“At last, we have defeated all the Angels - up to the sixteenth.” The twelve monoliths of SEELE were in council - minus the form of the Commander - talking of matters at hand.
“Now there is only one Angel remaining, according to the Dead Sea Scrolls.”
“The time is near,” said Chairman Kihl Lorenz. “This path has been long and arduous, with many losses.”
“True. We have lost the Lance of Longinus and a formerly trustworthy commander.”
“That is reason enough to remove Ikari from our scenario.”
“He shall be removed soon enough.” Said Kihl. “We must be patient.”
“He must know why we returned Fuyutski alive.”
“We need a new pawn against Ikari.”
“And one, who knows the absolute truth.” Concluded Kihl.  - (Keel? Kiel? Keil?)

*              *                *

 Toji awoke in the hospital bed. The cloning process had taken a fair bit of time, with the testing and collecting data. During the actual cloning of his arm and leg he had been asleep for most of it. It had left him drained for many days and he still felt tired. Sitting up in bed, Toji looked at his arm and then flexed it. The arm reacted normally. *It feels kind of weird though. As if it’s not really a part of me.* Getting up from the bed, holding it with his right hand, he stood up experimentally, he took a few shaky steps. His left leg seemed to be a bit weak and stiff, as was his arm. *I think I need to exercise them a bit.* He thought just as he nearly fell, but was able to catch the bed side and pull himself back on it.
 Sitting on the bed with his legs dangling down he saw someone approach his room. It turned out to be Ritsuko Akagi.
“Oh! You’re awake. I thought you might have stayed asleep longer.” The doctor said in greeting.
“Yeah, well...I still feel tired.”
“That was expected. So, how is it? Do you feel anything wrong?”
“Well apart from being a bit weak, it feels fine I guess.”
“Don’t worry, they’ll soon strengthen out. They should become the same as your right arm and leg.”
“Why?”
“It’s because we took the data and DNA from your right arm. The coding is exactly the same, and they should function the same as the others. This means that you should be ambidextrous.”
“Ambidextrous?”
“Yes. Even though it looks and feels like your left arm, they will become the same strength with the same co-ordination.”
*That should be good. Maybe this cloning wasn’t such a bad idea after all. * Toji thought. * But the piloting... *
“There’s just one thing about it.” Toji began.
“What is it?”
“It’s just that it doesn’t really feel like my arm. It feels as if... as if it doesn’t really belong to me.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. You’ll get used to it.” Ritsuko, stood up, taking her leave. Turning to Toji. “You should get some rest now. You’ll need to have an activation test soon.”
“Yeah. Bye, and thanks Dr Akagi.” Ritsuko nodded. *If I was in your position Toji, I wouldn’t be saying thank you. * Leaving the room, Ritsuko went to check on Unit-03. As she was heading there, she was stopped by some NERV agents.
“Dr Akagi?”
“Yes?”
“We would appreciate your co-operation. Please come with us.” *They must be from the Old Men. But why would they want me now? And why would SEELE be using our men and not their own?*
 
 

*            *             *
 
 

“It has been quite some time since the attack of the sixteenth Angel.” Fuyutski commented, sending out a tile.
“Yes. And the last has not yet appeared.” The Commander returned, making a move. Still talking, they played their game.
“And there’s that matter of the next pilot. He should be coming some time today.”
“Yes, the Fifth Child. The Committee is sending him to us as a spare pilot.”
“But we don’t even need another pilot yet. The Old Men must be planning something.”
“That is probably correct. It appears that we shall have to be careful with the next one. It always beneficial to be cautious. ” Ikari said, with the a smile which was actually a small curl of his lip. He then pushed down all his tiles flat on the table to show a win to a now open mouthed Fuyutski. *Damn! He beat me again.*

*            *             *

“We wish to proceed in a calm and dignified manner.” Said Kihl. NERV’s head of technology stood straight, and completely unclothed. “We do not intend for you to feel any shame.”
“I don’t feel any shame.” Ritsuko replied in defiance, her expression unchanging.
“She is strong woman. No wonder Ikari wishes to keep her so close.”
“However, were you aware that it was Ikari himself that sent you?” Kihl began. “Having refused to give us the pilot of Unit-00, he send you in her stead.”
*He sent me instead of her?*

