TRT7: The Hidden Voyage Years! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 10
Hours later…
With the Enterprise on 'Yellow Alert', Kirk was now in a state of unease. It was one thing to deal with the usual unidentified phenomenon that he was expected to face as a starship commander. After all, it was all a part of the job. However, considering the importance of the economic conference on Babel, and the fact that the Enterprise was recently paid a visit by the Klingons, Kirk was not about to take any chances…
Kirk turns towards Scotty at his station.
"Scotty, what's the status of the port nacelle?" Kirk asked. He had heard that the accident that was causing Usagi and Chekov to age rapidly had also put one of their warp nacelles out of commission.
Scotty turns towards Kirk. He didn't look too happy.
"You want the full report or the summary?" Scotty asked.
Kirk gets up and goes over to Scotty's station.
"A summary will do," Kirk said, as he looks at the data coming from Engineering.
"Okay then," Scotty said with a sigh. "The port nacelle is still out of commission, but the port impulse engine was also affected by the power surge."
"Go on."
"Going faster than 'Warp Factor 4' will be impossible, and maneuvering will be clumsy…at best. On top of all that, energy output is down twenty percent."
"I thought the test of the new systems we conducted a month ago went well?" Kirk said.
"They did. However, considering that we are dealing with new systems, there is always a chance of performance problems. Unfortunately, we're dealing with such a case now."
"Damn," Kirk growled. He had told Starfleet Command that the Enterprise should not have been picked to host the Babel conference, since the new systems have had much time for use.
"Anything else?"
"But…we're working around the clock as humanly possible," Scotty said. "I could use Ranma's help-"
"No, we'll need him at tactical, since Chekov is out-of-commission."
"What about Usagi?"
"She is assisting Dr. McCoy is helping to fight Chekov's condition," Kirk said.
"Then I will do my best, sir."
"That's all I ask-"
"Captain, the blip Lt. DeSalle reported earlier is registering on the main sensors a second time," Spock said, as he looked into his viewer.
Kirk balls his fists. He then turns towards Uhura.
"Lieutenant, open all frequencies, general broadcast," Kirk said.
"Aye, sir," Uhura replied.
CHIRP!
"This is Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise," Kirk began to say. "If that is you, Kargh, we will take appropriate measures. Kirk: out."
CHIRP!
Kirk then turns towards Ranma.
"Ranma, from your experience with the Klingons, what do you think will be the next move that they'll make?"
"That's just it," Ranma replied. "If Kargh or some other Klingon commander is trailing us, then it's a new tactic."
"How so?"
"Klingons behave like a typical wolf-pack," Ranma said. "There would be more than one ship around, and they would avoid detection until the last minute. Blinking in-and-out like this is not their style."
"Then perhaps we should consider this as a new tactic, until otherwise," Spock said.
"Agreed," Kirk said. "In the meantime, we maintain at yellow alert. Ranma, increase our sensor sweep ratio to 90 percent."
"Yes, sir, but I have to point out that our resource allocation will be a bit tight, considering our present condition."
"Well, do your best, Ranma."
"Yes, sir."
Kirk looks at the empty view screen.
'Kargh, what game are you playing…?' Kirk thinks to himself.
Meanwhile, Usagi was looking at the available data with Dr. McCoy and Nurse Chapel.
"Are you sure you want to be up?" Chapel asked.
At the moment, Usagi looks like a woman who was in her fifties. She was still attractive, but more on the frail side, and her hair was now white.
"Ah, I'm okay, Christine," Usagi with a yawn, as she goes over some cross-reference. "Just little tired, that's all…"
McCoy looks up at Chapel.
"Get me the Tellerite data," McCoy said.
"But doctor, the Tellerites' physiology is only remotely human," Chapel replied.
"Just get it, okay?"
"Um, yes, sir," Chapel said, as she scampers off.
"You shouldn't be so cranky, doctor," Usagi said, as she continues to sift through the data.
"Well, I don't like the idea of not being helping to help the sick and injured, Usagi," McCoy said with a hint of frustration. "A good man might die because we're not able to find a cure."
"Maybe, maybe not, but I think I have something," Usagi said, as she quickly punches up the information. "Bingo."
Usagi rotates the screen to show a Minbari physiological chart.
"Minbari?" McCoy asked. "But…they are the least compatible with humans."
"Not unless you have a 'bridge' gene," Usagi said. "We could either splice together human DNA with Minbari DNA, or get an existing source. From THAT, we can synthesize a booster serum that could fight off the disease."
"Well, we'll have to get the existing source, since it would be too late to develop a hybrid strand for Chekov."
"Actually, I know a hybrid strand personally," Usagi said with a smile.
"Oh?"
Five minutes later…
"Of course, I will help you, Usagi," said Lady Delenn, the First Lady of the Interstellar Alliance. Officially, the relationship between the United Federation of Planets and the Interstellar Alliance was an uneasy one. Before and during the Shadow War, the Shadows had managed to take over the Earth and a number of Federation planets, effectively putting independent races like the Centauri, the Narn, the Vorlons, the Juraians and the Minbari on the defensive. However, the Vorlons, Minbari and the Juraians—having foreseen this—convinced a number of humans from Earth that it was necessary that an alliance of sorts should be created, and thus the so-called "Babylon Project" was created. Bad blood still existed between the humans and the Minbari over the Earth-Minbari War. However, it took the efforts of then Ambassador Delenn, of Minbar to secure help, in developing the alliance, from the heroes of the war. Two of those heroes were Ranma Saotome and Usagi Tsukino, who had confronted the Minbari's "Grey Council" about the foolishness of engaging in a Jihad against humanity, all because of a misunderstanding. However, the real reason for the ending of the war was two-fold. One, it turned out that human souls were being reborn as Minbari, while Minbari souls were being reborn as humans, and the Minbari abhorred the idea of killing a fellow Minbari. And, two, Ranma and Usagi were both "Children of Destiny" with ties to a number of worlds and species throughout the Universe. Of course, the fact that Ranma was of Juraian royalty, while Usagi was the legendary "Moon Princess" helped great, especially since killing Ranma would have meant war between Minbar and Jurai. Thus, an alliance, both professional and personal, would be created from the ashes of ruin, and would go on to fulfill prophecies and destinies.
