Sailor Moon ST (Star Trek)

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me…only the concept.

Note: This story takes place after the "Sailor Moon v. Sailor Torag" battle.

Part 29

Later…

"Okay, mother," T'Sara said, as she continue to read her data PADD. "We are ready to, as your human friends would say, 'kick things into high gear'."

"Roger," Usagi replied over the intercom system.

"T'Sara, Usagi's velocity is increasing," Ami said, as she checked her readings. "Hoshiko, how are the stress factors?"

"Shielding is holding," Hoshiko replied, as she mentally made the proper adjustments to the Wild Bunny's systems. Being physically plugged into an interface had its advantages.

"Well, make sure," said Ranma, as he sipped his cup of Klingon coffee. He was there to put Usagi to a specially designed test in the next phase. "I don't want anything to break down before I'm ready to act.

"Wow, Ami," Minako said, as she examined to command center. "So THIS is where you've been hanging out."

"Minako, be careful!" Rei said, as she swatted Minako's hand. "You don't know what buttons go for what!"

"Yeah!" Lyta said, who couldn't wait until to get access to Usagi's holodeck system. "Don't mess things up for me!"

"I'm sure a holodeck can be accessed quite readily," Artemus said with assurance.

Luna didn't interject into the banter. She was still stunned about the fact that Usagi almost died from an illness that she picked up over the years. More to the point, Luna was stunned that Usagi didn't confide in her about her illness whatsoever. She hoped that she'd get the chance to talk to Usagi about her feelings in the near future.

"Got any thing to drink around here?" Minako asked impatiently. Then, she saw the pot of Klingon coffee. "I think I'll help myself to a cup of that coffee."

Ranma looked at Minako for a minute before shrugging. He poured her a cup, and smiled.

"You didn't…?" Ami said, who remembered her first try at the Klingon bean.

"Hey, she asked…" Ranma replied.

"Hey, this isn't so aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAUGH!"

"Hey, what's happening to Minako?" Lyta asked.

"Minako!" Artemus cried.

"Ah, don't worry about it," Ranma said nonchalantly. "Klingon coffee is an acquired taste."

"But is she suppose to be foaming at the mouth?" Rei asked with concern.

Meanwhile, in the main holodeck…

Oh, brother, Usagi thought, as she shook her head. Oh well, Minako will survive.

One of the advantages of the holodeck was that any environment could be utilized. In this case, Usagi is using the "Four Corners of the American South West" program to test her abilities. Right now, Usagi is approaching Mach 10…and above.

"Mother, you can proceed now," T'Sara said over the intercom.

"Roger that," Usagi replied.

When Usagi had visited a world where she first met her friend Son Goku, it would be the start of a series of training ventures that would push her abilities to the maximum. While she had learned the deadly arts of the Fist of the North Star, it was because of Goku that allowed her to push her potential to even greater heights.

FLASHBACK

23rd Century CE: Kami's Palace, Chikyuu

"You can do it, Usagi!" Goku said with encouragement. This is second time that he was in the Room of Spirit and Time in preparation for the so-called "Cell Games". The first time was when he and his son Gohan trained together, and were able to achieve the first Super-Sayajin level without bleeding energy.

"I…I'm trying, Go-chan!" Usagi cried, as she continued to push her spirit. She remembered the day her friend Ken and his brother Raul had tore up a city in a fight to see who would be the Grandmaster in their deadly Art. But even they didn't know that there were even more techniques out there that could shake the pillars of Heaven.

"Usagi, we've known each other for years. You've always encouraged me to better myself mentally as well as physically. Please, you can do this for me."

"I…"

"Besides, you don't want to prove BULMA right."

"What? What did she say about me THIS time?"

Even though the two were good friends, Bulma and Usagi were rivals of sorts. It started back when they and Goku first met each other, during the very first search of the legendary Dragonballs. Bulma never had forgotten how Yamcha went after Usagi instead of her, or the fact that Usagi was more stylish than her. And while things have calmed down of sorts over the course of their friendship, there was still an underlying rivalry between the two.

"Oh, she said that you couldn't be better than you are right now."

"Oh, really? Well, we'll see about THAT."

With her mind set to prove Bulma wrong, Usagi tapped deeper into her soul. As Goku would say, it was a matter of need (not desire) that mattered the most. In this case, Usagi had the need to prove Bulma wrong.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Usagi yelled, as her eyes changed colors from blue to green.

Usagi's muscles and frame increased. Energy coalesced and danced around her.

"Yes, that's it!" Goku yelled. "You can do it!"

At that point, Usagi had full access to her cosmic level powers, something that she could only have achieved when she was Sailor Cosmos...

END FLASHBACK!

Usagi Tsukino, having finished her training for the day, soaked herself in the spa's large hot tub. She ached all over, but felt that putting her "new" body through the paces was worth it.

