(Author's note: The title is NOT a reference to Rebuild 3.0. It is instead a reference to the Q Document (a hypothetical source for the Gospel writers) and a pun on Rei's status as the "source" of all life on Earth.)

Rei Ayanami stood in Terminal Dogma, staring up at the crucified white mass dominating the massive cavern. Her face was flat, impassive, betraying none of the conflict inside her. She was finally whole again, but that meant that the time for the Plan to be implemented was close at hand. She didn't know what to do. She knew her purpose, but for the first time she was having doubts. She wanted so badly to be one of them…Ikari had accepted her. He seemed to be the only one who could, though. Everyone else avoided her, and her interactions with Dr. Akagi were laced with resentment on the other woman's part, as well as a simmering hate that Rei couldn't understand. If she couldn't be one of them, though, maybe the world should end.

The hissing of an opening door disturbed her thoughts. From behind her came a quiet, polite voice. "There isn't much time left, is there, Lilith?"

Rei turned, staring coldly at the intruder, taking in once more his skinny frame, grey hair, and blood-red eyes. She spoke flatly, not bothering to hide her distaste at his proximity. "No, there isn't."

The boy chuckled, looking up at the immobile giant before them, hands in his pockets. "It's a pity, you know. Your children have so much promise, so much talent and ability. Yet they're trying to commit mass suicide. I wonder what our makers would think of that; their own creations destroying themselves in the name of misguided fairytales."

Rei looked up at the crucified body as well, voice flat and laced with scorn. "They would consider it fitting. We were an accident. We were not meant to be here at all. Our self-destruction will set the universe to rights."

Kaworu smiled softly, his tone amused and slightly chiding. "We, Lilith? You're counting yourself amongst them now? As much as I admire your children, I'd never consider myself one of them. We're just too different."

Rei blinked, her face momentarily belying her inner confusion. "That is not what I meant."

Kaworu nodded, smiling. "I understand, Lilith. You want to be one of them, don't you?

Rei was silent, eyes still confused. She didn't know how to respond to Kaworu's question, so she decided to stay silent. He'd managed to see right through her somehow, figuring out her deepest desire without her giving him the slightest hint. She knew it was impossible, that even though she had created them she'd never be one of them, but she wanted it anyhow.

Kaworu chuckled again. "I guess that's a yes. I'm not meaning to say it's a bad thing, Lilith. I want to be one of them too. But… that option just isn't available to us. The way things stand, all of us-including you- have to die for you children to survive, even though they don't want to. Are you ready to make that sacrifice?"

Rei thought about this. She knew he was right. It was unavoidable. The men who controlled her wouldn't let it happen any other way… when it came down to it, Ikari-kun was the only one who seemed to truly care about her. His father pretended to, but Rei knew he was only manipulating her for his own ends. Still...if Shinji knew who she really was, he would reject her like everyone else had. Wouldn't he? She wasn't sure. She wanted so desperately to think he would still accept her and care about her, but everything pointed to the opposite conclusion.

She spoke quietly, the animosity in her tone fading away. "Maybe that is true…but I don't think they have to die with us. That is what they want…to kill us, and in the process give birth to their own destruction."

Kaworu nodded, solemn. "I know. That's why I've made a decision."

Rei glanced at Kaworu, inwardly surprised. The way he'd said that implied that there might be a third option. "What decision?"

"I'm going to mess up their plans a little." Kaworu smiled softly, continuing. "They want me to try to start Third Impact. I admire humanity too much to do that. They still have promise, if they can just turn themselves around. Their music is evidence enough of that. So I won't do it. But I need your help."

Rei blinked, openly shocked now. Her voice, however, was as level as ever. "What do you need me to do?"

Kaworu looked around the massive cavern, a faintly sad expression crossing his face. "I need you to keep anyone from seeing what happens down here."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to let Shinji decide what happens."

Rei's eyes narrowed, something in her boiling up at the thought of Shinji being harmed in any way. "Why him?"

Kaworu smiled slightly. "He's the only person I trust to make the right decision. He's lonely, and scared, and he thinks he's a horrible person…but you and I both know that deep inside, he wants to be better. He wants to be what everyone wants him to be. If he has that chance…well, I think he could be all they need to save themselves."

Rei nodded silently, understanding. She knew what Kaworu was planning now, and she knew what it would do to Shinji, but he was right. She just wished it didn't have to be this way.

Kaworu laughed slightly, as if at a private joke. "Well…it's been nice to meet you, Lilith. Maybe we'll meet again in another life."

He turned, walking away, whistling the "Ode to Joy" quietly as he vanished. Rei left as well, though not before shooting a final glance at the crucified giant. Things would be over soon, one way or another. One last time, she wished it didn't have to be this way.

Rei stared at the head floating in the LCL at the Giant's feet. Her own feet were floating inches above the liquid, perfectly stationary. Kaworu's head was still smiling slightly, as if proud of Shinji for what he'd done. Rei stared at it, eyes empty. She couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen now. The last "Angel" was gone, so the Commander would probably be preparing to enact his plan for her. His plan would kill everyone, just so he could reunite with his wife. Once, she had thought that it was alright, if it was for him. She would have done anything. But since she'd met Ikari-kun, she'd started to find that she was more human than she thought. She could smile, and she could care about someone, and she could…she could love. She'd realized why the Commander was doing this, and she'd seen that it was wrong.

It was at that moment that Rei made up her mind. She would allow the Commander to start his plan…but it would finish on her terms, not his. She wouldn't allow him to destroy everything for that tiny chance he was grasping at. She would give the choice to Ikari-kun instead. He was kind, and gentle, and he had been hurt so much by life…and she loved him. She would let him decide the fate of the world, and whatever happened, he would finally be happy.

And for the first time, she would be happy as well.