Re:Vangelion - Re: Life to a World of Mechs

I was alone now.

The silence around me was deafening. The floor of the base was cold, and the red emergency light blinked, casting distorted shadows across the metal walls. Everything had gone wrong. Shinji and Rei had lost the battle. The Angel had won.

I felt useless.

From the moment I arrived at Tokyo-3, I had felt out of place, a bystander in the midst of something much larger than myself. But now, it was different. Now, I felt empty.

Before everything fell apart, before the chaos ensued, I saw something no one else saw.

Another Angel.

That colossal, floating, geometric, incomprehensible thing, with its glow and its suffocating presence. But around it, I saw something else. Something that shouldn't be there.

Hands.

Purple, translucent, deformed hands, reaching out from the void around the Angel like distorted shadows. No one else reacted. No one else mentioned it. But I saw it. And it terrified me in a way I couldn't explain.

Now, sitting on the cold floor, I wondered: What was that?

The Angel was a threat to humanity. I understood that. But this... this felt different. It was something beyond what we had studied, beyond what NERV knew. It was like I was seeing something I shouldn't see.

But it didn't matter anymore.

Shinji and Rei had failed. I was alone. And all that was left now was to wait for the end.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the day to end, until something changed. When I looked around, it was pitch black with no explanation. "W-Where am I?"

For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. In the distance, I saw a girl with purple hair lying on the dark floor. Her presence was unlike anything I had ever felt.

The dark aura around him seemed to pulse, and suddenly, a pink-haired woman dressed in black appeared, with a tired look, as if she were about to fall asleep at any moment.

I felt a shiver run down my spine. I didn't know who she was, but something inside me screamed that this woman was no ordinary person.

She raised her eyes slightly, staring at me with a lazy but penetrating gaze.



"Do you feel useless?" Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it carried an immeasurable weight.

I couldn't answer right away. My body trembled, my mind still stuck in that thing's words, in defeat, in helplessness.

"Everyone is weak… everyone falls… everyone fails…" she continued, her fingers drawing circles lazily in the dry earth. "But that doesn't matter, does it?"

I felt my heart tighten. Who was this woman? And why was she here?

She let out a long sigh, closing her eyes for a moment before giving me a sleepy smile.

"So, Subaru… what are you going to do now?"

I looked around, trying to figure out where I was. The environment around me was dark, but not completely dark. There was a strange purple glow on the ground, as if a pulsing energy was running through it. The air was thick, as if I was trapped in a dream I couldn't wake up from.

"Where… where am I?" I asked, still feeling the weight of the aura around me.

The woman sighed deeply before answering, seeming bored just having to explain.

"Hmmm… in the garden of shadows…" Her voice was slurred, as if each word required immense effort to be said. "And I… I am Sekhmet… the Witch of Sloth."

My eyes widened. Witch?! Her heart raced. I had never heard of that. Sekhmet… it was a name I didn't know.

"W-witch? What do you mean?!" I exclaimed, taking a step back.

Sekhmet yawned, resting her face on one of her hands, as if she was about to fall asleep at any moment.

"Ahhh… how annoying… you talk too much…" she grumbled. "Yes, I'm a witch… so what? What are you going to do with this information? Are you going to run away? Cry? Feel even more useless?"

Her words hit me like a cold blade. That was exactly how I felt… useless. Shinji and Rei had failed, I couldn't do anything, and now I was here, in front of a witch, not knowing what to do.

"You… why are you here?" I asked, trying to remain calm.

Sekhmet blinked slowly, her expression remaining lazy.

"You called me…" she murmured. — "Or maybe… it was your own hopelessness that brought me here…"

I felt a chill run down my spine. What the hell was going on?

I was silent, trying to take it all in. Sekhmet yawned long before continuing, looking tired just from having to talk.

"Those hands… hmm…" she sighed. "You really don't know what they are? How lazy…"

I shook my head. "I have no idea… I was the only one who saw them, and no one else seemed to notice… What the hell are they?"

Sekhmet tilted her head slightly, her sleepy purple eyes watching me with a bored look.

"Tsk… so annoying to explain…" she muttered, resting her chin on her hand. "Those hands belong to one of my… faithful followers. A man, no… A creature called Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti."

I felt a shiver run through my body.

"Petelgeuse…?"

The name meant nothing to me, but the way Sekhmet mentioned it made my stomach turn.

"Yes…" Sekhmet continued. "He was… how can I put it… a desperate fanatic, one of the most devoted to the one you still don't know…"

I frowned. "The one I still don't know?"

Sekhmet smiled slightly, but didn't answer right away. She simply watched me, as if testing my patience.

"Ahhh… how lazy…" she sighed. "You'll know when the time comes… For now, just remember: those hands… don't belong to you. But… for some reason, you can see them."

I clenched my fists. All of this only made him even more confused.

"And what do I do with this information?" I said with great frustration.

Sekhmet smirked.

"That's up to you…" she murmured. "But know that… if you keep going like this… you'll end up falling to the same fate as Petelgeuse."

I felt the weight of her words as she admitted her helplessness.

"I… I can't do anything."

It was hard to say it out loud, but it was the truth. Ever since I arrived at NERV, I had only watched others fight and get hurt while I stood by, unable to help. Shinji was unconscious, Rei was injured, and the Angel was still threatening everyone.

Sekhmet, who until then seemed on the verge of sleep, raised her head slightly and looked at me with a slightly disappointed expression.

"Hmmm… how boring to hear that…"

I frowned.

"What do you mean by that?"

Sekhmet yawned long before continuing, her purple eyes fixed on me.

"This isn't the Subaru I know…"

I felt a shiver run down my spine. "What? What do you mean by that?"

Sekhmet sighed.

"You always find a way. You always find a way out, no matter how impossible it seems…" she murmured, resting her face in her hands. "So why are you wallowing in all this laziness now?"

I felt my mouth dry. How could she say that? How could she act like she knew him? I'd never seen her before… never heard of her. But something in her words made me feel strangely uncomfortable, like it was a distant echo of something he couldn't remember.

