Chapter 119: Vial of Curiosity

"…" Ryu said stirring awake after the static vision and white noise went away.

Blinking his eyes open, he saw a plain white ceiling that seemed to be moving. A sprinkler head would pass by followed by a smoke detector. Hearing the sounds of people walking quickly near him, he looked around with his eyes. There were nurses next to him as one was talking to another regarding about other officers. Figuring that he was in a hospital of some sorts, he attempted to get up. A hand was placed on his shoulder.

"His awake," one nurse said.

"Please don't move until we get you into your room sir," another said on the other side of him.

"What…happened?" he said feeling achy and a little paranoid. Remember the blast; he feared that a limb got blown off or something. Quickly testing himself, he felt his arms and legs moving around a little. Trying out the fingers and toes, they felt connected and responsive.

"We were going to ask you that question too," a medic said as they turned into another hallway.

"What do you mean?" Ryu asked.

"When the recovery team arrived, you and your officers were on the ground unconscious. There were also teenagers and a young boy that were out as well nearby."

"Did the interior look bad?"

"It looked pretty much like what a lab/underground facility would look like…but that is my assumption from the ones I see on TV."

"…?" the Chief said finding what they said to be off. Instead of asking a clarification question, he looked down at himself. He was still in his striker suit with no foul or vile odor on him. There wasn't even a stain on his clothes. Feeling a little disoriented, he rested his head back down as the nurse indicated they reached his room. Entering, they stopped by the side of the bed.

"Can I try to see if I can stand first?" he asked and saw the nurses nod. Standing next to him, he slowly sat up. Turning and putting his feet on the floor, he gently got off the stretcher. Fully standing up slowly, he felt stable. Taking a few steps forward and back, he looked at the nurses and nodded. Being instructed to sit on the bed, he did so.

"How are the others doing?"

"The officers so far are in stable condition. Only one has woken up while the others are in a state of deep sleep. None of them appear to be injured in anyway."

"How about the children?"

"The four teens and young boy are in the same condition."

"And the rest of the kids that were in that facility?"

"All of them have been transported and are in care as we speak," the nurse said hearing a sigh of relief from the Chief.

"That's good to hear…can finely feel like I can close this case."

"Yes. The doctor will come and check on you in a while. With the high influx of patients recovered, it has kind of stretched our staff thin until others can arrive."

"That's fine. I did have one more question."

"Sure."

"Was there a lavender haired woman and twins that were recovered as well?"

"Twins and a lavender haired woman?" the other nurse said putting a hand to his chin. "…mmm…no. I don't think anyone reported or saw those individuals. Was the woman a part of your team and the twins part of the kids from the facility?"

"…" Ryu said taking a deep breath in and out. "No…they were not. It is alright. I am not too worried about them. Please disregard my question."

"Alright sir. Please get some rest."

"…" the Chief said with a small nod. Watching the nurses leave, he lied down on the bed and placed his hands behind his head.

'All of that…was in my head?' he wondered then shook his head. 'That couldn't be true…the others were affected as well.'

'If those docs were doing experiments on those children…what exactly were they trying to create? What was Dr. Conrad really trying to do?'

'If Rana, aka Shinji, was his prized subject and experimental success…what was it that he achieved? Was he trying to produce another version of Rayne?…like some super soldier or something?'

'No…' he thought shaking his head. 'What those sick bastards were doing wouldn't make super soldiers…they were breaking those kids down and making them insane and suicidal.'

'…but then…' he pondered hearing a knock at his door then opened. It was Nami who had a relieved look on her face.

'…that so called boogieman figure showed up…and looked like the twins,' he thought watching the secretary walk to his bed side and sat down.

'…no…that had to be a figure of my imagination given the environment…it just had to be…right?'

"…mmmm…" Misato said slowly stirring awake. Moving around a little, she felt that she was on a couch or something.

"…what…happened?" she moaned and rubbed her face a little. Pushing herself up a little, her whole body felt achy.

'If I remember correctly,' the Major thought getting into a seating position and leaned forward. Placing her elbows on her knees, she started rubbing her head a little. Something of a mild hangover seemed to be affecting her.

