No, I'll not say it again, this is NOT a Ranma crossover,
not really. It has one element of the Ranmaverse, and
that's it. Ranma is mentioned once and never again. This
is not humorous, nor is it intended to be. I decided to
throw this out onto the grill, as I have been doing so
much C&C of Eva fics, I decided I'd let them give me what
I gave them. I may not write another volume of this, but
oh well, whatever....
***
It was cold, and Daizen Hiroshi shivered. He
secured the plastic-rubber line that was thrown to him in
order to keep the machine that was under it still for
transport from the Romanian sector to Tokyo-3 in Japan.
It was the dead of night. It was the only way the convoy
could travel so far. Hiroshi checked his watch. The
execution would be soon. He had a son, and while there were
those who wished to view the execution, he was not among
them. If he wasn't worried about his own family, he'd argue
for the poor boy's life to be spared, but if he spoke up, he,
and they, were doomed. He kept his mouth shut, stuffed his
hands in his pockets, and headed for his tent.
*THWACK* came the slap. "You think we don't know who
you are, boy?" Another slap. "You think we don't who your
father is, Mr. Phillips?" Again, a slap. "George Phillips
is the head of the Anti-UN terrorist organization. This
just proves we need heavier security at NERV." A slap, less
forceful this time. "Maybe you were acting out of some
misbegotten loyalty to him, but frankly, we trained you. We
OWN you. To do with as we please, Mr. Phillips. Do you
understand that? Your extermination is our prerogative."
"Fuck you," said the bruised, sweating boy, tied to
the chair in front of the desk of NERV Security Lieutenant
Sykes, US Division.
"No thank you. I may be homosexual, Mr. Phillips,
but I am no pedophile."
"You're going to get us all killed, you know that
right? You think we don't-" *THWACK*
"That will be quite enough, Mr. Phillips."
"Must you be so cruel, sir?" came a voice from the
shadows.
"Have I bid you speak, Sergeant Bouyer?" came the
instant reply of Lieutenant Sykes.
"Uhm," *gulp*, "No sir, but, I think you're over
reacting sir. I mean, he's just a kid, and he's only
trying to please his father, and-" *gurgle* The knife
caught the Sergeant in the chest as he babbled, and he
fell over still babbling unintelligently as the light
finally faded from his eyes.
"As you have seen, Mr. Phillips, crossing NERV is
NOT a good idea. Come now, boy, for your public execution
is to begin soon."
Sykes untied the boy and roughly picked him up.
The boy shook himself free, insisting he could walk to his
own execution quite unassisted. They walked from the tent
out to where a crowd had already begun to form, proving
the sad state of Humanity's collective conscience. Sykes
pushed the boy against a wall. It wasn't much more than a
wall. In the times before Second Impact, it was a
government building, part of the Soviet machine prior to
its dissolution.
A small click was heard as Sykes assembled his 9mm
pistol and leveled at the boy. "Dustin Michael Phillips,
you are charged with treason, theft of NERV property, and
conspiring against the United Nations, as you are NERV
personnel, signed, sealed and delivered, and I am the most
senior officer present, I hereby suspend your right to
trial by jury, and defense counsel. You are found guilty
and sentenced to death by firing squad." A smile that
chilled even the crowd. "Which just happens to be me.
Any last words, Mr. Phillips?"
"My Father will-" No one heard the shot, too busy
watching the poor boy's body slumped from the wall. Too
surprised that Sykes wouldn't even let him speak. They all
blinked at the Lieutenant as one.
That smile again. "See that you don't end up like
this piece of trash." He kicked the 14 year old's corpse
with no regard to common decency. "Now, people, get to your
tents, we move out at 0700, got it?"
Subdued assents cam from the crowd as they walked
away from the horror they had just experienced. They will
all swear to this day that as they left, Sykes could be
heard laughing insanely, and the chronicler of the events
that transpired since Phillip's execution is inclined to
believe this claim...
[ Neon Jusenkyo Evangelion ]
[ Volume 0:1 ]
[ By ]
[ Kevin Callahan ]
The figure tossed a portfolio onto the desk. The man
sitting at the desk flipped it open. "Are you sure it was
not seen?" He folded it again and looked up to the figure,
light glinting off his glasses.
"The convoy?" asked the figure. "No, certainly not.
I have even more good news. Besides the return of Unit-04,
and the successful disposal of its pilot, Marduk has found
the sixth child." The figure folded his hands behind his
back to let the other man assimilate the knowledge.
"Who?" the man at the desk asked, gazing about the
room as if the news were somehow not his concern.