"I…" I tried to say, but I swallowed hard.

Sekhmet watched him for a while before yawning again and continuing.

"Tsk… how tiring…" she murmured. "But if you really want to understand what's going on, then I'll tell you... The Petelgeuse... Romanee-Conti I mentioned... He's merged with one of the Angels."

My eyes widened. "What?! How is that possible?" "Hmmm..."

Sekhmet stretched out her arms, as if she was lazily stretching. "After that geometric Angel is defeated, a plan B will be activated... Petelgeuse has found a vessel... and now he's there, on the battlefield."

My stomach churned. "Wait, wait! Are you saying there's an Angel who's not just an Angel... but also has that lunatic inside him?! How the hell do we fight that?"

Sekhmet laughed lightly. "Ahh... that's the Subaru I know."

I felt another chill. "Stop saying that!" I yelled. "You keep talking like you know me! But I've never seen you before!"

Sekhmet closed her eyes for a moment, as if she was thinking. "Hmmm… maybe you don't remember, but I do."

"What does that mean…?"

Sekhmet just gave a lazy smile. "You'll find out in time…"

I wanted to scream, to demand answers, but before I could say anything else, a darkness began to envelop me. I tried to resist, but it was as if I was being sucked out of that place.

The last thing I saw was Sekhmet, yawning and waving her hand slowly.

"Now… go and fix it, like you always do. Go back in time… Boy…"

I opened my eyes suddenly.

I was back at NERV. But I still had to go back in time... To do so, I would have to do a terrible thing...

Without realizing it, I already had the knife in my hands. I wanted to scream in fear, all my feelings were screaming for me to stop, but if I go back in time, I can avoid everything... Only I can do this, it's my duty.

I put the knife to my neck and finished the job...

It hurt....

The blood was coming out so slowly from my neck...

I just wanted to not feel it...

It was then that everything went black...

...

I opened my eyes slowly, alarm still echoing in my ears. The battle was not over yet.

And now I knew that something much worse was coming.

I felt my body shudder as I realized where I was. The recovery room, the bed where Shinji still slept, the sound of medical equipment... everything was exactly as before.

I went back in time.

My breathing became heavy for a moment, but then, a thought flashed through my mind like a bolt of lightning: I can't give up now!

If what Sekhmet said was true, that this Petelgeuse was now part of an Angel, then we are all in even greater danger than we could have imagined. If I didn't do anything, everything would fall apart again.

I clenched my fists and looked at Rei who was standing next to me, like last time.

"Rei!"

She looked at me without expressing any emotion, as always.

"I need you to take me to Misato. Now!"

Rei blinked slowly, as if she was analyzing my request. "Why?"

"Because I know what will happen if we don't do anything!" I said without patience to beat around the bush. "I need to talk to her before it's too late!"

Rei continued to watch me, but then, without asking any more questions, she simply nodded.

"Understood."

I was surprised by her direct answer, but I didn't have time to think about it. I followed her through the hallways of NERV, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.

Every step I took only increased his anxiety. I had never told anyone the truth before. How would I explain this? How could I tell them that I could go back in time every time I died? How would I make Misato believe me? What if she didn't?

But I couldn't hesitate.

We passed several NERV agents, the hallways still bustling with tension from the Angel's attack. I could feel the atmosphere filled with worry, the same as before.

When we arrived in front of the large door to the meeting room, Rei stopped and looked at me.

"She's in there."

I took a deep breath.

This was the moment.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

I opened the door and entered the meeting room. The atmosphere was tense. Misato and Ritsuko stood next to a holographic screen where a diagram showed the Angel and the progression of its advance. Other NERV agents were sitting around the table, discussing strategy.

Misato looked at him in surprise. "Subaru? What are you doing here?"

I swallowed hard, trying to control my breathing. "I... I need to tell you something. Something very important."

Misato frowned and crossed her arms. "If it's about the battle, it can wait. We're in the middle of a strategy meeting."

"No! It can't wait!" I shouted. "If you don't listen to me now, everything could go wrong!"

Ritsuko adjusted her glasses, studying me curiously. The other agents exchanged glances, but Misato sighed and gestured with her hand.

"Okay, just tell me."

I opened my mouth, ready to reveal the truth. I felt my heart race. If I tell them that I go back in time when I die, will they believe me? Will they treat me like a crazy person?

.....

"Misato.... I-"

But before I could say anything, something happened.

The world went completely silent.

The air stopped.

The lights froze in the middle of the glow.

The NERV agents stood still, like statues. The sound of the machines stopped completely.

Time had stopped.

I felt a tightness in my chest, a crushing pressure, as if something invisible was squeezing my heart. My eyes were locked, I tried to catch my breath, but my body wouldn't move.

An indescribable pain ran through my body, as if invisible hands were trying to rip something out of me.

Then, as suddenly as it had started, everything went back to normal.

The sound returned. The lights flickered. The NERV agents continued their conversations as if nothing had happened.

No one noticed.

Only I felt it.

Misato pounded the table impatiently. "So, Subaru? What was so important?"

I felt sweat running down her face. What was that? I had never felt anything like it before. It was as if something… or someone didn't want me to talk about returning through death.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.

"It's about the Angel…"

If I couldn't talk about returning through death, then I would have to talk about something else.

Misato raised an eyebrow. "What about the Angel?"

I looked directly at her, her expression serious. "He's not just an Angel. There's something inside him. Something worse."

Misato crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at me. There was skepticism in her gaze, but she couldn't just ignore it. I had shown her before that her instinct or whatever it was was right on target.

"Are you saying there's something inside the Angel?" Ritsuko asked, adjusting her glasses.

I nodded in agreement. "Not only that. I see purple hands around him. Like something is trying to get out… or maybe… control him."

The room was silent for a few seconds. The NERV agents exchanged glances, some looking confused. But Misato rested her elbows on the table and looked directly at me. "Did you smell the same thing before?"

