The Delightful Hulkusagi! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Ranma ½ and other genres belong their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: This one is a short entry, due to other obligations. C&C are welcomed.
Part 21: "The Blue Side of the Moon!" (IX)
Meanwhile, below the sea…
The heroine known as "Deep Blue", whose real name was "Mera Rantsu", was the reincarnation of a dragon sea-god named Ryujin. Years before, Ryujin kidnapped Usagi as his bride, knowing that she was the legendary Moon Princess. However, Ranma confronted Ryujin…and slew him in mortal combat, when he made threats to harm Usagi in a desperate move against Ranma. However, before dying, Ryujin made a vow to one day come back for vengeance, when the couple would least suspect it. That opportunity had came when Mera was born to Ranma and Usagi, when it became apparent that she was the reincarnation their old enemy…due to her dragon-like eyes. Making matters worse, acolytes of Ryujin had kidnapped the baby Mera, and fled to the water world of "Aquas", so that she could be raised as a weapon against her own parents. It would be years later that Mera, now Queen of Xebel-La (the capital of Aquas), would attempt a return to Earth with an invasion force of aquatic humanoids. As far she knew, Ranma and Usagi were responsible for her parents' death, and wanted to get revenge on them and the rest of the Earth by taken over the world's oceans. Thankfully, they (who had discovered clues to Mera's whereabouts), with the help of superhero "Aquaman", managed to stop the invasion before it had begun.
Over the years, the Ranma and Usagi would do whatever it took to get to know their daughter, even knowing that she contained the soul of an old enemy. At the same time, Mera and Aquaman would go on to develop a relationship that resulted in an official Royal marriage, since Aquaman was the designated heir to the throne of Atlantis (after defeating both cousin Prince Namor, the Submariner, and half-brother Prince Orm, the Ocean Master in combat, using techniques that Aquaman was taught to by Ranma). As much as Ranma hated having to learn how to breath underwater for extended periods of time, he would do so to be the father Mera wanted, even go far as to teach her and his grandson Arthur—who would follow in his father's footsteps as the second "Aquaman"—the family martial arts. He didn't like being in water for extended periods of time, since his control over his curse was limited in water. Still, getting to know his daughter and his new family made his inconvenience worth it…
"Your Highness," said an Atlantean officer, as he enters the submersible craft's royal quarters. All Atlanteans work garb, civilian and otherwise, were stylistically "aquatic" (sea shells and the like).
Mera looks up from reading. She was reading a proposed treaty that Prince Namor wanted that would cement an alliance Atlantis and New Themiscyria (the home of the Amazons under the rule of the ancient Queen Hippolyta). She hoped that she being the half-sister of Ambassador Princess Diana, known to the world as "Wonder Woman", would enable successful negotiations between their peoples. It won't be easy, since the renegade Atlantean warlord Attuma, an old boyfriend of her mother's, have made it a personal crusade to harass the Amazons. Mera never could understand what her mother saw in him…
"Yes, Captain?" Mera replied.
"We are picking up the sonar signature of the monster Godzilla," the Captain said. "He is on a direct course to Tokyo."
"How far ahead is the creature from us?"
"We are an hour ahead of us."
"Can we intercept the creature before it makes landfall?"
"I am afraid not, Your Highness. At best, we can intercept Godzilla when he enters the Bay of Tokyo."
"Then proceed," Mera said. "And assemble our guests in the receiving room in thirty minutes."
"Yes, Your Highness," the officer said with a bow, before turning away.
After the officer leaves, Mera sighed.
"Mother, Father…I'm sure you two are behind this latest event, somehow," Mera said to herself quietly.
Meanwhile…
Usagi was floating on a virtual medical bed, within a containment field, in Sickbay, as the EMH program conducted his examination. At the same time, nearly everyone else, from earlier, was observing this.
"I can't believe you have access to this…ship, sempai," Makoto said, as she looked around Sickbay.
"Well, Usagi and I earned it, after years of service," Ranma said, as he took a sip of his Klingon coffee (called "Raktajino").
"What service are you talking about?" Mamoru asked.
Annoyed with the chatter, the EMH turns towards the group.
"THIS is a Sickbay, not some lounge for you to 'chatter'," the EMH replied.
"Well, how about we localize your hearing receptors, Doc?" Ranma replied. "Would that help?"
"Actually, it would. That way, I do not have to hear about your LATEST dalliance," the EMH said, as he picked up a datapad.
"WHAT?" Akane yelled. "Whom else have you been with, you womanizing jerk?"
"Yeah," Usagi said through the intercom, as she opened her eyes. "I would like to know that myself."
"How did she hear that?" Ranma said. "I thought the containment room was sound proof."
"I can read lips, remember?" Usagi said, as she glared at Ranma.
"I picking up increase stress levels," the EMH said. "I must implore you to leave Sickbay…now."
"Er, right," Ranma said. "Can Ami stay to help you out? She's into medicine and stuff."
"I know of Doctor Mizuno-Saotome's reputation as a medical researcher," EMH said.
"Wait, you know of me?" Ami said.
"Of course I do, Miss Mizuno. Your work in Bio-Medicine is the equivalent of Mozart's 'Fifth Symphony'…a masterpiece."
"Oh."
Pause.
"Wait, did you say…'Doctor Mizuno-SAOTOME'?"
Ranma desperately did the 'cut to the throat' hand gesture in front of the EMH. The last thing Ranma wanted was anyone knowing his or her future…
"Did I?" the EMH said cautiously. "I must be…mistaken. However, I can use your assistance in examining our patient."
