The Last Child Shadow
The Last Child
Shadow@ngel
superpinay@hotmail.com
_________________________________________

This is one of those challenge fics where you only have an hour to write a single
fic. Here's the second draft. Anyway, I know that Ranma is only fourteen and he learns the moves when he's sixteen, but in this fic, he already knows. K? well, I got some posts that people wanted me to continue this … so …. I did. =).
_________________________________________

Chapter 1:

Part 1- Bottle Caps

He closed the door behind him. He typed in the alarm code and the entrance locked behind him. With a sigh, he leaned against the door, the cold surface pressing against his back.

He hoped the others didn't see him break away from the tour group. He let out the breath he was holding and smiled, letting out a sharp laugh as he stepped toward the controls.

Ranma didn't take the business seriously. He was originally from an outside organization, not in line with the government. Very excusive and special. Considering they consisted of forty-two persons. So, being only fourteen years old ,and still a teenager, he rarely took on missions. And for good reason: previous missions ended in disaster. This had been his second chance. Without a second thought he took it..

His former commander, had sent him the plans and the outline of the building. It pointed out where the cameras, and security systems were. It noted where the guards were, but they were out on patrol and he was warned to be careful. (_Was_ is right...) he thought. 'Was' meaning it was only days after she had given the plans to him that she was shot simultaneously in the back.

A minute of silence passed for his fallen comrade and he took out the papers to sort through.

"Paaaaaaage… 34, here it is. The Control Panel…" he said. He compared the picture on the page to the panel and found that they were identical.

On the bottom right corner, there was a switch panel. He took out a metal object and pried it open carefully.

"Where's the red wire? There are only … sixteen, seventeen, eighteen wires. Oh there it is," He grabbed it and tore it apart, the power going off shortly. He cut another wire and connected them together. The power was restored, but the control room was a bit dimmer than before. He pulled out a needle with a connector attached to it. He paused a moment to think something over. (I wonder if I should have accepted it. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. Its probably be better to just ditch this place) He reached further into the opening and felt around inside.

(Nah.) But he couldn't help feel a little foolish about not considering the dangers of the mission. He noticed a small hole and inserted the needle inside. From small pack tied around his waist, he took out what looked like a miniature keypad the size of his palm. He pressed the buttons and the small screen on it began to blink.

"Okay, camera's off," He stood up and Ranma switched one of the buttons on, and the shades slowly opened, revealing a window. Beside it, a door opened, leading into the larger room with the Eva. He went in the door and gasped at the sight. The mech was even bigger than he had thought it to be! Ranma shook his head. He suddenly recalled why he was there. He wanted to get out as soon as possible. He had learned a long time ago that the longer he stayed in one place, the more he would be in danger. He stepped up to the platform and took out his camera. He held it up and waited for it to adjust. He set it down as it snapped on its own.

The model was more than he hoped for. It was pure white except for the chest-plate, the hands, and the legs which were black.

"Wait til' Ryouga gets a load of this!" Ryouga was part of it too. The same committee and organization. He was supposed to assist him, but had mysteriously disappeared five minutes before he went in. He stood up and began walking back toward the exit. He paused a moment and looked to his left. There was a where a door that said *Eva Pilots Only!!*.

He smirked and jogged over to it, bringing the camera. Ranma felt behind his ear and switched the small device on. It was one of the gadgets he got to fool around with while he was there. It was a transmitter, camera, and communicator all in one.

"What code number," he asked into the object.

Floor 54? Oh! It's 542ru30d2. He nodded and typed it into the keypad. The door slid open on its own. Ranma looked around and saw the pilot suits.

"Bingo," he said. He put down his camera and grabbed one of the suits from the hooks. After looking over it, he threw off his clothes and slipped one on. He hadn't known what possessed himself to do so, but he kept the suit on anyway. He accidentally kicked something with his foot. He picked up the box and opened it. There were two objects. He recognized them as the devices that they wore on their heads. He slipped them on carefully. They felt awkward at first, but he got used to it.

He stepped out of the room and turned off the light. Maybe he could keep the suit as a souvenir. It would be proof to Ryouga that he had actually been there, seeing as he had ditched the whole mission. He'd have the privellege of being teased by him for years to come.

He knew he'd get in big trouble and get demoted or something, but he didn't care. Just being able to go there and see the new Eva was good enough.

Ranma what are you doing? asked a voice. He tapped the transmitter behind his ear.

"Nothing," he said.

Ranma put the suit back

"Why?"

You baka. You are going to get into so much trouble!

"Akane, calm down. What's the worst that could happen. It's not like I've gotten caught before!"

Well remember the time you tripped the alarm system?

"You are SO uncute!" he said.

What if commander Hinako finds out about this? You'll be fired! I'll be fired!

"Akane, I know what I'm doing!"

Suuure. And what about the time you-

"Akaaaneeee…" he said.

Fine then! Get us into trouble! If anyone finds out what you're doing, it's all your fault

"Whatever…" Ranma took one last look at the Eva. He ran into the control room and pulled a lever. Ranma looked through the window. Nothing happened.

