Evangelion/Ranma 1/2 : Past/Future Chapter One
Created by Long Ngo
Started March 1, 1998
Finish April 10, 1998
Revised April 18, 1998
Revised April 25, 1998  

      Nerv central was completely silent as such a pin drop could be heard across the room. The staff were all looking at the main monitor. What they were seeing shook them to the very core. For some, it was the realization that they were not truly in control of the events around them as for others it suggested the danger mankind was in.

      On the screen, technicians were watching Evangelion Unit 01. It was in berserk mode. This was not too uncommon, for Unit 01 had lost control in the past. What made this incident different than all the previous times Unit 01 had gone berserk was the way it now behaved. After regenerating its lost limb and defeating the angel, it had, to the disgust of many, devoured the fourteenth Angel. Here was not just a machine, here was a creature created by man, a Frankenstein if you will. A creation that someday could ultimately destroy mankind itself if it were to lose control.

      Ritsuko couldn't believe it. The events that were unfolding were out of her control. Ever since the day Ikari Shinji arrived at Nerv Headquarters, she had in essence lost control of Eva Unit 01. When the Eva was in for repairs, nothing seemed out of the ordinary but when it was on the field of battle, her control seems to slip. How many times had Shinji and Unit 01 surprised her, too many. She had seen Shinji's Eva fight Angels time and time again. Each time he would accomplish the impossible, either by regenerating a lost limb or operate without power while in a berserk rage. Never had she seen Asuka's Unit or Rei's Unit behave in the same way as Unit 01. Even the Magi could not comprehend Eva 01's behavior. To Ritsuko, Unit 01 was an enigma. Today had proven that she had lost control of that particular Eva. Looking on as the Eva devour the fourteenth Angel was shocking. What was more shocking was Shinji's sync rate which have been increasing exponentially, exceed 400%. It had happened only once before. About 10 years ago, in the same Eva that Shinji was piloting, Ikari Yui, mother of Ikari Shinji, had vanished upon reaching that level of oneness with the Evangelion. Today she knew that Shinji had also vanished. She knew what her duties were to be in the coming days. Her sole purpose in the next week or so would be to bring back the pilot of unit 01, Ikari Shinji. She had failed once but not again. A blood thirsty scream ended Ritsuko's thought process.

      The eyes of the purple menace which had so brightly shined moments before were now dark. All activities on the part of Unit 01 had ceased. Life signs were nil. Synchronization rates were also back to 0. Ritsuko was back in control but for how long?

31 days later

      "The recovery of Unit 01's pilot, Ikari Shinji, shall begin today," Ritsuko stated. Today was the last chance Nerv had for the retrieval of Shinji. The concentration in the LCL was reaching critical levels and soon all supplies of Oxygen would run out. The primatical state inside the entry plug would disintegrate with the loss of an Oxygen rich environment. "Begin operation ORP Maya," shouted Ritsuko.

      "Something is wrong. The entry plug is opening." shouted a desperate Maya.

      "No!!!" Ritsuko yelled. *This was not happening. She was going to lose another pilot.* "Abort, abort operation. Shut down all power to the entry plug." The situation was getting out of hand. She was losing control again of Unit 01.

      "It's too late." Maya shouted as the content of the entry plug spilt onto the ground.

      "Nooooo, Shinji!!" cried Misato. Misato ran to Shinji's empty plugsuit and started to hug it. After a few moments, Misato looked up at the bandaged face of Evangelion Unit 01, "Give back Shinji! Give me back my Shinji!!!!" Misato shouted.

* * * * *

      "Where am I?"

      "You are here."

      "Who are you?"

      "I am you."

      "I do not understand."

      "Why do you pilot an Eva?"

      "Because I have to."

      "Is that your reason for piloting an Eva?"

      "Yes!! If I won't then who will?"

      "What about Rei or Asuka? Why not them? Why do you pilot an Eva?"

      "OKAY!! I want to belong, to be loved, to be needed."

      Suddenly a bright light appeared in front of Shinji. As the waves of energy coursed around the unknown mass like waves, a humanoid shape could be seen.

      "Hello Shinji."

      "Who are you?"

      "Do you not recognize me?"

      "Mother?"

      "Yes Shinji. I'm sorry for not being there for you."

      "Mother, I've missed you so much!" At that he tried to get as close to Yui as possible.

      "Everytime you pilot this Eva I'm with you, but it is not your time to leave the mortal plane yet."

      "I'm so lonely."

      "Are you? What about Rei, Aksuka, Misato and the rest of Nerv? They are your family now." An image of Misato clinging on to Shinji's empty unifom appeared.

      "Misato."

      "I've tried to protect you as much as possible in the past but it seems like it is not enough. The angels are getting stronger and Shinji, my son, you are not only in danger of physical pain but also emotional ones. I will always try to protect you. So long my son!!!"

      "Mother wait!!"

      "Go back."

      Shinji's vision was suddenly covered in a blinding light.

* * * * *

      "Give back Shinji!!" a very disrupted Misato chanted over and over.

      As if her prayers were answered, Eva Unit One released Shinji from its core. Seeing Shinji, Misato ran toward the fallen pilot only to stop when another young boy was ejected from Unit One. The second boy seems to be around Shinji's age and had his black hair in a pigtail.

      "What in the world?" was the thought of all the present NERV personels as they noticed not one but two set of bodies appearing from the Eva.

To be continued :