TRTSS5: Spatial Loss! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: None of the principle characters and situations belongs to me.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 21
A few days later…
"Okay," Usagi says, as she performed her "Tai Chi" movements. "Move exactly like I do, Penny."
"Like this?" Penny says, as she copied Usagi movements. After weeks of incessant nagging, Usagi decided to go ahead and begin Penny's training in "elemental bending" starting water bending. But before the actual bending lessons can begin, Penny was to learn the basics of Tai Chi (due to its similarity to water bending).
Usagi observes Penny's actions…
"Very good," Usagi says. "Keep this up, and we can begin the REAL training."
Penny nods her head. Even though she knows that it'll take a while before she knows the basics of Tai Chi, Penny knows that the effort will be worth it in the long run.
"You think I'll be any good at…water bending?" Penny asked.
"Well, after Ranma and I woke up your potential—with your mother's permission, that is—there is nothing you can't do-"
"Alright," Ranma says, as he finished bringing out his gear. He, Don and Will were to go on a survey excursion, especially in light of Don's long-term experience on Piplanus. Furthermore, the survey mission will allow the search for John Robinson to continue…
"Yo, Will!" Ranma says, as he sets his gear into the Chariot. "Move a leg, will ya?"
"Coming!" Will says, as he runs down the Jupiter-2's ramp with his own gear. Following close behind were Don, Judy, Maureen and Smith.
"Don, do you still have to go?" Judy asked.
"As much as I want to just sleep in all day, I won't rest until I find your father, Judy," says Don.
"I…appreciate that," Judy says with a smile.
"Will, now you should be careful out there," Maureen says, as she ruffled her son's hair.
"Aw, Mom!" Will says with mild annoyance. "And besides, we have the robot here."
Will turns towards the environmental control robot, B9. The machine was already strapped inside the Chariot.
"Right, robot?"
"Affirmative!" B9 replied.
"See?"
"I understand," Maureen says with a smile.
"Usagi," Ranma says, as he goes over to his wife. "You think you can handle things while we're gone?"
"I handle YOU all the time, so what do you think?" Usagi says with a smile.
"Cheeky."
Usagi goes over to hug and kiss her husband.
"Just stay out of trouble, okay?" Usagi asked.
"As long as you keep HIM out of trouble," Ranma says, as he looks directly Doctor Smith.
"Spare me your intimidation tactics, Major," Smith says. "You are the least of my worries."
Smith says this as he slowly turns his gaze towards Usagi.
"If you feel that way, then I have nothing to worry about," Ranma says.
A short while later, Ranma and company find themselves traveling through a narrow canyon.
"Ranma, how soon can we break for camp?" Will asked.
"Once we get through this canyon, we can," Ranma replied, as he continued his drive. He then glances in Don's direction.
"I want to thank you for your input on this survey mission," Ranma says. "Being occupied with keeping everything together back at the Jupiter-2 is a full-time job."
"Well, you and Usagi really did a bang-up job in keeping everyone safe, Ranma," Don says. "I don't think John or I could have done a better job."
"Maybe, but Will definitely helped."
"Thanks, Ranma," Will says.
Silence.
"And I want to thank you for not putting the moves on Judy," Don says. "Yes, I know we are not technically together, but still…"
"Don, I consider you a friend," Ranma says. "I only would have waited until I found your remains before I 'chat' Judy up."
"…"
"I'm KIDDING, of course-"
"WARNING! WARNING!" the robot yelled suddenly. "Incoming meteor shower!"
The ground was suddenly bombarded by a meteor shower.
"Don, if you have any suggestions, now is the best time to give one."
"I remember a large cave nearby," Don says. "Heading…50 meters NW."
"Don, will Mom and the others be safe?" Will asked fearfully.
"The ship's force field should hold," Don says, as he continues to track the meteor shower.
"Okay," Ranma says, as he steered the Chariot about. "Now hang on-!"
The next day, back at the Jupiter-2…
"Look at this mess," Judy says, as she inspects the area. All around, there were craters scattered about.
"Good thing the shields held," Maureen says.
"That was SOME meteor shower," Penny interjects. "Right, Usagi?"
Usagi stands up, after looking at one of the craters.
"I-"
"Why bothering to ask HER?" Smith says incredulously. "This was no meteor shower…this was a prelude to an invasion!"
Usagi turns towards Smith. She was about to say how dumb his statement was, but gives up that thought pretty quickly. Instead, she turns towards Maureen.
"We should hurry and return to the Jupiter-2."
"Oh?" Maureen replied. "Why is that?"
"Is Dr. Smith right?" Penny asked.
"No, Penny. Smith is hardly 'right', if ever."
"Humph!" Smith replied indignantly.
"Actually, I wanted to do a thorough inspection of any possible damage to the ship."
"A sensible argument, madam agent," Smith says.
"I know, Doctor Smith…since I MADE it."
