Chapter 48: In Pursuit of the Past
"I'm home," Asuka stated after opening the apartment door. She stayed at NERV a little bit. The redhead was talking with Kaji and trying to get him to go with her somewhere. However, she was unsuccessful. Glancing down at the floor, there was only a pair of heels.
'…great…Wondergirl is here,' the redhead thought taking off her heels. 'Kaji kept saying he was busy…when will he see me as a real woman.'
Walking down the entrance hallway, something hit her nose as she started smelling the air.
'Did she clean?' the Second Child thought. Reaching the end of the hallway, she turned the corner and looked at the living room.
It was more cleaned than she remembered. Shrugging her shoulders, she went into her room. While changing clothes, she heard someone walking around in the apartment. Thinking it was the First Child, she continued. Once in comfortable clothes, she left her room. Hearing movement from the couch, she looked and blinked in surprise as the person got up and came to her.
'Hey Asuka. What's up?' Sno stated and stopped a few feet away.
"…?!" she said rubbing her eyes and looking again.
'What?' he said looking behind him then back at her. 'Is there a ghost here or something?'
'…how…is he here?' Asuka pondered still having a hard time believing what she was seeing.
'Heeelllloooo?' Sno said waving a hand in front of her. 'Earth to boob-head.'
"Shut up," she said smacking his hand down. It made her freeze and look at her hand baffled.
'Jeez! How do you pack so much bite?' he said rubbing his hand that got hit.
'I hit him?' the Second Child thought not understanding what was going on.
'You philosophizing your being or something? No matter how much you do, you won't realize a super power.'
"…" Asuka said looking at him blinking.
'Geez, did you hit your head again?' Sno said with hands on his hips.
"…" she opened her mouth then closed it and closed her eyes.
'I must be more tired than I think,' she stated in the her mind. Shaking her head a little bit, she slapped her cheeks. She thought she heard something muffling nearby, but couldn't determine what it was. Opening her eyes, Sno was still standing there with hands back on his hips.
'You done acting weird?' he said with a smirk. 'If not, go ahead. This is amusing.'
"Shut up," she said frowning at him.
'Hooo, there is the firecracker,' he said smirking.
"How did you get here? Or more importantly, why are you here?" she demanded getting in front of him and poking his torso. Her finger hit his chest feeling the shirt over it; however, something felt off about it.
'Really?' Sno said then sighed. 'Didn't Misato call you a while ago about coming here?'
"…?" Asuka said blinking in surprise again. Shaking her head again, she grabbed his shirt collar. It felt real. The muffling was heard again, but she ignored it.
"How do you know that?" the redhead demanded.
'What is your problem hot head? Ayanami told me when I came to visit. Apparently this is a show and tell of my past.'
"Oh yeah? You going to spill the beans or something?"
'I might if ya really want to know,' Sno said still smirking.
"…" Asuka said letting go then put her hands on her hips. "Okay so spill."
'I'm not going to talk the entire time standing up,' he stated turning around to the couch. She followed him. The look-alike sat on the middle space while the redhead occupied the armrest to his right. Seeing the gap between them, he gave her a deadpan expression.
'Am I that repulsive to sit next to?'
"Shut up and start talking," Asuka replied crossing her arms over her chest. She started to rub her upper arms feeling a slight coldness in the air.
'Let me get a drink first,' Sno answered raising his hands and snapped his fingers. Asuka jumped off the armrest and stood up stiff.
"…" Shinji said standing behind the couch and looking at her with only his eyes. The male pilot was facing the TV wearing his school clothes from earlier. His eyes slowly turned to Sno.
"Yes sir?"
'I'll have my usual,' he answered in which the Third Child blinked. His eyes moved slowly and saw Asuka stiffened still standing in the same spot.
"Would you care for a drink Miss Souryu?"
"…" she stated blinking and trying to figure out what was going on. Thinking the same way in the vent ducts at NERV, her expression changed to a scowl.
'Whoa-Whoa-Whoa!' Sno commented getting up quickly to be between them. He had his palms up at Asuka.