"I would be honored, Doctor…er, what shall I call you?"
"'Doctor' shall suffice."
"Okay. Doctor it is."
"Now, the rest of you…get out."
"You don't tell me what to do-" Akane said, before Ranma drags her out. "Let go of me, jerk-!"
"Take it easy, Usagi!" Makoto said with a wave, as she turns towards Mamoru. "Let's go."
"Right," Mamoru said, as he left a red rose on the console before leaving. Once he was gone, the Doctor picks up the Rose.
"It appears that Admiral Tsukino is cared for in this time as well," the Doctor mused.
"Usagi was a member of the Japanese Maritime Defense Force?" Ami asked.
"You should ask Admiral Tsukino yourself, while I find a thin vase for this flower," the Doctor said.
"But, the examination-"
"Is already done. I am working on the analysis now."
"Oh, okay."
"Relax, Miss Mizuno. I am a trained professional, after all…"
And with that, the Doctor leaves his station.
Swallowing hard, Ami turns towards her friend.
"Um, Usagi?"
"Yes?" Usagi said, as she opened her eyes to look at her friend.
"This…seems so fantastical," Ami said. "I mean, with this ship and with the glimpses of your life…I…I don't know WHAT to think."
"Me neither, and I lived all this," Usagi said with a sigh. "But, I remember what an old friend once told me."
"And that is…?"
"'Faith manages'."
"That sounds so deep, Usagi. If I may ask, who told you that? Ranma?"
"No, you did, Ami. You told me that when I was hesitant about confronting one of my own children, when she was enthralled by…Shadows. Had I not been convinced that it was necessary to confront her, convinced of the necessity of my subsequent actions, I would have condemned the Earth to ruin."
"Oh," Ami said. "What happened to your daughter?"
"She died, though, later, she was resurrected by her masters for further malfeasance."
"Oh, dear."
Meanwhile…
"It appears that Gojira will arrive in fifteen minutes, Ranma," Nabiki said, as she taped into the sensors of the Ranusagi.
"Well, we do have the 'Big Science Action Team there to 'greet' him," Ranma said. "But the twins and I will have to join them soon anyway."
"I see…"
"I REALLY hope you are not making any attempts to hack into my files, Nabiki."
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
Ranma looks up.
"Computer."
CHIRP!
"Working, dear," replied the Ranusagi, in a sexy way.
Nabiki gives Ranma a quizzical look.
Ranma ignores it.
"Have there been any attempts to 'hack' into the central server core of your system?"
"This is the fifth time that Miss Nabiki Tendo has attempted to 'hack' into the central server core of the Ranusagi…dear."
"I GOT to get that fixed…"
"Hey, I only tried to hack into your server ONCE," Nabiki said. And then, a thought ran through her mind.
"Wait a minute," Nabiki said. "I don't remember trying to hack into your servers five times!"
'Uh, oh,' Ranma thought, recalling that he had to resort to using a 'neuralizer' to suppress Nabiki's short-term memories…whenever he caught her in his business. 'She's on to me…'
"Well, Saotome?"
"I-"
"Ranma, I got a bone to pick with you," Akane said, as she walked up the martial artist.
"Not now…"
"I want to KNOW what's this business between you and this…Usagi. And, I want to know about those…people who claim to be your kids."
"You want to know?" Ranma said tersely. "YOU want to KNOW? Fine, follow me…"
Akane was taken aback by Ranma's intensity. However, she decided to follow him anyway.
"This, I got to see," Nabiki said, as she logged out of the Ranusagi's systems.
A few minutes later, Ranma, Nabiki enters the main holodeck, where it was presently being used.
Wrrrrrr-!
"Damn, it's occupied," Ranma said.
"Yah-hoo!" Isamu said, as he rode his skateboard while performing flips and turns in mid-air, while turning to ride back down the half-pipe. The holodeck was designed to a skater-park.
Standing nearby were Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru.
"Hey," Haruka said, as she and the others turn to look at Ranma and his companions.
"Hey," Ranma said. "How's everyone?"
"Haruka challenged your son to a contest," Michiru said.
Akane growled upon hearing the Isamu being addressed as Ranma's son…
"Personally, I think he's using his powers to cheat," Haruka groused.
"Where are the others?" Nabiki asked.
"I think they went with Isami to the kitchen to get something to eat, Nabiki-cahn," Hotaru said.
"Good," Ranma said, as he loads up. "Just want to let you all know that those who wants to 'greet' Gojira, we leave in fifteen minutes."
"That soon?" Akane said. "But…it's dangerous."
"Akane, it's a martial artist duty to protect others," Ranma said. "You know that."
"I know, but…it's not like any other enemy you've faced before."
"Hey, it's what I am…it's what I do."
"Sounds like a typical, overly macho, action flick," Nabiki said with a smirk.
"That's because I AM the 'Action Man'," Ranma said with a grin. "In more ways than ONE. You know what I mean?"
"…"
"I'm talking about love-making-"
"I GOT the inference, Ranma."
"Why are you being such a pervert, Ranma?" Akane asked. "You were NEVER like this. I bet it was because of HER."
"I bet it was because of HIM," Haruka said suspiciously.
"Huh?"
"Setsuna showed us some of Usagi's life experiences," Michiru said. "Thankfully, we received the…'parental guidance' version, if your behavior is of any indication."
"Ehh, whatever," Ranma said. He then turns towards Akane and Nabiki.
"Come, you two…let's get this over with."
Ranma turns to leave the main holodeck, with the Tendo sisters in tow.
Tbc.