Chapter 101: The New Pilot
Reaching the island tunnel, Misato drove down until the turn off to get to the checkpoint. Stopping and showing her identification, she passed the NERV guards at the patrol box. Driving her car into a car slot for the elevator, the large lift started to move. During the ride down to the ground level of the Geo-Front, both women in the car stayed quiet. As much as the Major wanted to have a conversation to pass the time on the monotonous car-escalator, she still felt suspicious.
She still wasn't clearly sure on why the ex-officer was chosen to be the next pilot. Watching her to see if she would do any surveying when the view cleared, she wasn't. Her eyes were looking down at her hands. They were interlaced with one another as she calmly sat and waited. Misato shook her head and patiently waited for the car ride to finish. Once at the end, the Major pulled the car into the parking garage. Finding a space and shutting off the car, both got out. Rayne followed her new commanding officer toward the entrance doors across from where they parked.
"Let see if your card works," Misato stated gesturing to the keycard slot. Nodding her head, the Fifth Child got out her NERV card and inserted it. The light turned green and opened up one of the rollup doors.
"Good that it works on the first try," the Major said as both went through the door and into a large corridor. Getting on a flat-moving escalator, the lavender haired woman turned around.
"Though it looks rather bland, welcome to NERV," she stated in which Rayne gave a small smile.
"Thanks."
"We'll go to admin first to get any other paperwork needed to be completed. Then, I'll give you a tour around the base. Along the way, will stop and introduce you to a few of the employees. We'll also get you medically checked up for our records. After that, introduce you to the Commanders. You remember the people in the "Info-Gave" meeting, right?"
"Roughly, yes."
"Okay. Those are the people that you will be mostly dealing with including myself."
"Got it."
"Cool. Alright, off to admin we go."
Heading toward administration, most of the paperwork had already been completed and filed. Tidying up the loose ends and filling in missing information, it was completed relatively quickly. Giving a general tour inside the base, Rayne did not ask probing questions. Most of the pondering that the ex-officer asked was where she was allowed to go and not to go. Stating those places, Misato asked why she wanted to know. The new pilot said she just wanted to know what access she was allowed to walk in.
Reaching the next destination, both exited the elevator and headed toward the medical facility of NERV. Upon getting to the administration desk, a doctor came out and guided both to a patient room. Normal medical checkup, testing, and scans were done. While Rayne waited in the room, the Major went with the doctor to another room to talk.
"Something the matter Major?" the doctor asked.
"Did you find anything unusual about her from the checkups and scans?"
"Other than the unique pigmentation in the irises, her scans read that she is a healthy and fit person for her age."
"Nothing that was an abnormality?"
"Maybe a couple of elevated levels of certain mineral amounts, but nothing that would cause concern."
"Hmm," Misato said crossing her arms and thinking.
"I know that Dr. Akagi gave us orders for deep diving in the samples from the new pilot."
"Yeah? What did she want you and your team to find?"
"Take the blood samples and dissect it for any similarities to Angel samples that we have. Given her circumstances and events, Dr. Akagi stated that there is a possibility that the child is a hybrid so to speak."
"I would put money on that assumption there based on what I have seen," Misato stated. "Alright, I will continue my tour guide after we finish here. Keep a tight lip regarding this for the time being."
"Will do Major," the doctor said with a nod. Exiting out of the doctor's office, both went to where Rayne was waiting in a patient room. Telling her that they were done here, both went to their next touring place.
Going back to the operations building of NERV, Misato lead Rayne to a lab room. Upon reaching it, the door opened to show a team of technicians at terminals. The Fifth Child recognized the faux blonde woman in a lab coat giving out orders while looking at clipboard with documents on it.
"Hey Rits."
"Hello Misato," Ritsuko said turning toward her and blinking in surprise at the person standing next to her. Her expression died back to her usual neutral one.
"I heard that you are the Fifth Child of the Eva pilots."
"Yes Dr. Akagi," Rayne said with a blink.
"Haven't gotten lost with the Major?"
"Hey!" Misato said with an annoyed face. "I'll have you know I have improved from the first tour I did."
