Death of a Child

by Amorphous In Black

A retelling of the Evangelion story with a dark-psychological twisted theme. Everything up to Shinji's abandonment remains the same...but, he is altered. With a past shrouded in mystery, what occurred during his eleven year disappearance? What unforeseen horror will the staff at NERV uncover when they discover the boy's upbringing?

94. Breaking Souls

Chapter 94: Breaking Souls

Inside the control room, the staff that were at their stations sat uncomfortably. The ones standing around Maya's monitor were still trying to digest what they just saw. No one said anything until Gendo spoke.

"Dr. Akagi. You never reported that the Third Child was in that physical condition."

"…" Ritsuko said getting out of her locked fright gaze. "…the first time he came, he didn't have any scars. Even after the Fifth Angel accident, he had little or no scars from it. There were times that I thought I saw new ones, but when I looked closer they weren't there."

"I had the same experience," Misato said holding herself feeling queasy. "Did you two see anything like that? Asuka? Toji?"

"…sort of…" the Second Child said feeling clammy and shaking.

"When I first met him, he was smooth. After the Angel attack where his eyes got damaged, I noticed he had more scars on him than before," Suzuhara stated looking at the floor.

Ritsuko typed on the keyboard panel and it changed the camera view to one that was a covert on a monitor. It showed the three holding units that the three teens were in. The First Child slowly came on the screen as she was making her way to the middle. The staff saw the twins were sitting in a corner of the holding unit. Rana had embraced him and was trying to cover him as much as possible as tears were falling down her cheeks.

"…" Yui said as water kept coming falling from her eyes. Trembling with trepidation, the foggy visions kept plaguing her mind. Almost like they were teasing her to remember the details. Dr. Akagi continued.

"That is correct. After the Third Child emerged from the Twelfth Angel, he showed scars. There were many that were on his body when I looked him over; however…it wasn't to this magnitude."

"Is it possible that the Angel made a copy of itself using Pilot Ikari's appearance?" the Sub-Commander asked recovering.

"I do not know. After the Third Child imploded, all of his DNA resided inside the entry plug like a corked test tube. When the dummy system took over, it lodged the capsule into the chest of Eva-03. Given that the recent Angel was a microorganism at a large quantity scale, it is possible that its cells absorbed the contents of the entry plug. From there, possibilities of what could happen go up in the air. There has never been a case of this so I can't give an assessment of what will happen."

"But why a cut up copy?" Misato asked shivering from glancing at the body image of the Third Child.

"H-Hey?" Toji asked. Everyone turned to him seeing him looking very scared. "He is one of us…r-right?"

Though many of them were about to respond, all of them stopped. From what they have witness so far of the male pilot, it begged to question if he was. Turning to the faux blonde, she slowly nodded her head.

"Yes…he is human."

'That has to be bullshit!' the Fourth Child's inner thoughts shouted at him. He shook his head a little then pushed forward to the next question that was on his mind.

"You g-guys…you guys don't do experiments on us pilots…r-right?"

"Pilot Suzuhara," Gendo answered immediately causing the male pilot to stiffen at attention. He didn't want anyone to answer the question and wanted the line of questioning to cease.

"What are you driving at?"

"U-U-Umm…w-well sir. Shinji…looks heck a tortured...kind of like the victims in horror flicks or something," he stated nervously and standing stiff. He saw everyone's eyes widen. It was almost as if something mentally clicked with all of them. Asuka looked completely terrified as well as Maya and Misato. Gendo and Kouzou had their mouths open in shock.

"…that black cassette tape," Ritsuko said putting a hand over her mouth. "Oh dear god."

The foggy visions in Yui's mind cleared causing her to hyperventilate. Her heart started to burn as if a heated branding iron was push against it.

'…y…O…u…R…e…M…e…M…b…E…r…E…d…' a soft voice whispered in her head. It sounded like a familiar boy's voice.

'…no…'

'yyyyyyyeeeeeeeesssssssssss.'

'…No…' she thought starting to back up.

'dEnIaL-DeNiAl! #$^#$…d…E…n…I…a…L,' the voice spoke louder and made a haunting sound.

'…NO…'

' #$# RE$&%$JECT!' it shouted viciously with heavy white noise and static.

'NO!' she mental yelled and turned around.

"Yui!?" Gendo stated in surprise seeing her sprint out of the room.

"Go. I will stay here," Kozo stated. The commander nodded at him then went after her.

