NERV Headquarters, underground base.
Control room.
A mug bearing the NERV logo sat on a desk covered in documents.
Its owner, Akagi, was tapping away at her computer.
"Cell apoptosis procedures for the three Evas are scheduled to begin after the MAGI system restarts."
"Procedure confirmed! Command authorization checks 450 through 670 omitted!"
Reports streamed continuously over the speakers to everyone in Control Room 5.
Ibuki's fingers flew over her keyboard as she watched data rapidly populate the virtual projection screen.
Akagi couldn't help marveling. "That's Maya for you. So fast!"
"Of course! I learned from you, after all." Ibuki replied happily without taking her eyes off the screen.
"Stop there for a moment. A-8 would be faster. Let me change it." Holding her coffee in one hand, Akagi rapidly typed with the other.
The data and code on Ibuki's virtual projection screen immediately began generating even faster.
"You're amazing, as always!" Ibuki exclaimed admiringly.
"How's it going? Have you finished checking MAGI?" Misato came up on the lift, humming as she asked.
"Almost. We'll make today's test, as promised." Wearing glasses and holding a notebook, Akagi kept copying down notes without even looking up...
Women really were creatures who held grudges...
"That's our Ritsuko~ Having to deal with three identical things must be such a pain... Are you still mad at me, by the way?" Misato walked over to the desk, picked up Akagi's cold coffee, and took a sip as she teased her.
Akagi continued taking notes with a serious expression, never raising her head. "No... That coffee's gone cold," she replied flatly.
Misato: "..."
The MAGI system suddenly appeared on the virtual screen, flashing continuously.
It indicated that all three components had successfully finished.
"All three components of the MAGI system have entered self-diagnostic mode!"
"No abnormalities detected during the 127th routine inspection~"
"Understood. Thank you for your hard work, everyone! Get some rest before the test begins." Akagi picked up the microphone, first thanking the staff, then giving them advance notice.
The restroom again.
Akagi approached the sink.
She cupped tap water in both hands and washed her face, then picked up a towel and dried it.
Raising her head, she looked at herself in the mirror.
Her gaze was calm, but she could still see a trace of tenderness in her eyes.
"No abnormalities. Mother's full of energy again today... while all I can do is grow older?" Akagi looked a little sad, her brows faintly furrowed.
"We have to strip again?!" Asuka complained to the camera.
"You're entering the Super-Aseptic Room next. Just taking a shower and changing your underwear isn't enough." Akagi's voice answered through the speaker.
"Why do we have to do this for an autopilot test?!" Asuka asked helplessly.
"Time isn't passing for nothing. Eva technology is constantly advancing too. We need to keep collecting new data..." Akagi reassured her.
The test indicators on the screen kept showing green across the board.
The three of them washed themselves all over again.
Don't ask where Huang Zhetian had gone. He was taking a temporary break because of his lung problems, and was now watching Asuka and the others with Misato...
"All right, just like you wanted. We've been cleaned seventeen times now," Asuka said helplessly again.
"The three of you, go through this room and enter the entry plugs directly," Akagi ordered.
"Huh-?" Asuka flushed, looking incredulous.
"Don't worry. Please turn off the video monitoring. We absolutely guarantee your privacy," Akagi explained.
"That's not the problem! I need to prepare myself mentally!" Asuka hurriedly composed herself and protested.
"This test is primarily intended to examine harmonic synchronization using your bodies directly, without plugsuits," Akagi explained.
"Asuka, that's an order!" Misato's voice came through as well.
"Oh, come on~ Relax. I can't see anything now. Just have Shinji go through first, then you two girls can follow, right? Don't worry, I can't see anything for the moment..." That obnoxious voice belonged to Huang Zhetian. Judging by his tone, he sounded rather excited...
"Idiot! You stupid Zhetian! Once this test's over and I get out, you'll be sorry! Hmph! Honestly, you'd better not peek! Shinji! You go first!" Asuka crossed her arms over her chest, glaring up at the camera as she snapped at him.
The MAGI system scanned the pilots inside the entry plugs of the Eva simulation bodies.
"All pilots are in position and ready!"
"Begin the test!" Akagi ordered.
"Test commencing. Autopilot system recording!"
