The Ranma Trek Voyage! By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "SM", "R1/2", "ST" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 20
"Personal Log, Stardate: 48546.2. Although we have made progress in prepping the 'Voyager' for the long trip back to Earth, Captain Janeway is still concerned about the access of fuels. Since I will still be in recover for my lung donation, I've been using my experience to conduct research on alternate ways to achieve "warp speed". For example, I am having Torres and Kim to help make modifications to the ship's systems that should help with day-to-day fuel consumption, using a 'Cosmic Sail' system. Not only are we able to collect energy cheaply, but also, with that, plus the use of anti-gravity generators, we can travel at warp space…albeit at lower warp factors. Still, this is only the beginning of the various projects that Janeway has in mind, so I have asked for someone to partner me in this endeavor. And since Medical Specialist Stadi has consistently "bugged" Janeway a chance to use the skills that she was trained for in her post-Starfleet Academy career, before being forced into the Medical, she has been assigned to me…"
"Here's your 'Earl Gray' tea," Stadi says, as she gives the cup to Ranko. "Lemon with a touch of honey."
"Thanks," Ranko says, as she accepts the cup. She began to sip her tea, when suddenly-
"So, why are you playing a role, Commander Saotome?" Stadi asked.
Pffffffffft-!
"Ah," Stadi says calmly, as she took a napkin and wiped the spewed tea from her face.
"Sorry…about that," Ranko says, as she sits the cup down. "Wait, how did you-?"
"How did I know that 'Ranko Tendo' and 'Ranma Saotome' were the same person, in spite of the changed genders?" Stadi retorted.
"Er, yes."
"I was going over some medical records to do book-keeping, when I noticed an interesting and quite unique genetic code. Other than the difference between the XY and XX chromosome patterns, the remaining code is consistent. So, either you are a clone, and making clones is an illegal act, or you are a shapeshifter."
"Humph," Ranko says with a bemused smirk. You certainly have me there…"
"So why this?"
"I don't know…maybe I want to get in touch with my feminine side?"
Stadi gives Ranko "The Look".
"Fine. You promise not to tell anyone about what I am going to say?"
"Sure."
"I'm trying to get to know Kat."
"And why?"
"Because she is my daughter."
"Wait, you mean-?"
"Yes. A long time ago, Captain Janeway and I had a brief relationship. Long story short, she's not sure about me getting to know our kid because of my…reputation."
"Oh. But surely, the Captain knows about you now."
"Actually, she's always known, but she is respecting the fact that as long as I don't say anything to Kat about ME…she wou't say anything about my…condition."
"Huh."
"Look, I suppose to meet with Janeway regarding some additional ideas about space propulsion over lunch. You want to come? I'm sure that the Captain would love to hear what you've come up with."
Stadi smiles.
"Sure."
"Great," Ranko says, as she gets up and gathers her notes. She then coughed.
"Ranko?"
"Just trying to get use to the feel of 'regenerated' lungs," Ranko says. She then notices something about Stadi.
"Are those…'Odangos'?" Ranko asked.
"What?" Stadi replied.
"That hair style of yours."
"Oh, this. Well…I want to try something new with my hair. I've been letting hair grow out lately."
"Hmmm…"
"It's not bad or anything, is it?"
"Well, I think you'll need to grow it out some more if you want that particular hairstyle."
"That's exactly what I was thinking. I say, give me a couple of months, I should be done."
"I am looking forward to it," Ranko says. "Let's go get lunch…"
Later…
Upon hearing word that the "Voyager" came across a nebula filled with omnicron particles, the command crew was assembled in the conference room.
"First order of business," Janeway begins to say, "I am concerned about the state of affairs of the crew."
"How so?" Tuvok asked.
"Although we will return home in five to seven years, and, incidentally, that is the standard for long range missions, I feel that the crew could use a 'counselor'. So, Lt. Stadi, I will assign you that role."
"But ma'am, the highest professional program I was certified in that field is in 'xeno-psychology'."
