Stage 54 - The Birth of Nerv

Cover: Gendo sitting at desk in Nerv HQ office with shadow of window beam protruding
from his back like a crooked cross

Scene: Ritsuko standing on umbilical bridge staring abstractly up at Eva-01. Maya
speaks from behind and off to one side, arousing Ritsuko from her reverie.
Maya: Umm... Doctor (Senpai)?
Ritsuko: Sorry, what is it?
Maya: It's just that I summoned Rei, but she didn't come. I looked everywhere she might
be, but...
Ritsuko: That's unusual. It's not like her to go missing without permission. Well, I
guess it can't be helped. Delay the test until this afternoon.
Maya: Will that be okay?
Ritsuko: We all need a break sometimes...
Maya: Now that you mention it, I haven't seen Katsuragi since yesterday either.
Ritsuko: ..... Yes, I wonder why.

Scene: Misato sitting with eyes closed and arms wrapped around knees in dark detention
room
Misato (thinking): I'm still not good with dark places. They bring back memories of
nothing but terrible things.
(Images of the Antarctica during Second Impact, followed by images of the naked Misato
and Kaji holding each other and kissing)
Misato (thinking): Back then... when I was with him... that was the only time I was
able to completely forget everything that happened. (back to Misato in dark room) I
wish I could have remained immersed in that happiness forever.

Scene: Rei (school uniform) and Shinji (hospital clothing) walking through a garden
with a pool, fountains and pavilion outside Nerv Headquarters (Note: The same garden
that appears in Stage 25 "Shall We Dance?")
Rei: It's lovely. I didn't know such a place existed on the Headquarters grounds.
Shinji: You've worked here all that time and you didn't know?
(Rei crouches by the edge of the pool and runs her hand through the water)
Rei: I've never gone anywhere I did not need to go.
(Shinji watches Rei silently from behind. Rei speaks without turning her head.)
Rei: The first time we touched, I did not feel anything.
Shinji: Huh?
Rei: Your hand...
Shinji (thinking): The first time... that was when... (image of Shinji holding the
injured Rei in Ep1)
Rei: The second time...
(Shinji remembers falling atop the naked Rei in her apartment and gets a strained look
on his face)
Rei: ...was maybe a little sickening. (Shinji = shock!)
Shinji (sweating): I... I'm sorry about that.
Rei: The third time felt warm.
(Image of Shinji saving Rei from overheated entry plug)
Rei: I could feel the warmth of your body through the (plug)suit.
Rei: The fourth time... made me glad. (image of Shinji holding Rei's burnt hand under
running water) Your hand, worrying/caring about me.
(Rei looks back over shoulder at Shinji)
Rei: May I touch your hand... once more?
Shinji: ..... Okay.
(The two reach out and hold hands)

Scene: 2004 - Hakone, 2nd Underground Test Site
(Fuyutsuki looks down sternly at the young Shinji smiling up at him)
Fuyutsuki: Why is there a child here?
Akagi (not happy either): It's Director Ikari's son.
Fuyutsuki: Ikari, this is not a daycare. Today is-
Yui (over intercom): I'm sorry, Professor Fuyutsuki. I begged to bring him along.
Fuyutsuki: Yui, today is your important experiment.
Yui: That's why -- I want to show my child the bright future of humankind.
Fuyutsuki: Yui...
(Back to Fuyutsuki in Seele cell)
Fuyutsuki (remembering): Who would have thought those would be the last words from
Ikari Yui. An irregular accident erased her from this world. And from that day forth,
Ikari also changed.

Scene: Ikari's Nerv Headquarters office
Fuyutsuki: Where have you been this last week? It's fine to be grieving, but you don't
belong just to yourself anymore. And you should be aware of that.
Gendo: I know... Fuyutsuki, from today I'm promoting a new project. I've already
proposed it to Chairman Keel. In addition to our main project, we will also pursue the
restoration of the original Adam.
Fuyutsuki: The Adam Project...
Gendo: And there is one more.
Fuyutsuki (realization => shock): No, you mean that...!?
Gendo: Yes. (image of staircase ascending into light) The path to god -- that which no
one has achieved thus far. The Instrumentality Project.
(Fuyutsuki stares speechless in shock)

Fuyutsuki (remembering): The Instrumentality Committee, chaired by Keel Lorentz,
immediately dissolved the research organization Gehirn, and formed the special agency
NERV as the executing organization for all of the projects. (image of Nerg HQ pyramid)
The entire Gehirn organization transferred to NERV -- that is all except for one
person. (image of bloody Naoko Akagi splattered at base of Magi System) Dr. Naoko
Akagi, who had rendered distinguished service in the development of the Magi System...

Scene: Sound of door opening. Light enters the darkened room, and a shadow approaches
Fuyutsuki from behind.
Fuyutsuki (looking over shoulder): You...
Kaji: It's been a while. I'm glad to see you are okay. (frees Fuyutsuki from the
handcuffs) I had the guard outside go to sleep for a bit.
Fuyutsuki: I fail to understand why you would first kidnap me, and then save me.
Kaji: I just want to get closer to the truth... my truth. And it seems that NERV is
closer to the truth than Seele and the Committee. (Kaji leads Fuyutsuki out the door)
Besides, I just couldn't live with myself if you were erased like this.
Fuyutsuki: ..... This action will result in your death.
Kaji: I've been prepared for that from the start.

Scene: Sunlight streaming down onto Nerv HQ pyramid. Intelligence Division staff in
Gendo's office
Gendo: So Fuyutsuki is alright?
Man: Yes sir. He was received into our custody a short while ago. However, the
whereabouts of the person who accompanied him are unknown.
Gendo: I see...

- End Stage 54