"Yes…" I answered without hesitation. "The same thing last time, and when the Geometric Angel appeared. But this time, the smell got worse."

Ritsuko snorted, crossing her legs. "This could just be a hallucination. He could be stressed, or it could be something psychological, or… He could have had some direct interaction with an angel."

"What if it's nothing like that?" Misato countered. "Subaru helped us before. He knew exactly where the previous Angel's weak point was. We can't just ignore it."

Ritsuko was silent for a moment, thinking.

"Okay... Let's assume Subaru is right." She turned the holographic screen to show the Angel, still hovering over the city. "If there's something else inside him, then maybe we're facing something completely different from what we know."

Misato rested her chin on her hand, looking at the screen.

"This changes everything."

She stood up and turned to me. "Whatever you're seeing, we can't ignore it. How exactly is this... 'something' manifesting itself?"

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to remember the feeling she'd had when she'd looked at the Angel. "It's like... something is inside him, trying to get out. I can't explain it exactly, but... it feels like something alive. Something that wants to break free."

Misato exchanged a look with Ritsuko. "Whatever it is, we need to find out before it's too late."

She picked up the communicator and pressed a button. L "Send reinforcements to Unit 01 and 00. We'll prepare an immediate containment plan."

I took a deep breath. I couldn't tell them everything, but at least I managed to keep them from making the same mistakes as last time.

I just hoped that this time, it would be enough.

I felt my heart race. I knew I couldn't just let things happen the same way. If that Angel was really different, if that Petelgeuse guy was somehow involved, then whatever they were planning wouldn't be enough.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, cutting Misato off before she could start giving orders.

"Wait!" I shouted, drawing everyone's attention in the room.

Everyone's eyes turned to me, some confused, others angry. I swallowed hard, but I didn't back down.

"I want to go with them."

Misato raised an eyebrow. "What? What are you talking about, Subaru?"

"I know I don't have the ability to pilot an Eva, but I can help. I need to be there!"

Ritsuko sighed, already looking tired.

"Don't be ridiculous. You have no training, you don't have a plug-suit, you shouldn't even be involved in battles of this level."

I clenched my fists, trying to control my frustration. "What if you're wrong? What if what I'm seeing is real? If this thing inside the Angel awakens and you're not prepared, it might be too late!"

Misato frowned. "Do you think we have many options?"

"That's why we need a plan B!" I insisted. "If this Angel is different, then fighting it the same way won't work. I know I'm asking for something absurd, but if there's any chance of preventing the worst, I have to be there."

Silence filled the room. A few agents whispered among themselves, unsure of how to react.

Ritsuko looked at Misato, waiting for her to make a decision.

Misato sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Are you telling me that even without an Eva, you want to go to the front lines?"

I hesitated. I couldn't just say "I died and came back in time, so I know this Angel isn't normal." I needed another justification.

"I've seen something like this before…" I clenched my fists, struggling to choose my words carefully. "This kind of thing… if it's not completely eradicated, it can find a way to come back. To regenerate."

Misato sighed, running a hand through her hair. "And what would your plan be?"

I pointed to the Evas on the holographic screen. "Shinji and Rei must follow the original plan. But if this being truly awakens, if it becomes something beyond what you expect, I will be there to warn you before it is too late. You need a plan B. Something that will ensure that if things get out of hand, we will have a chance to contain it."

Ritsuko still looked suspicious. "And how do you intend to help in there without being a pilot?"

I looked at her seriously. "If I see something new, if I feel that this being is about to break free, I can warn you before it happens. That could be the difference between victory and disaster."

Misato was silent for a moment, then crossed her arms and nodded. "Fine. But you will stay safe, inside one of the support pods. Don't expose yourself to unnecessary risks."

I nodded. "Understood."

Misato turned to Ritsuko.

She crossed her arms, thinking for a few seconds. Then, finally, she let out a long sigh. "This is crazy."

"And when has anything here not been?" I countered.

Misato laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Fine. But you will follow my orders. If I tell you to retreat, you retreat. If I tell you to run, you run."

I nodded quickly. "Understood!"

Misato then turned to Ritsuko. "Can we get him a support suit? Something that will protect him at least a little?"

Ritsuko sighed. "I can't believe I'm agreeing to this… But I'll see what I can do."

Misato slammed her hand on the table. "Very well! We have a plan to discuss."

I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. I didn't know exactly what I would do once I got there, but at least I wouldn't just sit around waiting for the worst to happen.

This time, I would make a difference.

Misato crossed her arms and looked at Ritsuko. "Let's put Subaru in the prototype plug-suit. The gray one, the one we used for testing."

Ritsuko, who still seemed reluctant about the whole situation, sighed and adjusted her goggles. "Are you sure about this, Misato? He doesn't have proper training. The plug-suit is meant for monitoring, not actual combat."

Misato nodded. "I know. But that's what we have right now. He won't be piloting, he'll just be assisting. If things get out of hand, I want him there to alert us to anything strange."

I couldn't help but feel a shiver run down my spine. I knew what I was doing was dangerous, but hearing Misato talk like that, as if I were the last line of defense against an unknown enemy, only made it all the more real.

Ritsuko nodded and typed something on her tablet. "Okay. I'll prepare the suit. But don't expect it to be as efficient as the other plug-suits. It's a test model, so it doesn't have synchronization or advanced functions."

Misato looked at me. "That means you won't have physical reinforcement, nor full protection against pressure or impacts. If something hits you directly, it won't be like it was for the pilots."

I swallowed hard. "I get it. But it's still better than nothing."

Misato sighed and put her hand on my shoulder. "Listen, Subaru... When this battle is over, we're going to talk properly about these things you see. The strange smell, the invisible hands... I can't ignore it anymore."

I noticed that for the first time, Misato seemed to take what I was saying seriously. Before, she might have thought it was just a passing thought or a daydream. But now, after the last battle and her insistence, she could no longer ignore it.

"It's okay. I just want to make sure everything works out this time."

