Due to the number of requist I have gotten, I have decide to repost part
11 of Alternate Future. Any other parts can still be found on my old webpage
at...
http://members.aol.com/JLee100441/page/index.htm
Thanks again
James
-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
-- File: AF11.TXT
Alternate Future
By: James Lee
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. Ranma 1/2 belongs
to Rumiko Takahashi. Evangelion was created by Hideaki Anno. No
money is being made off this.
Thanks to my prereaders: Octavain, Lord Talon, Short Yes, and Kavin
Hammel.
Part 11
"We have visual confirmation of the target. Target is currently
in earth orbit over the Pacific ocean." Said Hyuga as an image of the
Angel appeared on the main viewing screen. This Angel looked like a
giant bird, glowing in space. Many people would of consider it very
beautiful, if they didn't know it's true purpose.
"So is it looking for a nice spot to land or is it going to destroy
us from way up there?" said Misato sarcastically. "Prepare EVA units
02 and 03 for launch."
"We're not going to use unit 01?"
"Unit 01 is to remain in cryostasis, commander's orders."
Misato turned and looked up at the commander's station. "And
considering what's happened, I guess we better listen this time."
"Are we going to use Asuka and unit 02?"
"We'll be using unit 02." Said Ritsuko entering the control
room. Misato turned to her.
"You're late."
"Sorry, had a slight situation to defuse. Asuka's friend Hikari,
saw Ranma transform."
"Really? Did you explain things to her."
"Not necessary, she's convinced herself that it was dream."
"Oh. So, have you worked something out."
"Yes, we'll have Nabiki pilot unit 03. We'll then try to get
Ranma to sync with unit 02..."
"What if Ranma can't sync with unit 02?"
"Then we'll have Asuka reboard and put on standby as backup
for Nabiki." Misato nodded.
*What's taking so long* thought Asuka in unit 02's entry plug.
Suddenly Ritsuko's voice came over the com system.
[Asuka, exit unit 02.]
"Exit unit 02? What for?" *Oh god, maybe they don't think
I'm good enough anymore!* What came next however, was the final
insult for Asuka.
[We're going to use Nabiki....]
"WHAT!!? That bitch piloting MY unit 02 into combat! Over my
dead body! EVA UNIT 02 LAAUNCH!!!!"
"ASUKA!!" Yelled Ritsuko as unit 02 shot to the surface.
Misato glared at her.
"You could have worded that a little better, Ritsuko! Well there's
nothing that can be done now. Aoba, send up the rifle."
Up at the surface, it was raining. Asuka waited until the rifle,
one of the most powerful in NERV's inventory, shot up out of the
ground next to unit 02. Grabbing the rifle, Asuka started taking aim.
[Enemy target still out of range.]
"Damn it come on!" Asuka waited impatiently for the crosshairs
of her unit's gunnery computer to align. Just as the crosshairs were
about to align, Asuka saw a bright light. "Huh?"
Suddenly, like a ray of sunshine braking through the rain, a
beam of white light engulfed unit 02. Asuka screamed as she felt
something entering her head..
"A particle beam!?" asked Misato in a panic.
"Negative, we're not getting any readings on the thermal scan!"
Replied Hyuga.
"Nooo! Don't come inside me! Stay out!" Screamed Asuka
as she started pulling the trigger. Two of the shots went skyward, but
passed harmlessly underneath the Angel. Asuka however, continued
to pull the trigger. The landscape seemed to explode as the remaining
rounds landed on Tokyo 3 and the surrounding area. Finally the
weapon clicked as the last of the ammo was fired.
"Damn, unit 02's rifle is out of ammo and the target is still out
of range!" Yelled Aoba.
"Asuka's syncograph is dropping rapidly!" Maya called from
her station. "Reporting Mental contamination!"
"Is it trying to figure out the human mind!?" asked Ritsuko.
"What the hell is that beam!?" Misato demanded.
