TRTSS7: The Hidden Trek Voyage! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: SPOILER ALERT! This chapter begins the direct tie-in to the movie "Star Trek". Although the movie has been out for a while, this announcement is courtesy to those readers who have not seen the film. C&C are welcomed.
Part 36
Eighteen years later…
Iowa, North America (Earth).
Thanks to the arrival of the mysterious Romulan ship in the Alpha Quadrant years before, both Starfleet Intelligence (i.e. "Section 31") and Starfleet Research & Development was able to push for greater allotment of resources for a major overhaul of Starfleet itself. On the diplomatic front, news of such a terrible space fortress spread out across the galaxy like a wildfire. As a result of this, the United Federation of Planets began to grow at an exponential rate, eventually acquiring nearly twenty percent of the galaxy, years before this would normally become the case. Conflict with non-aligned powers, such as the Juraian Empire and the Minbaria Consortium were avoided at all cost, thus, the "Earth-Minbari War" never occurred in this timeline. Instead, the "Interstellar Alliance Treaty" (IAT) was signed between many of the great galactic powers and the Federation. Meanwhile, Earth's Earth Force, a successor to the "UN Spacy" Program, which was the equivalent of a militia in scale, never had to expand its ranks to fight the Minbari, due to the fact that the Federation had refused to intervene on Earth's behalf. In the context of the new timeline, this would mean the end of Earth Force as an institution towards the end of the 2250s. And although the Federation expansion would authorize the implementation of the "Babylon Project", like Earth Force did in the previous timeline, this action would not stop the mysterious Shadows from emerging upon the scene, nor would it prevent Aiko ("Anna") Saotome from becoming their dark avatar shortly after her honeymoon with the love of her life. Thus, as the proverb goes, "The more things change, the more they stay the same"…
In local bar in Iowa, North America, on Earth, a young man by the name of James T. Kirk, the son of a local hero, was celebrating his eighteenth birthday. Unfortunately, things had gotten out of hand when he tried to pick-up a plebian named Nyota Uhura…
WHAM!
Kirk slams into the table, after getting socked in a jaw by one of the visiting Starfleet Cadets. Although Iowa was technically a farming community still, it did possess an impressive shipyard for Starfleet's starships. Hence, that is why the cadets were in town the night Kirk was out celebrating…
"Hey, I think I got the hint, fellas-" Kirk said, before the cadet flips Kirk over and starts pounding on the chest.
WHAM!
"Oof!" Kirk said.
"Hold 'em, ladies!" Cadet Finnegan said, as he slammed his fist onto Kirk's chest. "Let's teach this 'townie' a thing about respect, like we just did with his friend!"
Cadet Uhura, who had just enrolled in Starfleet the semester before, looks on in worry, as she tended to the wounds of Kirk's best friend Gary Mitchell. Sure, the townie was annoying, when he tried to "pick her up" at the bar, but he WAS charming…
Before Finnegan and his cronies could get to work on Kirk again, all three were suddenly tossed aside quickly.
BAM!
"Oof!" Finnegan said in a heap. He looks up to see one of his classmates pick HIM up…
"I told you, Finnegan," Cadet Ranma Saotome said, as he holds Finnegan up in the air. He had just came back from taking a very important call about one of his relations…
"No clowning around while we're on this field trip."
"You're not the boss of ME, Saotome," Finnegan snarled.
"Actually, he is your superior, as a senior cadet," said Commander Christopher Pike, as he and (Lt.) Commander Marianna ("Number One") Chapel enter the bar. Both of who were planet-side, having completed their tour aboard the Constitution-class starship "Enterprise" months before, under the command of Captain Robert April. Supposedly, Pike will become the next captain of the Enterprise, once it goes through its refit…
"Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," Finnegan said, as Ranma lowers the cadet back onto the floor.
"Good."
"Cadets!" Number One yelled, as she stood at attention. "Let's move out!"
The cadets snapped to attention, and begin to "double-time" out the bar.
As Number One scans the bar, her eyes fall upon a familiar sight.
"Ranma, wait," Number One said, as she stops Cadet Saotome in his tracks. "You're forgetting someone?"
Ranma frowns, as he realizes what Number One meant…
"Oh, yeah," Ranma said, as he turns around to see Usagi slumped over at a bar. "Oh, yeah…"
And then, he sees Kirk. Ranma and Usagi made it a point to celebrate his birthday with him, since they were going to be in town anyway. Unfortunately, things DID get out of hand, especially after he had gone to the restroom to handle his personal business…
"Ma'am," Ranma said, as she turns towards Number One. "Can you take care of Usagi for me? I want to see if Kirk and his friend Gary were okay."
