Evangelion/Ranma 1/2 : Past/Future Chapter Thirteen B

Running down halls, Ritsuko suddenly stopped as a red alert sounded throughout the base. *No! Not now,* Ritsuko screamed inside her head. Turning her head to look at the elevator and then back down the hall, *Do I try and save Ranma or help stop the Angel?* Ritsuko pondered. Cursing the Fates for everything bad that had happened in her life, Ritsuko stopped and headed back towards the elevator, *I'll have time to save Ranma afterwards,* she thought. As the doors closed, "I hope," she muttered to herself.

Ranma ½ / Evangelion: Past/Future Chapter Thirteen

Created by Long Ngo

Started April 21, 1999

Finished November 2, 2001

The guards were all very uncomfortable. Each member were looking at the two men locked in a battle of will. On one side stood the Supreme Commander of Nerv and the other side was one of the Children. Each wondered, if ordered to, would they open fire and on whom.

*I will not let you ruin Rei's life or anyone else's,* Ranma swore as he looked into Gendou's eyes.

*I've worked too long for this. You will not stop me or the powers that be if I have anything to say about this,* Gendou thought.

No one moved as the two struggled for dominance. As seconds turned to minutes, the tension in the room increased. The sudden appearance of sirens and red light was a godsend, many guards thought.

Ranma was the first to break the gaze. Turning around, "I've got a job to do," Ranma called back to Gendou.

After a few moments, "You are all dismissed. Nothing happened," Gendou spoke.

Each nodded, having understood their orders and the consequences of disobeying them.

After everyone had left, Gendou headed to the private elevator hidden near the back of his office.

-----

Rushing into the command room, "Status report?" Misato asked.

"Angel detected in orbit. It seems to be moving into a position above Tokyo-3 and will be above us in ten minutes," Maya answered.

"How are the pilots?"

"None of the pilots are here at this time," Maya reported.

"What!" Misato shouted. Calming down a bit, "ETA of the children?"

"Time of arrival is approximately ten minutes," Maya replied.

"I'm here!" Ranma shouted.

"Thank you," Misato whispered, looking upward. "Get into your Eva and be ready. We are preparing to upload an A Type energy cannon for you to use. The Angel is currently orbiting above us," Misato informed Ranma.

Nodding his head, Ranma headed in the direction of the Black Evangelion that was currently on standby. Passing the Purple Evangelion, Ranma slowed and looked up into its eyes. *I will not fail again,* Ranma swore.

Behind his desk, Gendou noted Ranma's change in stride. *What is the connection between Saotome, Yui and Unit 01?* he pondered. As Gendou pondered this, somewhere within Nerv Central, a screen was flashing: Program completed, 100% erasure.

-----

"Beginning activation."

"Approaching border line."

"Border line reached . . . and passed."

"Activation complete. Sync rate is at 57%."

Maya reported, a little surprised at the turn of events. *Wow! I thought eight points in a week was good. Ranma went up ten within a week.*

*He will never cease to amaze me,* Ritsuko thought.

"Launch Eva!" Misato shouted.

Sparks flew as the Black Eva unit was catapulted to the surface.

"Rerouting exit point. He should be only a hundred feet from the Rifle," Maya reported.

"Great," Misato cheered. *Maybe we won't need the other children. Just to be on the safe side.* "ETA of the Children?" Misato asked.

"They just entered Nerv," she reported.

-----

Looking around, Ranma felt the response time had increased with the Eva. *So it's more mental,* Ranma thought.

"Ranma? Can you hear me?" Misato asked.

Looking at the window that had just popped up, "Hai!" he answered.

"About a hundred feet to your right, there is a building housing the rifle you'll need to kill the Angel," Misato said. "Just follow the arrows that will appear on your screen."

Looking around, Ranma noticed that white arrows had appeared pointing to the right. "I see them," he responded.

"Good. Follow them and get the rifle."

"Okay," Ranma answered. Following the arrows, he saw that they now pointed right in front of him, at one of the buildings that was now highlighted in red. "Found it."

After a few more seconds, Ranma had the rifle on his shoulders and was pointing at the speck within the sky. Even with his incredible accuracy, Ranma doubted that he would have been able to hit the Angel if he didn't have the magnification from the Eva's cameras.

"Got it within sight," Ranma reported.

"Power up the rifle, Maya," Misato ordered.

"Power levels at 100%. Transfer in progress," Maya spoke.

"All up to you, Ranma."

"Hai," he replied. Taking a deep breath, Ranma aimed and fired the rifled.

A tremendous beam of energy left the rifle and streaked towards the angel in the sky. Ranma's Eva slid backwards from the recoil. Buildings near the barrel of the weapon were scorched from the heat. As the beam neared the Angel, an AT field formed around it, causing it to dissipate away harmlessly.

"No!" Ritsuko shouted. "The target is too far away. The beam is too weak to punch a hole through the AT field when it reaches the Angel."

"Keep trying, Ranma," Misato encouraged him. *There's no other way. We don't have anything more powerful than that rifle.*

"Charging rifle," Maya said.

"Misato we're here!" Shinji shouted. Behind him were Asuka and Toji.

"Get into your suits fast!" Misato ordered. Turning to Maya, "Do we have another rifle?"

"We have the prototype in storage," she answered.

"Get the prototype ready. Maybe if we combine the two, we have a chance."

Up in space, the Angel started to glow in response to Ranma's attack.

"Energy spike!" Maya shouted.

From the Angel, a column of light lanced straight at Eva Unit 04.

"Move, Ranma!" Misato shouted but it was too late.

Everyone in the command room saw the light engulf Ranma, as well as Shinji, Asuka and Toji who were inside their Evas.

"Contamination!" Maya shouted. "Mental signature is starting to become erratic."

"It's invading Ranma's mind," Ritsuko supplied, very worried for her ward.

"What's going on?" Ranma asked before, he started shouting. "Heheh, cats. I'm not afraid of a bunch of c . . . a . . . t . . . s. Heheheheh. No! Get them away! Cats! It's dark down here, Otousan. I'm scared. They're hurting, poppa! Make it stop! OTOUSAN"

Everyone was silent. As the speakers relayed what Ranma was saying inside his Eva. What they all witnessed shocked everyone. Inside the Eva, Ranma was curled up in a tight ball.

"Make it go away! Cats! Must run away! Cats!"

"What's going on?" Misato asked.

"Rei! Akane! I tried! Make them stop! Cats! Help! Noooooooo!"

"Ranma is afraid of cats," Ritsuko quietly said. Suddenly, she remembered the folder Ranma had given her. "Nekoken," she whispered, a bit scared, before rushing out from the command center.

-----

"Stay away!" Ranma shouted.

