Part 88: Mission 49 - Death and Rebirth - Part 2
Over by the Tokyo Hilanipla, Quon is hearing something: a song she heard in olden times. Maya knows this to mean that the boy has appeared. It’s almost time for the last movement’s overture.
: … We can consider the MU’s interference to be properly stymied now.
: Whatever plans Bähbem might be concocting, we’ve the Magnate Ten and the Medius Locus at our disposal to deal with it.: Despite Zapato’s somewhat unforeseen death, that is.: All within the scope of our predictions; that woman is dancing squarely over the palms of our hands and she won’t be escaping from there. : Furthermore, if the Medius can destroy that demon, then it’ll already have served its purpose. And, finally, as per SEELE’s Dead Sea Scrolls, only one Angel remains…
: The promised time is close at hand, after a long journey and so many sacrifices.: Indeed… the loss of the Unit #00 is already more than enough reason for Ikari to be dismissed. : Though we’ll need a pawn to deal with him.: And it will have to be someone who knows the truth…
Vega wants to know what happened to Rei, though Misato’s quiet. Why? Ginga remembers that the last time she used her A.T. Field to be safe after the explosion, right? Misato honestly doesn’t know what happened, as the recovery of the #00’s wreck was conducted with absolute secrecy by the science division.
Meg and Touji wonder if Miasto’s hiding something from us but she also wants to know what Ritsuko’s folks are up to. Shinji… seems to be bit stunned over everything: “I… I’ve no tears, Misato… I’m feeling so sad but none are coming…”
As for Asuka, she’s been taken to NERV’s hospital – her life isn’t in danger but she’s in a coma. Ginga’s also taking it pretty hard, starting to wonder if we could’ve done A or B differently and things would’ve ended better. Misato takes the blame on herself for making a bad call, though Vega tries comforting her.
As for Ayato, Meg says he’s been with Haruka ever since returning.
: Ayato…
: …I can’t paint it…
: Huh?: The painting I wanted to show you.: …: You knew us, didn’t you? Me, Hiroko… and Mamoru…: …I did. But, now, he’s…: My mom and Mamoru were all lying to me… why? What are they trying to make me do…?: What… What am I…?: Ayato…
Over by the Dummy System, Fuyutsuki is musing over Ayanami Rei, a byproduct of his despair and, yet, vessel of Gendou’s hopes. He bitterly notes that it seems impossible for them to forget, and after a pause asks if Gendou's son is to become their own Ollin. Gendou doesn't know yet - perhaps only EVA-01 does.
Masato’s relaying the orders we’ve been given: we’ll maintain our current status and continue to patrol the area. Kirakuni isn’t too surprised, what with two EVAs out of commission and the #01’s situation being as uncertain as it is; if anyone attacked, things would get complicated.
Our people have been briefed on that mysterious boy being the Fifth Children and Hugo asks if anyone knows anything about him. The kid seemed to speak to the Dolem, causing it to back off without even trying to finish us off. Could he also be a Mulian, Elvy wonders.
Masato doesn’t think so. Inwardly, he notes that Kaworu had a similar aura as him – a child devised and created by someone’s hand. If Masato’s hunch is right, he is…
Masato’s brought back to reality when Aqua rushes in, yelling. What’s going on? It’s Rei… she’s alright!
: (…Why… Why am I here? Why am I alive again? For what? For whom?)
: Ayanami!!: …
: You’re safe… thank god…: …: Um… my dad isn’t here?: …: Thanks… Thanks for saving us.: What?: What do you mean “what”? You sacrificed the #00 to save us, didn’t you?: I see… I saved you.
: You don’t remember?: No… I don’t know… Probably because I’m the third one.: “Third”…?!: Go.: Huh…?: Go. You don’t need to worry about me.: O-OK…*Shinji leaves.*
: …
: …So you’re the First Children.
: …: Rei Ayanami… We are alike, both given bodies like the Lilin’s with which to live in this world…: …Who are you?
