DISCLAIMER: Set in the world of Neon Genesis: Evangelion. We are
    ours. Eva and it's characters, settings, situations, etc. are
    not ours. Clear? Good. This isn't for money, so we are depriving
    ourselves for your sake. Thankful? NO?!! WHY YOU UNGRATEFUL
    LITTLE--!!!

    WARNING: Foul language. Er... maybe. Creative License started
    the French Revolution, we're just borrowing it here.

    NOTE: This is a Tag Team self-insertion fan-fiction. Which means
    we spend most of the fic alternately annoying fictional
    characters and trying to kill each other... or is it the other
    way around? In any case, we are not held by any reasonable plot.
    Hell, we're not held by any plot at all. If you want a series
    fateful to Eva, read...... Hmm... go read the Eva scripts,
    Fanfiction is something else entirely.

________________________________________________________________________

    [Burning buildings light the cityscape in a hellish glow of red
    and orange. Tangled wrecks that used to be tanks and guns,
    alongside fields of burning flesh that were once called soldiers
    litter the battlefield while a towering monstrosity painted in
    gray gunmetal death stands alone in the center of crater a
    thousand meters across.]

Andy: RRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

Unit-04: RRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

    [Unit-03 and Unit-05, containing Andy's only link to his own
    world, and his two greatest rivals, John and Jared, stand at the
    edge of the crater. The shoulder restraints of the two units
    bulge outward grotesquely, spider-webs of Angel nerve cells
    showing in the city's fiery glow. In the far background, the
    JSSDF stands aside of the three-way clash of the titans, content
    with merely invading NERV HQ, and contemplating their chances
    against just one of the Evas... and not liking them.]

    [Unit-04, meanwhile, is going into "Godzilla mode."]

Andy: BUUHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!!! IT'S TIME TO FINISH YOU OFF!!!

    [Eva 04 explodes into motion, its metal-shod feet thundering
    across the battlefield, closing rapidly with Unit-03. As the
    man-made Golem closes with its Angelic target, it reaches behind
    its back and grabs an object with its right hand. A pole comes
    free, extends, and in an instant, the progressive scythe is
    activated. Within the next second, it is descending towards 03's
    head, the blade vibrating millions of times per second. The arc
    concludes with deadly force, stopping mere centimeters from the
    hideous grinning visage of the possessed Unit-03, which is
    blocking the blow with an appropriately massive Murasume.]

Andy: SON OF A !!!

    [Unit-03 and Unit-04 suddenly become a blurring nightmare of
    destruction and chaos as their progressive weapons slam into
    each other with murderous force hundreds of times over with
    countless techniques in the space of a few seconds. Buildings
    and pavement alike are crushed by the insane typhoon of the
    dueling titans, who smash, slice, skewer, and otherwise
    completely obliterate the remaining landscape around the
    wreckage that used to be Tokyo-3.]

Andy: (pointing) AN OPENING!!!

Unit-03: (looking wildly) HUUURNH???

    [Andy quickly takes advantage of his own distraction and cuts
    deep into Unit-03's chest. A massive fireball engulfs the two
    Eva's as 03's S2 organ goes supercritical, taking the infected
    Eva, it's pilot, and a nice chunk of Tokyo-3 with it into the
    upper atmosphere. As the super-heated air around the blast
    crater clears, Unit-04 becomes visible, unmarred, sheathing its
    scythe.]

Andy: (vulture mode) I'll take his fanfics, his movies, his TV, and the
      Unreal Tournament game. BUWAHAHAHA-- (looks over his shoulder) OH
      SHIT!

    [Unit-04 launches itself into the sky, barely dodging a charging
    Unit-05 in time.]
 
Andy: NOW I'm in trouble!

    [Unit-05, now still, extends it own wings and launches into a
    homicidal pursuit of Unit-04 through the blood red and smoke
    choked skies of Tokyo-3.]

Andy: (sweating bullets) think, stay calm, (dodges a mad swing from
      Unit-05 and dives) Think, Think, THINK, THI--GUNS!!!!

    [The ninth symphony's Ode to Joy section revs to full force.
    There is an electronic hum as a pair of Automatic Palette Pistol
    and thrust into the Eva's hand by armatures hidden in the arm
    gauntlets. A hum matched by 05. The sky erupts in the sounds of
    thunderous gunfire as both giants weave and dodge in John Woo
    style, trying desperately to kill one another and look damn cool
    while doing it.]

    [Unit-04 and Unit-05 take a few dozen hits. Inside 04's entry
    plug, a single message flashes on the screens, indicating that
    the specially designed missiles in the shoulders have locked
    onto their target and are armed and ready.]

    [The shoulder guards of 04 snapped open and unleashed a salvo of
    homing missiles--in full Robotech style--at 05. The Hornet
    missiles impact just as 05's rocket ports open, filled with
    armed rockets. The resulting mid-air explosion is like a portal
    to hell being opened above the earth. 05 plummets helplessly
    from the inferno towards the ground, its body torn and
    blackened, its wings twisted into stumps. It slams into several
    skyscrapers and its S2 goes supercritical, taking another large
    chunk of the city with it.]

Andy: BUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!! BUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!! THE
      WINNER!!!! HAHAHAHA... HAHA...... HUH???

    [Around the Eva, a _huge_ force of JSSDF hovergunships, tanks,
    fighter, bombers, and armored transport had moved in, and in the
    distance he(24) could see thirteen giant flying wings with
    horribly familiar white oblongs beneath them. Unit-04 calmly
    lands.]