"Beam composition unknown!"
Ritsuko turned to Misato. "We've got to get Asuka out of
there NOW!" Misato nodded.
[Asuka get out of there!]
"Noo.."
[Asuka retreat that's an ORDER!]
"No, I'd rather die than be defeated again!" Asuka clutched her
head. "STOP IT! Stay out!"
Meanwhile, in another part of Tokyo-3, unit 03 was taking
aim with THE most powerful rifle available to NERV, the SSDF
positron cannon.
[Cooling systems at 100%]
[Power output at 100%. Directing to main chamber.]
[Compensation for the Earth's rotation at 93.6%]
Ranma waited for the crosshairs to align. His earlier anger
forgotten, he hoped that Asuka could hold out. As soon as the crosshairs
aligned, Ranma fired.
Every window within twenty blocks was shattered by the
shockwave of the shot. The top floors of the building that the weapon
was resting on were destroyed by the guns recoil. The beam tore through
the sky and into space; only to be stopped by the Angel's AT field.
"It's no good. The beam didn't have enough power."
"Asuka's sync rate is almost at 0%!" shouted Maya in alarm.
"All of unit 02's systems are losing power!"
Ritsuko looked over Maya shoulder at the screen. "Reroute
all power to life-support."
The little girl ran through the hallways.
*Asuka Darling.*
*Please Mommy!*
*I made your favorite.*
*Don't stop being my Mommy!*
*Daddy doesn't want us anymore.*
*No Mommy!*
*Come to heaven with Mommy.*
*Please don't kill me Mommy!*
Asuka screamed. "Stop it! I don't want to remember those
awful things!"
The Angel however continued it's assault on the girl's mind.
Asuka found herself standing in another hallway with a smoking gun
in her hand. At feet layed a man with a hole in his chest.
*You killed me!*
*N-No! I-I didn't want to!*
*But you did.*
*B-But I didn't mean to!*
*Oh that's good. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to implode your
chest with your own gun!*
*No.*
Suddenly Asuka found herself sinking in a pool of blood.
Around her stood Misato, Ritsuko, Shinji, Rei, Hikari, Nabiki, and
Ranma. All stared at her with accusing eyes.
*What were you thinking!?*
*I-I didn't want...*
*How could you do that!?*
*No.*
*You're such an evil person!*
*N-No!*
*You're a murderer!*
*No!*
*Murderer!*
*No!*
*Murderer!*
*No!*
*MURDERER!!!*
"NNNOOOOOOOO!!!!"
Inside unit 03 Ranma gritted his teeth. That thing was doing
god knows what to Asuka. He was sure it wasn't pleasant.
[My mind.] *Huh?* It was Asuka, her voice no more than a
whimper now. [It's defouling my mind.]
*No.* Ranma's anger at the Angel boiled. That thing wasn't
just hurting Asuka; it was RAPING her. He had to do something to
stop it.
[What do I do.....What do I....K-Ka..Kaj.....Ranma.]
That was all Ranma could stand.
"Unit 03 has increased speed. It's headed strait for unit 02."
"What!?" Ritsuko's eyes then widened. *He wouldn't!* "Ranma
NO! Quick, cut all power to unit 03!"
But it was too late. Unit 03 crashed into unit 02, pushing it out
of the beam. Unit 02 dropped to the ground as unit 03 now found
itself trapped in the beam.
Up in space the Angel noticed the change of targets. It began
to search the targets memories for something it could use. It was
quickly surprised to find that this human seemed to have very few
memories and almost nothing it could use to attack him with. Then it
found something. A fear. A fear so deep that it was imbedded into his
subconscious. Yes, with this fear the Angel would destroy this human.
It began it's assault anew and Ranma screamed.
[Nooo! Get off! Get off! Help me! Argghhhh..]
"Oh no." Ritsuko turned to Maya. "How's his sync rating?"
"I can't tell."
"What do mean you can't tell!?"
