Asuka!
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (EVA 02 clutches its side where, without warning, one of the angel’s flailing razor-sharp
limbs has struck home—tearing a massive hole in the protective R2 equipment . . .
liquid water streams out of the wound, boiling into the air as it comes into contact
with the heated pavement below . . .)

Asuka:  Damn it .  .came out of nowhere!!
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Hyuga:  Sir!  Unit 02’s R2 integrity has been breached!

Misato:  Asuka! Pull back, you’re EVA’s not protected!!

Asuka: I . . .Gg . .. NNNNggggghh!!

     (The girl is cut off, however, as the initial sensations of pain begin to
reach her neural receptors . . . onscreen, the exposed flesh on unit 02’s
side has begun to rupture and blister in the radioactive atmosphere—and
the EVA doubles over as it backs away, clutching the brownish skin as it
begins to cook in the ambient gamma radiation of the central district . . .)

     (Asuka screams with each breath as she turns the EVA about—steeling
herself as she makes her way out of the district, trying to shut out the caustic
pain even as it begins to dull her very senses . . .)

Asuka:  (gasping)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Shinji:  Asuka!! Are you okay?

     (Within seconds, however, the EVA is out of the hot zone—within the
entry plug, the pilot doubles over in exhaustion, clutching her own side in
response to the neural stimuli assaulting her fragile system . . .)

     (Even then, however, the girl looks venomously to the angelic figure
which still stands in the Shinjuku . . . she wipes the sweat from her brow,
uttering through clenched teeth . . .)

Asuka:  Shit . .shit shit shit . . .!!!
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Hyuga:  Unit 02’s out of the hot zone—the lower left
            abdominal region has suffered severe burns . ..

Misato:  How’s the pilot?

Hyuga: her lifesigns are stable . . . heart-rate is a bit elevated,
            but within the safe zone—

Misato: Why the hell aren’t we doing any damage to it!?

Hyuga: It’s regenerative properties are like nothing we’ve seen before--

Misato: But—I don’t understand, that was a direct hit!

     (shutting her eyes, Maya stands, facing her commanding officer . . .)

Maya:  I think I can explain-

Misato:  . . .?

Maya: From the new data we’ve gathered . . . I think we have to assume that thing
            is still in its gestation phase . . .

     (Katsuragi stares at the woman in a reticent shock, her mouth agape as the words sink in . .)

Misato: . . . But—

     (with a sharp intake of breath, Misato looks from Ibuki, back to the Angel onscreen . .)

Misato:  But that would mean that this thing isn’t fully formed yet!

Maya:  Yes . . . The underground appendages, it seems, are what constitute its main weapon . . .

Misato:  Then it did cause the earthquake . . . so  if that thing gets to Tokyo 3---

     (Maya, however, shakes her head)

Maya:  It may not have to . . .

Misato: . . ?

Maya:  From what we’ve gathered, it seems that the deeper its penetration into the
            surrounding area is, the more distance it can affect. And the potential kinetic energy that can
            be released increases with the increasing distance—By almost twofold each kilometer or so . . .

Misato: What are you saying—

Maya:  The farther away from its intended target, the more powerful the shockwave
            will be when it reaches it. It doesn’t HAVE to go to Tokyo 3 . .
            it will eventually be capable of  destroying it from here.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Outside . . . in the smoky aftermath of EVA 02’s failed assault, the
afternoon sun sits high in the sky, obscured by billowing clouds that travel
lazily west, oblivious to the life or death struggle unfolding far beneath them . . .

     On the outskirts of Shinjuku, Shinji Ikari stares, worriedly, at the cold
figure of the 22nd angel, which seems not unlike a lifeless statue, far in the distance. . . )

Shinji: . . .

     (The boy shuts his eyes, pressing his fingers against the lids in an attempt to shut
out the painful memories beginning to assault his mind . . . his efforts leave strange
afterimages on his vision—blurred splotches which slowly fade from view . . . )

Shinji: . . . It was so cold in there . . .

