SMST 6D: Ace of Hearts! – By DS Wynne


Disclaimer: None of the principled characters and situations belongs to me.

Note: This is a multi-genre story.

Special Note: This story takes place after the events of "Hero Ultimate", "Journey to Adventures" and "Journey to Mystery".


Part 11


Ranko opened her eyes while groaning.

"Aw, man," Ranko said, as she sits up while placing her hand on her forehead. "Did I go through a few rounds with Ryouga…?"

"Ranko, who is Ryouga?" says a familiar voice.

Ranko quickly turns to see-

"Rick?" Ranko asked.

"Well, you seemed to know me, so I guess you are okay," Rick said.

"Not really," Ranko replied. "I got a splitting headache-"

Then, Ranko sees Ben and Lisa, both of whom were stirring.

"Rick-?"

"They seemed fine, considering what happened to us earlier."

"What happened?"

"Well, after your AWAC was pulled into the Zentraedi flagship by some beam, Ben, Max and myself went to retrieve you and Lisa."

Pause.

"Obviously, we failed."

"Do tell. Then what happened?"

"Well, we managed to retrieve you and Lisa's 'carriage compartment' from the Zentraedi soldiers, but this…big guy with half of his face covered showed up."

Pause.

"Let's just say that the Zentraedi we fought took nearly all of us out in a second round, WITH just a piece of metal…and we were still in our Veritechs at the time."

"'Nearly'?" Ranko said. She then notices something.

"Wait, where's Max?"

"I don't know, but I saw him and his Veritech being blown out a hole during the battle-"

"Uhhhh…"

"Ben?" Rick said, as he goes over to Ben's side.

"Please, Mom…wake me up when it's time for breakfast," Ben said, as he rolls over.

"Ohhhh…"

Rick and Ranko turn to see Lisa sitting up.

"Where am I…?"

"In trouble," Rick said.

Lisa blinks her eyes and stares at Rick and Ranko.

"What?"

"We've been captured by the Zentraedi, apparently," Ranko said. She looks around the glass container that they were in.

"And from the looks of things, we've been examined."

"How do you know?" Rick asked.

"Look around you, Rick," Ranko said. "It looks too much of a laboratory to NOT be otherwise," "I just hope that they didn't use probes on us. That…would suck."

"Oh, my…"

"What are we going to do next?" Rick asked.

"We find out what the enemy wants," Ranko said.

"But we should find a way out here. Women shouldn't be stuck in a situation like this."

"Tell me about it."

"Rick, that is a sexist comment," Lisa yells. She then turns towards Ranko.

"And why are you agreeing with him?"

"Huh?" Ranko replied, forgetting briefly that she was, at the moment, female.

"You're a woman, and you AGREE with that sexist remark of his?"

"Um…YEAH!"

Ranko turns towards Rick.

"Jerk!"

BAM!

"Ow!" Rick yelped, as he felt Ranko's "Mallet-sama" come crashing on his head.

"Humph!"

"Um, okay," said Lisa, as she performs a big-sweat technique…

"YAWN!" Ben said, as he yawns. "What did I miss?"

"Me getting hit by a violent 'tom boy', that's what!" Rick said, as he rubbed his head.

"But Ranko is right about one thing," Lisa said, as she take out her micro-digital camera from her pocket. "Being here does present itself an opportunity to see the enemy in action."

'And to see if Usagi is nearby,' Ranko thinks to herself…

Soon enough, the Zentraedi flagship performs a 'space fold' jump to their home galaxy, located around the cluster of smaller galaxies that make up the Andromeda Galaxy group.

"I wonder where we are heading," Ben wondered.

"If I know the Zentraedi, then we're heading near Andromeda," Ranko said.

"And how would YOU know?" Lisa asked.

"Because I've been here before," Ranko said, as she puts on her Green Lantern ring.

"Wait," Rick exclaims, as he recognizes the symbol. "You're a Green Lantern, Ranko?"

"Yep," Ranko said, as she then takes out her Green Lantern power battery. "Stand back…"

Ranko places her ring close to the facing of the battery, and begins to recite her oath:

In the Brightest Day, in the Blackest Night,

No evil shall escape my SIGHT.

Let those who embrace evil, fear my might,

All beware…the Green Lantern's light!