In front of him was a cat/humanoid creature. "So the great Saotome Ranma cowers before me," he spoke.

"I'm not afraid of nothin'!" Ranma shouted, backing away from the creature. "This is not real!"

"It's real enough, Saotome," the creature spoke. Behind him a girl with short blue hair appeared.

"Why didn't you save me?" she asked.

"I tried, Rei! Don't leave me," Ranma pleaded. As much as he wanted to walk forward and embrace the one he loved but he couldn't. He was too scared.

The black void around him changed. He was on top of a very familiar mountain. Rei started changed. Her short blue hair changed to that of black. "Why couldn't you save me?" the new girl asked, pointing to a doll at her feet.

"Akane!"

"So this is your other love?" the Angel spoke. "Too bad that she had to die as well," as he finished he stepped on the doll.

"Why couldn't you save us?" Rei/Akane asked as they both faded.

"Noooooo!!!" Ranma shouted, rushing towards the fading pair before the Angel stepped in front of Ranma.

"Stay away!" Ranma shouted in fear, backing away.

"Are you afraid of little old me?" the Angel asked, smirking as he stepped closer to the martial artist.

Before Ranma had a chance to run away, Ryouga appeared behind him.

"What are you so afraid of?" he asked.

Turning his head, relief flooded Ranma's face. "You gotta help me man," he pleaded.

"Help you? Why should I help a girl like you?" Ryouga asked, a bucket appearing from no where into his hand. Splashing half of the content at Ranma and triggering Ranma's curse, the other half he dumped onto himself.

"You made my life a living Hell, Ranma!" the black piglet spoke.

"Ryouga?" Ranma asked.

"For not protecting Akane and for everything that you have done to me prepare to die, Ranma!" Ryouga spoke, his cursed form started to blur as he transformed into a cat.

The scenery switched. Ranma was back in Nerima.

The wall behind him exploded. "Girl type Ranma I kill!" a very beautiful girl with purple hair shouted.

"Shampoo!" another voice shouted after the girl.

Turning to look behind her, "Mousse help kill Ranma. Make me happy and Shampoo will marry Mousse," she spoke.

"Prepare to die, Ranma!" Mousse shouted. In his hands were two bucket of water. Splashing on Shampoo and the other on himself, they both transformed into cats.

"This is not real!" Ranma shouted, almost hysterical. Backing away from the three cats, two whites and one black.

Appearing behind the three cats, "This is very real," the Angel spoke.

"Who are you?"

"I am Arael , the next God of this pitiful world. I shall remake it in my own image," he answered. "Let me demonstrate how real this all is. Shampoo attack!" he commanded.

Obeying the command, Shampoo launched herself at Ranma.

Seeing the white cat with some purple highlight leap at him, Ranma started to run but could not. With a swipe, three claw marks appeared on Ranma's arm, which soon was filled with blood.

"How was that?" Arael asked.

"Stay away!" Ranma shouted as the last barrier in his mind collapsed.

-----

"Looks like there's only one option left," Fuyuzuki advised.

"Seele would not be happy if we used the lance without their permission," Gendou commented, ignoring Shinji's plea as he studied the screen in front of him.

"I agree," Fuyuzuki said. After a brief moment of silence, "So whom shall you send?" he asked.

"Eva Unit 02. Unit 01 is too precious to chance contamination and Unit 03's pilot does not have a high enough sync ratio for such a risky maneuver," Gendou surmised.

"Do you think it is wise to reveal Adam and the Lance to the Second Child?"

"We have no other choice."

"What about Rei?"

"No. I do not wish to take any chances with Rei. Her memories are too valuable, considering how this Angel attacks the mind of the pilots," Gendou said. *It is too early to see if the mind wipe was successful. I'm also not sure how this Angel might effect Rei.*

*Strange,* Fuyuzuki thought, *This is the first time since I've known Ikari to risk a leak in security than use Rei. What's going on?* All Fuyuzuki could do was nodded his head.

"Commander," Gendou called.

Misato was startled for a second, surprised that Commander Ikari had spoken rather than just observed. Resuming control of herself, she answered, "Yes, Sir?"

"Order Eva Unit 02 to head directly to Nerv Central. There she will wait until further orders," he ordered, "Under no circumstances shall Unit 01 be released from its cage.

"Hai," Misato answered. *The commander is up to something,* she thought. "Asuka! We're launching you to the surface. Stay put and do not engage the Angel no matter what."

-----

"Father! Ranma needs us!" Shinji plead. Looking at the screen displaying Evangelion Unit 04 on the ground in a fetus position. It was so shocking to see Ranma acting the way he was. To him, Ranma was a friend who understood him. Someone to look up to from time to time. No mattered what happened, except for the incident with Rei, Ranma was always confident to the very end.

"Misato! Come on already. Let Shinji and I take care of that Angel. I'll use the gun Ranma dropped and Shinji will use the prototype! Misato!" Asuka yelled.

"Yeah! I want to kick some Angel butt!" Toji yelled.

Moments later, Misato appeared on all three Eva's screen. "Here is the plan. Because the rifles will not be able to penetrate the Angel's AT Field the Commander has ordered something different. Asuka, you are to head to these coordinates that Maya will be patching to your Eva. When you reached your location, you will be given further orders. For now that's it."

"What about us?" Shinji asked.

"You two are on hold in case something goes wrong," Misato answered.

-----

"Okay I'm here!" shouted Asuka. Every time Ranma screamed, she winced. It could have been her over there. Asuka didn't want to think what that Angel would have done to her.

This time, Commander Ikari appeared on her screen instead of Misato. "Pilot Langley, you are to head towards Dogma. From there, a line shall be used to drop you down into the nerve center of the base. Everything you see is classified. Tell no one of what you see or else you will be court-martialed. Understand?" Gendou asked.

Asuka just nodded her head.

"Proceed then," he commanded.

-----

Looking down on one of Earth's defenders, Arael started to laugh at the cowering boy. "Is this the best they have? Hahahaha!!! I shall rule this world sooner than I thought," he gloated.

Before he could go any further, the curled mass mewled.

The smile on Arael 's feline face faded, replaced with confusion. *Did I destroy his mind to such an extent that he now thinks he's a cat?* Arael thought.

The once proud martial artist was no longer in control of his mind. Where there was once a very skillful fighter now stood the ultimate technique, Nekoken. In a blink of an eye, Neko-Ranma leaped upwards and landed on all four. No trace of humanity could be found in the blue eyes of the being once known as Saotome Ranma.

Taking a few steps back from the suddenly movement of his opponent, Arael was beyond confused. *What happened?* he thought. *The amount of fear and anger I pick up from him should have incapacitated him.*

Looking up, Neko-Ranma saw the source of all his fears and anger. Arching his back, Neko-Ranma hissed at Arael.

