Author's Note: This is part of a huge multi-part story I am planning. But this story can be read on its own, without knowing what happened in the other parts. So, enjoy!
----
The floating ball of light descended into the dark room. "I'm here, sir," a female voice called out. "You have a mission for me?"
A shadowy figure stepped forward. Only the outlines of its body could be seen. "That I have, Tikal," the figure said in a male voice. "And this one is very important."
"I'm ready for everything."
The shadowy man nodded. He held out a hand, and a small blue planet appeared. "On this version of Earth, a dark future has been predicted, and most of the people that are planning to make this future reality really don't have any idea of the tragedy this future is going to cause."
"You want me to prevent this future?" Tikal said , slightly unsure.
"Yes, indeed," the man continued. "But you don't have to use force... most of these people have the purest hearts you can imagine. They simply don't know the results of their actions."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Here are your instructions." The figure held out a paper that floated towards the glowing ball. When it touched the light, it instantly disappeared.
"I understand," Tikal said. "What exactly is the name of this menace?"
The figure looked darkly at her. "It is called... Crystal Tokyo!"
----
Around the same time Ranma Saotome vanished out of Nerima, Sailor Pluto was standing before the Gates of Time. She was very nervous.
She ALWAYS kept track of Ranma, wherever he was. His chaos factor was simply too big to leave him unguarded. But now, he was gone... not dead, not teleported to another planet, just... gone!
That didn't make any sense.
"People don't vanish just like that," Pluto muttered. "I should have been able to easily track him down using the gates, but... it's like he doesn't exist anymore."
"He doesn't, at least not in this dimension," a voice called out to her. Setsuna turned around and saw a ball of light slowly floating down on the ground.
"Who are you?" Pluto was on guard. No one should be able to come to the Gates of Time that easily. "How did you get here?"
The gleaming ball touched the ground, and with a flash of light, turned into a small, humanoid animal... a girl, to be precise.
Pluto blinked. "You're... a hedgehog?"
The girl smiled. "Echidna, actually! My name is Tikal, and I was send here to fetch you, Setsuna Meioh."
Sailor Pluto blinked again. The girl shouldn't be able to see through her disguise field. "How did you... never mind." She shook her head. "It seems like you have abilities I never heard of. Where are you from? And do you know what happened to Ranma Saotome?"
The orange-furred Echidna smiled. "He was sent to another world, to serve it as a hero. He won't be a bother to you anymore, Setsuna... as from now on, your work here will be done."
"I don't quite understand what you mean," Setsuna carefully replied. "Are you threatening me?"
Tikal giggled and shook her head. "Oh, no no, I am no warrior. I would never be strong enough to beat someone like you."
"So what do you mean? I have to stay here and make sure nothing threatens the future or Crystal Tokyo."
Tikal stretched out her hands. "That exactly is the point. Crystal Tokyo. My... employers... have decided that it would be too dangerous to allow you and the Senshi to build this city."
Now Setsuna was angrily gripping her rod. "Leave! Now! Crystal Tokyo is an Utopia, where everyone will be free and happy under the rule of Neo-Queen Serenity."
Tikal sadly shook her head. "Living under the rule of a queen? I don't think that counts as 'free', Setsuna. And while the residents of Crystal Tokyo may be safe from the Great Freeze, what about the rest of Earth? If you were wise, you would have used that knowledge to prevent the Great Freeze, not just to save the people of Japan."
"What do you know?" Pluto growled. "It was the wish of Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, that one day, her kingdom would be built anew, with her reincarnated daughter as queen."
"But don't you see? This isn't 'freedom' any more... that's forcing the people to accept a ruler. We looked into the future as well, Setsuna... and Crystal Tokyo won't cause anything good. The hearts of the queen and her Senshi will be frozen after the Great Freeze, failing to notice the disaster that struck all the other people."
"But what about Small Lady?" Setsuna now sounded pretty desperate. "If Crystal Tokyo doesn't become reality, she will never be born."
Tikal shook her head. "That's not true. Do Usagi Tsukino and Mamoru Chiba need a kingdom to keep their love? Do they need to be king and queen to raise a child? The prevention of Crystal Tokyo won't be the prevention of Chibiusa's birth."
