TRTSS25: Ran, God of War! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, DC/Marvel Comics belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a limited story.
Special note: This story takes place sometime in the near future.
Author's Note: 1000-plus word edition!
Part 11
Years ago…
1944 CE: Black Forest, Germany.
"At last, we have success," said Baron Dr. Hans Von Strucker, head of the scientific wing of Hitler's "HYDRA", as he stepped back from his work. He was a bald man with a perpetual scowl and possessed a monocle for his left eye.
Strucker then turns towards his colleagues.
"As you can see, I have replicated the original incantations that made the legendary Mjolnir possible…"
On a raised platform seven war hammers, of varying configurations, that had been inscribed with Runes on it, as blessed by the Norse gods that inspired them...
"You have succeeded beyond your wildest dreams, Strucker," said Baron Heinrich Zemo, the head of the intelligence wing of HYDRA. Zemo—Germany's second super-soldier—was forced to wear a mask after a fight between himself and the American super-soldier Captain America had gotten into a fight in one of HYDRA's secret laboratories. During the ensuing fight, Captain America struck a vat of Strucker's 'Adhesive-X', which bonded his mask to his face. Ever since then, Zemo has been seeking ways to get revenge on the one who ruined his face…
"I am impressed."
"Impressed or not, these new weapons must be implemented," said the Red Skull, the head of HYDRA's military wing. The Red Skull was the result of being Germany's first super-soldier. Unfortunately, the original formula had been flawed to the point of disfiguring his body, causing him to look like having a literal red skull. He had gotten revenge by having the creator of the Super-Soldier Serum, Dr. Abraham Erskine (aka "Josef Reinstein"), killed, along with Baroness Dr. Serena von Monkinder (aka "Usagi Tsukino"), formerly of the Thule Society. Unfortunately for the Red Skull, Erskine had already implemented his revised serum, and the means of using it, and Serena turned out to be none other than a time-lost "Sailor Moon" who had long since been made hard to kill. The only consolation was that Usagi had lied about knowing about how to best utilize the Super Soldier Serum, out of fear of creating a human arms race. Thus, the number of super-soldiers were limited to just a handful.
"Of course, and we have our special guest to thank for," Strucker said, as he turns towards Loki and Thor. Thor, in this incarnation, was a bearded, redheaded being who was on the blood thirsty side. And ever since he and his foster brother were summoned by the Germans, he relished the thought of fighting…period.
"Of course," Loki said with an uneasy smile. "After all, your ancestors worshipped us. It wouldn't be right to not return the favor."
"The only thing I care about is to fight this world's champions," Thor said in a gruff manner. "I expect this to happen-"
"Sir, sir!" said a chief guard, as he comes running into laboratory.
"What is it?" the Red Skull asked.
"We have reports that a group of costumed metahumans are about to invade this facility-"
Suddenly, the windows burst inward, as the Invaders arrive.
"Did someone say 'Invaders'?" Bucky Barnes said with a cocky smile.
"Don't get cocky, Bucky," Captain America said, as he threw his shield. "We hit 'em fast and hard."
"Oh, my," said the female vampire speedster, as she runs around to knock down some guards. "We seem to have new players on this battlefield."
"I assure you, vampire, that I am quite old," Loki said, as he casts a spell that creates a slick surface onto the floor, causing her to slip and fall.
"Ulp!" Spitfire yelled, as she slipped and fell.
Just then, U-Man (a rogue, blue-skinned Atlantean), Master Man (another perfected super-soldier), Lady Lotus (a Japanese mentalist) and Warrior Woman (a descendent of Brunhilde the Valkyrie) arrive to confront the other Invaders, such as the Human Torch and his sidekick Taro.
"Get them!" Master Man yelled, as he and his "Super-Axis" began the counter-assault, thinking that the Invaders would be outnumbered.