"Mother? May we join you?"

Usagi, not even bothering to look up, nodded.

As both T'Sara and Hoshiko began their descent into the tub, Usagi continued to reflect on how important family was to her…

"Mother?" asked T'Sara.

"Yes, dear?"

"Hoshiko and I feel that we can disprove Sailor Pluto and Matriarch Cologne's claim of Abba's origins.

"Good, because I've decided to actively pursue Ranma in a more…romantic fashion."

"Really?" asked Hoshiko. "We would love that to happen."

"It may not be easy, but I'm willing to sacrifice my individuality if necessary."

"You don't mean-"

"Yes. I still have my pair of Potarra earrings. I might be able to end this fiancée mess and my problem in one fell swoop."

"This is your final test, student," 'Orpheus' said, as he walked around a kneeling Ryouga Habiki. "I've trained you to master your inner self, so that you are no longer burdened by desire."

A few days ago, the mysterious Orpheus had told Ryouga that it was time for him to take the next step in his development as a martial artist. Ryouga, while no longer Ranma Saotome's foe, ever since the Ranma and Akane's failed wedding fiasco, still blamed Ranma for the curse he now has. He finally decided to be more than Ranma's rival, even if he could not be Ranma's friend. So, since arriving at the foot of Mt. Fuji, in a national park, Ryouga, with Orpheus' help, was divesting himself of his burdens.

"That's it. You are about to achieve a state of CLEAR…" Orpheus says.

The glow around Ryouga grew brighter, as the skies ahead darkened. As powerful martial artist in his own right, Ryouga could tap into his life force for power. Now…

CRACKLE! DOOM!

…Ryouga can "mainline" it.

The sleeper has awakened, Orpheus thought to himself.

A stray lightning bolt struck a nearby tree, splitting it in half. Already, Ryouga could feel his spirit harmonizing with nature. Usually, when something like this happens, it takes years for such an event to occur. Thanks to the mysterious Orpheus, Ryouga has achieved such a state within a shortened amount of time. And just as Ryouga's epiphany has begun, Ryouga's aura dimmed.

"How do you feel, student?"

"I'm feeling well, Orpheus. Or, should I call you Ranma?"

"Heh. I guess you figure it out," Orpheus says, as he reverts to his original form. "How-?"

"How did I know that it was you? Well, for a while I didn't. Mostly, it was because I wasn't paying attention to the details of my life. But thanks to you, I don't have to be so oblivious to the clues."

Ranma squints his eyes. Then he widens them in realization.

"So, that's your focus. You chose "stasis" as your paradigm. That's a good one."

"Thanks. Now, by concentrating, I don't have to get lost so much. Plus…"

Ryouga's form immediately shrank into his "P-chan" form. And then, after a few seconds, "P-chan" became Ryouga again.

"…I can now control my Jusenkyo curse just by concentrating, even when splashed with cold water. What I don't understand is how you are able to control your curse. 'Orpheus' is certainly not a curse."

"Actually, it's an illusion spell I picked up years ago. Sometimes being 'the pig-tailed girl' is not a proper disguise."

"I see," Ryouga smirked, as he finished putting on his clothes.

"So, what are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to visit Akari for a while."

"You're actually giving up on Akane?"

"Even with that girl you married to still about, Akane still loves you. You ought make a decision about that."

Ranma merely nods.

"And Ranma?"

"Yeah?"

Ryouga bows.

"My honor and your debt have been fulfilled. Thank you."

Almost taken aback, Ranma bows likewise.

And with that, Ryouga leaves the campsite, heading straight to Akari the Pig Handler's farm.

Ranma just stood there in shock. This is perhaps the first time Ryouga has ever been satisfied with any of his overtures at making peace between himself and his most persistent rival.

"Wow," Ranma simply said.

A few minutes later, after the campsite was cleared of refuse, Ranma performed the "Instant Transmission" technique for his return home, allowing him to go anywhere in, well, an instant.

ZING!

***

"You can't be serious, Usagi!" Luna wailed. She and Usagi were having a discussion on what Usagi was planning to do.

"I'm very serious," Usagi replied, as she brushes her hair. She was turning in to bed early, so that she could make the offer to Ranma and his fiancés. "The Pottara earrings will allow me to merge with anyone on an equal basis, so it's not like you'll lose anything."

"But we don't know what you'll gain from it! What if Crystal Tokyo never forms because of this?"

"Fine, fine. If it makes things better, I'll consult with Setsuna first. Is that okay?"

"I suppose so. Still-"

"Yeah, yeah. Good night, Luna."

And with that, Usagi turns in for the evening. Being such a disciplined mind, it was easy for Usagi to sleep…and dream…

Tbc.