Back in the lab, Rei slowly walked to the middle holding unit. She was very confused on how the Third Child could have such a scarred body. From the first time knowing him, he did not have many or none at all. Even after the Fifth Angel attack incident with all his injuries, he didn't have scars. The time she saw him completely naked, there was not one scar or defection on him. When the first sight of scars were seen, it was when he emerged from the Twelfth Angel. Though she never saw all of them, she only saw the ones on his arms and neck. The large scab on his chest concerned her a bit. From staring at it, it seemed to be pulsating a little like a heart.

'…' Ayanami thought trying to figure out how she never noticed them especially in the locker room just recently. 'I…I do not remember…feeling the scars on his chest. It was smooth and not etched.'

'Who would do this to him?' she thought reaching the holding unit and looked in.

Both Rana and Shinji were sitting in the right corner. His back was leaning back against the walls while sitting on his knees and hands on his thighs. Rana was facing him and embracing him. She was kneeling with legs outside of his and her rump sitting on the end of his thighs. Using her body and arms, she tried covering over him as much as possible. Though Rei couldn't see his face, a couple of openings showed his skin. Seeing that the rest of his body wasn't in direct light, it gave him a different appearance of a wounded animal in a cage.

"…!?" she said feeling her mouth open in realization.

The audio feed from the Twelfth Angel came back to her; however, she only remembered a child screaming. Aligning what she remembered from the audio feed and seeing the scars on his body, the suspicion came to her making her shiver. Recalling what the police chief said during the Info-Gave meeting, the thought of what happened to the Third Child started to make her feel tense and wanting to comfort him.

"What are you looking at?!" Rana snapped looking at the corner of her eye at the First Child.

"…" Ayanami said feeling her heart ache again.

She was about to reach her hand out when a door opened in the distance. Turning her head, it was the D-econt doors with Dr. Ikari rushing in. Many emotions emitted from her face as she ran toward her position. Strangely, the First Child could sense the feelings that were going through the scientist. Not sure what would happen, she backed up a bit and saw the woman immediately slow down near the holding units. Going toward the middle one, she looked in.

"Shinji!?" Yui stated with sadness and worry.

"Yes Dr. Ikari?" he said calmly.

Rana held onto Shinji more while staring unpleased with who came into view. The teens saw Yui wipe many tears away from her face and tried to calm down. She kneeled on the ground in front of the holding unit. Her long lab coat spread out on the ground creating a fan out shape as she looked up at the twins.

"I'm…I'm so relieved that you are alive. I thought I would never see or talk to you again."

"…" he said blinking and turned his eyes toward her. A foreboding feeling came over Ayanami the more she stared at the scientist. Distant footsteps were heard coming toward them. The First Child turned her head and saw it was the Commander. Yui wiped her eyes again despite tears still falling down her face. She smiled at them.

"Rana…may I hold Shinji?" she asked spreading her arms out toward them.

"…" Rana said pressing herself more into the male pilot. Her eyes narrowed a little while not moving from her position.

"Why do you want to hold him now?"

"W-Why?!" Yui asked then placed her hands on the ground. "I'm…I'm his mother!"

Ayanami watched as Gendo walked up to where the scientist was. He knelt down a little and turned toward the holding unit. Seeing him ignore her hurt. He didn't even give a passing glance at her. Her emotions flared as her hands immediately clenched into fists with agitation growing inside.

"Please," Yui pleaded with grimaced face of guilt and sadness. "Please let me be a mother! I want to make things right."

"Make things right!? Why should I when you didn't even try to hold him once coming out of that prison purgatory!? You didn't even try to accept me!" Rana shouted with anger, hurt, resentment, bitterness, and angst. More tears came out and down her face as her expression started to become more tense and ugly.

"You asked us to start over with you! During the time when Shinji was in that abomination, what did you do!? Tell me…mom and dad, what did you two do!?"

"Nothing! You gave me no comfort! You didn't give me sympathy! You didn't ease my pain! You didn't even try to be parents to me! But I know what plans you had. You were going to clone me to make a male double. To make a substitute of Shinji from a MY BODY! ISN'T THAT RIGHT MOM AND DAD!?" Rana shouted louder baring her teeth at them.

"…!?" everyone said blinking in shock. It was startling from how outraged and the pent up emotion that was coming out of her. All of their mouths parted from hearing what the female twin stated. Everyone saw that Rana's eyes were starting to shine eerily as hatred and a vicious aura was emitting from her. To Yui, Gendo, and Rei, the atmosphere emitting from the middle holding unit was threatening as the twin continued.