    [It stores its pistols, draws it scythe...]

    [... and launches itself towards its enemies at a run, intent on
    taking them all down with it.]

Andy: BUHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!

    [The plug shudders.]

Andy: WAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAA!!!

Ritsuko: (faintly heard) Andy?

    [The plug shudders more forcefully.]

Andy: (wash, rinse, repeat) WAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAA!!!

Ritsuko: (louder) Andy!

    [The world begins to shake.]

Ritsuko: (Screaming) AAAAAANDY!!!

    [The world shudders violently, then dissolves.]

Andy: Huh? Wha?

________________________________________________________________________

                              TITLE FLASH:

                              Three Goons

                            Rats in a maze /
                    Sure we Want the Stinking Badges
________________________________________________________________________


John: You fell asleep again. CONCENTRATE!

Ritsuko: < -_- > Jared, it was not necessary to use a sledgehammer to
         wake up Andy.

Jared: But it was fun.

Ritsuko: It's against regulations to--

Jared: But it was [fun].

Ritsuko: < O_O;;; > Okay, okay.

John: Hoo-boy.

Andy: (rising from the plug like a vengeful ghost) You're a dead man!!!

    [Jared takes up a Bruce Lee-esque martial arts stance, following
    through with The Master's taunting gesture.]

Jared: Bring it on!

________________________________________________________________________


    [The Day Before.]

    [The Americans are being led down a hall for another test. Kaji
    follows Ritsuko to translate.]

John: (still not completely there due to sedative, sounding hopeful)
      What's next? Fluid sample? Alien probes? Limb rearrangement? Mind
      control?

Jared: Bring it on!!! Whatever you got, I can take it!

Andy: (Eyeing escape routes thoughtfully) Hmm...

Ritsuko: Don't be silly; it's just the psychiatric evaluation.

    [The three goons stop dead. Silence.]

Andy: (screaming) AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

John: (screaming) FUUUUBBBBAAAAAARRRRRREEEEDDDD!!!!!!

Jared: (panicked) NINJA VANISH REVISED: TITANIC BREAKUP!!!!!!

    [Andy, at those words, dives headlong a mesh grate set low in
    floor that he hopes is a ventilation cover. He is correct, and
    the vent is large enough to travel in. Straight down, that is.]

Andy: (plummeting into abyss) OOOH, SHHHIIIIIITTT!!! .... OUCH! OOF!
      YAAAAAAHHH!!!

    [John, still drugged, follows Andy's example by diving, though
    his choice of direction leaves something to be desired. He
    knocks himself out running headfirst into the wall, only inches
    from the door.]

Jared: (deer in headlights look, chanting) This isn't so bad, this isn't
       so bad, this isn't so bad.... (faints)

Ritsuko: (sighs, into a two-way radio) Clean up on level 5 and 16. Bring
         first aid kits... and a mop.

________________________________________________________________________


    [Later, Misato, Ritsuko, and Kaji have one of the Americans in a
    padded room, with the others waiting outside. Ritsuko has a
    standard clipboard with notes on it.]

    [Note: Most of the dialogue here is translated by the two
    bilingual characters present. Don't think Kaji's bilingual? Join
    the Navy and see if they like you speaking Japanese on an
    American or British boat.]

    [Ritsuko and John.]

Ritsuko: (translated through Kaji) Ok, John, this is going to be
         painless.

John: (translated through Kaji) I hardly doubt that, I've had one of
      these before.

Ritsuko: How are you feeling?

John: I can see sounds and feel like I'm getting born in reverse as my
      mind spirals into madness. (sarcastically) I'm just peachy,
      Doctor.

Ritsuko: (thinking) That's some powerful shit we pumped into him.... But
         that dosage would've killed a blue whale. (scribbles in her
         clipboard, then answers John) Ooooooookay, well we'll keep that
         in consideration.

________________________________________________________________________


    [Ritsuko now talking to Jared.]

Ritsuko: Ok, Jared, this isn't going to be anything to worry about.

Jared: (sarcasm evident) Really? Oh, reeeeaaaally... (gets up, starts
       pacing around) Is that what you think, doctor? Is this just going
       to be a walk in the park for me? Just another step in a long,
       pointless road to nowhere? (the doctor opens her mouth but Jared
       plows ahead) Another litany in life, an adventure of petty
       mistakes, errors and missteps? You think is going to be another
       amusing little heart-to-heart chat where I tell you everything
       that went wrong with my life starting with my parents--which by
       the way, this did all start with, but I'm not going to talk about
       that... where was I?

Ritsuko & Kaji: < O_O;;; > ...

Jared: Oh yes, you want to TALK, to me, doctor? Disarm with a tender
       smile? I'm not telling anything! I will say nothing! You'll NEVER
       conquer ME!!!!

Jared: (breathing heavily... long pause...) I'm sorry, what was the
       question?

Ritsuko: (As if out of a daze) How are you feeling?

Jared: I have a headache and I really, REALLY need a drink. Any other
       excessively stupid questions?

Ritsuko: Yes, in fact. Any reason you're acting like an asshole?

________________________________________________________________________


    [Cut to Andy and the doc.]

Andy: How am I feeling? (looks thoughtful) In a word, trapped. I have
      the overwhelming urge to burst through the door and subdue the
      guards.

Ritsuko: Only I can have them open the door.

Andy: Then I subdue your first, then have them open the doors. Then
      there's the third possibility, but we probably don't want that.

