[FFML] [EVA][R1/2] Alternate Future [Part 6]

Alternate Future 

By James Lee

Disclaimer: Ranma and Evangelion characters are not mine.

Part 6 The 14th Angel

	Ritsuko and Ranma were eating breakfast in the kitchen. Nether
seemed to be in top shape. They had both spent the night listening to
Asuka bang on the door, so they didn't get much sleep. As Ranma 
ate he eyed the kitchen nervously. He still couldn't figure out what in 
the apartment was making him so nervous. 
	Finishing his breakfast Ranma started for door to go to 
school. He stopped however just short of the door. Ritsuko noticed
this and watched as Ranma moved away from the door over to the
window. "Ranma? Is there something wrong?"
	"Nothing. I'm just not ready to deal with Asuka yet." Said 
Ranma as he jumped out the window.
	"RANMA THIS IS THE FIFTH FLOOR!!!" Yelled Ritsuko.
She ran up to the window afraid to look out expecting to see street
pizza. Instead she saw Ranma land on a tree branch then jump down 
to the fence to run to school. *He doesn't need a guardian, he needs
a leash!*
	Ritsuko grabbed her things and headed for the door to go to
work. When she opened the door she was surprised to have a sleeping
Asuka flop down on the floor. In an instant Asuka's eyes shot open
and she bolted upright. "Where is he!?"
	"He's already left Asuka."
	"No he hasn't! I would have woken up if he opened that door!"
	"He went out the window."
	"Yeah right Ritsuko! You think I'm stupid? This is the FIFTH
floor!"
	"I know Asuka. I do live here." Asuka not satisfied, quickly 
did a room to room search of the apartment. Finding no trace of her 
target Asuka went back to the living room.
	"Stupid hydrosexual. Hey Ritsuko, what time is it?"
	"It's 7:30."
	"WHATT!! I'll be late for school!" Asuka ran out of the apartment
grabbing her bookbag on the way.
	"Well at least your still dressed for school." Said Ritsuko locking
the door and heading for work. As she entered the elevator her cell 
rang. "Hello?"
	[Hello Ritsuko? Have you seen Asuka? She didn't come home
last night.]

				*****

	When Asuka sat down at her disk she was already in a bad
mood. Not only was she late, but rumors about what had happen 
yesterday had already began to circulate. Most of them saying that 
Asuka and the "Pigtailed girl" were lesbian lovers. Asuka glared at
Ranma who was at the moment talking to Toji.

	"Look Toji. The girl ain't going to change. Ah I've tried. She
likes girls and that's it." Said Ranma. His little plan was not working 
out as he'd planned. Sure Hikari had stopped caring about the Pigtailed
girl, but Toji would not give up. It was getting to the point where Ranma
wanted to scream in Toji's face that he was the Pigtailed girl.
	"That's just because she hasn't meet the right guy yet Ranma."
	"And I suppose you're that right guy." Said Ranma in a tired 
tone. Ranma then looked at Rei, who was being helped to her seat by 
Shinji. Rei had just gotten out of the infirmary and Ranma made a mental 
note to see how she was doing. Despite what he said the other day, Ranma
did feel that what happen to Rei was partially his fault.

	"Stupid Hydrosexual." Muttered Asuka as she got her books
out. Asuka looked up as Hikari sat down next to her. For some reason
the girl seemed uneasy to Asuka. "Hi Hikari what's up?"
	"Umm Asuka?"
	"What?"
	"I want you to know that I'll always be your friend."
	"What are you talking about?"
	Hikari became very nervous "Y-You and the P-Pigtailed Girl.
I-I didn't know things were l-like that."
	"WHAT!? Not you too! Listen, that bitch had no right to kiss
me. I'm NOT LIKE THAT!" In an instant Asuka's mind went into
targeting mode.
		TARGET KENZUKE: OUT OF RANGE
		TARGET TOJI: OUT OF RANGE, RESTRICTED
		TARGET RANMA: TOO FAST
		TARGET SHINJI: TARGET LOCKED
	Asuka quickly closed range with Shinji and grabbed him by
his collar. She then dragged the surprised boy up and crashed her lips
into his. *Hmm not as good as Ranma.* Asuka thought. Asuka's
subconscious mob quickly lynched this thought and hanged it from
the nearest imaginary tree. Disengaging from Shinji and turned back 
to Hikari. "There you see!"
	(SLAP!)
	The entire room became deathly quiet. A stunned Asuka 
watch as Rei lowered her hand and sat back down. She (as well as
most the class) was surprised that Rei could do anything emotional,
let alone strike out. Asuka's surprise however was quickly replaced by anger.
Balling up her fist, Asuka pulled back to strike but didn't get the chance
as someone grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the room. "What
the hell!!?"
	Asuka turned to see Ranma letting her arm go. "I'm not going
to let you beat up on Rei, Asuka. She's in no condition to fight." 
	(CRACK!)
	Ranma rubbed his now slightly sore jaw. "What you do that
for!?" *Ritsuko wants me to apologize to this girl!?*
	"You know damn good and well what I did that for!!"
	"And that makes you feel better!?"
	"You bet it does!" Said Asuka shaking her hand. *OWW...
What's he made of, rock!?*
	Ranma just looked as Asuka walked back to the class room.
"Why do you have to be such a mean witch?"
	Asuka turned. "What did you say!?"
	Unfortunately(or fortunately) both Ranma's and Asuka's cell phones
rang before Ranma could answer. Answering the phones the two pilots
just nodded and mumbled yes at the voice on the other end. Closing
her phone Asuka looked at Ranma as warning sirens started. 
"Well it looks like your saved by the bell this time Hydrosexual. Hey
Shinji move your ass! They want us at headquarters!"

