Chapter 92: Reality Test
In the awkward silence, the rest of the striker team came out of the locker rooms. All were standing outside in the hallway as they were trying to not look at the teens in their birthday suits.
"…" Rana said feeling very uncomfortable from all the staring. She walked behind Shinji and tried covering her exposed parts.
"…" Rei responded not foreign to being naked and stared at. However, she was still feeling the sensations from the shower stall. It made her feel exposed and embarrassed. Knowing that covering up at this point was useless, she still walked behind him to give a sense of coverage.
"…" Shinji commented with a blink. Feeling both walk behind him, he did not move. Not caring about his lack of clothes, he lifted his hand to show an open palm.
"Could Miss Ayanami and Miss Rana be excused to put on clothes?" he asked quietly. The lead striker was about to move when he saw the bewildered expression on the Major's face. Stopping, he watched in tension as her arm move. Everyone heard the sound of a pistol being pointed. Everyone turned toward Misato who was aiming her firearm at the Third Child.
"W-Who…who are you?!" she shouted still in shock and trying to grasp what was in front of her.
"Shinji Ikari. Eva pilot of Unit-01," Shinji replied back calmly with a slow blink.
"You…died…h-how…how are you here?!"
"…" he answered by staring. Giving only a slow blink, it made her feel the tension in the air become thicker.
"I came to in the locker room. Other than deducing that I was in that large red flesh sac, I do not know how I am here."
"You expect me to believe that you are Shinji?! How are you not the Angel in disguise?" the Major stated sternly. She felt her nerves were rattled from the aspect that an Angel could disguise itself as a human.
"It is Shinji!" Rana reacted looking at the adult with a frown.
"Yeah?" Misato said cocking the hammer of her pistol. "What exactly are you going to use to prove that? It be best in your and Rei's safety to come over here away from him or whatever it is."
"Major…I believe it is Ikari," Ayanami commented stoically narrowing her eyes at her.
"There is no possible way that is him! Why are you two being so arrogant!?" she shouted with frustration, confusion, and fear. "Why are you blindly allowing yourself to believe it is him!?"
"…" Shinji said with a slow blink feeling his body tingling all over a little.
'cHiCkEn-ch-CH-Chiiiiiiiii#$%#$!AGAMEOFCHICKENMYSEED #$^ #LETMESEE# %$^ &ANDFEEL #$% YOUR# $%# $RECOMPOSEDSELF!' the dark clone uttered in a deep monstrous tone full of excitement and cruelty.
'Very well sir,' the Third Child thought bowing internally.
"Excuse me madams. Could you move towards the wall next to the gentlemen please?"
"…?" Ayanami said with a surprised blink.
"S-Shinji…what are you—"
"I ask you again…please move to the wall," he repeated in his stoic tone while not turning around.
"…" both female teenagers said.
Slowly, they backed up to the wall where the strikers were. Once they were near them, two yellow suits draped hospital gowns over them. Though startled at first, both recomposed themselves. At the same time, they felt very tense about what was going to happen. Everyone watched as the Third Child turned his head to the right past 90 degrees. A loud crack was heard as he stared out of the corner of his eyes at them. It made everyone flinch seeing that his eyes were giving a haunting glow and emitted more murkiness than before.
"…" the male pilot said seeing them at the wall with the strikers.
Blinking slowly at them, Shinji turned his head back. Facing forward toward Misato, she still looked tense, bewildered, and apprehensive. Slowly blinking and feeling the dark clone hissing in excitement, a phantom sensation occurred. It was from his mouth turning into an improbably wide grin came. Ignoring it and slowly walking toward her, the tension in the air increased dramatically.
"Stop!" she ordered loudly. She gripped her pistol again with her eyes widening a little.
"…" the male pilot said stoically and continued walking toward her one step at a time.
"I said stop!" Misato said out loud shooting a bullet on the ground in front of his feet. The pop shot made everyone watching jump except for the male pilot. He didn't even flinch as he remained emotionless and kept walking slowly toward her.
"D-Dr. Akagi! The Major needs to stop!" Maya said with fright and tension.
"Misato," Ritsuko said grimacing hard watching the video. "Is not wrong. There is no possible way that is the Third Child."
