ALTERNITE FUTURE
By James Lee

Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine. They are the property of there owners, people far better than me.

PART 2 Here's Ranma Again?
TOKYO 3 0700 HRS (From now on, unless otherwise noted, everything will be taking place in Tokyo 3. JL)

Ritsuko Akagi locked the door to her apartment and started to head for work. As she entered the elevator she went over her schedule for the day. The EVA pilots were to have a harmonics test today. This test was particularly important for Shinji. Ritsuko wanted to see if his being trapped in the 12th Angel had effected his sync rate.

Stepping outside her apartment building, Ritsuko looked up at the sky. Some dark clouds were forming. *Hmm, looks like rain today.* Thought Ritsuko as she made her umbrella handy. She then headed for the train station. Looking back up at the sky, Ritsuko sighed. Normally on days like this she would ask Misato for a ride, but today she couldn't reach her. *I really should look into getting a car. After all. If a impractical, disorganized, slob, like Misato can afford one, I should have no...YAA!* Ritsuko stumbled and nearly fell on her face.

Looking down to see what she had tripped on, Ritsuko saw a leg. Said leg was attached to a boy who appeared to be 14-15 years old. The boy had black hair done in a pig-tail and seemed to be passed out. Bending done Ritsuko shook the boy's shoulder.

"Excuse me. Are you all right?"

There was no response. Ritsuko checked the boys pulse and breathing. *Well he's alive.* Ritsuko reached into her purse and took out her cellular phone. Opening it, she dialed a number.

"Hello, Tokyo 3 General?"

It began to rain.

"Yes. I need you to send an ambulance.....to....the...never mind!" Ritsuko quickly shut the phone as she watched the boy in front of her begin to transform. In an instant the boy was replaced by a girl with red hair. Ritsuko reopened her phone and dialed another number.

"Hello Maya? It's me. Have the infirmary send an ambulance to the corner of 54th and Ribbon street and meet me at the infirmary...Oh, and cancel the sync test for today."

Ritsuko closed the phone and looked back at the boy now girl. "What are you?"

*****

Gendo, Fuyuzuki, and Misato entered the NERV infirmary under the Geo-Front. They were followed by the three EVA pilots, who were curious about what had canceled the sync test. Gendo oddly didn't seem to mind when Shinji had asked if they could come along. The six enter a room marked privet, Ritsuko was waiting inside. On the wall was a large two way mirror looking into the next room. In the next room was a boy laying in the bed. The boy had black hair done in a pigtail. Also inside the room was Maya, writing some things on a notepad. Gendo turned to Ritsuko.

"Well Dr. Akagi, tell us what's so important."

"I found this kid earlier this morning on my way to work. I think it would be better to show you than tell you." Ritsuko pushed the button on the room's intercom. "Maya. Do the water test again."

Maya nodded and went to the sink. Filling two glasses with water she returned to the bed and began to pour one of the glasses onto the boy.

"What? Is he a plant?" Asked Asuka. Ritsuko ignored her. The whole room, minus Ritsuko and Gendo, gasped as the boy changed into a girl. Ritsuko spoke into the intercom again.

"Use the hot water now."

Maya poured the other glass onto the girl changing her back into a boy.

"This is odd." Said Rei.

Asuka glared at her. "Well DUHH Wonder Girl!! The guy just changed sex for crying out loud!"

"How is this possible Dr. Akagi? Is he...she an Angel?" Asked Fuyuzuki.

"I don't know. We haven't gotten all the tests back yet, but what we do have say the he's as human as anybody. The only thing we do know about it is that cold water changes him into a girl and hot water changes him back."

"So what's wrong with him?" Asked Misato.

"He appears to be in a very deep sleep, like he's been sedated. However, the tests we've gotten back so far show no signs of tranquilizers or any other type of sedative."

"Will it look's like Sleeping Weird is awake now." Said Asuka. The others turned back to the mirror. The boy was indeed awake and was starting to sit up.

"Well I guess we should go talk to him now." Said Ritsuko as she turned to head for the door. The other's soon followed, however as Misato neared the door she turned to the three pilots.

"You three wait here."

"Huh What for?" Asked Asuka.

"There'll be enough people in there already. Besides you can see everything through the mirror." Said Misato as she left the room.

