SMST: Deep Space Moon! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story. As always, C&C are welcomed.
Special Note: This story takes place during Seasons 1 through 3 of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". "The Ranma Trek Chronicles" takes place during Seasons 4 through 7.
Author's Note: This story is designed to be short, and will focus mostly on Sailor Moon, though Ranma Saotome (of "Ranma ½") will make a cameo from time-to-time.
Part 25
A week later…
"Nurse, we have a medical emergency!" yelled Dr. Bashir, as a very special patient is rolled into the medical ward of the Federation space station "Deep Space Nine". Flanked by this patient were Jadzia Dax and Keiko O'Brien.
"Hang on," Dax said, as Keiko cried tearfully.
"Who could have done this to her?" Keiko cried. "Who could have done this to great-grandmother?"
"Jadzia, help me lift the counselor unto the medical bed," Dr. Bashir said, as he and his Bajoran nurse lifted the prone body of Counselor Usagi Tsukino, with the assistance of Dax.
"Doctor, these wounds," said the nurse.
Dr. Bashir looked down at Usagi's body. Just by his initial prognosis, someone with a gaping hole through his or her body shouldn't be alive at all…
"Julian," Dax said.
"Huh?" Dr. Bashir said. "Oh. These wounds-"
"Are treatable, trust me," Dax said. "But you have to remove the barbs first, and there isn't much time to do so."
"Okay," Bashir said. "Let's just hope that whoever did this is caught and brought to justice…"
A few days ago…
"…And we assure you that the Bajoran prisoners at the Hutet Labor Camp on Cardassia IV were purely…an oversight," said Gul Dukat, as he spoke to Commander Sisko via communication link.
"I bet," Major Kira said in snide tones.
"I am sure that this situation will be remedied?" Sisko asked.
"Of course, commander, they will be," Dukat said, ignoring Kira's remarks. "The remaining Bajorans will be transferred soon."
"Glad to hear that."
"Oh, one more thing."
"What is that?"
"I have…friends who would like to solicit Counselor Tsukino's talents for special events. You know, for birthday and bachelor parties. If she is amiable to perform as 'Luscious Luna'-"
"I seriously doubt that my counselor would be interested in performing again. Consider her retired."
"Ah, how unfortunate," Dukat said. He then noticed Usagi giving the "okay" hand gesture behind Sisko and Kira's back, indicating that she would be interested in making some money on the side. This almost went unnoticed, when Sisko and Kira turned to see Usagi act nonchalant suddenly.
"What?" Usagi said. "I didn't do anything."
"Well, I will be in touch, once the transfer of Bajoran prisoners has been completed," Dukat said. "Dukat: out."
CHIRP!
"I seriously hope that you're not thinking of performing again, counselor," Sisko said.
"Sir, what I do on my own time is my business," Usagi said. "Besides, we might be able to use my role as 'Luscious Luna' to develop contacts within the Cardassian High Command."
"She has a point there," Kira said.
"I seriously doubt THAT," Sisko said.
Just then, the doorbell to Sisko's office rings.
CHIRP-CHIRP!
"Come," Sisko said, as he, Kira and Usagi greets First Minister Jaro Essa, as well as Li Nalas, who was still getting used to the idea of being a freed man…
"Minister Jaro, Mr. Li," Sisko said, as he nods his head.
"Commander," Jaro said. Jaro was a stern, middle-aged man who tolerated the presence of non-Bajoran at Deep Space Nine.
"Commander," Li Nalas said.
"Well, first, congratulations are in order," Sisko said. "You are 'Navarch' Li, correct?"
"Yes, I suppose," Li said uncomfortably.
"'Navarch'?" Kira asked.
"We did not think just any rank was suitable for the hero of the people," Jaro said. "So, the Provisional Council decided to approve a new rank, and Li, thanks to his exploits, has definitely earned it."
"I only did what was necessary to free Bajor," Li said.
"And always modest, too," Jaro said. He then notices Usagi.
"Counselor Tsukino, you have my thanks in using your…talents to free Li."
