Chapter 62: Lingering Hatred
Appearing again in the conscious seat of the half spherical room, Shinji stood up and walked onto the room's floor. Hysterical laughter and taunting was going on around him.
'…' he said doing a small circle around the large chair and looking around.
The dome's ceiling was not dripping any more as if the blood fillers had hardened. There was a musty smell of something similar to mold in the air. Despite that scent, there seemed to be a red tint that coated the walls. Looking at them from a standstill, the walls seemed to be in constant flow. There weren't segments moving; it was as if the walls themselves had flows in various directions. Sometimes appearing as just waves of water movement, others were the shape of tentacles.
In different areas of the large room, all of his voices were starting to take form. They appeared in their own human forms with various expressions and eyes. Shino and Shoji were distracted with the interior change and scratching their heads. Sno and Shonj were looking at Shinji with distain still not forgiving him for allowing their interests to be out of their reach. Shinzin was also looking around the dome room with narrow eyes and suspicion. Rana had curled into a ball and was rocking back and forth near a wall.
'…?' Shinji said seeing her behavior and tilting his head a little.
About to walk over to her, the sound of double doors opening drew everyone's attention. All the voices blended into the shadows and haze around in the room. Shinji heard the doors close and barefoot steps walk in his direction. Turning around and looking at the silhouette, it started to take form then be filled in with details. Continuing toward him, the male pilot saw the soul that was trapped in Eva-00. He bowed and ignored how the individual was bare.
'Greetings Dr. Akagi. How are you today?' he said making the woman fault her step and stop. Blinking and looking around, she saw that she had a body and could feel her senses working.
'…so…you are Shinji Ikari,' the scientist said with a small smile. 'You have grown the last time I saw you. I seem to look fine. Wouldn't you say so?'
'Yes,' the male pilot said with a nod and a blink. 'You look well.'
'What is this place? Your subconscious?' she asked and saw him look deep in thought.
'I am not positive if it is or isn't Dr. Akagi.'
'Interesting,' Naoko stated and looked around. As fascinated as she was, she could feel that the current environment was hostile. From time to time, there would be glimpses of figures in the surrounding background. There was another set of double doors on the other side of the room. Oddly though, a vile and malicious presence resonated from it. Looking down at the Third Child, he blinked with a stoic face at her.
'Can I offer you anything Dr. Akagi?'
'Your mind seems very unsettled.'
'It is.'
'Could it be that you have pent up emotions towards someone or something?"
'I have been diagnosed mentally unstable for many years. Unfortunately, I am a schizophrenic after the recent Angel battle.'
'You are?!' Naoko asked in surprise. 'How are you able to function and pilot the Eva?'
'It seems the other Dr. Akagi was able to create a solution with the LCL liquid to inhibit my schizophrenic symptoms.'
'The other Dr. Akagi…you mean Ritsuko?' she asked and saw him nod his head. The thought of her daughter still following in her footsteps made her smile.
'Hopefully she hasn't fallen in the same mistakes that I did,' she pondered. Looking back at the Third Child, his resemblance of the Commander was seen; however, there was something different.
'Tell me, how is the Commander doing?'
'For what I know, he seems fine,' he answered stoically.
'…' the scientist said with a smirk and started walking closer to him. 'Is that so?'
'…' Shinji said staying in the same place and blinking.
'Don't you want to know...' she asked stopping in front of him. He was shorter only coming up to her chin. The aspect that he was calm despite her being naked was amusing. Naoko didn't care at the moment if she invaded his personal space.
'...what your father's true plans are?'
'True plans Dr. Akagi?' he asked tilting his head up to see her face. He locked eyes with hers instead of the doctor's ample bosom that was close and in front of him.
'Yes…I can tell you if you can do something for me,' she asked cupping the teen's face with her hands. A warm shudder went through her from the sensation of feeling another person. Not only that, someone that she still had a longing for.
'What do you say?' Naoko asked brushing her hand a little on his cheek still feeling the rush and sensation of skin contact.
'…' Shinji said seeing his vision glitch back and forth. It changed between the older Dr. Akagi and the faceless female adult sister from the past. He could hear the male voices were slowly getting closer to them. Blinking and refocusing the image to be the scientist, he chose his words slowly.
'…I am…listening Dr. Akagi,' he stated ignoring the feeling of the spirit's hands on his face. Trepidation went through his spine making him feel on edge. Keeping his face expression the same and controlling his body shakes, two things were seen. The female soul was getting closer to his face. Also, the male voices were slowly materializing themselves and walking toward them.