Gendou is passing orders for the First Children to be left as is, while the others will simple be under surveillance. Furthermore, he wants synchronization tests ran on the #02 right away. The call ended, he confirms to Fuyutsuki that Kaworu’s come into contact with Rei.
They’re having the MAGI analyze Kaworu’s data from top to bottom. They seem to have an idea of what he might be.
Fuyutsuki also warns that Rei being alive again will likely ruffle Keel’s feathers but Gendou says that he's thrown them a different piece of meat. Regardless, while the MU and the Fifth ARE both unwanted visitors, they are also the hateful keys to the door leading to the end and the beginning.
Ritsuko’s been brought before SEELE and they’re hoping they can proceed with this as gently as possible – no need to impose further hardship on her. Ritsuko levelly says she isn’t feeling anything in particular and Member A compliments what strong woman she is. It’s no wonder Gendou likes her by his side.
Granted, Member B argues that it was Gendou himself who hung her out to dry here. They originally wanted to interrogate the #00’s pilot but he refused. Ritsuko doesn’t like the thought of being used as a stand-in for Rei but, regardless, SEELE still has questions to ask her…
NERV’s running the synchronization tests and Fuyutsuki’s having a hard time believing the numbers they’re getting. All systems are working properly and the MAGI aren’t pointing at any errors, though.
Kaworu apparently can sync with the #02 even before they made the proper changes to the core, which is unbelievable. In truth, Maya says this shouldn’t be possible but here it is. She wants to show this to Ritsuko ASAP but Fuyutsuki says she’s busy right now.
Misato is bothered, though. They need to accept that this is real, yes, but, more importantly, they now need to understand HOW this is actually happening.
: Yow, you’re pretty dang awesome. This your first time piloting an EVA?: It is.: And you’re already getting those huge sync numbers… damn.
: That’s incredible, Kaworu.: Yup. I reckon Asuka can just focus on getting better now that you’re covering for her.
: Hahah… but I’m still really far from your level.: N-No, no. I also didn’t get pretty much anything when I first piloted an EVA…
: …: Shinji, what’ll you be doing after this?: W-Well, I was gonna go home…: Mind if I come with?
: Huh…? W-Why…?: I’m interested in you.: I-Interested…?: Ohoho… you two got something going on?: Wh-Whatever do you mean by that, Touji?: Well, I reckon I’m being a third wheel here. Let’s take off, Ayanami.
: …*They leave.*
: Ah—… Touji… Ayanami…: You’re really averse to opening up to others, aren't you? Does letting people in scare you…?
: …It did, before. But now, I…: If you don’t get to know others, then you can’t be betrayed by them. You can’t hurt each other… Still, as part of the Magnate Ten, you’ve managed to overcome the pain and sorrow, no?: Y-Yes…: But man can’t be rid of loneliness for good… because man is alone. Man lives on because he can forget. The memories of a world that once was, the trials that took place there… the pain, the sorrow… all of it is forgotten.
: What… what are you talking about?: There’s always pain in man’s heart. And because of that, he feels life as pain. But that’s something that’s necessary to stop the world’s march towards destruction.: The “world’s march towards destruction”…?: You fight to stop that from happening but it’s hard, isn’t it, Shinji?: Ka-Kaworu…: Hearts are delicate like glass… especially yours.: I’m…?: Yes. And that is what makes me fond of you.: Fond…?
: In other words, I love you.: !: I was born into this world to meet you.: Th-That’s…: (Yes… just like before.)*Pager!*
: Hm? Ritsuko’s asking for me…?: You’ve a job to do, hm? You should go then.: Ah? But…: Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m sure we’ll have a chance to talk again. : O-OK… I’ll see you later.*Off he goes.*
: (The truth always hurts… but it is still something you must accept, Shinji… Just like that Ollin.)
SEELE has just released Ritsuko, which Member B thinks will work out in their favor; her work has been essential for the EVA Series and they figure she still has some use left in her. Everything they do is to safeguard mankind’s future and overcome the collapse of the world.