"I don't think so," said Union Jack, who was Britain's super-soldier, as he pulled out his two submachine guns. Unlike his American counterpart, Union Jack wore a dark-blue version of his country's flag, and completely covered up his face. And, unlike his American counterpart, he had no problem using guns. After all, he was a British commando…
"Gah!" Master Man said, as he shielded his eyes from ammo discharges.
"So, you're the bruiser," Namor the Submariner said, as he flew in to tackle Thor.
"So it seems," Thor replied, as he used his hammer to smash the Atlantean prince into the floor, nearly breaking the hardened surface.
"Strucker, secure the weapons," the Red Skull said, as he and Zemo prepare to engage Captain America and Bucky, along with more Invaders.
"Aye," the Baron said, as he directs his aides to do what the Red Skull wanted. However, before they could do so, two more combatants enter the scene.
"Hold it right there!" Sailor Moon (aka Lt. Usagi Tsukino, Women's Army Corp) yelled, as she and the masked martial arts master "Ronin" appear, as Ronin forces in a contingent of German elite solders.
"Sailor Moon, secure the hammers," Ronin (aka Lt. Ranma "Ronnie" Saotome, US Army Military Intelligence Service) said, as he sees Master Man. "I'll deal with the others."
"Right!"
"I don't think so, traitor," said Warrior Woman, as she confronts, as she cracks her whip. Warrior Woman appeared to be into leather and bondage gear…
"You're supposed to be on our side, Serena."
"I'm not Serena!" Sailor Moon said. "That was an identity that was forced upon me-!"
Sailor Moon spins around while taking off her tiara.
"Moon Tiara: ACTION!" Sailor Moon yelled, as she spun around and released her tiara, which had been converted into a glowing, energy disk. It flew out of her hands, and slammed into Warrior Woman's stomach.
"Oof!" Warrior Woman yelled, as she sailed into a bevy of machines with a crash.
Meanwhile, Ronin took on Master Man, as the two traded blows.
"I am as strong as you, if not stronger!" Master Man sneered.
"There is a problem with that assessment," Ronin said.
"And what's that, swine?"
"There is strength, and then there is skill and power," Ronin said. "And I have all three attributes in abundance!"
With that, Ronin delivers a flying upper cut that sent Master Man sailing through the roof.
Meanwhile, Sailor Moon attempts to grab the war hammers, when she felt a surge of power through her limbs; she also felt old memories coming to the fore…
"Get away from there!" Strucker said, as he knocks Sailor Moon away.
"Oof!"
Strucker immediately uses a series of levitation units to move the hammers.
"You will not get these weapons, woman!" Strucker said, as he and his aides make their escape.
"Don't-!" Sailor Moon managed to say, before she passes out…
Usagi…
Usagi wakes up in what appears to be a military hospital.
"Where…where am I?" Usagi said, as she wakes up. She already recognized Lt. Ranma Saotome (aka Ronin) and Captain Steve Rogers (aka Captain America), both in standard military guise.
"You're safe in Normandy, Bunny," Steve said.
"Did we stop the Nazis?"
"Well, yes and no," Ranma said. "You see…"
FLASHBACK!
"Fool!" Thor said, as he shrugged off Namor's blows. "You may be the Lord of the Seas, Atlantean scion, but we are far from it."
Pause.
"I am the God of the Thunder, after all!"
"Then, this is where I come is," Ronin said, as he confronts his old friend. "Remember me?"
"Izanagi!" Thor said. "It has been a long time, and long have I sought to test my might against you!"
The name "Izanagi" was a name that Ronin used tens of thousands of years ago. In fact, Ronin was the progenitor of the Amatsu-kami, the Japanese gods of Ama, which is connected to Kyoto by Ama-No-Hashidate (aka "Bridge of Heaven"). Since the rise of Imperial Japan, Ronin had to fight his family and traditional on multiple fronts on the side of the Allied Powers, as the Japanese contingent of the Axis Powers, as directed by the Black Dragon Society (led by Ronin's evil son General Genshin Rantsu) expanded across the Pacific Ocean and East Asia. Ronin didn't want to fight against his family and people, but felt honor-bound to stop General Tojo's quest for dominance, hence the adopted name "Ronin"…
"Hey, hey!" Ronin said. "No one is supposed to know that, Thor! I'm in disguise."
