Star Trek: Ranma's Chronicles 14 – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: Ranma ½, Star Trek, Sailor Moon and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: This is a sequel to "Star Trek: Ranma's Story".
Author's note: This chapter (as well as Season Four of DS9) takes place before the events depicted in the movie "Star Trek: First Contact".
Part 14: "The Life Trap, Finale".
Location: Somewhere outside of normal time and space.
Nabiki Tendo, in her true form (a digital representation not at all dissimilar to the security program known as "TRON"), sat in the void. In her cupped hands was the world that Darkseid's "Life Trap" had created. She went along with Darkseid's plan because she knew that her "brother-in-law" had to be tested. If Ranma fails the test, not only would Ranma's life be over permanently, but also so will everything else in Creation. Ranma must learn how to transcend the flesh, if he was to receive the training necessary for his preparation against his son Shinzon…
"YOU!"
Nabiki looked down to see the tiny form of Sailor Pluto.
"Yes, Sailor of Time?"
Sailor Pluto, who was monitoring this disruption of the time stream, goes right into the Exemplar's face. Her red eyes were redder than usual.
"You have no right to interfere in MY designs for the Moon Princess," 'Pluto says. "And furthermore, YOU seem to have forgotten your role as 'the Sesnhi of Knowledge', Sailor Minerva."
Nabiki smirk.
"I haven't. Lord Darkseid was the one who initiated the Life Trap."
"And you are helping him? How could you?"
"Because…I need to know if my faith in Ranma is justified."
Sailor Pluto looks at the Exemplar. She should have known that Nabiki's activities, as a "Reality Hacker", would have caused an evolution of sorts.
Damn mages.
"So…"
"Why am I helping Darkseid?"
"Yes, please illuminate this situation for me."
"Simply put, I help him set the trap, in exchange for…the Anti-Life Equation."
"Goodness!" 'Pluto says. Anyone with such knowledge could control ANYONE. Still, there was something bothering her…
"Why is Darkseid interested in Ranma, then?"
"One name: Shinzon."
"Oh."
"Beside, 'Puu-chan'…if Ranma fails the test, then he can no longer 'influence' the Moon Princess."
"Do not worry about MY agenda. Just make sure that you do not FURTHER damage the Moon Princess'…future. I may not be powerful enough to stop you, but I have plenty of friends who owe me a favor."
"Understood."
Location: DS9, Bajor Sector (A week later).
Since receiving word of Ranma Saotome's death, the station personnel have been trying to cope.
"Sigh," Pert says, as she cleaned the counter of the "Cat Café", on the promenade. Whenever she is not on duty, Pert helps out at her great-grandmother Shampoo's shop.
"I should have been there for him, great-grandmother," Pert said.
"And if you had, the Dark Lord of Apocalypse would noticed," Shampoo replies, as she sits down her tray on the counter. "I know that you cared for him…I do so as well, but there are some things that is best left to fate."
"But aren't we warriors? Why should we fear the Dark Side?"
"Child, do not mistake 'courage' with fool-hardiness."
"Alright…but what about US? What are we going to do next?"
"Well, I do like it here, so we do not have to return home anytime soon. And there is your Starfleet career to consider. Besides…it is here where you can earn your 'stripes', so to speak."
Pert nods her head. Besides the recent dust-up with the Klingons, there is the matter concerning the Maquis and the Dominion. And while she sympathized with the Klingons and the Maquis (on a cultural basis alone), their presence leaves the Dominion in the best possible position, should they decided to "up the ante".
"Pert, do you know who will be your next senior officer?" Shampoo asked.
Pert snorted, which caused Shampoo to raise an eyebrow.
"Oh, sorry. You remember the Kuno clan, right?"
"Yes, unfortunately."
"Apparently, Starfleet has sent a member of that clan to become the commanding officer of the Valiant."
"It seems that you will have your work cut out for you."
"Oh?"
"If I recall, the Kuno clan is known for being 'tail chasers'."
"Well, thank fully, I don't have to worry about it."
"Oh?"
"I hear that he is married."
"Now, who would want to marry a Kuno?"
A short time later…
"Isn't this place grand?" Mrs. Ranko Kuno says, as she steps off the gangplank with her new husband Lt/Commander Taisuke Kuno. "I wonder what adventure awaits us!"
