A couple of days had passed since the battle with Ramiel, but the victory felt hollow inside NERV headquarters. Despite the threat being neutralized, a bigger issue loomed over the organization—Quest Strother and his mysterious machine, the Godslayer.
Misato stood in front of the large screen in the command center, arms crossed as various reports and data on the Godslayer scrolled by. The atmosphere was tense, with NERV's top personnel gathered in the room, all focused on the same thing: identifying Quest and understanding his true motives.
"We've been digging into everything we can find," Ritsuko said, standing beside Misato. "But there's nothing on Quest Strother in any government database. No official records, no pilot registration, no known affiliations. He's a ghost."
"That's impossible," Fuyutsuki muttered from across the room. "No one just appears out of nowhere piloting something like the Godslayer. It's far beyond anything we've ever seen, even the Evangelions."
Gendo Ikari sat silently, his fingers steepled in front of his face, watching the discussions unfold. His eyes narrowed slightly as he observed the data on the screen.
Misato shook her head, frustration evident in her voice. "He's not working with any known organizations, and we haven't been able to track his movements outside of the battles he shows up for. It's like he doesn't exist."
Shigeru Aoba, who had been working at one of the consoles, chimed in, "We did pick up some faint communication signals coming from the Godslayer during its last appearance. But they're heavily encrypted. Whoever this guy is, he's got tech far beyond anything we can crack easily."
Ritsuko's eyes flickered with concern. "And then there's the Godslayer itself. Its weaponry, its size—it's not like anything we've ever encountered. It's almost as if it's designed for something far bigger than fighting Angels."
Misato frowned. "What are you saying?"
Ritsuko hesitated before answering. "I'm saying it's possible the Godslayer wasn't built just to fight Angels. It may have a different purpose entirely."
The room went silent, tension thickening in the air.
Misato clenched her fists. "We need to figure out who this guy is, and fast. If he keeps showing up and taking matters into his own hands, we're going to lose control of the situation."
Gendo, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. His voice was calm but carried a weight that commanded attention. "Let him continue as he has."
Everyone turned to Gendo, surprised.
"We'll find out who Quest Strother is soon enough. But for now, let him act freely," Gendo said, his gaze never leaving the screen. "He may be an asset to us. Or a threat. Either way, his presence is revealing the truth about the situation."
Fuyutsuki raised an eyebrow. "And if he turns out to be working against us?"
"Then we will eliminate him," Gendo said coldly, his eyes gleaming behind his glasses.
Misato sighed, knowing that Gendo wasn't going to push the matter further for now. But she couldn't shake the feeling that they were playing a dangerous game with someone far beyond their control.
As the meeting wrapped up, Misato turned to Ritsuko. "I want all the information we have on Quest and the Godslayer compiled and sent to me. We may not have much, but I'm going to keep digging. Something about this doesn't sit right."
Ritsuko nodded. "I'll get the data ready. But be careful, Misato. If Quest is hiding something, it's not going to be easy to uncover."
--
Meanwhile, in the distance, Quest Strother sat in the cockpit of the Godslayer, watching the horizon. He knew that NERV was scrambling to figure out who he was, trying to make sense of his sudden appearances and disappearances.
But Quest didn't care.
From his perspective, their efforts were futile. They didn't understand what was really happening, didn't see the bigger picture. The Angels, the Evangelions, all of it—it's just a small part of something much larger.
His gaze shifted to the Godslayer's controls, his fingers lightly tapping the console. They think they can find me, figure me out. But they don't realize—
"They're not ready," Quest said quietly, his voice carrying the same cold detachment as always.
With a flick of a switch, the Godslayer's systems powered down, and the machine entered standby mode. Quest closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat. There were more battles to come, and he would be ready. But for now, he would remain in the shadows.
Let them search. Let them wonder. Soon enough, they'll learn the truth. But by then… it might be too late.