"No abnormalities on the monitors. Inserting the Dummy Entry Plugs."
Clunk-hum.
In the pool, mechanical arms slowly lowered the entry plugs into the simulation bodies.
"Connect the system to the simulation bodies."
"The Dummy Entry Plugs are now under MAGI's control!" Ibuki reported to Akagi as she watched the console.
"So fast! That's MAGI for you! The first experiment took an entire week. It's hard to believe how fast it is now." Watching the virtual projection screen from the side, Misato couldn't help exclaiming in amazement. This supercomputer was truly far ahead of its time.
Huang Zhetian was astonished too. This level of computing power already surpassed the technology of his previous life. The supercomputers back then might not have been capable of this.
It reported all the data so quickly, with such detailed analysis. So much complex data and code had been successfully uploaded in less than a second.
"Estimated test duration is approximately three hours." Aoba Shigeru checked the estimate provided by the MAGI system.
Rei Ayanami and the others easily saw the scene they had been in before.
With their entire bodies submerged in the deep pool, the sensation was rather peculiar.
"How does it feel?" Akagi asked the three people in the entry plugs through the microphone.
"A little different," Rei Ayanami answered honestly after taking a moment to feel it out.
Shinji also took a moment to assess the sensation before replying, "It feels a little different from usual."
Asuka raised her arm and flexed her hand. After feeling it out, she said, "It feels strange. Only my right hand feels clear... Everything else is blurry."
"Rei, imagine moving your right hand." After hearing their feedback, Akagi asked Rei Ayanami to try it based on Asuka's experience.
"Yes!" Rei Ayanami answered softly, beginning to pull the control lever with her right hand.
Click-
The right hand of Rei Ayanami's simulation body began to extend slightly.
Huang Zhetian remained silent throughout, his eyes fixed on the simulation bodies behind the glass.
He knew the Horror Angel would definitely arrive today. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked for leave.
Seeing how serious and focused Huang Zhetian looked, Misato teased him. "Don't be so nervous. I know you're worried about Asuka, but this test isn't dangerous. Last night, you two... Come on, tell me."
"Get lost! Don't expect dinner tonight! Aunt-Mi-sa-to!" Her words immediately irritated Huang Zhetian. Because of the older single woman in front of him and what she'd done last night, Asuka had stomped on his foot. It still ached a little today...
"You!! You rotten little brat! All right, all right, (┯_┯) I was wrong. I was wrong. Forgive me. I don't want instant food tonight. You wouldn't want Asuka suffering along with me either, would you..." Misato had just been about to raise her hand and press down on Huang Zhetian's head in revenge for his calling her Aunt Misato.
But then she thought of having instant food for dinner. After so many days of delicious meals, that monotonous flavor would taste like cardboard. She wouldn't be able to swallow a single bite.
To be perfectly honest, Huang Zhetian had spoiled her palate...
For now, she could only swallow her pride...
Akagi smiled faintly as she watched their antics. She had visited Misato's home once before, and that family atmosphere had left her deeply envious.
It was a feeling of warmth and happiness, without loneliness.
At that thought, Akagi looked at the MAGI system on the virtual screen.
She shook her head and turned her attention back to the experiment.
"Data collection proceeding smoothly."
"There don't seem to be any problems. Return MAGI to normal mode." Akagi began switching MAGI's mode.
Ding-beep, beep!
Three cubes appeared on the virtual projection screen, displaying rejection and decision.
"They're contradicting each other..." Misato said incredulously.
"It has a personality of its own. Calling it an artificial intelligence with independent consciousness wouldn't be an exaggeration." Huang Zhetian was rather astonished. Electronic self-awareness like this hadn't existed in his previous life.
Calling this phenomenon digital life would be fitting too.
"You can see its creator's personality in it," Akagi said quietly, her hands in her pockets and her back to the two of them.
"What are you talking about? Aren't you its creator?" Misato seemed to have caught a flaw in her wording and challenged her.
"It seems you don't know anything... Never mind. Forget it." Akagi turned around halfway through her reply, but changed her words when she saw Huang Zhetian.
"That's because you're not like me, Ritsuko! You always keep everything about yourself secret!" Misato crossed her arms petulantly.
"I only updated the system. The one who created the fundamental theory and the original system... was my mother," Akagi murmured to herself.
