Chapter 110: The "Friend"
With both twins sitting down, the group looked at them with mixed feelings.
"Shinji…Rana…that first piece was so beautiful sounding," Yui said seeing both turn toward her. Oddly, Rana looked rattled while Shinji remained stoic. Pressing on, she continued.
"The second piece…was nothing but wow."
"Thank you…mother," Shinji said slowly blinking at her.
"How'd did you and your sis hold those notes without breathing man," Toji said leaning forward in his seat. "That got everybody hooked on you guys. I thought both of ya would turn blue in the face."
"…" Rana said blinking and not too sure how to explain it. It sounded far fetch to say that the dark clone had something to do with it. However, she didn't say anything and hoped that the Third Child would come up with something. Her hope was answered.
"It was through circular breathing Mr. Suzuhara," Shinji said turning his head towards him.
"No way," Asuka stated leaning forward. "Both of you can do that!?"
"…" the female twin said giving a small nod.
"That's really impressive. I only know a handful of people in different police force sections that can do that," Rayne said raising her eyebrows.
"…" Ayanami said looking around to see that she was one of two around the table that did not know what was being explained. Turning to the Third Child, she spoke.
"Ikari?"
"Yes Miss Ayanami?"
"I do not know what that term indicates," she stated quietly.
"It refers to being able to breathe in through the nose while breathing out through the mouth," he said turning his head slowly toward her direction. "Conceptually it sounds simple, but it is difficult. With practice, it can be learned."
"Speaking of singing," Asuka piped in crossing her arms and putting her elbows on the table. "Since when did you and Rana know how to sing?"
"Other than Miss Misato asking questions regarding music, no one else has asked us if we can sing."
"…" the Second Child said with a raised eyebrow. "Alright Mr. Smarty pants, answer this question. For the amount of time away from practicing, how can you play like that? Or the aspects that I never heard you or Rana sing living next door."
"…" Rana said blinking. "We practice away from the apartment complex to not disturb anyone."
"Keeping secrets away from friends is bad," the redhead stated out loud.
"…" Shinji said blinking and looking at her with only his eyes. "Indeed Miss Souryu. Holding secrets causes trust and communication issues. Shall we all put our secrets on the table so that we may become closer?"
"…" Asuka opened her mouth to speak then immediately closed her mouth. Everyone at the table felt tension rise from his suggestion. Not looking at anyone, the group avoided the Third Child's slow turning gaze. After no one responded for a period of time, he nodded his head.
"Given that I have dampened the mood at the table, my apologies," he said bowing his head in his chair then stood up. "If you will excuse me, I will use the men's room."
"I'll go with you," Rana said standing up as well. "I really need to go."
"Very well. Excuse us for a short time," Shinji said pushing his chair in and walking toward the booth entrance.
Rana pushed in her chair and got beside him. When both left the booth area, the group at the table felt weighted in their chairs. Contemplating on the mood and how the atmosphere was left at, the Second Child let out a short frustrated sigh then looked at the scientist. Ignoring Dr. Ikari's slight depressed face, she asked Yui to tell the others about the background of this place.
Since leaving the booth, Rana and Shinji walked side by side toward the restroom. Many people that saw them walking by gave compliments of duet that they did. Never stopping and being polite as possible to people that stopped them, both eventually reached the restrooms. Going into their gender sides, they did their business. Once done, both came towards the sink with a long high mirror. Looking into their reflection, both blinked at the same time. Looking again, Rana recoiled while Shinji just blinked.
"…!?" Rana said turning around to see nothing behind her.
'Why…why is it here?' she thought feeling fear rising in her. Despite not seeing anything, she felt it was somewhere around her.
"…" Shinji said seeing his mirror image of that of the dark clone.
'Yes sir?' he thought going back to washing his hands.
'IwAnTtOsAy…HeLlOtOoUr #$ #^ FrIeNd,' it stated with much delay in its voice.
'…' the Third Child said blinking. The entire restroom was a pulsating flesh house as crimson was dripping everywhere. Blinking again, the restroom went back to normal. Turning off the faucet, the male pilot went to go dry his hands.