Misato gave a brief smile, a rare moment of softness amidst the chaos. "Then let's get ready. Everyone, take Subaru to get the suit. Time is against us."

I took a deep breath and walked out of the room. There was no turning back.

Misato turned to Ritsuko. "Prepare a support module in Unit 00. If this really is a bigger risk than we think, we can't afford to ignore Subaru's warning."

Ritsuko sighed and nodded to one of the NERV operators. "Okay. But if anything goes wrong, that will be your responsibility, Misato."

Misato smiled slightly. "It wouldn't be the first time."

As soon as she left the room, the atmosphere inside grew heavier. Misato crossed her arms and looked at Ritsuko, who was still analyzing some data on her tablet.

"You know…" Misato began, exhaling a tired sigh. "The way Subaru acted just now… It was kind of scary."

Ritsuko raised an eyebrow and looked away from the screen. "Scary? What do you mean?"

Misato leaned against the table and thought for a moment before answering. "He seemed… too grown up for a boy his age. It wasn't just the seriousness, it was the way he insisted, as if he already knew things would go wrong if we didn't have a plan B. As if he'd seen it happen before."

Ritsuko frowned. "Do you think he's hiding something?"

Misato gave a small, wry smile. "I think he's been hiding things for a long time."

Ritsuko looked back at her data, but now with a thoughtful expression. "If he can really see something we can't, we need to understand how it works. If it's not a hallucination, then it could be an unknown phenomenon."

Misato nodded. "That's why I want to talk to him after this battle. But to be honest, I'm not sure I'm ready to hear the answers."

The room was silent for a few seconds. The monitor displayed the Angel's movements, which remained motionless, floating like a patient predator.

"Well, we have no choice now." Ritsuko said, returning to her professionalism. "Let's focus on finishing off this Angel first. Then we'll try to understand Subaru."

Misato sighed and turned to the screen. "Okay. But one thing is for sure…"

She remembered my determined look and the way I spoke as if I was carrying an invisible burden.

"That kid really isn't normal..."

As I walked through the halls of NERV, my mind was still reeling from everything that had happened. The feeling of helplessness from the last attempt, the encounter with Sekhmet, the revelation about Petelgeuse and the Angel... All of it weighed heavily on my shoulders. But now, I had a chance to change things.

I finally arrived at the medical bay, where Shinji was being treated. When I opened the door, I saw Shinji already awake, sitting on the stretcher, while Rei was next to him. They seemed to be talking in low voices, but stopped as soon as they noticed my presence.

"Oh, Subaru." Shinji looked at me in surprise.

"Are you awake yet?" I asked, closing the door behind me.

Shinji nodded slowly. He still looked tired, but at least he was conscious. Rei, as always, kept her expression neutral, watching the interaction between the two of us.

"I… I'm fine, I guess." Shinji replied, looking away. "But the Angel is still out there, isn't he?"

I nodded. "Yes, and that's why I'm here."

Rei tilted her head slightly. "You seem different."

I was silent for a moment. Yes, I was different. Not because anything had changed, but because now I knew what was coming.

"The plans have changed." He finally said, turning to Rei. "Now I'm going to participate too."

Shinji frowned in surprise. "You're going to... pilot an Eva?"

"Not exactly." I crossed my arms. "But I'll be inside. I'll join your unit to assist you with the plan. If anything goes wrong, I'll be there to act."

Shinji looked confused, but also a little relieved. "That's... kind of unexpected."

I laughed humorlessly. "Well, lately, my life has been full of unexpected things."

Rei continued to look at me for a few seconds before simply nodding.

"Understood."

I stared at her for a moment. I knew that if things continued as before, Rei would suffer greatly in this battle. But now that I was involved, maybe I could stop that from happening.

Shinji sighed and looked at his hands.

"So... what's the plan?"

I smiled slightly. "Let's talk to Misato. But one thing is for sure... This time, we're going to win."

In the NERV locker room, I held the gray plug-suit Misato had given me. It was a prototype, different from Shinji and Rei's fitted suits. As I put it on, I noticed that it was a bit looser and uncomfortable, probably because it wasn't designed for real combat.

Beside me, Shinji was wearing his blue and white suit, seemingly lost in thought. When he finally broke the silence, his voice carried an uncertainty I had expected.

"Do you think we can really defeat that thing?"

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye as I adjusted the gloves of the suit. "Of course we can," I replied without hesitation.

Shinji didn't look convinced.

"But last time, I lost..." He lowered his head. "I almost died..."

There was a brief silence. Rei stood there, in his own corner, adjusting his white plug-suit, expressing no apparent emotion. But I knew she remembered what happened just as well as they did.

I let out a sigh.

"This time it'll be different." I turned to Shinji, crossing my arms. "We have a plan. And I'll be inside to make sure it doesn't go off the rails."

Shinji looked at me uncertainly. "What if it goes wrong again?"

I paused for a moment. "Then I'll figure it out."

Shinji frowned, clearly not satisfied with the vague answer. But I couldn't tell him the truth. I couldn't tell him that I'd seen this battle end in disaster before.

Rei finally spoke, her voice calm and direct. "There's no reason to hesitate. If we fail, there won't be another chance."

Shinji stared at Rei for a moment before sighing heavily. "Okay... I'll do my best."

I smirked. "That's it."

We finished changing and started heading for the launch pad. This time, I wasn't just a spectator. I was going to make a difference.

I pulled at the collar of the gray plug-suit, trying to ease the tight, uncomfortable feeling. I felt strange in the suit, as if it didn't really belong to me.

"Seriously, why does my suit feel like a sack of potatoes while yours are custom-made?" I complained, adjusting my shoulders.

Shinji looked at me with a somewhat confused expression, but with a small smile on his face. "I guess that's because that's why it's just a prototype."

"Then they could at least have made one that fits properly!" I grumbled.

I then looked at Rei, who was finishing adjusting her white plug-suit. Unlike mine, her suit looked elegant, perfectly fitted to her body. I thought about how natural she looked in it, as if it was already part of her. "By the way, Rei... you look really pretty."