'It is nothing much…I have been captive here for so long…I just want to know the feeling of being alive again…you can understand that,' Naoko whispered. She leaned toward his face to be a few inches away.
'…' Shinji replied. He comprehended little as he didn't know how to make someone feel alive again when they were physically dead. Nodding his head slowly, the spirit was closing the gap between their lips. Just before contact, a sound echoed.
'…' the scientist stopped and blinked. Though their lips were almost touching, there were multiple sounds going around them.
'…do it…'
'…do it…'
'…do it…'
'…do it…'
'…do it…'
'Who are they?' Naoko thought with narrow eyes.
She was hearing multiple whispers from the shadows. They sounded like they were chuckling at them mischievously. Strangely, there were five silhouettes forming around them. Slowly, they began forming in more detail. Almost seeing the figures, a shiver went down her spine.
'…!?' she stated shocked. Feeling something menacing lurking behind her, it caused her to straighten up and stiffen. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she saw that he was still stoically staring at her.
'Who…who is there?' she asked quietly to him.
'A voice Dr. Akagi.'
'What kind?'
'…D#$$R&A^#$K^ &$^A*%^$G$%&I…' a voice whispered in morbid distortion.
'…!?' she said flinching.
Keeping Shinji close to her, she felt apprehension grow inside her. Surprised by the sensations of fear, she was equally confused. The double doors that she came out from was supposed to be behind her. Looking at the other set across the room, it had the aura of the Eva captor. Hearing the doors behind her creek loudly, the presence started becoming more vile and vicious.
'Dr. Akagi,' the male pilot asked quietly seeing goosebumps litter her body. 'Are you feeling well?'
'…' Naoko said blinking.
Feeling the presence behind her getting closer, she walked around him. Her grip on his shoulders instantly tightened and pulled him to her. Surprise and fear was written on her face as she looked at who was in front of them. It was a black-red eye clone of the Third Child. It was grinning with his teeth showing at them. The aura radiating from the double reeked of malicious and dark intent that was intoxicating.
'Nnnnooooottttt…o…N…l…Y-OnLyAdOcToR…but-BuT-bUt-BUTANOLDERONE!' it said in a deranged voice. Tentacles started flowing into the half-sphere room from the double doors. Seeing her shake with fright, its smile was stretching wider.
'doub% &$le the mem! *^$#ories…dOuBlE-tHe-SeNsAtAtIoNs!-DOUBLETHESATISFACTION! ANEWLEVELOFSHATTERING!' the evil voice screeched at them loudly.
'…!?' the scientist stated with an open mouth in shock and terror.
Pulling the male pilot back to put distance away from the dark clone, Naoko heard sounds of dragging feet behind her. The aura that it gave was dreadful and had a killing intent. It seemed to be directing toward her and the dark clone. The invading black and red tentacles started to crawl all over him. Turning slowly with cold sweat dripping down her body, there was a female teen standing to her right. It looked like his twin.
'I…will…not…let…you…do…it,' Rana whispered in a haunting voice.
Her eyes were wide open starting at Dr. Akagi with an icy and hostile appearance. Out of fearful reflex from the chaotic environment and voices in the male pilot's head, she embraced the male pilot and held him tighter. The twisted voice narrowed its eyes pleased while the female voice twitched her eyes in irritation. The five figures from before suddenly materialized all around them.
'…YoUaReAlLhErE…YeSyEs…YES!YES!YES! Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Yyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeee-HAHAHAHAHA $^$*$%^#$,' the morbid clone spoke in different pitches then threw his head back. Letting out a low decibel rumbling sound, all the tentacles crawling over him and the double doors shot out everywhere in the room. Throwing everyone off guard, Naoko fell to the ground pulling Shinji with her.
'IKARI!? WHAT IS HAPPENING!?' she asked in paranoia and terror.
The appendages were whipping all around in the room causing a mayhem. Red and black blood splashed everywhere inside. The demented voice hysterically giggled, cackled loudly, and screamed monstrously at the same time. Her lips started quivering seeing it take out a sharp kitchen knife from its body and started frantically itself. Its inhumanly wide grin stretched further causing its facial skin to rip open and bleed black ooze.
[…I…k…a…r…i…!…?] a distant familiar voice sounded in the background.
