Star Trek: The Life and Times of Ranma Saotome – By DSWynne
Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 37: "2008" (Act 7).
Our story thus far: After a year of domestic bliss, Ranma Saotome begins to uncover clues that his "imaginary wife" Usagi ("Sailor Moon") Tsukino did, in fact exist at one point in time, resulting in him making a deal with the enigmatic "M" of the British Intelligence Service known as "MI-6", as well as going on a quest to find her with the Time Lord known simply as "The Doctor" and his newest companion Dr. Martha Jones. At the same time, the magical girl team known as "The Sailor Scouts" utilizes a plan where Mamoru ("Tuxedo Mask") Chiba uses a time/space mechanism known as the "Quantum Leap" effect, in which Mamoru jumps into the lifeline of an alternate analogue as a means of rescuing "the Moon Princess" (aka Usagi). As for Usagi herself, after escaping from a limbo-like prison created by the Time-based entity known as "Wrinkle", she ends up in a state of captivity within the jurisdiction of the alien intelligences known as "The Splugorth". Time will only tell if her would-be "masters" realizes that the prize that they have unwittingly obtained…
Meanwhile, Ranma has to balance his home life with the role of being a mentor to "Black Mary Marvel", and old friend who seeks to relearn what it means to hero again. In fact, their "reunion" resulted in Ranma becoming "Ranclipso", thanks to the interference by the malevolent entity known as "Eclipso". Furthermore, he has to deal with the news that his old ship, the LC-301 Icarus-class Enterprise, is presumed lost or destroyed by a new threat known as "The Cylons". Thus, it is within this context that Ranma continues to recall his involvement with these mechanical creatures.
The years pass, and it is the year 1999 CE. Ranma would never forget how trying a time it was for him and Usagi. For one, the last week of October would be known as "The Week of Nightmares", when nearly every supernatural being, paranormal being, or metahuman simply ran amuck and waged war against one another. Even the Moon had been knocked out of orbit (before the Technocracy tracked it down, returned it to Earth's orbit, and made sure that people would only think that a nuclear waste explosion on the Moon had occurred) because of this, not to mention that Ranma had died fighting the vampire god Ravana in Bangladesh. In the end, it would turn out to be the work of the several diverse groups, in tandem, who were trying to bring about the end of the world ahead of schedule. All of this resulted in the world going into a state of "global conflict" that only ended after an alien fortress crashed in the middle of the South Pacific. It was then that cooler heads prevailed, ushering a joint, top-secret operation called "Project: Robotech"…
At any rate when a chance to work on a space project with the IASA was available, in spite of the fact that they had officially returned from being "lost in space" for three year at the beginning of January of that year, Ranma and Usagi took up the chance to work on cutting-edge technology…
"Okay, people," says Commander John Crichton (US Navy), as he went over his final "systems check" of the experimental star-craft "Farscape". "We do this by the numbers. Understood, Major?"
"Got it, Commander," Ranma replied. Ranma's function is co-pilot. "Usagi? How's it going?"
"Solar activity are at normal," Usagi replies. "We should be able to smoothly go into warped space by using the Earth's gravitational field as a 'sling shot'."
"Indeed it should," Crichton says. "At least, in theory."
Usagi grunts, as she breathed into her space suit. Then, she places her hand on her stomach. Although the tests hadn't confirmed it, Usagi was sure that she was pregnant with their latest child. Considering the nature of the conception, she wants to make sure that her baby will be born normal. Usagi wanted to tell her husband about this, but knowing IASA protocol, the test would have either been postponed—which would have had the project's investors nervous—or having both her and Ranma replaced. And considering the fact that Crichton had broken up with his wife over his career, Usagi didn't want to ruin Ranma's chances at "having it all"…
"Ready for launch in one minute," Crichton says.
"Releasing docking clamps now" Ranma says, as he severed the connection between the Farscape and the space shuttle Endeavor (on loan to the IASA).
"Systems at steady. Launch in 20 seconds."
"Commander, I'm picking up increased solar activity," Usagi says. "However, they are in tolerance range."
"Your call, Commander," Ranma says.
Crichton muses for a moment.
"Ready to abort sir?" Usagi asked, as she prepares to disengage the engines.
"Negative, Captain," Crichton says. "Besides, how much can a solar flare affect this test?"
