Chapter 64: Internal Merging
The following day in a remote sandy place, numerous amounts of gravestones littered the land. Known to be one of the largest, a good number of people have been buried since Neo-Tokyo was formed. It also held false graves for ones that never had a body to bury. In an isolated portion of the grave site, there was one that was a bit particular. it was one of several gravestones that was a bit more decorative and bigger than the others.
Walking from a distance, a man in dark clothes and red shades was heading into the gravesite. In his hand was a bouquet of yellow flowers. Reaching a decorative gravestone and stopping in front of it, Gendo looked down. Adjusting his glasses, he bends down and puts the flowers in front of the tombstone. Standing up, he puts his right hand in his pocket and stares at the name on it.
"All is going to plan…we will be together again Yui," Gendo stated with a softer expression on his face. His calmed mood was altered when an intense icy chill went down his spine. Thinking it was the older version of the Third Child, it didn't feel the same.
"W-W-W-W-WWWWWWWWwwwwwwwwwwwwHHHHHhhhhhYYYYYyyyyyy $%^$ThAnKyOu-YoU-YOU!#& ^$…d…e…a…r," a dark voice whispered at him. It sounded like a blend of a woman and a boy.
"…" the Commander stated scanning around him. He didn't see anything expect sand, gravestones, and the flowers below him. The wind howled in the background as the sun above made the area warm. Not seeing anything, he ignored it and looked back at the tombstone.
"…t…e…l…l…m…e…TeLl Me-tElLmE #^$&TELLME!TELLME!" it shouted at him.
"…!?" Gendo said startled by the rapid intensity of malice behind the words.
"BeCoMiNg-g-g-g-g…aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…FALSE!FALSE!FFFAAAA *^$LLLLLSSSSEEEEE *^$GOD!…Cor-CORR…coooooorrreeeeccccttt…t-h-e-Th-THE-t-t-t-t-t-t-ttttttttttttttttttt…P…a…S…t?" the corrupted voice said in different voices, volumes, and speeds with static interference.
'This isn't the normal one,' Gendo thought feeling his insides tighten a bit. The voice was eerily different. It didn't have the usual zany, crude, and sarcastic atmosphere. Instead, it emitted a much strong intensity of morbid persona and insanity. Feeling irritated again from not having control over the Third Child, he still didn't see where he was speaking from.
"Watch your tone Third Child. I will not tolerate this as your superior," Gendo said in a cold voice. Something soft sounded until it increased in volume quickly. It was repeating itself over and over again getting faster and deeper in pitch.
"SuPeRiOr YoU sAy#$ *^$BUYOUARENOTHINGMORETHANDIRT!"
"sUpErIoR…y…o…u…sssaaaayyyy…BUTYOUARENOTHINGMORETHANAWORM!"
"SUPeR&$^*#$*YOUSAY…BuTyOuArE-aRe-A...R...E...NOTHIGMORETHANASLUG!"
"SUP-super-ERIIiiiiOr-yOuSaY…b…u…t…*$%$YOU#^# hheeeeeeee # !"
"YOU"
"ARE!"
"NOTHING!"
"MORE!"
"THAN!"
"A!"
"MAGGOT!"
"SILENCE!" Gendo shouted pulling out his firearm and taking deep breathes.
The reverberation he felt from its monstrous screaming rattled his insides. Feeling something below him, he quickly pointed the handgun down. Nothing was below him except sand, the bouquet, and the large gravestone. Blinking, he noticed something different about the flowers. About half of the bouquet of yellow roses had black tips. The dark color started to spread down their petals slowly until it turned black. The mixture of flowers became yellow and black and gave an off putting aura.
"…" Gendo said hearing a murderously fading giggle ring in his ears.
Scanning around him, there was still no one near him. Despite seeing nothing, the presence of something lurking around him was unnervingly close by. Seeing something in the air, the Commander took his sights off the immediate surroundings. A VTOL was flying over and started descending down to his location outside of the gravesite. Blinking and putting his firearm away in his inner coat, he turned back to the gravestone.