'Very well sir.'
'IWILLSHOWYOUHISSIGNIFANCE!' the evil voice screeched causing the sound of glass to shattered and explode.
"…" the teen said glancing back at the mirror in the restroom. Despite continuing to hear glass fall, the large high one was intact. There was a person in front of it using a sink as everything seemed normal. Leaving the restroom, he continued to think to it.
'Do you wish for me to go to him sir?'
' #%#$WEARE#$ ! #$! #$INVITED# $%TOMEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTHIM #$!' Sid stated with an evil growl in his mind.
Walking toward the main dining space, his vision went static a few times until they stopped. Rana was surrounded by other guests of both genders. She looked like she was being polite while giving a body language of feeling her personal space being invaded. Blinking, Shinji walked toward the group. The outside guests saw him and immediately got out of the way.
"Here is the main star boy now," one person said grabbing the attention of the others.
"Ah. You must be twins, yes?"
"That is correct sir," Shinji said getting beside Rana and turning around to face them. The female twin immediately felt less nervous and agitated.
"Well I'll be…a mirror image and of opposite genders."
"Truly fascinating. Tell me, have you both traded roles to see if anyone would notice?"
"No sir. I am scared and my body is not feminine."
"How about as children?"
"No," Rana said hugging the Third Child's arm with an annoyed face. She felt the dark clone was even closer than before.
"I have a proposal of giving both of you a great opportunity for a career," one main in a business suit stated with a smirk.
"Hey! I was first in offering them a proposal!" another business man stated confronting the other man.
"I believe both of them would want to work with me," a luscious woman stated getting close to the twins and leaning forward. "Won't you agree you two gems?"
"…" Rana said feeling Shinji's arm instantly flex all of his muscles as he stared stoically at the woman.
"As much as I would like to oblige ladies and gentlemen, we are here on a business outing. Our party members are waiting for us at our table. If you will excuse us," the Third Child said then bowed slightly to them. Walking forward, a couple of them were going to block their path when attendants approached them.
"We shall escort you back to your party's table. Please come with us," one of the staff members stated while the others surrounded the twins.
"Hey! What is the meaning of this," one of the business men stated getting agitated. He was handed a piece of paper and he looked at it. Suddenly, he calmed down and walked away. Others near him looked at the paper and did the same. When the crowd that was surrounding them dispersed, both Shinji and Rana were escorted toward their table.
"Thanks for coming to my rescue Shinji," Rana said hugging his arm more.
"You are welcome Miss Rana," he said blinking seeing the outlined red figure on the second floor. The needle insertion sensation was occurring again and was pointing at the silhouette.
"Thank you for your assistance," the Third Child said out loud for the servers to hear.
"You are welcome," the lead said as the others broke off and went into different directions. Reaching the table booth, the server turned around and handed a folded piece of paper.
"There is a gentleman that would like to see both of you on the 2nd floor. There is no rush so please enjoy your meal. When you have finished, we will go entertain your party while you two meet with the gentleman. Is that acceptable?"
"…" both twins said blinking. Shinji grabbed the piece of paper and unfolded it. Rana looked over his shoulder and read the name on it.
"That is not ringing any bells…do you know who he is?" she asked in a whisper.
"…" the male pilot said while tilting his head a little. "I do not know…it is German though."
"I don't remember anyone that was German."
' #$% heeeeeeeeeeeeee!# $%#$' Sid whispered when an explosion of fragmented memories filled the male pilot's head. It caused all the hair on his body to stand on end. Keeping still and his expression blank, he blinked a couple of times before reacting.
"…very well," Shinji said folding the paper a couple of times and putting it his suit pocket.
"Excellent sir! I will go inform him. Please rejoin your party and enjoy yourselves," the server said ushering them into the table booth. Entering, the table had various dishes of food on it in which everyone had taken samples of.
"There you two are," Asuka said biting into one of the foods on her dinner plate. "They just gave us these and said they were on the house!"
