Chapter4


	- Episode Four: First Knight/A friend? ------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- (It is late afternoon, almost two days after the destruction of the Fourth Angel at the hands of the Righteous Endeavour. Things have, for the moment, returned to normal. Shinji Ikari continues his training at NERV, quickly getting used to controlling the awesome Evangelion. Matt Eklom is now on active status, his Titan Mech-Warrior, the Black Templar, having finally arrived. However, outside of work, things are going slightly differently.....) Touji: It’s been three days..... Kenske: You mean since you clobbered that new kid? Touji: Yeah. And he hasn’t shown up since then..... (The scene is early morning at the local school. Rain pours down outside, throwing the room into a darker hue....) Kenske: Well, maybe you scared him off. You know, if you’ve scared him too bad, he might not be able to pilot. If he doesn’t pilot, we could all die...... Touji: Hmmm..... Kenske: What’s the matter, Touji? Are you actually concerened about him? (Touji straightens, looking as tough as he can.) Touji: I uh- ‘course not. Kenske: Touji, for someone so tough, you’ve got a strange way of trying to hide your feelings. Here, it’s the new kid’s phone number. Why don’t you call him? (Touji takes the proffered shred of paper, studying the number scrawled on it’s face.) Touji: Hmm.... ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- (The scene is in Matt’s apartment a few hours later. Matt, having finished his shift a long time beforehand, is relaxing with a beer in hand, listening to “Only Women Bleed” by Alice Cooper, when suddenly, the phone rings...) Matt: Dammit........wonder who that is? (Turning down the music, and picking up the Satt-Phone, he presses send.) Matt: Eklom. Voice on other end: Uh, hello? (Matt squints, recognising the voice.) Matt: Hey, you’re that kid who was beating up on Shinji, aren’t you? Voice: Uhh.......yeah, sir.......sorry......it’s Touji by the way.... Matt: No problem for me, Touji. It’s Shinji who you should apologise to. Touji: Uhh....yeah, I guess.... Matt: You want to talk to him? Touji: You don’t mind? Matt: Mind? Mate, you’re the only member of his class that’s even called him so far. He’s been a bit chafed since you hit him, you know.... Touji: Oh. Well, yeah, I’ll talk to him. Matt: Hold on a sec’. I’ll just get him. (Matt puts a hand over the mike, and calls out) Matt: Shinji? You there? Shinji: Yeah? Matt: Phonecall for you, mate. (Cautiously, Shinji takes the phone from Matt.) Shinji: (into the phone) Uhh.......hi? ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- (Later that night, still at Matt’s apartment.) Misato: So he’s making friends? Matt: I think so. Earlier today, a kid who beat him up the other day called him up to apologize. Next thing I know, they’re talking like they’ve known one another for years..... (Misato smiles into her beer) Misato: Well, it’s good that he’s making friends finally. Ritsuko said he might be suffering from the Hedgehog’s Dilemma. You know what that is? Matt: Yeah. The fear of getting closer thing. I used to have the same problem, but in a different way. Misato: How so? Matt: Well, I was afraid of getting to know people, but only becuase I was afraid I might say something that would upset or insult them..... Misato: I see. Look’s like you and he are more alike than I thought. Speaking of which, I hear you had to hold off a group of technitians sent by the commander to inspect the ‘mech today.... (Matt laughs lightly.) Matt: I told them. I used plain, simple english. My orders stipulate that the Black Templar is not be touched by anyone other than me. But noooo, they forced me to be a bit more forcefull. Misato: Still, you didn’t have to punch his lights out. Commander Ikari’s furious! Matt: Well, he of all people should be aware of my orders. Misato: Hmm. Aren’t you worried about the ‘mech being tampered with while you’re gone? Matt: Heh heh heh. I got a little contingency system just for that purpose, Misato. --------------------- ------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- ---------------------------------- (Meanwhile, in EVA cage four....) Technitian: I don’t know sir.....he sounded pretty