"Fear not, my beloved," said the handsome officer. "There are plenty of adventures that await us."
Bajoran Col. Kira Nyres and Station Constable Odo (a changeling) were waiting for the arrival of the new commander of the Valiant, when they spotted Taisuke's wife.
"Commander Saotome?" Odo asked.
"Pardon?" Ranko asks.
Kira elbowed Odo, indicating him to remain silent for now.
"Sorry, my mistake," Odo says. "I am the Station Chief Odo. I will need to conduct an interview while you are checking in."
"But of course, my good man," Taisuke says.
"And I am Colonel Kira Nyres of the Bajoran Militia, and the military liaison to Starfleet."
"Hello, Colonel Kira. To THINK that Bajor can produce a rose with thorns."
"Um, well…"
"Don't be such a flatterer, Tai-kun!" Ranko giggled. "I'm sure the Colonel doesn't NEED such a compliment."
"Ah, yes," Kira said with embarrassment. "Now, if you two can follow me, we can get things squared away…"
Over the next few days, the Kuno couple causes quite a stir…
"I'm telling you, SHE has to be the commander," said Miles O'Brien. He, Dax and Bashir were at their usual table in "Quark's". "She LOOKS like him. Or her. Or whatever."
"Julian, do 'Ranko' and Ranma match up genetically?" Dax asked.
"You I can't answer that," Dr. Bashir replies. "There is the 'doctor-patient' confidentiality system to consider."
Just then, Kira enters the area.
"Well?" O'Brien says.
"Well," began Kira, "I went to the Prophets vis-à-vis the 'Orb of the Warrior' at the Bajoran Temple, managed to get an audience, and…"
"And what?"
"The only thing that I was told were one word: Omega."
"'Omega'?" Dax asked. "What could that possibly mean?"
"It means that the New Gods are involved," said Odo, as he, Ensigns Crusher and Saotome enter to both.
"What do you mean?" Dax asked.
"I managed to make a correlation to Apocalypse' recent forays into 'real' space and the attempts to help Commander Saotome."
"And…?"
"They match," Hoshiko says. Her brain was wired to handle the streams of information.
"Well, this is great," Kira says sarcastically. "Now, what?"
"Well…our new commander wants to take the Valiant into the Gamma Quadrant. Whose to say that the wormhole won't take us instead to, let's say…the Fourth World?"
"Creating a new pathway within the wormhole will not be a problem," O'Brien says. "It's no different from crossing over to the 'Mirror Universe'."
"However, wouldn't the changes be noticed at Operations?" Dr. Bashir asked.
"I'll take care of that," Dax replies. "Creating a false reading would not be a problem."
"Then, let's get this operation under way. We need to know the truth behind what happened to Commander Saotome."
Unknown to the group, a certain pigtailed redhead was listening…
Soon, the Valiant was underway, with Lt/Commander Taisuke Kuno in the center seat. Upon approach, the Bajoran Wormhole opened. The Defiant was undergoing repairs from the last foray into the Gamma Quadrant, hence the use of the Valiant.
"Ah, this is the life for an adventurer!" Kuno proclaimed. "Surely, this is the stuff that dreams are made of!"
Oh, brother! Pert thought to herself.
"Sir, I'm picking up some unusual readings within," Dax says, as her fingers danced across the panel. Should we turn back?"
"I say thee nay, my fair Dax. Let us see where we end up…"
SKREEE-!
BOOM!
A makeshift "boom tube" causes the starship to end up in orbit around…Apocalypse.
"Standard orbit, sir," Ensign Ro Laren says.
"That's odd," Dax says.
"What is it?" Kuno asks.
"Well, one, we are in the Fourth World, and, two, we are in orbit around Apocalypse."
"And…?"
"And we should have been attacked by now," Pert says. "Darkseid would have sent his parademons or henchmen to attack us."
"Well, then perhaps we should pay this…Darkseid a visit?"
"Um…"
"Then its settle then!" Kuno says, as he gets up. "Let us pay a visit to the master of the house!"
Unfortunately…
"Can't we talk about this?" Kuno says, as he was strung upside down, along with the rest Away Team, while surrounded by parademons.
Darkseid, in his true form merely smirks.
"I would think that my reputation would cause pause," Darkseid says, with a bemused look. Only the Kryptonian has ever dared to face me as an equal."