'We were in the lobby and…' she thought then suddenly remembered what happened before blacking out. Alarmed, she slowly looked down at herself. She couldn't see very well given how dark the room was. Smelling and patting herself, there was no sense of bloodshed or body parts on her. Testing all her digits and limbs, they seemed to be functioning fine. Sighing in relief, she looked around herself.

'Where…am I?'' she wondered slowly getting up off the couch. Waiting for her eyes to slowly adjust to the darkness, the room started to become recognizable.

'Looks like my place,' she thought. It seemed very much like her apartment seeing how everything was placed and set up. Fighting off the wave of tiredness, she sluggishly walked to the table stand with the landline and answering machine. Reaching it and squinting at the time, she blinked.

'Still in the early morning,' Misato thought yawning out loud and stretching a little. 'I wonder if those two crashed in here.'

Using the wall for support, she walked around the apartment. Looking in all the rooms, she found no one in any of them. Trying the balcony, no one was out there in the cold. Closing the door, she walked back to the living room. Looking at her phone, there was no messages left. Begrudgingly turning on the living room lights, she felt blinded. Covering her eyes a little, she squinted.

'Damn…I knew I should have upgraded for those dimmers,' the Major thought waiting till her eyes adjusted to the brightness. Once her eyes didn't hurt as much, she could validate that it was her apartment. Feeling better, she looked around a little to see if there was a note or anything left behind. Seeing nothing on the dinner table or stands, she walked over to the couch to see if there was anything on the coffee table.

"Nothing here…?" she said to herself when something sounded. Hearing it coming from somewhere far behind her, she turned around. Hearing web feet in the kitchen, she raised her eyebrows from seeing a small figure waddling out of the kitchen.

"…" Pen-Pen said with a loud lawn as he lazily clicked his beak a couple of times. Blinking a couple of times, he saw the lavender haired owner near the couch. Yawning again, he started heading toward where she stood.

"Morning Pen-Pen. I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Misato asked softly when the warm water penguin stopped in front of her.

"…wwwaarrrkkk…" he said tiredly and rubbed his sides a little bit.

"I'm sorry big guy," she said kneeling down and petting his head a little bit. The penguin closed his eyes as he let the sensation seem to make his eye lids heavy.

"…zzz…" Pen-Pen said as his head bobbed a little till he leaned forward.

"Got you," the Major whispered catching him before he flopped forward to the floor. Hearing him snoozing a little, she gently picked him up. Gingerly moving back and sitting on the couch, she placed her pet in her lap. With his back against her stomach, she held and looked at him with a small smile.

"You know…it has been a long time since I did this with you," she whispered softly and began to stroke his hair. It seemed to make the penguin relax more. The clicking of his beak got slower. Amusingly, it sounded slurred and deeper.

"It has been a while since I heard you snore like that Pen-Pen," she said giggling softly. "Oh…I hear a big one coming."

Waiting in amusing anticipation, her face dropped when loud sickening pops and cracks sounded in front of her. Pen-Pen's head shook in place as it turned 180 degrees in quick rapid jolts. When seeing his face, she froze with fear. A severely slashed up and bleeding face of a penguin stared back at her. Black-red eyes bored at her as a vile malicious grin ripped through his beak and skin.

"WwWwWaAaARR #% #$!#RRRrrrrRRrKKKKKkkkKK!$%#$AAAARRRAAAAAHHHHHH!"

"NOOO!" Misato shouted and jolted awake into a sitting position.

Breathing heavily and feeling herself drenched in sweat, she didn't move. Looking around with her eyes, the environment was different. Seeing it look like a hospital room, something was in her right peripheral vision. Darting a look in that direction, a figure was standing in a shadow area. Flinching hard and staring with wide eyes, the Major started to feel her vitals increase quickly. Hearing the silhouette let out a short feminine sigh, it stepped out of the shadow area.

"You alright Misato? Did the boogieman try to get you?" Ritsuko said standing next to the hospital bed and smirking a little. A long pause went by when she saw her friend was still looking at her with an expression of fright. She had not moved from her position as her breathing was still quick.

"…is…is it…here?" Misato whispered still not blinking.