"So you have," the scientist said with a small smirk then looked back at her clipboard. Giving an order, a couple techs responded and commenced with the commands.
"I am a bit busy so I will leave you two back to touring," she said then broke away to go toward a terminal.
"She always that busy?" Rayne whispered.
"More often than not, yeah," Misato said with a sigh. Leaving the lab room, the Major took the new pilot to see the Commanders. Reaching the office and entering, Gendo, Kozo, and Yui were inside around a desk. Walking toward the three, both women stopped.
"Is this the Fifth Child?" Gendo asked sitting in his seat with the Sub-Commander standing to his right. Dr. Ikari was standing at the left side of the desk.
"Yes Commander. This is Rayne Hymity. Former police officer," Misato stated at attention.
"Handpicked from SELEE," he said impassively. The others saw that the young female hold a neutral expression on her face. However, something about her was making them feel tense.
"Yes Commander. I was," Rayne said with a relaxed tone despite standing at attention.
"You have caused NERV a lot of trouble from your meddling with the Third Child."
"…" the ex-officer said just blinking. "That I have."
"Not only that, but caused the pilot to become unstable and incapacitated from venturing in unauthorized territories."
"…" Rayne said as she immediately glared at him while remaining at attention. Everyone in the room felt an intense aura growing as her eyes started to give a mild haunting glow. Pops were heard as the Commanders saw her hands clench into murderous fists. The intense aura slowly became hostile.
"Why are you showing me hostility pilot?" Gendo asked not moving and staring down the ex-officer.
"…" Rayne said bowing a little. "Excuse my action Commander. Am I free to express myself?"
"If it answers the question. I have no time for opinions over emotional matters."
"The only respect you will get from me is your position as a Commander. I will not respect you of anything else," she said in a control tone.
"Oh? Why is that pilot?" he asked not too offended.
"What you did to him…what you put him through…" she stated walking to be in front of the desk. Stopping, she put her hands on the desk and leaned forward. The expression on her face was of complete disgust.
"Was monstrous…inhumane…and unforgiveable. Don't you even dare state you're his father."
"Are you lecturing me pilot? Do you not remember the documents I showed everyone regarding the Third Child's upbringing?" Gendo stated not losing composure.
"That is complete bullshit!" Rayne stated angrily and slammed a fist into the desk. Everyone except the Commander flinched from the sound. Her fist impacted hard enough were the desk cracked and gave in leaving a depression. Misato, Yui, and Kozo remained still as the two continued.
"Are you threatening me pilot?"
"…" the Fifth Child said standing and giving a frown at him. Turning around, she walked back beside Misato and turned around at attention again.
"No Commander. I was expressing myself."
"If you have any more acts of insubordination in front of me pilot, I will put you in a holding cell until you can act accordingly. Is that clear?"
"…" she said narrowing her eyes at him. "Crystal…commander."
"Okay. Hold on you two," Yui interjected in an attempt to get them to stop. Only Rayne looked at her with her eyes only. A tense gaze was held in the ex-officer's eyes at the scientist.
"Why do you think that way Pilot Hymity?"
"Shinji doesn't trust anyone," she said after blinking. "How could anyone after that "Info-Gave" operation and its aftermath."
"…?" Dr. Ikari said blinking. "Info-Gave operation?"
"Major." Gendo stated firmly.
"Yes Commander?" Misato stated stiffening up a little.
"There are more important matters to be dealt with now. You two are dismissed."
"Yes Commander," she said with a small bow. Turning toward Rayne, she did not bow. Instead she did an about face. Both walked out of the office leaving a tense and rocky atmosphere inside the room. Once the two left the room, Yui turned to the two men in the room.
"What is this "Info-Gave" operation she stated?" she asked and saw both of them doing something different.
"I will explain it another time Yui," Gendo stated looking through the several documents he got from the folder that was on his desk. Looking at the Sub-Commander, Kozo gave a tired sigh. A small grimace appeared on his face as the Commander asked him to explain some documents that were tagged in the folder.
'…another aspect that I was not told about…' she thought not giving an expression. Instead of asking again, she stated about going to check up on something with Dr. Akagi. While leaving, she hurried to try and catch up to the two that just left.