"…!?" he said with slight raised eyebrows.
The uncanny atmosphere vanished and the flowers were all yellow again. Setting his face back to being emotionless and cold, he straightened himself and adjusted his glasses. Turning to the VTOL, he started walking toward it with one hand in his pocket. Wondering if that eerie aura would spring up again, Gendo glanced from side to side; however, it didn't appeared again. Deciding to ignore it, he continued to the aircraft. Reaching the side door facing him, it opened and revealed the First Child sitting in the main passenger bay. Getting in and sitting relatively next to her, the side door closes.
"…" Rei said hearing the VTOL starting to lift up vertically. Glancing at the Commander, she noticed that he seemed a bit tense.
"…" Gendo said looking out the window. He glanced at the gravesite and the general area of where the gravestone he was at. The flowers were still there and nothing stirred. Looking away from the window and crossing his arms over his chest, he gazed at the opposite wall of the aircraft.
"How is school going?" he asked after a brief period of silence between them.
"It is going alright," Ayanami answered. She turned her head to look at the cabin floor they were in.
"That is good."
"…did…something happen Commander?" she asked glancing back at him still seeing him tense.
"No," he replied without breaking his demeanor.
Both blinked when they heard something. It was a slight squeaking, scratching sound. It was emitting from the passenger bay they were in. Looking at the adjacent wall to Gendo's right, something was being etched onto the metal side door. A word was crudely written.
LIAR
"…" Gendo spoke narrowing his eyes at it.
'…this…this feels like…' the First Child thought feeling goosebumps rip through her. Both blinked then saw the entire floor, walls, and ceiling were covered in etched words that repeated over and over.
LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER LIAR PERJURER FABLER MAILGNER DECEIVER
Her eyes widened a bit from seeing the words everywhere. What made the hair on the back of her neck stand was recognizing the familiar aura and atmosphere. Keeping an emotionless face and her limbs stiff, she slowly glanced at Gendo. His expression was stoic though he looked tenser than before. She couldn't tell if it was apprehension or irritation.
"…you see them Rei?" he said carefully not moving as he continued to ignore what was around him.
"Yes," she responded quietly. Both blinked again and the words were gone along with the presence. Rei heard him sigh through his nose and looked out the window again. Looking out the window near her left side, she started to ponder.
'From what I have researched, there is no medical history of Ikari's family developing the mental disorder…the probability of contracting it is low when there is no family heredity of it.'
'If that is so, what would cause Ikari to create such a mental disorder? Why does it infect others in close proximity when that is not possible?'
'What are the personas suppose to represent? Moreover, why does one emit such a distorted sense of reality?'
'Is it something other than a persona in Ikari's mind or soul?' she thought to herself blinking. 'That might be plausible.'
'I have heard people mention about battling their own inner demons. In religion, scripts state about people becoming possessed by demons…if Ikari was possessed by a demon, would it explain the projection of his mental disorder outside of his mind?' she thought when a soft snort was heard in her head.
'No…there is no such concept or that concept inside the lilim,' her second self responded amused.
'If a demon is not correct…is an Angel the correct term?'
'Silly child, there is no Angel that is twisted, tainted, and torn. We are complete and sound in our being and purpose.'
'…' Ayanami thought blinking and tilting her head. 'If Ikari has neither, then what is it?'
'Knowing is of no importance to us. Stay away from that lilim,' her second self responded sternly.
'It is important,' Rei stated back sternly moving her head back straight. 'Tell me.'
'You can do nothing. Your amusing attempt to contact failed. Every attempt you do will end the same. We have only one purpose. There is no need to concern yourself with others.'
"…" the female pilot said clenching her teeth together and looking coldly at the window.
"Something the matter Rei?" Gendo asked seeing her window reflection. Her face looked unfriendly.
"No," she replied neutrally but didn't turn toward him.