     (Ikari covers his face with his hands, trying not to allow the helplessness
to consume him any further . . )

     (his attempts, however, are in vain . . .)
 

             -(flashback)-Shinji: (screaming)  Somebody!!! Somebody please
                                                                get me out of here!!!
 

Shinji:  (shaking his head) Nngh—no!!

     (The boy falls silent, then . .listening to the sounds of his own breathing,
enmingled with that of EVA-01’s power and life support systems, as the
rhythmic throbbing of his heartbeat in his ears slows at last . . .)

Shinji: . . hmm?

     (As Shinji opens his eyes, they fall upon a most curious sight, below . . .
a lone, feminine figure, dressed in the orange HAZ MAT suit, walking the
street not far from the EVA . . .)

Shinji: . . .

     (The boy watches it for several minutes, as it steps forth, slowly, through
and around the rubble and waste of the road upon which it walks. . .)

Shinji: . . .

    (Yet more quiet minutes pass . . .  Finally, Shinji fingers the control of the
viewer resolution—the screen flashes several times, each successive blank
accompanied by an enlarged in image that follows the figure’s progress . . .)

Shinji: . . .

     (At maximum zoom, the figure becomes blurry, and the person within the
glass-visored helmet remains unidentifiable . . .)

Shinji: . . .

     (Shinji, However, leans back in his seat . . . for he knows now, full well,
who the person in the suit is . . .)
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Misato:  . . .

     (Major Katsuragi sighs, wearied, to herself, as she comes to a stop at
an intersection in the ruined streets of the outer sector.  The woman’s despondent
breath fogs up the crystal window of her faceplate for an instant, before the
dehumidifier built into her HAZ-MAT suit clears it away without so much as a trace . . .)

Misato: . . . Think, Katsuragi . . . what now?

     (Misato raises her eyes to the towering figure of EVA 01, which rests on one knee
nearly two blocks over, far to her left. . . )

Misato:  What . . .now . . .?

    ( For a moment, the woman feels , much to her own wonderment, as if she and
only she, is the focus of the massive Evangelion’s lifeless gaze . . . then, however,
the feeling passes, and she turns, gazing up at the still hunched-over form of EVA unit 02 to her right . . .)

Misato: . . .

     (The woman frowns as she weighs what little options remain for her.  Indeed, as
the conflict of her emotions and her better judgment sink in like the twin edges of the same blade, Major
Misato Katsuragi gradually finds that she cannot bring herself to look at Asuka’s EVA
any longer . . .)

Misato: (sighing)  . . .

     (It is here, at the cruciform center of a broken crossroads, bordered on either
side by two towering avatars in the ruins of a city of desolation and death, that the
answer presents itself boldly, and deliberately, to the woman.  And it is here, she
decides, that the memory of her decision will be ingrained . . . for here, Misato
solemnly closes her eyes, and begins to cross herself in bitter silence . . .

     Before she stops, grimacing at her apparent weakness . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Moments later . . . as the decontamination doors to the MCU slide open . . .)

Maya:  Major . . . is everything okay?

Misato:  (quietly) It’s pretty obvious that nothing is, right now. . .

Maya:  Yes . . .

Misato: Our job here is to try to finish this without screwing things up any more
            than they are . . . Maya---how long do we have until that thing is fully
            formed?

Maya: . . . It’s unknown at this time—it could be anything from a few
            days, to a matter of hours . . .

Misato:  Then we assume the worst.  Hyuga?

Hyuga:  Sir?

Misato:  (quietly) Get me HQ.  I have one more requisition to make . . .

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (nearly ten minutes later . . . at the residence of the seventh child . . .)

Lyn: Um . . y-yes ma’am, I have had experience with that sort of thing . . . well, not really in
         the field, but . . . yes Ma’am, training.

Misato:  (over the phone)  Don’t say any more, this line isn’t secure . . . listen,
                                         I’m having a transport dispatched to pick you up and
                                        bring you here . . .

Lyn: I understand . . .

