Chapter 135: Interference
Both groups said nothing as they continued to stare at each other without moving. Blinking, Shinji breaks the awkwardness and places the plastic bags on the table. Following his lead, Ritsuko did the same thing with the ones she was carrying. Once all were on the table, the Third Child turned back to the three that were in his room.
"Pardon the interruption madams. Dinner will be ready in a couple of minutes after setting up the table. Is there anything else I can get you prior to meal time?"
Another awkward silence passed by as the two groups stared at each other again. Slowly, Rana stepped forward and walked toward him. The closer she got, the apprehension in her facial expression lessened. Stopping and standing in front of him, she suddenly became frustrated. She lifted a hand and swung at his face.
"…" Shinji said catching her attempt to slap him. "Miss Rana?"
"…" Rana said looking up upset. "…where…were you?"
"I was asked to…retrieve Dr. Akagi from where she was being held."
"Why didn't you say anything…to anyone…or me?"
"It was requested to not tell anyone where I would be going nor what I would be doing."
"Who!?" she stated loudly and pulled her hand free. With both arms at her side, her hands slowly turned into fists. Despite looking upset at him, he kept his stoic expression.
"…" Shinji said giving a slow blink. Wondering if the dark clone would interject, it never did. It just gave a small giggle at him. Rana's face recognized something and looked at the ground.
"Why would it…that is not in its nature to save people."
"…who…" Rei said walking toward them. "Is it?"
"Miss Rana is referring to the individual residing in Unit-01," he said turning to the First Child.
"…!?" Misato and Ritsuko blinked in surprise.
"Individual? That thing is some psycho bio-monster!" the Major exclaimed.
"…" Shinji said moving his eyes only to her then blinked. "By chance are you referring to the Evas Miss Misato?"
"No, the thing that is controlling Unit-01," she stated then pointed her finger at him. "There is no way you are weaseling out of this one."
"…weaseling?" he asked tilting his head. Resetting her expression, Rana looked up at him. Seeing his eyes slow move to her eyes, the female twin forced herself to have a neutral face.
"…what…does he…want?" she asked gravely.
"…" Shinji said blinking and slowly turned to the others. "As poor as this sounds, shall we eat and discuss about it?"
"…" Rana said. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, she recognized why.
"Will he…let you talk?"
"…I...don't know."
"What do you…mean Ikari?" Ayanami asked. All saw him turn and start removing the takeout cartons from the bags.
"Since the battle with the 12th Angel…I seemed to have developed a mental connection with Unit-01."
"Mental connection? Like a mind-link?" Misato said crossing her arms over her chest.
"Yes Miss Misato," he said. Having removed all the cartons, he began folding the plastic bags to be smaller.
"Oddly though, both Dr. Ikari and Miss Rana do not have as strong of a connection to Unit-01."
"How come?"
"Probably due to the Unit's preference," Ritsuko said looking at the Major. All watched as the Third Child headed toward the kitchen. No one followed him despite hearing him opening cabinets and grabbing what sounded like plates.
"…" Misato said when something came to her.
She was reminded of the conflicting side of information that she encountered some time ago. Knowing that two people present did not know, she debated if it would be wise to tell or not. Seeing the Third Child walk back into the living room, he began to set the table with plates and utensils. Looking at him, he did not give an indication of an emotion that would indicate confliction. Looking at the female twin though, she was looking at her with threatening eyes. Knowing that she wanted to get the actual facts of what was real and what false, she decided to continue with the facts that were known to everyone.
"You mean like…it chose Shinji despite how long both Dr. Ikari and Rana have been in that thing?"
"Based on observations, data, and performance, I can say probably. Before Ikari became the pilot of it, Unit-01 was only activated a couple times. Early attempts to activate it with Ayanami were unsuccessful. However when Ikari started piloting it, it became more compatible with other tests, experiments, and eventually other pilots. Thus, the number of activations increased exponentially."
"I can get that, but why is Unit-01 the only one that is acting out seemingly on its own? Rei and Asuka have been activating their Evas far longer than Shinji has been. Wouldn't theirs be far more active?" Misato stated. The male pilot finished setting the table and turned around.
