Four days later:
“Report,” Cmdr. Ikari ordered in his usual stern monotone. As always his posture gave absolutely no clues about what the man was thinking either. Even his order itself was vague, as if to coax more out of Ritsuko than she might have said otherwise.
It didn’t really matter though, she already knew exactly what it was, or who rather, that he wanted her to report on. It would have been hard for her not to know, since Ritsuko had been allowed to work on almost nothing else since the battle four days ago. “Yes, sir. So far we’ve managed to verify all historical data regarding Saotome as related to us by the recording we found.
“There is a roughly twenty-three-year gap between Saotome’s reported removal from this dimension and subsequent return that we haven’t been able to explain yet. But other than that, as unbelievable as it sounds, it would appear that everything we’ve been told about Saotome is true. That includes the claim that Saotome acquired the anomalous condition affecting his gender and appearance at the age of sixteen, prior to leaving this reality. The condition was noted on both Soatome’s permanent school record and the Saotome family registry,” Ritsuko began, getting the easy stuff out of the way first.
“Yes, the head of Security gave me his report confirming Saotome’s historical disposition just a little while ago. What they’ve dug up concerning this Ranma Saotome’s past is a little far fetched perhaps, but encouraging none the less. He may even become invaluable to us in the near future, Dr. Ikagi, given the right . . . motivation, let’s say,” Cmdr. Ikari replied with a knowing smile. A smile that his steepled hands couldn’t quite hide from view, the expression sent a slight chill down Ritsuko’s back when she noticed it.
“In fact, the primary reason I called you in here, doctor, was to find out exactly when you intend to allow Saotome to wake up. Now that I’m convinced of his origins and reliability, I intend to offer him a job helping us fend off the Angel menace,” he added with that same, self assured smile.
“Are you sure that’s wise, commander? Even if he isn’t an Angel, with his genetic enhancements he might as well be. I mean you saw what he did to that Angle four days ago. That was likely the weakest we’ll ever see her- him too,” Ritsuko protested before she could reign herself in, partly because of the forced self-correction.
“I’m aware of that, Dr. Ikagi. However, Saotome is too powerful a tool to simply keep sedated if we can wield him against the Angels. Considering the stakes involved, doctor, can we really afford not to try and persuade Saotome to cooperate with us on humanity’s behalf?” he countered her protest sternly.
As much as she wanted to, Ritsuko couldn’t think of a single, valid, argument to counter what Cmdr. Ikari was suggesting they do. Because despite the frightening amount of power Saotome possessed, the teen had done nothing but try and help them in the short time that any of them had known him. When all of the known variables were factored in, there was absolutely no logical reason present for Ritsuko to claim they couldn’t trust the young Saotome. A realization that shamed Ritsuko all the more when she finally reached it a second or two later.
“Understood, commander. I’ll make preparations to wake Saotome up the moment I get back to my office. I’m not sure how long it’ll take for him to wake up though; I have been keeping him rather heavily sedated after all,” Ritsuko replied aloud, it was nearly the only answer she could give really.
“Very well, Dr. Akagi. But inform me the instant Saotome begins to awaken; I will procure the boy’s cooperation personally,” Cmdr. Ikari acknowledged her reply. He silently dismissed her after that, with a barely perceptible nod of his head at the door to his office. Long since familiar with the man’s mannerisms, Ritsuko recognized the dismissal for what it was and turned on her heal to leave without another word.
One day later:
“You’re kidding me right? This is my original dimension, only I’ve been sent twenty-seven years into the future?” Ranma asked incredulously, unable to believe what he was hearing. He, because somewhere between blacking out after the fight and waking up again, these guys found a recording Washu made explaining Ranma’s curse to them. Actually, that wasn’t all that Washu explained to them apparently, but that was the reason why they knew about Ranma’s curse before he even woke up.