"So there is still some fight left in you boy," Arael said, yet he was still confused by the boy's behavior.

Before Arael could do anything, Neko-Ranma leaped into the air, flipped and started to head straight at Arael.

Grinning, Arael thrusted his hands outward, towards the boy. A beam of energy shot forth but missed as Neko-Ranma dodged in midair.

Surprised that he had missed, his defense was wide open as Neko-Ranma swiped at him.

Pain exploded from Arael 's chest. "Arggg!" he screamed out in pain. There were four slash marks on his chest.

" Rwarr!" Neko-Ranma cried out in challenge. Here was someone who had threatened Neko-Ranma and that person would pay.

-----

"Maya! What is going on?" Misato asked.

"I'm detecting another brain wave," Maya called back.

"Who?"

"Unknown," Maya answered, "Also, Ranma's brainwave activities have become very weak and erratic.

"Is he in any danger?" Misato asked, worried.

"Not enough information," Maya reported.

*Where is Ritsuko?* Misato thought. "Are the internal cameras working within Unit 04?"

"Checking . . . Yes, all cameras are operational. Sending visual information to monitor three, Captain."

Looking into the cockpit of the black Evangelion, they could all see Ranma curled up in a ball. He was almost completely still except for the occasion spasms and muttering. What confused some of the staff and Misato were the names that Ranma called out. Ryouga? Akane? Shampoo? Mousse? Who were they?

"Maya, can we get anything on these people?" Misato asked.

"Not without their family name," Maya answered back.

Looking back at the monitors, Misato started to feel that something was up. Ranma had stopped thrashing about and muttering. It was as if he had given up.

"Eva unit 04 has started to move!" Maya shouted.

If two people were looking at the screen showing Ranma and the Eva at the same time, they would have witnessed synchronized movements between the two.

*Berserk?* Misato thought? "What's happening?" she shouted.

"I think the Eva unit 04 has gone berserk. Ranma's synchronization has increased exponentially. It's at 125 and still rising!" Maya reported back.

Everyone heard a loud mewl from Ranma and a growl from the Evangelion at the same time. Though many of the technicians have seen a berserk Evangelion but was the pilot supposed to act that way?

-----

Opening the two giant double doors, Ritsuko looked into the room containing the clones of Ayanami Rei. Walking to the center of the giant room, Ritsuko came upon the central control panel for Rei III, who was suspended upright in a cylinder full of LCL.

*What is going on?* she thought. For some reason the console was not on low power suspension but rather on standby.

Typing a few commands, Ritsuko just stared at the printout. *My God! What did he do?*

The screen was displaying, 'Program Completed, 100% Erasure.'

Making an educated guess, Ritsuko could only think of one subject or person that Gendou would want wiped from Rei's mind and that was Ranma.

Fanatically entering a few more keys, Ritsuko slammed her hands down on the console, "No!" she shouted. On the screen, the words, 'Back-ups Deleted,' flashed.

Wiping away a tear, Ritsuko started to wake Rei III up.

* * * * *

The commander center was in a state of confusion. Somehow Evangelion Unit 04 was back on its feet. What was more amazing was that the beam of light surrounding the Evangelion had started to weaken and would wobble once in awhile.

Looking down at his desk, Gendou noticed the red flashing light. Someone was tampering with the memory erasure program. Turning his attention back to the monitor, he grimaced. He could hardly leave the bridge when one of Nerv's Evangelion Units was in the process of tearing up the city at an incredible rate. The most amazing thing was the Ranma or whoever was in control of the Black Evangelion was using the AT Field in ways they never imagined possible. What was even more incredible was how Ranma was affecting the Angel's AT field.

The data gathered from the Angel had confirmed a few technicians' theory that somehow the Angel was losing to the berserk Evangelion yet no one knew how.

* * * * *

*What is this place?* Asuka thought to herself. For the past several minutes, she had continued her descent into the core of Dogma with no end in sight

Looking at the walls around her, Asuka could make out the smooth metal sides. It gave her descent an eerie surreal feeling. The only source of light was from the white dot decreasing in size overhead and the one increasing below her.

* * * * *

*This is not suppose to happen,* Arael thought. Staring into the eyes of the Fifth Child, all that he could gather from them was anger. *What happened to the fear I felt earlier?* he wondered, trying to keep his distance from the boy on all four.

"What are you!" Arael shouted.

Ranma responded with a growl and moved closer. Here was the person that was responsible for all of Neko-Ranma's pain and he was going to pay.

Seeing that he could not escape the mind of this mortal, Arael steeled himself. *If you will not let me leave then I shall destroy your mind. When that is gone, my imprisonment shall be lifted.* Floating to the ground, Arael started to morph and take the form of one Tendou Akane. *From what I've gathered, Ranma shall never hurt this girl. When he hesitate I shall kill him.*

For a few seconds, Neko-Ranma was confused. Why would his former mate be here? Sniffing the air, Neko-Ranma realized that she smelled differently. The evil catman was trying to trick Neko-Ranma again. Snarling, he launched himself at the Angel.

To say that Arael was surprised was an understatement. He had not suspected such a hostile reaction from his opponent. Though this battle was happening mentally, it was sapping away at his energy. *If I don’t do something soon, I might perish,* he thought. The more energy he exerted, the weaker his AT field became.

* * * * *

“The Angel’s AT Field is weakening. Whatever Ranma is doing, it’s hurting the Angel somehow,” Maya reported.

“I see,” Gendou replied. Leaning forward in his chair, “Where is Doctor Akagi?” he asked.

“At this time unknown, Commander.”

“What is Eva Unit 02’s progress?”

“Eva Unit 02 should reach Central Dogma in about 1 minute.”

“Excellent. Link me up with Eva unit 03,” he ordered.

“Relaying now,” Maya said.

“Pilot Suzuhara, you are being launched to the surface. Upon reaching Tokyo III, you are to retrieve the Rifle that the Fifth Child had dropped. At this time, it should be fully charged. Take the Rifle and aim it at the Angel. With luck the AT Field of the Angel’s should be weak enough for the energy blast to punch through,” Gendou explained.

“Understood.”

“Proceed.”

“What about me, father?” Shinji asked.

“You are to stay. Eva unit 01 is too valuable to risk contamination.”

“But . . . “

“Commander!” Maya shouted, interrupting what Shinji had to say, “Someone is entering Eva Unit 00!” she reported.

“Give me visual,” he ordered.

“Visual coming on up. I don’t believe it! It’s Senpai!”

Down on the loading bay, Ritsuko looked up when she heard her name being called. Turning back to Rei III, “Do you understand your instructions? You are to lure the fifth Child away from the populous area. Do not worry. The Eva Unit will not attack you.”

