" They fell overboard! Are they really going to be all right?" Anxiety covered the major general's face as he leaned over the shattered window frame and peered down in concern.
"Of course not!" Misato Katsuragi hurriedly raised the microphone. "Asuka, Type B Equipment isn't capable of underwater combat!"
"I know, but..." Asuka gritted her teeth. The pain in her abdomen made her feel as though her body were being torn apart.
The Seventh Angel had Unit-02 between his jaws, and his massive body knocked her straight off the aircraft carrier Beyond the Rainbow.
Unit-02 vanished from everyone's sight in an instant. Only the huge fish's white-and-green tail fin remained above the surface, but it, too, soon sank into the crimson sea amid a spray of water.
The deck fell silent at once. Only Unit-02's external power cable kept unreeling, while the scarlet blood covering the flight deck filled everyone with unease.
Just then, Rei Ayanami, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke:
"Ikari is in there too. Unit-02 can't fight underwater. Under these circumstances, Major Shikinami should initiate the ejection sequence."
"You're especially concerned about Shinji, aren't you?" Misato Katsuragi smiled, then collected herself and grew serious. "Now isn't the time for that. You're right."
This was a matter of life and death. The undefeated pairing of Shinji Ikari and Unit-01 had been split up, and Unit-02 had no equipment for underwater combat.
There wasn't a single reason to keep fighting, but communications had already been cut off.
Even if Shinji Ikari took over piloting Unit-02, could he defeat the Angel?
Rationally speaking, it was certainly impossible, but another voice spoke in her heart.
He'll win!
She had no idea where she found the confidence to make that judgment, but that was simply how she felt. A