Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 506 Rei Ayanami (Second Update)

Taking into account all factors—the extremely high technological value, the potential global crisis, and the excessive risks and uncertainties of direct military seizure—Chen Yu (his second clone) made a preliminary decision.

Directly contacting NERV headquarters as a "dimensional explorer" could lead to inefficient communication due to a lack of credible entry points and common ground, and could even trigger unnecessary defensiveness.

A more direct and potentially more efficient preliminary solution took shape in his mind.

He realized that instead of trying to establish a dialogue with the entire large and secretive organization, it would be better to start with the core operational units.

The young pilot named Shinji Ikari, as the direct operator of EVA Unit-01, has valuable first-hand research data in terms of his physical and mental state, connection method with the machine, and daily data.

By interacting with Shinji Ikari, he can collect more intuitive real-time data on pilot synchronization rate, mental load, and interaction with the EVA biological components, which is more accurate than remote observation.

Furthermore, this teenager is clearly a direct route to NERV.

His follow-up contacts with NERV members (such as Misato Katsuragi) would be more convincing than his sudden appearance and would provide a natural transition for possible formal technical exchanges later.

He decided that his primary objective for the next step would be to find a suitable opportunity to make direct, low-level contact with Shinji Ikari.

The purpose of this contact was very clear: to observe the driver himself, assess his value as a source of information, and use this as a springboard to establish initial contact with NERV's operational level.

He needs to understand the organization's grassroots response patterns and their acceptance of identities such as "external technical experts."

As for longer-term plans, such as in-depth analysis of the AT force field principle or obtaining Apostle samples, these need to be planned after a deeper understanding of NERV and an assessment of its cooperation potential.

High-risk operations such as capturing Angels or EVAs are not currently under consideration; those would require more thorough preparation and greater support.

Chen Yu (the second clone) begins to analyze Shinji Ikari's daily routine after leaving NERV headquarters, looking for a natural, non-confrontational interaction scenario.

He needs to choose a time when NERV monitoring is relatively weak and a brief communication can take place.

He realized that he was transforming from a mere background observer into a researcher ready to step forward and initiate formal contact by interacting with key individuals.
-
After the Fourth Apostle was destroyed, its massive body rapidly disintegrated, leaving behind a shocking red lake composed of highly concentrated LCL liquid on the outskirts of the city.

After ensuring that his concealed state was not detected by any monitoring equipment, Chen Yu (his second clone) cautiously approached the area.

He used a miniature sampling device he carried with him to extract a sufficient amount of LCL liquid sample from the edge of the lake and sealed it for preservation.

However, the initial rapid on-site analysis results were disappointing.

Although these liquids contain unusual energy characteristics, all possible biological genetic information within them has been completely disintegrated, making it impossible to identify any complete gene sequences or cellular structures.

This greatly diminishes its research value as an apostle biological sample, making it more like a highly active energy carrier or information medium than an ideal biological tissue sample.

He sealed the sample for further, more in-depth analysis.

His attention then turned to the NERV driver.

According to the information monitored, after his first battle, Shinji Ikari was transferred to a municipal middle school in Tokyo-3, seemingly in an attempt to bring him back to a "normal" school life.

Chen Yu (the second clone) then moved the observation point to the vicinity of the school.

On the surface, the school appears no different from any ordinary middle school, with students engaging in regular classes and activities. However, Chen Yu keenly sensed that numerous plainclothes agents were deployed both inside and outside the campus, posing as school staff, parents, or passersby, continuously and covertly monitoring Shinji Ikari's every move.

The overall environment presents a security situation that appears relaxed on the outside but is actually tense on the inside.

Chen Yu (the second clone) did not rush to make physical contact with Shinji Ikari.

He maintained a safe distance and used the long-range, high-precision sensors on his power armor to continuously collect data on the young pilot's behavior patterns, physiological indicators (through non-invasive vital sign scanning), and extremely subtle emotional fluctuations in non-combat situations.

This routine information is an important supplement to combat data for understanding the relationship between the driver's physical and mental state and the EVA synchronization rate.

It was during this continuous observation that he noticed another special existence—Rei Ayanami.

This girl with short blue hair and red eyes is also wearing a school uniform, but her behavior, facial expressions, and even the baseline of her vital signs are subtly different from those of ordinary people. Furthermore, there seems to be some kind of passive and indifferent interaction between her and Shinji Ikari.

The simultaneous presence of two drivers provides a richer sample for comparative studies.

In order to obtain more basic biological data, Chen Yu (his second clone) decided to try to collect DNA samples from the two. This was not difficult. Using some psychic abilities, skills and some sophisticated equipment, he successfully obtained trace biological tissues, including shed hair and barely noticeable skin fragments, from the places the two had passed through.

He performed rapid gene sequencing and comparative analysis on these samples.

Shinji Ikari's genetic sequence shows that he is a normal human male, although his genes contain a special marker that is not yet fully expressed and may be related to EVA piloting compatibility.

The genetic analysis of Rei Ayanami, however, led to an unexpected and significant discovery.

Her genome is not a product of natural reproduction; its sequence shows clear characteristics of artificial editing and cloning techniques.

More importantly, through deep sequence alignment, Chen Yu (the second clone) confirmed that the gene source that provided his cloning template had a very high similarity to Shinji Ikari, strongly suggesting that the template came from Shinji Ikari's direct blood relatives.

However, that's not all.

Rei Ayanami's genetic sequence also contains a highly unique segment that does not belong to the known human gene pool.

This gene exhibits powerful biological activity and a certain ineffable "essence" that resonates to some extent with the core gene fragments of the apostles he previously recorded, but is older and more fundamental.

Based on the concepts in the shared memory information of the entity, this gene is very likely to have originated from "Lilith"—one of the origins of life (Lilin, i.e., humans) on this planet.

This discovery instantly elevated the research value of Rei Ayanami to a whole new level.

She is not just an EVA pilot, but a living clone complex that combines human and unknown advanced life (Lilith) genes.

She herself is a more cutting-edge and mysterious masterpiece of bioengineering that surpasses the current conventional EVA technology of NERV.

Chen Yu (his second clone) immediately adjusted his priorities.

Routine observations of Shinji Ikari will continue, but Rei Ayanami's biological nature, her special connection with Unit-00, and the potential abilities granted by the "Lilith" gene within her have become his most interesting and promising research areas.

He needs to understand this special individual more deeply, which may be one of the key keys to unlocking the deeper secrets of EVA technology and even the world.

(End of this chapter)