"I mean I can't tell! His syncograph has gone crazy! It's jumping
all over the place from 30 to 180!"
Ritsuko blinked. *Why isn't it going down like with Asuka?
Could Ranma's dual sexual nature have some odd effect on the beam?*
Misato gulped, she didn't like the way the syncograph was
acting. "You don't think he's going to reach 400% like Shinji did, do
you?"
"I-I don't know. I hope not."
Hyuga spoke up. "MAGI estimate chance of target entering
within range of our weapons 0.02%."
"Great, there's no way to reach it."
[Let me out there.] Misato looked up. It was Shinji in unit 01.
Sub-commander Fuyuzuki leaned forward.
"Impossible! We can't risk unit 01 being contaminated!"
[That won't happen. Not if I win. Please Father!]
"We can't risk it." answered the NERV commander.
[But we have to do something!]
Gendo nodded his head. "Your right, alert pilot Tendo and
prepare unit XX for combat deployment."
Ritsuko gasped. "B-But sir, we haven't even had an activation
test with that unit yet!"
"Well now would be a good time doctor." Ritsuko glared up
at Gendo, but nodded.
Nabiki was bored. When the alert came, she had reported to
headquarters like she was supposed to, quickly gotten into her black
plugsuit, and awaited orders. And waited and waited and waited.
Nabiki sighed. It wasn't like she really wanted to go into battle,
she just want to know what was going on. All she could hear was the
intercom calling this person to here or that group to there. She had
thought of going up to the control room, but figured she'd only get in
the way.
So Nabiki sat waiting for orders that would probably not come.
Sighing again, Nabiki looked down at her skintight plugsuit. *Who ever
design this thing must have been a real pervert. Heh I'm Nabiki the S&M
queen! I'm into skintight leather, whips, and chains...*
[Nabiki Tendo, report to cage 13.]
Nabiki nearly jumped at her name being called. She looked
up as the intercom repeated the message.
[Nabiki Tendo, report to cage 13.]
Nabiki gulped and started to head to the cages. Suddenly,
boredom didn't seem all that bad to her. *Well you got yourself into
this mess.* Entering the cages Nabiki blinked at the giant EVA, it
looked different from the others. Not paying it a second thought, Nabiki
nervously entered the cockpit.
[OK I'm in, but I don't think this unit's got a power cable
attached.]
"Don't worry about it. The unit you're in doesn't need one.
We're activating the unit now." said Ritsuko, there was no time to go
through all the procedures for a first time activation or reactivation as
in this case. She could only hope that nothing went wrong.
"Activation complete holding at 45%." Ritsuko sighed in relief
at Maya's words.
"OK, prepare for launch."
"Negative." The bridge crew turned to look at the commander.
Gendo continued. "Send unit XX to Dogma and get the lance."
Ritsuko nervously nodded, then turned. "Nabiki follow the
lighted path to Dogma. You'll need to retrieve a special weapon there."
[Roger.]
"You can't use the lance!" said Fuyuzuki. "It's too soon!"
"Don't worry this falls within the plan." Not that Gendo cared
about the plan anymore. "That angel must be stopped and the lance is
the only weapon that can do it."
"The old men will never go along with this. You know that!"
"Yes, that is why we must move quickly before they can stop
us."
Misato turned to Ritsuko. "But, if the EVA should come into
contact with Adam won't that start Third Impact?" *Or is that a lie too.*
Ritsuko ignored Misato turning to Maya. "What's Ranma's
status?"
"His sync ratio still hasn't stabilized. Now ranging from 50 to
240%!"
"His lifesigns have become completely erratic!"
"Prepare to eject the plug."
"No." Ritsuko stared at Misato in disbelief. "If we eject the
plug, the Angel will just change targets. Maybe to Nabiki. Maybe
back to Asuka. Ranma's holding up a lot better than Asuka and
we can't risk losing another EVA."
[WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!??]
