Chapter 2
... Means that the specking is in the person's mind to the other person
Ten minutes later, Shinji and Asuka, both wearing loose jeans and over sized t-shirts were in the car with Misato and heading to Nerv headquarters. They pulled into car elevator and took at all the way to the underground parking lot that they used to get near the command center and then walked the rest of the way. On the way, Misato called Ristico and told her to meet he at the Commander's office right away and bring a bottle of cold water. By the time they got there, she was tapping her foot in annoyance because Misato had gotten them lost again so they were later than they had planned.
"Sorry but this is very important and both you and the commander need to hear what I have to say." Misato said as she knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for an answer.
"I'm sorry Commander but this is very important." she said as she entered with the others right behind her.
"What is so important the you would interrupt my work, Captain?" Commander Ikari asked coldly.
"This." she said as she threw the cold water on Shinji and Asuka, causing them to change into Akane and Ranma respectively to the shock of all present though you couldn't tell by looking at Ikari. She quickly explained what had happened and Commander Ikari found himself nodding at the end of the story.
"Well that explains what had happened to you sixteen years ago Ranma, Akane." Since Misato had only referred to them by their last names, this surprise everyone, including Ranma and Akane.
"How do you know our names and what do you mean that explains what happened 16 years ago?" Ranma snarled as he stepped in front of Akane and slid into a fighting stance with Akane copying him after a second to get over her shock.
"I'm not surprised you don't recognize me Ranma. Think of me a scrawny kid with a wild mop of hair that was always hiding my eyes, that sat next to you in your first period class."
"Shit, Gendo? Is that you?" Ranma said as he relaxed again.
"Yeah. It's good to see you. Everyone believes that you two eloped or were killed."
"Me, elope with this tomboy? No way!" Ranma said and started laughing, only to be silenced by Akane's mallet.
"Jerk!"
"You always did do that to him." Gendo said wryly as he got up and came around his desk in the silence the swallowed the room after Ranma was smashed into the floor. He helped him up and then shook his hand and gave Akane a quick hug. "It's good to see the both of you again." he said warmly.
Everyone else was in shock at the change in the commander. "Commander? Are you feeling ok? Ristico asked softly.
Seeing that he was acting differently, Gendo immediately let his cold mask drop back over his face. "Please leave us, Doctor, Captain." he said and they both immediately left but Misato paused before leaving.
"Commander what about the kids?"
"I want to talk privately with Ranma and Akane." Misato nodded and was about to leave when the alarm went off. Captain, get Shinji and Asuka back and into the Evas." he snapped, all business and Misato saluted. She grabbed Ranma and Akane and pulled them out of the room and to the changing room.
"What's going on?" Akane asked as they were pulled down the hall to a changing room.
"Put these on while I get some hot water. Take off everything and slip it on then push the button on the left wrist." Misato said urgently as she rushed out of the room for some hot water.
"I have no clue what's going on but maybe we should do what she said." Ranma said as he turned around and started getting out of his clothes. Akane nodded, not that Ranma could see and started to strip in the alcove that Shinji pointed out to her.
Ranma pushed the button and suddenly he had a very female figure without benefit of the curse. "You have to wear this?" he asked Asuka out loud in a high, squeaky voice. Asuka didn't answer as she was to busy laughing.
Akane turned around at the question and found Ranma with his hands in front of his crotch with hips and breast cups currticy of the red plug suit. She her self had just pushed the button and the suit had molded it's self to her body. So she knew what he has feeling a little bit but it was still funny. She burst out laughing with Shinji trying unsuccessfully to stop his inside her head.
They were still laughing when Misato came back into the room. "Well, it's no worse then when Shinji had to wear hers." she said with a chuckle and poured some of the hot water on Ranma's head, then turned and did the same to Akane.
After handing Asuka and Shinji a pair of towels, she hustled then out of the room and down the hall, explaining what was expected of the angel as they hurried towards the Evas. "...so if you act as a team, we should be able to stop the angel." Misato finished just as they reached the Evas, but she had a troubled look on her face as if there was something else but she wasn't sure just how to tell them. Rei was already getting inside her's, and the commander was in his customary seat in the control room.
