By the time Xiao Ran entered NERV's Command Center, the battle outside had begun again. The fierce fighting and grim situation had everyone in the Command Center focused entirely on the enormous screen, leaving no one to notice Xiao Ran's arrival.
Watching the massive screen ahead, Xiao Ran paced over to Misato Katsuragi, whose hands were pressed against the console. After taking in everything displayed on the screen, he gave a faint nod. "Gedim again, huh?"
Hearing the voice beside her, Misato Katsuragi seemed to finally realize Xiao Ran was there. She stared at him with wide eyes. "Why are you here!?"
"Why can't I be here?" Xiao Ran asked with interest. "As the holder of the highest authority in the Unified Government, there is nowhere in NERV Headquarters that I'm not allowed to go."
Misato Katsuragi froze for a moment, then abruptly shook her head and pointed at the large screen with her right hand. "Is this really the time to talk about that!? There's a battle going on outside! Instead of being out there, you're standing here! Do you know that because of your orders, Unit-00, Unit 2, and Unit 8 have all lost the ability to move!?"
"Oh?" Xiao Ran turned toward the screen. In fact, he had already noticed when he came in that the three EVAs were currently unable to move and appeared somewhat twisted. Unit-13 stood before them, gripping two spiral spears in its four arms. It neither panicked nor showed any intention of helping Graham and the other three, who were currently fighting Gedim. It was as though it had complete confidence that the three EVAs would go through such an ordeal, treating itself entirely as a gate guardian protecting them from the battle's interference.
"Heh." Xiao Ran suddenly laughed, then shook his