"But-but-but," the technician said with her fingers near her mouth looking back at the monitor.
'God damn it,' Ritsuko thought. Standing in her spot of the control room of the Eva cage, her hands clenched into fists feeling helpless. The thought of seeing the Third Child die again was not something she wanted to witness. However based on the chances of the male pilot being the same person or even human was remotely non-existent.
"Shinji!"/"Ikari!" both Rana and Rei shouted with fear and anger.
"The next shot will not be a warning," Misato said feeling her hands tremble.
"Very well," Shinji said calmly as he continued to walk toward her.
'God damn it!' the Major thought clenching her teeth.
Apprehension was building in her and she needed to make a decision. Still not trusting that the person slowly walking toward her was the Third Child, she thought about what characteristics an Angel would need to show. Not able to think fast enough, she decided that she needed to show that she was not kidding around. Looking at his shoulder, she aimed then shot again. The bullet went in and through his right shoulder. Blood shot out in both the impact and exit wound. Momentum from the bullet caused his torso to twist to the right a bit.
'That should-!?' she thought thinking that would stop him. However, it didn't. Everyone watched as he turned his torso back to face the Major. An expressionless face stayed with no register of pain or grimace.
"…" Shinji replied stoically. Proceeding to walk slowly toward her, he gave a slow blink. The blood flowing freely from his shoulder added a level of murkiness and uncomfortable tension in the air.
'…yyyyYYYYEEEeeeesSSssss…continue-ConTinUe-CONTINUE#$ &^ $CONTINUE!' the evil voice said haggardly with lust in its enthusiasm.
"..." both female teens reacted. Anger and fear continued to grow in them from what was happening. Starting to head toward where the male pilot was, they were grabbed from behind. The striker team instantly forced them to the ground and pinned them down with their arms, legs, and body weight.
"LET ME GO! I SAID LET ME GO!" the twin yelled struggling with hatred on her face. A couple of striker members saw her eyes were glowing in a haunting way. It made them even more uncomfortable and doubled their efforts to hold the female twin down.
"Major! Stop! Please stop this!" Ayanami shouted in fear, anger, and shock. The yellow suits that were holding her down were surprised. They didn't think she would have much strength to struggle with her thin frame. Yet, the three that were holding her down had to double their efforts to keep her completely immobilized.
"I-I told y-you…" Misato stammered seeing the male teen continue to walk toward her.
His dark magenta eyes were bothering her given that his face remained expressionless. Taking a step back, they were about a yard a part. Fear had complete control of her now as she imagined his eyes going to go back to the reaper eyes. She felt that some hellish transformation would occur when he came in contact with her. Her firearm was shaking as he continued walking closer. Sweat dripped down her face and back as tears started falling down from her eyes.
'…wHaT's…WrOnG?# $%^ #$^ #…a…f…r…a…i…d?' a demented and distorted voice rang in her head.
Blinking quickly, she saw a dark silhouette slowly appear. It was peering a part of its head from behind the male pilot's head. It had black-red eyes and a large crude mouth that was larger than its head. Too many teeth were placed in its mouth as a butchered and scarred black tongue slithered its way out. Tears started falling from her eyes as she felt her last nerve being struck.
"GOD DAMN IT STAY AWAY!" Misato shouted and fired again. The second bullet made impact as his head pulled left quickly. Blood shot onto the floor as more flowed from the left side of his skull. The bullet impacted with one of the hallway windows as it made a web cracked hole in it
"NOOO!" Rana and Rei screamed looking wild eye in fear, in pain, in anger, and in torture. The mixture of emotions and what they were seeing made them shed tears. Both striker teams felt awful and grimaced from seeing a headshot.
"...!?" Maya gasped loudly and started crying covering her face.
"...god damnit..." Ritsuko muttered. Tears started falling again as her face grimaced badly. The scientist was trying to prevent herself from crying out loud.
As if not missing a beat, everyone heard a barefoot step forward on the cold metal floor. Turning back, the male pilot was now standing in front of the trembling Major. She looked down at him with terror written on her face. He looked up at her with only his eyes with a neutral expression. It made it looked like he was glaring at her with an unpleased face. Blood flowed down the left side of his head and face added a level of monstrosity to his persona. The bullet scrapped a good line of skin off that side of his head.
