Chapter10


	Episode Ten: In the still darkness/The day Tokyo-3 stood still. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Early in the morning at Tokyo-3, the scene opens up on a quiet city street. Aoba Shigeru stands outside a laudromat, waiting for his clothes to finish washing while he buys himself an iced coffee. As he buys the drink, he overhears two children running past him.) Child: Hey cool, I won a free ice cream bar!! Aoba: (smiling at the children) Hmm. (Inside the laundramat, Dr Ritsuko Akagi and Lieutenant Maya Ibuki finally take their clothes from the machine.) Ritsuko: These cost of having my laundry done is killing me! Maya: Yeah. I just wish I had the time to do my own laundry. (Aoba walks back in.) Aoba: ‘could be worse. At least we sleep at home. (A short time later, the three of them board a train heading into NERV. As they board it, they see sub-commander Fujutsuki sitting by himself, reading a newspaper. As he sees them, he lowers the newspaper slightly.) Ritsuko: Oh! Commander Fujutsuki! Good Morning sir. Aoba/Maya: (assuming a saluting stance with their heavy bundles) Good Morning Sir! Fujutsuki: (going back to his paper) Mm hmm. Good Morning. (Ritsuko sits down beside Fujutsuki, while Maya and Aoba stand nearby.) Ritsuko: You’re up pretty early. Fujutsuki: I’ve got to represent Ikari up town... Ritsuko: Ahh, today’s the local council meetings. Fujutsuki: (sighing) Ikari always sticks me with the most boring and tedious assignments. I couldn’t handle it without the MAGI’s help. Ritsuko: Speaking of which, election day is coming up, isn’t it? Fujutsuki: Yes, but the council has no real control. Actually, the MAGI control just about everything. Maya: You mean the same three supercomputers we use? Fujutsuki: Yes. Our country is run by the majority decision of three computers...I guess it’s a form of democracy. Maya: And the council just goes along with this? Fujutsuki: Well, it’s been an effective form of government thus far.. Maya: This city really is built on science. We’re so lucky to be living in such incredible times. Aoba: Heh, techno-files. (Fujutsuki looks at Ritsuko over his newspaper.) Fujutsuki: You’re running an experiment with Unit 00 this morning, aren’t you? Ritsuko: Yes. We’re going to be running the second experimental prolonged activation test at ten thirty. Fujutsuki: (looking back at his paper) Ahh, well I’ll expect good news. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ (Later that morning, on a familiar suburban street in Tokyo-3.....as usual, the sounds of construction can be heard hammering away into the early morning as a lone young girl walks down the road by herself. As she walks, a roaring sound becomes apparent, and suddenly, a black Jaguar slides out of a sidestreet to stop beside her. The driver’s window rolls down, and Matt’s head pokes out to the sound of “Stripped” by Rammstein.) Matt: G’day, Rei. Care for a lift to class? (In the seat beside him, Asuka grumbles.) Asuka: I think the First Child think’s she’s too good to ride in with us.... Matt: Cut that out, Asuka. Rei, did you want to come in with us? (Rei stops walking, and looks at the car. In the back seat, she can see Shinji looking back out at her.) Rei: Yes. (Matt gets out of the car, and folds his seat forwards so that she can get in the back seat with Shinji.) Matt: Hop aboard. (Once everyone is secured in the car, Matt again flicks down his sunglasses, and guns the engine.) Asuka: Yeah!! Go for it!! (Matt grins and floors the accelarator, dropping the clutch. The car shoots forward skidding into the street with a roar like thunder. The song “Unmarked Helicopters” by Soul Coughing roars to life, filling the car with heavy bass and electric guitar.) Matt: Hope no one minds the music....man, this stuff rocks!! Asuka: It’s certainly better than most of the stuff these guys listen to..... Shinji: Hey! Japanese Music’s not that bad! Matt: Yeah, Japanese Music’s not so bad. I don’t listen to much, but what I have heard I didn’t mind. What sort of music are you into, Rei? (Rei remains silent for a moment, before answering uncertainly.) Rei: I.....do not know.... Matt: Hmm...well, I’m sure you’ll find something you like eventually. ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- (That morning at 10:30, in the EVA cage containing Evangelion Unit 00....warning lights are already flashing as a so called safe test goes wrong.) Ritsuko: Abort the test!! Break the circuit!! Maya: Cutting the circuit!! (With that, the EVA hanger goes dark as it’s power supply is cut. Suddenly, it lights up again as the power supply is turned on.) Tech: Power supply restored. (Ritsuko and Maya look over a screen, which indicates the nerve connections.) Ritsuko: It seems that one’s the problem again. Maya: Yes. It looks like the conversion efficiency is below our calculations. Tech: The conversion is barely within tolerance though....what will we do? Ritsuko: Let’s try it again with the same configuration, but lower the reciprocal conversion rate by 001. Allright, let’s start the experiment over again. --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- -------------- (In a hallway at NERV, a pair of elevator doors open to reveal Captain Misato Katsuragi standing in the elevator, wondering why the elevator has opened. Suddenly, she sees someone running for the elevator.) Kagi: Hey!!! Hold the elevator!!! (Misato smiles lightly as she reaches for the ‘DOOR CLOSE’ button. As the doors close, Kagi manages to get to the elevator just fast enough to get his arm in the door, and hold them open.) Kagi: Got it!! Misato: Rrrr.... (As he gets in, the Elevator begins it’s descent.) Kagi: Man, it’s been a while since I had to run that hard....so, what’s with the black expression, sunshine? Misato: (grimacing) It’s nausea from having to see you. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- --------- (Meanwhile, outside NERV, in Matt’s Jaguar.) Asuka: So, have you got much to do today, Matt? Matt: A little. The Black Templar’s auto-repair system needs a quick tune up, but otherwise I don’t have much. What about you three? Shinji: Nothing for me. I’m just signing in. Asuka: Same here. Rei: I believe Dr Akagi wants to conduct some sort of test on Unit 00. Matt: Yeah, I heard that. Wonder how it’s going. ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- ------------------------ (On a suburban street outside of NERV...) Hyuga: Man, that Captain Katsuragi is really lazy....can’t she make the time to go and pick up her own laundry? (Hyuga stands on a sidewalk, waiting for the lights to change in his favour. As he does, a van with a loudspeaker drives past.) Female Voice: Nozoko Takahachi want to make Tokyo-3 a cheerful town for all to live in.... (Suddnely, Hyuga notices the street lights are not working.) Hyuga: Hmm? --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- (In the elevator....suddenly, the car stops moving, turning red as the emergency power supply kicks in.) Misato: The power’s out? Sommething’s wrong....an accident? Kagi: Perhaps Dr Akagi made a mistake, hey? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In the EVA Unit 00 hanger, suddenly, all goes dark as the sound of computers powering down reaches their ears.) Maya: Main power is offline...voltage level is zero!! (As everyone wonders what they should do, Ritsuko is the first to speak.) Ritsuko: Uhhh.....It’s not our fault.... ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- ------- (Back in the elevator..) Kagi: So, what do you think? Misato: The back-up power supply should come on any second now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- (In NERV’s control centre, all is dark except for a few small consoles.) Aoba: No sir. The back up power supply isn’t responding! Fujutsuki: That can’t be....(looking down to the control station on Magus Caspar) Which circuits are still fuctioning?!! (From below, the technitian has to shout to be heard.) Tech: Only 1.2% of them! Only circuits 195 to 198! (Turning back to Aoba, he regards the darkness with a scowl.) Fujutsuki: Connect all remaing circuits to maintain power to the MAGI and Central Dogma. Aoba: But that could interfere with our life support systems... Fujutsuki: DO IT!! We need the Magi!! ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- (Back outside, at the entry gates to NERV.) Matt: Well, time to clock in. (With that, he swipes his card through the slot, awaiting the confirmatory tone.....which does not come. As Shinji and Rei do the same, they get the same results.) Asuka: What are you doing? Here, let me. (Asuka pushes Rei out of the way, and runs her card through the reader several times before throwing it down in disgust.) Asuka: Stupid thing!! It must be broken, dammit!!!! Matt: Well, we’d better figure out another way in... ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------- (A normal door in NERV...on any normal day, it would not be of any concern....however, today, five men struggle to push it open using a crowbar.) Man: Ready...one, two, three!! (With a groan, the men force the door open, which suddenly falls open, dropping the men in a groaning heap. Ritsuko and Maya walk past them.) Ritsuko: We’d better head to the command centre. If the back-up power supply still hasn’t kicked in yet.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- - Misato: Then something is seriously wrong. Kagi: What’s the backup system? Misato: There are three back up circuits. It’s impossible for them all to go at once. Kagi: Then that means... ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------- Gendo: These circuit breakers didn’t go on their own. Someone planned this intentionally. Fujutsuki: (lighting a candle) Well, it would be a disaster if an Angel were to attack right now... ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ---------------------- (As if to accent Commander Fujutsuki’s words, the UN command centre has gone to battle stations.) Announcer: We’ve just detected an unidentified object. Sending data. (As the radar image comes up on the screen, the three generals confer.) General A: It must be an Angel. General B: Yeah...an Angel.... General C: What should we do? General B: I think we should go to full alert status. General A: It looks like this one is heading straight for Tokyo-3 and NERV. General B: Looks like it. Well, there’s nothing we can do. ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------- (In the bay of Tokyo-3, a huge, spider like form can be seen moving through the water, making it’s way directly to Tokyo-3. Despite it’s ominous prescence, the scene is almost tranquil...) ---------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ (Back in the UN command centre, the radar blip that designates the Ninth Angel continues moving towards Tokyo-3, still unimpeded.) Announcer: It’s still advancing! General A: Any word from Tokyo-3? Announcer: They’re still not answering our transmissions! General C: What in the hell are those NERV guys doing?! General B: I’ve had an idea.....do you think we should ask the Republic for help? (The platform goes silent as the temperature in the room drops a few degrees.) General B: Never mind.... General A: Yeah, call them, that’s a good idea. And we’d look ridiculous, having to call on another country to help us out of a situation we can’t get out of ourselves....brilliant. ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- (Meanwhile, at NERV H.Q., Ritsuko and Maya climb up a long ladder that leads to the upper half of the command centre, the elevators long since having stopped.) Ritsuko: I can’t believe we’re actually using these old escape tunnels. I figured we just hung onto them for our peace of mind. Maya: (beneath Ritsuko) Well, being prepared is half the battle. ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------- (Meanwhile, back outside NERV, in a service tunnel. Asuka pushes insistently at a button marked “OPEN”, however, the door beside it still does not work.) Asuka: Nnn! This one doesn’’t work either. Rei: None of the facilities work. This is odd. Matt: Yeah, I’m sure some poor bastard’s just lost his job, and his balls, if Commander Ikari’s had anything to do with it. Asuka: Has something happened in the Geo-Front? Rei: A natural assumption.... Shinji: Well, let’s try to contact NERV central. ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ---------------- (In the Elevator) Misato: The emergency phone’s not working either.... ---------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- -------------- (In the Control Centre) Aoba: No sir! All lines through 0 to 77 are cut off. None of them work! -------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------- (Back outside. Rei patiently listens to a handset for the comforting dial tone....only to hear nothing.) Rei: No. It’s disconnected. Asuka: This one too. The main and emergency cables are all down. Shinji: So what should we do? (Rei sits down, and reaches into her small bag, retrieving her emergency manual. On seeing Rei do this, Asuka desperately does the same, trying to beat Rei. Shinji looks at her with curiosity.) Shinji: What are you doing? Asuka: What do you think, dumkoph? I’m looking for my emergency manual! (Before she can say any more, Rei speaks.) Rei: We should go to headquaters ourselves. (Asuka straightens, looking powerful.) Asuka: That’s right, but before that, we’re going to have to decide which of us will be this groups