			*****

	"What we got?" Asked Misato running into the control room.
	"It enter Japanese airspace an hour ago. It's already broken 
through all the outer defense lines. We should have visual anytime now."
Said Hyuga. "There it is!"
	Misato looked up at the screen to see a large black and white
angle approaching the center of town. The angle had a wide body with
stubs that appeared to be arms and legs. It also had a face that looked
somewhat like a skull. The second line defense units, a group of UN 
MLRS launchers, opened fire with the usual results, no effect. Suddenly
the eye sockets on the face glowed and shot a burst of energy.
	"It just penetrated eighteen layers of armor! Eighteen layers in
ONE SHOT!" Yelled Hyuga.
	"We're not going to have time to stop it on the surface. Deploy
the EVAs for combat inside the geofront! Are you guys ready?" Misato
asked the pilots.
	"Ready ma'am." Replied Shinji.
	"Yeah I'm ready." 
	"Ready and able! Just keep the Hydrosexual out of my way."	"Hey what ya mean by that!?"
	"I mean stay out of my way and watch how a real EVA pilot
handles an angle."
	"Enough!" Misato yelled "You two can have a lover's quarrel
later. Launch EVAs!"
	"WE'RE NOT LOVERS!" Screamed Asuka and Ranma at the
same time as they were rocketed up to the geofront.
	"Unit 01 didn't launch!" Yelled Aoba. "The launch pad isn't 
working!"
	"Well hurry up and fix it! I want all three units up there!"
	Suddenly the control room shook and Misato looked up
at the screen to see debris falling from ceiling of the geofront. *OK
Ranma, Asuka it's up to you.*

	Ranma and Asuka watched the debris fell from the ceiling. 
Various polearms and weapons had been placed around the geofront.
Asuka had armed unit 02 with two machine guns while Ranma had 
grabbed a rifle for unit 03. With a final explosion, a large part of the 
geofront ceiling collapsed and the 14th angel began to descend through
the hole. As the angle appeared both Asuka and Ranma opened fired
on it. The rounds seemed to be having no effect however.
	"Aren't we neutralizing it's AT field!?" Asked Ranma.
	Apparently they weren't as both EVAs emptied their weapons
with no apparent effect. Asuka became enraged. Grabbing a pair of
rocket launchers, she renewed her assault.
	"Damnit! I can't lose again! NOT AGAIN!"
	Still the angel did not seemed to be effected by the intense 
bombardment. Suddenly the angel's seemingly stubby arms unfolded
and lashed out at unit 02. Asuka howled in pain as both of unit 02's 
arms were severed. The intense pain only served to enrage Asuka 
more.
	"DAMN YOOUUU!!!" Asuka screamed as she charged the
now armless unit 02 at the angel.

	"Oh no Asuka! Quick cut her nerve connections!" Yelled Misato, 
but she could see that it was too late as the angel lashed out again.

	Asuka saw the bladed arm headed strait for unit 02's head,
but continued to charge. Suddenly there was splash of blood and unit
02 crashed down onto the ground. At first Asuka had thought that the
angel had cut off unit 02's head and that they had managed to cut the
nerve connections. As she looked up however, she could see unit 03
staggering off unit 02, blood gushing from it's left leg. 
	"R-Ranma? You idiot! What are you doing!?"
	"Keeping you from getting your head cut off!" Grunted Ranma 
in obvious pain. Unit 03 then hopped away from unit 02 drawing the
angel away with it. Asuka watched as unit 03 jumped away. "Dumkopf."
	Once they were far enough away, Asuka tried to get her EVA
 to stand up again. The EVA however wouldn't respond. "What the hell!?"
	Misato's voice came over the comm channel. "Forget it Asuka."
	"WHAT!? Damnit Misato unlock my controls!"
	"What are you going to do? Kick the angel to death! It's over
Asuka, your out of it."
	Asuka screamed and brought her fist down on the controls.
"DAMNIT!"

