*Finally, the 2nd child is on!!!*
 
Adrian :I'm not subbed to the list, please email C&C to
<7ahw@qlink.queensu.ca>.

########################################################################
T h e    H e a r t ' s    B a t t l e g r o u n d

A Ranma 1/2 and Neon Genesis Evangelion crossover by Adrian Wong

Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi while Evangelion belongs to Gainax
Productions.

" " Japanese dialogue
< > thoughts
[ ] Chinese dialogue
/ / Illusory sounds, memories

***Kevin "Lord Talon" Wible*** and ***Andrew Huang*** are the honorable
pre-readers for this fic!
########################################################################


Part 4

	In the dark meeting room within NERV, Soun and Nodoka were both sitting in
front of a table with a set of screens surrounding them.  The screens were
turned on, showing dark silhouettes of various figures.  One of them, in
particular, looked suspiciously like a tiny, bald draft.  However, it could
be a trick of the lighting from his background.  Whatever it is, it spoke
up in an old voice that somehow seemed to be mixed with lustful glee at the
same time.

	"Ah, Nodoka-chan, you're lovely as ever.  I see that the myth regarding
women past 25 obviously doesn't apply to my little doe."

	"I'm flattered."  Nodoka replied in a cold voice, clearly indicating that
she wasn't.

	The old voice seemed hurt. "Now, now, no need to be so cold, my little
doe.  After all, sassy redheads like yourself are supposed to be hot as
pepper."

	Coughing noisily, Soun spoke up.  "Mr. Happosai, certainly you didn't call
us here just to compliment Dr. Akagi on her physical assets?"

	"Indeed I didn't."  Happosai replied in an indignant voice.  "I called you
two here to inquire about when will Adam arrive at Tokyo-3 from Germany."

	"According to the message from the German NERV branch, the second child,
who had been shipped there four years ago, is now showing remarkable
synchronization rates with Eva 02.  Special agent Tofu Ono shall personally
take Adam to the NERV centre.   Right this minute, the UN Pacific Fleet is
shipping Ono, Eva 02, as well as the second child to our base.  Using the
Eva shipment as a shield, nobody even knows that Adam is on that ship."

	"The second child is coming too?"  One of the other shadowed figures
asked, in a voice that didn't seem to be too thrilled.  Happosai cleared
his throat, and the figure blanched slightly.  Soun continued on his report
as if he didn't notice that.

	"They should arrive sometime tonight.  I've already sent Captain Ninomiya
to the ship to welcome Officer Ono and the second child, as well as making
sure that those UN officials didn't do anything foolish that might
jeopardize the shipment of Adam as well as unit 01." 

	Happosai was quiet.  After a while, he spoke up in a calm, emotionless
voice.  

	"Very well then . . . this meeting is over.  Dismissed."

	With that, the screens showing the silhouettes of the STEEL officials died
out, leaving only Soun and Nodoka in the room.

	"Well, those SEELE puppet masters certainly seemed happy at the news."
Nodoka said with detached amusement.

	Soun frowned.  "They're planning something."

	"Aren't everybody these days?"  Nodoka sighed, then leaned towards Soun to
give him a light kiss.  "Don't worry yourself too much, Soun-kun"

	With that, she left the meeting room through the automatic doors to finish
off her other duties for the day.

	As the doors closed, Soun wiped his lips with the back of hand as a look
of amusement crossed over his usually stiff features.  

	<So different . . . yet so much alike.  Naoko should be proud to have a
daughter like her.>

*		*		*		*		*		*		

	Up on the skies, flying over the vast span of the Pacific Ocean, was a MIG
55D-transport helicopter.  Within it, Hinako, Akane, Shampoo and Kurumi are
all chattering among themselves.

	"Well, this is neat, isn't it, kids?"  Hinako beamed as she carefully
studied Akane's reaction.  This little "field trip" was the last way that
she could come up with to distract Akane from worrying about the 1st child.
 Hopefully, it would work as well on her as it did on Kurumi. 

	"Oh!  I never thought I'd get a chance to fly on one of these! It's great
to have friends, isn't it, Akane?"

	Akane smiled, still looking a little distant.  "Yeah . . ."

	Shampoo took Akane's hand in hers and squeezed.  "Akane no worry.  In
yesterday's visit, Shampoo could tell Mousse improving much: he even walk
and move arms again.  We only need wait till external injuries heal up."
	Akane smiled back at her gratefully.  "I know."
  