"It so good to have friends…it is so good to have friends," Toji said to himself enjoying eating the food he was digging into.
"I'm surprised," Yui said taking a bite of an appetizer. "There is supposedly a special menu for the people on the second floor that isn't on this floor's menu. None of these are on the menu here."
"Don't forget the VIP treatment that the servers said," Rayne piped in after swallowing. "Apparently the performance you two did, did more than wow them."
"It does seem to appear that way," Shinji said going toward his seat. Rana broke off and sat at her seat. Sitting down, both twins stared at the food.
"Come on you two! This is so good!" Asuka said while biting into another morsel.
"…" Ayanami said with her eyes closed as she was munching on a dish that was near her. Opening them and looking at both of them, Rana had already begun to server herself a portion of a dish. Looking at the Third Child, his face was still stoic as he hadn't served himself any of the food.
"Ikari…the food does taste well. They even brought a vegetarian dish that I have not tried or heard of before. It is good."
"Glad to hear it Miss Ayanami."
'IfYoUwIsHtOnOtWaKeUp…c…o…n…s…u…m…e' it said with much malice that caused his insides to twist and tighten.
"I do not seem to have an appetite at the moment. Please enjoy yourselves."
"More for me and none for you Third."
"At the rate things are going, indeed," the Third Child stated and closed his eyes.
Rana had finished serving herself and picked up her fork with her left hand. About to stab a portion of food, she immediately stopped and glanced at Shinji. Seeing him not eating and closing his eyes seemed to strike as a red flag to her. Looking back at the others, they seemed to be enjoying the dishes that were served. Looking down at hers, she started to feel paranoid.
'…' she thought swallowing nervously. '…h-hey…a-are you…there?'
'…y…e…s…s…s…s…s…# $%#WhAtIsItSpArEdSeEd?' Sid voiced in a deep and evil tone that caused her to bite her lip a little.
'W-Why isn't…Shinji eating?'
'YOUWANTTOKNOW!?' it screamed viciously in her mind. So intense the mental sensation, she dropped her fork. Expecting it to clang on the ground, it didn't. Looking to her left, Shinji had grabbed it and placed it back next to her plate.
"T-Thanks Shinji," she said feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
"You are welcome Miss Rana," he said in a soft tone while looking at the food in front of them.
"Hey Shinji," the female twin asked picking up her chair and placing it next to his.
"Yes?"
"Is…there something in the food?"
"Based on what Mr. Sid has stated, yes," he stated in a quiet tone. Rana controlled herself from reacting surprised and looking at everything on the table with suspicion.
"Even our drinks?"
"I can only assume."
"Why would the staff here do that?...they aren't going to rob and…take advantage of us…are they?" Rana asked getting more and more disturbed from the possibility. Flashbacks were coming to her of the past that made her shiver.
"I believe money is the main factor," he said closing his eyes again.
"You mean…someone is bribing them?"
"I assume so."
"Who would do that?"
"Probably the person on the folded paper…time is money in certain conditions," he said opening his eyes and looking at the female twin. She looked unsettled and held her stomach as it growled at her. Reaching into an inner jacket pocket, he pulled out something and kept it hidden in his palm.
"If you are hungry Miss Rana, I do have something. It does not compare to the quality and taste of the food displayed in front of us," he said staring forward placing his hands on his lap.
"I'll take it," she whispered back looking forward. Moving her hand under the table, she felt his right thigh then his right hand. Feeling the closed fist open up, she put her left palm on top of it. Feeling it to be a shape of a bar, she closed her hand to hold his. About to turn to him with a smile and thank him, she blinked first.
"…!?" the female twin said feeling her eyes widen quickly to what was in front of her.
The table in front of them was heavily drenched with various butchered body parts, organs, and bones. It looked to be at least a few dead humans on the round table. Looking around at the members sitting at the table, they had changed to different adults. Each one of them was familiar in some way as they continued to cannibalize on the dead victims. What made her instantly sick on the inside was that they were feasting on dead children.