'…' Naoko said recognizing the voice. Despite seeing that the insane environment become a gore-fest, she felt her vision become micro. An old burning feeling was surfacing. Slowly looking up at the ceiling, a visual of what the Third Child was seeing in the cockpit was there. Another female teenager that resembled another scientist was in view. A loud ping went through her head seeing that person again.
'…no…No…ITS YOU!' Naoko shouted feeling the instant incinerating emotion resurface from seeing her.
'hahaha#$^ ^#GGGGOOOOO$^*& $gahahahaha&$! #^OOOOOODDDDDD*&^$^#fEeLiT!tHeAnGeR!tHeRaGe! &$ ^NNNNEEEESSSSSSS!*$# ^$^ItIsAbSoLuTeDIVINITY!' the dark clone bellowed in a cackling fit of ecstasy and torment.
[…IKARI!?…] another familiar voice shouted in the distant background.
'…' Shinji said feeling very sick and shaking all over. His vision started swirling into a whirlpool covered in needles. Each cut, scratch, slash, gorge, and stab brought back nightmarish memories of his past. It continued until every aspect of his viewing field was bleeding crimson. Rapid static and glitches came across his vision until blackness started consuming him.
Everything around him was pitch black. Sounds around him were silent as if he was in outer space. There was nothing around him either. No light. No sound. No smell. No taste. No feeling. It reminded him of various times he entered this state where even his voices were gone. After what seemed like time dragging on slowly, he continued levitating with no sense of perception or being.
Despite having a vague sense of still being alive, the concept of a soul floating in a never ending void repeated over and over again. Without warning, a grotesque form of the dark clone materialized in front of him. Its tentacles whipped forward and latched onto his essence. The evil voice's being pulsated feeling its blood course through its numerous morbid appendages. Slowly feeling his being get squeezed, slash marks rained all over the dark clone's form. They opened up and revealed numerous mouths all over its body.
'ITBEGINS!' all of its mouths shouted at the same time giving a distorted dissonant chorus.
'ITBEGINSMYSEED!' the evil voice roared with excitement as blood drooled from each mouth.
'THEPATHOFUTOPIA!' it screamed as the black void opened up to be covered with overlapping black-red eyes. It gave the appearance that both of them were in a sphere of some kind.
'ONESTEPCLOSER!' the dark clone screeched as all the mouths were growing shark teeth. Sounds of skin stretching and flesh folding filled Shinji's ears while seeing red foam flowing out of each mouth. The surroundings eyes squinted at them looking pleased and in pain.
'TOTHEEMBODYMENT!' it raged and exploded its form to bits. Its gore splashed the male teen heavily as the tentacles wrapped around him stuck to him. A crude black line formed down the middle of each eye and opened to reveal sharp thin teeth.
'OFEVERYTHING!' the eyes shrilled to deafening volumes.
It caused everything to shake and vibrate violently as they kept screaming. The Third Child felt his essence rumble in place as the entire environment exploded. When the heavy showering of flesh, body fluids, and mixture of red and black blood faded, a white light started to take over. It continued till it consumed everything along with a sound growing louder quickly.
"…I…k…a…r…i…Ikari…IKARI!…IKARI!"
"…" Shinji said slowly opening his eyes.
Blinking slowly and staring forward, there was a crudely drawn ceiling above him. Feeling around him lethargically, all the constraints were back on him. He was back on a bed with the gas mask contraption with the full body strait jacket. Feeling more able to move around without straining hard, he slowly turned his head to the right a tad. There was a strange object standing nearby.
[aRe…IkArI?…fInAlLy…AwAkE…yOu] the voice stated in broken up speech.
It sounded very familiar as if it was the younger Dr. Akagi. Blinking behind a face cover, the figure was a mash up of primary colors of a kid's crayon drawing. Identifying what it was suppose to resemble was impossible. It didn't look like anything that Shinji recognized or could make out. Every time the object moved, a mixture of voices, volumes, and sentence structures sounded in random fashion.
[…ArE…hOw…PrObAbLy…GeT…dId…WoNdErInG…hErE] it continued to say.
"..." Shinji responded.
Blinking, he turned his head back to the ceiling. He didn't notice the presence that was near the bedside to his left. Looking around with his eyes, nearly everything was in a child's perception of a crayon world. He guessed that the odd looking object was suppose to be a person. Listening to his breath, it sounded deep, airy, and amplified through the gas mask contraption.
'Seems he is only half conscious,' Ritsuko thought to herself seeing that the male pilot was not responding well. Thinking about what happened in the entry plug, she was a bit confused.
