TRTSS5: Spatial Loss! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM and LiS belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi genre story.
Part 3
The glowing, lone saucer-like craft streaks through the vastness of deep space. The occupants aboard this craft ponders how the future may unfold…
"Okay, we are fortunate to have extra crew space," John says, as he shows Ranma and Usagi to their room. "Luckily, we had previously packed extra supplies for crew of the Jupiter-1 mission, so we should have something for you two to wear."
"What's wrong with what I have?" Usagi says, as she twirls around. She was wearing a pink blouse, khaki pants and tennis shoes.
"Nothing, but I seriously doubt you would want to wear those clothes all the time…without washing them."
"Good point."
John turns to Ranma.
"I'm going to put you on as 'Second Officer', Major Saotome," John says. "When we get settled, will come up with a proper crew rotation."
"Some crew," Ranma snorts.
"If there's a problem with that-"
"Oh, naw. It's just that us being 'lost in space' was the last one of the thing I wanted to do. Did you know had JUST gotten season tickets to see the 'Dolphins'?"
"Well, I'm sure you will be able to get a refund when you return to Earth."
"IF we do…"
John turns back towards Usagi.
"By the way, what is the situation with Doctor Smith?"
"We have an understanding," Usagi says. "I'm setting up scheduled check-ins that the good doctor has to adhere to."
"Why wasn't I consulted?"
"I haven't had the chance to develop the actual protocols that I CAN present to you, Professor. I DO want to keep accurate records and all. But in the mean time, the doctor…is loose."
"Can you trust him?"
"No, but what can he do out here? And with all of us around?"
"Good point. Still, I do not want him near any sensitive equipment."
"Understood."
"Oh, that reminds me," Ranma began. "The environmental robot needs to be repaired."
"Can it be fixed?"
"Yes, but I'll need help. I'm strictly a nuts-and-bolts guy. I could use…Doctor Smith's help."
"How can smith help?'
"The environmental robot is rated as a 'AI' model. That's how it is able to make judgment calls without the need of an operator, if need be."
Ranma glances over towards his wife.
"Thanks to Usagi's 'interview' of Doctor Smith, we know that Smith has a talent for AI programming."
"No doubt the reason why B-9 behaved the way it did," John says. "Are there no other options?"
"The options are long time and short time. And considering our present status-"
"We will need as much help as possible, right," John says. "I'll have to have a talk with the good doctor, then. Where is he?"
"I had him confined to one of the open quarters," Usagi says. "I hope you don't mind that."
"No, but let me know what you are going to do BEFORE you do it. Okay?"
"Sure, Professor."
And with that, Professor John Robinson, mission commander of the Jupiter-2, heads off to speak with Smith…
"A little uptight, isn't he?" Usagi quips, as she enters their quarters.
"We would be uptight as well, if you had to deal with a man who tried to kill you and your family," Ranma says, as he closes the door behind them.
"I guess so. But, Ranma…we died before, so it shouldn't be a big deal to us."
"Maybe, but the Robinsons and Don are as fortunate to be like US."
"Yeah…"
Silence.
"Usagi, I still don't understand that who thing with you dying and coming back to life."
"Well, up until the return to LV-426, I was working on research on the racial memories of the Xenomorphs."
"Wait, I thought you were trying to prove your innocence in the destruction of the SS Nostromo?"
"Wayland-Yutani had already knew the truth, but they needed to information on the creatures. I proposed taken samples of the creatures rather than retrieving an entire specimen. But the regulations in transporting dangerous material were obscene. So, I propose using a 'genetic patch' that could store the information on a seemingly harmless strand of DNA, and graft it on a host DNA…harmlessly."
"Don't tell me YOU were going to be…the host?"
"Of course not! I was working on a way to graft the patch on fruit. I realized that the least compatible the host, the better chance of avoiding problems."
"Okay…"
"When it became apparent that I was…going to die, I synthesized a patch with MY genetic material, and patched it into Ripley's genetic structure. She was suppose to have met with Setsuna in order to retrieve my genetic structure to fashion a fully realized clone, but your buddies over in 'Section 31' got involved."
"MY buddies?" Ranma complained. "I didn't even know that Nabiki had a black ops program in acquiring alien technology and biotechnology."
"Well, your girlfriend's little project delayed both delayed my return to the living, and caused me to take on Xenomorphic characteristics."
"Humph."
"But at least when you died, you returned to normal."
"Usagi, my body was destroyed AND reconstituted by the Genesis Wave. If it hadn't been for the fact that we bonded psychically years ago, I wouldn't have memories."
"Well, at least the memories YOU have aren't laced with the memories of an alien predatory species."
"Humph!"
Silence.
"Why are we fighting?" Usagi asked.
