SMST: Hero Initiative – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "Sailor Moon", "Ranma ½", "Star Trek" and other creations belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: This story takes place between the "2008" story ARC and the "2009" segment. It also serves as a sequel to "SMST: Hero Unlimited" and "SMST: Hero Unlimited Next". Enjoy!
Extra note: "Sailor Moon ST and Ranma Trek's 52 Worlds Update"-
Earth 0: The Earth that the SMST and RT story takes place.
Earth 1: Manga Sailor Moon and Ranma canon.
Earth 2: Anime Sailor Moon and Ranma canon.
Earth 3: The Sailor Scouts and Nerima Wrecking Crew as villains.
Earth 4: Dubbed anime versions of Sailor Moon and Ranma canon (i.e. "North American" versions of the characters).
Earth 5: Naru Osaka as "Sailor Moon"; the Tendo sisters going on the ten-year training journey instead of Ranma.
Earth 8: Queen Beryl defeats the Sailor Scouts; Saffron defeats Ranma at Jusendo.
Earth 10: Axis Powers won WW2, resulting in Usagi and Ranma serving whole-heartedly at the pleasure of Imperial Japan.
Earth 13: Live action version of Sailor Moon, resulting in the creation of a cruel "Princess Sailor Moon" and evil "Sailor Mercury".
Earth 17: Miroku versions (i.e. "La Blue Girl") of the Sailor Scouts, called "The Sexy Scouts", fighting a guerilla-style battle against the demons, monster and dark magi that have taken over the planet. Ranma is the heir of the hentai version of the Musabetsu Kakuto.
Earth-18: Tokugawa Era Ranma and Usagi.
Earth-21: Ranma and Usagi's story as it begins following World War II.
Earth-22: Usagi and Ranma coming out of retirement to deal with a cynical and more dangerous version of themselves (i.e. the next generation of the Sailor Scouts and NWC).
Earth-26: Cartoon animal versions of Usagi and Ranma, as well as the rest of the human population.
Earth-34 is the Victorian-era versions of Ranma and Usagi (i.e. Meiji Restoration period).
Earth-48: Earth filled with clones of Ranma (both forms) and Usagi, all of which take up the role of people found on Earth-0 (i.e. an "Akane Tendo" who looks like Usagi).
Earth-50: Cyber-punk/Goth versions of world, as well as of Ranma (also known as "Injustice") and Usagi…both of whom live in the era known as "The Age of Steel".
And Earth-51, Usagi and Ranma are ordinary people with no special abilities.
I won't be as extensive when I update my list. Anyway, until next time…
Part 4
Meanwhile…
"So…what is the verdict, Dr. Tofu?" Akane Tendo says, as she waited for the test result while sitting in the office of her old friend (and family physician).
Dr. Tofu Ono goes over the lab results one more time. He then looks at his fiancée Kasumi, and then returned his gaze towards his would-be sister-in-law.
"Mrs. Tendo-"
"Please, Dr. Tofu," Akane says. "We're family…or we'll soon to be family."
Ranma—Akane's husband—took Akane's name for himself, so that he could not only keep his life with Usagi separate, but also to give his daughters Natsumi and Karume a sense of family pride…since their last names were "Tendo" as well.
"Heh, right," Tofu says. "I tend to stay formal when I tell my patients good news."
"You mean-?"
"Yes. Congratulations, Akane…you're expecting."
"Oh, Akane!" Kasumi says, as she hugs her younger sister. "Mother and Father would have been SO proud of you!"
"I…I guess so."
"What's wrong?"
"It's just that with Ranma having…children nearly all over the place, I wonder if my child will be lost in the shuffle. I mean, how could my children compete with Usagi's for instance? Two of them are daimyo, for goodness sake!"
"If I may recommend something," Tofu begins evenly. "Perhaps you should have this conversation with Ranma? I know him well enough to WANT to spend time with all of his children, especially since he can create multiple versions of himself."
"I guess so…"
"Akane, we should all go out to dinner to celebrate this joyful occasion," Kasumi says.
"I can't," Akane says. "I have monitor duty aboard the Justice League satellite. But I am free for Sunday."