After leaving the Commander's office, both Misato and Rayne walked down the hallway a bit without saying anything. Enjoying the tense back-and-forth with Gendo, she felt a little bit of her suspicion of the Fifth Child die down.
"That took some major guts to do what you do," Misato said turning to her in which the ex-officer still looked irritated.
"…sorry…" Rayne said with a heavy sigh. "The Chief never spoke anything well about the NERV Commander and believed that the documents he provided during that meeting were fabrication."
"You know, I have been meaning to ask after your Chief stated what he said. Do you really think that Shinji was a victim of a kidnapping ring of children?"
"From what I remember seeing in the documents," the Fifth Child said in a low voice as both rounded a corner and continued walking. "There were patterns of which victims were taken. All were children ranging from 4-9 years of age, left alone, abandoned, homeless, foster, and/or lost."
"Shinji stuck out because of his mannerisms, phobia, physical appearance, behavior, triggers, and such, right?" Misato asked.
"Yeah. The Chief felt dead sure that Shinji would be a lead of some sort to find the 600 or so children that went missing. When the Commander provided those history documents, it gave the Chief a seed of doubt. He even interviewed the uncle and found that the guy collaborated with the Commander's documents, medical check-ups, and other aspects. That kind of made him fall back to square one with the case."
"That's hard to swallow."
"Excuse me Major?" Yui stated down the hallway catching up to the two. Both women stopped and turned around.
"Something wrong Dr. Ikari?" the Major asked.
"I wanted to ask you two something…it is regarding this "Info-Gave" operation."
"…" Misato reacted by blinking. Looking at Rayne, the young woman's expression was neutral. However, she felt a tension growing.
"W-Why not we three go discuss this somewhere?" the Major stated then looked at the ex-officer. "Are you hungry? You've been with me for a while."
"…" Rayne said blinking and looking back. "I guess I could go for something."
"How about you Dr. Ikari?"
"Sure," Yui said with a smile. "I hope we can get to know each other a little better as well."
'She is…his mother,' Rayne thought as the three started walking toward the direction of the cafeteria. Walking behind the two, she could feel her face becoming tight and angry. At the same time, she questioned why she was getting emotional.
'For the time I have known Shinji, he never mentioned his parents…or addressed them as such…does that mean he does not see them as such?' she thought calming herself down listening to the two woman talk back and forth.
During school, the next period was P.E. The boys had swim while the girls had track & field. In the locker room, Shinji, Toji, and Kensuke were changing along with other boys from other classrooms. Strangely, it got quieter as whispers and murmurs were going around. Blinking and looking around, the jock saw that the students from other classrooms were staring at them. Almost all of their eyes were gazing at the Third Child as he was down to his boxers. Seeing him about to take them off to change into swim trunks, he stopped.
"Is there something I can help you with gentlemen?" Shinji said slowly looking around him. Everyone immediately turned away to not meet his gaze. Seeing that everyone was avoiding his eyes, he went back to changing.
"…" Toji said frowning a little and continued to change. Seeing that the Third Child was done, he noticed that he put a t-shirt on.
"You alright Shin-man?"
"Yes Mr. Suzuhara," Shinji said closing his locker and grabbing a towel. "Is something the matter?"
"You ain't bothered by the guys staring at you?"
"Being naked in front of people is not new or embarrassing."
"…you know…other than NERV, that isn't normal."
"In what way Mr. Suzuhara?"
"On average, nobody is that comfortable changing clothes in front of people…especially with the scars that you have."
"Depending on the individual, yes and no."
"…" Toji said closing his locker with a drawn out sigh. "I had a feeling you'd say something like that."
"Are you feeling well Mr. Aida?" Shinji asked turning his eyes only to the male student.
"W-What!?" he said blinking and looking nervously at the male pilot. "Y-Y-Yeah."
"I see. Excuse me as I will use the restroom gentlemen," the Third Child stated with a small bow. Watching him head toward the bathroom, Toji blinked and looked at his friend shivering with frightened eyes.
"What's wrong with you Kensuke?"
"Where…where did Shinji get all of those," the bespectacled student asked with a nervous swallow. "…scars."