"Ah, I see," Thor said, as he considered Ronin's words. "I'll remember that, when I etch my words of praise…on your tombstone!"
Thor throws his hammer, the sacred Mjolnir, at Ronin, as Ronin dodges the attack. Ronin replied by throwing a volley of kunai into Thor's chest.
"Ha!" Thor replied, as he caught his returned weapon. "Your weapons were just pin-pricks to me."
"Then I guess you won't mind the explosive tags I placed on them, Thor," Ronin said with a smirk.
"What?" Thor said, as the tags began to hiss before exploding.
WHOOM!
"RRRAAARGH!" Thor said angrily, as he rushed towards Ronin. Ronin noticed that the Norse god of thunder was getting angry…
"Perfect," Ronin said, as he crouched at the last minute, just as Thor was about to lay down Mjolnir on Ronin's head. Had he not been wearing his mask, he would be seen smiling in a cocky manner.
"Hiryu Shoten Ha!" Ronin said, as he delivered a powerful uppercut that didn't touch the Odinson per se, but the forced of the so-called "Heavenly Dragon", fueled by Thor's anger, was enough to do serious damage.
"Arrrrrrgggggghhhh!" Thor said, as he was blasted out of the Bavarian castle.
Using the chaos, Strucker attempted to abscond away with the hammers, when huge lightning bolt falls down in Strucker's path.
"What?" Strucker said.
Standing before him was Lord Odin himself, flanked by his pet wolves.
"Desist or face my wrath, mortal," Odin said, as he points his spear towards the German baron.
Now, Strucker was an arrogant German aristocrat, but even he knew when to beat a strategic retreat.
"Of…of course," Strucker said, as he and his men began to beat a strategic retreat. "Zemo! Red Skull! We have to leave now-!"
"Curses!" the Red Skull said. He then turned towards Zemo.
"Zemo! Activate the self-destruct mechanism!"
"Of course!" Zemo said, as he threw his sword into a nearby machine.
"Hey!" Bucky yelled, as he was nearly skewered by the blade, before the machine detonates.
"Damn," Captain America said, he then turns towards the Loki, who was picking up his brother Thor from the floor. "We have to-"
"You will do nothing, Steve Rogers," Odin said. "We shall leave, with the weapons that were made by our worshipers…"
Pause.
"However, I honor your courage, in spite of the fact that your people have never worshipped us."
Smoke began to bellow around the Norse gods, as Odin turned towards Ronin,, who was picking up an unconscious Sailor Moon.
"Be advised to take care of my daughter, Ran," Odin said with a wink and a nod. "She will be an important asset to the future of Asgard."
"Huh?" Ronin said, as the old castle began to collapse.
"We are leaving!" Union Jack yelled.
"Invaders, let's move!" Captain America said, as he motions everyone to leave.
Ronin was the last to leave the collapsing castle, as he and his fellow Invaders had beat a strategic retreat…
END FLASHBACK!
"Why would Odin call me his daughter?" Usagi said, as she scratched her head.
"Who knows?" Ranma said. "At least the Nazis don't have any weapons to use against us."
"Agreed," Steve said, as he gets up from his seat. "Just get some rest. Our next insertion into Axis territory won't be for another two weeks."