It was something that slipped out without much thought. Rei, as always, didn't show any immediate reaction. She just blinked slowly and turned her head toward me.

"Pretty?" she asked neutrally.

I scratched the back of my neck. "Yeah, you know... the outfit suits you."

Shinji blushed a little and looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the direct comment. Rei just blinked once more and replied in the simplest way possible: "I see."

She didn't say anything else and went back to getting ready. I sighed again, somewhat defeated. "You really are hard to read, huh…"

Shinji let out a small muffled laugh as I tried to adjust my plug-suit again. Even with all the discomfort, I knew that this mission was more important than anything.

The sky turned an orange hue, and Rei, Shinji and I remained silent, watching the horizon. The city lights began to turn on little by little, while tension hung in the air. We were just waiting for the right moment to take action.

Shinji broke the silence, his voice sounding hesitant: "Rei… why do you fight?"

Rei continued to look ahead, without showing any immediate reaction. The gentle wind slightly ruffled his blue hair, but his gaze remained fixed on nothing.

"Because they told me to fight."

Shinji frowned, clearly dissatisfied with this answer. "But… besides that, don't you have a reason of your own?"

This time, Rei looked down at her hands, as if she was trying to find an answer within herself. I watched her silently, waiting to see what she would say.

"I have nothing," she finally said, her voice as calm as ever. "I only fight because that's my purpose. If I don't fight… then I'm nothing."

The silence that followed was heavy. "How depressing..." I felt a tightness in my chest when I heard those words. It was as if she didn't see herself as a person, just a tool.

Shinji lowered his head, thoughtful. "That's not true… You're not just a pilot."

Rei didn't answer, and silence settled between us again. I scratched the back of my neck, trying to find something to say. I wanted to contradict Rei's words, I wanted to tell her that she was more than just a fighter, but something stopped me. Maybe because, at that moment, she truly believed it.

Dusk continued to fall, bringing darkness over Tokyo-3. The battle was about to begin.

Darkness began to engulf the city as one by one the lights went out. Buildings that had once shone with illuminated windows now seemed like mere shadows on the horizon. Everything was silent, as if Tokyo-3 was holding its breath before the final clash.

I watched the city lights go out, feeling a shiver run down my spine. The plan was underway. We were betting everything on this one chance.

Rei was the first to stand up. Her silhouette stood out against the distant glow of the night sky. She turned to the two of us and, in her ever-so-calm voice, said:

"Goodbye."

The single word came out of her mouth with a frightening coldness, as if there was no doubt in her heart. As if she were saying goodbye forever.

Shinji's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. I felt a tightness in my chest. It wasn't the first time I'd heard someone say goodbye like that, as if their life was already doomed before the battle even began.

Rei started walking towards Eva-00, her posture rigid, her resolve unshakable. Shinji and I just watched, unable to find the words to stop her.

Shinji finally managed to mutter, "Why… did you say that?"

But Rei was already far enough away to pretend she didn't hear.

I just clenched my fists. Something inside me was bothering me. I felt like I needed to say something, I needed to break the heavy mood, but I didn't know how. My heart was beating fast as I watched Rei disappear into the launch pad.

"You idiot…" I muttered softly.

Shinji continued to stare at the ground, seemingly lost in thought. I tapped his shoulder lightly, trying to get his attention.

"We're not going to let her die, right?" I forced a smile, trying to keep the mood light, but I felt my chest tighten.

Shinji raised his head and nodded, though he seemed hesitant.

The countdown began.

The launch pads began to move, preparing the Evangelions for the surface. The energy of the entire city was being channeled into the special weapon Rei would use. The silence was replaced by the sound of alarms and urgent commands echoing through NERV's communication system.

I could feel my heart racing. I wasn't in the center of the battle like Shinji and Rei, but I knew that my presence there could make a difference.

"We won't let her die…" I repeated to myself.

The plan began.

The tension was almost palpable inside the Eva. I could hear Shinji's breathing through the comm. Eva-01 held the experimental rifle, my only chance to finish off this Angel before it was too late.

"Shinji, you have three shots. Only three. Don't waste any." Misato's voice sounded firm through the comm.

Shinji swallowed hard. I could see his hands shaking slightly on the controls.

"I know… I know…" Shinji muttered, trying to focus.

Meanwhile, NERV had launched several drones around the geometric Angel. They flashed bright lights and emitted high-frequency sound waves, trying to confuse the creature. The plan was to distract the Angel long enough for Shinji to get a clear shot.

But I felt something strange. The smell that had previously been merely an annoyance was now unbearable. The purple hands, the ones that only he could see, began to move around the Angel, as if they were whispering something that only he could hear.

"Those hands… they're still there…" I muttered, feeling a shiver run down my spine.

I wanted to say something to Misato, but I knew that at that moment I couldn't distract myself. We were in a critical situation.

"First shot… ready!" A voice announced over the communicator.

Shinji took a deep breath, aligned the sights, and pulled the trigger.

The silence was broken by a deafening boom. The energy beam sliced through the air, heading straight for the Angel's core.

For a moment, I thought we had succeeded. But then, the purple hands moved.

The Angel reacted in an instant, moving its AT barrier to block the attack. The shot bounced off as if it had hit an invisible wall.

"Shit…! He blocked it!" Misato screamed.

"Shinji, try again!" Ritsuko ordered.

Shinji adjusted his aim. He only had two more chances.

But I already knew. Something was wrong.

The smell grew even stronger. The purple hands began to reach out toward Eva-01.

I felt a chill run down my spine.

"WAIT! Something's wrong…!" I screamed.

The Angel didn't just stand there waiting for the second shot. As soon as it dodged the first attack, it counterattacked with a deadly energy beam.

"Rei!" I screamed as I saw Eva-00 advancing with its massive shield.

Rei raised the metal barrier at just the right moment, and the impact was devastating. The shock of energy illuminated everything around it, creating a wave of heat that distorted the air as if it were a scorching desert.

