You know, honestly from what I've seen of Shinji, Genma didn't do too
bad a job.  Shinji appears to be intelligent, athletic and not totally
maladjusted.  Even if he has a phobia lurking somewhere in the
background he's still better off than his counterpart.

That's true, I suppose... as bad as Genma is (and as you know, *I*m rather
biased against the damned yatai thief), ANYone could be a better father than
Gendou Ikari.

And Genma is a better father than most Japanese men.  He's at least THERE
for his son. IOW Women stay home and take care of children and men work
all the time and only see their children a few times a year. Oops.  Now
we're getting into cultural differences.  Sorry.

Maybe... although give this economic climate time, and that may not be as
much different after all.  Harry Chapin ('Cat's in the Cradle') *was* an
American, so the situation isn't unique to Japan.

Shinji now knows how to live off the land

Which should please Kesuke no end

Is not a jellyfish(has a backbone)

This may actually pose a problem (more on it later)

Has had a loving family relationship(Genma and Nodoka)

This Shinji is a lot better off than the original jellyfish that was
rejected by his whole family Shinji

Definately.  But while *Shinji* may be better off, this may pose problems
for NERV.  Gendou Ikari, after all, needs (yeah, can you imagine using that
verb after that name?  But it's true) weak wills that he can manipulate to
his purposes.  This new and improved Shinji may prove far too strong for him
to sufficiently dominate.

OTOH, there is the martial artist's code of aiding the weak and
defenceless...

Anyway, on to the fic itself:

                        COULD BE WORSE
                      by Scott K. Jamison

Yeah, it could be by someone who *makes* grammar and spelling mistakes.  All
I'm gonna be able to do is make smart-alecky remarks for the next couple of
pages.  But what the hell, it's fun.

                           Prologue

Odd that you gave us chapter one first, and *then* the prologue.  Checking
to see if people would be interested in the concept before veering off from
the typical Evangelion storyine?

_Then_

   "And stay out!"
   The panda came sailing out the gate face first, but tucked and
rolled for minimum damage.

You know, I never thought that I'd seen Genma-baka *do* that, but you
*would* expect a martial artist to think of things like that, now, wouldn't
you?  OTOH, you'd think Ran-chan would be fast enough to chuck him out so
that his old man wouldn't have *time* to break his own fall...

   He picked himself up, brushed off the dust, and headed back
towards the house, only to be met by his son.
   "Sorry, Pops, but this time Akane means it.

Oops, my bad.  *Akane-chan* threw him out.  Well, good for her.

You know how she
gets when she's pregnant.  And we all remember what happened the
last time you babysat.

GENMA: What was the matter with that?  I even managed to toilet train him in
one night!
RANMA:  POPS!  You had him using a LITTER BOX!

Why doncha go home to Mom, okay?"
   Genma pulled out a sign.  [But we need to start his training as
early as possible!  After all, you--]
   "Yeah, yeah, I turned out just *great*, didn't I?  I'll raise
my son the way me and Akane decided to, thank you very much."

RANMA: Besides, if I turned out so wonderful, why d'ya think I'm not capable
of raising my own kid properly?!

    Genma, back in human form, nursed a cup of cheap sake.

That'll leave you with a very soggy nipple, Genma-baka...

    Well, except for that one bearded fellow in the tinted glasses
and a really nice-looking suit talking on his cell phone.  He didn't
look like the type who went to bars during the day.

I just realized something, Scott-kun... this is obviously taking place
post-Second Impact, isn't it?  This isn't actually Nerima anymore, is it?
What with it going underwater with the rest of Tokyo-1 and all...

I don't know if you think it's germane to the storyline or not, but I'd
think that would make a major difference in the lives of us Ranmaversal
characters (hell, I suppose the fact that none of us peripheral characters
have been mentioned thus far might be *because* of having been lost in
Second Impact, I dunno)  I think I'd try to cover that a little bit more
somewhere along the way.

    And he'd brought a child in with him.  A boy, three or perhaps
four at most.  Kind of scrawny and pale, sullen, but there was
something in his eyes Genma recognized.  He had *potential*.

I'd say he'd be five, given the timeline you mention (he's fifteen in the
original story when he's summoned to NERV, isn't he?  And that's about ten
years down the line from this point)  Of course, Gemna might *see* Shinji as
three or four, due to his scrawniness.