Apparently, a lot it seems.
The increased solar flares mucked up the sling shot effect, which intended to use only the Earth's gravitational field. So instead on increasing speeds many folds, the effect generated a wormhole that sent the Farscape into uncharted space somewhere in the vast reaches of the Universe…
Sometime into the future…
"YOU are a Green Lantern?" Crichton yells. While he was glad that Ranma provided a Oan map of the so-called Uncharted Territories, he was pretty mad that Ranma neglected certain facts. "Why couldn't you get us home?"
"First, I am a member of the Green Lantern Corp—or was, since the Corp is gone now—not a Green Lantern. Secondly, up until now, I could not use the ring for personal gain."
Thanks to a renegade Green Lantern, Oa, the Guardians of the Universe and the Green Latern Corp itself were gone…disappeared after a horrific battle. The corp would not be re-established until sometime in the future.
"So defending one's self is considered to be personal gain?" says the raven-haired beauty (and so-called "Peacekeeper" Aeryn Sun). Aeryn chose to side with the escapees of the Leviathan ship Moya based upon principals, not politics. It should be noted that aside from sensitive to humidity, all Peacekeepers were enhanced humans.
"According to the ring's 'instruction manual'…yes. And don't blame me; blame this guy named Sinestro who abused his duties as a Green Lantern to become a despot."
"What makes providing a map different?" asked the blue skinned priestess Zhaan.
"Apparently, a map by itself is not using the properties of the ring for personal gain. Most importantly, this ring only has a 24-hour charge of constant use. Once out, I won't be able to use it at all. So I highly recommend that we glen as much from the ring's map as possible."
"Agreed," says the bearded, tentacle headed D'Argo, whose species reminded Ranma of the Klingons. "I do not trust trinkets from so-called guardians."
"Well, I have pilot set up a connection between the ring and Moya," Usagi says, as she gathers her charts and things.
"Okay," Ranma says. He then turns to the Hynerian.
"Oh, and Rygel? Don't even THINK of stealing any of my stuff. Or it's 'frog legs' from dinner!"
"How DARE you, sir!" says the amphibian former monarch. "I am of royal blood! I wouldn't dream of being a thief!"
"I can," says the gray-skinned Chiana.
"Yeah, YOU would," Crichton says. "Takes one to know one, huh?"
"Yeah, yeah..."
A little bit later, as Ranma is working with the Pilot—who was an alien that was bonded to Moya it self—by helping with the upload, when he hears someone crying.
"Um, can you handle this, Pilot?" Ranma asks.
"Of course, sir," Pilot replies.
"Good. And when I get back, I'll teach ya how to play Go."
"Is it an Earth game?"
"Yeah. It helps to stimulate the brain."
"Ah. I will look forward to that activity, sir."
After leaving Pilot, Ranma tracks down the source of the crying sound.
"Usagi?"
Usagi sniffles, as she tries to straighten herself.
"Um, Ranma," Usagi says. "How's the upload? Trying to convert electrical to bio-electrical signals can be…a sticky situation, considering what we're dealing with-"
"Okay, what's going on? Is it about the reason why you aren't using your cosmic abilities?"
"Um, sort of. You see…I'm pregnant."
"Ah. Then, I guess that nursery I've been building won't go to waste."
"You knew?"
"Of course I knew, ever since you were acting all funny before we ended up out here.
"But why didn't you say something?"
Ranma wraps his hands around Usagi's waist.
"It doesn't matter where we are, or where we end up. We are together…that's all that matters."
Usagi hugs Ranma.
"Ranma…"
"Say," Ranma begins, "Zhaan wants to initiate a birthing rite that her people has done for eons."
"Um, I'll talk to her, then."
