Shinji sat in stunned silence as the towering Godslayer began to rise into the air, its thrusters roaring like the call of some mechanical beast. He could barely make sense of what had just happened—Sachiel had been moments from destroying Unit 01, and yet in an instant, this massive machine piloted by a boy his own age had turned the tide.
Misato's voice crackled through his comms. "Shinji, return to base. We need to regroup. We'll figure out who this 'Quest Strother' is later."
Inside NERV Headquarters, the command center was buzzing with activity. The monitors displayed the Godslayer's departure, the colossal machine disappearing into the sky, leaving only a cloud of dust and the lingering feeling of uncertainty.
"This changes everything," Ritsuko said, still typing away, trying to pull up any data on Quest. "There's no way we can ignore something this powerful. And a kid... How could the Americans have developed this without us knowing?"
Kaji smirked from his usual spot, leaning against the wall. "Looks like they've been holding onto a trump card. The question is, why now?"
Misato clenched her fists, her thoughts racing. "Whatever their reason, Quest saved us today. But that cold attitude… there's something off about him."
Gendo remained silent, observing the screens as always. His mind was already calculating, adjusting plans. The Godslayer had been a wildcard—a piece of the puzzle he hadn't anticipated. And yet, something about it intrigued him.
Back in the cockpit of Unit 01, Shinji made his way back to the city, but his mind was still on Quest Strother. Another boy, piloting something like that… The coldness in Quest's voice struck him. There had been no hesitation, no fear. Quest spoke as if saving the city was routine, something detached from the human cost of battle.
As Unit 01 was being lowered into the hangar, Misato met Shinji at the docking bay. "Are you okay?"
Shinji nodded, stepping out of the entry plug. "Yeah… but that guy, Quest. He sounded like this was all just—nothing to him."
Misato frowned, crossing her arms. "I noticed. He's...different."
As Shinji dried off and changed, the command room still buzzed about the Godslayer. Screens replayed the battle, and analysts scrambled to make sense of the machine's weaponry and its capabilities.
"Think we'll see him again?" Shinji asked quietly as he stepped up next to Misato, looking up at the monitors.
She glanced at him, offering a small, uneasy smile. "I think it's safe to say we haven't seen the last of him."
--
Up in the sky, aboard the Godslayer, Quest Strother leaned back in his cockpit, staring out into the vast horizon. The mission had gone smoothly, as expected. Sachiel had been an obstacle—an impressive one—but nothing the Godslayer couldn't handle.
"These kids and their Evangelions…" he muttered under his breath, his voice still carrying that cold edge. "They have no idea what's really out there."
Quest's fingers hovered over the controls as the Godslayer soared silently through the clouds. He had done his job, nothing more, nothing less. But even as he returned to base, a part of him knew this wasn't the end. His role, and the Godslayer's, had only just begun.
As the massive machine disappeared into the clouds, Quest's thoughts briefly flickered back to the boy he'd saved—Shinji Ikari. He couldn't quite place it, but there was something about him, something…familiar. Something that told him their paths would cross again.
And when they did, everything would change.