leader. Naturally, I have the best qualifications. Any objections? (At this, Matt steps in.) Matt: Yeah. Age before beauty, Asuka. This way, we’ll use the access port for route seven. Asuka: But I- Matt: Asuka, this is no time to argue. Just follow me. I know where I’m going. (With that, he reaches to the hatch’s emergency manual lever, and begins cranking it, opening the door with a loud amount of creaks from the door.) --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ (Meanwhile, back at the UN Control Centre., the third General hangs up a phone.) General C: (growling) That damn council always defers to us when the going gets tough. General B: (bored) So, what did they say? General C: Heh. Those Tokyo-2 buttheads? They’re getting ready to flee, of course. General A: We’ve got to get a message to Tokyo-3....but how are we gonna do that? General B: We’ll fly there ourselves. ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ -- (Over the city of Tokyo-3 a short time later, a single engined turboprop flies, broadcasting a message with a loudspeaker.) Speaker: Attention, please. This is the third district J.A.S.D.F.. An unidentified object has been detected heading this way. All residents must evacuate to their shelters immedietely. (Walking along the road, Makoto Hyuga looks up as he hears the warning, then looks around in alarm.) Hyuga: Oh man...I gotta report this to headquaters....but how?!! (He looks around wildly, trying to find a way to get to H.Q.. Suddenly, he sees the poll van drive towards him again.) Female voice: Hey, vote for Takahashi! He’s the councillor who remains calm, even in situations like this! (As he sees the van, a thought crosses his mind, and he grins.) Hyuga: Ahh!! Alright!!!! --------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----- (Back in the elevator, Misato has removed her jacket, as now that the power is gone, there are no cooling systems.) Misato: It’s too hot....I’m dying in here! Kagi: (Looking back to her) The air conditioning’s out too. If you’re so hot, Katsuragi, why don’t you....take off your shirt? Misato: !! Kagi: There’s no need to be shy with me, you know. (Misato quickly pulls her jacket back on, scowling at Kagi.) Misato: Don’t even think about taking advantage of this situation!! Kagi: (looking away, smiling) Yeah, right. ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------- (Back in NERV’s Control Centre. the temperature has risen substantially, with the cooling units now offline.) Ritsuko: It’s getting even warmer now that the air is getting stagnant. It’s hard to believe that this building contains the most advanced technology. (Maya turns, still fanning herself.) Maya: Yeah, but look at the commanders. Even in this heat, they’re both still cool and in command. (Both turn to look up at the command platform, where Commanders Ikari and Fujutsuki stand. Unbeknownst to them, Fujutsuki stands barefoot in a bucket full of cold water.) Fujutsuki: (groaning) It’s hot.... Gendo: Yes..... --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------------- (Meanwhile, outside NERV, the polling van now speeds as fast as it can towards a vehicle access gate at NERV, it’s loudspeaker blaring. As it gets closer to the barrier blocking the gate, the shouts from the loudspeaker get more frantic. In the background, the towering form of the Ninth Angel walks calmly, still unopposed.) Female voice: Emergency vehicle passing through!! Emergency vehicle passing through!! Hey, watch where you’re driving, Emergency vehicle passing through. Oh my god, it’s a dead end, stop for the love of god STOP!!!!! (Inside the van, as the woman starts to panic, Hyuga yells to the driver.) Hyuga: It’s okay, ram the sucker!! To hell with the barrier, this is an emergency!!! (With a loud crash, the van breaks through the barrier, still speeding as the rather crazy driver laughs hysterically and the woman yells out in fear.) --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------- (Back in NERV’s Command Centre...many candles have been lit in the spacious chamber, giving the Control Centre a rather sinister appearance.) Fujutsuki: This geo-front was designed to be able to function even when completely cut off from the outside. It’s supopsed to be able to work under any conditions. Ritsuko: Someone planned this blackout? Gendo: It would be a logical way to indirectly disect this facility. Ritsuko: You mean they could get an idea of our structure through the startup procedure? Fujutsuki: They are clever bastards. Ritsuko: I could run a dummy program through the MAGI. That would make it harder for them to get an idea of our layout. Gendo: Make it so. Ritsuko: Yes sir. Fujutsuki: I can’t believe that the first havoc caused to this facility was by a member of our own species. Gendo: Man’s greatest enemy is Man himself. ------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------ (In a service passageway deep within the Geo-Front complex...) Shinji: This usually only takes five minutes....are you sure we’re headed in the right direction, Matt? Matt: Yeah, I’m sure. I have an exact layout of this facility recorded in my wrist unit. I’m just following the map. It should lead us directly into the Control Centre. (Suddenly, as they walk in silence, they hear something a long way over head...) Matt: Hmm? Rei: ? Shinji: What’s that? Asuka: ? Voice: (very familiar sounding) Attention all NERV personell. Asuka/Shinji: That’s Hyuga!! Hey Hyuga!! HEY!!!! Matt: Hold up, he’s saying something else... Hyuga: (muffled by distance) An Angel is approaching!! Attention all NERV personel, an Angel is approaching!!! Asuka/Shinji: A new Angel?! Rei: We can’t waste anymore time. There’s a shortcut. Matt: Yeah, I just remembered. Ventilation duct, right? Rei: I believe so.... (A short time later, the four of them are crawling through a narrow ventilation duct. Although Asuka, Shinji and Rei are having a slightly difficult time, Matt is practically unable to crawl in there, his muscular form bunched up by the narrow space.) Matt: (grunt) Dammit... Asuka: This way may be faster, but we look really stupid... Shinji: (behind Asuka) Hey, just what are the Angels? Asuka: ? Why are you asking now? Shinji: Oh, I don’t know. It’s jsut Angel’s are messengers from God, right? Why are we fighting Angels? (As he speaks, Rei turns her head to look at him.) Asuka: What are you, stupid? They attacked us!! You can’t just sit there when someone’s attacking you, right? Shinji: I guess.... Matt: Ahh. Here we are. (A short time later, the four of them stand in a passageway, facing a fork in the tunnels. Matt looks at his wrist unit, and guestures.) Matt: To the left. Asuka: I think it’s right. What about you two? Rei: I think the correct path is to the left. Shinij: Err....I’m not certain. Asuka: Well, I’m going right. (With that, Asuka heads up the right passageway.) Matt: Dammit, Asuka!! Hang on!! (He turns to the other two.) Matt: Start heading left. Wait for me when you reach the next tunnel, okay? (As Rei and Shinji go left, Matt starts up the right hand tunnel.) Matt: Damn ignorant....this passageway’s even going up....can’t be the right one. (Suddenly, from up ahead, he hears Asuka scream. He breaks into a sprint, a look of true concern on his face.) Matt: Asuka?!!! What is it?!!! (As he reaches the terrified girl, he sees what is scaring her...a hatch lies open, facing back out onto the streets of Tokyo-3. However, the view is blocked by the enourmous body of the Ninth Angel, Matarael. As it slides past on it’s four legs, it seems to regard the two humans with it’s multitude of eyes.) Matt: Ohh SHIT!! (Slamming the door shut, Matt reaches inside his trench coat, and pulls out a large, sleek pistol. Puching a button on it, he takes aim at the doorframe, and a long needle-like energy beam stabs out. Matt carefully goes over the entire frame, welding the door shut. Once he is done, he puts the pistol away, and grabs Asuka by the wrist, dragging her back down the passageway.) Matt: Just visually confirming the Angel’s prescence, hey Asuka? Asuka: Oh, shut up!! ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- (Meanwhile, in the EVA hangers, a small van screeches to a halt, barely missing several technitians in the process. Hyuga leans out of the passenger window, screaming into the mike.) Hyuga: An Angel is approaching!! We have to dispatch an EVA immedietely!! (Upon hearing this, Gendo leaves his seat on the command podium.) Gendo: Fujustuki, take charge here. Fujutsuki: What?! Gendo: I’m going down to the EVA hangers to prepare the EVA’s for manual launch. Fujutsuki: Manually?! Can that be done? Gendo: (climbing down the ladder) We have a diesel generator for emergencies. Fujutsuki: Well, yes....but who is going to pilot them? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- ----------------------------- (Meanwhile, back in the service corridors below NERV....the four pilots are now trying to determine which way to go, as they have reached yet another junction.) Shinji: Ohh, not again... (Suddenly, Rei steps forwards.) Rei: This way. (The others follow behind her. As they walk, Matt walks in the lead, followed by Rei, Asuka and Shinji.) Asuka: (sneering at Rei) You’re Commander Ikari’s favourite, aren’t you? Rei: .... Asuka: I guess that means you get treated a little better than us, huh? Shinji: Asuka, this isn’t the time for this. Rei: .... Asuka: You always look so smug too.... (As Rei continues to ignore her, Asuka suddenly steps in front of Rei, an angry look on her face.) Asuka: Hey!! Just because you’re Commander Ikari’s favourite doesn’t mean you have to act so superior!! Rei: (not looking at Asuka) I don’t act superior. Asuka: Hmmph. Rei: And I’m not treated any better, either. I know that quite well. (Suddenly, Matt steps in.) Matt: Break it up, you two. Asuka, for the last time, stop picking on Rei. Now, let’s keep going. (With an annoyed hmmph, Asuka moves ahead, nose in the air. Matt and the others follow soon after, Matt muttering under his breath.) Matt: If I didn’t know your past, Asuka, god knows I’d have put you in your place by now. -------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- (Meanwhile, in the EVA hangers, a large team of men are pulling hard at a long series of cables. As they pull back on them, the armour plate on Evangelion Unit 01’s neck slowly rises, until the entry-plug hatch is finally opened.) Technitian: (speaking into a radio) Understood. (talking to Gendo) The termination plug has been ejected, sir. Gendo: Excellent. Prepare for manual insertion of the entry-plug. Technitian: But the pilots aren’t here yet! (Ritsuko turns to look at the man, smiling.) Ritsuko: Don’t worry, they’ll be along soon enough. Technitian: What about the Black Templar? (Gendo turns to regard the huge black gargantuan standing in Cage Four. Annoyingly enough, a very light hum can be heard coming from it, indicating that it still has power of it’s own. This is made worse by the fact that the hum is amplified in the silence. Finally, he answers.) Gendo: Leave it for now. If we can’t get it ready, perhaps the Colonel can. Technitian: Understood. ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------- -------- (Meanwhile, back in the service tunnels....the four pilots have run into a juction that has been blocked by welded steel plates and girders.) Shinji: There’s no way I can clear this away with my hands... Asuka: Hey, Matt. You got a pistol. Use it! Matt: Asuka, my pistol could burn us a hole in the wall, but it would take me an hour to do so, and I’d probably run it’s charge out before then. Of course, the roof would probably cave in on us long before that. Rei: Then we will have to break into another ventilation duct in order to get there. Matt: Hmm. Here’s a good one. Stand back. (Matt warns the others back as he pulls out his pistol again, and aims for a ventilation hatch. Flicking a switch on the side of the pistol, he shouts out before firing.) Matt: Fire in the hole!! (With a mighty blast, the pistol discharges, blowing the hatch into infinity. It’s charred remains collapse on the ground nearby.) Shinji: Matt....just what sort of pistol is that? Matt: Pulsed Plasma, my boy. Called a Pulse Pistol for short. Standard issue to all Mechwarriors like me. Let’s roll. (With that, he crawls into the vent first, followed by the others.) -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- (Back in the EVA hangers, the scene has not changed. As the men now struggle to lower the entry plug into Unit 01’s socket, Gendo Ikari can be seen at the front, helping the others to load it into place.) Maya: (watching through a pair of binoculars) Entry plugs fixed and ready. Ritsuko: Now all we need are the pilots... ------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- (Back in the ventilation shaft, the four pilots crawl along, Matt in the lead, follwed by Rei, Asuka and Shinji.) Asuka: If you dare look up my dress, I’ll kill you. Do you hear me, Shinji? (Shinji looks up, trying to see where he is going...and instantly regrets it as Asuka kicks him in the face.) Asuka: You looked!! Perverse Idiot!! Shinji: Well I’ve got to look up to see where I’m going!!! Matt: CUT THAT OUT!! (As the two pilots go quiet, Matt looks back at them whilst unhinging a hatch.) Matt: If I gotta break up one more fight that you start, Asuka, I’m gonna tan your hide!!! Asuka: Yeah, right, like you’d do that! (Asuka goes quiet as Matt looks