'There is no need to be like that. You want to know and I will tell you. Just sit down alright?'
"…" she said continuing to scowl at him.
"…" Shinji said continuing to look stoically at her.
"…" Asuka commented slowly moving to the armrest while not taking her eyes off of the male pilot. Sno sighed and started heading around the other side to sit back in the space he was before.
'I guess a drink for me then.'
"Very well," the Third Child said bowing a little. He turned toward the kitchen and walked to it.
'I take it you don't like him that much?'
"He's my rival and a lunatic," she replied never taking her eyes off of him as he entered the kitchen.
'That's good to know,' Sno stated smiling looking at the kitchen doorway. He looked at the TV remote next to him and grabbed it. Turning the TV on, another sports game was on.
'…wha…?' Asuka thought startled from seeing the TV get turned on.
Turning to it, it was a baseball game. She looked back at Sno and saw him look interested in the sport. Hearing movement in the kitchen, she turned back to doorway and saw something flying pass by. It impacted the left wall hard with a loud wet splat. Blood shot out into the kitchen and a little bit into living rom. Her eyes widen with fright.
'So…where do you want me to start with?' Sno asked. He rested his elbows on his knees as a crack of a bat was heard on the TV.
"…h-hey…what's-!?" she whispered then closed her mouth.
The male pilot came out of the kitchen with a small tray. He was spotted lightly with blood on his clothes. The left side of his face had spots as well. There were two drinks on the tray. His expression was impassive but his eye color seemed to shine a little more than normal. He stopped at a distance which covered the view into the kitchen. Extending the tray, his look-alike took both.
"Is there anything else?"
'Nah…how about you scaredy-cat?' he asked popping the top off one glass soda bottle.
"…" Asuka said not understanding and feeling uncomfortable.
She watched him as she slowly shook her head side to side. He bowed and the view of the kitchen opened up. Something from the ceiling had wrapped a thick tentacle around the body that hit the wall. It was Pen-Pen all bloody over. Sounds of rapid sucking and breathing were heard as the penguin's dead body was being pulled up to the ceiling. When Shinji stood straight and covered the view, a loud crunch and blood bursting splat was heard making Asuka jump.
"Are you feeling well Miss Souryu?"
"…wha…wha…what's in there?" she whispered quietly not taking her eyes off of the male pilot. Sno looked at her with a lone raised eyebrow. Shooing Shinji away, he bowed his head and turned around. As he went back into the kitchen, the redhead's eyes widen again seeing no blood anywhere or the strange creature.
'What's in where?' Sno asked.
"…the…kitchen…there was," she whispered and felt a large headache brewing. Closing her eyes and squeezing them, she repeated frantically in her mind that she had to be dreaming.
'Hey Shinji. Bring some aspirin!' Sno shouted turning to the kitchen. Asuka's eyes widened when she heard Pen-Pen talking in the kitchen. Looking up, the male pilot came out with a plate of shishami and a beer that looked cold.
"Here you are sir," Shinji said placing the plate down on the small table for the large bird along with his drink.
"Wark-wark (Thanks!)" Pen-Pen stated with a greedy grin on his face looking at the food.
"Welcome. Is there anything else I can get you?" he asked in a kneel position. Seeing the penguin shake his head, the Third Child bowed his head and stood up. Turning back to the kitchen, he walked toward it as Pen-Pen started eating.
'Anyways, what were you—yeah!' Sno said watching the game. Another loud crack of the bat was heard on the TV along with the audience cheering. 'Come on…come on.'
"…" the Second Child mentioned still feeling lost and confused. Glancing at the TV, she saw the baseball continue flying toward the stands down the middle of the field. Something in her peripheral started moving. Moving her eyes toward it, Pen-Pen was making small motions; however, he looked a little more plumped than normal.
'Almost…yes! Grand Slam! Knocked that sucker out of the park!' Sno exclaimed and made a movement with his arms like swing a bat.