"Thanks, Steve," Usagi said, as she beamed a smile. Still, in the back of her head, she wonders what was in store for her…"
2011 CE: Kingdom of Ama, home of the Japanese gods.
"Brother Ran, I grow impatient waiting for the others," said Clor, the new Norse god of Thunder, as he looked towards fabled Asgard. Clor was the clone of the original god of Thunder Thor, and was intended to be used as a weapon against the Asgardians, until Thordis (aka Usagi Tsukino), the sister of Thor, intervened. Now, Clor, wielder of the mighty hammer known as "Ragnorak" (originally forged by Nazi occultists and super-science), was Asgard's champion…
"While I am honored to be an Avenger, I wish to use my might in fulfill my destiny. I do not wish to be a 'coal chewer'…"
Ran sighed, as he stood at the base of the World Tree, a Norse version of the "Axis Mundi" (not to be confused with the neo-Nazi superhuman group of the same name). The axis, representing the center of power of the world at any given time, can take the appearance of anything, based upon the dominate culture of the day. For example, to the ancient Greeks, the Axis Mundi appeared as a giant Olive Tree that was connected to many worlds, while to the Americans, the Axis Mundi appear as the Washington Monument. In the future, it could appear as Crystal Tokyo. The entity that protected the axis was the Titan Atlas, cursed to bear the weight of the world for his part in his war against Zeus and his siblings, supported the Axis Mundi with his mighty strength, and only briefly was allowed to seek his revenge against either those who put him there in the first place, such as Zeus, Pluto, Poseidon, Izanagi of the Amatsu-Kami or Japanese gods (i.e. Ranma), Manitou of the Manidoog or Amerind gods, Buluku of the Orishas or African gods and Bor of the Asgardians or Norse gods, or tricked him like Herakles. Even after Izanagi became Ran, the Norse god of war, and later Ranma Saotome, Atlas still held a grudge against Ran, no matter the guise of incarnation. He was just glad that he didn't need to face the Titan again…
"When will the others arrive?" Clor asked.
"Well, they should be here, soon," Ran said.
"And here I am, at least, Lord Ran," said voice from behind.
Ran turns to see Damian, the Son of Satan. Damian, who was the heir to his father's domain, He met Damian many times in the past (mostly to eliminate a potential threat to the mortal world), but has come to at least appreciate the fact that Damian didn't want to condemn the world to his father, or to Mephisto or any other incarnation of Lucifer, the Morning Star. Ran did date Damian's sister, Satana, the Daughter of Satan, for a while, since Ran could care less about a being's heritage, since his mortal father was Genma Saotome. And if he could overlook Genma's role in raising him as Ranma Saotome, then he could overlook someone else's kin…
"Hey, Damian," Ran said. "You're here."
"As we are," said the beautiful Sersi of the Eternals, as she and fellow Eternal Ajak appeared out of thin air. The Eternals were doppelgangers of the classic mythic archtypes, which was why Sersi looked like a twin of the witch goddess Circe, the enemy of Ran's daughter Wonder Woman.
"It's good to see you again, old friend," said Ajak, who appeared in space armor that was style in the Greek way. He had been an ally of Ran, when Ran (as Agrippa, aka Wonder Woman), Herakles and others had journeyed to the realm of the Skrull gods, and decimated their ranks during the so-called "Skrull Invasion"…
"You never call," Sersi said, as she hugged the war god.
"Too busy being a paladin, and stuff," Ran replied.
"Well, then you are correct, you will continue to be busy," said a giant, white panther, as she, Herakles, the Olympian goddess of love Venus, Amadeus Cho (aka the Prince of Power), the Indian goddess Parvati, Snowbird…and the Silver Surfer arrived.
"It is an honor to see you again, Bast," Ran said with a bow. He scanned the others until his eyes fell upon the Silver Surfer.
"Norrin, what are you doing here?" Ran asked. "You're not a god."
"No, I'm not," the Silver Surfer said, as he held his board. "However, since the Chaos King is involved, it makes it Galacta's business."
Galacta was the daughter of Galactus, the previous World Devourer.
"Huh," Ran said. "Well, I'm glad that we all are here."
"Why do we have to journey to Ama, Ran?" Damian asked. "And who is this…Chaos King?"
"We journey to Ama because we can find a way to stop the Chaos King's invasion of Earth," Ran said. "As to whom the Chaos King is: he is my son, Amatsu-Mikaboshi, and it is my fault for the way he is…"
Tbc.
Next Time: The Origin of Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the father of Youmi and lord of Yoma (Realm of Darkness). See you then…