	Hinako's heart soared.  <Finally, she is smiling again!>

 	"So lets enjoy ride!  Like Kurumi said: it not everyday one get to see
what Pacific Fleet really like!"

	"So why wasn't Herb coming?  I thought I invited him . . ."  Akane asked.

	"Oh, Herb need baby-sit younger cousins."  Shampoo replied with a faint
smile.  "Shampoo went over his aunt's place, it very immaculate.  Herb did
all housework, and even help kid-cousins study. Shampoo now know why Herb
act old: he practically househusband!"  A look of wonder crossed her face
as she continued: "It just so amazing Herb carry self so well in new role,
considering that he once crown prince of Musk tribe.  Shampoo didn't know
Herb back then, but rumor said he very arrogant.  Must be tough going from
prince to be just humble peasant boy."

	"Well,"  Kurumi cut in,  "you were the princess of the Chinese Amazon
tribe yourself.  But you seem to be talking your new life in here well."

	Shampoo sighed.  "What else Shampoo do?  Bitch about lost fame and faded
glory?  Cry to sleep night after night?  Shampoo no can afford self-pity.
Now she all that Hiba-chan have: Shampoo MUST be strong to make life easier
for both us.  Besides . . ." a playful smirk crept across her pretty face,
"school have MANY cute boys keep Shampoo happy."

	Akane couldn't help but chuckle.  "Herb would have been SO jealous had he
heard that."

	Shampoo tossed her mile-long hair back over her shoulder coyly.  "So?
Herb no confess he love Shampoo yet.  Should show Herb if wait too long, he
lose good thing."

	"OH LOOK!"  Kurumi squealed at the sight of the pacific fleet down on the
ocean.  It consisted of 4 battleships and 5 carriers: all of which were
from the good old times before the second impact. 


	"Wow . . ."  Akane stared at the fleet in amazement,  " . . . very
classical."
	
Kurumi sighed.  "They're SOOOO gorgeous!"

	Shampoo sweated.  "Gorgeous no term describe old ships."

	"Not if you know the actual historical value of such a fleet." Kurumi
said, still admiring them.

	Hinako smirked.  "To you kids, these ships can almost be termed as relics."

	"Then Shampoo hope relics still capable of guarding important object like
Eva robot."	

*		*		*		*		*		*		

	Once they have boarded the ship, Hinako showed the girls around like a
tourist guide as the girls stared at everything in wonder.  The captain, a
fat, arrogant looking middle-aged man, was watching them from the other
side of the deck together with his first officer. 

	"Bringing a power socket for that oversized child's toy, how presumptuous
can that woman act?  And to turn our battleship into a children's
playground . . ."

	"Oh, don't let these little underlings get to you, Captain."
 
	"And just look at those brats!  Can we actually expect a few puny little
kids to defend the world?  I think not!"

	Abruptly, one of those "puny little kids" took a twenty meter leap and
landed right in front of the startled men.  With a slightly evil glint in
her eye, the short-haired girl spoke up in an even voice.

	"Don't be too sure about that, Captain."

	"Akane Tendo here has already defeated three angels on behave of mankind.
Without her, Tokyo-3 would have been destroyed long ago."  The one with the
spiky hair pulled back by a repeated braided ribbon said as she leapt over
as well.	

	Before the Captain could reply, someone poked him in the back.  Turning
around, he was startled to see the one with rich, thigh length purple hair
staring at him: he didn't even how WHEN did she get behind him.

	"What? Captain can't stand fact that little GIRLS more useful in defending
world than big grown MEN?" 

	The Captain fumed helplessly as Shampoo and Kurumi giggled while Akane
smirked.  Hinako sighed and stepped up to the grumpy looking Captain.

	"C'mon Captain.  Let's go over some legal procedures regarding the
shipment of Eva 01."

	The two of them walked off into the Captain's room as the girls continued
to roam on the deck on their own.

*		*		*		*		*		*		

	"Hey, I'm flying!"

	Standing on top of the railing at the pointed front of the ship, Kurumi
spread out her arms and drank in the strong wind and the endless stretch of
incoming waves moving under her. 	
 
	"Whoa, the classic scene from Titanic!"  Akane exclaimed.

	"That scary movie,"  Shampoo shivered at the memory of watching that movie
on TV as a kid, "hope Kurumi no jinx ship with silly act."  

