TRTSS 30: His Honor and Duty! – DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, Star Trek, Call of Duty and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 1
When it comes to being a warrior or a soldier, very few can match the exploits of one Ranma Saotome. Ranma never set out to be either one. All he cared about was perfecting his martial arts skills under the watchful eye of his father, Genma. By the time he returned to his native country of Japan at the age of sixteen years, he was certainly one of the best martial artists of his generation. Certainly, he had the capacity to achieve great heights that would border on the absurd, but certainly no less impressive. However, even when returning home, Ranma faced rivals that actually proved that the legends of old could have actually existed. But throughout it all, Ranma maintained a code that stressed to two points.
One, being honorable was more important than life itself.
And, two, it was his duty as a martial artist to defend the weak and helpless.
Sure, Ranma's ego tends to get in the way of his best judgment, and sure he gave too many allowances to those who would abuse him and/or use him. But his belief in his honor and his duties, as a martial artist, kept him sane throughout his rigorous training regime. His belief also kept his company throughout the lonely periods of his life, as well as when he first received a curse that would define his existence for the remainder of his life. And certainly, when he was called to war, whether in ancient times or distant futures, whether the call took place on Earth or in a distant place far, far away, Ranma Saotome did his best to fulfill his duty with honor, and swore that he would never fail in this regard, proclaiming that he would never lose a battle.
Unfortunately, there were some battles that were much harder to fight…
"YAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ranma said, as he woke up screaming in the middle of the night. This caused his wife Usagi to wake up.
"Ranma, calm down!" Usagi said, as she tried to comfort her husband.
Ranma looks around wildly, until the look of recognition could be seen on his face.
"U-Usagi?" Ranma said, as he calmed down.
"It's okay," Usagi said, as she held Ranma in her arms. She hated herself for forgetting about these panic episodes, which occurs every so often around that time of year…
"Baby, you're safe. Darkseid isn't around anymore."
"I…I know," Ranma said with a sigh. "It's just that…I never really resolved what that bastard did me…to us, especially since Orion and Atlanta…is not around anymore. I guess with them, I found the strength to ignore what their father did."
Usagi said with a sigh. She missed her son, Gravyn, who was the youngest of son of Darkseid. In spite of Gravyn's predilections towards authoritarian dictatorships, she still cared for her son, in spite of the things he has done. She had hoped that, one day, Gravyn would become a force for good. Unfortunately, Gravyn would never get that chance when the enigmatic "Infinity Man" assassinated him, as a part of a larger scheme to end the Age of the Fourth World, and thus bring about the new Age of the Fifth World…
Still, it still hurt for a parent to lose a child, something that both Usagi and Ranma have experienced many times before.
"And now, with the kids gone, I'm…I'm losing my focus."
Pause.
"Usagi, how do you do it?" Ranma said, as he looked at his wife.
"Do what?" Usagi replied.
"Darkseid molested and tortured us: me, you, Hoshi and T'Pol, when we were trapped on Apocalypse. He turned us into his minions, made us have his kids. But you…don't seem fazed by it all."
"Ranma, I deal with the hurt by drinking alcoholic beverages," Usagi said with a sigh. "Or by acting out of character, so that I don't have to worry about feeling the pain for what Darkseid did to me…"
Pause.
"But mostly, I overcome my pain by making sure that no one will ever experience what I have. For that, I am willing to carry that burden alone."
"I suppose you're right," Ranma said, as he looks out through the window. He could see the moon high in the night sky. "I guess as long as I feel that Darkseid got away with murder, I'll have these hang-ups."
"Well, maybe you can figure out a way to stick it to Darkseid somehow?" Usagi offered.
"How?" Ranma asked.
"Um, let's see," Usagi said, as she reaches for her "netbook" computer, opens it, and gets on to a secured link. "Hmmm…got it."
Usagi then turns her computer towards her Ranma.