The Evangelions are being created for that purpose – eight of the EVA Series are already underway, with another four still planned to come. Keel orders the production to be sped up as their completion will signal the arrival of the promised time.
Later, Makoto has borrowed/stolen Kaworu’s data from Maya and brought it to Misato. She apologizes for having him play thief but he tells her not to – he also wants to get some answers.
What they see explain why Maya couldn’t divulge this data – everything is theoretically impossible. The fact that Kaworu can seemingly synchronize himself with an EVA at will only deepens the mystery.
Misato then gets paged and tells Makoto they’ll continue this another time. Inwardly, she sees that Ritsuko’s returned.
: …*Beeeeep!*
: …?! My password isn’t…?
: It won’t open without my password.: I see… Kaji’s handiwork, hm?
: I’d like to see what secret you’re keeping here, if you would.: That’s fine, though he’ll be joining us.: Misato…
: …Alright.
: Are those… EVAs?!: The very first ones… though they were ultimately failures, thrown away ten years ago.: There are so many… it’s like a graveyard for EVAs…: More like a dumping ground… this is also where your mother disappeared.: !: You might not remember but you saw it happen with your own two eyes.: …!!: Ritsuko!: …Let’s keep going. There’s more to see, deeper.
: This is… the source of the Dummy Plugs…?
: Let me show you the truth behind it…
: Wh-What…?!: Ayanami… Rei…!: The EVAs’ Dummy Plugs are…?!: Correct. This is the production line of the cores of the Dummy System.: Then they’re…!: All you see here are Dummies… And they are no more than replacement parts for Rei.: Man found God and, in their joy, tried to make Him theirs… and for that man was punished. That was fifteen years ago…: The Second Impact…! : And because of that, the God man found disappeared… Then man tried to resurrect God with this own hands. The result… was Adam.: And from Adam, we created Man, in God’s image... That is the EVA.: “Man”…? The Evangelions are humans?!: Yes… they are humans. The EVAs were originally soulless, and so we housed souls within them. They're all salvaged from a world that isn't our own. : Then… the EVAs and Angels are from another world, just like the MU?!: But the only vessel that held a soul was Rei – none but her were born with one. The Chamber of Guf was empty.: The things you see here, these Reis, are simply empty, soulless vessels. Dolls, like the Dolems.: I hate them… And that’s why I’ll destroy them.*Beeep.*
: !
: Do you have any idea what you’re doing?!: I do – I’m destroying them. They’re not human, only things made to look like one.: But I lost, even to these things…! I couldn’t win him!: I could stand any indignity for him – whatever happened to me, I didn’t care…! And, still, he… he…!: …: I know… I’m a tremendous fool… like mother, like daughter…! : …
: (Ritsuko…): If you want to kill me, go right ahead. Actually… I’d be glad if you did…: And that is what really makes you a fool…: Kch… aah…: (Another tragic story of those bound to the EVAs… Am I the same…?): (Ayanami Rei… What I felt from her… was it really my mom…? Dad… just what are you doing with mom and Ayanami…?!): (And… what am I supposed to do? How am I to face Ayanami again…? Please, someone tell me… Mom… Asuka… Kaworu…! What do I do?!)
Kaworu’s visiting SEELE: “Man can’t create something from nothing. Man can do nothing without relying on something – because man is not God,” he says. However, Keel points out that there are those attempting to claim power equal to God’s, a group beyond them that is trying to open Pandora’s Box once again.
Kaworu knows who they speak of: the blue-blooded people… and Ernst Von Bähbem. And, finally, there is one man who wants to shut Pandora’s Box before hope can emerge from within. Kaworu asks if that is what the Lilin would call hope and Member A says hope takes different forms for everyone. After all, hope only exists within the people’s hearts.