"Hey- isn't this supposed to open the thing?" he asked himself.

The entry's in the back. Behind it should be a plug.

"Oh yeah," said Ranma.

Remember- only a few shots, then download the scan files. After that, it's done. Got it?

"How do I get inside?" he asked.

There's some kind of… capsule… that should react and bring you in there or something, I dunno. Just try something. He nodded and went behind the back. He saw the capsule thing Akane was talking about, and he stood there a moment, just trying to figure it out how it worked. After a series of attempts, he managed to actually get inside.

Okay, THAT took a few hours

"Hey- I'd like to see a gorilla like you do it faster!" he whispered. He heard a 'hmph' sound emit from the com. With a smirk, he took a few shots of the inside before he took out the connector again and placed it into one of the sockets.

"You get the shots Akane? How's that?" he asked.

I am just receiving the files over the connection right… about… now. Yeah I got em'.He sighed and flipped through the pages. He wanted to download the make-up of the technology. As he searched through he leaned back, he leaned back, accidentally sitting on the pad. A loud noise could be heard and the plug shut closed behind him.

"Oh man! What' ve I done!" he cried. "I'm gonna get caught for sure!" Ranma grabbed the pad and searched through the pages. Outside, an alarm sounded. Ranma jerked his head up.

A woman's voice went over the intercom.

"Attention all NERV personnel: Angel Approaching. Report to appointed posts." A sweat droplet appeared on his forehead.

"Oh man! Not now!" he hissed to himself.

A light on the handle blinked and a voice could be heard.

"Shinji? Is that you? How'd you get here so fast? Why are you in the new model?"

"Uh... I uh..." Ranma said.

"Oh nevermind. Are you ready?" asked the woman.

"Ready for wh-" Then a fluid began flooding the cockpit.

"That's weird, LCL shouldn't start filling the cockpit until…" The voice was cut off. Ranma began choking on the fluid. Ranma's eyes widened as he turned female. A few moments time passed and his breath suddenly rushed out of his lungs, the liquid filling his mouth. He almost expected everything to disappear and fade away from lack of breath, but he was still conscious.

It took him a moment to realize it...he was breathing water! It may have tasted horrible, but it he was still amazed. He was never told about anything like this happening in the cockpit during his mission breifing. Probably because he was never supposed to go into the cockpit, but still...

She saw the camera floating by.

(Great! It's ruined!)

"What is this?" Ran-chan asked herself.

"Hey! Who is this!!"

"Uh..."

"This isn't Shinji- Who ar-," The girl didn't have time to finish her sentence. Ranma felt herself scrunch down in her seat. The Eva was launching.

"Who flipped the launch switch! Who flipped the switch!- Who is that! He's not supposed to be here. Get that boy out of here!!!- Come get me!" Ranma heard a commotion going on in the control room. (Is Ryouga inside the control room? Oh Ryouga, you numbskull!!! He must've been the one who pressed the launch button. For all I know he probably did it on purpose!) she thought. Then she felt pressure and she watched the control room leave her line of sight.

"Ryooooooooouuuugaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!" she cried.

"Who the hell is this!" Ran-chan panicked and just blurted out,

"Ranko Saotome... I uh mean... Chikusho!" Ranko slapped herself on the head.

"How did you get in here!" cried the voice.

"I.. uh..."

"I said, how did you get in here!

"Um... I..."

"Stop that!"

"..." Ran-chan felt the Eva come to a stop.

"We'll have to live with this for now... We can't have a recall. It's too late," said the voice. "I'm Misato. Now listen. This Eva is attached to your nerves. Understand?" Ran-chan nodded. Ran-chan felt a strange sensation in her head.

"Okay that's a start. The EVA nodded. Now, try to walk. Take one step at a time," Misato said to her.

"How!?" she said.

"Concentrate," Misato said. Ran-chan closed her eyes tightly and clenched her fists.

"Why won't it WALK!" she cried. She slammed her fist down on the seat. The Eva began shaking.

"It worked? It worked!" she whispered. Then much louder, "Walk…" She felt it move. "Step…" She lost the feeling at that moment. "Walk," but it didn't move.

"What the-?" asked Ran-chan.

"Focus, Ranko," Misato advised. (Come on, Baby. Just walk. You're part - uh- living right? That means you can understand me, right? Walk for me…) Ran-chan thought. If it was attached to his nervous system, then it must know what he was thinking.

"Walk," she said.

"Good. Now- Wait- what are you doing?" she screamed. Ran-chan ignored her. Piloting was easier than she thought. She focused her mind even harder. So hard that a blue aura began to appear around her.

"I'm running," Ran-chan whispered. Ran-chan looked up at the screen and saw an Angel right in front of her.

"AAH!!" she cried. She instinctively threw a punch and felt the mech move. As she opened her eyes, the screen showed the Eva's arm in front of her, in the very position her own was. She bent her fingers. A few seconds later, the mech's fingers moved. The reaction was late, but just the sensation of control caused her to jerk in her seat.