"He got them from a previous Angel battle like some weeks ago. Don't you remember?"
"Doesn't he have more now…I mean…his body looked like a walking slashed up corpse," Aida stated in a hush whisper.
"…?" Toji said blinking and thought of the D-econt room imagery. Shaking his head, he flicked his friend's head.
"What the heck are you talking about? It is probably the lighting in here making you see things," he mentioned.
Turning around, he headed for the locker room exit. Ignoring his friend's protests on not seeing things, the remaining male students in the locker room suddenly felt a cold shiver down their spines. Immediately looking at the restroom area, they swore they heard a haunting malicious giggle. It gave them goosebumps as they hurried up changing to get out of the locker room.
Around the field track, the female students had a number of sport activities to choose from. As long as they were participating in something, the teacher would not force all of them to do track & field drills and runs.
"Hey Hikari," Asuka asked as both were standing in line to do another round of the high jump.
"Hmm?" she said looking back.
"What were you whispering earlier with the Third?"
"You mean with Ikari?" the Class Rep stated then looked forward. "I was…just giving him thanks. I had a question and he gave a suggestion that worked out."
"Yeah? What was the question?"
"Uhh…it was about…how to get a guy to stay put for a while so you can talk to him," Hikari stated hoping that was enough to make her friend go off on stating how men work.
"Yeah? What did he say?"
"…he said if you give food say like in a bento, that will get most guys to stop and pay attention."
"Food? That's like seeing them as a dog or something."
"Possibly," she said seeing the redhead being quiet and thinking. In a sigh of relief, the Class Rep started to hear Asuka's rant about how boys were simpletons and no match for a man like Kaji.
"What's got you in a good mood?" one of Rana's classmates asked as they stood in line for the long jump.
"What do you mean?" the female twin asked.
"More than a week ago, you were moping, depressed, and stressing out. Now since Ikari is back, you kind of came back to normal."
"…well…I feel better when I am near him. Being apart from him causes me anxiety," Rana replied smiling and feeling a little embarrassed.
"I understand that you two are twins, but are you both connected on that level?" another friend asked behind her.
"In varying degrees," she said watching her friend in front of her run forward.
Before reaching the line, the female student jumped and landed in the sand. Rana got ready then ran forward. Jumping before the line, she landed in the sand. Looking around her, she was relatively at the same distance as the student before who was beside the landing box. Standing up and walking to stand next to her friend, both watched the next person run and jump. Seeing that she landed close to their marks, three walked back to the end of the line to jump again. While walking back, the subject between her and the Third Child continued. It made her want to go see him swimming.
On the track, Rei was by herself doing a light jog. Other students were either jogging faster or walking around. While going around, she was contemplating things in her head.
'Why does this feeling keep persisting?' Ayanami thought starting to go on the half pipe turn.
'Why are you contemplating this lilim emotion?' her second self stated in her mind.
'It is the same feeling I had towards the Commander before…however…it is more…its almost consuming.'
'It will drive you mad…weaken you…pull you further way from our cause.'
'I comprehend the aspect of who gave me more,' the First Child stated in her mind. She made it pass the half-pipe turn and was jogging straight.
'The Commander gave me shelter and a sense of being looked after…however…it was not for me…it was…for…Dr. Ikari,' Rei said feeling her face tense up.
'It is useless to think of this. It does not serve our purpose.'
'I was only…a substitute…until she returned.'
'You are replaceable. You are MY substitute until you give me control,' the second self stated emphasizing the second part.
'…' Ayanami stated feeling herself getting agitated instead of pondering the statement. Shaking her head, she thought of the Third Child. Immediately, she felt calmer.
'Ikari…has given me more than the Commander.'
'That lilim offspring has made you weak.'
'He has…broadened my horizon…so to speak.'
'He has caused you pain over and over like its parent.'
'He has given me the experience to feel and comprehend my emotions,' she thought going around the next half-pipe turn. '…my own…feelings.'
'Those have only brought you weakness down to the lilim's level. You are only a fraction of our true self.'
'He has accepted me…for who I am…not what we are…not who you are,' Rei thought testy at her second self.