	"By the way, Kurumi, you surprised me today.  I didn't know that you're a
martial artist too."  Akane said.

	"Oh, that was nothing.  My uncle had trained in China as a martial artist
when he was young.  He had passed on a thing or two onto me just to make
sure that 'a frail little girl' like myself won't get pick on at school.
Why else do you think that I'm so confident in kicking angel's a-- shall I
ever be able to pilot a Eva?"  

	Shampoo sighed.  From her combat experience with both of them, she could
tell that at best, Kurumi was only as good as Akane in the art, and
certainly nowhere as good as Mousse.  If the Eva duo had such a tough time
with the angels, what makes Kurumi think that she had actually got a chance
against something THAT formidable?  Thank GOD she didn't pass NERV's test.

	Turning away from her friend, Shampoo stared up onto the high metal tower
used for communications with the other ships: a method no longer used by
the more modern war ships of the 10's.

	<Is such an ancient bulk of metal capable of guarding the Eva?> she wondered.

	It was then that she saw the figure sitting cross-legged on the edge of
it.  The figure's face was facing the other way, with flowing,
shoulder-length dark hair obscuring an indeterminable profile.  The body
was smooth, small-boned and narrow-waisted, and its sex would be
indeterminable if not the fact that HE was clad only in a pair of black
shorts. Holding a crumbled up red tank top in his hand, the figure idly
wiped at the sweat on his neck and upper chest as Shampoo stared.

	<Not enough muscles, but quite . . . proportional. Actually . . . it's
kind of like what I think Herb's body would look without that uniform.>

	Noticing Shampoo's trance, Akane and Kurumi turned to look up at the
figure on top of the chimney as well.  Both of them blushed as a result.

	Just then, the figure turned around as if realizing that he was being
watched.  The wind tossed back his long hair, revealing an androgynous, yet
boyish face with a pair of rather beautiful dark eyes as its focus.

	<Wow, he's cute!> the three thought in union.

The boy looked down upon them.  Shifting his weight, he bounced off the
tower, did a couple of flips in mid-air, and landed right in front of the
girls in a fluid motion, surprising them all with the exceptional performance.

Staring at Shampoo, he smirked rather cockily as he brazenly gestured at
his rather well-defined chest.  "Heh, can't take your eyes off THIS, can ya?"
   
Akane and Kurumi were taken both stunned by the arrogance that the boy had
over his own body.  After all, in Japan, boys were seldom OPENLY conceited
about their physical assets.  Shampoo, however, has seen WAY too many of
his kind back at her village, where most men had to win women's favor with
their good looks.  Smiling with half-lidded eyes, she replied casually:

"You quite good looking, cutie boy.  Good face, well-defined shoulders and
chest, narrow waist, muscled thighs . . ."

Akane and Kurumi stared at her incredulously as she went on without even
blushing:
  
". . . long legs.  All in all, Shampoo rate you 80% on stud level."

The boy looked like he had been slapped.  "80%?!  Hey! I'm 100% studly!"

"Nope, according Amazon rating, hot shot attitude takes away 15%, while
lack of height takes way another 5%.  In short, little boy, be more HUMBLE
if want impress girls."  Shampoo said coyly as Akane  and Kurumi laughed.
The boy looked peeved as he retorted.

"Humph!  What would three immature little brats know about how a REAL stud
is like?"

This time, it was Akane who was ticked off.  "What did you call us, you-"

"Ranma-kun!"

The teenagers turned to see Hinako coming towards them with a smile
directed towards the boy.  The boy, Ranma, smiled back as he pushed past
the girls to greet Hinako.

"Hinako-san, long time no see!"

Hinako chuckled as she hugged the boy to her.  "Oh, my little boy has grown
up to be such a man.  The four years had certainly made you quite a
specimen.  Why, you're almost as tall as me now, and I'm wearing high heels!"

Ranma smirked playfully.  "Heh!  That's not the only way that I've grown .
. ." 

"Hinako, you KNOW this jer . . . guy?!"  Akane asked.

Hinako seemed to notice her for the first time.  "Oh, girls, sorry for
getting carried away. Allow me to introduce you to the second child- Ranma
Saotome!"

Akane used the chance to counter attack the annoyingly arrogant boy.  "Wild
horse?  What a weird name."

Ranma looked at her figure disdainfully.  "Bet ya can't handle the ride,
ironing board."

"What did you call me, you jerk of a perverted exhibitionist?!"

