Key:
Shinji (S) Asuka (A)
Rei (Re) Kaworu (Kaw)
Misato (Mi) Kaji (Kaj)
Ritsuko (Ri) Maya (Ma)
Operation US
Kaj: "We seem to be starting in space."
Ri: "Thanks Captain Obvious."
A: "What's with this universe and ease of getting to damn space?"
Re: "What use would going to space have at this point in time?"
Kaw: "Guess that means something survived. And in a capacity to continue operations outside the confines of the Earth."
S: "So I was stopped?"
Mi: "If you weren't, we'd be dead, and this wouldn't be going on right now."
Shinji snickered a bit. "When you put it that way. We still don't know what NERV's doing though."
Ri: "Obviously something involving space." She was flat. "Maybe they're sending an Evangelion to space, like we did."
Ma: "In that? It looks completely Soviet in design."
Ri: "If it works."
Kaj: "But the Soviet rockets rarely worked."
Ritsuko handwaved it off, as the camera panned to the blood red world.
A: "Jeez, you'd think that was Mars."
Spacebound
A: "That's an entry plug! They're doing the same thing we did!"
Re: "They are remaining close to Earth however. It's possible they're still attempting to recover hardware, like we did during Operation Crucifix."
A: "What NERV hardware would be in LEO though. And who the hell is singing?"
Ri: "If she survived, it'd be Makinami."
A: "Great, so we're still dealing with Ms Crazy." She deadpanned.
S: "And you."
A: "...wait, that's me? For being completely destroyed in Bardiel, I don't look too bad."
Re: "We must consider some time has passed. NERV at the end of the previous movie would not be in any condition to go to space, let alone recover something or battle any enemies."
Screaming filled the room as a Mark.04 attacked what appeared to be Unit-02.
Kaw: "Speaking of."
Mi: "That's an Evangelion? Man, what the fuck happened after the world ended?"
Kaw: "It appears to be more of a drone, akin to an MP-Evangelion. Being able to rip apart an AT-Field like that however, it's possible SEELE built it."
S: "So even after the end of the world, we're still fighting SEELE." He was flat.
A: "At least NERV seemed to survive. So we could continue this infinity war."
Pirate
A: "That is me and my Unit! Fuck yes mama!"
The helmet was torn off.
A: "An eyepatch? What am I, a damn pirate?"
S: "I think it suits you."
A: "Well yeah," She shrugged. "I can see myself wearing one if I lost an eye. Could probably pull it off. Though I'd prefer binocular vision."
Maya leant over to Ritsuko, "Told you so."
Kaj: "It seems you and Makinami got a little friendship going on."
A: "Shikinami probably doesn't know what went on between her and Shinji." She pouted.
Ri: "...okay, I don't know what NERV hardware could be enclosed in a tesseract."
S: "I thought a tesseract was 4 dimensional."
Kaw: "Just as you can flatten out a 3d shape onto paper, you can "flatten" out a 4 dimensional shape into 3 space."
Shinji thought. "Huh."
Payload
Ri: "This is an extremely haphazard method of recovering an object from space."
Mi: "Would've made it easier if we could just strap some rockets to an Eva."
Ritsuko snorted. "Do you know the literal forest of paperwork that would fill the Geofront if you so much as thought of welding rockets to an Evangelion?"
Kaj: "The only reason we were able to do Crucifix in the first place was due to paranoia."
Misato shrugged. "It's possible NERV doesn't respond to government authorities now, especially since the world is supposed to be ended."
Re: "Or if such an operation necessitated a quick recovery of the payload, so as to reduce the risk of enemy attack."
Ri: "Even so, you have to follow some safety standards. It's not like we want the pilots to die in giant fireballs, after all. Evangelions are expensive."
All four pilots glared at her.
Pattern Blue
S: "Its good to see even after the end of the world, the Angels are still attacking." He deadpanned.
Kaw: "Even if there were Angels, these aren't. The enemy Evangelion are appearing as Pattern Blue."
Ri: "Makes sense."
Ma: "The Magi have methods of differentiating Angel from Eva, but if you're just looking at the pattern analysis, you can't really tell."
S: "Even so, there were still a few Angels left, if Kaworu was correct in numbering them. 14 Angels, Zeruel was the 10th, leaving four left."
Re: "And if we consider Kaworu and Lilim a part of that list."
Mi: "So not many left. But they're still Angels, and would have to be dealt with. Unless they were diplomatic, like Kaworu. Then we could make some concessions."
Kaw: "Quite a nice deal we have going on, isn't it?" He said in jest. "I don't end the world, and you don't kill me. Works out quite well for us."
Kaj: "Not like you could end the world now if you wanted to."
Kaworu simply gave a glance at Shinji, as the tesseract unfolded.
Armisael
A: "...what the hell is that?"
S: "Whatever it is, Makinami's not sticking around."
Asuka frowned. "Doesn't even back me up, useless bitch."
Kaj: "I imagine you deal with whatever the hell it is."
A: "Unless Anno was planning on having me for the first five minutes and killing me off to prove a point."
Mi: "...I mean, I could see him doing that."
Re: "You already survived an attempt on your life in that universe."
Rei twitched. "...that Angel looks too much like the 16th."
Ri: "If it even is an Angel. I doubt whoever made that tesseract would be able to box up an Angel."
Mi: "...I'm commander? I would probably make sure you were more safe than that."
A: "As you said, the mission comes first. We know that as pilots. Plus, I'm sure I can handle myself."
She wasn't handling herself.
A: "Okay, maybe I would need a bit of help."
A bit of help
They watched on as a purple laser shone through the tesseract.
S: "...what the fuck was that?"
A: "...was that you, Shinji? I called out your name and you did that."
S: "...why the hell would I be in space? I thought I was still trapped in Unit-01."
Ri: "That could be Unit-01."
Ma: "In space? Surely we would've attempted a recovery before sending Unit-01 to space."
Misato, in deadpan: "Surely we wouldn't send Unit-01 to space at all."
Kaw: "Who knows what the NERV of this world did in order to ensure the world wouldn't end. It's certainly possible Unit-01 was still dangerous."
A: "So they'd just send Shinji and Rei off into space to sleep it off for a year or so."
Kaw: "When you put it that way. Good to see I'm still around."