"I won't let you destroy the Utopia we're planning to bring to the humans," Sailor Pluto shouted angrily. "Dead Scream!"
The magical attack barely missed Tikal, who gave a loud cry of surprise and jumped aside. "Please, Setsuna... stop that! I'm not here to hurt you!"
"Leave, or I'm forced to make you leave," Pluto yelled.
Tikal sighed. "I thought I could convince you before this happens... but I guess the boss was right." She raised her hands and began chanting.
"Let this world merge with another world! Let the lesser pains of the new world overwhelm the bigger pains of the previous world! Let there be happiness and hope for all living beings in this future!"
She took one last look at Setsuna. "I'm sorry... If I were able to convince you, you would have been spared of getting this new role in life... a very hard life, I have to add."
And everything vanished in a bright light.
----
She opened her eyes. She couldn't see anything. What happened? Where was she?
WHO was she?
"Now, now, my dear," a soothing voice said. "It's okay. Here, let me take off the bindings..."
A pair of gentle hands removed the bandages that were covering her face. When her vision cleared, she saw the smiling face of an old man wearing a lab coat. He was looking down on her in concern. "Are you okay? Does it hurt?"
She shook her head and slowly got up. "No... no, I'm fine. Uuuhh... my head! W-where am I? Who are you? What is this place? And... most important... who am I?"
The old man sighed and sat down next to her. She could now see that she was lying on some metal bed, inside a futuristic-looking room. Some strange machines were attached to the wall, and another person seemed to work on them.
"You are inside the ARK... the first space colony mankind created. I am Professor Gerald Robotnik... your creator!"
"Creator?" she gasped. "But I... am I not a living being?"
"Oh yes, you are," the professor assured her. "I created you using the wonders of gene technology. I guess that would make me your... father, in a sort of way." He laughed. "Some people say this way of creating life would be sinful... but think about it: What's so wrong about bringing life to a world of peace and beauty?"
She shook her head. "Nothing, I guess... But I think..." She tried to get up. "Whoa! Why... why am I so small? Am I a child?"
"No, you aren't! Here, take a look into the mirror..."
She carefully walked over to the big mirror and looked inside. A female, humanoid hedgehog looked back at her, her fur a dark emerald green.
"That's me?" she whispered. "Who am I?"
Professor Gerald proudly stood next to her. "You are Pluto the Hedgehog... the Ultimate Life Form - First Version!"
Pluto looked out of the window. She saw outer space... and floating below them, the blue planet... Earth.
"The ARK was the first space colony to be built," Gerald explained. "And the most advanced of its kind, too. There are many people living here, but a big part of the colony contains research facilities the Earth government let me use... under the condition I only use it for the good of the people... but that's what I always try to do with my work.
Remember that well, Pluto... everything... everything I create up here... is only for the good of this planet..."
"Are there... other beings living on earth like me?" Pluto murmured. "Or will I be a... freak?"
Gerald chuckled. "Oh, no! In addition to humans as me, there are several humanoid animals living down there on Earth. They are as intelligent and smart as we humans are... so don't worry about that."
Suddenly, a strange, hissing voice could be heard from the other side of the room: "Professssor, I finissshed my work."
Gerald turned around. "Oh, of course! I almost forgot - Pluto, let me introduce you to Bio... he's what I call the 'Prototype of the Ultimate Life Form'. I guess you can say he's your brother."
From under the wide cloak, a reptilian face with red scales looked at Pluto. He extended a bulky hand. "Niccce to meet you... sisssster!"
Nervously, Pluto took his hand... and shuddered. Bio's hand was cold. But at least, he seemed to be a nice person.
"Several miscalculations caused some deformations on his body," Gerald said in a sad voice. "I probably will never be able to forgive myself for that. Bio may be able to move freely... but everyone else on the ARK thinks he's an ugly monster. I fear I have ruined his life by just bringing him to life."
The lizard grinned at the professor. "It'ssss okay, professsor! I don't blame you. Thossse humanssss jussst don't know how to judge a perssson right." His gaze returned to Pluto. "But I'm sure they will be able to sssee your beauty easssily, my sissster."
Pluto blushed.
"Well, Bio... if you're finished, please take these results to Dr. Johnson. He'll need them for his report."