When he swung toward the large bird, Pen-Pen exploded. Asuka covered herself instantly, feeling guts splash everywhere. Suddenly, she felt something flop in her lap. Looking down, the penguin's head was staring up at her with black-red eyes. Its stare felt twisted and menacing. Blood flowing out of its face started turning black. It smelled vile and revolting.
'…A…r…E…y…O…u…C…u…R…i…O…u…S…a…S…k…Q…u…E…s…T…i…O…n…S' the familiar dark voice stated while making the beak's grin stretch wider and wider till skin was being torn.
"…!?" Asuka replied shaking all over and hyperventilating. Shoving the head off of her, she bolted toward the entrance hallway.
'Huh…h-hey! Asuka!?' Sno said setting his drink down and going after her.
"…!?" she said reaching the front door and bent down grabbing her school heels. As she stood up, she saw that the Third Child's backpack and shoes. She didn't remember seeing them when coming in. Not caring, she slammed the apartment door open and ran out. About to head for the elevator, she went for the stairs instead.
'No more! The hell with it! I don't care about that stupid operation or orders! They can throw me in a cell for all I care!' she thought quickly going down the stairs. Reaching the bottom, she quickly placed her shoes on. Opening the door to the lobby, she quickly walked out. There was only one safe place in her mind and she headed towards Hikari's home.
"…?" Pen-Pen said confused when seeing the redhead suddenly bolt out of the apartment.
He jumped from hearing the front door slam open. Shinji came out of kitchen with a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin. The male pilot saw Sno hurrying toward the front door. Turning to Pen-Pen, the large bird looked back and shrugged his small shoulders. Blinking, he set the glass of water and aspirin on the dining table. Heading for the front entrance, Pen-Pen continued eating and drinking his beer. Entering in the hallway to the apartment door, it was wide open.
"…" the male pilot said closing the door softly. Hearing the lock engage, he went back to the living room. Upon turning the corner, Sno was standing in front of him.
'You did something, didn't you,' he said in an accusing tone putting his hands in his pockets.
'I did not sir,' the male pilot thought back stoically.
'Oh yeah? Why did she bolt the hell out of here?'
'I do not know sir.'
'That's bullshit,' Shonj stated from the dining table. Shino and Shoji were sitting in the remaining chairs. Shinzin was still typing away while having a book open.
'Come on you two. You both know that he was nowhere near the fire demon,' Shino stated stretching his arms. 'Besides, crazy boy here was a little gun shy from turning on the TV.'
'I-I'm not gun shy!' Sno stated turning to the adult voice who smirked a little. The silver-eye voice grinned as if he discovered something and closed his laptop. All the books and papers disappeared with the computer. He stood up.
'Let's go,' Shinzin said ignoring the surprised looks on the voices' faces. Shinji looked at him with his same impassive expression. 'Go get her. You can say goodbye to others if you want to.'
'Very well sir,' Shinji thought bowing to him. Ignoring the small arguments from the teenage voices, he went toward Rei's room. Standing in front of it, he knocked quietly. Hearing someone come to the door, he opened it slightly. Rana had a tanto out then made it disappear seeing him. She came to the door and got close.
'I was informed we are departing now.'
'Oh, okay,' she said smiling at him. 'She seems to be okay. Just sleeping.'
'…' he thought blinking a little confused at her. The other voices had been acting odd as well. About to ask Rana a question, he heard a deep chuckle. Feeling the dark clone's head move side to side inside his mind, he bowed internally.
'Very well,' he thought to it and step out of the way. Opening the sliding door quietly, she stepped through. Closing the door, Shinji looked at the First Child who was still unconscious.
"Good day Miss Ayanami," he said quietly and closed the door quietly. Turning around, he saw all the male voices were going into the entrance hallway. Going to Pen-Pen, he had finished his meal and was drinking his beer. Kneeling down on his knees, the penguin turned to him.
"War-wark wark? (Heading out?)"
"Yes sir. Is there anything I can get for you before departing?" he asked.
"Wark wa-wark wark. (No, I'm good. Come back again.)" Pen-Pen said smiling.
"Thank you sir," Shinji said bowing his head a little. "Until we meet again, good day."