'…that lilim…does know…who we are…' the voice stated with a shaky voice. It felt so odd to the First Child that it made her go from jogging to walking.
'…' Ayanami thought blinking a couple of times. 'What do you mean?…Are you frightened of Ikari?'
'…you listen to me child…don't you ever…ever…touch that lilim again.'
'…!?' she thought blinking in surprise to hear how shallow her second self sounded and felt. Repeating what it stated in her head, Ayanami went back to a light jog.
'…no…this feeling that keeps repeating…its want…my want…'
'I said no child!'
'You cannot stop me.'
'Stupid child. I can cripple you at will if I so desired.'
'…you are wrong…Ikari has given me…a reason to resist you…I will not be controlled by you.'
'That lilim will only give you pain and suffering just like its parent…its mother will take him and abandon you…its double will steal him and leave you…everyone you know will scorn you once they know of your existence…your very being…you will be left with nothing and be consumed by your pitiful lilim emotions.'
'Ikari will never abandon me!' Rei shouted in her head causing her to stop suddenly.
Too rattled and out of sorts to resume, she walked off the track breathing a little hard. Walking to a water fountain with her head downcast a little, she tried to calm her nerves. Reaching the drinking faucet, she pressed the button to cause an arcing water stream to come out. Drinking and swallowing a couple of times, she leaned back. Wiping her mouth, she turned toward the direction of the swimming pool.
"…" she said feeling the need to be close to him. It told her that if she did get close, it would confirm her thoughts and calm herself down.
Back at NERV, three women were sitting in Misato's office after grabbing something from the cafeteria. Feeling that the tension from the meeting with the Commander had eased away, the atmosphere between the three felt more relaxed. The discussion started off by introducing themselves and stating a little bit of background information. When the topic came around the "Info-Gave" operation, the atmosphere started to change again.
"I have tried looking up about this operation on my own time, but I didn't get much luck on seeing its details or what it produced," Yui stated taking a sip of her drink.
"Sounds a bit suspicious if a Sub-Commander is left out of the loop when other top officials were participating," Rayne stated flatly.
"Yes…it is a bit…frustrating to not know its contents when I was away."
"…" the ex-officer said glancing at the Major. The lavender haired woman was looking at a document and seemingly did not pay attention. Looking back at the scientist, her face was neutral as she only blinked back. Interlacing her hands, the Fifth Child held a harden face. She did not believe that the Sub-Commander knew nothing of the operation or what its purpose was.
"The operation was to recover a black tape from the Third Child," she said seeing Misato flinch a little but kept her head glued at the document.
"A black tape? What for?" Yui asked.
"Apparently it held records of his past."
"Past records…like digital documents?"
"No…audio recordings," Rayne answered then looked at the Major.
"…?" Dr. Ikari said blinking and turning her head toward the lavender haired woman. Both saw that she looked a bit pale.
"Major…are you alright?"
"W-Wha!?" Misato said flinching and looking up slowly. Yui and Rayne blinked in surprise to see her rattled a little. Her facial expression looked disturbed.
"I-I'm fine. Yeah, the operation was to uncover the black tape…we were able to retrieve it…and played it," she said. Looking more disturbed, they saw her swallow before continuing.
"However…it broke after playing it for a while."
"…?" both Yui and Rayne said looking at each other.
"What kind of audio recording was-!?" Dr. Ikari asked when the Major stood up and slammed her hands on her desk.
"All of it was a sick joke! Just a really sick joke!" she stated loudly looking more shaken up. "Probably just some jarheads in Section-2 getting their kicks in!"
"…" the other women responded just blinking and stared at Misato becoming a little unraveled. Yui cleared her throat and spoke carefully.
"If you don't mind saying Major…what was on the tape?"
"…" Misato said cringing from hearing the screams echoing in the back of her mind along with the old men chuckling in the background. Clenching her teeth together, her head became downcast. Sitting back at her chair, she kept her hands interlaced and on her lap.
"It…it was an audio recording…of torturing…children."
"…!?" Yui said going wide eye.
"W-W-What!?" Rayne shouted standing up alarmed. Slamming her hands down on the desk, so many thoughts and emotions surged through her head.
