Episode 8:  With one accord in a flash/The memory remains.

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

Student A:  Hey!  Have you seen that new transfer student?
Stundent C:  Transfer student?
Student A:  You dork!  You mean you haven’t heard?  She’s from Germany!
Student B:  Yeah!!  Her name’s Asuka Langley Soryu!  She just transferred here, into the second year, class A!
Student C:  Oh, she’s HOT!!
Student A:  I wonder if she’s got a boyfriend...
Student C:  Naa-  I bet she had a boyfriend, and now she’s moved to a foreign land, with a heart that can’t be mended!!
All:  Yeah!!  Allright!!
Kenske:  My god, have you heard the talk around school?  Asuka, Asuka, Asuka...
Touji:  They’re totally clueless...
(The scene is outside school just before the first bell.  Touji and Kenske sit underneath a veranda, selling photographs of Asuka for ten yen a piece.  As Kenske makes another sale, he take the money and hands over the photo.)
Kenske:  Thanks, come again!!
Touji:  (Holding a set of negetives up to the light)  Well, at least her pictures don’t reveal her personality....
(Meanwhile, on the other side of the school, Shinji is just getting out of Matt’s car when he suddenly hears a voice that makes him cringe.)
Asuka:  Hello-o!!  Gut-Morgen, guys!
(Matt leans out his window, and smiles.)
Matt:  G’day, Asuka!
Shinji:  Gutten Morgen!
Asuka:  Hey Shinji?  Why so gloomy?  I’m the most popular kid in school...you should appreciate your good fortune.  Say..the other one’s here too, isn’t she?
Shinji:  Other one?
Asuka:  What are you, stupid?  I’m talking about the first child, of course!!
(Matt guestures to where Rei is sitting by herself, reading a book.)
Matt:  Rei’s just over there, Asuka.
Asuka:  Thanks!
(Rei sits quietly by herself, reading a small book when suddenly, her light is blocked by a shadow.  As Rei moves the book out of the shadow, it moves back to cover the book again.)
Asuka:  Hello-o!  You must be Rei Ayanami, the First Child!  I’m Asuka Langley Soryu, the pilot of Unit 02.  Let’s be good friends!
Rei:  What for?
Asuka:  Because it would be..convenient.  You know what I mean!!
Rei:  If I’m ordered to, I will do it.
Asuka:  (looking surprised)  Ooooh, freakazoid....
(Above them, on a balconey overlooking them.)
Touji:  It takes one to know one....hey Shinji, I wonder if only weirdos are chosen to be EVA pilots....

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

(Meanwhile, at NERV, Ritsuko is going over the data collected during the last Angel encounter against the Sixth Angel, Gaghiel.  Suddenly, she hears footsteps behind her, and before she can turn to see who it is, a pair of arms wrap around her.)
Ritsuko:  Oh!!
Kagi:  You’ve lost some weight.
Ritsuko:  Hmm...
Kagi:  You’re enduring an unrequited love.
Ritsuko:  You sound so sure of yourself...
(Kagi places a hand beneath Ritsuko’s chin, tracing her cheek.)
Kagi:  A woman with a mole like a tear on her cheek is destined to a lifetime of heartache and sorrow...
Ritsuko:  If you’re trying to put the moves on me, I’m afraid you can’t.  Not with that face pressed against the glass.
(Kagi looks up at the window, and smiles as he sees Misato with her face pressed against the glass giving him a look of death.  Misato storms towards the door.)
Ritsuko:  It’s been a while, Kagi.
Kagi:  It’s been a while, alright.
Ritsuko:  You know, you’re not as discreet as you used to be.
(Suddenly, Misato enters the room, glaring at Kagi.)
Misato:  Grr!!  He ain’t never been discreet in his whole life!!  You’ve finished delivering Unit 02, haven’t you?  What are you still doing here?!
Kagi:  I received orders this morning that I’ll be staying around for a while.  (turning back to Ritsuko)  So, goregous, we can hang around together, just like we used to.
Misato:  Grrr!!!  Don’t flatter yourself!
(Suddenly, the warning alarms in the complex start to flash, throwing the room into a red hue..)
Misato:  What?!  Enemy attack?!