"Prepare the Evas for launch." he said coldly and tecnitions scrabled to do so, unlocking the restrants and filling the plugs with LCL as soon as the children were in the plugs.
'Why do I even do this?' Shinji thought to himself, momentarily forgetting that there was some one else who could hear his thoughts.
I don't know. Akane said to him quietly, surprising him. But it sounds like you do this to protect every one else, even if it seems that you don't really matter in the scheme of things.
How did you know what I was feeling? he asked her.
I'm not sure, but I seem to be able to pick up these things from you. she said as the eva was shot to the surface. Standing just in front of them was an Eva.
"What the hell is going on?! That's an eva!" Shinji shouted. "There is a pilot in there just with ours!"
"You must drystroy it. An angel has taken control of it. You know what will happen if it getts to Centrol Dogma." Commander Ikari said coldly.
"But that is still a human being in there, father!" Shinji yelled.
"You mean that you still don't know? The other pilot is..." Asuka started to say but abruptly the connecting was severed.
"Asuka? Can you hear me?" Shinji said, worridedly.
"Don't worry, just a tmporary break down between the Evas." Ristico said calmly.
"Shinji, attck the enemy." gendo said again as Shinji just stood there as the Angel/eva headed towards Unit-00.
"But there is someone still in there!" Shinji exclaimed.
"Dr. Akagi, iniiate the dummy plug system." Gendo said crisply and Ristico looked at him for a moment before nodding slowly and put some commands in the consoul in front of her.
Suddenly Shinji was no longer in control of the Eva as it started to move forward towards the angel that was trying to rip the arms off unit-00. "Father what are you doing?!" Shinji screamed as his eva jumped on the angel and started pounding on it, ripping the arms off then going for the plug that was sticking partialy out of the back of the angel/eva.
The people in the command center listened and watched in horror as Shinji screamed and pleaded for them to stop as Unit-01 ripped the angel apart, but it didn't stop there. After the angel/Eva was destroyed, 01 picked up the unit's plug and crushed it easily. After it had dropped it, Unit-01 finally stopped moving and powered down.
Oh my god. I don't believe Gendo did that. Akane said softly as she listened to Shinji's thoughts as he cried in his plug. He hadn't even been allowed out yet.
Why? Why wouldn't it stop? I don't even know who the pilot is but they didn't deserve that. They were just like us. he said to Akane in anguish.
"Shinji? Are you all right?" Misato asked quietly from the command center.
"Who was the pilot?" Shinji asked instead of answering. But Misato didn't have a chance to answer as just then, the recovery team opened the crushed plug. In side, Toji lay as still as death with his plug suit covered in soot and blood. Even from the Eva's point of view, Shinji could see that his right arm and leg had been almost completely severed from a piece of metal.
"Toji, nooooo!" Shinji screamed.
Inside the command center, Misato was crying as she heard that scream from her charge. She had wanted to tell him who the pilot was but the commanded had forrbidden her from telling him, he had even cut the communitcations going to Unit-01 from Unit-02.
Now as she listened to him sob in his Eva, she felt a deep anger and hatred for Commander Ikari. Asuka came up beside her with Rei and all three of them listened to him for a moment.
"Why didn't he know that it was Toji?" Asuka asked quietly, while Ranma was still to stunned by what he had seen to say anything to the red haired pilot.
"The commander wouldn't let me say anything." Misato said softly as she wiped at her eyes.
"But we were told before." Asuka said softly as she glanced over at the commander who was still sitting in his chair and watching the screen that showed Unit-01's cockpit.
The screen showed Shinji curled up in his chair with his head buried in his arms, sobbing uncontrolably. Suddenly he lifted his face and looked right at the screen and shouted, "I'm going to kill you, you basterd!" Then the screen went blank and the unit suddenly came to life. It charged towards the command center looking a vengeful demon with the eva blood still covering it.
"Shut it down." Gendo said calmly. One of the techinions pushed a button and the Unit slowed then stopped. After a minute, another button was pushed and the plug was ejected. As soon as Shinji was out of the plug, he charged towards the command center, where his father and the others were.
"Guards, restrain the boy." Gendo said coldly to the pair of men that were stationed at the door. They nodded and as soon as Shinji ran in, they grabbed him.