"At least I have something to exhibit, unlike some unattractive people that
I can mention . . ."

"Why you . . . you . . ."

"Anyway," Ranma ignored her and turned to Hinako, "where is that
oh-so-famous second child?  Ya know, the one that has over 40% synchro-rate
even without training?"

"Umm . . . she. . . she's the one that is now glowing with a red aura . .
."  Hinako said as she backed away nervously.

"WHAT?!  NERV is letting some CHICK pilot an EVA to save the world?!  What
is this, some anime girl robot show?!  Even if it is, shouldn't the girl be
cuter?"

Akane decided that now is the time to allow her anger to take over.
"That's it!  DIE!!"  

 With that, Akane began shooting out a series of vicious kicks and punches
at Ranma, all of which he had managed to dodge with ease.  

"Kids, stop it!"  Hinako exclaimed, to no avail.

"Haha!! Try all ya want slow-poke.  There NO WAY ya touching me!" Noticing
the way that Shampoo and Kurumi are both glowering at him, he stuck out his
tongue at them like an immature, naughty child.  "C'mon! feel free to join
in, I would even hold back just for the sake of being a good sport!"

Shampoo immediately joined in to double team Ranma with Akane.  Ranma was
rather surprised by the Chinese girl's speed and obvious strength.  <Wow,
she's better than what I've expected on a chick . . . not that it's gonna
matter much against me->

Just then, a previously unnoticed Kurumi ripped off the repeatedly braided
ribbon on her spiky hair and whipped it at him in a fluid motion,
successfully tying up the stunned boy.  Akane took the opportunity to elbow
his face into the deck's floor.  She then began trashing him good.

"TAKE THIS!  AND THIS, AND THIS THIS THIS THIS-"

Shampoo was about to join in.  After the sixth hit, however, Shampoo
hesitated.

"Akane!  Cool down, you killing jerk boy!"

Akane, already in one of her unstoppable rages, ignored her as she
continued to beat up Ranma.

"SHUTUP!!!  AND THIS THIS THIS-"

"Akane-"

"AND THIS THIS THIS THIS-"

"STOP!!!"
    
The Captain, previously unnoticed, roared as he towered over Akane and
Ranma.  As Kurumi braided the ribbon back onto her hair in elaborate but
pretty ties, she took the chance to whisper to Shampoo:  "Remind me NEVER
to piss off that girl."

"THESE children are what we're relying on to save the world?!  Even if
their previous records in piloting abilities, I dare say that we are
doomed!  They're *^*$#%$#%@ fighting among themselves!"

Akane and the now rather beat up Ranma were both shame-faced while Hinako
was so embarrassed that she would rather dig a hole on the deck and hide in
it.  Seeing no such possibility, she forced herself to sound confident as
she retorted.

"Eh . . . they're VERY responsible when it comes to performing their
duties.  As their legal guardian, I assure you-"

"CRAP!" the Captain cut her off angrily, "this whole Eva project is a waste
of the tax payer's money! The government should have just canned NERV and
used the money on US. We UN Navy are the ones that are truly useful in
defending the world!"

"Don't be too sure about that, Captain, considering how NERV's
technological level is light-years ahead of all other publicly known
organizations."

A tall, rather handsome bespectacled man, dressed in traditional Japanese
robes and carrying a bundle, walked up the deck with a rather serene smile
on his gentle face.  The Captain and Hinako somehow both managed to look
disgusted at the sight of him.

"YOU!"  They shouted at him as he smiled back.  Ranma, now free of Kurumi's
hair ribbon, got up and leapt over to him.

"Otousan!  I couldn't believe it: you actually made it!"

Akane blinked.  "Father?"

Kurumi studied the man.  "He looks kinda young to have such a big son . . ."

"Either way, him cute."  Shampoo concluded.  "How such high quality man
spawn long haired brat is beyond Shampoo."

"Ranma, Ranma," the man smiled a fatherly smile as he laid an arm on
roughed up Ranma's bangs a bit, "You know I wouldn't let my boy face his
moment of glory without his 'Old Man' watching now, would I?"

Ranma actually blushed as he smiled a little meekly.  "Otousan . . .
thanks."  

Forever the observant one, Shampoo scratched her chin as she studied the
scene.  "Ranma less bratty when with father . . . in fact, he almost like
innocent kid looking up to adult."

"How could anyone that perverted be innocent?!"  Akane snapped, but
couldn't help agreeing with Shampoo as she studied the scene in front of her. 
   
