TRTSS5: Spatial Loss! – 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
A few days later…
"What are you working on, rival?" Serori says, as she observes Usagi work in botany, while in the lab. She was constantly observing her rival's actions, in hope of finding a weakness to exploit.
"I've been examining those 'pod people' plants for any properties we can use," Usagi says, as she looks down through an electronic microscope, while jotting notes.
"And…?"
"Well, I did discover some interesting things, besides developing an immune system to prevent the take-over process from happening again," Usagi says, as she looks up.
"And…?"
Usagi picks up a petridish full of seeds.
"Apparently, there is a secondary ability that I wasn't aware of."
"Explain," Serori says, as she leans on a counter.
"Priplanus has the weird ability to create mutants. If you, myself and I didn't have a highly resistant immune system, and if the Robinson(s) and company were already vaccinated, we would have developed mutations already."
"Interesting."
"But going back to these plants, they can produce a variety of sub-species, including forming 'plant people"."
"Really…"
"Really."
Usagi holds up a bag of weird looking seeds.
"Imagine creating an entire workforce in areas that need development. And best of all, they have shorter life spans, and only reproduce when certain conditions are met."
"That is interesting…"
"It certainly is," Usagi says, as she sits the bag down. "Of course, in the wrong hands, they can be trouble. But I don't see THAT as a problem."
"Huh."
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm starving," Usagi says, as she gets up. "I'm going to fix me a snack. You want anything?"
"I am fine, thank you."
"Suit yourself," Usagi says, before leaving for the galley.
Once Usagi was gone, Serori picks up the bag of seeds.
"Imagine that…a workforce of 'plant men'," Serori says to herself. "Or, better yet, an ARMY of plant men in the service of the Saiyans…"
With this in mind, Serori pulls out a small vial tube from the cupboard, and takes a few of the seeds from the bag.
"There," Serori says, before she seals the vial tube, pockets it, and places the bag back where it was. "With some modifications to this strain, with the help of Saiyan science, King Vegeta and Lord Frieza will have their very own…Saibamen."
Meanwhile…
"I do not see the need to search for more ore at this time," Dr. Smith complains. "We have enough to get off this infernal planet, do we not?"
Smith, Will, Penny, the environmental robot "B9" and Debbie the Gloop were searching rock samples.
"Ranma wants to make sure that we actually find more radioactive ore, instead of finding dangerous plants," Will says.
"I wished that Usagi didn't destroy those plants," Penny says, as she carried the space monkey in her arms. "I could use a friend."
"Penny, those 'pod people' tried to take over our bodies," Will says. "And as Usagi had said, they were no better than parasites."
"Well, I'm sure something could be done-"
"Look, children!" Smith says, as he points to an abandoned machine it appeared as if plants had grown over it rather quickly.
"That's the trans-matter unit the Taurons asked us not to mess with," Will says.
"Yes, yes, but what's on it that matters."
"Hey, that's an egg," Penny says.
"Indeed. A possibly scrumptious confection that I can consume."
Smith fidgets for a moment.
"Could you, er, retrieve that egg for me, my dear William? It's a bit high."
Shrugging his shoulders, Will climbs aboard the matter-transfer machine to retrieve the egg. However, unknown to all, William accidentally begins the countdown activation sequence…
"Will, could you hurry?" Penny asked nervously. "We shouldn't be here."
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Will says, before-
ZAAAAAAARK!
A teleportation beam hits everyone within the immediate area.
"What's going on?" Penny says, as she tries to leave the beam, but had realized that she couldn't.
"I…I must have tripped something," Will says.
"We're doomed!" Smith cries out. He then turns to the robot.
"Well, why don't you do something, you tin-plated boob?"
"Interference of procedures could have unknown consequences," B9 replies.
"Just do something! Anything!"
"Affirmative," B9 says, as the environmental control robot zapped the trans-matter machine, in an effort to short-circuit it.
BRAAAAAAAAAK!
The machine sputters and sparks, and then-
FWOOSH!
Everyone was gone.
Meanwhile, some time in the future…
"Station's Log, Stardate: 66513.85. With the impending return of the USS Enterprise-E to Station 'Deep Space Nine', everyone on board is anxious to see her newest commander: Captain Usagi Tsukino-Saotome. Having completed it's first tour, and after it's extended mission into the Uncharted Territories, Starfleet is looking forward to the research and information that has been gathered from that region of space. Unfortunately, not everyone is looking forward to the Enterprise-E's arrival, namely Dr. Amanda Rogers-Saotome (Chief Medical Officer) and Captain Pert (commander officer of the USS Valiant), both of whom are married to Captain Tsukino's husband Admiral Ranma Saotome. Counselor Ezri Daz is not looking forward to Captain Tsukino's arrival either, but for an entirely different reason. Strangely, Princess Sasami of Jurai and Lady B'Etor of Q'onos do not mind Captain Tsukino's return, as does Federation Ambassador Lady Luxanna of Betazed.
On a personal note, I do not mind the return of Captain Tsukino, since it will allow me SOME time to myself. After learning of my daughter Samus Aran's return, I made it an effort to have some sort of relationship with her father, Admiral Saotome. Although I never expected to be a part of his 'harem', I found myself…strangely supportive of this arrangement. Odd. But, I digress…
"Captain, I'm detecting a spike in neutrino emissions," says operations chief Commander Reginald Barclay, as he goes over his readings in operations. "The wormhole is definitely opening up."
"I'm on my way," came the reply over the public address system.
"I wonder what the Enterprise-E found, Wesley," Barclay says, as he turns to the station's chief science officer.
"Well, knowing the captain, she probably found a way to prolong the effects of alcohol without the side-effects," Wesley says.
The two share a laugh.
"Don't you two have better things to do that joke at the expense of a decorated Starfleet officer?" Captain Kira Nerys (the Bajoran Starfleet station commander), as she exits her office.
"S-ssorry, ma'am," Barclay says nervously, as he resumes his work.
"Me, too," Wesley replied.
"Good," Nerys says. "We have decorum to watch out for."
Pause.
"But that was a funny," Kira says with a smile.
They all share a good nature laugh.
"Ma'am, I getting an unusual reading," says Wesley. "I'm detecting an energy beam."
"From the wormhole?" Kira asked.
"No, from a different galaxy."
"Is it dangerous?"
"Checking…no, it's a trans-matter beam."
"That would have the same properties as a transporter beam," Barclay says.
"Can you capture it?"
"I can."
"Good. Direct it to Holding Cell Alpha."
"Yes, ma'am…"
A few minutes late, Kira arrives. Security Chief Kiimi (in her human guise, so that her wings wouldn't get into the way), turn to face the Bajoran commander.
"We're ready to receive the 'package'," Kiimi says. "And the security screens are in place."
"Good," Kira says. "And just in time, too, since the Enterprise-E is about to dock. Proceed."
Kiimi taps a few buttons on a control panel, and-
ZAARK!
"Interesting," Kira says, as he sees a girl, a boy, an older male, a robot and a simian of some kind…
"Help!" says Smith, as he yells. "HEEEELP!"
"Doctor Smith, you have to be calm," Penny says, as she clutched the monkey in her arms.
"BLOOP!" Debbie says.
Will looks around the room. He could see two women standing before him and his party, one of which had a crinkled nose. Will then turn to the robot.
"Robot, where are we?" Will asked.
"Unknown," B9 says.
'Well, I better introduce myself, as well as ascertain the situation,' Kira thought to herself…
Tbc.