Misato and Asuka watched, shocked as the men struggled to hold onto the thrashing boy who was screaming curses at the man watching calmly from his chair. Finally, they had to beat him up a little before they could get him out of the room without him attacking his father. Misato ushered Asuka, who looked like she was about to explode, and the ever calm Rei, out of the room to follow the guards as they brought Shinji to the infermery to be sadated.
As they were foolowing the men, Ranma fially found his voice. What the hell is going on?! Gendo was never like this before! How could he do that to his own son? I'm going to kill him!!! he shouted in Asuka's head.
Shut up, Ranma! Your giving me a head-ache! Asuka silently shouted at him. I don't like this any better than you do, but we can't do anything untill we find out all the facts. she said slightly more calm than she had been a second ago.
What good excuse could a man have to do that to his own kid? Sure my pop did some shit almost as bad, butnever anything like ordering me to kill some innocent person! Ranma eclaimed but calmed down a little bit. In a softer voice, he said, It sounds like you really care for Shinji.
I do not! Why would I like that wimp?! she exclaimed in the same exact tone that Ranma used when he was denieing his feelings for Akane.
Sure, what ever. he said. By this time, they had reached the infermery and Shinji was starting to try to get away from the hands that were holding him still.
"Let me go." he snarled softly as a doctor rushed up with a syringe.
"Shinji, you need to calm down." Misato said quietly from the doorway.
"Why? Why didn't you tell me?" he damanded as he twisted around to face her.
She flinched back from the glare he sent her and said quietly, "I wanted to, but I was ordered not to."
"By who?"
"Your father, the commander."
During this short exchange, the doctor had given him the enjection and had stepped back to wait for it to work. Now Shinji sagged limply in the grasp of the two guards as the medication took affect. Just before he passed out, he whispered, "How could you do that to me, father?"
What is going to happen to him now? Ranma asked Asuka as she changed into the outfit she had been wearing earlier.
He will probably by questioned and maybe get punished. Asuka said as she began to brush out her hair.
What sort of punishment?
I don't know but what ever they do, it won't be good.
I wan't to talk to Gendo, do you mind... trailed off and Asuka sighed.
Sure, but let's hurry this up. I just want to get home. she said as she grabbed her water bottle and dumped it over her head. I'll give you directions to his office. He should be there by now. she added as he headed out the door.
Following her directions, they got there just as Gendo was closing the door. "Gendo, we need to talk." Ranma said coldly and entered the office without even waiting for an answer.
"Ok, Ranma. What would you like to speak to me about?" Gendo said as he sat down at his desk and gesturd for the teenager to sit in the chair across from him.
"Why did you do that to Shinji?"
"I can't coddle him. He won't obay orders than that is what happens. It's either that or let the angels destrye the world." Gendo said as he stepled his hands in front of his mouth.
"You could at least have told him what he was going to face and who was piloting that other machine." Ranma argued.
"If I had, then he wouldn't have even got in the Eva. He is the only one who can pilot it. He must do things like this when ever we need him to, or we are all dead." Gendo said coldly.
"And where is his mother while you are doing thisto him for the sake of humanity?" Ranma snarled angrly.
"Yui is dead."
"Yui?" Ranma repeated confused.
"She died about ten years ago. Since then, the boy has been raised by her sister and her family, when it came time, I brought him back." Gendo said emoitonlessly.
Ranma just sat there trying to adjust to the changes that had happened since they had disappered from their time.
Seeing the shock and surprise on Ranma's face Gendo smiled a thin smile and handed him a thin folder. "This is everything I've managed to find on yours and Akane's families, plus some of your old friends, like Ryoga, Kuno, Ukyo, and those amazons that were always after you."
"..." was all Ranma could said as he took the folder and stood up.
"We will talk again, Ranma. Until then, keep an eye on the boy."
I he seems so selfrichchous, except when he was talking about that woman, Yui. Asuka said softly once they were outside of the office.
Yui was a girl that he had a huge crush on when we all went to school together. The feeling was mutual, I think because not to long before we got transported here, they started to go out. Ranma said as he rembered the cheerful boy hat Gendo used to be.
Sencing that Ranma didn't want to talk about it anymore, Asuka told him to go to the infirmery and find Misato so that they could go home.