"…" Shinji said with a slow blink. Still not showing any signs of pain, he started to move his hand. He slowly reached for her pistol and grabbed it. From doing so, the male pilot never broke his gaze at her eyes.
"…" Misato said breathing hard.
She felt her heartbeat wanting to burst out of her chest. The amount of fear she was feeling was the most she ever remembered. Watching him place the gun in his right hand, she gulped out loud feeling it difficult to move. A small amount of relief came to her as he pointed the pistol towards the glass window that was near them. Holding it sideways, Shinji unloaded the entire clip destroying the window and causing bullets to hit the far wall passed the glass.
Every shot caused everyone to jump. Misato felt her whole body had frozen up as she could only stare while trembling all over. Each shot he did, he didn't break his eerie gaze at her. It gave her more creeps and fear than she ever felt from him. When the gun was empty, he let his arm go to his side. She saw him slowly blink before placing the weapon on the floor near her. Standing back up, he gave her a slight head nod.
"…" Shinji said. Slowly turning toward the strikers, they were still holding down both the female twin and the First Child. Walking toward them, he never changed his slow pace. Getting close to them and stopping, all of them kept their ground though fidgeted.
"Excuse me gentlemen. Would you please let them go?"
"…" all of them replied as the naked male teen stood in front of them.
"Gentlemen. Please unpin the madams."
"…" all of them answered again still not moving.
However, they were becoming more uncomfortable. Suddenly, the Third Child walked toward them. The nearest yellow suit let go and reached for his sub-machine gun. As if time slowed, Shinji reacted faster and got the firearm. The muzzle was felt on the side of the striker's head as the Third Child became face to face with him. He could see the haunting glow of his eyes and emotionless gaze cause him to shake in place with fear.
"Please," he said with a stoic expression and slowly blinked. "Do not force me to remove you gentlemen."
[STOP! ALL UNITS STAND DOWN! RELEASE THE FIRST CHILD AND RANA! THIRD CHILD, STAND DOWN! THAT IS AN ORDER!] Ritsuko yelled over the loudspeakers for the contamination area. Everyone could hear the heavy breathing and immense frustration and anger in her voice. The striker saw the naked male teen blink then placed the gun on the ground in front of him. Seeing that, the yellow suits let go of their hold of both Rana and Ayanami.
"Thank you gentlemen," Shinji said with a small nod from his head.
Turning toward the men's locker room door, he walked toward and entered. Once inside, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. The dark clone giggled like a familiar sounding little boy that gave him a flashback. Once he was walking deeper in the locker room, the giggle turning quickly into something of a distorted, gurgling, and grotesque shrill that was borderline of the hearing threshold being high in pitch.
' #$% g #$^ #$l #!$o#$#$(r*%*&(i# * $o $%*^ u#$!#%& *s!' it breathed through all the barrage of sounds and the piercing volume.
'...' the Third Child thought closing his eyes. The audio hell storm vanished as quickly as it came. Opening up his eyes, he saw a first-aid kit on the opposite wall.
Back outside the locker room, both female teens forcefully pushed the strikers off of them. One tried to help Rana up, but got his hand slapped away.
"DON'T TOUCH ME! ANY OF YOU!" Rana shouted with hot anger at them standing up and facing the yellow suits.
The men felt tense from seeing the expression of a balled up rage surface on the twin's face. With the haunting glow of her red-blue eyes, all of them did not want to provoke her any more. All of them saw her clench her teeth together and started to turn around. They saw that the twin was giving the evil eye before turning toward the Major. All of them felt goosebumps on their arms from feeling not only the intense anger, but a familiar murkiness emitting from her.
"…Y…O…U…" Rana said in a low and even tone slowly while looking at Misato with hatred. About to shout venom at her, she blinked in surprise from someone walking toward the Major. Having a feeling of what was going to happen, she just scowled trying to calm down. Turning toward the male locker room door, she entered it forcefully and quickly.