"Who's that guy?" Ranma asked. "He looks like an evil version of Mister Miracle, but with the reverse colors."
"You're half close," Usagi said. "My operatives within the Technocratic Union have been monitoring this guy lately."
"And he is…?"
"He calls himself 'Dr. Impossible'. No one knows who he is, but he fancies himself as some sort of 'New New God'. In fact, he has gone on to recruit others to his cause…"
Usagi touches the screen and a visual directory pops up.
"This is his crew."
"All of them looked like twisted versions of the people we knew," Ranma said.
"They are, in fact, although under different, yet equivalent names."
Ranma examines the faces before him…
"Where are they now?" Ranma asked.
"From what we know, Dr. Impossible's 'New New Gods' have been making various appearances, through Intergang, all over the world," Usagi said. "As to their source of power, we haven't made that determination yet. Still, I know that it'll be a matter of time before we pinpoint the source."
"Huh," Ranma said, as he scratches his head. "Usagi, I want to deal with this myself."
"Well, if that's the case, then I'm coming with you," Usagi replied.
"No, I don't want you involved. I'll set up my team; just provide material support and intelligence."
Pause.
"I want to do this to honor Orion and Atalanta's memory. I don't want some poser using their legacy for personal enrichment."
"Alright, I'll leave it up to you," Usagi said with a sigh. "But remember this: I don't want your name or anyone connected to you to be publically exposed, especially due to our…present line of work.
"Fine, fine," Ranma said dismissively. "Anything else?"
"Yes, since we're up, you can do something for me."
"What?"
"You know," Usagi said, with a mischievous grin. "It's been a while, you know."
"Fine," Ranma said with a sigh, as he switches into his girl form.
"Well, just make it quick," Ranma-onna said, as she leans back.
"Oh, it won't," Usagi said, as she uses her shape-shifting ability to become a male version of herself.
"Now, who's the man THIS time?" Usagi-otoko said with a giggle.
"You are," Ranma-onna said drolly. "To things I have to do to keep a wife happy…"
Two days later…
"Man, that guy is always late," Ranma said, as he leans back to sip his coffee on the patio of 'Café America', a family-owned eatery (his) that was in the middle of Juuban Park. He was waiting for his first recruit for what will be a 'black' operations assignment, while reminiscing the past…
FLASHBACK!
2359 CE: Hathon, Golar Province (Bajor).
Ranma and his team from "Section 31" were on Bajor to give material support to the Shakaar Cell, one of the most prominent paramilitary groups within the Bajoran Resistance Movement. Intelligence reports indicated that the Bajorans were utilizing more brutal tactics, making difficult for the Federation to offer material support, either through Starfleet or through its diplomatic group. However, Admiral Nabiki Kuno, the head of Section 31, felt that it was time to get involved. If nothing else, a series of victories on the Bajoran side would enable the resistance to seek a more nuanced approach in their quest for liberation. Certainly, undermining the Cardassian Union would give the Bajorans the confidence they need to persevere in their struggle for freedom. With that in mind, Ranma and his team were sent to Bajoran to help. Certainly, Ranma was more familiar with the Bajorans, having helped to set up the cell structure of the resistance movement…
On this day, Ranma were meeting at a local bar, where he was getting the last minute details for the assignment at hand: the assassination of Gul Morad Pirak. He and his team were posing as traders, which was how they were able to get down to the planet in the first place, and to Golar Province, since the province was a farming community. Pirak had fifteen farmers, who protested the high taxes being levied against them, executed for not displaying the Cardassian flag. Now, it's payback time.
"Gentlemen, you're here," said Shakaar, as he served drinks at the bar. "You know Nerys…"
"Hey," Ranma said, as he nods his head. "Oh, I know her quite well…"
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Ranma," Kira Nerys said with a slight blush. She had met Ranma years before, when he first visited her world as an observer. In fact, they had been intimate during that time, much to Kira's chagrin. After all, she didn't want to think she was a sell-out by being a 'human lover'.