... Means that the specking is in the person's mind to the other person
Ten minutes later, Shinji and Asuka, both wearing loose jeans and over sized t-shirts were in the car with Misato and heading to Nerv headquarters. They pulled into car elevator and took at all the way to the underground parking lot that they used to get near the command center and then walked the rest of the way. On the way, Misato called Ristico and told her to meet he at the Commander's office right away and bring a bottle of cold water. By the time they got there, she was tapping her foot in annoyance because Misato had gotten them lost again so they were later than they had planned.
"Sorry but this is very important and both you and the commander need to hear what I have to say." Misato said as she knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for an answer.
"I'm sorry Commander but this is very important." she said as she entered with the others right behind her.
"What is so important the you would interrupt my work, Captain?" Commander Ikari asked coldly.
"This." she said as she threw the cold water on Shinji and Asuka, causing them to change into Akane and Ranma respectively to the shock of all present though you couldn't tell by looking at Ikari. She quickly explained what had happened and Commander Ikari found himself nodding at the end of the story.
"Well that explains what had happened to you sixteen years ago Ranma, Akane." Since Misato had only referred to them by their last names, this surprise everyone, including Ranma and Akane.
"How do you know our names and what do you mean that explains what happened 16 years ago?" Ranma snarled as he stepped in front of Akane and slid into a fighting stance with Akane copying him after a second to get over her shock.
"I'm not surprised you don't recognize me Ranma. Think of me a scrawny kid with a wild mop of hair that was always hiding my eyes, that sat next to you in your first period class."
"Shit, Gendo? Is that you?" Ranma said as he relaxed again.
"Yeah. It's good to see you. Everyone believes that you two eloped or were killed."
"Me, elope with this tomboy? No way!" Ranma said and started laughing, only to be silenced by Akane's mallet.
"Jerk!"
"You always did do that to him." Gendo said wryly as he got up and came around his desk in the silence the swallowed the room after Ranma was smashed into the floor. He helped him up and then shook his hand and gave Akane a quick hug. "It's good to see the both of you again." he said warmly.
Everyone else was in shock at the change in the commander. "Commander? Are you feeling ok? Ristico asked softly.
Seeing that he was acting differently, Gendo immediately let his cold mask drop back over his face. "Please leave us, Doctor, Captain." he said and they both immediately left but Misato paused before leaving.
"Commander what about the kids?"
"I want to talk privately with Ranma and Akane." Misato nodded and was about to leave when the alarm went off. Captain, get Shinji and Asuka back and into the Evas." he snapped, all business and Misato saluted. She grabbed Ranma and Akane and pulled them out of the room and to the changing room.
"What's going on?" Akane asked as they were pulled down the hall to a changing room.
"Put these on while I get some hot water. Take off everything and slip it on then push the button on the left wrist." Misato said urgently as she rushed out of the room for some hot water.
"I have no clue what's going on but maybe we should do what she said." Ranma said as he turned around and started getting out of his clothes. Akane nodded, not that Ranma could see and started to strip in the alcove that Shinji pointed out to her.
Ranma pushed the button and suddenly he had a very female figure without benefit of the curse. "You have to wear this?" he asked Asuka out loud in a high, squeaky voice. Asuka didn't answer as she was to busy laughing.
Akane turned around at the question and found Ranma with his hands in front of his crotch with hips and breast cups currticy of the red plug suit. She her self had just pushed the button and the suit had molded it's self to her body. So she knew what he has feeling a little bit but it was still funny. She burst out laughing with Shinji trying unsuccessfully to stop his inside her head.
They were still laughing when Misato came back into the room. "Well, it's no worse then when Shinji had to wear hers." she said with a chuckle and poured some of the hot water on Ranma's head, then turned and did the same to Akane.
After handing Asuka and Shinji a pair of towels, she hustled then out of the room and down the hall, explaining what was expected of the angel as they hurried towards the Evas. "...so if you act as a team, we should be able to stop the angel." Misato finished just as they reached the Evas, but she had a troubled look on her face as if there was something else but she wasn't sure just how to tell them. Rei was already getting inside her's, and the commander was in his customary seat in the control room.
