"Begin the test." 

     The energy readings were all ok.  Everything was going smoothly, but then when they reached the activation point...Eva-00 suddenly went berserk!  As the whole NERV crew desperately tried to stop the berserking Unit 00, Gendo ordered that the entry plug be ejected to save the pilot.  But then all hell broke lose.  The emergency ejectors did not work, it jammed.  The plug's emergency rockets ignited, but lost control in mid-air.  It plugged more than 40 meters to the ground below. 

     "No, Rei!" 

     As Unit 00's power deplited, Gendo rushed to see the condition of Rei Ayanami, still trapped in the entry plug.  With the super-heated hatch of the entry plug shut, Gendo used all his might to open it and save Rei.  He did so, and in the process, badly burnt his hands and broke his glasses. 

     "Rei, are you alright?"  

     Rei gave a slight nod. 

     "I see." 

     Twenty days later, Shinji, Misato and Ritsuko were all in an experimentation block where they recovered a whole angel...intact.  Shinji asks Ritsuko on what happened with his father's hands...why they were badly burnt.  Ritsuko replys that it was due to the fact that Shinji's father rescued the first child when she was trapped inside the entry plug. 

     Shinji realizes that there was a different side to his father.  A side that he didn't know about.  Shinji is all to puzzled to see Gendo and Rei smiling at each other as Rei climbed aboard Unit 00 for another set of tests. 

     The next day, Shinji is assigned to bring Rei her permament NERV card.  He does so and discovers that Rei lives in a place not fitting for a girl.  However, he does not question Rei.  Rei does not mind Shinji nor the fact that he entered at a very wrong time (Rei was taking a bath then). 

     Shinji then asks Rei a question... 

     "Aren't you scared, Rei?" 

     "You are Commander Ikari's son.  Can't you believe your own father's work?" 

     "Of course not...he's--" 

     Rei approaches Shinji and slaps him in the face.  There was silence.  Then another set of tests is prepared for Rei and she climbs aboard with a pair of broken glass--Gendo's glasses... 

     The alarms sound off and a new angel approaches Tokyo-3.  Shinji climbs aboard Eva 01 and prepares to fight.  But as he exits the launch pad, the angel fires and Shinji is hit...