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 38: "2008" (Act 8).

Meanwhile, having dealt with their attackers, Ranma and his reluctant "landing party" had relaxed a bit…as he picked up his com-link.

"Saotome to Moya," Ranma says. "We had gotten into a bit of a jam."

"So are we, Ranma," Crichton replied, as an unknown ship attacked their ship. "Rygel was kind enough to let everyone know of our presence."

"Hey!" the Hynarian fumed. "I was only trying to help!"

Crichton then began to describe their attackers.

"Sounds like you have a Cylon problem," Helo smirks, as he hears the details through the comlink's speaker box function.

"Hold on for a second," Ranma says, as he looks at Helo. "I believe that someone knows more about what's going on than we do."

"Find out as much as you can, while we deal with this situation up HERE. Crichton: out."

"Understood," says Ranma. He then turns to Helo. "Talk."

"Why should I help you?" Helo replies. "For all I know, all this is nothing more than a Cylon trick."

"Well, in that case, I'll turn you over to my friends here."

Helo looks at Big D'Argo, who was sharpening his gun-blade. He then looks at Chiana, who was practicing her knife work. Then he sees Usagi, who took out a syringe, and filled it with some sort of clear liquid; Usagi then looks at Helo with a maniacal grin.

"Okay, okay, I'll talk. Just keep those things away from me."

"Those 'things' are my friends. Now talk!"

Helo tells Ranma about the Cylons and their surprise attack on the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. The result of the Cylon attack was the near-genocide of the human race.

"…And with the new infiltration models, it's hard to detect who's a Cylon, and who's not."

Ranma looks at Helo, and then at Usagi.

"Well?"

"Sounds like something the Cylons attempted to do before back in the 1980s," Usagi says.

"What about detecting them now?" Chiana says. "You KNOW I don't like surprises."

"I got that covered, Chiana," she replied. She then put away her syringe (which she uses for show), and takes out her Tricorder. She then performed a scan of the immediate area.

PING!

"D'Argo," Usagi said, as she pointed at one of Helo's men. "Shoot him."

"If you say so," D'Argo says, as he aims his rifle at the man.

BANG!

"What did you do?" Helo screams.

"HE was a…Cylon," she says. "My medical instrument picked up some artificial cells throughout his system. If you don't believe, then watch."

After making some adjustments on her instrument, she connected her Tricorder to the head of the Cylon.

"What are you doing?" Ranma says with concern. The last thing he wanted was for Usagi to put her life in danger.

"If I'm right, then I can start him up, in spite of that big, gaping hole in that guys chest."

Sure enough, the Cylon got up, proving that he was a Cylon.

"Who are you?" said the Cylon.

"Ranma, it's your show."

Ranma nods, as he steps forward.

"Call off the attack on my ship."

"We cannot," he says. "All humans are to be neutralized…"

Usagi looks at her mini-computer and frowns.

"What?" Ranma asks.

"He trying to hack into my system," Usagi says. "Pretty impressive, I think."

"Soon, we gain access to your information, to further our plan…"

"That's how they devastated the Colonial fleet," Helo says. "They used our own networks to get to us."

"Damn," Ranma says with a mirthful laugh. "They used the same damn trick we used on them."

"Excuse me?" Helo asks.

Ranma explains that twenty-five years ago, he and his wife had met Helo's ancestors, who had escaped the original destruction of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, before settling down in New Kobol.

"But that's impossible," Helo says. "That was over 2000 cycles ago!"

"Then my original guess was correct: when I came into contact with your ancestors, it was by way of a wormhole. I never had a chance to check to see if the phenomenon had cut through both space AND time. Apparently, it did."

"Okay, assuming that I believe you, you said something about the Cylons using the same trick you used on them…?"

"Yeah, I did. I set up a computer virus that had shut down the entire Cylon fleet. Apparently, they learned from that mistake."

"Then, how do you explain our war with the Cylons forty years ago? They were…just machines that rebelled after we used them in our own civil war."

"Usagi?"

Usagi takes out a datapad, and opens up a file.

"Did they look like this?" Usagi asked.

"Um, yeah."

"Then you guys had been targeted for years, either through an infiltration AI, or someone used an old Cylon as a prototype to make more."

"So…it was our fault then."

"Regardless," Ranma says, "We have a more immediate problem."

"Oh, then let me upload something," Usagi says, as she turns her full attention back unto the Cylon. With a few quick movements of her fingers, Usagi shuts down her Tricorder.

"What did you do?" Chiana asks.

"Observe," Usagi says, as she pointed into the sky…

Aeryn hugged her son close, as Crichton gave the orders to create a sustained starburst, which will be used to destroy the Cylon fighters.

"Ranma, if you can still hear me, do something NOW!"

Suddenly-

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM-!

The Cylon ships, including their mothership, were destroyed.

"Ask and you will receive," Jool replies.

Crichton merely rolls his eyes. He SO hoped that Zhaan awakes from her hibernation REAL soon.

On the planet surface, the Cylon was in a state of shock.