"That…I cannot answer," Ritsuko said with a shoulder shrug.
"…" the Major said seeing him go back toward the kitchen. "You know you are not escaping this discussion Shinji?"
"I do not intend to," he said entering the kitchen. Hearing him gather more things, the smell of tea eventually came through. It seemed to calm down everyone's nerves a little. Coming back out with a tray, it had a teapot with tea cups around it. Placing it on the table, he turned toward Misato.
"Shall I go retrieve Mr. Pen-Pen Miss Misato?"
"…why…?" she asked narrowing her eyes at him.
"I believe this is his usual snacking time," he said causing her to blink and look at her watch. "It is usually after he takes his bath."
'…damn…he still remembers. I forgot his butler tendencies,' she thought then sighed out loud.
"No…I will get him and bring something that I could use right now. You want one Rits?"
"A can or two does sound appealing."
"Alright. And you two," she said turning toward the First Child and Rana. The female twin lifted her head and looked both drained and frustrated. Rei looked neutral at her.
"Your job until I get back is to make sure he doesn't leave…you understand?"
"…" both said only narrowing their eyes at her.
"If you believe that I will leave Miss Misato, shall I secure myself to not be able to leave this room?" he asked turning toward her. Before anyone could say anything or react to his statement, Rana suddenly panicked and rushed him. Leaping and colliding with him, he took a couple steps back. Not falling onto the ground, she wrapped her arms and legs around him.
"No you will not!"
"…?" Shinji said blinking slowly. "…very well…"
"…?" Misato said blinking in confusion and scratching her head. Looking at the First Child, she was looking up at something. The expression her face became alarmed as she walked forward.
"…Ikari…are there more chairs given that more will join?"
"My apologizes, there is only four dining chairs here," he said not resisting being caught by the female twin.
"That's okay," the Major stated seeing what was hanging from the ceiling. It caused her to be alarmed.
"Rits…can you help grab a chair or two?"
"…" the scientist said not moving seeing the noose swaying a little by itself above the male pilot. "S-sure."
"Just…sit down for now Shinji. We will be right back," Misato said.
"…" he said blinking seeing everyone looking above him. Hearing a deep and slow chuckle, he turned toward a dining chair. The weight of the female twin did not even faze him. Sitting down, he could only see Rana's determine expression in front of him.
"Very well…I will remain here."
"…right…that should be fine," she said turning around. Both the Major and scientist quickly walked out of the living room. Opening the apartment door, both exited and headed toward the next apartment.
"When was that put on the ceiling?" Misato asked.
"I did not see it when I came in with Ikari."
'Given that when I came in with Rei…I didn't notice it then either…damn,' she thought reaching her apartment door. Opening it, both headed into her apartment. Splitting up, Ritsuko got two extra chairs while Misato went into the kitchen. As the Third Child said, Pen-Pen had a towel around his neck. He was about to open the large refrigerator when he stopped seeing her.
"…wark-wark? (Something wrong?)" he spoke blinking in surprise.
"Hey Pen-Pen, let's go over to Shinji's apartment. He got takeout and probably extra fish for you," Misato said with a fake smile.
"…" he said blinking again then gave a small nod. Watching her in confusion, he saw her open the refrigerator and grab a few beer cans. Looking around the room quickly, she grabbed a plastic bag to put them in. Hearing other movement in the living room and about to waddle over to look, he was lifted off the ground.
"All right! Let's go!" she said as bubbly as possible.
"…?" he said as Misato carried him along with the bag of beer.
Exiting the kitchen, he saw the faux blonde woman. Recognizing her from the couple of times she visited, she was carrying chairs. Both women nodded at each other and left the apartment. About to speak in confusion, Pen-Pen kept his mouth shut seeing the tense look on their faces. Getting to the twin's apartment, Ritsuko was about to hit the door bell when the door slowly opened.
"…" all three said seeing that no one was on the other side of the door. Hearing a soft sound, the warm water penguin felt something odd. Looking down at Misato's arms, they had white spots littered on them. Looking up, her face was tenser as she did not move.