serious when he told us not to go near it.... Gendo: (Over a communicator) Who’s orders do you follow, private? Technitian: Your’s sir. Gendo: Then get to it NOW. Technitian: Yes sir.... (With that, the technitian turns to his team of men, and speaks) Technitian: Well, let’s get on it, men.... (The group heads towards the ‘mech’s left foot.) --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- Misato: A contingency system? Matt: Just a little deterrant. Don’t worry, nothing lethal. My government isn’t that sadistic. Misato: What does it do? -------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------- (As the men finally reach the ‘mech’s foot, they are slightly hesitant....) Technitian leader: Cut that out, you fools. There’s nothing to be afraid of. (With that, he reaches out to touch the black metal with a circular saw....) -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- Matt: Runs a small electric charge through any fool crazy enough to try and cut it open. Enough to throw them off the ‘mech anyway. Just a deterrant. ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------- Technitian Leader: See? There’s nothing to be frigh- (It is with these words that suddenly, a bright flash goes off, and the tech goes flying, thumping to the floor a short distance later.) Tech Leader: AAAARRRGGHHH!!!!!! (He gets to his feet, clutching his stinging hand as an automated message suddenly speaks....) Matt’s voice: Thank you for testing out the contingency system. Know that the next time it is triggered, the charge will be enough to fry an elephant in it’s tracks.. Please do not touch this ‘mech again. Thank you for listening to this message. Tech Leader: Rrrrrr......dammit!! Gendo: (Over communicator) What’s going on down there, private? Tech Leader: Sir, it look’s like he’s engaged some sort of security device on the ‘mech. We can’t get near it until he shuts it off. It doesn’t look like there’s any way of shutting it down from the outside... Gendo: Hmm. Then forget you were ever there. Tech Leader: Yes sir. --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ---------- Misato: Isn’t that a little over the top? Matt: My government isn’t taking any chances. Don’t worry, they’ll realise it’s foolhardy, eventually. Misato: Hmmmm.... (The silence ensues again, broken only by the sounds of the two of them drinking once in a while.) ---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- -------- (It is the next day. Deep below the surface, in EVA hanger 4, Matt is working inside his Titan Mech-Warrior for the first time. From above, on the platform set at the ‘mech’s shoulders, Ritsuko stands, admiring the ‘mechs streamlined features...) Ritsuko: Bulky, yet seemingly agile..... (Suddenly, a hatch at the back of the ‘mech opens, and a uniformed and obviously tired Matt steps out onto the platform, stretching his sore muscles. Upon seeing Ritsuko, he smiles. Matt: Afternoon, Dr Akagi. Enjoying the view, I see. Ritsuko: It’s impressive....but I think I’d think it were more impressive if I could see inside it..... (As Ritsuko walks towards him, Matt holds up a hand.) Matt: Stop right where you are. (Ritsuko freezes in mid step, not comprehending....) Matt: I still have the anti-intrusion system active. Can’t you see the sign? (Matt guestures to a sign he has placed on the walkway, of which there are several around the EVA hanger. The sign reads “WARNING: FORCE FIELD SYSTEM ACTIVATED. THE AREA ONE METRE AROUND THIS UNIT IS PROTECTED. DO NOT ENTER.”.) Ritsuko: You have an electric barrier between yourself and the rest of the building?! Matt: It’s not electric. It’s just a force field meant to stop anyone working on the ‘mech, and it extends to a metre around the exterior of the ‘mech. In fact, it’s barely a foot in front of you. You won’t be able to get any further than that. (Ritsuko takes one further step forwards- and suddenly stops. To her, it feels as though she is pressing against some sort of wall, even though there appears to be nothing there.....) Matt: Wait a ‘sec. I’ll shut it down. (He stabs at a few buttons on his wrist unit, and suddenly, Ritsuko feels the invisible wall vanish.) Ritsuko: That was..... Matt: A Graviton Field. A sort of extra defense against attack