TRTSS44: Tales of Ranma Who! – By Ocramed


Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, Trek, DW and other properties belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre story. C&C are welcomed.

Special Note: This story takes place during the events of the Seventh Series of "Doctor Who".


Part 9: "The Bells of St. John!"


1207 CE: Cumbria, England.

Sir Ranma the Brave rode his steed to the monastery, Abbey of St. John, where an old friend was in contemplative seclusion. He wanted to say good-bye before setting off towards the East, where he would eventually return to his home in Japan. He wanted to stay longer, feeling the need to prevent his wife Lady Usagi the White from leading her supporters, the Craftmason, against the witch Morgana Le Fey at some White Tower in Mistridge, for what had happened to fabled Camelot. At the very least, he hoped that his "old friend" would be able to talk some sense into his beloved. However, upon reaching the abbey, he was surprised that his friend was suddenly prepared to leave.

"Doctor?" Ranma said.

"No time to explain," the Doctor said excitedly, as he gathered his things. "After all this time, trying to discover new mysteries to unravel, the Universe has deemed to provide me with a mystery worthy of my talents…"

"And that is?"

"Her," the Doctor said, as he points to a collection pictures, paintings and photographs of a brunet-haired woman from different points in time.

"An attractive woman," Ranma said.

"An impossible woman," the Doctor said. "She has appeared in different eras, always speaking in the same sorts of manners."

"Um, like what?"

With a maddening stare, the rogue Time Lord turned towards the immortal paladin.

"Run you clever boy, and remember me," the Doctor replied ominously.

"Um, okay," Ranma said in a confused manner. "Are you sure you are alright?"

"Of course I am!" the Doctor said. "The point is that a woman with the same face says the exact same thing…"

The Doctor shuffles through different works, from the very ancient to the future, each artifact depicting a woman with the same face and/or speaking the same proverb.

"There has to be a connection, something…cosmic in scope," the Doctor replied.

"Maybe…she is an immortal?"

"I thought of that, but this woman, these women, do not have a linear connection with each other," the Doctor said.

"Okay, reincarnation is at work," Ranma said.

"Too…mystical, for my tastes."

"Genetic memory?"

"Perhaps, but not likely, since there is no clear lineage at work."

"Time traveler?"

"Now THAT is a more intriguing prospect," the Doctor said. "Problem is that if that is such the case, a clear paradox is at work."

"And yet the timeline has not unraveled," Ranma said.

"Precisely, making HER a living paradox," the Doctor said.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Ranma asked.

"No, that won't be necessary, since where I need to go, there is another Ranma Saotome," the Doctor said.

"Okay, but I wanted your help in dealing with Usagi-"

"Do not worry about her," the Doctor said. "What she has to do, though dreadful, is a necessary thing to occur for this planet."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Besides, because of her, you will have to form a…counterpoint to her ambitions. You know, balance."

"Oh, I see," Ranma said thoughtfully. "But exactly are you going?"

"21st century London, to meet what I believe is the 'source' of this mystery," the Doctor said with a grin. "You know, I haven't felt this alive in years…"

"You've been alive for 1000 years, Doctor," Ranma said.

"I know, so don't remind me…"

2013 CE: London, United Kingdom.

"Are you SURE, you are not doing any unauthorized experiments…Mother?" asked Director Kate Stewart, the head of the UNIT's Office of Science Investigations, as she talked to Usagi in the spacious arboretum within the Rantsu Estate…

"You decided to visit me, just to accuse me of some malfeasance?" Usagi replied, as she continued to practice her Tai Chi forms using only an ornamental fan.

"I tried to tell 'Big Sis' that you were not behind anything odd…of late," said Rose Tyler, field operative of the London branch of Torchwood, as she leans on a nearby post.

"However, I am FULLY aware of the immersion project that you and Dr. Turing completed," Kate said, as she holds up an old document folder.

"Wait, where did you get that?" Usagi said, as she suddenly stopped.

"You be surprise what you can find at the Tower of London," Kate said.

"Fine," Usagi said, as she fold her fan in a single snap, as she stepped off the mat to get her towel and glass of cold water. "Tell me what you know about 'Project: Re-genesis'?"

"From what my investigators have deduced, the project that you and Dr. Alan Turing were working on was the precursor to the virtual web," Kate said.

"Yep, that it was," Usagi said, as she took the old dossier. She touched it tenderly, before handing back to her daughter.

"What do you want to know?" Usagi asked.

"I want to know why people are suddenly dying after going on Wi-Fi," Kate said, as she brings a slip of paper to Usagi's attention. "Do you recognize these symbols?"