Rei's shield held. The metal began to melt at the edges, the structure trembling with each second that the Angel's energy pressed against us. It was clear that it could not withstand another attack.

"No... not yet." Rei answered in her cool, calm voice.

She held on tight, as if her own life did not matter. I felt a tightness in my chest.

Shinji stared at the scene, his eyes wide. My hands trembled on the controls.

"Do I... do I need to shoot now?" Shinji asked hesitantly.

"Yes! Now!" Misato ordered.

But I saw it. The purple hands were moving again. They seemed to vibrate, as if they were waiting for something… As if they were about to intervene with the next shot.

"Wait, Shinji!" I shouted.

Shinji stopped. He turned his head, confused. "Why?! What is it?!"

I couldn't explain it. But I was sure. Something was wrong. If Shinji fired now… those hands would do something.

Rei was still holding the shield, but not for long. The metal was crumbling into incandescent pieces.

"Shit…! Think, Subaru, think!" I muttered to myself.

We had two shots left. A shield about to give way. And an Angel that was… different.

And those hands…

I clenched my fists. I needed to make a decision. Quickly.

The tension on the battlefield was overwhelming. Time seemed to slow down as I watched the Angel's intense blue glow, its geometric structure spinning hypnotically.

"Now, Shinji!" I shouted at him.

Shinji hesitated for a second, sweat dripping down his forehead. But he swallowed his fear and pulled the trigger.

The rifle shot pierced the air like a bolt of pure destruction, striking straight at the Angel's glowing core. For a moment, everything was silent. Then, the creature let out a deafening scream, a distorted metallic sound that shook the earth.

I felt my body shiver. It didn't just sound like the scream of a dying machine... there was something almost human there.

"Did we make it...?" Shinji asked, his voice shaking.

Before anyone could answer, the Angel, in its last moment of existence, fired a beam of pure energy straight at Eva-01.

"Damn it, take cover!" Misato screamed.

But before Shinji could react, Eva-00 charged.

"Rei!" I shouted at her.

Rei's shield absorbed the initial impact, but this time, it wasn't enough. The resistant material shattered into glowing pieces, and the remaining energy hit Eva-00. The armor melted in places, and the machine fell to its knees, smoke pouring from its mechanical body.

"Ayanami! Talk to me!" Shinji called, his breathing quickening.

The radio went silent for a few seconds.

Then, Rei's cool, calm voice came through. "I'm fine. Continue with the mission."

I let out a sigh of relief, but I knew… this fight wasn't completely over yet. Something inside me told me that the worst was yet to come.

The battle seemed to have come to an end. The Angel exploded in an intense light, forming a bright cross in the night sky. The impact of the explosion shook the ground, and for a brief moment, the NERV team felt relief course through their bodies.

"Did we do it?" Shinji asked, panting, inside Eva-01.

Misato watched the monitors, trying to confirm the total destruction of the enemy. The momentary silence seemed to indicate victory.

Then, a laugh echoed through the NERV speakers.

A distorted and macabre sound, as if several voices were speaking at once.

"What was that?!" one of the operators shouted.

Before anyone could react, something invisible enveloped Eva-01.

I felt a crushing pressure on my body, as if something was trying to suffocate me inside the cabin. Eva-01 began to be pulled back, and the warning screens flashed red.

"There's something here! Something's got the Eva!" Shinji screamed in despair.

But I could see it clearly.

The purple hands… were there.

"Shit! They got the right leg!" Subaru shouted over the communicator. "Shoot the invisible hand! The one on the right leg! Now!"

Misato didn't know exactly what I was talking about, but at that moment, there was no time for doubts.

"Shinji, DO WHAT HE SAID!"

Shinji obeyed. He activated Eva-01's progressive knife and stabbed it into the air… seemingly into nothing.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then, something writhed in the air.

The blade seemed to hit an invisible barrier, and a dark liquid began to flow through the air, partially revealing a grotesque structure, like a misshapen arm that was holding Eva-01's leg.

The horrific scream intensified, making even the NERV speakers crackle.

"Something's happening..." I muttered, feeling a shiver run down my spine.

Something was wrong. The true enemy had yet to be revealed.

Eva-01 was being pulled forcefully by those invisible hands, while I tried to process what was happening. The scene, already devastated by the Angel's explosion, was now even more macabre. Part of the city was covered in a red and viscous fluid, a direct result of the Angel's explosion, which left a sense of desolation everywhere.

But the greatest shock was about to occur. The gigantic creature, a monstrous form that emerged from the shadows, screamed with terrifying fury:

"Do you think I will forget what you did to me, Subaru Natsuki?!"

I stood still for a moment. I recognized the voice immediately. It was the voice of that Petelgeusen. He was in a monstrous, distorted and inhuman form. The monster, if it could still be called a man, was a gigantic and grotesque creature. His body was made of twisted flesh, covered in a pulsating purple aura. His face was a mask of terror, with sharp teeth and black eyes that overflowed with hatred.

Petelgeusen's laughter echoed through the city, even louder than before. It was as if he was mocking me, as if he was enjoying the suffering and despair he caused.

"Petelgeusen…" I muttered to myself, that name was strangely familiar, I was trying to remain calm.

The city around them was almost unrecognizable, covered in the blood of the recently destroyed Angel, while the silhouette of the gigantic creature advanced, relentless. The pressure in the NERV control cabins increased with each second. We knew we had to act quickly, or they would lose everything.

I felt a wave of anger and helplessness. I had helped in the fight, but it was not enough. Petelgeusen was there, as an even greater threat, and the chaos seemed to be just beginning.

"What do you want from me, Petelgeusen?!" I shouted, trying to regain my composure. "I won't let you destroy everything!"

The monster laughed even louder, as if words meant nothing in the face of his immense fury. He raised his hands, which seemed capable of destroying anything in their path.

Rei and Shinji were silent, still trying to understand what was happening, while Petelgeusen's scream continued to echo in my mind, a painful memory. But now, the real fight was just beginning.

