Part 65: Mission 36 - Life's Destination - Part 1
Location: MU’s Tokyo Command Center
Maya asks Miwa for an estimate on the progression of the outside world’s schedule – Case S, it's called. Considering the time difference, she imagines they’re about at stage 13 BUT can’t hazard a guess as to how the schedule was affected by this side’s influence. It’s possible things aren’t proceeding in order.
Maya ponders that stage 13 is an important factor in the development of “their key”. Should they send troops to disrupt it, then? No, Maya says it’s not necessary.
More importantly, didn’t someone leave here with Ayato before? Mamoru slowly confirms and Maya decides to said person to use. Mamoru is bothered but won’t argue with her.
: … It seems the RahXephon has returned to this side.
: Not once, but twice now… the “key’s” awakening may be close at hand. We ought to assume that the other side is moving at a faster pace than what is depicted in the schedule.
: Corrections to the operational timetable are already underway after the disappearance of the second branch and EVA-04… We should see no major variations.: Still, while the emergence of the Angels has been less than what was originally expected, the situation does not allow us the luxury of guesswork. Also, there’s the possibility that Ikari will try to find a different use for the EVA-03.: That, he would... especially considering this side’s “key” is firmly in his grasp.: Moreover, there’s still the matter of that troublesome old man. He’s steadily making headway with another means of bringing about the end… the mobile weapon crowned with the Devil’s name.: In that case, we should simply make use of our insurance policy. : The issue is that man – like Masaki Kihara – is also somewhat familiar with our project. At worst, he, together with the Magnate Ten, could actually turn into a significant obstacle.: Very well. Then we should ring the proverbial bell – Elde Mitte’s bell, that is.
Location: GEAR HQ
Elvy and, especially, Haruka aren’t happy to find out that even our folks have lost sight of the RahXephon. Vega relates that it went south after leaving Tokyo Jupiter but it vanished after being engulfed in a magnetic storm.
Megumi wants to know what happened inside Tokyo and why Ayato hasn’t come back to us but Haruka can’t really answer that. Bright says the Federation’s got some AWACS trying to ping the RahXephon but, for now, we’ll be reorganizing ourselves at GEAR.
If anything, Vega is glad that the women made it back safely and tells Haruka to keep her chin up – isn’t she the one who said that Ayato would come back to us eventually? So we should continue to believe in him and be patient.
Kouji is wondering where Ayato could’ve run off to and Hayato posits that he must have a reason for not coming back. Or maybe he figures he, a Mulian, has no place with us? Benkei vehemently rejects that idea, as no one here would care about that sort of us.
When Domon asks, Akira says he has no idea what to do about this – the Raideen hasn’t reacted in any way, either. Rom says that there’s a moment in every person’s life where they must face and rise above the harshness of reality… and he wants to believe Ayato has the strength to do so.
NERV HQ
Misato is aghast to learn that the boot-up test for EVA-03 has been moved up two days at Gendou's orders. She doesn’t think the pilot’s ready for this. Ritsuko says he’s already begun taking the necessary lectures and, furthermore, Misato ought to know that they haven’t the wiggle room to take things slowly.
Things are only going to get worse from here on out, so they need as many combat-ready EVAs as possible – even one more will help tremendously and that’s why they’re doing all this. Is that why things are proceeding so quickly, Misato wonders?
The speed with which the #03 is being brought over and the selection of the Fourth Children… it’s all incomparably faster than with the EVA-02. Further proof of how important this is, Ritsuko says. There’s no hidden agenda here.
Misato doesn’t look convinced.
Later, Misato goes visit Kaji in hopes that he has some idea what's going on. He observes that it's not like her to depend on others, and she responds that she's got no time to keep up appearances these days.
She asks him to tell her what's really going on with the Marduk Institute - how was Fourth Children found so fast? Kaji seem hesitant to speak but eventually tells her to check up on Code 707 - the number of Shinji's school. Marduk does not in fact exist at all - it's just a front for NERV itself... meaning for Gendou.
That’s all he’s going to say but, in return, would she hear a small request from him? He’d like her to forward the data she has on the Tsentr Project prototype, the Medius Locus. Why? Well, the other day, he was poking around a list detailing those involved in the development for the MAGI supercomputers and a name stood out… Elde Mitte.
