ALTERNATE FUTURE

 

By: James Lee

 

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and Evangelion are not mine. They are the creations of people much better than myself.

 

Part 15

            [But, I really need to talk to you and Major Katsuragi about Asuka…]

            “Whatever it is I’m sure it can wait till tomorrow, good bye,” said Ritsuko, hitting the red button on her cell phone.

            “What was that about?” asked Misato. Tonight she and her pilots were eating at Ritsuko’s apartment. This was at Asuka’s request, seems she had an announcement. It had been three weeks since the 16th angel attack. According to the Commander, the next would be the last after which they could expect an attack by SEELE itself.

            “Oh that was just Maya. Said she wanted to talk about Asuka. Hand me a roll will you?”

            “Really, what about? I need some more rice.”

            “I don’t know. I told her it could wait till tomorrow. Probably nothing. This food is great Xain Pu.”

            “Thank you,” said Shampoo.

            “So what did you want to tell us Asuka? Pass me the butter.”

            Asuka, who had hardly touched her food, jerked up and looked nervous. “Oh well umm…you see…I…um”

            “Put some more sweet and sour pork on my plate. Come on Asuka out with it.”

            Asuka took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant. Pass the soy sauce.”

            The only sound was Misato’s chopsticks hitting the table as an Earth shattering silence came over the room. It was the same type of silence that comes before a massive hurricane or volcanic eruption.

            “TheytookthatprettywellAsuka,letsgo,” said Ranma standing up.

            “OK.” They had almost made it to the door when Mt. Katsuragi blew her top.

            “Hold it! You two come back here RIGHT NOOWWW!” Asuka and Ranma turned around and walked back to Misato, who was now almost foaming at the mouth. “What do you mean you’re PREGNANT?”

            Asuka narrowed her eyes. When they had first woken up in the infirmary, she and Ranma had talked about what the Angel had shown them. They immediately got hold of a pregnancy test. When it came up negative, it had started a wave of wishful thinking, that the Angel had lied to get at them. Then Asuka realized that one week was probably too early for the test to work. Now, three weeks and four pregnancy tests later, there was no denying the truth. “I mean pregnant, with child, got a bun in the oven, in a family sort of way, knocked up…”

            “Don’t you get smart with me young lady. Just how did this happen?”

            “How do think it happened,” replied Asuka.

            “Misato! This time you’ve gone too far…” Ritsuko started, but stopped when Misato wheeled on her.

            “Oh no. You’re not going to blame all this on me! If I remember right, Ranma happens to be YOUR responsibility,” Misato then turned back to Asuka. “D-Did he rape you?”

            “No! We made love.”

            “You made love?”

            “Yeah, you know, what couples do when they’re in love.”

            “When they’re older. You are not old enough!” Misato and Asuka were now practically face-to-face.

            “Oh, but we’re old enough to die piloting an EVA!”

            Misato was now shaking with rage. Ranma quickly stepped between the two, when the Major raised her hand and looked like she was about to swing. Putting her hand down, Misato growled. “We are all going to NERV headquarters, ALL OF US! Where’s Nabiki?”

            “She went outside, Shampoo followed her,” said Rei.

            “I’ll get them,” said Shinji as he started to leave. He stopped however when Misato suddenly grabbed his arm. “M-Misato?”

            “Shinji, you and Rei haven’t been doing anything I should know about have you?”

            “N-No!”

            “What do you mean Major Katsuragi?” asked said pale girl.

            “Nothing, I’m just making sure he hasn’t seen you naked.”

            Rei thought for a moment then a strange glint came to her eyes. “But he has seen me naked.”

            Shinji’s eyes widened as audible pops could be heard coming from his arm. “But but…”

            “SSHHHINNNJJJIIII!”

 

            Nabiki sat looking at the lake. Although she had semi-accepted the fact that Ranma was in love with Asuka, the pair’s announcement still hurt.