*            *             *

 A tall figure wearing a cap, walked to Misato’s apartment door. Underneath the hat, short, brown hair can barely be seen. In the figure’s hand was a small, printed note of which he had to give to NERV’s director of operations. Upon reaching the door, the man, hesitantly pressed the door bell.
~PinPom!~
“Just a minute!” Came Misato’s voice from behind the door. As it was during the day, Shinji and Asuka were at school, (Misato had gotten the day off), Misato wondered at who the person could be. Opening the door, she saw a man, his body bent in a slight bow, his hat covering his face. Putting his hand up with the note, he placed it in hers, turned and left.
“Hey wait a minute! What’s this? Who are you?” Misato called after him, but he had set a fast pace and had already gone around the corner. Misato shrugged and then looked at the note.

‘ON ORDERS OF WHOM I MUST NOT NAME, I CAME HERE TO TELL YOU, ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOT YET BECOME KNOWN TO MANY, THAT NERV PLANS TO STOP THE COMMITTEE, SEELE FROM DESTROYING THE WORLD IN THIRD IMPACT. THIS IS NOT FALSE.’

 Finishing the note, she quickly scanned over it again. *What absolute rubbish!* She thought. * But who would know about this classified information?* As she was about to throw the note away, she noticed something at the very bottom, in extremely small print. Squinting, she was just able to make it out:

I’M SORRY - AND I LOVE YOU.

 Gasping, she ran out of her apartment, not caring about her bare feet on the hard, rough floor, and sprinted at full speed out of the building to the pavement of street which she lived on, only to see a car driving off in the distance. Out of breath, she whispered. “Kaji....”

*            *             *

“You know, “ Started Kensuke as he and Shinji were just about to leave class. “you’d think that they would’ve stopped school by now.”
“Yeah, I guess. But there’s not really much else to do.” Shinji replied. Pulling his bag onto his shoulders he headed for the exit.
“Hmm...So have you visited Toji yet?” Kensuke said, catching up to him.
“Uh..no.”
“I wonder if they’ve finished. Man. Toji’s a pilot again. How come he gets a second chance and I don’t get any?”
*Maybe I shouldn’t have told him about Toji.* Shinji thought. Now at the gate of the school, Shinji stopped, thinking he should wait for Asuka.
“Hey, what are you waiting for Shinji?”
“Oh, Asuka.”
“What for? Are you getting it with Asuka?” Kensuke said looking at him, pretending to be suspicious. Shinji didn’t even try anything to object to it. He just sighed and replied.
“You never change do you?”
“Of course not. Well, I have to go now. See ya  Shinji.”
“Bye Kensuke.” As he watched his friend go, Asuka and Hikari had just appeared out of the school building, not hearing the short conversation they had between themselves.
“Hey look, Asuka.”
“Huh?”
“Shinji’s waiting for you.”
“That’s good for him. If I had to walk all the way home all by my self..” Asuka paused and the pair made their way towards him.
“You know..” Hikari began slyly, “You like him don’t you.” It was not a question. Calmly thinking how she should react, she reached the conclusion that if she denied it she would just look stupid. Hikari was her best friend anyway.
“Yeah. How did you know?” The response surprised Hikari, who expected the usual outburst and denial.
“Uh..well..for one thing, you haven’t killed him yet. And every time I mention him, you insult him.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“No, not really. It’s just that I know you better than everyone. Or at least most people.” Both fell silent as they came up to him. As he turned and saw them, Asuka looked past him at something which caught her attention.
“What the hell? Shinji look over there!” She said quickly. Following her pointing finger, Shinji saw a car. In it was a seemingly familiar face. The person, smiled, waved, and drove off.
“Was that - was that Kaji?!! How could he be alive?” Shinji stammered. Both Asuka and Shinji knew what had befallen the government spy -  or so they had been told.
“It looked like him. But what the hell did he do to his face?!”
“He shaved it. And his hair’s gone too.” Hikari said, having seen Kaji at Misato’s celebration of her promotion to Major.
“I think we better tell Misato about this.” Shinji said, not feeling good about himself, thinking about the time where he couldn’t do anything to comfort Misato.
“He looked better when he had longer hair.” Asuka said, and Hikari agreed. Shinji didn’t know whether to feel jealous or not, and so, he stayed silent.