in the unlikely event that my A.T. Field cannot help me. (Ritsuko continues forwards, slightly miffed.) Ritsuko: You really don’t trust us that much? Matt: After last night, I would have thought you’d be the last person to say that. (Ritsuko goes silent, looking away as Matt walks forwards, the hatch he exited the ‘mech through closing itself. Matt walks up to her, hands crossed in front of him.) Matt: I thought we had an agreement that the Black Templar was not to be touched. Now I find myself having to keep the damn thing’s force field up just to stop you from tearing the bloody thing open. Just how the hell am I supposed to trust you, Ritsuko? (Ritsuko remains silent as Matt lessens his tone.) Matt: Hey. I’m sorry, Dr Akagi. I know that it was Commander Ikari’s order last night, not yours. It’s just that I’m not used to having to be so protective about something. Ritsuko: I can understand where you’re coming from.... (Matt brightens up, smiling at Ritsuko.) Matt: Hey, I hear Misato invited you over for dinner tonight. You coming? Ritsuko: I suppose so. I haven’t got anything else to do tonight..... Matt: Well, you can catch a lift back with Misato and I, if you want. We take my car in every day. Ritsuko: I might just do that. By the way, how’s Shinji getting along? Matt: Yeah, better all the time. He’s made friends with some kid who beat him up a few days ago, and now they’re getting on really well. I’m glad he’s getting along. Ritsuko: Well, there’s some good news. So any chance of getting a look at the cockpit then? (Matt hesitates for moment, before smiling.) Matt: I guess a look in the cockpit won’t hurt. It’s not like you’ll be able to do anything. (He leads Ritsuko around the back of the mech, and presses a button on his wrist unit. Almost instantly, a small hatch on the back of the ‘mech’s neck slides open, revealing a dark hatch that lights up as the door dissapears from view.) Matt: You’ll have to go in by yourself. There’s only enough room in there for the one person. Ritsuko: You trust me? Matt: I trust you. (Matt helps Ritsuko into the small hatch, however, she has to take off her lab coat first.) Matt: Okay, it’s pretty simple. You’ll slide down for about a meter, and land right in the pilot seat. I don’t really care if you touch anything, it won’t work anyway. Have a nice time. (With that, Matt lets Ritsuko go, who feels herself sliding for a second or so, before suddenly, she lands in a well-cushioned seat. Taking her bearings, she looks around the darkened cockpit. It is all black inside, save for a few green lights around the place. Between her legs, in front of the seat, a small monitor can be seen, with the words MAINTENANCE MODE in green text on it’s face. All around her, switches can be seen, along with numerous readouts and indicator gauges. At her feet, she can feel two pedals, and on either side of the seat, two control levers can be seen, attached to arms that obviously move when the unit is in action. A large viewport can be seen in front, displaying the empty platform in front of the ‘mech. Behind the seat, she can see two speakers and a small stereo unit. The speakers are aligned so that they can play directly into the pilot’s ears.) Ritsuko: Hmm. How Matthew. (She tries a few switches, but still nothing works. Finally she does what she truly came to do. Making sure Matt cannot see it, she places a small sensor bug behind the screen, in a position almost impossible to see.) Matt: (From above) Hey? You done down there? Coz I’m ready to finish up here and leave. Ritsuko: Yeah, I’m done. Pretty impressive. How do I get out of here? Matt: See the two handles sitting on either side of the hatch you exited? Ritsuko: The two red ones? Matt: Yeah. Grab onto them, and hold on. They’ll pull you out of the cockpit. (Ritsuko reaches up and grabs onto the two handles. Instantly, with a whirring sound, the two handles rise, dragging her out of the cockpit, until she is directly in front of the small hatch leading out of the ‘mech. Matt helps her out, and then reseals the hatch.) Matt: Like what you saw? Ristuko: Looks a little complicated in comparison to an entry-plug..... Matt: Well, yeah, but it saves having to go through such mental stress. The Titan Mech-Warrior