Chapter 147: The Shape of the Heart
One night, in the secret Research Institute of Britannia, Aeolia was working overtime. By relying on various advanced drugs and slight modifications to his internal organs, he still had quite a lot of energy even at this age. Suddenly, the door of the laboratory was opened without warning.
"Why are you here?" Aeolia looked at the beauty who walked in with surprise, "You just had a baby, right? You could have finished your maternity leave, no need to rush back to the lab."
"I want to be a normal wife and mother, too." Ikari Yui smiled tenderly at the old man, and her face looked a little pale because she had only recently given birth, "All means of communication have been monitored. I can't contact Diana, and even Gendou's memory has been tampered with by Charles. The only good news is that they haven't noticed that I've seen it yet, which is the reason for my presence here."
"Charles again, the birth of V.V. was really the biggest mistake of my life." Aeolia pushed his glasses, "That's the price I pay for recklessly exercising the power of God, Ikari, I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Doctor. You're apologizing again." Ikari Yui smiled and shook her head, walking over to the computer and sitting down to tap away, "It's more like a curse than a god's power, isn't it? Just look at C.C., a poor person who hides everything she loves and hates to protect herself. I really hope that one day she can also find happiness as a woman."
"She won't take the initiative to know anyone, nor will she allow others to know her, it's impossible, that woman is already dead." Aeolia got up and walked next to Ikari Yui, "Well, did something happen?"
"As expected, Doctor, all my access to EVANGELION-01 related information has been blocked. In other words, I've been kicked out of this project." Ikari Yui let go of the keyboard and turned to face him, "This should be a euphemistic warning, right? May I ask who took over my job during my absence?"
"It was Marianne who filled in for you during your pregnancy and delivery." Aeolia was enlightened, "She is Charles' close friend, she is the only one who is qualified to do that."
"In that case, then let's make the worst guess." Ikari Yui said calmly, "Marianne is an extremely intelligent woman, and the worst possible scenario is that she saw from the information I left behind that EVANGELION-01 absorbs souls. She is also a woman who is obsessed with Charles to the point of fanaticism, so logically down the line of speculation, would she have volunteered to enter EVANGELION-01 to lead the Human Instrumentality Project?"
"It's all conjecture, but it makes perfect logical sense." The more Aeolia thought about it, the more he shuddered, "According to you, wouldn't our plan…"
"The great genius scientist and his right-hand assistant are held hostage by the villain and forced to assist him in his plan to destroy humanity. Because the assistant lady — now a woman — 's seemingly accidental sacrifice, the key prop of the evil plan is contaminated, stopping the evil plan at the last minute." Ikari Yui smiled faintly, "This kind of plot really only appears in the story."
"No one can understand the meaning of the final dialogue at all, all of them are wrapped up in the first step to break away from Lilith's control, and even treat it as the end." Aeolia sighed helplessly, "It was a mistake to pull Britannia in for the money to research Coordinators back then, and looking at Ribbons now, it may be also a mistake to research Coordinators. It's my fault, it's all my fault."
"You are blaming yourself too much. You're not God, and you can't be all-knowing." Ikari Yui softly comforted him, "Someone has to consider the worst situation. In case the angels succeed, creating a race that is not influenced by Lilith is definitely not a mistake. Ribbons' madness and betrayal was the result of his arrogance, not your problem."
"But the results were devastating, and it was only a matter of time before I'm brainwashed by Charles. Diana has been kept in the dark until now, you are my only hope, but even you…" Aeolia shook his head, "I see no way out."
"There are so many humans on Earth and on the satellites, we mustn't be the only two people who can save the world." Ikari Yui said optimistically, "Just like there can be outstanding talents like you among humans, just like humans evolved a special existence like NT in order to save themselves, we may not be able to see that day anymore, but I believe the path must exist."
"Then, at least we must leave a hope from other people." Aeolia racked his brains, "Leave now immediately while Charles still has no desire to kill you. You must survive. Even if you can't contact Diana, at least you can wait for your chance."