"Do you know what it is like to lose your other half?" Rana asked clenching her teeth together feeling herself boil over. "NO! YOU DON'T! NONE OF YOU DO! I FELT LIKE I DIED! I FELT A PART OF ME WAS RIPPED AWAY FROM ME! AND ALL OF YOU…I WATCHED ALL OF YOU SLOWLY GIVE UP HOPE THAT HE WOULD COME BACK! ALL OF YOU WENT WITH THE LOGICAL SOLUTION!"

"HE DIED AND THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD DO! YOU ACCEPTED IT!" she said shaking with rage as her speech became more accusing, sharp, malicious, and shaming.

"YOU SETTLED FOR IT! YOU WERE ALL READY TO MOVE ON! ONLY AYANAMI AND ASUKA CONTINUED TO GIVE ME COMFORT AND HOPED THAT HE WOULD COME BACK! SO!…So…so…s…o…" the twin screamed at them before slowly quieting down. Rana turned her head away to not look at them and strained herself from opening up any more venom. Biting her lip, she placed her face on top of Shinji's head and cried uncontrollably.

"…" Yui replied feeling the harsh words hit her hard as her head became downcast. Tears were dropping on the floor below her as all she felt she could do was stay silent. Clenching her hands into tight fists, guilt, anger, self-pity, and feeling worthless swam in her thoughts and feelings.

"…" Gendo commented not moving from watching everything unfold.

About to intervene when the female twin was having her emotional outburst, he didn't from not wanting to leave Yui in her emotional state. Deciding to remain put, he tried to figure how to proceed. As much as he wanted to comfort her, he felt unsure how to proceed when things were on thin ice as is. The staff in the control room became quiet, uneasy, and depressed. No one was looking at each other as the words from the female twin felt heavy.

---

"…" Asuka said trying to hide the small amount of redness on her face. Part of her was glad that no one looked or said anything at her. Looking at the image of the twins on the monitor, her mouth started to quiver. Remembering when the twin stayed one night in her room, both talked a little bit in which both traded past stories. Not only did she get more intel about the Third Child and Rana, but it made the redhead feel like she was playing a big sister role.

When nighttime came, both were sleeping in separate futons in her room. In the midst of the night, Asuka heard the quiet weeps from Rana. Resisting to go comfort her at first, her willpower broke when the female twin whispered painfully for the Third Child. Gently getting into the same futon and awaking her, Asuka stated that she'll comfort her for one night only. From the Second Child's surprise, the female twin embraced her and expressed gratitude. Feeling her heart fill with warmth, she held the twin. Letting out a small emotional side, Asuka did express hope that the male pilot would come back.

---

Back in the D-econt lab room, Rei felt a mixture of emotions again. The sight that the Commander continuing to ignore her and only look at the scientist made her more agitated. Rana's outburst felt very raw and hurtful, yet it was not directed at her. Instead, the twin stated that her support and hope was higher than others. Remembering all the interactions with the female twin during his absence, she did recall herself stating to her that she hoped he would come back. A part of her felt good that she was better than the scientist. Suddenly, a realization went through her head.

'…if Dr. Ikari is seeking to recreate a family…that means,' she thought looking down at the scientist with cold eyes.

'She will take Ikari away…as she did with the Commander…which will leave me with…with,' she trailed off as sensations started developing inside. Everything started to become tense, agitated, afraid, resentful, and possessive.

'…I…' she thought feeling her teeth clench together and getting tighter.

'…I…' she thought clenching her hands into fists and beginning to shake.

'…I…' she thought feeling her mind racing with images of her past. Before, she never really put an emotion to the treatment that she had growing up. In the perspective that she has developed now, it made her feel bitter and more. Ayanami saw both Gendo and Yui turning their heads toward her. When their eyes met, they blinked a little in surprise. The grave expression on the First Child's face as well as the shine in her crimson eyes made her looked intimidating.

[…I…will never let #%##$you take him…he's…MINE] a voice sounded over the speakers that sounded very similar to the First Child's; however, it was laced with malice and a sinister tone. The staff in the control room recoiled from hearing the response. Instead of blinking in surprise and standing in place, one person quickly walked out of the room. The staff watched as she exited the doors with irritation on her face.