can be controlled manually if necessary. Ritsuko: Hmm. A handy thing, I guess.... Matt: Yeah. Well, I’m off to get changed and then head for home. You? Ritsuko: (nods) Yeah, I’m finished for the day. (With that, the two people leave the platform, walking off into NERV.) ---------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Matt: And so there we were, absolutely smashed beyond belief, trying to get a hotel room for the night. Now, we finally get this room, and we find the key’s not opening the lock. So James gets the bright idea that he should kick it down. So with this almighty CRUNCH, we kick open the door, only to find it’s not our room!!!! (The scene is in Matt’s apartment later that night. The room is in a state of laughter as Matt regales one of his past experiences....) Matt: And this poor old guy is left wondering who the hell we are, when suddenly James walks up to him, looks him in the eye, goes to apologise, and then........ (Matt is obviously in hysterics trying to speak.) Misato: And then? Matt: And then.............he goes “Pardon me, do you have any Gray Poupon?” before falling on him, and vomiting in this guy’s bed!!!! (The room is thrown into hysterics once more, with everyone laughing at Matt’s story.) Matt: I tell ya, command couldn’t believe it when they had to bail us out of jail the next morning.....we ended up getting clean-up duty for the next month for that little escapade..... Misato: (Laughing) I’m surprised they didn’t throw you out for doing that! Ritsuko: And how!! Matt: Heh heh, yeah. Well, our system of government and command has changed for the better, I guess. They are strict on discipline, but they’re fairly easy too....man I had some good times back then.... (The laughter in the room slowly dies off just as Shinji walks in carrying a large pot of curry.) Shinji: I saw that the pot was about to boil over, so I just picked it up... Ritsuko: You know, you should teach Misato how to cook that properly.... Misato: Hey!! My cooking’s not that bad!! Shinji: Well, it’s ready. (As Shinji starts spooning out the curry, he looks over at Misato.) Shinji: Hey, Misato? Don’t you want some of this? Misato: Hmm? Oh yeah. (With that, she removes a plate to reveal a styrofome cup of instant noodles.) Misato: Da da!! Slop some’a that stuff on to this stuff!! Shinji: You’ve got to be kidding.... Misato: Come on!! It’s yummy to the max. (As Shinji continues spooning the food onto Misato’s noodles, she continues.) Misato: See, the trick is to put less water in it, so the sauce forms a sludge. Mmmmm, come on, dig in. Matt: Heh. I got the same philosophy, I guess: If it tastes good, eat it. (With that, the others taste their food- and promptly either choke or grimace.....) Ritsuko: Misato cooked didn’t she? Misato: You can tell? Ritsuko: unngh.....yeah..... Matt: (coughing) jeez....... Shinji: erk.... Ritsuko: Next time you invite me over, make sure someone else cooks! Misato: Too hot? Matt: (still coughing) god...............just a bit..... Shinji: I think it needs some work, Misato.... Ritsuko: Yeah, just a bit..... (Matt promptly drops his spoon, thumping his chest.) Matt: (Coughing still) Whoo!! Hot jambalaya, hot jambalaya!! (With that, he picks up his stereo remote, looking to the others.) Matt: No objections, I hope? Everyone Else: No/’course not/no. (Matt presses a few buttons on the control, and the song ‘How Dare You!’ by 10CC comes on, at a lower volume, so the people in the flat can still talk.) Matt: Ahh. Now all I need is some liquid refreshment. Anyone else want something? Misato: Yeah, another one here. Ritsuko: Okay. I’ll take another. Matt: Shinji, you want anything? Shinji: Uhh, I still have mine, thanks. (As Matt goes into the kitchen, Ritsuko remembers something.) Ritsuko: Oh!! I just remembered!! Shinji, could you do me a favour? Shinji: Sure. Ritsuko: I just got Rei’s new security card. Would you mind giving it to her tommorow before you come in? (Shinji seems almost reluctant to take the card, but does so, looking at the photo on it’s surface.) Misato: Heh heh. What are you looking at, Shinji? (Shinji looks up, almost dropping the card.) Shinji: Ulp!! Nothing!! Misato: You were looking at Rei’s picture. Now you’ve got an excuse to go visit