	Misato sighed in relief. Deep down she was beginning to 
worry about Asuka. Despite all Asuka's criticisms of Rei, Misato
was beginning to see that the two girls seem have one thing in common,
a seemingly disregard for their own lives. However were Rei displayed 
this disregard by simply obeying any order, no matter how dangerous,
Asuka displayed it in the form of reckless courage. This last time it was
almost if she wanted to die. That scared Misato, knowing Asuka's past.
She would have to talk to Asuka sometime. Misato put aside these thought's, 
there were more important matters at hand.
	"What's the status of unit 01?"
	"It's no good! We're transferring the unit to another pad, five
minutes!" Said Aoba
	"We don't need it in five minutes, we need it NOW! I don't
how long Ranma can hold that thing off!"

	Up in the geofront Ranma was beginning to get frustrated.
Despite the sever damage to his unit's leg, he was able to avoid the 
angel's attacks by using his good leg to hop around. None of his attacks
however, were getting through. He thought about closing to hand to
hand range, but if the guns weren't getting through the angel's AT field 
why would his fist? Another idea came to him as he fought. He didn't 
know where it came from and it sounded crazy even to him. *Well
nothing else is working.* That in mind Ranma began to jump unit 03
away from the angel.

	"Unit 03 is moving away from the target."
	"Ranma, what's wrong?" Asked Ritsuko. Maybe the damaged
leg was giving him problems.
	"Nothing. I want to try something." Misato looked at Ritsuko.
Ritsuko just shrugged.
	Jumping outside the presumed range of the Angel, Ranma 
brought unit 03's hands together.
	Maya looked at her display. "What!? UNIT 03'S AT FIELDIS CONDENSING!"
	Misato turned to Maya. "What did you say!?"
	"Unit 03's AT field is condensing to one point!"
	"Condensing where!?" Asked Ritsuko.
	Maya looked at her display, then looked up and pointed at
the screen. "There!"
	Misato and Ritsuko looked up to see an orange ball of AT 
energy forming between unit 03's hands. The whole unit seemed to 
glow with energy, feeding the ball.

	Asuka looked at the orange ball forming in between unit 03
hand's with a puzzled espression. *What is he doing!?*
	With a cry, that some said could be heard from unit 03, Ranma
launched the ball at the 14th angel. The concentrated AT energy flew
strait at the angel. There was a bright flash as the ball impacted the 
angel's AT field seeming to hover at that point for a few seconds, it
then punched through. The angel's left arm and shoulder were blown
off in a very spectacular and gory explosion.
	Asuka watched all this in shock. "Mein Gott!"

	*What the hell was that!?* Thought Misato. Turning to Ritsuko,
Misato could see her pouring over the data readouts. *Guess she doesn't
know either. Well whatever that was it got through!* Misato yelled.
"Ranma, the AT field is down! NOW's your chance!"

	Ranma didn't hesitate. Grabbing a nearby axe, Ranma hopped
unit 03 over to the wounded angel. Standing over it, Ranma brought 
the axe down onto the core with all unit 03's power. Ranma had been
told that this was the most vulnerable spot on an angel and a hit there 
would kill the angel. The axe didn't make it however as an armored
plate slide over the core stopping the weapon cold. Suddenly the angel's
right arm lashed out and severed unit 03's head. There was no time to
cut the nerve connections.

	"We've lost contact with unit 03!" Yelled Hyuga. "THE PILOT'S
HEART HAS STOPPED!!"
	"WHAT!? NOO!!" Ritsuko screamed. "Give him a heart massage,
NOW!" In an instant a charge of electricity went through Ranma's 
plug suit causing his body to convulse.
	"Nothing!"
	"Do it again!" 
	"Charging...charged!" Once again Ranma's body convulsed.
	"Just a spike that's all!"
	"DO IT AGAIN DAMNIT!" *Don't you die on me, Ranma!*
	"Charging...charged!" Ranma's body convulsed once more.
	"We got heartbeat."
	Ritsuko's heart also started beating again. "OK, he isn't breathing
though. We can't wait for this to be over. If he doesn't get medical
care now we'll lose him. Maya contact EVA Rescue(1), tell them we 
need a rescue team sent out NOW!" *God, hope he doesn't get brain
damage from this!*
	"On it!" Said Maya.
	"Make sure they have a portable respirator."
	Misato looked a little surprised at her usually cold hearted
friend. It wasn't like Ritsuko to lose it like that. *Maybe Ranma's
presence is having an positive effect on her.* Misato was shaken out
of her thoughts by a loud noise. A now regenerated 14th angel was
restarting it's attack.
	"The target has renewed it's attack! It's penetrated NERV 
headquarters and headed for Central Dogma!"
	"It's headed here! All personnel evacuate..." Misato's orders 
were interrupted as the angel came through the front wall of Central 
Dogma, crouched on all fours like a giant bulldog. Misato gasped as
the angel's started to glow, preparing to fire a blast that would destroy
the control room. Suddenly unit 01 burst through the side wall. "SHINJI!"

