Chapter 93: Numb Forgiveness

"Greetings Dr. Akagi," Shinji said stoically with a bowing his head to her.

"H-Hello Ikari," she stated trying to ignore the creepiness growing in the room. "How are you?"

"I am…well for the time being."

"T-That's good to hear."

"Are we moving to a different location?" he asked blinking.

"Yes," she said turning around to face him. "We'll be going to a lab area for screening, decontaminating, testing, and cleaning."

"Very well," the male pilot stated. A small silence passed by as neither side said anything or moved. It started to make the atmosphere awkward as both twins were still staring stoically at the three adult women. Maya started to feel uncomfortable again and wanted to get out of the locker room.

"I-Ikari, I-I can help you with Ayanami if you'd like?" she stated getting up and turning toward him. Only his eyes slowly turned to her which made her freeze stiff with apprehension.

"Very well Miss Ibuki. If you would please."

"Y-Yes! Sure," she stated with a small smile feeling a little relieved. Watching him move to the bench she was at, he gently lowered the First Child down on it. The technician sat down and held onto her so that the teen wouldn't fall down while she was in a state of rest. Standing up and turning around slowly, he gave a blink seeing that the lieutenant securely had the First Child sitting on the bench.

"Miss Misato," he said followed by a cartilage popping in his neck. He only turned a little to the left and was looking out of the corner of his eyes at her.

"May I talk to you…alone?"

"…" Misato responded feeling goosebumps all over and feeling clammy.

"…" Ritsuko was about to say something when the look on Rana's face began to sour. Her red-blue eyes were glowing a little more making her feel on edge. Deciding to forgo saying anything and wanting to leave, she just sighed out loud. Placing her hands in her lab coat pockets, she started walking toward the exit.

"Make it short Ikari. Rana, could you help Lt. Ibuki with Ayanami?" Dr. Akagi asked stopping next to her.

"…" the female twin said feeling her hands clench into fists. "…fine…"

The Major watched as the three left the locker room. Closing the door behind them, the sound of it shutting seemed to echo loudly in the space. It was as if she got thrown into a detention cell. There was a little bit of haze left still and the floor was just damp now. Feeling imaginary heavy weights on her head, she couldn't bring herself to look at the Third Child in the eye.

'I can't look…I don't want to feel more miserable than I already am,' she thought staring hard at the ground.

"…f…e…e…l…i…n…g…g…u…i…l…t…y…?" a soft and low tone voice whispered in the air.

'If I explain myself…maybe he will agree with my actions.'

'Really? You shot at him three times and injured him with two. Not even a lethargic animal lets that go unnoticed,' her counter voice told her as she failed to hear something.

"…i…t…w…a…s…p…a…i…n…f…u…l…" the voice breathed with small pops in the background. The Major continued to be lost in her thoughts.

'Y-Yeah, I did do that,' Misato thought closing her eyes. 'B-But he is a logical person. He has been through a lot. Right? I bet he shot himself a few times during his schizo day.'

'…real smooth Misato. I am sure he'll agree with you,' the devil's advocate voiced in her head.

'…f…O…r…G…i…V…a…B…l…E…' the soft voice stated with a mild airy hissing of mirth. So wrapped up in her thoughts, a presence came close to her.

'O-okay…I can do this! The worst thing he'll do is not forgive me. Nothing to worry-!?' Misato stopped in mid thought feeling a cold metal object touching under chin.

It made her instantly want to recoil and shout in surprise, but just gulped the actions down. Curling her lips in a little and pressing them together, she tried not to think what it was. Opening her eyes a little, they shot wide open seeing her service pistol being pointed at her. Freezing, the hammer was seen cocked back. Unable to swallow, what she thought before was correct. The mussel was aimed at her throat. Perspiration started rapidly developing as all of her senses started to become hypersensitive.

"…" Shinji said continuing to stare at her stoically.

His head was looking forward at her torso; however, she saw that he wasn't staring at her chest. His eyes were looking up at her face. From seeing only a portion of his eyes and his eyebrows angling downward toward his nose, he looked grave. His expression started to cause a loud double booming sound in her ears. Thinking about what it was, Misato realized it was her heartbeat picking up a little.

"Miss Misato…are you alright?" he asked stoically without moving keeping the handgun steady in the same place.