The figure tossed another folder on to the desk,
and the man opened it up. "Her name is Xia Zhou."
The man folded his hands under his nose. "A Chinese
national?" Now this had his attention. The Chinese had
been hoping for sometime that they'd have a pilot. Sure,
there were those more easily used, but they might disturb
the current children. Maybe the Sixth would be useful to
keep secrets.
"The Chinese are willing to give us more financial
aid if we use their pilot," the figure prompted, for after
all this time, there were times when he could not read his
commander's thoughts.
"Get her," the sitting man commanded suddenly. "Where
is she?" he inquired.
"A hot spring park by the name of Jusenkyo," his
loyal friend responded. One more folder came from his hand
and landed in front of the man sitting at the desk. He
looked it over and nodded up at the figure.
"Send Major Katsurugi. Have her take the Fourth,
Second, and Third Children with her." He didn't need to
send the children of course, but he figured the Major would
take them anyway. He'd considered allowing the First to go
as well, but he had....other...plans for her. Yes, plans.
"Inform them immediately. Oh, and inform Rei she is to come
to my office immediately."
"Yes, Ikari-kun."
The man behind the desk stared at a random spot in
the room, and the figure left, his thoughts far to dark for
many a reason.
* * *
The helicopter sat down upon a pasture of lovely
green. Around it sat a collection of differently sized
hot springs. Just outside it stood the large city of
Jongai. It had been built after the Second Impact. Misato
was quite amazed the hotsprings had not been bulldozed.
"Well," Asuka brought her attention back to the
mission at hand, "Where is she?" She scanned around the
field, eager to find the girl who might pose a threat
both on and off the battle ground.
"I'm right here," said a voice from behind them.
They turned to her. "If you mean me, of course. Though,
I suppose you do. I'm the only one here... Well, my
father, but what would you want with my father?"
Misato stepped up to her. "Are you Xia Zhou?"
The girl nodded and then a smile crossed her
face. "I passed it, didn't I? That silly Mandrake test. I
passed, didn't I?"
"Marduk," corrected Misato, "And you did, yes. As far
as one can pass the test. We need to talk. Are your parents
here?"
The girl scratched her chin, "Well... My mother is
dead." Misato had expected as much. "My father, he's the
guide here. This is a national park."
"I see." Misato turned to find Asuka and Shinji
arguing near a pond.
The girl walked around to face the pond and turned
her head to be able to speak to Misato. "You know, I heard
that test is for geniuses, and if you pass they put you in
some kind of elite military organization, which is why all
those who pass the test are escorted off to Japan by
military guards. Are you part of that-" Now she also
turned her attention to Asuka and Shinji, for Asuka had
gotten quite loud.
"You did so do that on purpose. Now apologize for
being such a moron. Getting water all over my new dress,
what an idiot. Say you're sorry."
Shinji's eyes held resistance for the most fleeting
of seconds. His head turned to one side and he muttered a
sorry. "That wasn't good enough," came the reply. Next thing
Shinji knew, he was falling into warm water, while Asuka
laughed. He thought he heard a scream as he splashed about,
but he could not be sure.
He managed to struggle up to the surface. Asuka
stopped laughing. "Oh, hi there, and who might you be?
Did you see a moron Japanese boy go by you at all?"
Despite the fact they were in China, Asuka automatically
assumed anyone would be able to communicate with her,
such as her tendencies were.
Shinji raised his eyebrow. "Say what?" he asked.
Either Asuka didn't recognize him, or she was playing
stupid to trap him in something else. Probably the
latter.
"I said, did you see a moron Japanese boy swim
by you?" Asuka asked again.
"Are you feeling alright, Asuka?" Shinji asked
as he pulled himself out of the water. Maybe she had
finally lost it once and for all. He felt sometimes that
they all already had in this crazy world.
Asuka was taken aback. She peered at the person
before her. "How do you know my name?" This was weird.
Even Asuka Langley Sorhyu would not deceive herself so
much to believe that some random Chinese girl would know
her name. Maybe she worked for Fifth Branch, China's
NERV division. That could explain it. Or could it? She
didn't appear to be any older than any of the pilots...
Were there TWO Chinese pilots?
It was about that time Misato, Touji, and Xia came
up to the pair. Xia was the first to understand what had
happened. "Oh, shit."
"What?" asked Asuka and Shinji simultaneously.
The triad pointed frantically to the sign above
them and Misato pulled a beer out of a random pocket and
drank it. Asuka and Shinji turned and peered up at the
sign. It read:
[Warning: Spring of Drowned Girl]
[Those that fall in this spring ]
[Are cursed to be female forever]
"..."
