Year 2000

2nd Impact… a disaster which caused unparalleled devastation across the globe since the meteor impact, which wiped out the dinosaurs. Countless lives were lost in that single tragic event. Tragic, because it could have been avoided. Hours after the event, millions across the world were still recovering from the effects of terrible cataclysm, entire governments had crumbled into chaos, whilst whole communities were torn apart by civil unrest.

However, in a hidden base, deep within the safety of the Earth's womb. The members of a secret organization had gather within the protection of its armoured walls. Contrary to the rest of the world, the leaders of this group were not taken by surprise by this disaster.

Late at night, in one particular laboratory, delicate instruments had been setup to track information from their specially launched observation satellites. The two technicians manning the station however soon found themselves confronted with an unexpected situation.

Tech 1: Hey, take a look at this for a sec…

Tech 2 (looking up from a magazine): Yeah… what I'm I looking at?

Tech 1 (indicating on the main view screen): This the orbital wave-form scan of Europe…. Or what's left of it….

Tech 2: Yeah… so?

Tech 1: Errrmmm… Right here… The sensors seem to be picking up an unstable spike of Violet pattern.

Tech 2: Violet? Are you sure? We were told to expect trace amounts of blue pattern all over… but Violet?

Tech 1: That's what I mean… This is unexpected…. Maybe we should call the boss?

Tech 2 (frowning): He won't be happy being disturbed at this time. But you're probably right.

The technician proceeds to grab a hold of a phone and calls up this boss to come and check the situation out for himself.

A few minutes later….

Boss (looking like he's just been woken up): This better be important!

Tech 1 (gulping): Yes sir! We've detected an unstable spike of Violet pattern at 0200 hours. We were told to expect blue pattern, but….

Boss (snaps fully awake at the mentioning of the violet wave-form): DID YOU SAY JUST VIOLET?!!

Tech 1 (cowers whilst Tech 2 tries to make himself invisible): Err… Yes sir…

Boss: Get a trance of it! Now!

Tech 2: But we can't sir! It's already disappeared, though our records of it indicate the source to be somewhere in Europe.

The boss suddenly turned away, completely ignoring the two technicians. He wore a frown on his face, and looked like he was contemplating something very seriously. Occasionally he would mutter out a few phrases loudly enough for the technicians to hear.

Boss (talking to himself): …Violet pattern… could only be… nothing else would give that result….not one of prophesized Angels…..

Just as abruptly, he reaches inside his jacket for his mobile phone and presses the auto-dial. It took him a while to after being redirected several times, but eventually he reached the person he needed to talk to.

Boss: This is SEELE-13, we have a problem….

Year 2005

Due to the lack or absence of light, one could not see exactly how large the enclosed space was. In the center of a dark space, stood the figure of a young woman, dressed in military uniform. She had brown hair, which was tied neatly into a ponytail. She possessed a pair of soft marine blue eyes. Her features and tanned skin suggested that she was most likely from around the Mediterranean area. She was moderately tall, standing at 5 foot 10 ( or around 1.75 meters ). She had an athletic build, a result of close to four years experience of live field combat. The young woman tried in vain to adjust her eyes in hope of making out anything at all in the darkness. But she quickly found that this was not the wisest of moves.

She winced painfully as she was suddenly blinded by the appearance of a circle of light created by some unseen projector from far above. Also appearing before her, was form of a massive monolith.

Voice: Welcome Captain Lervino.

It took her a while, but she finally managed to adjust her eyes to the change. The monolith proved to be a holographic image, a floating jet-black slab, with the words 'SEELE-01' marked on it.

SEELE-01: I understand that you may find this a little intimidating Captain, but it is a matter strict secrecy and of dire importance that you have been called here. Our organization is a covert faction of the UN, we currently have a need for one such as you. This is why you have been sent to us by the UN International Critical Response Forces.

She was nervous, but swiftly swallowed all her inhibitions and answered in a firm and confident tone.

Woman: What is the situation?

SEELE-01: Straight to the point then, Captain? Why don't we go through your records first to see if they sent us the right person.

Woman: If you wish.

