At a street corner, a solitary figure dashed toward NERV Headquarters.
From a distance, she looked like a girl—blue hair flowing, wearing a light-blue school uniform skirt—yet she appeared utterly bedraggled and utterly exhausted.
Indeed, the journey from First Middle School to NERV was about 20 kilometers, and along the way, swarms of police and soldiers had drained all of Rei Ayanami's strength. But now, with the imposing, circular NERV building looming just ahead, relief washed over her face.
As she drew closer, the number of armed soldiers and officers grew—surrounding NERV completely. This operation was clearly meant to eliminate the three defected pilots and cripple NERV's capabilities politically.
Rei didn't understand politics—only that if she didn't make it back to Misato, Asuka and Kitazawa Ryota were doomed.
But how could she get through all those armed guards? Each man blocked the only main road.
Her footsteps faltered—guns were everywhere.
Rumble.
A sudden mechanical whine caught her attention. Peeking cautiously, she saw a military truck parked nearby, and a uniformed officer stepping down.
"Reporting, sir!" The surrounding soldiers snapped to attention.
The officer nodded. "Excellent. Maintain your positions. If any of the three escaped NERV pilots—kill on sight. Understood?"
A chorus of affirmative responses echoed back.
Seeing her opportunity, Rei inhaled deeply—and bolted.
She sprinted toward NERV Headquarters, closing the gap—just hundreds of meters left now.
"Hold on—who's that?!" The officer exclaimed, spotting Rei sprinting toward the compound. His finger jabbed at his subordinates. "Stop her! That's Rei Ayanami! One of the three defectors! Don't let her into NERV!"
At once, the soldiers primed their rifles and yelled, "Stop! Hands up—otherwise we open fire!"
But Rei didn't hesitate. She ran on in reckless determination.
500… 400… 300 meters…
She was nearly there.
The officer barked "FIRE! Do not let her reach NERV—open fire!"
BANG!
A rifle shot rang out. It struck the pavement inches from Rei, sending sparks skittering across the concrete—she didn't flinch. She ran on.
"Shoot—shoot her! Now!"
Panicked, the officer wrestled a rifle from a subordinate and fired again.
BANG!
This time the bullet grazed Rei's arm. Blood welled and trickled down, but she pressed forward.
"Keep firing! Don't stop!" he shouted, sweat beading on his brow. He understood the stakes—a failure here would cost him his career, if not worse.
Rapid-fire shots peppered the ground, kicking up clouds of dust and fragments—but Rei darted through every shot like a wraith.
200 meters…
"Damn it! Kill her! She must not enter!" the officer roared, firing again and again.
---
Suddenly—a thunderous roar from the NERV gates.
They swung open, and a light-blue Thunderbird burst forward at full throttle toward the soldiers.
"Move! Move!" they shouted in panic.
They scrambled aside, planting themselves as shields.
The car plowed through, barreling toward the cluster of armed men, as fire and chaos enveloped the street.
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