"..."
* * *
Shinji was silent all trip. Asuka was pretty quiet
as well. "Dammit," she muttered under her breath. That idiot
didn't deserve the body he.. she.. whatever... was now in.
Shinji was as beautiful as Asuka could admit. She had the
same red hair too. "Hmph," she said to no one in particular.
"You know," Xia spoke up, "I once heard of something
like this happening before. Long before my father even moved
to Jongai to accept the position. There was this guy by the
name of Saotome I think. Not really sure. A martial artist of
some kind. As far as I know, he was never cured."
"Ranma Saotome?" inquired Shinji, coming out of self
imposed exile.
Xia smiled. "Yeah, that's the guy. Ranma Saotome. You
know him?"
Shinji shook her head. "No, I don't know him. I know
of him. He made a series of martial arts films. He was
killed on a set of one of his movies. Stunt accident I think."
"Too bad," said Xia crooking her mouth, "He might've
had some leads. I think one of the journals said that your
original gender could be maintained as long as you used some
water. Not sure what kind, or even what temperature."
"Commander Ikari is going to be pissed," said Misato
rather unexpectedly. Touji, Shinji, and Asuka nodded their
agreement.
* * *
"The Third is what?" the man at the desk asked into
his telephone. "I see. How?" His lips curled. "I will ask
Doctor Akagi how this might effect the Third's performance.
Gendou out."
"I take it this is not good news," said the figure
beside him.
"No. The Third has been altered."
"Altered?"
"The Third is now female."
"Oh."
* * *
Xia squealed in glee as she looked upon the giant robot
in front of her. "You mean I get to pilot this? This is all
mine?"
Doctor Ritsuko shook her head. "You do get to pilot it,
however, do not make the same mistake Asuka did."
Xia turned around to face the doctor. "And what was
that?"
"She made the mistake of thinking that Unit-02 was hers.
You must remember, NERV owns Eva, and NERV owns you too." She
turned and walked away. "Your plugsuit is in the right locker.
We will have training session in an hour," she called over her
shoulder.
Xia sighed and grabbed for the silver plugsuit hanging
in the locker. Training? Bah, she didn't want training She wanted
to actually use the machine that NERV had given her. She hadn't
even been to a training session yet and already she was impatient
for a battle. "Well, here goes nothing."
* * *
"Shinji-kun." Ritsuko Akagi called the girl's attention
away from the plug suit she was holding in her hands. "You know,
we had to design a new plugsuit for you, for obvious reasons."
Ritsuko motioned to a suitcase in her hands. She handed it to
Shinji who sat it down and opened it. "It's a purple to go with
Unit-O1, much like Xia's is silver, Touji's is black, and Asuka's
is red." Ritsuko turned and walked out of the room.
Shinji fingered the new plugsuit, tracing the obvious
curves that were different from her own masculine plugsuit. With
a sigh, she slipped into it and pressed the button on the wrist.
It formfitted her body very tightly, and she felt far more
comfortable in this feminine version with out... well.. She
forced the thought down. "Well, I guess this is it. Time
for-"
Sirens blaring cut her off. "Damn it."
* * *
"What do we have!?" asked Gendou from his seat.
"An angel, sir, by the look of the scans,"
answered Hyuga Makoto.
"What?" inquired Fuyuutsuki, "We weren't expecting
another angel for some time yet."
"Doesn't look like they are wasting any time, eh,
Sensei?"
"No," the man answered, "Doesn't appear like they are,
Ikari-kun."
"Send out the Evas," Gendou commanded as if ordering
dinner.
"Even Unit-04?" Misato asked in alarm.
"Even Unit-04."
"She hasn't be tested, Commander. We need more-"
"Neither was the Third," he cut her off.
"..."
* * *
"This is it," Asuka yelled over the channel, "You get
to kick ass, and see me in action, both at the same time,
consider yourself lucky!" Xia sighed. She wasn't THIS impatient
for battle, at least not anymore. Maybe this WAS actually the
training session. Yeah, that was it. Devious, but she could
understand it. If you tell the pilots they can't be hurt, what's
the reason for fighting as hard, right?
"Ready, Asuka?"
"Let's rock this joint."
"Shinji?"
"Yes."
"Touji?"
"Damn straight."
"Rei?"
"I will do it again."
"Xia?"
"Uhmm..." she let out a breath, "Go for it..."
"Releasing clamps, moving to jump tunnels, we are go!"
Five Evangelion Units shot up the tubes leading from the surface
area known as Tokyo-3.