Meanwhile, the Captain stomped up to the man as he smiled back serenely as
usual.  

"Just WHAT are you doing on my ship, you %$^%$^^% little Nelly?! I thought
I gave a specific order to NOT let you aboard on this fleet!"

Ranma glared back at the bloated man as he shifted himself protectively in
front of his Otousan.  His Otousan, however, was as serene as usual.  	

"Captain, Captain, there's no need to call people names here.  For one
thing, I could easily retaliate by commenting on how someone with
decreasing hair and increasing waist size could easily suffer a stroke
should he get too worked up.  As for how I got onto this ship, let that be
my secret."  Seeing the fuming Captain, the man added: "You DO know that it
is against the law to throw NERV officials down the Pacific Ocean, don't
you?"  He smiled as the Captain nodded grudgingly.  "Good, now I know I'm
safe on this trip."

 Ranma visibly relaxed as he beamed at Tofu, who smiled back down at the
boy as he patted his shoulder.  Seeing this, Kurumi whispered to the other
girls.

 "Shampoo's right, that Ranma guy IS different towards his father."

Hinako snorted.  "The jerk could WISH that he could get any woman foolish
enough to bear HIS child. TOFU ONO!"  She stomped over to the man and
glared at him.  "Just WHAT are you doing here?  I certainly hope you aren't
moving to the Tokyo-3 branch of NERV!"

Tofu smiled back as he spoke up in a rather pleasant voice:  "My! Hinako,
how welcoming of you . . . keep this attitude up and you will keep on
staying single-"

Hinako's uppercut cut him off effectively.  "SHUT UP, you stupid big
mouthed smarty-pants!"

"Just . . . kidding . . ."

"Honestly!  I don't know WHAT I saw in you all those years ago!"

Tofu ignored that statement.  Instead, he turned to Akane and asked.
"Akane Tendo, the third child?"

Akane nodded as Ranma took the opportunity to stick out his tongue at her.
Akane fumed but did nothing this time.

"So, tell me, is she still unable to cook or clean?"

Akane nodded with a sigh as Hinako turned red from anger and embarrassment.

"What's it to you?!" She snapped at Tofu.  He chuckled.

"My, feisty as ever.  You haven't changed a bit, Hinako."

At this point, Ranma cut in.  "Otousan!  Seeing how much ya like
Hinako-san, ya really should start acting nicer towards her!"

Tofu knocked the boy gently on his head as he sighed.  "Boy, how many times
do I have to tell you that I do NOT like that spinster?"

Hinako looked pissed as Ranma looked peeved.  "Could've fooled me. You've
been keeping all ya pictures of Hinako-san in ya desk -"

Hinako blushed as Tofu replied casually.  "Boy, that's only because that
infinitely sexier redhead happens to be standing next to her in those
pictures."

Hinako was crunching her fists in anger as Ranma smirked playfully.
"Whatever ya say, Otousan, whatever ya say."

Just then, the first officer came running up to the Captain.  "Captain!
Captain!"

Before the Captain could reply, Tofu spoke up casually.  "An enormous
target generating a blue pattern is stalking this fleet from 3 km
underwater, isn't it?"

"Yes!  And how, it is speeding up to the surface-"  The first officer froze
as he along with everybody else stared at Tofu incredulously.

"YOU KNEW?!?!?!?!?!?!"

"Of course, that's why I came here to alert everyone of the upcoming
challenge."

"Why DIDN'T you tell us sooner, you . . . you TALKING HEAD?!"  Hinako barked.

"Well, I was about to, but then we've got all that catching up to do, and
Ranma-chan and the third child are just getting acquainted . . ."

"BAKA!!!"  Hinako and the Captain both elbowed him face down to the deck.
Composing herself again, Hinako turned to where Ranma was standing and said: 

"Alright, second child, go get into your-"

She trailed off wordlessly as she saw Ranma standing there, already clad in
his red-plug suit and synchro-headsets.  Shampoo, Akane, and Kurumi were
blushing yet again at the sight of his lower anatomy under the skin tight
suit.

"Whoa . . . maybe Shampoo should give Ranma an 85% at least . . ."  the
Chinese girl whispered as Akane and Kurumi continued to gawk at his rather
impressive . . . you get the idea. 