Misato:  Wait outside the building for now . . . there should be some people there soon
             to take you to the airport.

Lyn:  yes Ma’am . . .

Misato:  And Lyn?

Lyn:  hmm?

Misato:  Don’t tell Miss Okazaki.

     (Anouilh blinks for a second, confused by this last request . . .)

Lyn:  Why not?  Seyoko’s my--

Misato:  (interrupting) The specifics of this operation are none of her concern, I don’t want
                                 anyone else getting in the way.  This is very important, Lyn. . .

Lyn:  I . . guess . . . I mean . . . alright.

Misato:  Good.  I’ll see you in a little while.

Lyn:  Yes Major . . .

     (there is an abrupt "click" as Misato hangs up on her end . . . Anouilh
pulls his ear away from the phone, glaring at it for a moment before setting
it upon the receiver with an exasperated  grunt. . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Almost two hours later, as an impatient staff waits tensely for further
orders, the Mobile command unit is shaken by the sound of another carrier
transport landing a short distance away from its position . . . contained in the
towing matrix below its underbelly can be seen the long, white cylindrical
casing of a manned entry plug . . .)

     (Misato gazes sullenly out the window to the craft as it slowly touches
down—its steel hide immersed in the orange glow of the evening sun, which
glints brightly off of the highly polished metal surface. . . a moment later, the
woman’s eyes close—turning to the crew, she takes a deep breath, diving
headlong into the next portion of her plan . . .)

Misato:  As soon as that unit has finished landing, have the sixth child’s
            entry plug transported to the installation scaffold.

     (Maya looks from Misato, still not quite understanding the Major’s
plan, to Hyuga, nodding in compliance . . .)

Maya:  (hesitant) Understood . . .

     (Katsuragi watches outside as a huge 14 wheel mobile transport
docks beneath the equally massive VTOL, transferring its precious
cargo to the flatbed carrier with excruciating care . . )

Misato:  (uttering quietly)  Now the hardest part .  .  .

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Asuka:  What?  I don’t understand, Misato . . . what did you say??

     (Asuka gazes, perplexed, at the image of Major Katsuragi on
the viewscreen wall before her)

Misato:  Bring Unit 02 back to the checkpoint area. . . and disengage your entry plug.

Asuka:  But WHY?

     (Katsuragi, it seems, is hesitant . . .)

Misato:  We . . . have a plan.  But we’re going to need your total cooperation.

     (At that moment, Soryu’s eyes narrow . . .

    for she has realized something is afoot . . .)

Asuka:  What kind of plan—

     (The major, however, shakes her head--)

Misato:  Don’t question, Asuka. Return EVA-02 to the launch
            checkpoint, and . . . disengage your plug. That’s an order.

     (Despite this reminder of rank, the second child remains slow to comply . . .)

Asuka:  I think I deserve a little explanation, at least!

     (Misato continues to hesitate—and, to Asuka’s further suspicion, breaks eye contact,
looking into the distance at nothing in particular, as she goes on . . .)

Misato:  We’re going to try to use the positron cannon again . . . but this time Unit 01
             won’t be doing the firing . . .

Asuka: . .then . . .  who--

Misato:  . . . because there’s no targeting interface, it’ll have to be handled by a pilot with extensive
             experience with firearms and . . . high marksmanship . . .

     (Soryu leans back in her seat, almost as if trying to put distance between herself, and Misato’s
words . . . indeed, the girl whispers to herself in an almost panicked desperation . . .)

Asuka:  (quietly . . .) No . .

Misato:  The sixth child is the only person who fits those specifics at the moment . . . and since only
             Shinji can pilot EVA unit 01, we have to improv—

Asuka:  (shouting) NO!!!!!

Misato:  Asuka---

Asuka:  MISATO! I’M NOT LETTING THAT ENGLISH TART IN MY UNIT 02!!

Misato:  Asuka, You know this isn’t a yes or no question—!

Asuka:  I Don't care! You can't order me to just let him have it!!