“Indeed. In fact, the folder in front of you contains, among other things, the complete file regarding your mysterious disappearance and presumed murder twenty-seven years ago. In it you will find that there were several suspects and no confirmed leads. You will also find a copy of your school transcripts as well. Which reminds me, you will be required to take a placement test to determine the appropriate level from which to resume your continued schooling, Mr. Saotome. Please take no offense, but there have been quite a few changes in modern education since your disappearance twenty-seven years ago. Assuming that we successfully defeat the Angels, we do not want you to suffer scholastically simply because of negligence on our part,” the bearded, monotone guy droned. Ranma thought he’d said his name was Gendo Ikari, but he hadn’t really been paying a lot of attention at the time.
‘Yuck, school, who needs it?’ Ranma thought disgustedly. He still wasn’t entirely convinced that this was his original dimension, although the guy did make a convincing argument. But even if these guys were lying to Ranma, it didn’t really matter, he was stuck here anyway. “Fine I’ll take the stupid test, but don’t expect me to like it; school’s never been anything more than a pain in the butt for me,” Ranma replied aloud, not bothering to hide his annoyance with the topic.
“I assure you, Mr. Saotome, that the school you will be attending is nothing like your previous scholastic institutions. For starters, trouble makers on the level that your old schools harbored are not tolerated within Tokyo 3's educational system. Please bear that in mind while you are there, I do not desire to make any more excuses than absolutely necessary to the faculty there on your behalf. Negotiating appropriate allowances for your unique condition was troublesome enough on its own,” Gendo countered, dismissing Ranma’s unspoken concerns.
Only to bring up new questions for Ranma in the process. “You’ve already told them about my curse?” Ranma asked the man unbelievingly. For a place as secretive as these Nerv guys were, revealing Ranma’s curse outright was the absolute last thing he’d expected them to do.
“Not by choice, I assure you, Mr. Saotome. It just so happens that the current school principal is a past acquaintance of yours. A slight indiscretion during investigations forced us to reveal to the principal that you have in fact returned to this world. To buy their cooperation, I was personally forced to disclose what we know about your disappearance and eventual return to this dimension. Under their insistence, I am very reluctantly allowing your existence to be public knowledge, powers included. I suggest that you don’t make me regret that decision, Mr. Saotome,” Gendo retorted, visibly unhappy about that development.
“Hey, its not like I asked for these powers you know. But as long as I’ve got them, I might as well put ‘em to good use,” Ranma retorted defensively. He didn’t really like the way Gendo said that last bit, but what could he do about it . . . short of pounding the guy to a pulp that is.
“See that you do, It would be very inconvenient if I were forced to declare you an enemy and deploy the Evas to eliminate you as such, Mr. Saotome. Such efforts would be much better spent dealing with the alien menace instead,” Gendo retorted with a sort of indifferent menace.
Ranma didn’t quite know how to respond to that comment, so he didn’t. Instead, he decided that he really didn’t like this guy and that the less Ranma had to deal with the old grump the better.
“Moving on, we have been unable to locate any surviving blood relatives of yours, Mr. Saotome. However, due to your unique circumstances, the state has granted Nerv legal guardianship over you until such time as you are of legally declared an adult. As such, we will provide you with appropriate housing and a generous living allowance. You will also be paid for your services of course. However, the majority of your pay will be deposited in a trust fund in your name until such time as you are no longer a minor. As she is our foremost authority on extraterrestrial biology, Dr. Ritsuko Ikagi has been selected to be your official guardian. Do you have any questions, Mr. Saotome?” the man continued when Ranma didn’t say anything to his not-so-veiled threat.
“Yeah, are you done yet? Because I’m practically starving to death over here,” Ranma whined, intentionally testing the man’s reaction to see what Gendo would do. For all of his unfriendliness, the guy seemed to hardly care about anything, treating practically everything with equal, if subdued, hostility.
“Very well, you are dismissed. Dr. Ikagi is waiting for you outside my office. I suggest that you confer with her about your request. Good day, Mr. Saotome,” Gendo countered just as gruffly as he’d started this little meeting, though felt more like an interrogation than anything else. Strangely it wasn’t like the guy had a beef with Ranma personally, as much as he just seemed to hate the whole world equally.
“Heh, later,” Ranma scoffed back, then used his ability to teleport out of the man’s office just to annoy the grumpy guy a little more. That and because it would shave a few seconds off of how much longer Ranma had to wait to get fed today.
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(Posted Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:09)
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