'There wasn't a rejection from Eva-00…nor did it go berserk,' she thought glancing at the other person in the room. 'It started acting up when she tried communicating with him through the comm-link.'
After the incident, Ayanami has been at his bedside for a while. Seeing the First Child was becoming more persistent and stubborn about visiting the Third Child, Ritsuko let go of any protocol or directive. Thinking about it more, it made the female pilot give less attention toward the Commander. Noting that the drugs were at the correct levels to keep him in a half-conscious state, she decided to leave.
Getting through the heavy clear curtains to the staging area of the room, Ritsuko removed the contamination suit. Draping it over a coat hanger, she picked up the clipboard she had left on the staging table. Noting the findings from her visit, she left the room leaving Ayanami alone with the male pilot. Opening and closing the door, she saw two people waiting outside.
"How is he Rits?" Misato asked with her arms across her chest.
"Half-awake from the continuous administration of drugs. Somewhat responsive."
"That's a relief. I heard the test didn't end well."
"Of course it would end badly," Asuka said leaning against the wall. "Evas are picky about who pilots them. It is normal for a pilot rejection when it isn't the same pilot."
"You were testing to see if other pilots could operate other Evas?" the Major asked and saw her friend nod.
"Yes. Since both Eva-00 and Eva-01 are considered more of prototypes, there was a possibility of them being able to accept other pilots."
"But mine is different," the redhead stated with a confident smile. "It is the first true Eva built for battling against the Angels. It will only accept me to pilot."
"…" Ritsuko said with a neutral expression then gave a half smirk. "Yes Pilot Souryu. It is as you say."
"Will he be fine?" Misato continued.
"As long as he is kept in his restrains, equipment, and hooked up to the I.V.s, he will be fine for the time being."
"Where did wondergirl go afterwards?" Asuka asked.
"Ayanami? She has been in his hospital room since he was placed back in there," the scientist answered. Both female adults saw the redhead give a small frown, but didn't head toward the door.
"Are you jealous Asuka?" Misato asked with a smirk nudging the teen a little.
"What!? Jealous? Me?" the Second Child said frowning more. "Why do I care what obedient doll face does? It doesn't matter to me that she has a thing for that psycho monster."
"…" both Misato and Ritsuko said with neutral expressions. It caused Asuka to look at both of them and point her finger at them.
"I don't care what happens to the Third Child. At his current state, he is just a vegetable. He is better off locked in an underground lab along with that whoever crazy police girl," she said placing her hands on her hips and lifting her chin up a little.
"I'm the best pilot there is right now. That is just a fact. There is no way that sick freak can do anything useful for us on the battlefield against the Angels."
"…" Misato said feeling her face tighten. Despite how brutal the words the Second Child used against the male pilot, parts of it were not wrong.
"Your point is well taken," Ritsuko said still with a neutral expression. "Hopefully you can pull the weight of your words when the next Angel appears."
"Don't worry, I will," Asuka said with a smug look on her face. "I'll show everyone who is the best!"
"…anyways," Misato said trying to change the subject. "How is the police officer doing?"
"I'm heading to her room now if you wish to see for yourself," the scientist replied. She turned down the hallway and walked to the next hospital room. The Major followed leaving Asuka still standing where she was.
'I'll prove to them I am the best. I'll prove to them that they don't need the Third or the First. All they need is me and no one else,' the Second Child thought looking at the hospital room nearby. Smirking, she walked toward it and opened the door. Entering the staging area, she could see where the patient was laying on the bed. On the bedside to his left was the First Child sitting in a contamination suit. Getting into her stance of dominance and defiance, she pointed at them.
"Listen here you two!" she stated loud enough for them to hear. Asuka saw Ayanami move her head a little. Oddly, Shinji only moved his head to the right a tad. He was still staring at the ceiling. Flinging locks of hair over her shoulders, she placed her hands on her hips.
"I am best pilot NERV has right now. I'll be running the show. I'll be defeating those Angels with or without your help. You two just stay out of my way. Especially you Third. You should give up being an Eva pilot in the shape you are in. You'll only get in my way."
[…] Rei said remaining motionless; however, her hands slowly formed fists from the immediate emotions festered.
[…] Shinji said as he didn't move either and just breathed.
The object that entered from the door was covered in red flames. When it pointed at his direction, its finger rapidly extended and stabbed his cheek. Feeling more awake and a slight burnt sensation on that part of his face, he tried to make out the figure's features. Not seeing any distinct features, the flames continued to burn and crack like a large bonfire. Based on how hot the fire finger was, he figured he would start perspiring a lot if it was closer.