Standing up, he and Rana walked to the entrance hallway. The others were already outside while she waited for him. Getting his shoes and backpack on, he opened the door for her. Smiling at him and exiting, he left the apartment as well. He closed the door softly causing the lock mechanism to sound.
Walking on the sidewalk toward his home, Shinji just stared in front of him. Like the evening he was discharged from the Captain's household, both Sno and Shonj were both upset. As the Third Child walked forward with Rana walking beside him, the others were causing destruction and brutality towards pedestrians. However, it was more intense then last time. The difference this time was the voices surrounded him while doing their carnage. Their actions, sounds, and throwing things at him drowned out all the sound around him. Ignoring them, he continued walking taking deep breaths. Even when the voices threw stuff at him, he ignored the sensation of pain and kept walking.
"…" Shinji said stopping at a red light at a crosswalk.
A half an hour walk went by until he stopped at the light. The male voices were manically speaking to him and altering his vision. Sometimes, they would all be talking to him at once. Other times, they would talk consecutively and rapidly. His vision would turn surreal as sturdy structures became like rubber and flopped to the ground. Sometimes, he would see himself sinking into the sidewalk; however, he would eventually slowly rise out of it. Rana tried to block some of the attacks; however, she got pushed into the street when a delivery truck went by. Her body splattered all over the road.
"…" he said looking back at the light as it turned green.
As he started crossing the street, he reached into his backpack. Getting out his S-DAT player, he placed the ear buds in. Seeing the black tape already inside, he pressed play. The small drums in the cassette slowly turned as the digital screen indicated what track he was on. No audio was playing as he zipped up his backpack and moved it behind him. Stepping onto the sidewalk, a Banshee scream sounded with the sound of a saw buzzing to life. It spun quickly before it whined down a little hearing it cut into something fleshy. The screaming became a high shrill till it started gargling.
"Hey, you alright there?" a stranger asked walking toward the opposite direction. He saw a male teenager with earphones that looked pale.
"Yes, I am sir. I am a little tired," the male pilot said with a nod to the stranger. Seeing him nod back and walk passed him, the teen continued. Despite hearing the torture and reacting to it, he noticed that he could hear sounds around him. The voices were gone and as well as the mayhem they were doing. However, a familiar presence materialized next to him.
'…ahhhhhhhh…MuCh BeTtEr,' the dark clone said to his left walking with him. Glancing over, the black-red eyes looked at him with a murderous smile on his face. Malice emitted from it as Shinji continued to have a stoic face.
'Good evening sir,' he thought nodding to it.
'GGGGGGGGGGGo…ooooo…d…E-V-E-N-I-N-G!' it shouted at him pleased.
Both looked forward and walked. For a half-a mile, the evil voice walked beside him and did not say a word. However, people around them suddenly shivered visibly. One person who was sitting on the sidewalk started muttering about an evil aura with fear in his face. Shinji ignored him and continued walking. A frightened yelp from the soundtrack was heard. Glancing to left, the black-red eyed voice was not there. Stopping and turning around, he found the dark clone swinging a bloody crowbar at the sitting man. Strangely, the man was reacting as if a ghost was attacking him.
"…!" Shinji said startled from hearing the cassette player fast forward. Looking down, his thumb had pressed down on the button. Letting go, the track turned into a brutal beat down. The sounds emitting from the track were mimicking how the dark clone was beating the pedestrian with the crowbar.
A vision went through his eyes seeing a tattered and torn young child with an axe. It was swing the blade down repeatedly on a featureless doctor. Blood was flying through the air as the featureless boy kept swinging. After the last swing, the boy let out a deep monstrous scream that started coating the child black from inside its mouth. The feeling of the black substance felt bone cold, vile, and reeked of death and human waste. The volume kept increasing louder and louder through the ear phones. All the sensations were making Shinji's head throb visibly as all his senses were burning viciously.