"Oh, it's noting," Usagi said. "If a cause is just, I am more than willing to sacrifice dignity for the greater good."
"Hmmm, yes. Anyway, shall we begin our meeting…?"
Later, at Quark's…
"I can't believe I'm being reassigned," Kira said.
"YOU can't believe?" Quark said, as he sets down his mugs. "Look at my forehead."
Kira looks up at Quark's forehead to see a tattoo of a circle with a lightning bolt inside.
"New Ferengi décor?" Kira said with a smirk.
"No, I was attacked last night by the Circle, that's what," Quark replied. "So, YOUR problems is nothing compared to mine…"
Just then, Li steps up to the bar.
"Major, Mr. Quark," Li said.
"Navarch," Kira said.
"Just call me Li Nalas. Or just Nalas. I don't like titles."
"I see. Well, congratulations on being my replacement."
"Believe me, that was news to me," Li said. He then turned his attention towards Quark.
"I was told that Counselor Tsukino would be here today?"
"Yes, she's using Holosuite-3, upstairs," Quark said.
"Oh, okay," Li said, as he turns to leave for Holosuite-3.
"Don't forget to let her know you're going to enter," Kira said.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, the counselor tends to be into weird stuff," Quark said with a smile.
"Thanks…for the warning," Li said in a confuse manner, before heading towards his destination…
When Li arrived, he signaled that he was coming.
"Come," said the reply.
With a deep breath, Li enters the holosuite…
…and finds himself in front of an ordinary house, complete with normal décor and streets. He looked about the area, and could not recognize some the words on the street signs.
"What alien world is this?" Li said.
"It's actually Earth," said a voice from above.
Li looks up to see Usagi sticking her head out of the second-story window.
"Well, Tokyo, Japan specifically," Usagi said. "But hold on. I'll be right down…"
"Um, okay…"
A short time later, Usagi was having tea and cakes with Li.
"I hope you like the tea," Usagi said, as she finished pouring hot water into Li's cup. "It's an old blend that I came up with a long time ago…"
Li hesitantly sniffed the tea, and then took a sip…
"Well?" Usagi said.
"It's….delicious," Li said.
"Thanks. When I heard that you were looking for me, I figured that I should break out my special brew."
"Oh, I see…
Pause.
"Is this place meaningful to you?" Li asked, as he looked around the house.
"Well, this place, this house, is where I grew up as a child, circa early 21st century," Usagi said. "Every now and then, I like to visit this place, even if it's just a replica."
"Wait, are you implying that you are from Earth, circa 21st century?" Li asked.
"Yes."
"But, with you being a green woman, I assumed that you were an Orion-"
"Long story, short, time travel and being 'test subject' resulted in me being able to look like an Orion."
"I'm…sorry."
"Don't be. I've learned how to deal with my condition a long time ago."
"Oh, I see…"
Pause.
"And about this?" Li asked, as he looked around the living room. "This place?"
"Well, it used to be my home, back on Earth," Usagi said. "It's not there anymore, having been replaced after Crystal Tokyo was built over it…"
Pause.
"But it's where I grew up, and lived in for, well, at least ten year, before I had the unfortunate encounter with time travel."
"Time…travel?"
"Yeah, somehow, I and my husband were caught up in a temporal rift, and ended on Earth centuries later. I was only sixteen year old when my life changed. When I ended up in 'the future', I was a scared, teenage-girl who wanted to go back home desperately."
"And…did you?"
Usagi gave Li a quizzical look.
"I mean, did you ever try to return to your right time?"
"Many times. Unfortunately, every time I tried to find the right way home, I ended up stuck in another time zone. I also learned that my unique…heritage made me immortal, so I could easily spend a thousand years and not age a day…"
Pause.
"But with each outing, I became more and more convinced that I am not meant to return home," Usagi said, as she turned away from Li for a bit, before returning her gaze towards Li.
"But enough about me. How are you coping?"
"It has been…a difficult transition," Li said. "I just want to retire to a nice village, where I can settle down and enjoy life."
"And you think you are being prevented from doing that?" Usagi asked.