"…" Dr. Akagi said seeing that the mild joke did the opposite intention. Adjusting her expression and mannerisms, she responded with a more calm and alert demeanor.

"I am the only one in here."

"…" the Major said sighing heavily and putting her hands over her face. Cold sweat was felt on her hands.

"W-where…where am I?"

"In the medical facility at NERV."

"How'd…I get here?"

"You were brought in by the twin Ikaris," Dr. Akagi said seeing the Major flinch from hearing the name. The lavender haired woman slowly took her hands away from her face and looked at her friend. Ritsuko's face had a look of tiredness, but was looking at her calmly and directly.

"T-They did?" she asked seeing the faux blonde nod. "How?"

"In Ikari's usual way…he carried you until some staff members came with a stretcher," she said and saw Misato shake a little.

"But he and she got the brunt of it when everyone else got hit by the…by the…"

"By the what?"

"…" the Major said shaking her head quickly. "N-no…nevermind."

"…" Ritsuko said folding her arms over her chest. "You sure you are okay? Didn't hit your head on something?"

"I-I think I probably did…yeah," she said nodding more than once and giving a small smile. "I'll be fine. A-anyway, are they okay?"

"The twins? For the most part, yes."

"For the most part? What do you mean?"

"Rana looked very exhausted and Ikari…well…you know he can never break his robotic expression."

"He wasn't bloody by chance…was he?" Misato asked quietly.

"…no…though he looked a bit tender. Of the scars I could see, it seemed a good number of them opened a little. Besides that, there was no blood on him. Why?"

"W-Well…you know…when something triggers him."

"Yes," Dr. Akagi said with a blank face. "I know."

"Are they here somewhere?"

"I placed those two in a hospital room and ordered them to rest and not leave the facility. Is there something you want me to look into?"

"…Rana…is Shinji's sister, correct?"

"…yes…?" Ritsuko said with a raised eyebrow.

"She is…unquestionably female…right?"

"…last time I checked…she had female features and anatomy…why?"

"J-Just asking," Misato said smiling and looking a little relieved. "There is no way science is advanced enough to change a male to a female or vice versa."

"Yes and no."

"…what…?" she said with a face of surprise and anxiety. "What do you mean?! Explain!?"

"…?" Ritsuko said raising her eyebrow again the placed her hands in her lab coat pockets. "While changing the DNA and chromosomes of a person to the opposite gender is more than just difficult, it is not entirely impossible."

"There is a slim chance of it being successful?"

"…it isn't like the movies where you change the structure of one's cells and DNA then immediately they change. It is more complex than that. Even if the microscopic operation was successful, it would take years upon years for the body to change, morph, and adjust to what has been modified. Even then, the success rate of the body not rejecting or fighting back is even lower. It would have to take a controlled environment with repetitive operating, monitoring, and drugs to get even a sliver of a chance of being semi-successful."

"What would that mean if all factors were in favor? Would that mean a he or she can be the opposite gender?"

"…under theoretical terms and conditions…yes."

"…aarrggggghhhhh…" Misato bemoaned out loud causing Ritsuko to lean back a little. Her reaction to the discussion and the subject matter was making her both curious and a little apprehensive. Instead of deep diving into the subject that Misato brought up, Dr. Akagi suggested to her to get some rest and call her if she needed anything. Leaving the room, she closed the door and placed her hands in her lab coat pocket again.

'Strange…I thought she was just going to the police station to pick those two up' she thought and looked at her watch. '…that was over three hours ago when she called.'

Heading down the hallway, there was a skeleton crew of nurses and doctors walking around. Turning into another hallway, she decided to go to the break area for a smoke. Seeing the opening space ahead, she heard someone getting something from a vending machine. The familiar sounds of a paper cup drop and liquid dispensing meant it was the coffee machine. Oddly, the sensor lights were off. Reaching the break area, the lights flickered a little before they turned on. Looking to see who was there, she saw the Third Child slowly turn around with two cups of coffee in his hands. He was still in his clothes from yesterday evening.

"Greetings Dr. Akagi," he said with a small bow.

"…hello Ikari. I don't think I have seen you drink coffee before."

"You are correct. I would prefer hot tea, but the vending machines here only have iced tea. Would you like a cup Dr. Akagi?"