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

(In the control centre.)
Makoto:  The battleship New Harouna has detected a huge submerged object heading towards us at high speed.  Spectral analysis confirms it......it’s an Angel.
Fujutsuki:  All hands!  Go to First Stage Alert!!

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

(A short time later, the EVA pilots are assembled and prepared for battle.  Shortly afterwards, three huge F-TYPE boomerang shaped transports take off from Tokyo-3 airport, two carrying Evangelion Unit’s One and Two, and the third carries the awesome Black Templar.  As the three pilots sit in their respective cockpits, Misato briefs them all.)
Misato:  Judging by what data we’ve been able to collect, we’re not sure about this Angel’s offensive capabilities.  Matt, can the Titan-Mech’s tactical sensors pick up anything yet?
Matt:  Negetive, Misato.  I’m not within range yet.  As soon as we set down, I’ll run an analysis, and report back.
Misato:  Right.  In the meantime, we have numerical superiorty.  So close in, and take turns!
All Pilots:  Roger!
(A short time later, the three units are released from their respective transports, where Units 01 and 02 freefall to land on the ground with an earth shaking CRASH!!  The Black Templar freefalls for a short time before engaging it’s internal thrusters, landing neatly on the ground.  As he disengages the thrusters, Matt toggles the Black Templar’s Tactical sensors, scanning the target for any defensive or offensive capabilities.)
Matt:  Scan complete, Misato.  Looks like this Angel has some sort of energy throwing device and-  my god...
Misato:  What?!
(Matt pauses for a moment, reconfirming the data whilst outside, Shinji picks up a Pallette Rifle, whilst Asuka picks up a spear.)
Matt:  .....It looks like this Angel can actually split itself into two separate parts, each just a lethal as the other....that’s incredible.....
Misato:  Anything else?
Matt:  Nothing.  Looks like a basic job....
Asuka:  This sucks!!  My first battle in Japan, and she won’t let me handle it solo.  It’s not fair, why do I have to bring them along?!
(Shinji’s face appears beside her in her entry plug.)
Shinji:  S.O.P.!  That’s just procedure!
Asuka:  Well, just don’t get in my way, got it?!
(Shinji’s face vanishes, to be replaced by Matts.)
Matt:  Asuka, cut that out.  We’re here to provide numerical superiority, and to back you up.  Now, are we ready?
(Before they can answer, the water in front of them rises into a massive cloud of spray, which finally parts to reveal the huge Seventh Angel:  Israfel, the Angel of Music.  Unit 02 suddenly storms forwards.)
Asuka:  I’ll handle this!  Cover my back, guys!!
Shinji:  What?!!  Cover you?!!
Asuka:  Yeah!!  Ladies first!!
Shinji:  Dammit, don’t you talk to me like that, you dumb rookie!!
Matt:  Asuka, get back here, god damn it!!  Shinji, open fire!!
(Unit 01 opens fire on the Angel, it’s huge Pallete Rifle spitting out immense explosive shells.  At the same time, the Black Templar’s arm’s open to reveal two huge cannons.  Sighting along them like pistols, the Titan lets fly, it’s huge cannons blazing away at the target with a thundering roar.)
Matt:  Damn!!  A.T. Field is still up!!  Save your rounds, Shinji!!
(Unit 02 charges at the Angel, leaping high into the air.  Asuka screams a war cry as she brings the spear down hard on the Angel, and for a moment, as it encounters the A.T. Field of the Angel, it seems it is for naught.  Suddenly, the field gives way, and with a sickening tearing sound, the Angel is slashed in two.  As the two separate halves fall apart, the EVA relaxes, Asuka revelling in the moment.)
Shinji:  Well I’ll be damned...
Matt:  (surprised)  Bugger....
(The EVA stands up, seeming almost to laugh at the state of the Angel.)
Asuka:  Well, what did you think of that?  A fight should be clean and elegant, without waste.
(Suddenly, when it looks like it is all over, the Angel shudders, and with another sickening cracking sound of sinews and flesh tearing, the Angel reforms.)
Asuka:  What?!!
Shinji:  Huh?!!
Matt:  GET BACK!!!
(Now in two separate halves, the Angels surround Unit 02.)
Misato:  That’s just a load of bull!!!!