 Hikari had followed them as far as she could before she had to separate from them, as her house was closer to the school than Misato’s apartment. After Hikari had gone, Asuka and Shinji walked together, closer than they usually did, in silence. The day was still in the middle afternoon. Not many people were walking the streets at the moment, and the sun was just starting to show some signs of leaving the day to allow the moon to take its place. Asuka broke the silence.
“Hikari knows.”
“Does it bother you?”
“No.” After a short pause she continued. “Do you know who Hikari likes?”
“Who? Is it Toji?”
“Well, so you finally figured it out. Maybe you’re not so dense after all.”
“It’s Toji?” Kensuke had told him that, but he didn’t believe everything that his friend said.
“Yeah it is. Who told you?”
“Kensuke did. I didn’t believe him at first.”
“So Kensuke figured it out too. It took you two damn long enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well - just about the whole grade knew about it ages ago. You were the only three who didn’t.”
“Oh.” Shinji said feeling stupid.
“So that leaves only Toji himself.” Seeing another topic, Shinji reached out and grasped it.
“I heard Toji is having a syncrhonisation test soon......what if it goes wrong like the last time?”
“You’re worried about that huh?”
“Yeah...”
“I think the Angel would have been destroyed.”
“I....guess you’re right, Asuka.” Shinji then had an idea. “Hey Asuka.”
“What?”
“Do you want to go to the lake?”
“The lake? Now? Why do you want to go the lake?”
“I just feel like it. Water always gives me this calm feeling. I remember it as a child.”
“Well - okay.” Asuka said not certain.
 The lakes, or rather craters, which had been created mostly by exploding Angels, having been filled up with water, were a fair distance away, and by the time the pair had made it there, the sun was starting to set, the sky orange and yellow. Some of the craters had filled up with sea water, as the they had been too close to the ocean. Sitting down on the shore, the two watched the slightly rippling waters and the sun setting.
“You know - it does sort of feel assuring.” Asuka said. “And the sunset looks pretty nice. I’ve never actually bothered to appreciate before. It was a good idea to come here Shinji.”
“Yeah.” Shinji sent back, glad that she liked it as well. The two just watched and did not talk for a while, enjoying the peace and serenity.
“Shinji?”
“Yes?”
“You know about the time you said that I should face my past?” Shinji nodded affirmative.
“Do you want to talk about it now?” Shinji asked. Finding it difficult to speak, she nodded. After composing herself, she began. She talked about what had happened when she was a child, how her parents had separated. She talked about what had happened to her mother, how she treated a doll, for the real her, and how her mother had committed suicide, where she had seen her mother hanging from the rafters. She talked about many other things which had been recently brought up from the back of her mind by the 15th Angel. Unable to contain herself any longer, Asuka began to cry. Shinji, horrified at what had happened to her, thinking that her life was so much more terrible than his, began to comfort her but she pushed him back, trying to get under control.
“No!” She said. “I said I wouldn’t cry any more. I must be strong.” But she had already done so, once before and this now made it twice.
“Asuka...it’s alright to cry. Crying doesn’t mean that you’re weak. You just faced something that had haunted you - now that’s what makes you strong.” Asuka knew that he was right, wondering at the insight of his sage-like words and  leaned against him. After she had stopped, she realised that letting it all out, and sharing it with another person did make her feel better.
“Thank you Shinji. Again. I do feel better now.” The sun had now gotten a bit lower and as the pair were just about to leave, they heard something - a tune being hummed. The song was Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Shinji and Asuka just stared at the figure, sitting atop a rock in the water, which looked very much like a hand. Finishing his song, he turned and spoke.
“The song is good.” Shinji and Asuka just looked at each other. The boy, around their age with red eyes and pale skin -  *like Rei * they both noted, continued. “I think that song is the greatest achievement of the Lilin culture. Don’t you agree?” He paused for a moment. “Asuka Langely Soryu, Shinji Ikari.” He said nodding at Asuka, then to Shinji. Both were too dumbstruck to notice an unfamiliar term for the human race.
“How do you know our names?” Shinji asked.
“Well of course he would know our names. We’re Eva pilots.” Asuka said, not really liking this guy’s attitude and also not liking the fact that he might have seen her when she was crying.
“Everyone knows your names.” He said nodding in agreement to Asuka, complimenting her. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but you’re rather ignorant of your own position.” He said looking at Shinji. *That’s pretty good. * Asuka thought. *Complimenting one person and offending another in the nicest possible way. Not like Shinji would take any offense from that. *
“Who the hell are you?” Asuka said for both of them, wondering at how this person could have just appeared there without them noticing.
“I am Kaworu, Kaworu Nagisa - I am like you. One of the selected children.”
“WHAT?” Asuka shouted.
“The Fifth Child? You’re the Fifth Child?” Shinji said in amazed wonder.
“What do you mean the Fifth Child? Who made you a pilot? We don’t need any more.”
“Mr Nagisa - “ Shinji began. Asuka just looked at him as if he were an idiot.
“You may call me Kaworu - Mr Ikari.”
“Mr Ikari!? Oh, no you can call me Shinji.” Kaworu just smiled with a small laugh. Asuka rolled her eyes heavenward. *At least he’s got some emotion, unlike puppet girl. * Was Asuka’s thought, looking at Kaworu.