HUMMMMMM…

With a flash of green light, Ranko was in her Green Lantern uniform. It was designed after he usual Chinese clothes, except that the shirt was green instead of the usual red.

"Wow!" Ben said, as Ranko puts away her power battery.

"Ranko, how long have you been a Green Lantern?" Rick asked.

"For a while now," Ranko said. "I'm a Reservist, though…"

"Why didn't you help the SDF-1 earlier?" Lisa yelled. "You know how many lives were lost?"

Ranko turns to face Lisa.

"I do. Unfortunately, certain protocols have to be met before I can even use my ring. For example: unless I am on official Green Lantern business, I can't use my ring within the confines of my home solar system. No exceptions."

"Why not, Ranko?" Ben asked.

"My…bosses put the protocols into my ring, that why."

"Oh."

"So, you'll be able to get us out of here?" Rick said.

"Yes, but…I rather wait until we get to the bottom of these stupid attacks," Ranko said.

"I agree," Lisa said.

"Well, we shouldn't have to worry about anything, with a 'superhero' around," Ben said. "Especially with all those ships around."

Ben points towards the mass of Zentraedi ships floating around a planetoid, while Lisa films her surroundings.

"That's where we can meet Supreme Commander Dolzer," Ranko said.

"How tough is he?" Rick asked.

"Let's just say that he didn't get to be 'Supreme Commander' by being soft…"

Soon, the four are presented to a giant, lightly purpled-skinned man, along with the other giant, half-faced man and four subordinates…

"Greetings, micronians," Dolzer said. "I am commander-in-chief of ALL Zentraedi forces."

Pause.

"You will not submit to my interrogation."

"Go on," Lisa said to Ranko. "Do something."

Ranko swallows her throat, and steps forth. The only reason why she was nervous was because she didn't want to create an unnecessary interstellar incident…

"Commander Dolzer," Ranko began. "Under Section 15 of the Shadow Proclamation, I request that you explain your actions towards Earth."

"How does this micronian know about THAT?" said the giant with half a metal face (named "Breetai").

"It appears that this micronian knows more than what is let on," says a smaller Zentraedi (named Exedore).

Dolzer leans forward.

"Then you know about the secrets of the Protoculture?" Dolzer asked.

"'Protoculture'?" Lisa asked.

"I will not answer your question, unless you explain yourself," Ranko replied.

"Under whose authority?" Dolzer demanded.

Ranko brings up her Green Lantern power ring.

"Feh," Dolzer smirked. "The Treaty of Tyrol does NOT recognize the authority of the Green Lantern Corp."

"But the fact that your forces invaded the Sol System IS a violation of the Proclamation regardless, since Earth is still considered to be a pre-interstellar civilization. To do so would be considered to be an act of aggression."

"She's good," Ben said with a whisper.

"Nevertheless, the space fortress you call the 'SDF-1' holds the secret of Protoculture," Dolzer said.

Suddenly, Dolzer grabs Lisa.

"Hey!" Rick yells.

Ben turns towards Ranko.

"Do something, 'hero'!" Ben yelled.

Ranko didn't want to risk Lisa's life, nor start an interstellar incident. So…

"Rick," Ranko suddenly said.

"What?"

Suddenly, Ranko grabs Rick by the collar, and-

SMOOCH!

Ben, Lisa and the Zentraedi were shocked.

"Ooooooh-!"

Dolzer suddenly drops Lisa from this…shocking display of human intimacy.

"Ahhh-!" Lisa yells.

Quickly, Ranko forms a construct to catch Lisa.

"I got you," Ranko says. She forms a secondary construct.

"Guys, hop on board!"

"Alright, we're making a break!" Ben said, as he hops on board the platform.

"Where are we going?" Rick asked.

"Anywhere but here," Ranko replied.

"Ranko, do you know what's going on?" Lisa asked. "And did the Zentraedi behaved that way when you and Rick kissed."

"I'll explain on the way out here," Ranko said, as she forms a green bubble around herself and her companions. "Hang on-!"

And, with that, Ranko and her companions were gone.

Tbc.


Next Time: During the "big escapet", Ranko explains to Rick and company what 'protoculture' is, and why the Zentraedi were shocked at seeing Ranko kissing Rick. Also, it's the return of the Meltrandi…including the warrior named "Serene" (guess who?). See there…!