Ritsuko: (eyebrow twitches slightly) .... Any particular reason you're
         acting like an asshole?

Andy: Is it just me, or is the local Bullshit level going through the
      roof. (points at Ritsuko) I'm not piloting mecha right now. I want
      to pilot mecha right now. Do we have a problem or do we have a
      [problem]?

________________________________________________________________________


    [Ritsuko is looking worriedly at John.]

John: The little bunny you put in me is to blame, vermin. Send your
      armies of glowing rats away, away! I SAY, AWAY!

________________________________________________________________________


    [Cut to Jared.]

Jared: We will kill you all. That is all I have to say.

    [Ritsuko frowns in the silence and make a noisy mark on her
    clipboard.]

________________________________________________________________________


    [And jump back to Andy.]

Ritsuko: What is the third possibility you mentioned?

Andy: I create a distraction, I dive under the table, under you, and
      through the vent grate behind you.

Ritsuko: < -_- > And drop thirty stories straight down, most likely
         injuring yourself AGAIN.

Andy: That would be a major difficulty in my plans, but I believe I
      could still drag myself to an unused portion of the Facility,
      healing and regaining my strength, and eventually becoming....
      (begins sounding strangely distorted) ... an immortal super-
      assassin that will slowly eliminate your entire staff.... One dead
      body at a time....

________________________________________________________________________


    [Out in the hall.]

John: Jared... why are you holding a flaming voodoo doll?

________________________________________________________________________


    [Ritsuko trying to be calm with John.]

Ritsuko: Ok, something simple. If you could be any animal, what would
         you be and why?

John: A carnivorous duck.

Ritsuko: < o_o; > That species doesn't exist.

John: (pointing frantically at an empty corner) Then what's that?!

Ritsuko: < -_-; > I'll skip the why part.

________________________________________________________________________


    [Andy.]

Ritsuko: If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

Andy: A Chipocabra, The Central American Devil. So I could terrorize
      helpless goat farmers leaving only a trail of fear and suspicious
      livestock.

Ritsuko: < o_o;;; > ....

________________________________________________________________________


    [In the Hall.]

Jared: John, how many times do I have to say not to try to use telepathy
       on Andy?!

________________________________________________________________________


    [Ritsuko with Jared. Misato is present as well, looking
    nervous.]

Ritsuko: If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

Jared: < ^_^ > A cat.

Ritsuko: (sighs in relief) Any particular kind?

Jared: < ^_^ > A normal house cat.

Ritsuko: < -_- > Why?

Jared: < ^_^ > Being a cat isn't so bad, let me demonstrate.

    [He proceeds to rub against Misato's leg.]

Misato: (growling) Get him out of here, NOW!

________________________________________________________________________


    [Back in the hall, Jared comes flying through the closed door.]

Andy: Hitting on Misato?

John: That cat has a death wish.

Andy: Is that a voodoo doll? Let me see.

    [John hands over the doll.]

________________________________________________________________________


    [Jared and Ritsuko again, with the Major absent this time.]

Ritsuko: (thinking) I'm not sure I want to ask this one, and I'm NOT
         asking that one... (out loud) What is your favorite color and
         why?

Jared: < -_- > No real particular preference. Maybe the blue color of my
       e............ (monotone, mechanical voice) Blood red.

Ritsuko: < 0_0 > ...... And why?

Jared: (blinks) Huh? Oh, it just looks cool.

Ritsuko: < -_- > Uh... Huh.

________________________________________________________________________


    [Ritsuko talking to John.]

Ritsuko: What is your--no. Hey, I'll use this one. (eyes John, then
         Misato, who is standing in again) What is your sexual
         preference?

    [Ritsuko listened to the response for several minutes, then
    dutifully wrote 'cheesecake' in the answer box.]

Ritsuko: And your favorite color?

John: Mauve, the lovely name of a girl I once knew on beta seven....

Ritsuko: < -_-; > Moving along....

________________________________________________________________________


    [Andy and Ritsuko.]

Ritsuko: (thinking) Let it end quickly. (out loud) What is your favorite
         color?

Andy: < ^_^ > Bright orange.

Ritsuko: Why?

Andy: < ^_^ > Because it's very annoying.

Ritsuko: And?

Andy: < ^_^ > It's not whether I win or lose, but how much I piss you
      off.

    [Ritsuko writes 'indistinct answer' on her sheet.]

Ritsuko: Ok, (mutters "God help us") What would you do if you could
         pilot an Eva?

Andy: What wouldn't I do!!! (pause) Lemme rephrase that, I'd apply for
      a position as Angel of Death and open up a tanker full of Whoop-
      ass on the populace. Everyone would bow to me!!!

    [Ritsuko writes "Normal American."]

________________________________________________________________________


    [Ritsuko and John talking, Misato present again.]

Ritsuko: What would you do if you could pilot an Eva?

John: (grins [E_V_I_L_L_Y])

    [Ritsuko runs out of the room hyperventilating. She's quickly
    joined by Kaji and Misato, who are as white as ghosts.]

Misato: < 0_0 > Don't ask the pervert that question.

Ritsuko: < 0_0 > What would you do if you could pilot an Eva? NO!! I
         mean, uh--

Jared: < -_- > Intimidate people, look cool, pick up chicks. Kick enough
       ass to keep the entire city on its feet for three weeks. That
       sort of thing. (blinks) Hey, whadda mean, 'pervert'?!

