The next day found Misato more alert than usual. Hosting a whole houseful of people had made it so sleep came easy to her to that night. Now she was ready to face the day with an unusual amount of enthusiasm. She walked into the command center, a cup of coffee in her hand. She stopped behind Hyuga, "How goes it?" she greeted.

"You're in a chipper mood, Major," he smiled.

"Slept really well for once. Sounds like it's good I did. What do we have?"

The widescreen over the command center displayed a picture of the Earth with two objects highlighted in low orbit: a satellite and the unknown object it had detected. "We detected this unknown object a little bit ago. We've got video now."

A collective gasp washed over the room as the image switched to a video of the object in question. It was a massive eye-shaped being of psychedelic colors, dazzling as much as it was terrifying. "That's...impressive?" Hyuga asked.

"That's ridiculous," Misato grumbled, her good mood washed away instantly.

The video held onto the object for a few moments more before there was an orange flash and the feed cut out. Misato actually shuddered in surprise, "Was that an AT Field?"

"Looks like it. We haven't yet seen an Angel use one offensively," Ritsuko reported.

"So you're saying it's an Angel."

"No doubt about it. I don't think we need to hard confirm this one."

Soon after, they were scrambling to gain more data and then, to the planning room. There was another screen, this one displaying a topological map of Japan and a large amount of the area around it. Also displayed was a series of red 'X's, starting in the Pacific and inching closer and closer to Japan. Maya reported, "Along with its offensive AT Field, the Angel is using its own body, much like a bomb."

She looked to Ritsuko for confirmation who nodded. She further explained, "The Angel is dropping portions off its body mass, using them like bombs—or maybe closer to a targeting system."

She used a baton to tap the first of the X's, "Its first shot landed in the middle of the Pacific," she moved to the next one, "And the next struck here. It's actively adjusting for error."

Misato grimaced, "It's learning."

Ritsuko nodded. Hyuga now stepped up, "All conventional weaponry we can reach it with have no effects. And we can only make rough guesses as to its movements."

"Doesn't take a genius to figure out it's coming here," Misato commented, "It's probably trying to figure out where exactly we are."

Ritsuko's expression turned sour for a moment before her face smoothed back over. She nodded, "Our prediction is once it locates us, it'll drop itself; obliterating not only Tokyo-3 but a large chunk of Japan."

"Have we tried to contact the Commander?" Misato asked.

Ritsuko shook her head, "The Angel has a powerful jamming effect. So this falls under your jurisdiction completely."

"Figures. How about the MAGI? What do they have to say?"

"They unanimously recommend evacuation."

Understanding, Misato nodded. She was silent for a few minutes, studying the diagram and mulling over her options. Finally, she said, "Here's the plan: notify all Japanese government authorities that, under our authority, we are declaring a D-17 evacuation order of all residents within 50 kilometers. We also are going to backup the MAGI at Matsuhiro."

Hyuga's eyebrows raised, "We're abandoning the location?"

"No," Misato's tone was deadly serious, "But it's not necessary to put everyone at risk. Everyone is dismissed for now."

She turned to leave and wondered, how did one defeat an Angel as large as a city?

---

Misato's plan came together in an unlikely place: in the bathroom with Ritsuko. Ritsuko crossed her arms, "You're going to try to catch it?"

Misato nodded then corrected, "The kids will but...yes. That's the plan."

Ritsuko stared helplessly at her, "That's ridiculous...that's stupid! Stupid and risky! You're going to throw all three Evas—and their pilots—away with a risky plan."

Misato's eyes narrowed and she said lowly, "If you've got a better idea, feel free to pitch it."

Ritsuko's face did some interesting things, shifting between a furious scowl, an annoyed grimace and finally landing on a frustrated frown. Satisfied she had won, Misato continued, "Realistically, what's our play here? We could evacuate but there's no way in hell we're gonna be able to haul the Evas and everything out in time. Plus we'd lose the Geofront."

The other woman gave her a long hard look before she gave a defeated sigh, "And here I thought you weren't thinking rationally. I thought you were clouded by revenge."

"Don't get me wrong, I want to see all the Angels dead. But I will not throw everyone's lives away for no reason. If you come up with a better idea, I do honestly want to hear it," Misato said.