Other than that, Delenn considers Ranma and Usagi her dearest friends, and the godparents of her son David.
"After all we have gone through, and the loss we have faced together…there is very little that John and I won't do for you," Delenn said. Since going through the transfigure process, the wife of the first president of the Interstellar Alliance (the "NATO" to the Federation's "UN"), Delenn was a Minbari/human hybrid. Undergoing such a process was the only way she could conceive with a human.
"Aye, I appreciate that," Usagi replied. "All I need is the data on your physiology to develop a cure for one of my crewmates."
"And what of you?" Delenn asked. "Should I…prepare your last rites?"
"Delenn, I'm NOT going to die any time soon…at least, I hope not."
"Very well, but please make sure that my office is appraised of your situation. Not only are you a friend, but you are one of the founding members of the Anla'Shok…and a hero."
"Well, not to everyone," Usagi said. "A few people didn't like my efforts to preserve and quarantine Za'Ha'Dum, instead of allowing Lyta to destroy it."
"Everything has a reason, I am sure," Delenn replied. "Nevertheless, we will know what fruit your actions will bare out. But, that's for another time."
"I guess so."
"I will send you the data within the hour."
"Thanks. And tell John I said hello."
"I will do that. Take care of yourself, Usagi."
"I will. We live by the One, we dire by the One."
CHIRP!
Usagi leans back in the seat from Dr. McCoy's private office. She then stretches.
"Owie," Usagi said to herself. "My back- Ah-CHOO!"
Usagi sneezed hard. As she sniffs, she realized that she blew out some of her teeth.
"Oh, dear…"
Sometime later…
"Oh, man," Ranma said, as he enters his quarters. "I can believe I finally have time to get a nap."
"Ranma?" said a familiar voice.
Ranma frowns. It sounded like Usagi's voice, and yet it was not quite the same…
"Usagi, are you there?" Ranma said, as he prepares to turn on the light.
CLICK!
"Hi, Ranma!" Usagi said with a toothless smile.
"Ah!" Ranma screamed. "An old ghoul-!"
WHACK!
Usagi clubs Ranma with her walking staff.
"Ow!"
"I am NOT an old ghoul, Ranma," Usagi yelled.
"You could have fooled me, you know," Ranma said, as he rubbed his head. He then got a better look at his ex-wife. "Man, you almost look like someone I knew from Nerima…except with the 'Odango' hairstyle."
"Humph," Usagi said, as she hops on her staff. "Well, I can't help the way I look, Ranma."
"Well…yeah, I guess. By the way, where did you get that staff? I sense magic from it."
"This is my sorceress staff that I earned from Gandalf-sensei, remember?"
"Oh, yeah. So, um, how's the progress?"
"I had contacted Delenn—she said 'Hi', by the way—and she provided the means of curing Chekov. We just received the data, and so now Dr. McCoy is synthesizing an antidote now."
"That's good to hear. I don't think anyone should have their lives cut short like THAT."
"I know, Ranma."
Silence.
"Ranma, in case…I die-"
"Usagi, don't talk like that," Ranma said. "You…you just need to let the disease take its course, that's all."
"Still, I just wanted to make sure that you know that I will always love you, no matter what."
"What about Spock, then? You're married to him, remember?"
"Ranma, when T'Pring challenged Spock's original marriage arrangement with her, if effectively nullified my marriage to Spock. However, the nullification did not end my relationship to Spock's family, nor did it end T'Sara's place in the House of Sarek."
"So…you're free?"
"Not quite. I have to wait five years for the nullification to hold. Otherwise, Spock could reclaim as his mate."
"Well, we'll see about THAT-"
"Ranma, don't," Usagi said, as she touched Ranma with her bony, tiny hand. "This is precisely why I didn't want to tell you this yet."
"Well, I don't want HIM to reclaim you, Usagi. YOU are MY wife."
"Really? You mean it, even after all this time?"
"You damn, right."
"Okay, then," Usagi said with a grin. "Make love to me…NOW."
"NOW?"
"Yes, NOW. A husband and wife are supposed to support each other through thick and thin. You love me, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Then show me that love. Make me a believer, so that, if I die now, I can die happy."
Ranma was slightly revolted by the prospects of making love to Usagi in her present state. However, as he thought about it, he realized the simple truth: through thick and thin, no matter what has gone before, Ranma has always been there for Usagi. And so…
"Okay, you're on," Ranma said, as he pulls off his shirt.
"Excellent," Usagi said, as she hops off her staff, and lands on Ranma's bed. She took off her now-oversized Starfleet uniform, and exposed her glorious body to her once-and-future husband.
Ranma looked at Usagi for a long moment. However, it wasn't her present state that he saw, but rather Usagi's glorious spirit. THAT was the real Usagi.
Ranma reached over and kissed his wife on the lips forcefully. Usagi returned the favor.
"There, that wasn't so hard," Usagi replied, after breaking the kiss. "Wait, let me take out my dentures before we go further…"
Ranma sighed, but he knew that his 'sacrifice' was worth it.
Tbc.