BM-03
S: "Good to see NERV is treating me well." He deadpanned.
Ri: "You did try to end the world." She was equal in her deadpan.
Shinji took a sharp breath. "Okay fair enough. But surely we'd let bygones be bygones?"
Kaw: "Depends if they blame you for ending the world."
Mi: "Surely we wouldn't, he wouldn't know his actions would've resulted in the end of the world."
Ri: "The mind is a curious thing. Always wanting to apply blame to someone, be that a deity or an actual person."
Kaj: "Though sometimes that blame is deserved."
S: "Obviously the people pointing guns at my restrained body seem to blame me for something."
Mi: "...alright, that's a bit uncalled for."
Ritsuko had some visible confusion. "That isn't NERV colour or uniform."
Kaj: "Rebranding after the apocalypse?"
Asuka meanwhile was somewhat fuming, "Why would you collar him? I can sorta understand the restraining, but a collar? The only time a collar should be on a person is if they're in the bedroom!"
Audible silence.
Kaw: "...kinky."
Bridge
Ri: "This... that isn't NERV."
Mi: "I'm there, so it should be. We would've definitely had to move out of the Geofront after Zeruel, so it's still plausable."
Everyone in the movie glared at Shinji.
Kaw: "Yep. Everyone's blaming you, Shinji."
He sighed. "I guess that's fair."
A: "Even if you didn't know what would happen."
S: "Can sorta understand their thinking though."
Kaj: "You did end the world."
S: "Not my finest hour, I admit."
Ma: "...is that meant to be you, Sempai?"
Ri: "...it is. Did they try making me look like a lesbian or something?"
Ma: "I mean, you kinda are."
Ri: "Well yeah, but I don't have to look like a stereotypical one."
Re: "The Misato of the movie reminds me of the former Commander, Misato."
Misato investigated her. Brows furrowed. "That's not me."
Kaw: "A potential you. One that has grown aloof and distant after all that happened."
DSS
A: "And a potential you who attaches a literal bomb collar to Shinji. Not even Gendo put a fucking bomb on him!"
Misato had a look of shock and disgust, similar to most of the people in the room. "Okay, what the actual fuck."
S: "Okay, I know people blame me for ending the world, but isn't that going a little bit too far?"
Mi: "No shit. Why would I put something like that on you?"
Ri: "In case he tried to end the world again."
Mi: "Surely it would be easier just to prevent him from getting into an Evangelion."
Kaw: "Contingencies."
Mi: "That is a contingency? Who would stoop that low?" She thought. "Actually don't answer that, cause I already know who would, and that answer is me. Her." A quick correction. "Not me me."
Wavelength
Kaw: "Appears to be another Mark.04 attack."
Kaj: "SEELE still just as persistent as they are in our world."
Ri: "Surely that isn't 2015 or 2016 though. It would have to be at least a few years ahead of where the last film ended off."
They got a first glance at what (they thought was) NERV had apparently become.
Mi: "Jeez, reduced to a few ships."
Ri: "It seems the war against SEELE has grown more dire than in our world."
Ma: "How do they even have the infrastructure for Evangelion?"
Kaw: "There's obviously some form of organisation and structure, and they obviously continue to have quite a bit of political power, considering the amount of vehicles and cargo they have and can maintain."
A: "It all seems very haphazard however. Their infrastructure is all using old warships connected via surface cables."
Ri: "If it works."
A: "If."
Battlestations
Ma: "Man, I've changed a bit as well. I think more than a couple years have passed."
Ri: "And you're not on the Magi."
She shrugged. "It's that or Project E. You did tutor me in both after all."
Kaw: "Speaking of, they seem different. Achiral 1, 2 and 3."
Ri: "...chemical symmetry? That would make more sense if there were only two Magi."
Ma: "Achiral aren't existing systems either."
Ri: "It takes years to develop a new Magi system from scratch."
Mi: "There's always the chance they requisitioned a Magi from another NERV base, like Matsushiro. Wipe them, reprogram them, reassign them."
Ri: "Even so, I suspect this movie is set in the early 2020s, late 2010s at most."
A: "The crew seem rather inept."
Kaw: "It is a 'ragtag group of civilians' after all."
Re: "Things appear to have degenerated by a lot, if NERV is resorting to getting anyone."
Kaj: "Many hands and all that."
Pillars of Light
Kaw: "Yet another unknown phenomenon of the Angels. Or Evangelion."
Re: "At this point, the line separating Eva and Angel is growing thin."
A: "It's already microscopic, even in our world."
Ma: "At least the computers look similar to our own systems."
Ri: "Even so, they're still more advanced than our own. We've barely developed flatscreen technology, let along flat and transparent."
Ma: "Another thing to add on to the pile?"
Ri: "I'd imagine cheap LCD would be a prerequisite to such a thing."
Mi: "You could gawk at their systems all day, but it doesn't change the fact there's around four Blues and they have practically no attacking power against them."
A: "Man, things really have gone to shit."
Kaj: "It's better than the end of the world."
Trial by Fire
Ri: "Now what the hell are they planning on doing?"
Ma: "Engines, maybe they plan on moving whatever ship they're on."
Kaw: "Surely moving a ship will not require that much trepidation."
A: "A ship doesn't require gravity control, Kaworu." She thought. "I suspect it can fly."
Mi: "Fly? They can barely support themselves, how could they fly?"
A: "Probably some AT-Field bullshitery. Take it away, Kaworu!"
Kaworu, on cue, began. "With enough power, one can use the AT-Field to levitate. Its what I can do. It's possible they seek to use Unit-01 and its indefinite energy source for this power."
Ri: "...they're gonna fly a battleship." She didn't believe it. "They have to start up whatever their engine is though."
A: "I got that task, whatever it is."
S: "An S2 maybe?"
A: "I'd imagine. Though its not like you need to activate it."
S: "It's good to see I'm just standing there like an idiot."
Re: "I doubt you'll be in control for a majority of this film."
S: "Am I ever in control?"
Improved
A: "I mean, its probably a stretch to call the refitted Unit-02 improved. Especially since it's currently missing a limb."
S: "That can be chalked up to refitting though."
Ri: "And I doubt they have the capabilities to regrow Eva parts like we do."
A: "One thing these guys have though, is underwater equipment when we need it."
Mi: "...so is no one gonna acknowledge Shinji in this?"