<Man, his suit was so tight around the . . . and designed without Mousse's
concealing metal flap . . . AHHH!!!  AKANE NO HENTAI!!!>

Luckily for the dignity of the girls, Ranma didn't even notice them gawking
at him.  Instead, he had an intensely excited look on his face as he spoke
to Hinako.

"Don't worry, Hinako-san!  I, Ranma Saotome, shall trash that puny angel!!!"

Tofu pulled his face out of the floorboards and smiled up at him.  "That's
my boy!"

Ranma beamed at him.  "Otousan!  I WILL make you proud!"

"Hold on!"  the Captain bellowed, "this fleet is still under MY command!
I'll show you all that we don't need any brat's help in defeating an angel!"

Ranma simply looked peeved as he pointed past the Captain.  "Wanna get a
new dose of reality, old guy?"

The Captain turned around, just in time to witness the horrific scene of
battleship unit 04 being crushed between the jaws of what looked like an
impossibly huge, half robotic sperm whale.  His eyes almost popped out at
the sight of the angel's tail splashing against the ocean, as it sent a
gigantic wave towards them that almost flipped over the carrier.  

"WAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Everyone screamed as a strong rush of sea water
washed over the deck.  As the wave subsided, Hinako opened her eyes, and
saw that she was conveniently washed into the control room together with
the fat captain.  Fearing that the girls were washed off board, she called
out:  "Shampoo!  Kurumi!"

"We're here!"
  
Looking down, she saw the two girls being squashed under the massive bulk
of the knocked-out captain.  Straining, Kurumi pushed the fat man off them
as Shampoo took the chance to regain her breath.

"Aiya . . . Shampoo's bones hurt, fat Captain really need diet . . ."

"Where is Akane?"  Kurumi asked.    
 
 Hinako didn't answer, instead, she flipped on the screens and com.links in
the control booth.  Immediately, she saw Ranma dragging Akane, now in a
plug suit as well, towards the opening on the red-colored Eva 02.   

"Why are you asking me to come with you?"  Akane asked in a miffed voice.

"So that ya can see how a REAL Eva pilot fights like."  Ranma winked back
at her as he leapt into the opening of the entry plug.  "C'mon, slowpoke,
get in!"

"I'm NOT slow, you weakling!"

"I'm not weak!"

"Could've fooled me, considering how easily I've pinned you down!  You
don't have an ounce of strength in you!"

"I DO have strength, muscle girl!  Besides, strength is NOTHING when
compared to speed and agility, especially when you're piloting an already
immensely strong yet clumsy robot like Eva."

"Who're you calling-"

"LISTEN UP AND STOP ARGUING!"  Hinako's command roared through he sound
system of the gigantic room that the Eva was stored in, startling the
teenagers.  "We have NO TIME for your petty arguments.  Second child, go
get into the Eva and take up the fight!  Akane, you'll be his assistant on
this mission considering this is his first combat with an actual angel!"

"Heh!  I don't need no assistant, but I'll STILL take her with me to show
her with a real MAN fights like!"  Ranma said as he dropped himself into
the LCL, pulling a protesting Akane in with him at the same time.  The
entry plug closed and sank into the Eva as its eyes lit up.  Unit 02 was on.

In the control booth, the Captain was regaining his senses as his eyes
focused upon the sight of Hinako's rather shapely long legs.  As the
thunders within his head died down, he heard her saying something along the
line of "open up the damn deck to let Unit 01 come up!!" and shot up like a
board.

"Ninomiya!  What DO you think you are doing ordering my officers around?!
This is MY fleet, MINE!"

Just then, the gigantic whale angel leapt out of the water and came back
down on a now tiny looking attacker ship that was trying to shoot it with
an underwater warhead.  The result was the loss of yet another "valuable"
warship plus another shock wave that rocked the fleet.

"AHHH!!!! The invincible warship unit 07!" the Captain cried.

"Sir!"  The now soaking first officer reported.  "none of the fleet's
weapons can counter the angel's AT field!"

"But . . . but!"

"No 'buts'!"  Hinako said impatiently.  "Just yet Unit 02 take care of
this, okay?!" she turned to the opening floorboard of the deck, and smiled
as the huge Eva 02 stood up from underneath the opening.

"Ranma!  According to the radar, The angel is coming up towards this ship
from underwater at 50m /s!  Prepare yourself!"

"Hai!"  Ranma replied through the com.link, together with Akane's annoyed
grunt. 