"Doctor, although you are very smart, you really don't have a good eye for people." Ikari Yui shook her head gently, "I am an NT, so I can't be brainwashed by Geass. Charles will absolutely not let me go. And my family can be brainwashed, and it's easy to eliminate my existence. So, it's impossible for me to get out alive from the moment I returned to the lab."
"Then what did you come back for?" Aeolia asked anxiously, "Come back to die?"
"All I want now is to see Shinji grow up healthy, find a girl he truly loves, get married, and have some children. By then Gendou and I will have retired and use our free time to help with the grandchildren and teach them to call grandpa and grandma." Ikari Yui smiled serenely, "But not in a world like this."
"Ikari?" The young woman remained her usual self, but Aeolia looked completely confused, "What the hell do you want?"
"Marianne is an awesome woman, and Geass is an unreasonable cheat. There's so little we can do, but I still want to struggle for the almost non-existent possibility." Ikari Yui stood up and slowly walked over to a huge culture bin, resting her slender white fingers on it, "If there are no friendlies, then let's make them."
Aeolia's gaze lingered for a moment on an embryo that was forming in the culture bin, and immediately understood her meaning. He could not help but sternly shout, "Ikari, it's an angel!"
"According to scientific research, the formation of character and education have a lot to do with each other, and there must be a reason for my NT ability. I think that it's for this moment. So, I still want to try." Ikari Yui once again gave Aeolia a gentle smile, "This is the so-called fate, right? Please don't worry about me, as a mother, I'm very strong."
Aeolia was about to speak when the door to the research room was suddenly and roughly pushed open and Ribbons appeared in the doorway. His gaze swept around and finally locked on Ikari Yui, "Researcher Ikari, you should be on maternity leave now, can you tell me what you're doing here?"
"At least say hello to the doctor, you're getting really rude." Ikari Yui walked over to Aeolia calmly and sat back down in her original seat, "I came to convince the Doctor to conduct human experiments on NT, I'm willing to act as experimental material."
"Lying in front of an innovator is not a wise idea, you seem to forget the fact that you are an NT." Ribbons's disc-colored eyes lit up, "Researcher Ikari, could you repeat what you just said?"
"I am willing to act as experimental material for NT human experiments, from the most basic induction tests all the way to NT's self-sustainment tests in LCL." Ikari Yui's smile did not change in the slightest, "What else do you want to know?"
…
On the moon, in Anaheim's cutting-edge laboratory, everyone listened to Aeolia's narration and looked at the glass container on the test bench in silence. Those present were the decision-making level of the moon and those who could influence it, even Harry and Ghingham were not allowed to participate here.
"I was the one who was so useless." Diana blamed herself and spoke, "I was unaware of this for so many years and caused you to suffer so much. If it weren't for Dr. Lingus, I'm afraid you would still be in prison right now."
"Geass is the power of God, it is so powerful that even I can't do anything about it, let alone you." Aeolia looked at the other woman present with some sorrow, "C.C., I never thought I would see you again in this situation."
"You're the only one who didn't expect it, I had thought of it. As long as you're not dead, with Ade's ability, it's only a matter of time before we get you out." C.C. responded blandly, "In that case, I have to thank Ikari Yui. She made a good FLAG for me."
"C.C. has a lover…" Aeolia sighed incredulously, "Dr. Lingus, you really are—"
"It seems that your experiment was very successful." Ade, who had been silent, suddenly interrupted him and reached out to pick up the sealed glass container and played with it, "If I guessed correctly, the GN-Drive is full of this stuff? The reactor made by taking live NT in LCL and generating high-energy particles through repeated high-intensity stimulation?"
"Although it was made under Charles's control, it was indeed my own doing, a sin I committed." Aeolia watched Ade's movements with alarm, "I know you must have resentment as an NT, this is my fault, it has nothing to do with Ikari Yui."
"I have no resentment, what resentment can I have?" Ade put the glass container containing Ikari Yui back on the test bench, "I was just thinking, if you stuff me and Tiffa into a GN-Drive, how powerful can the Gundam be?"
"Doctor, do not get angry," Loran quickly explained to Aeolia, "As an NT, his emotions are more sensitive. He's absolutely not intended to say that, please do not blame him. Isn't it, Ade?"