“Understood,” Rei nodded before getting into her Eva.

“Doctor Akagi, you are to explain your reaction!” Gendou demanded.

“Eva 00 has been launch!” Maya shouted.

“I am doing what’s right and damn the consequences,” Ritsuko replied.

“I see. Security, you are to apprehend Doctor Akagi. She is charged with mutiny and is to be placed in a holding cell,” Gendou ordered.

“But commander . . .” Maya started but seeing the look on the commander’s face stopped her.

“Don’t worry, Maya, everything will turn out all right in the end,” Ritsuko reassured her assistant and one of the few people she could call friend. Looking at the screen and more importantly the face of Gendou, “Your plan will fail.” Before she could say any more, security guards stormed the chamber that the scientist was in and apprehended her.

“Lieutenant Ibuki, get me a link to Unit 00,” Gendou ordered.

Rei’s face appeared as a window popped up showing the pilot and a portion of the interior of her Eva. “Rei, you are to proceed to downtown Tokyo III where pilot Saotome is currently facing off against an Angel. Pilot Suzuhara and Langley will be there to assist you. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she replied in her monotone voice, which had been surprisingly absent of late. *I understand that the end is near,* Rei said the last part to herself.

* * * * *

*I’m pass the point of no return,* Arael thought to himself as his power level dropped to where the blast he once was able to easily deflect would now shatter his AT Field. “This is all your fault, puny mortal!” he yelled. “We are messengers of God and this is how you treat us?”

“Meow?” Neko-Ranma replied, not understand what was being said. Though Ranma was not in the right frame of mind, his cat personality knew fear when he saw it, smelt it and felt it in all of his being. His enemy was scared. Sensing victory, Neko-Ranma started to stalk his prey with a grin on his face.

Seeing the lack of understand, Arael howled in fury. Not caring if he lived or died, he would kill this mortal upstart. “Prepare to die!” Arael shouted his challenged. In his right hand, the sword seemed to melt. Part of it flowed towards the ground while the other half moved upwards. A spear soon formed in place of the sword he had wielded moments earlier. It was made from two coiling rods, twisted together. Lunging forward, Arael did not notice his AT Field collapsing in the real world. His mind and concentration was on one target, the black hair youth in front of him.

“Rwarr!” Neko-Ranma answered back, leaping forward as well, a battle aura appearing around him.

* * * * *

“Sir! The AT Field around the Angel has collapsed,” Maya report.

“Order all Eva units on the surface to begin a barrage of fire,” Gendou ordered. 3

“All pilots, the Angel’s AT Field is down. Toji, you are to fire at will. Rei you are to retrieve the prototype rifle from storage B and assist in the elimination of the Angel.”

“Hai!” replied both pilots.

“What about me father?” Shinji asked.

“Your order to remain is still in effect. Stay where you are,” Gendou replied.

* * * * *

Forcing his Eva to move as fast as possible, Toji arrived at his destination in less than a minute. Scooping up the rifle on the run, the Fourth child found that the rifle was fully charged. Lifting the rifle and aiming it into space, Toji aimed the rifle at the Angel floating in space. Clicking the trigger, a beam of white light lanced out towards space, impacting the Angel. From where he stood the only effect hat his attack had done was slow down the Angel’s approach.

“It had no effect,” Toji reported in, a little trembling in his voice. The Fourth child was almost positive that the blast would have had more effect than just slowing it down.

Rei did not stop for a second to glance at the bright light to her left. She continued on course as ordered. In her mind, the first objective was to destroy the Angel then it was to lure the Fifth Child away from the city. Finally reaching her destination, “Retrieving positron rifle,” Rei said.

“Wait till Toji’s rifle has been recharged before firing. Maybe two simultaneous hit will have a better success,” ordered Misato. Turning to Maya, why didn’t Toji’s shot have any damage?” she questioned.

Maya wished that Ritsuko were here. She would have been able to answer the question. “It might be because the Angel is too far away,” Maya answered, repeating what Ritsuko had said earlier.

“Lets hope the combine might of Rei and Toji’s rifle will work.”

* * * * *

Asuka couldn’t believe what she was seeing. In front of her was one of the ugliest but also scariest Angel she had ever seen. There were eyes all over the white Angel and every time her Eva moved those eyes seemed to follow. It resembled one her worse nightmares come to life. What was strange was the winding spear protruding out from the Angel’s chest, pinning it to the cross.

*Get a hold of yourself. The Angel isn’t going anywhere. You’re Soryu Asuka Langley. The best of the best.* Asuka repeated the mantra to herself. She had never been this close to an Angel before.

Taking a deep breath, Asuka started to take a survey of the room. There was nothing particularly interesting except for the Angel in the middle of the room. It was dangling above a pool of red liquid. Zooming in, Asuka gasped. The red liquid was actually blood flowing from the Angel from the wound caused by the spear. As she brought up the comm., ready to relay to the Commander that she had reached her destination, something about the Angel’s blood kept nagging her.

“Commander. I’ve finally reached the bottom.”

“Acknowledge, pilot Langley. Your instructions have changed. Remain where you are,” Ikari commanded before cutting off communications.

“Arggg!!!” Asuka shouted. Muttering a couple of graphical words in German, Asuka turned her attention back to the Angel and the Spear.

* * * * *

“It had no effect,” Toji reported in, a little trembling in his voice. The Fourth child was almost positive that the blast would have had more effect than just slowing it down.

Maya wished that Ritsuko were here. She would have been able to answer the question. “It might be because the Angel is too far away,” Maya answered, repeating what Ritsuko had said earlier.

“Lets hope the combine might of Rei and Toji’s rifle will work.”

* * * * *

*Get a hold of yourself. The Angel isn’t going anywhere. You’re Soryu Asuka Langley. The best of the best.* Asuka repeated the mantra to herself. She had never been this close to an Angel before.

“Commander. I’ve finally reached the bottom.”

“Acknowledge, pilot Langley. Your instructions have changed. Remain where you are,” Ikari commanded before cutting off communications.

“Arggg!!!” Asuka shouted. Muttering a couple of graphical words in German, Asuka turned her attention back to the Angel and the Spear.

* * * * *

Up on top, Rei had finally positioned herself next to the Fourth Child. "I am ready," Rei reported in.

"Good. Toji I want you to be the first one to fire. Rei will synchronize her shot with yours. Understood?" Misato ordered.

"Hai," both pilots responded.

*I thought Rei died unless the Commander had a reason for hiding her,* Misato thought, *I'll ask about it at another time.* Turning her attention away from the screen, "Maya how is Ranma doing?" she asked, more concern now than before. Before he was a frightened boy in pain; that was something she understood. But having Ranma act like a cat was not something that she could label familiar territory. Since Ritsuko wasn't here to explain her ward's behavior, she had to reply on herself to make a judgment call.