Within seven months, Genko Zhaan Saotome is born, though, as always, in the midst of chaos. And during the next two years, the rag-tag crew of the Moya grows, as more misfits "join". Even the one-time pursuer, the Peacekeeper Captain Bialar Crais, becomes a member of the crew, though there was that time when Ranma wanted to kill him for trying to use his newborn daughter as a bargaining tool for his return into the Peacekeeper organization. By year three of being in deep space, everything came to a head during the so-called "Peacekeeper War", when the Peacekeepers engaged in a war with the reptile-like Scarrans for both supremacy of that area of space and the secrets of wormhole technology…
"Come on babe," Ranma said, as he fought off Peacekeepers and Scarrans from the command deck of his ship. While Crichton was demonstrating the use of the wormhole technology as a weapon of mass destruction over the ancient water world of the Eidolons, known as Qujaga, Usagi tapped into her own heritage as the Moon Princess…ALL of it. Apparently, the Ediolons served as emissaries of the Ancients, and were telepathic in nature. And it was they that deduced that Usagi was their heir (since the Lunarians were an offshoot of the Ancients), and therefore was entitled to command the Peacekeepers through the Ediolons. Of course, the leaders of the Peacekeepers were not going to allow some Tauri to tell THEM what to do, which is why they continued to pursue the Moya after all this time.
The Scarrans simply wanted to kill Usagi and her child for the same reason.
"Usagi, if you are going to do your thing-!" Ranma yelled.
Usagi, after meditating for a few minutes, opens her eyes.
They were translucent blue in color.
"I AM READY," Usagi says, as she spoke in a weird voice…before fading.
And then, in full Moon Princess regalia, a celestial Usagi (now known as "Princess Sailor Moon") holds the destructive wormhole at bay, saving both the planet below and everyone in the vicinity. Her Infinity gem, called ego, originally combined the power of its minor "siblings": space, mind, soul, reality, time and power...as well as their source. Later, the reality and power gems were split into the additional gems entropy, life, matter and forces in order to balance the gems effect. Others have coveted the Infinity gems for as long as there was a Universe, most notably the renegade Eternal named "Thanos". Since then, the gems have had new owners: the Illuminati. Each member has pledged to never use the gems unless extreme circumstances call upon their use...and NEVER for personal gain. Those members, at present, consist of: the Inhuman Black Bolt (space), Professor Charles Xavier (mind), Doctor Strange (soul), Iron Girl (new owner of the matter gem, replacing her father), Namor the Submariner (time), the Black Panther (life), and Dr. Reed ("Mister Fantastic") Richards (forces). Thanos possessing the entropy gem was a controversial move, but Usagi pointed out that a hardcore villain like Thanos would force the Illuminati to remain on the side of angels...
"KNOW THIS: TODAY, THE FIGHTING ENDS."
Commandant Mele-on Grayza (the female supreme commander of the Peacekeepers) and the Emperor Staleek of the Scarrans knew from their respective racial memories that they were witnessing the full power of an Ancient...and that they were at her whim. More importantly, Grayza thought about the future, as she rubs her bulging belly...
Seeing a pregnant pause, Ranma turns the alien debutante Jool (who looked like a typical red-haired vixen but had slightly receding hairline and translucent green eyes).
"Jool, patch us in on all frequencies."
"Right," the Interion says. "Um, where are those soldiers that attacked us?"
Ranma thumbs towards to pile of bodies that lined up the hallways.
"I would have been done sooner, but I had a lot of distractions."
"…"
"Ranma, is everything fine?" D'Argo asks, as he and Chiana—with Genko in arms—arrive on the deck.
"Zhaan?" Ranma asked.
Zhaan checks on Crichton, as Scorpius and Aeryn looking on. Scorpius was upset that Crichton STILL didn't want to share the wormhole technology, while Aeryn was simply concerned. Scorpius—who was both Scarran and Sebacean (i.e. Peacekeeper)—had taken Crais's place as the Moya's pursuer…before HE had gotten himself in trouble.
"Uh," Crichton says, as he disengaged from the apparatus that allowed him to create the destructive wormhole.
"John will be well," Zhaan says with satisfaction.
Once the wormhole fades, Usagi returns to normal size, and was back on board the Moya. Some immediately began to give difference to Usagi, Zhaan in particular.
"Zhaan, rise," Usagi says. "No matter what I am, I neither want your worship or your praise."
Zhaan nods her head in reply, just before Usagi seemingly collapsed in exhaustion.
"I got you, babe," Ranma says, as he holds Usagi in his arms.
"Ranma?"
"Yes,Usagi?"
"Can we…go home now?"
"Sure," Ranma says with a smile.
