TRTSS15: Thanks for the Memories!
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special: This is a semi-retelling of the movie and OAVs of the Ranma ½ series. Enjoy!
Part 2: "The Not-So-Dirty Half-Dozen"
"We're doing the best we can to attend to Commodore Saotome's needs," said CMO Dr. Julian Bashir, as he, Princess Sasami of Jurai, and the Juraian Ambassador Princess Nodoka walk out of Ranma's private Sickbay room. Ever since Ranma had gotten into what appeared to be a coma, Captain Kira Nyres had Station Security Chief Kiima initiate the necessary protocol to insure Ranma's safety. With the Alpha Quardant in a state of political flux, and with plenty of people around with a reason to get revenge on the heroes of the Federation Alliance-Dominion War, no chance was taken in keeping Ranma safe, while he was still unconscious…
"I do not doubt your skills, Doctor," Nodoka said with a slightly stern expression. "As a representative of Jurai, Commodore Saotome's welfare is a matter of importance to us."
Pause.
"And as his mother, I want to see him get better.'
"Doctor, just do your best," Sasami said gently. "I trust you with my husband's life."
"I do thank you for the vote of confidence, Madam," Bashir said. "But what is perplexing about Commodore Saotome's case is that there is nothing physiologically wrong with him. In fact, even if Commodore Saotome were a typical human male, he would still be a fine specimen. He would be an example of someone at the peak of his physical prime…and perhaps beyond."
"Well, my son does have good genes," Nodoka said proudly.
"If there is anything that we or the rest of Jurai can do-" Sasami began to say.
"No, you have already provided my staff with plenty of information of Commodore Saotome's medical history, as it pertains to his Juraian heritage," Bashir said. "So, thank you for that."
"It's our pleasure, Doctor," Sasami said with a gentle smile.
Bashir then turns to Nurse Lt. Kodachi Kuno Crusher, who was on watch that evening.
"Nurse, be sure to continue to monitor Commodore Saotome's vital signs," Bashir said.
"Of course, Dr. Bashir," Kodachi said, as she prepares to retrieve the medical data on Ranma…
"Excuse me," Nodoka said, as she stepped forward.
"Yes, ma'am?" Kodachi replied, as she turns to face the Juraian ambassador.
"You look familiar to me," Nodoka said. "Are you one of my sons fiancées?"
"Former, ma'am," Kodachi said with a smile, as she showed her ring hand, which indicated that she was married.
"A pity…"
"Actually, Commodore Saotome was the one who introduced me to my husband."
"Oh! Then all is well, then. Nice meeting you."
"The same."
Sasami smiles, as she turns to the floating wood logs, which hovered close to assigned security personnel.
"Azaka!" Sasami said. "Kamidaki!"
"Yes, Mistress?" said the floating logs, as they floated to Sasami.
"We will return to our quarters," Nodoka said.
"Of course, Mistress!" said the two floating logs in unison.
And soon, the Juraian party leaves Sickbay.
"Commodore Saotome's mother is scary," Bashir said as he relaxed.
"You should have known her when Commodore Saotome was growing up," Kodachi said, as she jot down some notes on her PADD. "She doesn't carry the family sword now, but when the Ambassador did, she could kill you with it in a blink of an eye…and usually for the slightest insult to family honor. In fact, I heard that Ambassador Nodoka had threatened to use it on Commodore Saotome if he failed to be a man amongst men."
"Oh, dear," Bashir said. "And because of Commodore Saotome's 'unique' outlook-"
"Precisely. Still, I assume that the Commodore satisfied the Ambassador's definition of 'man amongst men', since he is still with us."
"And thank goodness for that…"
A few hours later, Kodachi looked towards a still sleeping Ranma Saotome…who appeared to be resting comfortably. She looks at her PADD, taps a few buttons, and goes over towards her old friend.
