Authors notes: The Artificial Evolution Chamber is Rei's room within NERV. It's the room that Ritsuko showed Misato and Shinji before revealing to them the true nature of the dummy plug. Rei needing medication to survive was mentioned in book 8 or 9 I believe.
Life Goes On: I Hear Violins
It was 10 o'clock in the morning. The hustle and bustle of the world outside could be clearly heard from the quiet hotel room. The squeaks of toddlers, the roar of a passing car or truck, even the serene chirping of tropical birds managed to make its presence known to the only occupant of room 1337; who was sitting silently on a twin bead.
Shinji still has not returned.
Shifting quietly to get more comfortable, Rei sat on the corner of the bed, hugging her knees. She had not slept the entire night, opting to wait for Shinji to return. But since his disappearance last night at dinner, Shinji had not once returned to the hotel room. At first Rei thought that Shinji had decided to go see Kensuke or Touji, however neither had seen nor heard from Shinji when she asked them about him whereabouts.
So Rei returned to the hotel room. She had neatly removed her blue dress and placed it back into its rental covering, took a quick shower and waited for Shinji.
And twelve hours later he still hasn't shown up. Eyes heavy from lack of sleep, Rei made her way to the bathtub. It was time for her morning bath. Drawing the water in the bath, she slipped out of her pajamas and carefully lowered herself into the bathtub. The water instantly had a calming effect on her, washing away most of her tensions and worries.
Her mind began to wander.
And she began to remember.
I watched as Dr. Akagi removed the final syringe from my arm. Reaching over, she unfastened the iron clamps that locked me in place.
"You may leave." Dr. Akagi informed me as she placed her bloody equipment into a nearby sink. Sitting up, I rubbed my sore wrists and arms. Dr. Akagi always fastened the clamps too tightly when she performed surgery. I liked Dr. Akagi's former assistant, Dr. May better.
Chills shot up my legs when I stood on the metallic surface of the surgery room, causing me to cringe slightly as I stood on the balls and corners of my feet in an attempt to minimize contact with the floor.
"Is something the matter?" The doctor asked me as she washed her equipment noisily, the metallic clanking filling the room.
"No ma'am." I grabbed a nearby robe and clothed myself as I left the surgery chamber.
Walking down a corridor, I ignored the occasional scientist or worker than I came across, whom in turn would gladly return the favor.
Upon taking a left, I finally reached my destination and the end of my daily journey.
The abandoned Artificial Evolution Chamber.
I reached out and pressed my password into the little computer panel on the right of the door. With a beep, the console accepted my password and opened the door. The familiar odor of sweat and skin greeted me as I stepped into my room. The door closed behind me, effectively silencing the commotion of people and machinery outside; the only sound present was the dripping water from the leaky faucet.
Ignoring the usual grime, dirt and discarded tools, I made my way to my small bed that was shoved onto the side of the room. I brushed off from the mattress the dirt and wiped the oil that had dripped down from the nearby machinery with my robe.
As I sat on my bed, I pulled the robe tighter over my body as chills swept over me. The Artificial Evolution Chamber was never heated as many of the organics within the room had to be kept at a low temperature in order to keep them preserved. For this reason also most of the room was painted in a dark grey to prevent excess light from causing harm to some of the specimens. I tied the robe around my waist and lay down on my mattress, ignoring the springs as they moaned in protest.
The Artificial Evolution had been my home for the past five years that was my life. Every day since I was brought to awareness, I had lived in this room.
In an attempt to fight off the cold, I pulled a nearby tarp off an unused piece of machinery that was next to my mattress and covered myself. The plastic surface of the dirty tarp irritated my skin but at least I was warm now. I looked at the ceiling, in which the grey paint was starting to peel, revealing the metal plates underneath.
I'll have to go to sleep soon, before the pain-killers that were administered into my body prior to surgery wears off. I could still remember the last time that I had waited until my body was drug free before going to bed; I didn't sleep all night.
