Shinji is brought to NERV and is thrown into battle with the First Angel.

Chapter Text

Scene 1

(MISATO is driving a car, SHINJI in the passenger’s seat. MISATO is speaking on a mobile phone.)

MISATO: Uh-huh. Okay. I know, I’m late… don’t worry, his safety is top priority. Of course I know, I volunteered! Just make sure it’s an express? That works. See you. (MISATO hangs up.) That should make us up some time. You’re pretty quiet, you okay?

SHINJI: Huh? Yeah.

MISATO: You sure? I figured you’d have a million questions to ask.

SHINJI: … no. Sorry.

MISATO: It’s nothing to be sorry for. Still, you could afford to be a little inquisitive. You just got in as soon as I opened the door, I could’ve been a total stranger!

SHINJI: You are either way.

MISATO: Come on, you’re not interested in who I am? Why you’ve been summoned so suddenly?

SHINJI: … I figured you wouldn’t have told me if I asked.

MISATO: So you’re that type of kid. The kind who assumes the worst. … Misato Katsuragi.

SHINJI: … Shinji Ikari.

MISATO: Nice to meet you, Shinji Ikari. Now tell me… how much do you know about NERV?

SHINJI: Only that it’s where my father works.

MISATO: So you at least know he’s the one who-

SHINJI: Yeah.

MISATO: … do you know much about what he does?

SHINJI: My teacher told me it's something ‘important to the future of mankind’.

MISATO: That’s a good way of putting it.

SHINJI: Does NERV want something from me?

MISATO: … I guess there are answers I can’t give you. Not just yet, anyway.

SHINJI: It wouldn’t surprise me. He wouldn't have called unless he needed something.

MISATO: He’s a busy man, Shinji.

(A loud explosion.)

MISATO: Already!?

SHINJI: What was that!?

MISATO: Hold on, Shinji-

(MISATO slams on the accelerator.)

SHINJI: Agh! Misato, what are you-

(SHINJI gasps as he sees something in the distance.)

SHINJI: What- what is that!?

MISATO: That means we’re late, Shinji. Hold tight.







Scene 2

(NERV Central Dogma. GENDO and FUYUTSUKI watch a group of military experts command the situation. RITSUKO is nearby, as are MAYA, HYUGA and SHIGERU.)

MAN 2: A direct hit, but… the target is still active.

MAN 3: Why is it still standing!?

FUYUTSUKI: It’s as we warned, gentlemen, conventional weapons just won’t be of any use.

MAN 1: Fine. As of now, operational command will be transferred to NERV.

MAN 2: That makes you our last line of defence.

FUYUTSUKI: A fact we are more than aware of.

(RITSUKO and the three commanders take their positions at the desks.)

FUYUTSUKI: After fifteen years… the day has finally come.

MAN 1: Time to show us what you’ve really got. You’ve talked pretty big, but if you can’t stop this thing-

GENDO: That won’t be a problem. This is what NERV is for.

(RITSUKO receives a message on her phone.)

RITSUKO: Sir - the pilot is being delivered.

FUYUTSUKI: A pilot?

GENDO: For Unit-01. A spare has just arrived.







Scene 3

(Within NERV headquarters, MISATO leads SHINJI.)

SHINJI: This is NERV?

MISATO: Yep. NERV HQ, the key to ensuring mankind’s place in the world.

SHINJI: What does that-?

MISATO: West entrance, north at Gate 3 – we should be on Route 8. I swear they built this place to be confusing on purpose.

(RITSUKO enters.)

MISATO: Ritsuko! Don’t think you could help us out a little, could you?

RITSUKO: Why else would I be sent to find you? You must be Shinji. Ritsuko Akagi, head of Project E Technology Division. I understand you must be lost regarding your purpose here, but I hope you understand our current timeframe difficulties.

SHINJI: Yeah, sure, uh- where are we going-?

RITSUKO: We need to hurry, the target is approaching fast.

MISATO: (to SHINJI) She's always like that. It's her job to be the only one with answers.

(RITSUKO leads them into a room of darkness.)

RITSUKO: … Shinji, you’re about to see something that may surprise you.

SHINJI: What?

(The lights turn on. They are in the holding bay for Evangelion Unit-01.)

SHINJI: What… is that?

RITSUKO: The most advanced weapon system ever developed by man – the synthetic humanoid Evangelion.

SHINJI: Evangelion…?

RITSUKO: Humanity's last hope for survival.

MISATO: The creature you saw out there was an ‘Angel’. The Evangelions, like Unit-01, are the only things on earth that can stop it.

SHINJI: This is what my father’s been working on?

GENDO: Correct.

(GENDO is revealed to be present.)

SHINJI: … dad…

GENDO: (to RITSUKO) We’re moving out.

MISATO: Moving out? But Unit-02’s not ready yet! And Unit-00’s still in cryostasis, how are you-

GENDO: Shinji. You will be Unit-01’s pilot.

MISATO: You’re not serious!

RITSUKO: The Angel is here, Misato. Defeating it is our top priority.

MISATO: But it took Rei weeks to synchronize with her Eva-!