"…"
"Jim is my godson."
Number One sighs. Always the "den mother" people saw her as…
"Alright," Number One said. "But you owe me, you know…"
So Number One goes over to Usagi, and nudged her.
"Cadet Tsukino," Number One said. "Wake up."
"Mom, five more minutes," Usagi rambled away.
Shaking her head, Number One lifts Usagi to her feet, while she carries her with HER arm wrapped around her.
"Come on," Number One said. "Let's get some fresh air…"
Pike sees this, and shakes his head. The only reason why he would allow for certain liberties is because he knows that Usagi and Ranma can perform in a pinch, if need be.
"Sir, if you don't mind, I would like to stay and talk to my friend over there," Ranma said.
Pike squints his eyes, as he sees Kirk helping his friend Gary.
"Which one?"
"The sandy blond, James Kirk."
"…"
"George Kirk's youngest."
"Oh, I see. Kirk was a hero who fought a Romulan fortress for twelve minutes, while saving eight hundred lives in the process."
"Um, yeah," Ranma said. "Usagi and I were here to celebrate Jim's birthday today."
"That makes him old enough to join Starfleet, without a waiver."
"Yep. Wait, you're not implying…?"
"Why not? If the son of George Kirk is half the man his father is, then Starfleet could use his talents. Besides, no sense in asking."
"Alright," Ranma said with a shrug.
"Good. See back at the base."
And with that, Pike leaves the bar.
Ranma turns to see Kirk sitting alone at a table. He goes over.
"Not bad for a scrapper," Ranma said with a smile, as he pulls up a seat.
"'Not bad'?" Kirk scoffs. "I took on THREE guys all at once."
"And was getting your head handed to ya…all at once."
"Hey, tenacity should count for SOMETHING, you know."
"Right. So, where's Gary?"
"He's using 'The John', actually," Kirk said, as he turns slightly to wave the bartender. "Hey! Another beer, barkeep."
"Make that two," Ranma said, as he waves.
"Coming up!" said the barkeep.
"You're buying, of course," Kirk said.
"Of course. And while we shoot the breeze, let me ask you a question."
"Okay," said Kirk, as a barmaid sits down drinks onto the table. "Thanks…"
"Thank you," Ranma said, as he takes up the beer and salutes the barmaid. He then takes a drink.
"So, what do you want to ask, Ranma?" Kirk asked, as he took a drink.
"Okay, let me ask you this: where do you see yourself next year?" Ranma asked.
"Not sure," Kirk said. "Dad and Mom always wanted their kids to follow in their footsteps by joining Starfleet. My big brother George opted out, going to regular university instead to become a biologist like Mom."
"And you?"
"That's what I want to talk to you about. Should I join Starfleet, or find some other path?"
Ranma looks at the young Kirk, takes a sip of his beer, and then clears his throat.
"Ranma?"
"When I joined Starfleet 'eons' ago, not literally, of course, I did so in order to find a path towards home. You know that I'm originally from the early 21st century, right?"
"Yeah," Kirk said. "You were born in the year 1990, common era. Due to a rather unscientific phenomenon, you can change genders while remaining…ageless. In the mean time, you had accidentally traveled two years into the future by some temporal anomaly, and have been connected to Starfleet in some form ever since."
"Exactly. And so I did what I could to find a way back to my time, only to realize something."
"And that is…"
"I LOVED exploring," Ranma said. "I didn't like it at first, thinking that I was wasting my time. But, in the mean time, I learned new things. I grew stronger, both in mind and body. And best of all, I was able to do all this, while protecting those in need."
"So, does that mean you quit trying to find a way home or something?"
"No, but I learned to appreciate the journey along the way. If and when I do go home, it would have been worth."
Ranma then finishes his drink.
"Jim, you got the talent and the smarts to join Starfleet," Ranma said. "When I started out, I was just a knuckle-head whose sole ambition was to be martial artist…ever. In hindsight, I realize that I would have been the best in martial arts, but that's IT. I would essentially been a trained dog waiting to 'play' for a meal. With Starfleet, I learned to be more than I was, which is something that I have NO regrets in admitting."
Ranma then gets up and stretches a bit.
"Anyway, the shuttle for new recruits leave at 0800 hours at the Iowa Shipyards," Ranma said. "Be there, or be square."
"That's it?" Kirk asked. "No further sales pitch?"
"I don't need to, Jim," Ranma said. "But if you want me to add one thing, then consider this: whatever path you decide to choose, choose based upon where you can do the most good. Starfleet is a peacekeeping armada dedicated towards protecting and promoting the ideals of the United Federation of Planets, as well as the pursuit of peaceful exploration. I KNOW you'll succeed in the civilian world, but I dare you to do BETTER."
