Star Trek: Ranma's Adventures 10– by DS Wynne
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: It's time for another "Temporal Nexus Alert!"
1944 CE: A change in the timeline, caused by the escalation of the "Temporal Cold War", results in the near-victory of the Axis Powers. Field Marshall Ranshin Rantsu, a protégé of General Tojo, leader of Imperial Japan, and his consort Lady Usashinko Rantsu lead both Japanese and German forces in one final push into the United States through Canada. Starfleet Captain John Archer, commander of the NX-01 Enterprise (from the 22nd century), and his crew intervened, and made sure that both Ranma and Usagi are restored to their proper selves. Note: In the altered timeline, Ranma and Usagi go to Germany instead of the United States during the Meiji Restoration. They would have fallen prey the Adolph Hitler's machinations, and become the very instrument that would have made "The Third Reich" a reality.
1947 CE: Ranma and Usagi, due to their "gifts", are chosen as "test pilots" for the X-1 ("Mach Buster") Project. During one of the test flights, a "UFO" intercepted Usagi, the only female pilot in the program…and crashed (though she survived). Later, it was learned that her and Ranma's friends, Odo the Shapeshifter, and the Ferengi Quark, Rom and Nog, had accidentally traveled into Earth's past, and were the ones who had crashed into Usagi. Interestingly, this was NOT the only encounter with extra-terrestrials during this period. Later, the Rantsu couple would meet a pre-teen Hal Jordan, the future Green Lantern, whose father knew Chuck Yeager during the war.
1955 CE: A kid with aspiration to become a "rock star" accidentally arrives from the future in the town of Hill Valley, California. Usagi, an agent of Task Force X, investigates the situation…only to realize that the kid's fate was tied to hers. Thus, both she and Ranma (both of whom were suffering from their estranged relationship) had to work together to insure that the kid, Marty McFly, and his would-be friend, Son of Ether scientist Dr. Emmett Brown, are successful in their time-traveling experiments, which would affect Usagi and Ranma in the year 1885 CE, the year 1985 CE and the year 2015 CE.
1962 CE: Investigating a security concern involving military scientist Dr. Robert Bruce Banner, thanks to a tip from the Martian Manhunter, Usagi and Ranma visits Banner while his "Gamma bomb" is being tested in New Mexico, American Southwest. It turns out that Banner's assistant, Igor Starsky, was a Soviet spy. Thus, when teenager Rick Jones snuck unto the testing site on a bet, and Banner attempted to get the teen to safety, Igor prematurely activated the bomb (but not before Usagi and Ranma tried to intervene). The end result was the birth of the Incredible Hulk, a Gamma-powered engine of destruction. Ranma was able to apprehend Igor, but Usagi, who tried to knock Banner to safety, absorb additional doses of Gamma-radiation. It took Usagi a while to bleed off enough of the radiation to resume her normal appearance (but not before being hounded amorously by Banner's Hulk persona). In subsequent years, it would take the likes of Superman to contain the Hulk's rampage. Later that same year, Ranma tracks down the preserved remains of the famous Captain America in the Arctic Circle…but not before going through an irate Namor, the Submariner. In the end, Namor was placated, and Captain America is later revived.
1963 CE: The Norse god Loki escapes from his "imprisonment", and tracks down his brother, the recently return Norse thunder god Thor. Loki uses the Hulk to attack Thor, prompting other heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, Giant Man, the Wasp, the Magnificent Mask and Sailor Moon to join the fray. Afterwards, with the help of Captain America's boss Col. Nick Fury, of the National Security Agency, form the basis for the governmental superhero team "The Avengers".
Part 10
(The following takes place between 3:00 pm and 4:00pm.)
Location: Okinawa, Japan (behind the "Tea Leaf Sushi Shop & Café").
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
"Alright," said the weapon master Hattori Hanzo, as he observed his newest student, Ami Mizuno, first attempt at crafting. "Begin the folding process."
"Yes, sir," replied the shorthaired, blue-haired girl began to fold the strands of "Promethium" into a lotus petal. Ever since she received her Hanzo blade last year, Ami was interesting in craft working. Sure, Master Hanzo was an excellent maker of swords, but he was just as good at crafting fine metals in jewelry and other artifacts.
Hanzo turned to Sailor Helios, who was providing the heat for his forge.
"Lord Ranshin, we're done."
"Thanks," 'Helios said, as she withdrew her solar flame. "I'm still surprised you decided to teach Ami, after, you know, what had happened with…Bill."
The middle-aged Japanese man sighed.
"Though I had promised to not make any more of MY blades, that does not preclude me from teaching my Art."
'Helios nods, as she becomes her normal Ranma self. Ranma then turned to Ami.
"You know, I'm still surprised YOU survived what Usagi had caused, Ami."
