SMSTSS 6: Blue Moon! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST, Avatar and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story; this chapter is a 1000-plus word edition.
Special Note: This story takes place shortly after the founding of the United Federation of Planets, circa Earth Year 2161 CE, but before the "deaths" of Akane Tendo and her children at the hands of the Tal Shiar, the Romulan version of an intelligence apparatus.
Part 10
From the journal of Colonel Ranma Saotome (United States Air Force, Office of Homeworld Security Liaison to the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, or UNIT):
So, here I was, minding my own business, when aliens attack Los Angeles, California. Not that having alien invasions were a new thing, especially when dealing with MY line of work, but what was unusual was that these aliens were not only from "outer space", but from another dimension entirely. Huh.
But let me back up for a minute, and tell my story; the REAL story, not the story that I submitted in my report, but what actually happened.
As you know, the Mishima Zaibatsu has a number of businesses, mostly in scientific and technological development. However, there was a division that dealt with entertainment and other forms of media. This division was set up by my sister-in-law Nabiki Kuno, who wanted to diversify the business as Mishima's "Vice-President on Outreach and New Development". In other words, she wants to be able to make money for the company, so that her personal stock in the company could increase. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if she had set up a cloning facility to create celebrity look-alikes, so that she could then prostitute them out—literally and figuratively—to make a quick yen. But, that's my commentary on the matter.
Anyway, Nabiki invited Akane and me to a party in LA. I wasn't sure I wanted to go, since I was still aware that there were Terminators roaming southern California, either looking for temporal doppelgangers of myself and Usagi, or John and company. Not that I would be afraid of dealing with them or anything, but it would be a pain in the butt to explain to Akane why cybernetic killers were shooting at me. But I digress…
So, I was attending a party for the hot, up-and-coming actor/rapper, whom Nabiki had signed on as a co-agent for Japan, named "Terry" (African-American male). That's it. I don't recall his last name, because I really could care less at the time I met the guy. But, Akane liked going out to a celebrity party, which made me…happy. And luckily, Nabiki had rented a suite for us to crash in, which happened to be in the same building that Terry's place was. I wanted to take Akane to my house in Beverley Hills, but she hated the idea that I would take her to a home that belonged to Usagi and me. I mean, what's up with that anyway? Just because I bought a home with Usagi, that doesn't mean I'm with Usagi…that night. But, I guess it's a female thing to be territorial and junk. Ugh.
Well, the party was okay. I met Terry's friend Jerrod (Italian-American male) and his girlfriend Elaine (Auburn-haired white-woman). Apparently, back in the day, Terry and Jerrod came from the streets of Brooklyn as rappers and graffiti artists, before Terry moved out west and made it big on his own. I kind of appreciated the rags to riches story, coming from a humble background myself. So, as the party went underway, I learned that Terry was having problems with his girlfriend Candice (Blond white-woman), and was cheating on her with his publicist Denise (Brunette white woman). Amateur. First, he wouldn't survive a minute with the women I've been involved in, all at the same time (I referring to YOU Tsukiumi!). And, secondly, if Terry was honest and up front about how he felt, he wouldn't have cheated in the first place. Handle your business, man! But regardless of that, Candice got mad at what happened, so she got even by taking me into the bathroom to do things that were quite nice. Unfortunately, Roy, Terry's business manager, learned of this, and spread it around until Terry learned of it. Terry confronted me about it, but had to back down when he learned who I was, learned what I know, and learned what I could do to him if he didn't back down. I mean, really. He ain't married to Candice, and has the gall to confront me for causing his house of cards to collapse? Of course, he tried to get Akane mixed up in all this, but she simply yelled at me for embarrassing her at the party, and then decked Terry for trying to get even with me by hitting on her. Again, amateur.
But enough of the drama; time for the action. And no, I'm not talking about have 'relations'. In fact, I would have woken up on the couch the next day, had it not been for the Metzla.
Now, I didn't know much about this group, other than the fact that they were a minion race that served the Splugorth, an even greater alien menace that were once the masters of Usagi, back during her 'warlord' days. Oh, please. The only thing that Usagi wars over is what flavor to get for her sundae ice creams. Still, I was familiar with this group to recognize an invasion procedure when I saw it:
First, balls of light appear high above, before falling from the skies.
Secondly, these balls open mini-rifts that teleport the victim to the Metzla ship.
Third, once brain extraction had been made, to sample the targeted planet's populace, a fleet of space cruisers return to 'soften' the populace. The weakness of the invasion is that they can only establish micro-wormholes one at a time, due to the power consumption. Although, to be fair, they are able to tap into vast reservoirs of energy from an establish point in space-time. The beauty of this is that they don't have to worry about refueling their ships, and had gotten good enough to create regenerative properties for their ships. In fact, their ships were bio-engineered to grow and heal on site.
Anyway, knowing what was about to go down, I contacted my superiors and informed them of what was happening, and that in twenty-four hours, more Metzla ships will arrive through the rift that the invaders had established. They understood what was going on, so they asked me to "handle things" as they prepare a counter-strike. Feh, like I can raise a credible opposition in short order.
And that's when I remembered the Terminators…
I initiated contact with one of the Terminators immediately, a rogue Dr. Catherine Weaver of Zeira Corporation, to give her the scoop. I didn't trust her that much, other than the fact that she liked humans, and was against SkyNet and its faction of Terminators. Upon learning of the invaders, she immediately initiated the emergency protocols that activated her fellow rogues into action. However, she would only help me, if I give her secrets to perfecting Terminators, based upon the technology that was perfected by the Cylon Consortium, a machine race that I had dealings with in the past. Essentially, Weaver wanted the means of perfecting Terminators even further, even to the point of breeding with humans. Of course, I was wary about this, but between the Terminators and the threat the Metzla poised, I decided to take my chance with the Terminators.
