Star Trek: The Return of Ranma Saotome7 – By DS Wynne

Disclaimer: "Ranma ½" and "Star Trek" belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is an alternate, crossover story.

Special note: Usagi ("Sailor Moon") Tsukino does NOT appear in this story. FYI.

Part 7: "A Rose by Any Other Name, Act 2"

"How is she?" Captain Picard asked Dr. Crusher. At the moment, Quartermaster Hana Kuonji is in Sick Bay, having been attacked by some vampire-like creature.

"Hana will be fine," Dr. Crusher says, as the red-haired continued her readings. "She's just resting."

"Keep me informed of her prognosis, doctor."

"Okay. Oh! Can you get a recording of Will's fight with the Klingon ambassador for me? I would go down to the holodeck myself, but I have too much work to do."

The bald Frenchman smiled.

"Certainly."

Down at the Holodeck 4, a fight was being commenced.

"Well, Commander Riker," Ambassador Tatewaki Kuno sneered, as he stretched his limbs, "Would you concede to the Great Tunder of Q'uonos?"

William Riker glanced over to his audience members. The holodeck was designed to resemble a typical Japanese dojo. Sitting against the wall was the android Data, Security Chief Pert, Yeoman Hibiki, Counselor Deanna Troi and Ensign Saotome; rooting for the Klingon Ambassador was Kodachi, Tatewaki's younger sister.

"Oh, be careful with my beloved, Big Brother!" the Black Thorn pleaded.

Deanna gave the half-Klingon a jealous stare, which surprised some people.

"Counselor Troi," Data began, "Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing, Data," Troi replied. "I am…fine."

Pert merely looked at this exchange and shrugged. She was still sorting her feelings on the matter between herself and the First Officer.

"I'm ready," Riker said, as he finished his own stretches. He was dressed in a standard karate "gi". Thanks to the physical regimen Riker went through, he appeared much younger and nimble.

"Good," Kuno said, as he got into a fighting stance with his "bat'leth". A bat'leth is a bladed weapon that the user uses its curvature to flow into an opponent. The Klingon ambassador is known to have an impressive fighting record, both as a sparer and a combatant. "Would you like to have a weapon?"

"No, no thanks," Riker said. "My…style eschews the use of weapons in most cases."

Kuno nods in understanding.

Ensign Genko Saotome steps forth. As the designated referee of the match, she would make sure that the fight between the Klingon and her "son" went smoothly.

"Nothing short of a submission or a knock-out will end this match," Genko says. "Begin!"

Kuno charged forward, thinking to take Riker in surprise. Riker was taken aback a bit, not realizing how much faster this particular Klingon was compared to his old friend Worf. He quickly recovered, and ducked a would-be blow. Riker forced his attention away from Kuno's blade, and zeroed on Kuno's feet. With a glint in his eye, Riker countered Kuno's attack with a leg sweep. Kuno, being a master of Klingon martial arts, leaped over Riker, rolled, landed on his feet, and twisted just enough to take swipe of Riker's head.

"Will!" Deanna cried, as she got up. Pert placed her hand on Deanna's shoulder, in an attempt to reassure her.

Riker, sensing the action, rolled forward to a standing position, and turned around to face Kuno.

Kuno smiled, as he twirled his bat'leth. He then charged forward, swinging his weapon. Riker ducked and weaved the attack. However, even though Kuno missed, Riker could feel his flesh being torn.

"Wow," Pert said, as she observed the fight. "Kuno's attack is creating enough pressure to extend his damage."

"Data?" Deanna asked.

"Confirmed," Data says. "Apparently, the ambassador has the ability to extend his aura to increase his attacks' damage."

"Is that possible?"

"There are some species that can emit such things."

Meanwhile, in Riker's head, there was another battle taking place…

Riker, you got to change into ME.

No, I can't, Riker thinks. I got to do this.

Then…we'll loose for sure…unless…

What are you thinking?

Let's work as ONE. Let's do this for Deanna, Riker?

Yeah, let's do this for her.

With that, a meeting of the minds was met…

Back in the real world, the battle between Kuno and Riker continued…

"Well, Riker?" Kuno said mockingly.

Kuno noticed a considerable shift in Riker's demeanor. He appeared to be more confidant in him self.

"Well, it looks like Riker will win after all," Ryouga Hibiki smirked.

Pert takes a look at Ryouga and then at Riker.

"Yep, you're right."

Deanna looks at Pert, and then at Riker. She could practically feel the overwhelming sense of confidence coming from her "imzadi".

Tatewaki Kuno charges again. However, upon the first swing, Riker clasped the blade with his palms, and wrench the weapon from the ambassador.

"Now, we do it my way," Riker says, as he tossed the bat'leth away. He then pressed his attack forward, delivering one blow after another. Kuno was on the defensive now, trying to dodge and weaved. However, after a feint, Riker delivered an upper-cut that sent the Klingon ambassador sailing up and over. He then landed in a heap, apparently having been knocked unconscious.

"The winner is…Commander Riker!" Genko says.

Riker was huffing. All of his hard work paid off.

Just then, Captain Picard enters the holodeck.

"Um…did I miss the fight?"

A short time later…

"Mmmm," Riker says, as he was getting a back-rub from Deanna. The two were sharing a bath together in Troi's room.

"I hope that you like it," Deanna replied.

"I do."

"Will, do you consider it…cheating when there are three people in a relationship?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, with you sharing your body with Ranma and all…"

"Oh. Look, we're friends…VERY good friends in fact. If you want to get to know Ranma in that way…go for it."

"Thank you, Will."

And with that, the two continued to share an intimate moment.

In a secluded section of the ship, Nodoka takes out a special package from a crate.

"Excellent," Nodoka says, as she observed the pail. "With this pail and ladle, I'll have my son Ranma back for good!"

The next day, a special ship from Betazed docks at McKinley Station, where the Enterprise-D was being docked for repairs.

"Oh, my darling daughter!" Ambassador Laxwanna Troi said, as she hugged her daughter Deanna. "How have you been?"

"I am fine, Mother," Deanna said.

"Daughter, I have to tell you about your friend William…and your fiancé Ranma."

"Mother, I don't have a fiancé."

"Oh, but you do, Deanna. Let me show you something. Mr. Hom?"

"Mr. Hom" was Laxwanna Troi's companion and assistant. Hom took out a datapad from a handbag, and gave it to Laxwanna.

"Ah! " Laxwanna said, as she pressed a few buttons, before handing the pad over to Deanna. "This is a history of our family on your father's side."

Deanna looked at the entry where her father's name was, and then saw that the screen was scrolling backwards. It then stops to the entry titled "Tendo".

"About three hundred years ago, on Earth, your father's ancestors made a pledge to unite their family with the Saotome family. Unfortunately, the heir to the Saotome line died enroute to meet the Tendo family, where he was to wed one of the Tendo daughters."

Laxwanna Troi placed a hand on one of Deanna's shoulders.

"That heir was Ranma Saotome…and you are the last of the Tendo line."

"Mother…you're saying that I'm honor-bound to marry Ranma-? Wait! 'Saotome'…GENKO! Has Genko been talking to you?"

"Yes. And you know that Genko is Ranma's father. In fact, she told me about what happened to William as soon as she heard what had happened. That's why I'm here."

"Mother, there is Will's welfare to consider."

"Actually, there is an old custom on Betazed that takes into account of a person with two minds."

Deanna looked at her mother, who wore a Cheshire-like smile.

"You don't mean…?"

"Yes, my daughter. I want you to marry both Commander Riker and this Ranma Saotome!"

Tbc