And with that, Ranma leaves the bar.
Soon after, Gary Mitchell leaves the restroom, having cleaned up a bit.
"Hey, Jimbo," Gary said, as finished drying his hands with a paper towel, before tossing it to the side. "You're ready to blow this joint?"
Saying nothing, Kirk picks up a model of his father's ship, the USS "Kelvin". Being a local hero, George Kirk was a hero of sorts, hence the memorabilia…
"Jimbo, did you hear me-?"
"Hey, Gary, what do you think of enlisting in Starfleet?"
"?"
The next morning, Ranma straps into his seat in the shuttle that was scheduled to return to Starfleet Academy with the other cadets…while sitting next to a hung over Usagi.
"Hey, Usagi-" Ranma began to say, as Usagi held up her left hand towards her husband.
"Not so loud, Ranma," Usagi said with a wince. "Whatever I had last night, do me a number-"
"Hey, is this seat taken?" said a familiar voice.
Ranma looks up to see James Kirk. Although his injuries were still very much present, but he still had that glow about him…a glow of happiness.
"Ah, Jim," Ranma said with a smile.
"The one and only," Kirk said, as he sits down next to his godfather. He then motions to another young man who was strapped in right across from Kirk.
"You remember Gary Mitchell, eh?" Kirk said.
Ranma looks towards Gary.
"Yeah, I heard of you," Ranma said. "You're the one who instigated the fight between Jim and Finnegan."
"Ah, so you HAVE heard of me," Gary said with a mischievous smile. He then glances over towards Usagi, who had her head in her lap.
"What's with her?"
Before Ranma could respond, Number One was forcing another recruit out of the cabin's restroom.
"Damn it, I don't need a doctor!" said the recruit. "I AM a Doctor!"
"You must sit down in your seat, for your own safety, sir," Number One said.
"I had one in the bathroom! I have avian-phobia, which means fear of flying-"
"Sit down, or I will make you sit down," Number One said.
Ranma merely chuckled. Very few could withstand the sheer presence of Number One's personality…
"Fine," the recruit said.
"Thank you," Number One said. She then turns towards Ranma.
"Keep HIM in line, please?"
"Yes, ma'am," Ranma replied, with a mock salute.
"Humph," Number One said, as she moves on to the cockpit of the recruit shuttle.
"THIS IS COMMANDER PIKE," came the announcement. "PREPARE FOR LIFT OFF…"
"You don't need to worry, buddy," Gary said, as the doctor sits down next to Kirk to strap in. "I heard these things are pretty sturdy."
"THAT, friend, remains to be scene," the doctor said. He then turns towards Kirk.
"Don't mind me…I may throw up on you."
"We should be at Starfleet Academy shortly," Kirk replied. "Relax."
"Don't pander to me, kid. One crack in the hull, and our blood boils in 13 second. Solar flares might crop up and cooks us in our seats. And wait until you're sitting pretty with a case of 'Andorian Shingles', as your eyeballs start to bleed?"
"…"
"Space is a disease wrapped in darkness and silence."
"My, are you being 'dark' about it," Ranma said.
"You think you know what's up in space?" the doctor said.
"Served as a technical advisor, along with the missus, before we both enlisted," Ranma said.
"Ah, how practically romantic," the doctor said, as he pulls out a flask of whiskey, and begins to take a sip…
Gary laughs a bit at this remark.
"Well, the only thing I can say is…welcome to Starfleet," Ranma said.
"Yeah, yeah…"
"So…what's story?" Kirk asked.
"Lost everything in a messy divorce, leaving nothing but my bones, and decided to start fresh."
"Huh."
The doctor looks over at Kirk. For some reason, he could trust this kid…
"The name's 'Leonard McCoy'," McCoy said, as he passed along the flask to Kirk.
"'Jim Kirk'," Kirk replied, as he took a swig.
"If you're passing that around…"
Everyone turns towards the voice that was Usagi.
"Eh," McCoy said with a shrug.
Kirk hands the flask over to Usagi. She takes it, and then takes a swig.
"Nice," Usagi said, as she tastes the vintage. "'2109', right?"
"Correct," McCoy said with a slight smile. "I'm impressed."
"You should be, since Usagi is a bit of a 'lush'," Ranma said.
"A TINY bit," Usagi said, as she hands back the flask.
"Regardless, it's nice to meet your acquaintance, little lady," McCoy said as she gave a slight salute.
Usagi nods in reply.
And so, the shuttle full of raw cadets begin the journey of their lifetime…
Tbc.