________________________________________________________________________


    [Ritsuko finally back in the same room as John.]

Ritsuko: Have you ever had the urge to kill someone?

John: In general or a particular person, such as the garbage man?

Ritsuko: Do you have something against garbage men?

John: They make more money than I do.

Ritsuko: You're don't have a job.

John: In this world....

Ritsuko: (rolls her eyes) Next question.

________________________________________________________________________


    [Jared is rubbing a spot on the desk, his eyes sunken and
    insomniac, dark baggage underneath each. Ritsuko eyes him
    nervously over the top of her clipboard, frowning.]

Ritsuko: Have you ever had the urge to kill someone?

Jared: Daily or just in passing?

Ritsuko: (listens to translation, starts) Um.... Moving along.

Jared: No. This is an interesting question. Let us... discuss it. (a
       frightening grin spreads across his face, bringing to mind bear
       traps snapping shut on the legs of an unsuspecting hiker) What
       about YOU doctor? Have you ever considered killing your
       manipulative lover?!!

    [Ritsuko's mouth drops open.]

Jared: What about your worthless mother, who resides within the memory
       of the computer systems you are tasked with maintaining?

Ritsuko: < o_o;;; > I have no idea what you're talking about.

Jared: I'm talking about the TRUTH! Sound familiar, 'Doctor'?!

Ritsuko: < o_o >  Next question.

Jared: Let's talk about those EVAS for while, why don't we? What about
       the SOULS THEY STEAL?!!

Ritsuko: Restrain him please.

Kaji: (translating) Restrain him... (Japanese) Oh, you mean me restrain
      him.

Jared: You're just afraid of the reality you've created! Gods, woman,
       what about morals? What about bathing suits? WHAT ABOUT CHEESE?!!
       You're just afraid of the truth, YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!
       (looks thoughtful) Oh, that last one's out of a movie. (sits
       down, instantly calm) What's the next question?

    [Ritsuko makes a quick note: Keep under observation 24/7.]

________________________________________________________________________


    [Asking Andy the dreaded question.]

Ritsuko: Have you ever had the urge to kill someone?

Andy: Who doesn't? Well, only in public places, really. Besides, it's
      not like MY boss is trying to end the world or anything. (folds
      his arms over his chest)

Kaji: (to Ritsuko, in Japanese) What are these guys talking about?

Ritsuko: < o_o; > They're snowing us.

Kaji: (satisfied) Ah.

________________________________________________________________________


    [John, hopefully for the last time.]

Ritsuko: (looking very tired) Ok, this is the last question.

John: (calmly) It's never the "last question," doctor. As soon as you
      ask this question there will be a million more, of the likes of,
      "That wasn't so bad, now was it?" and "Do you want fries with
      that?" Not to forget, "Are the drugs wearing off yet?!"

Ritsuko: _Are_ the drugs wearing off yet?

John: (still calm) No. And tell that Cabbit on your shoulder to stop
      staring at me or I'll rip its ears off and shove them up its ass.

Ritsuko: < -_-; > I see.

John: (casually) No, you don't, because you are not under the influence.
      If you did see, you'd be hauled away to the funny farm. Now, was
      that your question or did you have something else in mind?

Ritsuko: Do you have any wild conspiracy theories to throw at us?

John: Several but facts not theories. Would you prefer Business,
      pleasure, or personal?

Ritsuko: Let's go with business.

John: Very well, Pilots, Personnel, Projects, or Facilities?

Ritsuko: Facilities, if you don't mind.

John: You have 22 layers of armor, though that is hardly enough for some
      of the later Angels you'll be facing, made of mainly Titanium.
      This facility is at the floor of the GeoFront, but it really is
      the Black Moon, The Egg at the center of the world. You can launch
      the Evas anywhere in the Geofront or up in Tokyo-3. You have
      weapons hidden in buildings up there, 'Armaments Buildings' you
      call them. Also defenses, but they never work. This facility goes
      down several dozen levels into what is referred to as 'Terminal
      Dogma' where... well I'll just say that you are none too fond of
      marshmallows.... The floor is soaked with LCL, a blood tasting,
      breathable liquid, its hallways lead to other rooms, a mass
      graveyard and also a storage facility to one of your 'projects.'
      But that's a different question and you promised only one. Good
      day to you all and don't worry, those dinosaurs will leave after a
      while. (stands and leaves)

    [Misato and Kaji look at Ritsuko. She draws a screw and a
    baseball in the form's provided comment box.]

________________________________________________________________________


    [Finally, Jared.]

Ritsuko: (_extremely_ tired now) One last question and this session is
         over.

Jared: Aaaaaawwwww. Kill joy.

Misato: (interrupting) Anything else you would like to add?

Ritsuko: (nods, it's a fair question)

Jared: (Tips his head down, looking suddenly very dangerous, speaks in a
       deadly calm voice) I am the Alpha and the Omega. You will bow
       before me. (returns to normal) Aaah, any Dew in this place?

________________________________________________________________________


    [And the last Goon, Andy.]

Ritsuko: (about to have nervous breakdown) Okay, Andy this is the LAST
         question.

Andy: Ok, Shoot.

Ritsuko: (enjoys the thought but does not give in) Do you have anything
         to add?

Andy: It smells in here. You should switch to a different
      antiperspirant. That is all.

________________________________________________________________________


    [Another time, another place.]

Jared: What the fuck is this stuff? I can't read Japanese!

    [Unfortunately, still in Tokyo-3.]