"Ade?" Ange swept alertly between Ade and Loran, "Changed your call? When?"
"I used to call Dr. Aeolia Doctor decades ago, but now that there are two Doctors here, isn't it easy to get confused?" Loran's gaze was clear as water, "Besides, Ade and I are considered close friends, so it's normal to call him that."
"Let me think about it…" Ange started counting, after a while, she reacted, "Where is normal? Of all his male friends, you're the only one who calls him by his nickname."
"Ange, that's so rude." Ade knocked the young girl's head, and the emotion waves he had just now were gone after being interrupted, "Dr. Aeolia, sorry, I was too rude."
The suspicion in Ange's eyes not only did not dissipate, but she looked to Lacus for help. Lacus shook her head imperceptibly, and Ange read it and nodded helplessly.
"Dr. Lingus, I can understand your actions, and I will atone for the mistakes I have made." Aeolia's finger trembled and pointed to Ikari Yui on the table, "But, she… How is she? Did she say anything to you?"
Ade closed his eyes to touch that consciousness again, and after a few moments, he slowly opened his eyes, "What is left of her today is only the most basic self-awareness, completely unable to think and communicate. I don't know what your so-called human experiments consist of, but the fact that she can barely be called alive is already a miracle of incredible will."
"My bad." Aeolia repeated this in pain with one hand on his forehead, "The first order of business is to clone a new body for her, using the cell samples I secretly saved. I admit that there is selfishness involved, but she is an extremely good researcher, which is in line with our long-term goals. Dr. Lingus, there's something I'd like to ask you."
"What?"
"I will transplant the soul over as soon as the clone's embryo is ready, and until the clone is mature enough to leave the culture medium, only you, as an NT, can communicate with her directly." Aeolia locked eyes with Ade with a pleading gaze, "I want to ask you to talk to her every day, to teach her language and thinking. I'm not so sure about the memory, if it can be restored…"
"I object!" Ange protested ahead of Ade, "Talk to her alone every day from her birth? Do you want to create Alice Number Two? Ghingham is also an NT, and Kamille is an NT too. Anyway, I do not agree with Ade doing this!"
"Ange, don't mess around." Ade flicked her forehead, "We're running out of time, and Ms. Ikari's level of scientific research is highly desirable. I likewise hope to get her language and logical thinking skills back as soon as possible, preferably to start participating in projects as soon as she comes out of the culture medium. Dr. Aeolia, I accept this commission."
"No matter how much I guard against it, I still can't guard against it…" Ange muttered in a voice that only she could hear, and peeked at the other two women who played dumb from the beginning to the end, "Humph, playing dumb? When the time comes, you will have to cry."
"It's getting late, let's call it a day." Aeolia stood up with a deep look at Ade, "There are some technical issues I want to talk about with Dr. Lingus alone, please come tomorrow."
Indeed. They didn't mention the most critical topics such as Human Instrumentality Project and C.C. just now at all. Ade shook hands with Aeolia with understanding and was ready to leave.
"Loran, please stay for a while." Aeolia called out to Loran and waited until everyone had left and only the two of them were left in the lab, he spoke slowly, "It was my fault, I'm sorry."
"What are you talking about?" Loran waved his hands in panic, "You've been apologizing this night, what's wrong with you?"
"I just woke up from my heroic dream of saving mankind, and suddenly realized that I'm just an old man who can't do anything." Aeolia laughed self-deprecatingly, "Let's not talk about that, now that the technology has accumulated enough, we can finally make up for the regret between you and Diana. When I help Ikari Yui make a body, I can help you make a new one too. I want to ask, whose genes do you want to use to make up for your new body?"
"Hey?" Loran's eyes widened in surprise, "That too… that's too sudden."
"What's wrong? Don't you want it?" This time, it was Aeolia's turn to be surprised, "Indeed, it's too sudden. You can think about it first, or discuss it with Diana. This is a life-changing event anyhow, and a hasty decision is really not good."
"No, please don't tell Diana…" Loran frowned nervously for a moment and finally looked Aeolia straight in his eyes, "I'll tell you my answer right now."