The VTOL went over Neo-Tokyo a bit then started descending to a helicopter pad. It was relatively nearby the school and Rei exited the aircraft. Moving out of the way and seeing the VTOL lift off, she turned and headed toward the school. Still lost in her thoughts while caring her school bag, the First Child entered the school grounds. She didn't care that she missed 1st and 2nd period as she went to administration first before going to her homeroom.
Later on the day after school ended, the students in the Eva pilots' homeroom did the last routine of bowing. As people were heading toward the exit, Hikari looked over to see Ayanami still looking out the window. Looking back in her school bag, she was about to reach for the box inside when Asuka came up to her desk.
"Hurry up Hikari. Let's go before I do that blind date," the redhead said seeing the Class Rep turn toward her.
"S-Sure," she said with a small smile and standing up. "I have to talk Ayanami about a couple of things regarding missing class and after school cleaning. Could you wait from me outside for a minute or two?"
"Oh, alright," the Second Child stated with a smirk. "Don't expect her to care much."
"R-right," Horaki stated watching her friend head toward the classroom door. Picking up school bag and seeing the box again, she looked back at the other Eva pilot. Rei had turned back to her desk and started putting her things away. Heading over, she saw the blue-hair teen blinked and looked up at her.
"Hi Ayanami. I wanted to let you know that you have cleaning duty today," the Class Rep stated in which the First Child nodded.
"You also missed 1st and 2nd period. How come?"
"NERV related business," the First Child said with stoic expression. Putting her things away and closing her bag, Rei set it aside and stood up. About to move, she noticed that the Class Rep seemed to have more to say.
"Yes?"
"Oh…um," Hikari said moving her school bag behind her. "Would…you happen to know how Ikari is doing?"
"…" Ayanami said blinking and tilting her head. "Why do you want to know?"
"Well…though he is suspended, he hasn't turned in any of the assignments that were due last week or this week. He has one more week left before coming back…I tried asking Asuka about how he is…she says he is doing fine and spends a lot of time at NERV."
"…" the First Child said keeping a neutral expression. "The requirements and necessary aspects of being an Eva pilot are first before anything else…is that an issue?"
"No-no," Hikari said shaking her head. "I understand that…it is just…Asuka won't go anywhere else in explaining. If he is doing secret stuff, then I know I have no right to know…just was wondering if he really is okay."
"…" Rei said feeling her eyes narrow a little thinking about what she said. She immediately blinked seeing the Class Rep hold up her hands.
"I-I'm just asking as a Class Rep and fellow classmate. Nothing more."
"…" Ayanami said feeling her eyes relax and her head tilt back straight. Thinking about what the freckled student was asking and what information needed to stay a secret, the First Child decided to answer.
"As Pilot Souryu has stated, he is doing…fine. With the suspension, NERV is trying new tests and procedures for Eva piloting…with him as the test pilot," she said feeling ambivalent from giving the answer.
"Okay," Hikari said feeling a little relieved and giving the Eva pilot a small smile. "At least I know Asuka was not brushing me off. Thank you Ayanami."
"…" Rei said with a nod. Starting to turn around to go get the cleaning supplies, the Class Rep stopped her again.
"Wait a minute Ayanami," Hikari said.
"…?" Ayanami said watching the female student bring her school bag forward and put it on a desk. Reaching in, she pulled out a small box. It was about as large or more than a pencil case. It was wrapped and had a small label of who it was addressed to.
"Could you give this to Ikari?" she asked holding out the small box to the female pilot.
"…what is it?" Rei asked looking at it and blinking.
"It is a get-well box from me, Suzuhara, and Aida."
"…a get-well box?"
"Yeah. The three of us felt a bit bad for Ikari to be out for this long. So, we all pitched in to get some stuff for him. Just a little something from us to hopefully brighten his day a little."
"…" the First Child said staring at the box and not knowing this form of gesture. She looked up at the Class Rep and felt her head slowly nod before thinking.
"T-Thanks Ayanami," Hikari said with a smile. Bowing a little, she handed the pilot the get-well box. Rei gently grabbed it and blinked.
