V .01
Neo Genus Jusenkyo
By Kevin D. Hammel
My attempt at a Ranma/EVA blend. Shaken, not stirred.
Episode 03 A Heart Divided! The riddle of... Kasumi?
Ranma 1/2 is property of Rumiko Takahashi. Publishing Rights are held by
Viz in The US and Shogakukan in Japan. Neon Genesis Evangelion is
property of Hideaki Anno. Video rights held by GAINAX in Japan and ADV
Films in the US. My purpose is to honor these creators and their works.
No infringement intended.
----
Akane almost wished she had never even thought of simulator training. It
wasn't really a simulator, of course, they had just hooked HER Unit 2 up
to some cables so the VR system could be used to create some battle
scenarios. Her trainer, Ukyou, scored her results and provided new
challenges.
"Akane, if you have a rifle, you can SHOOT things, you don't need to run
up to everything. Look what happened to you and Ranma in your first
battle!"
"But I'm a martial artist, it just doesn't seem right to use a gun. The
School does not use weapons."
"When you step into that entry plug, you're a JAVA pilot. If you have to
fight in close quarters, the martial arts training you have will come in
handy, BUT if you can shoot at long range, you might be able to deal
with the threat before it can damage you or your JAVA." She shook her
head, "you're beginning to sound just like Ranma."
"Thank you! I take that as a compliment."
"Now let's review some basics. You didn't know anything about the timer
earlier, why don't YOU tell me about it."
"The JAVA unit uses an external power source to handle most of its
systems. This requires a power cable connected to the Joketsuzoku 3
power grid. If the cable is unplugged, I have five minutes to re-attach
a power cable or its lights out. The countdown serves to remind me how
much time I have left."
"Correct. In theory, you have as little as one minute before the unit
shuts down, but I've NEVER seen a JAVA go for less than the five
minutes. Now, lets review the locations of the weapons buildings on the
surface..."
----
Ranma got up early and headed off to Shampoo's apartment. She was going
to help Nabiki and Akane out on their first day of school. She was
dressed in her uniform, a teal jumper with a deep V in front and a
shallow one in back, white blouse and socks, and a red ribbon tied in a
bow around the neck of her blouse. This uniform was the worst of the
prices she had to pay to pilot a JAVA, but pay it she did.
Soon, Ranma was at Shampoo's, an hour before school was to start. Akane
and Nabiki were already registered, but perhaps Ranma's fan club of one
would not be there if they got to school early. She rang the doorbell.
"Coming." Nabiki opened the door. She had a somewhat sleepy expression
and a toothbrush in her mouth. "Come in, Ranma and have a seat. Akane
went to get Kasumi." Nabiki returned to her morning duties.
"OK, thanks."
Ranma took a seat on the couch. The front door opened. Akane brought
Kasumi into the living room. "Why don't you sit here, Kasumi. I'm sure
you and Ranma have a lot to talk about." Kasumi's condition was
certainly improving. Now, she merely had an arm in a sling and a bandage
around her head.
Kasumi sat and was every bit as talkative as ever, she stared into
space. Ranma wondered what she was thinking, or IF she was thinking. Oh
well, here goes... "Good morning, Kasumi!" Ranma said as cheerfully as
possible, in her cutest 'cute girl' voice. She smiled at Akane's sister.
Silence.
"Oh well." Ranma found a magazine. It was as talkative as Kasumi, but
not nearly as boring. After a few minutes, Akane returned to see her
sister staring into space, and Ranma reading a magazine.
"RRRRRANMA! Why are you ignoring my sister?" Her aura flared, as she
prepared to summon...
"ranma was very polite, akane. i just didn't want to talk." Kasumi said
in her emotionless whisper.
Akane's aura deflated. "I'm sorry, Ranma."
"Its OK, Akane. I didn't know you had such a temper! You're very uncute
when your angry, 'ya know." She smiled at Akane.
"OOHHH I DO NOT HAVE A TEMPER! WHY I'LL have to work on it."
"thank you for inviting me, akane." Kasumi spoke no more until it was
time to leave.
Nabiki was finally ready. The four girls left for school.
----
Ranma briefed the two newcomers on the way to school. "We attend a
special school for LEAF employees and dependants. The principal is
crazy."
"We met him yesterday. He seems obsessed with the U.S. prefecture of
Hawaii." Akane said with a giggle.
"I know. His SON is obsessed with ME. He insists on asking me out every
day."
"That's nuts, Ranma, doesn't he know you're a boy?" Nabiki asked.