SEELE-01: Captain Angela Lervino, born in 20 June 1985, age 20. Nationality: Italian. Joined UN forces in 2001 and quickly rose through the ranks until becoming a Captain and eventually inducted into the UNICRF. Veterans of three campaigns, specialized in marksmanship and urban combat. Received several medals of honor, excels in infiltration and covert operations. Most impressive….

She could sense that whoever was behind this holographic representation was still considering whether she was up to the job. It would have to be her to convince him. He possessed no distinguishable accent, but from his voice however, we can easily tell that he was definitely an old man.

Angela (confidently): I am willing to go to any lengths to serve the UN in anyway. If they have ordered me to report under you command so, then I will do so.

Before She knew it, another monolith appeared, and then another and another. They were subsequently labeled SEELE-02, SEELE-03 and so on. More kept on appearing until they completely surrounded her. She felt that she was being scrutinized, and studied. In general, she felt it was a rather unpleasant position to be in.

SEELE-02: We believe that you might be what we require.

SEELE-04: However we are looking for someone who is willing to do anything for the good of mankind.

Angela (enlightened): Do you mean..?

SEELE-01: You mission will be classed as Black Ops, that is to say you will be operating outside of the law.

SEELE-03: But we know you have already participated on more than one occasion in such missions.

SEELE-05: We are now offering you an opportunity to lead this one.

SEELE-01: Do you understand Captain?

Angela (a little surprised): Well yes sir. I don't know what to say….

Image that! Her! Finally at the lead of a mission, that would be an important step for her advance in the ranks.

SEELE-01: Say that you will do it.

Angela: Yes sir. So what exactly does this mission involve?

SEELE-02: You will be fully briefed later. But this shall basically involve the elimination of several key individuals.

Angela: Who are the…?

SEELE-01 (interrupting her): Your marks will be indicated to you at an appointed time. Not a second sooner than that.

Angela: Understood.

Several of the monoliths behind her disappeared all of a sudden. A rectangular portal appeared a few feet behind where they were, she could see the daylight pouring through. That was her queue that the meeting was over for her. She turned around and begun to walk towards the door, but the old voice called out to her one more time.

SEELE-01 (morbidly): I trust you understand that failure to complete this mission once accepted is not an option.

She hesitated for a second, but soon continued on her way without tuning back.

Once the Captain had left and the door was sealed closed, once again, and the room was filled with darkness but for the monoliths. The monoliths themselves were replaced by images of various individuals. Men in positions of power. Each of them at the head of the most powerful organizations across the globe.

SEELE-03: Can she be trusted to fulfill her mission?

SEELE-01: Do not fear, even if she hesitates, I have given instructions to her elimination.

SEELE-06: I hope you are right Keel, for all our sakes. The Fallen was not mentioned anywhere in our scenarios and will cause severe disruptions if not dealt with now.

SEELE-13: We were lucky in the first place to have gathered enough information since our first detection five years ago to pinpoint and identify the mark. We cannot risk loosing track of the violet pattern again.

SEELE-01: We will not loose the mark.

Slowly one by one, the monoliths disappeared, until leaving only the SEELE-01 and SEELE-02.

SEELE-02: I still don't understand why did we not predict this in the first place.

SEELE-01: That is because… we did not count on pity.

Finally with that remark, both monoliths disappeared, the circle of light was shut off and the room returned to its original state of darkness.

A month later

Captain Angela Lervino stood on top of a small abandoned apartment block by the seaside. She was wearing urban combat fatigues and carried a custom built T&K LR Sniper Rifle. Besides her stood two men who were assigned to her by SEELE. She felt a little uneasy around them, but quick dispelled it as a quirk of never having worked with them before.

She gazed out to the familiar Italian Sea not far from their position. The sun created ripples of light across the water's flowing surface. It was such a peaceful day. She thought. Why did I have to kill today?

Agent 1: Target approach confirmed by lookout. Estimate time of contact… 5 minutes.