Andy: I think it might be edible.

    [And, of course, still in NERV.]

John: It's either Japanese food or toxic waste. Neither can harm you and
      both are glowing right now.

Jared: < o_o; > I... won't ask. When are we getting our test results
       back?

John: We don't. It's for their records.

Jared: Damn, and that was some of my best stuff!

Andy: (covertly pulls out the voodoo doll, whispers to himself) Oh, you
      ain't seen nothin' yet.

________________________________________________________________________


    [Gendo's office. Not the most pleasant of places, but even Gendo
    has a soft spot for some people.]

Ritsuko: He was like a giant ant!

    [Such as very stressed out doctors done dealing with Americans.]

Gendo: I'm sure your evaluation may be slightly colored by their...
       excitability.

Ritsuko: < 0_0 > You weren't IN there, Gendo! They CAN'T BE HUMAN!

Gendo: < -_-; > Urk. Dr. Akagi, please let go of my collar.

    [Ritsuko lets go slowly, her fingers still curled into claws.]

Ritsuko: (sipping tea offered by Gendo) They're maniacs. If they can
         fight as well as they talk in circles, we're saved.

Gendo: The actions of Man do not save, only destroy.

Ritsuko: Do you always talk in riddles?

Gendo: Only in the afternoons. What about their possible use as
       disposable Eva pilots?

Ritsuko: Eva pilots?

Gendo: Can they survive piloting Evas?

Ritsuko: WHAT?! They barely survived the tests!

Gendo: < -_- > Is that a yes or a no?

Ritsuko: Don't fuck with me on this Gendo, if you put them in Evas, no
         force on earth could stop them.... Except for cheese,
         Chipocabras or illegal drugs.

Gendo: (raises eyebrow) Oh?

Ritsuko: Uh, never mind.

Gendo: (to himself) But we only have a few Chipocabras left.

Ritsuko: < 0_0 > ...

Gendo: < o_o;;; > Did I say that out loud?

Ritsuko: < 0_0 > (nods once, slowly) ...

Gendo: Ah, heh. (resumes normal poise) Irrelevant. Forget what I just
       said.

Ritsuko: Agreed. I'll forget everything you've said.

________________________________________________________________________


    [The pilots have been pushed aside--er, been taken care of for
    the night, under NERV guard in a local hotel within the city.
    Guards surrounded the building for a dozen city blocks, barely
    visible and covered from head to toe in body armor. These are
    not the silly guys that guard the insides of NERV, these are the
    elite soldiers you DO NOT FUCK WITH.]

    [Inside the hotel room, three equally dangerous people are
    crowded in a hotel room.]

John: Have any threes?

Jared: Go fish.

Andy: (picking open the blinds) They're still out there.

Jared: And they were there five minutes ago. And they'll still be there
       when you look again in another five minutes.

John: Unless another one floats through the wall.

Jared: < o_o;;; > (looks at John) Riiiight.

Andy: I'm just saying this security is an honor.

John: What?

Andy: Well, we must have done well in the tests if we rated for the best
      of the faceless minions. Who knows, someday well may well rate
      Hovergunships, armored divisions, and maybe, just maybe, an N2
      bomber on stand-by to make sure we NEVER escape and wreak havoc.

Jared: Never happen. Even we aren't that good.

    [Lightening suddenly illuminates the room.]

John: Rain tonight.

Andy: Do you hear something?

Jared: That humming?

John: I've heard it before.... A high-pitched whine at this altitude
      could only mean....

    [Andy rips open the shudders and excitedly waves at the cockpits
    of the ten Hovergunships floating outside. He can barely make
    out the pilots nervously waving back. The ships back away a few
    dozen yards.]

Andy: (closing the window, looking very satisfied) Never happen huh?

Jared: Co-incidence. It must be a co-incidence. I know we aren't that
       good.

John: Then again we did leak all that information about NERV and SEELE
      and stuff that may have never happened yet. After all, we don't
      even know what episode we're in.

Andy: Just forget about the damn episode number!!

John: Just because you forgot....

Andy: I did not forget!!! I just wasn't paying attention.

Jared: The red-haired goddess is here, so we're past the sixth Angel,
       that's episode 8.

John: (looking at a unicorn in the bathroom) Unit-01 was still on
      Umbilical Cable so we're not at the 14th Angel, that's episode 19.

Jared: (trying to follow John's look) That's still a big spread, what
       did the angel look like?

Andy: (thinking) I don't know, I was trying to figure out what I could
      take from the abandoned stores.

Andy: It was big?

John: (thinking in his drugged mind) (static) Goat. Fish. Venetian
      blinds. Kangaroos. I don't know, I was running for my life at the
      time. Cards. Isaac Newton. George Burns. Manhole cover. (static)

John: It was big?

Jared: (thinking) I don't know, I was trying to figure out how to get
       Asuka out of that Eva.

Jared: It was big?

John: Well that's... pathetic. (stern glare at the door) Quit drinking
      out of the toilet you damn Zebra!

Andy: (to Jared) How long did they say he'd be like this?

Jared: Rest of the night.

Andy: Can't we tie him up or something?

Jared: Nah, he's harmless.

John: Hey, there are video games on this TV!

    [And there was much rejoicing.]