Ranma looked very concerned. "Let's talk about this later. I'll drop by
Shampoo's tonight, Akane and Nabiki. There are some things you need to
know. I'll try to get Ukyou too, she's better with the technical stuff
than me, besides SHE saw everything."
Nabiki and Akane exchanged glances.
Kasumi walked on, then stopped, looking at Ranma. "ranma, are you a
boy?"
"No, of course not, Kasumi. Your sisters were just confused."
"oh my!, thank you, ranma." Kasumi gave a tiny smile, then continued
walking.
Ranma whispered to the two newcomers. "I'll see you tonight."
Akane and Nabiki were now really interested in the meeting.
----
As was always the case, when Ranma approached the gate, a familiar voice
rang out. "I, Kunou Tatewaki, outstanding student, and president of the
Kendo club, bid thee good morning, Saotome Ranma. What two lovely
flowers accompany you this, morn? I already know the sky-haired maiden
is not for me."
"I'm Tendovski Akane, and I wish to have nothing to do with the likes of
you."
"Why do you respond to ME thusly, fair damsel? Cannot you see the purity
of mine noble heart?"
"But I can't...I'm already engaged!" Akane wondered if she had just put
her foot in her mouth, or her entire leg...
"Boy, you REALLY dug yourself a hole, Akane." Nabiki whispered to her
sis, suppressing a giggle.
Akane felt Ranma's glare threatening to bore a hole through her, then
Ranma spoke. "Akane's engaged in practice right now, trying to learn to
be a better pilot. Neither she nor I have time for your company."
"Nice save, Ranma!" Nabiki whispered.
"But you must take an occasional break from thy labors, Akane, a flower
as delicate as thee will wilt if too long apart from the sun." Kunou
gave her his most radiant smile.
"Oh brother!" Nabiki whispered.
Akane was getting mad. "LAY OFF, JERK!" Her aura began to glow
noticeably.
"Do you wish to tilt for the honor of dating with me? If you can defeat
me, I shall grant you that privilege." He bowed.
Ranma elbowed Akane. "Is that a no-win proposition or what?"
Akane stopped listening. She took a swing at Kunou. The Kendoist blocked
with his bokken. Akane was about to swing again when the warning bell
rang. She bowed to Kunou, "I must attend my classes, Tatewaki." All four
hustled up the stairs and into the classroom.
"She spoke my given name. She truly loves me! But how can I live, my
heart divided by two beauties? I shall love them both!"
----
After writing their names on the board, Akane and Nabiki took their
assigned seats. Each desk had a computer built in, soon the two girls
were logged in. Almost immediately, a mail message came into both
computers "Are you the pilot of Unit 2?"
Nabiki responded "NO"
Akane typed "YES"
Soon inquisitive students surrounded Akane's desk. Only Ranma, Nabiki
and Kasumi remained seated.
A fairly short boy with glasses and brown hair introduced himself. "Hi,
I'm Kensuke. I'm a friend of Ranma's and quite a JAVA buff. How do you
like the production model versus the prototype?"
"I just got in and piloted the thing. I'm still learning about the unit,
sorry."
"You were great! Thanks anyway."
A girl came up to Akane. "Hi, we were wondering, you two are NORMAL
girls?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"I hope so, we just don't want another Ranma or Kasumi dumped on us.
They're really bizarre, Ranma's the strangest girl I've ever met. Then
there's Kasumi, she's twelve eggs short of a dozen, if you ask me," she
concluded with a smile and a wink.
Akane began to get angry. "Kasumi's my sister, and Ranma's my
f...friend, good friend. What's wrong with them?"
"Uh, nothing, nothing at all." The girl walked away, mentally tossing
Akane and Nabiki in the social Dumpster marked 'JAVA Pilots'.
Akane noted that the girls made every effort they could to ignore Ranma
and Kasumi. She resolved to eat lunch with her big sister.
"EXCUSE ME CLASS, WOULD YOU PLEASE BE SEATED?"
The children hurried back to their seats.
----
It was finally lunchtime. Akane walked over to Kasumi, who was eating a
neatly packed box lunch. Seeing Akane was busy, Ranma ate lunch with
Nabiki.
"Hi, Kasumi! Do you mind if I sit next to you?"
"no, akane."
"Did you make that lunch yourself?"
"da" Kasumi replied. Akane thought she detected a faint smile.
"Where did you learn to cook?"
"i just know."
"Do you remember mother?"
"no."
Akane let her sister eat in peace for a while. When they both had
finished their lunches, Akane started her interrogation again.
"Do you miss piloting Unit 0?"
"da. i want to help the people. that desire is all i have."