'…ookkaayyy…' he thought looking at the other. Even her face matched that of his owner's.
'They are scaring me…what's in…wait' Pen-Pen thought feeling nervous when something caught his nose. 'I know that smell…I know who makes it…what a wonderful aroma.'
"…?" Misato said blinking feeling Pen-Pen wiggle free from her grip. Kneeling to the ground, she thought he would run back to her apartment. However, he dashed into the male pilot's.
"Wait! Pen-Pen!" she whispered nervously seeing her pet out of sight into the apartment. Feeling fear grip her, she looked back up at the ceiling inside the hallway.
"…where…did it go?" she asked recoiling a little.
"…I…don't know…" Ritsuko responded with a quiet voice. Hearing the sounds of the penguin inside the apartment made both of them blink.
"Probably not of enough rest from what happened today," the scientist said stepping forward into the apartment. Misato followed suit but still felt anxious. Entering the apartment, an aura was felt that made her more apprehensive. Despite that, both traveled back to the living room. Rana and Rei were sitting across from each other while watching the Third Child. He had gathered food onto a plate and lowered it in front of Pen-Pen.
"Would you like anything else sir?" Shinji asked seeing the penguin shake his head with a pleased look on his face. "Very well. Enjoy sir."
"…" both women said seeing his head turn to them and nodded.
"Welcome back Miss Misato...Dr. Akagi," he said and gestured toward the table. "Shall we dine now?"
"…" Misato said looking up at the ceiling.
The noose was not there anymore. Hearing Ritsuko sigh out loud again, she set the two extra chairs down. Trying to sigh herself, the Major still felt paranoid. With everyone sitting at the dining table, everyone gathered their portions of food. Misato laid down the cans of beer on the table and immediately cracked on open.
"I thought you lightened up on your beer-downing consumption," Ritsuko said opening one can.
"…" the Major said as she chugged down most of the first can. Releasing a pleasing breath of air, she turned her friend.
"I haven't done that in…god, I don't know how long."
"Probably a good thing."
"You got no right to talk chain-smoker."
"True," she said taking a sip of beer. Looking at the other children sitting, all three were quietly eating. They weren't looking at each other or at them. Deciding to break the ice at the dinner table, Misato put her beer can down.
"Alright Shinji…what I want to know is what is in Unit-01?"
"In what terms Miss Misato?"
"No, tell me what is in it."
"I believe Dr. Akagi can explain the components of what is in the Evas better than I can."
"You are dodging the question."
"…how so?"
"You have been sucked into that Unit so you know what is inside of it."
"Are you basing this on number of times or time spent in the Unit Miss Misato?"
"Does it really matter?"
"My time spent in the Eva is severely shorter compared to the number of years that both Dr. Ikari and Miss Rana has spent in the Unit. Based on that aspect, both should have a large memory and depth capacity to explain what is inside the Unit."
"Alright," the Major said crossing her arms over her chest and looked at Rana. "How about you explain it then?"
"…" she said taking another morsel of food in her mouth. Not deterred from being asked, she chewed then swallowed before answering.
"Can I refuse to answer?"
"If there is a good reason why."
"How about I do not want to answer?"
"You are going to have to do better than that."
"Oh? And what will you do if I still refuse to answer?"
"As your superior officer, I can order you. If you still refuse to answer, I can place you in custody until you are willing to answer," Misato said with a stern face. "That goes for you too Shinji."
"…" he said sipping his tea and setting it down. Grabbing his chopsticks, he continued to eat calmly.
"I am being serious."
"Are you Miss Misato?" he asked slowly moving his eyes toward her.
"…" she said leaning forward and pointing to Ritsuko and Rei. "I can tell these two about that life history information I learned about after the Sakura Palace incident."
"…!" Rana said instantly becoming furious.
"History information?" Ritsuko said carefully noticing the immediate reaction from only the female twin.
"…?" Rei said feeling Rana's unsettling vibe from where she was sitting. Looking at the Third Child, he only blinked while continuing to have the same expression.
"So…what will it be?"
"…you…bitch…" Rana said with restrained anger.