"Hey Hikari," Asuka called from outside.
"I'm coming!" the Class Rep said turning her head toward the door to answer. Looking back at the First Child, she placed her school bag back to her side and gave a small wave.
"See you tomorrow Ayanami. Thank you again," she said quickly heading toward the classroom door.
"…" Rei said watching the freckled student exiting. Meeting up with the Second Child, both descended the stairs and were out of sight. Turning back to the small box in her hands, she stared at it a little before picking up her school bag. Placing both on the teacher's desk, she started the after school cleaning.
While doing her duty, the blue-haired teen from time to time glanced out the classroom window in contemplation. After a period of time, she looked at the get well box wondering what it signified and the gesture of giving it was supposed to mean. Replaying what the Class Rep told her over and over, Rei slowly felt compelled to make one for the male pilot as well. After finishing with the cleaning and putting the supplies away, she placed the small box in her bag and leaves with it.
'Where do I go to get a get-well box?' Rei thought walking down the sidewalk lost in the thought. 'What items go into it? How many things do I need to get?'
Continuing to wonder, she thought about who to ask. Thinking about the people she felt she could ask from NERV, each one of them had a deterrent attribute. After a while, she found herself passing the convenience store that Misato goes to. She had on a few occasions gone to it to pick up essentials that the Major ordered a necessity for her gender. Thinking about the workers inside, she turns toward the convenience store. Entering, she was immediately addressed from the employee behind the counter.
"Afternoon and welcome," the young female clerk stated with a small bow. Standing up, she recognized the peculiar looking female student.
"Hi there. Doing the usual shopping today?"
"…" Ayanami answered. Turning toward the employee, she walked up to the counter.
"I am seeking to create a get-well box. I have never made one."
"Well that is nice. Who is it for?"
"A co-worker."
"…emmm…you mean like another student?"
"He is that as well."
"Oh," the clerk said smiling. "Is he your boyfriend?"
"…" Rei blinked a couple of times processing the statement. Despite shaking her head slowly, the statement made her feel different.
"I see. So something neutral, right?"
"Yes."
"Sure! Let's make one," the employee said smiling which made the female pilot's anxiety go down with a sense of relief.
On the eastern side of Neo-Tokyo, Kaji, Ritsuko, and Misato were attending a colleague's wedding. After the ceremony, the three attended the reception party afterwards. They watched the bride and the groom cut the cake, speakers come up and talk, and other things going on. They sat at their own table with drinks.
"Seems almost everyone we knew is already married," Misato said holding her head up. Both her arms were prompt on the table.
"Yeah. Another colleague got married last year too," Kaji mentioned and took a sip of his drink.
"It seems something happens when turning 30 and still not married," the Major commented leaning back and taking a drink of her glass. "Almost like they don't want to miss out on something."
"Overall, still the same mentality students had back in school," Ritsuko stated getting up.
"You heading home?" Misato asked.
"Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury. On top of my regular research duties, I have been placed as someone's personal doctor."
"Awwww…bummer," the lavender haired woman said pouting. "You are leaving me with him?"
"I can behave," Kaji replied with a smirk.
"Sounds good enough to me," Ritsuko said with a small smirk. Giving a small wave, she left the two and headed back to NERV.
In the evening, the Major's apartment was quiet and still. Pen-Pen was sleeping inside his small refrigerator. Footsteps were heard coming up to the front door followed by an electronic swipe. The door unlocked and opened.
"I'm home," Asuka stated in her yellow sundress, black choker, and red heels. Entering the apartment, she looked down at the floor area seeing that no one was home. Going to her room, she changed out of her dress and into her comfortable home clothes. Going to the kitchen, she got herself a drink and snacks.
"Since it is just me here in the apartment, I can do whatever I want!" she said. Walking to the coffee table, she put the items in her hands down on it. Lounging on the couch and turning on the TV, she felt relaxed. Opening a bag of snacks, she started changing channels till something stroke her interest. Finding a rerun of a show's episode, she watched it.