S: "Or even tell me just what the hell is going on?"
A: "Great. So no one is gonna communicate with one another again. You wanna know what happens when we don't communicate?" She hummed the refrain from Komm, süsser Tod.
Kaj: "The world's already ended once in that universe. How many more times can it happen?"
Re: "Third Impact appears to be a thing in that world, or at least near Third Impact. Implying the potential of a Fourth Impact."
Ma: "Well that's gonna be fun." She lied. "Least that shouldn't happen here."
Kaw: "What about the apparent Martian Impact?"
Ri: "That's the name right there."
Entry Sphere
A: "...it's a fucking giant entry plug."
Ma: "...why does it need parallel connections?"
Ri: "Maybe they want to print something?"
S: "Can LCL even become a gas?"
Ri: "It's a liquid, so of course. Although having LCL be a gas removes the entire point of having it in an entry plug."
Ma: "Waste of LCL as well, since the pilots need it more. Especially since I don't think they would be able to 'manufacture' LCL like we do."
Mi: "How the hell does this completely gimped NERV have a bridge like that? That's completely pointless, even if it was on a ship!"
Ri: "Now you see my point about changing all the systems to match this NERV. Needless to say, even if we had to move to a mobile system, the way we would implement a bridge wouldn't be like that."
Kaj: "Great eye candy though."
A: "That's probably the point, knowing this."
Flywheel
Kaw: "Speaking of eye candy."
Ri: "Flywheels can store energy, just rotational energy. And they apparently need a lot of it."
Kaw: "I must say, it's an interesting tactic, what this Angel is doing. At least I think it's an Angel now, instead of another Mark Unit."
A: "It definitely doesn't look like an Evangelion."
They watched as the engine was finally activated, and the AT-Field was deployed.
The Angel was blown apart, along with all the clouds in a 5 mile radius, as the ship was bathed in purple light.
S: "Great, we're dead." He deadpanned.
Wunder
He was proven wrong in a spectacular way.
The Wunder, as it was named, ascended from the wine. Growing wings, it took to the heavens, surrounded by carriers and battleships, who also ascended to the heavens. It was obvious they were abusing the powers of the AT-Field, as a halo had grown underneath the airship.
They just gawked.
A: "...this is a post apocalyptic world. They're running out of skilled labour. Their infrastructure consists of a few warships and oil rigs. Yet not only can they support two Evangelions, they have a fucking airship? That doesn't even make any sense!"
S: "Has this ever made sense?"
A: "Okay, less sense than what we consider normal. I mean, how do you even build something like that with the limited resources they appear to have?"
Kaw: "Even with such a massive structure, a powerful enough AT-Field will be able to defy gravity. Truly a testament to the power of Unit-01."
Mi: "...alright, that's pretty cool. There's not a snowball's chance in hell we will ever make something like that, but it's still cool."
Ri: "We'd go bankrupt." She deadpanned. "Not like anyone would support us anyway."
Kaj: "It wouldn't be viable for terrestrial uses. But what about in space?"
Ritsuko thought. "We'd have to have a damn good reason. And SEELE aren't a good enough reason, especially since we can always wait for them to come to us."
A: "AT Thrusters?!"
Kaw: "Truly amazing what you can do with an AT-Field with great power. Although I suspect they are using some Angelic sourced aspects, considering they have what appears to be a ribcage."
S: "Even this amazing feat of engineering is made out of spare parts and duct tape."
Ma: "Like all good machines then."
Power of the Gods
Kaw: "...I suppose that's the actual Angel."
Ri: "Interesting tactic. Use the Angel's own skills against it."
Kaworu frowned, "...no, they're also Evangelion. What the hell is up with this world? I can hardly tell my own kin from those imitations."
Re: "To be fair, its not like this is your world. You don't have another perspective, other than this fiction."
The Wunder fired and destroyed all four 'Evangelions'.
A: "Why the hell don't we have anti-AT bullets?"
Ri: "There's a very good reason for that, Asuka. I'm sure Rei and Kaworu know."
Re/Kaw: "They're impossible." In tandem, flat.
Ri: "Exactly. We thought about micro-Lances as well, but they're not exactly something you can miniaturise. As far as we know, there are only three things that can penetrate an AT-Field. Another AT-Field of greater power, a positron beam of an absurd power level, or a Lance."
Mi: "...I think Rei and Kaworu are right. That world works almost completely differently from our own."
Re: "Considering a 'ragtag group of civilians' have the power and resources to fly a kilometre wide airship, a couple oil rigs and a small navy, something our NERV could not even hope to do."
S: "Man, a lot of things changed after I ended the world."
A: "And they're still more technologically advanced than us!"
~
Timeskip
Ma: "They are using Unit-01."
Ri: "You could power a lot with an S2 engine."
Kaw: "Understatement of the century right there."
S: "At least they're finally telling me something."
Mi: "It helps they aren't trying to survive anymore."
She looked on as they explained exactly why he was fitted with the choker. Face quickly sought head. "Jesus Christ it is a bomb collar..."
S: "I understand not trusting me, but isn't that going a bit too far?"
Mi: "I'd say. Especially since you're still completely frazzled when it comes to actually knowing what the hell's going on."
Kaj: "We don't know much better, you realise. We're practically in Shinji's shoes."
Ma: "...that's Sakura?"
A: "...hang on a minute, what the hell happened to everyone then?"
They listened on.
Kaw: "...14 years. That puts the timeline at 2029, maybe even 2030, if we assume the first two movies were set around the same time as our world."
A: "That's closer to the 30s than it is the 20s! Why the fuck did they decide to skip all that time? What on Earth happened?"
Maya leant over to Ritsuko and whispered, "Where the hell does that preview happen then?"
She whispered back, "14 years prior, I presume. Can't even trust a damn preview." She muttered under breath.
S: "So that means everyone has grown older, while I'm still my 14 year old self?"
A: "Would that include me? I don't look older, but with that much time gone, I would surely look older."
Speak of the Devil, and she will appear
Kaw: "...she seems mad."
A: "...even after all this time, she's holding on. Wasn't even his own fault."
Ri: "Still, mad enough to crack inches thick glass?"
A: "...maybe I do have a prosthetic."
Re: "This 'Eva curse' appears unique to that world."