Ritsuko sighed, "I'll send word to start prepping for your plan."

Misato left, sure that Ritsuko would deal with the technical details. Which meant all she had to do was summon the pilots, brief them on the plan then gain their consent. A deep anxiety wormed into her gut as she fixated on that phrase: gain their consent. As if she already knew what their answer would be. Rei would of course agree, as was her nature. Asuka was so headstrong that she wouldn't back down. And Shinji...with his determined strength and the pressure of his peers, was sure to say yes.

She hated to have to put them all in such dire straits but there was little other choice. Vengeance or not, the Angels had to be killed.

She groaned internally as she saw a familiar face round the next turn. Kaji grinned freely at her, "You look frazzled."

"Can you blame me?" she scowled.

"Of course not, seeing what you're up against."

She stopped beside him, eyes furrowed. "How did you know about the Angel?" she asked, "You weren't debriefed."

"Word travels, Misa," he shrugged.

She decided to not press him further on his knowledge and instead more on his audacity, "Misa?! You haven't called me that since college."

"Forgive a man his nostalgia. One must not live in the past but he can go visit from time to time."

"Visit some other time," she growled, stomping past him.

To her frustration, he followed her and she snapped, "I know you aren't needed here so how about you go evacuate?"

He tilted his head slightly as he kept pace, "Worried about me?"

Scowling, she deflected, "There's no reason for you to stick around and die, in case we fail."

He hummed, as if considering her offer then shook his head, "If you fail, it'll mean little if I die now or later. So I think I'd rather be here if that comes to pass."

She scoffed, shoving down the part of her that cringed at his words, "Do what you like. I need to gather the pilots."

She picked up pace, leaving him behind. Kaji watched her go, eyes softening slightly. Katsuragi determined to win was a beautiful woman indeed. If he was to die today, he'd rather it here, with her. Even if she still held him away from herself.

Misato left to gather the kids and she did so in a particularly high building, built high over the Geofront. She hoped it might nail in the severity of the situation. Asuka asked, "You want us to catch it?"

"That's right. We'll have you three in three sides of the estimated drop down zone, you'll intercept it and catch it with your AT Fields."

Asuka adopted a thoughtful look, rather than her outburst from last time around. Not that the plan was any less insane than last time. "And if it's off-course?" she asked.

"It shouldn't be but if it is...we're out of luck."

"Can the Evas withstand the force?" Rei asked.

"In theory, yes."

"And if they can't?"

"We're out of luck then too."

Rei hummed then nodded, understanding. Shinji asked now, "What are our chances here?"

"I won't lie: God only knows."

"Looks like you will have to pull off a miracle," Kaworu cut in.

"You three are gonna have to work for this miracle to give it any value," Misato said, "I can't make any of you do this. If you want to refuse, it's well within your rights to. You just know what's at stake."

Surprisingly, Shinji spoke up first, "I'll do it. Whatever it takes."

"You sure?" Misato asked.

He nodded, "I don't think I actually have much of a choice."

Misato frowned deeply at that but didn't press. Asuka agreed, "We can refuse but really, if we don't, who will?"

"Agreed," Rei piped up.

Misato looked between the three of them, clearly uncomfortable by their jarring show of maturity. She couldn't help but think of Kaji's earlier words, as if admitting if she failed, it mattered little if they died today or when the next Angel came. She retrieved a clipboard from the nearby desk, "I'm obligated to tell you three you may write a will."

"I don't need to," Shinji told her right away, "If I die, everyone else I care about dies too. So what's the point?"

"He's right," Asuka agreed, "I won't either."

"Jeez, kids. I get its a grim situation but…" she trailed off, shook her head, then changed the subject, "After you kids win, because you'll win, we'll all get a steak dinner. So think on that while you get ready."

With that, she beat a hasty retreat. Once she was out of earshot, Shinji asked, "That's her idea of a fancy dinner?"

Asuka shrugged, "I guess to her it is. Living through Second Impact does that sorta thing."

Rei murmured, "I won't be able to go with you."

Realization dawned to Asuka as she remembered. How could she forget Rei didn't eat meat! Last night, Shinji had even left the pork from her ramen! She rubbed her arm, "I'm sure a place like that has vegetarian options."