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

(In the cockpit of the Black Templar, Matt communicates to Shinji.)
Matt:  Shinji!!  Stay back unless it looks like I need you!!
Shinji:  Where are you going?
(It is as Matt walks the Black Templar forwards towards the Angels that he smiles.)
Matt:  I’m going to pick a fight.
(As he approaches, he wills the arm cannons on the Titan away, and wills it’s second weaponry system into action.  Along the Titan’s arms, huge blades begin sliding out, clamping into place with metallic THUDs.  The second half of the Angel turns to face the new threat as Matt grins menacingly at it.)
Matt:  Alright.  Come get some.
(As the Titan stops in it’s tracks, it proceeds to do a peculiar thing...)

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

Misato:  Status of the EVA’s?
Maya:  Functioning normally.  Asuka’s moving to intercept the first target now.  Shinji’s in reserve.
Misato:  And the Titan?
(Hyuga stops for a moment before answering in an embarrased tone.)
Hyuga:  Err....it’s uhh....
(But he needs not say anymore...for on the viewscreen, the Black Templar can be seen flipping the bird with both hands at the Angel.)
Misato:  Matt, what the hell are you doing?!!
Matt:   Keeping up foreign relations, Misato.  And also completing a tactical analysis.  Give me five minutes.  <English>  HEY YOU!!  UP YOUR ASS WITH A RED HOT POKER!!!  HA HA HA HA!!!
(It is with that curse that the Black Templar charges forwards, surging at the Angel with claws outstretched.)

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

(In the entry plug of Unit 02...)
Asuka:  Attacking the first target!!
(Unit 02 moves forwards, spear outstretched.  As the Angels strikes out, Asuka ducks under the huge heavy blow, and swings the butt of the spear in an upwards arc that sends the Angel reeling backwards.  Asuka moves in for the kill, spinning the spear about her head like a staff.  But as she steps closer, suddenly, a huge energy discharge strikes, sending Asuka and her EVA flying back onto dry land, ending up on it’s face.)
Asuka:  Dddaaammmiiittt!!!!!