Kaw: "As is many things. At the very least, we aren't cursed to reside in a juvenile body."
A: "Yeah, that'd be kinda shitty. Wouldn't fill out."
Misato rolled her eyes. "Of course you focus on that instead of the mental immaturity."
A: "You know I'm already mature enough, Misato. Graduate of university, pilot of a giant biomechanical war machine for over a decade, world hero?"
Re: "...that rescue wasn't even worth it."
S: "...it would've still been worth the effort, you realise. And the tape player is there, so I must've saved something."
Kaj: "Maybe her soul migrated to it."
Re: "I doubt his tape player is a core."
An explosion marked the beginning of the next battle.
Makinami
Mi: "Obviously you're friendly with Mari in that world, considering you're talking about boys."
A: "Surely at 28, we would've grown out of such discussions. Assuming Makinami was my age."
Mi: "Asuka, I haven't grown out of such discussions."
Kaj: "...that was a bit rough on Shinji."
Mi: "Man, what the hell happened to us? Surely I would never be that cold."
Kaw: "14 years is a long time when it comes to things like that. Especially with the state of that world. Hard times breed hard people, after all."
What appeared to be Unit-00 broke through the interrogation room.
Re: "...I'm alive? My soul would still be trapped in Unit-01 if I wasn't recovered, so... how?"
Kaw: "...a different light. In a Rei shell, maybe."
Mi: "...wait, you're right, Ritsuko?"
Misato explained.
Mi: "...WILLE?!" She exasperated. "Why the hell are they focusing on NERV and not SEELE?"
A: "They're still following the whole Germanic naming, it seems."
Ri: "So that isn't NERV. But NERV still exists." She tried cooking up an explanation. "It's not unthinkable a coup could occur during the time skipped. A sufficiently organised revolt would net us a few Evangelions. And if NERV are still following SEELE."
Ma: "That would've been a feat and a half, considering we would've had the whole world going against us."
Ri: "If the whole world even exists at this point. It could just be WILLE, NERV and SEELE, fighting over the ruins of the Earth."
Kaw: "How cynical."
Re: "...a vessel of Adam? Would that imply its an Angel?"
Kaw: "Angels are indeed vessels of Adam, if his seed."
Mi: "...and she still couldn't bring herself to do it."
Q
Kaj: "What was that, 33 minutes without the title card this time?"
A: "That was a prologue? That's longer than a Laserdisc episode."
Mi: "Looks like we're gonna be here for a good while then."
Familiar Ceiling
Re: "...black?" She sounded incredulous.
She got a closer look at herself.
"...that's not me." Shaking her head. "She is not Rei Ayanami."
S: "...so I still didn't save you."
Re: "...it doesn't appear that way. Unfortunately."
Shinji sighed. Asuka held a hand out, which he took. "At least I can say he tried. Though that didn't end up that great as well..."
A: "No brooding, Shinji. We can safely say every single person in this movie is not us."
S: "...still, you know how I'm like when it comes to that."
Mi: "...man, NERV isn't in good shape as well."
Ri: "They were obviously bombed out, and judging by all the bullet holes, invaded, like in the Laserdisc movie. Though how NERV was able to function after Zeruel, let alone an incursion after Zeruel, is beyond me."
Kaj: "They obviously had some resources after that, considering Central is surrounded by... obsidian?"
Ma: "Forgetting the fact the surface looks like the Moon, the pit is full of blood, and half the pyramid is gone. I'd say it's been quite a bit neglected."
Kaw: "The mile long escalator still works, oddly enough."
Piano
S: "Everything looks rusted out, surely not everything would look like that after 14 years of neglect."
Ri: "The paint would be flaked off, but the metals we use simply don't rust."
Kaw: "Something else then. It's the same pigmentation that we can see in the ocean."
The sound of a Grand filled the room.
Kaw: "...I'm there?"
S: "You work for NERV?"
A: "Yamaha is still in business after all this time?"
Reunion
S: "Good to see after all this time, my father's still up to his usual shenanigans."
Kaj: "...he looks a lot like Keel does." He shuddered at the similarity.
Kaw: "And Abrahamic facial hair as well."
A: "Maybe they're trying to say something." She was flat as a pancake.
Ri: "...a dual pilot system?"
A: "Not really much point to it."
Ri: "...there were initial theories that an Evangelion would require a dual pilot system, due to the potential strain on a pilot's mind. We found the strain was within acceptable limits, thank the Gods."
Re: "What's considered acceptable?"
Ri: "Not gibbering insane. At least at first."
S: "...how would a cross sync even work?"
Tokyo Drift
Ri: "...well, that would add even more work for the Marduk Institute, as they would have to find two pilots that are compatible with not only the Eva, but with each other." She got out a notebook, writing notes. "They would have to be perfectly in sync, if the intention was to use one brain to emulate a single hemisphere, so I imagine a mind link would have to be established. Sharing memories, emotion, instinct. Drifting into one another, so that they may share a single consciousness."
A: "Sounds like something we could do."
Re: "Or us."
Ri: "You lot are in stable and strong relationships. A dual drift system would require such a strong relationship, which considering how you lot were like when you first began piloting your Units, is impossible."
Maya thought. "What if we chose pilots at birth, and made them grow up with each other?"
Ri: "Well, then you have the whole issue of separating children from their mothers at birth. And that is not a can of worms I want to open up."
Re: "Growing pilots then? Like you did with me."
Ri: "And lead them to potentially several lifetimes of pain and misery, as you had?"
She thought. "A more subtle method then. Like how all the pilot hopefuls are in one classroom."
Kaj: "The problem with being subtle is you can't entirely control what happens. And you can't exactly control how a person will respond to a situation. You can definitely condition someone, but that raises even more moral questions."
Mi: "And we're trying to to be less morally reprehensible than the previous administration."
Kaworu thought. "Still, an interesting thing to speculate about. But even in that universe, it's a deviation."
Re: "It's possible there are worlds where that is the main piloting method, however."
Deconstruct
A: "At least he feeds you. Sure, it looks worse than prison food."
S: "I'm practically in a prison cell already, even after escaping WILLE."
Misato sighed. "Seems like everyone wants to use you as a tool."
Kaj: "What use would WILLE even have for keeping Shinji? Considering everyone there hates him and they actively threaten to kill him."