"I suppose we'll have to see."

"How about—" she had turned to ask Kaworu his own preferences but found him absent.

"Hey, where'd he go?" she asked the other two.

"He must have already left. I think we should head out too," Shinji said.

He found Kaworu in the locker room, where he had expected him to be, already in his own blue-black plugsuit. In fact, he walked in on him just finishing pulling it on and pressing the button at the wrist to pressurize it. He made a strangled sound of embarrassment. There was no reason for his cheeks to feel warm with how many times he had seen him with it on but he didn't want to walk in on him—!

Unperturbed, Kaworu met his eye, "Are you doing well?" he asked.

"I-I am!" Shinji went to his own locker, retrieving his own blue-and-white plugsuit.

"Oh. I might expect you were anxious because the coming battle."

"I am anxious," he confirmed, not meeting his eye as he undressed, "What do you think of Misato's plan?"

"It's...interesting. Unconventional."

"What do you think of our chances?"

"Pretty good, as long as you trust in your Eva. She'll protect you, no matter what."

Shinji thought back to his very first Angel encounter, where he had bumbled into something he hadn't understood. He remembered the Angel lancing through his—no, the Eva's eye. Smashing into it over and over until all went dark. He didn't remember anything that came after but he had been told his Evangelion moved on its own and killed the Angel. "You're right," he agreed, "But I'm not worried about just me."

"Asuka and Rei's Evas will protect them."

"What about you?"

Kaworu smiled, though it didn't quite meet his eyes, "I'm sure it'll all work out."

From the locker rooms the quartet moved to the command center to be briefed. The screen showed a map of Tokyo-3 with a gigantic portion highlighted in red along with three colored Xs situated along the sides. Misato explained, "The Angel's radio interference means we won't be able to get exact data where it will be landing so here's what the MAGI estimates."

"That's huge," Shinji murmured.

A stab of fear lanced his heart and he reminded himself of Kaworu's words: Trust in the Eva, she will protect you.

Ritsuko nodded to his comment, "Any impact from this zone will not only obliterate the HQ but Tokyo-3 in full."

But no pressure, Asuka told herself sarcastically.

"Given that, we will station the Evas at these three points," Misato said as she gestured to the three Xs.

"On what grounds is this dispersal based?" Rei asked.

Misato answered, "Intuition."

Rei blinked in confusion as Asuka sighed, "That's really the best we got, huh?"

Still...was intuition something she could follow into battle and win, she wondered. After all, it had worked last time but who knew how the situation might shift once the plan was executed.

With that, the three filed out to get on board their Evas. Once they had gone, Misato addressed the rest of the room, "There's just enough time for everyone here to get clear of the blast radius. So all of you can get out of here and I'll deal with this myself."

Aoba looked over her, "No. This is our job too."

Hyuga swiveled to face her, "We can't let those kids face this by themselves, Major Katsuragi."

Maya chimed in, "That just wouldn't be fair to them! We all signed up for this."

Misato looked over them then away, "They're safer in the Evas than anywhere else. They'll be fine. After all, no matter what happens to the Evas, their AT Fields will protect them. But...if that is your choice...then so be it."

---

Sitting in the Eva, Shinji waited. Neither Rei or Asuka were talking to him so he sat in silence with nothing but his thoughts. The events of yesterday filtered into his mind through the silence.

Misato had come to him after the party and after everyone had left. Asuka had gone to bed already and Shinji had already laid down. Yet sleep hadn't come to him. Misato came in and sat at the end of the bed. She said softly, "Shinji, earlier, I told you I didn't do what I do for praise."

He rolled over to face her, his eyes alert. She continued, "My father was a man who lived for his research. He barely had the time for family. His dreams mattered more than anything. I could never forgive him. I hated him."

"He reminds me of…"

"I know. My father never took care of me or my mother. His friends insisted he was sensitive but that's not the truth. He was running away from reality, the reality of his family. So when mom came to me and asked me, in tears, what I thought about her divorcing him? I readily agreed. She was always crying. It wasn't fair to her. When he heard, he seemed shocked. At the time, I laughed at him because I felt he had brought it onto himself," she paused to shake her head, "Yet, he sacrificed himself and saved my life back during Second Impact."