Misato looked up. "Sounds like Nabiki's reached Adam's
chamber."
Nabiki look at the form before her. It was something out of
a horror picture. A giant white humanoid crucified on a large cross.
It's face was a mask with seven eyes. Where it's lower torso should
have been, instead hanged what look like sets of human legs. Nabiki
gulped and once again wondered what the hell she had gotten herself
into.
[It's an Angel Nabiki. Don't worry, it can't harm you. Now
what we need you to do is to remove the lance from it's chest...]
"You want me to what!?"
[We want you to remove the lance.]
"B-But..."
[Nabiki, the lance is the only weapon that can destroy this
Angel. If you don't retrieve it Ranma and Asuka will DIE!]
Nabiki took a deep breath. "Roger."
Entering the pool of LCL that the cross stood in, unit XX reached
up and grabbed hold of the lance. Nabiki was thankful that she had not
eaten much in the past few hours. She wondered just how this lance
was suppose to destroy the angel. After all if guns didn't work, how
was a hand weapon going to work.
However, as unit XX pulled on the lance, Nabiki could feel
an incredible force. Slowly Nabiki realized her unit was holding something
of immense power.
Finally the lance was free. Nabiki yelped as the Angel's torso
suddenly exploded and formed legs. Unit XX hopped back ready to
slam the lance back in.
"That thing just grew legs!"
[Don't worry about it.]
Misato turned to Ritsuko. "She doesn't have to worry about
that right?"
Ritsuko shook her head, no. "We don't have time for her to
get back to the launch pads. Open up all the bulkheads to Dogma
except the last two. Nabiki?"
[Yes]
"The unit you're in is equipped for flight. We need you to fly up
from Dogma."
Misato looked at Ritsuko. "That EVA can fly?"
"It's equipped with a new experimental flight system." answered
Maya. "It's uses the unit's AT field as a propulsion system, much like
a rocket pack. It's base on the flight systems used by past Angels."
"What if it doesn't work?"
"Then we might have a problem." Ritsuko replied.
[What do I do?] asked Nabiki.
"Expand you field and concentrate on flying. Like if you were
Superman."
Nabiki looked as the hatchways over Central Dogma. Expanding
her AT field, Nabiki concentrated on flying. She yelped as the massive
EVA unit shot up towards the surface. As soon as unit XX past the
first two hatchways, they started to close behind it. Nabiki then noticed
the hatches at the surface opening. In an instant, unit XX shot up over the
city...and landed face first onto the ground.
*Oww I guess I'll have to work on that.* thought Nabiki. It
would have probably been rather funny, if the situation wasn't so
serious. Slowly unit XX began to get up.
*So that's unit XX.* thought Misato as she got her first look
at the rebuilt unit 00. The first thing she noticed was the color. Where
unit 00 was blue with white trim, unit XX was white with blue and
red trim. The next thing she noticed were the two large protrusions
from the back that look sort of like wings. *That must be the flight
system.* The last thing she noticed was the head. The unit now had
two eyes instead of one and a very large blue horn. A small tab still
protruded out from the mouth area and was now painted red. Misato
figured that was someone's idea of a joke, as it made the EVA look
like it was sticking its tongue out.
"All right Nabiki, engage and destroy the target. You get only one
shot at this so make it count!"
Inside unit XX Nabiki nodded, as she pulled back to throw
the lance. As Nabiki did this she notice the lance morph into a giant
javelin. Yes, there was no doubt in her mind that this awesome weapon
would destroy the Angel.
With all its might, unit XX hurled the Javelin at its distant target.
As soon as the weapon left the EVA's hand, it became a bolt of such
intense heat, that it vaporized rain clouds over Tokyo 3. Tearing into
space, the bolt slammed through the Angel's AT field then through the
Angel itself. With a scream that no one could hear, the Angel disintegrated.
"Target destroyed."
Misato sighed in relief. "Where's the lance?"
"It's in a lunar orbit." replied Hyuga.
