Ritsuko turned and stared at the gun pointed to her head with no sign of care. As far as she was concerned, everything was said and done, with only one thing left that needed accomplishment. To shoot was a moot point unless Misato really didn't care for the truth.

"Well that's fine Katsuragi, but he has to see the truth as well." She indicated to the shadows at her left, were Shinji Ikari had stepped out, looking pale and troubled as ever. Misato simply nodded.

-E- -V- -A- -N- -G- -E- -L- -I- -O- -N-

The room was huge, as the echoes from the entrance had told. The center of the room held a large cylinder filled with what looked like LCL, and connected to a vast machine that spread to every spot on the celing with the look of the base of a cerebellum. Shinji treaded carefully to the cylinder, dreading what he might see, but not daring to turn from it for even a moment. As he came closer, he noticed a body of some sort inside the scarcely lit tank. An activation of the lights stopped his heart.

She was lying inside, looking blissful and unaware of everything outside of her. He shook his head. This couldn't be possible; it made no sense. "What is this? Why is she here?" The good doctor merely chuckled softly.

"Don't you see Shinji? This is the truth behind it all. The key to everything." She hit another button on the controller in her hand. Another tank, hidden in a cape of darkness, came to life. There the other was held, both all to familiar to him, sleeping as peacefully as the other. Shinji began shake violently. "This can't be possible! It's not that simple, they both can't be…"

Ritsuko shook her head and hit one more button. The entire room was blanketed with light, showing the aquarium-like wall that almost surrounded the entire chamber. There, more bodies of both floated about, staring at them with childish, innocent smiles. Misato gasped, and Shinji's knees gave out. He put his head in his hands, crying freely, and repeating over and over. "It's just not possible. It's all a lie."

"No Shinji, it explains everything up till now." She held her breath for a moment. "This is the key catalyst behind the instrumentality project. And why they've both been seen in so many cities and towns." She pointed to the tanks. "Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny are both clones!"