"His sync ratio keeps rising!" Maya reported, her voice was a bit more stressed than usual.

Returning her attention to Toji and Rei, she prayed the next shots would be last time they had to use the positron rifles. Though the new stock model took only a tenth of the energy needed compared to the prototype, it still drained the city of all power. *Thank goodness the government of Tokyo 3 decided to upgrade their power generators after the prototype was used for the first time,* Misato thought. *Don’t worry Ranma, we’ll save you soon.*

"Misato, my gun is fully powered," Toji called in.

"Maya forward the coordinates for the angel's core to Eva 00 and 03," she ordered.

"Hai! Sending now."

"Target confirmed," Rei answered in an unemotional voice.

"I got it!" Toji shouted. "Time for this angel to become moon dust!"

A few groans were heard among the command staff, those who knew where that saying originated from. A few smiled as Toji helped lighten the atmosphere a little.

"On my mark Rei. Three . . . two . . . one . . . fire!" Toji shouted.

Two simultaneous clicks could be heard as the whining of the positron guns started to generate power on an unprecedented level. The two Evas held in their hands the most powerful guns ever created. As lights all over Tokyo 3 shutdown due to the power consumptions, two orbs of brilliant white shown before lashing out into the darkness of space.

* * * * *

"Rwarr!" Neko-Ranma shouted in pain. The long stick that the bad man now held was stronger than anything he had ever faced.

"So you finally realized the folly of angering a Messenger of God!" Arael shouted, foam escaping from his mouth as the Angel was locked in a state of battle frenzy.

Neko-Ranma leaped back, away from the spear. While in the air, the martial artist turned cat did a flip and lashed out twice as he sailed further from the mad man. Landing, Neko-Ranma gazed forward as his ki slashes flew towards Arael.

Laughing, Arael started to spin the spear in a circular motion, creating a shield from the ki projectile. "Little boy I will enjoy killing you and all those you care about!" he shouted. Grinning madly, Arael fly towards Neko-Ranma, thinking of impaling the pigtailed youth.

Seeing the charge, Neko-Ranma dodged to side but was not fast enough as the spear cut his left shoulder. Turning to lick his wound, Neko-Ranma eyes started to glow. The nature of the Neko-ken was based on the personality of a cat. The induced Neko-ken starts as a playful cat. As the danger increase so does the personality of the technique. Where the ki claws were more akin to a cat having fun, like clawing a piece of furniture or the hand of his trainer, that kitten would soon mature into something fiercer. The next stage was usually a self-preservation mode. The last and most dangerous was the protection of his mate and cubs, for a cat this was more important than his own. The thirteen Angel had accidentally triggered the last stage to Neko-Ranma's cat personality.

As the battle raged on, one thing became apparent to Neko-Ranma. Its wounds were not healing like they normally did.

"So you finally realized it didn't you. I will continue to slice you up slowly and nothing will be able to heal you in my space of influence!" Arael gloated, pointing the spear soaked with Neko-Ranma's blood at the martial artist. Their surrounds started to take on random blotches of mismatch colors in response to Arael’s state of mind. Because of this, Arael failed to notice the twin beam of energy streaking toward his unprotected heart.

* * * * *

In the control room, everyone was holding their breath.

"Beams are to impact in two seconds . . . one . . . Impact!" Maya shouted.

A wave of cheers could be heard as the beams ripped through the Angel's core.

Everyone could see the Angel starting to fall apart and the beam that the Angel had used to trap the Fifth Child and his Evangelion Unit was dimming and eventually disappeared.

Everyone but for a purple haired lady looking warily as silence filled the plug of Evangelion Unit 04.

* * * * *

Up in space, Arael shouted in pain and agony as his heart was ripped from his body, the spear falling from his grasp. Looking at the of the image of the Neko-ken fighter faded from his space of influence, Arael started to laugh as his life energy left him. "Defeat by a mortal at my own game," he whispered to himself. "Kaworu, you are the last of us. What will you do?"

Rolling unto his back, Arael coughed up some blood. Wiping his mouth with his hands, "To think that the mortals use our blood to breath in. How barbaric," he muttered, looking at his blood covered hands.

Tilting his head to see the shock expression on the Neko-ken fighter. "I hope you are victorious for now that I am finally thinking clearly for the first time in ages, I would like to salute a worthy opponent," Arael called out.

The last expression Arael had of Neko-Ranma was the anger and shocked expression on the teen's face. *I bet he thought I was running away,* he chuckled to himself as he waited for his end to come. "Kami-sama I have felled you. All my brothers have felt the temptation of power as I have . . . please forgive us," he pleaded. His plea was answered by a bright white light appearing before him as his body exploded in space.

* * * * *

"It's my turn," the boy named Kaworu whispered to himself. Hopping off the rock that was currently on, he started to make plans to gain the trust of the four Evangelion pilots; excluding the First Child since he knew the half angel half mortal clone would see through his disguise.

* * * * *

Neko-Ranma was furious. His enemy was running away! "Rwarr!" Neko-Ranma shouted his challenge as his surrounding changed once again. The space where his enemy had stood continued to vanish only to leave an image of Tokyo 3 in its place. "Rwarr!" a distorted Neko-Ranma again roared out this anger, this time unleashing the full power of the Neko-ken.

As the black Evangelion raised his head to let out an inhuman roar of anger, nearby buildings started to explode as the Evangelion expanded his AT field. The earth beneath him cracked and exploded upward, leaving the black semi-organic robot to stand in a small crater, undamaged due to its protective barrier.

Glancing around, Neko-Ranma saw two creatures he recognized. Snarling, Neko-Ranma was about to launch himself at Evangelion Unit 00 and 03. There were two reasons for the Neko-ken fighter's hostility. One was the fact that the evil man had used copies of his friends to hurt him and the second and decisive reason was both his love ones were lost to him and now someone was sporting her looks stood in front of him.

"Ranma I am so glad you are okay," Shinji shouted in joy as he appeared on Evangelion Unit 04's screen.

"So Wonder Boy needed his ass saved again huh," Asuka teased.

"How are you doing, buddy?" Toji asked.

"Mission accomplished. Saotome-san please follow me," Rei asked, now following her second set of orders that Doctor Akagi had given her after reactivation.

"Rei explain!" Gendou ordered.

"Rei?" Misato asked.

Dismissing the images of Toji, Rei, Shinji and Asuka that appeared on his screen, Neko-Ranma charged Evangelion Unit 00 and 03.

"What's going on!" Misato shouted. "Ranma stand down!" she ordered.