"What is 'xeno-psychology'?" Neelix asked.
"A therapist," Janeway says. "It's one step below xeno-psychiatry, which is one-step below 'Counseling'."
Janeway turns her attention back to Stadi.
"Yes, I know this. But since Miss Kes is training to be a registered nurse, your duties can be expanded elsewhere."
"Aye, Captain," Stadi sighs.
"Any other suggestions?" Janeway asked.
"If may be so bold," Chakotay begins. "I can introduce the concept of 'animal guides' to the crew."
"'Animal guides'?"
"It was is an Amerindian technique for spiritual meditation," Ranko says.
"So you did this…meditation?" Janeway asked.
"Yes," Ranko says. "I first learned how during one of my trips to Amerindia Prime."
"Interesting…"
"Nevertheless, I can lead a workshop for those who do not want to have a regular counseling session," Chakotay offered.
"Excellent," Janeway replied. "Next order of business is the nebula that lay before us."
"I can set up the parameters for the collection of the particles," Kat says.
"Good. B'Ellanna, Harry: give me an update when the collectors have been modified," Janeway says.
"Yes, Captain," say B'Ellanna and Harry in unison.
Meanwhile, Stadi was thinking about her new set of duties when a wave of emotion washed over her. She realized that someone knows about her and her crewmates.
Ranko, seeing her friend's distress, leans to the side.
"Stadi, is something wrong?" Ranko whispered.
"Huh?"
"You…spaced out a bit."
"It's…nothing."
"…"
"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"Okay, then," Ranko says. "Just let me know if you need anything."
Stadi smiles a bit, but, inwardly, she was worried about the consciousness that she was feeling.
Stadi turns towards the nebula. Its violet hue seems to pulse with life…
Upon entering the nebula, the "Voyager" met with some unusual resistance. Worse, Stadi began to feel an intense migraine every time a membrane is pierced. So upon reaching the calm center of the nebula, Ranko escorts Stadi to Sick Bay.
"I can go to Sick Bay myself, Ranko," Stadi says, as she and Ranko walk down the hall.
"I know that, Stadi," Ranko says. "But since you were fussing over me, I would like to return the favor."
"Huh," Stadi said with defeat.
The two stop in front of Sickbay.
"Now, promise me you'll get some rest, okay?" Ranko asked.
"I will," Stadi says, as she nods her head.
Stadi enters Sick Bay, just as B'Ellanna exits.
"Oh, I was just about to look for Kat…but maybe you can take a look at this preliminary report," B'Ellanna says, as she gives the datapad in her hand to Ranko.
"What do you have?" Ranko asked, as she scrolls through the information. "Hmmm…"
"Doctor believes that the sequencing is semi-organic."
"You would be correct. Get this to Kat for verification, but I'll note it when I give my ship's status report to the Captain."
"Right."
Once the demi-Klingon was gone, Ranko taps her combadge.
"Computer, is Lt. Paris in his quarters?"
"NEGATIVE," the computer says. "Lt. Paris is in 'Holodeck 3'."
"Curious…"
Ranko eventually ends up in the holographic recreation of "Chez Sardines".
"Most curious…"
Ranko looks around the smoked-filled room. She spots Paris and Kim. Ranko was about to call out for Paris, when-
"Ranko!" says a blond, older woman. "Hello, Cherie."
"Wait, how do you know who I am?" Ranko says.
"That's because of 'Ranma Saotome', Ranko," Tom says.
"I see that you've recreated this place, Tom," Ranko says.
Upon hearing Ranko's voice, Harry stops his practice at pool playing.
"Hey, Ranko," Harry says to his roommate. "Nothing happened, right?"
"No, Harry," Ranko says dismissively. "But I'm glad that you two are up."
"What's happening?"
"I was originally looking for Tom to discuss a means to safely leave the nebula, but I ran into B'Ellanna instead."
"So, what does she have to say?" Harry says.