"If you are offering, then sure."

"Cream or sugar?"

"I'll have it black for this morning," she said going toward one of the benches and sitting down. Shinji nodded his head and walked toward her. Handing her the cup, he stood in front of her and looked at the beverage. Seeing her take a sip, he proceeded as well. Watching his facial expression, it remained the same.

"What do you think?" Ritsuko asked taking another sip.

"It is different. The smell is familiar though the taste seems to be acquired."

"You get use to it over time if you have it black."

"I see."

"You can sit down if you like Ikari."

"Very well," Shinji said with a slow blink and nodded his head. "If you don't mind me sitting next to you Dr. Akagi."

"I don't bite too hard," she said with a small smirk watching him sit next to her. "I can imagine last night into this morning has been enduring to say the least."

"Indeed Dr. Akagi…it was both enlightening…as it was eventful."

"Curious, why did it take Misato so long to pick up you and Rana from the police station?"

"We participated in a night raid of the shooter's hangout," he said stoically and sipping his coffee.

"…you three did what?" Ritsuko said in shock almost dropping her cup. "Why?

"The murder was holding children captive in which four of the captives recognized Rana."

"…recognized…Rana?" she said looking at him with surprise. Her mind started to grind and try to process what he stated. "As in…"

"As in Dr. Akagi…" he said slowly turning his head toward her and blinking. "Someone they knew from in the past."

"…!?" she said with her mouth open. Blinking, the Third Child reached toward her fast. Grabbing the coffee cup that fell out of her hand, none spilled on the floor. Placing it between them, he turned back forward and sipped more from his cup.

"…wait…" she said as many perplexing thoughts were going through her head. "…that's…that can't be possible…she came out of…"

"Yes Dr. Akagi…I know. I am a bit perplexed as well," he said looking down at the ground.

"You are?" she said seeing that his facial expression changed a little and looked a little confused.

"Yes…what Rana recently stated…has been repeating in my head."

"What she say?"

"She stated about how she originally was identified as one person…then she was recognized by others as another person."

"…" Ritsuko said feeling her eyes widening a little. "…recognized in what way?"

"It seems that a couple of the children victims who recognized Miss Rana from the past…identifying her as Shinji Ikari," he said blinking and turning toward her.

'She wasn't pulling my leg or just saying stuff from being drunk,' Dr. Akagi thought feeling her mouth open a little.

Her mind started to grind and turn harder as the confliction of information and the improbable were meshing together. Before she could ask him another question, he turned back forward and moved his hand. Grabbing something out of his inner jacket pocket, he held it in his palm. The haunting sky blue liquid in a vial caught her attention as he stared at it.

"What is that?"

"I am not positive of what this is Dr. Akagi," he said turning toward her. "However, the murder had this in his possession during his interrogation. Apparently, he claimed it is a solution of some kind...to cure an infection."

"What kind of infection?"

"He did not state what kind exactly; however, it seems to be tied in with his experiments on the children victims."

"Experiments? Do I want to know?"

"I can only state from a rough sense of what was going on. From the children victims, the murder would inject them with experimentally modified blood and experimental drugs. Afterwards, he would test them in various ways of torture. In what his experiments were trying to achieve…I do not know."

"That is sickening."

"Indeed…may…I ask a favor Dr. Akagi?"

"…" Ritsuko said with her eyebrows going up. "A favor? What kind?"

"I am curious to know what is in this…I was wondering if you could analyze it and determine what it is made out of."

"…" she said reaching for the capsule and grabbing it. Getting out her glasses and putting them on, she looked at it. Glancing back at the Third Child, he had a mild look of curiosity as he blinked then looked at her. He turned back forward and sipped his coffee.

'I've never seen him curious before,' Ritsuko thought looking back at the capsule. Thinking about what she has heard from Misato and him, there were too many factors crossing each other to make her think what was real or not. Shaking her head, she took the aspect that he asked her for a favor was a leap into her favorability.

"Alright," Dr. Akagi said putting the test tube in her lab coat breast pocket. "It might be a while before I can look into it."

"That is fine. Thank you," he stated turning to her and blinking. "Do you wish for something in return?"