"Then I didn't know whether I loved him or hated him," she continued, "The only thing clear to me was I wanted to destroy the Angels who caused Second Impact. So in order to do that, I joined NERV. In the end, I wanted to get a sort of revenge on my father, to be free of him."

Shinji murmured, "Why are you telling me this?"

"I thought it might help you understand why I do what I do. And I just...I wanted to ask why you pilot Eva. Is it because your father?"

He frowned deeply then admitted, "I don't know. Maybe some of it. I just want him to see me...actually see me. If he could...I think things would be different."

Visions of his father appeared in his mind's eye. His back turned to him as a train took him away from him. The order to come to Tokyo-3. The simple command of 'Come'. Staring down at him in the cage, because he knew he'd choose to pilot Eva.

To do whatever it takes.

"Right," back in the pilot's seat, he squeezed his control yokes, "Whatever it takes. I must trust in my Eva."

Misato's voice came over the comms, "Here it comes. Evas, start positions."

Asuka lowered herself to one knee in a runner's stance. She smiled ever so slightly, listening for her cue. Misato explained, "All we have is a rough estimated trajectory from optical sightings. So the Magi will guide you until the distance is ten thousand meters. After that, use your own judgment. I'm leaving it all to you."

Asuka exhaled, looking up at the currently blue sky and the far off shadow of the Angel. Soon, very soon, the sky would explode into an orange haze. She squeezed the control yokes. She could do this.

"Commence operation!"

With an explosion of sound, the umbilical cord ejected and in the next second, Asuka pushed off and leaped forward. She pumped the control yokes back and forth, her Eva's arms settling into a back and forth motion as she blazed out of the city and through the forest. Underneath her feet, trees splintered and crashed, not even coming up on her radar as she surrendered herself into the rhythm. She launched herself over power lines, hitting the other side with a ground-shaking crash. It didn't stop her momentum for a moment. She looked up, checking her memory as where the Angel would be. The sky above had turned a discolored orange, the Angel in the center.

Shinji would still get there first. Which was fine. She snapped her pylon open and retrieved her knife, not breaking rhythm at all.

Shinji grimaced as he skid into place underneath the Angel. He was here first which meant the responsibility to holding the Angel up came to him. He raised his arms in the air and flared his AT Field out at maximum strength.

The very air rippled and distorted, staining the area a royal purple. The ground rumbled then exploded as the force of his AT Field pressed into it. The Angel was bearing down on him but his Field stopped it just short of his hands, flickering and squealing in response. The weight was immense, like he was Atlas holding the world up. And it hurt. Every part of him protested and it felt like his bones would snap any minute now. He gritted his teeth and dug his feet in.

"Whatever it takes," he murmured.

His AT Field was so strong it flickered into visual reality, an orange hexagonal shield between the Angel and him. "Rei, Asuka..." he hissed through his teeth.

"I'm here!" Rei cried.

The air flickered again and a weight was lifted off Shinji's shoulders. Rei's Unit Zero took a place beside him, helping him hold the Angel up.

And here was Asuka, barreling through with knife already drawn. She leapt between them, hand grabbing at the Angel's AT Field in a physical way. Like she was dissecting a frog, she sliced down the middle and yanked it open, exposing the Angel's core tucked in the middle of its body. She howled, "Now die!" as she plunged her knife in.

She cried a victory cry as she pressed it deeper. The Angel screamed, a single high note ringing in their ears. It then went limp, its "wings" slumping to the ground as it began to bubble. Asuka hissed and flipped her AT Field to defend them. The other two followed suit, all three Fields forming a cocoon of protection as the world went white.

The world shuddered and Asuka held on for dear life. Even though she couldn't feel it, she could tell the earth was exploding around them but, despite it all, all three Evas remained in place. The world faded back in, finding the three in a colossal crater—but largely unharmed.

Her comm crackled to life, Misato's voice coming in, "Are you three alright?"

"Better than I expected."

"Let's get the extraction crew out there then."

Misato turned away and smiled smugly at Ritsuko, "What was that about stupid and risky?"

Ritsuko rolled her eyes, "I stand by my assessment. It just looks like luck was on your side."

