The Ranma Trek Voyage! By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "SM", "R1/2", "ST" and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 14
It has been a week since experiencing the anomaly, and life aboard the USS Voyager has returned to normal, as normal as things can get for a Federation starship that was 75,000 light years from Earth. The combined crew consisting of Starfleet and Maquis personnel are still attempting to reconcile their respective differences, while all are adjusting to the fact that they had to rely on each other to survive. Still, there were a few guilty pleasures for people to indulge in.
Example: Ranko Tendo putting one B'Ellanna Torres through an intense training session known affectionately as "Triskelion"…
"This is 'Bomber-1' calling base," Ranko says, as she pilots the B-17 bomber with her "co-pilot" B'Ellanna. Both were dressed in flight gear while listening to Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries".
"We're over the target."
"Base to 'Bomber-1', you are a go," says "Base" through her headset.
"Roger that."
B'Ellanna turns to her trainer.
"WHAT is the point of this?" B'Ellanna asked curtly.
"The point of THIS exercise is to expect the un-expectant…that's what. Like…now."
RATATATATATATATAT-!
BOOM!
The plane begins to dip, as one of the engines began to lose power.
"May-day, may-day!" Ranko yelled, as she tried to keep the plane leveled.
"What are we suppose to do?" B'Ellanna yelled.
"I think we got hit in the electrical box…I don't see any bullet holes in the engines themselves."
"Why?"
"Well, gee…you ARE the Chief Engineer, no?"
"Alright, alright," B'Ellanna scoffed, as she un-straps herself from her seat, and gets up.
B'Ellanna goes across the deck, and goes to the electrical unit: the fuse box. Sure enough, there were holes shot through it.
"Great," B'Ellanna smirked, as she takes a pair of rubber gloves, and puts them on. She was NOT about to electrocute herself for training-
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!
"WHAAAAT?" B'Ellanna yelled?
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!
"Wait, that sound came from the rear of the plane," says the demi-Klingon to herself, as she began to move to rear…
BAM!
A grotesque, green arms burst through the rear door, which lead to the rear gunnery torrent.
"Wha-?"
BAM!
The door falls down, revealing some sort of humanoid monster, and the rest of its companions. The spewed puss from open sores, and seemed gaunt. Slowly, they seemed to lumber towards her…
"Forget this!" B'Ellanna yelled. "Ranko!"
B'Ellanna ran down to the cockpit. She burst her head inside.
"Ranko, there're these things in the plane!"
"Then, that's our cue," Ranko replied, as she takes out a grenade. "You got your parachute?"
"Why would I need one?"
"Well, I did put the holographic safeties on 'off mode'…"
"Well, my pack in BACK there!"
"Then, we can share-"
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP-!
Ranko and B'Ellanna both look at the cockpit door…
"Now is the time to GO," Ranko says, as she puts on the pack.
"Agreed."
THUMP!
"RRROWR!" the monster roared, just as Ranko kicks to window out.
KRISH!
"I'll see…in HELL!" Ranko yelled, as she drops the World War II-style grenade into the seat. Quickly, she grabs her latest student, and leaps out of the plane…while making sure that they did not go into the rotating propellers.
BOOM!
As the plane explodes, the two were in freefall.
"THIS is still training, huh?"
"Lab exercise, actually."
"…"
"Oh, come on, B'Ellanna. Not all training exercise involve 'pain sticks', you know."
"Yeah, RIGHT!"
A short time later…
B'Ellanna enters Engineering. For some reason, her training session was interrupted when some sort of shockwave rocked the ship.
"Carey, status," B'Ellanna says, as she surveys the area.
"We're checking the major systems now-" Carey began, as he turns to face the Chief Engineer.
"Yes?" B'Ellanna replied.
"Um, your…clothes?"
B'Ellanna did not have time to change clothes. At the moment, she was wearing something out of a sword-and-sorcery fantasy, complete with broadsword.
"WHAT?"
"Aren't you cold?"
B'Ellanna rolled her eyes.
"Carey, there are more important things to worry about," B'Ellanna says. "Like this ship, for instance?"
"Um, right. I'm checking things out right now."
"Good."
Silence.
"I must say, that you look hot in that outfit."
"CAREY!"
"Right, checking away."
Meanwhile, Ranko steps unto the Bridge…dressed in the same manner. Janeway sees this.
"I don't even WANT to know," Janeway says dryly.
"Er, right," Ranko says, as she hands over her datapad. "Latest scores from B'Ellanna training."
"Thank you," Janeway says, as she accepts the pad. "You know, you could have changed."
"I figured that a lack of modesty is a small price to pay for me to be extra concern for ship and crew."
Ranko pauses.
"And I felt a great disturbance, and wanted to make sure that I was wrong."
Janeway takes a look at Ranko's face. Ranko appeared to be apprehensive somehow…
"Wrong about what?" Janeway asked.
"Engineering to Bridge, we're in the clear down here," B'Ellanna says over the public address.