"…" Ritsuko was about to say no when she paused. Thoughts of causing more strife against his family relationships came to mind. Mentally stopping herself, she gave a small smile.

"If you are offering Ikari, I will think of something."

"Very well…how is Major Katsuragi?" he asked.

"Other than being fine, she seems a bit roughed up."

"Indeed. This evening's outing and night raid seemed to be very unsettling to her."

"…" Dr. Akagi said about to continue when she looked at her watch. Grabbing the coffee he saved, she stood up.

"I could imagine. Well Ikari, I need to go back to work. Remember you are on orders to stay in the medical facility and to go back to your room until further notice."

"Very well Dr. Akagi."

"Thank you for the coffee and chat. Don't stay up too long," she said walking back the way she came with a small smile.

"…" Shinji said blinking and hearing her walk away. The sensor lights flickered off suddenly and he was in the dark. Drinking the rest of the coffee, he heard quiet footsteps. They were coming from the other hallway. Turning his eyes slowly toward the corner of the opening space, the sensor lights flickered back on. The First Child came into view. Standing up and facing her, he bowed a little.

"Morning Miss Ayanami."

"…morning Ikari," Rei said blinking and walking toward him. "Did you arrive recently?"

"Yes," he said seeing her stop in front of him. Her face softened a little from the stoic expression she had.

"Miss Misato, Rana, and I arrived not too long ago."

"I heard from the doctors that something happened at the Sakura Palace. It occurred when our group fell asleep…is that true?"

"Yes Miss Ayanami. Do you wish for me to tell you in detail?"

"…" she said with a head nod and a blink.

"Very well. It will be rather lengthy. Can I offer you something to drink or eat?"

Nodding, he got both items from the vending machines. Handing them to her and sitting down, she sat down next to him. He began to retell what occurred last night into this morning. As he explained, Ayanami became engrossed finding what happened to be a mixture of suspense, uncomfortable, vile, and evil. However for some strange reason, the description of what happen to the child victims, the doctor, the experiments, and the purpose of the facility did not seem foreign to her. It gave a sort of resonance that seemed compatible to the questions she use to ask herself time and time again years ago and before meeting him.

"That is what has happened so far up to this point," he said sipping a cup of water he got.

"…I see…" she said blinking and turning to her drink. "How does Rana feel?"

"I believe conflicted and confused."

"Are you the same?"

"…" Shinji said looking down at the ground. He didn't hear the dark clone speak or his vision to go static with distorted visions or flashbacks.

"It has left me…puzzled about myself."

"I…understand that feeling…" Rei said feeling a sense of bonding from being able to relate. "Trying to figure out…who or what you are…what you are suppose to do…why are things this way?"

"Indeed Miss Ayanami."

"…" she said smiling a little while holding the warm beverage cup in her hands. "…I've…come to an understanding of something…about myself…"

"An understanding?" he asked hearing the First Child move closer to him till their shoulders were touching.

"Yes…I…I don't like being alone…anymore," Ayanami said quietly enjoying the sensation. "Before…it was a part of living…yet…I couldn't understand why it hurt from time to time. Since living with and closer to others…I realized that loneliness…was what caused me to ache on the inside."

"Glad to hear you found another piece of yourself Miss Ayanami."

"…this closeness…" she said turning to him and saw his face slowly turn toward hers. Despite his stoic expression, she gave a glad smile at him. "…I enjoy it…the sensation that it brings me…it feels pleasant and warm."

"It is good to hear that I bring you comfort instead of fear and uneasiness," he said only blinking.

"…Ikari…" Rei said feeling a little red in her face. "…I have noticed that…I seem to crave this…sensation more…at the same time…it tells me to do more."

"Do more?"

"…yes…" she said looking at him and not moving. Feeling the impulse drive her actions, she felt more heat to her face.

"What actions is your desire looking for?"

"…it is…asking for…" she said feeling herself lean forward.

"…" Rei said opening up her eyes and staring at the same ceiling. Sitting up, she blinked and touched her lips with her fingers. Despite knowing that her impulse and desire was to do that action, she could not comprehend the sensation of doing so. More so of what one was suppose to feel when doing that with another person. Contemplating if she should go check the break area, she chose not to and lied back down.