            “Damn it.” The girl muttered as she watched the sun set. She then heard an odd whistling tune. Looking to her left Nabiki saw a boy standing nearby.

            The boy kind of reminded her of Rei. He had pale skin, blue hair, and red eyes. The boy was wearing the uniform of their school, but Nabiki had never seen him before.

            “Beethoven.”

            Nabiki started. “W-What?”

            “The tune,” the boy continued. “It’s Beethoven’s 9^th. I am Kaoru, Kaoru Natasha.”

            “Nabiki Tendo.”

            “You seem upset, Miss Tendo.”

            “Just lost in love. So are you new here? I haven’t seen you around before,” said Nabiki.

            “I just arrived today.” Nabiki blinked at that. {A new arrival? That’s weird.} Like most people, she had gotten used to people leaving Tokyo 3.

            “Nabiki,” The shorthaired girl turned to see Shampoo standing behind her. “The major wants every one to go to HQ.”

            “Right,” responded Nabiki as she got up. Kaoru followed them.

            “Who you?” asked Shampoo.

            “I am Kaoru Natasha. Since I am an EVA pilot too, I guess I should be there as well.”

            {He’s an EVA pilot?} thought Nabiki.

            “Whatever, let’s go,” said Shampoo. The three thus made their way back to Ritsuko’s place. As they opened the door, they could hear that the fight was still on.

            “No, it’s my baby. I will not get rid of it!” yelled Asuka. Nabiki didn’t have to guess what one of the two adults had suggested.

            “Have you thought about how this will effect your pilot status?” asked Ritsuko.

            “What pilot status? I can’t even get unit 02 to move now. I can’t pilot anymore.”

            “We don’t know that for sure.”

            “It’s high time, we…” said Misato to Nabiki and Shampoo. She then noticed the boy with them. “Who the hell are you?”

            “I’m Kaoru, the new pilot for unit 02.” Ritsuko paled and Misato slapped her hand onto her face. {Aw Jeez, talk about timing.}

            “So, you don’t know huh?” said Asuka, her eyes flaring. “When you’ve already sent for my god damn replacement!”

            “Let’s go!” yelled Misato in frustration.

 

            A short while later everyone arrived at NERV headquarters. Crowding into the same elevator, they started for the commander’s office. It was in the elevator that Asuka’s cell phone went off.

            “Hello,” answered Asuka. “…I’m sorry Hikari, I can’t talk right now…Yes, I just told them, good bye!”

            “You told Hikari?” asked Misato as Asuka put away her phone.

            “Of course I told her,” said Asuka.

            Misato just glared at the girl, but decided to drop it. Although it irked her that she wasn’t the first to know, she couldn’t blame Asuka for telling her best friend.

            Stepping out of the elevator the group made their way to Gendo’s office. Coming to the office door, Ritsuko hit the intercom button.

            [Enter,] came the reply. As the group Filed into the large office, Ritsuko stepped forward. “Sir, we have a situation…”

            “The second child is with child.” Said Gendo not looking up from his desk.

            Ritsuko and Misato blinked. “You knew sir?”

            “Major Katsuragi, as the commander of NERV it’s my job to know what is going on inside Central Dogma.”

            {Nice of you to tell us.} thought Misato. Then Cologne hopped into the office. Seeing everyone there, she stopped in front of Asuka.

            “So, you told them of your condition I see.”

            “Were we on the bottom of your list of people to tell?” yelled Misato.

            “I didn’t tell her, she just sort of figured it out.” Asuka retorted.

            “She just figured it out?” said Ritsuko. “And just how did she do that?”

            “I don’t know. All I did was ask her a question.”

            “You asked her a question.”

            “Well yeah…”

 

A couple of days earlier…

            Asuka stopped in front of Cologne’s office in NERV headquarters. She was in no hurry to see her; although she would never admit it, the little troll gave her the creeps. However, she was also the one most likely to have the information she needed. Taking a deep breath Asuka knocked on the door.