Misato sort of snapped out of terror stricken gaze when Ritsuko's immediate blast over the loudspeaker. Able to move again, she initially heard and saw Rana looked enraged. Appearing more on the unstable side, it was quickly diffused by the First Child. The Major saw Ayanami walking toward her with quick steps and a very upset face.
"Rei, I-!?" she started when the female pilot slapped her face hard. Startled, she heard sobs emitting from the Eva pilot. Turning toward her while holding her cheek, Misato saw her trying to contain her crying despite tears leaking out. Her face looked a mess from being personally and emotionally torn.
"Why…Why did you…do that?" Rei asked with a couple of sobbing chocks. Her throat was tight, her mind racing, and her emotions beyond angry and upset. A collection of painful feelings and mental stresses racked her mind as if being hit by a large tidal wave. Despite being able to keep sense of her surroundings, the swelling of emotions was overflowing and suffocating her.
"These feelings…" she said placing a hand on her heart continuing to wheeze with sobs. "…are so painful…it burns so much…I…I…why…did…you…I…I can't…-!?"
Rei's face twisted with emotional pain as tears rain freely down her face. Unable to speak anymore, she turned around and ran into the men's locker room. Not even stopping, the First Child shoved the door open causing a loud clank to echo in the locker room and outside. The sprinkler system inside had been shut off though the entire room was wet and flooded. The floor had a red tinge still from all the blood that spilled from the red blob.
Ignoring that aspect, she quickly looked down the rows of lockers. After the third one, she saw both Shinji and Rana sitting on a bench. There were already bandages for his head wound. The female twin finished tying bandages for the bullet wound in his shoulder. Hearing her harsh breathing and sobbing, both turned toward her.
"Ayanami," Rana stated seeing the immense twist of painful emotions being shown on the female pilot's face and body expression.
"Ikari!?" Rei reacted quickly walking to him grimacing with tears and inhaling shapely. When she got close, she sat right next to him and immediately embraced him. Feeling the emotions just grip her harder, Ayanami placed her head on his left shoulder. The painful twist of feelings seeped out as the female pilot cried and called out for him quietly.
"…" Shinji said looking at the First Child with a neutral expression.
"…" Rana said looking at the blue haired female with an intrigued expression.
All the little actions that the blue-haired teen was doing seemed from pure emotion. It made her look like her actions were very uncharacteristic of what the twin knew of Ayanami to behave like. Looking back at the Third Child, he had not moved since the First Child leaned and held onto him. Though he was looking at Ayanami, he only blinked.
'…I…don't feel anything,' Shinji thought watching the First Child cling onto him for dear life as if he was going to disappear.
Feeling the bleeding from his head had dropped down, he pondered about the Major's actions. From what she was shouting and the act of shooting him, the male pilot did not see it as wrong. Based on the circumstances of him sitting here, he understood the reasons for why she did what she did. It led him to ponder over Rana's and Rei's choice of behaviors. Both seemed to forgo that logic in the pursuit of something more emotionally reactive.
'…' he thought with a blink having an idea of what drove both female's decisions and actions. The word that associated with that idea seemed dead and long forgotten to him. Focusing on the present, he was still looking at the First Child. Waiting a little bit for the dark clone to say something, it never did. Deciding that based on the circumstances he needed to react in some way, he slowly lifted his hands.
"…!" Rei said feeling two arms enclosed around her.
One hand gently placed itself behind her head as a forearm and hand wrapped around her mid-back. Feeling both arms pull her gently toward him, he embraced her lightly. He began to stroke her hair lightly. It made her feel comforted and subside the painful and strong emotions. The crying started to become more controllable as he continued the small gestures.
In the control room, both Ritsuko and Maya were digesting what they saw. the lieutenant was finding concentration difficult as the range of emotions and sensations she experienced made her feel drained and tired. Dr. Akagi tried going back to a neutral expression despite her face being tight and tense. Looking back at the draining process, sensors indicated that almost all the hallways and corridors were emptied. Seeing that the cage will take a lot more time, she initiated decontamination and clean up procedures.
After arranging and passing out orders, the responding technicians got suited up and prepared equipment. Getting responses back from the team captains, she hanged up the terminal phone. Picking it up again, she called the Commander. A small part of her was curious of what his reaction would be.
[Status report doctor] he stated on the line.