Misato’s surprised Kaji knows about Elde’s involvement in the Medius project but that’s kind of his job. He doesn’t figure Elde as someone directly connected to NERV, rather, she was likely hired as a third-party staff. But, again, he’s not telling any more.
Misato agrees to send him a copy of the data IF he lets her pass this bit of info along to Hugo and Aqua. That’s fine with him, so long as she keeps it limited to those two.
Location: Neo Tokyo 3
The EVA kids are having a regular school day, with class having just ended. Kensuke’s raring to leave, even though Shinji points out he slept through the whole thing. Well, he got back home late yesterday, having gone to Yokosuka to check out some Dragoons stationed there.
Of course, those units aren’t anything impressive to Shinji and Kensuke is green with envy over how he gets to hang out with rare bots like the Dragonars, Gundams, Mazingers, Aestivalis… Shinji never really thought of it like that but, yeah, it’s a positive of the job.
Rei’s already taking off and tells that Asuka’s off with Hikari. As she leaves, Shinji realizes that Touji wasn’t around today. Maybe he’s visiting his sister at the hospital? Hmm…
But that doesn’t matter, Kensuke has more important stuff on his mind: like confidential NERV intel he (again) hacked from his father’s computer. He’s particularly curious about the newly completed EVA-03 and rumors that NERV’ll be running a boot-up test tomorrow. Sadly, Shinji hasn’t heard anything about it.
Does he know if they’ve picked a pilot yet? Nope. Kensuke sighs wistfully, wishing Misato would give him an EVA of his own. Can Shinji make that happen? Nope. And, for that matter, Shinji also hasn’t been told zip about the vanishing NERV second branch and EVA-04. Must be one of those need-to-know things, Kensuke figures.
Shinji gets deep in thought and Kensuke apologizes for all the questions. Will Shinji be attending school for a bit again? Yes, though he’s on call – if the order comes, it’s back to the Magnate Ten. That’s better than nothing, so Kensuke gives him a “see you tomorrow.”
Shinji’s left to ponder the lack of information regarding the EVA-03 or its chosen pilot. He’s got a bad feeling… but is interrupted the Touji shows up. He’s got something to talk with him.
Over by Hikari’s place, Asuka finds her making a box lunch for her sisters and, more important to Asuka, Touji. She already cooks three of these a day, so a fourth wasn’t any problem.
That’s obviously not the whole of it and asks if Hikari’s that taken with Touji. The girl stutters a confirmation, somewhat surprised that Asuka noticed – of course she did, she’s not dense like the Three Stooges.
Hikari argues that Shinji’s just innocent but, no, Asuka says he’s thick and stupid and he’s got no idea how to interact with people. Hikari confesses she took him as someone like that… when he first transferred over. Nowadays, not so much: he’s still a quiet kid but he’s now willing to actively start talking with folks.
Asuka allows that he's got plenty of influences like that around him, and asks Hikari what she sees in the hot-headed Touji. She says softly that he’s got a gentler side and Asuka certainly didn’t expect that answer. Hikari figures she simply hasn’t gotten a chance to see it but swears it’s true.
Well, Asuka won’t call her assessment into question but she suggests she just go and tell the guy how she feels: this world is too crazy to dilly-dally. Hikari’s a bit ill at ease at the thought but Asuka says there’s no telling what tomorrow might bring. She doubts Hikari wants to regret it later.
: So, what did you want to talk about, Touji?
: Erm, well… Shinji… When ya first got on your Evangelion, how’d ya feel?
: Huh…?
: How was it? Ya felt scared or somethin’?: Why… why are you asking me that?: ‘Cuz I… The truth is… I’ll be pilotin’ the #03 tomorrow.
