The battle itself, and the sci-fi fun involved, is actually rather straight-forward. The 'something' all around Kafziel is actually just an 'aura' of residual imagery because of its rapid movement. A mild distortion, in other words. The interaction between Rei and Shinji about 'piloting longer' is actually something I'd have to concede correction on if pressed by another fan. This part is strained, as Shinji has long since believed Rei simply hasn't gone through the same horrors as he (blatantly explained in the series before Operation Yashida). I'm relying on the history of Rei's dependability in emergencies mixing with Shinji's anxiety. I feel the effect was lukewarm in success. Fixing it, however, would take some very detailed and careful re-writing to avoid re-doing the entire scene, without sacrificing the interaction itself. Ikari's obvious desire to get at Cirus is portrayed in his unusual emotional state in getting involved in the command of the battle. One of the more painful Angel battles, Unit 00's injuries during the start of the actual fight are painful to read, but create a deep sympathy for Rei I find appealing. Rei in pain, particularly her sharp gasps, makes my own instincts to protect explode, and I hope that a similar reaction occurs from the reader. It's a gamble, but one I have no probably taking, because I write for myself. If others enjoy it, too, so much the better. Ikari's hold-out until Cirus finally cuts over the comm is one of the more intense interactions in my own view, and I enjoyed writing it. I think if the reader was confused, they have the same sensation as portrayed for Misato and the command center (CC) crew. Caught between protecting Rei and being entrapped by Gendo is really no choice for Cirus, he will protect Rei. Had Ikari pushed it even a moment further, he would have seen exactly how far Cirus' control would reach.

Still in the battle, I continued to yank at heart-strings with Rei's suffocating sequence. Such a gentle voice in obvious pain or suffering has a visceral effect on anyway, whether they like Rei or not, and I found it to be an amazing emotional anchor in each of the battles or other scenes that involve her suffering. Her final dialogue toward Shinji is the climax of this sympathy-enducing torment, and if Shinji didn't respond, I would. I hoped to create such an effect, but perhaps it's just that powerful for me since I wrote it. Cirus is quite guilty for not protecting Rei from getting hurt, especially since he knows if he'd proven more 'loyal' Ikari wouldn't have tried to hold Asuka and he back anyway. Rei's injured arm makes that painfully clear. What follows is one of the most brutal sequences in all of Kenosis. Unit 14's broken arm beating is one of the most memorable sequences for me, personally. It also shows that while Cirus can handle himself, he does pay the price for it quite severely at times.

Rei's struggle over firing at the Angel through Unit 14 is one of the most important parts of Kenosis. Here I take what would have occured in End of Evangelion, and replace the context with my own to show the same effect. When she finally chooses, the line of dialogue is deliberately alike to the one she used when absorbing Adam in EoE and turning on Ikari, implementing her own agenda with Third Impact for Shinji. This time, she's making it clear that Ikari can't use her for any task he desires anymore. That said, it's important to note Cirus' willingness to die in an Angel fight. He knows what he's there for once Angels show up, and has no confusion over his worth in relation to the rest of the world. I think only being ordered to kill a comrade, one whom she cares about notwithstanding, is what really made it enough to set her off against Ikari. She had to make a choice. Of course the finish of the battle is little more than an excercise in catharsis, and letting Rei shine in taking out another Angel. The finishing lines of dialogue between Fuyutsuki and Ikari reveal that Ikari is still favoring Rei towards his own agenda, he's just working on getting her back on his page, so to speak. Ikari's final line of dialogue, about seeing of she trusted Cirus, is just an excuse. He'd be happy to have the boy dead.

The start of the next sequence reveals the growing connection between Cirus and Rei after the revelation of his eyes. How he heals her is explained later, the important aspect of the scene is the mutual trust and ease with which they interact. Cirus' response to Shinji's question seems too long, I know, but it's actually deliberate. Cirus makes a point out of not forcing Rei, a theme that comes up more directly later. He's actually telling Rei as much as the other pilots that he doesn't presume to know anything about her. It would seem as odd in Japanese as it does here in English, it's deliberately over-the-top. The finish of the scene is the lovely 'thank you' of Rei's in her mind. She's starting to use that phrase a good deal more. Naturally, sympathy from evan Asuka both startles Rei, and emphasises to the reader how badly she was suffering. Since this is text and not anime, every bit of such hinting helps, I think.

This phone conversation between Cirus and Misato is both quintessential of their relationship, and one of my favorite scenes in the entire story. The 'double-dialogue' of their actual conversation and inner-thought-commentary was immensely fun to write, and I think the effect is perfect. Effectively, they both lie to each other through their teeth, but never decieve. It's rather like playing spy as a younger child, and the pair enjoy the dynamic as much as I enjoy writing it. The scene also reveals how pragmatic Cirus is regarding Rei's possible feelings for him. He may be devoted to her already, but he doesn't assume she'll ever be devoted to him.