SMST: Hero Initiative! – By DS Wynne

Disclaimer: ""Sailor Moon", Ranma ½", "Star Trek", DC/Marvel Comics and other genres belong to the respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre story.

Part 34

The next day…

The sun beats down as the lone, chartered van barrels down the dusty road. Although it was the Winter season, it was still quite warm in this part of Africa.

"Thanks for inviting us on your trip, Usagi," Ami says.

"You're welcome," Usagi replied, as she drove down the road. "I figure we can do some charity work before we meet up with Haruka and the others for the Haruka's race in 'The Dakar Rally' in Algeria."

"I never been to Africa before," says Minako says, as she scans the savannah with her eyes. "But do you think that Luna and Artemis will be okay?"

"Of course they will, Mina," Makoto says with a grin. "I mean, ever since they announced that they were going to officially get married in a few months, they have been all over each other."

"Personally, they should have waited until they have gotten married FIRST," Rei replied. "And personally, I rather be on monitor duty up at the 'The Satellite'."

"Oh, stop being such a curmudgeon, Rei," Usagi says, as she drove the van. "You're always working, no matter the form or persona."

"Humph!"

Makoto leans forward.

"Wow, seeing this place certainly takes me back," says Makoto to Usagi.

"What do you mean?" Minako says.

"You all recall how you were individually sent across time and space to protect me, right?"

"Yes, that is true," says Ami. "When I was with you, I became a 'Jedi Master'."

"And when I was with Usagi, I became a 'warrior nun'," Minako says.

Usagi glanced back.

"You mean, Bene Gesserit?"

"Yeah, that's what I mean."

"What were you, Rei?" Ami asked.

"Er, nothing," Rei says, as she looks away.

"Rei had been captured by alien giants…and made one of THEM," Usagi says. "You would think that a Martian would not have been 'turned', but what do I know?"

"So, what happened?"

"She had fallen in love with…Ranma, and had constantly challenged me and Ranma's 'girlfriends' for the right to 'mate' with him."

"WHAT?" the other girls yell.

"Is this true?" Mina says. She had only gotten married to Ranma recently, but was unable to spend any significant amount of time due to her busy schedule as a world traveling "entertainer" (music, film, etc.).

"YES, it was," Rei says. "Maybe it was the combination of being brainwashed or being human too long, but, yes, I did fight Usagi over her husband. Sheesh!"

"Well, if we are to have Ranma's children in the future, in some fashion, then we should set up some sort of protocol," Ami offered.

"Agreed," Usagi says with a smile. "I don't want to wake up and find any of you 'skanks' in my bed without my permission…unless I'm a part of the action."

"Ha, ha," Rei says. "VERY funny."

"So, Makoto, what did YOU do with your time Usagi?" Ami asked.

Makoto looked at the terrain from within the van.

"I was a goddess in these land," Makoto says.

"Really?"

"Really. Back then, Usagi and I were the mother-goddesses. Usagi was of the Heliopolitan gods as 'Iusaaset', while I was of the Orishas as 'Muwa-Lisa'."

"Man," Mina fumed. "Why couldn't I be as significant?"

"Are you two goddesses now?" Ami asked.

"Well…these days, Usagi and I are just 'godlings'," Makoto says. "You have to remember that gods depend on their worshipers for power…and relevancy."

Makoto pauses for a moment, as she looks out into the landscape.

"And these days, the gods have indeed forsaken this land…"

Hours later, Usagi, in her "Lady Usashinko Rantsu" guise (basically it's a middle-aged, yet still attractive, woman) is being shown around the refugee camp. Ami, who wants to become a licensed physician, was thinking about getting a recommendation from Usagi's chief contact.

"Thank you for coming, Madame Rantsu," says Dr. Ernest Lereaux, as the head of the local contingent of "Doctors Without Borders" surveyed the scene with Usagi and Ami. Elsewhere in the camp, Makoto was helping feed some of the children with Rei, while Minako was entertaining them.

"It's a pleasure, Ernest," Usagi says. "I know that the Rantsu Foundation can do much good by supporting worth-while charities."

"Doctor, how do you know…Lady Rantsu?" Ami asked.

"Ah, we attended medical school at the Virginia Commonwealth University together."

"Hmmm," Ami mused. "Why does that university sound so familiar…?"

"You've seen the movie 'Patch Adams'?" Usagi offered.

