SMST: The Hero Initiative – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "Sailor Moon", "Ranma ½", "Star Trek" and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 2
Meanwhile…
"Okay, ladies," Ranma Saotome says, as he goes over his clipboard. At the moment, he and his trainees were on the grounds of New Asgard, located outside the town of Northhome, Minnesota. "As you know, 'Project: Initiative' is a project sponsored by the American government as a preparation tool-"
"Preparation for what, Master Ranma?" asked "Mr. Immortal". The blond "beach boy" adjusted his cowl. As the captain of the so-called "Great Lakes Avengers", his only power was his apparent immortality, as in he cannot be harmed by anything.
"I'm GETTING to that, Mr. Immortal," Ranma replied. He had better things to do that attempt to train a bunch of certifiable losers. Still, it was a challenge he wanted to take on, so…
"Getting to what, Ranma?" asked the indomitable "Squirrel Girl". She had the proportionate abilities of a…squirrel.
"I'm GETTTING to that."
Flatman, who possessed the ability to flatten his body while stretching, was about to raise his hand, but one look from Ranma's face told him to NOT to raise his hand.
"Okay. In light of the fact that there has been evidence of Skrull infiltration in the ranks of the Avengers, I've been giving the task of creating a crack-team of 'Anti-Skrull Hunters'."
"Are you SURE that's necessary, Ranma?" asked Big Bertha. Bertha was a model, a model that had the ability to grow huge…in a plump sort of way. The plus side—no pun intended—was that her strength and endurance increases significantly to superhuman levels.
"I'm afraid so, Miss Crawford," Ranma says. "You guys have been chosen since I don't think even the Skrulls will take you seriously enough to infiltrate."
"Oh."
"So…what training method are you going to use, Mr. Saotome?" asked the African-American "Doorman", who had the ability to create teleportation points.
"Each of you has strengths…and weaknesses. I'm going to admit to you that your reputation of not being taken seriously. However, you guys are NOT lost causes, and if you follow my training regimen…you'll kick arse."
"When does training begins?" asked Mr. Immortal.
"Training starts bright and early."
"But I need to take my beauty sleep," Bertha says.
"Then get to bed EARLY."
Flatman was about to raise his hand again, but sees that Ranma was getting irritated. So, he changes his mind.
"Good night, people, and see you tomorrow morning. Oh, and stay away from the treasure room."
"Why is that?" Squirrel Girl asked.
"The missus and I have a pet dragon named "Siegfried" that guards it, that's why."
"Ooh! Can I play with him? I like dragons!"
"…"
Meanwhile…
BOOM!
Lady Shazam leaped out of the way, as she avoided the full force of Iron Girl's "repulsar beams".
"You're too slow, Antonia," Lady Shazam says. "Even without the power of Shazam, I've learned how to read your movements."
Lady Shazam then twirls her staff.
"Zephryus' Breath!" Lady Shazam calls out, as she produces a strong gust of wind.
FWOOSH!
The concentrated force forces Iron Girl back a bit. However-
"Laser Beam!" Iron Girl says, as lasers shoot out from her armor's vision area.
ZAP!
"Yikes!" Lady Shazam says, as she avoided getting hit at the last second. As a light based attack, the wind would not have any affect on it.
Lady Shazam rolls as she flips to a crouch. She then tapped the ground with her staff.
"Focused Shockwave!"
BAM!
Rocks exploded upward from the ground, shooting shrapnel into Iron Girl, causing her to be knocked off balance.
"Gah!" Iron Girl yelps. She was more surprised than hurt.
"We can do this all day, Antonia," Lady Shazam says.
"But I DON'T have all day, Usagi," Iron Girl, as a large energy cannon suddenly appears on her shoulders while tapping into her own "Extremis" abilities. Having such ability allows one to integrate him or her self into any form of technology, as well as control and move it from anywhere around the world…and from different dimensions (like a "pocket space"). The conditioning process is initially painless, as conversion nanites are fused with the cellular condition. The in result is a degree of durability, not at all dissimilar to the liquid metal "skin" process used in "Project: Wetworks".
The Extremis condition is based upon the principles of the "transmode virus" that changes organic lifeforms into inorganic lifeforms. Employed by the inorganic species known as the "Technarchy (a race of mechanical shapeshifters), this usually means the death of the infected. If the victim manages to survive the process, then he, she or it becomes a "Phalanx". If enough Phalanxes are created, a hive-mind is formed. Then, a Babel Spire is constructed to contact the Technarchy, who, ironically, considers a Phalanx an abomination. Thus, when the Technarchy is contacted, it usually means the end of the planet in question, since the Technarchy not only destroys the Phalanx but the world that the Phalanx is on. Earth did have a Technarchy and Phalanx crisis once, and it was only because of the gene that allows the creation of mutants that prevented the spread of the transmode virus. Interestingly, Usagi and Ranma's experience with the transmode virus in the 24th century would be instrumental in the creation of a third related group: the Extremis. Free from both the Technarchy and Phalanx's need to infect others for sustenance, the Extremis would become the last line to prevent both the Phalanx and the Technarchy from taking over the Earth. Nowadays, the Extremis live within the Alpha Centauri system along with other groups seeking their own destinies…
At any rate, Stark Enterprise was contracted by the American government to see if the Extremis condition could be used for other uses. Before being sent into the future by Usagi, Tony ("Iron Man") Stark has adapted the Extremis condition for his own use. Unfortunately, this went to his head as the proclaimed futurist…with disastrous results. And now, Antonia, Tony's youngest child, is utilizing this condition for her own use…like now.
"You're going to get it NOW, Usagi!" Iron Girl says, as she takes aim.