The other SEELE agent, who played the role as her spotter, crouched down as Angela did. She held her rifle firmly in her hand. Closing her eyes, she begun to concentrate on her role in the operation. She was to take out the lead vehicle of a convoy, and then proceed to the rear vehicle and take them out to trap her mark in the one of the central vehicles. Angela would only be informed of the identity of her mark and in which car they are in only after as the observation team confirmed him or her presence. She felt a tingle of pity for whatever criminal, dictator, or what ever her mark was. They had given her strict orders to use armour piercing explosive rounds, maybe a tad bit excessive she thought.

The agent next to Angela begun to get a little restless, noting her lack of action. But before he could protest, Angela's eyes flung open and swung her rifle over the wall. She immediately targeted the road corner in which the convoy would be appearing. She noted how that nice seaside road, would soon become a battle ground such as she has seen more than once before. Moments passed, till, in the quiet air of the morning, she could hear the sounds of the approaching vehicles. From her experience, she could already tell that there were several Jeeps, and possibly a couple of Limousine type cars. But as the lead Jeep came into view, she was more than mildly shocked. Her mark could not have been an untouchable criminal or a dictator like she had originally imagined. From what she could see, they could not have been any treat to the UN or mankind for that matter. This was quite obvious due to the small detail that the Jeeps were white, with the letters UN stenciled on their surface.

Angela (stunned): What the?!

Agent 2: Keep your mind on the mission, you have to take out the front Jeep first, then…

Angela (turning to face Agent 2 and lowering her rifle): What the hell are you guys playing here? Those are UN vehicles!

Agent 2: They are our targets.

Agent 1: The convoy will be out of our range in another five minutes.

Angela: What are those psychos at SEELE playing at? Those are OUR guys! They're on OUR side!!

Angela quickly turned away from SEELE agents to take a good look at the convoy again. By the time she turned back, she found herself with a 9mm pistol staring right back at her face.

Agent 2: We have strict orders to eliminate you if you refuse to co-operate.

Angela: Screw you.

Faster than the agent could pull the trigger, Angela spun around and delivered a powerful round house kick that knocked off the agent's balance, causing him to stumble on the floor. As the other agent reached for his own side arm, Angela instinctively raised her rifle up until it lined up with the man's head and fired.

The headless body of the agent was thrown over the edge of the roof, falling to the ground some 20 meters below. Angela came to realize that the remaining agent had taken advantage of his comrade's demise to recover and lunge at the Captain with a rather sharp looking knife.

It was however too late for her to sidestep his attack completely. He slashed her across the face, causing her to scream out in pain as she fell to ground clutching her wounded face. In the process, she dropped her rifle onto the ground. On her knees, in pain and bleeding, she was still able to sense the SEELE agent's grin of triumph. He stood there for a moment, gloating, until he advanced towards her for the killing blow. However, when he got close to her, Angela suddenly attacked him. He quickly rose his knife defensively, but was easily brushed aside by Angela's furious charge. Before he could do anything else she had dung her fingers as deeply as she could into her would-be killer's eyes. The man screamed in agony and pain, but Angela did not release him until he finished squirming.

Angela allowed the limp body to fall to the ground, and lowered her head. This has turned out to be a messy situation. She looked down at her hands, now stained with the agent's blood together with her own. She felt strange. She'd never ever killed anyone with her bare hands before. It was unfortunate that that not to be the end of it. She spun around quickly as she heard the familiar crack of a LR rifle followed by an explosion from behind her. She rushed as fast a she could to the edge of the roof, ignoring the sharp burning pain that covered an entire the side of her face. She watched in horror as the Jeep in front of the convoy exploded in a shower of fiery debris.

Despite the trouble with her blood already clotting up over her eyes in the hot sun, she was enough of a veteran to still be able to find the angle from which of the shot came from only by it's sound. It's did not take her long to spot the culprits. There was a second team, no doubt sent also by SEELE in case she caused trouble. They had taken position on the cliffs above the road. Again another explosion occurred, this time it was the rear vehicle.

Quickly, she threw herself towards her own rifle, and hastily brought it back to the wall. But by then, another two Jeeps had already been destroyed. Their passengers killed before they could get away. There was only one car left now, she could see it clearly amongst the black clouds of burning vehicles, a white Limousine. As fast as she could, Angela took aim of the SEELE sniper, and pulled the trigger. The man was hit squarely on side of the chest and proceeded to be ripped apart by the explosive round. His fellow spotter was killed as he was thrown off the cliffs by the force of the blast to the rocks far below.

