There's an old saying, "Start at the beginning, end at the end." Usually true and solid advice, one violates it at their own risk. However there are times when the risk can pay off. For this author, choosing to start the fic in medias res, (in the middle) has paid off in spades.

We know something is a bit weird from the start, but what exactly it is we don't find out for three uses of your 'PgDn' key. By the time the author lets the information be known, you're hooked. Getting the reader to read your story is the hardest part of any fic, and kudos to the author for making me want to read more after the first, tantalizing bit.

There are three parts to this fic (making it a trilogy (who'd have thought!)), and each chapter has a different idea, attitude, and focus. The first is like a murder-mystery, with Shinji giving a description of the crime. Expertly done, this narration is an effective method of presenting a lot of important information in a concise manner. Part one ends with a bit of WAFFy (I can hear some people snorting in disgust from here), that fits perfectly. It's short, cute, and apt.

Part two focuses more on humour and some introspection, rather than actual drama. It works surprisingly well, with the interactions and pace staying fun and lively. There are points where you could just imagine the people banging their heads against the nearest steel wall in frustration. It's beautiful.
 
There is also a bit of thought sharing between all three pilots, via a new method of synchronization. It's very cute watching them wander through parts of the others' brains, and if you're out of your mind, the best place to be is in someone else's.

(And while the phrase "two minds are better than one" might be true, three minds (especially these three) is not just asking for trouble. It's sending out an engraved invitation with an enclosed RSVP.)
 
Part 2 ends on a serious cliffhanger, and part 3 is all about dealing with the fallout. There is one cute scene as well, but it fits perfectly into the whole story. The scene changes for this part are non-existent, and the author took a giant risk in attempting this. Unidentified scene shifting is one of the biggest faults that can occur in fan-fic writing, but it is absolutely amazing that in this one case, it works. How this happens is that person A in scene Alpha says something, then person B in scene Beta gives an answer to it that fits both what person A was talking about, and person B's situation. Had I not see it work here, I doubt I could have believed it.

On a personal note, this fic could been slipped into the original NGE series without contradicting canon in any way. I find I like fics that attempt this, because the author has to be clever to avoid any conflicts that could arise.

Everyone is in character. I mean totally. There is never a moment in this fic where someone seems out of place, even for the WAFFy moments.

There are a moderate number of spelling and grammatical errors, but nothing to make the fic an effort to read. I've made more errors in my works, so I forgive this author his transgressions. A good story does wonders to keep you interested.

Some technical errors occur (how can you see the moon from the Commander's office? The roof of the geo-front and 22 layers of armour should block the view!), but if that's what I'm reduced to complaining about you know the fic has to be put together well.

In conclusion, a well planned, thought-out, and executed fic. A whole lot of different genres, but blended together in a fashion that works. Not for the fans of giant robot slug-fests, but definitely for everybody else.
 

Till they let me be involved with Instrumentality again...