Misato:  Asuka this situation is serious!  I know you’re upset, but it’s the best we could do-

Asuka:  YOUR BEST ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH, MISATO!! THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE,
             I’M NOT LEAVING!!!

     (Katsuragi’s face becomes hardened, now, as the ever increasing tension
of the moment has now become detectable to the MCU crew behind her . . .)

Misato:  Pilot Soryu, this is a direct order from your commanding officer!
            Take the EVA back to the checkpoint—

Asuka: (interrupting)  THE HELL WITH YOUR ORDERS! UNIT 02 IS MINE, I WON’T LET
                                  YOU PUT THAT IDIOT IN HER!!!!

    (The girl leans forward, clenching her fingers into a tight fist . . .

Asuka:  (quietly)  I'm not going to lose her again!

 (It is with this, abruptly, that the communication connection is closed on the pilot’s end of the link . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Misato:  Asuka, Don't Severe the Comm Link!!

Hyuga:  Major Katsuragi—Unit 02 is moving out!!

Misato: WHAT!?

     (Misato turns in disbelief to the viewer above Makoto’s head where, indeed,
EVA-02’s R2 suited form has begun lumbering toward the target zone at a quickened pace . . .)

Misato:  Shit! Reopen the comm. link, Hyuga! Force the connection if you have to!

Hyuga:  roger . . .

     (within seconds, Asuka’s determined face can be seen on the Monitor—she
has disregarded the new intrusion totally, however . . . )

Misato:  Asuka! cease this action at once, or else!

     (The second child ignores the ultimatum, however, and continues on—her
EVA clearing a quarter of buildings just beyond reach of EVA 01 . . . )

     (with swiftness that comes with her control op. training, Maya leans over
Hyuga’s shoulder—and starts to key in the abort sequence for EVA-02’s onboard Pilot interface . . .

    before she can enter the final commands, however, Misato stops her with the raise of a hand--)

Misato:  (quietly)  Not yet.

Maya: . . .?

     (Major Katsuragi turns toward Asuka’s enraged face, which is yet
concentrated on the target far in the distance . . .)

Misato:  Asuka . . .please.  you know I hate doing this. . . but we’ve run out of options!

Asuka:  I’m SO close, can’t you see!?  Can’t you understand!!!? How can you do this NOW??
             How can you do this to me NOW!??!

Misato:  . . . Unit 00 may not be able to hold out much longer down there!
            that thing! We don’t have time for--

Asuka:  (interrupting) Just Leave me the hell Alone!!

     (Once more, the screen blanks out, as the connection is broken . . .
Misato turns to Hyuga, who is now struggling with the control commands . . .)

Hyuga:  She’s closed the comm. link again . . . I can maintain audio only . . .

Yuri:  Unit 02 is closing in on the Target area . . . one minute until it enters the hot zone . . .

Misato: . . .

Maya:  Major Katsuragi?

Misato:  Asuka . . . !!

Asuka:  LEAVE ME ALONE!

Misato: . . . . fine then . . .

     (with a slow suspiration, Misato lowers her eyes—.

     and places her hands upon the entry-plug command override,
keying in the last portions of the sequence that has seen the light
of day only in the most dire of circumstances . . .)

     (Almost immediately, the EVA’s A-10 connections are
disengaged—the unit coming to a dead stop in midstride, as the
Entry plug’s controls are severed from the main body.  It is then,
with an audible clank, that the module disengages—becoming as
still and silent as the dead city which surrounds it . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Inside the entry plug of the now dormant behemoth, The second
child claws at the sides of her head as saline tears begin to roll down
her cheeks, mixing with the LCL fluid that surrounds her—eventually,
her stifled sobs can no longer kept within . . . as the plug illumination
shifts to the scarlet-red of the emergency lighting . . .)

     (it is at this, then, that her grief takes hold . . .)