In his state, Neko-Ranma disregarded the angry tone of the old lady without a body. Closing in, he disregarded Unit 00 and rammed Unit 03, causing both to spawn on the grown. The instant of impact, Unit 04 got back on its feet and leaped away from the downed Evangelion, placing himself between Unit 00 and Unit 03.

"It seems that Ranma has gone rouge on us," Gendou commented. "We might need the lance after all."

Staring in shock and a bit of horror at his friend and superior, "You're not serious in using the Lance of Longini against the boy?" Fuyuzuki asked.

"It is the only weapon on hand that will penetrate his AT Field, Professor," Gendou commented.

"You have become more ruthless, Ikari." Pausing to think, making up his mind with a sigh. "I have stuck with you this far. Why not till the closing chapter?" he replied.

"I thought you would."

"Heh."

"Pilot Langley, retrieve the lance and bring it to the surface. We have need of it," Gendou ordered.

"Understand. Is there another Angel?" she asked, confused. Several questions were floating around, wanting to be answered.

"Request Denied. Remember, pilot Langley that what you saw down there is classified."

"Hai."

Down beneath him, Misato and the rest of the staff crew were frantic. As scenario after scenario were discarded, the only choice they had to stop a twenty stories berserker that made Godzilla look like a pet iguana was to take it down. Even if Unit 04's Umbilical Cable was cut, that still left the crazed unit with five minutes to tear down the city.

"It looks like both of you have to take down Ranma," Misato ordered Rei and Toji, her eyes going a bit red at having to give such an order.

"Shinji, I am releasing you from confinement," Gendou said. "Major, launch Unit 01."

"Father!"

"That is all. Stay or go, I do not care, Pilot Ikari. Major you have your orders."

"Hai," she replied weakly.

"Prep Unit 01 for launch. Cut unit 04's Umbilical Cable. In five minutes it will all be over," Misato shouted, "One way or another," she whispered the last part.

* * * * *

The journey to the top was just as boring as the journey down to Asuka, physically. In her mind, the image of the Angel kept reappearing, always looking at her. Shivering, Asuka concentrated on the lance her Eva held in its hands. The way it coiled together reminded her of the human genes, more importantly, a specific one, deoxyribonucleic acid, better known to Shinji as DNA.

What was stranger to her was the fact that Nerv had in its possession an Angel. From the way the Commander acted, she could swear that a very few select individuals knew about that Angel's existence in the center of Dogma. The strangeness did not end there. The atmosphere around the Angel had a surreal feel to it. She couldn't place her finger on it but Asuka knew it was of great importance. Here was an Angel held up onto a crucifix by a stake in the likeness of the human genial. Everything was so biblical yet for some reason it made sense. At its feet was a reddish substance that could have been the Angel's blood.

Staring at the blood as she ascended she remembered something Shinji had once said.

* * * * *

They were alone at a park. Both of them were sitting next to each other on the swings. Gently moving.

"Huh . . . I really enjoyed tonight, Asuka," Shinji said.

"Pftt . . You should feel lucky that I decided to go on a date with you. The great Soryu Asuka Langly!" she exclaimed, though the winkle in her eyes and the smile on her face expressed how much she enjoyed the date as well. *She long Kaji. I have my prince now,* she thought to herself. Picturing Shinji on a white charger made her chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

"It's nothing. Have you ever ridden a horse Shinji?"

"No. Why?"

Maybe when this is all over, I should take you riding. Ne?"

Smiling, "Sure." Pushing off the ground, Shinji propelled himself a little higher. After a few silent moments, "I've always wanted to ask you something."

"Huh?"

"What does it feel like to pilot an Eva, Asuka?" Shinji asked.

"What kind of question is that?" she replied.

"I just want to know."

"You pilot one too, Third Child," Asuka teased but seeing her date with his serious face on, she sobered a little. "I have nothing better to do. I feel like I'm special. Being an Eva pilot. Not many people have the opportunity like us. I feel like I am doing something good, something that make people notice me," she replied. "I know you think it is a bit selfish but I feel I have some control in my life when I'm in that cockpit."

"Sometimes I feel trap when I'm in the Eva," Shinji spoke in a monotone voice, staring straight ahead. "Other times, I feel loved when I'm in the Eva. Those rare times I'm happy that I'm an Eva pilot."

"I'm here for you Shinji."

Blushing, "Thanks," he answered back.

"No problem."

"Can I ask you something else?"

"Sure."

"Have you ever wondered why LCL taste like blood sometimes?"

"Baka! That is disgusting!"

* * * * *

"It taste like blood," she muttered to herself. Biting off a few curses, Asuka tried to calm herself down. "I think I'm gonna be sick," Asuka groaned, one hand to her mouth as she made the connection.

* * * * *

Above Asuka, a battle was raging and yet to the combatants, there was no true enemy this time, only confusion.

"Ranma, stop! I don't want to fight you," Toki yelled at the boy turned berserker.

The answer Toji got was a quick head butt from the Neko-ken pilot.

"Misato, who is the pilot of Eva 04?" Rei asked, seeing that her teammate was no imminent danger. Information was key to a successful mission. So far she had barely been brief on what the present situation was and who this mysterious pilot was.

"What are you talking about Rei?" Misato asked.

"The Pilot of the white Evangelion. Who is he?" Rei asked again, her voice never changing from its detached tone.

"Are you alright, Rei? Ranma has been with us for several months."

"I do not recall his presence."

*How can everything be going so wrong today?* Misato thought to herself. *Kaji had been right. There was something afoot here at Nerv and she didn't know who to trust anymore, except maybe Ritsuko but her best friend was in the brig.*

Before Misato could clarify the matter she was interrupted. "Rei. At the moment you do not need to know. Unit 04 will deactivate in less than five minutes. Until then your orders are to protect the city and that means neutralizing the Rouge Evangelion as soon as possible. Understood?"

"Orders accepted."

"Rei! Commander!" Misato shouted out in shock. The way she heard the order, it seemed like a death sentence for Ranma.

In Rei's mind, she was wondering of the two she had gotten, which one would she follow. The Doctor had ordered her to draw the Evangelion Unit 04 out of the city and from there calm the pilot down. The other order was for her to stop the berserker as soon as possible and that was to either knock the pilot unconscious or destroy the entry plug. Permanent damage to the Eva for future use was high on her list of things not to do unless the situation warranted. Feeling the first order would take to long, Rei launched herself at the rouge unit.

Toji was breathing hard. For the past twenty seconds that seemed to last a lifetime, Rei had stood on the sidelines. Though he had wish for time to shout at the First Child for an explanation of why she wasn't helping him subdue their friend, he needed all his concentration to stay in one piece. Using a gun was out of the question. Side stepping, Unit 04 messed him again as the white Eva flew passed him into another building. Looking up, Toji swore as the timer still showed Ranma's Eva having a little more than four minutes left.