"So there's no way of getting it back, is there?"
"No ma'am, we don't have the technology to recover something
that large from orbit.
"Oh well. Good job Nabiki, stand down. Prepare to...huh?" Misato
looked up as a roar came over the intercom system. She could see unit 03
on one of the monitors. It was now on all four and looking back and forth
like an animal. *Oh shit! Not again.* "What's Ranma's sync ratio?"
"210%!" Yelled Maya.
Nabiki watched as the black EVA growled and crawled
around on all fours. As it came to a building and started clawing the
side off it, only one thing came to Nabiki's mind.
"N-Nekoken."
"It's going berserk!" yelled Misato. *Crap! Just what we need
after an angel attack. An out of control EVA.*
"Try to eject the plug." ordered Ritsuko.
"Ejecting plug. Plug is clear!" Maya said she then blinked. "Umm
unit 03 is powering down."
"What!? Why's it doing that?" *Could it be something with Ranma?*
Ritsuko wondered fearfully.
"Hey, let's not look a gift horse in the mouth." said Misato,
heading out the door. "I'm going to check on them."
"Wait for me." said Ritsuko as she followed Misato out.
*****
Ritsuko jumped out of the jeep as it arrived at the site. Misato
turned off the engine and looked around. She noted that the entry plug
had gone down near unit 02. Misato could see Asuka sitting by herself,
surrounded by yellow quarantine tape. Ritsuko went over to one of the
rescue personnel.
"Where's the entry plug?"
"It's over there Ma'am," said the tech pointing at a nearby
lot. The plug sat in the center of the lot also surrounded by yellow
tape. "However, we were told not to open it until you arrive."
"Alright, get the biohazard gear out and...." Ritsuko stopped
as her cell phone beeped. Taking out her phone, Ritsuko answered.
"This is Dr. Akagi."
[Ma'am it's me, Maya. There's something odd happening with
unit 03's entry plug..]
Ritsuko narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean? Is Ranma alright?"
[Well Ma'am his life signs are still very erratic, but he is alive.
The thing is his brain scan is showing almost no activity. He should be
unconscious, instead we're picking up a lot of movement inside the
cockpit.]
"Your picking up movement. It might be the plug sensors. They
could have been damaged....] (boom.)
Misato looked up. "What's that?"
Ritsuko looked around. (boom!) "I-It's coming from unit 03's
entry plug."
(BABOOM!!)
"What..." Misato started, but stopped as shadow came over
her. Her eyes then widen as she realized what it really was. "LOOK
OUT!!!"
Misato grabbed Ritsuko and dived to the side just as the entry
plug hatch crashed into the jeep, crushing it. Misato's blinked as she
looked at the jeep. *T-The entry plug hatch!?* It wasn't just the entry
plug hatch, but the main entry plug hatch (1)!
"MEEOOOWWW"
"Now what!?" Misato turned to see a black form leap from
the entry plug onto a nearby van. Misato blinked, as nearby was
twenty meters! In an instant the figure jumped onto an open area
where Misato could make out that it was indeed..."Ranma?"
"Meow." Ranma looked around on all fours. His eyes were
that of an animal. It was almost as he was acting like a cat. Misato
signaled the NERV security troops. Ranma hissed as he suddenly
found himself surrounded by several soldiers.
Nabiki ran to where the entry plug landed. She had hoped that
Ranma didn't remember the Nekoken. *Maybe being ejected from
unit 03 snapped him out of...* Nabiki yelped as a badly beaten
NERV security guard flew past her. She could see Ranma now sitting
in a circle of battered soldiers, his pigtail on end. *Shit! Not only is he
in the Cat Fist, but now he was pissed.* Nabiki then noticed a very
nervous Misato hiding behind half wreaked car with Ritsuko.
Misato had her gun out. Ritsuko looked to be putting a tranquilizer
rifle together.