I let go of the tarp and folded my arms on my chest. Closing my eyes, I counted each drop of water that leaked from the faucet.
One…two…three…
I am to relocate?
"That is correct." Dr. Akagi glanced at me lazily as she typed. "Your cellular structure has solidified enough that you no longer require daily ligament and tissue reconstruction to retain your physical form. However," Dr. Akagi reached into her lab coat and pulled out several bottles of pills. "You will be required to take a special form of collagen and elastin in order to replenish your constantly eroding exterior."
"I understand."
"Good." Dr. Akagi thrust the bottles of pills onto my chest, causing me to step backwards. "Since you will no longer be requiring your daily reconstructive surgery, you are no longer required to live within our facility."
I Nodded my head obediently and waited for her to continue.
"You will be moved to one of our outlying apartment complexes." Dr. Akagi explained lazily, clearly not interested. "Your new apartment will be fully furnished and will have a direct phone line to NERV. You will be briefed on your duties for the following day the next morning."
Morning. That caught my attention. I've never seen a morning before. Dr. May would always tell me stories about mornings; how our star, dubbed 'The Sun' would rise as the planet spun on its axis. She told me it was beautiful, the sun. But only sun that I've ever seen was from photographs and the occasional textbook as I was briefed about the world outside.
Maybe it would be different from a photograph, the world outside.
"Your belongings have already been packed and taken to your new residence, you will be escorted by two of our men." I watched patiently as Dr. Akagi examined her notes. "Once outside you will be allowed to communicate with other people. However, under no circumstances are you to discuss the location of NERV or its purpose. Have I made myself clear?"
I nodded my head. "Hai."
"You may leave."
"Hai."
I turned around and left the room. To my surprise I was greeted by two security personnel. I had forgotten about my orders to be relocated.
"Follow us." One of the men ordered. I nodded and followed them both.
I stood behind the two men while we were taken to the exit by the large mechanical walkway. I was about to see the world outside for the first time. I was eager, excited almost as we rolled across the walkway. I was briefed by the two men about what I should expect once I left NERV's facility.
With a sudden screech the mechanical walkway stopped when we reached our destination; a small door at the back of the facility used by some of the more low-key scientists that worked within that wished to remain hidden from the public eye.
The two men looked at each other then looked at me, as if to confirm something. One of the men reached into his coat and brought out a small ID card. Swiping the ID card onto the panel of the computer, he punched in his ten digit security code and waited patiently. Once the light turned green he placed the card into his coat and pushed a few more buttons on the console.
The door opened. Light shone in.
From within the facility I could see the pale blue sky within the small frame of the open door. I watched as the two men walked out first. I wanted to go with them, but my legs wouldn't respond. I was scared. For the first time in many years, I felt the eerie sensation of fear slowly starting to crawl up my spine.. My entire life was the facility, never have I even dreamed of leaving.
Noticing that I wasn't following them, they both turned to look at me. I had to move. I took a deep breath, held it and lifted my foot. And I took my first step outside.
As I stepped outside the sky slowly grew from the small patch of blue from within the facility to an all encompassing ceiling that stretched over me. I spun around, taking quick darting glances around me, expecting to see a familiar wall or a metallic ceiling but the sky was everywhere I looked. My mind reeled as I struggled to comprehend the vast space above me; looking to my left I saw patches of green vegetation. Are those plants? They looked so different from what I saw in pictures and slides within the facility library.
Feeling a warm tingle on my skin, I lifted my arms quickly to see what was causing the irritation. But I saw nothing. And yet my skin was burning. Placing my other hand on my arm, I noticed that the burning sensation quickly went away, only to resume once I withdrew my hand. I placed my hand over my arm; it cast a shadow small shadow that provided relief from the burning sensation. The light is burning me, I concluded. I quickly looked up, but as I did a tremendously bright light stung my eyes horribly, causing me to clench my eyes shut and reel in pain as I held my face in my hands.