Asuka:  (crying)  DAMN  YOU, MISATO!  Zum Teufel mit dir! Wie konntest du nur!
                            HOW COULD YOU!?!? HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (in the now solemn confines of the Mobile command unit, Misato
Katsuragi stares blankly at the speaker upon the console, as Asuka’s
distraught voice echoes throughout the walls of the transport . . . and
rings loudly in the ears of the crew . . .)

Asuka: (sobbing) GOD DAMN YOU!!  YOU WERE MY FRIEND!
                        Du-Du war mein Freund!  Wie konntest du mich so wie verraten?!
                         I HATE YOU!! I HATE YOU!!!

     (soon, the sound of the girl beating her fists against the control
grips beneath her hands can be heard, as sobs of lamentation pour forth . . .)

Asuka:  (weeping) I HATE YOU, MISATO! I HATE
                            YOU! I HATE YOU! YOU DIDN’T
                            GIVE ME A CHA--

     (The girl’s words are abruptly cut off, as Misato at last severs the audio
connection . . . though the woman looks down at the console without a hint
of emotion in her wearied countenance,  her fingers tremble above the keyboard . . .)

Misato: H . .. have unit 02 brought back here . .and remove the second child’s entry plug.

Hyuga:   . . Yes, sir . .

Misato: Maya?

Maya:  Yes Ma’am . .

Misato:  (hesitantly) . . . have your team install the sixth child’s RAM in
                            Unit 02 . . . and reposition unit 01 to take point.

Maya:  Yes Major . . .
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (meanwhile . . . within the entry plug of EVA 01 . . .)

Shinji: . . . Asuka . . . why did you . . .!!

     (The third child whispers quietly to himself as, onscreen, EVA02 is
towed, rather crudely, toward the makeshift command post and entry
scaffold on the outskirts of the target zone . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Moments later . . . As the doors to the decontamination chamber open
with an ear-piercing  hydraulic hiss accompanied by a draft of heated air,
Misato approaches the portal hurriedly . . . on the other side, the figure of
the second child can be seen, still dressed in her plug suit, her arms folded
across her chest as she leans sullenly against the chamber wall, staring at the floor . . .)

Misato: . . Asuka . .?

     (Soryu’s LCL-soaked hair hangs in wiry strands from her forehead
as she slowly lifts her eyes to the older woman stepping slowly into the room . . .)

Asuka: . . .

Misato:  Asuka . . . I know you’re angry with me . . . but I had no other choice--

     (The woman is cut off, however, as the girl’s hand whips around—

    and, an instant later, the air is broken by a loud ‘CRACK’ . . . )

Misato: --!

    (Katsuragi, surprisingly, hardly makes a sound as she recoils from a
brutal slap to the face . . .)

Misato: . . .

Asuka: . . .

     (The second child does not say so much as a word as she raises
her hand from the blow—looking at the woman with vexing eyes that bespeak
a pain greater than she has ever before known, as Katsuragi staggers a step back from
the strike. . .Asuka Soryu’s face is still stained with the tears of disgrace,
anger and frustration  as she stands, storming from the Decontamination
chamber in a hateful silence . . .)

Misato: . . .

     (Misato, it seems, has no reaction of her own as she recovers
from the cuff—indeed, she doesn’t even look at the girl as she leaves—

    -- for it seems that she knows, in her heart, that any further attempts to
placate Asuka Langley Soryu’s fury would be futile, and utterly in vain . . .)

Misato: . . .

     (Instead, she merely straightens her jacket—containing the grief within
her as she acknowledges the slowly fading moment in the DC chamber with
a cold, detached objectivity . . .

     . . . as the moment in which she has finally lost her . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (meanwhile . . . in the control area of the MCU . . .)
 
Technician A:  Unit 02, Plug installation complete . . .engaging neural connections . . .

Maya:  Anouilh, Major Katsuragi filled you in on the situation, correct?

Lyn:  Yes ma’am—

Maya:  You’ll have three shots maximum—but the output will decrease with each firing . . .

Lyn:  Miss Ibuki . . are you sure about this? I’ve never piloted this EVA before . . .

