Osiris (his second avatar) ended the call with Executor Stalker. He did not immediately summon the three pilots; instead, he returned to his office first. He needed a moment to clearly organize the situation and the choices he intended to offer them.
Standing before the observation window, he looked down at the three vividly painted EVA Titans standing silently in the hangar below. Crimson, Violet, and Ice Blue—they represented three young lives he had plucked from their original, desperate fates. He had brought them here to give them new possibilities, not to thrust them once more into another world consumed by the flames of war, even if the nature of conflict here differed vastly from what they knew.
A sense of responsibility intertwined with a protective urge born from his "foreknowledge." He knew all too well that in their original timeline, they had endured burdens and traumas far beyond what anyone their age should bear. Here, he hoped to grant them true agency.
A short while later, Osiris gathered Shinji Ikari, Asuka, and Rei Ayanami in a relatively spacious briefing room at the base, one that carried a hint of a living atmosphere.
As the three entered, their expressions varied. Shinji appeared cramped and hesitant, his head bowed as his hands reflexively rubbed the hem of his shirt, as if the rough fabric could provide a sliver of stability. Asuka walked with her habitual, guarded stride, her lake-blue eyes quickly scanning every corner of the room with scrutiny and curiosity before finally settling on Osiris. Rei walked last, remaining as calm as ever, her face devoid of ripples; her red eyes were like two deep wells, reflecting the room's image without revealing a bottom.
Osiris stood in the center of the room. His Hades-type Terminator power armor made him look exceptionally tall and imposing, its dark metallic surface glinting with a cold, hard luster under the lights. However, he was not wearing his helmet at the moment, leaving his face exposed—a stark contrast to the suit of armor that radiated an aura of slaughter.
His gaze swept over the three of them. "Please, sit," he said in a calm tone.
Once they took their seats, Shinji shifted uneasily, Asuka straightened her back, and Rei sat as still as a doll. Osiris skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point. He tapped a virtual console nearby, and a star map hologram unfurled in the air.
"I have just received an official communication from the Steel Dog Legion headquarters," he stated. His voice carried a natural low resonance from being inside the power armor, but his pace was steady and his articulation clear. "They have extended an invitation to us—more specifically, to you and your EVA Titans—to participate in an actual military operation."
The star map zoomed in, locking onto a planet with a mottled yellow-green hue.
"The target is Verdan III, an agricultural world. Currently, it is being invaded by a significant Ork warband." As he spoke, blurred battlefield footage and reconnaissance data began scrolling beside the star map. "The local defenders have suffered heavy losses, and their lines are constantly being pushed back. The Steel Dog Legion has decided to dispatch a main detachment to provide support. They hope the EVA Titan combat team can accompany them to test and demonstrate combat capabilities in a real battlefield environment."
He paused deliberately, letting the information settle. He saw Shinji's hands tighten on his knees, his body recoiling almost imperceptibly as obvious fear flickered in his eyes. Asuka's brow furrowed and her lips thinned as she stared at the red threat zones marked on the star map, her gaze sharp and complex. Rei remained calm, though her red pupils shifted slightly to take in the data on the screen.
"I must emphasize that this is not a simulation," Osiris said, his tone turning heavier as he looked at each of the three young faces in turn. "This is real war. The enemy is the Orks—an alien race that finds joy in destruction and war, possessing incredible reproductive rates and extreme violence." He chose his words carefully, wanting them to understand the danger without overwhelming them with terror. "Combat inevitably involves casualties and risks. Even with the protection of an EVA Titan, no one can guarantee absolute safety in the chaos of a battlefield."
He looked at the confusion and dread brimming in Shinji's eyes and the rapid calculation beneath Asuka's knitted brows. His tone became more solemn, even slowing down slightly. "I have called you here to tell you one thing very clearly: you have the right to choose."
These words were like a stone dropped into still water, causing all three to look up and focus their gaze on him. Even in Rei's seemingly emotionless face, her red eyes seemed to flicker ever so slightly.
"You are not soldiers of the Empire. You have sworn no oaths of loyalty, and you have no obligation to participate in a war so far from your home," Osiris's voice was firm and certain. "This invitation is, in essence, a request for a live-combat test based on our cooperation framework with the Steel Dog Legion. Therefore, you have the right to refuse."
He adjusted his stance slightly, the hydraulic joints of the power armor emitting a soft hiss as he tried to make his presence feel less oppressive.
"Furthermore," he continued, his voice softening further, "I believe it is necessary for you to know that if you feel unsuited to this universe or your current environment—or if you simply do not wish to be embroiled in any form of war and conflict ever again—" He paused to ensure they were listening. "I have other plans. I can send you, along with your EVAs, to worlds that are more peaceful and far removed from major conflicts. There, you can live relatively quiet lives, never having to face Angels or Orks again. This was one of the possibilities I considered when I first decided to bring you away."
His gaze met theirs calmly, his dark eyes filled with sincerity and earnestness. Word by word, he handed over the full weight of the choice. "So, now, the decision is in your hands. Whether to accept this invitation and step onto the battlefield of this strange universe, or to choose to leave and seek a more peaceful sanctuary. I need each of you to give me your own answer."
Osiris finished speaking and remained silent, standing there quietly, waiting.
The briefing room fell into a profound silence, save for the low background hum of the air circulation system and the sound of Shinji's rapid, suppressed breathing.