    Genma leaned a little closer to hear what the bearded man was
saying.
    "--mean, you can't take him?  I have important work to do, I
can't be burdened with a child at this juncture....Yes, it is
unfortunate that his mother is...no longer with us....You are my
brother, after all, and blood is thicker than water....Very funny.

Heh.  Would have liked to hear *that* joke.  For that matter, would like to
meet this brother: anyone able to say 'no' to and make jokes at Gendou Ikari
is a formidable person in his own right.  Either that, or he's got no idea
of what he's dealing with.

Fine then.  I will make other arrangements."  The man hung up.
    "This was not in the plan," he muttered, ignoring the child's
tugging his sleeve.

You can actually see him admitting to that?

"See if they get to be evolved with the rest of us..."

Oh no!  Bad Pokeman/Evangelion crossover flashbacks!

    Genma had an idea flash through his brain.

It would have been arrested for indecent exposure, but the place was
deserted at the time, so no harm was done.

    "Excuse me, sir, but do I understand that your wife has died?"
    The bearded man turned to face Genma.  There was something
cold in his expression.  "That is a fairly accurate assessment, yes.
Why do you ask?"
    "My condolences.  It's been my experience that boys need a
strong parental presence when they're little, or the nearest thing
they can get.  Looking at your boy, I'd say exercise and fresh air
would do him a world of good.  Have you considered having him
trained in the martial arts?"

As has been pointed out, it's amazing how two wrongs (ie, Gendou's
abandonment, and Genma's training, of Shinji) are about to make a right.  Or
at least, three lefts.

    "As it happens, I am a martial arts instructor.  Genma Saotome,
at your service."
    An eyebrow quirked.  "As in Ranma Saotome, the one who--"

All things considered, unless Ran-chan had something to do with saving Japan
from the worst of Second Impact (and who's to say he might not have?), I'm
surprised Gendou would know anything about him.

    Genma grinned as he carried the boy on his shoulder.  Gendou
Ikari hadn't even blinked at the outrageous yearly stipend he had
suggested as a training and boarding fee.

GENMA:  Why, for the money I asked, you could practically build your own
giant robo!
GENDOU:  Wrong series, putz.

    He was already laying out a training schedule in his head.
They'd have to start slow, because the boy was so puny, but in a
few months he'd be ready for some real training.  And this time,
Genma promised himself, no mistakes.
    He looked up at the boy.  "Yep, Shinji, you're going to be
grateful, you are..."

He's also not gonna be raised ANYTHING like Ran-chan was, assuming
Genma-baka avoids ALL the mistakes he made....

_Now_

    Shinji kicked off his shoes with the precise flick to land
them in his spot in the entryway.
    "Auntie N!  I'm home!"

There's no place like home, there's no place like home...

    "That's nice, dear.  How was school?"
    "Boring.  Can't wait for another training trip."
    Mrs. Saotome came into the living room from the kitchen.  "I'm
afraid you'll have to, dear."  She looked a little sad.
    "Whassup?"

Oh no!  Bad Budweiser commercial crossover flashback!

    "Your father has ordered you to come to Tokyo-3."
    Shinji blinked.  "My...father?  You mean, my old man *finally*
wants to see me after ten years?  What for?"
    "He didn't say, but he did stress that it was urgent."  She
reached into her apron pocket.  "This is from the woman who will
meet you at the station there.  Healthy-looking, isn't she?"

Very nice.  Is Nodoka expecting Shinji to be 'manly' with Major Katsuragi?

    Shinji looked at the picture.  Interesting, but a little old
for him.
    "What about Uncle Genma?"
    "He'll be told as soon as he comes home.  Come on now, you
have only two hours to pack, and I've been preparing your train
meal..."

                   TO BE CONTINUED

I should hope so... well, I take that back; it already *has* been continued,
hasn't it?  Well, keep it up, anyway.

SKJAM!

Nice to see you writing again, BTW, sugar.  Although while I've got you
here, any word from Scott Johnson...?

"When you need to lift a heavy rock, think of it as a woman's butt.
Then you'll be able to move it no problem."-_Antarjuat, the Fast Runner_

I *should* take offense at that, but I'd like to think the shoe (or, in this
case, the baggy jeans) doesn't fit.

Itsu mo,
Ucchan  ^_^


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