"Knowing you probably just blinked Third, you better understand or else. As for you wondergirl, you are no match for me. Being the Commander's pet and giving psycho idiot pity, only shows that you lack real pilot skills. I'll show everyone that you pale in comparison to an ace pilot like me."
[…] Ayanami said turning her attention back to the male pilot who continued to stare at the ceiling. The irritation and impatience she felt at the redhead were stirring quickly inside of her. However, she didn't act on them or say anything. Only her fists started shaking as the result of the growing emotions.
"Cat got your tongue wondergirl? Ha! I figured you would," Asuka said with a grin. Turning toward the door, she opened it then looked back at them.
"Well, I'm glad we had this understanding. Hope you both know what's good for you and make the correct decisions moving forward. By the time you notice it, I'll have left both of you in the dust of Eva piloting. I'll allow you both to be my friends still because I am that nice. So for now, stay out of my way. Alright? Ciao!"
[…] Shinji said blinking slowly.
In the corner of his eye, he saw the red flaming figure leave the room and close the door. All he heard from it was many crackling and popping sounds. If there were words the object was saying, he wouldn't know. None of his voices were close by to aid him in translation. Moving his head a tad back to the ceiling, icicles were crudely drawn on it.
About to analyze them, something bitterly cold rocked his senses to his left. Looking that way, a blizzard was raging. The entire side wall of the crayon hospital room was ripped off as falling snow and strong winds sounded through. The howling gusts echoed loudly in his ears as he started feeling his body temperature drop a little. Lost in staring and blinking lethargically, there was a figure that faded in nearby. It was covered in a combination of snow, ice, dirt, and a pulsating inner red color. The object held no distinct form. Nothing threatening or good came from it.
Blinking, he saw eye slits being formed where its head was. When they opened, red large pupils were staring at him. They seemed familiar and calming for some strange reason. Thinking it was the evil voice, its infamous aura was nowhere to be seen or felt. The blizzard started raging harder behind the figure. Starting to feel the shivers, he saw his breath escaping the gas mask contraption in small clouds.
In reaction to the shivering, the icy object levitated and appeared to look around. It hovered to some object in the crayon room then came back. Stretching its form over Shinji, a blanket of thick white snow lay on top of him. It sent his body temperature down again. Its eyes blinked horizontally then saw its head moved toward his head. The closer it got, the pilot could see features of the undefined figure. Inches away, both stared at each other neither blinking. If the being was communicating with him, the blizzard was covering up any sounds around them.
"…" Ayanami stated while looking at the gas mask contraption and face cover. With their masks so close, she could barely make out his dark magenta eyes. He was staring at her and blinking a little.
'Since he can communicate a little now…it will make talking to him easier,' she thought not moving and continuing to stare down above him.
'There is…another method to communicate with him,' Rei thought suddenly. The possibility of being able to do something made her feel better.
'YOU WILL NOT DO THAT!' her other self voiced disapproval strongly. About to ask why, she heard her phone ring. Moving quickly and quietly away to the staging area, she removed her helmet and got out her phone. By the time she put the cell to her ear, the Commander was already speaking.
[Rei, report to the Eva cages. I have a mission for you to do.]
"Yes sir," she said and heard the call end.
Looking back to the person on the bed, his head was still in the position of where she was. Hearing his shallow breathing through the face contraption, Rei assumed he was asleep. Taking off the rest of the contamination suit, she placed it on the coat rack with the other one. Patting herself and collecting her items, she looked back at the male pilot. He was still facing the same direction.
"I will be going now Ikari," Ayanami said softly bowing a little and left the hospital room.
In the Commander's dark office, the Commander was sitting at his desk with the Sub-Commander at his side.
"Report," Gendo stated in his usual sitting pose.
"Results from the experiment were mixed but overall favorable," Dr. Akagi stated standing opposite side of the desk. She had a folder of test results and readings from the recent experiment.
"To recap, first test was creating an environment in the entry plug that the Third Child can operate in. After a series of trial and error sessions, we were able to inhibit the pilot's mental illness for more than five minutes on average. Transferring the Third Child to Eva-01 was successful without incident. Synchronization with Eva-01 was successful with a synch ratio of 45% with a +/- 1% variance," she said.
"So the Third Child can pilot Eva-01?"
"Yes sir."