What I found interesting about the invaders was that they had drones that did the bidding of the Metzla, either in the form of harvesters, soldiers and tanks. They were virtually unbeatable when it comes to conventional warfare. However, considering the fact that for the last twenty years, weapons technology has improved significantly, I had no doubt that we could beat this new enemy. The problem was that every time they capture a human for processing, the Metzla learn more about the opposition. I'm just thankful that they have been capturing residents of LA, since they know nothing about military tactics and procedures. My job was now to make sure that this remained the case.
Anyway, my first order of business was to evacuate the building, by getting them to safety. Many of the residents had been kidnapped already, so there was nothing I could do about them. However, there were still enough people in need of my help. So, I made sure that everyone was situated in a central location that could avoid being captured easily by the harvesters. I also learned that some had seen the light, and had their minds scrambled a bit. The side-effect was that the light super-charged the brains of the victim, in preparation for harvesting and immediate use. A few side-effects were having premonitions or higher connectivity of the synapses. Akane, who had seen the light, was concerned about the baby she was carrying, since going through the motions caused stress to the body. Thankfully, Nabiki was there to use her potions to those who needed a stress reliever. Meanwhile, the harvesters had the building surrounded, even as Terminators began to engage the enemy head on…
"Look at that!" said Terry, as he and everyone stared at the battle between the Metzlas and the Terminators.
"It must be the military or something," Denise said.
"Something like that," I said, as I surveyed the battle scene. I then tapped into my headset.
"Weaver, it looks like the tanks are moving into position," I said.
"Who are you talking to?" Jarrod replied.
"A friend," I replied off-handily.
"Confirmed," Weaver replied in a secured channel. "I am sending a wave of HK-VTOLs to initiate a bombing run on the alien vessel."
"Keep me informed if you need assistance-"
Suddenly, the building shook violently, as a Metzla tank climbed the walls to reach my command post.
"Ah!" Elaine yelled, as she backed off from the window.
"What the hell?" Candice said.
"They're…coming for us!" Jarrod said, as he eyes glowed slightly, thanks to being connected to the Metzla's hive mind.
"And we only have this gun!" Terry cried. "What are we going to do?"
"Well, we do this," I said, as I pull out my "Tweeter", which looked like a tiny, silver ray gun, one that could be found in any gumball machine.
"THAT? Man, you're tripping."
"Perhaps, but our friend is falling," I said, as I point my Tweeter at the tank. "Cover your ears."
When I activated my gun, concussive sound wave struck the tank's head, and blasted its exposed brain into much. As it fell off the building, I turned to my companions.
"Tweeter."
For some reason, everyone just stared at me perplexed…
"Colonel Saotome, I suggest you take cover," said Catherine on-line.
"What's up?" I said.
"I've analyzed the ship's super-structure, and deduced that a neutron detonation is in order. Such damage will make it difficult for it and its crew to regenerate."
"Yes, and risk humans as well?"
"What do you suggest, then? Our options are limited."
I couldn't argue with that logic…
"Alright, go ahead, I'll contain as much of the radiation as possible."
"What?" Akane said.
"Akane…"
"Ranma, do what you have to do," Nabiki said, as she flexes her magical abilities, as she glowed. "I will protect the mortals."
Meanwhile, everyone was still trying to process all this.
"Who are you people?" Elaine asked.
"We're the only hope you guys have," I said. "Now…watch my next trick…"
I hulked out easily enough.
"Oh my god!" Denise said.
"Well, I like this," Candace said, as she looked at my enhanced body appreciative.
"Hey, back off!" Terry said, as he points his gun at me.
"Terry, no!" Jerrod yelled. "We need all the help we can get."
"Yeah, you all do," I replied. "Be right back."
And thus, I leapt of the apartment complex.
"Be safe!" Candace yelled.
"Oh, shut up!" Terry replied.
"Everyone, we have to get towards the center of the building, if we have a chance to survive," Akane said.
"She right," Jerrod said. "Let's go…"
Even in my "Hulkma" form, I had to deal with the tanks. However, I defeated them easily enough, due to my own "super-structure", and waited for the lone HK to deploy the neutron bomb.
And boy, did it hurt.
The craft was nearly gobbled up in the wave of energy, even as I used my body to soak up the energy, using the technique known as the Happo-Shiatsu Technique. I roared with pain, as I turned into my red form. I kept my personality shift intact, as I watched the burning Metala craft careening back into the rift it made. Not that it'll help much, since all it was doing was taking the damage elsewhere. With the last bit of my willpower, I redirected the energy into a powerful energy burst that tore through the ship's hull. When the ship limped back to the other side of the rift, I clapped my hands, creating a sonic force that severed the link between dimensions, and thus, ending the crisis.
It would be a few days before I woke up again, and I would learn that Candice would act as my nurse-made of sorts, while I was temporarily stuck in my hulk form, much to Akane's chagrin. Go figure. Still, with the reinforcements UN Spacy and the American military, the remaining of alien forces were quickly subdued. Hopefully, that will be the last of the Metzla…
Just as the Metzla soldier was about to reach Usagi, Ranko tackled the alien. They tumbled a bit before Ranko was on top, straddling it. She pressed her hand on its chest, before cocking her right fist.
"No one attacks my wife," Ranko said, just as she was about to deliver a killing blow.
"Ra-ma," the creature managed to say.
"Huh?"
"Ra-ma," the creature said again. "It…me…Will."
"…"
Tbc.
Author's Note: We now have the background of the Metzla, and how Ranma and Usagi fit in all this. Next time is the war between the Na'vi and the Metzla for the future of Pandora, with Ranma and Usagi leading the charge. Then, it's back to the future, where an unlikely hero will rise to save both Earth and Pandora! See you then!