"…!?" she said feeling her heartbeat and pulse increase.
Glancing passed the people at the table, it was horrid from seeing that the walls around them piles of dead little ones. A good majority of them were burnt all over while others were pale and sick looking. The stench in the room was vile and nauseating making it hard to swallow and breathe. Slowly turning her eyes toward the Third Child, he was the only one in the room that was not dirtied with blood. His eyes were closed as he continued to look calm and relaxed.
"Is something wrong Miss Rana?" he asked quietly.
"…!?" Rana said blinking and pulling her hand away out of reflex. The bloodbath imagery vanished as everything was back to normal. Feeling the bar in her hand, she looked at it then back at him. He opened his eyes and slowly moved them to look at her from the corner of his eyes. They were still dark magenta despite the feeling of the evil voice somewhere near him.
"…n-n-no…I just…don't feel as hungry as I was for some reason," she said turning back forward and swallowing.
"I see," he said looking back forward and closing his eyes again.
"Shouldn't we warn them?"
"About what Miss Rana?"
"That the food is tainted?"
"No."
"…is is a little too late anyway. Best to not cause panic?"
"Yes."
"What about afterwards? Shouldn't we watch over them to make sure none of those slimy people take advantage of them?"
"They will be fine."
"…" Rana said opening the pouch and breaking a piece off the bar. "How are you sure they will be?"
'…H…a…V…e…F…a…I…t…H…s…P…a…R…e…D…s…E…e…D,' it whispered in her mind as she heard and felt its eyes stare hostilely at her. It made her freeze and shiver.
'…I…I…can't trust you.'
'HAHAHA!#$% #$HEHEEEHEEHHHHEEEEEE# $%#$THENWHYDOESMYSEEDTRUSTME!?' the dark clone cackled hysterically then shouted at her.
"…" Rana said slowly putting the bar portion in her mouth.
Glancing at Shinji, he was staring at the edge of the table with a stoic face. Thinking about asking him why he would put so much faith and obedience toward the evil voice, she couldn't voice it. Part of her subconsciously knew why. Deciding not to speak, she continued to eat the bar. Despite feeling the hunger pain subsiding, the feeling of powerlessness came. To her, the fancy place's atmosphere morphed into more of a prison trap. After several minutes passed by, the people at the table had their fill of the food. Satisfying sighs were heard around the table.
"Man…that was good," Toji said leaning back in his chair and resting his head back. "I'm ready for a nap."
"A nap? You stooge, the night is still young," Asuka said stretching and letting out a yawn.
"Yes, there are still all those…perks to go see," Rayne said rubbing her eyes. Placing her elbows on the table, she prompted her head up with her hands.
"I think I had one too many," Yui said with a tired smile as her eyes felt heavy.
"A bed…seems adequate now," Rei said as her head nodded a couple of times.
"Shall I go fetch the server to escort us to a room to rest?" Shinji asked opening his eyes and slowly looking at all of them.
"I think…yawn…that would be best Shinji," Yui said tiredly as her eyes closed.
"…" Rana said blinking feeling alarmed seeing them fall asleep.
"Very well," he said softly and quietly stood up. He moved out of his chair and walked toward the ex-officer. The female twin quietly got up and quickly walked to him.
"What are you going to do?" she asked seeing him move his hands to Rayne's right ear.
Gently, he removed a small ear plug with a thin closed compartment that hugged and hid behind the ear. Blinking in surprise, she watched him pocketed it and then moved his hands to her chest area. Resisting the thought of him fondling the Fifth Child's chest, he reached toward a small button that easily became undone. Surprised again, there was a small wire that followed from the chest area to the back. Gently again, he removed what looked like a small transmitter from inside Rayne's cocktail dress. Without pausing, he pocketed both pieces and turned toward her.
"I believe we shall be escorted again," he said looking at her stoically.
"…" Rana said blinking having many thoughts and questions going through her head. "Don't we have to call our-"
"Hello," the male server came in unexpectedly causing the female twin to stop in mid sentence and stare. Shinji turned his head toward the server causing a crack to sound in his neck.