"Okay, then," Kasumi says as she smiles. "But promise me that you'll be careful, okay?"
"I promise."
"Are you going to tell your colleagues about your pregnancy?" Tofu asked.
"Not yet, but I will."
"Okay, but I don't want to risk your baby's health. Just promise me that you'll take it easy."
"I will, Doctor."
"Please…call me 'Tofu'."
Akane smiles.
"I will."
A short time later, Kasumi escorts Akane to the entrance of the clinic.
"Have you thought of possible names for your baby?" Kasumi asks.
"Well, if it's a girl, then I'll name her after Mom," Akane says. "But if it's a boy, then I was thinking of 'Kenma'."
Kasumi frowns.
"What is it, Kasumi?"
"Why not name your son after Father?"
"Because Dad is still alive, remember? He's just stuck in the future."
"Oh, that's right."
Meanwhile…
"She's in here, ma'am," says a military guard.
"Thank you, Sergeant," Usagi says, as she sees the reason why she arrived at the maximum-security prison known as "The Village", whose true location was unknown except for a few (like the Illuminati for instance). It was here that intelligence agents were deposited when they are proven to be too dangerous to be allowed into the general population. Generally, the place is operated like a resort—even looks like one—but, on occasion, an unruly inmate is taken "out back" to be disciplined. And due to the fact that it is a maximum-security prison of the highest order, the guards and administration are typically drawn from the ranks of special operations and national security units…
"You may leave," Usagi says.
"But ma'am, I have strict orders to monitor all activity within the lower-levels, as prescribed by the protocols of 'Checkmate'-"
"And I happen to outrank 'Checkmate'," Usagi says, as she shows her identification privileges. "I have 'Omega' clearance in virtually every EU and NATO member intelligence and security organizations, not to mention Japanese and Chinese clearances, and I've just got my clearance in the GRU ("Main Intelligence Directorate, which deals in matters of Russian Military Intelligence), SVR ("Foreign Intelligence Service") and the FSB ("Federal Security Service"). You CAN verify my credentials if you want, Sergeant."
Now, why would someone like Usagi Tsukino, the once and future "Sailor Moon", would want to work for the same people she had "competed" against during the Cold War, when she was with Task Force X? The answer was that when the world goes to Hell in a few years, Usagi would need to have both a plan and resources ready to lessen the devastation that was about to come down. Besides, it wasn't the first time that she or Ranma had direct dealings with "the enemy"…
FLASHBACK!
The arid skies did little to comfort Ma Ran, who stopped to play his violin on a dune near the outskirts of the Gobi desert. For weeks now, the People's Republic of China's "State Council" has been pushing for the development of the atomic bomb, as a means of countering American influences, hence the search for an adequate testing site. Now Ran knew that China's into the so-called nuclear club would, in the end, amount to nothing. According to his own memories of the history of Earth's 20th and 21st century eras, the next global war would not bring China into the fray, though a misunderstanding between the then-Soviet Union and China—which cost the lives of millions of Chinese—in the 1980s could have been a lot worse. In fact, the Eastern powers would become the center of economic and political power, by the simple virtue of staying clear of the Gulf War, the Eugenics War and Global Civil War of the 1990s.
And the wars that would occur in the 21st century would force China to ally with the rest of the world after aliens and anarchy nearly plunged the world in a prolonged "Second Dark Age" (known commonly as the "Post-Atomic Horror" in popular circles.
Ma Ran's only reason for working with the Chinese was two-fold. One, he wanted to pay a penance for the trouble that his son Genshin, and his "Black Dragon Society" had caused, when they pushed Japan into starting a global war. And, two, he wanted to protect the interests of the Joketsuzoku and the rest of the inhabitants of the Bayankala mountain region of Qinghai Province, in western China. He had seen what the PRC was willing to do to any resistance to the central authority—like the Tibetans—and Ran, or Ranma, didn't want those people to suffer. Well, maybe Herb and Saffron should be the exception, but Ranma definitely did not want innocents harmed-
"Brother Ran! Brother Ran!" says Hong, as he scampers up the dune.