Watching the two women, Huang Zhetian felt a little sad.
Akagi lived beneath two shadows she couldn't escape. One was her mother, and the other was Gendo Ikari.
Later on, Akagi's fate would be tragic too. The man she loved would shoot her dead, and she would turn into LCL deep beneath Central Dogma.
She knew perfectly well that Gendo Ikari didn't love her and was only using her, yet she still followed in her mother's footsteps. She continued helping Gendo Ikari get everything he wanted, and did so willingly... Pitiful and infuriating.
If one were to name Gendo Ikari's finest blades, there were three.
Kozo Fuyutsuki.
Ritsuko Akagi and Kaji.
Command Center.
"Has it been checked?" Fuyutsuki asked.
"It's mostly been confirmed?" Aoba Shigeru replied.
Ding, ding, ding...
"These parts were brought in three days ago. Come to think of it, that's where it happened." Aoba Shigeru tapped at his keyboard, checking problems at various locations around Headquarters.
"The 87th Protein Wall?"
"When enlarged, you can see something like a stain... What is it?" Aoba Shigeru asked in confusion. It was his first time seeing anything like this.
"Corrosion, perhaps? The temperature and conductivity have changed a little too. We've been getting frequent deterioration in the sterile rooms lately..." Hyuga also reported on recent developments.
"The construction schedule was shortened by nearly sixty days, so perhaps some air bubbles accidentally got in again? The work on Building B was too sloppy..." Aoba Shigeru offered what he thought was a plausible cause, then turned to complain to Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki.
"Construction over there only began after the Angels appeared," Fuyutsuki said, straightening up and thinking over the circumstances.
"It was hard on them too. Everyone's exhausted." Hyuga was considerate as well.
In this new century, all three of these staff members were good, understanding people. They really didn't belong in NERV...
"Deal with it before tomorrow, or Commander Ikari will start nagging again." Fuyutsuki looked up at Old Ikari, feeling rather helpless.
"Understood!"
On the steel wall in the area Fuyutsuki had mentioned.
One patch was slowly corroding, already turning black and purple...
"Another leak?!" Akagi turned to ask Ibuki. How could something like this happen during such an important experiment? What if it caused a delay?
"No, apparently it's caused by corrosion. The protein wall above us..." Ibuki put down the telephone receiver and hurriedly explained.
"What a headache! Has the test been affected?" Akagi wasn't in the mood to deal with any of this. She was more concerned with her experimental test. As a scientist, that was naturally where her attention lay; nothing else interested her.
"Not so far..." Ibuki checked the readings on the console before answering.
"Then continue! We can't interrupt this test over a minor problem. Otherwise Commander Ikari will start nagging again~" After a moment's consideration, Akagi decided it would be better not to stop. She couldn't act carelessly in front of her longtime lover...
I really don't understand. What did you see in that face of his? (Author)
Huang Zhetian narrowed his eyes, thinking, Is it coming? The Horror Angel...
"Synchronization Rate is very stable."
"No change in plug depth."
"Connecting the Dummy Entry Plugs to the Eva bodies through the simulation bodies!"
"Contact with Eva Unit-00 confirmed!"
"Deploying A.T. Field at an output of 2 yocto!" Ibuki began operating the controls.
An image appeared on the screen, showing a simulation body on the left and Unit-00's actual body on the right as the two began connecting.
In the hangar, the condition of the wall behind Unit-00 was steadily worsening.
Red spots began appearing on the corroded patches.
Beep! Beep! Beep! ALERT! A huge red-and-black warning appeared.
"What's wrong?" Akagi hurriedly turned to ask.
"Contamination warning from the Sigma Unit A Layer!"
"Deterioration in the 87th Protein Wall! Heat generation detected!"
"Abnormalities in the Sixth Pipe too!"
"The corroded portions of the protein wall are multiplying at an explosive rate!" Watching the red dots rapidly proliferate across the honeycomb grid on her screen, Ibuki hurriedly reported.
"Abort the experiment! Seal the Sixth Pipe immediately!" After calmly assessing the situation, Akagi gave the order at once.
"Yes!" Ibuki pressed the emergency button.
The gears in the machinery overhead engaged immediately, and the steel doors operated by mechanical arms began closing.