Angela's success was dampened when she realized that the sniper had been able to let off another shot before she was able to take him out. The shot had struck the front of the Limousine and exploded. The driver and anyone in the front seat would have obviously been killed, but it seems that the explosion did not destroy the whole vehicle. She could only hope that there were some survivors.

Several minutes later, Angela had made her way down to the road. She grimly walked past flaming Jeeps and charred bodies. The dead were sprawled all over the road and everything was littered with brunt debris. She noted that those bodies, those of which had not been burnt in the fire or torn apart in explosions. Could still be recognized as UN bodyguards by their uniforms.

When she reached the Limousine, she could see the fate of the vehicle's driver, quickly covering her mouth as she felt the urge to throw up. Her hopes dimmed as she noted that the rear compartment had been breached, but she felt that she had to check just to be sure. The door was obviously locked from the inside so she was forced to crawl in from the front seats, past what was left of the driver. Inside, she found the body of a man, already dead, he had hit his head, hard, against the reinforced frame of the car. He must died instantly from the fractured skull. He also found a woman, holding a small child, no more than 5 years old. Both still alive but the woman was wounded, blood was pouring out of a stomach wound, probably caused by shrapnel. The woman was crying, but the child was strangely silent, it seemed as though he was asleep or knocked out by the explosion. As she got a little closer, the woman finally noticed her and clutched the child with a firmer grip than even before.

Woman: ….!!!!!

Angela: Calm down… calm down… I'm a friend, I'm not here to hurt you.

Woman: …..

Angela: Don't worry, I'm with the UN…

Angela, moved closer to the woman, she grab a small towel from the Limousine's mini-bar and attempted to stanch her wound with it.

Woman (wincing from the contact with the wound): a..are… they…all.. dead?

Angela: ….yes…

Woman (indicating with her eyes at the dead man in the rear of the car): m..my…. hus..husband.. they killed… him….

Angela:… I'm sorry.

Woman (now looking at her): d..did you get the ones who d…did this?

Angela: Yes…. Yes… I got them all.

Woman: T…thank you… one… last thing… please take my son…. SEELE did this.. I know… they came to us a month ago… and they….ahhhh…!!!

Angela: Easy there! You can tell me later when I get some help..

Woman: No!!! I am d..dying… It is too late for me…. SEELE wanted my son for some r…reason…. They are very… powerful p..people… take…Conrad…promise me you won't let SEELE get their hands on him!

Angela: ….

Woman: Promise me!!!

Angela: Yes! Yes! I promise you!

Woman: Keep him safe…. But when the a…angels come back… you must take him to Tokyo-3…

Angela: Angels? What are you talking about? The construction of Tokyo-3 has only just begun a few years ago! And what will I do when I get there…?

Woman: J…just… do that…and when the time comes… you will know…. Now leave!!! Before SEELE catches you!!!!

Angela: But…

Woman (handing the child, Conrad, into Angela's arms): Go…. now…..

Angela, although reluctant, accepted the child. She could not understand meaning of the woman's instructions, but she knew that she was right about SEELE. She had to go underground if there was any chance to hide from SEELE. She was now left with no choice, for refusing them, they would surely hunt her down, and she was not about to let them get their hands on the child for whatever reason they want him. Without another word, Angela carried the child out of the ruins of the vehicle, leaving behind the dying woman. Her heart, torn, knowing at the same time that there was nothing she could do now for the woman, but save her child.

Year 2015
A short while after the defeat of the 12th Angel; Leliel

The night was warmer than most.
The stars could be seen clearly as thin columns of clouds passed over the fortress city that was Tokyo-3.

Shinji Ikari awoke with suddenly from a strange dream, he drunkenly gazed around his room, reorienting himself to his surrounding. When his half-asleep mind realized that he was in his room he grasped his head in concentration trying to remember what he had dreamt about. For some odd reason, he felt that it was important that he needed to remember it. But try as hard as he could, he failed to visualized the dream.