: !!: …: Y-You’re joking, right?!: It’s true. This NERV chick, Akagi, came over the other day… Said that if I became the thing’s pilot, they’d get my sis over to NERV’s infirmary and she’d be gettin’ world-class treatment.: B-But… Why do you need to be the one to pilot the EVA?!: It’s just how it is, I guess… And I went and said OK – to help my baby sis, yeah?: …: But… I’m scared of doin’ it. I told myself it was no big deal – easy stuff… but now that I’m just a day away, I’m gettin’ cold feet…: Touji…: Can I… really pull off the stuff you, Rei and Asuka do…?: Touji…
: … It’ll be alright. Anyone would get scared and confused at first but… you’ll have everyone at NERV helping you as best they can. Honestly, they’ve saved me so many times already.: Plus, there are a lot of supportive people in the Magnate Ten.: Supportive, eh…? I reckon they’re a fine bunch if you’re sayin’ stuff like that.: They are… So you’ll be fine tomorrow. If even I can do this, I’m sure you’ll do great.: Hm… Sorry. I didn’t even think of how ya’d feel before droppin’ those questions…: …
We find Ayato and Hiroko holed up in a hotel room in the outskirts of Neo Tokyo 3. He’s about to head out for a part-time job and leaving her with the spare key – the plan is to get enough cash saved to pay for a ticket out of Neo Tokyo 3.
Hiroko ponders the name, a Tokyo she had no idea existed, and Ayato says he’ll be back by dinnertime. Until then, it’d be safer if she didn’t go outside by herself. Hiroko seems a bit bothered and asks Ayato if he’s doing this out of some sense of responsibility.
He denies this, saying that he knows very well that they can't go on doing this forever. He just wants time to think, believing that he'll figure out what to do next. He promises her that one day he'll use RahXephon to get Mamoru and her family out of Tokyo, and leaves.
“I… can’t picture my mom and dad… I can’t even remember them…” Hiroko thinks. “Who am I…? Am I not human? Is that why my blood is blue…? Ayato… If I told you the truth, would you still look at me the same way…?”
The afternoon of the next day, the EVA-03’s just been unloaded at NERV’s test site. Ritsuko has Maya already start things set up – if all goes according to plan, they’ll be doing the boot-up test in two and a half hours. Misato pokes at the “according to plan” bit, considering this was SUPPOSED to be done at Matsushiro in case anything went wrong.
Ritsuko says the decision’s already been made, so bellyaching won’t change anything. She suggests Misato go pick up the Fourth Children but she says Shinji’s bringing him over. Ritsuko figures Misato told him but, no, it was all Touji. At least Misato hopes this’ll help ease Shinji’s worries. A convenient way to look at things, Ritsuko notes, and Misato grimly agrees.
Back to Neo Tokyo 3, school’s just ended so Touji and Shinji are about to leave when Hikari comes over. Touji greets her and asks if she needs anything – he’s got something to do soon, though. Hikari doesn’t say anything, probably due to a clueless Shinji being right there, and Asuka steps over to ask him to go to the mart with her.
Then they should bring Touji alo- Is he stupid? No! Hurry up! As Shinji’s hauled away, he says he’ll be waiting for Touji over at said mart. Now that they’re alone, Hikari slowly says that she’s got two sisters she makes lunch boxes for – Kodama and Nozomi; she may not look it, but she's a pretty good cook.
So, she had the ingredients to spare and saw fit to make him something. Touji sighs that she’d do this for him but is grateful – he can always help her get rid of whatever ingredients are left.
Still, he needs to take off now. When Hikari asks, he says he can’t tell her where he’s going yet – once he’s back, though, he’ll explain it all. He wants to make up for all the fights they've had until now...
Back to NERV’s test area, we’ve one minute left to go! Maya’s running her checks on the EVA-03’s and everything’s going well – surprisingly so, Misato thinks. Ritsuko figures the unit’ll likely be ready for live combat as soon as this is over, though Misato doesn’t seem too enthused about it. Why the attitude? The #03 will very likely be deployed to the Magnate Ten, even.
Misato muses that between all the Super Robots and four EVAs, our squad could well destroy the world if it wanted. Ritsuko agrees, musing further that maybe that's what our group was established for.
Well, it’s time to start the experiment: Ritsuko commands the Entry Plug inserted and things are off. Pulse is fine, graphs are looking normal, initial contact is A-OK. Absolute borderline is reached, A10 neural connection is good, bidirectional circuit is open and the harmonics are looking well. So far, the test is going swimmingly.
But there’s trouble on the horizon: the alarm sounds and we get a transmission from the government’s tactical command saying unidentified objects are headed right this way!
