EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 37 Unit 00 goes berserk!
"Well then, let's begin now... the restart experiment for Unit-00."

The experimental room is all white, and a special structure is laid around it to absorb impact with maximum efficiency.

Unit 00 was quietly set up there, and Rei Ayanami had already entered it, waiting for the order to start.

In the observation room, Ikari Gendo and Fuyutsuki Kozo were personally giving orders...Apart from Akagi Ritsuko and the technicians, the only other spectators were Katsuragi Misato, Ikari Shinji, and Asuka.

"Asuka, what did you say to Rei when you ran back?"

Misato Katsuragi naturally also received the information that Asuka had turned back.

"Nothing, just trying to stop that guy from messing things up."

"...Is that so? Let's just leave it at that."

Misato Katsuragi also noticed the subtle change in Asuka's attitude towards Ayanami Rei, and ended the topic with a slight smile.

"Main power on! First connection begins!"

"Understood! Break through the critical starting voltage point—! Increase the power to the second phase!"

"Insert the plug deeper! Pilot and Unit-00 begin linking!"

"Pulse values ​​are normal! Connecting to neuron 1-2590..."

The research team headed by Ritsuko Akagi is methodically carrying out each step of the EVA startup... However, Shinji Ikari, who does not have the knowledge, has no idea whether the progress of these processes is normal. He can only stare blankly at the motionless Unit 00 through the observation window.

"No, that won't work. We can't activate the child like this."

Suddenly... a discordant sound came from behind.

Shinji Ikari reacted quickly and turned around... but found that he seemed to be the only one who reacted to the voice.

Whether it was Misato Katsuragi beside him, Gendo Ikari, or Ritsuko Akagi... no one heard these curse-like words.

"That girl, the mind now—cannot be synchronized with that child."

I saw a handsome boy...with recognizable red eyes and silver-gray hair.

Kaworu Nagisa—Shinji Ikari knew the name of this uninvited guest.

Someone who wasn't part of NERV, yet he was able to disregard the world's highest security level and brazenly penetrate deep into the core area. This was absolutely impossible with human capabilities... Only he could do it.

"why?"

Shinji Ikari slowly took a few steps back, walked to Kaworu Nagisa's side and spoke.

"Stupid Shinji...??"

Asuka was a little confused. From her perspective... Shinji Ikari suddenly ran to a deserted corner and started talking to himself.

"It's very simple~"

There was a strange excitement in Nagisa Kaworu's tone, and he seemed to be very happy about the current situation.

"Because the girl is grief-stricken, she hates herself. EVA is a mirror of the soul—with such a tormented heart, how could she possibly allow that child to start normally? It would only..."

Before Nagisa Kaworu could finish his disgusting words... the panicked voice of operator Ibuki Maya was heard.

"Central nervous system molecules are resisting! Pulses, all reversed!"

Instantly, a feeling of unease permeated the entire observation room... and as if to deepen the fear, the once silent Unit-00's neck suddenly twitched.

"Oh no! The link is terminated! Quick!"

Akagi Ritsuko gave orders in panic, but as expected, they were useless.

"No! All orders are being rejected...! Unit 00 is completely out of control! Runaway--!"

Along with Ibuki Maya's tragic scream... there was also the shattering buzzing sound of Unit 0's fixings being destroyed by brute force.

Unit-00's arms, freed from the restraints, hugged its head in pain.

"Abort the experiment! Cut off the power!" The usual calmness on Gendo Ikari's face was gone, and he gave the order almost like a roar.

"The umbilical cord power supply has been disconnected! Unit 00, estimated remaining power supply! Twenty-nine seconds, twenty-eight, twenty-seven seconds until the operation is completely stopped..."

"Spray all the solidifying resin out! Slow down Unit-00's movements as much as possible!!"

The entire observation room was in chaos. Misato Katsuragi and Asuka looked pale-faced as they watched Unit-00 twisted in pain in the middle of the ground, holding its head.

So... these EVAs that I thought I was familiar with, once out of control... could actually become such disturbing monsters...

…so scary…

Suddenly, Unit-00 stretched out its hand towards the observation room... not as an attacking fist, but rather as if trying to touch something, it stretched out its hand cautiously.

Then, because the observation window was blocking his way and he couldn't do what he wanted, he clenched his fist in anger and punched the observation window hard.

In an instant, even the special material that could completely absorb the impact developed huge cracks.

"Danger, please retreat!"

Ritsuko Akagi called out to Gendō Ikari who was standing at the forefront with concern...but Gendō Ikari was completely unmoved, and just looked at the struggling Unit-00 outside the window with a serious face.

"Why... Rei, why are you still resisting..."

Unit 00 threw random punches in a chaotic manner, just to vent its anger... Then it hugged its head again and fell to its knees with a thud.

The neck continued to twitch... If Unit 00 had a mouth function... I'm afraid it would be howling to the sky at this moment.

"Ten seconds left until Unit-00 comes to a complete halt! Nine, eight..."

After Unit-00 fell to its knees, it was still twitching, but there were no particularly large movements... Everyone thought it was fine.

However, at this moment——

"Unit 00! Back armor... 500-3000 completely destroyed!"

Unit 00 suddenly ripped the armor covering its neck with its backhand, tearing it off... exposing the entrance and exit of the plug to the outside.

"What is he going to do...!! Stop him! Professor Akagi!! Resin gel spray!!"

Instantly realizing what Unit-00 was about to do, Shinji Ikari screamed at Ritsuko Akagi and ran toward the window, his wrist already grasping the Spark Prism in his sleeve.

At the same time as Shinji Ikari, Unit 00 also took action... With a quick and decisive pull, he followed the entrance and exit of the plug, pulled out the entire plug with brute force, and held it in his hand.

“Stop it——!!!”

What Unit 0 was tightly grasping was the insertion plug, and more importantly, Rei Ayanami's life... With just a hard squeeze, the beautiful doll-like girl would shatter completely like a piece of porcelain falling to the ground.

Everyone's face was filled with panic and pity... But facing EVA, a monster beyond human reason and intelligence... Tiny humans could do nothing but watch...

"Di..."

"boom----!!!"

Just before Shinji Ikari was about to transform, there was a violent shaking accompanied by a huge roar...

An arm, a purple-green arm... penetrated the wall, stretched out suddenly, and tightly grasped Unit 00's wrist, followed by a crisp sound of broken bones that made one's scalp tingle.

Unit 00's wrist was directly broken by this hand, and it twisted helplessly in a strange direction, and of course it also lost the ability to crush the cockpit.

Such a sudden change caught everyone off guard and left them dumbfounded...

“…Why, why did Opportunity No. 01 activate!?!?”

That's right, without any warning, the thing that broke through the wall and reached out... was Unit-01, which was transferred to the third shelter for the second test!

It seemed as if it sensed Shinji Ikari's despair and was trying to alleviate his sadness...

Just before Shinji Ikari was about to reveal his identity and transform, Unit-01 moved!
(End of this chapter)