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

Misato:  How’s Asuka?
Maya:  She’s okay, but she’s still disoriented!!
Matt:  I’ve finished my analysis-  sending data now!!
(Aoba nods to Misato as the inforamtion comes in.)
Aoba:  Checking the data now, ma’am.
(Meanwhile, outside.  The Titan steps forwards, it’s mouth open slightly.  Suddenly, it throws it’s head basck and roars, a bestial, hate filled sound that freezes everyone.
Black Templar:  GRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!
(The Black Templar leaps into the air, doing a perfect flip before landing a fly-kick straight to the Angel’s core.  The shock sends the Angel flying back into the water, just as it’s counterpart arrives.  Continuing the momentum it has already built up, the Titan spins in the water, slashing wildly.  As it reaches the Angel, the blades pass through it’s A.T. Field as if it wasn’t there.)
Hyuga:  My god!!  The target’s A.T. Field has been neutralised!!
Misato:  What did you say?!!!
(The data confirms the statement.)
Aoba:  Sir!!  Have completed checking the data!!
Maya:  It seems that if the Angel is recombined, and then attacked with two units, it can be defeated easily!!
Misato:  Good work, everyone.  Matt, can you hear me?
(But there is no reply on the end of Matt’s line.)
Misato:  Matt?  What’s going on?
(Suddenly, a video image comes up onto the main viewer, directly from the Black Templar.  Across the screen, only words flash along with a voice....)
Message:  ALL OUR LINES ARE BUSY RIGHT NOW-  PLEASE TRY AGAIN LATER.  THANK-YOU.
Misato:  What the hell?!!
(Outside, the spinning blades finally contact the Angel, slashing once, twice, three times, four, each slash tearing a huge gash in the target, each time making the Angel step back a space.  Finally, the Titan makes an immense backhander, powerful enough to send the Angel back into the water.  As the second Angel struggles to stand, the Titan picks it up in a bear like grasp.  Lifting it high into the air, the Titan holds it above it’s head for a time, the Angel struggling to get free.)
Misato:  Status of the Titan?!!
Hyuga:  I can’t get a reading!!  The Mech-Warrior’s jamming US!!
Misato:  What?!!
(Finally, with an earsplitting roar, the Titan brings the Angel down over it’s knee again and again and again, until finally, with a sickening crack of breaking bones, the Angel’s back finally shatters.  The Angel screams in pain as the Titan hurls it screaming into it’s counterpart.  Instantly, the two re-merge back into one.)
Misato:  My god....
Hyuga:  !!
Maya:  (turning away in horror)  ohh....god.....
Ritsuko:  Incredible...
Aoba:  !!
Fujutsuki:  Impressive....
Shinji:  Jesus!!
Asuka:  Got in Heimel!!
(The Titan is already on it as the Angel stands again.  Running at nearly the speed of sound, the Titan brings it’s mighty right arm up in a huge strike that connects with the Angel’s core.  At the same time, it engages it’s thrusters, bringing the fist into a killing uppercut that buries itself in the Angel with a titanic scream of victory.  As momentum carries it forwards, the claw tears through the other side of the Angel with a sickening tearing sound of ligaments, bones and flesh.  As the Titan lifts clear of the ground, the Angel finally explodes at it’s core is torn in half.  With a still defiant roar, the Black Templar is soon lost in the almighty explosion.)

(Everyone at NERV, and all of the EVA pilots are left stunned as to what they have just seen.  Even as the explosion begins to fade, the Black Templar lands easily on the beach with an immense CRASH.  As it stands to regard the two EVA’s with it’s blood red eyes, it’s body still coated with the Angel’s blood, it seems almost to smile.  Suddenly, the sound of extremely loud rock music erupts over the comms, making everyone but Shinji flinch.  For he has heard this song before.  And it brings a smile to his face. (Editor’s note:  the song is “We will rock you” by Queen.)  Suddenly, Matt’s voice comes across the music.)
Matt:  Real nice party, ain’t it?

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

(Later on that day, as the three units are returned to the EVA hangers, Matt stands outside the loading bay, watching as the Black Templar is carefully lowered back down into it’s hanger bay.  Once the Titan Mech-Warrior is finally set into it’s hanger for certain, and the cage crews have backed away, Matt presses a button on his wrist unit.  Instantly, the anti-intrusion system activates, protecting the Black Templar from all attacks.  As he watches the boarding ramp lock into place over it’s shoulders, he feels a presence at his side.)
Maya:  It’s truly a wonder, Matt.
(Matt turns to look at Maya with a smile.)
Matt:  My thanks.  And I’m sure the Black Templar would thank you also, but for obvious reasons....
(They stand in silence for a moment, before Matt starts walking towards the hanger exit.  Maya falls into step beside him.)
Maya:  That was impressive piloting today....although Asuka didn’t think so....
Matt:  Heh.  Well, I can’t take full credit for that.  The moves were mine, but the training is all Australian.  I’m sorry Asuka feels that way, but I saw a threat in that thing, and knew I had to take care of it.
Maya:  I don’t think she’s ungreatful....just a little peeved that it wasn’t her that destroyed the Angel.
(As they walk into the elevator, Maya presses the button for the 23rd floor.)
Maya:  Your floor?
Matt:  Err....I’m not sure.....actually, I think this shift is just finishing, anyway....so you might as well knock off for the day too.
(As she realises the time, Maya clears the floor command, and presses the button for the top floor.)
Maya:  Hmm.  Must have been a little distracted.....forgot the time....
Matt:  You got a ride home?  Misato and I will probably head home together in my car, so if you want we can fit another person.
(Maya considers this for a moment before answering.)
Maya:  Sure, I’d love to.
(Matt smiles again, a guesture that makes Maya smile back.)

