TRTSS31: Martian Encounters! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, War of the Worlds and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre limited series.
Special Note: This is a "Thanksgiving Holiday Special" story.
Part 1
It was that time of year again, when the lands in the Northern hemisphere get cooler, when the foliage on the trees turn gold and/or red, and when school 'finals' begin to ramp up. It was also that time again, in one particular residence, for-
"FOOTBALL!" Ranma roared, as he sets up his kegs of exotic beers and ales. He wore his Denver Brocos' jersey with pride.
"I wonder if I have enough for everyone," Ranma said to himself, as he recalculated everything in his head. Each year, his guest roster increases in length, with practically everyone he knows, from around the world, stops by for the day for a day of sports and food.
Akane, one of his wives, turn from her chore of fixing American-style food, and looks at him disapprovingly.
"Honestly, Ranma, I swear you've been Americanized a bit too much," Akane said. "I mean, look at all this American food."
"Akane, I tolerate YOUR cooking so that I could enjoy this day of pigging out while watching one of my sports team play ball," Ranma said. "And you know I always invite people over for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, which is traditionally American."
"But it's not even Thanksgiving!"
"I know that. But, I can still celebrate a day of thanks a few days early with family and friends. In fact, the reason why I actually celebrate the day is not because of the Pilgrims getting together with their Amerind neighbors, but to celebrate by being thankful for my life, the lives of my friends and family and my good fortune."
Pause.
"Plus, you know how much of a sports fanatic I am, especially my team, the Broncos."
"Imagine gravitating towards a team where a wild horse is the centerpiece," Akane said sarcastically.
"Well, YOU, my dear, won't ruin my holiday merriment-"
"Minato-domo!" said Tsukumi (aka "Sekirei #09"), as she storms into the kitchen.
"On the other hand…"
"Minato-domo, I find it unbecoming of my future husband to prepare a feast of this size," said the blond Water Sekirei, as she faced Ranma with arms folded. "Besides, how else can I prove myself worthy of being the primary wife, if you won't let me do so?"
Akane grits her teeth while twitching her eyebrows, as she continues to fix the potato salad. Bad enough that she has to deal with Usagi, but having to deal with potentially six more potential mates, one of whom is a transgender shape-shifter, was asking bit much from her at times.
"I think someone needs to check in on the grill?" Akane said through gritted teeth.
"Er, right," Ranma replied, getting the hint. He then refocuses his thoughts on his Sekierei.
"Look, Tsukumi, today, YOU and the others are my guests. Okay?"
"Okay, but the next holiday, I want to be the one to prepare the meals. You got that?"
"Er, yes. Well, I got to check on the meats."
With that, Ranma hurriedly leaves the kitchenette area of the kitchen, leaving Akane alone with Tsukumi.
"What are you looking at?" Tsukumi said haughtily.
'Think happy thoughts,' Akane thought to herself. 'It's only one day…'
Outside, Ranma tended to the meats, while Usagi did her stargazing in the backyard. Well, it was actually Usagi's excuse to drink into oblivion, but she did like astronomy, even before Usagi first became Sailor Moon. Meanwhile, Ranma went about his grilling, using meats generated by his and Usagi's personal starship, the SS "Ranusagi". He had to be sensitive to his guests needs, mostly out of deference to Ryouga's, Mousse's and Pantyhose Taro's special circumstances. The replicated meats were not the genuine article, but they tasted the same without the preservatives and growth hormones found in some meats. Nevertheless, Ranma didn't have to worry about running out of food, and he did shop for other items from local markets…
"Ranma, take a look at this," Usagi said, as she waved Ranma over, while she continued to peer into her telescope.
Ranma, who was flipping hot dogs on a mini-grill (a "hibachi") turns towards his wife. Every other weekend, he and Usagi go out to the outskirts of the city of Tokyo to engage into some "stargazing". The fun part was simply hanging out, listening to some music from a local station while Ranma grilled. This time, since their stargazing fell on the same week as Ranma's party, the couple decided to do both…
"I told you already, that I wasn't going to 'peep' on that Khundian body building competition," Ranma said flatly.
"Not THAT, but I do see a colony of 'Isolus' passing by near Mars," Usagi said, as she steps back to allow her husband to see the colony…
Ranma takes a look at these stellar creatures, as these spores made from pure energy moved about like a colony of fish. He had ran into one of those spores back when he traveled with the Doctor's tenth incarnation and his daughter Rose, and prevented it from ruining the 2012 Olympic Games…
"Yeah," Ranma said with a smile. "That's pretty awesome."
"It's hard to believe that it is only now that people are starting to wake up to the presence of 'extra-terrestrials'," Usagi said with a sigh. "It's just too bad that not every encounter is a joyful one."
"Yeah," Ranma said, as he thinks about a few of those encounters on Mars, for example…
1868 CE: Arizona, United States.
"I really appreciate your help on this, mister," said the Virginian, and former Confederate officer, John Carter, as he and his business partner surveyed the land that stretched as far as the eye can see.
"No problem," Ranma replied, as he utilized the surveying equipment to establish the claim for the Stallion Holdings Company, which was being sponsored by the Japanese government through Ranma. With the push towards modernization, thanks to being forced to open its relations to the United States, Japan sent those familiar with the West to begin negotiations with those companies and governments to secure minerals rights. While Ranma's wife Usagi handled direct negotiations with the United States with the Japanese government representatives, Ranma took care of establishing economic opportunities…
"And with this new mine, the first of many, we could easily reap back our investments tenfold-"
"Wait," John said, as he turns towards a ridge towards his left. "Did you hear that?"
