History Recap / NeonGenesisEvangelionEpisode21TheBirthOfNerv

'''Fuyutsuki:''' ''(with more than a hint of misgiving in his voice)'' ...Yui, this is your experiment today. (We both know that you're about to do. Do you really want your son to see this?)\\

* SecretSocietyGroupPicture: A somewhat unintentional version. Fuyutsuki studies the official press photos from the hearing on Second Impact, and notices Gendo and Keel Lorenz (and -- it is implied -- other prominent members of SEELE) lurking in the background of several of them.

** Everything about Yui's introduction scene. The viewers are first teased with Fuyutski hearing about a promising young student named "Ikari", who wants to meet him, and are mostly likely expecting it to be Gendo. The scene where Fuyutski actually meets the student, however, goes on to reveal that said Ikari is actually Yui, who has mostly been kept as a mysterious, unseen figure up until this point, and then pulls another twist on top of this, by giving us the first real good look at her, revealing that she has an eerily close resemblance to Rei.
** After this follows the real introduction of Gendo, giving the viewers the minor, but still quite important reveal that he used to be the somewhat unremarkable student Gendo ''Rokubungi'', and got the name Ikari through his marriage with Yui.

** Everything about Yui's introduction scene. The viewers are first teased with Fuyutski hearing about a promising young student named "Ikari", who wants to meet him, and are mostly likely expecting it to be Gendo. The scene where Fuyutski actually meets the student, however, goes on to revealed that said Ikari is actually Yui, who has mostly been kept as mysterious, unseen figure up until this point, and then pulls another twist on top of this, by giving us the first real good look at her, revealing that she has an eerily close resemblance to Rei.

* TakeOurWordForIt: The year of 2001 was apparently so utterly horrible to life through that Fuyutsuki doesn't want to remember it in any great detail.

* TakeOurWordForIt: The year of 2001 was apparently so hellish that Fuyutsuki doesn't want to remember it in any great detail.

* ShoutOut: As they're descending into the underground, Gendo says to Fuyutski, "Are you worried, [[Literature/TheCaskOfAmontillado Montresor]]?" Strangely, in the Poe story, Montresor is the murderer who lures his erstwhile friend into the wine cellar.

Having arrived back at the apartment, Misato notices that there is a message on the answering machine. It turns out to be from Kaji. He apologizes for the trouble he has put her through, and urges her to continue to seek the truth about NERV, before ending his message with "If I ever get to see you again, I'll say the words I wasn't able to say eight years ago. Bye." As she comes to the realization that Kaji is dead, Misato breaks down in sorrow. Shinji hears her in his room and considers for a moment to go into the kitchen and comfort her, but finds himself too scared do it. He opts to stay in his room instead, telling himself that he is, after all, just a child.

They reach their destination, a laboratory complex build on the floor of the dome, and here Gendo introduces Fuyutsuki to Naoko Akagi, a genius in the field of computers, who is busy working on a project. Fuyutsuki, already somewhat familiar with Naoko and her work, asks her what has brought her to this place. She tells him that the lab is the best place to test out fundamental theories for the bio-computers of the future, and she is currently working on creating a new kind of supercomputer, which she wants to name the "MAGI". Fuyutsuki asks Gendo if this is what he wanted to show him, but Naoko tells him that Gendo had something else in mind and proceeds to guide them on to another part of the facility (telling a young and very awkward Ritsuko in passing that she will be back later). In a huge dark hall, Fuyutsuki gets quite a shock when the lights come on and he is face to face with a prototype Evangelion, which he first mistakes for Adam. Gendo tells him that the giant is a part of the Adam Revival Project, generally known as "Project E", and what he is currently looking at is the prototype for the project, Unit-00. "A prototype for a god?!" asks Fuyutsuki, at which point Gendo invites him to join his new organization, GEHIRN, and work with him to usher in new era in the history of mankind.

* TheCallLeftAMessage: ImpliedTrope. Gendo's nonchalance and utter lack of surprise when Fuyutsuki confronts him with the evidence of his and SEELE's involvement in Second Impact, seems to at least indicate that Gendo deliberately left it out in the open for Fuyutsuki to find, so that he would follow the trace to GEHIRN and thereby giving Gendo the chance to recruit him into the organisation.