That must be our star. I never knew that it was so powerfully bright. I rubbed my eyes as they watered. Opening them slowly, I quickly looked down to avoid the suns intense rays. Slowly, my vision cleared and I noticed that one of the men was looking at me. He lifted his dark sunglasses to reveal his brown eyes.
"Isn't it beautiful?" He asked me. There was no echo when he spoke.
But before I could answer him the air around me moved. My hair ruffled. And my ears rang.
At first I was shocked at what had happened, but once I realized what had caused the sensation, I relaxed my tired lungs and exhaled. And I took my first breath.
It was Wind.
White.
Unlike my room back within the facility I noted to myself as I looked around my new apartment. It was a small single room apartment with a kitchen and a small bathroom. Right in the middle of the room lie a single bed, covered by a white blanket. My small box of belonging was placed next to my bed with three school uniforms were folded neatly on it; I was informed by my two escorts that I was to attend school the following morning.
There was a window in my room. I walked over and lifted it up with a heave. I liked wind. It was very enjoyable how it stimulated the skin and played with my hair.
I stood there, by the window until the sun started to set. It no longer hurt my eyes to stare at the orange sun as it slowly sank into the horizon. It was beautiful. Once the sun set, I quickly took advantage of my new shower and commenced my daily hygienic duties slowly. It was rare that I was able to shower, let alone have warm water.
I dried myself with a nearby towel that I let fall to the floor once I was dry. I sat on my bed. The springs did not ache. I did not bother to remove the towel as I lay down on my bed. The blanket was warm and soft, it was comforting.
I looked up at the ceiling, which no longer had grey peeling paint. I closed my eyes.
But I couldn't sleep.
Pushing the blanket away, I walked over to the kitchen, grabbed the knob and turned it slightly causing drops of water to leak from the faucet.
I walked back to bed and pulled the blanket over me as I counted the drops of water.
One…two…three…
"Hey! Are you OK in there?"
Shinji didn't respond. Shinji couldn't respond, not after what he had done. He was numb. Almost oblivious to what was around him and what was going on around him. Feeling a warm trickle on the back of his head, he reached back only to feel his fingers come into contact with something warm. Retracting his hand, he stared absentmindedly at his blood soaked fingers.
"If you don't respond I'm going to have to wake my brother." Miyuki pleaded, dreading what her brother was going to do to Shinji once he'd been woken up. With Miyuki being the only other sibling of a loving older brother, he was extremely protective.
Thinking straight was already a daunting task for Shinji. Whose psyche had nearly crashed from the realization of his actions. Shinji lifted his head weakly and looked at the locked door that was being pounded by a frantic Miyuki. Getting up slowly, Shinji went to the sink and looked into the mirror. For the last hour and a half he had been sitting in the bathtub, oblivious to the world outside. There was dried vomit crusted onto the sides of his mouth and his eyes were bloodshot. Rinsing off the puke from his face, he savored the cool water before he dried his face with a nearby piece of cloth.
"That's it, I'm going to get my brother." Shinji heard a worried Miyuki say.
Ignoring her voice, he stared mindlessly into the mirror. Only to be interrupted by a loud voice moments later.
"WHERE IS HE?"
Shinji heard the loud slamming of a door and the enraged shouting of an older man from outside the bathroom. Just as he was about to reach for the door, if came flying open, sending Shinji soaring backwards.
Crashing onto the side of the wall, Shinji thought he heard the familiar sound of a door being locked, only to feel him get yanked up to his feet by his hair. He tried to focus as his eyes swooned. Finally managing to regain control, he looked at the face of what he presumed was Miyuki's older brother. Standing at what appeared to be six feet, he was a dominating figure to the small Shinji. He had long hair that was tied back into a ponytail that highlighted his face which was rounded due to the baby fat still present in his cheeks. His gentle eyes were deformed in rage as he stared at Shinji viciously.
