Ritsuko turns her attention back to you again, carefully looking you over before she gives a slight nod. "So you are one of the Third Children?"
One of the? Okay, that's
weird.
Like, even if this is one of the ever-popular time-loop or multiverse-hopping takes on
Evangelion, it's weird to have someone like Ritsuko just come out and say "yeah, there are multiple Shinjis" or whatever this is implying.
"Misato, is this the map that you've been using?" She asks, flipping away from the page of level B-20, and quickly glancing through the other maps.
"...Yes?" Misato answers, her words more a question than anything else.
"Where did you even get this?" Ritsuko asks, clearly utterly beside herself. "The whole map has been flipped, but then someone went back through and fixed all the text."
I know Ritsuko's probably not a character with a reputation for a strong conscience, but I can't help but imagine her feeling bad for making fun of Misato for getting lost all the time.
Though it really does invite the question of who the hell provided such a map. More implication of multiversal weirdness going on, possibly. It seems bizarre, but I can't help but wonder if this might
literally be a map from a parallel universe where the layout of the Geofront is flipped left-to-right or something.
If there are any words to best describe what is happening in the here and now, it is almost like you are just waking up, for the first time in forever. Like you've seen this massive face before somewhere. Perhaps in a dream.
And there's another one of those hints.
Gendo Ikari.
"It has been a while, hasn't it… Shinji. It seems that the son I once had has grown into a charming young woman."
Your father stands above you, the light framing his head almost like a halo, and he speaks the words that you've been afraid that you'd never hear. In a way this is almost perfect. In fact, if there was any single word to describe it, it would be in fact… Too perfect.
Hmmm. Okay. Assuming this Gendo is, basically, a
Gendo, then this is a Gendo who (contrary to my predictions) still has some residual ability to manipulate people. Less inflexible than I'd expected, because he can actually make a good impression.
[ ][Piloting] SYNC RATE Bonus #
- Your Base Sync Rate is 50%, and you have a current Morale of 50. HOWEVER, for the cost of 1 EVA point, you can increase your BSR by 5%. You have a total of 7 EVA Points that you can spend - for this vote, replace the # with the number of EVA points that you want to spend.
This, I gather, is a permanent bonus? That question may already have been answered.
[ ] Like meeting an old friend
- COSTS 1 EVA POINT
- Eva Unit 01. You swear that you've seen this face before, in a dream. In a way, despite everything it feels almost like you are meeting with an old friend again. And you know that you'll be safe, so long as you keep a level head. Which you aren't great at, but that's not the point.
[ ] It's so BIIIIGGGGG
- COST 1 EVA POINT
- Even standing here, you barely measure up to the absolute unit that is Unit-01. It has to be dozens of meters tall, bigger than anything that you've ever seen other than the angels, and being in control of that means being the biggest thing around. That's… exciting in a way that might not be that healthy, all things considered.
[ ] Wait… This means-
- COSTS 1 EVA POINT FREE DUE TO SPACE CASE
- The machine that you are standing in front of is massive, huge to the point that you can't see anything other than its head. It might be the same size as the Angel. If you can get close, then you might be able to try and communicate with the Angel. Find out why it is here, and why it wants to attack. Holy shit, you're going to be given the chance to communicate with an alien.
Hmm. I wonder if "Tiny Shinji" would have had the second option for free, and if the Shinji option who was supposed to lean a little more into the multiversal stuff would have gotten the first for free.
SKILLS
[ ] Energy Consumption 1
- Cost: 1 EVA
- Reduces Energy cost per round for Unit-01 by 2, down to 8 per round
[ ] Energy Consumption 2
- PREREQ: Energy Consumption 1
- Cost: 2 EVA
- Reduces Energy cost per round for Unit-01 by 2, down to 6 per round
If the plot of this thing goes anything like canon EVA, the inability of the EVAs to operate for long without a massive cable running to a generator will be a huge plot point. So I, for one, would favor this if I get a chance to vote.
[ ] AT BOOST
- PREREQ: AT CORE
- Cost: 1 EVA
- After leaving the Eva for the first time, you swear that your hand sparked when it touched the doorknob? What is this?
This one's interesting.
[ ] Mark of the Beast
- PREREQ: BSR of 60% (That's 2 points on the Piloting Vote)
- Cost: 2 EVA
- Release partial control of the EVA, allowing Unit-01's instincts to rise to the surface, intentionally allowing Unit-01 to go berserk. At this point you are no longer Piloting Unit-01, but Riding the Eva, and this requires an attribute check to bring 01 back under control.
Hm. One wonders if Unit 01 will 'do' berserk mode without this. That, too, is a recurring theme in canon: it does.