Maya:  The EVAs interface is similar to yours.  Unit 06 was partially based off of Unit 02’s
              genetic makeup—it shouldn’t be too different . . .

Lyn: (uneasily) . . . it’s . .um  . . . got fewer eyes . .

     (Maya cannot help but smirk at the child’s response, before
she turns to Yuri Furikawa--)

Maya:  What’s his synch ratio?

Yuri:  it’s barely above 60.5 percent . . .

Maya:  That should be enough for an accurate shot . . . the gun’s
            onboard computer should compensate
             for the effects of gravity and the planet’s inertia . . .
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Lyn:  (thinking)Bloody hell, this thing’s big . . .

     (Anouilh gazes nervously at the outstretched form of the experimental positron
rifle mounted on its gunnery stand far below . . . the child fingers the edge of his cast
with a marked sense of anxiety, as he shifts his eyes to the figure of EVA 01, which
stands in the distance, its spear resting on the pavement at its side . . .)

Lyn: . .Shinji?

Shinji:  Yeah?

Lyn:  Soryu’s pissed . . .isn’t she . . .

     (Shinji looks down, nodding with a morbid certainty at the child’s question . . .)

Shinji: . . .

Lyn:  I’ve never shot anything this big before . . .
 
     (Ikari’s eyes narrow as he nods--)

Shinji:  We can’t waste anymore time . . . when is Misato going to give the order . . .?

Lyn:  You’re worried about . . .Ayanami?

     (Strangely, Shinji looks at Lyn’s image, determined lines forming in his face . . .)

Shinji: . . .  the longer we wait, the worse it’ll get for her. . .

Lyn: . . .you sound sure of yourself . . .

Shinji:  (quietly) Trust me . . . I know.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Misato:  Are the units in position?

Hyuga:  Yes Ma’am—voltage in the positron rifle is 79 percent of critical . . .

Maya:  We’re ready . . .

Misato: . . .

     (Katsuragi nods—looking again to the crew of the mobile command
unit before her once more . . )

Hyuga: . . .

Yuri: . . .

Maya: . . .

Misato:  Alright . . .let’s try it again . . .

     (The woman then turns—affixing her eyes with those of the image
of Shinji Ikari on the main viewer above . .)

Misato:  Eva Unit 01, Move out!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Shinji:  Right!

     (The third child shouts in compliance as EVA unit 01 takes its spear
in hand, much like the two others to come before it, and begins a hurried
sprint toward the target area.

    With each footfall, pavement is shattered as the purple guardian runs in
a flanking path at the angel, barely out of range as, all of a sudden, the creature
springs to life with renewed viciousness . . .

      As the seconds mount, so does the desperation of the pilot within, as the
flailing limbs inch closer and closer with each whiplike swing—with every near
miss, rock, concrete and steel are thrown into the air as the tendrils pulverize the
surrounding ruins providing makeshift cover for the EVA . . .)

Shinji:  Unh!  Lyn, What are you waiting for!?
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

    (Within the LCL filled interior of Unit 02’s entry plug, Lyn Anouilh stares
at the viewscreen as a new sort of terror grips him—sighting down the massive
barrel positioned in front of him, he fingers the triggers beneath his palm as the
target begins to move—shifting on elastic cords embedded within the earth . . .)

Misato:  Lyn! the Cannon’s output is at maximum!!

Lyn:  I . . . I—How the hell am I supposed to aim this thing!?!?

     ( even then, as Unit 01 fights desperately for its survival, EVA-02 remains
motionless, on its belly, poised to fire the cannon . . .

    there is, however, no blast . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hyuga:  The capacitors in the barrel are overloading!!

Misato:  Lyn!  You’ve got to fire NOW!!

Lyn:  M . . .Major . . .

Misato:  Lyn, listen to me! Shinji can’t keep this up much longer!  FIRE THE WEAPON!

Lyn: . . . Hunnngh!!
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (At last, Anouilh squeezes the trigger—and an instant later, the area
around EVA02 is set alight with a blaze of orange light, as the positron
beam erupts from the barrel of the weapon.