"Forgive his ignorance, Lord Darkseid," Dax says. "We simply seek the truth concerning Ranma Saotome."
"I see. So it's the 'Warrior of the Prophets' that you seek. Tell me…why should I simply dispose of you all right here and now?"
"Because it will not be in your best interest to do so," said a voice.
Everyone turn to see…Ranko. She was dressed in a stylistic gown and robes, and appeared luminous. And there were some translucent blue facial markings on her face.
"My beloved pig-tail goddess!"
"Ranma, is that you?" Dax asks.
"Not exactly, Commander Dax. Sorry, my beloved Tai-kun. I am not the person that you know."
"But beloved…" Kuno begins.
"I am Ranma's 'Avatar' Rankiko," Ranko proclaims. "Commander Dax, we've met a few times on the Digital Web."
"Oh, yes, I remember."
Rankiko turns her attention back to Darkseid.
"Let these people go."
"They came here uninvited, little goddess. Have a care!"
"And you know that you need Ranma to succeed, if nothing more than to protect your interest."
"How astute, Rankiko. However, I will not simply allow my guests to leave. So, should the Warrior succeeds in his test, I shall allow them to leave."
"And if he fails?"
"Then my 'guests' will regret coming to Apocalypse."
"We should have a say- URK!" Kuno began. Darkseid has grabbed the Starfleeter by the throat.
"You have no say. And if I deem it so, you shall have no say…permanently."
"Ranma, where are you…?" Dax bemoans.
Location: Somewhere else…Where…where am I? Is this…limbo my fate?
Ranma had purposely ended his life, rather than allow him self to be a burden on his friends and family.
Years ago, he had served with a man named Christopher Pike, aboard the first NCC-1701 Enterprise. Pike was a man of action, something that Ranma respected. And then…the training accident happened. Pike, while saving some of the Academy cadets from harm, he received a deadly does of radiation that disfigured him horribly, rendered him mute and crippled him. Ranma felt guilty for what had happened. For you see, Ranma was supposed to have accompanied Pike on the training mission, but backed out at the last minute to work on his then-estranged marriage with Usagi…who was on Vulcan raising a child fathered by fellow crewmate Spock. What happened to Pike affected Ranma; had he been there, Ranma reasoned, perhaps Pike would not have been injured so.
And he was carrying that guilt ever since.
The last time he saw Pike was when was during that unpleasant affair on the forbidden world of Talos IV. Ranma and Spock had agreed that Pike's best chance at survival was to live in an alien menagerie…even if it meant risking a court martial and summery execution…
FLASHBACK!Location: En route to Talos IV.
Ranma sat on the witness stand, waiting for the defense to question him. So far, archive footage of Pike's reign as Captain of the NCC-1701 Enterprise and Spock's testimony has been admitted into the official record. Now, it was Ranma's turn.
"So, tell me, Mr. Saotome," began Ms. Tsukino-Saotome. "Why did you risk everything for someone whom you haven't seen in years?"
Ranma looks at his wife, then at Captain Kirk, Chief Engineer and Commodore Mendez (who were part of the board of inquiry) and then back at Usagi.
"When I served under Fleet Captain Pike, he showed me what it was like to be dedicated to the role of a Starfleet officer. During a mission to Rigel IV, a tribe of giants ambushed my team, killing half of them in the process. Pike stuck up for me during a subsequent inquiry, and convinced me to stay in Starfleet."
Ranma pauses.
"A few years later, during a training accident, Captain Pike was injured while trying to rescue Starfleet cadets. This you all know. What no one knows is that…I was the one who should have been there to prevent the accident."
"Oh?" Usagi asked.
Ranma looks at Usagi.
"I was going through some…marriage trouble with my wife, and allowed that to distract me from participating in that training exercise. It should have been ME there, not Pike. If I had been there, Pike would not have been injured. If I had been there, we wouldn't be here today. I neglected my duties as both a friend and a Starfleet officer to Captain Pike. So when Spock suggested that we take him to Talos IV, in order to give Pike some measure of happiness, I agreed to that plan. I failed Pike on Rigel IV, I failed him when I neglected my duty, but I will not fail him now. At least, that's been the plan."
Usagi nods her head. She then turned to the board of inquiry.
"The defense rest, Your Honors."
Captain Kirk, having heard from first Spock then Ranma, turns to Commodore Mendez.