"Alright, alright," Ranma replied in a feint protest. He then motions to his companion.
"This is my friend Miles O'Brien…"
"Charmed," O'Brien said with a nod. He then looks over at a Cardassian that was keeping watch. "Your 'Cardie' friend. He's he clean?"
"He's legit," Shakaar said. "In fact, he's the one who's been our main point person in intelligence gathering, much to my surprise."
"Well, I still don't trust Cardassians," Kira scoffed. "Besides, I don't care for off-worlders helping a Bajoran cause. No offense."
"None taking," Ranma replied. "So, we're set?"
"We are," Shakaar said, as he hands Ranma a note. "Gul Pirak will be in his compound today. Also, our people will be on hand to provide a distraction for the local Cardassian regiment to handle, while we take on Pirak's guards."
"I still say we should just blow up his compound and be done with it," Kira said.
"No," Ranma said. "The deal is that we limit civilian causalities, in exchange for support. Otherwise: no deal."
"Humph."
"We appreciate the support, Ranma, especially since the end result is the same," Shakaar said.
Just then, the Cardassian look-out hurries to the bar.
"Guys, I think we have been made," said the Cardassian, whose name was 'Silaraan Prin'. Prin was a young, low level administrator who worked for Pirak, and came to be disillusioned with the Cardassian Occupation. Now, he provided information to the local resistance group, the Shakaar Cell, and had managed to gain the Bajoran's trust in the process…
"Great," Ranma said, as he turns to see Cardassian Security forces arriving. "You're sure Prin is legit?"
"I will stake my life on it," Prin said, as he prepares his disruptor.
"You might have to," Shakaar said, as he and Kira prepare themselves for a fire fight. "The moment we act, that's when all hell will break loose."
"I'm just glad that I'll have an opportunity to kill someone," Kira said.
"I'm not," O'Brien replied, as he gets into position…
Just then, Cardassian security enters the establishment.
"Alright, everyone, have your papers ready," said the lead security, as he pushes a female dancer out of the way.
"We don't want any trouble," Shakaar said, as he continued to clean his mugs.
"Then provide your papers, and we might not confiscate this establishment," said the Cardassian. He then turns towards Ranma and O'Brien.
"Where are you two from?"
"We're just traders from the Uncharted Territories," O'Brien replied.
"Yeah, we already went through this with customs," Ranma replied.
"Then you can come with us for verification," said the Cardassian, as he directs his men to take Ranma and O'Brien into custody.
"I don't think so," Ranma said, as he pulls grabs the lead Cardassian's hand, before slamming his knife into it.
"Arrrgh-!" the Cardassian screamed, before Ranma knocks him out with a bottle.
"Man, this day is going to hell in a hand basket," O'Brien said, as he and the others immediately pull out their weapons, and discharged them at the security.
"Alright, we have to fight our way to our transport," Shakaar said, as he took a look at his monitors. His group had managed to tap directly into the Cardassian's surveillance system, which was used to monitor populated centers…
"Okay, O'Brien, stick with Shakaar and Plin," Ranma said, as he sheaths his knife, before getting his untraceable disruptor. "Kira, you're with me. We fight our way through the streets."
"Why do I have to stick with YOU?" Kira groused, as she prepares her sniper rifle.
"Because you look cute when you're fierce," Ranma replied.
"Humph!"
And so begins the fight that would define five people…
END FLASHBACK!
Ranma sensed his first recruit's arrival.
"There you are," Ranma said, as he slowly looks up at his old friend. "What took you so long?"
"Damn it, Ranma," Ryouga Hibiki said, as he sets his pack down. "You call me down from my training journey, just to rib me?"
"Actually, I need your help."
"And that is?"
"We have a person to get rid of, that's what."
"Huh?"
Tbc.
Next Time: Ranma continues to form his team, while remembering an incident in his past. See you then…