The city was plunged into chaos. The Angel's blood, splattered everywhere, dyed the scene red, while the overwhelming presence of Petelgeusen Romanee-Conti made everything even more desperate. Eva-01, still trying to recover from the impact of the invisible hands, was in danger. Inside the cabin, Shinji and I felt the weight of the situation.

"Shinji! Prepare the last shot!" I shouted, grabbing the control.

But before Shinji could react, new invisible hands appeared out of nowhere and violently threw Eva-01 away. The impact caused alarms to sound inside the cockpit, while the image of Petelgeusen got closer and closer.

"Damn it!" I growled, feeling sweat run down my face.

On the other end of the comm, Misato was analyzing the situation with watchful eyes. There was no time for hesitation.

"Plan B is already underway!" her voice echoed through the earpieces. "We're sending a special weapon. It'll be some kind of high-powered flamethrower. But in order to position it correctly, we need Shinji to distract this thing!"

Shinji swallowed hard at Misato's words.

"Distract it?! How do I do that?!" he asked, feeling his body tremble.

I gritted my teeth. I knew there was no choice.

"I'll help you, Shinji!" I shouted. "We just need to hold this damn thing off long enough!"

Outside, Petelgeusen continued to laugh, his distorted voice echoing across the destroyed city. Invisible hands hovered around him like specters, ready to strike at any moment. The plan was in motion, but time was short. And if they failed now, there would be no second chance.

The tension was suffocating. The air was filled with the metallic smell of the Angel's blood, while Petelgeusen continued to laugh, his voice echoing like a distorted melody of pure madness. Shinji and I were still trying to stabilize Eva-01 after the impact, but then something unexpected happened.

Rei, silent as ever, acted before anyone could react. With precise movements, Eva-00 stood up, its body half melted and in tatters, and grabbed the gun that Eva-01 had left behind. Without hesitation, she aimed directly at Petelgeusen and pulled the trigger.

The shot split the air like thunder, illuminating the night with an intense glow. The bullet hit Petelgeusen squarely, causing his grotesque body to contort violently. He let out an animalistic scream, his laughter finally cut short by the shattering impact of the gun.

For a brief moment, there was silence.

But that still wasn't enough to kill him.

Petelgeusen staggered, but soon his laughter returned, this time more hoarse and distorted. He turned his head towards Eva-00, as if he had finally noticed Rei.

"Ohhh… you… you dare…?! HMMMM… WHAT AN UNFORGIVABLE SIN!"

Rei didn't respond. She just stood there, watching. Then, Eva-00, already at its limit, began to shut down. The damage it had suffered was too much to continue operating.

Shinji and I watched helplessly as Rei's mecha came to a complete stop, its internal lights going out.

"Rei…?" Shinji muttered, his voice shaking.

I clenched my fists. Plan B had to come into play now, or all would be lost.

Petelgeuse crawled towards Eva-00, his grotesque movements seeming even more erratic than before. His demented smile widened as he stared at the inert machine, his empty eyes conveying a sick pleasure.

"Ohhh, my, my, MY DARLING!" he exclaimed, stepping even closer. "What a… such a pitiful sight! You don't do ANYTHING on your own, do you? You just obey, follow orders, like a well-trained puppy! How lazy! How disgraceful!"

His laughter echoed through the devastated city, the sound mixing with the cracks of Eva-00's hot metal. He raised his deformed hands, ready to crush the machine like a broken toy.

"A slave to fate, a willless puppet! BUT I WILL FREE YOU, YES, YES! I WILL—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a mechanical roar cut through the air.

From above, something sped down, illuminating the night with an intense light. Plan B had finally arrived.

The flamethrower.

The flames crackled with fury, reflecting in Petelgeuse's empty eyes. He turned his head slowly, his expression contorting into something that bordered on ecstasy and absolute hatred.

Shinji held the giant flamethrower with difficulty, feeling the weight of the weapon through Eva-01's controller. Heat emanated from the tip of the cannon as I, inside the entry plug, took a deep breath. I knew this was the only chance.

"Shinji, hold tight! I'm going to activate!" I screamed.

Petelgeuse turned to us, his invisible hands twitching in the air. His body began to reform, his grotesque flesh reshaping itself as if it were beyond death.

"Ahhh, so insistent, so desperate! BUT THIS IS IN VAIN, IN VAIN, IN VAIN!!!" he bellowed, his blank eyes fixed on Eva-01.

I ignored the words and pulled the trigger.

A torrent of fire engulfed Petelgeuse completely.

The flames roared like a ferocious beast, engulfing his deformed body, and his shrill laughter was replaced by screams of agony. The smell of burning flesh filled the Eva's sensors as the monster thrashed about, its invisible hands twitching and disappearing in the intense heat.

"AAAAHHHHH!!! IT CAN'T BE! THIS IS NOT HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO END! THIS IS NOT FAIR—"

His scream was cut off as his body exploded into a charred black mass, his remains disintegrating in the flames.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

I panted inside the Eva, feeling sweat dripping down my forehead. Shinji stood motionless, his hands shaking slightly on the controls.

"Is it over…?" Shinji asked, his voice trembling.

I didn't answer right away. I just watched as the remains of what had once been Petelgeuse dissipated into the air, mixing with the Angel's blood that still soaked the city.

I wanted to believe it was.

Shinji was still trying to process everything. Whatever that thing was, Petelgeuse. And now, it had been reduced to ashes by the flamethrower.

"An Angel… speaking?" he murmured, still trying to understand.

Misato's voice burst through the comm, calling the two back to reality: "Good job, Shinji, Subaru. You two were amazing."

I let out a long sigh, relaxing my shoulders for the first time since the battle began. But then, something hit me.

Rei.

"Shit… Ayanami!" I yelled, turning to Shinji.

We both looked at each other and, without hesitation, guided Eva-01 to the place where Eva-00 had fallen. The blue mecha lay amidst the wreckage, its structure deformed by the intense temperatures of the battle.