________________________________________________________________________


    [Ritsuko paced her line in front of the pilots, a stern but
    weathered look on her face, like she was only facing the day to
    prove a pointless point. To Andy, it looked like a beached
    jellyfish waiting to die. To Jared, it looked like a profess-
    ional under siege. To John, it looked like a kindred soul. What
    he'd thus far pried from Andy and Jared wasn't much helpful in
    reconstructing the previous day's events--post I.V. pole. The
    part that worried him most was the 'test' where he remembered
    having to write a fifty million word essay. He deduced that it
    wasn't physically possible to write fifty million words in a
    day, but something about the endless stream of characters struck
    a chord in him.]

    [He shook his head. It was the Kanji characters, Jared had said.
    Like reading backwards and upside-down Arabic while drunk.]

Ritsuko: (translated by Misato) We're basically just going to see if you
         can interface with the Evas using our test system.

    [To their credit, the American's didn't snicker when Misato
    stumbled over several words. Kaji claimed he had other things to
    do, and Asuka hadn't been seen all day (at least not by the
    goons). Ritsuko had claimed she had enough on her mind than to
    bother trying to translate herself.]

Jared: We shooting anything today?

    [A pause while Misato translated.]

Ritsuko: Gods, I hope not.

    [Ritsuko walks off.]

Andy: Now we do the plugs suits, right?

John: I'm not up for this.

Jared: Was that a yes or a no?

John: So, about those tests...

Jared: (best Buggsy impression) Forgedaboutit.

John: Now, I'm worried.

________________________________________________________________________


    [The changing room wasn't anything new to them.]

Andy: It's just like in the anime.

    [A baseball bat bounces off Andy's head.]

Jared: Of COURSE it's like the anime. We're IN the ANIME!

Andy: I heard you the first time!

John: Shut up!

Jared: NEVER!

    [Shinji walks in, turns around, then leaves.]

Andy: DIE HELLSPAWN!

    [The three dissolve into a tangle of limbs.]

________________________________________________________________________


    [Twenty minutes later, in testing area.]

Misato: (tapping her foot) What's taking them so long?

Ritsuko: Probably just nervous. (pauses to think about it) Naah.

Misato: Here they are... what the...?

    [The pilots are adorned in plug suits, black eyes, and all are
    limping slightly. Jared's nose is bleeding and Andy has a nice
    cut over his eye.]

Misato: Maybe I don't want to know what happened. Andy first, in the
        plug, big guy. Asuka, you're staying here.

    [Jared's ears perk up. Asuka stands up from behind a console
    across the room.]

Asuka: (mumbling to herself) Good thing they're behind armored glass.

Jared: (mumbling to himself) She's behind armored glass. A minor
       obstacle.

John: Not this again, we need to talk.

Jared: I didn't do nothin'! (to himself) Well, nothing interesting.

John: About yesterday...

    [The pair wanders off, arguing amongst themselves, Jared trying
    to steer them towards the control room, and Asuka.]

    [Andy cautiously climbs into the plug. Seven years older than
    the average pilot, and at least a good head taller, Andy leaves
    just enough room to get bruised easily. He frowns at the fact
    that it isn't the plug to a real Eva, but at least this is a
    start.]

________________________________________________________________________


    [Jared and John are in deep conversation in the corner of the
    testing room, which is... more or less silent as Andy takes his
    turn at being a rat to experiment on.]

John: So what do you have against soba noodles?

Jared: Not soba, but just that particular dish. I don't have anything
       against garlic either, but the flavors aren't right.

John: I think it's good.

Jared: Well maybe I like different foods than you do. It just isn't up
       to par with the rest.

John: Says you, but you aren't the world's best food gourmet either, you
      know.

Jared: That may be so, but I know what I like, and that beef dish just
       doesn't do it for me, so we don't order it next time.

John: But if Andy wants it, then what? Are you just going to play Hitler
      and start putting your foot down?

Jared: Maybe... I kinda like that idea. Hey, I'm just sayin', let's not
       order it unless necessary.

John: Necessary? Like there's going to be a food shortage and it's just
      beef soba dish day-in-day-out?

Jared: It's possible.

John: (firm tone) No, it's not. You're being ridiculous, thinking that
      the world should revolve around your tastes.

Jared: Did I suggest we erect a monument to my greatness?

John: This morning.

Jared: Did I attempt to decree what's good and not good in the world of
       foreign foodstuffs?

John: At noon.

Jared: Did I try vainly to defend my position with sneaky politician-
       like tactics, rudely attacking your behavior and fashion sense?

John: Not yet.

Jared: Then I'm just giving an asked-for opinion.

John: No you're not. This started because YOU wanted something different
      for breakfast and ordered the whole damn menu. Who do you think is
      going to pay for all that food?

Jared: The same people who paid for the room: NERV.

John: But was it really necessary to--

    [The alarms start blaring.]

John and Jared: (sighing) Can't leave him alone for five minutes...

Random Tech #1: We've lost nerve contact with pilot.

Random Tech #2: Generating random signals in the input matrix!

Random Tech #127: The Quake VII engine is slowing down!

    [Jared and John dog-pile on the tech.]

Asuka: (smiling) Great, he's going psycho.

Jared: (punching the tech in the face) Really? I suppose you have a
       perfect service record?

Asuka: Of course--

Jared: In bed?

Asuka: RAAAAAGGHH!!!!

Jared: Yipe!

    [Asuka chases runs out of the room.]

Misato: Stop them!

    [Jared grabs a fire ax outside, still running from Asuka. As
    they circle the far side of the bay, Jared drops the ax in favor
    of a sledgehammer just laying around.]

Jared: Hope this works!

