Star Trek: Ranma's Chronicles 21– by DS Wynne

Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and other genres belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre story.

Part 21: "Aftermath, Act One".

Location: Federation Station "DS9" (Bajor Sector).

With the latest Borg attack thwarted, the crew of the USS Valiant, heads back to Earth. Normally, the ship would have gone to the Antares Shipyards, which is located in the Bajor Sector, for a full retrofit, after a heavy battle. However, thanks to some help in the past, which involved a time travel scenario created by the Borg, the Valiant was still fully operational. So, after a final debriefing, Captain Usagi Tsukino orders the ship for home.

"It will be SO good to go back to my old job," Usagi said, as she stretched her arms. "I don't know how you guys do it."

"Well, I for one will be glad to have my old command back," said Commander Ranma Saotome, as his fingers danced on the helm control panel. "No offense, but I happen to like the center seat."

"And you can have it."

CHIRP-CHIRP!

"Bridge," Usagi says, as she pressed the com-link button.

"Is…is Ranma there?" replied the voice.

"And this is…?"

"My name is Ukyo Kuonji," said the voice.

Usagi sighed. It's too bad she didn't get a chance to drop off any of Ranma's "girlfriends" in the mid-21st century, in the same manner as Ranma's late wife Akane Tendo.

During the second phase of the battle with the Borg, the Borg initiated a controlled jump into a time stream, in an attempt to change the future of the Federation. They wanted to prevent Earth's "first contact" with the Vulcans, which would renew the planet's ties to other worlds. Both the new USS Enterprise-E, and the Valiant followed the Borg into the past. However, it was during the transit that the Valiant over-shot its arrival, and landed in turn of the 21st century. After a misadventure and some much needed repairs, the Valiant tracked the Enterprise-E to the right time period, helped to defeat the Borg (including saving the daughter of Usagi and Ranma), ensure first contact between Earth and the Vulcans, and then returned home.

Of course, nothing is truly as simple as THAT.

Along the way, the Valiant picked up some unwanted visitors. There was Akane Tendo, a martial arts teenaged girl who was in denial of her love for Ranma. And there was Ukyo Kuonji, the "cute" fiancé who was also a ninja and Okonomiyaki chef. And then there was Shampoo, the purple-haired Chinese Amazon who wanted to make Ranma's hers, based upon Joketsuzokou law. Finally, there was the "Black Rose" herself, Kodachi Kuno, the younger sibling of Upperclassman Tatewaki Kuno…the young man responsible for sending Ranma and Usagi into the future in the first place. Somehow, these four young women snuck on board the Valiant in an effort to pursue Ranma (though Kodachi's motive was to get Ranma to help her find the young Wesley Crusher, Kodachi's secondary crush).

After the conflict with the Borg was concluded, Akane and Shampoo elected the stay in the year 2063 CE, to help re-build the world. Akane would work to restore UN Spacy, and become involved in the creation of "Earth Force" (she would also put into place the foundation for the creation of "Starfleet", which would act as the military defense and exploration arm of the United Federation of Planet, before her assassination at the hands of the Romulans). Shampoo went back to China, and restored the Amazons of the Joketsuzokou as a major power in China. Ukyo and Kodachi, on the other hand, traveled to 24th century; Ukyo wanted to get to know Ranma, and Kodachi wanted to get to know Wesley. Usagi simply washed her hands of the whole thing, citing that its Ranma's problem, not hers.

Besides, she is already married to "Ranchan", so she didn't care either way.

"Just a moment, Miss…?"

"Kuonji…Ukyo Kuonji."

"Right. I'll be sure to let him know. Bridge: OUT."

Usagi turns to Ranma.

"Ranma, could you…?"

"Sure," Ranma said, as he turned to leave her seat.

"And Ranma?"

"Yes, dear?"

"DO tell your girlfriends of your marital status, okay?"

"Yes, dear."

In the mess hall, Ukyo and Kodachi were sitting around. Well, actually, Kodachi was, while Ukyo was pacing.

"You do know that your efforts are wasted, Kuonji," Kodachi says, as she sits in her seat meditating.

Ukyo looks at the Kuno girl.

"How can you be so nonchalant, after everything we've been through?"

"I am 'nonchalant', as you put it, because I want be cautious in my next series of actions. One does not explore the unknown blindly."

Ukyo looks at Kodachi with bewilderment.

"Since when have YOU been so philosophical?"

"Since meeting the greatest man I have ever known: Wesley Crusher."

"Huh," Ukyo replied. She had heard that Kodachi had fought a non-Japanese boy named Wesley Crusher some time ago, and desired to find him again through Ranma. However, since Wesley was assigned elsewhere, she would have to stay with Ranma for the time being, until she decides what to do next.

At least, she wasn't as hell-bent to pursue Ranma anymore.

The strangest thing about all this was the meeting of Lt. Amanda Rogers, who was a blonde, nicer version of the Akane Tendo she knew. There were some definite Akane-like qualities that she did see in Amanda, such as when Ranma called Akane a tomboy, and both Akane AND Amanda leveled "Mallet-sama" on Ranma's head. She also wondered why Ranma was close to Captain Tsukino, who seemingly was a nice person throughout all this escapade…

SSS!

Ukyo and Kodachi turn to the door to the mess hall, as it opens.

"Hey," Ranma said, as he steps inside. "How's it going?"

"I am fine, Ranma-sama," Kodachi said. "How is Wesley-kun?"

"Last time I checked, he is fine. The Enterprise-E will be getting a major retro-fit for repairs, so he could be free to visit the station for a while-"

"The 'station'?"

