While Misato and Shinji speed away from the Angel, the military increases the ferocity of its attacks to no avail. In one last bold strike, an N2 device is dropped on the beast, seemingly obliterating it, but catching Misato and Shinji in the shockwave. Surviving the blast, Shinji helps Misato right the now-flipped car and formal greetings are exchanged. Continuing to their still-unknown destination, they engage in a more "colourful" conversation.
However, they weren't the only survivors of the N2 attack. Much to the dismay of the military, the Angel was not killed in the blast, but merely wounded. Reluctantly, the U.N. officials overseeing the strike turn over command to a mysterious man named Ikari Gendo and the NERV organization. When asked what he intends to do, Gendo replies that he'll activate "Unit 01."
Meanwhile, as Misato and Shinji enter a transport vehicle into GeoFront, Shinji told a little about NERV by Misato. However, when Shinji asks what his father intends to have him do, Misato is unable to answer him.
Arriving in the very heart of GeoFront, Misato (almost unsurprisingly) gets lost, and is found by Dr. Akagi Ritsuko. As Gendo leaves his command post to meet with his son, Ritsuko leads Shinji and Misato into a dark room, all the while discussing the unknown entity known as "Unit 01." Once in the room, the lights come on, revealing it to be a hangar with a giant robotic face staring directly at Shinji. Ritsuko introduces the robot as "Unit 01"...Evangelion Unit-01.
As Shinji stands in awe of the EVA, his father greets him from a room above the giant mecha's head. It is here that Gendo tells his son the true purpose of inviting him to NERV...to pilot the Evangelion! Shinji is reluctant, and vehemently objects, right as the regenerated Angel makes its presence known with a series of powerful attack that rock the entire GeoFront. With no time to argue, Gendo demands that a girl named Rei pilots the EVA against the Angel.
As Shinji laments over the situation with his father, a pale, blue haired girl in a strange pilot's suit is wheeled in on a stretcher. Badly bandaged, she seems to be in constant pain as she's helped up. This is Rei. As she is helped out of the stretcher, another attack from the Angel shakes the hangar where EVA-01 is held and debris falls from the ceiling. As Shinji is about to be crushed, the EVA's hand breaks free from its restraints and protects him without any control at all! While everyone watches in shock, Shinji runs to Rei, who was thrown from her stretcher, and helps her up. Rei convulses in Shinji's arms and is badly bleeding. Not wanting the girl to suffer much more, Shinji volunteers to pilot the EVA.
As Shinji is placed into the EVA via entry plug, Ritsuko comments on how well he's able to synchronize with the Unit for a first run. After being given final clearance, the EVA is moved to the launching station and sent to the surface. Immediately staring down the imposing Angel, Shinji prepares for his first battle in EVA-01...without any knowledge at all of how to control it!
Evangelion: Death & End of Evangelion © Studio Gainax. Licensed by Manga Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved, or as otherwise directed by Manga Entertainment. Created by Hideaki Anno.