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

“So the Fifth Child has arrived.” Hyuga said to Misato who sat next to him in her car. Misato’s car was on one of the conveyor belts which brought the car directly to NERV.
“Kaworu Nagisa. Kaworu of the sea shore.” Misato stated. “And all his data records were erased. Just like Rei’s.”
“Well, not all of them. We do know that he was born on the same day as Second Impact.”
“And the Committee sent him directly to us -  even though we don’t need him.”
“Hmm..I tried hacking into the Intelligence Division, but I didn’t come up with anything we didn’t already know.”
“You hacked into Intelligence? I can’t believe you did that.”
“Well I didn’t get caught.” Makoto said proud of his skill. “So how are you going to carry out his synchronisation test?”
“I don’t have anything up my sleeve this time. Let’s see what he can do.”

*            *             *

 Shinji, Asuka and Rei, were put on standby. In their Unit’s, they waited for the activation test of Toji in Unit-03. They were to act as guards in case Unit-03 went berserk.
 Shinji watched the proceedings, listening to the voice of Lieutenant Maya as she gave the countdown to Unit-03 activation. Reaching the absolute border line, it paused there for a bit and then went past it. Suddenly, alert signals flashed up everywhere.
“Misato! What’s happening?” Shinji asked frantically.
“We don’t know! Something’s happening to Unit-03. It’s going out of control!”
“Is it the Angel?” Asuka asked her.
“No, it’s something else. We can’t analyzes it!” Ritsuko shouted above the alarms.
 Unit-03 breaking easily out of the restraints, charged out towards the other Evas. Spying a target, it sprinted at Unit-00 and smashed it down with a flying leap. Recovering from its maneuver, it reached out an hand, grasped Unit-00’s leg and ripped it off. Rei’s scream could be heard over the communication systems.
“Rei!” Shinji shouted.
 With Unit-00 out of action, Unit-03 made for Unit-02. Looking at Asuka, Shinji saw her take a defensive stance, standing her ground. Shinji went to assist her, but Unit-03 knocked him down, with a heavy punch, which reminded Shinji, through a dazed mind, very much like the time where Toji had punched him when they had first met. Unit-03 then lifted him bodily and slammed him into the ground, again like the time with Toji. Groggily, Shinji lay there, not moving. He was surprised at how Unit-03 then left him alone, as if saving him for last. Trying to shake of his dizziness, he watched through unfocused eyes to what was happening with Unit-02.
 Unit-02 had gotten some good blows in but now, Unit-03 had moved in close and was now strangling the unit. Asuka’s laboured breaths could be heard and Shinji forced himself to get up. Seeing Unit-01 getting up, Unit-03 left Unit-02, which slumped to the floor, and made its way back to Unit-01. Shinji thinking about Toji inside, did not want to fight, but after the last time, he knew he couldn’t let it happen again. *Toji I’m sorry * Shinji thought as he threw a punch at Unit-03. Picking the hand out of the air with its own, Unit-03, gripped it tightly, also bringing its other hand up. Then with a sharp yank, pulled Unit-01 arm out of its socket. Unit-03 then proceeded to strangle the neck of Unit-01 until a loud crunch could be heard, Unit-01’s neck snapping. Dumping Unit-01 forcefully to the ground, it then pounded at it with its hands, using its fingers like daggers, digging into Unit-01 and causing huge rents in its flesh to appear.
 Unable to fight back, Shinji then knew that they had cut the nerve connections and also his synchronisation circuits. He then felt himself being lifted up. Realising that Unit-03 was holding his dummy plug, he feared for his life. Suddenly, he could see the plug collapsing in, the walls pushing closer and closer to him, cracks also appearing. Then a picture of a friend appeared in front of him.
“Toji?”
“This is for what you did to me.” Toji said, showing his missing arm and leg.
“No! I didn’t do that! It was my father.”
“It was still your fault.”
“No! It wasn’t my fault! NO!!!” The next thing that Shinji knew the entry plug being crushed, and the sound of Asuka calling his name.
“NO!!Shinji! SHINJI!!!”
 