"Yes…"

"He was our classmate," Doctor Leraeux says. "In fact, it was Madame Rantsu who inspired Doctor Adams to go into the field of alternative medicine."

"So, using 'clownish' techniques wasn't Lady Rantsu's doing?"

"Er, well…"

"Hey, I put myself through school working a mime," Usagi says. "Yes, I had access to money, but I DO like to earn a living, you know."

"I see..."

"Well, it's good that you did come and visit us," Lereaux says. "The more visible support for what we do, the better-"

"Doctor, Lereaux?" says a German-sounding, bald, burly man, as he and two others step forth. On them were guns.

"Yes, Victor?"

"We wanted to let you know that the Umeme Mungu Refugee Camp might be a target for ethnic reprisals soon," says his blond, British companion.

"Oh, dear," says Leraeux. "I'm sorry about placing you and your companions in danger, Madam."

"Ah, I knew the risks coming here," Usagi says. "And besides, I'm sure these three, fine gentlemen will do much to protect the refugees."

"We'll do what we can, ma'am," says the Texan-sounding dark-haired man with the mustache.

"Oh, where are my manners?" Lereaux says. "This is Victor of Germany, Frank of the United Kingdom and Hogun of East Texas."

"Much obliged," Hogun says.

As Usagi listens, after images surrounding these three mercenaries began to appear to her.

'Huh?' Usagi thought to herself. 'Why do these guys remind me of…The Warriors Three-?'

Suddenly, there could be heard screaming.

"Ami?" Usagi says, as she looks at her friend.

"I'm on it," Ami replied, as she takes out her Mercury Computer. She uses it to scan the immediate area. "There's a person running this way…and she has a-"

A young girl could be seen running towards the party, wearing an over-size coat with her hands bound.

"Don't worry, little girl, we're going to-" Lereaux says, as he began to run to the girl's safety.

Ami immediately used her speed to intercept the girl, remove the bomb and toss it high into the air-

BOOM!

That's when all hell broke loose, as those who wish to see the refugees harmed begin pouring into the camp while discharging their high-powered rifles.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM-!

'Damn it,' Usagi says, as she took cover. Leave it up to her to leave her mystic brush in the van.

"Usagi, are you okay?" Ami says, as she takes out her henshin rod. Usagi had made sure that Lereaux and the girl were taken to safety before finding a secluded spotn for themselves.

"No, I'm not," Usagi replied. "I'm still too weak to become 'Sailor Cosmos', and I left my 'special' brush back at the van-"

Usagi suddenly snapped her fingers.

"Damn me forgetting something."

"And what is that…?"

"My magic word, of course. SHAZAM!"

BOOM!

A magical bolt of lightning struck Usagi…and changes her into the World Mightiest Sorceress…LADY SHAZAM!

"MUCH better," Lady Shazam Moon says, as she twirled her mystic staff, which came with the "package".

"Good," Ami says with a smile. "Now, it's MY turn. MERCURY POWER TRANSFORM!"

FWOOSH!

"Let's take these guys out," Sailor Mercury says. "Um, can you even fight looking like THAT?"

"Just because I am a magus, that doesn't mean my present form is without power," Lady Shazam says. "This body allows me to tap into the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Achilles, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury. So, trust me…I am more than a mere conjuror."

And with that, Lady Shazam and Sailor Mercury proceed to stop a potential tragedy.

Meanwhile…

"You and Minako should stay here," Rei says, as she assumes the guise of "Martian Girl" (red-haired, green skin).

"But-" Minako began.

"Someone has to protect the children," Makoto interjects.

"Good," Martian Girl says. "The quickly we end this, the better."

And with that, Martian Girl joins the fight to protect the refugee camp.

"I hope she will be okay," Mina says.

Suddenly, one of the kids she and Makoto were looking after runs into the brush.

"Hey!" Makoto says, as she takes off after the child.

"Mako-"

"I'll be right back!"

As Makoto follows the child into the brush, the gunfire seems to stop. And soon, she sees something that could only be found in the proverbial "Garden of Eden".

But she was not alone, since he sees an old man sitting on a rock by a bubbling pool.

"Excuse me, sir, but have you've seen a kid coming through here?" Makoto asked, hoping that the man could understand her accented English.

The man turns around, and smiles at Makoto.

"I have been expecting you, Mother of the Orishas," the man says.

"Huh?"

"You are, after all, Muwa-Lisa…and it is time for you to return to your people."

Tbc.