            “Come in.” Stepping inside, Asuka saw the elder sitting behind a neatly kept desk. Cologne looked as Asuka approached. “What do you need, Miss Soryu?”

            “Umm, I have a question, Elder. I think you’re the best one to answer it.”

            “Oh? What is your question?”

            “That thing that causes Ranma to change…”

            “The Jusenkyo curse.”

            “Umm yes. Is…is it hereditary?”

            “You mean will any of Ranma’s children change forms,” said Cologne looking at Asuka carefully.

            “Yes that’s it,” replied Asuka somewhat nervous.

            “The answer is no.” Seeing the younger girl sigh in relief Cologne continued. “The child may inherit elements from the curse. Since Ranma fell into the Spring of Young Girl, the baby will most likely be a girl.”

            “Oh really?” asked Asuka now very interested.

            “Yes. So why did you want to know how Ranma’s children will come out?”

            “Oh I umm…was just curious. Yeah that’s it,” answered Asuka edging her way to the door.

            “Well you can relax. You’re baby will be quite all right.”

            “If I get pregnant that is,” said Asuka nervously.

            “But you already are pregnant,” said Cologne hopping up to the girl. Placing her hand on Asuka’s belly, she continued. “It’s going to be a very strong child indeed.”

            “Umm right…I got to go,” said Asuka rushing out the door.

 

            “So you mean to say she just knew you were pregnant?” At the redhead’s nod Misato turned to Cologne. “If you’ve known about this for the past few days why the hell didn’t you tell anybody?”

            “It wasn’t my place to tell. If Asuka and Ranma had wanted you to know they would and HAVE told you.”

            Misato and Ritsuko glared at the elder when suddenly Maya entered the office.

            “I’m sorry to disturb you, Sir. I heard Sempai was in here and…”

            “Whatever it is can wait Maya!” yelled Ritsuko.

            Maya started backing to the door when she noticed Asuka, Ranma, and the other pilots in the commander’s office. “Oh, I guess Asuka told you she was pregnant.”

            “It appears you were on the bottom of the list,” said Rei as Misato and Ritsuko’s eyes twitched.

            “Hey, I don’t know how the hell she found out!” yelled Asuka.

            Ritsuko then turned to Gendo. She frowned as she could almost see a bemused look on his face. “Sir, what are we going to do about this?”

            Gendo stopped writing and put his hands in front of him. “Place pilot Soryu on reserve status. After four months she’ll be placed on maternity leave.”

            Ritsuko and Misato gapped at the commander. “That’s it?”

            “Well, we could schedule a baby shower I suppose,” said Gendo. He was starting to enjoy the looks on their faces. The truth however, was that he didn’t want to lose more pilots than he had to. Soryu was in fact, already off the active list and a move against the baby might cause Ranma to quit as well. NERV could not afford to lose its best pilot, especially now. “Do you have anything else?”

            “The new pilot has arrived,” answered Ritsuko. {You and me are going to have a long talk.}

            Looking towards Kaoru, the commander simply said. “Schedule his first sync test for tomorrow. If there is nothing else, you may leave.”

            As everyone started to walk out of the office, Nabiki turned to Cologne. “You were able to feel the baby’s ki weren’t you?”

            “Very perceptive of you, Nabiki.” The younger girl nodded. Although she herself couldn’t do it, she knew that some high level martial artists could sense an opponent’s ki.

             Meanwhile Cologne looked towards the new pilot. She could feel a lot of ki coming from him, ki similar to Rei’s. Maybe that was why he was chosen as a pilot. She would talk to Dr. Akagi about it later.

            Leaving the office, Nabiki noticed Kaoru looking around. “Hey Kaoru, since you’re new around here how about I show you around?”

            The pale boy nodded. “I would like that.”

            Nabiki smiled. “Well follow me.”

            Watching the two walk away, Rei narrowed her eyes. This was not good.

 

To be continued