her, don’t you? Shinji: No!! That’s not what I was thinking!! (Misato giggles at Shinji’s embarrasment.) Misato: Heh heh heh, I think I embarassed him! (Shinji sits down, a scowl on his face.) Shinji: Stop teasing me!! Misato: But it’s so fun to tease you, you go so ballistic! Ritsuko: Just like Misato..... (Misato stops short, realising what Ritsuko has just said, just as Matt walks back in with the three beers.) Matt: Not insulting one of the hosts, are you Misato? Misato: Heh heh heh. Matt: I’ll be going to work tommorow as well, so we’ll go past Rei’s on the way. What do you reckon? (Shini still seems slightly reluctant, but agrees.) Shinji: Sure..... Misato: What’s wrong, anyway? Whenever someone mentions her name, you go all silent. (It is with great hesitance that Shinji answers finally.) Shinji: It’s just.....she seems to get on with my father so well, but I don’t know anything about her.... (At this, Ritsuko answers.) Ritsuko: She’s a nice girl. A little quiet. She’s like Commander Ikari, just not very adept at.. Shinji: What? Ritsuko: Living, I guess.... (The evening goes on, until finally, Ritsuko gets up to leave. Matt stands also, getting his keys.) Matt: Sorry, Ritsuko. Old Oz custom. Never let a lady get home unescorted. I’ll drive you back home. Ritsuko: Oh....thank’s Matt. (The two leave the flat, making their way outside, finally getting to Matt’s black Jaguar. Soon afterwards, they are on their way, driving through Tokyo-3’s city streets, which are devoid of traffic at this hour.) Ritsuko: So, I see you and Misato get along well. (Matt chuckles slightly.) Matt: Yeah. I guess you could say that. Ritsuko: Are you thinking what I think you are? (Matt chuckles again slightly, but it is not a humorous laugh.) Matt: Heh heh. No, Ritsuko, I’m not interested. Ritsuko: Ahh. In love with your work then? Matt: Something like that..... (His last comment leaves Ritsuko reluctant to say anything further, unsure of whether it was a wise thing to say..) Ritsuko: Uhh.....sorry. Matt: What for? Ritsuko: If I said anything offensive. Matt: No no, you didn’t say anything wrong. I just said goodbye to my girlfriend a long time ago, and I still intend to stay true to her, as she did to me. Ritsuko: I see. Makes you a more efficient pilot to not have a love life, then? (Matt looks at Ritsuko with a look of annoyance.) Matt: Haven’t you got anything better to do than question me about my personal life? Ritsuko: .... Matt: I mean, I appreciate your concern and all, but I’m simply not willing to betray my girlfriend. Ritsuko: Why is that? Matt: Because we shared the horror of the Second Impact together, and even though she lives in Texas now, we both solomly swore never to betray one another. (Ritsuko looks back out the window, smiling.) Ritsuko: You sound so certain..... Matt: (smiling) I am certain. Ritsuko: Hmm. I’d like to see you say that after living near Misato for a while. (Matt looks back at Ritsuko, with a look of curiosity.) Matt: Pardon? Ritsuko: You should try getting Misato to tell you about her parents one day. (At that, Matt laughs and looks back out the window.) Matt: There’s no need. I already know about her past. My government has it’s own intelligence sources, you know. I’m well aware of the fact that she’s the only person who has witnessed the hell of the Second Impact and lived. (As Ritsuko goes to say something else, Matt murmurs something that silences her.) Matt: (murmered)...and she’s not the only one.... (The rest of the car trip goes on in silence, until finally, they arrive at Ritsuko’s apartment complex.) Matt: Well, there we go. I’m sorry if I offended you, Ritsuko. Ritsuko: Don’t worry about it. I think I understand. And thanks for the lift. Matt: No worries, Ritsuko. Oh, and one last thing. (At this, Ritsuko turns back to Matt, who is still sitting in the car. Matt puts something in Ritsuko’s hand, making her look down. As he takes his hand away, it reveals the small sensor bug that she had put in the cockpit of the Black Templar earlier that day. As she looks up at Matt, his smile is gone.) Matt: If you ever come near the Black Templar again with that purpose in mind, I’ll make sure the Anti-Intrusion system is set to ‘flash fry’. Do you understand? (Ritsuko