Stage 42 - Gray Sky

Cover: Shinji in school uniform with backpack looking vacantly back over his
shoulder

Scene: Official NERV car driven by NERV Intel staff -- Misato ruminates silently
in the back seat
(Flashback to Shinji at the train station: "What are your hopes... your dreams,
Misato? Peace for humankind? At the expense of people's lives?")
(Flashback to Second Impact -- remembering her father's final words as he placed
her in the life capsule: "Take care of your mother. Misato... You must live!")
Misato (thinking): Peace for humankind... how hypocritical... I've been so
hell-bent thus far, but that goal was just an excuse. My real aim... Father...
may have been just to avenge you...

Scene: Shinji at the train station, staring up at the sky
Shinji (thinking): Strange... the sky is so blue, so why does it seem so dark?
And my heart that was so hot with rage toward my father yesterday... is already
this cold today.
I know the reason... it's because I have shut the window in my heart again.
(flashbacks of NERV and related people)
The events since I came here have all been so incredible -- so
confusing/flustering -- that I could only follow what my father and Misato told
me to do. Even so I met many different people, and before I knew it the window in
my heart which was supposed to have been closed had opened up again...
(remembers Touji and stops short)
Forgive me, Touji... the tears won't even come any more...
(A siren sounds, startling Shinji from his reverie)
Announcement: "A State of Emergency is now in effect centering on the Tokai
District. " (Train departure sign changes to emergency passage guidance) "All
residents please evacuate at once to your designated shelter."
Shinji (shocked/thinking): An Angel...

Scene: NERV Command Center
Announcement: "General Quarters! Battle Stations!"
     "Prepare for ground-to-air intercept!!"
Fuyutsuki: Status of the target?
Shigeru: Currently invading! The Komagatake defense line has been breached!

(Zeruel floats through the sky toward New Tokyo-3.
Missles fire from fixed batteries and mobile launchers, but explode harmlessly on
Zeruel's A.T.Field. Zeruel's face flashes and a massive cross-shaped explosion
rises in the center of New Tokyo-3. -- Back to the Command Center)

Makoto: Armor plates 1 through 18 damaged!
     (aghast) 18 armored plates in a single instant...
Misato: The Eva won't make it in time for an above-ground intercept! Deploy
Eva-02 within the Geofront! Assign it to the direct relief of Headquarters
facilities, and have Asuka sharpshoot the target the instant it enters the
Geofront! (Eva-02 launches) What is Eva-00's status!?
Maya: Stationed at the A.T.Field neutralization point!
Ritsuko: The left arm isn't regenerated yet.
Misato: Combat impossible...?
Gendo: Have Rei sortie in Eva-01. Prepare the dummy plug for backup.
Misato: ... Yes, sir.

(Back to the battle -- Zeruel's face flashes and multiple cross explosions rise
in New Tokyo-3. Shinji watches from a slightly distant hilltop with a slightly
troubled expression.)
Shinji (thinking): I... decided I wouldn't pilot anymore...
(UN VTOL craft zoom past overhead, and as Shinji looks up a hand grabs his elbow
-- Shinji turns in surprise/shock to see Kaji.)
Kaji: What are you doing out here? Aren't you going to evacuate...?
Shinji: Kaji!? Why are you here!
Kaji: Let's see... the closest shelter from here is-
Shinji (shouting): Did you come to take me back?
     My father... did he order it!?
Kaji (dragging Shinji along): No, I'm here of my own free will. And it was tough
getting all the way here without being caught by the Intelligence Division.
You're also aware, aren't you? Surveillance has become intense lately. But, if I
didn't do it I might never get the chance to talk with you again.
Shinji (still not trusting): Talk!? About what? I have nothing to talk about!
Kaji (softly): 5 years ago, the year that Second Impact happened... I was 14
years old just like you. And I may have been empathizing with you a little too
much.
(Shinji's angry expression eases)

- End Stage 41