Keel, however, declares that SEELE's own hope is turning tangible… in Lilith, the progenitor of humanity – the false heirs from the Black Moon – and in Adam, the progenitor of the Angels – the righteous heirs from the lost White Moon. Adam, whose salvaged soul now resides in Kaworu.
Problem is, the flesh of the revived Adam is already in Gendou’s possession – meaning he is like Kaworu. Thus, SEELE places their wishes with him and ask that he carry it out before the blue-blooded people, their mechanical god and its Instrumentalist perform the Tuning.
“So that the Human Instrumentality Project… no, so that the Pluridimensional Instrumentality Project may succeed… so that all universes and their peoples may become one, free from the cycle of death and rebirth, and owners of a new future…” Keel beseeches.
: I understand. That’s why I’m here, after all…: (Everything’ll go as the Lilin want it to, and it’ll be Shinji and his friends who’ll make that call… regardless of what you expect.): …: Oh…? Have you come to stop me, Ixtli?
: …: He doesn’t want to obstruct your melody, so I won’t be doing that either.
: …What have you chosen?: That’ll depend on your Ollin and our Ollin.: What about the lance that'd grant your group's wishes?: It's not necessary. We’ve no need for the lance that pierces God's heart... Neither does your group's God, of course.: That is why no one can stop the one offered to God... and you can't stop me, either.: …*Reika vanishes.*
I’d take a thousand Fudou koans over these two meeting again…
: That’s right… It’s not me who’ll decide the path all the worlds will follow, Ixtli…: Let’s go, Adam’s replica… servant of the Lilin.
Using the Alpha 3 BGM here because it’s got more stuff to it.
: The EVA-02’s moving!: How?! Where’s Asuka?!
: Still in room 303 – we’ve just confirmed it!: Then who the hell is it?!
: It’s no one! The #02’s Entry Plug is empty!: (No one…?! It’s not the Fifth, then?!): We’re detecting an A.T. Field within Central Dogma!: The #02’s?!: No, the pattern is blue! This is an Angel!: What?!: (That boy… he’s an Angel?!): Target’s descending through Central Dogma – it’s already through the fourth level!
: Seal off all of Central Dogma’s bulwarks. Anything to buy us time.: Target has just passed through the fifth level!: We were right… that boy is…!
: SEELE’s old men mean to accelerate their plans up even further… using us to do it.*Alarm!*
: The #02’s breaking through the bulwarks!: The target’s passed through the second Cocytus!: Have the EVA-01 intercept it. The other units are to deploy immediately.: Yes, sir!: Stop the target from entering Terminal Dogma by whatever means necessary.: (But… why would an Angel hijack the #02…?!): Could it be trying to fuse with the EVA-02?: Or maybe it’s to bring about more destruction.: No! You’re lying! You’re lying! There’s no way Kaworu’s an Angel!: That’s the truth… you need to accept it. You are to deploy right away, alright?: …!!
: You… you’ve betrayed me..! You stomped all over my trust and betrayed me, just like dad…!: The #01’s made it to the bottom level! It should be reaching the target soon!: Makoto… if the #01’s signal disappears or any other changes happen…
: I know. I’m to engage the self-destruct for the entire facility, right?: Right.: It’s better than letting the Third Impact trigger…: Sorry…: It’s fine… Dying beside you wouldn’t be too bad.: …Thank you.*RUUUMBLE!*
: What was that?!: An A.T. Field! Stronger than any we’ve detected!: It’s blocking all light, electromagnetic and particle readings! The monitors are all dead!: No unit other than the #01’ll be able to descend into Terminal Dogma now! : It’s a barrier…!: Both the #01 and #02’s signals have vanished! Unable to contact the pilot!*RUUUMBLE!*
: S-Status?!: That was an A.T. Field again!: Another A.T. Field, similar to the last one, has emerged near Terminal Dogma’s barrier! The barrier’s being neutralized!: Th-The other units can get there again!: Who neutralized the Field?! Another Angel?!: …Rei?: …: The final safety device has just fallen through!: Heaven’s Door… is opening…!: An Angel has finally made it…!