"…" Misato tried opening her mouth to formulate words, but no voice came. Her legs started to feel weaken a little.

"I tried talking to you, but you did not answer," the Third Child stated calmly without even blinking. "You seem very troubled."

"…y-y-you could s-say that…" she spoke carefully despite stammering and feeling her blood start to go cold.

"I see," he said then slowly retracted the gun. Changing his grip to hold onto the slide portion, he handed the handle of the weapon to her. Blinking, he lifted his head up to look at her with a neutral face.

"You left your service pistol outside. I believe the paperwork for a missing firearm is a bit extensive."

"…" she reacted not moving and staring at him.

"…" he said blinking.

"…?" she said again still not moving.

"Something the matter Miss Misato?" he asked. She just continued to stare at him with lost eyes and a bewildered expression. Wondering why the Major didn't grab the pistol, he blinked again and decided to do something. He slowly walked behind her.

"…!?" Misato responded with a blink feeling something sliding into her back belt holster. Feeling it being her firearm, she watched as the Third Child walked back in front of her and turned to face her.

"If there is something troubling you, I am willing to listen and offer suggestions if you would like. We can talk while walking toward the entry point at the end of the hallway."

"…?!" the Major responded still unable to speak with a bewildered expression still.

"…" he said with a blink.

'GoOnMySeEd…gUiDe! #$%!#$…H…E…R…' the dark clone stated in his head with many child like giggles in the background. Feeling his fingers tingle and burn with fire on the inside, he reached out and gently grabbed Misato's hand. Turning around, he walked slowly forward and gave a small tug.

"…?!" the lavender haired woman reacted feeling her mouth part open. Blinking, her feet started following as he led both of them out of the locker room.

"…you…you don't hate me?" she asked quietly after looking back and forth from his hand and at the back of his head.

Shinji saw that the striker team was not outside the doors. Walking to the hallway showed that the entire group was at the end with the contamination door still down. For some strange reason, a sense of wild wonder came to his mind as they stared back at them in the distance. Only Rana gave a different expression while Rei was still in a state of slumber.

"No. I don't have a reason to," he said continuing forward toward the group. He didn't notice the wide saucers eyes she was showing while in tow.

"…!?"

"…"

"W-What?" she asked even quieter.

"…"

"No reason to hate me?"

"No."

"B-B-But…But I…"

"…"

"I…I shot you."

"Yes."

"In the shoulder."

"Correct."

"And at your head."

"Indeed."

"I believed you weren't real."

"So you did."

"There is no way that you could have survived."

"Seemingly so."

"How is that possible?"

"Good question."

"Do you know why?"

"Possibly."

"Would you stop with the one phrase answers already!?" Misato burst out loud. He stopped walking and let go of her hand. Blinking, the Major looked up to see everyone looking at them. Ayanami slowly stirred awake still feeling drained.

"My my. A lover's quarrel you two?" Dr. Akagi stated with a smirk on her face. "Best be careful Ikari. She and Inspector Kaji are trying to rekindle their old flame."

"I see," the Third Child stated looking behind him.

"S-Shut up! No I'm not!"

"Such a strong denial," Ritsuko stated in which the Major got closer to her. As everyone saw them go back and forth, Maya saw the Third Child walk towards her. Rana was standing next to her.

"Thank you both, Miss Rana and Miss Ibuki, for carrying Miss Ayanami. I can take over now if you would like to switch."

"I…I can stand," Rei said tiredly slowly moving her arms off of their shoulders.

"Don't push yourself too much Ayanami," the technician said continuing to give the First Child support.

"…" Rana said giving back the First Child's arm.

Seeing that she was able to stand on her own, she still leaned on the lieutenant for support. Looking back at the male pilot, the twin put her hands behind her. Despite still feeling agitated at the Major of what she did, only an impassive expression was on her face. As if detecting her thoughts, the Third Child's eyes slowly turned toward her.

"Yes Rana?"

"…" she said then walked next to him to whisper. "Will this procedure separate us?"

"Dr. Akagi stated that all of us will be going to the same area to be decontaminated and screened. I can only assume separation in holding cells within a lab."

"Okay."

[Decontamination team is here] the lead striker stated seeing a crew of more yellow suits. Opening up the contamination door a little, each brought many portable pieces of equipment. One by one, they started scanning each individual. Reporting to Ritsuko that all were safe to walk without needing to be in containment, she gave orders.

