Chapter 3: Rebuild

"It has been three weeks since Second Impact and while we still don't know the cause of this event we do know the outcome." Said the reporter for channel 2.

"Mutants walk among us." Says the channel 4 news reporter.

"Sources say that people are mutating and gaining extraordinary abilities," fears the channel 5 reporter. "Some so dangerous that they can kill an average person at will."

"There are over 100 known mutants in America alone." Read out the channel 7 reporter. "Most being teenagers and children as young as eight."

Doctor Naoko Akagi was readying a hypodermic about to take blood from her patient. She looked behind her to see the catatonic body of fourteen year old Misato Katsuragi. Going up to the girl she grimaced. 'I've spent more time with this girl than my own daughter. Then again this girl can compromise everything we've worked for.' Doctor Akagi drew blood from the girl's right arm before taking it to the medical lab.

For hours the doctor studied the blood sample trying to find something that was not there. 'How is this possible?' she questioned almost wanting to pull her hair out. 'The child was right there at ground zero, she shoul-'

Her thought were interrupted when the lab door opened up and Gendo Ikari walked in. "Doctor, progress report."

"Well Sir I haven't found any type of mutation within the child." Naoko told him. "Her blood is normal even after being exposed to Adam's blast at point blank range."

"No matter." Gendo said in a gruff tone. "If there is a mutation it will show its' self soon enough. In the meantime we can begin the mind reconstruction process. The sooner the better." He looked at Misato before turning to leave. "Oh and Doctor, I expect to see you at the usual spot by 9pm."

"Yes Sir." She sighed knowing full well what that meant. Gendo was pissed and needed to relieve stress on the person he was having an affair with. Yes he was just recently married but she couldn't argue because what Gendo wants Gendo gets. Naoko got back to her work trying not to think of the inevitable.

One Week Later:

"How long before the procedure starts?" Gendo asked as he walked up to Fuyutsuki who was staring through a viewing window to the lab.

"We're almost ready to begin." The older man looked at his former pupil. "But is this all really necessary Ikari? Doctor Akagi's reports state that the child does not possess the mutation." 'But then again it is almost near to impossible to recognize it in its early stages.' He added mentally.

"We can't be too sure sensei." Gendo said never taking his eyes off the viewing window. He pressed a button activating the intercom down in the lab. "Doctor are we ready?"

"Yes Sir," Naoko said in the lab. "We can begin." She looked to one of the lab technicians who was holding a very advanced piece of machinery. It was a helmet that had wires coming out of the top of it and connecting to various computers. "Apply the mind regenerator to the patient."

As the lab tech did as he was told the two commanders watched. "It's amazing; in only a month we still have access to this type of technology." Fuyutsuki noted.

"Yes, but then again with the money that SEELE is funding us money is no object." Gendo responded.

Back in the lab the mind regenerator helmet was placed on Misato's head and she was strapped to a metal gurney just in case she became violent in the process. Doctor Akagi was at the main work station and nodded to the lab techs. "Begin stage 1 of mind reconstruction now." All the technicians did as they were told and activated the device.

Misato laid there as the helmet came to life and flashed images of Second Impact repeatedly. At first the fourteen year old had no context for these images but then remembered everything. Though still catatonic she was afraid, very, very afraid and to show it she screamed in terror! "!"

"I think we just broke her out of her catatonic state." Gendo smirked coyly.

"Or reintroduced it," Fuyutsuki shot back. "Look the machine is hurting her!"

"!" Misato screamed as her nightmares came back to haunt her without even being asleep. Not only was she in physical pain but even more mental pain, tears started rolling down her cheeks and past the helmet's visors.

Gendo noticed this but did not care in the slightest he called down to the lab. "Doctor raise the power."

"Yes Sir." Akagi did as she was told without hesitation.

"What are you doing Ikari?" Fuyutsuki blared.

"Making sure the procedure works." Gendo said calmly. "The higher the power the better the outcome, simple as that."

"What?" the Vice Commander questioned. "You're insane!"

"Probably," Gendo agreed. "But it will be worth it."

Fuyutsuki looked from the screaming girl and then back to his former student. He had enough; yes he was working for the Illuminati but it wasn't worth seeing this innocent child being tortured. 'I'm risking everything here but I hope this works.' He stared straight into Gendo's eyes concentrating on his mind. {Ikari you will stop this at once.}

"I will stop this at once." Gendo repeated under some sort of trance. He turned on the intercom to the lab. "Doctor we are done for the day, end mind reconstruction program immediately."

"But Sir we're only at five percent complete with stage 1. This process could take days at a time." Doctor Akagi protested.

"I don't care if it takes months," Ikari said still under Fuyutsuki's apparent mind control. "I said end the program."

"Yes Sir." Akagi said with a hint of anger, when it came to science she didn't like to be told when to end an experiment.

{Good Ikari, now tell them to release the girl.} Fuyutsuki demanded.

"Take the girl back to the observation room." Gendo order the staff.

Two technicians unstrapped Misato as she continued to cry and not able to do anything else. They put her in a wheel chair and took her to the observation room with Doctor Akagi following behind them.

{Now go to your office.} After a while Fuyutsuki released his hold on Gendo's mind leaving him confused. On the other hand Fuyutsuki himself felt pretty drained of energy. 'Why am I not surprised?' he asked himself. "It's been months since I had to use my powers to this extent.' He ignored the dizziness as he walked to the observation room to see Misato still crying in terror. 'It doesn't matter, this girl had to pay for our sins and I will try and ease the pain the best of my abilities.'

Author's Note: Yes Fuyutsuki has telepathic powers which I will elaborate more on in the next chapter. Comments and reviews would be appreciated.

-eastWOLF