"Are you…for real…it wasn't just him…it was…children being tortured?"
"…yeah…there seemed…to be many…god it was so sickening to listen to," Misato replied shivering visibly.
"That…that is evidence that the Chief has been looking for! That means he was-!?" the ex-officer said getting animated when the Major covered her mouth with her hand.
"That doesn't prove anything…there would be no way to identify if Shinji was in that audio recording or not."
"For us, no. But Dr. Ikari…Dr. Ikari?" Rayne stated turning around and became quiet. Misato looked at the scientist and could feel something foreboding about to occur.
'…no…no…it can't be that…' Yui thought feeling the foggy images become clearer. They became gritty, savage, inhumane, and morbid. A rain of torturous imagery came at her showing varying images of different areas. There always seemed to be some form of death and decay in each image.
"…no…" she said as the image of the D-econt room came to mind.
"Dr. Ikari?" Misato asked quietly and slowly standing up.
"…no…" Yui stated again looking like she was seeing a ghost in front of her. The remembrance of the Third Child's slashed up and butchered body came to mind. The black-red eyes boring at her. Suddenly, the boy's mouth stretched inhumanely wide giving a vile and grotesque grin.
'…rEmEmBeR…mE…m…O…m…M…y… #$%#$#$%# $!ITHURTS! #$%#$!#$%# $%#$HELPME!HELPME!#$%#$#HHHHHEEEEEELLLLPPPPPMMMEEEEEEEEEE!#% #$%#$%' its familiar voice screamed and bellowed in agony.
"AAAHHHHHH!?" she shouted out loud with tears falling down her face. "NO! STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY!"
"Damn it!" Misato shouted and picked up her phone. "Get to my office stat! Dr. Ikari is relapsing!"
"…!?" Rayne said in shock from the sudden outburst. Shaking her head, she immediately went to the frightened scientist.
"Dr. Ikari! Please calm down and come back to us," the Major said rushing to her as well.
"…he's here…he'll get me…just like the other," Yui said frightened and holding her head. She had curled her body up into a ball while sitting in her chair.
"Who is here?"
"…my…my son's…second self…"
"Second self?" Rayne asked quietly.
"…the…the one with…demon eyes…a monster…in his own skin," Dr. Ikari stated still feeling tears coming out of her eyes.
Feeling goosebumps all over her body, she nervously looked up. Between Misato and Rayne kneeling on the floor, there was a small child standing. It's features were instantly recognizable; however, its eyes were cut open and its body was severely brutalized. It opened its mouth slowly and breathed in harshly. Despite thinking it would be raspy and soft, it was overbearingly loud and riddled with malice.
'…M…O…M…M…Y…W…H…E…R…E…D…I…D…Y…O…U…G…O…?' the child whispered then suddenly inflated like a balloon.
As if a pin poked him, he exploded sending blood, flesh, and inners everywhere. Yui shielded herself as she got showered with gore. Feeling herself hyperventilate, something was in her hands. Shaking hard and slowly opening up her eyes, the child's head was in her palms. It was staring up at her.
'…I…T…H…U…R…T…S…IT…HURTS…ITHURTS…ITHURTS-ITHURTSITHURTSITHURTS!ITHURTS!ITHURTS!#$#$#$ #$^(*(*' it said getting louder and louder. Its childlike face became more distorted and grotesque as blood flowed out from all openings. By the time that Ritsuko and medics rushed into the office, Yui had already fainted. Both Misato and Rayne were still kneeling in front of the scientist. Both looked disturbed with Misato immediately stating they needed to get Dr. Ikari to the medical facility on the double.
"Uhh…chief," a technician in the Eva cage spoke to his crew lead. "Unit-01…is making metal contracting and expanding noises again."
"Yeah? That is normal," the chief said looking at his clipboard not bothered from hearing it.
"Sounds more than last time."
"Probably run a thermal scan and diagnostic run…most likely the results will say normal."
"…" the tech said looking back at the purple unit as another creak was heard. Both failed to see the small fracture lines at the corner of its mouth as it tried to stretch its fixed metallic expression.