"…!" he said breathing hard causing him bend over a little. Closing his eyes, the male pilot concentrated on listening to creepy sounds that were emitting from the audio track. Once feeling composed again, he stood back up. Opening his eyes, he saw the pedestrian running away. Blinking and turning around, the dark clone was standing in front of him closely. He didn't have an alterations as it looked like his identical twin with a black tint to its pale skin.
'…d…O…y…O…u…R…e…M…e…M…b…E…R…?' it asked with a small evil smile.
'Remember?' he thought walking forward. The dark clone walked backwards keeping the same stride and closeness to him.
'MMM-MMM-MMM-MMM-MMM…yyyyyyeeee$# $^ &eeeessssss…the-THE FIRST TURNING…HEHEHE…HAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA…the release of spawning…' it whispered with much pleasure.
'I see,' the male pilot thought still looking at the dark clone with an expressionless face. His stoic emotion seemed to make the other smile more. It was giving him a toothy grin.
'…tell me-TeLl Me-TELL ME!…have you THOUGHT!WONDERED!PONDERED!CONTEMPLATED!BROODED!MUSED!REFLECTED!…o…n…m…y…p…r…o…p…o…s…a…l?' it asked speaking normal, fast, then slowed down.
'…' Shinji thought blinking and continuing to walk forward as it walked backwards. 'I have sir.'
'I KNOW YOU HAVE MY SEED!'it screamed at him viciously while grinning wider. '…curious…CCCCCUUUU #$&RRRIII!( &%^OOOOUUUSSSS…wHaT iS yOuR AnSwEr?'
'My answer doesn't matter sir,' Shinji said impassively as the evil voice gripped his head got nose to nose with him.
Despite how vile his touch was, he didn't cause his body to tremor. Not changing his expression, the dark clone uttered a distorted chuckle. Suddenly, it took its right hand and thrust it through the Third Child's chest and ripped out an organ. The sensation of pain riled through him intensely causing the male pilot to violently shake. Controlling himself, he looked down at what was pulled out.
His heart was in its bloody hand. It was beating normally with all the internal tubes still connected to it. He knew that if internal organs were exposed to air, they would turn red due to oxidation. However, it didn't. More than half of his heart had blackened in pigmentation as it pumped at a little quicker than his usual calm rate. Another body flesh rip was heard as a second heart came into view. It was entirely black and pulsated in slow motion.
'…a…L…m…O…s…T…m…Y…s…E…e…D…' it said slowly while black and red blood pooled all over the sidewalk.
Shinji nodded and looked up. The dark clone was not in front or around him. Looking down again, there was no heart ripped out or blood on the ground. Viewing where he was, there was a park to his right. It would be another mile till he reached the outer city grass fields. Taking a step forward, he noticed someone sitting on one of the park benches alone. Recognizing her, he was about to continue forward when the evil voice hissed at him. Stopping, he turned and headed toward the person sitting.
"..." Rayne commented from not being able to sleep or relax in her apartment. The information that Jack pulled up on the two dead SEELE agents was agitating. All the information they could get was just public information. Anything else was classified or higher in the security ranking.
Earlier in the day when she and her partner got back to the police station, Jack got his hacking team together. They began trying to gain access to one of SEELE's post locations. Only ten minutes went by when the station got a call. Chief Ryu came out of his office and told the hacking team to stop. Jack was about to protest when the chief stated that he got a call from higher ups to end any investigation on SEELE.
"Just like that? We didn't even scratch their surface!" Jack stated in irritation.
"Look, I am not pleased either. I rather find out who we are dealing with than just turning a blind's eye to this," the police chief said.
"Then let me and my team work our magic and come up with some answers," the police officer persuaded.
"Sorry Jack. For your sake and the asses of everyone in this station, do not hack SEELE."
"…all of us would get the can?" Nami asked adjusting her glasses.
"Yeah. The high brass sounded displeased. I'll be meeting with them tomorrow so I can find out anything about this. As for right now, this case with our secret agents will be on the back burner…that goes for you too Rayne," Ryu said turning toward the young female officer who was leaning against a desk. She frowned and looked to the side.