The other pipes were also sealed and cut off in an emergency shutdown.
"60, 38, and 39 sealed!"
"Corrosion in 6-42!"
"It's no use! The corrosion is spreading along the walls!" Seeing it continue to spread, Ibuki looked up helplessly and reported to Akagi.
"Prepare the Polyribosome!" Akagi ordered again.
Deep underwater, a steel door opened, revealing several submersible machines equipped with cameras and lights. Four steel launch tubes were mounted beneath each machine.
"Laser barrage at maximum output! Fire the moment the corrosion enters!" Akagi said calmly as she watched the virtual screen.
At the No. 8 Deep-Water Wall, several machines stood ready.
"The corroded area has reached 6-58! Here it comes!!"
Silence-utter silence.
Huang Zhetian activated his eyes, which turned a ghostly blue as he began scanning.
He swept his gaze over the area behind him, then down over the three simulation bodies.
An eerie scream rang out. "Oooo-!"
An Angel?! Huang Zhetian immediately realized. It's here!
He saw the arms of the three Eva simulation bodies begin twisting uncontrollably!
"Unit Zero's simulation body is moving!" Ibuki watched the abnormal-data alerts from the MAGI system.
"How could this happen?" Akagi began to panic.
Rei Ayanami's Eva test body kept twitching and contorting! It seemed to be trying to break free of its restraints.
"The contaminated area is still expanding! It's invading the simulation body's pituitary system!" Ibuki's voice began to waver.
The unknown was the most terrifying thing of all.
The red EMERGENCY warning kept flashing.
Misato watched the scene before her in horror.
The test body kept contorting, its struggles growing more violent as bubbles streamed through the deep water.
Misato saw the test unit raise its hand toward the glass and reach out to grab it!
Akagi smashed the glass over the emergency button and hit the switch.
The test body's arm instantly burst apart!
The severed arm slammed into the glass of the observation station, leaving a web of cracks.
"Rei!" Misato hurriedly steadied herself and shouted to the people behind her, asking how Rei was doing.
"She's all right!" Ibuki checked the data.
"Emergency-eject all entry plugs! Hurry, fire the lasers!" Akagi immediately remembered that Asuka and the other pilots were still inside the test bodies.
Whoosh! Hiss!!
The three entry plugs immediately shot into the passage overhead, trailing long streams of bubbles upward.
The underwater gates were sealed tight.
The underwater robots began firing lasers at the test bodies! Zap! Bang!
Multiple lasers swept across the test body, producing masses of bubbles.
Clink! A crisp sound rang out. The lasers had been deflected?!
"An A.T. Field?!" Misato could barely believe it.
"How is that possible?!" Akagi was just as shocked.
An Angel had infiltrated Headquarters?! At such close range, too. The last time had been the Rain Angel.
Red markings began appearing on the test body's severed arm! Bubbles filled the entire deep-water section.
"What is this?" Misato asked in confusion.
"Pattern analysis: blue!"
"There's no doubt about it. It's an Angel!" Akagi's expression darkened.
"An Angel?! You actually allowed an Angel to infiltrate?" Fuyutsuki demanded angrily.
"I'm terribly sorry!" Misato blamed herself.
"Spare me the apologies! Physically seal off Central Dogma! Isolate the Sigma Unit!" Fuyutsuki immediately waved everyone into action.
Gendo Ikari slowly ascended to the top in his lift chair...
"Is it coming...?"
"Abandon the Pribnow Box! All personnel, evacuate!" Misato put down the phone and immediately announced the order to everyone.
The glass slowly began to give way, its cracks growing wider and wider!
Akagi was still staring blankly...
"Stupid woman, move!" Huang Zhetian prompted Misato.
Misato immediately dragged the dazed Akagi away, snapping, "Idiot! What are you thinking? Hurry!"
The moment the three of them left, the glass behind them finally gave out and shattered. All the water outside surged in!
Fortunately, the door was sealed tight, and not a drop could leak through.
Huang Zhetian's eyes turned a ghostly blue. He could see the entire structure of NERV Headquarters clearly, watching gate after gate seal shut above them and the pipes being cut off.
This time, I'll have to use someone else to do the killing...
Before you continue