TRTSS5: Spatial Loss! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, LiS and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 29
It has been a week since the Robinson kids, Betty the Bloop and the miscreant Dr. Smith returned from the future. Although the kids were pestering Ranma and Usagi about wanting to know more about their future, the Saotome(s) insisted that the future is never written in stone. In fact, what they witnessed was any number of possible futures, much to the chagrin of Dr. Smith. Nevertheless, life went on for the crew of the Jupiter II, and that included making sure that basic necessities for survival was always acquired, like maintaining a fresh supply of water.
Even if it means putting Dr. Smith in charge of the such a project…
"Good," Dr. Smith said, as he and William watched the environmental control robot "B-9" finishes creating a trench for the pipe that was suppose to be put down for water extraction. "Now, shift the angle of the trench 45 degrees towards the hydroponic garden."
Robot stops his actions, and faces in the direction of the gardens.
"Instructions: computed," Robot said, as it shifts gears.
"See, William?" Dr. Smith said. "Another fine example of how humankind has been freed from 'common labor'."
"Um, Ranma said that people who rely upon robots for 'common labor' are really hiding their own laziness," William replied.
"Bah!" Dr. Smith said. "Major Saotome is nothing more than a unenlightened 'thug', along with his 'buddy', Major West. To think that a lovely creature such as Special Agent Tsukino could find Major Saotome worthy of the art of the mating ritual."
"Well, I don't know, Dr. Smith. Ranma seems to be a smart guy."
"Not SMART in the area where it counts. I bet if I had half the pugilism that he had, I can put HIM in his place-"
"Put who in whose place, Dr. Smith?" Ranma said, as he, Major West and Serori the Saiyan Warrior come around the bend. They were carrying pipes of all kinds, as well as other equipment. Serori decided to help her mate Ranma, as a means of demonstrating her worthiness of his affection…
"N-nothing," Dr. Smith said nervously.
"I thought you were suppose to handle this yourself, Smith?" Don asked.
"I…needed the help of the Robot due to back problems."
"I see no signs of injuries within the body of this pathetic human," Serori said. "Why do we even bother to have him in our encampment?"
"Because wherever he goes, trouble seems to come to US," Ranma said. "I like to keep an eye on him…HERE."
"Such weakness…this compassion of yours," Serori said. "If you prefer, I can send him to another dimension-"
"Er, no," Ranma said. "Besides, you have to have permission from Usagi to 'send' Dr. Smith the other dimension first."
"Humph!"
"Anyway, have this trench done, so we can get the hydroponics hooked up," Don said. "Okay?"
"Just go away, Major West. You are aggravating my pain."
"Come on," Ranma said. "We better finish this up before we catch Dr. Smith's disease."
"And that is…?" Serori asked.
"'BS-ing'?" Don offered.
"Ah."
And with that, the trio continues their trek towards the hydroponics, laughing at Dr. Smith's expense.
"That was a funny joke," William said with a snicker.
"Bah!" Dr. Smith fumed. "Those 'troglodytes' would not know a sense of humor if one came to bite them on the-"
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-!
A high-pitch whine could be heard in the distance.
"Dr. Smith, what is that sound?" William said, as he looks around…before seeing Dr. Smith walk towards the source of the sound in a zombie-like trance.
"Must…go…" Dr. Smith said.
"Dr. Smith?!"
A few minutes later…
"Yah-TAH!" Serori yelled, as she bummed rush the beast, as it tried to smash a Plexiglas-like cage, when it wanted get at the contained Dr. Smith.
WHAM!
Meanwhile, Ranma, Don and William come running up to the violent scene. Earlier, William had followed Dr. Smith to his present predicament.
"See?" William said, as he points at the bizarre cages. "I told you that Dr. Smith was locked up…"
"And the downside is…?" Don said.
"I'm more concerned about who had left these cages," Ranma said, as he goes over to the cage containing Dr. Smith.
"GET ME OUT OF HERE!" Dr. Smith screamed.
"Hold on, hold on," Ranma said, as he examined the "cage". "Hmmm…"
"Careful, now," Don said with a smile. "This is a dangerous animal-!"
"VERY funny, Major West!" Dr. Smith said with indignantly. "Very FUN-NY!"
Just then, Serori returns from beating up the creature that was terrorizing Dr. Smith.
"The creature has been taken care of," Serori said, as she clapped her hands.
"You didn't kill it, did you?" Ranma said, as he continued to concentrate on the cage's locking mechanism.
"NO, I didn't," Serori said. "Otherwise, I would not hear the end of it from YOU."
"Good," Ranma said, as he waved his hand over what appeared to be a series of diodes that appeared on some sort of doorknob.
TING!
The glass case seemingly melts away, allowing Dr. Smith to be free.
"Thank goodness," Dr. Smith said, as he steps out of the cage. "I thought I would have to be in there forever…"
"I was HOPING that you'd be stuck in there forever," Don said.
"You WOULD."
"Interesting design," Serori said, as she examined the cage. "I wonder if the Keeper is here on 'Priplanus'."
"Who?" Ranma asked.
"Me," said a disembodied voice.
FLASH!
A man dressed in a slim space uniform (with a white belt and flashing buckle), carrying a crystal staff, and sporting the look of a male Amish (short, slicked back hair with a chin beard), appears.
"You have disturbed my attempts to add to my collection," the Keeper said.
"Um, Keeper?" Ranma said evenly.
"That is I."
"Okay, I am Major Ranma Saotome of Earth," Ranma said, has he motions towards his companions. "This is Major Don West and William Robinson, also of Earth, and this is Serori of Vegeta-sai. Miss Serori seems to know you."