"…this is so frustrating," Rayne said after sighing out loud. Leaning back on the park bench, she looked at the night sky.
'SEELE…it sounds so familiar…?' she thought. Blinking, shallow footsteps were heard walking toward her. Looking to her left, her eyes widened a little seeing the male pilot in his school clothes.
"Good evening Miss Rayne. How are you?" Shinji asked after bowing to her and taking off his ear buds. He pressed the stop button and put the S-DAT player in his backpack.
'…what is going on…that aura from that operation is around him,' she thought feeling her voice trapped in her throat. His eyes were the same murky dark magenta color and his expression was stoic. After several moments of silence and staring, nothing happened.
"Is something the matter Miss Rayne?"
'Doesn't seem like he will change,' she thought breathing a little easier.
"Evening Shinji. I have been better."
"A long day at office so to speak?"
"Y-yeah…it has been an eventful day. What are you doing out and about?"
"I am heading home from a social visit with co-workers," he said blinking.
"That sounds nice," she said then remembered that he put his S-DAT in his backpack. The "Info Gave" project came to her mind then shook her head.
'I do not want to know what caused him to go mad. It is better to not know,' she thought looking at him.
"Is there anything I can do for you Miss Rayne?" he asked calmly. She sat back on the bench and wondered what he would do. He saw her pat the space next to her on the bench.
"If you don't mind…could you keep me company for a little bit?" she asked. She saw him bow slightly. Moving to the space next to her, he sat down and placed his hands on his knees. After glancing at him for a little bit, he glanced at her. Turning to look forward, Rayne looked at the ground. Still feeling the evil aura around them, she started talking.
"Mind if I speak my wondering thoughts?"
"I do not mind. Do you wish for me to add commentary or just listen?" he asked. Rayne glanced at him and gave a small smirk.
"Maybe both."
"Very well," he said with a blink and saw her look forward.
"…you know, there are times in which I kind of wonder of where I came from. I know that I was raised in a neighboring city, but was never told where I was born from. Don't know who my parents or remember much memories of growing up at a very young age," she said looking up to the night.
"I know I was in a foster program. As much as I appreciated the kindness and opportunities it provided, I felt out of place. Even growing up, I felt odd and different from all the other kids. Wasn't the smartest or athletic, just a person that blended with the rest," the young female said clasping her hands together still looking at the sky. She glanced at him and saw him looking at her with his head turned toward her.
"Did you ever get that same feeling of being odd and different?"
"In some respects, more ways than one," Shinji answered calmly.
"Yeah? More ways than one…I thought like that too long time ago," Rayne said with a slight smile at him. She turned toward the grass area of the park that was covered with lights and shadows.
"When I hit puberty…something inside me drastically changed. I don't know what happened, but I seemed to increase: physically, stamina, perception, and agility. At first, it was like a thrill. I thought that I became "super girl". However…that didn't last long. It made me feel even more isolated than before."
"Is that why you went into law enforcement?" he asked calmly.
"Heh…I would be lying to you if I said no way. The force felt like it was a place where I can use my abilities for something. If it helped people, it would make me feel better. To some extent...it does and doesn't," she stated then laughed a little.
"Sorry. I don't say my thoughts out loud much to anyone. I don't know why, but I feel like I can speak them with you."
"You shouldn't apologize Miss Rayne. Almost everyone would like someone to talk to and not fear that their inner thoughts will be rejected or questioned."
"Do you have someone that you can open up to?" she asked curious. She saw him move his head side to side.
"May I ask why?"
"Many of them are in the "Info Gave" group. Their end goal is to provide leverage for a leader…not give comfort," he stated glancing at her seeing her eyes instantly widen.
'He does know...Argh, who cares,' she thought shaking her head and looking at his face with a determined face.
"Look Shinji. I know I am a part of that project group. But believe me, I am not going to do it. I have kept my past away from many people I know. Even to this day, not a lot of them know about my past. It would be hypocritical of me to fish information out of you when you are kind of like me."
"…" he said blinking and not changing his expression. She kept her determined look. However, she slowly felt more uneasy as the demented and twisted aura continued to be around him.