Misato shrugged. "To spite NERV? Since it seems we're fighting against them instead of SEELE."
They took a gander at the corrupted logo.
Mi: "...I get being abstract, but isn't that a bit too much?"
Kaw: "The old logo too..." He glared at the symbols. "...Odd."
Re: "Kaworu?"
Kaw: "The glyphs. They make me feel... odd." He wasn't sure how else to describe it.
The state of the Geofront was shown, as Shinji looked for what appeared to be Rei.
Ma: "...looks like there was an invasion."
Ri: "Though it appears we were on the other end of it this time around."
Kaj: "That just means we failed in a different way." He deadpanned.
Abode
Re: "...that must be the dummy system. The structure down there is the same."
S: "Which means he almost definitely used it."
Kaw: "Probably still does." He said spitefully.
A: "Good to see you still walk in on her naked. Even after all this time."
Shinji groaned. "So far that's the only bit of comedy in this film. And it's at my expense."
Mi: "Considering the universes seem to be out for you, Shinji."
A: "At least now we know why. You're the damn protagonist!"
Ri: "Considering you all went through some considerable shit."
Kaw: "I went through a lot, and I haven't really had that much of a spotlight in these other universes."
Kaj: "Well, it's not like we've seen our own universe rendered in fiction."
Ri: "Yet. It's always possible for our own universe to appear, like the Laserdiscs, this movie set and Aida's DVD's."
Rei simply watched on at her impassive self, Kaworu noticing her apprehension.
Re: "...that is not me. She is not even functional. Like... a doll."
She sought the fish's hand.
Monolith
Kaj: "Good to see SEELE's still around. Pulling strings in this whole mess of a universe, I imagine."
He listened on.
"...they aren't?"
Mi: "They trust him to pull off Instrumentality?"
Kaj: "Surely not. Why wouldn't they talk? And how are they still able to communicate with him using the Phone?"
Everyone shrugged.
Asuka spoke up. "Who even knows now."
S: "...and it looks like I'm brooding. As usual."
A: "Well... it's not like you had much to do."
Library
A: "That's kind of you Shinji, giving her books like that."
Re: "...I doubt she will use them. She is a throughly broken doll of a girl. I say worse than how I... used to be."
Ri: "I don't remember you ever having that little self autonomy."
Re: "Indeed. I was never like that. Though its possible with more iterations of Rei, I would become that."
S: "...at least you aren't the only one lonely there."
Re: "She wouldn't care. And... you have Kaworu."
Mi: "...do we even have a library?"
~
Duet
A: "...Y'know, anyone else looking at this would think Anno was trying to push you two together."
Both boys blushed.
Re: "You two are cute together."
Mi: "I'd say. You know piano, Kaworu?"
Kaw: "It's one of the many instruments I could play. Unfortunately, I cannot improvise and create like that." He looked on, wistful. "It would be nice."
Ma: "It can't be that hard."
Re: "Maya, he can't." She was firm. "He doesn't possess a Fruit of Knowledge to do such things, as we do."
Maya realised she might've said something insensitive, meekly looked down at the floor. "Oh. Sorry."
Kaw: "It's alright. I understand my limitations." He chuckled. "The good thing about me is that I can form relationships with others to overcome this limitation. That is what separates me from my kin."
S: "...at least you're making him happy. And giving him something to do."
Re: "...especially since I remain aloof."
~
SDAT
A: "You reckon you could fix that piece of junk?"
Kaworu shrugged. "Electronic devices could have a slew of problems. From the smallest transistor to simply having no batteries in it. I'm sure you've dabbled in such tasks before."
A: "Oh for sure. I never exactly focused on fixing consumer electronics though, mainly manufacturing and theorising about my own. Plus, I'm a pilot first."
Ri: "You could troubleshoot computers though."
Asuka snorted. "Anyone with a brain can troubleshoot a computer."
Ri: "Oh my sweet summer child." She gave a knowing glance to Maya. "Should I tell you about the time Misato couldn't figure out the Email system, and bought it down trying to get it working?"
Mi: "Not my fault it's not intuitive..." She muttered. "That's more software anyway."
Ri: "Same principle applies."
Stargazing
S: "At least the sky is still the same."
Re: "You should wait until you get out of the atmosphere." She gave a soft smile. "There was absolutely nothing. I was very disappointed." It turned to a soft frown, accompanied by laughter.
Ri: "Space is like that. I'm sure Hikari has the same sentiments."
A: "...that sounds like how you were."
S: "My mental state was in tatters. And that was before Zeruel."
Ri: "...maybe WILLE should've known that. Instead of being blinded by hatred."
Kaj: "At least Kaworu knows how to sooth him. Just be there for him."
Re: "Of course, coming onto him would help."
Shirt
Mi: "...Suzuhara's shirt?"
Shinji sighed. "I hope he's alright. Sakura didn't seem to hate my guts, so maybe he is."
A: "You don't seem to think that."
Kaw: "At least I am able to provide a bit of relief to your pangs."
A: "You better not betray him again!"
Kaw: "One can hope."
Mi: "I can understand you, what you said about not being able to cope with that change."
Kaj: "It doesn't help we're also experiencing the time skip with him."
Kaw: "An interesting method for telling a story. We're right in the thick of it with Shinji."
A: "Even though it leaves me a bit frustrated not knowing what the fuck is going on."
Kaw: "Multiply that feeling sevenfold, and you can see what Shinji is feeling."
She went quiet.
Stair
S: "Maybe he should be careful what he wishes for."
A: "Yeah, I doubt the world is in a presentable state after whatever the hell happened after 14 years."
Ri: "Considering it started with the end of the world."
Ma: "That staircase doesn't seem safe."
Ri: "Do you think that NERV gives a damn about the already lax OHS?"
Ma: "No, probably not." She was flippant.
Revelation
The moon was prominent. Scarred, bleeding.
Mi: "...are those clouds?!"
A: "Why the hell is it spinning so fast?"
Ma: "Maybe it wants to pull a Majora."
S: "The crucifixes don't stay... unless they're like statues."
The camera panned down, as Kaworu explained.
Kaj: "...teeth?"
Kaw: "...Wait a minute, I thought I prevented Third Impact!"
Re: "Near is a bit of a blatant falsehood, in this case."
Ri: "Obviously this won't be the truth you'd want to hear, Shinji."