'That Wonderbitch! What the hell was with that statement?! She thinks she can get ahead of me just by showing up in the buff and make claims! I will show her!' she thought agitated heading toward the D-econt room.

"…Rei…" Gendo stated surprised by her glaring expression. Yui looked at the bare albino girl with red eyes who hadn't spoke to them yet. Something had been bothering her about the female pilot. A hard felt suspicion came over having vague past recollections of the expression that the First Child was using toward them.

Since Rana's outburst, Shinji had been trying to get her body and arms off of him. However since she held on tightly, he couldn't move well. When she pushed her chest in his face, it made breathing more cumbersome. Despite knowing how emotional Rana was being, he didn't feel anything from it. Even when Yui stated that she wanted to be a mother, there was nothing but a void feeling from it.

"…" he said feeling Rana putting her head on his and crying out loud.

The action gave him a flashback. Remembering the household he was in, the older sister would call for him. Some of the time is was for a service while others would be her pulling acting pranks. It took him a long time to not show emotion or sympathy for her when all she was doing was tricking him. Various small scars around his collar bones felt hot from remembering his punishment from not reacting to her trickery. Strangely, the heat shifted and went toward his eyes.

Rana felt something warm sliding down her mid torso making her loosen her grip a little. She felt his hands reach up and gently place them on the side of her rips. His fingers touched her back while his thumbs gently touched the outside of her breasts. Feeling that he crying and going to hug he, she immediately calmed down and smiled a little. Instead, he gently pushed her back and looked up at her with his eyes only.

"…!?" Rana said as her smile dropped and trepidation ripped through her.

"Miss Rana…could you please move so I may stand?" a sinister and vile voice spoke softly. Looking at him, his eyes had tears of blood falling down his face and jaw line. The red covered a bit of his face being against her torso. Despite the crimson, something else was making her shake in place. His eyes had changed back to the black-red eyes. Also, his aura was that of the dark clone.

"Miss Rana?"

"Y-Y-Yes?" she whispered alarmed and feeling the shakes.

"Is something wrong?"

"…y-you have…his eyes…and his aura…" she stated feeling him push her back a little and slowly got onto one knee.

"I see," he said standing up slowly. He offered his hands to help her stand up. She looked at his hands and saw blood droplets land on his palms. The aspect that the aura of the corrupted voice was stronger now than in the past, she couldn't determine if it was in possession currently or not.

"I'm sorry," the Third Child stated with a slow stoic blink. "To have dirty you."

"…?" Rana said looking down to see blood streaking down her chest and stomach. The blood felt like how the evil voice's body felt making her squirm all over and her skin to flare with goosebumps. Unable to contain the fright from feeling the it's eerie and morbid presence in front of her, the emotional exhaustion took over making her faint.

"…" Shinji said catching her before she hit the ground.

Blinking for a second, he placed the twin on the holding unit floor carefully. Standing back up again, the Third Child turned and only saw the scientist kneeling from the holding unit's opening. She was staring at something to her left. Deducting that his appearance changed, he closed his eyes from remembering how she reacted before in an elevated emotional state.

"Dr. Ikari?" he called with a stoic tone.

"…!?" Yui stated in surprise. Looking back into the middle holding unit slowly from hearing a familiar tone of voice call her, she swallowed on reflex.

"Y-Yes Shinji?" she asked seeing a dark silhouette standing with Rana on the floor. Seeing blood on the twin's body made the hairs on her neck flared. Slowly, the figure began walking toward her; however, its movements were still. It was almost as if he was hovering closer to her and Gendo. Goosebumps instantly formed all over her body.

About to say something, the D-econt room door opened suddenly followed by soft quick footsteps. Glancing over, it was the Second Child coming toward them. When the redhead got close enough to see the openings for the holding units, Yui turned back nervously to the middle one. The male pilot had already stepped out of the unit and was standing still. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at who was around him.

As if time slowed down, everyone watching saw black-red eyes on the Third Child. His face was smeared with blood as the red liquid ran down his scarred up neck. Looking around with his eyes at the people in front and around him, different levels of fear were present in their faces. Both Gendo and Yui felt an vile and eerie aura being emitted from him. The Commander saw the male teen stopped and looked down at the scientist. The boy stared at her without blinking or saying anything. Something very hostile snapped to life in Gendo's mind when the Third Child took a small step toward her.

"Stop there," Gendo ordered standing up. In one movement, he grabbed his pistol from his inner jacket while getting next to Yui. The muzzle was pointing at his head.