"…" Shinji said then felt a sensation of a knife edge sliding up his spine. Flashbacks to previous events came to him including a similar conversation. Blinking, he internally bowed as the sensation of pseudo grin ripped through his stoic expression.
"Very well Miss Misato," Shinji said placing his chopsticks down. "I assume you know what a captor is, yes?"
"…uh…a person that captures another?"
"Roughly so," he said blinking. "Do you know what the Evas are made of?"
"They are just bio-engineered cyborgs, right?" Misato asked looking at Ritsuko.
"…that's roughly correct."
"There is more to it than that?" she asked seeing the scientist nod. It made her frown at her friend.
"So there are more secrets you haven't told us."
"Are you assuming everyone is in the same dark about them?"
"Of course. You as well as the Commanders are the only ones that know what they really are. Even Kaji with his digging didn't find much information other than was NERV provided about them."
"That is a true statement…or at least it should be," Dr. Akagi said then looked at the Third Child. "Ikari, do you know what the Evas are made of?"
"In terms of construction or from where they were derived from?"
"Created from."
"Yes," he said sipping his tea.
"Do you know Rana?"
"…" the female twin said and nodded her head.
"Ayanami?"
"…I have been told before…" she said with a small nod.
"…!?" Misato said surprised that she was the only one that didn't know from the group. Despite getting mixed feelings from it, she shook her head.
"Alright then, spill the beans," she stated. Hearing Ritsuko sigh, she began to tell what and how the Evas were created.
"…" Misato said feeling her mouth open and stare at her friend. Repeating the information over and over in her mind, the concept started to made sense. There was enough science fiction that she saw that indicated the same aspect of fighting against an alien race with its own kind.
"…so…everything has been created…from one Angel?"
"Of what we know that is in production and has been produced, yes."
"So that thing down in Terminal Dogma…is Adam right?" she asked. All of them looked at her with blank faces making her feel awkward. Looking at Shinji, he slowly blinked and began to eat more of his food.
"Shinji?"
"Yes Miss Misato?"
"It is…Adam…right?"
"It is not."
"…then…who is it?"
'…wHHHHyyyyy…iTsThEmOtHeRoFmOtHeRsssssssss…d…o…n…'…t…y…o…u…#$%#know?'
"…!?" both Ritsuko and Misato said flinching instantly at its voice. Tensing up, they could feel something morbid pooling into the space around them.
'…it is still here,' Rei thought feeling goosebumps on her limbs. Despite feeling alarmed, she did not panic or move.
"…" Rana said feeling goosebumps as well; however, she had a peeved expression on her face. Looking to her right at the Third Child, Shinji continued to eat. All of them noticed something evil and vile emitting from a space next to the male pilot. Thinking something would materialize if they blinked, nothing happened.
In slow motion, something was merging out of the right side of his body. His skin suddenly became elastic as a hand pushed his skin outward. Followed by an arm, eventually the shape of a head, neck, and torso came to be seen. The male pilot's skin became thinner and thinner to where the different variant veins could be seen. The further it stretched, the more translucent his skin became. Seeing a figure to be humanoid under the skin, more than half the Third Child's skin was stretched out.
Seeing the figure make a forceful shove forward, a disgusting rip and tear emitted. The figure came out and flopped on the floor with a wet thud. Blood and inners from Shinji gushed out of him as he remained frozen in place.
'…what…the hell is going on!?' Misato thought standing up and backing away from the table.
"...!?" Ritsuko said doing the same reaction.
Looking at the teenagers, Rei kept sitting looking visibly disturbed at the Third Child. Only Rana remained with the same expression. Hearing gurgling inhales followed by bones and cartilage snapping, a dark silhouette slowly stood up. When it haggardly was standing on its two feet, it slowly straightened itself. It breathes became rapid as if it was trying to match a speeding heart going into cardiac arrest. Suddenly stopping, it gave a deep and slow chuckle. Without blinking, everyone's vision went to static for a second. Blinking, someone was sitting next to the mutilated Third Child.
"…wha…" Misato whispered feeling the hairs on the back of neck stand on end.