nods, swallowing hard.) Ritsuko: You can’t blame us for trying... Matt: Watch me. Goodnight, Dr Akagi. (With that, Matt floors the accelarator, driving off into the night without another word, leaving Ritsuko standing in bewilderment.) -------------- ------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- (The scene is the next day, early in the morning. Outside a long chain of buildings, the sounds of construction can be heard, the loud THUMP THUMP of the work echoing across the street. In the early morning sun, a black sports car can be seen pulling up out the front of one building, and shortly afterwards, a young woman and teenage boy can be seen getting out of it.) Matt: (inside the car) So I’ll just wait out the front here, okay mate? Shinji: Uhh...yeah, sure. Misato: Ask Rei if she wants a lift into work today. We can fit an extra passenger, I’m sure. Matt: Yeah, mate, ask if she wants a ride. (Shinji walks up into the apartment complex, going in through the front doors. In the car, Misato and Matt sit, awaiting his return.) Misato: I wonder what’s wrong with him? He’s seemed out to it since Ritsuko asked him to give her that card last night.... Matt: Hmmm. Perhaps you touched a chord with him, or something. Misato: He hasn’t told you anything? Matt: No. I can understand that he doesn’t like talking about his feelings. I’m the same way. Misato: Hmm. (They wait for ten minutes, still looking for Shinji.) Matt: Wonder where he’s gone to? We’re gonna be late if he keeps this up.... Misato: Hey, look. It’s Rei. (Indeed, the girl has just walked out of the building, turning in the direction of the nearest train station.) Matt: Hmm. That’s odd. Oi, Rei!! (Rei stops, looking up to where she sees Matt and Misato standing just outside of a black car.) Rei: Yes, Pilot Eklom? Matt: Didn’t you see Shinji up there? (Rei is hesitant for a moment, before answering.) Rei: Yes. He’s coming down, I think. (Matt looks at Misato, who shrugs back, giving him a confused look.) Matt: Well, did he ask you if you wanted a lift in? Rei: ......no. Matt: (to Misato) What’s going on here? (To Rei) Well, we’re on our way to central anyway, so do want one? (Rei does not answer. She simply starts walking towards the car as Shinji finally exits the building, his face as red as the rising sun.) Matt: Shinji? Where did you get to, mate? (Shinji is also hesitant to ask, but finally does.) Shinji: I.......nowhere. (Matt looks at Misato again, and after trading shrugs, they get back into the car after Rei and Shinji have gotten into the back. Soon afterwards, the car is on it’s way.) --------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------- (A short time later, outside the main gates separatng NERV from the rest of the world, Rei steps up to her gate, and swipes her card. However, the door does not move. Just as Matt is about to say something, Shinji leans over and hands her her new security card.) Shinji: Uhh.....here. Ritsuko wanted me to give it to you.... (Matt and Misato look at each other again, starting to get an idea of what happened upstairs as Rei takes the card without a please or thankyou, opens the gate, and steps through. As she does, Matt and Misato are left outside staring at Shinji.) Misato: Shinji......what happened in there? Shinji: .... ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ -------------------- -- Maya: Sir? The entry plug has been inserted. We’re ready to begin the re-activation test. Ritsuko: Excellent. Let’s get started. Begin Phase One. (The scene is in the control box overlooking the leviathan that is Evangelion Unit 00. As the techs go through their start up sequences, the unit’s one cycloptic eye begins to glow brightly as it is finally reactivated. Standing in a corridor with a view overlooking the EVA, Matt, Misato and Shinji look on.) Maya: Absolute Borderline!! (There is a tense silence as everyone takes in a deep breath collectively.... And then the computer beeps an affirmative.) Maya: Absolute Borderline cleared. No problems detected. EVA Unit 00 successfully reactivated. Rei: (In the cockpit of Unit 00). Roger. Beginning pre-action tests. (However, above NERV, and out on the ocean, something else is arriving. Huge and 3D diamond shaped, the