"…" Asuka said after some time passed and looked at the clock.
Neither Ayanami or Misato had come home still. She remembered the Major saying about a get together with Kaji and Ritsuko of some college friend's wedding. Not caring much about the First Child and her whereabouts, she went back to watching TV again. Only five minutes went by when boredom started seeping in. Reaching for a pop culture magazine on the table, it occupied herself for a little bit. Finish with going through the reading material, the Second Child laid on her back and stared at the ceiling.
"…" she grunted and sat up. Getting off the couch and heading toward the calendar, she looked at what day it was.
'Scheduled butler service!' the redhead read on the calendar in Misato's hand writing. Looking at it neutrally, the Second Child looked around the apartment. Other than her mess on the coffee table, there were signs that the place was getting a little messy.
"Bah!" the Second Child spoke out loud.
Shaking her head, she turned on her heel and went back to the couch. Sitting down and grabbing the remote, she engaged with changing the channels over and over. Finding the activity boring very quickly, she blinked hearing the apartment phone ring. Getting up and heading toward it, she picked it up.
"Hello?"
[Hey Asuka! How is it going over there?] Misato asked with much background noise. Music and many people murmuring were heard.
"Fine. How is the outing?" the redhead asked hearing the Major sounding a bit buzzed.
[Going good! Wedding was nice and the reception party is going good too. How was the blind date?]
"Eh…so-so."
[Oh well. Happens sometimes. Hey, I'll be coming home a bit late. So you don't have to wait up for me or anything] Misato said.
"…" Asuka said frowning from knowing who was probably sitting next to her. "…kay."
[Alright! See you when I see you! Ciao!] the Major said a bit bubbly. It caused the Second Child to grip the phone tighter. Instead of saying a parting word, she hung up the phone. Continuing to frown at the phone, the Second Child turned around and headed back to the couch.
"…" Asuka replied grunting again. Five minutes went by as she continuously flips through TV channels. Irritation was festering inside of her.
'Damn Misato…probably being all flirty and drunk in front of Kaji,' she thought frowning more and pressing the channel button harder. 'Also…this boredom is driving me mad.'
'But what can I do or go to?' she thought rapidly clicking the remote buttons without concentrating. Not coming up with anything, someone at NERV came to mind. Feeling her balled up frustration pop a little, she immediately stood up.
"God damn it!" the redhead stated loudly and chucked the remote onto the couch. Pen-Pen had woken up a bit from hearing the ringing of the phone earlier. Walking out of his refrigerator, he heard the TV was on followed by a loud voice. Recognizing it and waddling to the doorway to the living room, he saw the feisty female stomping to her room.
"…" he said seeing the look on her face as she went out of sight. Moving his beak down a bit, he lifted his right fin to rub under it.
'Hmm…backup?' the penguin thought then shook his head. '…no…she'd have to go to the dump spot for that…must be one of those human female issues that my owner says from time to time. That must be it.'
Looking up, he blinked in surprise from seeing the redhead teen back out in a yellow sundress with spaghetti straps. Blinking and watching her go toward the front door, he followed at a distance. Peering around the corner, he grimaced at what she was doing. Seeing Asuka put on those painful looking skinny open red shoes made his feet hurt.
"Oh…hey Pen-Pen," she said finishing putting one heel on and getting the next one on. "I'm heading to NERV and won't be back for a bit. You need food or something?"
"…" he said shaking his head side to side a little. Seeing her ready and standing up straight, she opened the front door.
"Alright. See ya," Asuka said leaving and closing the door behind her.
"…" Pen-Pen said waving a fin a little.
Wondering where everyone was, he went to his owner's room. Seeing no one there, he went toward the albino girl's room. Finding she wasn't there, he was alone. Heading toward the kitchen and getting the larger refrigerator door open, he grabbed a beer can. Waddling back to the living room, he set the beer can near the coffee table. Moving his small stepping block to the couch, he grabbed his beer and climbed onto the couch.