*

“SHINJI! WAKE UP YOU IDIOT!!” Asuka shouted at him, shaking him by the shoulders, trying to get him up and stop his screaming. Seeing him not about to wake up, she brought her hand up and slapped him - just at the same time he awoke.
“!! What? Asuka you’re alright.” Shinji said, noticing beads of cold sweat and feeling a stinging pain on his cheek.
“Of course I’m alright. Are you okay?” Rubbing his cheek, he remembered the dream.
“Toji..he tried to kill me using Unit-03..and he did it to get back at me for hurting him.”
“It was just a dream. And you didn’t do it anyway. Don’t you remember? It was the dummy plug. You better go have a shower. We have to leave soon.”
“Leave? For what?”
“You know. The synchronisation test today. Toji’s activation test is today also.”
“It’s today?”
“Yeah. You forgotten already?”
“What if it happens again?”
“Shinji don’t worry about it, okay? Man! You just never change do you.”

*            *             *

 Four of the five pilots can be seen on the computer monitors, concentrating. The Fifth Child did not even seem like he was concentrating at all, for he was just smiling calmly.
“Lower the plug depth for the Fifth Child 0.3 more.” Fuyutski said.
“Yes sir.” Said Maya. The Fifth Child’s expression did not change. Looking at the results, they had not changed either from their extremely high position on the scale.
“Are these data read outs correct?”
“All devices are operating normally.” Hyuga said.
“No errors are being detected by the Magi.” Said Maya.
“It’s a wonder that he can synchronise with Unit-03 without evening without us even configuring the core data for him. He’s amazing.”
“Yes, but these data read - outs....they’re not possible. This shouldn’t be happening.”
“But they are happening. We must accept that fact and investigate why it is so.” Misato said. “Okay, the test is over. You four can get out now.” The test over, Fuyutski now left the room and went back to the Commanders office to report.
“Ah..Captain Katsuragi?” Toji said tentatively watching the proceedings.
“Yes, Toji?”
“Am I going to have a test like that?”
“No, you’ll have that later today. We still have to have the activation test first.”
“Shinji and Asuka’s harmonics and synch ratio were abnormally high today.” Ritsuko observed. “Though Asuka’s is higher than Shinji’s I think that it’s because Shinji’s nervous about something.”
“Probably about the activation of Unit-03.”
“Yes, probably.”
“So he’s worried about last time?” Toji asked. Then looking at the monitor with Shinji, “Hey Shinji, don’t worry! Everything’s going to be fine.” he said smiling to reassure his friend. Shinji still looked uncertain but he returned the smile. Turning back to Misato, “So when am I going to have my activation test?”
“Well since we’re going to have your harmonics and synch test after, and those are already set up, we might as well have it now.” Misato told him.
“Now?”
“Yes. You may have to wait a while - while we get everything set up. So you might as well go with the others until we call you.”
“Are they getting changed?”
“No not yet. They still have some things to do.”
“Oh? What?”
“Oh I wouldn’t worry about that.” Misato said, not wanting to tell him that they would be acting as safeguards in case something went wrong. *I’m not going to take any chances after what happened last time.*
 