"Oh, that's right. We are going to this ship's port of call is called 'Deep Space Nine'. Starfleet will need to review its options before finding a place for you two."

"I see. And what are we suppose to do in the meanwhile?"

"Don't worry about that. You will be assigned to the station's 'Counselor' for the acclimation process."

"Very well. My fate is in your capable hands."

"Cool."

"Um, Ranma?" Ukyo asked.

"Hey, Ucchan," Ranma said. "What's up?"

"Are…are you and Captain Tsukino close?"

Ranma sighed.

"Yes."

"In what…manner?"

Ranma showed his wedding ring to Ukyo.

"WHAT?"

"Look, I can explain-"

"You better, mister! I've come along way to be with you…and now THIS."

"Ukyo, it's complicated."

"Well, I have the time."

Just as he was about to say something…

"Commander Saotome, please report to the Bridge," came a voice over the PA.

"Well, duty calls," says Ranma, as he turns to leave. "Look we WILL talk, but you have to remember that from MY perspective, a lot has changed."

"Fine. Just GO!"

Ranma ran out of the room, just as Ukyo throws three mini-spatulas at Ranma.

THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!

"JACK-ASS!"

Meanwhile, down in Sickbay…

"Thanks for helping do this inventory," Amanda says, as she and Pert work on the ship manifest. Since they were on Earth, Starfleet had decided re-supply DS9 with key supplies, vis-à-vis the Valiant. Amanda, being the only medical attendant on hand, thanks to the attrition rate during the Borg encounter, was swamped with "paperwork". Thanks to Pert, she was getting help. "Julian will definitely appreciate this, 'cuz I know I will."

"No problem," Pert says. "I had help getting the weapons manifest done, thanks to Worf, and I had a free moment."

"Well, it will certainly save me time."

"Amanda, so…what do you think of our guests?"

"Well, I sorta knew them already, but I am surprised to see how much Kodachi has changed. I guess when she's not pursuing Ranma, she seems nice."

"And Ukyo?"

"She might be a problem. Well, I mean, you and I had time to deal with Ranma and his…ways. But Ukyo might not take things as they stand now too well, especially if she learns about Sasami."

"I see. Amanda?"

"Yes?"

"Why are WE attracted to Ranma anyway?"

"Well, I was married to the jerk, and you…"

"And I am enamored with the one man who is a legend even amongst the Joketsu, which increases his attraction level greatly."

The two Starfleeters sighed.

"You know…we could, well, you know…" Pert began.

"I'm am NOT going to sleep with that jerk," Amanda replied.

"Well…your sisters didn't mind."

"That's because they want to start having families again. I'm not ready for that just yet."

"Okay…how about for the sex?"

"I'm NOT a pervert."

Pert sighs.

"You KNOW that you want him."

Amanda sighs.

"Yes…"

"Then at least we have something to share."

On the Bridge…

"So, did you tell her?" Usagi said, as she signed a status report from Worf.

"In a way," Ranma replied, as he sat back down.

"Typical," Ryouga says, as he turns around. "See, unlike me, I don't have a problem with women."

"Oh, Ryo-chan," Naru said with a giggle. "You say the nicest things."

"That's because you've been horsewhipped, P-chan," Ranma smirked.

"Why, you-!"

"Calm down, Ryo-chan," Naru cooed. "I'll fix you a cup of hot chocolate."

"Well…okay."

Ranma rolled his eyes. Then, his sensors activated.

"We're coming into view of the station," Ranma said.

"On screen," Usagi says.

The screen shows station DS9 in full view. Apparently, there's a lot of activity going on in and around the station.

"Take a look at that, folks," Usagi said. "For a crappy Cardassian station, it certainly feels good to be home. Right, Mr. Worf?"

"Just as long as we are needed to be there, then it is fine with me," the Klingon replied.

CHIRP-CHIRP!

"We're being hailed," Ryouga said.

"On screen."

CHIRP!

"Welcome back, Captain Tsukino," Captain Benjamin Sisko says over the airwaves. "I take it that your mission was a success?"

"Indeed, sir," Usagi says. "And it will be good to return things back to normal."

"Something that we ALL look forward to. Sisko: OUT."

Once the Valiant is docked, Ukyo and Kodachi are escorted to secured quarters, while Sisko speaks to Ranma about them.

"I still don't understand why you allowed Miss Kuonji and Miss Kuno to return with you to the future," Sisko says. "How do you know that your actions did not damage the timeline?"

"I checked the records, sir," Ranma says, as he hands over a datapad. "We don't know what happens to them during the Second Dark Age, which began with the Near-Apocalypse of 2009."

Sisko looks it over.

"I see," Sisko says. "So you are saying that they might not play a significant role in the shaping of the future."

"As far as the data is concerned, yes."

"Alright, for now, we'll take a wait-and-see approach to the situation. By the way, where are our guests now?"

"Oh, they are meeting with the station's counselor for orientation."

Down in the Counselor's Office on the Promenade…

"Well, here you go," says Pert, as she escorts Ukyo and Kodachi. "The station's Counselor will get you two started."

"Thanks," Ukyo said, as she and Kodachi steps inside the office. The two of them were amazed at what they have seen thus far.

"Take look at this," Kodachi says. "Apparently, this 'Counselor' has a plethora of credentials."

"I guess so."

Just then…

"YOU?"

"Why, hello, you two," Usagi said, as she sat down in her seat. She was now sporting her usual "blue-teal" uniform. "We are going to be working together rather closely."

"…"

Tbc.