"Well, let's get this over with," Maureen says, as she directed her daughters to follow Usagi.
A few minutes later, the party comes across an alien craft of some kind. It was spherical in shape, and it was a big as the space pod.
"See?" Smith says accusingly. "That meteor shower was indeed a prelude to some alien attack!"
"Doctor Smith, please," Maureen says forcefully. "I do not want you to have us 'excited' because of you."
"I am simply stating the obvious, madam."
"Doctor Smith, may I suggest something?" Usagi says with annoyance.
"And that is…?"
"Button it, will ya?"
"Humph! I don't see why I even bother…"
"I agree."
"Usagi, do you recognize this?" Penny asked. She was hoping that she would know, considering the fact that she has had extensive in space travel…
Usagi examines the craft…and frowns.
"What is it?" Judy asked. "Do you know what this craft is?"
"Unfortunately, I do," Usagi says. "I suggest we get back to the Jupiter-2…pronto."
"What is it?" Maureen says.
"I'll tell you when we get back," Usagi says, as she looks around the area. The valley floor had all manner of structures, which are necessary in order to initiate an ambush…
As soon as the Robinson party was gone, a woman with spiky, long hair emerges from behind the rocks. She deftly places some sort of glass-like instrument over her left eye, and activates the cordless device.
"Hmmm," the woman says to herself. "The others seem weak and useless, like their vessel, but goldilocks' power signature…is strange. Time to take a thorough reading…"
The woman reads the counter on the instrument…
TING!
"What?" the woman says with a shocked expression. "Her power…IT'S OVER 9000!!!!!!"
The woman calms herself a bit.
"Serori, calm down," the woman says. Her name was "celery" in the Terran language of "English".
"When you took on this exploration assignment for King Vegeta, you did so in hopes to prove yourself worthy of conquering a world of your own. How powerful can ONE female be? I AM a Saiyan warrior, in spite of my perceived weakness as a female."
Serori clinched her fist into the air.
"I swear by the right hand of King Vegeta, and by the left hand of Lord Frieza, this planet will belong to the Saiyans…and my new enemy will be crushed!"
A little bit later…
"…So…these 'Saiyans' go out into the Universe to conquer planets?" Maureen says.
"Correct," Usagi says, as she sips her tea. "I forgot the possibility that some of them might be in this galaxy…"
"So, what are you going to do about it?" Smith says with fear.
"As long as we lay low, the planet will be of no interest to our visitor."
"And if they are interested?"
"Most likely violence will occur."
"So, what should we do in the meantime?" Judy asked.
"Lie, low, that's what. I'm not about attract more attention that necessary-"
BAM! BAM! BAM!
"Who could that be?" Penny asked.
"Who else!" Smith says.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Serori stands outside of the door of the Jupiter-2.
"I know you know I'm out here!" Serori yells. "I want the blond female!"
Silence.
"If you don't come out, I'm going to blast you into another dimension!"
WRRRRRR…
Judy peeks her head outside.
"Y-yes?"
Serori frowns. She activates her universal translator on her armor. After all, it's the least she could do…before she conquers her prey.
"YOU are not the one I seek, weakling! I want the other blond!"
"Oh, okay," says Judy. "I'll be right back…"
CHOOM!
"Curse these infernal creatures," Serori says. "Wasting my time like that-"
WRRRRRRR…
Serori steps back a bit, upon seeing the other blond.
"You…"
"Yes, you wanted to see me?" Usagi asked…in fluent Saiyanese.
"You know my tongue."
"I know your people quite well, Saiyan," Usagi says in reply. After having the future Prince Vegeta for family, learning Saiyanese was a must. After all, she wanted to know what Vegeta was saying to her, whenever he used curse words during their numerous training sessions…
"Then you know why I am here," Serori says. "I want to challenge you for control over this planet."
"Um, look, no one is in control of this planet," Usagi says. "In fact, it's a hellhole."
"Fine, but I want to challenge you ANYWAY."
"I'm just an explorer…and a scientist."
"And yet you have power. I want to test my might on that."
"I see. Okay. Normally, I would just hide my power, but for you…I will accept your challenge."
"Good. Name the time and place."
"Tomorrow morning…in the desert valley."
"I'll be there," Serori says. "And if YOU are not…I will raze this planet to ash."
And with that, Serori takes to the skies.
"Huh, that went well," Usagi says, as her companions came into view.
"It looks like we're safe for now," Judy says.
"So, what's the verdict?" Maureen asked.
"Oh, I got a challenge tomorrow…most likely a fight to the death, for the fate of this planet."
"Oh, we're doomed!" Smith laments.
"Gee, thanks for the feint praise, Doctor."
"So, what are you going to do?" Penny asked.
"Prepare. I mean, what else can we do?"
Tbc.
Author's note: I tweaked the original episode to spice things up. C&C are welcomed.