With the end of the crisis, Usagi, in her last official act as the heir to the Ancients, supervises both the armistice and the subsequent peace treaty between the Peacekeepers and the Scarrans. Furthermore, the Peacekeepers will reform itself by going back to its roots as protector of the peace, with the Eiolons acting as advisers. Otherwise, Usagi might come back, something that neither the Peacekeepers nor the Scarrans wanted. As for the rag-tag crew of the Moya, now that they no longer had to be on the run, they could return to their own homeworlds. But first…
"You know, we could always drop off Master Ranma and Lady Usagi back to their homeworld first," Zhaan says slyly.
"I could take the time to spend time with Chiani and my son," D'Argo says.
"Guys, you don't have to do it," Ranma says. "We can find our way home-"
"Naw, that's okay," Crichton says. "Besides, I want my father to see his new grand son D'Argo the Second."
Ranma smiles.
"I love you guys."
"We do not need your sentimentality, Saotome," Crais replies.
"Oh, shut up, Crais!"
And so the Moya sets out on a path towards Earth…the LONG way, and it was during this time that a familiar element returns to the life of Ranma and Usagi...
1 year later…
Moya returned to normal space, when "Pilot" indicated that they were near an industrialized world.
"Okay, folks," Crichton said dryly. "What do we do now?"
"We explore, of course," Ranma says. Having been a Starfleet officer, exploring strange, new worlds is always a driving need for him. If not THAT, then picking up a new martial arts technique is always a plus.
"I think we should limit the landing party," Usagi says. "Though I am picking up life signs, there is that radiation belt permeating the atmosphere."
"Then I say we move on," Scorpius says with a toothy grin.
"And remind me WHY you are still here, 'Harvey'?' Crichton asks.
"Just because you amuse me, John."
"Ha, ha, ha."
"Then we should limit the landing party to myself, Usagi, 'Big' D'argo and Chiana," Ranma says.
D'Argo had been given the name "'Big' D'Argo" as away of differentiate him from D'Argo, John and Aeryn's son.
"Why can't I go?" Crichton protested.
"You're the Captain of the crew, and we four have a higher tolerance for radiation."
"Your call, I guess…"
"What about me?" Aeryn said, as she cradled her son "Lil' D'Argo".
"Because if YOU go, John will be going. Besides, I don't have confidence in Rygel being left to his devices."
"I will have you know that I have taken care of an entire planet as its ruler," said the Hynarian royal, as he floated his platform over to Ranma.
"Yeah? Well, then explain why you were overthrown again?"
"Er, well…"
"Zhaan is in a state of meditation, Crais, Jothee (Big D'Argo's son) and Stark are in a different sector scouting for a fuel source for Moya aboard Talen, and I certainly don't trust Jool to do…anything."
"Hey!" Jool the Interion yelled from across the deck.
"And it's not up to the Old Woman and Pilot to take care of things. Look, John, you know I'm better suited for this."
John sighs.
"Fine…but bring back some souvenirs or something."
"Will do…Commander."
"Just go!"
And, saying good-bye to his daughter Genko, Ranma and his party head down to the planet's surface below…
The landing of the Farscape-1 and Big D'Argo's ship was smooth. In fact, based upon the level of industry, the authorities should have caught them. It didn't take much to figure out why.
"Great," Ranma said, as Usagi administered her medication to her crew. "You brought us smack in the middle of a nuclear holocaust."
"Relax, Ranma," Usagi replied. "The affects of the radiation are subsiding. Thank the power of mother nature."
"I thought that you said that we'd be okay, Usagi," Chiana says.
"We will, but I don't want to us to contaminate the Moya when we return."
"Oh."
"Well, however the amount," D'Argo says, "there is still a lot of activity going on."
"Show me," Ranma says.
D'Argo shows the others of a recent encampment.
"This was put out recently," Ranma said.
"Ranma!"
Chiana is running towards her, with some automatons in tow. They had a menacing visage, with a single red dot moving back and forth across the faceplate. And they happen to be firing upon them.
"Guys, break!" Ranma says, as the others dive into the brush. "Somehow, I just KNEW this sort of crap was going to happen…"
Unknown to the combatants, a pair eyes were watching all this…with the sights of the gun's owner raised for a kill shot!
BLAM-BLAM!
"Oh, frell!" the albino teen Chiana said, as she ducked for cover. "If I knew that I was going to be shot at, I would have stayed behind!"
Four automatons were with roving, red visage, were laying down suppression fire.
