Ritsuko steers the boat to a drop platform at the waters edge and stops.

"We'll leave the boat here." says Ritsuko. "It's only a short distance now."

"The chamber is kept dark to conserve energy." says Ritsuko.

"AAAAHHHHH ..." shouts Shinji in surprise. "This is ... This is the robot that saved us!?"

"Strictly speaking, this is not a robot." explains Ritsuko. " `He' was produced to be used as the ultimate battle weapon! This is the artificial human, ... EVANGELION."

"This then is the focus of our purpose ... to begin a new order of human machines, a new life form, to the last draw of the deck." explains Ritsuko.

"This too is Father's creation?" says Shinji.

"So it is!" says Ikari Gendo.

Shinji looks up and for a long moment only stares. His Father, standing in the entrance of the upper level corridor, above the EVA's head is almost a ghost like apparition, whose front is in darkness from the bright lights behind. The moment that Shinji has feared, ... and wanted ... has finally arrived.

"It's been a long time." Ikari Gendo.

"Father!" says Shinji startled by the voice and sight of his father.

"Shinji." says Ikari Gendo. "I have important things to tell you so listen carefully. You will ride inside what you see before you, ... and battle the Angel."

"Wha ..." says Shinji.

"Commander, wait a minute!" objects Misato. "It took Rei several months to synchronize with her EVA unit. This boy only came here today. Having him ride EVA-01 is foolish and unreasonable without proper instruction."

"You're in no position to make that evaluation; more over to even give advise." retorts Ikari Gendo.

"But!! ..." responds Misato.

"One more outburst like that Katsuragi and you'll be dismissed from duty! The Disciple is now our highest priority. Or else you may want to consider another line of employment." commands Ritsuko.

"There ... Shinji, come this way." says Ritsuko.

Shinji seems paralyzed ... the events ... the moment ... it's just too much. It's as if all his worst possible fears are happening before his eyes. His father only thinks of him as a "thing" to be used without any concern for his own feelings, his own rights.

"A ... I ... ride inside this ... to fight that hideous monster outside?" objects Shinji. "... Why? You've got to be joking!? How can I do that when I don't even understand what this is all about!"

"The explanation is that you're the 'fittest'." replies Ikari Gendo.

The tension in the air is electrifying. Misato and Ritsuko are surprised by this. Director Ikari has the highest security clearance, both operational and political at NERV. NERV was HIS entire conception. Now there were subtilities being revealed that went beyond the official operative mission statement of NERV. There had been rumors of human gnome experiments with tissue cultures of the EVANGELION units and live human subjects. The purpose of this, if true, was unknown.