TRTSS7: The Hidden Trek Voyage! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 25
Ranma straightens himself up.
"Thank you for letting me say good-bye…whoever you are," Ranma said with a smile.
"Akane" opens her eyes, and stares at Ranma.
"You…knew?" the Third said.
"I haven't lived this long to figure out a way to get out of an illusionary trap," Ranma said.
WRRRIIIIIIING!
Now, Ranma and the Third—in her true form—are back in his "cage".
"Then you are not upset?" the Third asked.
"As long as anyone hasn't been hurt, no. But like I said, I thank you for allowing me a chance to close a chapter in my life."
The Third nods her head.
"This isn't right," the Third said. "You don't belong here."
TING!
The glass that contained Ranma disappeared.
"Come with me to the surface," the Third said, as she stuck out her hand.
Hesitantly, Ranma takes the Third's hand, and was pulled free from his cell. Eventually, as they went down the hall, they ran into-
"Usagi?" Ranma said. "Mister Spock?"
Mister Spock and Usagi both turn to see Ranma with the Talosian.
"Ensign, you are well," Spock said with a self-satisfied smile.
Usagi raises an eyebrow.
"And I see that you had 'gone native'," Usagi said with a smirk.
"NOTHING happened," Ranma replied.
"I…apologize for what has happened," the Third said. "We're desperate to-"
"THIRD, what have you done?" said the Second.
"Second?"
"The humans have escaped with the Magistrate in hand, which is understandable, but YOU are helping them to escape?"
"Now, hold on," Ranma said. "She did what she thought was right. But regardless, we would have busted out here anyway."
"You cannot keep us here," Spock said.
"That remains to be seen," the Second said, as he tried to use his telepathy to subdue the captives.
However, nothing seemed to happen.
Usagi looks over to see the Third straining to block the Second's attack. Quickly, Usagi takes advantage of the situation to take hold of the Second's mind.
"Wha-?" the Second said.
"Our thoughts…are one," Usagi said. She then turns to look at Spock, who was perplexed at how Usagi was able to use telepathy.
"Long story…later," Usagi said, as she mentally links up with the Second…
A short time later…
CLICK!
Number One, who had been captured, along with Yeoman Hoyt, had been captured for breeding purposes. Now, with everyone back on the surface, Number One had activated the self-destruct mechanism on her phaser.
"I do not understand," the Magistrate said. "You would rather die…than have paradise?"
"Yes," Pike said. "We prize freedom over captivity."
Vina looks at Pike's determination.
Meanwhile, Ranma, Usagi, Spock, the Third and the Second arrive to the surface. Number One sees this.
"Captain-!" Number One said.
Pike turns to see his other crewmates.
"Number One?" Pike said.
"Of course," Number One said, as she deactivates the self-destruct mechanism. Hoyt breathes a sigh of relief.
"Lt. Spock?" Pike said. "Ensigns?"
"We are well, sir," Spock said. "And we have come to a logical conclusion."
Spock turns towards the Third and the Second.
"Magistrate," the Second said. "Let us show you our findings…"
Magistrate Primus closes his eyes, as information is fed to his mind…
"We…did not know," Primus said. "It is not for us to keep you all in captivity, especially since you will fight us every step o the way."
"Well, duh," Ranma said. "And quite frankly, I seriously doubt that any sane being would allow themselves to be used as breeding stock."
"I'm not sure being 'breeding stock' is such a bad thing," Usagi said thoughtfully. "At least I get to do my favorite activity."
"Yeah, you WOULD think like that," Ranma said.
"How could you consider such a thing?" Number One asked incredulously. "You're an intelligent woman—for the most part—and you would allow yourself to be used as a male receptacle?"
"Make it sound like a bad thing."
"…"
"Enough," Pike said. "The point is that we refuse captivity."
"So be it," the Primus said. "You humans are too volatile for our needs."
"And thus doomed us to extinction," the Second said.
The Third turns towards Ranma.
"From my interaction with you, I know you can help us," the Third said. "Please…help us."
Ranma looks at the woman's doe-like eyes…
"Okay," Ranma said with a shrug.
"After what they did-"
"Yeoman, helping people out separates the men and women from the boys and girls," Ranma said.
"And we're Starfleet," Pike said.