*****

The boy watched the four people enter the room. One was an old man in a uniform. The man had a look of wisdom. Another man that came in was middle aged and wore dark glasses. The other two were women. One had long black hair and was in a red and black uniform. The other was a blond in a white lab coat. The blond went to the boy's bedside.

"Ah. I see your awake. How do you feel?"

"Umm OK." The boy looked around the room. "Where am I?"

"Your at the NERV infirmary. You were brought here earlier today. I'm Dr. Ritsuko Akagi. Now do you mind answering some questions?"

The boy shrugged. "Sure."

"Name?"

"Ranma Saotome." Gendo raised an eyebrow.

"Do you know how you ended up on that street this morning?"

Ranma thought for a moment. "I-I can't remember."

"Can you tell me where you live? Is there anybody we can call?"

Ranma thought harder, but there was nothing. "I-I don't know."

"OK. Is there anything else you can remember? Friends, places you've might of been, anything."

Ranma shook his head. "There's something, but I can't put my finger on it."

"Ranma, you change sex with water. Do you know why?"

Ranma looked at her. "You're joking right."

Rather than answering him, Ritsuko poured some more water on him. At first the just looked surprised, but as she realized the change she began to breathe rapidly. Ritsuko realized that the girl was hyperventilating. Taking a barf bag out of a nearby medical stand, Ritsuko placed it to the young girls mouth. Once the girl's breathing returned to normal, she pushed the bag away and started screaming.

"NNNOOOOOO!!!" Misato and Maya tried to restrain the girl, while Ritsuko tried to calm her down.

"RANMA, CALM DOWN! IT CAN BE REVERSED!"

Braking free of Misato, Ranma grabbed Ritsuko by the collar. Dragging Ritsuko down (an impressive feat considering the woman was twice her size), Ranma began shaking her violently.

"CHANGE ME BACK! CHANGE ME BACK!"

"MAAAAYAYAYAYAAAA!" Maya quickly got some hot water and poured it on the girl. After Ranma changed form again, he backed up against the wall.

"Wh-What have you done t-to me!?"

"We haven't done anything to you Ranma. You were like this when we found you." Said Ritsuko, still waiting for the world to stop spinning. *That kid doesn't know his own strength!*

"Th-This c-can't be right! W-What's wrong with me!?"

"We don't know Ranma. Perhaps we'll find out in time. Do you know what sex you are?" Asked Ritsuko.

"I'm a guy."

"Are you sure? How do you know?"

Ranma stopped. How did he know? He didn't. It just felt right. "I just know. I'm a guy."

Ritsuko realized that she wasn't going to get anymore good answers out of Ranma for a little while. "It's all right. Why don't you get a little rest, we'll continue in a moment. Is there anything I can get you?"

"I-I am a little hungry." Maya pushed a tray of food up to the bed. "It's still hot." Ranma began to eat the food.

Ritsuko watched for a moment before she and the others went into the hall. *The kid knows how to put the stuff away!*

*****

Out in the hall the five adults gathered around to discuss Ranma.

"Are you OK Ritsuko?" Asked Misato.

"Yeah I think so. The boy's got some strength!" Said Ritsuko, rubbing her neck. "Can't really blame him I guess. I wouldn't be too happy to find out something like that."

"Yeah, I guess your right."

"Well?" Asked Gendo.

"He appears to be normal, outside of you-know-what. I think we should get some more information on him." Said Misato. Gendo nodded.

"I would like to get some more tests done on him as well." Said Ritsuko. Once again Gendo nodded.

"Are there any other health problems other than what you've shown us?"

Ritsuko shook her head. "No sir. Boy or girl he's one of the healthiest kids I've ever seen."

"Very well. Major, have NERV intelligence do a check on the name Ranma Saotome." Misato nodded. "In the mean time, designate him as the forth child and assign him to unit 03 when it arrives from the U.S." The others looked at him in disbelief.

Misato spoke up. "C-Commander!? We don't know who this kid really is or where he comes from!"

Ritsuko broke in. "For once I have to agree with Major Katsuragi Commander. We don't know if he's even human!"

Fuyuzuki looked at Gendo. "Are you sure Gendo? This isn't like you."