Bio nodded, scooped up several papers and left the room.
"You will get used to him, eventually," Gerald told his 'daughter'. "He can be scary, but deep inside, he has a golden heart, I know it."
Suddenly, he smiled at Pluto. "Perhaps you're interested in meeting your other sibling?"
"There's someone else?" Pluto asked. Gerald nodded. "Well, I guess it would be polite to introduce myself to him or her."
Gerald laughed. "Oh, he won't be able to talk to you, I'm afraid... but that's okay! You'll see what I mean."
Together, they walked out of the room.
----
Professor Gerald led Pluto through various corridors. Several times, other men or women in lab coats hurried past them, muttering a quick "Good afternoon, professor!" while they were on their way. Sometimes, they also passed some men dressed in what looked like military uniforms. They didn't say anything, but Pluto felt like they were staring at her with grim faces.
"Don't mind the soldiers," Gerald whispered. "They're here to make sure we scientists do our work, and to protect the ARK from intruders. Many of them don't agree with my work, so I fear they won't like you."
Pluto felt afraid. "Will the other people from Earth like me?"
"Of course," Gerald assured her. "The soldiers are forces from GUN - the top military defense force, and they can be kinda rough... but they are the best of the best, I can assure you!"
Suddenly quick footsteps approached them. "Grandfather, grandfather," a high voice shouted. "There you are! I was looking all over the ARK for you."
Gerald turned around, smiling down at the little blonde girl. "Maria, I told you today I was going to finish the new project. Pluto, this is my granddaughter, Maria! Her parents are working for the government, too, but on earth. Maria was born on the ARK, but as her parents don't have the time to take care of her, I'm looking after her. Maria, this is Pluto."
Maria smiled. "Nice to meet you, Pluto! Grandfather told me so much about how happy he was to bring life to you. I hope you like it here."
Pluto smiled back at the nice girl. "Thanks, Maria. I haven't seen much yet, but I believe I will enjoy living here."
Maria nodded, then turned back to the professor. "Grandfather, Chester ran away from me again. Every time I try to make him do his homework, he just sneaks out of the room."
Gerald sighs. "And his mother told me to take care of the little guy... Well, I don't have the time to help search for him right now... Try searching in the leisure room! That's his favorite place."
Maria nodded. "Okay, grandfather. I'll try to find him." She smiled at Pluto. "It was nice meeting you, Pluto. Perhaps we can meet later in our apartment, okay?"
Pluto nodded. She definitely liked the cheerful girl. "Thanks, I'd like to come."
And as Maria left, they continued their way to another room.
The inside looked like one would expect from a high-tech research facility. There were blinking lamps and machines everywhere. And in the middle of the room, Pluto saw some kind of massive tank, filled with a dark green fluid.
And floating in the middle of the tank was... a male black hedgehog.
He looked almost identical to her, but his fur was a pure black, with several crimson red stripes. His eyes were closed.
Gerald put a hand on her shoulder. "This is your brother, Shadow... the Ultimate Life Form, Second Version. He still is not ready to wake up yet, but he will in several days. You were my first great success in my research. I wanted to create a living being that would be able to protect the humans from all peril that may come onto our beloved planet... Bio was the prototype of my research... but as I said, something was still amiss. I took much more precautions when I designed your body. I was very proud when you were ready to open your eyes... the first great success! I expect Shadow to exceed my previous results even further... he probably will be more powerful and pure than you are. Now that you are awake, I can concentrate on making your brother the true Ultimate Life Form... this is my goal!"
Pluto looked at Shadow's unmoving form. "But professor," she said in a small voice. "Isn't it... dangerous of creating something... someone like this? I mean, we're living beings. You can't exactly control us. I know I have no intentions of ever harming you, but how do you know Shadow will be the same?"
Gerald looked at her in surprise, then he laughed. "Don't worry. I will treat Shadow just like I treat you and Bio... as my son. He will live a happy life here on the ARK... I will teach both of you how to control your powers... and you will only have to fight if something or someone threatens the Earth. Have faith!"
Pluto nodded. But when she looked back at the floating form of the black hedgehog, she couldn't help but feel a shiver running down her spine.
