The aftermath of the battle against Shamshel left the streets of Tokyo-3 in ruins. Though the Angel had been defeated, the tension inside NERV headquarters was palpable. Misato, standing in front of the large monitor displaying the Godslayer's departure, clenched her fists.
"We can't keep letting him do this," she said through gritted teeth. "He just comes in, finishes the fight, and disappears like it's nothing."
Ritsuko crossed her arms, eyeing the data readouts on her screen. "We don't have much of a choice right now. Without the Godslayer, Unit 02 might've been destroyed."
"We don't even know what Quest's agenda is," Misato shot back. "He's not with NERV, and yet he's piloting the most advanced piece of tech we've ever seen."
Asuka barged into the control room, still in her plug suit, her expression seething with rage. "That arrogant bastard! He thinks he can just show up and steal my kill? No way I'm letting him make me look bad!" Her pride had been wounded by the Godslayer's intervention, and she wasn't about to let it go.
Misato sighed, knowing how personal this must have felt for Asuka. "Calm down, Asuka. Right now, we need to figure out what Quest's next move is. He's powerful, but unpredictable."
--
Far above the city, inside the cockpit of the Godslayer, Quest Strother sat in silence as the machine soared through the clouds, far away from the prying eyes of NERV and Tokyo-3. His expression remained unreadable, the coldness in his voice matched by his calm demeanor.
He thought back to the battle. Another Angel down, but still… something doesn't feel right. His mind briefly lingered on the Evangelions and their pilots, particularly Shinji and Asuka. They were powerful in their own right, but they didn't yet understand the true scale of what was coming. He did.
In his cockpit, a voice came through his private comm channel. "Quest, report. Status on the target?"
Quest leaned forward, pressing a button on the console. "Shamshel neutralized. No complications."
"Good," the voice replied, though it carried a tone of something unspoken. "The Godslayer continues to perform beyond expectations. We'll need it operational for what's ahead."
Quest didn't respond immediately, his gaze drifting out the cockpit window. He knew the next Angel wouldn't be the last, but his thoughts were already elsewhere. This isn't about the Angels, he reminded himself. It never was.
"Understood," Quest finally replied. "I'll be ready."
As the Godslayer sped off into the distance, Quest couldn't shake the feeling that the battles ahead would grow more complex, more personal. NERV was scrambling to understand him, to figure out who he was and what he wanted. But they wouldn't. Not yet.
--
Back at NERV headquarters, Misato and Ritsuko sat in the briefing room with Gendo and Fuyutsuki. Gendo, as usual, sat in silence, fingers steepled, eyes behind his glasses unreadable.
"We need to make contact with Quest Strother," Misato said firmly. "He's intervened twice now, and if he's going to keep showing up, we need to know his motives."
"He's an unknown variable," Fuyutsuki agreed. "Allowing him to act freely could interfere with our plans."
Gendo, however, remained calm. "Let him act as he pleases… for now."
Misato blinked, surprised by his response. "But Commander, we don't know anything about him. How can we trust someone who refuses to cooperate?"
"Trust has nothing to do with it," Gendo said coldly. "As long as he remains a tool we can use, he serves his purpose."
Misato wasn't convinced. She knew better than to push Gendo on these matters, but the growing mystery surrounding Quest was a threat they couldn't ignore forever.
"Keep a close watch on him," Gendo added. "The Godslayer and its pilot may prove useful… or expendable."
As the room fell silent, Misato exchanged a glance with Ritsuko. Both women understood the danger. Quest Strother was more than just a pilot—he was a wildcard, one that could either tip the balance in their favor or throw everything into chaos.
--
Days later, Shinji sat alone in the NERV cafeteria, quietly eating his meal. His thoughts were consumed by the memory of the battles, particularly the Godslayer's sudden appearances. He couldn't stop thinking about Quest, the boy whose voice had carried an unnerving calm.
"Why does he keep showing up?" Shinji wondered aloud, staring at his food. He felt out of place, like he was constantly being overshadowed. First by Asuka, and now by Quest.
Misato entered, sitting down across from Shinji with her usual tired smile. "You okay, Shinji? You seem quiet."
"I just don't understand why Quest keeps helping us," Shinji said softly. "He doesn't seem like he cares about what happens here. And… I don't know. It feels like he's just playing a game."
Misato sighed. "I wish I had an answer for you. But I get the feeling we're going to learn more about Quest soon. Whether we like it or not."
As Shinji stared out the window, watching the sunset over the city, he couldn't help but feel that something larger was at play. Quest Strother had shown up twice, and each time, the stakes had risen. The next time they met, Shinji knew things would be different. Much different.