"No…not again," Rei, Misato, Ritsuko, and Maya muttered in fright. Asuka, Yui, and Toji just widened their eyes from what developed.

"…something wrong Commander?"

"What are you?" he ordered.

'Demonstration…dEmOnStRaTiOn…DEMONSTRATIONA…DEMON!#$^ #$^STRATION!' the twisted voice shouted, screamed, and screeched to deafening volumes in Shinji's mind.

"…" the Third Child said as nearby lights and equipment flickered once or twice causing everyone nearby to feel a sudden disturbing chill.

"Do you care for a," he said stoically staring at Gendo without blinking. "demonstration?"

"You are not answering my question."

"It will validate," the pilot said taking a step forward toward him. "…my existence…Commander…"

"…" Gendo stated not flinching or moving. Viewing the behavior of the teen, the features it had, and where he came from, the Commander made an immediate conclusion. Unlike Misato, the Commander fired without hesitation or warning. The lab had a small flash of light as the sound of his gun went off.

"NO!" everyone shouted seeing a repeat of what happened earlier. Blood shot to the ground as Shinji's head turned quickly to the right. Like before, he was still standing. Eyes were still looking at the Commander before, during, and after the shot. Not flinching or grimacing, he continued walking toward Gendo and Yui.

'It isn't him…oh god…it is the other one!?' Yui shouted in her mind with panic as fear gripped her.

Asuka and Rei remained frozen in place watching what was unfolding. They saw the scientist started to back up while still being on the floor. Apprehension gripped her face as she was trying to get away. Hearing another barefoot step, they glanced at the Third Child. The bullet grazed the right side of his head sending more blood down his head and right shoulder.

'…' the Commander thought blinking in shock. In the flash of firing his gun, he saw something behind the Third Child when the bullet grazed his head. It was a silhouette that had the same black-red eye color; however, its features were beyond atrocious and horrid. Blinking, the figure was gone and the Third Child had stepped closer.

About to shoot again, Shinji reacted a lot faster despite his scarred up body. Grabbing Gendo's wrist, the boy twisted it quickly in one motion. The Commander grimaced from feeling his stretch threshold which made him let go of the gun. The Third Child grabbed the handgun in the other hand and pulled it away. Letting go of the Commander's wrist, he looked at the firearm then back at them. The blood that was coating and spotting his upper body made him looked like he was freshly slashed at. His voice sounded more cold, piercing, and dark.

"As you can see Commander…Dr. Ikari…I bleed red…I cannot produce an AT-Field...nor can I heal myself instantly after an injury."

"…" both said not moving from where they were. Yui was slowly shaking her head as fear took over the anguish of emotions she had at the moment.

'…hehehehe…aha…haaaaaha…AHA $ #$%# …a…L…l…O…f…T…h…E…m…WiLlseeeeeeeeeeeee…THEYWILLSEE! THEY! #$WILL# $^SEE!' the dark clone chuckled distortedly and deranged in the Third Child's mind.

Without warning, Shinji lifted the pistol and pointed it to somewhere to his right. With no one over there, he fired all the bullets in the pistol while staring at the Commander. Not once did he flinch, blink, or move from his position. After causing everyone's nerves to be racked, he blinked and slowly placed the handgun on the ground. Standing back up, he gave a slight bow to them.

"Excuse me Commander and Dr. Ikari…good day."

Everyone from the lab to the control room watched the Third Child walk normally to the prep table that had his plug suit on it. Taking it out of the bag, he placed it on. Fresh blood stained the white parts of his suit before and after he clicked the wrist buttons. Feeling it to be a snug fit around his body, he saw there was medical supplies nearby. Addressing the new head wound and wrapping gaze around his head, he blinked when he was finished. Turning slowly toward the exit and walking to it, he saw he was getting closer to the Second Child's position. Asuka saw him coming toward her and stopped a yard away. His black-red eyes boring at her with blood on his face and dripping down onto his suit caused her to stiffen, but not back away.

"…" he said slowly blinking at her.

"…" she said finding her voice lost looking at him.

"Excuse me for my appearance Miss Souryu," Shinji said with a small bow then continued walking.

No one said anything as he walked out. The entrance doors opened then closed with a heavy thud. Its sound seemed to echo throughout the large lab room. As time passed a little, no one said anything as if they became numb from what just happened. Gendo snapped out of his stupor first and turned around. Walking toward Yui and seeing how rattled she become, he helped her up to stand.