Sitting on the middle cushion and having the beer can next to him, he grabbed the remote. Flipping through the channels, he found the one he wanted. Hearing the narrator speaking, he set the remote aside. Immediately, the scenery changed to view something more animalistic.
'Mmm-hmm,' Pen-Pen said cracking open his beer with his beak. Hearing the fizz sound and smelling the aroma of the alcohol, he took a swig. Exhaling a sigh and pleased with the taste, he looked back at the TV with a smug.
'That's right…you bad…you a bad, naughty birdie…show me those feathers…'
At the NERV hospital, Shinji lied motionlessly on his bed. Shallowly breathing, any sense of time was lost to him with or without sunlight. His vision was currently only an array of lights. Each of them was illuminating the shadow abyss he was in compared to the crayon world. Overtime, he gained enough sense to know that the array of lights were the other voices. Ever since the dark clone had exploded in front of him, the two worlds would intermix with each other.
Almost like they were fighting for dominance; the voices were overpowering in the shadow abyss while the evil one resonated in the crayon world. Hearing a new sound other than the beeping machines next to him and all the voices random speaking, he turned his head a little. Pins and needles stabbed into his neck in which he just twitched his right eye. Ignoring the pain and the aspect of what was real or not, he opened his eyes slowly. Looking through the face shield, he saw a hollow figure with a spiral cone for a head. Trying to speak, the amount of drugs in him made saying anything monumentally challenging.
[Evening Ikari] Ritsuko said in a contamination suit and helmet. She grabbed the medical clipboard from the end of the bed and moved to his bedside.
[Let me take a look at you.]
"…" the male pilot said seeing the figure levitate and move robotically. It was holding onto a bloody miniature scythe then appeared upside down from the ceiling. Blinking in confusion, he kept still. Thinking about what he could do to communicate, he tried something different.
[Says you have been the same since the increase dosage amount a few days ago] she stated looking through the papers. Only the beeping sounds from the medical machines replied back anything.
[Another sync test is in a couple of days. It will allow you to be conscious again…or when the next Angel attacks for that matter.]
"…" [BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…BEEP]
[…] Ritsuko said looking back to see that his head was still turned to her. Seeing him calmly breathing, she continued looking at the medical clipboard. For some strange reason, she felt like speaking her mind.
[I went to a colleague's wedding today with Misato and Kaji. Seems all of the people we went to college with are getting married. We were talking about how when hitting 30 and not being married yet, gets to people it seems] Dr. Akagi told him. Doing some check marks on the clipboard, she flipped through more pages.
"…" [BEEPBEEP…BEEPBEEP]
[I left early. Misato doesn't know when to say no to alcohol. With Kaji there as well, they will probably rekindle something. Those two have an old flame if you didn't noticed. Can be a bit amusing and irritating to watch] she mentioned. After looking through the papers, she looked at the lying pilot.
"…" [BEEPBEEPBEEP…BEEP]
[Though I would deny it, it is possible that I am jealous or envious. At the rate I am going, I won't be getting anywhere] she stated putting the clipboard back at the end of the bed. Turning toward him, she walked to his bedside on his right. Staring at his mask contraption, she gave a small and sad smile behind her contamination helmet.
"…" [BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP]
[It comes back every so often…that woman part of me. That part that is unsatisfied, frustrated, and deprived. That's why…I keep burying myself…so I can push them aside. Most of the time it works…but now…] the the scientist said then started shaking her head a little. [I wonder why I am telling you this.]
[BEEP]
[Hmm?] she said noticing that all the machines were in synced. She watched and listened how the equipment sounded together, came out of sync, then back.
'That is not normal. That would mean there are abnormality readings in one or two of them. They are supposed to be the opposite of the pulse and heart beats. Unless…' Ritsuko pondered then looked down at him.
[Ikari…are you syncing the machines? If you are, then don't do that. It will cause false readings] she stated. After saying that, she heard the machines going back to their usual beat cycles. However, that gave her a distraction. It allowed her to break away from unloading her problems toward a half-conscious, schizophrenic teenager.