'I wonder…what it feels like,' she thought looking at the ceiling. A little redness came to her face thinking about the dream image again.

'…maybe Ikari…would not mind...if I ask.'

"…" Kozo said grunting a little feeling achy all over.

Coming to, he opened up his eyes a little and saw he was in a sitting position. Squinting, he could see that his legs were shackled to the chair he was in. Moving his arms a little, they were behind him and locked in placed. Slowly moving his fingers, he felt restraints around his wrists. Sighing out of his nose, he slowly lifted up his head. Winching from the throbbing pain in the back of his head, he peered at what was in front of him.

'Where am I?' he thought seeing nothing but darkness around him.

"Hello…anyone here?" he asked out loud and heard his voice echo.

'Seems to be like an abandon warehouse,' he thought when suddenly towering monolith shapes appeared around him. Blinking in surprise, he slowly looked around him and saw the shapes with different numbers on them.

[Greetings Professor Fuyutsuki] the monolith 01 stated in front of him.

"Professor?" Kozo said with a surprised face. "It has been awhile since being addressed by that title. Who are you?"

[Can you guess professor?]

"I did not hear about a scheduled SEELE meeting."

[You are correct. It is much less of a meeting and more of an interview.]

"By how things look, an interrogation I presume."

[If that is how you wish to view it, then yes.]

"Was abducting me necessary?"

[It was professor] another person spoke to his right. [We want answers to what has been going on in your NERV branch.]

"Such as?" he asked when the sound of a screen turned on. Behind the monoliths showed images of the last Angel battle. The images showed all three Evas in berserk mode and stopped at one where the Units were eating the Angel.

[How did this happen professor?]

"As far as I know, all three Units went berserk."

[All of them went berserk? Prior to engaging with the Angel?]

"Based on the data history, it would appear so."

[What was the cause of all three to go berserk?]

"That I am not sure of."

[Didn't you test for results of probably causes?]

"We did. MAGI and Dr. Akagi's findings did not turn up anything of a Unit malfunction."

[What of the pilots?]

"All were stable prior to engaging with the Angel."

[Why did those Units eat the core?] the monolith 01 stated which got the others to quiet down.

"From our findings, we haven't found a cause as to why they committed that behavior."

[Three of your Units ran a mock and barbarically destroyed the Angel. What if those Units continued their uncontrolled spree of destruction? How would you be able to account for the damages, lost lives, and wasted resources from them being unable to control in an event of them acting on their own?]

"We have countermeasures in place in case of that happening," Kozo said with a neutral face.

[Are you referring to the Third Child and Unit-01?]

"…?" the older man said blinking in surprise. "No. Unit-01 is suspended from use until further notice. In the meantime, Pilot Ikari is a backup pilot."

[What is the matter with the Eva?]

"…" Kozo said feeling his mind straining a little. The blow to the back of his head made thinking difficult from how it was still tender. At the same time, he still had a hard time believing the self-activation of the Unit was not real. Recalling the episode, his remembrance of it seemed very gritty and gave him a chill.

"Our analysis of the 01 has found no issues."

[Then why is it on suspension order? Who gave that order?]

"Commander Ikari placed that order."

[Do you know why he did so?] a voice to his left asked as others murmured.

"Other than the original reason was to fine tune the dummy plug system to prevent the results of its first activation, I do not know any other aspect."

[What are his plans for that Unit?]

"Other than use it to fight the Angels, I do not know any other intention for its use."

[Find that rather unbelievable to not know his true tensions professor.]

"Though I am Commander Ikari's stand in and right hand man, he has not shared what his intentions for Evas are other than to stop the Angels."

[Was the Commander like this in the beginning?]

"…yes…" Fuyutsuki stated looking down at the ground.

Continuing to listen to SEELE's interrogation, he began to recall the past. When he was a professor and first met Gendo and Yui. Finding out about the truths and lies of Second Impact. How Gendo invited him over to form a new future for mankind thus the beginning of NERV and the Evangelion Project. During that time frame, various individuals he met would appear before a couple disppearing. A bitter taste was left in his mouth remembering what happened to the ones that disappeared.