"Luck's got nothing to do with it," her smug smile grew.

"Well don't let it go to your head," she returned to her screen.

Misato cast a glance around the command center, part of her expecting Kaji to appear, so she could tell him that he was lucky his decision to stay was justified and that no one had to die. But he didn't appear and she had to tell herself she wasn't disappointed.

---

The three were ferried back to the command center to be debriefed—or rather congratulated. Kaworu greeted them at the entrance, "You three did great!"

Shinji rubbed one of his shoulders wincing, "I'm going home and taking a nice hot bath. I'm sore everywhere."

As they walked further in, Asuka boasted, "And I got to kill it!"

Aoba called to Misato, "Our wireless communications have been restored. We're receiving a message from Commander Ikari at the South Pole."

Shinji stiffened.

Misato said, "Connect him," her face deliberately passive.

One of the computer monitors lit up with a large graphic reading SOUND ONLY. Misato straightened, "I'm very sorry, sir. My selfish decision has caused Unit One to incur damage. The responsibility is entirely mine."

Fuyutski's voice came through, "That is not a problem. Destroying the Angels is Eva's purpose. In fact, we are fortunate to have only sustained minimal damage."

The Commander's voice came through now, "Yes, excellent work, Major Katsuragi."

Misato relaxed, "Thank you, sir."

"By the way, is the pilot of Unit One there?"

Shinji somehow went even stiffer. Kaworu frowned and put a hand on his shoulder. Shinji stole a glance at him then at the screen, "Yes, sir!" he barked.

"I've received the report. Good work, Shinji."

Shinji barely got his words out, "Y-yes, sir."

"I leave the rest to you, Major Katsuragi."

The screen blinked out, leaving Shinji staring at where it was. There was a lot of emotions roiling on the inside of him but he let himself feel...happy. A smile stole onto his face.

---

Poor Shinji didn't get his immediate hot bath, instead being sent off with a bottle of painkillers from Ritsuko. Misato insisted the group go get dinner right away and now they rode the train to their destination. Asuka teased, "See, now you've got to keep your promise."

"Of course. My bank account ain't happy about it…" she grumbled in defeat.

To her confusion, Asuka ushered them off a few stops before the planned steak restaurant. Her confusion turned to relief when their true destination turned out to be a ramen stand. Asuka explained, "Rei can't eat meat and turns out Kaworu's sensitive to certain ones so this seemed like a happy medium! Well, I was planning on him coming along but he left pretty quickly for some reason..."

"That's awfully kind of you Asuka...but you could have told me up front," Misato sighed.

"And miss the look on your face? I'd never!" she took up a seat between Rei and Shinji and began to order.

Once they got settled and begin eating their food, Shinji turned to Misato, "Say, Misato?"

"Hmm?" she said, slurping the noodles she was eating, "What is it?"

"Earlier, when my father praised me...do you think it's bad it felt nice?"

"Huh? Why would you say a weird thing like that?" Asuka asked.

He shrugged, "I dunno. You always say how he's not all that nice and how I shouldn't put so much stock in what he says but…"

"Shinji," Misato said gently, "No matter how he treats you, he's your father. It's only natural to want to hear him praise you."

"Is that why you pilot?" Asuka pressed.

He tilted his head thoughtfully, "Part of it," he admitted.

"Well, I pilot because it's how things are going better around here! And if I get to show off while I do it so that's a bonus!"

Shinji's stare at her was...skeptical. He didn't press, instead changing the topic, "So you have no idea where Kaworu went?"

"I thought you would know."

"He got dressed real quick and said he had to go do something. That's the last time I saw him."

Suddenly interested, Asuka pressed, "He didn't say anything as to where he was going?"

"No!"

"You didn't even ask?"

"Like I said, he was in a hurry. And I figured it would be rude."

Asuka huffed, annoyed. Misato shrugged, "I'm sure he had his reasons. He might have just gone on home since he can't have steak and a certain someone didn't tell him of our change of plans."

"Hey!"

Asuka sulked, chewing on her ramen and her thoughts. Where would Kaworu run off to in such a hurry? Was it something important or was she simply looking too much into it?

She shook her head. It didn't do to not trust Kaworu. It didn't help at all.