Going to a storage shed, Rei picked up a rifle. The Commander's order superseded the Doctor's. Taking aim, Rei opened fire to see Unit 04's AT Field flare to life.

Sensing danger, Neko-Ranma leaped away but wasn't fast enough as a few bullets still got close enough to hit him but did little damage due to that strange light. In the mind of Neko-Ranma, the blue Evangelion that he thought was his potential mate had assaulted him and he knew that the bad man was back and these two were not his friends. Before he was not sure and had been hesitant to actually afflict any damage but now he was sure and the kitten gloves were off. As the timer countered down to four minutes, Unit 04's hands glowed as the semi-organic robot took a cat like stance.

* * * * *

"Unit 04's energy is spiking!" Maya shouted.

"What!" Misato whipped her head in Maya's direction.

"The energy readings from Unit 04 are fluctuating, from orange to blue to unknown."

"Unknown?"

"The Magi computers do not have enough information to give a definite answer," Maya answered. *I wish Senpai were here. She would know what to do.*

* * * * *

Moving his hands back, Neko-Ranma launched another modified chi slashes at the fake Evas. From the hands of the Eva, five reddish waves sailed towards Toji's, which he dodged yet again.

The Fourth Child had found early on that getting hit by one of those strange wave attacks was very painful. Without having to look back, Toji was sure a few more buildings had been sliced into pieces by that attack. Had he not been surrounded by the salty reddish LCL, the knew the sweat would be pouring down his face from worry for himself as well as for the mental stability of his friend.

"I will try and move around to the flank, distract him," Rei said.

Mentally cursing at the First Child, "What do you think I've been doing all this time!" Toji shouted.

"Getting decimated," was the cool reply by Rei. She was in a situation that was not favorable to any of the participants. Without sufficient information she could not come up with a plan of attack and the Commander had been vague at best in his orders. This made her irritable.

"Hai," Toji replied was a resigned voice. *Joy,* he smiled to himself. A smile that was fitting on the faces of prisoners knowing their head was to be the next on the guillotine. "Look at the Fourth Child, doesn't he make a great moving target," he muttered to himself.

* * * * *

On the main screen, technicians were busily going over the footage from the last few minutes, pausing every once in awhile to compare Unit 04's strange attacks with the energy readings they collected.

"Well?" the Commander asked. *That Eva should not be able to do this. It was a mistake to give the brat an Eva with a S2 unit. An umbilical cord would have been preferable at this point.*

"The Magi are saying that the attacks from Unit 04 are the results of the pilot manipulating the AT field," Maya reported.

"What is the ETA of the Second Child?"

"She will be on the surface in less than 70 seconds."

"Has the Third Child been launched?"

"Yes, sir. He refuses to engage Unit 04 though."

"I see."

"Major! It is your job as guardian and commanding officer to see to it that these pilots follow what they are told to do. Do I make myself clear?"

"Hai," Misato answered. Turning to the screen, "Shinji please engage Uni04."

"No! That's not an Angel out there. That's Ranma, Misato. I will not kill a friend," Shinji exclaimed, his eyes narrowing at the thought that his father had to nerve to try and make him kill one of the few people he respected.

"Shinji. Friend or foe, right now Ranma is destroying the entire city. You have to stop him." To emphasize Misato's statement, another building had been sliced clean and collapsed. "If we don't do something soon, there won't be a city left to save!"

"All right. I'll stop Ranma but that doesn't mean I will have to kill him."

"That's all I can ask," Misato replied knowing how much it hurt Shinji to follow his father's orders.

"Is that acceptable?" she asked the Commander.

"For now."

*You heartless bastard!*

* * * * *

"Toji! Rei! I'm here to help," Shinji called out.

"Well it's about time you got here."

"Sorry."

"Heh, no problem with the three of us we should be able to subdue Ranma, ne?"

"Right." Looking over to the Blue Eva unit, "Rei? Is that alright with you?"

"Yes for the moment."

"Where is Asuka?" Toji asked. "I know that she wouldn't miss this for the world."

"I'm right here you dorfus!"

"Glad you can make it," Shinji grinned.

"Without me you won't know how to put on your shoes Wonder boy," Asuka replied.

"Are you alright? You're a little pale."

Remembering the Commanders orders, "I'm fine. Must be something I ate." *Or breathing,* she thought.

"What is that in your hands?" Toji asked.

"A spear you nitwit!"

"Watch out!" Shinji cried out as he saw Ranma moved again.

"~!##$!@" Asuka shouted as she tried to dodge the attack but knew she wouldn't make it. *I'm gonna die,* she thought as the 5 slashes came at her. The only thing she could do was hide brace herself for the impact.

Horror was etched on both Shinji and Toji's face as they knew first hand what those modified AT field attacks could do.

To the surprise of all those present, the 5 slashes winked out of existence the instant it touched the spear Asuka had unwittingly placed in front of her in a guard position.

"How?"

"Interesting," Rei muttered.

In the command room, shock was on the faces of many of the staff.

"Just as I thought."

"You knew," Fuyuzuki said, a more a statement than a question.

"Yes. The instant I saw how powerful the Angel's AT Field was I knew that conventional weapons would not be enough. The only weapon we have at our disposal was the Spear since it negates the effects of the AT field. This is just an added bonus."

"I see."

"Commander?" Misato asked. "What should we do now?"

"Finish the job."

"Nani?"

"Eliminate the rouge Eva."

"You can't be serious!" she shouted. "You can't be that cold hearted! He is just a child."

"A child in possession of a weapon more powerful than several nuclear war heads."

"But we have something that can stop him."

"All the better to use it."

Seeing that the Major would not give the order, Gendou turned to his own screen. "Pilot Soryu. I command you to use lethal force if necessary to stop Evangelion Unit 04 from further destroying the city. In your hands is the means to accomplish your mission."

Asuka had graduated from an elite University at the age of 10. This was no small feat and many considered her a genius that had the potential to become one of the greats like Einstein, Franklin, Edison and those many others. After discovering the secret behind the source of the LCL, she was not about to follow an order blindly. "No."

"I see. Pilot Suzuhara, relieve the spear from pilot Soryu and complete your objective."

"No."

"I will not ask Pilot Ikari since he has stated his preference already. Rei it is up to you."

"Mission accepted."

"No Rei!" all three pilot shouted in dismay.

"How can you do that to someone you love!" Asuka shouted.

"Don’t you remember Ranma?"

"I never thought you were this cold, Rei!"