RITSUKO: If we have somebody with even a chance of synchronizing with Unit-01, we’ve got to risk it.

SHINJI: (to GENDO) … is this… why you sent for me? You want me to fight?

RITSUKO: You’re the only one who can, Shinji.

SHINJI: But I can’t! Fight whatever that – thing was?

GENDO: You’ll be properly armed.

SHINJI: It’ll kill me!

GENDO: It won’t.

SHINJI: How can you say that? Why are you doing this?

(A distant explosion. A voice-over - “Alert. Block D personnel, please evacuate immediately”.)

SHINJI: … there’s no... if I...

GENDO: If you won’t… then this effort was pointless. (GENDO opens a communication channel.) Fuyutsuki. Brief Rei for engagement with the Angel.

RITSUKO: Sir!

MISATO: Commander, you can’t!

GENDO: If the Third Child won’t co-operate then we must take another path.

SHINJI: I knew it… you didn’t need me at all…

(REI is wheeled in on a hospital bed, bandaged and bruised. She stands with difficulty.)

GENDO: Rei. Are you ready?

REI: … yes.

(Another explosion sounds, much closer. Everybody stumbles and REI falls to the ground. SHINJI hurries to her.)

SHINJI: Are you alright?

MISATO: Was that-?

RITSUKO: It’s directly overhead.

SHINJI: (to REI) He’s making you-? But you're...

(REI tries to get up but can’t. SHINJI looks between REI and Unit-01.)

SHINJI: I’ll do it…! I’ll pilot it. I’ll pilot Unit-01.







Scene 4

(SHINJI is fitted in the Unit-01 entry plug. Commanders MAYA, SHIGERU and HYUGA chatter. MISATO and RITSUKO are present.)

MAYA: Stage three cool down, complete.

SHIGERU: Auxiliary voltage, normal. Inserting entry plug.

(The lights in the entry plug turn on. SHINJI sees where he is.)

HYUGA: Releasing synapse transmission system. Establishing connection.

MAYA: Synchronization rate, 41.3%. No instabilities detected.

RITSUKO: Over forty percent? For his first time in an Eva, that’s pretty incredible.

SHIGERU: Transport systems are good to go. Awaiting final launch clearance.

MISATO: How’re you doing in there, Shinji? It’s okay to be scared.

SHINJI: … then I’m scared.

MISATO: We’re right behind you, okay? We’re with you every step of the way.

SHINJI: But what if-

MAYA: Launch path is clear. All green, Miss Katsuragi!

MISATO: Do I want to know what the Magi say?

RITSUKO: You don’t even want to know what I say.

MISATO: … (to SHINJI) You ready, Shinji? Go get ‘em. (to the commanders) Release final safety!

(Unit-01 and SHINJI are launched above ground.)

SHINJI: (to himself) I can do this… I have do this…

(As Unit-01 reaches ground level, the First Angel SACHIEL appears.)

MISATO: Shinji, do you see the target? Don’t panic. Just concentrate on moving for now.

SHINJI: Moving…

(SHINJI tries to use the controls to move the Eva.)

RITSUKO: It’s doing it…!

(SACHIEL readies an attack.)

HYUGA: It's seen him!

MAYA: The Angel is preparing to attack!

MISATO: Shinji, watch out!

(SACHIEL attacks – a blast from its eyes. Unit-01 falls, SHINJI screams.)

HYUGA: Direct hit – extent unknown!

SHINJI: My head… what’s happening-!?

(SHINJI is trying to move. SACHIEL lifts Unit-01 and grips its arm.)

MISATO: Shinji, focus! Listen to me – your arm isn’t really being pulled! You feel what the Eva feels-

SHINJI: No, no, no-!

(SACHIEL breaks Unit-01’s arm. SHINJI screams.)

MAYA: Left arm damaged!

MISATO: (to the commanders) Where are his defences?

HYUGA: His A.T. field isn't unfolding!

MISATO: Shinji, you have to get up! Now!

(SHINJI tries to command Unit-01 but SACHIEL throws it against a building.)

MISATO: Shinji!

MAYA: Critical system damage - Unit-01 isn’t responding!

MISATO: Get the pilot out of there!

MAYA: All remote links have been severed, the ejection signals aren’t getting through!

(SACHIEL readies another attack. SHINJI tries to make it work but it won’t.)

MAYA: Miss Katsuragi-! A second launch was just authorized…!

MISATO: A second launch? By who?

SHINJI: Come on. Work! Please! Please get up, please!

(SACHIEL attacks but is blocked by an A.T. Field from Unit-02, suddenly in the fray.)

SHIGERU: Unit-02 intercepting attack!

MISATO: It’s operational!?

(SHINJI watches Unit-02 attack SACHIEL. SACHIEL deploys an A.T. Field as well, but Unit-02 breaks through it with some difficulty. SACHIEL’s core is crushed. SACHIEL dies.)

SHIGERU: Target destroyed…!

MISATO: … launching an Eva without authorisation, entering battle without instructions… you’re in big trouble, young lady.

ASUKA: (from within Unit-02) You think I was gonna wait while that thing destroyed humanity? Like hell I was gonna let some new kid get the glory!