Inside Unit 02, Ranma closed his eyes as if concentrating while Akane
stared at him with an annoyed but curious expression.  

"Watch and learn: just don't disturb me."  Ranma said as Akane fumed.
After a while, his lips began to move

"I'm the best."  He murmured, as if in a trance.  "Always, always the best
. . ."   
 
<Great, so this Ranma guy is also a neurotic.  Guess insanity and
perversion comes hand in hand.>

"Forever and ever the best, will always be remembered as the best . . ."
the Eva's hands got into something that resembles a defensive stance, but
not quite . . .

Hinako's voice came from the com.link:  " 8 seconds remaining, 5, 4 . . ."

"Moko . . ."

<. . .?>

" 2, 1 . . .!!!"

The angel shot out of the water and leapt straight for Eva 01 as Akane
gasped.  Ranma's eyes snapped open, taking in the sight of the tooth filled
jaws of the angel as he roared.

"TAKABISHA!!!!!"

An immensely powerful energy beam shot out from the Eva's palms  into the
whale-angel's open mouth, as the ship almost doubled over from the
propelling force of the blast.  The angel's forward momentum was cancelled
out as it dropped into the ocean like a gigantic rock.  100 meter waves
rippled outward as the angel exploded, throwing the ships away from each
other.  A moment later, the waves calmed, and Hinako took the opportunity
to check the radar.  

"The blue pattern is gone . . .Ranma, you did it!!!"

"Of course I did!"  Ranma's voice came through the com.link, "although that
butch tomboy was frozen in fright-"

"I'm NOT frozen in fright!  AND WHO IS A BUTCH TOMBOY, you^&&^%&%*&^*&!!!!!"

"ACK! The damned plug is too small for me to dodge-AHHHHH!!!!!!!!" 

After that, all that came through the com.link were the grueling sounds of
knuckles against flesh and bones as Unit 02 began to do a funny dance that
resembled frantic struggling.  Hinako quickly used the remote device to cut
Ranma and Akane off-line as she turned off the com.link to Unit 02 as well.
 She then turned to the Captain and the first officer.

"See, like I've said before, these kids are VERY professional . . . oh well."

She sighed as she realized that the men were both shocked into a state of
trauma already, thus didn't see the need to go on with her little rant.

"What disgustingly annoying boy, despite cute looks and good pilot
ability."  Shampoo sighed.  "Were Shampoo still princess, she might take
boy as concubine and try tame, but now he useless to Shampoo."

"Oh, I feel so sorry for you, Hinako-san."  Kurumi said.  "We don't have to
EVER see him again, while you can't help but deal with his kind due to your
job."

Hinako laughed uneasily as she wisely kept the fact that Ranma would be
transferring to Tokyo-3 High a secret for now. 

"By the way, where Tofu?"  Shampoo asked as Hinako looked angry.

"Humph!  Who cares?!  I wish he's washed off board!"

Just then, the phone in the control room range.  Hinako absently picked it.

"Carrier unit 01 speaking."

"My, Hinako, grad that you're still alive.  I take it that my boy did well
against the angel?"

"Tofu . . ."  Hinako's allowed her rage to built up, then unleashed it like
a blast over the phone, "HOW DARE YOU RAN OUT ON US?!?!?!"

"Now, Hinako, I wouldn't have been much help staying on that ship anyway-"

"DAMN RIGHT YOU WOULDN'T BE!!"

"Sigh . . . always so over reactive.  Well, I'm off to have a little
catching up with No-chan, congratulate Ranma-chan for me, will you?"

Tofu quickly hanged up before Hinako could hurl a string of well chosen
insults at him.  Putting the mini-jet on auto-pilot, he looked down at the
bundle that he had been carrying around him.  Unwrapping the concealing
layers of cloth, he looked down upon a glass-case.  In it, something
looking like an embryo was floating within its liquid content.  He spoke to
the embryo in an amused yet melancholic voice:

"Even in this form, you're still as much of an angel bait as Lilith.  Guess
you two DID used to be a couple after all."    
    
*		*		*		*		*		*		
Later that evening, back at NERV, Nodoka was typing away on a computer as
Kasumi did likewise at her own.

"Oh my, an angel attack on the Pacific Fleet, with a third of the fleet
destroyed . . . I wonder how the UN will take this."

"Serves them right for underestimating the task of going against fallen
angels."  Nodoka smirked faintly as she kept on typing.  "Either way, NERV
will NOT be held financially responsible.  I'll make sure of it."
Just then, two hands reached out from behind her and covered Nodoka's eyes,
startling her.  "Kasumi, what . . ."