"Well, Minister Jaro thinks that I should stick around to help with Bajor's transition period," Li said. "But I don't know anything about governance. Heck, before I joined the Resistance, I worked in 'ore processing' here on Terok Nor. I mean, Deep Space Nine…"
Pause.
"And the only reason why I became a hero was because I shot the Cardassian who murdered hundreds of Bajoran in my district…and that was by accident. How can I be a hero when I don't feel like one?"
"Then, don't act like a hero," Usagi said
"Come again?"
"I'm sure that by now, you've heard of my reputation around here."
"Well, I've heard, but, well, many of those stories seem too outrageous to be true," Li said. "They can't ALL be real."
"Yeah, they can't," Usagi said, as she broke out a sweat drop. "Yeah…"
Pause.
"But, anyway, regardless of what anyone thinks of me, I still do what I want—within reason—while doing my job. In others words, you can have your cake…AND eat it, too."
"I don't understand the reference."
"It's an old Earth saying that means that if I am going to eat this desert, I should balance that out with hard work. In your case, you can find a way to be happy while serving the interests of your people, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it your way either."
"It sounds…arduous," Li said. "But…how do I go about doing what you suggest?"
"Actually, I have an idea…"
Later, in the Promenade, Sisko was looking for Li Nalas, when he sees Constable Odo.
"Odo, have you seen Narach Li?" Sisko said.
Sighing, Odo points towards the opposite end of the Promenade…
"Okay, that's it," Usagi said, as she skated backwards on roller blades while holding Li's hands. Li was also on rollerblades, although it was obvious that he was a "newbie".
"That's it, you can do it."
"Whoa," Li said nervously, as he glides forward. He then manages to stop himself by using Usagi for support, after seeing Sisko.
"Commander," Li said.
"You seem…cheerful," Sisko said with hesitance.
"Well, I am," Li said. "But I apologize if I am causing a distraction."
"No need, Narach Li," Sisko said. "I wanted to finalize some of the details of your work schedule, including meeting the Federation ambassador-at-large and the local Starfleet sector chief."
"Oh, okay, then, let me take these off-"
"No need to hurry," Sisko said. "Just meet me in my office when you are done."
"Thank you."
"As for you, Counselor…"
"Yes, sir?"
"DO be careful with our new liaison officer?" Sisko said. "We don't want to 'break him in' too soon with your antics."
"Of course sir," Usagi said with a smile. She then turned to Quark, who was standing by at his establishment's window. "Hit it."
"You got it," Quark said, as he presses a button nearby. Soon, the 1970s song, "Car Wash" began to play from the loud speakers.
"Okay," Usagi said, as she began to shake her hips to beat of the song. "Now, let's lap around the Promenade one more time."
"I'm right behind you," Li said with a smile.
And off the two goes.
"I can never understand why you humanoids have a need for fun and games," Odo said.
"It's called wanted to unwind, Constable," Sisko said. "Li Nalas has spent years at a labor camp, and many more under the yoke of the Cardassians. If there is someone in need for 'fun and games', it's that man."
"Humph."
Meanwhile, a secret communiqué commences…
"I'm afraid that we have no choice but make a move on the off-worlders," said one voice.
"How?" said another. "We barely have support as it is."
"I'm more concerned about Counselor Usagi Tsukino's influence on Narach Li," said yet another voice. "I fear that this alien 'whore' will influence our greatest hero into accepting the presence of the Federation."
"Then what do you suggest?" said the first voice.
"Eliminate her in a spectacular way, as an example for the other non-Bajorans."
"And then what?" said the second voice.
"Depending upon what happens to the counselor will determine how fast the Federation will be forced to leave Bajoran space," said the third voice.
"You run the risk of incurring the ire of Ranma Saotome."
"Sacrifices may be needed, but we have to do this. If Bajor is to be freed from non-Bajoran influence, we should be willing to risk all."
Pause.
"So, what say you?"
"I consent," said the first voice.
"Likewise…reluctantly," said the second.
"Then it is unanimous," said the third voice. "For the Circle is to be complete, Usagi Tsukino must DIE!"
Tbc.