*

“So Shinji...” Toji began, as the five pilots waited in one of the many rooms in NERV.
“What is it?” Shinji said, not making eye contact with Suzuharra. Noticing this, Toji stopped asking what he was about to ask.
“Look Shinji. I don’t blame you for anything. Okay?”
“Yeah..but...”
“Shinji, if I can forgive you, why can’t you just forgive yourself?”
“......but how can you not hate me?”
“Because I’m your friend okay? And I know it wasn’t your fault.”
“......okay...”
“Shinji, he forgives you okay? He’s forgiving you for something you didn’t even do.” Asuka also put in, annoyed at how Shinji was killing himself over nothing. * I would be hating that soulless, black- hearted bastard of a father if I was him. *
Turning to Toji, “I guess you’re both right. I’m just being stupid.”
“Finally Shinji. I don’t know what you were getting so worked up about.” Toji said pointing to his new arm and leg. “See? Good as new and better than old.” Emphasising his words with a light punch on Shinji’s arm.
“I would think the cause of Shinji’s anxiety is over a matter far deeper than that.” Kaworu, who had been silent up until now.
“And what would you know about that, Rei-boy-who-has-an-impossible-synch-ratio?” Asuka said, eyeing him suspiciously, also annoyed at this strange knew boy who had easily beaten her on his first test. Kaworu returned the gaze easily and spoke.
“I can tell by the way Shinji is acting today - Shinji seems to be deep within his own mind and in inner turmoil. And I am not the First Child.”
“Yeah, but you have red eyes and pale skin; just like Rei.”
“That does not make me one of the female gender.” Ignoring him, she turned to Rei.
“Hey Wonder Girl. Don’t you think you and Wonder Boy here are alike?” Rei just looked at her.
“O-kay.” Asuka said, looking for  more interesting conversation. Looking around, she saw Toji and Shinji talking and tuned into them.
“So what was it like the first time you piloted?”
“It wasn’t very pleasant. I was forced to pilot it.”
“Forced? How?”
“Well, they took out Rei in this stretcher and she was hurt bad then, remember?” Toji nodded. “They then said that if I didn’t pilot it, Rei would have to.”
“That’s pretty bad. So what about now?”
“I guess its not so bad now. I chose to pilot it now after what happened with Unit-03.”
“What makes you pilot it now?”
“I’m not sure really. I guess it’s because I’ve never done anything in my life and people appreciate me when I pilot it.”
“Yeah. I just do it for my sister. They said they would take her out of their facilities if I didn’t pilot it. I guess they forced me too.” Asuka’s eyebrows raised at this. *Toji is actually quite a nice person. No wonder Hikari likes him. He’s still pretty ignorant of things around him. I can’t believe he isn’t even worried or scared after the first time. I don’t think he really knows what he’s gotten himself into. *
Toji then saw Asuka looking at him and she turned away, not hearing what they next said and moved over to listen to Rei and Kaworu who seemed to be deep in conversation. They were talking of trivial matters, leaving with Asuka nothing to do so she just sat and waited by herself.

“So you’re the First Child.” Kaworu said to Rei who did not respond, just looking at him. “You are Rei Ayanami, is that correct? You are  the same as I am. The same as what the Second Child said about us, saying that we were - alike.” Rei’s eyes narrowed.
“In what way are we alike? You are not a girl.”
“No. In that manner, we are not alike. But in mind, body and soul.” Kaworu then left her by herself and the room which the other three pilots were in.

“Ah..Shinji?” Toji said in a low voice so that Asuka could not here.
“What?”
“There was just something that has been bothering me ever since you and Asuka came. Why hasn’t she attacked me all day?”
“I’m...not sure.”
“Shinji. You know you don’t lie very well. I think you do know.”
“Toji, I’m sorry. I don’t really want to talk about it.”
“Well, okay.” Toji said, trusting Shinji’s judgement. Ritsuko came in as soon as he had stopped talking.
“It’s time for your activation test Toji.”
“Ritsuko, does Toji have to do the activation test? Can’t someone else do it?”  Shinji asked, still not wanting Toji to get into the cockpit.
“Well, we would have to reconfigure the core..”
“But didn’t Kaworu get a good score even though the core wasn’t configured for him?”
“Yes, that’s true. But the Fifth Child has been asked to go to the Commander. We want to have Toji trained in the basics anyway.”
“But...last time..”
“Shinji, I wouldn’t worry about that. We ran numerous amounts of tests and no alien organisms have been detected within the Eva.”
“...okay..” Shinji said reluctantly.
“Come on, Toji. And the rest of you too.” The four pilots followed the blonde-haired doctor out of the room, down the long corridor and into the activation testing site where the black and white form of Unit-03 can be seen, held upright by supports and restraints. Ritsuko then sent Toji to get into the entry plug.
 After he had been inserted in the plug, Misato, who had been there upon their arrival, turned to them and informed them of what they were to do.
“Although I’m sure nothing will happen, I’m putting you all on standby so that if something goes wrong, we’ll be able to stop it. I’m not taking any chance now, and I’m just being safe.” Turning to Shinji who now seemed even more anxious, (Asuka, the only one knowing why), she tried to lighten his mood. “Shinji, don’t worry.” She said smiling. “Okay now, you three get into your Evas.”