"Watch out!" Misato said. Ranma looked up and saw the Angel grab the chest-plate. Ran-chain felt a pain sear through her body like a wave of electricity.

"Augh!" she said. Ran-chan pictured the Eva in her head giving the angel in front of it a round house kick. She opened her eyes, and saw it doing it much like she pictured it. The Angel released its grip. The pain eased and Ran-chan sighed.

The Angel shot a blast at Ran-chan. (So you wanna play with fire, eh? Well you're gonna get burned!) Ran-chan formed her own hands in a ball for the counter attack and said,

"Mouko Takabisha!" Ran-chan waited… and waited…

"It's not workiiinnnggg!!!!" she cried. The blast slammed into the Eva, sending it flying back. (I guess the Eva doesn't know HOW to make chi...) Ran-chan thought.

"OOW!" Ran-chan howled.

"It's fine, it's fine. Just get up..."

"Okay...," said Ran-chan. But before she could move, a shadow seemed to fly straight out of the sun and slammed into the EVA, ripping away at the abdomen. The angel had leaped into the air, but the rays of the sun had blinded her. (Damnit!) she thought, before the pain came.

"MIISSAATOO!!" Ran-chan cried. She grabbed what looked like the Angel's neck and threw it off. It crashed into a nearby building sending debris flying every which way.

"Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken!!!" The Eva jumped up and let loose a flurry of punches that managed to keep up with Ran-chan's.

"It's getting so hot!"

"You're overheating the Eva, you IDIOT!!!" The Angel stumbled back.

"Watch out for the umbilical cord! The cord!" Misato said. Ran-chan looked down and saw the cord tightly wrapped around its ankle. Ran-chan stepped forward, but found the ground rushing up at her, as well as the angel that stood not far ahead of her. She felt her head collide with the Angel's chest. Enraged, The Angel clawed at the head. Ran-chan grabbed her forehead, screaming in pain.

"Ranko! You have to run. The new model is still being tested. - Should Shinji go in? - Just get out, Ranko!!" The creature reached for the neck. Ran-chan saw it coming too late.

"I… can't breathe!" Ranko thrashed around, feeling the grip of its fingers and the sharpness of its claws. Somehow, her thrashing causing it to release its grip. She gasped for air, the whole world spinning. She dizzily pushed herself to her feet.

"Come on! Mouko Takabisha!" It still didn't work.

"DAMMIT!" Ran-chan said. She focused her anger and thrust her arm forward as hard as she could.

The organ cracked. Ran-chan saw this and she did it again and again and again.

Soon, the punched became a chant in her mind, reaching a peak at the final blow.

(Hit...hit..hit.hithithithithithithit...HIT!) She focused her aura and felt it drain away into the 'mind' of the Eva. She felt something inside her. It was as if someone had just flicked on the light switch and she could see. The feeling was familiar. He felt it every time he learned a new technique. The ecstatic feeling or triumph, but the thing was... It was from the Eva, not Ran-chan.

She managed to see out of the corner of her eyes, the hand of the Eva glowing a bright blue. Upon seeing this, a split second passed as she recalled the lecture she received before accepting his… her mission. ("An Eva is alive. It learns, and the stronger the pilot's mind… the stronger the Eva becomes. It was once said that a pilot took four years just to get the Eva moving. The Eva is alive, again I say, it chooses who will pilot it. For this reason, the personnel at NERV look for many years, just for the right pilot.)

Then, she returned from her memory, to find a startling reality. Everything seemed to freeze. Her eyes widened as the organ break up into a delicate patterns of cracks and slits before exploding in a sea of crystals. Shards of it collided into the armor and pierced the first layer. The Angel fell. It didn't get up. Ran-chan stared blankly at the screen.

Her heart beats seemed to drum loudly in her chest. They almost seemed like they were screaming.

"Ranko... are you there? Are you okay?" asked Misato. Ran-chan didn't answer. All she felt was pain. Pain in her chest, pain in her stomach, pain in her head and arms...

"Ranko... talk back to me," said Misato. Ran-chan looked at her hands. She thought she saw blood coming from them, but it was only her imagination. She was hallucinating- Just great...

"Talk to me, Ranko. Are you okay?" she asked.

"RANKO!!" she cried. "Check her life-signs. Is she alive? -yes. She's alive why?- well she's not responding.." She listened to the conversation between Misato and another commander. Ran-chan felt the urge to cry. (I'm not going to cry. I cant…) His female emotions overcame her and tears began to flow from her eyes. They were lost in the LCL. The Eva fell forward and hit the ground.

"Misato?"

"Ranko! Thank God you're okay!"

"Misato?"

"Yes?"

"How could Shinji survive this?" asked Ran-chan silently.

"I'm not sure he does," Misato replied... Silence...

Ran-chan closed her eyes. She hung her head and the last things she heard were the mechanical noises of the rescue units, rushing to get her out of the mech.

Well? Whadda ya think? Hey- if you're going to write something like this in an hour... this is as good as my fics will get! No matter how bad u think it is, just review! ^_^.