TRTSS24: Ranma Who's Trek! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, DW and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: This story focuses on the Saotome couple's adventures with the 11th incarnation of the Timelord known simply as "The Doctor".
Author's Note: I've decided to change the format of this story. I apologize ahead of time for this inconvenience. As always, C&C are welcomed.
Part 25: "The Pandorica Opens" & "The Big Bang" (II)
Null Time: Ryut, Sector 3601 (aka "The Lost Sector").
The planet Ryut was once a paradise, but was a place where the wonders of super-science were made. It was on Ryut that Krona the Mad learned of the existence of the so-called "White Entity", which was arguably the source of all life in the Universe, in terms of what constituted as "sentient life". In fact, it was on Earth that the future Guardians of the Universe would discover not only the White Entity, but seven other entities that were descendents of the White Entity. Together, they would make up the Emotion Spectrum, with each entity being associated with a particular emotion, which, in turn, was associated with a particular color. It was only after the future Guardians' need to create an ordered Universe that the truth behind the Emotion Spectrum would be buried in the sands of Time, with Krona, the original discoverer of the Emotion Spectrum, being branded as a renegade, although it would only be after disobeying a direct order on another project that would for mark Krona as a 'mad man'. Krona would be branded as an enemy of the Universe, known to be the source of the problems of the Universe.
At least, that's the official story.
The truth was that Krona was inspired by an agent of the evil god, Lord Darkseid of Apocalypse. That agent was Buni the Seductress, who would later turn out to be an amnesic Sailor Moon, thanks to a mishap that landed her and her closest companions to the distant past, and into the clutches of Darkseid. Her mission was to observe, seduce and manipulate the future Guardians' finest mind, and succeeded on that mission beyond Darkseid's wildest imaginations: the corruption of the Universe. Where there was just one reality, there were now multiple realities; where the Universe strived for order, there was now chaos. In fact, the corruption of the Universe inadvertently caused by Krona resulted in the birth of chaotic beings and corrupt entities, which is why the future Guardians sought to impose order, since it was one of their own who unleashed a proverbial Pandora's Box unto the Universe. And all the while Darkseid would reap the rewards of what Buni had caused…
"But what no one knew at the time was that the multiple realties had put a strain on the Universe's integrity," Messiah said with a sigh, as she looks into the night skies. "Acts that manipulate the Space and Time frayed the edges of the Universe, but maintained the whole…"
Pause.
"However, what could be said is that when Krona peered by the veil to see the very origins of the Universe itself, his probes intercepted the TARDIS somehow, and resulted in the cracks that have been appearing lately."
"So, it's your fault that these cracks have occurred?" said Rory Williams, as he shook his head in disbelief.
"I rather think that Buni was at fault in all this. However, even then, I do not know if the probes themselves resulted in the destruction of the TARDIS. That needs to be verified if that is indeed the case."
For what seemed to be an eternity, Rory and Messiah sat in silence…
"Wait a minute," said Rory. "You and the dwarf…dated?"
"Essentially, yes, although it was my other personality, Buni the Seductress, that originally seduced Krona into giving into his temptations," Messiah said with a sigh. "The only consolation is that Krona agrees with me in that regard."
"Agrees…?"
"That his beloved Buni is not me, which I prefer, actually. That distinction helps me…cope."
"You don't say…"
Pause.
"But how can I help my Amy?" Rory said. "You said that the moment I attempt to return to normal Time and Space, I'll fade away."
"Yes, that's correct. The only way to help Amy and the others is by infiltrating the Nestene Consciousness."
"Who?"
"Aliens made from living plastic."
"Oh, that makes sense…"
"Rory, there are forms of life in the Universe that are not carbon-based, and certainly not like US."
"I'm not YOU. I'm just an ordinary bloke who wants to see Amy happy."
"I, as well," Messiah replied. "To do so, I will send your mind into one of the Nestene's Autons."
"Why?"