"In light of this testimony, I vote that we suspend this inquiry-"
Suddenly, Mendez disappears, and the screen in the conference room lights up. On it, there was one of the big-brained aliens from the fourth planet of the Talos System. Apparently, the Talosians were part of the entire set-up to escort Pike to their planet.
"Captain Kirk, we are of Talos IV offer sanctuary for Christopher Pike. We can offer him the life that stuff that dreams are made of."
Just then, the hail call rings.
"Bridge to Captain Kirk," said Uhura from the Bridge via the comlink.
"Kirk here. What's up?"
"Starfleet has been monitoring the situation, and, in light of the circumstances and the testimony of Mr. Saotome and Mr. Spock, they have granted you permission to visit Talos IV. Planetary quarantine has been temporarily suspended."
"Thanks," Kirk says. He then turns to Pike. "Well? It's your call. Do you want to go to Talos IV?"
"BEEP!"
"Mr. Spock?"
"I will endeavor the moment," Spock says, as he gets up.
"Sir? Permission to provide escort?" Ranma asked.
"Oh, NOW you are asking permission?" Kirk chided. "Permission granted."
"Thank you, sir."
Ranma hugged Usagi, and followed Spock and Pike down to the planet.
Kirk turns to Usagi.
"Your husband is an honorable man, Usagi," Kirk says.
"I know," Usagi replied with a smile. "That's why I married him..."
END FLASHBACK!"And you did this all for me," said a voice.
Ranma turned to see a healthy Christopher Pike.
"Captain Pike?"
Pike chuckled, as he goes to Ranma.
"I kinda expected you to do a little better in life, rather than commit suicide."
"But you don't understand-"
"But I do. You didn't want to be a burden on those you love. But you gave up on the people you cared for you. Usagi may be a 'nympho', but she's trying her best to be true to you. And your friends on Deep Space Nine are risking a lot by going to Apocalypse for answers. They didn't see you as a wasted effort. And you didn't see ME as a wasted effort, when you risked everything to give me some bit of happiness. Don't let your guilt over me dictate your future."
"But can I do now? I'm dead!"
Pike gave Ranma a knowing smile.
"You are the Warrior of the Prophets, and only the Prophets can allow you to die."
Then it dawned on Ranma. If he were dead and gone, why would those aliens invest time and effort in him? Why would they be convinced that it would be HE who will deliver Paradise unto Bajor?
"Make up your mind soon," Pike said. "Your friends and family need you…"
FLASH!
Ranma found himself in some sort of darkness, hanging upside down on an inverted cross.
I AM OMEGA!
Ranma looked around, and saw a shadowy figure.
I AM THE LAST! NOTHING CAN STOP THE END OF LIFE!
Ranma used his strength to free himself from the cross, and faced the darkness.
"No," Ranma said, as he faced Omega. "Death is nothing more that a part of the cycle of life…AND I AM NTO READY TO DIE TODAY!"
Ranma summoned his spiritual energies. He thought about the life he has led. He thought about the people he cared about.
If Ranma is to go to his reward, he is going kicking and screaming.
"Moko Takabisha Revised: PERFECT VICTORY!"
A huge chi-based energy beam lanced out towards Omega, the living end of life.
"NO-!"
And everything goes WHITE…
"Ranma?" said a voice.
Ranma woke up, and found himself in the Medilab on DS9. He looked to see the source of the voice.
It was Usagi.
"Usagi-!"
"Easy, Commander," said Dr. Bashir. "You still have injuries to be mended."
"Ranma!" said Amanda, as she, Pert, Shampoo, Sasami and a few of other women in Ranma's life come into the station. "Oh, I'm glad that you're okay!"
Ranma sees Odo standing there.
"Odo, what happened?"
"Apparently, there was a targeted attempt on Counselor Tsukino's life. I wouldn't be surprise if there is some religious extremism involved."
"Huh," Ranma said, remembering that the Bajoran clergy had some Usagi setting up shop as a Bene Gesserit. "I better watch that."
"I'm just happy that you'll make a full recovery," Dax says.
"Alright, people, Ranma needs his rest," Bashir says.
"Aw!"
