A thick yellowish fluid begins to flood the interior of the Plug. Shinji begins to panic at the thought of being drowned.

"There's a problem." reports the 1st Control (Cnd) Ofc.

"Calm down and let the LCL fluid fill your lungs." orders Ritsuko. "Oxygen will be delivered faster. You're not going to drown."

"You have to endure this!" says Misato. "Just relax, you'll get acclimated in a few seconds."

The Plug is completely flooded with the LCL fluid. Shinji had struggled to release himself form the straps of the pilot couch. Having held his breath to the point of passing out, he gives in and inhales the LCL fluid.

"Damn ... in order to fight the Angel you have to die." Shinji thinks to himself. At the moment all he can do is to sit in the Plug and wait. Listening to the message traffic on the communications link is unnerving in it's military tone.

[The LCL fluid is a super-oxygenated neural conductive substance similar in composition and function to placental fluid. It allows the pilot (EVA-01's higher level consciousness) to interface with the neural-motive and neural-sensory processes. Some experiments and neural computational models point to schizophrenic side effects.]

"Main power source connected and online." reports the Cnd Ofc.

"Start Sequence!!" barks the Cmd Ofc.

Shinji begins to experience a hallucinogenic tunnel vision. His visual perception seems to contract to a point in front of him, them expand. The interior of the Plug fades to a translucent shadow world and he sees the chamber where he stood moments ago though the perspective is higher. His sense of touch fades as well though regains to something else. His hearing too fades then recovers, but he hears sounds in the chamber not the Plug. What EVA hears, Shinji hears. What EVA feels, Shinji feels. He has become a ghost and spirit, the conscience of EVA-01.

"The A10 system is registering an unusual nervous system condition." reports the 2nd Control (Cnd) Ofc. First stage contact, direct line open. EVA's starting up by itself!

"Amazing ... the synchronization error indication is no more than 0.3%" says Ritsuko.

She turns to Misato and give a nod of approval.

"GO." says Ritsuko

"EVANGELION UNIT 1, Prepare for launch!!" says Misato.

"Release no.1 docking bolts!" barks the Cmd Ofc 1.

The chamber begins to disassemble itself. The EVA now stands by its own power on the launch pad.

"Bolt removal confirmed!" reports the 2nd Control (Cnd) Ofc.

"Move umbilical bridge!" requests the Cmd Ofc 1.

"Remove no.1 and no.2 mobile support stands!" barks out the Cmd Ofc 2.

"Remove safety struts and fail-safes no. 1 through no. 15!" says the Cmd Ofc 1.

"EVA-01 is on full internal power." reports the 2nd Ground Officer. "All electrical systems functional. External power is registering at and unusual state!!"