: You’re late, Shinji…
: Adam… that from which we came. Must one born of Adam return to Adam, even if it’ll trigger man’s destruction…?*…*
: No…! This is… Lilith? I see… So that’s how it is, Lilin.
: I’ve been waiting, Shinji.: Kaworu!: The EVA Series… They were born of Adam, so the Lilin should hate them… but they’re actually fine with using them in order to survive. I don’t understand that.: Kaworu, stop! Why is this happening?!: The EVA is made of the same matter as me. I, too, was born from Adam, see?: The #02’s soul has shut itself away for now and with it gone, I could take the unit over.: !!
: An A.T. Field?!: Ah, right. That’s what you Lilin call this, huh? It’s the light of the soul, a sacred territory where no one can enter.: It’s the wall around the heart and everyone has it. You Lilin know that, right?: I don’t understand any of that, Kaworu!
: Shinji!!: A-Ayato…! Everyone…!: Heh… She brought them over here, huh?: …
: He is the last Angel, Shinji…?!: H-He…!: Oh, that machine…
: !: It’s got the key to the Doors of Guf, I see.
: “Key”…?! You mean the Dimensional Coupling System?!: That’s right. It’s both a device to draw unlimited power from a parallel world and the key to open the walls between worlds. : Only… it wasn’t available back then.
: It wasn’t…? You don’t mean—!
: Because I… Because Masaki Kihara stole the Zeorymer?: Hmhmm. You didn’t like the idea of leaving the key with SEELE. In fact, you, yourself, tried opening the doors leading to the end.: Then the Zeorymer and Haudragon…: Were created by those who know the truth in order to put an end to this world… Just in case we managed to destroy everything.: …!: But it looks like you didn’t choose to do that…: That’s right…! I’m not going to use the Zeorymer for whatever its original purpose was…: That’s how I’ll atone for what I did… I will not let this world end!
: Hell, yeah! We’re all up for that!: Ah, the power and hope earned from the past… and the seventh light…
: Huh…?!: The ultimate hope is inside you.
: Ultimate... hope?
: Do… Do you know something?!: You’ll understand, soon.: …!: Your hearts are delicate but they’re also strong… That’s why you deserve to be owners of your future.: Will it be me that reaches the other shore of time, or your group? …Or maybe this place already is that. (Check Buddhism for the other shore/Higan/Pure Land)
: Huh… The hell’s he on about?!
: D-Don’t ask me…!: Come on, then, Ollin… Bless my soul with your song.: !!: This is a trial you’ll have to overcome if you’re to attain Yolteotl…: If you can’t, then I’ll have to Tune all the worlds myself.: Wh-What are you…?!: We’ve been burdened with the same destiny. You, too, Shinji.: Huh…?!: Who’ll be at the center of everything… who’ll watch over the various worlds… who’ll be the crux of the endless cycle…: All the trials you’ve had were to decide who that person’ll be.: I don’t really understand what you’re saying, Kaworu…!: That’s fine for now, Shinji.: Go, Ollin… sing. Sing your forbidden song. The song that resounds from past to future… that once opened the Doors of Guf and awakened us…: The song that’ll lead the Lilin to the Promised Land…!: !!*RahXephon howls!*
: The mechanical god…: Sing. Sing your forbidden song.
: …!: Bless my soul with your song.
: A-Ayato…!: Get to work. If you don’t stop me now, you’ll all be destroyed.: “Destroyed”…? H-How come?!
: We… we have to beat him. Misato told me that if an Angel ever got in contact with Adam, it might trigger the Third Impact…!
: …!!
: Then we better take him up on his word…!
: A-Ain’t no other way around this…!