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

(A short time later, Matt and Maya wait patiently in the garage of NERV, sitting in Matt’s car.  Matt sits at the driver’s seat, Maya behind him in the passenger seat.)
Matt:  That’s odd....Misato doesn’t usually take this long.....
Maya:  How’s Shinji coming along at home with you?
Matt:  Shinji?  Yeah, he’s doing fine by the looks of things.  He’s made some good friends at school, and that’s done him a lot of good.
Maya:  He coming back with us?
Matt:  No, he caught a train home an hour ago.  Ahh, here she is.
(Indeed, Misato now approaches the car, followed by another younger woman.)
Matt:  Hey, Asuka.  What’s happening, Misato?
Misato:  Hi-i.  Just finished the paperwork myself.  Asuka’s going to be staying with me.  Hey, Maya.
Matt:  Cool, new neighbour.  Maya’s catching a lift back with us, if it’s okay.
Misato:  Why would I mind?
Maya:  I don’t want to be an inconvenience, sir...
(Misato looks at Maya, smiling.)
Misato:  It’s no problem at all, Maya.
Matt:  Well, we’d better get rolling.  Pile in, guys.
(A short time later, the car is on the streets, with Asuka and Maya in the back seat, and Misato and Matt in the front seats.  As usual, Matt drives at his usual pace:  extremely fast.  As the song “Short Memory” by Midnight Oil plays in the background, the mood seems rather cheerful.)
Matt:  Sorry you feel that way about earlier today, Asuka.
Asuka:  Hmmph!  I could have beaten that Angel just as easy!
Matt:  I don’t doubt it.  But I saw an opening, so I took it.....sorry....
(Asuka simply looks away smiling.)
Asuka:  Oh, quit apologising.  You killed the Angel....good job, I guess...
(Matt does not answer, he simply sighs.)
Misato:  So, any plans for tonight?
Matt:  Not me.  I’m just gonna sit back, get drunk, and listen to something good.
Maya:  A little work back home.
(Misato smiles back at Asuka.)
Misato:  Well, I’ll be celebrating the arrival of my new roomate.  Anyone care to join us?
Matt:  Shinji and I might drop by a little later....
(Misato looks at Matt sheepishly for a moment before continuing.)
Misato:  Actually, I wanted to have it in your lounge there...
Matt:  My lounge?  Why?
Misato:  Well.....we seem to spend so much time there every night that it seems more homey to me now....
(Matt looks at Misato incredulously.)
Matt:  No way!  You mean to say I’ve converted you to the western style of life?!
(Misato nods sheepishly again.)
Matt: (laughs for a moment.)  Our home is yours, Misato and Asuka.
(Matt pulls over quickly, making Maya in the back seat hang onto the seat.)
Matt:  I think this is your place, Maya?
(Misato gets out of the car, folding the seat forwards so that Maya can get out.  As Misato gets back in afterwards, they all wave goodbye.)
Matt:  See you tommorow, Maya!
(With that, he floors the car as the song “We gotta get out of this place” by The Angels comes on.)
Matt:  Let’s rock.
(Maya watches as the car goes speeding off into the distance.)