     The lance of energy rips through the air at nearly the speed of light—
tearing through the angel’s hide with a burst of flame . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Maya:  Direct hit!!!

Misato:  YES!

     ( an uproarious screech can be heard as the creature falls to the
ground—crushing buildings beneath it for nearly two blocks upon
impact.  Nearby, Evangelion unit 01 stumbles back, the surface
temperature of its armor having been raised to almost scalding due
to its mere proximity to the shot . . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Shinji:  . . . .

     (The third child breaths a quiet sigh of relief, as, in the direct
aftermath, the dust from the fall begins to settle upon the ground . . . )

Shinji: . . .!!!!!!!
 

     (Then, all of a sudden, unit 01 begins to back away—as instrumentation
within the child’s control panel springs to life with alarming urgency--)

Shinji:  Misato!!
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (inside the Mobile Command Unit, Misato Katsuragi slams her
hand down upon the corner of the control console—a frustrated rage

Misato:  No! That thing took a direct hit! How the hell can it still be alive!?

Maya:  The discharge wasn’t strong enough! He waited too long!

Misato:  What about the next shot!?

Yuri:  Fifteen seconds till recharge!

Hyuga:  Unit 02, load a new fuse into the chamber--

Yuri:  Major!

Misato:  What is it now?!

Yuri:  (quickly) I’m reading another sinewave shift in the angel’s AT field!!
                        It’s generating another tremor!!

Misato:  (shouting) Not Now! Get this crate off the ground, Hyuga!!

    (Katsuragi braces herself as, once again, the VTOL’s massive engines shudder to life . . .)

Misato:  Shinji, Lyn, get out of the target area!!
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (As the SCC VTOL lifts off into the cloud-enshrouded night sky
for a second time, the initial hint of the coming shockwave can be seen and heard . . .

    Soon, buildings on the very outskirts begin to shudder and collapse---in
the Shinjuku district, however, Evangelion Unit 01 has not moved . . .

    nor has, apparently, Evangelion unit 02 . . .)

Misato:  (over the comm.) Shinji! Lyn!! Didn’t you hear me!?
                                        that was an order! GET OUT OF THERE!

Shinji:  If we leave now, we leave Unit 00!!

Misato:  The EVA may not have survived the first quake, Shinji!

Shinji:  MISATO WE CAN’T WAIT ANY LONGER!

Misato:  (shouting) SHINJI!--**

     (without another word, Shinji severs the communications link to
the MCU . . . taking one last look at the prone form of EVA 02 far
in the distance, Shinji turns to the image of Lyn Anouilh on his viewer . . .)

Shinji:  Lyn! how many shots do you have left!?

Lyn:  Two . . . I have to replace the fuse, though--!

Shinji: . . then . . .

Lyn:  What do I do, Shinji!?

Shinji: . . .

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Inside EVA02’s entry module . . .  the sound of the approaching
geological shockwave begins to grow in Lyn Anouilh’s ears, as the
secondary fuse is slid into place on the titanic rifle . . .

    now, unsure of what to do, the child begins to shout, desperately,
to the silent image of Shinji Ikari in his monitor window . . .)

Lyn:  Shinji?

Shinji: . . .

Lyn: SHINJI!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Lyn:  Dammit, Shinji!! Tell me what to do!

Shinji: . . .

Lyn:  Shinji!!

     (it is at that moment, however, that Ikari’s face alights
with an almost joyous revelation . . .)

Shinji:  then . . . then use them!! Aim for the angel’s Wings!!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Lyn:  (thinking) God, I know I’m going to get a court martial for this or something . . .

     (Without further hesitation, Anouilh leans forward-- preparing to fire once more . . .

Lyn: . . .
        . . .
        . . .
        . . . Why can’t I DO THIS!?
 

     (then, however, the child is struck by an idea . . .

     and, as the initial vibrations of the coming upheaval can be
felt through the augmentory armor of Evangelion unit 02,
Anouilh grumbles to himself . . .)