"Have a couple of teams start scrubbing all the areas that were contaminated from here to the Eva cages. Once done, standby till the Eva cages are completely drained. Start scrubbing afterwards."

[Yes doctor] the lead of the decontamination team responded.

"Also, have a team extract the organism that is in the men's locker room. Take the striker team with you just in case."

[Roger ma'am] said the strikers.

"Alright everyone," Ritsuko said turning toward the individuals not in contamination suits. "Let's go to the D-econt lab."

As the yellow suits went toward their new assigned tasks, the remaining six followed Dr. Akagi. Rei stated that she was fine to walk on her own to Maya. Nodding, the technician let go of the female pilot's arm. Walking in front of the children where Ritsuko and Misato were, the younger three followed from behind. Rana and Ayanami walked on either side of the Third Child. All three held the same stoic expression as they followed quietly.

Reaching the floor's elevators, the six walked into one. The adults and the teens took opposite sides of the lift. Maya stood next to the button panel with Misato next to her then Ritsuko. Rana stood near the elevator door with Shinji then Rei next to him. When the level button was selected, the doors slowly closed. As the pulley system sounded being activated, the elevator started descending. As they went down, no one was saying anything to each other. Only the humming and clicking of levels of the lift were filling the tense void inside.

"…" Misato said taking a quick glance at everyone. The lieutenant was staring at the button panel with Rana looking at the floor. Shinji had his eyes closed with Ayanami not focusing on anything. Just as she was about to look over at her friend, the light in the elevator flickered a little bit for a second. When the lights stayed on again, she was holding her breath and looking with wide open eyes at the Third Child.

"Something wrong Misato?" Ritsuko asked noticing her facial expression.

"…!?" she said seeing that the male pilot still hadn't opened his eyes. "…n-no…its nothing…just my nerves."

"Oh?"

"Y-yeah" Misato replied shaking her head then giving a fake smile. "Just my nerves acting up from what all that has happened so far."

"Makes sense," the doctor agreed then looked at the teens.

None of them have moved from their position or their expressions. However, the atmosphere in the elevator was growing more tense and starting to feel more than uncomfortable. Luckily, the elevator started slowing down and made a ding at the level they stopped at. With the adults walking out first followed by the teens, the elevator slowly closed. The light inside flickered again with a small sound of static.

"…" Shinji said blinking at who was there. Not hearing it say anything, he didn't stop to look back or ask. Oddly, Rana never asked him or looked alarmed at who was with them. Deciding to let the thought pass, he continued following.

After a short walk down the hallway, they stopped at a door. Given a lab number, it's sub name was "D-econt Room". Upon entering, it was a very large chamber room. There were various things inside such as equipment, valves, hoses, ports, scanners, and much computer monitors and towers. There were already a couple of yellow suits inside that were doing pre-work. The lead came toward the group.

[Everything is ready to go Dr. Akagi] the lead stated through his helmet.

"Good," Ritsuko said then turned to the others. "We will start the decontamination procedures. Each of us will be screened, give a blood sample, and tested for any abnormalities. Since Ikari, Ayanami, and Rana had the most exposure to the Angel's cells, you three will have to go through more extensive sterilization, screening, sampling, decontamination, and testing processes."

"…" everyone said either nodding or blinking.

"If there are no questions, will let the lead begin," she said as the yellow suit nodded.

Following his instructions, all six were drawn blood, gave a saliva sample, and a skin sample. After collecting them, they were placed in their own standing capsule of glass. The staff scanned each person on various aspects: thermal, x-ray, MRI, cellular scan, radiation scan, and a couple more. With the combination of computers hooked up to each capsule, it allowed more complex tasks to be conducted. With each sample loaded into individual computing program, it sped up the results. After the first round of test results came back, the lead staff member in the control room came on the loudspeaker.

[Results came. All is clear so far with no detection of alterations, mutations, or contamination of cells.]

"That's good," Ritsuko said as a couple of staffers pressed release buttons. It opened up all the capsules where everyone stepped out of them.

"Was…that it?" Misato asked surprised.

"Yes. The equipment here is more powerful than the ones in the medical facility. That is because of the connection to MAGI."

"With a supercomputer doing the work, that makes sense."