Ranma stops his playing his violin. As soon as he helps get the foundation for the hard water reactor up and running, he'll return to Peking to pick up his wife Usagi. Unlike him, Usagi was "undercover" for the Americans as one of many secretaries dedicated in deciphering the plans on how to build an atomic weapon. Apparently, the central committee realized that the Russians were jerking them around with only "drops" of technical input, as their way controlling PRC policies. Hopefully, when Dr. Deng Jiaxian comes out to inspect the testing site that the military has chosen, Usagi will be there with him…
"Yes, Brother Hong?" Ran replies.
"Important people are coming!" Hong says. "And the commander wants YOU to play for him and his guests!"
Ranma was tempted to say that the commander of their expeditionary force should "sit and spin". One of the saddest things that Ranma will have to deal with is the knowledge that many people involved in this project will die of cancer caused by exposure to radiation.
"I'm on my way…"
Later that night, Ranma plays a classical Chinese opera piece for the big wigs. When he finishes playing his tune, he receives a standing ovation. He could see Usagi trying to remain demure in the face of being around the so-called "big wigs". Still, he could tell that Usagi was proud of his performance.
"Brilliant," says the chief regional inspector. "I did not know that one could find such an oasis in this vast desert of ours."
"Where did you study?" asked the commander.
"Canton, sir," Ranma replied. "My family was involved with the local opera house there."
This was true, since it was here that Ranma and Usagi sponsored the opera company that would go to the United States in 1940. One such member, Lee Hoi-Chuen and his wife Grace would bring forth into the world a legendary figure: Jun Fan, otherwise known as Bruce Lee.
"Feh," says the commander. "I wish our people would use the proper name of 'Guangzhou'…"
Later that night, the Saotome couple dance to the tune of "Isn't it Romantic" as rendered by the Glenn Miller Band on an old, word record player. They danced in one of the secluded tents in the area, using various techniques to keep their activities on the down low.
"Well, mister," Usagi says, as she held her husband close, "you've certainly seem excited to see me."
"Because you are my wife, that's why," Ranma replied, as he slowly twirled Usagi around. "Otherwise, why would I yearn for your presence?"
"Oh, I would LIKE to think that there is more to be than my good looks. Let's find out…"
And with that, the couple closes the gap between them with an embrace and a deep kiss…
That night, while on guard duty, the soft sounds of loving making could be heard. One of the guards, out of curiosity, look into one of the tents to see Dr. Deng's secretary with one of the workers. He was about to charge into the tent, when-
"Hey, buddy," says Hong, who goes up guard. "Want to drink?"
The guard was torn. He wanted to impress the central committee by reporting on this improper behavior, but he SO missed a good bottle of sake.
"Sure, Hong," the guard says.
The Saotome couple secretly thanked Hong for his timing. In fact, Ranma would bring Hong and his family with him to Hong Kong, when he finally leaves China. It would be the same Hong whose daughter would marry a Japanese man, and it will be HER who would bare a son…who would grow up to be the Rantsu clan's chief retainer Hong ("Blacky") Takamura.
END FLASHBACK!
"Um, yes, ma'am," the guard says, as he scampers off.
Usagi nods her head in satisfaction, as she turns to the task at hand.
"Katrina," Usagi says simply. She knew her father very well during the so-called "Golden Age" of superheroes. Back then, Alan Armstrong was known as "Spy Smasher", the first official counter-intelligence agent who became a mystery man during WW2.
Katrina Armstrong turns her head to face her former mentor. The blond beauty with the stern looks was sitting on her cot with her knees to her chin.
"I wondered if you had abandoned me, Usagi," Katrina complained.
"Don't blame ME for your faults," Usagi countered. "You asked me for advice on what not to do with the Birds of Prey, and you did the opposite, all because of your ego."
"Humph," Katrina replied. "It was Barbara's fault that her operatives turned on me."
"Really?" Usagi says, as plops down a previously classified Russian document. "According to this, you actually shot a possible terrorist, rather than turn him over to the authorities. Your MISSION was to prevent this suspect from utilizing Tora Olafsdotter from becoming a weapon for a rogue element. And you were given this mission by ME because I consider Tora and her people to be family."