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

(Later that night, the sounds of celebration can be heard in Matt’s flat.  Inside, the song “Hot Chilli Woman” by Noiseworks plays loudly whilst the occupants of the lounge talk amongst themselves.  Misato sits on a lounge ,while Matt lays sprawled on the other, both drinking beers.  Shinji and Asuka sit nearby, drinking their soft drinks.  The mood in the room is high.)
Misato:  I have to admit, Matt.  The more you drink, the easier you are to get along with.
(Matt hiccups and looks at Misato with feigned drunkeness.)
Matt:  I’ll take that as a compliment..
Misato:  As it was intended.
(Matt salutes Misato with his beer, and then proceeds to drink all that remains of it.  He then frowns as he realises he is out of beer again.)
Matt:  Rats, I gotta cut down....
(Suddenly, Misato responds in a way that surprises everyone.)
Misato:  Oh, get your hand off it Matt.
(She suddenly turns bright red as she realises that everyone is staring at her.  But it is Matt who speaks first.)
Matt:  Ha!!  Whack o the diddle oh, Misato, I’ll make an Aussie of you yet!!
(Everyone laughs as Matt stands to fetch a reload.)
Matt:  Anyone else?
Misato:  Yeah, a new one here.  Hey, try one of mine.
Matt:  You mean these yebisu things?  Okay, I’ll try it out...
(As he rumages in Misato’s fridge for the beers, he overhears Asuka in the lounge...)
Asuka:  I bet it’s weird living with him, Shinji.
Shinji:  Actually, it’s been a lot of fun.  You never know what he’s gonna do...
Asuka:  Well, just remember not to try and come into our flat without permission!
Misato:  Asuka, cut that out.  Shinji and Matt are welcome in our flat whenever they wish.  Matt’s always been courteous enough to allow us in his flat, so the least we can do is the same.
(Matt walks back into the room, carrying the new beverages.)
Matt:  Why thank you, Misato.  I’ll try not to enter at a bad time...
Asuka:  (to herself)  ...feel priviledged...
(Matt shrugs, landing back on the couch.)
Matt:  Oookay....
(The song changes to “Call of the Ktulu” by Metallica.  Matt closes his eyes and lets his head roll back, enjoying the music.  He presses a button on his wrist unit, and suddenly, the lights in the room dim.)
Misato:  What the....you actually have that thing rigged up to the room’s lights?
Matt:  And everything else in the flat.  Took me the best part of fifteen minutes.  Want me to rig one up for you?
Misato:  You’re serious...
Matt:  Of course.  It’s no problem whatsoever.
Misato:  Go ahead.
Shinji:  Matt’s pretty good with electronics.
Matt:  Hey!  Who figured out what was wrong with the toaster first this morning?
(Misato and Asuka look at Matt and Shinji questioningly until Shinji answers, Matt turning red in embarrasment.)
Shinji:  Uhh.....the toaster wasn’t working this morning, and Matt was about to open it up when I pointed out that it wasn’t actually plugged in....
(Asuka and Misato burst out laughing, joined by Shinji.  Matt just shakes his head.)
Matt:  It’s always the most obvious things.....
(The night goes on in the same way, with Matt and Misato slowly drinking themselves into oblivion.  Eventually, Shinji stands.)
Shinji:  Well, I’m off to bed.  We do have school tommorow morning, Asuka.
Asuka:  Yeah, yeah, I know.
Matt:  Poor buggers.  Back in oz, we don’t have school on weekends.  And we sure as hell don’t have to stand as our teacher entered or left the room....
(Shinji boggles at the concept, while Asuka just shrugs.)
Asuka:  We had the same back in the states....
Shinji:  Well, Goodnight.
Asuka:  ‘night.
Misato/Matt:  Good night!!  We’ll try to keep the music down.
Asuka:  It’s not the music I’m worried about, the way you two have been drinking....
Shinji:  (shocked)  ASUKA!!
(Matt and Misato laugh as the two EVA pilots leave the room.)
Matt:  I don’t think they like each other too much....
Misato:  They’ll learn to get along, I’m sure.
Matt:  Much like we did, eh?
Misato:  Heh heh, yeah.
(They sit in silence for a while, the lights now out, the song “Lunatic” by Pink Floyd playing softly in the background.  Finally, Misato seems reluctant to speak, but finds she cannot help but ask.)
Misato:  Err...Matt?
Matt:  Hmm?
Misato:  Can I ask you something?
Matt:  Misato, you can ask me anything you like.
(Misato hesitates before continuing.)
Misato:  I know you don’t paticularly like talking about it.....but how did you survive the Second Impact?
(Matt is silent for a long time before answering slowly.)