'…aaahhhhh…#$%#$heeeeee#$% #%$lOlOkSSSSss#$%^DECEIVING#$!' it shouted before grinning evilly at them.
"…" Rana said looking at everyone else. Seeing as they were looking at the area next to Shinji, she turned to look at the individual.
"How are you here?" she demanded.
'ggggguuuueeeeeessssssssssssss'
"…Shinji?"
"…yeesssh…Missssss…Raaannnaaa?" the Third Child replied lethargically. Speech was hindered from a portion of his face being ripped open along with the right side of his body.
"…how…is he…here?" she asked feeling uncomfortable from seeing him able to talk given how severely mutilated he was.
"…ssssii…rrrrr…rrrr…?" he asked slowly. Turning his head with much agony and pain, his head faced where the dark clone was sitting. Blinking with his remaining eye, he saw it as a mirror of himself. However, his double had black-red eyes and a blacker tint of skin tone than his.
'…D-D-D-Drrrrrr.%#$Akaaaaaaa%$giiiiiiii#$%#$%…y…o…u…s…h…o…u…l…d…k…n…o…w#$%#,' Sid stated in distortion and white noise. 'CoNsUmPtIoNoFaReDsPhErE#$%bRiNgSiNfInItEppppooosssiiibbbiiillliiitttiiieeesss#$.'
"…red sphere…" she stated softly then blinked. Something clicked in her head which made her eyes widen.
'YYYYEEESSSSS!' it suddenly screamed excitedly.
"…then…that energy transfer..."
'heheeee #$%#$HAAAAAAAA #$ #$yyyeeesssss,' the dark clone stated as its grin expanding. The corners of its mouth went to the ears as haggard sharp teeth started pointing out. Sounds of skin ripping and stretching gave both adult women instant goosebumps.
"What…is it…saying?" Misato whispered then froze stiff.
'ArEyOuThAtCuRiOuS $%#$i…c…a…n…s…h…o…w…y…o…u…' the evil twin whispered. She heard him breath next to her ear while its body and vile grin stayed seated next to the disfigured Third Child.
'IcAnShOwAAAALLLLLLLLLLLOOOOFFFFFFYYYOOOOOOUUUUUUU!'
"…!?"
'IsThAtAyEs#$%#$OR NO!' it screamed louder at them. Its mouth opened to the size of its head to bellow out a monstrous bark that made only the adults lean back more in fear.
'…' Ayanami thought shifting her focus to the mutilated male pilot. A part of her seemed to recognize something from seeing what was occurring. Despite the disturbing setting and concern for the Third Child, she felt she could relate. Understanding and comfort seem to generate in her as she remained where she sat.
'WHYAREYOUNOTANSWERING!? ITHOUGHTYOUWERECURIOUS!?'
"…!?" Misato said with her mouth open and her lips quivering.
Ritsuko flinched from backing up to a wall. The aura that it was producing seemed greater than when in the SEELE facility. That combined with the gripping malice it spoke to them made her nerves feel ripped apart. Despite the dark twin not moving away from its seat, its persona was projecting to be in front of her face.
'…' Sid said going from an ear to ear menacing grin to a neutral expression. 'N…o…T…c…U…r…I…o…U…s?#$#$%#$…A…s…H…a…M…e…'
"…mmmm…aaapolll…geeees…ssss…iiir…r…r" Shinji weakly stated as his skin became deathly pale.
"…!?" Rana said blinking in surprise and confusion. The aspect that the dark clone was giving a different expression seemed like wild wonder. Almost to the point where it was uncharacteristic of it to look tamed even a little bit.
'…its…not…your…fault…# $%#$%' the dark clone said with a frown on its face. '…they…do…not…seeeeeeeek…the…red…utopia.'
"…" the Third Child said as his mutilated body slowly started to wither and become rotten. Everyone became very alarmed seeing that he looked like he was dying.
'They are just like them…those caretakers…those sisters,' the evil twin said looking at them and instantly grinned evilly.
"…tttt…eee…m…m…m…?"
'#$%#%$Y#$%#$E#%$S#$%^#$%' it spoke in distortion and chaos before imploding.