"Heh," Kodachi giggled to herself, as she props Ranma's head on pillow. "After all this time, I have you where I want you, but I had to be married when that happens. Sigh…"
As Kodachi makes Ranma more comfortable, Ranma's eyes suddenly opened.
Kodachi notices this.
"Hello, Ranma-sama," Kodachi said pleasantly. "How are you feeling-?"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-!"
Meanwhile, somewhere on the Promenade…
"That's shameful that you'd place a bet on the Commodore's life, Quark," said Commander Pert, the commanding officer of the USS "Valiant", as she sat at the bar in Quark's.
"Why so defensive, Commander?" said the Ferengi bartender said with a grin. "Is it because you are one of his fiancées?"
"Feh," Pert scoffs, as she took a sip of her drink.
"Uncle, Commodore Saotome is a celebrity in the Alpha Quadrant," Lt. Nog said the Quark. "And this is besides being a war hero. Can you imagine what would happen, if something happens to him?"
"You don't understand me, nephew,' Quark said. "My bet is on a sure thing."
"In context?" Pert asked.
"I know to bet on Commodore Saotome's recovery."
"How noble of you-"
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-!" Ranma yells, as he screams down the Promenade, causing everyone to stare at him.
"…"
Just then, Kiima peaks her head into the bar.
"Pert, I need a little assistance," Kiima replied.
"Is Captain Tsukino back from the Gamma Quadrant?" Pert asked.
"No."
"Then I guess it's serious," Pert said, just before she finished her drink. "Quark, thanks."
And, with that, Starfleet officer follows Kiima.
Meanwhile, Ranma was running scared. First, he saw a slightly older Kodachi hovering over him. He quickly left to see Kiima entering his room, apparently attracted by his initial scream. With a fake, Ranma ran down some sort of large hall filled with humans, humans with wrinkled noses and strange-looking creatures.
"Where the hell am I?" Ranma said, as he looks around wildly. "Where is Akane-?"
"Sir, please halt!" said two men, who were dressed in the same type of jumpsuits that Kiima and Kodachi wore. However, part of their uniform had the same color trim as Kiima did. They also seemed to have their hands on their hips.
"Sir, you have to calm down, and wait for Commander Kiima-"
"'Commander', huh?" Ranma scoffed. "What happened to the Phoenix Folk?"
"Back on Earth, sir," Kiima said, as she and Pert slow their movements to confront their superior officer.
"'Sir'? What's this sir junk?"
Ranma then notices Pert's presence.
"So, you're end on it, too, eh Shampoo?" Ranma said.
"'Shampoo'?" Pert said.
"You're hairstyle is different, and you seem to be speaking correctly, but you are Shampoo!"
"Sir, my name is 'Pert', commanding officer of the USS 'Valiant'," Pert said. "And it appears that you're not well."
"Me not well?" Ranma said incredulously. "What is this place? AND WHERE IS AKANE?"
'Akane'?" Kiima thought to herself. She hadn't have heard THAT particular name in a while…
"If I have to bust some heads around here to get some answers around here, then that's what I am going to do-"
WHACK!
THUNK!
Xian Pu looks down to see to make sure that Ranma was okay. She had heard
"He'll be okay," Xian Pu said with a sense of self-satisfaction.
"Great-grandmother, was that necessary?" Pert said, as she knells besides Ranma.
"Probably not, but considering the fact that 'son-in-law' is obviously not well…"
"Agreed," said Captain Kira, as she, Counselor Ezri Dax and Dr. Bashir arrived at the scene. "This is especially true considering the fact that the Commodore has until a week before he officiates that wedding between two of the most important Klingon Houses on Q'onos,"
Kira turns towards Kiima.
"Commander, did the Commodore say anything unusual?" Kira asked.
"Only that he wanted to know where 'Akane' was," Kiima said.
"Hmmm…"
***
"Are you going to help or not?!" Akane yells. She was asking her and Ranma's rivals if they wanted to help her get back Ranma, starting with Ukyo Kuonji at her okonomiyaki shop.