"Apparently, all of the Doctor's rogues have decided to lay a trap for him and Ranma, and Amy is going to be the means."
"Then, we have to stop them!"
"We'll certainly try. However, your primary objective is to prevent the TARDIS from jumping back into the space-time stream, once they arrive at their next destination. Do whatever it takes to succeed in that endeavor."
"Then what?"
"In theory, the probes will do its business, and create multiple realities without the cracks."
"Why not just prevent this mishap from happening altogether?"
"Too much history has occurred since Krona's experiment. If I were to interfere in my own history, either a paradox would occur, which would destroy the Universe, or an alternate timeline would be created. Either way, I'm not about to take any chances."
"Fair enough," Rory said. "However, I don't need to tell you that Ranma is…scary. He might beat me up if I tried to stop him."
"Doesn't matter. The Universe is counting on you to prevent a horrible mistake from happening. But be warned: the Nestene Consciousness is a collective race, so their will might influence your actions."
"Oh, joy…"
"Now, let's move that mind of yours…"
103 CE: Roman Britain.
"Smell that air," Amy said, as she took a big sniff of the air. "Ah, free of pollution…"
"We can indulge in your ecological proclivities later," the Doctor said. "Right now, we have to determine why River Song wants us here…Ranma."
"Hey, don't look at me, Doc," Ranma said, as he scans the area with his Sharingan. The Sharingan is a bloodline eye trait that gives its users enhanced perception, usually based upon the prerogative of the possessor. At higher levels, additional, and sometimes frightening, abilities are incurred: the Mangekyo Sharingan. At that level, the Mangekyo Sharingan possessor can possess three sub-abilities: Amaterasu (ninjutsu), Tsukyumi (genjutsu) and Susanoo (Taijutsu). However, a skilled Mangekyo Sharingan possessor can overlap the sub-abilities to such a degree that new and radical techniques can be created. Ranma came into possession of his bloodline trait due to having a grand-mother who was a banished member of the near-defunct Uchiha shinobi clan. Although his grandmother's Sharingan had been sealed, so that the trait could never be manifested in subsequent generations, Ranma's Jurian heritage, on his mother's side, had brought Ranma's latent abilities to the fore.
It did help that Ranma's father had spent the years training his son to unknowingly break the seals that were placed on his bloodline through radical and always irresponsible training exercises…
"Doc, I see a Roman Legion about…100 yards away, over the ridge," Ranma said.
"You know, those eyes of yours disturb me to know end, Ranma," Amy said.
"That's not weird," Ranma said, as he switches into his female guise. "THIS is weird."
"Eh," Amy said, as she shrugged her shoulders. "Once you've seen that 'trick' of yours a few times, it loses its novelty."
"Humph."
"If you two don't mind, I would like to resolve this mystery soon?" the Doctor said with annoyance.
We're on it," Ranma said, after returning to his original form. "And I 'see' that River is amongst the Romans."
"As a prisoner?" Amy asked.
"Let's find out," the Doctor replied. "Onwards, now…"
Upon arriving at the encampment of the Roman Legion, the Doctor and his companions were greeted by a Centurion, who was actually expecting their arrival. Upon being shown to the right tent, they were greeted by a familiar face…
"Hello," River said, as she sipped wine and was served by serving wenches and man servants alike. "How was getting here?"
"What the hell is this?" Ranma asked.
"I was just enjoying this era's opulence, of course."
"Wow, Ranma," Amy said with a grin. "You really will be a different person."
"She's NOT me, Amy," Ranma replied. "She's the version of me who merged with a socialite named Duchess Cassandra, after her first regeneration."
