The Sixth Angel

Once the evacuation was complete, NERV's alarms finally began to die down. On the elevated platform, Gendo Ikari and Kozo Fuyutsuki both looked at the creature on the screen that hardly looked alive.

"As expected, it's the Sixth Angel, Ramiel." Kozo Fuyutsuki stared at the image on the main screen, his tone grave.

"Yes. Send Unit-00 out." Gendo Ikari nodded slightly and pushed up the sunglasses on his nose. His orders were swiftly relayed to every combat unit.

"Yes, sir." Misato Katsuragi received the order as well and answered crisply.

Unlike Gendo Ikari, the commander-in-chief who only had to say whatever came to mind, Misato Katsuragi, as a professional field commander, had far more to consider.

After a moment's thought, Misato Katsuragi proposed her deployment plan. "Then we'll use Unit-01 as our main force, with Unit-00 providing support..."

"No. Unit-01 will remain on standby. Unit-00 will sortie."

His voice was quiet and as impassive as ever, yet it sent a jolt through everyone present.

They had all been delighted when Unit-00's reactivation test succeeded.

NERV had gained another trump card, Shinji Ikari no longer had to fight alone, and humanity had a better chance of winning. With a burden as immense as saving humanity, having someone to share it was always better than carrying it alone.

But what did he mean by refusing to deploy Unit-01? Was he planning to sideline the veteran pilot as soon as a newcomer arrived? Wasn't he afraid of disheartening the newcomer, too?

Well, who knew whether that doll-like girl even had a heart? But this would be her first time on the battlefield. If they hadn't been left with no other choice during the fight against Shamshel, they would never have sent Shinji Ikari out alone to slaughter the enemy.

Yet now, with an experienced and capable ace pilot available, he refused to use him. He wouldn't even let anyone guide the newcomer, instead throwing a raw recruit straight into battle.

So what if she was the First Child? Simulated combat was still only simulated combat. Did he really think a few simulations were enough for her to surpass their ace pilot?

Everyone exchanged bewildered looks. They had no idea what their commander-in-chief was thinking. They couldn't even tell whether the one he disliked was Shinji Ikari or Rei Ayanami.

Shinji Ikari could slay Angels because he had the ability. If Rei Ayanami didn't, sending her into battle might mean sending her to her death.

How could he be so arbitrary? That was no way to command. But he wasn't merely in charge of this operation-he was the commander-in-chief.

The command center fell utterly silent. Their bewilderment lasted only an instant, however. Once Gendo Ikari's orders came down, they could question them, but they still had to obey.

After all, he was the head of NERV. They were only his subordinates-and soldiers, at that. Obeying orders was their duty.

"Unit-00, prepare to sortie."

"Second Restraint released."

"Target has entered the airspace above Lake Bì."

"EVA Unit-00 is ready to sortie."

On the highest command platform, Kozo Fuyutsuki looked down at the bustling staff in the command center, then slowly walked over to Gendo Ikari.

"Can Rei handle this alone?" Kozo Fuyutsuki frowned, looking at the back of Shinji Ikari, who hadn't said a word. He looked as lonely as an abandoned child.

To most of those present, this might simply have seemed like another instance of Commander-in-Chief Gendo Ikari favoring Rei Ayanami. He wanted to create a new hero to save the world.

But Kozo Fuyutsuki and the few others who knew the inside story understood.

His supposed kindness toward Rei Ayanami was merely a form of psychological control. A casually offered scrap of tenderness was enough to win the girl's dependence and loyalty.

The girl's loyalty was indeed the attitude those in power favored most, but the gap between Rei Ayanami's and Shinji Ikari's synchronization rates was enormous. The outcome of the battle was entirely uncertain.

There was really no need to take such a risk. Even letting Unit-01 provide support would have been no great issue.

"We need to take back control." Gendo Ikari adjusted his glasses. "He's stronger than I imagined. But he was supposed to be a timid child, an actor who followed the script."

"He is strong indeed. In his words, outside influences are nothing more than trials." Kozo Fuyutsuki gazed at the boy, an almost imperceptible warmth appearing in his eyes.

"Perhaps that's why his AT Field is so powerful. Even when there are many things he wants to reject, he can force himself to accept everything."

Kozo Fuyutsuki gave Shinji Ikari a long, searching look.

"But if Rei fails..."

"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Gendo Ikari softly recited the words of the Bible he had memorized.

His voice had no inflection, much less any emotion. There was no concern in it, no reverence. It was as though this, too, was part of the script, and he was a third-rate actor capable only of reciting lifeless lines.

To Gendo Ikari, Ramiel was merely a nuisance, just like the documents delivered to his desk every morning for review. Those were troublesome to deal with, too.

Even if this nuisance resulted in Unit-00's defeat, or even the destruction of all of Tokyo-3, it would still be nothing more than a nuisance.

Protecting humanity? That had nothing to do with him-or with those supposedly above him.

"Shinji Ikari, the path to godhood will be paved with bones." Gendo Ikari looked at Shinji Ikari and adjusted his glasses, even allowing himself a rare trace of a smile.

Kozo Fuyutsuki felt a bone-deep chill in that smile. Subtle though it was, he still caught the slight upward curl at the corner of Gendo's mouth.

That was certainly not a father encouraging his child. He looked more like a savage beast holding back its fury.

The leading man kept making mistakes onstage, seemingly angering the great director who held the script.

Above Lake Bì.

The enormous blue object was an Angel that gave an entirely different impression.

Compared with Sachiel and Shamshel, who had appeared before, this blue Angel in the shape of a regular octahedral crystal showed not the slightest trace of flesh and blood anywhere on its body.

It didn't even look like a living being. It was a geometric crystal machine with an air of divinity, its existence pure and cold, filled with the beauty and terror of geometry and mathematics.

Rather than a creature, it resembled a flying fortress with no visible weapons, yet shrouded in the haze of war and radiating an overwhelming sense of danger. The pressure of its AT Field alone made the soul tremble.

Ramiel

"Launch!"

At the command from the control room, Unit-00's transport mechanism shot upward. Rei Ayanami sat in the cockpit, rising along with Unit-00.

Misato Katsuragi and Shinji Ikari watched the main screen together, their eyes fixed on the rookie gradually ascending toward the surface. Then they heard "Dio's" voice.

Shinji Ikari turned toward the voice, but instead of the handsome vampire, he saw a middle-aged man with long hair: Shigeru Aoba, the deputy operator at central command.

"High-energy reaction detected inside the target!"

"What did you say?" Misato Katsuragi was startled. Unit-00 hadn't even reached the surface, yet the Angel had already reacted. Its powers of perception were formidable!

Then, on the screen, an instant before Unit-00 reached the surface, the Fifth Angel's crystalline body began to transform!