: Yeah…! It’s too damn soon for everything to end…!: (History repeats itself… Thousands and thousands of cycles have passed and the still Lilin can’t escape death…): (But life and death are two sides of the same coin. The fated destruction also brings the joy of rebirth…): (But if man can just keep hope alive within, that’s good enough… If they do, their hope will lead them to a new future even if their world was destroyed…): (And someday, man’ll be able to set themselves free from the cycle controlled by the Infinite Power…)Kaworu’s got auto-mercy for this first round, so you needn’t even worry about getting anyone killed (though he really isn’t tough).
: What’re you going to do? Will you open the Doors again or…: My answer should be pretty obvious…! I’d never open any Doors that’d cause the world to end!
: Masato…!: If you’re so certain, then I suppose that key’s already useless. All that’s left now is closing the Doors shut…
: How can someone like you be an Angel…?: But that’s reality and you need to come to grips with it… and with the meaning behind the name "AI1".: Hm?! What do you know about AI1?!: You’ll figure it out and not too far from now. When you do, we might actually meet again…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDqaPgicbOg
Ow!
: H-Hey, you… were you tricking us?!: Take it any way you want. The fact is there was no way around it.
: The hell?! Never mind me, I ain’t gonna cut you any slack for spitting in Shinji’s face like that!: Lying to him ain’t something I’m ever forgiving!: Hahah… With good friends like you around, I’m sure Shinji’ll be fine…
: You know what’s up with me and the RahXephon, don’t you? Tell me, please!: All the answers are inside you. And you’ll find them soon enough.: When you do, the world’ll likely be filled with your song…
: I can’t make heads or tails of whatever you’re on about!: That’s fine. You already have your answer to the future deep inside.
: Then talk to us! What’d you mean by that “ultimate hope inside me” business?!: That is something you… rather, the two of you’ll need to find for yourselves.
: Kaworu…! I… I…!: It’s alright… this is a ceremony. All to decide who’ll be making it to the Promised Land.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa4USoqlnqI
Depending on whether Shinji or Ayato deals the finishing blow, this convo changes a bit.
: …Thank you, Shinji/Ollin. I wanted you to be the one to stop the #02.: If you didn’t, I might’ve gone on living with her.: Kaworu… why…?!
: You… but why…?!: Because it’s my destiny to go on living… even if that’d mean the destruction of man.: But I can also die here. Whether I live or not doesn’t make a whole lot of difference to me. Dying of your own will… that is the only absolute freedom there is.: What… Kaworu, what are you talking about?! I don’t understand…!: Shinji…: That was my last will and testament. Now, please, kill me. If you don’t, you’ll be the ones who’ll be killed. Ayato only:
: Only one life form can be chosen to survive the end times and earn its future… and you, the Lilin, should not be the ones to die… : …: …: …: Your friends need a future. Don’t forget that, even after you’ve attained Yolteotl.: …: Thank you… I’ll be waiting at the other shore of time…: …: ……: ………: …………Shinji only:
: Only one life form can be chosen to survive the end times and earn its future… and you should not be the one to die… : …: …: …: All of you need a future.: …: Thank you… I’m glad I met you.: …: ……: ………: …………
: …Kaworu said he loved me.: …: That was the first time anyone said that to me. He was like me… and like Ayanami… I liked him too…: …: He should’ve been the one to survive… he was a much better person than me…: Kaworu deserved to live…: …No. Only those with the will to survive actually deserve to live.: He wanted to die. He gave up on his will to live and died clinging to false hope… You’ve nothing to blame yourself for.: …You’re such a cold person, Misato.: That is the only way to survive what’s to come…
Haruka tells Vega that the RahXephon team’ll be heading back to TERRA to help with the ongoing project (Bright’s already OK’d it).
Moreover, the EVA team will also be staying at NERV for the time being – unsurprising to Vega, considering everything that happened. As for our remaining units, we’ll be heading back into space to rendezvous with the Nadesco and Argama.
Operation Bagration succeeded but the battle against the Gulfer continues – plus, the Devil Gundam is always a worry. And then there’s still the MU.
With wishes for each other to take care, the two Sailor Scouts go their separate ways.