As everyone left the room, he could see Nabiki nodding her head approvingly before leaving the room as well. Ranma had a sneaking suspicion as to what was going on, but decided to wait until later to get answers from her. Still, he wondered if what he experienced was a dream or not. Regardless, Ranma realized that he could not have gone on baring the guilt for what had happened, and he certainly had a sense of renewed life in him. No matter what, he is not going to let life itself become his trap…he is going to master his own life and in his own way.
Location: Apocalypse.
"As you can see, Lord Darkseid," Rankiko said. "Ranma beat the 'Life Trap', and will soon be able to transcend Time itself."
Darkseid nods approvingly.
"Out of all the beings that have impressed me, only the Starfleeter and the Kryptonian have done so."
"You seemed to have mellowed somewhat over the years."
"I'm simply more practical. Besides, Ranma's usefulness is still important to me. There are worst things out there that need to be dealt with."
"Figures," Rankiko said, as she rolls her eyes. "Once a manipulator, always a manipulator."
"Indeed. Do you expect anything less of me?"
Location: DS9.
A few weeks later…
"Yum, this is good," Ranma said, as he polished another bowl of Ramen at "Quark's". "Yo, Quark! Another!"
"Yeah, yeah…"
"Wow, you seem to have your appetite back," says Nabiki drolly. With everything back to what it is suppose to be, things are more or less normal. Nabiki's command over Space (her specialty as an Exemplar), Time and the Mind created a pocket universe that allowed Darkseid's "Life Trap" to take place. Now that Ranma passed the test, she restored everything to normal…for the most part.
"Hey, you should know of my eating habits by now, Nabs."
"Unfortunately, I do."
Ranma polishes off another Ramen, puts aside the empty bowl, and grabbed Nabiki's hands.
"What-?" Nabiki began.
"I did some checking recently…and I found out that YOU are really Admiral Nechayev."
"Um…how?"
"Well, I am an intelligence officer after all. Anyway, I did some checking, and found out that there is no genetic record of anyone related to an Alynna Nechayev. But because she was found as a baby at an orphanage in Moscow, people assumed that she was Russian."
"So how does that connect to me?"
"Because I told him," Rankiko said, as she goes up to Ranma's table.
"Ah, the Digital Goddess appears," Nabiki smirks.
"Look, I'm not going to probe this matter any further, but I just wanted to know why the harassment."
"Guess."
"This doesn't have anything to do with Amanda, is it?"
"Bingo."
"Look, that is something that you will have to deal with HER."
"I know, which is why I can't."
"Huh?"
Nabiki sighed.
"In her previous life, Amanda stayed behind because of YOU. She knew that someday that you would return to her, so she did not leave Earth like Kasumi and I. I…hated you because of that. Do you know what it was like to loose a family member?"
"Yes," Ranma replied. "Her name was Aiko, while her sister's name was Hoshiko."
"…"
"Look, I'm sorry for what had happened. But, you should have respected your sister's decision. And besides…she's here now."
"Yeah, I guess so. So what now? Expose me to Starfleet?"
"Naw. I figure Starfleet needs a ball-buster now and again, and Nechayev suits the bill. Just don't be TOO rough on us."
Nabiki blinked.
"So…you don't mind the manipulation?"
"On the contrary, thanks to YOU, I've learned how to use both brawn AND brains to deal with people. How do you think I'm able to deal with the Romulans and the Cardassians?"
"I see…"
"Besides, I wouldn't want to hurt the feelings of the mother of one of my children."
"So…you will allow me to have your child?"
"No…I want to be the father of YOUR child. Of course, if you want to go the 'natural', you got to ask Usagi's permission first. And you better hurry, otherwise you might have to ask her AND Sasami's permission!"
Fin.
Special Author's note: I like to take chances with my stories; this story arc is one of them. Let me know if you want me to take more chances, or go "pedestrian". And to those who still need to know how to read the "Ranma/Trek Trilogy", "Star Trek: Ranma's Story is first, followed by "Star Trek: Ranma's Chronicles" and "Star Trek: Ranma's Adventures" (the Sailor Moon ST/SMST stories are NOT required reading to understand the Ranma/Trek Trilogy. C&C are always welcome.
Next time: More Klingon intrigue continues, as Kurn, the brother of Worf, makes a special request of Ranma…that could mean his death! Plus, Nodoka gets to learn more of Ranma's family, circa 2373 CE, which could mean trouble! "Honor and Family", next time on "Star Trek: Ranma's Chronicles". See you next time!