After admitting defeat, he still did not feel like going back to sleep just yet, thus he proceeded check his bedside clock. It was only a few minutes past 2AM. He slowly turned to face his window, where soft moonlight poured in. Slowly, he picked himself up and went to the bathroom. On his way back, however, he made his way to the apartment's balcony. He opened the glass sliding door and stepped outside. Shinji was almost overwhelmed by the chilly wind that washed over him. Suddenly he felt very cold. But it was a relief from the heat and stale air of the enclosed apartment. He eventually made himself comfortable by leaning on the balcony rails.

Now, relaxed, he begun to contemplated several issues, which had been troubling him for a while now. He sought, in such a peaceful night, the answers to his long list of troubles. The Evangelions, the Angels, his father, and most trivial of them all; the red head pilot known as Asuka Langley Sohryu. Shinji could only attempt to understand why he was very attracted to her. Sure, she was the prettiest girl that he'd ever known, but she had the sting of a wasp, and cunning unmatched by all but his father… a deadly combination. With a sign, Shinji tilted his head up to the sky and wondered if he'd get another chance with her again, like the kiss she's given him. In his mind, he knew she was toying with him, and that even that simple kiss had threatened to kill him by asphyxiation. But if only.... Shinji stared straight into the sky, scanning the stars one by one for any sign of help. But obviously, some of those answers that he wanted so desperately could only be answered by himself, it was such a pity that he didn't realized that. The younger Ikari stood on the balcony of Misato's apartment for the better part of the night, till he remembered that he had school the next day and that it would be better if he got some sleep. Turning around he begun to walk back inside, but a low murmur interrupted him.

Voice: Dire times are ahead of you, but you must face them with courage. Covered with broken glass shall your path be, but you will not walk it alone....

Shinji (shocked and looking around for the source of the voice): ..W...who are you?

But there was no answer, the voice had faded away into the night, leaving Shinji with the howl of the wind and noisy songs of insects.

Shinji could now only add the event to his list of unexplained events, which included his victories with the Evangelions. However, he generally dispelled the event as a trick of his mind due to the lack of sleep. Thus he headed for bed, although on the way, he secretly checked on Asuka.

The next morning

Asuka: Wake up baka!!!!

Shinji promptly fell off his bed quite heavily. Asuka had come in his room to wake him up in the morning, and in her typical style, decided to launch a tactical strike on him even this early in the day. Rubbing his bruised head, Shinji thought of the fact that only a few hours ago, she seemed like the most vulnerable thing in the world. Where else now, he would rather go up against an Angel… at least he wouldn't get tortured like he was being currently. Shinji could only stare dumbly at the doorway as Asuka had already left, giggling to herself, after having succeeded in inflicting annoying him in some way.

Asuka was already dress in school uniform and was making herself a toast. Whilst Shinji eventually pulled himself together and got ready for school. When he was done, he walked from the toilet stretching his arms.

Shinji: Why me?

He muttered to no one in particular.

From the living room a surprisingly awake Major Misato Katsuragi could tell that Asuka had already begun her task of tearing Shinji down, after she had taken so much effort to build him a spine.

Misato: Asuka!! Stop teasing Shinji... he's got little enough spine already without you ripping it out for your personal pleasure.

Shinji: Hey!? What do you mean I got little enough spine?!?!? Aren't you meant to be back in bed with a hangover?

Misato: Hey!

Asuka: Whaaat!!!? Shinji bites back! Impressive!!! Wait a minute... Misato's not drunk? Shinji's retaliated? The world must be coming to an end! But, naaa, that can't be.. I'm still my usual charming self!

Shinji: Cough! Cough! Bull Sh*t!

Asuka: What was that! Now come over here you lousy worm! I see I'm going to have to beat the living shiest out of you!

Shinji: .... Errr... maybe that was a mistake....

Misato (grinning): Shinji you better start running! I don't think you're gonna live for much longer if she catches you... and see that you are, you can run towards school 'cause if you keep that up you're gonna be late!!!

Suddenly realizing what the time was, Shinji and Asuka wasted no more time and both took off towards the direction of the school. Of course, one of them kept on beating the other with her schoolbag every once and in a while along the way. Take a wild shot at which.