    [Jared leaps into the air, just barely out of Asuka's clutches,
    and missed the catwalk by a good four feet, landing in the LCL.]

Jared: Yuck! Why me, God. Why me?!!

John: (in the test control room) This is cool. Say, do we have any
      popcorn around here?

Maya: (after Misato translates) Lower left cabinet.

Jared: Hey, this stuff's only two feet deep!

    [He easily stands up, then wades over to the mock-plug, using
    the end of the sledge to probe for holes in the 'floor' he's
    standing on.]

Jared: Ah, it is deeper. Well, only one shot at this.

Ritsuko: (yelling into the comm) ANDY!!!

    [Jared bangs the sledge against the cockpit.]

Jared: (chanting) Wake up before you kill us all, wake up before you
       kill us all...

Ritsuko: (to the techs) He's going into parapheleptic shock. Prepare
         some adrenaline and a defibrillator.

John: (rubs hands together evilly) Now things are getting interesting...

Ritsuko: ANDY!!!

Jared: (singing, loudly) I've been working on the raaaaaiiiilrooooaaaad,
       all the live-long daaaaaaaay!

Ritsuko: Uh, Jared.

Jared: What?

Ritsuko: You're badly off-key. (covers her face with her hands) Tell me
         I didn't just say that.

Jared: When are you dweebs going to open the door?!!

    [Random Tech #12 hits an emergency hatch-open button. As
    advertised, it opens the hatch.]

Jared: Whoa!

    [Jared barely pulls the sledgehammer away from turning Andy's
    head into a pile of mush. He then blinks and considers this
    before tossing the hammer away.]

Andy: Huh? Wha?

           __________________________________________________

                              TITLE FLASH:

                              Three Goons

                            Rats in a maze /
                    Sure we Want the Stinking Badges
           __________________________________________________


John: (appearing from out of nowhere) You fell asleep again.
      CONCENTRATE!!!

Ritsuko: Jared, it was not necessary to use a sledgehammer to wake up
         Andy.

Jared: But it was fun.

Ritsuko: It's against regulations to--

Jared: But it was [fun].

Ritsuko: (backing down) Okay, okay.

John: Hoo-boy.

Andy: You're a dead man!!!

    [Jared takes up a Bruce Lee-esque martial arts stance, thumbing
    his nose.]

Jared: Bring it on!

    [Andy and Jared start fighting again.]

Asuka: (in German) I am so going to kill those guys...

________________________________________________________________________


    [A while later, still in the synch test labs.]

Misato: Ok, guys. Now for (shudder) the real thing. The tests have shown
        you are compatible with piloting Evangelions, and now, despite
        Ritsuko's and my own objections, it's time for the real thing.

John: (Burns Mode) Excccellent!

Jared: So which one are we piloting?

John: (gesturing towards back of room) Judging by the way their
      restraining Asuka to prevent a massacre, I'd say Unit 02.

Asuka: (screaming in German) OVER [YOUR] DEAD BODIES, FREAKS!!!!!!

Andy: I think we have been insulted.

Jared: I think we have been threatened.

John: I think... I'm going first.

Andy: Are NOT!

John: Am TOO!

Jared: There is only one way to settle this. (holds up fist)

    [Andy tackles Jared misunderstanding the signal for "Paper,
    Rock, Scissors." John escapes to the entry plug in the
    confusion.]

Ritsuko: (eyeing John warily) Ummm... O-kay, uhh... John, Into the plug.

John: Eeeeewww, it smells like Asuka in here.

Jared: (throws Andy off him into the wall, shouting at John's image) LET
       ME IN YOU BACKSTABBING CHEATER!!!

Asuka: (to John's Image in the screen) YOU DIE FIRST!!!!

Jared: (suddenly thoughtful as a lecherous grin stakes claim to his
       face) Which part of Asuka?

Asuka: (clawing for Jared) YOU DIE SECOND!!!!

John: (makes faces at everybody as the plug is screwed in) Neener,
      neener, neeener.

Andy: (recovering from flight) YOU CAN'T STAY IN THERE FOREVER!!!!

John: (threatening tone) Oh, we'll see...

________________________________________________________________________


    [Twenty minutes later....]

Ritsuko: Okay, John. This looks good. It's Jared's turn.

John: Hey, this is more relaxing than the infamous laz-e-boy. Let me have
      few more minutes.

    [Ritsuko looks at Andy and Jared, who are making huge shooing
    gestures with their hands.]

Ritsuko: Umm, sure.

Jared: He gets five minutes, then I go in with the Jaws of Life.

Andy: I'll help.

    [Jared and Andy lock gazes; sparks fly... not the pleasant
    kind.]

    [Ritsuko just raised an eyebrow.]

________________________________________________________________________


    [Twenty MORE minutes later....]

Ritsuko: Time to get out John.

John: (drifting voice) It's full of stars...

Jared: (decked out like a Navy SEAL) KILL HIM!!!

Andy: (aura crackling) HE DIES NOW, I GET THE ROBOT!!!

    [Jared and Andy lock gazes again.]

Ritsuko: Get them out of here, now!

John: I can hear you breathing...

Ritsuko: That does it. Increase LCL pressure as far as it will go.

Tech #2227: But... that'll crush him!

Ritsuko: Do. It.

John: (panicked voice) I'm leaving! I'm leaving!

Jared: My turn!

Andy: I think not, mortal!

Ritsuko: Jared, into the plug. Put that sword down! Andy, enough with
         the ax!