Instead of gore and blood splatter, the entire room became an orange tint. Each recognized the scent of the liquid used in the entry plug and Evas. Slowly, the Third Child's body was rejuvenating and recovering itself. When he fully recovered to become complete and normal, he looked downcast at the table. Everyone blinked and saw two females materialized in the chairs that both Misato and Ritsuko were sitting in.
"…no…" Rana said going wild eye and slowly backing away.
'Where are you going Shinji?'
'You aren't done with your training.'
"…no…no…stop it…NO…" she said gripping her head and looking passed upset.
'Don't be afraid…we'll take care of you…your special to us in so many ways,' the older female said in a seductive voice. 'Isn't that right sister?'
'Mmm-hmmmmm. Hee hee…you are such a scardy-cat Shinji…but that makes you cute and sweet,' the younger woman spoke.
"I SAID STOP IT! I DON'T WANT TO RELIVE IT!" Rana raged at the two women.
"…wait a minute…" Ritsuko whispered looking back and forth between the two women, Rana, and the Third Child.
"…Ikari?" Ayanami asked feeling something very wrong. Despite firmly believing it was another vision, the reaction that it was producing from both twins was more eerie. It started to make her mind grind from trying to figure out what was real and what was fiction.
"…Shinji…" Misato spoke out a little more than softly. "…w-who…are these-!?"
"NO!" Rana shouted with hate and rushed to where the two women were. Shoving a chopstick into one of the sister's eye, she reached and grabbed the head of the younger one. Without hesitation, she began to brutally slam the girl's head on the dining table. As blood started to fall and splatter from the girl's face, the older sister began screaming in agony.
"I WON'T LET YOU! I WON'T LET YOU! I WON'T LET YOU!"the female twin repeated angrily.
Slamming the younger sister's bloody beaten up face into the dented table, she harshly grabbed the other woman's head and slammed her face into the table viciously. The chopstick in the sister's eye painfully went deeper and stabbed the brain. Despite becoming numb, Rana continued to repetitively smash her face into the table until it was a bloody pulp.
"IHATEYOU! IHATEYOU! IHATEYOU! IHATEYOU! IHATEYOU!"she shouted with teeth clenched. With a final face slam, part of the table broke as the older sister flopped lifelessly to the floor.
"…haa…haaaaa…hhaaaaa…" Rana said. Taking deep breaths, she clenched her bloody hands into murderous fists. Still having an angry expression on her face, she looked at the others with her eyes only. Rei had backed away moved from the table. She moved behind where Shinji was and watched the female twin with careful eyes.
"…oh god…" Misato whispered from seeing how savagely both women were killed from a sharp fit of rage.
"…" Ritsuko was about to open her mouth when she heard running water faintly.
Blinking, she noticed something very radical changed. Instead of Rana breathing heavily with anger, it was a scarred and frail looking male boy. Seeing the same color eyes and feeling the same aura, she felt her brain starting to hurt from what she was seeing. Looking at the Third Child, he was not in his seat and nowhere in the room. About to look for him, she noticed the First Child looking just as confused. Suddenly, her head turned right from something in the direction of the kitchen.
"…Ikari?" Rei asked quietly keeping a watchful eye on Rana.
"…" the male pilot said coming out of the kitchen. Placing the plate that was in his hand to the ground, Pen-Pen warked at him. Nodding to the penguin, he turned toward her and blinked slowly.
"Yes Miss Ayanami?"
"…" she said looking down at the plate. It had more fish as Pen-Pen ate them pleasantly with a beer can next to him.
"…you are…still you…correct?"
"To my knowledge and understanding Miss Ayanami…I am…not sure."
"You are…Shinji Ikari…the Third Child, yes?" Ritsuko asked.
"…" he said then looked at Misato who blinked back at him. "…as the person picked as the Third Child, yes…as Shinji Ikari…as much as Miss Rana would like me to keep that name…I am not."
"…!?" Ritsuko and Rei looked at him wild eye in shock.
"As to what Miss Misato was going to tell of what happened after the Sakura Palace incident…there was…a mistake in identity," he said seeing that both the scientist and female pilot still looked at him with bewilderment.