By the time Shinji got to school he sported several dents in his skull as a testimony to Asuka's wrath. Beaten, battered and bruised, Shinji dropped himself into his seat.

Touji: Hey man! She really got you this time didn't she?

Shinji: Hmmm…? Oh… it's you Touji...

Touji: Man, you and Asuka must have kept it going all night long! You really should stop it with the rough se... errr.... Why are you looking at me like that?

Shinji: I'm taking a good last look at you. It was good to have you as a friend Touji...

Touji: What are you talking about... Oh crap....

Even without turning around, Touji could already sense the fiery presence of the 'daemon-girl' breathing down his neck.

Several cries of pain and horror later. Touji found himself equally as beaten, battered and bruised as Shinji.

Ignoring all the action, Rei Ayanami was seated as always, at her usual place by the window. Which she was, as always, staring out of. But she felt that there was something clearly not right today, she could feel it in her soul, it wasn't harmful, or an emotion that she could pinpoint. It felt more like a presence. That certainly was not normal for her, so she felt a little uncomfortable. To make matters worse, the feeling was getting stronger and she was now all but squirming in her seat.

The feeling soon overwhelmed her till a point were she could no longer withstand it, Rei got up from her seat and rushed out of the door with a look of despair on her face. This did not go unnoticed by the class who have never seen Rei in such a state before....

Asuka: What the hell's wrong with wonder girl?

Hikari: Maybe she's sick, I should go and check on her....

Touji: Too late... Shinji's already gone after her..

Asuka: What!!!?!

Touji: Are we sensing a tad bit of jealousy here are we now?

Asuka (angrily trying to hide her blushing): No!!!! Me!!! Jealous of wonder girl?! And for Shinji for that matter!!! I'd have to be insane!!!

Touji: That, you already are.

Hikari: Touji! Stop being so rude!

Touji: But I'm only speaking the truth class rep! Aren't I right Kensuke?

Kensuke: Errr... Touji.. wouldn't it be wiser to let your prior injuries heal before you open your mouth again...

Touji: ......

Asuka: Die!!!!!

Meanwhile further down the corridor, seated on the stairs are Shinji and Rei. The blue haired Eva pilot had taken refuge there from the presence. It was still there, but she found herself slowly adjusting to it. Shinji: What happened in there Ayanami? Rei: I do not know… A feeling. A presence. It overwhelmed me. Shinji (as puzzled as ever): Are you ok now? Maybe you should go to sickbay and have them check on you... Rei: I do not think that they could help. Nonetheless, I am handling it now. I was simply unprepared for it. Shinji: Well, if you say so...

Rei: Let us return now. Class will begin soon.

Rei stood up followed by Shinji, who still had a worried tone on his face. She then turned around and started to wake back to their class. Shinji was about to follow when she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Shinji: What… what is it?

Rei: Pilot Ikari?

Shinji: Y..yes?

Rei: Thank you for caring.

Shinji: ....?!?!

With those words, she proceeded to resume her path back to class. Shinji, could only stand there, lost in her words, until the bell rang shaking him free from of his thoughts and rushed back to class. Barely able to get back into his seat before he got in trouble.

The Sensei soon walked in followed by a tall boy of about 5 foot 5 ( 1.58 meters ). You could tell that he was definitely of European descent from his features. He had wavy black hair and jade green eyes. Touji was unhappy to note how a good portion the class's female populations had their eyes already locked on the newcomer.

Sensei: Now class, we have a new student with us today. I trust you will all make him feel at home.

Rei (thinking to herself): Presence.... Fallen? What does this mean? In the meantime, Shinji was struck in a fraction of a second, by a flashback of the dream he had last night. It was a mere fragment of the dream, but he found himself suddenly remembering the image of a landscape. In the foreground was a white beach, in the middle was a lake of red liquid, almost like blood, and in the background was a cloudless night sky. The stars could be seen clearly from that point of view. He found himself with a name, though he did not know of whom it was of. Shinji (thinking to himself): Conrad? Who the heck is Conrad? Interrupting his thoughts, the sensei thought that it was now time for the new student was introducing himself to the class. Boy (cheerfully): Hi everyone! My name is Lervino. Conrad Lervino.