"I do not know of any Ranma nor do I know what this thing you refer to as love is. I only follow orders." Within a blink of an eye Rei had snatched the lance from Askua's hand and charged the rouge Evangelion.

Neko-Ranma was confused. Something was not right about this picture. *Could these be his real friends?* Until now they have not really attacked him. Neko-Ranma was confused. Should he give them another chance?

Looking up Neko-Ranma saw the blue Eva running to him with a stick in her hands. If these were not his enemies then could it be that his mate was coming to join him?

Smiling, Neko Ranma decided to give this blue Eva a chance since he had discover that he was protected somehow and nothing could really beat him.

"Meow?" Neko-Ranma called out.

In response to Ranma's question, Rei looked into the eyes of the pilot of the black Eva. "Die," she said while plunging the Lance of Longius into the core of the Eva.

Before Rei had a chance to escape, light started to pour out of beneath the armor plating of the impaled Eva. For some unknown reason she could not let go of the lance as the intensity of the light increase.

"Rei!" Gendou shouted, worry was evident on his face. The reason did not stem from paternal concern nor that of a commander to those he commanded, but rather Gendou was concern that with the lost of Rei III, any hopes of completing his plans would be wiped out.

"Ranma!"

The light increased until it was a dome, encompassing all five Evangelions.

"What is the status of Eva 01 and 00?" Gendou wanted to know.

*The heartless bastard. He doesn't care what happens to the rest of us. I'm surprised that he even mentioned Shinji.* Misato thought.

"All I have is static."

"Keep trying."

"Hai."

"It can't end like this," Gendou muttered. "I will have Yui back if it means starting from scratch." No one heard the Commander's exclamation as he stared at the dome of light.

* * * * *

Looking into the night skies, Ranma wondered how his life would have been if the wedding had proceeded and not been interrupted by almost all of his other fiancées and rivals.

*It's all Nabiki's fault. Selling the information out like that.*

Picturing Akane in that Western wedding gown made Ranma smile in sorrow. "She's so beautiful."

Reaching into his pockets, Ranma held in his left hand a gold ring and a crumpled up piece of paper. Putting on the ring, Ranma gazed at his left ring finger. "It looks so foreign there," he muttered to himself.

Leaning, Ranma looked into the night skies again. Without looking Ranma brought the crumpled up paper in front of him. Smoothing it out, Ranma started to read the marriage certificate. On the bottom where he was suppose to sign his name the line remained blank. It had had his mother, father and his father-in-law's signature had he marriage Akane as witnesses. Akane had also signed her name on the paper.

"Why didn't I sign it?" Ranma wondered. The ceremony was just a formality. The paper in his hand was what really counted. Glancing at his left hand again, "It really does look foreign there."

"Because of Oyaji I could never really master my feelings. Damn him. Yet I like Akane a lot."

Placing the paper back into his pocket, Ranma took off the ring and brought it up to his eyes. Peering through the center, Ranma imaged himself looking into a hole in the sky. A hole that could give him the answers he sought for.

"Mirror mirror on the wall tell me what I want to hear most of all," Ranma chanted, a smile appearing on his face.

"Ranma?"

"Huh?"

"Ranma!"

Looking around, he could not find the source of the person calling his name. Looking into the center of the ring once again, "Akane?" he asked since the girl he saw had short hair like his fiancée but that was the only similarity between the two. "Rei!" he called out and in a flash of light he found himself floating in a sea of nothingness. All around him was dark yet in front of him stood Rei, both her arms hugging herself, to conceal a little of her nudity. To her left was a lady that resembled Rei in many of her features yet she had a motherly aura surrounding her.

"Yui! Where am I?"

"Everywhere and no where."

"How did I get here?"

"You were special Ranma. When the lance of Longius touched you it set off a miniature reaction. The potential that was contained within you could no longer be contained by your AT field."

"AT field?"

"Yes. Each human being has an AT field, think of it as your skin. The energy inside of you as well as all humans is the power of creation itself. Most people would never be able to harness it. But you are different. Had you never agreed to help me I would have been forced to assist my son when the time was right."

"Huh?"

"Think of yourself as a god Ranma. Right now you have the power of creation at your fingertips, the same power that men with no morals have graved to have for generations. The power to revolutionized the Human race."

"Woo! I don't want this power."

"Want or not it is yours."

"What about Rei?"

"She will be the instrument of your wish, your desire."

"What happen if I don't want it?"

"Then the power will leave you and you will die."

"Nani!"

"Like it or not Saotome Ranma, the instant the lance penetrated your body, you were dead. Yet because of you are special and can control your soul like few others, you have a the ability of creation at your fingertips."

"But. . ."

"Choose or the choice will be taken from you."

"Why me?"

"Because I felt you had a kind heart and you can understand suffering and disappointment. You could understand how everyone feels where my Shinji could not. This is your chance to change anything you feel like it."

"I can do anything?"

"Anything."

"Then I wish for everything to be made right again."

"Is that all? I'll let you interpret my wish. Can I do that? I was never good at these things."

"If that is your will then so be it. Here you are anything and everything."

"Eh. . . for once it really is my fault if something goes bad."

"You can think that but also you could say you are giving humanity a second chance."

"Before I go can I talk to Rei?"

"As you wish. I am here to mediate but it is you who have to he power."

"I want to talk to the real Rei. The one that died protecting me."

"Ranma?" Rei asked as she opened her eyes.

"Hi Rei," Ranma grinned.

"What is going on?"

"I died."

"No!" she stifled a gasped. "I wasn't fast enough. I'm so sorry."

"You were. You saved everyone."

"But you are dead."

"Don’t worry," Ranma assured her. Floating closer to Rei. Ranma smiled. "You look every pretty with or without clothes."

"You baka," Rei muttered, tears falling from her eyes.

"Hey I hate it when girls cry. I just wanted to give you something."

"What?"

"This," Ranma said, reaching out and taking Rei's hand. Reaching into his pocket he drew forth a gold band. "I love you Rei," Ranma said, his eyes never leaving her face.

"I love you too."

"So long Rei," Ranma spoke as he started to fade away.

"Ranma!" Rei shouted after the pigtailed youth.

The last thing she heard made her blush a bit.

"Those breast really are soft."

* * * * *

As the dome of light started to fade, the Evangelion Unit 04 fell face first into the ground. Its system completely depleted of energy.

Able to loosing her grip, Rei watched as the black Eva collapsed. Having all of the memories that Gendou had wiped from her mind, Rei cried. She did not react to her surroundings as chaos ensued all around her.

"Ranma!" Shinji shouted.

"How could you Ayanami!"

"No Ranma!"

It took several minutes but Rei finally heard someone calling her name. Looking up she found a worried Commander asking if she was all right. With her systems overloaded, she fainted before muttering Ranma's name.

The End