'…hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee…'the evil voice stated hovering around the bench slowly and continuously. Shinji blinked again and turned forward. The dark clone stopped in front of him and grinned inhumanly wide.
"Very well," he said looking at him in which the evil voice began giggling uncontrollably.
"…!" Rayne said smiling at him feeling a sense of gaining his trust. It gave her a surge of relief and energy making her feel back to her old self. She was about to grab his hands, but stopped. Only his eyes moved to look at her from the corners of his eyes. He had an unreadable expression. Also, his eyes were eerily staring at her.
"Is there anything else?" he asked calmly.
'…' she thought remembering that expression. It strangely felt familiar as if she did that before. Shaking her head internally, she pondered about something that was bugging her. It gave her a couple of sleepless nights. She wondered if he already knew about the "Info-Gave" project, maybe he knew something else.
"Hey Shinji?"
"Yes Miss Rayne?"
"Would you happen to know…where I came from?" she asked looking at him. The evil aura around him faded away as well as his murky presence. It made him more approachable as if a dense fog lifted from the air.
"I have not seen files regarding you in NERVs main databank."
"I see," she said feeling a little disappointed.
She was unaware of the maniacal laughter that was raging in the male pilot's head. The dark clone was bashing it's head on a hallway door that was bleeding. Shouting between its fits of diabolical mirth, it said small bits of information. They were regarding about the young officer. The dark clone turned around and around in circles with a bloody face as it laughed evilly at everything around it. Shinji continued to hear the voice in his ears as its cackling and blood splattering bangs echoed and overlapped in his mind.
"There were linked files of you to another government organization Miss Rayne. Its name is SEELE."
"W-What?!" she replied looking surprised and shocked. She scooted right next to him and looked him face to face.
"Tell me! What did the files say?"
"Just that you were born and raised in one of their facilities. Anything else, would be in SEELE's databank," Shinji said not flinching from her getting so close. His limbs started to have the shakes.
"…born…raised?" she said in a quiet tone looking at the pilot with wide lost eyes. Blinking, she grabbed his shoulders and shook him.
"Tell me where!? Where is the facility?! Did it say who my parents were?! When did you know about these things?!" Rayne demanded. Pushing him down to the bench, she mounted him to pin him.
"Tell me Shinji! Please tell me!" she asked feeling water filling up in her eyes.
"I know you have schizophrenia. I know you have a fear of being touch…but…but if what you said was a lie…I'll never forgive you!" Rayne stated with her face in front of his. His expression never changed as she looked at it. No fear, no coy vibe, no comfort, just a neutral, cold, and dead look he always gave.
"Do you wish to go to the place you were born from Miss Rayne?" he said calmly looking at her with shaking limbs. She looked at him with wild wonder.
"…It…still exists?"
"Yes."
"You can take me there?"
"Yes."
"Yes! Please take me there!"
"Very well," he said closing his eyes. "We should make an arrangement to do that later."
"Oh…o-okay," she said then looked at him shaking hard all over. She could feel his muscle spasms from her position on him.
"S-sorry," she said quietly and quickly got off him. She saw him struggle to sit up. Once sitting straight again, he interlocked his hands and breathed deeply. Watching him calm down, his semi-violent tremors faded away to just mild flinches.
"Is there anything else I can do for Miss Rayne?" Shinji asked with his eyes still closed.
"No. I think you helped me a lot today," she said standing up. Watching him, he slowly stood up as well. The male pilot slowly turned to face her and bowed. His eyes were still closed.
"Very well. I hope you can get some sleep. Good night Miss Rayne," he said standing up and opening her eyes. Rayne was going to embrace him as thanks when she froze stiff and stared at him with fear.
"…!?" she said seeing his eyes.
He walked passed her and continued. Thinking about what she saw, she felt herself shiver all over. Glancing slowly back, the male pilot didn't look back as he turned on the sidewalk. His face became lost in the shadows of lights. Despite that, she could have sworn a small red sphere was staring at her of where his right eye was.