Ranma turns to face the source of John's concern, when an arrow is shot at him. Casually, Ranma grabs it before it impales his face.
"Huh," Ranma said, as he looks at the arrow. "Not bad, and the arrowhead is well-made…"
Ranma then turns towards John's direction, but John was already running back to the camp.
"John?" Ranma said, just as Amerind warriors, from the Apache tribe, comes charging over the ridge in a war cry.
"Oh, boy…"
Sometime later, Ranma and John find themselves in a cave being attended to by an Amerind Hopi medicine woman.
"You two should be careful," said the woman, as she applied salves to Ranma's back. "The Apache do not tolerate strangers in these lands."
"You think?" Ranma replied, as he winced a bit. "This whole trip is a failure, you know."
"We appreciate all the help we can get, ma'am," John said. "Is there another way out of this place?"
"There is, but at considerable risk."
"What's so special about this cave?" Ranma asked, as he puts his shirt back on. "I sense…something unusual about it."
"You are correct. This mesa that we are on revolves through several worlds, both material and immaterial alike; perhaps an infinite number of worlds can be traveled from here."
"Is that why they call this place…'Miracle Mesa'?" John asked.
"Yes, I suppose," the woman said. "Some would call it…the 'Revolving Castle'."
"Wait, what did you say?" Ranma said.
"I said that some would call it the 'Revolving Castle'."
"You don't sound like an ordinary Hopi medicine woman," John said.
"Indeed I am not," the woman said. "I have been a guardian of this place long before the White man came to these lands, and I have seen many things."
"You're a member of the 'Dreamspeakers', then," Ranma said with a nod.
The Dreamspeakers consisted of those shamans and healers, usually from ancient cultures in the Americas, Africa and Australia, whose mystical knowledge was based upon consorting with the spirits, and of knowledge of the Immaterial World. In fact, the Dreamspeakers did not see the difference between it and the Material World…
"I have known of you since the Great Convocation was enacted, Ranma Saotome," the woman said with a knowing smile. "After all, you were the first Primus, representing the affairs of the Akashic Brotherhood, on the Council of the Nine Traditions…"
The Akashic Brotherhood consisted of those mystics whose magic and cultures centered on martial art, and were typically based in East Asia. Together with the Dreamspeakers and seven other mystical and magical societies, the Council of the Nine Traditions (or simply "The Traditions") protects the old ways from the so-called "Order of Reason", soon to be known as "The Technocratic Union" (or simply "The Technocracy"). In fact, the so-called "Wild West" is the latest battlefield between the two groups…
"What are you two talking about?" John asked.
"A way out," Ranma replied. "So, this place sits on a 'node', correct?"
"Correct. You can use it to open a rift to leave this area. But be warned: the planets and the stars could influence your path."
"Better to take the chance, than stay here and get you in trouble," Ranma said, as he turns towards John.
"You're ready for a wild ride, John?"
"I don't even know what's going on here," John said. "But, if we can make our escape…"
"Right, let's go," Ranma said, as he goes deeper into cave.
"Be careful!" said the medicine woman. "Although you'll end up where you need to go, you might not come out the same way…"
"We'll remember that, ma'am," John said, as he tilts his hat. "And thanks for the help."
And with that, John and Ranma walk deeper into Miracle Mesa…
"Where the hell are we?" said a buxom, beautiful red-headed wench, as she looks around the valley filled with strange, weird creatures. She was dressed in a metal bikini, loin cloth and sandals.
"All I know is that we still have yet to catch up with the slavers, Ranma," said her companion. He had to remind himself that the beautiful woman was his business partner.
"Small solace since we're on MARS," Ranma-onna said with annoyance.
Upon exiting the cave, the two found themselves on the planet Mars, but thousands of years into the past, long before the days of the Silver Millennium. The Martians consisted of a variety of races, although the indigenous variety came in a variety of primary colors, and had yet to evolve into the true shape-shifters that they would be known for, and were humanoid in appearance. Humans did live on Mars, although they consisted of former escaped slaves who were able to establish their territories on the planet as "barbarian kingdoms". Making matters worse, for some reason, Ranma and John ended up looking like barbarians themselves; in Ranma's case, he became a version of his female guise, as if it was designed by the fantasy art designer Frank Frazetta. It was Ranma-onna's familiarity with astro-navigation practices that allowed her to deduce where and when she and John are…
"According to one of the escaped slaves, the royal family of Mars knows how to return us to Mars, which means that we have to rescue the Princess of Mars to get their help, then," John said. "At least, we have super-human strength."
John demonstrated this by lifting a heavy rock, and tossing it many yards away.
"That's because of the lighter gravity," Ranma-onna said, as she lifts an even bigger rock, before tossing it away.
"Nothing special."
"Whatever. Let's just find this princess, and get back home."
"This way," Ranma-onna said, as she and John travel to where the slavers roamed…
"Ah, what a pretty wench," said a green Martian, as he inspected an annoyed Ranma-onna. She and John allowed themselves to be captured, so that Ranma-onna could get close to the princess." "You'll fetch a hefty price."
He then turns towards his underling.
"Take her to the others."
"Yes, sir," said the underling, as he escorts Ranma-onna to the holding pen, where the more attractive slaves would be kept.
"Oof!" Ranma-onna said, as she falls onto a mat of hay.
"Are you okay?" said a woman, as she helps Ranma-onna up to her feet.
Ranma-onna turns towards her benefactor.
"Rei?" Ranma-onna said in surprise.
Tbc.