"Understood," Janeway says.
"Captain, I picking up the type of the explosion," Kat says, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Polaric ions."
Kat looks up.
"It's a temporal wave front."
"Mister Tuvoc, source?"
"I feeding the coordinates to Yeoman Tendo," Tuvok says.
Ranko brings up another pad.
"I got it. Hmmm. The source only a few hours from here."
Janeway turns to Neelix.
"Mister Neelix?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"Are you familiar with this sector?"
"Yes, but only as a passerby," Neelix says. "I tend to stay away from populated centers that have yet to achieve space travel."
"Concerned about contaminating their culture?" Kim asked.
"No, I don't want to risk being seen as some monster by some xenophobes."
"Ah."
Janeway goes to Ranko's ear.
"You've been through here before?" Janeway whispers.
"Why are we whispering?" Ranko replied likewise.
"Because not everyone knows about the REAL you?"
"Good point. Actually, I have…a long time ago."
"Give me a report on it later."
"Right."
Janeway steps back.
"Okay," Janeway says. "Mister Paris: adjust course to investigate."
"Yes, ma'am."
Janeway then turns to face Ranko.
"And, you, Ensign: puts some proper clothes on."
"Aye, ma'am," Ranko says with a smile. As she walks back into the turbolift, she catches Kim's roving eyes.
"What?"
"Um, nothing," Kim says nervously, as he continues his work.
"Humph," Ranko says, as she continues on her way. Yes, Kim had a girlfriend back home, but long-distance relationships tend to fail. She didn't mind having Kim as a roommate, but now…
"Maybe I better find another roommate or something," Ranko says to herself. "I wonder if Stadi would take me…"
Thirty minutes later, the Voyager is in orbit around a wasted planet. At the same time, two other sensitive crewmembers, Stadi and Kes, also picked up on the desolation of the planet…as well as the demise of every life form on the planet.
"My god," Chakotay says. "So much destruction."
"It appeared to be sudden," Tuvok says.
"Confirmed," Kat says. "I detect radiation levels that would indicate that the destruction of the planet accord…thirty day ago."
"Wait, we just felt blast thirty minutes ago," Paris says.
"You forget that a spatial shockwave could be felt long after the initial explosion," Ranko says.
"Oh, yeah…"
"Kat, what are the conditions?" Janeway asked.
"Radiation levels are within acceptable limits, and there is breathable atmosphere."
"Well, good…there is nothing to do but to go down to the planet," Janeway says. "Mister Paris, Mister Tuvok, Miss Stadi and Miss Tendo: you all are with me. Miss Torres, meet me in Transporter Room Three."
"I'm on my way-" B'Ellanna began to reply.
"Captain, permission to come along?" Kat ask.
Janeway looks at her daughter.
"I need you here to stay abreast of the situation."
"You might need a second analysis."
Ranko notices this.
"Captain, we can complete our survey of the planet faster if we have a complete team."
Janeway looks at Ranko.
"Fine. B'Ellanna, remain on the ship. Commander Chakotay, you have the Bridge."
"Yes, ma'am," Chakotay and B'Ellanna say in unison.
A few minutes later, the Away Team arrives to what should be some sort of pavilion. Darkness seemed to hover about, as the air seemed to be caked with dust.
"It's…horrible," Stadi says. "What could have done this?"
"Or what?" Paris says. "Whatever happened here, there is not a sign of life."
Ranko looks about the place.
"I remember this place…"
Janeway over hears this, and goes to Ranko.
"You want to talk?" Janeway asked.
Ranko nods her head, and the two of them go off to the side. This did not go unnoticed.
"You know, those two are awfully close," Kat says with wonder.
"Perhaps, but I wouldn't worry about it," Paris says.
"Hmmm…"
With the two of them alone, Janeway turns to Ranko.
"Okay, speak."
"This planet…is called 'Ard'…'Earth', to the natives here."
"So you HAVE been here."
"Yes," Ranko says. "This place was on of the newer development centers that were being built in this center."
"And were here because…"
"I was just passing through with a friend and Usagi…in a blue police box."
"A what?"
"Captain?" Paris called out. "We think we found the source of the explosion, of sorts."
Janeway and Ranko turn around and return to the group.
"This is a polaric field conduit," Kat says.
"We spotted more all around the area," Tuvok says. "All of them are in equal condition."
"My god," Janeway says, as she looks at the wreaked conduit. "With all of them going off at once-"
"Captain, I sense…a life form…all around me," Stadi says.
Tuvok takes out his Tricorder.
"None detected."
"But I am sure-"
"Wait, where is Ranko?" Paris asked.
"Ranko?" Janeway calls out. "Ranko!"
Meanwhile, a month into the past, Ranko is in the midst of a crowded pavilion.
"Now what?"
A blond-haired boy points at Ranko.
"Ah! A demon!"
"Figures…"
Tbc.
Author's note: Yes, I threw in some "Heavy Metal: The Movie". Ha!