BLAM-BLAM!
"Can't you conjure up something?" Chiana asked.
"I told you many times before," Usagi began, as she began to adjust her sensors on her hand-held computer. "I don't DO parlor tricks!"
"So, what are we going to do, Saotome?" D'Argo asks
"We do this the old fashion way," Ranma said, as he cocked his energy pistol. He then motioned D'Argo to cover their flank, in an effort to draw the automatons out. "What you got, babe?"
"They seem to possess your standard 'hunter-killer' programming," Usagi says, as she looked over her readings. "Pretty sophisticated, if I say so myself."
"Weaknesses?"
"Armor is pretty resistant to projectiles, but not by much. Otherwise, it could encumber their proficiency rating."
"That's all I need to know. Chiana? Draw their attention."
"Why me?"
"Because you're good at it?"
"Fine, but it'll be YOUR head if I get seriously hurt!"
"Here," Usagi said, as she tossed her a transponder. "It's good for a few shots, but no more."
"Whatever," Chiana said, before getting into position.
"Usagi, take aim…THERE. I'll take point."
"Okay," Usagi replied, as she raised her targeting rifle, a weapon that she was actually better than Ranma in using…having been trained by the likes of the great Annie Oakley.
"Now quiet, everyone…"
A few minutes of silence was enough to unnerve anyone. However, the crew of the Moya, as desperate as they were, had enough experience to deal with these mechanical men…
The automatons pause, trying to ascertain their targets' next move.
"Here I am!" Chiana said, as she suddenly jumps up.
The machines fire upon Chiana. However, her transponder's micro-shield generator was active.
PING! PING! PING!
"Miss me!" Chiana said playfully, as she dove into the brush. The machines went after her…
BLAM! BLAM!
Ranma fired his energy pistol at one of the machines, succeeding in making "kill shots". Usagi took out of the second automaton.
"Well," Ranma says. "That's that-"
"Alright, freeze!"
Usagi and Ranma were suddenly surrounded by a rag-tag group of humans.
"Drop your weapons, and don't make a move…Cylons!" said one of the men.
"Oh, joy," says Ranma dryly, as he and Usagi drop their weapons. "And here I thought the natives around here would be a bit more friendly."
"You think this is funny, bright guy?" said the man, whose vest tag said "Helo". "You show up when a few of our people get 'hit'. So, what's happening here, Cylon?"
Before Ranma says something, Chiana gets shoved into him.
"I guess even Cylons make mistakes. I never say a pasty white one before."
"I'm NOT one of these…'Cylons', you stupid frell!" Chiana said.
"Uh, riiight," Helo said. "Now, where's that other freak?"
"Right, here," said a voice.
BLAM-BLAM!
Ranma smirked. He can always count on the Luxan to go against the grain. He then took advantage of the situation by cold-cocking Helo, and then removing his weapon. Usagi used her dexterity to do the same, as did Chiana. Within minutes, all eight instigators were "secured".
"Now, Mister…'Helo', you are going to tell us what the hell is going on," Ranma says.
"I don't have to say anything to Cylon scum!" Helo says.
And then something clicked in Ranma's head.
"Wait, did you just say…CYLON?"
Meanwhile, aboard the Moya…
"Take a look at this," said Jool said, as she looked the sensors. The fiery redheaded "debutante" was on the bridge, observing the planet below, when she notices a rather large ship. It appeared as if this ship was a metal star of some kind.
"What is it, child?" said Rygel, as he floated his seat to Jool's position.
"A ship just appeared out of warped space," Jool said. "Hmmm…"
"Perhaps we should ask these people if they know where we are. The sooner we get our answers, the sooner we can go home!"
"Um, maybe we should let John know about this first."
"Nonsense! I mean, what could POSSIBLY go wrong?"
Unknown to either of them, the large ship was a Cylon "Basestar", and it had just arrived to investigate the arrival of an unknown vessel…
Tbc.
Author's note: Some of you may recognize the last part of the text. It's basically a re-write of "SMST: The Galactic Farscape Affair" (which I have discontinued). With Ranma's inclusion, some things are bound to change. And the reason why I am doing all this is to set up background for when Ranma in the present time runs into the Cylons, so I am putting things into context. The next chapter will complete the background phase of the story arc before moving forward, so be please patient. That's all I ask.