As Shinji nervously scanned his face, he was surprised that he was acting so violent; he looked like such a kind person. However, after the first blow to his stomach, Shinji crumpled forward falling on his knees, realizing that looks can be completely deceiving.
"So what are you going to do with your new-found wealth?" Kensuke asked Touji as they strolled around in a mall, chests puffed out, heads held high and wallets fat from selling pictures of girl's panties online.
"I dunno know, there's like, so much stuff I wanna buy y'know?" Touji closed his eyes. "Like a new basket ball, some kickass clothes, maybe a Playstation 5."
"No Xbox 720?"
"Naw, ever since Blizzard Entertainment bought Microsoft it was just never the same."
Kensuke nodded in agreement. Ever since the global sensation that was Starcraft2 hit the shelves many years ago, Blizzard Entertainment had grown into a global power, reuniting and taking control of North and South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and the state of California, they were now a global electronic and economic powerhouse. However, that wasn't what Kensuke was trying to get to. He had a mission. A mission entrusted upon him by a dear friend named Horaki Hikari, and of course, with Kensuke being the gentleman he is, he could not refuse. After he had listened to her plight, which was that she had wanted Touji to buy her something memorable for their trip at the beach, he couldn't help but feel that he had to aid her. Of course the fact that she threatened to reveal to the police that they had been selling girls panties online did help sway Kensuke; but only a little bit.
"So, gonna spend that money on anyone special?" Kensuke asked out loud, nonchalantly.
Touji frowned as he looked at Kensuke, who was looking up at the sky while holding the back of his head with his hands. "I'm not gonna spend any money on yuh if that's what yur askin'."
Kensuke rolled his eyes. "No, no, no, not me, Hikari, genius."
"Hikari?" Touji gave Kensuke a "even-though-I-like-her-why-should-I-buy-her-stuff" look.
"Y'know, considering you forgot to take her to the festival last night…" Kensuke trailed off.
"Oh, I knew that."
Kensuke laughed at Touji's misunderstanding. "Oh, fo sho, fo sho."
Touji smacked Kensuke on the side of the head. Hard. Several other people who heard Kensuke speak those words also assisted Touji in the beating of Kensuke. Once the crowd of Kensuke beaters thinned out, the pair decided to eat some ramen, only to be thrown out of the shop when Kensuke ordered a bowl of "Bizzle Rizzle." (Beef Ramen)
Shinji lay in a deserted alley, too tired to move and body shaking. Tears ran freely down his face as he sat in trash, his worthless dirty body next to a steaming pile of decomposing food. He hated himself, he hated his entire being. He hated how he was; he hated every single thing about him.
He didn't want to be him anymore. He wanted to be something else without the foolishness and the stupidity, without all the stupidity that he brought down upon himself, without all the self humiliation and self mutilation.
He didn't want to be him anymore.
Shinji looked up into the blue sky. Lazy Columbus clouds rolled above as he stared up.
He wished he was a cloud, as he stared up into the sky, to be able to simply float and not have a care in the world.
To just float.
However, Shinji couldn't float. He couldn't just escape the pain that he had inflicted upon himself because of his stupidity, because of his own foolishness.
His body convulsed violently as he lay in the streets of Tokyo-3, wounded and blood running down his face.
He was alone.
His own stupidity had made sure of that.
He had no one to blame but himself.
And he hated himself for that.
"Where is Shinji?" Misato demanded angrily at several NERV operatives. It had been a good three days since anyone had last heard from Shinji. According to Rei, the last time that she had seen him was when they went to have dinner at some sort of French restaurant. And after he had excused himself to go to the bathroom she hadn't seen from him again.
"Goddamn it" Misato swore under her breath as she was informed that there was still no contact from the Third Child. "Ok, I want you to deploy all personnel in stations five and six, with the objective of locating the Third Child." Misato said angrily.
"Understood" bowing, Maya quickly issued the necessary orders into her electronic headset.
Misato sat down on a nearby chair and sighed heavily. She leaned back and looked at the ceiling. "I need a drink."