"Prepare the Evas for launch." he said coldly and tecnitions scrabled to do so, unlocking the restrants and filling the plugs with LCL as soon as the children were in the plugs.
'Why do I even do this?' Shinji thought to himself, momentarily forgetting that there was some one else who could hear his thoughts.
I don't know. Akane said to him quietly, surprising him. But it sounds like you do this to protect every one else, even if it seems that you don't really matter in the scheme of things.
How did you know what I was feeling? he asked her.
I'm not sure, but I seem to be able to pick up these things from you. she said as the eva was shot to the surface. Standing just in front of them was an Eva.
"What the hell is going on?! That's an eva!" Shinji shouted. "There is a pilot in there just with ours!"
"You must drystroy it. An angel has taken control of it. You know what will happen if it getts to Centrol Dogma." Commander Ikari said coldly.
"But that is still a human being in there, father!" Shinji yelled.
"You mean that you still don't know? The other pilot is..." Asuka started to say but abruptly the connecting was severed.
"Asuka? Can you hear me?" Shinji said, worridedly.
"Don't worry, just a tmporary break down between the Evas." Ristico said calmly.
"Shinji, attck the enemy." gendo said again as Shinji just stood there as the Angel/eva headed towards Unit-00.
"But there is someone still in there!" Shinji exclaimed.
"Dr. Akagi, iniiate the dummy plug system." Gendo said crisply and Ristico looked at him for a moment before nodding slowly and put some commands in the consoul in front of her.
Suddenly Shinji was no longer in control of the Eva as it started to move forward towards the angel that was trying to rip the arms off unit-00. "Father what are you doing?!" Shinji screamed as his eva jumped on the angel and started pounding on it, ripping the arms off then going for the plug that was sticking partialy out of the back of the angel/eva.
The people in the command center listened and watched in horror as Shinji screamed and pleaded for them to stop as Unit-01 ripped the angel apart, but it didn't stop there. After the angel/Eva was destroyed, 01 picked up the unit's plug and crushed it easily. After it had dropped it, Unit-01 finally stopped moving and powered down.
Oh my god. I don't believe Gendo did that. Akane said softly as she listened to Shinji's thoughts as he cried in his plug. He hadn't even been allowed out yet.
Why? Why wouldn't it stop? I don't even know who the pilot is but they didn't deserve that. They were just like us. he said to Akane in anguish.
"Shinji? Are you all right?" Misato asked quietly from the command center.
"Who was the pilot?" Shinji asked instead of answering. But Misato didn't have a chance to answer as just then, the recovery team opened the crushed plug. In side, Toji lay as still as death with his plug suit covered in soot and blood. Even from the Eva's point of view, Shinji could see that his right arm and leg had been almost completely severed from a piece of metal.
"Toji, nooooo!" Shinji screamed.
Inside the command center, Misato was crying as she heard that scream from her charge. She had wanted to tell him who the pilot was but the commanded had forrbidden her from telling him, he had even cut the communitcations going to Unit-01 from Unit-02.
Now as she listened to him sob in his Eva, she felt a deep anger and hatred for Commander Ikari. Asuka came up beside her with Rei and all three of them listened to him for a moment.
"Why didn't he know that it was Toji?" Asuka asked quietly, while Ranma was still to stunned by what he had seen to say anything to the red haired pilot.
"The commander wouldn't let me say anything." Misato said softly as she wiped at her eyes.
"But we were told before." Asuka said softly as she glanced over at the commander who was still sitting in his chair and watching the screen that showed Unit-01's cockpit.
The screen showed Shinji curled up in his chair with his head buried in his arms, sobbing uncontrolably. Suddenly he lifted his face and looked right at the screen and shouted, "I'm going to kill you, you basterd!" Then the screen went blank and the unit suddenly came to life. It charged towards the command center looking a vengeful demon with the eva blood still covering it.
"Shut it down." Gendo said calmly. One of the techinions pushed a button and the Unit slowed then stopped. After a minute, another button was pushed and the plug was ejected. As soon as Shinji was out of the plug, he charged towards the command center, where his father and the others were.
"Guards, restrain the boy." Gendo said coldly to the pair of men that were stationed at the door. They nodded and as soon as Shinji ran in, they grabbed him.