"You mean…Rana is," Ritsuko said slowly pointing.
"As confusing as it will sound Dr. Akagi…yes…Miss Rana…is Shinji Ikari," he said with a slow blink.
"Then at that time," Ritsuko said the turned to Misato with realization. "When you asked that bizarre question…you knew and never told anyone."
"…" the Major said feeling uncomfortable seeing tears flowing out of the female twin's eyes. "Its fine…isn't it? Secrets among others are how things are at NERV."
"…" Ritsuko frowned a little but looked back at the male pilot. Ayanami had walked toward him till she was in front of him. Staring at him hard, a look of ambivalence came to her. An aura of confusion, denial, lost, and hurt emitted from her.
"…why…did you not state your true identity?"
"…" he said. Turning toward her, he blinked. "I did not know completely my true identity until the Sakura Palace incident occurred. Since then, I believe I was Shinji Ikari."
"…" Rei said nodding slowly but didn't blink. Both were staring at each other's eyes.
"Then…who are you?" Dr. Akagi asked.
"…his…name…" the female twin stated with a couple of sniffs and wiping her eyes with her hands. "…is Sid."
"…Sid…Ikari?"
"Yes…he is the twin brother of Shinji Ikari," Misato said crossing her arms under her bosom. "Both were separated at birth…based on an alternative history line of them."
"…" both Ritsuko and Rei looked at the Major. Both of them were slightly wincing from feeling their minds grinding to process the information. The scientist couldn't find any humor in the revelation though it seemed like a leg pull.
"I'm sorry," she said shaking her head. "That is too hard for me to believe. All of us saw both Dr. Ikari and Rana come out of Unit-01 with Pilot Ikari. Based on that fact and witnesses who saw the same thing, the change of identity does not make sense."
"…I agree…" Ayanami said nodding her head then looked back at him. "Were you…attempting to lighten…the mood Ikari?"
"…" the Third Child said bringing a hand up and looked at it. Seeing an eye slit form, a pseudo sensation came to his hand. Feeling the skin pull apart, a black-red eye appeared and looked back at him.
'NoOnEbElIeVeS' 'ThEyNeVeRwIlL' 'iTiStHeSaMeEvErYwHeRe' 'ThEpAsThAsBeEnOvErShAdOwEd' 'ItIsBuRiEd' 'WeArE…DeFeCtS' 'dEvIaNtS' 'DiScArDsOfAtRuEsHeLl' 'DeAdToEvErYoNe…EvErYtHiNg…InEvErYrEaLm'
'…dead…sir…?'
'#$%YYyyyeeEEESSssss#$#$%#$m…y…s…e…e…d…#$%#$YoUaNdI-i-i-i-i…are deliriums...'
"…" he said lowering his hand and looked up. Putting his hands to his side, he took a step back away from Rei. He then gave a deep bow.
"My apologizes madams. It seems that playing around was in bad taste given how serious the discussion was," Shinji said standing up straight with a stoic expression. "Given that the mood has become unsettling and cruel, I will clean the dishes. Excuse me."
"Wait a minute Shinji," Misato said not moving from her spot and keeping her arms crossed. "You still haven't explained more of what is in Unit-01."
"That I haven't Miss Misato," he said gather dishes. Everyone could detect something off from him.
"…" she said watching him. "…well?"
"…" the Third Child said. Gathering all the dishes, he only looked at her with his eyes. They were neither friendly nor hostile.
"No."
"…?" Misato said blinking. "No?"
"I will not explain further."
"Why?"
"There is no point."
"…" she said blinking a couple of times. "Wait…what?"
"I am sure that you and everyone else are aware of my pre-existing condition prior to becoming a pilot," he said turning toward her with the plates in his hand.
"…hold on…you were cured…you can't use that."
"Would you believe words from a schizophrenic, cured or otherwise?"
"…" she said opening her mouth, but didn't say anything. Closing it, she opened it again.
"…you aren't crazy…you are rational now...you...are normal now."
"…" he said staring stoically at her. "…I see…"