S: "You don't say." He was flat. "Being told you caused Third Impact."
A: "That makes you 2 for 2, Shinji. When do I get to start an Impact?"
Misato rolled eyes. "Not in this universe, young lady. Go visit another world if you want to start an Impact."
Kaj: "Or better yet, don't start an Impact at all."
Ri: "That would be preferable."
The camera panned up.
Ma: "...I don't know about you, but that structure doesn't seem sound."
A: "It being a stone pyramid balancing on a mile long pole probably has something to do with it."
Mi: "The question we should ask is where the fuck did it come from?"
Ri: "And like everything in this movie, the answer is the same: " She shrugged and made a confused sound.
Infinity
S: "...what the hell are- Are they Evangelion?"
Ma: "...they look petrified."
Kaw: "...a side effect of a failed Instrumentality, in all likelihood. The post Third Impact world of the Laserdiscs was similarly stained."
A: "But it still failed. Wait a minute, how was Instrumentality accomplished anyway? The Laserdiscs required an S2'd Unit-01 and nine of those Godforsaken MP-Evas."
Kaw: "All that needs to happen is the merging of the two fruits, specifically the progenitors of said fruits. Hence why Third Impact of the Laserdiscs was able to occur; merging Lilith and Adam, with Rei as a vessel and my soul tagging along for the ride. Of course, the mechanisms of that world seem almost completely different."
Ri: "...that was the Door of Guf."
A: "It's much less Freudian than I remember."
Kaw: "Indeed. But it would have still resulted in a similar outcome." He frowned. "Even though it shouldn't be possible to open the Doors of Guf without Lilith."
Re: "Considering almost all souls come from Lilith, that makes sense."
S: "...that is definitely what I don't want to hear."
Kaw: "Indeed, but you did ask for the truth."
A: "Not even sugar coating it a bit?"
Kaw: "No point. What's done is done. You can not redo."
S: "...knowing myself, he's gonna try putting things back the way they were."
Kaw: "I would advise against such action. That would make things worse. Unless, of course, you were being manipulated into pursuing that."
Mi: "Knowing Gendo, that's probably true. And we would've played right into his little gambit."
Kaj: "...how did you preempt the title-card like that?"
Kaworu read the English title. "Huh."
SEELE
Re: "So you're still on SEELE's side."
Kaw: "Ostensibly. Can never be too sure what other people are planning."
Kaj: "Trust no one, not even yourself?"
Kaw: "It helps that 'myself' might as well be a different entity at this point. Not that it matters, as the commander is still planning on hijacking their plan."
Mi: "...hang on, that's the Nebuchadnezzar, isn't it?"
Ri: "So they haven't made their play then?"
A: "I thought they've already done so, at least once."
Ri: "You'd think, considering they've had 14 years to do so."
S: "Speaking of that, looks like I'm catching up on 14 years of brooding."
Re: "Considering that Rei isn't the Rei in the Evangelion..."
S: "...He still denies that though."
Re: "Eventually he will have to come to terms with such a reality."
Game of Generals
Ma: "I wonder if Fuyutsuki spent all this time playing Shogi."
S: "Not much else to do I imagine. Unless they both spent 14 years straight scheming."
Kaw: "Fuyutsuki in this film actually appears to be tiring of the Commander's doings. Only doing it for Yui."
Mi: "She was also quite a bit close to him. Not as much as she was with Gendo though."
Re: "Its possible he longed for her still."
He took out an image of her.
Kaj: "It appears so, being able to keep an image of her from Gendo."
Ri: "And after all this time too."
Mi: "You still look cute, Shinji."
Shinji glanced away.
A: "...the other woman there looks sorta like Makinami."
Kaw: "Could be her mother."
Re: "...that's not the origin of my name."
A: "Yeah, it was the other way round in our world."
Kaw: "Yet another small aspect that's different. Though we know the origin of the Ayanami name in that world now."
S: "...do you know where Ayanami comes from, Rei?"
She thought. "...I'm not sure. I don't recall him ever telling me."
A: "...and your mother is still a part of Unit-01. Meaning my mama's in my Unit too."
S: "...at least you still get to pilot it, in that world."
A: "...but do I know she's there?"
The power came back.
Shinji just gave a somewhat annoyed look at his pinprick eyes. "...well great. My mind's been broken. Was wondering when that was gonna happen."
This annoyance turned into growing concern as he witness his mother enter the core.
And turned further into disgust, shared around the room (excluding Maya, who went for a trash can), at the wall decorated with the heads of Rei, as Fuyutsuki further explained what Rei Ayanami is and how they both factored into Gendo's plan.
Rei looked on impassively, having already distanced herself from her nonself. "...well."
Kaworu meanwhile was practically going Super Saiyan, trying to hide rage. Only the soothing of Rei's wisp prevented him from burning a hole through the screen like Zeruel did the Geofront. "I need to find methods of releasing pent up emotion that isn't sex or battle."
Lilith
A: "Who the fuck is... is that Lilith?!"
Ri: "...that proves it then. He already attempted an Instrumentality event."
Kaj: "And failed. Since Lilith died at the end of the Laserdisc movie, coinciding with Instrumentality being cancelled."
Re: "...would I be resident soul in this case? But... the Key still appears unused. So how is it possible? And how does it continue to be possible to perform such a thing?"
Kaw: "A question for the ages, which I doubt will be answered."
S: "...Like most things in this damn movie."
He watched as he continued mentally degenerating.
Ri: "...at least in the Laserdiscs, you were given a longer span of time to descend into complete anguish."
Kaw: "Broken people make better pawns. SEELE knew this. Your father knew this. Both are experts at such abhorrent business."
A: "...I'd say he's even more broken than in the Laserdiscs. Put him in an Eva, and he'll end the world one way or another."
S: "...I really don't doubt it this time. Gods damn it, why the hell does every single one of these world ending plans results in me and or everyone I know and love breaking and dying."
A: "What can we say? God obviously has it out for us." She glared at the screen. "Especially with Anno at the helm."
Re: "Maybe someone else will do a better job at not completely fucking us over."
~
Unit-13
S: "Yep. Completely broken."
Kaw: "At least I'm still present. Maybe I can assemble this seventeen million piece puzzle that is your psyche at this point in time."