"It's not uncommon for the Keeper and his ilk to…collect samples of worlds that my people conquer," Serori said.
"You mean destroy," the Keeper said. "Just like my latest find."
"Your creature is unharmed, Keeper," Serori said.
"Then not all is lost," the Keeper said. "This time…"
"I would think that it would have been prudent to let US know of your presence, so we could have stayed out of your way," Ranma said.
"Humph."
"If we're done here, we better finish laying pipe-" Don said, just as Usagi, June (the matriarch of the Robinson family), Judy (the eldest Robinson daughter) and Penny (the youngest Robinson daughter) come around the bend.
"Ranma!" Usagi said, as she and her companions come up to the group.
"Usagi?" Ranma said.
"We detected unusual sonar energy," June said, as she looked about the group.
Ranma turns towards the Keeper.
"Care to explain?"
"My people can use sound to manipulate matter and energy," the Keeper said. "We also use sound to manipulate the cerebral cortex."
"Which explains how they are able to control animals," Serori said.
"Madam, I am NOT an animal!" Dr. Smith complained.
"Well, I will need to examine Dr. Smith to see if there is any damage to his mind," June replied.
"I am perfectly fine, madam doctor," Dr. Smith said.
"Then get a second opinion," Usagi said. "You are under MY authority, remember?"
"Humph."
Just then, the Keeper's crystal staff glowed.
"What's this…?" the Keeper said, as he mentally links with the staff.
"Problem?" Ranma asked.
"No, not any more," the Keeper said, as he steps back a bit. "Nevertheless, I will respect your wishes."
"The only thing we want is to know that you are not lurking about," Don said. "You know…common courtesy and all."
"Very well," the Keeper said, as he steps back. "I will respect your wishes. Good day."
FLASH!
And the Keeper was gone.
"Well, as much as I like doing nothing but standing around…Dr. SMITH, we have work to do," Ranma said.
"Who was that guy, Ranma?" Usagi asked.
"He calls himself the Keeper," Ranma replied, as he and the others head back to the Jupiter II encampment. Whatever THAT means…"
"Odd," Serori said, as she shakes her head.
"What is it, Miss Serori?" Penny asked.
"I've never known a Keeper to…disappear without a reason."
"Well, maybe this one will respect our privacy or something?"
"Maybe…"
Inside a large fortress filled with creatures from across the Universe, the Keeper contacts his superior, who looks like a Mormon.
"Sir, I believe we have a chance to increase our collection of specimens," said the Keeper.
"Explain," said the Chief Keeper
"Not only have I come across a Terran, but I am also detecting a Saiyan female, and Juraian male, but I am also detecting Lunarian female amongst the Terrans."
"Excellent!" the Keeper said. "Ever since the destruction of the Silver Millennium, we have been working tirelessly to acquire a sample of the extinct Lunarian species. Do you see any foreseeable problems in obtaining the female?"
"Only one," the Keeper said. "I was not able to obtain a detailed scan of the group. I do know of the Saiyan female, having seen her tail."
"Then, you have much work ahead of you, Keeper," said the Chief Keeper. "And if you are successful in obtaining the Lunarian female, we might be able to save her species through cloning and other bio-genetic means."
"Of course," said the Keeper. "I will endeavor this special request."
From the journal of Keeper Alpha-10325, presently on the world of Priplanus in the Triangulum Galaxy, Local Group (consisting of the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies and affiliated, yet smaller, galaxies)…
From my observations of the Terrans group, which hail from the Sol Star System, is this idea of self-worth. My people have always seen 'lesser' species as lower life forms, having not evolved to a more advanced state of sentient beings. Perhaps in a million Terran cycles, they would be seen worthy enough to be treated as "equals". But, I digress. Still, we 'Keepers' can, in theory, successfully mate with lower species though such a practice is considered to be 'taboo'. However, such practices can be allowed for long-term studies of lower life forms. That is why I am presently in 'human guise', so that I can better understand these Terrans. I would hate to think that I would need to mate with a Terran in order to carry out my duties as a Keeper…
From my observations thus far, there is a clear hierarchy amongst these humanoids. The male dubbed 'Ranma Saotome' is the alpha male of his species. However, the fact that Saotome is a Juraian could explain why the females of the group are attracted to them, showing the usual signs of heightened hormonal build-up within their respective physiologies. Juraians have been classified as 'evolved humanoids', in relation to Terrans, which is why they, among other things, tend to attract females more so than Terran males. However, a more thorough scan indicates that this particular Juraian has a physiological condition that makes him particularly attractive to females, causing innate jealousy in the Terran male named "Donald West". The other Terran male, named "William Robinson", does not seem interested in attracting mates, though this could be because the child has not yet matured, while the other male, the one called "Zachary Smith" seems to be "asexual", most likely due to age. Thus, from this brief observation, I conclude that the William Robinson and Ranma Saotome will prove to be excellent candidates for further study and containment.
All the females will prove to be excellent candidates for further study and containment. The one called "Usagi Tsukino" is, in fact, the Lunarian that I will most certainly acquire immediately. Furthermore, her hormonal levels are elevated, which indicates a desire to mate immediately. This is also true to the Saiyan female, who is named "Serori". Speaking of which, I detect a slight change in her bio-chemical make-up, which indicates signs that her physiology is adapting to maximize conception between her and the Juraian. Saiyans can mate with any humanoid species successfully, which is a part of their legendary survival mechanism. However, once a Saiyan has chosen a mate, his or her personal physiology adapts to maximize the ability to produce healthy children. It will be fascinating to see how a Lunarian/Saiyan hybrid functions upon maturity…
Tbc.