"Hmmm," Usagi said, as she looks at the "service set identifier". "No, can't say that I have."

"That's a relief," Rose said, which had gotten a stern look from her older sister. "What? At least we KNOW Mom has nothing do with it."

"But you know about what is happening to these people, yes?" Kate asked.

"I do, actually," Usagi said, as she took her own personal access data device (PADD), and began to perform a sweep of the city's local area network. "'Project Re-Genesis' was an attempt to build upon the existing theory of a 'world wide web', by literally creating a 'virtual reality', a place that exist within an electronic medium. It's actually modeled after the 'Web of Faith' model that Middle Eastern mystics were contemplating on, where one's mind can exist outside the body in a shared reality, for the sake of a communal existence."

"Pretty interesting," Rose said.

"Well, it should, since I was there when the actual Web of Faith was created."

"Do tell," Kate said. "So, you brought your insights to Dr. Turing, which he used to create the 'Virtual Web'."

"Correct. However, Alan's goals involved not just sending one's mind into a virtual environment, but, rather, one's existence could be immersed within a virtual environment."

"Were you and Dr. Turing successful in this endeavor?" Kate asked.

"Yes, he was," Usagi said with a smile.

"Then, why is it now that we're hearing about this?" Rose asked.

"Unfortunately, Alan ran into trouble, and, well…"

"Oh, that," Rose said, thinking of Turing's subsequent legal troubles concerning his lifestyle, followed by his death.

"Furthermore, the project itself was 'confiscated' and classified," Usagi said. "Now, there are only a few governmental-, corporate- and anarchy-types that know about Project Re-Genesis, and a fewer, still, are aware of the Virtual Web, or, as the anarchy-types call it, 'Reality 2.0'."

"And, what about the victims?" Kate asked.

"Based upon what you have told me, it sounds like someone gave these victims of yours access to the Virtual Web, by 'hacking' and then uploading their conscious," Usagi said grimly. "For what purpose? I have no idea."

"Perhaps we should talk to these associates of yours, the ones that would be in the position to perform such an action," Kate said.

"Kate, you don't just 'talk' to these people, and I certainly am too well-known to be of any use," Usagi replied.

"Maybe…maybe Dad and the Doctor can help?" Rose asked. "Mean, I'm sure that no one knows about them, as far as their association with you."

"You could be right about that," Usagi said. She glanced over towards Kate.

"Well?"

"I suppose that an alternative plan of action could help, in this situation," Kate replied. "But, I do hope you know that I am taking Rose's suggestion under protest."

"Gee, for a big sister, you're certainly a walking 'vote of confidence'," Rose replied sarcastically.

"All I know is that Col. Saotome and the Doctor are…unpredictable," Kate said. "I dislike unpredictability."

"You know, your father would be proud to know that," Usagi replied.

"Humph."

A few days later…

"Okay, okay," said the nanny Clara Oswald, as she ran down the stairs of her live-in home of two years. Moments ago, she had been speaking to a man who was supposed to be a tech support person, concerning a bad internet connection.

DING-DONG!

"I'm coming!" Clara replied. "I really don't need this right now-"

Clara opens the door, and sees a man dressed in a monks robe. Right behind him was a red-haired young woman, possibly an older teenager.

"Hello?" Clara asked with suspicion.

"Clara Oswald?" the Doctor asked.

"Yes," Clara replied evenly.

"THE Clara Oswald?"

"That is my name. Who are you?"

"We're the tech support people," the girl said, as she stepped forth. "Sorry about my friend; he tends to be eccentric about…stuff."

"I'm sure," Clara replied. "Into fancy dress?"

"Somewhat," the Doctor said. "Anyway, I am the Doctor, and this is-"

"Ranko Tendo," the girl replied. "You were talking to the Doctor about your internet connection problem…?"

"How did you get here so fast?" Clara asked.

"Internet…stuff," Ranko said.

"And…you call yourself the Doctor?" Clara asked the Doctor.

"Yes."

"Doctor…who?"

"Precisely," the Doctor replied with a knowing smile. "Anyway, we're here because you called us?"

"Well, yeah," Clara replied. "Some girl at a local boutique suggested your services…"

Ranko nods her head. There were only a few people that had a direct number to the Doctor's TARDIS, and the only who worked at a boutique, who would have that number, was her daughter Rose. Unofficially, Rose was a field agent for the London branch of Torchwood (aka "Torchwood One"), under the supervision of Director Dame Yvonne Craig, the head of the Torchwood Institute, even as the time-displaced American Captain Jack Harkness was the field agent of the Cardiff branch (aka "Torchwood Three")…

"Ah, well, here we are," the Doctor replied. "We are the experts you will need for your Wi-Fi problem."