The commander looked at the others. How was he supposed to tell them that the GHOST of his wife told him it would be a good idea? He really wasn't sure himself. Even if what he was told in the entry plug was true, Yui had made no mention of the boy being a shapeshifter. Fortunately there were also some good reason for Gendo to do this.

"As a member of NERV he will be required to have a complete physical examination, as well as a polygraph test. If he does prove to be telling the truth and to be human then his shape shifting ability may provide us with valuable information. At any rate it will allow us to keep an eye on him. To this end I want him staying with one of you."

Misato shook her head. "I've got my hands full with Shinji and Asuka."

*Hands full with what? They do all your house work!* Thought Ritsuko. However, she had to admit that with Shinji, Asuka, and Pen2 there things were getting cramped. Maya was no better, her apartment being no bigger than Rei's. "I guess he can stay at my place."

"Make it so." Gendo then turned and left with Fuyuzuki following.

*****

Asuka looked at the boy through the two way mirror. *This Ranma is too weird. I wonder what the others are talking about?* Asuka was about to go out in the hall and check when Ritsuko, Maya, and Misato reentered Ranma's room. Ritsuko went back to Ranma's bedside. Ranma, who had calm down some, looked up at the doctor.

"I-I'm sorry about earlier. I-I just lost it when that happened."

"That's all right Ranma, are you ready to continue?" Ranma nodded. "Ranma, you know what the Angels are?"

"Umm aren't those suppose to be the messengers of god?"

*He doesn't know what the Angels are!?* Thought Asuka.

Ritsuko shook her head. "Do you know what second impact is?"

Ranma thought then shook his head. "Umm no."

Asuka turned to her fellow pilots. "That's it! He's from another planet!" Shinji and Rei just shrugged.

Ritsuko continued. "Well you see Ranma, fifteen years ago. A being known as the first Angel exploded in Antarctica, causing what we call second impact. This disaster devastated the world and killed 2.5 Billion people." Ranma gasped. "Now the Angels have returned. They attack this city often in hopes of starting a third impact that will destroy all mankind."

Suddenly an idea entered Asuka's head and she didn't like where the conversation was going. *They wouldn't!*

"Conventional weapons have proven useless against the Angels, but NERV does have a weapon that does work. The artificial lifeform Evangelion is the only weapon that can defeat an Angel. That is the purpose of NERV, to defeat the Angels."

*T-They couldn't!*

"However only a chosen few young children can pilot an EVA. What I'm asking Ranma is would you be willing to pilot an EVA?"

"WHAATTT!!!!"

*****

Ranma looked back at the mirror. He could have sworn he heard something from the other side. Ritsuko winced. *Damn! I forgot they were in there! I should have waited until Misato took them home.* Ritsuko felt sorry for her coworker. She wasn't going to hear the end of this soon.

Ranma thought about what Dr. Akagi asked him. The truth was, outside of finding his memory, he literally had nothing better to do. Also, these people had been very kind to him even after he went berserk and they were in trouble. He felt he should at least try to help them. "Umm yes. I'll try to be an EVA pilot."

Ritsuko smiled. "Good! Now you'll have to have some tests. Also for the time being you'll be staying at my....."

Suddenly the door burst open and a girl with long auburn hair stormed into the room. "I DON'T BELIEVE THIS! Your going to make this THING an EVA pilot!"

"Those are Commander Ikari's orders Asuka!" Said Misato.

"Wonder Girl I can understand! Shinji I can understand! Even one of the other two Stooges I might understand! But this complete FREAK of a stranger that you found on the street!? You don't even know if he's a boy or a girl!"

Something about what this Asuka said lit a spark in Ranma. "HEY! I'm a GUY!"

"Hard to tell Hydrosexual!" Said Asuka as she grabbed a glass of water off the lunch tray and splashed Ranma. She then returned to yelling at Misato.

Ranma-chan muttered. "At least I'm not a witch."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"

That was it. "I said at least as a girl I'm better built than you!"

"AARRRGGGGHH" (KLANG!)

Ritsuko watch Asuka as she left the room, slamming the door. She then turned to Ranma-chan who was now unconscious due to the metal serving tray slammed in her face. "Now that he deserved."

Misato and Maya just nodded their heads.

To be continued.