"Fatigue, probably," Ranma yawns.
"Oh, Ranma, I was thinking about something…"
"Go on…"
"Should we tell the Robinson's the truth? I mean, the Jupiter-2 is SUPPOSED to be lost in space, at least according to the timeline. Between your connections with the Green Lantern Corp, and my connection with Galactus, there shouldn't be a problem in finding Earth or Alpha Prime."
"Hmmm…"
Silence.
"Usagi, the Jupiter-2 can STILL be lost; there is nothing that says that they have to be lost for TOO long."
"You're right."
"How about this: we help to get everyone to the Alpha Centauri star system within a year, using a variety of means. Deal?"
"Deal-"
Suddenly, a signal could be heard wafting through the public address system.
"Something wrong with the ship again?" Ranma smirks.
"Wait," Usagi says, as she closes her eyes.
"Usagi-?"
"Shhhh!" Usagi replied, as she waved Ranma off. "It's…extraterrestrial."
"How do you know?"
Usagi opened her eyes and stared at her husband.
"Ranma, barring the fact that I am a 'cosmic' being, I was a communications officer aboard the USS Enterprise under Chris Pike…remember?"
"Oh, yeah. What does it say?"
"Not much, but the modulating patterns indicate a beacon. Someone may have set it off during a sensor sweep."
Ranma sighs.
"You know what that means," Ranma says.
"I certainly do."
Usagi pulls out an old fashion, British exploration hat (made for females, thanks to the scarf that was draped on the back of the hat).
"Adventure!" Usagi says with a British accent, a smile and a wink.
TING!
Ranma could only break a big sweat.
"…"
The Saotomes head up to the upper deck, and found Will, his father John and Don at the helm control.
"So, what's up?" Ranma asked.
John glanced in Ranma's direction.
"We picked up a signal after Will gave Don a suggestion on how to pinpoint our home galaxy," John says.
"Usagi thinks that it's an artificial signal," Ranma says.
"You really think so?" Don asked without glancing.
"The wave lengths between signal strength cycles are too regular to be anything but artificial," Usagi says.
John raises an eyebrow but says nothing…
"How do you know this, Agent Saotome?" asked Maureen, as she and her children walk unto the main deck.
"I'm an astronomy enthusiast, as I told Doctor Robinson. More to the point, my minor was in…astrophysics."
"You should have told us earlier that you had a science background," John says.
"Well…considering that I haven't used my minor professionally, I didn't think it warranted a revelation."
"Alright," John says with a nod. "I'll accept your answer for now. For now…Don, take us to the source of the signal."
"John, considering the shape that we're in-" Don began.
"I know, but this could be the only time we have to 'meet' extraterrestrial life."
"Well, I met Superman once at a jamboree last year, and he's suppose to be an alien," Penny says.
"Well, nobody ever considers HIM an alien," Will quip.
"Dad, if we do meet extraterrestrials, if would be wise to check to see if the inoculation vaccines are ready for use," Judy says. "The last thing we want is to bring aboard an alien virus."
"I'll help you," Maureen says. "Plus, I want to get the hand-scanners ready for use…just in case."
"Don?" John asked.
"Alright," Don sighs. "Adjusting course to intercept…"
Although the ship had a nascent FTL technology, it did have a credible sub-light propulsion engine.
Ten minutes later, the Jupiter-2 arrives at what appeared to be an oblong alien vessel of some kind.
"Look at that, Dad," Will says with glee. "It looks awesome!"
"Yes, indeed," John says with a smile.
"Well, the signal is indeed coming from here," Don says.
"Mom, do you think the people inside are…nice?" Penny asked.
"I hope so," Maureen replied. She then turns to John.
"Are you satisfied?"
"Come on, Maureen," John says. "Where's your sense of adventure?"
Usagi was about to say something, but Ranma, with an annoyed expression, shushes his wife.
"My senses are on Alpha Prime…"
"And besides, they might have navigation charts that might be helpful to us."
As the Jupiter-2 circled the vessel, Ranma notices that its rotation was increasing.
"Don, check out your trajectory," Ranma says.
"Alright," Don says, as he redid his calculations. "Wait…this can't be correct."
"What is it?" John asked.
"Our velocity…it's picking up!"
"We're going to collide!"
"We can't break away!" Don says.
John turns to his family.
"Everyone, go to the back of the ship," John commands. "Assume crash-landing position-"
"No, wait!" Ranma says, as he looked over the instruments.
John looked at Ranma sharply.
"The vessel is opening up."
John turns around to see that the Jupiter-2 was being pulled inside the alien vessel.
Ranma turns to Usagi.
"Some adventure, huh?" Ranma smirked.
"I never said it was going to be a fun adventure, Ranma," Usagi replied.
Tbc.