"We will accept your help, so long as you do not demand us to share our secrets," the Magistrate said.
"Sir," Usagi said, as she turns to look at Pike. "May I have a word with you…?"
Pike raises an eyebrow.
Ten minutes later, Pike, Number One, Spock and Yeoman Hoyt are beamed up back to the Enterprise.
"Sir!" Lt. Tyler said, as he steps forward from behind the transporter pad, after standing next to Scotty. "Is everything alright?"
"Indeed," Pike said. "Ensigns Saotome and Tsukino are still on the planet, taking care of some last minute business…"
Back on Talos IV, Ranma was in meditation in a lotus position while standing on top of hill, as he began to tap into the ley lines of the planet…
"Are you sure that this will work?" the Third asked, as she looks at Ranma.
Usagi looks up, as she continues to "fix" Vina's body while her crescent moon mark glowed. With her hands, Usagi was reshaping bones, nerves and muscle tissue like clay. Apparently, Vina's decrepit body, caused by both the crash of the original expedition and the Talosians lack of knowledge of the human physiology, was hidden by the Talosians' power over illusion. Now, Usagi was fixing those problems with her knowledge as a former medical doctor and a goddess.
"It should," Usagi said.
Ranma opens his eyes, which were glowing. He then rolls forward to a stand, and begin to survey the scenery…
FWOOSH!
An air bubble encircles Ranma while his is consumed by fire.
RUUUMMMBLE!
Pieces of rock and a stream of water begins to orbit around Ranma.
From there, Ranma began to perform a complex kata whose effect began to spread outward. A mild tremor could be felt throughout the land…
"There," Usagi said, as she stands back. She then takes a mirror from pocket space, and presents it to Vina.
"There you go…"
Vina hesitantly takes the mirror and looks at the reflection.
"I…I'm beautiful," Vina said, as she smiled. She then turns towards Usagi.
"And this is…permanent?"
"As long as you live, yeah," Usagi said. "But…I only changed your appearance."
"That's okay," Vina said, as she hugged Usagi. "I take what I can get."
"Done," Ranma said, as his eyes cease to glow. "I did what I can to prep the land for restoration. In a year, all this will be in full bloom."
"Good," Usagi said, as she takes out a wooden box that was the size of a beach ball. "Third…Vina, Ranma and I give you both this plant."
"What is it?" Vina asked.
"It's a 'Millennium Seed'," Ranma said. "It will grow on worlds rich with possibilities, and will provide a number of gifts to that world."
"We entrust this responsibility to you two," Usagi said, as she hands the box to Vina.
Vina takes the box. She had planned to stay behind on Talos IV, since the Third had suggested that someone needed to remain behind to "ground" the Talosians. Otherwise, they would still remain stuck in a world of illusions. Now, Vina has purpose again…
"We are honored," the Third said, as she nods her head. "And we thank you…"
Vina looks up at the heavens. Though she has come to love Pike, he knew that his heart was in his command of the Enterprise.
"Come back to me, love," Vina said. "I'll be waiting…"
Ten minutes later, Ranma and Usagi appear on the Bridge. All eyes turn towards the pair.
"Report," Pike said.
"All is well, sir," Usagi said, as she presents her medical summary of Vina of her time on Talos IV to the ca. "Here is Ms. Vina Haskins's final report as geologist of the SS Columbia."
"Ah," Pike said, as he takes the reports.
"So, that Vina dame was not an illusion?" Tyler asked.
"No, she wasn't, Mister Tyler," Pike said with a noticeable annoyance. "She was a Federation citizen that is as real as you and I."
"Um, yes, sir," Tyler said, as he resumed his station nervously.
"Sir," Yeoman Hoyt said, as she presents the mission report to her captain. "May I ask you a question?"
"Yes…?"
"If you had a choice, who would you have made your 'Eve'?"
"Yeoman!" Number One said tersely, as she turns to look at Yeoman Hoyt. "Move along."
"Yes, ma'am," Hoyt said meekly, as she moves away.
"I probably be the better choice," Usagi said quietly.
"Feh, not if I can help it," Ranma said, as he resumes his duties at the communications board.
Usagi then turns to Mister Spock.
"How are you feeling?" Usagi asked, as she walks up to the Vulcan science officer.