Tora was the costumed superhero named "Icemaiden" (or simply "Ice"). Originally from Norway, Tora was from a tribe of "lost" Norsemen who still worship their gods. As royalty, Tora was granted Ice Magic and superhuman abilities (including flight). She had first joined the globally minded "Global Guardians" before joining the Justice League International. During her tenure, she had briefly been killed by the alien "Overmaster", and was later found revived in one of the Russian "breakaway" republics. Having learned of this, Usagi assigned Katrina to retrieve Tora with the help of the Birds of Prey. Unfortunately, Katrina's arrogance, coupled with her past rivalry with Barbara Gordon (the original "Batgirl" and the present "Oracle"), proved to be Katrina's undoing, when Barbara challenged Katrina's authority in one-on-one combat…before being booted out of the Birds.
"Your problem is that you take your job TOO seriously."
""What?" Katrina screams. "But we're trying to protect the free world!"
"Yes, protect it, not protect it while carrying a personal grudge! You have to take your ego out of the equation, and look at your job in a greater context, Kat."
"Humph!"
Silence.
"Look, I'm here to offer you a second chance, but you will have to be on MY leash for a while. I owe you that much at least."
Usagi stands up, as she plops down another file, titled "Project: Initiative".
"You'll find everything that you need to know in that file, Kat."
Katrina looks at the file.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you get to stay here in the Village. Checkmate will make sure of THAT."
Interesting thing was that not even Checkmate—and their sister organization known as the World Advisory Council—knew that they were being controlled by the Technocratic Union, which, in turn, was controlled by the Illuminati.
"Well, I can't argue that, now, can I?"
Meanwhile…
"Hello, Sailor Diana," the Martian Manhunter says, as he inputs the last of his data.
Sailor Diana, who was already nervous from taking the transporter to the satellite, since she was with child, jumps at the sound of Manhunter's voice.
"Oh, it's you," 'Diana says. "But…am I speaking to R'ei or to J'onn?"
"Both actually," 'Manhunter says. "However, if you feel more comfortable with my R'ei persona…"
The Martian shape-shifts into Sailor Mars.
"Is that better for ya, Akane?" 'Mars asks. Whenever the Martian shape shifts his forms, he can develop a distinct personality, especially since Martians were asexual in nature. In fact, it is not uncommon for his people to intermingle with native species in the fullest.
"Um, yeah, thanks," 'Diana says nervously.
"Is there something the matter?" 'Mars asks with concern. "Is it Usagi again? If it is, let me know, and she and I are going to have a NICE talk."
It was not uncommon for Usagi and R'ei to fight…about anything. It wasn't that the two hated each other…far from it. However, they have been romantic rivals in the past, and R'ei typically tries to make Usagi cry. Even though Usagi is arguably one of the most power individuals on the planet, her sensitivity tends towards criticism has always been a weakness for her.
"It's not that. It's just that…well, I'm expecting."
SWISH!
"Really?" The Flash says excitedly, as he seemingly appears in front 'Diana.
"DO YOU MIND?" yelled 'Mars. "WE'RE HAVING A PRIVATE CONVERSATION HERE!"
"Well, gee, J'onn…I didn't know it was that time of the month."
Just then, Flash feels a since of dread…
BAM!
"You JERK!" 'Diana yelled as she lowered "Mallet-sama".
"Well, he had it coming," 'Mars says.
"Oy," Flash manages to say, as he struggles to get up…from within the deck.
"But you HAVE to be careful," 'Mars says. "You are pregnant, you know."
"I guess. Um, when will you do your next fire reading?"
Only as Sailor Mars can the Martian be immune from the psychological effects of fire…though being R'ei H'no (or Reye Hino) means sacrificing much of her Martian heritage every time she assumes the Rey Hino form.
"Well, we can do one now," 'Mars says. "I had a Shinto shrine built on the upper decks."
"Neat!" 'Diana says excitedly. "Let's go."
"Flash, can you keep an eye on things for a minute?" 'Mars asks.
"Uhhhhh…"
"I take that as a 'yes'. Come, let's get this over with."
And with that, the two Sailor Scouts leave the monitoring room. However, had they stayed, they would have learned that a spatial anomaly was brewing…
Tbc.