Ami sighed.
"Don't blame Usagi for what she did to Sadako or to Beatrix. Sadako was the spawn of that THING down in the Marianas Trenches, and Beatrix has always been a 'impressionable'. You know that."
"I know, I know. But YOU shouldn't have to have cleaned up Usagi's messes."
"Lord Ranshin," Hanzo begins. "It is said that we are what Fate has made us."
Ranma sighs. Those were the exact words that Gandalf the White had used, before falling into the abyss during his encounter with the Balrog.
Then again, from what he recalled, his great-granddaughter Sadako had evolved into a "specter" (i.e. a dark ghost) that went around killing the stupid vis-à-vis some video tape. Had Sadako lived, she would have been the herald of her "father", simply known as "The Watcher of the Deep", a multi-tentacle being who could be considered to be in the same class as the infamous Cthulu of ancient lore.
Ranma STILL couldn't believe that a sardonic little girl and her idiot friend was able to defeat the latest attempt of the Cthulu to take over the world vis-à-vis a telemarketing scheme through the Cthulu's "avatars". Then again, they were able to rope in an aspect of Death to be their friend FOREVER.
As for Beatrix Kiddo (the love-child of Usagi and the superhero Green Arrow, thanks to an illicit love affair…which resulted in Ranma beating up 'Arrow for taking advantage of Usagi, when she had thought that Ranma had been killed on a mission in space with the Avengers) was seduced by HIS student Bill Caine, one of the descendants of Kwai Chang Caine…whose family were close allies to the Rantsus. Unlike his twin brother Kwai Chang the Second, Bill was utterly ruthless, having formed his owned assassination team known as the DiVAS ("Deadly Viper Assassination Squad"). In fact, Bill had tried to kill Ranma on more than one occasion without success. The ONLY reason why Ranma did end Bill's life was his family debt to his ancestor.
And besides, most of Bill's targets were just as despicable as he was, so there was no real need to interfere in his business (unless an innocent was involved).
"You have a point, Master Hanzo," Ranma said, as he poured himself some water.
GULP!
"Ah, that's good…"
Just then, Usagi sticks her head through the shop's door.
"Ranma, we have to get going, or we're going to be late!"
"Coming," Ranma replied, as he polished "Anyway, I have to get going. I have a meeting to go to."
"Certainly."
"Take care, Ranma…take care Usagi!" Ami said.
"We're still on for tonight, Ami?" Usagi asked.
"Yes, and but don't forget the karaoke machine."
"I won't, Ami."
Ranma merely grunts. It's interesting that while Ami and the rest of the Sailor Scouts knew him well as "Sailor Helios", they did not know him as the Magnificent Kamen. This is mostly due to his desire to not be intrinsically to his friends, out of a fear of some enemy using BOTH of his forms against him or his allies and loved ones. In fact, not even Darkseid himself knew of the connection, other than a somewhat ally…something that Ranma had taken advantage of.
As Ranma and Usagi were about to exit the shop through the front…
"Hey!" said Hanzo's bald-headed assistant, Jiro, as he looks up from his afternoon paper.
"What?" Usagi says.
"You know, I liked it better before you guys came here for training."
"Hey, that ain't MY problem, you know."
Ranma picked up one of the sushi dishes that Jiro had made, and ate it.
"If you sushi didn't 'suck', you'd have a steady clientele," Ranma replies.
"Humph!"
Location: 10th Area Support Group, Okinawa.
The "10th Area Support Group" was the hub for all US Army activity involving supplies for the other US military bases in the region. It also served as an outpost for the military anti-terrorist organization "GI Joe", if there was an operation that needed to be conducted in that same area. On this day, Ranma had a meeting with SHIELD Director US Army General Nick Fury, who has oversight of GI Joe, Task Force X (which includes "Argent" and "Suicide Squad"), CADMUS, the Avengers, and Stargate Command (through the Homeworld Security office) to name a few. In fact, many of the military and intelligence projects in the United States are either monitored or supervised by SHIELD. SHIELD, which stands for the "Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage and Logistics Directorate" answers to the United States' Office of National Intelligence, which, in turn, answers directly to the President of the Untied States. It's a wonder that weight of governmental bureaucracy has of yet imploded with all this "over-sight".
USAF Colonial Ranshin Rantsu and his wife USAF Lt. Colonial Usashinko Rantsu enter the conference room of the last meeting of the day.
"Colonial Ranshin Rantsu reporting, sir!" Ranma said, as he snapped to a salute.
"Lt. Colonial Usashinko Rantsu reporting, sir!" Usagi says, as she snapped to a salute.
"At ease," General Nick Fury says, as he returns the salute.
"Thank you, sir," Usagi says, as the two relax.
Fury then shook Ranma's hand.