Nabiki had to come up with something quick. Although a
tranquilizer gun would stop Ranma, it would take several shots. Nabiki
thought about calling out to him, but would he respond. Nabiki gulped,
she wasn't sure. What if he didn't?
"Ranma!" Ranma Neko looked at her, but didn't respond.
"Nabiki, get back! There's something wrong with him." yelled
Misato from behind the car. Ritsuko had now finished putting the rifle
together and was taking aim. Nabiki then noticed Asuka. she had been
pulled behind a car for her safety. Nabiki rushed over to her.
Kneeling down Nabiki looked at the German girl. She seemed
to be in a world of her own. Nabiki gasped as she looked into Asuka's
eyes, they were practically lifeless. Shaking her head, Nabiki started
shaking her.
"Wake up, wake up!" Nabiki then slapped her. Suddenly Asuka
eyes flared for an instant before returning back to near lifeless.
"Leave me alone." It was so low that Nabiki could barley hear
it. Nabiki grabbed on to Asuka's shoulders. *Well at least I got her
to respond.*
"No damnit! Ranma needs us!"
Asuka looked at her. "R-Ranma..."
"Yes, Ranma needs us. Now come on get up."
"Wh-What can I do?"
Nabiki started guiding her around the car. "Call to him. Pretend
he's a big kitty cat."
Asuka blinked at her.
Meanwhile Ritsuko took aim with the rifle and fired.
"REOWWW!" Ranma lept as the dart ricochet off the street.
"Damnit Ritsuko, give me that!" shouted Misato as she grabbed
the rifle from the NERV doctor. "Give me another dart."
Ritsuko started preparing another dart. As she did this, Misato
noticed Nabiki guiding Asuka from behind the car. *What are they up
to?* Ritsuko noticed Nabiki giving some instructions to Asuka.
Asuka knelt down. "Ranma."
"Meow?" Misato gulped as Ranma then looked strait at the
German girl. "Ritsuko, hurry up! Give me the dart!"
"Just a second, if this isn't done right it could kill him."
Asuka then held her hand out. "Umm here kitty, kitty, kitty.."
"Meow!" Suddenly Ranma lept at her.
"Asuka!" Misato screamed as Ranma crashed into the girl's
lap and...purred? She then blinked as Ranma settled himself down
and seemingly went to sleep.
Nabiki went to her knees as things suddenly became very clear
to her. *Damnit, it isn't fair.* Taking a few deep breaths, Nabiki composed
herself. She then felt a shadow coming over her. Nabiki turned around
to see Ritsuko looking down at her.
"We need to talk Miss Tendo."
"W-What do you mean."
"That's never happened before, yet you seem to know how
to stop it. You also knew about his condition. I want to know how,
you know so much about Ranma."
"Umm." Nabiki frantically started looking for an excuse. Misato
then stepped forward. It was time she settled this.
"We can do this with drugs and machines if you like, Nabiki."
Nabiki looked from Ritsuko to Misato. She knew the major
could make good her threat. Taking a deep breath, she nodded.
Nabiki then looked back at Ranma and Asuka.
"C-Can we go somewhere else?"
Misato nodded and started guiding Nabiki away.
"Hey wait a minute!" Nabiki turned to see Asuka a little flustered
with Ranma sleeping on her lap. "What am I supposed to do now?"
Nabiki thought for a moment. She could tell Asuka that changing
him to a girl might snap him out of it, but...
"Oh you'll just have to sit there until he wakes up. Whatever
you do don't disturb him or he might get worse. So don't do anything
no matter what. I have to warn you, he's pretty much a cat right now
so he might do something catlike like lick your face or something.
Whatever you do don't lash out or we might lose him."
Asuka gulped as she looked down at the now sleeping Ranma.
She then nodded.
(1) The entryplugs have two hatches built into them. The emergency
hatch (A) is built into the side of the entryplug. This is one that Gendo
burned his hands on trying to get Rei out in episode 5. Then there is
the main hatch (B) built on the top of the entryplug. This hatchway is
big enough to allow the removal of the entire cockpit. See diagram
below.