As soon as we landed, Shinji and I hurriedly exited Eva-01. The night was heavy, smoke and the smell of burning permeating the air.

Eva-00's entry pod was still sealed.

Shinji was the first to try to open it. He grabbed the emergency handle and pulled, but intense heat radiated from the structure, almost burning his hands.

"Agh!!" He pulled away, holding his fingers that were now red and sore.

I didn't hesitate. My makeshift prototype plug-suit didn't offer the same protection as Shinji and Rei's, but I ignored the pain and forced the hatch open, feeling the heat seep through the thin layer of the suit. My skin burned instantly.

"It doesn't matter… Damn it…!" I growled, pushing even harder.

The metal creaked, and with one last effort, the hatch opened with a dry snap.

The interior was filled with steam and the metallic smell of blood. And inside, motionless, was Rei Ayanami.

Rei blinked slowly, her vision still blurry from the heat and the effort.

"M-Mister Ikari…?" her voice was weak, but then her eyes focused better and she realized who was really there.

Shinji and me.

I was shaking, I fell to my knees next to the capsule, my eyes filling with tears. Relief hit me like a punch in the stomach, and I couldn't hold back the tears.

"Never again… never say goodbye like that again, do you understand?" My voice was choked, and tears were streaming down my face. "You say that as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but it's not! You're important to us… so don't do it again!"

Shinji, who was still holding his burned hands, couldn't contain his own emotion. He fell beside me, his eyes moist, his breathing shaky.

"You were about to die… and we wouldn't even be able to do anything." He bit his lip, trying to hold back his sobs. "Don't do that again, Ayanami."

Rei watched us, her neutral expression wavering for a moment. Something inside her seemed to… heat up. It was a feeling she didn't quite understand.

She was silent for a few seconds, then moved her lips slightly.

Her gaze was calm, but filled with something that not even she could describe.

"I… I don't know how I should react."

His red eyes analyzed our expressions. I still had tears in my eyes, my breathing was irregular, while Shinji looked away, wiping his face with his arm, trying to look stronger than he really was feeling.

I quickly wiped my eyes and gave a small smile. "Well... you can start by smiling."

Rei blinked, slightly confused. "Smile?"

"Yeah. You know, that thing people do when they're happy?" I made an exaggerated face, pulling the corners of my mouth with my fingers to imitate a silly smile. "Like this!"

Shinji sighed, but couldn't help but laugh softly at my ridiculous attempt to break the tense moment.

Rei watched me for a moment. It seemed like he was processing that information very meticulously, as if it was something so new that he needed time to understand.

Then, slowly, the corners of his mouth curved slightly upwards.

It was a small smile, almost imperceptible, but it was there.

My eyes widened in surprise. "Hey! That was a smile, right?!"

Shinji was also surprised, looking at Rei as if he were seeing something extraordinary. "Ayanami… you're smiling."

Rei's smile didn't last long, but the softness in his expression remained. "I… tried."

I smiled for real this time, and patted Shinji's shoulder lightly. "See? I told you I could!"

Shinji, still shocked, just shook his head and sighed, but deep down, he was grateful for that moment.

The tension of the battle, the fear of loss… everything seemed a little lighter now.

Rei Ayanami had smiled.

I reached out to Rei, offering her support to help her up. Her skin was cold to the touch, and even with the gloves of the makeshift plug-suit, I could feel how fragile she looked at that moment.

Rei hesitated for a second before accepting the help, her slender fingers wrapping around my hand. With a slight push, she stood up, but, still weakened from the battle, she ended up leaning on my shoulder. Surprised, I planted my feet on the ground to make sure she wouldn't fall.

"Are you okay, Rei?" I asked, looking at her with concern.

She nodded slightly, but didn't move away.

It was then that my genuine, tender smile appeared. "You know, I see you guys… I guess I can consider you as part of my family now. The Natsuki family!"

Shinji looked at me with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Family…?"

Rei, on the other hand, widened her eyes slightly. The word seemed to resonate inside her in a different way. "Family..." Something she had never really had. Something that seemed distant, but at the same time... welcoming.

She glanced at me from the corner of her eye, and for the first time, she noticed the sincere glow on my face. It wasn't a forced smile, nor an attempt to convince her of something. It was a real feeling, a desire to include her, to give her a place to belong.

My eyes lowered for a moment, and before I knew it, a slight heat rose to her face. An almost imperceptible blush appeared on my cheeks.

Pleased with my own declaration, I was about to say something else when I realized something. Rei's body was still pressed against mine.

The sudden proximity made my mind finally register how close we were to each other. I could feel her breathing, calm and controlled, and the faint heat emanating from her body, even through the plug-suit.

It was like an electric shock.

My face immediately started to heat up. "A-Ah…"

I tried to pull away a little, but Rei, still weak, ended up leaning a little closer to me.

Now, we were both blushing.

Shinji watched the scene from the side, a little unsure of how to react.

I finally tried to look away, scratching the back of my neck. "Uhh… well… maybe it's better if we take you back to the doctors, huh?"

Rei just nodded, still blushing, but without saying anything.

And so, with my heart racing, I helped Rei walk, trying to ignore the heat in her face while Shinji followed them, watching us with a confused expression.

Somewhere else…

In the silent vastness of the Moon, where the pale glow of the Earth reflected on the gray and sterile surface, a solitary capsule began to open. The mechanism released a subtle sound of pressure dissipating, and within it, a figure emerged.

A snow-white haired being, a boy slowly opened his eyes, his red orbs reflecting a deep understanding of what was happening. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the new reality, before finally rising from the capsule.

Looking around, he felt the familiarity of the scene. It was as if everything was following a script already written…

But something was different.

He closed his eyes for a moment, listening to the echoes of fate reverberating around him. Something… or rather, someone had altered the course of events.

A faint smile formed on his lips as he muttered to himself:

"Events are repeating themselves… but this time, there is a new player on the board."

His eyes turned to Earth, watching the blue planet below intently.

"You are dangerous… Subaru Natsuki."

End of Chapter 6