"Strike operation has been completed Commander."
[Damages.]
"Only structural damage to both male and female locker rooms."
[…] he said and blinked. Dr. Akagi felt her mouth starting to turn into a smirk despite hearing a second person in the backroom. The smirk died knowing who he was beside.
[Casualties.]
"No casualties except an injured Third Child," she answered . Her eyebrows rose a little in hearing a pause. Not only that, she could have sworn that his breathing faltered a bit.
[What did you say?] he asked responding back in his cold tone.
"I said no casualties except an injured Third Child sir," Ritsuko repeated feeling the smirk creeping back on her face.
[…you expect me to believe this?] he asked not amused.
"The security feed will answer your question Commander. Covert. FL-10: XTS.1023 is the camera name."
[…] he replied as the sounds of someone standing up came. She heard two sets of people walking toward somewhere then stopped. Hearing murmuring on the line, she assumed Gendo was ordering someone to give him the security feed.
"Major Katsuragi has already tested to confirm if it is the Third Child or not."
[Really?] he asked. A third person responded on the line and the soft sounds of a keyboard taping were heard.
[What method did she use?]
"…" Ritsuko answered remembering the imagery and grimacing. Recalling how the Third Child acted and responded, a cold shiver went down her spine. Shaking her head, she focused on how Gendo would react. She figured it would throw him off even more which made her feel a little better.
"She shot him in his shoulder and at his head."
[…] he said as he blinked a couple of times.
[What's wrong?] Yui asked nearby him which made him falter a little.
[…nothing…] the Commander said away from the phone.
"No AT-barrier was detected before, during, or after the Major executed that test."
[Are you joking?] Gendo questioned neutrally; however, he felt small beads of sweat developing on his forehead.
"No sir," Ritsuko replied. She kept a straight face despite feeling a corner of her mouth turning up a little. She then heard soft electronic sounds from the other end. Thinking that he was looking at security feed now, there was a feminine gasp heard.
[S-Shinji…but…but how?!] Yui asked in shock.
[…] the Commander said with a surprised expression. Blinking in disbelief, he was distracted be the scientist.
[…he's…alive…He's alive! He's alive!] Dr. Ikari expressed in great surprise and shock. She started to laugh while crying then started to shake him.
[Can you believe it!? It is a miracle Gendo! It just has to be!]
[Poss-ib-ily] Gendo said from being shaken a little before being let go. As Yui continued to express happiness and a great sense of relief, he let out a rare sighing groan.
"…" Ritsuko said knowing that she was smirking now.
[Dr. Akagi?]
"Yes Commander?"
[Which decontamination lab will be set up and used?] he asked back in his cold tone. After telling him the room location, she hanged up the observation room phone. Looking at Maya, she seemed exhausted sitting in a chair.
"Let's go Maya," she said heading toward the door.
"W-Where are we going?" the bridge monitor asked getting up and following.
"To the closed off hallway where Major Katsuragi is."
Both travelled down to the couple of levels below. Remembering which elevator had the bloodbath inside, they used the other one. It was empty. Upon reaching the level that the striker teams were, both exited the elevator. Travelling down hallways to get on the other side, they turned the final corner to see two yellow suits posted outside the containment door. After both saluted, they briefed the two on what has occurred so far. Stating her purpose, both opened the contamination door without question.
"Isn't this…quarantine Dr. Akagi?" Maya asked nervously upon entering and hearing the contaminant door close behind them.
"It is. What is left of the Angel has died. Sensors from the control room stated that there are only dead cells from all the areas it flooded. Knowing that, we don't have to worry too much about getting infected," Ritsuko stated walking toward the six members of the striker team. Once they saw both of them, they stood at attention still full suited in their yellow contamination gear.
"At ease," Ritsuko stated seeing them relax a little. "Where's the Major?"
"She's inside the female's locker room Dr. Akagi," the lead answered.
"And the children?"
"All three are in the men's side."
"Good. Any casualties?"
"The team that went into the men's side encountered the red blob. It was at the end of the first row of lockers. From closer examination, it appeared to be very dead as it was decaying and turning black. No other casualties…with exception of the injuries to the Third Child."