"Really," Clara replied sarcastically.

"Yes, really."

"Dressed like some monk?"

"I have you know that I look cool in this," the Doctor replied.

"Like a hipster," Ranko whispered.

"I am NOT a 'hipster'," the Doctor said, as he straightens his robes. "Still, I should have changed before coming here."

"I agree," Clara replied.

"Um, I can get started on Miss Oswald's problem, while you can get changed," Ranko said.

"Right," the Doctor replied. "I SHALL be back…"

With that, the Doctor walks away…

"Most curious," Clara replied.

"About what?" Ranko replied.

"Your hair color."

"Why is that?"

"You, an Asian girl with red hair."

"Actually, it's natural," Ranko replied.

"Ah, then…"

"Yes, I come from a 'mix marriage': human and alien. On my mother side."

"Huh?" Clara replied in a confused manner. Then, she softens her visage.

"Oh, yeah, a joke."

"Yeah, a joke," Ranko replied, thinking that Clara misconstrued her statement, thinking that "alien" referred to nationality, and not the fact that her grandfather was a real extra-terrestrial from the planet Jurai.

"In fact, I have cousins with teal and green-colored hair," Ranko said with a laugh.

"Yeah, right," Clara said. "Now, come along. I don't got all day…"

A short time later, after Clara had hooked up to a Wi-Fi signal that had almost uploaded her consciousness into a different network…

"Breath, and take it easy," the Doctor said.

"What…what happened?" Clara said, as she sat up, after lying on the floor of the kitchen.

"Your conscious was almost uploaded onto an unknown network," Ranko said, as she began to examine some sort of construct.

"Wait, what?" Clara replied. "That…thing?"

"That is a probe," the Doctor said. "Somehow, it was transported here, to this location, in order to take your mind."

"You're serious?"

"As can be, I suppose. I was able to reverse the process in time, and my companion is attempting to learn more about it."

"Wait a minute," Clara said, as she gets up. "You're not just…tech support, are ya?"

"I'm afraid not," the Doctor replied.

"Then…are you here because of that thing?" Clara asked.

"Actually, we're here because of…internet stuff, but 'the girl from the boutique' wanted us to investigate this matter," Ranko said, as she removes a chip from the probe. "Hmmm…"

"What?" Clara asked.

"Yep," Ranko said. "Probe."

"Definitely a probe," the Doctor said. "Immersion tech?"

"Definitely immersion tech," Ranko said. "I have seen this sort of technology in a while."

"A while what?" Clara asked.

"Clara Oswald," the Doctor asked. "Clara. If you have a moment, I can explain everything."

"Well, considering the fact that you saved my life, I'm willing to wait."

The Doctor cleared his throat, and begins to tell Clara Oswald about a series of women who bore her face and name, or a variation of her name, and how he had met these women across time and space, and was trying to find out why.

"…And I believe that you are the epicenter in all this," the Doctor said.

"You believe I'm this person that is related to all these women," Clara scoffed.

"It's true," Ranko said, as she sets down the probe she was working on. "You are some sort of walking paradox, one that exists, but shouldn't exist."

"That sounds insane," Clara replied. "Fascinating, but insane. But…"

"But what?"

"Considering that we have some sort of automaton trying to suck up my mind, I'm willing to go have way towards believing your ridiculous story," Clara said. "But, tell me, is this mystery of yours related to me being attacked by that thing of yours?"

"Eh…no," the Doctor replied. "However, considering the fact that someone has done this to you, I am betting that there is a larger conspiracy at work."

"And that means that I am going to have a talk with Rose," Ranko said, as she take out her cell phone.

"Who's Rose?" Clara asked.

"Oh, that's an old friend of mine who happens to be my companion's daughter."

"Wait, what?" Clara asked. "That girl is older than me, and I am certainly older than your friend."

"Trust me when I say looks can be deceiving," the Doctor replied. "Now, let's see if we can deduce who attacked you…"

Later, that evening…

"So, I'm a target, now?" Clara asked in disbelief.

"Unfortunately, I kind of stated my intentions to protect you," the Doctor said, as he, Clara and Ranko stood outside the TRADIS, at night, even as a jetliner is about to crash on them.

"No, you stated your intentions, followed by identifying yourself openly," Ranko said, as she stared at the approaching plane. "Honestly, why do you draw attention to yourself, if you're supposed to be dead?"

"Well, I wanted to flush the culprits out."

"Yeah, right, Mister Egomaniac…"

"Um, as much as I like to see this discussion continue, there IS a falling plane, you know," Clara replied.