Matt:  I figured you might ask me that eventually.  And you’re right, I don’t like talking about it....openly at least....
Misato:  Forget I said anything....
Matt:  No, don’t worry about it.......I already know about your experience...
Misato:  How did you find that out?
Matt:  I checked your background before I got here........sorry.....
Misato:  Well....now that you know my past, why not explain yours?
(Matt is silent for a moment before answering.)
Matt:  Maybe now is a good time to tell you.....
(Misato goes silent before finally, Matt goes on.)
Matt:  I was born in th capital of South Australia, Adelaide, on April 6, 1980.  I had a hell of a lot of health problems, but by my tenth birthday, I’d all but beaten all of them.  I was just finishing my second year of University when the Second Impact occured.......
(Matt goes silent for a moment before continuing.)
Matt:  I still remember that night as though it were yesterday........I was taking my girlfriend for a drive in Melbourne....thought I’d show her the sights...huh, what sights....we were completely taken by surprise when suddenly as immense tidal wave smashed into us, throwing the car over, and hurling us into the air.....by some complete miracle, we lived.....even now I can still remember when we got out of the wreck....the dead and dying lay everywhere.....and we could do nothing to help them......
(Matt stops again, the words now obviously hurting him.  Then, he laughs humourlessly...)
Matt:  It’s strange.....whenever I try to sleep at night....I can still hear the women screaming........I finally managed to get to my home days later.....only to find my family had already left what remained of it......I can’t say I blame them.....because what was once a hugely forested area had become a wasteland......our country’s climate had been changed forever, and now the entire continent was turning into a giant desert......and the ground was still littered with the dead...
(Matt’s voice breaks slightly as the memory returns.  His eyes close with pain.)
Matt:  It’s something that’s plagued my sleep ever since.....I don’t think I’ll ever sleep well again.....
(Matt says no more as Misato stares at him, the full horror of what he has experienced hitting her......)
Matt:  Forgive me if I don’t say anymore about it...
Misato:  No, forgive me for opening an old wound....I had no idea....I thought I was the only one to witness-
Matt:  Hell and live?  Heh, you were.  I only saw the aftershock....but then you got to return to a country that still had it’s beauty......I spent the first year after the Second Impact watching as my country, my home died around me.......a pain a never truly got over.....
(Misato says nothing as she listens to him, hearing the sorrow in his voice...)
Matt:  A month after the Second Impact, my government pulled itself together, and started getting volunteers to bring the country back together again, as one......I signed up two months after the Australian Republic was formed.....
(Matt finally stops, looking at Misato.)
Matt:  Well, that’s my life story for you.....not much more to say, really.  Now I’m here, to get vengeance against the things that killed my homeland.
(Misato finally finds the ability to speak again.)
Misato:  Well.....it seems we have a lot more in common than we thought....
Matt:  So it seems.........
(They both go silent as finally, Matt’s stereo goes quiet, the CD finished.  Matt stands, indicating his beer.)
Matt:  I’m think I’m going to head off for the night.  Did you want one?
Misato:  Thanks, but no.  I might head off too...
(Neither one moves for a few moments....both unsure as to whether more needs to be said, or whether the conversation is done....Matt turns to head for his room.  As he reaches the door for the hall, however, Misato’s voice halts him.)
Misato:  Matt?
(Matt stops, not turning.)
Matt:  Yes?
(Misato is silent for a moment, but finally goes on.)
Misato:  Do you...think you’ll ever find your girlfriend one day?
(Matt is silent also, but eventually, he answers with slight humour in his voice..)
Matt:  Is that a proposal?
Misato:  It’s a query.
(Matt is silent for a moment before answering.)
Matt:  Then without a doubt.
(Matt continues walking.)
Matt:  Thanks for listening, Misato.  Goodnight.
Misato:  Goodnight, Matt.
(She watches him a moment longer as he dissapears from view, and then with a sigh, she turns to leave.)
Misato:  ......ask a stupid question, I guess.....

--------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------
To be continued......

1