[Ikari. If you hear me, sync the machines again] Ritsuko asked. Slowly, she heard the beeps align themselves again. Grabbing the medical clipboard at the end of the bed again, she marked it down as notes. It felt a little better seeing that the male pilot could at least respond in his current state.
'I wonder if this is a sign of progress,' she thought looking back at him.
"…" Shinji said breathing heavily and slowly.
His mind shifted to overdrive and was making his surroundings and perception haywire. He was straining to make out the faint voices from the white noise that was blaring in his ears. The environment kept changing from the conscious to the two subconscious worlds. It made his vision strobe rapidly to see bits and pieces of the realms. At the same time, he would be thrown into a dark abyss.
Once back in that place, everything around him felt wet, fleshy, pulsating, and reek of blood. It then change to the crayon world, back to reality, back to the abyss with array of lights, to reality, and so on. Still looking in the same direction to the right, the hollow figure moved to different positions and places around the bed at random. Slowly blinking, his eyes widen a little seeing it hovering over him.
From the rapid splicing of images and environments, dirty syringes were merging out of its spiral cone head. Blinking again a little faster, the needles were descending closer and closer to his face. Hearing it make short metal squeaks and bending sounds, he heard his heartbeat pounding in his head. Feeling trapped, he felt his forehead starting to drip with sweat.
[Don't overwork yourself] she spoke quietly using a small towel to dab off the sweat on his forehead. Seeing his body look tense and trying to contort itself, Ritsuko moved her hand out of the way. Looking down at him, she gently placed a hand on his right shoulder.
[You are safe here Ikari-]
'…how-HOW-doEEEEEESSsss it# *%$^f…e…e…l-FEEL $**^#MY(!$&^$SEED!' the dark voice deeply chuckled seeing all the soiled syringes from the hollow figure puncture Shinji's right shoulder. It quivered and moaned from feeling the rusty and contaminated needles burn and infest the area with an acidic solution.
[I will see you later] she stated. Taking her hand away and standing up, she turned toward the exit. She failed to hear the internal gurgling sounds emitting from the male pilot. Able to withstand the nausea, he had to keep swallowing down the bile that would shoot up into his mouth.
'We-wE-WE…WE! WE!…hAvE…SUUUuuucccCCChhh-aBeAuTiFuL…c…o…n…n…e…c…t…i…o…n…M…y…S…e…E…d' the dark clone commented in Shinji's mind as all of its mouths were vomiting. Fading away to nothing, the Third Child slowly turned his head back to stare at the ceiling. His environment stopped jumping as rapidly; however, it started swirling with black and red. The place were the syringes punctured were making his skin grow out rapidly and grotesquely.
Entering the staging area, Ritsuko started removing the contamination suit and helmet. Once out of it and putting it on the hanger, she thought she heard sounds from outside. Looking back at the male pilot, the machines hooked up to him were reading everything normal and beeping correctly. Hearing the sound again, she opened the door.
"…" the scientist said.
Looking outside, she saw no one while closing the door behind her. Blinking and looking down both directions, there wasn't anyone around. Still feeling a suspicion, she headed down the hallway to leave the quarantine area. Remembering when she stayed too long, she didn't want to have a repeat. Passing through the clear heavy blinds, the faux blonde felt a little bit better.
In the hospital room that used to be occupied by Rayne, its door opened slowly. The person behind it exited and closed the door once in the hallway. Checking to make sure the coast was clear, the individual headed toward the quarantine area. Passing through the clear drapes, the only sound that echoed was from heels clicking on the floor. Reaching to the door and checking the surroundings again, there was no one around.
"…" the Second Child said staring hospital door that had quarantine labeled on it. Frowning at herself from feeling apprehension growing, she shook her head. She straightened out her sundress and checked her ribbons. Feeling everything was good and her mindset was stable, she put her hand on the door handle and turned it.