"Not a problem," Ranko said, as she scans the plane. "Hmmm…"

"What?"

"Engines are cut off…lifesigns are low…"

"How can you tell from way down here?" Clara asked.

"I have my ways," Ranko said, as she chambers her right fist. Her battle aura begins glow.

"Doctor, can you use your magic wand to regain controls over the plane?"

"It's not a 'magic wand', it's a sonic screwdriver," the Doctor said, as he takes out his trademark instrument. "And you would love to have one."

"I have the Master's sonic laser, remember?"

"Again, you would LOVE to have one," the Doctor said, as he first points his instrument at the TARDIS.

ZAP!

"Controls…controlled," the Doctor replied. "Now."

"On it," Ranko said. A whirlwind around her body appears, even as the martial artist throws a punch towards the plane.

"Hiryu Shoten…HA!"

A tornado effect appears, lifting the plane up higher. Even as the plane's engines restart.

"That should do it," the Doctor replied. "The autopilot is active, and the Wi-Fi is cut, which should give the pilots some time to recover."

"Most interesting," Clara said in awe. "But…what now?"

"We better get out of here," Ranko said, as she spots more probes, which were exiting various homes in the neighborhood. "We shouldn't run the risk of putting lives in danger."

"Quite right," the Doctor replied, as he turned towards Clara. "Clara, we can hold our own, but we should beat a strategic retreat."

Clara thinks for a moment. With the family away from the house, she could leave the place unattended…

"Okay, but you two owe more of an explanation than THIS," Clara said. "So, where to?'
"Somewhere in the heart of London, for breakfast."

"Um, in what? And, if I may ask, how are we going to eat breakfast at night?"

"Time traveling ship," Ranko said, as she packs up her equipment.

"What?"

Hours later…

"So, you're the Doctor," said Miss Rosemary Kizlet, the head of information technology firm dubbed "The Shard".

"Yes, I am the Doctor," the Doctor replied. "Nice little trick you did there."

"We do have our resources," Miss Kizlet replied, as she looked around her smashed office. "And neat little trick you did, using an anti-gravity bike."

"Thank you," the Doctor said. "I have a way with machines…"

Pause.

"And now, I want you to download all of your victims back into their bodies," the Doctor replied, as he began to take off his helmet.

"And why would I do that?" Kizlet replied. "And besides, how are you going to make me?"

"Oh, I have my ways, especially with machines," the Doctor said, as the Time Lord revealed the fact that the person standing before her was not the Doctor at all, but one of Miss Kizlet's probes.

"How?" Miss Kizlet exclaimed, as the Doctor-Probe began to use the Immersion process on the director.

"No, don't-!"

Across town, the Doctor leans back in his seat, enjoying the fact that he had turned the tables on his foe. He was glad that Clara was able to deduce the location of The Shard, thanks, in part, for being partially uploaded into The Shard's systems in the first place. That experience enabled the nanny to hack into the very Wi-Fi that was being used to upload victims unto the hidden network that The Shard was hosting, using a bit of creativity.

Thank goodness for the social media…

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Ranko asked, as she monitored the situation using a mirror site known as the "Virtual Web", in which very few knew existed.

"Certainly," the Doctor replied. "All it will take is a little push, and we will get out people back."

As if on cue, Clara Oswald begins to wake up.

"See?"

"Maybe, but we still don't know who is behind all this," Ranko replied. "I wish we could have been there to do the actual investigation."

"I'm sure we'll find out soon enough…"

Later, at the Tower of London, Kate Sinclair is watching a Rosmary Kizlet, who, for some unknown reason, had been reduced as a child, and was being interrogated within a confined space…

"I'm here," said a voice from behind.

Kate sighs, as she turns towards the source of voice.

"Mother," Kate said. "So, you know what to do?"

"Of course I do," Usagi said, as she stepped forth. "The Technocratic Union is skilled at many things, including restoring minds that had gone through a 'factory reset' process. After all, the brain, in many ways, is no different from a computer…"

Pause.

"But it's not going to be easy, though," Usagi said, as she took a look at the data on her PADD. "Whoever pulled this off did a thorough job in keep his or her hands clean."

"And once we find out who the culprit is?" Kate asked.

"I will deal with him, her or it personally," Usagi said.

"What, to increase your power?"

"No, to maintain it," Usagi replied, as her eyes glowed a soft, translucent blue. "After all, I didn't lay the foundation of to be 'Neo-Queen' of Crystal Tokyo, only to have someone undermine that goal, you know…"


Next Time: "The Rings of Akhaten!"