"Greetings sir. I believe our friends had a little too much and fell asleep. Would it be better to let them rest here or escort them to a resting room?"
"From a personal experience aspect, leaving them to rest would be the wisest. If you would like them to be in a resting room, we can have staffers transport them."
"No," Rana said immediately holding the Third Child's hand feeling worried. "Let's leave them and not disturb them."
"As you wish," he said with a nod. "We will place a do not disturb sign outside. In the meantime, are you ready to meet the gentlemen?"
"Yes sir," Shinji said with a nod and started walking toward him. Rana walked beside him and held his hand firmer.
' #$%#$THREREUNION! #$% #$WILLFINALLY #$ #$^MEETITSEND#$%# $' the dark clone shouted morbidly in both twin's minds causing only Rana to feel her blood run cold.
In the Eva cage, there was a small evening crew that was checking readings and a maintenance crew that was going over a few areas around the Units' head. One crew member was on a mobile catwalk going over a checklist on his clipboard when he was in a shadowed area.
'…man…I forgot to bring my head light,' he thought signing through his nose. Squinting at the document, he could see the bigger print but not the smaller size. All the sudden, the area that he was in had a little more illumination.
"Ah, that's better," he said blinking and turning toward the light source. "Did they turn on…extra…lights…"
Looking at where the illumination came from, he was in front of Eva-01's head. Its eyes were dark a few minutes ago, but now they were on as if the Unit became activated. Blinking and rubbing his eyes, he looked again. The eyes were still on. About to panic, he shook his head and took a deep breath in and out.
"There is no way that the Unit can activate. It needs to be plugged in with an external power source, an entry plug, a pilot, and the activation sequence," he said to himself when he heard metal bending and squeaking. Flinching hard, he looked back at the Unit. Its grinning mouth seemed to try widening more at him.
"W-W-What a minute," he said looking back at the catwalk and shaking his head. "There have been countless cases of other crew members reporting Unit-01 especially. It will give people vibes of superstition and cause them to think that the Unit is activated…this is just like those cases. Nothing to worry about-!?" the maintenance person said out loud with a nervous laugh.
He suddenly stopped when he heard it breathe out and felt an air current softly hit him. Shaking a little, he nervously looked back at it. The eyes were still illuminated as the metal bending was still sounding. Staring at the eyes and blinking, he shook seeing them turn black with red irises staring at him. Blinking again, the eyes went back to being just lit eye slits. Immediately running to get away, alarms started blaring in the cage and in the control room.
Leaving their booth, both twins followed the server to one of the large staircases. Rana heard him ask to let go of his hand for a moment or two. Nodding, she watched him take out and put on the ear piece. It seemingly blended with his ear as his hair was long enough to cover it a little. Fixing the button at an obscure location, he feed the wire and transmitter in his inner coat pocket. Turning his head toward Rana, she blinked feeling him grasp her hand. Giving him a small smile, she squeezed his hand while they followed the server to the foot of the stairs.
"This way," the male attendant said and started climbing. Following, Shinji listened to the background voices in the ear piece. Recognizing them, he spoke softly.
"Excuse me Mr. Jack?"
[…what the…Ikari?] the police officer said in surprise.
"My apology for removing Miss Rayne's reconnaissance equipment and wearing them."
[…] he said with a heavy sigh. [I thought we were caught.]
"Is Mr. Yogosami with you?"
[I'm here Ikari. Are you covering for Rayne in case she is searched?]
"Partially sir. Is Miss Blaze with you as well?"
[I'm here as well. Thanks for helping Rayne so far. Did you know that she was secretly seeing us?]
"I did not. I only assumed that one's attachment to an establishment die hard…so to speak," he said as they reached the top of the stairs.
[Some people that is true] Chief Ryu commented when they heard someone speak.
"…wow…this is the second floor?" Rana said sounding dazzled as both continued to follow the server.
[I've only heard stories of the 2nd floor…is it really that amazing?] Jack asked.