_________________________________________
| \_________B_____________| |
|__[A]____________________________________|
*****
Later:
Ritsuko looked at Nabiki in disbelief. They were now sitting
in a command van. Misato had ushered everyone but Maya out.
Ritsuko took a deep breath. "Now let me get this straight. Ranma is
acting the way he is right now because his father threw him into a
pit of starving cats?"
"Umm hmm" replied Nabiki, nodding.
"And he changes sex because the same father knocked him
into a cursed spring in China?"
"Yep."
"And both you and he are actually from another universe and
were sent here by goddesses?"
"Umm that's right."
"And you expect me to believe this?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"BECAUSE IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!"
"Oh, how come?"
"Magical curses? Goddesses? None of that stuff is real!"
"The angels are real."
Ritsuko almost winced. "Angel is just a code name we give
to the alien invaders. They're not actually from god!"
"And what about some of the stuff Ranma does?" Nabiki countered.
"What do you mean?"
"That ki blast he threw at that one Angel!"
"A modified use of the EVA's AT field!"
"What about what he just did outside. He ripped the main entry
plug hatch off and threw it! That things got to weigh at least 300 kilos!"
"Adrenaline charged superhuman strength caused by fear induced
stress. There are hundreds of reported cases!"
"He turns into a girl when he gets wet!"
"A.....A....I'M WORKING ON IT!!!" yelled Ritsuko as both
Misato and Maya snickered. Getting a glare from Ritsuko, Misato
stopped and turned to Nabiki.
"Nabiki, I told you there are other ways of finding out truth."
Nabiki narrowed her eyes. Hitting the pressure release on her
plug suit, Nabiki began taking it off. "All right. Hook me up to your
machines! Pump me full of whatever drugs you use! You'll get the
same answers you got ten minutes ago!"
Misato just looked at Nabiki. The EVA pilot then took a
deep breath. "Listen, maybe it's not really magic. Maybe there's
some chemical in the water at Jusinkyo that mutates people into
shape shifters. Maybe the Goddess was really an alien from Planet
X. All I know is that one day Ranma disappeared and six weeks
later a woman claming to be a goddess, offered me a wish."
"And you wished to be with Ranma." said Misato. Nabiki
nodded.
"So why did your family kick Ranma out, in the first place?"
Nabiki stiffened at that. "I'd rather not talk about that."
Ritsuko looked at Nabiki. "Why not?"
"Because it was stupid OK!" Nabiki then calmed down.
"Could I ask you a favor?"
"I don't know." said Misato. "Depends on what the favor is."
"Don't tell Ranma about any of this."
Misato narrowed her eyes. "Why not? You don't think he
deserves the truth?"
"What good would it do him?" Nabiki sighed. "I don't know
how we could get back home. Besides he seems very happy here.
Most of the stuff about his past would...would only hurt him."
*****
Meanwhile Asuka was still sitting outside with Ranma sleeping
in her lap. She could only hope he would wake up soon. Although he
had not licked her face, he had rubbed his head against her side and purred.
She had almost beat the crap out of him for that, but then remembered
what Nabiki had said. Still it was embarrassing as all hell to have him
sleeping on her lap in public. She just hoped they didn't sound the all
clear and let the people out of the shelters before he woke up. *That's
all I need, the whole world to see me like this.*
Ranma's eyes then slowly open. He blinked a bit, before sitting
up. "A-Asuka!? Where am I?"
"You're in my lap. Do you mind getting off now."
Ranma jumped up, and looked down at her. "W-What happened?"
"You were acting like a cat. You were tearing apart the whole
place, before Nabiki got me to calm you down."
"A-A cat, why was I doing that?"
"That's what I want to know. Don't you remember?"
"I-I remember the Angel. It...It kept showing me things."