"Continue," he stated not moving out of his sitting pose.
"The First and Third Child were used in the experiment of Eva substitution. Pilot Ayanami was tested in Eva-01 and Pilot Ikari in Eva-00. Both were able to establish synchronization. Start up and shut down procedures with the First Child in Eva-01 went without an issue. Start up procedure with the Third Child in Eva-00 went without an issue; however, shut down procedure was interrupted."
"Did Eva-00 reject Pilot Ikari in the end?" the Sub-Commander asked.
"Negative. During shut down procedure, the Third Child's ratio fluctuated from a range of 30% to 150%. Neural links were disconnected and force shut down was initiated. No issues occurred afterwards."
"What was the cause of the interruption?" the Commander asked watching the doctor open her folder to obtain a certain page.
"Third Child's brain activity was showing signs of more activity from his mental disorder. This was caused when the drug solution stopped being administered in the LCL."
"So, all the pilot needs is a continuous supply of drug solution to pilot?"
"Yes sir."
"Very well. Continue with any further tests on the pilots based on the schedule. You are dismissed."
"Yes sir. Excuse me," the doctor stated with a nod then turned around. When both men saw Ritsuko exit the dark room, they were the only occupants left.
"Keeping the Third Child sedated will eventually wear off over time," Kozo stated.
"As long as he can pilot, he is useful."
"SEELE will have an argument against that."
"Under the grand scheme, the old men will follow the Dead Sea Scrolls regardless of the situation. The discovery and development of the Third Child's usefulness will contradicted their worry. Overall, it doesn't change the scenario," Gendo stated leaning back in his chair.
Both heard the intercom being pressed outside of the room.
[Pilot Ayanami reporting]
"Enter," Gendo stated. The office doors opened then closed. The First Child walked to the desk then stopped. She was in her school uniform and had her usual stoic demeanor.
"You called Commander?"
"Yes. The Lance of Longinus is cargo bay #5. Retrieve it and place it Terminal Dogma. Use Eva-00."
"Understood."
"Good. You are dismissed Rei," he said. Both men saw the teen nod her head and turned around. Walking out of the room, the last sound was of the door closing.
"She has been visiting your son everyday now," the Sub-Commander stated looking at his superior.
"…" Gendo stated going back into his usual sitting pose. "It doesn't affect the scenario."
"Really?"
"She will obey. Measures are in place to fix any defects from the scenario. There is nothing to worry about," he stated then turned his head toward him a little. "By the way…"
"Hmm?"
"You haven't seen him lately, have you?" the Commander asked.
"If you mean the older version of Pilot Ikari, no I haven't. Ever since the last Angel incident, it has been quiet."
"…" he said then scanned the room. Nothing was out of the ordinary. No eerie atmosphere, mocking laughter, lengthy footsteps, gun fire, or silver shine. The lack of getting the routine mental assault made him uneasy as if something was brewing. Until the black S-DAT case is recovered, he still didn't feel in control of the male pilot.
"Indeed."
Reaching cargo bay #5 and retrieving the huge spear, Eva-00 went to a elongated silo drop. It was one of the few that went straight down to the deepest level of the NERV base. Grabbing hold of the lowering mechanism crane hook and connection, Ayanami looked down the silo to see what look like a bottomless drop. As she was being lowered down, she would look at the red spear from time to time.
'Another object that is familiar…but I cannot explain why. The origin of this tool is unknown including its existence. The Commander knows of its use as well as SEELE. Both want to use it for their own purpose,' Rei thought continuing to go down deeper.
After many minutes passing, the lowering mechanism stopped. Letting go of the hook, she lowered Eva-00 to the base floor which was flooded with LCL and stone blocks. In the distance, she saw a large cross with an Angel crucified to it. It was a large, pale white humanoid Angel wearing a mask that was the same symbol of SEELE's logo. Its legs were severed from the waist down. Its wounds never healed as orange liquid flowed slowly down the cross and into the flooded floor.
Standing in front of the behemoth, the pilot raised the spear and inserted it into the chest of the Angel. The creature didn't moan or give a sign of any movement. Orange liquid trickled out and down its body from the new holes made by the Lance of Longinus.
'…' Rei thought turning around and walking back to the lift hook. She ignored her other self that was speaking in her mind clearer than before. It continued its endless persuading of following its path and purpose. Grabbing hold of the hook and its connection, she voiced to be pulled up. Glancing back at the Angel, she felt nothing as her Eva ascended up the silo.