 Toji had to wait for many minutes. Wondering why it was taking so long - longer than the last time - he asked Misato.
“Misato? What’s taking so long?”
“Oh, the other pilots are just getting inside their Evas.”
“Why?”
“...they’re just going to help with the training after the activation.”
“Oh.” Toji then sat back and tried to relax.

“Beginning phase-one connection. Transmitting pulses. Graph display within normal range.” Maya said.
“So what’s the Fourth Child’s status?”
“Synch ratio is stable at 36%. Harmonics is normal.”
“Good. Begin the test.”
“Yes ma’am.” On the Captain’s command, Maya began giving the commands to the computers. After a few moments, the Lieutenant reported. “Full nerve - link has been established. We are now approaching the absolute border line.

Shinji sat, anxiously awaiting the activation of Unit-03. While they were preparing the activation, Asuka opened a private channel to him from her Eva. She didn’t say anything, but her presence there made him feel better. Blocking all the channels, he mouthed the words ‘thanks Asuka’ and she smiled and closed the channel as the border line was just about to be reached. Reopening the channels again in case they thought something had gone wrong with his systems, he could hear Maya’s voice counting down.
As usual, as the line reached the borderline it wavered there for a half second before suddenly filling up the rest of the way, confirming the safe activation. Everyone in the control room audibly let out a sigh of relief. Then, all of a sudden, alerts could be read everywhere on the screen and everyone started panicking.
“An alert? What for?” Ritsuko yelled above the noise.
“What is it? Is it an Angel?” Shinji, said frantically, his dream suddenly appearing to come true.
“We don’t know! No Angel is being detected, but the alert systems are going haywire!” Maya shouted.
During this whole time Unit-03 had not moved. Inside a bewildered Toji sat in the cockpit.
“No wait! The Magi are analysing it!” Ritsuko said looking at the monitor. “What? It’s an S2 organ!”
“Is the Angel still alive?” Misato asked, worried.
“No it’s gone, but the S2 engine still remains inside Unit-03. Shutdown the alert.” Ritsuko said. “How come we didn’t detect it before?”
“And why did the alert systems start? They haven’t so far with Unit-01 and that has an S2 engine.” Hyuga questioned.
“I think it’s because something unfamiliar which wasn’t detected in Unit-03 was suddenly found. Would that be right, Dr Akagi?” Maya asked.
“Yes..that may be a possibility.”
“We had better call off the training until we can fully understand why this has happened.” Misato said.
“The Magi have fully analysed the data.” Aoba reported. “It’s an S2 organ alright, and fully operational. It suddenly appeared at the same time as the activation of Unit-03. I don’t know whether to say if that’s a positive or negative fact.”
“We don’t want to rely on the S2 engine. We don’t really know how trustworthy they are, especially ones which are formed in such a strange manner.” Fuyutski said, walking up to them with the Commander following closely behind.
“What is the status of Unit-03?” the Commander asked Ritsuko.
“Unit-03 is stable. No abnormalities have been found, with the exception of the S2 organ. We are trying to work out why it has appeared at this time. What shall we do with Unit-03?”
“If there has been no Angel detected, I see no problem. You may proceed.”
“But shouldn’t we test Unit-03 any further? We don’t know for sure if everything is operating correctly.”
“You may test Unit-03. Delay the Fourth Child’s training until the testing is over. I give you one week to test the Unit and if no further errors are found, declare the Unit fully operational and ready for combat.”
“But we may need more than a week...”
“Unit-03 did not go out of control, neither were there any signs of the Angel which had infected the Unit.”
“Angel’s have only attacked one by one. Many more Angel’s have appeared after the 13th.” Fuyutski added.
“But that is only a theory.”
“Enough, Dr Akagi. I expect you to follow my orders.” With that the Commander left with Fuyutski following him.
“Ritsuko...” Misato said turning to the doctor who was deep in thought. “Did the Commander seem a bit careless to you?”
“Yes. Yes he did.” Ritsuko replied, not liking what was currently happening. As the four pilots were ejected from their entry plugs, the people monitoring the test were all wondering what their commander was planning - though that was what they had always been doing ever since the time of their arrival at NERV.