Asuka frowned as Ranma thought. "It showed me a man, a big man
with glasses. He kept throwing me into this pit of starving cats. I-I cried,
I begged him not too, but he still kept throwing me in. Then I woke up
here. I-I think that man was my father. I think that Angel was showing
me my past."
"What were you thinking Ranma!?" Ranma looked at Asuka
who was glaring at him with tears in her eyes.
"W-What?"
"Jumping in front of that Angel. Why do you always do stupid
shit like that!?"
"I-I could just stand there and let that thing torture you! I...It
made me so mad when I heard you crying. I-I had to stop it."
"Why did you have to stop it huh? I treat you like shit, you
should hate me. You should have been enjoying it!"
"Well I wasn't. I don't hate you Asuka, I-I like you." There he'd
said it, at least part of it.
"NO!" Asuka turned around, her face now full of tears. *Damn
you, Ranma* How was that he could always do this to her. "Y-You can't
like me!"
Ranma sat down beside her. "Why Asuka? Why can't I like
you?"
"Because I can't care for anybody, that's why!"
Ranma blinked, he had never heard of anything like that before
"Why not? Why can't you care for anybody?"
"I loved daddy and he walked out on us. I loved Momma and
she died. I loved Kaji and he..." Asuka started sobbing. "Don't see
Ranma? It's always like that."
"No, that doesn't matter. Just because all those things happened
doesn't mean I'm going to stop caring for you. I wasn't lying Asuka.
I really do like you and all those bad things aren't going to make me
stop. I-I want to be your friend, Asuka. I-I...please be my friend."
"R-Ranma." Asuka just looked at him for a moment. Could she
do it, could she be his friend. Would it be like all those other times. She
remembered all times he had saved her. How a small part of her felt
good when he came to her rescue and protected her. Asuka took a
deep breath and held out her hand. "Um Hi I'm Asuka, Asuka Soryu."
Ranma smiled. "I'm Ranma, Ranma Saotome. Want to be friends?"
"Ah sure." said Asuka nervously.
"I think you should know though, I turn into a girl when I get
wet."
"I-I guess I can live with that, but I should warn you. Lot's of bad
things happen around me."
"Don't worry, I'll always be there. I don't like to let my friends
down..."
*****
Nerima, present-day:
Akane watched as Dr. Tofu entered the room frowning. She
had the feeling that he did not like what he had found. Not that he had
been very pleasant to begin with. Akane wondered at that. He hadn't
talked to them since...*He couldn't be upset about Ranma, could he?*
Taking a deep breath the doctor began. "I've found out what
it is. Both Akane and Kasumi have been poisoned."
"NANI!?" Everyone shouted at once.
"My baby girls are going to die! BWAAAHHH!"
"Dr. Tofu, how bad is it?" asked Kasumi.
"The poison is non-lethal..." Akane sighed in relief. "However,
if you are not given the antidote soon, neither you nor Akane will be
able to have children."
Akane's eyes bulged. "Who do you think did this?"
"Well the poison is a magical one from China. I'd have to say
Cologne is behind this."
"Great. We have to fight her and Shampoo for the cure."
Dr. Tofu held up his hand. "I already have a copy of the cure."
"You do?!" said everyone.
"Yes I do. However we have a problem. One of the ingredients
we need for the antidote is the blood of a boy with a Jusenkyo curse..."
"I'll give you all the blood you need!" shouted Ryoga, but once
again the doctor raised his hand.
"It's not that simple Ryoga. We need the blood of a boy who
has fallen into the Spring of Drowned Girl."
Akane didn't like where this was going. "U-Umm, maybe we
can get some of Herb's blood."
Ryoga shook his head. "There's no chance of that happening."
"B-But with Jusenkyo flooded, the only other boy we know
with the girl curse is...is...Ranma."
To be continued.
Next:
-Asuka and Ranma face danger, and Misato arms herself to the
teeth, as the Tendos Strike Back!