NERV Infirmary

Its been two hours since Trunks Shinji left , Trunks was sleeping in his room tossing and turning in his bed.

Dad……..Gohan……mom……Cell. he cried in his sleep.

( I am closer than you think boy) Trunks wakes up screaming at the top of his lungs.

CELL!

He pants hard and fast not realizing the person next to his bed.

Rei? He whispers to her .

Where you dreaming Trunks ? she asks with no life in her voice.

I don't know if it was a dream .

Are you all right Trunks ? You were crying in your sleep.

I'm fine…….just fine. Trunks looks in all directions scared half to death.

You do not look fine.

Was there someone else here just now ? he asks still checking the room.

No , the only person that was here was me.

Are you sure ? I swear I just heard someone talk to me in my ear.

I was talking to you to wake up , and you jumped up yelling "Cell".

(So it was just a dream ? or was it ? )

He notices how Rei looks at him worryingly.( So I was right , Rei is still alive)

You are the third Rei right ?

Yes , I only carry the second and firsts memories .

What kind of memories ?

My battles with the Angel's , how I obeyed every order the commander told me , my death at the hands of Dr . Akagi's mother , my events with the other pilots , and my sacrifice for Shinji.

But do you remember the feelings you felt ?

No.

( I sense it , the overwhelming feeling of pain , and loneliness……somewhere)

Then answer me this.

She nodded silently.

And this is no order , but a request , you don't have to answer it if you don't want to.

Very well.

Why did you pilot the Eva ?

Because I was ordered to do so by commander Ikari.

And you trusted him ?

Yes.

And do you trust him now that you know his plans about you ?

How……how did you know ?

I'm part Saiyan remember , I can sense your feelings. Now answer my question please.

No……I do not know how to think of the commander now…..

How do you feel about him ?

I feel angry every time I look at him , and I am beginning to disapprove with his orders……I am not his doll any more.

Good , now tell me why do you still pilot ?

I pilot to protect those I think are important to me.

Very good Rei , your making your own decisions.

Yes , but I still can not feel the others feelings.

Then you're wrong , you still have your feelings of your past lives…….and maybe more.

I am only a copy , I do not have their souls.

Rei let me tell you a little story.

A story ?

Yes now listen well , this might change the way you think about yourself.

As you already know , in my world Goku died numerous times , and was always brought back to life by the dragon balls.

Yes , you have already explained that.

The firsts time Goku died , he was hit by Piccolos special beam cannon , that went right through him.

When he was revived , I was told that he did not have the scars from his childhood or from his death . He had been given a new body , but he was still the same Goku , his soul was alive and stronger than ever.

Does this sound familiar Rei ?

Rei was shaking where she stood , unable to find a respond to his story.

In some ways , the commander revived you just like the Dragon Balls did Goku.

You are wrong , I am just a replacement for the second Rei.

That's not what my mind tells me. Your not a replacement , you are Rei , and you always were , from the very moment you were created to this very moment. You just have been switching bodies , like Goku did.

Then where are the feelings……MY feelings from my past bodies.

They are hidden deep within your soul……I can sense the pain you had.

I know that if your friends help you , you will unlock those feelings once again.

Rei in a sudden outburst of emotions threw herself at Trunks and began crying on his chest.

Why can't you help me ? I want you to help me regain my emotions. She said staring deeply at his eyes.

I already did .

Trunks you have done so much for me , what can I do to repay you.

Be happy , and live your own life . And maybe something else…..

Trunks I am happy when I am with you , I know now what to do….

Rei moves closer to his face with her lips perked .Trunks quickly pulls her away before she gets any closer. Rei raises her arms to her face and starts to cry.

Do you not care for me Trunks ? She says crying into her hands.

Yes I do Rei , but that's not what I meant…….I meant that you help me make another Time machine.

You want to leave this world ? You want to leave me ?

I have to go back to my world . There is something that threatens this and my world .

And will you ever come back ?

I don't think so.

Is it the Cell creature ?

I'm not sure .

We have to be on the lookout for the arrival of Cell . he should be here anytime soon.

The computers calculated that he would arrive here in less than a week. Rei says silently scared of what she had just realized.

And it's been more than a week since that day , and the disappearance of several civilians have been reported in the past few days….

YOUR RIGHT! CELL MUST BE HERE ALREADY! Trunks screamed almost running out the door.

But NERV never detected any thing in the atmosphere.

Rei I think that Cell spoke to me in my dream!

He told me that "he was closer than I think"!

I must tell this to the commander immediately.

GO REI! Cell could decide to attack at any moment , and a few minutes is enough for an android to destroy the city……trust me I know.

Yes Trunks I shall make haste . She runs to the door but before she leaves , she turns to Trunks.

Thank you.

HURRY UP!

In Gendo Ikari's office.

Gendo is sitting in his desk , discussing something to Kozo Fuyutzuki.

Ikari , the fifth child is on his way here , do you know what this means ?

Yes , that our goals are coming to an end , soon Third Impact shall occur , and I will be with Yui once again.

Yes , but this will also mean the end of all humanity , the end of the world . Fuyutzuki said nervously.

Does it disturb you to know that the end is close ?

You are a sick man Ikari.

They both glare at each other until Rei runs into the room breathless from how fast she ran.

Rei , what is it ?

I bare grave news Commander Ikari. She says trying to not show her exhaustion .

What is it ?

I believe that the creature named Cell has arrived here already .

And what proof do you have of this ?

The computers calculated that he would arrive here in less than week , and the time has already passed.

This is no proof of his arrival.

And the recent disappearance of people in the past days. The only thing that was found of them was their clothes . And in some cases there were eye witnesses describing a man in a "green costume" following the victims.

This does make sense . Fuyutzuki send a squad to scan the city for anything suspicious.( Rei has never said so much words in one sentence , and I've never seen her so nervous) he thought .

And Trunks believes that Cell spoke to him in his mind.

Did he tell you what he heard ?

He heard Cell tell him that he's closer than we think.

Is that everything ?

Yes.

Then you can go , well keep watch for this Cell.

Rei leaves the room and closes the door.

It seems that the end might not be caused by Third Impact.Fuyutzuki said sort of mocking him.

An airplane is flying in the sky over Tokio-3 , and inside it carries the fifth child , Koaru Nagisa...

"So my purpose is almost complete" He looks out the window into the city below and sighs.

"Then why do I feel that something's wrong"

Unknown to the boy, his plane was being watched...