"Don't forget, you also have two sisters that love you." Akane tried to
embrace her, but the girl shied away. On a second attempt, Kasumi
relented and allowed Akane to hug her, but froze upon contact. Realizing
it would not work the way she had figured, Akane let go.
Kasumi turned to her sister "thank you, akane." Did Akane detect a tiny
tear in her sister's eye? No, it must have been her imagination.
The bell rang.
Akane wondered if Kasumi thanked her for the embrace or letting go, as
she ran to class.
----
The girls' locker room was surprising. Ranma and Kasumi changed by
themselves in a supply closet. They only left after the entire room was
empty.
During the PE class, Nabiki saw that their classmates ignored Ranma and
Kasumi. Even the teacher seemed not to care about them.
Ignored by the teacher, Ranma was helping Kasumi train. Nabiki noted an
occasional smile on her big sister's face. She tapped Akane on the
shoulder and pointed.
"Hey, sis, it looks like Kasumi is getting better instruction than the
rest of the class."
"Yeah, let's ask her instructor if there's room in her class AND 'locker
room'!"
----
After school, the four pilots arranged to train together rather than
endure any more PE. They would have to take quarterly fitness tests,
however.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Nabiki." Ranma smiled at the middle
Tendovski. It had been Nabiki who had suggested arranging the separate
sessions, and convinced the administration to allow them.
"No problem. I have a lot more confidence in you than that teacher. And
the class treats you terribly."
"You get used to it." Ranma said with less animation.
"i never get used to it, ranma." Kasumi added. She turned to Ranma, "but
thank you for teaching me." She then looked to Nabiki. "thank you,
nabiki." She gave her a little smile.
Ranma smiled broadly, "No problem."
"Ditto!" Nabiki added, smiling.
Akane couldn't believe it. Nabiki was smiling, at Kasumi!
----
Ranma hoped her two dependant children would be able to take the cold
noodles and salad out of the refrigerator and eat when they got home.
After all, she had left complete instructions:
1. Open refrigerator door.
2. Remove noodles and salad.
3. Close refrigerator door. Please don't worry about light.
4. Put food in serving dishes.
5. Eat food. Feel free to drink canned sodas.
6. Place remaining food back in refrigerator.
7. Place dirty dishes in dishwasher.
8. Wipe off table, using damp paper towel.
Enjoy your meal, Ranma.
PS I went to eat at my fiancee's.
She hoped they would understand. "Oh well," she sighed, leaving for
Shampoo's. Tonight, she wore her usual outfit: black athletic shoes with
black socks, black silk pants, and an azure sleeveless silk top that
matched her eyes. Her hair was in a simple ponytail; she didn't want to
braid it tonight. At last, she reached Shampoo's apartment and rang the
bell.
----
Akane opened the door. "Come in, sensei. We have been waiting all day to
hear what exactly happened on the way to school this morning."
Ranma entered to room and sat down. "Is Uk...Dr. Kuonji here yet?"
"No, but We're expecting her any minute Ranma," Nabiki replied.
Almost on cue, the doorbell rang. Ranma jumped up to answer it. She
opened the door, and her jaw dropped as she looked up at the taller girl
on the other side. The girl was wearing the same uniform she had earlier
in the day. "Come in, Kasumi." Ranma said with a faint smile. She
noticed Ukyou standing behind the oldest Tendovski. "Ucchan, why?"
"Kasumi needs to know everything, if she is to become an effective
member of our team, Ranma. If we discuss everything we know, she needs
to be here too."
"I see." Ranma's expression said she didn't, then her expression changed
as she realized Ukyou's reasoning. Secrets would only serve to divide
the team they were all trying to build. "I really DO see...Thanks
Ucchan!"
Kasumi waited patiently for Ukyou and Ranma to finish their
conversation. "thank you, ranma." She entered the living room, sitting
on the couch.
"I guess I should invite you in too, Dr. Kuonji. Please come in."
"Thank you, Miss Saotome." Ukyou replied, entering the apartment and
taking a seat next to Kasumi.
Ranma shut the door and turned to face her fellow teammates. "I suppose
several of you are wondering why I suggested we get together tonight.
There are a few things that need some explanation. Dr. Kuonji and
Captain Shan Pu would be the best choices to explain further." each
nodded at the mention of her name.
"You first," Shampoo said to Ukyou.
"Thanks a lot!" Ukyou said, glaring at her friend in mock disgust. She
rose and began to speak.
"Good evening. Let me introduce myself. I am Dr. Kuonji Ukyou, Chief
Scientist, Project JAVA. In that capacity, I have two major
responsibilities. Maintaining the JAVA units themselves, and
administering the KINGDOMS Computer System, which assists in all aspects
of LEAF operations.