"You better stop yelling at me, Akane…if you know what's good for you!" Ukyo said angrily. "You're the one who LOST HIM in the first place!"
"Akane, Ukyo, calm down," Ryouga said, as he interceded between the two girls. "I don't like the idea of retrieving Ranma from China either, but I'm willing to do this thing as a favor for Akane."
"Fine. If I do help, it's for Ranchan's sake, not YOURS."
"Fine by ME," Akane groused.
Ukyo sighs as she gets her mind right.
"Okay, so, let me get this straight. Some prince name Kirin is the leader of a band of martial artists called the 'Seven Lucky Gods'. He came here with the express purpose of finding the one who was to be his wife, since she carried half a scroll of a fabled martial arts technique, a technique that is said to be powerful enough for the possessor to rule the world."
"Yes, that's what the Old Man said," Ryouga said.
'Hmmm,' Ukyo thought to herself. 'If I can get that scroll, I could become more powerful than Akane and those other floozies…'
"That's why I'm trying to get together people who can help me rescue Ranma," Akane said. "Ryouga is on board, Upperclassman Kuno, me, and now you."
"Do not forget US, Akane," said a familiar voice from behind.
Akane, Ryouga and Ukyo turn their attention towards the entrance of Ukyo's shop, "Uchan's".
"What are YOU two doing here?" Ukyo asked.
"Funny, I was going to say the same thing," Akane said.
"Kitchen Destroyer and friends need help to find Kirin," Shampoo said.
"And we can help," Mousse replied, as he adjusts his glasses.
"Why would WE need your help?" Ryouga said. "I know how to get there, thank you very much."
"And get lost in process, thanks to your lousy sense of direction, Hibiki," Mousse said.
"Humph!"
"Kirin comes from China, in the Bakalayna Mountains," Shampoo said. "OUR home is there in the valley."
"All of you will fail to find Kirin's castle quickly," Mousse said. "Personally, I could care LESS about Saotome, but Shampoo does."
"That is right! Shampoo cares more about 'airen' than you do!"
"Not more than ME, honey," Ukyo said. "I didn't give up womanhood, so that I can chase Ranchan to Nerima for nothing, you know."
Akane thinks for a moment…
"Akane?" Ryouga said, as he faces the youngest Tendo sister. "It's your call."
Akane thinks for a moment…
"Fine, let's do this."
"Kitchen Destroyer thinks for a change," Shampoo said with a smirk. Secretly, she hoped that Ranma would see Akane fail in her rescue attempt, and thus prove herself worthy of Ranma's affections…
Meanwhile, Mousse was thinking that if Ranma needed to be rescued by Akane, only then it would prove that Shampoo was not good enough for him.
"HEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEE!" Mousse and Shampoo giggled, causing the others to break out in sweat.
"…"
"So, Akane, how are we going to go to China?" Ukyo asked.
"Yes, isn't Kuno rich or something?" Ryouga asked.
"Well, Kuno said that he had access to his family boat: the SS 'Subdragon 5'," Akane said.
"Sounds impressive," Ukyo said.
"I guess Kuno has SOME good points after all…"
A few hours later…
"Yeah, this is REAL impressive!" Ukyo groused while Kuno directs everyone, save for his beautiful Akane Tendo, to row a large dinghy in the middle of the Sea of Japan. Meanwhile Akane gets to steer the dinghy's rudder.
"Onward!" Kuno yells, as he points towards their destination: Nekeron, China. "Row! Forward! Let's go-!"
"As soon as we get to dry land, I'm going to hit him," Ryouga growled.
"Don't do it," Mousse said. "We might be able to use him as bait against the Seven Lucky Gods…"
Akane smiles, as she relaxes a bit. At least she gets to relax a bit during this phase of the trip.
"Why Kitchen Destroyer smiling?" Shampoo asked angrily.
"Oh, just thinking about that idiot Ranma," Akane said.
"Humph!"
Tbc.