"It is," Shinji said looking at the exotic interior design and the audience inside. Passing by closed off booths, some had partially openings. Rana glanced into one and immediately had flashbacks. Walking closer to him, the Third Child could feel her shake from seeing the numerous explicit and domineering acts that were in that booth.
Continuing forward, they felt the dark clone grin inhumanly wide from amount of emotions that were forming up in the female twin. Despite seeing the flashbacks too, the male pilot did not react to them. While following the server, they passed many open tables with extravagant styles of couches. Some were either standard size to a full wrap around in certain sections of the floor. Heading toward one of them, there were a few people sitting with one man as the center point.
He was older than the others being in his later 40s or early 50s. The rest of the attendants were teenagers that were roughly the same age as the twins. Two females sat to the man's right while two males sat to his left. In looking at them closely, they looked meek in the face. All of them looked frail with one having a bruise on his cheek while a girl had a cut lip. Stopping in front of their closed off table, the teens there looked up at them. Immediately, they looked at Rana with recognition and were more than shocked.
"Here is the gentleman that wanted to meet you two. Was there anything else I can do for you sir?"
"No…you have been helpful. You may go," the older man stated with a slight German accent. Handing the server an envelope, he bowed and walked away from the table. Standing up, the two teens to the man's right immediately scooted out. They stood on the other opening of the enclosing couch table. The two male teens scooted to the edge of their side.
"I could not believe that when I saw you that you were still alive," the man said walking around. Getting out of the couch, he stood in front of the two. He looked pleasantly surprised. Looking back and forth between them, he set his eyes on the female twin.
"You have changed quite dramatically Ikari," he said placing his hands on her shoulders causing her to flinch. "Quite beautiful as you were so long ago. Isn't that right my subjects?"
"Y-Yes doctor," all the other teens responded leaning to look at Rana with wonder and astonishment.
"…?" Rana said feeling lost and very confused at the gentleman. The man with a goatee gently grabbed her hands and felt them. It caused her to feel creeped out.
"Amazing. You do not have any scaring. I must thank the doctor who recovered you and transformed you into this alluring subject," the man said with smile. "Tell me, how are you addressed now?"
"…?" the female twin said leaning back a little. Breaking free from his hold, she went behind the male pilot and held him.
"W-W-What is wrong?" the older person asked with a worried face reaching out his hand. Despite doing so, he didn't step closer. Taking a closer look at who was in the suit, both he and teens became exasperated.
"I-Ikari?" the man said with a dumbfounded expression.
"To whom are you addressing sir?" Shinji asked slowly moving his eyes toward the older individual.
"What is this?…My subject has a twin brother? Who are you?" he asked. Rana glanced at the teens and saw them looking back and forth between her and the one she was holding.
'hEhHeEheHHHHEEeeee! #$% #$! HA-HA-HA #$% #$%# %$PLAYALONGMYSEEDS!' the evil voice screeched in mirth causing both twins to blink.
"Excuse me for the delayed introduction," Shinji said with a small bow. "I hope I will make things easier if I explain…Miss Rana."
"Rana?" the man and the teens said softly with eyebrows raised. They watched as the female twin let go of him and stepped to be beside him.
"This is Rana Ikari who was formally known as Shinji Ikari. Due to circumstances, he transitioned to a female. I would ask you to respect her wishes of being addressed as such," the male twin said seeing them look at her with wonder.
"…!?" Rana said blinking her eyes a couple of times. Much of her willpower was used to not flinch, change expression, or move.
"T-Then…who are you?" one of the teens asked nearest to him. She flinched watching only his dark magenta eyes move toward her and stared without blinking. His aura caused her to feel scared.
"I am her twin brother that was separated at birth. I do not know if I was given a first name by our parents; however, I have been addressed as Sid Ikari."
[…] the sound of a small crash came through the ear plug as Shinji didn't move or change expression. A phantom feeling of his mouth expanding wider and wider came. Goosebumps flared down his neck and back. The sound of the evil voice chuckling got lower and lower in pitch as it became a wall of sound followed by white noise.