[Shall we proceed to the next step Dr. Akagi?] the lead staffer asked standing next to the group.

"Yes. Let's go you two," she stated looking at both the Major and lieutenant. Ritsuko started walking toward the exit with the two following behind.

"We are okay despite being in contact with the pilots?" Maya asked.

"I am pretty confident we three are relatively clean."

"Is that because of limited exposure to that red blob thing?" Misato asked.

"Mostly true. Neither of us touched the blood that was on the floor, I am assuming?" the doctor commented. Looking back at them, she saw the two shake their heads.

"Since the Angel was a microorganism numbering on a large scale, limited exposure would cause little to no threat. Even though you two touched both pilots who were in direct contact, when the Angel core dies, its cells die with it."

"So those three will have to go through a lot more tests regardless?" Misato stated looking back at the teens. They were escorted to another part of the room.

"Yes. A bit more just to be safe. Especially Ikari," Dr. Akagi answered opening the door.

The three exited the large chamber and walked to the control room. In the room, there were more computer terminals and stations along with a long wide observation window. Ritsuko and Maya took their positions as overseer and tech monitor. Looking at the overhead monitors, it showed the lead yellow suit escorting the teens into a rectangular standing box. There were three slots with divider walls between them. Each was about seven feet tall and wide enough to put two people side by side.

When the teens stepped into their slots and turned around, all three stood neutrally the same and had their eyes closed. A couple of the staff in the control room were looking back and forth seeing close resemblances between them. Despite Rana and Shinji looking like identical twins, there were similar looking female characteristics between the female twin and the First Child.

"…" Ritsuko said blinking as a thought went through her head. Knowing the secrecy of that information, she just went to an intercom and pressed the microphone button.

"Alright you three," she stated seeing all three open their eyes and blinked at the same time.

"…" the three women said feeling off-guard. The scientist cleared her throat grabbing everyone's attention.

"Each of you will have to go through a series of tests and scans to make sure there isn't anything residing in you. Shinji, you will be going through a lot more due to your circumstances."

[Very well] he replied with a blink.

"Is that clear Ayanami and Rana?"

[Yes] both answered at different times.

"Good. Begin the next round of tests," Ritsuko ordered in which the staff complied. After a short amount of time passed, the control room door opened. Misato looked back and saw the other two pilots in their plug suits.

"Hey you two."

"Misato, what happened?" Asuka asked with hands on her hips. "The Angel alarm goes off and then by the time I get here, it was called off."

"Stuff happened and the Angel attack was kind of a fluke," the Major stated despite knowing that it was a half-truth.

"A false alarm? Like a bad wire or something?" Toji asked.

"Mmmm," Misato replied scratching the side of her head nervously. "Not quite. But it is all good! No need to worry about it."

"Geez! What a waste of my time," the Second Child reacted ted flipping a lock of hair over her shoulder.

"What's goin on in there?" the Fourth Child asked pointing at the window.

"…" Misato answered with a neutral expression. She crossed her arms over her chest and was thinking quickly of what to say.

"We are just running tests on Rei and Rana. Nothing unusual that you two have been exposed too."

"Oh yeah?" Asuka stated going toward the observation window. "What kind of tests are you guys doing?"

"Okay you three," Ritsuko stated hitting the intercom mike button. "We will go to the next procedure."

"…?" both the Second and Fourth Child stated with surprise. Toji headed toward the window to look in as well. Both thought that there was an unannounced new pilot down there. They saw three holding slots with three silhouettes in them. Yellow suits started converging toward the units where there was one tech in front of a holding unit.

"Who is it?" Asuka asked in a neutral voice.

"What do you mean?" the Major asked.

"Who is the new pilot?"

"…there isn't a new pilot Asuka."

"Bullshit," she stated looking back. "Unless it is a staffer which I highly doubt, no one other than an Eva pilot would be down there with two other pilots doing tests."

"…" Toji said not turning around. He put his hands on the terminal and got closer to the observation window. As much as he narrowed his eyes to try to see who the other person was, he couldn't see any of the three silhouettes clearly.

"…" the Major said sighing out loud heavily and rubbing her forehead.

'I freaking knew it!' the redhead thought turning around and looking down at the lab area. 'Well, whatever. Whoever it is, I'm going to set that person straight and show who is the ace of the pilots here!'