Lady Shazam was flabbergasted. Although the Ninth Ward of New Orleans was relatively deserted, such a weapon was…overkill.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"When you lose a parent, you want to risk it ALL!" Iron Girl says. "With my 'Uni-Beam', I'll MAKE you bring back my father. FIRE!"
"I got to take this," Usagi says, as she stabbed the ground with her staff.
FWOOSH!
Using her own body as a barrier, Lady Shazam took the brunt of the damage, rather than risk damaging the surrounding area. When the smoke cleared…
"WHAT?" Iron Girl exclaimed, as her Uni-Beam cannon disappears back into pocket space to re-charge.
Singed, but otherwise unharmed, Lady Shazam chuckles.
"Power of Shazam, remember?" Lady Shazam says. She was lucky that Iron Girl, in her quest to get back at her, did not utilize "OMAC" (One Man Army Corp) units, who, if properly used, could cut off her own mana pool with a coordinated attack. Then again, OMAC is under the jurisdiction of "Checkmate"…and Checkmate—a super-secret international governmental oversight organization (modeled after the Hellfire Club system, based upon the game of Chess) that employs human and metahuman agents—is under the watch of the Technocracy. And the Technocratic Union is under HER watch and the Illuminati. And without unanimous approval from the Illuminati, Iron Girl cannot use Brother Eye (a satellite that manages the OMACs, which used the Extremis condition to create armored, one-eyed, Mohawk wearing warriors by the millions) for personal gain.
"But let me end this debate before you cause TOO much problems…"
Lady Shazam bit into her thumb, and used the blood to activate the tattoo on her forearm. She then placed her entire hand unto the ground, causing lines of kanji to spread from underneath her palm to form a circle.
"Summon: Kyodaija no Chiba!"
POOF!
A large, snake appears, as it barrels down on Iron Girl.
"EEEEK!" Iron Girl yelps, as the snake wraps around the superhero. She struggles.
"I…can't move-!"
"That's the whole idea," Lady Shazam says, as she floats over to Iron Girl. She then stuck out her hand, as it took a metallic, inorganic complexion…complete with lines of circuitry.
"You…you have the Extremis condition, too?" Iron Girl says with amazement.
"Well, for the record, I've been an inorganic-type cyborg long before I had gotten the transmode virus. Besides, whom do you think developed the Extremis condition in the first place?"
Lady Shazam begins to interface with Iron Girl.
"But how did you get it?"
"I don't know if you had access to the complete records, but some time in the mid-24th century, I came across Magnus of the Technarchy while on a deep space assignment…"
FLASHBACK!
Captain's Log, Stardate: 46708.26. The Enterpise (D) has been assigned to map a previously closed-off section of space for mapping and exploration purposes. Starfleet Command had discovered that records of this area had been deliberately sealed. And since the sealing of these records occurred sometime BEFORE the founding of the Federation, it was decided that a ship should been sent to investigate before any further actions were to be taken.
"Status, Mr. Saotome," Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands, as he sits back in his seat.
"We've entered the forbidden sector according to the records," Ranma says, as he confirms the ship's trajectory.
"Mr. Data?"
"I am detecting a single planet around a red dwarf star," the android said. "Sensors do not detect life within this star system."
"From the looks of it, I seriously doubt that you'll find life signs on the only planet that is orbiting a red dwarf star," says Commander Will Riker, the First Officer.
The empathic Betazoid Counselor Deanna Troi observes the black planet. For some strange reason, the dark-haired beauty detected a feint life sign…
"Counselor?"
Troi turns to Picard.
"It's probably nothing, but I detect a feint life-sign on the planet below."
"Then it's all the more reason to investigate, don't you agree?"
"I suppose so…"
"Will, assemble your 'Away Team'," Picard says to Riker.
"Yes, sir," Riker says, as he gets up from his post. "Saotome, Data and Worf…you're with me. Bridge to Tsukino."
Down in the Saotome suite, Usagi was getting her young daughter Aikiko ready for school, when she receives the summons from the Bridge.
"Yes, sir?" Usagi says.
"Meet me in Transporter Bay One, Usagi."
"Sure. Tsukino: out."
"Mommy, must you go?" Aikiko says. Aikiko was a seven-year old girl with strawberry blond hair.
"Indeed I do, 'Little One'," Usagi smiles gently. "Besides, don't you have school to go to this morning?"
"Yes…"
"Oh, don't be disappointed, Aiki-chan."
"It's just that I always worry about you."
"Look, I promise I'll be fine. And besides, your father will be there to protect me, okay?"
Aikiko smiles.
"Okay!"
Ten minutes later…
BRRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNNG-!
The Away Team appears on what appeared to field made from…metal.
"Interesting," Riker says, as he takes a look around. "Where did we end up? A junk yard?"
"No, sir," Worf says, as he scans the area. "Every plant is made from…metal."
"A plant made from metal?" Ranma asks.
"There have been species made from silicon," Data says.
"Then we shall determine if THAT is indeed the case," Riker says. He then turns to his designated Medical Scientist. "Usagi?"
"I'm ready to conduct field tests if necessary-"
"No, I was about to mention that you don't need to wear THAT uniform anymore."
Usagi was still wearing the one-piece skirt that showed a lot of thigh. Although she was the ship's researcher, her medical background allowed her to do field medicine…especially since Chief Medical Officer Dr. Beverley Crusher's recent replacement, Dr. Katherine Pulaski, didn't want to do field work.
"Commander, I won't complain about that new beard of yours…if you don't complain about my choice in uniforms."
"Touché."
As the conversation goes on, an alien presence stirs…
"SO…YOU'VE RETURNED, MOON PRINCESS," the consciousness says to himself. "THOUGH YOU AND YOUR CONSORT HAVE WEAKENED ME, I AM FAR FROM DEFEATED."
Tbc.