Makoto’s pinged the objects as D1 and D2 Dolems, though the D1 is a new model. Fuyutsuki figures their timing is too strange – could they be here after the #03? Or, Gendou ponders, they could be looking for clues to the missing RahXephon. Regardless, the Federation won’t arrive in due time, so Gendou sounds the red alert.
Misato runs in and Makoto relates the situation: the Dolems are currently over Odawara. That’s very close to Neo Tokyo 3 and Misato wonders what the hell the Feds are doing, considering they were supposed to have AWACS out looking for the RahXephon.
Makoto says they do but the detection was hampered due to the sudden outbreak of magnetic storms and cumulonimbus clouds that’d been happening around the area. Shigeru gets an update, saying the Dolems have shifted their vectors and are headed for Lake Ashi – seems NERV really isn’t their target.
Gendou tell Misato to send all EVAs over to intercept the things and she scrambles to get Shinji, Asuka and Rei out there… Didn’t she hear her orders? Gendou wants all EVAs deployed and that means the #03 as well. The boot-up test was a success, no? Misato argues the pilot hasn’t even finished his training yet but Gendou says it’s a direct order. Get to it.
Fuyutsuki tells Gendou that allowing the EVAs and Dolems to interact is very risky business – remember what happened last time – and doing it with the EVA-03 is far more so. Gendou isn’t worried, more interested in using this as a chance to check if the MU’s influence will cause anything to change.
Back at the hotel, Ayato’s just arrived from another day at work and he’s managed to scrounge up enough money for them to leave Neo Tokyo 3 tomorrow. Hiroko’s not looking to spritely and, when asked, lets Ayato choose what they’ll have for dinner.
As he ponders what to get, Hiroko just sits there quiet. At length, Ayato asks if she’s not feeling well. With an uneasy smile, she slowly says she’s got something to tell him. Ayato wonders what’s gotten to her and, well, lately she… has felt like eating some spaghetti alle vongole. Yeah, that’s it.
Well, Ayato offers to get some of that for dinner but, right then, the town’s sirens start blaring.
Mission 36 – Life’s Destination
: What are those…?!
: Dolems…! : “Dolems”?!: They’re our enemies…!: Enemies…?!
: Huh? Is that—!
: The Evangelions…! Right, Shinji and the others were recalled to NERV HQ…*Looks at the EVA-03*
: I’ve never seen that EVA before…: But… what’s this I’m feeling…?
: Is everyone ready?
: Hmhmm, good to go!
: …
: Suzuhara, we’ll intercept the targets. You stay back, please.
: …Ya worried ‘bout me? Now that’s new.: …Is it?
: You have to be careful, Touji. Don’t go too far with this.: He’s right – you’re the newbie here. So do what newbies do: sit back and watch how we do it.: Nah, I’m a man too, ya hear? I already made up my mind to do this thing… so that’s what’s gonna happen.: B-But…: Don’t worry ‘bout me. I’m fightin’ to keep my sis, Kensuke, Hikari and all our friends safe too… I’m gonna make it work…!: Touji…: That’s the way. Keep it up and make sure Hikari’s lunch wasn’t wasted on you.: Ya, I got it!: Alright. Then, troops… open fire!
Evangelion Unit #03 (Touji Suzuhara)
Pilot Skills:
- Sword Cut L3
- Support Attack L3
- Support Defense L3
- Counter L4
- Guts (25)
- Alert (10)
- Strike (20)
- Valor (30)
- Faith (40)
- Iron Wall (15)
Touji’s another one of those good characters that can’t make it among our top guys. The #03, being a more recent model, packs naturally a naturally stronger Battle Rifle, Progressive Knif and Positron Rifle than our other EVAs but he’s got no way of catching up to stuff like the Magoroku Sword or the Unison Kick.
Stat-wise, he’s pretty much as good as Shinji and Asuka but where he excels is in his defenses: he’s got the highest defensive stat of all EVA pilots and, with that dirt cheap Iron Wall, he’ll be very hard to kill.
Not the strongest but you can definitely field him if you want.
Make sure you take advantage of the good terrain around.