After the tech staff relayed the instructions for the next procedure, Rana hesitated at first. Sighing, she pressed the buttons on her wrist to deflate her plug suit. Ayanami did the same without hesitation and removed her suit. The techs retrieved both females one-piece uniform and placed them into double clear seal bags.

One staffer standing in front of the Third Child felt a wave of a cold chill as the pilot clicked both buttons on his wrists. Blinking, he watched the plug suit relax and loosened greatly. As the Third Child was removing his pilot gear, the yellow suit started to become tense before starting to shake heavily. So much so that everyone watching saw the technician take slow step back. It was followed by heavy breathing.

"What's wrong?" Maya asked seeing the person become rattled instantly.

[…n-n-no. N-nothing is w-wrong!] the male staffer stammered causing the others to look over. One put a hand up to where her mouth would be behind the contamination mask.

[…oh my god…] the female tech whispered sounding scared from what she was seeing.

The remaining staffer instantly turned around and walked a couple of steps away to a mobile table. Placing his hands on the table, he breathed heavily and shook. The yellow suit that was standing in front of the middle one saw the pilot inside blink slowly and tilted his head a little. A soft cartilage crack was heard making both him and the female staffer flinch. Seeing their reactions and behaviors, it caused the people in the control room to become curious. Only five people knew who was standing in the middle holding unit.

"What's going on down there?" Ritsuko's voice boomed feeling apprehensive of the staffers' behavior.

[N-Nothing doctor! S-sorry] the male tech stated shaking his head vigorously and stepping forward to the middle slot again. Despite doing so, both Rana and Rei could see that he was shaking all over. They could feel a radiation of fear generating from him as he gazed at the person in the space next to them.

[I'm…sorry. Please...hand me your plug suit] he asked with a small quiver in his voice.

The speakers in the control room picked up sounds of fabric folding over and over itself. When done, the silhouette handed the folded suit toward the yellow suit. Quickly and carefully, he placed it in the bags and sealed it inside. Stepping away quickly, all three techs went to the other side of the room. Placing each bag on a gurney table, they marked off something on their laminated checklist.

[All…tasks completed Dr. Akagi] the female tech stated feeling a bit recovered from stepping away.

"Good. Commence with the D-econt lab screening in the second control room," Ritsuko stated and got three acknowledgements.

"Wonder what was eating them?" Toji mentioned out loud watching the yellow suits exit the lab to an adjacent room.

"Whoever the new pilot is probably has a disgusting physical trait," Asuka stated crossing her arms over her chest. "Sounds like a quality in your friends."

"You talking about Shin-man fire demon," Toji stated giving her a glare.

"…" the redhead said feeling her crude mocking mood stop. "Shut up. I was not."

"Uh-huh. Seems like you are one that hasn't gotten over him kicking his last bucket," he said then heard her move closer to him. Immediately grabbing his collar, she got in his face.

"I. Said. Shut. Up. Got that stooge?" she said evenly.

"Yeah yeah, whatever," Toji stated nonchalantly and brushed her hands off of him. Just when the redhead was going to glare and open her mouth, the room's doors opened again drawing everyone's attention. The room became alert and tense seeing the Commander, Sub-Commander, and Dr. Ikari.

"Greetings Commander," Ritsuko said turning around.

"Report doctor," he ordered in a neutral tone.

"We have begun the next series of tests and scans for any remaining Angel microorganisms. So far, results have been negative."

"Who is in the D-econt?" Yui asked not sounding depressed anymore. She sounded hopeful.

"The First Child, the Third Child, and the Third Child's twin."

"What!?" Toji and Asuka outburst with flabbergasted faces. Immediately turning around, both looked out the observation window. A smile grew on Yui's face as she walked toward the glass next to the pilots. Kozo had a small smile on his face finally seeing her smile again. Gendo kept his neutral expression.

"Continue doctor," the Commander stated walking to the observation window with the Sub-Commander following.

"Yes Commander," Ritsuko replied going to the intercom. "Alright you three; we will be doing a series of screenings. Just walk to the other holding units on the other side of the room."

Before anyone reacted to the statement, movement was seen in the room. The Third Child began walking out followed by both Rei and Rana. It caused a chain reaction.

'T-T-They're n-n-naked,' Asuka thought with mixed emotions.

'…whoa…' Toji thought in surprise. He was trying hard to not get excited from seeing his two female classmates in the buff.