Back in the present, Misato huddles in the confinement cell as the dark bring back bad memories. In 2002, Fuyutsuki observes a younger, and clearly catatonic Misato space in a cell. He is told that she has not spoken in two years. Fuyutsuki also learns quite a few scary things about the post-impact Antarctica, namely that all natural life in the area, down to the micro-organisms have been obliterated, that there apparently is a dome shaped cave under the blast side, and he hears the disturbingly substantial rumors of a humanoid giant of light rising over the camp shortly before the explosion. Despite these facts, Second Impact is covered up as freak meteor strike upon the expedition's return, but Fuyutsuki quickly realizes that SEELE is behind this.

* TroubledFetalPosition: In the present, Misato assumes this position inside NERV's confinement cell, as she is struggling with bad memories of being in such a place. We then cut back to her younger self, sitting in the exact same position, in a similar cell.

Back in the present, Misato huddles in the confinement cell as the dark bring back bad memories. In 2002, Fuyutsuki observes the catatonic Misato in a cell. He is told that she has not spoken in two years. Fuyutsuki also learns quite a few scary things about the post-impact Antarctica, namely that all natural life in the area, down to the micro-organisms have been obliterated, that there apparently is a dome shaped cave under the blast side, and he hears the disturbingly substantial rumors of a humanoid giant of light rising over the camp shortly before the explosion. Despite these facts, Second Impact is covered up as freak meteor strike upon the expedition's return, but Fuyutsuki quickly realizes that SEELE is behind this.

They reach their destination, a laboratory complex build on the floor of the dome, and here Gendo introduces Fuyutsuki to Naoko Akagi, a genius in the field of computers, who is busy working on a project. Fuyutsuki, already somewhat familiar with Naoko and her work, asks her what has brought her to this place. She tells him that the lab is the best place to test out fundamental theories for the bio-computers of the future, and she is currently working on creating a new kind of supercomputer, which she wants to name the "MAGI". Fuyutsuki asks Gendo if this is what he wanted to show him, but Naoko tells him that Gendo had something else in mind and proceeds to guide them on to another part of the facility (telling a young and very awkward Ritsuko in passing that she will be back later). In a huge dark hall, Fuyutsuki gets quite a shock when the lights come on and he is face to face with a prototype Evangelion, which he first mistakes for Adam. Gendo tells that the giant is a part of the Adam Revival Project, generally known as Project E, and what he is currently looking at is the prototype for the project, Unit-00. "A prototype for a god?!" asks Fuyutsuki, at which point Gendo invites him to join his new organization, GEHIRN, and work with him to usher in new era in the history of mankind.

They reach their distination, a laboratory complex build on the floor of the dome, and here Gendo introduces Fuyutsuki to Naoko Akagi, a genius in the field of computers, who is busy working on a project. Fuyutsuki, already somewhat familiar with Naoko and her work, asks her what has brought her to this place. She tells him that the lab is the best place to test out fundamental theories for the bio-computers of the future, and she is currently working on creating a new kind of supercomputer, which she wants to name the "MAGI". Fuyutsuki asks Gendo if this is what he wanted to show him, but Naoko tells him that Gendo had something else in mind and proceeds to guide them on to another part of the facility (telling a young and very awkward Ritsuko in passing that she will be back later). In a huge dark hall, Fuyutsuki gets quite a shock when the lights come on and he is face to face with a prototype Evangelion, which he first mistakes for Adam. Gendo tells that the giant is a part of the Adam Revival Project, generally known as Project E, and what he is currently looking at is the prototype for the project, Unit-00. "A prototype for a god?!" asks Fuyutsuki, at which point Gendo invites him to join his new organization, GEHIRN, and work with him to usher in new era in the history of mankind.