	Shinji wrestled the angle back through the wall into the EVA 
cages. Even as the angel fired a blast at unit 01, blowing off it's arm,
Shinji continued to fight screaming all the way. All Shinji could think 
about was getting the angel out of Headquarters. That in mind Shinji
pushed the angel onto a launching pad that he hoped worked. 
	"MISATO NOW!!"

	Misato caught on a turned to Aoba. "Launch Pad four NOW!"

	The angel and unit 01 shot back to the surface. The two life 
forms went up a two hundred feet before crashing to the ground. Unit
01, which had now lost it's grip of the angel, began to pommel the 
monster relentlessly. The EVA then grabbed hold of the now armored
core, began trying to pull it out of the angel. Suddenly unit 01 stopped.

	"Unit 01's battery power has run out!" Said Maya looking at a
portable display. Misato, Ritsuko, and the rest of the control crew 
were now in the elevator headed up to the surface. There was no point in 
staying in the control room with most of the equipment now ruined.
*Damnit not again!* Thought Misato.

	The angel, seemingly sensing the unit 01's loss of power, wrapped
an arm around the head of unit 01 and threw the EVA away from it.
With a crash the unit 01 landed onto the NERV pyramid. Inside unit
01, Shinji was beginning to panic.
	"MOVE! MOVE! MOVE DAMN YOU MOVE!!"
	Misato and the others came outside just in time to see the 
angel blow off unit 01's belly armor to reveal a dark red core. "What
is that?" Asked Misato. Straiting it's arms, the angel began to pound
on the core relentlessly.
	Inside the EVA the entry plug was beginning to crack and 
Shinji really began to panic. "OH YOU GOT A MOVE NOW! 
MOVE! MOVE! MOVE YOU GODDAMN FILTHY MONSTER!"
	Suddenly everything seemed to become calm for Shinji. The
entry plug became quiet and Shinji could almost hear someone's or
something's heart beating.
	Unit 01 grabbed one of the angel's arms and pulled the angel
up to it's face. Growling the EVA then kicked the angel, sending it 
flying and ripping it's arm off at the same time.
	"How can unit 01 move without power?" Asked Misato.
	"Impossible! How could Shinji's sync rate be higher than 
400%?" Asked Maya looking at her portable display.
	Ritsuko watched as unit 01 put the remains of the angel's arm
up to it's own damaged arm. The remains morphed into a new arm for
the EVA. "Oh God! It's finally happen! She's aware!"
	Grunting like a wild gorilla, unit 01 advanced on the wounded
angel. As the EVA got closer the angel tried to ready another blast.
This was stopped as unit 01 slammed the angels head back down. Unit
01 then began to gorge on the angel.
	Misato watched horrified. "I-It's eating the angel!?"
	"She's taking the S-2 unit into herself!" Said Ritsuko. Maya 
was now too busy throwing up to read the display. As the EVA finished
eating, it stood up and howled. The armor plates the unit's chest and 
arms burst off.
	"She's broken free!" Yelled Ritsuko.
	"Broken free!? Broken free of what!?" Asked Hyuga.
	"Those plates weren't just armor. They were also restraints.
Those restraints binded the Evangelion to our will. Now that they're
gone the beast that is the EVA is now FREE!"
	Gendo and Fuyuzuki watched from Gendo's office as EVA
unit 01 roared in defiance. 
	"Was this in your plans Gendo?" Asked Fuyuzuki.
	Gendo grimaced at the sight of unit 01. If asked that question
two weeks ago, Gendo wouldn't have been concerned, maybe even
glade that this had happen. Now, after talking with Yui, he wasn't too
sure. It was too late however, to do anything about it now. "Whether
it was in the plans or not we'll have to deal with it. As will SEELE."
*It ought to give the old bastards something to think about.*

To be continued.

Notes:
(1) EVA rescue: This is a special pilot rescue unit like a air, land, sea
rescue. They are specially trained to rescue EVA pilots.