Tokyo-3 looked reassuringly safe in the sunset.
But... was it really safe?
"A city is a paradise created by humanity, I suppose." Fuyutsuki and Gendo Ikari sat in their private train, watching the sun sink behind the mountain ridge outside. The evening light fell over them, giving them an illusion.
The illusion that their goal was close to fruition.
"Humanity, once driven from paradise, could only flee to the earthly world, where death was its neighbor. The frailest of creatures gained wisdom through its frailty and created a paradise of its own." Gendo Ikari watched the setting sun, his voice full of pride.
"A paradise created to protect themselves from the terror of death and satisfy their desire for happiness?"
"That is precisely what this city is, an armed city built to protect itself..." Fuyutsuki was about to offer another reflection on humanity's wisdom and creativity.
But Gendo Ikari cut him off disdainfully. "Cowards! A city built to flee from powerful enemies..."
The train entered the first tunnel, and the carriage temporarily went dark.
Perhaps the ending of the story ahead would be temporary, too.
"Cowards live longer. There's nothing wrong with that. Tokyo-3, NERV's camouflage and defensive fortress city. The repeatedly delayed seventh phase of construction is finally over..."
"It's finally finished..." Fuyutsuki chuckled. Rather than disagreeing with Gendo Ikari, he followed his argument to affirm his own view. Looking at the buildings outside, he still felt happy and proud.
Nothing more than pride in one of humanity's peculiar virtues.
"How do you plan to report the Unit-04 accident to the committee?" Fuyutsuki asked Gendo Ikari about the recent incident.
Gendo Ikari knew it was not yet time to turn against them. For now, his objectives were still identical to the committee's, but later, they would diverge completely.
Gendo