only sound to be heard from the hulking great monstrosity is a high pitched wail every so often as it glides effortlessly across the water, heading directly for Tokyo-3. The Fifth Angel, Ramiel, has arrived.) --------------------------- --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- --------------------------- (Meanwhile, deep inside NERV) Fujutsuki: It’s the Mt Fuji observation centre!! They’ve detected a huge object headed our way. It must be the Fifth Angel. Gendo: Abort the test. Go to first stage alert. How soon can Unit 01 be ready? Ritsuko: It can be ready in six minutes. Gendo: Make it so. And the Titan Mech-Warrior? Matt: Give me five minutes. I’ll be ready to rock and roll. Gendo: Make it so. Fujutsuki: You’re not sending Rei up, are you? Gendo: She’s not ready to fight yet. Prepare for combat!! (As technitians run around them, Matt and Shinji run as fast as they can to the changerooms, quickly getting suited up. In the changerooms, the scene is that of nervousness and excitement.) Shinjii: God, I don’t know if I can do this...... Matt: (Hurriedly getting his pilot suit on) Don’t worry Shinji. I’ll take point. I’ll take the brunt of it, you get in behind me in case he gets past me. Shinji: You sound as though you’re looking forwards to this... (Matt laughs, finally adjusting the last of his battle suit.) Matt: Mate, I’ve been training for this for ten years now. I’m just itching to get a taste of his ass. Shinji: You might be ready, but I’m still a bit scared..... Matt: Then stay in back. I’ll sort the bastard out. Don’t worry, Shinji, I have no qualms about dying. (It is with that that Matt finshes putting on his armour, which is black in colour with green trimmings, and has places for sidearms.) Matt: Let’s go. (The two pilots quickly leave the room, making their way to the EVA’s as fast as they can.) ------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- --------- (Two minutes later, in the EVA hangers, Evangelion Unit 01 is sent through it’s power up sequence. Next to it, the ominous looking Black Templar hums with energy as it’s internal servomotors power up for it’s first battle. In it’s cockpit, Matt goes through his startup procedures. As his seat restraints accordion around him, the screen in front of him scrolls with data.) Matt: (Into the comm) Core charged and ready. Right and left side servomotors activated and standing by. Proceeding with cursory scan of the target before synchronization and launch. (However, as Matt reads the tactical display coming up on his screens, he calls out.) Matt: Control, this is Templar. Cease all operations. Misato: What the hell are you talking about? We’ve got to destroy that thing!! Matt: Captain, according to my sensor readings, that thing’s got a Particle weapon that can strike a target up to 10 kilometers away. There’s no way we can be expected to harm it in close combat. Misato: What are you saying?! Matt: What I’m saying is this, Captain: Attacking that thing in close range combat is sheer suicide. (As Matt’s words sink in, everyone in the control centre goes silent, not believing his words.......) (Suddenly, Commander Ikari speaks.) Gendo: Continue the operation. Launch EVA!!! Matt: Wait!! NOO!!!! (But with a massive burst of sparks, the two units are launched into Tokyo-3, Matt struggling to syncronise properly. As the G-Forces hammer at him, an accordion metal section snakes up and attaches to his armour at the base of his neck.) Matt: GNN!! Black Templar is ready to go!! (With an immense crash, the two behemoths come to a halt on the surface, a very short distance from the target.) Aoba: I’m detecting an immense energy buildup in the target!! Misato: What’d you say? Maya: The target is going to fire!! Misato: Look out up there!!!!!! ----------------------- -------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------- (In the entry-plug of Unit One, Shinji barely has time to look up when suddenly, the Angel fires, striking his EVA with an invisible energy beam that sends screams of pain shooting through Shinji, who screams as the EVA is still attached to the launch platform. Misato: Shinji!!! Pull them back in!!!! Matt: SHINJI!!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To be continued....