The D2 Dotems are once again piss weak; I guess that’s in case you haven’t been upgrading the EVAs as I have.
Asuka and Rei also oneshot their targets.
The #03’s still factory spec’d but it should be fine.
: Take a look! Imma do my part!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNSfo_QgRiI
That’s actually 150-ish more damage than Shinji’s upgraded weapon.
Enemy Phase!
The Dotems gang up on Shinji and are swatted aside, teaching him Zeal.
The Metronomes are hanging back, though one trades blows with the #01.
Player Phase!
Touji and Rei each kill one of the remaining Dotems.
Let’s take these out. Don’t worry about using SP here.
Add an assist from Shinji and down it goes.
Enemy Phase!
Almost there.
Player Phase!
Take it away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H94ieDyFstc
: …What, that’s it?!: Yes. All enemies are gone.
: Huh. Considering our previous fights, that was strangely quick. : …
: Looks like it’s over.
: Ayato… You know those robots?
: Ah, I do…: Are friends of yours piloting them, by any chance?: …Yeah, they are.
: …: (Ayato’s got people in this world who are waiting for him… but I’ve no one anymore. No one except him…): Either way, Touji wasn’t half bad for his first battle. Doesn’t hold a candle to me, of course, but still good-ish.
: Aw, don’t be like that. Hey, Touji…*…*
: Something wrong,Touji?: Probably a bit woozy now that the adrenaline’s settling down. Understandable, I guess.
: Are you alright, Touji?*Shinji walks over the #03.*
: Touji…*…*
! Ikari, get away from him!
: Huh…?!
: Wh-What?!: The… The EVA-03…!
: UUOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!: !!
*Alarm!*
: What happened?!
: Something’s infected the #03’s central nervous system! We’re detecting a high energy signal within!
: The pattern’s changed – it’s gone blue!
: It can’t be… an Angel?!
: Transmit an emergency shutdown command. Force the Entry Plug’s ejection.: It’s not working! Neither the shutdown command or the Plug ejection code are being accepted!: And the pilot?: We’re detecting signs of heart rate and respiration but…!
: Ikari…!: … The Evangelion Unit #03 is to be discarded immediately. Redesignate it as the Thirteenth Angel.
: “Thirteenth”?!: Order the #01, #02 and #00 to destroy it.: B-But!*Ping!*
: Dad, what’s going on?!: Did you not hear me? The three of you are to destroy the target immediately.: B-But that’s an EVA… and Touji’s inside!: Shinji… that is an EVA no longer. It’s an Angel.: !!For those curious, since the game doesn’t exactly spell it out: remember those cumulonimbus clouds which were part of the reason why the Dolems weren’t detected earlier? Turns out the Angel was hiding inside it and once the EVA-03’s plane passed through them en route to NERV, the thing infected it like a parasite. And now it’s taken over.
That’s the only explanation the show gives you and, yes, the transformation is just as abrupt in there.
: Damn it…! How could the #03 get jacked by an Angel?!: We have to do something…! We need to save Touji!: But how?!*The #03 charges after Asuka.*
: ?!: ASUKA!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_czNR-VITds
: A-Asuka!!: Th-that EVA’s attacking the others?!
: EVA-02 has one silent!: The pilot’s been ejected – recovery teams are on their way!*Asuka retreats as the #03 goes after Rei.*
: !: The target’s head after the EVA-00!
: Rei, avoid close range combat and cripple the target.: Yes, sir.: You, too, Shinji.: I-I can’t do that! Touji’s still aboard it!: …: … Suzuhara…!: Ayanami, stop! We can’t attack him!: !!
: A-Argh…!!: Ayanami!*The #00’s disabled, vanishing from the map.*
: What… what the hell’s going on there?!: Do you copy, Shinji? You’re the only one left – destroy the target.: B-But…!: …
: Touji! Please, talk to me!: …: If you’re alive, say something! I… I swear I’ll find a way to save you!
Something curious I failed to point out before.
All of the EVAs weapons (except the Sniper Rifle) DO carry the A.T. Field Neutralization debuff! We haven’t been fighting many Angels in this game but it’s something to keep in mind.
To progress, you must reduce Bardiel below 70% (do note that if you actually manage to destroy it, it’s a game over).