"It's good to see you again, General," Ranma said, as he shook Fury's hand. He, shortly after his meeting with USAF Major General John "Jack" O'Neil, received his uniform and, unfortunately, regulation haircut (though, thanks to his command over his body using "bio-manipulation", he could quickly re-grow his hair back at any time…thereby keeping his trade-mark pig-tail available).
Usagi merely tied her hair into a bun.
"You know, you seem…different to me," Ranma says.
"Indeed, Colonial Rantsu," Fury replied. Back when Ranma knew Fury, back in World War II, Fury was a brown-haired white man (before receiving an eye-patch to cover up a damaged eye). Now, he was a bald Black man with a goatee…and still has an eye-patch over one eye.
"I received a new body, recently," Fury says.
"Why didn't get that eye of yours fixed?" Ranma asked.
"And loose my trade-mark?"
"Hmm, good point."
And then Ranma shook hands with US Army Brigadier General Steve Rogers, codenamed "Captain America".
"Good to see you, General Rogers."
"Same here, Colonial," Rogers said. Both Rogers and Fury were in full, standard US Army uniforms. "I'm glad that you two have rejoined the service."
"Well, we were just bored with our lives," Usagi says jokingly.
"Coffee?" Fury asked.
"Yes, thanks," Ranma says. "So, what's up?"
"I authorizing Rogers to reform the Avengers," Fury says.
"Yes," Rogers says. "After the prison break at 'The Slab', it was decided that a team is needed to round these super-villains up, and put them back into custody."
"Yeah I heard of that," Ranma said. "But sir, General O'Neil has already asked me to rejoin 'Project: Stargate'."
"And I have accepted that," Fury says. "Which is why I need to know if you can still create a doppelganger."
"Sure, it's not a problem…"
"Then, it's not a problem for me as well. And from what General Rogers has told me, you are more than capable to handle the challenge."
"Well…I am quite good, you know."
Usagi rolls her eyes.
"Tell me, Usagi, are you still in contact with Asgard?"
"Which one?"
"The Norse kind, not the alien kind."
The Asgards were a powerful, alien race that united and interacted with the ancient Aesir and Vanir gods of old Europe, back in the day before the gleaming towers of Atlantis had not been swept under the sea. The result of the interaction was the creation of the Norse pantheon, and their home realm known as "Asgard".
"Well…" Usagi said, as she brought out her hand-carved hairbrush…and tapped it on the ground-
BOOM!
Standing before Rogers, Fury and Ranma was the Norse goddess Sailor Moon, who was now carrying a Rune spear. She looked like her usual Sailor Moon, but possessed her goddess markings, black fur cape and metal breastplate. She looked stronger and bigger, but not as big or strong looking as her "Gammazon" form, and her hair were now twin braids that went down her front like a typical Valkyrie of yore.
To be sure, Usagi doesn't need to her brush to change into Sailor Moon…just a Norse version of it.
"As thou can see with thine eyes," Sailor Moon began, "I am still in communion with the Lord of Asgard."
Fury turns to Rogers.
"Well, you do have your Thor, Rogers."
FWOOSH!
Usagi appeared normal again.
"And…" Usagi said, as she changed into…
SCRUNCH!
"HOW ABOUT THIS, SIR?" Usagi said, as her uniform stretched to accommodate her big, green frame.
"Nice, but I think Jennifer Walters has THAT covered."
"NO PROblem, sir," Usagi said, as reverted back to normal. Jennifer Walters, also known as "the She-Hulk" was the only other Gammazon in existence. "Just wanted to make sure all bases are covered, sir. But I AM concerned that my involvement in the Justice League be a conflict of interest."
"Not at all, Usagi. In fact, Director Waller believes that you and Ranma could serve on both teams as a means of strengthening ties between the 'League and the Avengers."
"Kinda like Dion Sanders," Ranma said. "Sir, we still have one more meeting-"
"I know about the meeting involving the 'Consortium'," Fury says.
"You know about the Consortium, sir?" Usagi asked.
Fury smiles.
"I AM the Director of SHIELD, Colonial."
Tbc.
Arthor's note: On a programming note, I've decided to move the "Trio" arc a back a bit. Instead, the next arc after this one will be called "Ronin" (in fact, that's his covert name). It will feature Ranma in his superhero guises (Sailor Helios in the Justice League Unlimited, and The Magnificent Mask in the Avengers). Continuity wise, 'Helios' adventures will tie into the ongoing JLU cartoons (her first role will tie into the episode "Patriot Act" as a starting point) and and the "present" Avengers continuity (featuring the roster of Captain America, Iron Man, Spider Woman, Spider Woman, Sentry, Power Man, Ronin and Wolverine). I'm doing this just to change up things. Until next time.