up at her, his eyes saying it all.) Asuka: You really would, wouldn’t you? Matt: Damn right I would. (With that, he gives the hatch a swift kick, dislodging it from the vent. As he looks through the hole, he sees the hatch hit the ground a few seconds later. He also sees Ritsuko and Maya staring at him, Ritsuko smiling.) Ritsuko: Ahh there you are!! We’ve been waiting for you!! Matt: Mind if I drop in? Maya: Not at all, Matt!! (With that, Matt swings down out of the shaft, hanging for a moment before dropping to the ground.) Matt: (looking back up at the others) Okay, each of you jump one at a time. I’ll catch you. Rei, you’re up. (Rei crawls out of the hole, landing in Matt’s arms easilly. He puts her down.) Matt: Asuka, you’re next. (Asuka follows suit, landing on Matt just as easilly as Rei.) Matt: (putting Asuka down) Okay, Shinji, let’s do it. (Shinji steps out of the hole, although not nearly as anxiously as Rei or Asuka. After they have all been secured, Matt waves at Gendo standing on the EVA platform. Gendo nods, smiling (although unamused, he is smiling), and turns to face the techs.) Gendo: Prepare for manual entry!!! Technitian: Roger!! Lever open the hatches!!! (As Gendo and a team of other men now pull on another series of pulleys, the hatch on Unit 01 finally slides open.) Shinji: The EVA’s? Ritsuko: (guesturing to the EVA behind her) They’re already on standby. Shinji: But....there’s no power.... Ritsuko: It was all done by hand....the commander did it. Shinji: My father... (Shinji looks across the hanger at his father, who still works to open the other entry-plug hatches.) Ritsuko: Your father believed in you, and prepared everything. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------- -- Directly above NERV, the Angel has finally come to a halt. Lowering itself on it’s four huge legs, and placing it’s body over a launch bay, it suddenly starts drooling acid from it’s multiple eyes, pouring the acid down the shaft.) ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- (A short time later, amidst much clanking and groaning, the three EVA pilots are finally placed in their EVAs. Stopping only long enough to have emergency battery packs strapped to their backs, the three EVA’s are ready for action. The Black Templar hums with power, and soon afterwards the four units are leopard crawling along the launch tunnels, making their way up to the surface.) Asuka: (over the comm) This is pathetic!! Rei: (over the comm) Verticle shaft in sight. (As the four units arrive at the hatch, Asuka uses Unit 02 to kick the hatch open, and with a loud crash, the hatch flies off.) Shinji: Okay, how do we get up there? Matt: Start climbing, people!! (The four units start climbing up, carefull not to fall on top of each other. Asuka leads in Unit 02, followed by Rei in Unit 00, Shinji in Unit 01, and Matt in the Black Templar.) Asuka: (over the comm) I can’t believe we’re doing this, it’s so embarrasing!! (Suddenly, she notices a large amount of liquid falling past her EVA. Looking down, she sees it land on Unit 00’s left battery pack. With a hiss, the liqiud quickly eats its way through the of half of the pack. Ejecting it rapidly, Rei looks back at her team mates.) Rei: It’s acid. Watch out!! (Suddenly, Asuka sees the acid falling on her EVA’s hand. With a yelp of pain, she lets go, and Unit 02 falls, crashing into Unit 00 with a huge sound. Rei, unprepared for the sudden change in weight, loses her footing and falls to land on Shinji, who also loses his grip. Just as the three EVA’s begin to fall, their flight is suddenly halted by the huge form of the Black Templar, which almost takes up the entire launch bay.) Matt: (over the comm) BRACE, YOU LIMP BASTARD!! Everyone, get a foothold, now!!! (However, unbeknownst to anyone else, in his cockpit, Matt is clutching his chest, his face twisted in pain.) Matt: (to himself) Later, damn it...not now..... ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- (A short time later, amidst a shower of acid, the battery packs of each EVA are finally ejected. All of the units, now crouched in the small service bay, look up to regard the Angel. Even though it is their pilots speaking, it is almost like the four units are talking amongst themselves.) Rei: It would appear that the Angel plans to attack headquaters directly using that acid. Shinji: What do we do? Asuka: What do we do? We’re gonna beat it, of course!! Shinji: Okay, but we dropped our rifles, and the packs on our backs are running out! We only have another few minutes left!! (After a moment of consideration, Asuka comes up with a plan.) Asuka: I’ve got an idea. There’ll be three positions: defense, offence and backup. Defense’s job will be to neutralise that Angel’s A.T. Field, whilst protecting the defense and offense. Backup will go down the shaft, and retrieve the rifle, and hand one to Offence, who will then fire a volley, destroying the target. How does that sound? Rei: I will take the defensive position. Asuka: Sorry, wondergirl. That will be my job. Matt: And mine. My unit has more armour, I’ll be able to take more damage for a longer time. Shinji: But it’s too dangerous.... Asuka: That’s why we’re doing it. And don’t forget, Matt. I want to get up there first. Matt: Let’s just get this job done, shall we? Asuka: Shinji will be offence. Rei will be the backup. Got it? Rei: Understood. Shinji: Right. Matt: Let’s do it. (With a battle cry, Matt and Asuka swing out into the launch bay, their units complying easily. As the acid pours over them, both struggle to maintain their positions. Beneath them, Unit 00 activates it’s rockets, landing with a crash. Grabbing a Pallete Rifle, Rei looks up to see Unit 01 locking itself into position just above her.) Shinji: (reaching down) AYANAMI!! (Unit 00 hurls the rifle upwards, and Unit 01 catches it easily. Aiming carefully, Shinji yells a warning.) Shinji: Asuka! Matt!! Get out of the way!! (The two units swing to either side, making a gap.) Asuka: I’m clear!! Matt: Do it, Shinji!! (Shinji takes a cue from Matt.) Shinji: Fire in the hole!!! (With a burst of staccato fire, the Pallete Rifle fires, it’s shells blasting through the Angel. For a time, it stands upright. Then suddenly, with a crash, it collapses unceromoniously to the ground. The Ninth Angel, Matarael, had been destroyed. As Unit 02 loses it’s footing again, Shinji tosses away the Pallete Rifle, and catches Asuka easilly.) Asuka: Good catch, Shinji!! (Above them, the Black Templar anchors itself into position, lifting one giant arm to point at the intact Angel.) Matt: (to himself) None must be captured. (With a defeaning roar, the cannon mounted in the Black Templar’s right arm opens fire, burning a ragged hole in the Angel, and making it useless for study.) Shinji: Matt, what are you doing? (Matt is silent for a moment before answering.) Matt: Ensuring the kill, Shinji, ensuring the kill. -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- (Back in the still stranded elevator...Misato now kneels atop Kagi’s shoulders, prying at the overhead hatch.) Misato: Oh no! Please, open, please!! Why won’t it open? Please, I have to go to the bathroom, now!! Hey, you’re not looking up my dress are you? (Kagi simply looks down, not interested in looking up her dress.) Kagi: No ma’am. Wha?! (Suddenly, the lights come back on, and the lift begins to descend again. Unprepared for this, Kagi loses his balance, and the two begin to fall.) Kagi: Ack!! Look out!! Misato: Arrrgh!! (With a thud, they both land on the floor, just as the elevator doors open, revealing a rather surprised looking Ritsuko Akagi, Makoto Huyga, Maya Ibuki and Matt Eklom. As they lie groaning on the ground, Ritsuko buries her face in her hands, Hyuga looks away, laughing, Maya simply stares and Matt just shakes his head.) Ritsuko: Oh god.... Maya: Sex fiends. Hyuga: HA HA HA HA!! Matt: Misato, Kagi, this really isn’t the time or place! I knew you japenese had different customs to ours, but jesus! ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------- (A few hours later, on the cliff face that overlooks the magnificent city of Tokyo-3....all is silent, not to mention dark. For the power to the city has still not been restored, leaving the city in darkness still. Lying down on the grass, observing the sky, Rei, Asuka, Shinji and Matt observe infinity in silence.) Shinji: You know, it’s ironic. Without all the lights, the sky can look so beautiful.... Asuka: Yeah. But I still prefer it with the lights on. (Suddenly, Tokyo-3 comes to life, as the power is finally restored, the city lights up again.) Asuka: There, I feel much more comfortable this way. Rei: Man fears the darkness. And so, he scratches away at the edges of it with fire. Asuka: Hmm. Philosophy, huh? Shinji: Is that why mankind is so unique? Is that why the Angels attack us? Asuka: What are you, stupid? Who knows what they think. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To be continued......