________________________________________________________________________


    [Ten minutes later.]

Jared: (from inside entry plug) Hey, isn't there supposed to be some
       pretty colors in here?

Ritsuko: Just concentrate.

    [In the background, Andy is tied up in two straight-jackets,
    chained to a chair with a muzzle over his mouth and herded by
    armed guards.]

    [Asuka is in a similar situation.]

Jared: Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow--mom? Mother!

Ritsuko: No!

Jared: Just kidding!

    [Ritsuko's eyebrow begins twitching at humming-bird like speed.]

________________________________________________________________________


    [Twenty minutes later.]

Ritsuko: (holding her head) We're going to be here all day.

Andy: (still tied up) I want his liver... with some fava beans.

Asuka: (muffled due to gag) Mrrrggmghmm.

John: Now that's your problem, Asuka.

Asuka: (muffled due to gag) Mmmmph, grrrgmgmgghaaamm.

John: Maybe, but sooner or later, you'll have to. He isn't so bad.

Asuka: (muffled due to gag) Mmhhmmhmph.

John: Okay, so I do lie like a rug.

Andy: Yes, lies he does.

John: And you owe me ice-cream.

Andy: Why?!

John: (Gendo tone) You'll find out soon enough...

________________________________________________________________________


    [Fifty minutes later.]

Ritsuko: All right, pull him out.

Tech #69: Sir! Andy's escaped!

    [Jared is seen running across the catwalk above the bakelite
    tank.]

Ritsuko: What the--?! How'd he get out? The plug's still sealed!!!

    [Andy appears at the far end of the catwalk, brandishing the ax
    from earlier.]

Jared: It's your turn.

Andy: I still have one thing to do first.

Jared: (backing away) Maybe you shouldn't... not on a full stomach and
       all....

Andy: There can be only one!

    [Jared pulls out a small black box. We go into bullet-time and
    zoom in on the note taped to the front.]


        Thank me later,

                John.


    [Jared pushes the button. C-4 placed around the catwalk goes
    off, dropping Andy right into the waiting plug, which was opened
    by Ritsuko.]

Jared: And they say I have no tact. Now, to ravish the beautiful
       Asuka!

Asuka: (through the glass) I HEARD THAT!!!

Jared: They also say I have no sense of style, but--

    [The camera moves off.]

Jared: Hey! Get back here!

    [The camera breaks into a run.]

________________________________________________________________________


    [An hour later....]

Andy: It IS full of stars.

Ritsuko: Move your fingers again.

    [Andy does so, and the screen saver turns off.]

    [Suddenly, the Eva's eyes light up.]

Tech #56: SIR, Unit-02 IS MOVING!!!

Ritsuko: WHAT?!! CUT THE POWER!!!

Tech #189: IT'S NO GOOD, IT'S REACHED THE FORTH CATAPULT!!!

Tech #999: CATAPULT ACTIVATED! (a few seconds pass) IT'S REACHED THE
           SURFACE!

Ritsuko: Put it on the screen!

    [The main viewer show us Unit 02 as it heads toward a nearby
    skyscraper.]

Misato: What the hell is it doing?

    [As they watch, the Eva slowly climbs toward the top of the
    building. It then stands and begins roaring and beating it
    chest. It then tries to swipe at a nearby hover craft.]

John: (Badly Dubbed English) Wait, I have an idea. Blow out the support
      bolts on the building!

Jared: (also Badly Dubbed English) That will only enrage the monster!
       Only my Fists of Fury can subdue the Beast!

Andy: (on viewer) I'M KING OF THE WORLD!!!

Ritsuko: Knock him out!!! Use the defibrillator!

Andy: (in convulsing Eva) AAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! (falls
      unconscious)

John: Is he dead?

Ritsuko: No.

Jared: Hit him again!

Ritsuko: No! He isn't having a heart attack.

Jared: He WILL BE...

John: Jealous he thought of the King Kong routine first?

Jared: Bite me!

John: Snappy comeback.

________________________________________________________________________


    [In Gendo's office.]

Gendo: I see there were some... difficulties during the tests. Glad to
       see it was nothing you couldn't handle.

Ritsuko: Ah, right.

Gendo: And this data is satisfactory.

Ritsuko: I don't know how the hell they did it and they'll probably kill
         each other if we give them all Evas, but they're otherwise good
         pilot material.

Gendo: (rumbling voice) And they are Americans...

Ritsuko: This was your idea, sir.

Gendo: Very well. Have Katsuragi take care of their IDs and such.

Ritsuko: (thinking) We certainly can't take photos, maybe some
         surveillance tape... (out loud) Yes, sir.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

End Episode 2.

    Next Episode: (Andy Voice Over) It's chaos in technicolor when
    Jared takes the authorial reins and starts shoehorning us into
    Eva. Action! Suspense! Ritsuko naked! Incomprehensible plot! But
    still, he wanted naked chicks, so join us!

Andy: ... Hey, who wrote this preview?

John: (off-set) Damn... here's a correction.

[The sounds of shuffling paper follow.]

Andy: Oh, well, there will be _no_ sex in the next part, but we may come
      close. Join us as John and I try to control the rampaging pervert
      in the next suspenseful episode!

        Same Goon Channel....

                Same Goon Time....

                        For Three Goons in Eva!

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Ver  1.0 Jul  6, 2001
Ver  1.1 Sep 27, 2002
Ver  1.2 Nov 29, 2002

    Source: geocities.com/rick_spiff/TGE

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