Asuka snorted.
S: "I doubt it. Though at least I have someone in that world. Even if I'm completely broken."
Kaworu collared himself.
Mi: "...that would surely ensure your trust to him."
S: "...I wouldn't be at risk of death if I went in an Eva at least. Though... that'll just mean Kaworu will die."
Kaw: "...he was planning it all along, knowing the risks. I would do the same."
Rei gave a knowing glance.
A: "...I honestly doubt you would be able to undo what happened to that world. 'You can not redo', and all that. I'd say its false hope."
S: "...looks like I'm gonna get another unpleasant surprise."
Ri: "...at this rate, you're gonna be completely catatonic by the end of the film."
S: "Considering how I was like at the end of the Laserdiscs. Especially if Kaworu ends up... dead."
Re: "...hopefully that won't pass."
Sortie
Ma: "At least now we can see how effective a dual sync system works."
Ri: "If it uses a similar system to us, it would effectively double, or even square the effectiveness of the Evangelion. Depends on how its implemented."
S: "...13 looks a lot like Unit-01."
A: "I wonder how you even sync with it. Considering your mother's still stuck in Unit-01."
Kaw: "Wasn't the way Makinami was able to sync with your Evangelion suggested the mechanisms of synchronising were different in that world?"
Ri: "And that's also another reason why a dual sync system won't work with traditional Evangelion designs. Unless you get siblings or twins, you would not be able to find pilots that aren't only compatible with the Eva, but compatible with each other."
Mi: "You could implement such a system with the New-Type method, right?"
The subcommander thought. "You could. Fostering a relationship between AI and pilot is somewhat easy." She thought some more and scribbled some notes. Obviously some lightbulbs went off in her head.
Kaj: "Interesting how N- WILLE were able to detect when Unit-13 activated."
Ma: "Same pattern as Angels, remember?"
Mi: "And I'd imagine we'd be in the general vicinity of the Geofront. Knowing me, we're definitely planning on fighting back."
A: "Don't even have to watch to know that'll happen?"
Mi: "Knowing myself."
~
Seal
Unit-13 broke through the seal of Terminal Dogma like it was butter.
S: "Well that was easy."
Mi: "Now we can see the damage."
They saw the damage, and Khorne be praised.
A: "Damn, that's a lot of skulls."
Kaw: "Millions, forgotten."
Re: "...Lilith is not in any good shape as well."
Kaj: "In that she's dead."
Ri: "...so thats why he did a dual plug system. I don't think that's a thing in our world as well."
Ma: "Though its not like we would have to handle two Lances at the same time."
Ri: "Not like there are two Lances. At least proper ones. I doubt we would ever be able to test that out."
Kaw: "...both Lances are the same."
Re: "...what's the significance of such a thing?"
Kaw: "...they suggest Longinus and Cassius are required to undo. Having two Longinus' would..."
Attack
His thinking was interrupted by the explosion.
Mi: "Great, WILLE are trying to stop them."
S: "Who even are the bad guys this time around?"
A: "I'd say NERV, but WILLE aren't much better. Though I can see their thinking."
Kaj: "Who the hell are we supposed to root for then?"
A: "Well, do you want the world to change, or not?"
Kaj: "Is this change a world ending change?"
A: "It already ended once. How much worse can it possibly get?"
Ri: "...what are those drones? You shouldn't be able to project an AT-Field using an autonomous device like that."
Ma: "Yet another difference in mechanics, I suppose."
Kaw: "...I realised something. The I of the other universe. That doesn't bode too well for what will happen if you use them."
S: "...which I might. He's determined. And you don't appear to be stopping me."
Kaworu thought. And sighed. "Yet another failure of communication."
A: "Oh come on! Now I have to deal with a power failure?"
S: "Least you aren't gonna try killing me."
A: "...yeah."
Determination
A: "Well, you're trying now, Kaworu."
Kaw: "But Shinji isn't listening."
S: "Gods damn it, listen to someone!"
He disconnected Kaworu.
Shinji glared. "Great. I'm about to make a massive mistake, aren't I?"
Kaw: "Yes."
Ri: "I can see why you're doing that. After the shit you've been through."
Re: "You're playing right into the hands of your father and SEELE, however."
Kaw: "...no AT-Field? H-How?"
Shinji pulled out the Lances of Longinus.
S: "...you idiot."
12th
A: "Wait, that's an Angel?"
Kaw: "...Adam's vessel, of course! That's what they mean!"
Kaj: "How the hell did they can an Angel?"
Kaworu shrugged. "I don't even know at this point. Events have so throughly gone off the rails and into the Grand Canyon that the only thing that is the same is our names."
A: "Even then."
S: "At least Makinami is taking it all in her stride."
A: "She's practically insane, of course she wouldn't give a few shits about the world ending. Again."
Re: "Not like there's that much left in that world to end anyway."
Ma: "...even your nth clone is going through some deep stuff, Rei."
Re: "She had been constantly told that she isn't herself. She's suffering a major identity crisis."
Kaw: "...I wasn't the first. Who were the Adams then?"
Ri: "'Demoted' to 13th as well?"
Kaw: "I think that's similar to how I was like in the Laserdiscs. There are 14 Angels. I am now the 13th. If we count Lilim as Angels, as the Laserdiscs did, I would continue to be the final messenger."
Shutdown
Kaj: "Looks like SEELE is gonna get exactly what they want. Again."
Mi: "Least there's one world where things didn't go completely to shit."
Fuyutsuki began shutting down SEELE. They looked on as SEELE were explained.
Completely differently from their world.
A: "...so they're literally Gods in that world?"
Kaj: "...I'd liken them more to the monoliths of 2001: A space odyssey. Except more talkative. Especially with how Gendo described them as guiding humanity and civilisation."
S: "So they're literally aliens?"
Kaj: "In that universe." He rubbed his forehead. "That's definitely not what SEELE was in our world. They're just men. Not alien... monolith... things."
Kaw: "Sounds like you're finding that SEELE hard to believe. They were indeed simple flesh and blood, teachings and positions passed down through generations and generations. What once was an Abrahamic sect transformed into a globe spanning, brutally cold secret society."
Kaj: "Coinciding with the Dead Sea Scrolls being found."