Misato and Asuka watched, shocked as the men struggled to hold onto the thrashing boy who was screaming curses at the man watching calmly from his chair. Finally, they had to beat him up a little before they could get him out of the room without him attacking his father. Misato ushered Asuka, who looked like she was about to explode, and the ever calm Rei, out of the room to follow the guards as they brought Shinji to the infermery to be sadated.
As they were foolowing the men, Ranma fially found his voice. What the hell is going on?! Gendo was never like this before! How could he do that to his own son? I'm going to kill him!!! he shouted in Asuka's head.
Shut up, Ranma! Your giving me a head-ache! Asuka silently shouted at him. I don't like this any better than you do, but we can't do anything untill we find out all the facts. she said slightly more calm than she had been a second ago.
What good excuse could a man have to do that to his own kid? Sure my pop did some shit almost as bad, butnever anything like ordering me to kill some innocent person! Ranma eclaimed but calmed down a little bit. In a softer voice, he said, It sounds like you really care for Shinji.
I do not! Why would I like that wimp?! she exclaimed in the same exact tone that Ranma used when he was denieing his feelings for Akane.
Sure, what ever. he said. By this time, they had reached the infermery and Shinji was starting to try to get away from the hands that were holding him still.
"Let me go." he snarled softly as a doctor rushed up with a syringe.
"Shinji, you need to calm down." Misato said quietly from the doorway.
"Why? Why didn't you tell me?" he damanded as he twisted around to face her.
She flinched back from the glare he sent her and said quietly, "I wanted to, but I was ordered not to."
"By who?"
"Your father, the commander."
During this short exchange, the doctor had given him the enjection and had stepped back to wait for it to work. Now Shinji sagged limply in the grasp of the two guards as the medication took affect. Just before he passed out, he whispered, "How could you do that to me, father?"
What is going to happen to him now? Ranma asked Asuka as she changed into the outfit she had been wearing earlier.
He will probably by questioned and maybe get punished. Asuka said as she began to brush out her hair.
What sort of punishment?
I don't know but what ever they do, it won't be good.
I wan't to talk to Gendo, do you mind... trailed off and Asuka sighed.
Sure, but let's hurry this up. I just want to get home. she said as she grabbed her water bottle and dumped it over her head. I'll give you directions to his office. He should be there by now. she added as he headed out the door.
Following her directions, they got there just as Gendo was closing the door. "Gendo, we need to talk." Ranma said coldly and entered the office without even waiting for an answer.
"Ok, Ranma. What would you like to speak to me about?" Gendo said as he sat down at his desk and gesturd for the teenager to sit in the chair across from him.
"Why did you do that to Shinji?"
"I can't coddle him. He won't obay orders than that is what happens. It's either that or let the angels destrye the world." Gendo said as he stepled his hands in front of his mouth.
"You could at least have told him what he was going to face and who was piloting that other machine." Ranma argued.
"If I had, then he wouldn't have even got in the Eva. He is the only one who can pilot it. He must do things like this when ever we need him to, or we are all dead." Gendo said coldly.
"And where is his mother while you are doing thisto him for the sake of humanity?" Ranma snarled angrly.
"Yui is dead."
"Yui?" Ranma repeated confused.
"She died about ten years ago. Since then, the boy has been raised by her sister and her family, when it came time, I brought him back." Gendo said emoitonlessly.
Ranma just sat there trying to adjust to the changes that had happened since they had disappered from their time.
Seeing the shock and surprise on Ranma's face Gendo smiled a thin smile and handed him a thin folder. "This is everything I've managed to find on yours and Akane's families, plus some of your old friends, like Ryoga, Kuno, Ukyo, and those amazons that were always after you."
"..." was all Ranma could said as he took the folder and stood up.
"We will talk again, Ranma. Until then, keep an eye on the boy."
I he seems so selfrichchous, except when he was talking about that woman, Yui. Asuka said softly once they were outside of the office.
Yui was a girl that he had a huge crush on when we all went to school together. The feeling was mutual, I think because not to long before we got transported here, they started to go out. Ranma said as he rembered the cheerful boy hat Gendo used to be.
Sencing that Ranma didn't want to talk about it anymore, Asuka told him to go to the infirmery and find Misato so that they could go home.