"Guess who?"  A familiar singsong voice asked as Nodoka sighed and relaxed.  

"You haven't changed a bit, Tofu."

"But you have," Tofu uncovered her eyes and nuzzled up against the side of
her neck.  "You've became even more beautiful than before . . ."

Nodoka pushed him off her as she laughed.  "Please, Tofu, we're BOTH too
old for this kind of lines.  By the way," her expression turned serious in
a split second, "about your mission?"

"A smashing success.  Commander Tendo would be pleased."  Tofu winked at her. 

At this point, Kasumi spoke up, making Tofu notice her for the first time.

"My, are you Dr. Akagi's friend?"  Kasumi asked with that warm,
conservatively "kawaii" smile of her as Tofu's glasses fogged up.  He
quickly darted away from Nodoka and began babbling like an idiot.

"Ye . . .yes . . . yes . . . we were . . . ah, close . . . but not in the
way you think . . .platonic, yeah, that's the word, and . . ."

Kasumi giggled. "Oh, Dr., your friend is so amusing!"

Nodoka smiled with sophisticated playfulness as she stared at her old
friend turned lunatic.  "Indeed, much more amusing than I thought he was
capable of in all the time since I've known him." 

"Yes . . . ah, I'm really amusing . . .ha ha ha-ARK!!"

A knee-chop from to the back of his head drove him face-first to the floor.
 Hinako, along with Akane and Ranma, were right behind the comatose man.

"JERK!!!"  Hinako growled.  "Not only do you have to escape from the fight
like the coward that you are, but to flirt with Nodoka in such a
sickeningly idiotic manner . . ."

 "Why, jealous?"  Nodoka asked with mock curiousity, to which Hinako
humphed in reply.  Smiling, Nodoka continued.  "but he wasn't directing his
attention towards me: it is Kasumi that holds his fancy . . ." 

"Hmmm?"  Kasumi smiled obliviously, and Nodoka sighed.  

"Never mind."

"What? You don't mean . . . Kasumi?!  Why you dirty OLD man!!"  Hinako
proceeded to stamp her high heels repeatedly on Tofu as Ranma and Akane
winced.  After a while, she composed herself again and turned towards the
children.  "Ah, that was satisfying.  Now, Ranma, your stuff has already
been delivered to my apartment, and-"  

"HOLD IT!"  Akane cut her off,  "he's moving in with US?!"

"WHAT?!"  Ranma exclaimed.  "I'm moving in with HER?!"

The two of them began fighting first verbally then physically as  Hinako
and Nodoka tried stopping them to no avail.  Meanwhile, Kasumi had helped
Tofu up. 
 
 "Are you alright?"  she asked, gentle as an angel in a shoujo manga.

"Wha . . . I  ahahaha . . . of course I am, dear girl,"

"That's the chair, mister.  I'm over here.  <Japanese girl's ultra 'kawaii'
giggle> you're funny."

"I am . . . hahaha . . .  yup, good ol' funny easy going Tofu, that'll be
me . . ."

*		*		*		*		*		*		
Inside the familiar looking, dimly lit room, Soun Tendo was staring at the
embryo inside the glass case, with a subtly pained look on his usually
stoic face.
   
<Because of this, it all started because of this. . .>

A ghost of a woman, forever glowing with optimistic joy, settled itself in
his mind.  Now, she was almost within an arm's reach, yet infinitely far
away, locked inside that hellish yet necessary creation inspired by this
cursed embryo of doom . . .

<If only you hadn't show your face to us foolish mortals, Kimiko would
still be with me . . . and things would have been alright.  Damn you, Adam
. . . damn you.>
 
End Part 4

Author's notes:  Nihao!  Yep, I know what you guys are all thinking: how
could Ranma be physically overpowered by Akane?!  Well, this Ranma we're
dealing with here is not nearly as strong (though just as quick) as the
Ranma in the first episode of Ranma 1/2.  The reason for this will be
explained later as the series goes on.  So please be patient and bear with
it!  This time, I PROMISE that I won't cut a series like I did with Ranko
and Kaneda . . . oops wasn't supposed to remind you of that.  As for Ranma
calling Tofu his father . . . this will be explained in future parts.  Oh
well, bie liao! 

Adrian Wong
March 5, 1998.