After doing that, everyone else started to hear barefoot footsteps in the room. Turning their attention to the sound, it was the First Child. She was heading toward the Commander and Dr. Ikari with an unpleasant face. When close enough and seeing both turn toward her, she tried to slap Gendo in the face. However, he caught her wrist. She tried again with her other hand and he caught the other one as well.

"Why?! Why did you do that?!" Rei shouted at him.

"Calm down" he told her holding her wrists firmly.

"Why?" she yelled again as tears ran down her face. "Why-Why-Why-Why!?"

"Stop it. You are acting childish," the Commander told her coldly.

"…" she said lowering her head and clenching her teeth together.

She stopped trying to break her arms free from his grip. Feeling that she had calmed down a little, the Commander let go. Her arms fell to her side as the emotional turmoil inside of her was gushing out. She couldn't control herself as all the thoughts, feelings, sensations, and emotions took hold. The denials she told herself regarding about Dr. Ikari started falling apart. The act of him hiding away, ignoring her, not calling her, spending time with another woman, and him being cold to her all started infecting her mind and heart.

"Am…am I not needed?" Rei whispered as she began to shake all over.

"…" Gendo said not answering or changing his expression.

"Do you not need me anymore?" she asked louder looking at him with a hurtful expression.

"…" he said continuing to not expressing anything. Yui was looking back and forth feeling something similar to an outer body experience. She was seeing the blue-haired teen trying to keep herself composed but was visibly crumbling. Almost like thin ice on a lake slowly cracking all over.

"Now that…she is here…am I…to be thrown away?" Ayanami asked feeling herself hyperventilate a little.

"…"

"ANSWER ME!" she shouted clenching her hands into fists murderously as her face became ugly.

"…!?" Yui said blinking and feeling something very wrong. She slowly turned to him.

"Gendo…what is going on?"

"Yui…I can explain," he said calmly and carefully turning his head toward her.

"…" Rei said feeling her chest ache watching him give the older woman an expression and an emotion. Fearing that the inevitable was true, her mind felt a sharp snap as her chest started to feel a collaspe.

'…I am…replaced,' she thought feeling her heart ache more and more. With her mind spinning, her chest hurting, and a flood of emotional turmoil, she didn't know what to do. The painful feelings, the bitterness, the resentment all came in like rapids down a river. Nothing seemed real or logical anymore.

'…what…what is my purpose now?,' she thought trying to resist succumbing to a stronger, mind-gripping meltdown.

'I told you,' her Second self stated in her mind with a mocking chuckle. 'You have become weak.'

'You should have listened to me when I told you to stay away'

'Look at you...corrupted by lilim emotions.'

'You foolish child.'

'You have become broken.'

'Nothing can save you now from has infected your being.'

'However...I can save you.'

'I can take all the suffering and aguish away.'

'Embrace me and I will protect you from lilim and its offspring.'

'…offspring…!?' Rei thought when someone immediately came to mind. Without even a thought, she immediately ran.

"…" Gendo said watching the female pilot suddenly rush passed him and Dr. Ikari. Only Yui turned her head to continue watching the female pilot leave.

"…" Asuka said watching the First Child ran pass her.

The look on her face was a combination of heartbroken, scared, and desperation. Seeing that made the competitive mood she had disappear and her face to grimace a little. The D-econt room doors opened and closed creating another echoing dull boom in the room. Deciding that she wasn't going to go after her, she walked to the holding unit that had the female twin. Walking passed the two adults, she looked into the middle holding unit to find that Rana was on the floor with her eyes closed. Going to her, she sort of panicked from seeing blood on her chest; however, there were no wounds. Sighing in relief, she had only fainted.

"…" Ritsuko said feeling bittersweet about what just happened. Despite enjoying seeing the Commander's family relations become strained and the emotional turmoil of the First Child, the aspect of the Third Child's alteration brought the fear back again. It was enough to make her uncomfortable being in the control room. Collecting her thoughts, she waited for the next order.

"…" Kozo said crossing his arms over his chest and rubbing his forehead with one hand. He did not enjoy the ugly display that happened in the room. Deciding that this was the end of testing for now and the need to address the new potential threat, he cleared his throat a little.

"Conclude the testing for now Dr. Akagi. Send a medical team to retrieve the First and Third Child as well as his twin. That is all for now," he said turning around and left the room.