"I think all of you are well aware of my responsibilities with regard to
the JAVA units, let me tell you about the KINGDOMS system. The system
was designed by my mother to be five autonomous AI entities representing
each of the Kingdoms of life, MONERA, PROTISTA, FUNGI, PLANTAE,
ANIMALIA. As each is independent, it is hoped that through cooperation
of the individual AIs, better decisions will result than with a single
AI. Any questions?"
"So I guess it's a case of five heads is better than one?" Ranma asked.
"Yes, Ranma, very good! Anyone else?"
"Good. Now, as I understand it, Ranma wanted me to tell all of you what
I know about Kasumi." She looked at the girl, "do you have anything to
say Kasumi?"
"no, doctor. i want to find out more about myself, though." She said,
staring in Ukyou's direction.
"Well, my part of the story starts two years ago. A program running on
the KINGDOMS system was doing a massive number of calculations that
slowed everything else down. I noticed Dr. Tendovski was running the
program. When I asked him about it, he said it was 'genetic research'
and left it at that. I am certain that he was calculating a male
chromosome to splice into a cell of Tendovski's daughter Kasumi, who had
disappeared seven years earlier, under mysterious circumstances."
Akane looked concerned. "How do you KNOW that's what they were doing?
How can you say these things about my sister?"
"Well, Akane I didn't know. Fortunately, a young officer who grew up in
this area was assigned to be the commander of the JAVA unit. One of the
reasons she was chosen was her degree in Genetics; the other was her
amazon bloodline. Captain Shan Pu, perhaps you can tell Akane how you
were able to determine what was happening."
"Thank you, Dr. Kuonji. It was actually fairly simple. There were two
massive files on the system. One was constant, while the other was
growing. When I looked at the files, I realized that each represented
the chemical sequence of a chromosome. I could not tell which one,
however. A bit of detective work by Dr Kuonji determined which one.
Ucchan?"
"Thanks, Captain. When the two files reached the same size, the
"genetics research" program stopped. Then a cell was extracted from a
tissue sample marked 'Tendovski Kasumi', and another program was run,
which read the second file, the one that had been growing, while
controlling a device into which the cell had been inserted. The cell was
then placed into a cloning chamber.
"I observed the boy inside several times. His eyes were closed, but he
DID have silver blue hair. Somehow they accelerated the growth process
to allow the child to have a twelve-year-old body in four months. Just
before the boy was to be removed, Security cameras showed the two
doctors emptying a metal container of fluid into the clone chamber. They
looked in and smiled.
"Then it gets REALLY weird, they emptied the chamber and Tendovski left,
returning with a bucket. He entered the chamber, stayed for a few
moments, and then came back out. Captain Shan Pu knows a lot more about
what happened in there, Captain?"
"There are many tribes and fortresses in this region. Our tribe has
always tried to protect Jusenkyo, but others have used the springs to
their own ends. Another tribe, the Musk, posses an artifact that will
lock an individual in cursed form, a bucket and ladle called the
Chisuiton. When I saw the tapes, I immediately recognized it from
drawings we have in our archives. I think they locked the child in
cursed form, so they would have a "un-cursed" daughter to pilot a JAVA."
Kasumi looked concerned. "so am i a boy or a girl?"
Akane embraced her, "you are a girl, Kasumi." She swallowed, "you are
our sister." Akane turned to Shan Pu. "I hate those bastards, how could
they do this to my sister? I'LL KILL THEM!" She let go of her sister,
got up and started for the door.
Ranma flipped, pushed off the ceiling, and landed in front of her.
"Akane, there's a better way!" She looked at Shampoo.
"Yes, Akane, there is a better way. Would you like to find out more
about the struggle against them?"
"Da!"
Nabiki jumped up "Me, too!"
Kasumi stood. "i want to find out more, too."
Shan Pu addressed the Tendovski's. "Please meet us at the Council
chambers tomorrow at 18:00."
The Phone rang.
Shan Pu answered it. "Hello? Nabiki its for you!" She handed the Phone
to Nabiki.
"Da... really... TOMORROW!... Thank you." She put the Phone down and
looked at Akane. "Well, tomorrow I get to see what all the fuss is
about. They're flying a new JAVA in from Moscow!" Akane didn't remember
ever seeing Nabiki with a grin like the one she had now.
----
Next on Neo Genus Jusenkyo...
Episode 04 From Russia with Love! Nabiki Takes Her JAVA Black!
(END)
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