Lyn:  t . . .the right way . . . !!

     (it is then, perhaps even to the Lyn Anouilh’s own disbelief,

     that Evangelion Unit 02 takes the positron cannon in hands, and stands—
lifting the titanic weapon off of the ground, its barrel bending under the strain of
its own weight . . . thick wiring sheds dirt and rock as it is born upward, the twin
tank-treads that serve as the weapon’s base suspended by heavy-duty cables
hanging in mid air . . .

    And then, pulling the multiton weapon to the fore, positioned as a marksman
or soldier would,  the pilot within brings the weapon to bear on the target one final time . . .)
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

     Pure energy rips through the air a second time, while ivory sparks spray from
the coolant holes on either side of the particle cannon’s barrel as the orange beam
leaps from the weapon once more—setting the night sky afire with an eerie glow . . .

     before impacting, an instant later, upon the luminous wings of the angel itself . . .

     A deafening shriek a thousand times louder than any before can be heard as the
luminescent pinion is sheared from the rest of the body—sinking meters into the
ground as the beast reels from the sheer brunt of the blast . . .

Lyn:  (shouting) GO DOWN!!

     Before it can recover, however, the rifle is fired a third time—
this lance of light tearing into the creature’s second appendage with
a burst of particulate matter and radiation that covers the crouching
form of Evangelion unit 01  . . .)

     The Angel, shudders once, seemingly, as time itself seems to freeze
at the very moment of impact . . . the air is parted in massive, twin gusts
as the creature is felled at last – obliterating the remaining structures
beneath its tremendous weight . . .

     before vanishing in a turbulent wall of flame as it explodes, unleashing
a shockwave of displaced atmosphere that nearly overtakes EVA 01,
which stands with its arms raised as the gale rips at its armor . . .  )
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Misato:  Did---did they do it!?

Maya:  Affirmative!!!!

Misato:  What about the earthquake!?

Yuri: I’ve been tracking it. . . it lost power as soon as the Angel’s field went down!

     (It is here, at last,

     that Katsuragi allows herself to breath a sigh of relief . . .)

Misato:  Take this thing back down . . . and send a recovery
                crew to Evangelion unit 02.

Yuri:  roger—
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Lyn: . . . well . . . I’ll be . . .!!

     (The second child remarks to himself at the destruction he
has caused—the EVA dropping the now melted positron rifle to the ground . . .)

Lyn:  Aaaaaarrrrrgh . . . ow . . !!

     (The boy cringes a moment later, however—clutching his broken arm, wincing in pain . . .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Misato:  Shinji, you pick the strangest moments to be brave . . .

Shinji:  (over the comm.) Misato . . .how . . how is Asuka?

Misato:  She’s okay . . . she’s in the passenger compartment.

Shinji:  is she . .

Misato:  Only at me, for the moment . . . don’t worry . . .she’ll get over it . .

     (Despite her casual tone, however, Ikari, as well as Misato herself, can detect the
overwhelming belief in the contrary, in her voice . . .)

Shinji:  I hope so . . .

     (Misato’s own voice is quiet, as the woman detects the concern behind
the boy’s words . . . indeed, as the smoke clears, and a general air of relief can
be felt within the hollow walls of the Mobile command unit, Shinji speaks once
more—his voice, again, reflecting the next task on Misato Katsuragi’s mind . . .)

Shinji:  Are—are we going to help Rei now?  Misato, we can’t leave her. . .!!

     (Katsuragi looks up at the child once more, her expression far more serious, now . . .)

Misato:  If . . . if she’s still alive down there, Shinji . . .

    (The woman closes her eyes, whispering to herself . . .)

Misato:  If They're still . .alive.

     (It is then, as Misato says this, That Maya shudders once—her heart wrenching
at the possibilities which lie in wait for the coming salvage attempt . . . . and for the
death that is promised to follow . . .)

Maya:  (quietly) Tenkei . . .

---------------------------------------------------------------------
 To Be Continued . . .