"Third, actually," River said, as she sipped her wine. "Duchess Cassandra Smith is the merging with one of Ranma's doppelgangers and Lady Cassandra O'Brien Dot Delta-17. Thus, Duchess Cassandra is the first incarnation. The first regeneration took place in 2762 CE, when an event called 'The Great Burn' took place, leaving Earth nearly uninhabitable, but established Earth as an independent planet, since neither the Federation nor the Alliance wanted anything to do with humans. However, a species known as the Korven tried to take advantage of Earth's troubles, and were soundly defeated. On our own, we rebuilt the Earth literally from the ground up, during what would be known as 'The Third Dark Age'. We had some help from outsiders, but always in secret. And when it was over, a new era began when the Neo-Queen Serenity was officially crowned ruler of Crystal Tokyo, in the year 3004 CE."
"And thus, the First Great and Bountiful Human Empire was born," the Doctor said. "It was also known as the Golden Millennium, too."
"Correct."
"When did your second regeneration take place?" Ranma asked.
"My second regeneration took place when the Black Moon Family attacked Crystal Tokyo on the day of Neo-Queen Serenity's crowning. I nearly died trying to defend the House of Serenity from those agents of Wiseman."
Pause.
"And my last regeneration occurred after Sailor Cosmos was defeated and resealed into the Galaxy Cauldron in 4004 CE, which signaled the end of the 'Golden Millennium' era, and the fall of Crystal Tokyo as a major power; it would also mark the end of the First Great and Bountiful Human Empire. Furthermore, it was also the year that Ranma Saotome, aka Sailor Helios, aka 'The Solar Knight', aka the Magnificent Mask, and so forth, sacrificed his life to end the threat posed by Sailor Chaos once and for all."
"Really, now?" Amy asked.
"Really. Since then, Crystal Tokyo is a minor kingdom amongst many states, with the center of power shifting to the Vatican, which acts as a global security force with real political power."
"How awful!" Amy said. "How could that happen?"
"It happened because Earth, at that time, was in a 'cold war' of sorts against the vampire nation of Byzantium."
"Oh."
"But not to worry; when peace had finally come about between the Vatican and the Byzantium, the humanity has been able to spread across the Three Galaxies, with an eye to explore beyond that…"
Ranma nods his head in reply. He knew that the Second Great and Bountiful Human Empire would fail when one of his and Usagi's descendants, Pope Pius Serenity X of the Vatican would lead the Butlerian Jihad against the thinking machines in 13004, after ascending to power. It was sad that such a person would initiate the jihad in order to advance the human condition. In fact, she was essentially a corrupt individual that used the death of her own child, which occurred under the watch of an android nanny, to fuel hatred against machines, which included attacks on the Cylon and Borg Homeworlds. Of course, not everyone agreed with this, so humanity went to war against itself. In end, when all was settled, the Third Great and Bountiful Human Empire was born, creating a guild system and secret orders, such as the Spacing Guild and the Bene Gesserits for instance. It would be within this paradigm that Ranma and Usagi would experience first, while trying to find a way back home…
Apparently, River Song knew none of this.
"Well, at least things went out on a happy note, yes?" Amy asked.
"No, that may not turn out to be the case," River said, as she turns towards the Doctor and Ranma. "That's why I needed to see you two."
"Okay, so how did you arrange all this?" Ranma asked.
"Well, I'm Cleopatra, in this era," River said.
"No, you're not!" the Doctor snorted. "Cleopatra died in 30 BCE, Earth time."
"Not the famous one. No, I managed to convince the Roman Trajan that I am a descendant of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony through their line."
Pause.
"It did help when I seduced him."
"Ew!" Ranma said.
"Oh, pipe down," River said. "It's not a big deal."
"It is to me. Ugh."
"Alright, you told us how you did all…this, but now I want to know why," the Doctor said.
"This is the reason," River said, as she pulls out a rolled up painting, and shows it to the Doctor and company. "I figured that you and Ranma need to know what's about to happen."
Amy takes a look at the painting.
"Wait, this is-"
"I know," the Doctor said somberly, as he begins to think furiously.
"What could have caused the TARDIS to blow up?" Ranma said.
"What, indeed," River replied. "What indeed…"
Tbc.