"Vulcans do not feel," Spock replied. "But, to use your human vernacular, I am feeling fine."
Usagi smiles, as she places a hand on Spock's right arm, before turning to leave the Bridge.
Ranma glances at this, but quickly dismisses it as his own active imagination.
"What are we running?" Pike said. "A ship full of cadets? We have a colony to go to."
"No, sir," said Number One. "Standing-by to go to warp."
"Navigation set and ready," Tyler said.
"All hands report ready," Ranma said.
"Engage," Pike said, as the Enterprise moves off to its original destination.
Years later…
The main screen in the conference room deactivates, since the Talosians cease transmission.
Captain Kirk muses for a moment. He then gets up to confront his officers.
"So, you did all this, at risk of your lives and career, too give Captain Pike a second chance at life?" Kirk asked. "Why didn't you all confide in me?"
"We did not want to take the risk of you facing the death penalty with us, Captain," Spock said.
"Also, because with Captain Pike's life in jeopardy, and with the way the Federation bureaucracy tends to act, it would have been too late to save the captain's life." Usagi said.
"And you?" Kirk said to Ranma.
"She's my wife, captain," Ranma said with a shrug. "I couldn't allow her to be executed for a just cause. You saw what happened to me when my first wife died."
Kirk nods his head. He then turns towards Mendez.
"Commodore, I-"
WOBBLE!
Mendez disappears.
"What-?"
WOOOO-WEEEEE-WOO!
"Starfleet Command to Enterprise," Uhura said over the intercom. "We have been monitoring the situation in regards to the violation of General Order 7. In light of these new developments, and in the spirit of interstellar cooperation, General Order 7 has been suspended temporarily, and all charges have been "dropped". Captain Kirk, you may proceed in the best interest of Fleet Captain Christopher Pike. Signed, on this day, Commodore Jose Mendez, Starbase 11."
CHIRP!
Kirk looks at his officers, then at Pike. He goes over and bends down slightly.
"Christopher, do you want to live on Talos IV?"
Pike stares at the blank screen…
BEEP!
"Very well," Kirk said, as he straightens his body. He then turns towards his officers.
"Proceed with your original intent, but I want a word with you three," Kirk said.
"Yes, sir," the crew said, as they get up. Spock begins rolling Pike out of the room.
"Wait," Kirk said.
"Yes?" Spock asked.
"What I don't understand is how the Talosians were able to create such powerful illusions from so far away," Kirk said.
Spock raises an eyebrow.
"Captain, whom do you think Talosians would have been willing to share the secrets of creating illusions to?" Spock said knowingly.
Kirk then turns towards Ranma and Usagi, who tried to look innocent.
"Figures," Kirk said.
And that was that. The Talosians welcomed Pike, who, thanks to the properties of the Millennium Tree, would be restored to somewhat normalcy. However, due to the fact that Talos IV was still off-limits, Pike officially retired from Starfleet to a life free of pain. Talos IV was now a beautiful world, and would be tended to by Pike and his new wife Vina, who, in spite of her age, was as beautiful as ever…
END FLASHBACK!
"And the moral to that 'story' is that sometimes you have to take risks," Ranma said. "Sometimes, the rules can get in the way of a good thing."
"So, you and Usagi have the power to create illusions?" Peter asked.
"Yeah," Ranma replied. "But it's something that we tend to not talk about-"
CHIRP!
"Data retrieval has been completed," SELMA said.
"Okay," Ranma replied, as he gets up. He then reaches into the panel to retrieve his unit-
"Ow," Ranma said, as he quickly pulls away his hand, while having his SELMA unit in hand.
"What is it, sir?" Peter asked.
On Ranma's hand was a slug-creature that was sucking the blood in his hand.
"Damn it!" Ranma yells, as he flicks the bloodworm from his hand. "Bloodworms-!"
BOOSH!
Bloodworms come pour out, as they pour on Ranma.
"Arrrrgh-!"
CHIRP!
"Ensign Kirk to Mister Spock!" Peter said into the communicator. "We're being attacked by bloodworms-!"
Tbc.
Author's Note: Saw the film "Star Trek". Good stuff. Will incorporate elements from it in a few weeks, so you have been warned. C&C are welcomed.