Later that year, Naoko and Ritsuko have completed the work on the MAGI. Naoko explains to Ritsuko how she has incorporated three aspects of herself into the computer. Ritsuko tells her that she will be leaving early to pick up Misato, who has recently broken up with Kaji and is now another member of GEHIRN. Naoko pulls a late shift, as Rei suddenly appears in control room. Naoko is puzzled by this, and ask if they should go look for Gendo. Rei coldly answers she can find home by herself and calls Naoko an "old hag." Miffed, Naoko tells her that she can't talk that way to other people and she will tell this to Gendo, but Rei responds that it is what Gendo himself says about Naoko when she is not around; he calls her a pushy and useless old hag and says he doesn't need her any more. Realizing that Gendo never truly loved her, Naoko snaps and strangles Rei in her anger. Coming back to her senses and seeing what she has done, Naoko succumbs to despair and commits suicide by jumping out from the MAGI control tower. Ritsuko did not find out until the next day. That same day, Chairman Keel put out an order to disband GEHIRN and had it restructured into NERV.

In 2003, Fuyutsuki goes to The UN Artificial Evolution Laboratory in Hakone, Yui and Gendo's new workplace, and confronts the latter with evidence incriminating him and SEELE as being responsible for Second Impact and its cover-up. He also tells him that he knows about the secret Dead Sea Scrolls and threatens to go public with everything. Gendo is unmoved, even somewhat amused by Fuyutsuki's threats. Apparently taking it all in stride, he casually invites him down to the laboratory so he can see the work being done there for himself. Though distrustful of Gendo and puzzled by this act of joviality, Fuyutsuki's curiosity wins out and he accepts the invitation. The two of them boards a tram which takes them deep down into Hakone's underground, and Fuyutsuki notices on the halfway that they are heading into a dome shaped cave not unlike the one on Antarctica. Gendo tells him that they indeed are similar and that they were "left behind, by someone who was not us." They reach their distination, a laboratory complex build on the floor of the dome, and here Gendo introduces Fuyutsuki to Naoko Akagi, a genius in the field of computers, and her work on the new MAGI computer system. He is also shown a prototype Evangelion which he first mistakes for Adam. Gendo now invites Fuyutsuki to join his new organization, GEHIRN, and help it create a new future for mankind.

In the year 1999, Fuyutsuki is a teacher in Metaphysical Biology at Kyoto University. Through a colleague he hears about a promising new student in bioengineering named Yui Ikari, who is interested in his work and wants to meet with him. As he meets her in his office, their conversation about science eventually leads Fuyutsuki to ask Yui what her long term plans are, and she admits that she actually wishes for a quiet domestic life if she meets the right guy, both surprising and intriguing the professor. Through Yui he also meets the student Gendo Rokubungi, a man with a reputation for being a violent hothead, and Fuyutsuki does indeed dislike him from their first meeting. But Gendo himself has no problems with Fuyutsuki's outspoken dislike; he comments that he is used to being hated.

In the year 1999, Fuyutsuki is a teacher in Metaphysical Biology at Kyoto University. Through a colleague he hears about a promising new student in bioengineering named Yui Ikari, who is interested in his work and wants to meet with him. Meeting her in his office he asks what her long term plans are, and she admits that she actually wishes for a quiet domestic life if she meets the right guy, both surprising and intriguing the professor. Through Yui he also meets the student Gendo Rokubungi, a man with a reputation for being a violent hothead, and Fuyutsuki does indeed dislike him from their first meeting. But Gendo himself has no problems with Fuyutsuki's outspoken dislike; he comments that he is used to being hated.

It is now 2010, and Gendo arrives at work with the company of a little girl. Naoko asks about her, wondering what happened to Gendo's son. Gendo tells her that the child’s name is Rei Ayanami and he is looking after her for a friend. Naoko privately notices that the girl is a dead ringer for Yui. She later checks Rei's file but finds literally nothing on her.

In 2008, Ritsuko arrives at GEHIRN's headquarters to start working on the MAGI. She gets lost in the complex and accidentally walks in on Naoko and Gendo engaged in a conversation. Undetected by the two, Ritsuko listens in from the shadows and overhears hears Naoko accusing Gendo of being unable to let go of Yui, before she ends the conversation by saying that she doesn't mind this and then starts kissing Gendo, revealing the two to be in an affair.