Kaw: "Even before. Legends say they were formed around the time of Jesus of Nazareth. Indeed, the name SEELE has only been used since the 18th century. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls only redoubled their efforts, now with an aim. They wanted to become Gods. Unlike this other SEELE, who already appear to be Gods."
Kaj: "Now if only SEELE were that easy to get rid of."
Kaw: "Obviously they believe Gendo will accomplish the Instrumentality Project in accordance with their vision."
Mi: "They're idiots then. So much for being Gods."
Awakening
Ri: "Though you can see their thinking."
S: "So this is the third time I'm ending the world then." He was flat. Shinji had stopped caring about what happened to this world after he didn't listen to Kaworu, so he was just along for the ride.
A: "Three for three, Shinji."
The Chamber of Guf opened. Again.
Kaw: "...the Black Moon is ascending."
Re: "This was similar to the Laserdiscs."
Kaw: "The order was different. The order of operations was taught to me. Moon, Lilith, Wings, Guf. Instrumentality."
S: "...at least I'm realising my mistake. Though it's quite a bit late at this point."
Mi: "Shame he had to find out just as he started Fourth Impact."
Will
The collar went weird. Shinji sighed in resignation. Kaworu thought.
A: "You guys are definitely trying your best to stop it."
Mi: "Ending the end of the world before the world ends is always preferable."
They were immediately attacked.
Ri: "We aren't doing a good job at it."
Mi: "We're trying at least."
Kaw: "...so it was at least partially from an Angel. Or Evangelion."
Re: "Don't know at this point?"
Kaw: "Not a clue."
A: "Quite an apt summary from Ms Crazy." She snarked. "That's more than a simple mess."
Kaj: "...so who do we root for?"
S: "...WILLE I guess? Since they're trying to stop the end of the world."
A: "Not like you did much anyway. You just started it."
777
A: "...holy shit, I'm going beast as well!"
S: "Your eyepatch is glowing."
Ri: "...and now Unit-02 is becoming a cat."
A: "I probably learnt that from Mari. Considering she knew how to do it, in my own Unit."
Mi: "If it was possible and you had to do it to win though."
A: "I might. At least now I know you can reverse beast mode, in that universe."
Ri: "Not that it matters in our universe. Releasing the limiters via software is impossible."
Ma: "You could modify the software, I suppose."
Ritsuko laughed. "We could. If we didn't care about the wellbeing of the pilots."
Re: "...it's about time she finally developed some autonomy."
Asuka looked on as her counterpart was forced to do something she would never be able to do. "...mama." She was subdued.
Regret
S: "...damn it."
Kaw: "You couldn't know, Shinji. That is why I took the collar in the first place. It wasn't your fault."
S: "...you'll still die though. At my actions..."
Kaw: "...out of all the people. And... if it helped."
Re: "...you shouldn't have that attitude, Kaworu. That was what I thought."
Kaw: "...you and I are alike in many ways, Rei. Its one of the reasons why I love you."
Re: "...still though..."
Kaworu could feel her apprehension. "...it is inevitable. Will you be able to watch, Rei? I know seeing me die affected you last time."
Re: "...I-"
The entry plug was painted with Kaworu, her answer dying unspoken as she witnessed it. Far too unprepared.
Shocked silence. Maya quickly ran for a trash can.
Kaworu immediately wrapped her up, feeling her welling emotion at the complete and utter violence of his own demise.
Rei kept silent. She did not want to cry.
Catatonia
Mi: "...so we were all played by Gendo."
Kaj: "...this was a part of his plan."
S: "...and I'm just left there. i suppose he doesn't even care anymore."
Ri: "...if your mind is still there. you seem to be in a state similar to Asuka after all that occurred in the Laserdiscs."
Asuka wrapped Shinji up, herself still frazzled. "...her attitude isn't helping matters too."
S: "...i'm completely broken... again."
They walked away. The credits played.
~
Silence reigned.
Rei trembled in Kaworu's arms. She remained silent, but Kaworu could hear her loud and clear.
'home'
He got up, Rei under arm, subdued. "We'll be taking our leave. Call us if we're needed tomorrow."
They walked away.
Maya was still ill, and she was on the verge of tears as well. "i'm... i'll be in the bathroom."
She paced away.
"...i can't believe it. Shinji got even more shafted this time around." Asuka murmured, shocked herself.
Shinji himself had been latched onto her. Quiet. As Rei was. Maybe he had the same intention of waiting until they were in a safe place.
"...Hideki Anno, you son of a bitch." Misato muttered. "i can't believe there's another of our universes where things got even more fucked. the Laserdiscs were bad enough."
"...how the fuck are they even gonna resolve all this? there has to be another one of these movies, and even then, they're gonna be hard pressed trying to explain and resolve literally everything about this movie."
Ritsuko's eyes widened, as she realised something important about the triad of discs that was obtained.
Specifically, the whole missing disc. "...Asuka." She had to think carefully, because she could tell Asuka was currently on the edge. Whether it be of an emotional breakdown or a psychotic breakdown was hard to tell. "...Only three discs came through the breach.
There is no fourth movie."
The words echoed and bounced through Asuka's mind. It took her a minute to process what was said, as she had entered into a state of Guru Meditation, as Ritsuko would describe.
And it was indeed the only way she would be able to describe what Asuka did next. Somehow, she converted all of her sorrow into fury, and thrusted the several ton TV off the rebar reinforced concrete block it was resting upon, landing glass first in a flurry of sparks and fire as the capacitors burst for the last time. There was a glaringly obvious crater in the tiled floor of her lab. "You can take that out of my pay-packet."
She walked away, dragging Shinji with her.
Leaving the two commanders, Oversight 16, a smouldering wreck of a television, and several unanswered questions.
"...what the fuck was that?!"
"Unfiltered trauma." Misato deadpanned. "God, I need some alcohol. And comfort. Actually both. Both is good."
They walked away.
Leaving the subcommander, the smouldering wreck of the television, and several unanswered questions.
She slumped down into the chair, reaching for her smokes and muttering to herself as she looked through her notes. "Fuck sake. I hope Aida's discs are not as traumatising to them." She took a well deserved drag. "Man I hope Maya's alright... Oh shit, Maya!"
She ran away, the cigarette left slowly burning in the ash tray.
~
And by the by, Strypgia: Nice snippet. Hope to see the completed thing by Sunday 