Unit-01 popped out first, crouching into a defensive
position. Unit-02 was next, and Asuka did a showy flip in the
air before landing in the same type of crouch that Unit-01 was
in. Unit-03 appeared already crouched, while Unit-04 wobbled into
a crouch after almost tripping on its own feet, showing its
pilot's inexperience. Unit-00 was last, dead center between the
other four, standing tall.
* * *
"Major, Doctor, this is amazing!" Makoto turned to the
two behind him. "The synch ratio of the Sixth is 25%! Not as
good as Shinji or Asuka, but still damn good. If she-" Gendou
rolled his eyes. He had been expecting it. Just what WASN'T a
good synch ratio for one of the pilots he personally approved?
Oh, well, let them be amazed.
Misato leaned over Makoto. "How's Shinji-kun? Is he--
is she fine?"
Makoto pulled up a display of the Third's vitals. "She
appears to be doing fine, her synch levels are lower than normal,
but then we're comparing a female brain to a male brain here, we
have no idea how the Third's altered state is affecting her
synch ratios!"
* * *
"Where is that son of a bitch?!" cursed Asuka as the
group huddled close together, now in a better diamond shape to
ward off an attack from any side. "There's no angel here!
There's nothing here!"
"Don't be fooled..." came a mumbled voice from 01. "I
feel it. It's here."
"Could you please repeat that, Ikari-kun?"
"I said," came the female scream, "IT'S HERE!!!" As 01
pointed down the machine gun and fired, the ground shook, and
a mound of earth began spreading around the evas. "FIRE DOWN!!"
Finally getting the message, all the evas began firing below them.
Unit-04 ran out of shells, and her pilot began to panic.
The angel sensed the fear in the girl, and headed for the ground
below her Evangelion Unit. It came up, as the stupid children in
the other Evas were firing behind it, at ground it had already
been under. They were too slow. She'd eat them all.
The angel broke through the surface of the Tokyo-3
street, and grabbed onto Unit-04, pulling the defenseless Eva Unit
down into the tunnel. The others fired after it, but they had
been too slow. Screams echoed over the intercom as the Unit-04
was pulled away.
* * *
Makoto pounded his fist and swiveled his chair, "Major,
the children are way too slow, the AT fields don't even matter,
they can't aim at the thing because of its speed." He turned back
around to gasp in horror as the angel grabbed ahold of Unit-04's
leg and pulled it under the surface of Tokyo-3, into the thin
layer of soil between the surface and the Geofront.
* * *
Xia was faintly aware of no longer being in control of
Unit-04, she was, however, too tired to care. To the beautiful
voice the spoke to her, she fell asleep, peaceful dreams in her
head.
* * *
"Dammit, DAMMIT, D A M M I T!" shouted Asuka over the intercom.
"I do NOT LIKE BEING OUTDONE BY SOME BASTARD ANGEL!" Unit-02 broke
out into a sprint, and jumped into the hole created by the
latest angel. As the four-eyed bio-mechanical creature spun down
the hole, Asuka should have, but didn't, check the density of the
ground she was supposedly to land upon. Instead, her blind rage
sent Unit-02 spinning not only through the air above the ground
she was to land on, but through that ground itself, and as Asuka's
dense state relinquished its control on her mind she tumbled through
the air over the geofront, and Unit-02 sailed head first into the
forested land below. The crack of Unit-02's neck was the last thing
transmitted over the Second's intercom.
* * *
"ASUKA!" screamed Shinji, as an ethereal connection
between the two seemed to snap.
"What?" Asuka asked as she settled down in the back of
Unit-01. She frowned as Shinji lowered her head and mumbled.
Unit-01 roared as Shinji's head came up once more, a
grim distance in her eyes. Asuka's mouth curved to one side,
forming a confused look. She poked Shinji, but Shinji seemed too
dug into the entry plug to pay any attention to the girl behind
her. Asuka frowned completely as Unit-01 screamed, and slowly
lowered itself into the hole, quick to avoid Unit-02's fate, as
it shot in front of it.
Asuka was faintly aware of ghost sounds behind her,
people were mumbling. They seemed concerned, but she paid them
no heed as she went along for the ride in Unit-01, unwilling to
once again try to disturb Shinji. Unit-01 held its course
through the tube made by the angel, firing until it ran out of
ammo. When it was out, the huge being dropped the weapon, and
sprinted down the tunnel, sniffing for its prey.
* * *
"Come on child," said the voice, "wake up."
A voice?
"Come on! Dammit, come back to us!"
The voice again?
"Goddammit! We're losing her!"
A familiar voice?
"She's gone."
A fading voice?
"Time of death..."
Voice no more...
--