"Yui," Gendo said softly seeing tears fall down her face.

"…is this…another chance…is it dear?" she asked placing her hand on her heart smiling.

"…!?" Maya said shivering at her monitor and taking a sharp inhale of air. Her hands started shaking at what she was seeing.

"…oh…my…god…what…what," she said placing both hands over her mouth with horror on her face.

"What is wrong?" Ritsuko said hearing her. Misato walked over and looked at her monitor. The Major's face registered shock as she shivered noticeably.

"…!?" Misato stated with a horrified and very confused face. She was trying to talk, but the words were stuck in her throat. Her legs were starting to shake as she placed a hand over her mouth feeling goosebumps flare all over her.

"What are you talking about-!?" Dr. Akagi stated then recoiled from looking at the close up of the male pilot.

Only walking a few steps out of the holding units, Ayanami stared forward. In her peripheral vision, she saw both Shinji and Rana walking at the same pace and in line with her. Seeing people at the observation window, she glanced up to see the Commander, Sub-Commander, Dr. Ikari, Second Child, and the Fourth Child. Seeing Gendo standing next to the scientist made her feel bitter again. Turning back forward and thinking about something that would take the bitterness away, she glanced over at the Third Child. She froze in her tracks from the sight. She felt her blood run cold as her eyes widened in fear.

The Third Child's body was littered with numerous scars, holes, depressions, and stitches. Despite his overall athletic build, there were long scars and divots raining down his back, his arms, and his legs. Looking at his waist, there were countless old wounds and scabs that followed down to between his legs. Even his feet, hands, and fingers looked cut up and drilled with holes. She failed to notice Rana had stopped walking. Her face was downcast and clenching her hands into fists.

'When…when did he get these? I don't remember seeing them earlier,' she thought exasperated. She felt goosebumps and a developing apprehension from wondering how he got them. A small curiosity came into her mind which she acted on to hope that would calm her down.

[…I-Ikari?] Ayanami was heard over the loud speakers.

[Yes Ayanami?] he said stopping and turning around to face her. Another wave of gasps and shock was heard in the observation room. The crew and head staff saw Maya pale, Misato shaking all over, and Ritsuko to look wide eye with shock and fear. It caused the leaders and pilots to walk over. Another wave of reactions came over them.

"Holy...shit," Toji said quietly with fear in his face.

"…?!" Asuka said not able to voice anything from the trepidation that riled through her.

"…?!" Gendo and Kozo said with surprised looks on their faces.

"…no…" Yui whispered aghast and horrified.

The foggy visions came to her, but she couldn't make out what they were or when they occurred. Despite being subconsciously connected with him in Unit-01, she never knew or saw him with that many scars. It made her wondered why she didn't see the memories of how and when he got them. She could only assume that the foggy visions meant that she did see them; however, it gave her enough trauma to mentally block the scenes out.

Rei blinked seeing the front of him and felt the small hairs on her body stand on end. Like his backside, his front was covered in scars, divots, stitches, depressions, and holes. Long and short scars went in various directions. On his chest, there was a large crude dark red scab of where his heart would be. His lower half didn't fare any better. Her waist felt a little weak from seeing the scarred up wounds at his waist and groin area. Upon focusing closer, something seemed off looking in that area.

[I-Ikari…where…where are your reproductive organs?] Rei asked with a scared voice.

[…] he said with a slow blink and looked down with his eyes. Hearing a demented and malicious screech blare in his head, several flashbacks went through his head. Looking up at the frightened First Child, he tilted his head a little.

[If I recall correctly, they were cut off] he replied calmly. Many people felt their eyes widen more.

[…] Ayanami said feeling her mouth part and no words coming out. Trying to utter word, she could only ask in a softer tone that sounded shaken.

[…why?]

[…SoMeOnE's AmUsEmEnT/…Someone's amusement] a dual voice of Shinji's sounded. One was normal while the other was distorted and morbid sounding. Before anyone could react, Rana ran in front of him and tried to cover him. Tears were falling down her face.

"STOP IT! STOP LOOKING AT HIM! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she shouted with rage and sadness. In a fit of raw emotion, she grabbed his hand and led him back to the middle holding unit he was in. Both entered it leaving everyone behind feeling dumbstruck, disturbed, and scared.