"There's something more to this nebula than meets eye. Since you're up, work with B'Ellanna in determining if we have a potential threat on our hands."
"Right," Kim says, as he begins to leave the holographic program. "I'll…go ahead and retrieve my notes."
After Kim leaves, Ranko turns to Paris.
"Why would you recreate the Maquis contact point?" Ranko says.
"Hey, just because YOU used it for a recruitment tool, that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it."
"Um, riiight."
Later…
"And so we have a problem," Kat says, as she finished her presentation to the assembled command crew. "We're inside a living nebula."
Janeway turns to Ranko.
"Are familiar with this phenomenon?" Janeway asked, knowing that Ranko is an experienced space traveler…as "Ranma Saotome".
"I have read upon an encounter similar to this, when the NCC-1701 "Enterprise"—under the command of James Kirk—had encountered an amoeba," Ranko says. "But…that situation is slightly different from this one, since the amoeba was actively eating planets."
"But the basic idea is the same, correct?"
"Correct."
"Then those 'membranes' our ship passed through were, in fact, membranes," Tuvok says.
"Then my headaches were real," Stadi says. "I was feeling its pain."
"Why did neither Tuvok nor I feel this…pain?" Kes asked.
"Stadi's sensitivity levels are beyond yours," the Doctor says from the view-screen. "In fact, her levels rival that of a Lunarian."
"But…there are no more Lunarians," Kim says.
"Actually, Counselor Usgai Tsukino of the Federation station 'DS9' is Lunarian," Ranko offered.
"Correct. In fact, we matched her profile with Counselor Tsukino during a routine sweep of the ship's medical database."
"So now that we know what is going on, what's next?" Chakotay asks. "Obviously, we've harmed it."
"Well, that's fine, but what can we do?" Paris says.
"I would recommend a 'nucleonic' apparatus to patch the damage," Kat says.
"Can this be done?" Janeway says.
"Just a simple matter of modifying our existing systems," B'Ellanna says. "But I'll need help in order to get it done right the first time."
"Alright. Kat, Harry and Ranko: assist in the modification. Dismissed."
Once the crew gets ready for action, Janeway sounds the call.
"Yellow Alert!" Janeway says, as she sits in her seat. "Mister Tuvok, make sure that the shields hold. Doctor, are you ready to 'suture' the wound?"
"Me?"
"Yes. You did contribute to the solution, correct?"
"Why, yes…yes I have," says the Doctor proudly.
"Then let's get to work…"
It soon became apparent that the crew would have more trouble than they bargain for.
"Captain, I'm getting some 'chop'," Paris says, as he steadied the ship.
"Shields are holding steady," Tuvok says.
"Engines are straining," Torres says.
"It's working!" Kat says, as she monitored the Doctor's progress.
Soon, the hole in the membrane of the living nebula was patched up.
"Job well done," Janeway says, with a grin. "Let's go home."
Later…
"Ma'am," Ranko says, as she enters the Ready Room. "Here's the final report for the day."
"Thanks," Janeway says, as she accepts the report. "Ranma, did you REALLY face a space amoeba?"
"Yep. The only other person alive who could confirm would be Ambassador Spock."
"Really?"
"Really. Of course, that's NOTHING compared to be caught by a giant hand in space."
"You're KIDDING."
"Nope. In all my life, I have encountered a lot of strange things that would boggle the mind."
"I would like to hear some of your stories."
"No problem. Good night."
Ranko turns to leave, but-
"Ranma, where are you going?" Janeway asked.
"Tom created this…holographic program of Sardines."
"Wasn't that the place you took me on our first date?"
"Yep, that's the one. I know that there are power consumption issues-"
"No problem. Actually, I read your report about our power needs…and, well…why the hell not?"
Janeway sets the datapad on her desk, and stands.
"You don't mind if I come along?"
Ranko smiles.
"I have NO problem with that."
Tbc.
Next Time: "Eye of the Needle".