"It would be unreasonable to use any other human being." says Ikari Gendo.

With those words Shinji begins to tremble. Perspiration soaks his clothes. The strange dreams, the nightmares, the hallucinations, his inability to remember much of his childhood (even to the point of whether he had a childhood) are now brought into focus and flooding his mind.

"... why me?" objects Shinji. "NOTHING MAKES SENSE!!"

"Now understand well what I say ... You WILL do this!" snarls Ikari Gendo.

"That's not fair!" shouts Shinji. "I don't understand how. I don't understand how to operate this thing!! Did you just call me here to do something impossible? I'll be killed. I'm not an insect in one of your experiments."

"Choosing not to act will mean the death of all human kind." says Ikari Gendo. " You alone will shoulder the burden ... of the death of humanity."

"STOP IT !" shouts Shinji. " How can you be telling me this ... I WON'T DO IT!!"

In silence, tears streaming down his face, trembling and breathing heavily, Shinji stands alone. The holding chamber is like a huge court, with Shinji in the middle of it ... alone. Commander Ikari has a reputation for harshness no doubt instilled in him by the events of the Second Impact, 15 years ago. He does not tolerate questioning of his directives, let alone insubordination. His methods are viewed as cruel, but the UN Political High Command backs him because he achieves results.

"Is that so. ----- " retorts Ikari Gendo. "You give me no alternative. You are not essential to this project [a bluff], so return. I suppose you think a 100 million dead are not worth fighting for."

Shinji is even more stunned by the words of his Father. Ikari turns to a console on his right, and reaches for the communicator panel.

"FUYUZUKI!" shouts Ikari Gendo making sure that Shinji and the others can hear his words. "Prepare Rei for duty!"

"You did say you wanted to use her?" responds Fuyuzuki surprised.

"She's not afraid of dying." says Ikari Gendo. "Send her here at once."

"Start up all systems." says Ritsuko to the technicians in the chamber and through her collar communicator. "Suit up Rei. Prepare for plug entry."

"Shinji ..." says Misato

As Ritsuko walks to the platform edge to direct activities, Misato is totally surprised. She felt very sorry, even felt pity, for Shinji. This exchange had changed her attitude about much. She would perform her duties, but she would be cautious. A decidedly nasty undercurrent of office politics had been revealed. In some ways Misato felt like a big sister to Shinji and now placed a hand on his shoulder as if to give support. On the other side of the gentry bridge medics entered with a a stretcher bed. Rei, lying on the bed is being brought to enter the plug. An IV tube still attached to a bag of plasma, she lies on her back, shaking, sweating, and gnashing her teeth from the pain and the uncertain fate of another neural connection with EVA-01. As the bed rolls past Shinji, they exchange a glance at each other, and Shinji is stunned at feeling that he knows her. The sight of Rei has focused Shinji's attention and thoughts, his shaken condition of moments before gone.

"Rei ... prepare yourself for use, ... [softly] one more time." says Ikari Gendo.

Ikari words to Rei are an apology of sorts, a stark contrast to his manner with Shinji.

"Yes Sir." says Rei without hesitation.