"I see. Lead your team back to the entry point and wait for further instructions. A decontamination team will be arriving shortly and transport us not wearing contamination suits to the D-econt chamber. That is all."
"Roger ma'am," the lead yellow suit stated and all the strikers stood at attention again. They started walking back to the contamination door down the hallway.
"Maya, could you go check on the children? I will go get Misato," Ritsuko stated then saw the technician starting to get nervous.
"Is…is it safe to go in there? That thing is still in there."
"It should be alright. But if you don't want to go alone, that's fine."
"T-Thank you. Sorry for the trouble," Maya stammered and went with her into the women's locker room.
Upon entering, there was still a little haze mist left from the flash-bang grenades and ceiling rain. Though the fire sprinklers were turned off, there was still a layer of water on the ground. Overall, the locker room was empty minus the fragments that littered the ground from the explosions. Moving passed the first row of lockers, they found the Major sitting on a bench. Her knees were up with her face pressing on them. Both walked until they got near her. Their heel clicks echoed a bit throughout the locker room with soft splashes of water.
"Misato," Ritsuko called.
"…" Misato said with a staggering breath. "…hey…"
"Are you alright?"
"…" the lavender hair woman said lifting her head a little to show her narrow eyes. "…I shot a kid in the head."
"That you did," the doctor said putting her hands in her pockets.
"You are doing an awesome job cheering me up."
"Glad I can be a friend."
"I was being sarcastic."
"I know."
"…" Misato stated lowering her head back into her knees.
"The more you mope, the more you age," Ritsuko mentioned getting out a cigarette and lighting it.
"You are not helping," the Major commented not moving her head.
"If it gets you up and moving, then I will continue," the doctor replied inhaling then exhaling a puff of smoke. Maya sat on the other end of the bench that Misato was on.
"My career is toast," the lavender haired woman stated bringing her head up and resting her chin on her knees.
"That's up for the Commander to decide. Though shooting a teen isn't a good resume builder."
"…" Misato grimaced a little. "I have never seen Rei that torn up emotionally. It felt painful seeing her like that."
"I am sure it did along with the slap."
"All three of them probably hate my guts."
"Rana probably does. I don't know about Ayanami. Ikari will probably forgive you."
"…!?" the Major reacted looking at her friend with a mild bewilder face. "How can that be him and not an Angel?"
"Well he did get injured from you shooting him. He bled red, so that is an indication of him being human. No AT-field developed either."
"…" Misato grimaced again remembering the images of shooting at his shoulder and head. The door of the women's locker room opened slowly and quietly. None of them turned to look behind them.
"A decontamination team is arriving at the end of the hallway shortly. Let's go get the children then head there," Ritsuko said taking another puff.
"Must be nice to be naturally cold."
"Misato, I really don't have time for you to be this way. I need your support to get the children through the D-econt chamber and cleaned. Who knows what ungodly amount work there will be to get done from this."
"How?! How can I move on from this!?" Misato shouted standing up angry. Maya jumped when the Major slammed the bottom side of her right fist into a closed locker.
"You weren't here dealing with this shit!"
"…" Ritsuko let out a long drag. "Do you really want to go there?"
"Actually, I do!" she answered turning around to face her friend.
"Alright," the doctor said dropping the spent cigarette on the ground and stepping on it.
"W-W-What a minute you two. Let's not-"
"Stay out of this Ibuki."
The technician quieted down and cowered back. Looking down, she tried to think quickly of how to get them to stop. Blinking, something on the floor seemed different. Looking closer, there seemed to be shadows on the ground. Turning her head, she let out a high screech in surprise. Both the scientist and Major looked over to see the three teens next to Maya. All three of them were in plug suits; however, Rei was being piggy backed by the Third Child. She appeared to be sleeping while loosely holding on to him. Both twins were looking at them with unreadable expressions.
"…!" all three women froze with fright.
None of them heard the teens walk in or make a splash sound from the wet floor. His murky aura was present in which Rana's seemed to emulate the same type. What bothered them was that both of them seemed to have a haunting glow in their eyes. Also, both Misato and Ritsuko felt a mild eeriness around them. Almost as if they were surrounded by something on the other side of the rows of lockers.