"You tell your people that if they try to go after US, we'll come to YOU," Ranma said, before he directed Usagi to pull the plug, thus shutting the Cylon down.

"Okay, okay," Helo says. "What the hell did you do?"

"Well, the Cylon design is based upon a hive-like mentality, in which one can transfer its data to another by remote. I simply took advantage of THEIR network."

"So…"

"So I, remotely, blew up their ship."

"Glad you're on our side," Chiana interjects.

Ranma then turns to Helo.

"Are you convinced that WE aren't Cylons?" Ranma says, as he extended a right hand in friendship.

Helo accepts it.

"So, what's next?" Usagi asks.

Ranma taps into his com-link.

"Honey, how's it going?"

"Oh, there's nothing like being attacked to brighten one's day," Crichton says. "Anything in particular to report?"

"Usagi is going to upload her information, but I recommend that Moya gets out of this star system pronto. And, um, due to the hostile nature of the people we've met, I recommend that D'Argo and Chiana return as soon as possible."

"And you and Usagi?"

"We'll stay behind to gather more information."

"Okay, but I don't want you destroying my ship."

"Hey, who's the one with the better aptitude for engineering?"

"Usagi."

"Okay, on the applied side then?"

"Alright, just take good care of it."

"I will. And take care of my daughter for me, okay?"

"Understood. Good luck, my friend."

CHIRP!

Thus, Crichton was to take Moya out into deep space, keeping a low profile in the process. In the mean time, Usagi and Ranma will accompany Helo and his crew to mount a rescue mission on a human "farm", where countless number of women was being used a "baby factories" for the Cylons. This would serve to gain the Colonials trusts, as well as ascertain the motives of these new Cylons…

In some non-descript hallway, in a former insane asylum, a blond-haired woman walks down the hallway. She stops for a moment, thinking that she detected something. Dismissing it, she continues on her way.

CLANG!

Ranma and Usagi drop down in the middle of the hallway.

"Where to?" Ranma asks, as he kept a look out for more Cylon Centurions. They were more advanced that the ones they fought off years ago.

Usagi looks at her Tricorder, and then points in a specific direction. She had used cell samples from Helo's friend to create a location program.

The couple ran quickly and quietly, moving at speeds that only a machine could keep up. They sneak past a medical hub, and make it to Kara Thrace's room, otherwise known as "Starbuck".

Quietly, Usagi enters the room, having asked Ranma to wait outside to keep watch. Given the circumstances of their target's captivity, a male in the room would not be a welcomed sight. She sees a shorthaired blond girl, who reminded Usagi of Tasha Yar…and as equally hard-bitten.

Kara looks at this blond haired woman with a ridiculous haircut. Was she a Cylon?

"Hi, my name is Usagi, I'm here to rescue you."

"Yeah…"

"And you can drop what you have in your hand."

Kara frowned.

Usagi sighed, as she tossed Kara a gun.

"If I am a Cylon, then you have something to defend yourself with."

Sure enough, Kara took the gun, and dropped a shard piece of glass.

"Okay, why should I let you live?" Kara asks, while pointing a gun at Usagi.

"Because you have nothing to shoot with," Usagi replied.

Kara looks at her gun. Sure enough, the gun was out of bullets.

"Now, do you trust me? Because I can take you down right now, if I wanted to. And with your injuries, you won't survive."

Before Kara could answer, Ranma bursts in.

"We got to get out here!"

"What the hell-?"

"It's okay," Usagi says. "He's with me."

"Damn right," Ranma says proudly. "But we still have to get out of here."

Usagi and Ranma turn to leave.

"If you want to escape, follow us," Usagi says.

Kara was hesitant, but she did so anyway.

Later…

"Well, are we ready to go?" said "Boomer", who was really a renegade Cylon. She had decided to return to her beloved Helo, since he was the father of their child.

The raid on the Cylon farm was successful. With Ranma's help, they were able to rescue not only Kara, but also the many women who were being held by the Cylons. Furthermore, he, with Usagi's help, gave the Human Resistance an edge with the new EMP grenades. Used wisely, they can knock out Cylons, humanoid and otherwise quite easily. Usagi also provided a Cylon detector that even non-technical personnel can use.

"Sure," Helo says.

Ranma and the others would follow Helo, Boomer and Starbuck in the Cylon transport ship.

"What do you think we'll find on this…Kobol?" Ranma asks. He remembered Boxey mentioning it, but never had the chance to visit it.

"I'm not sure, but I am curious to know what happened to Caprica and the others," Usagi replies, as the two takes off for parts unknown.

Sometime later…

"This is 'Boomer'," says the renegade Cylon, as she piloted the Cylon transport into Kobol's sector. "We'll be arriving shortly."

"Thanks," Ranma says, as he skillfully piloted Farscape-1 in the transport ship's wake. He then turns towards his wife. "Beautiful, ain't it?"

"It…is, Ranma," Usagi says.

Ranma frowns.

"Is there something wrong?"

"I'm worried about Genko and the others. We should have gone straight back home when we had the chance."

"Hon, what's done…is done," Ranma says. "And besides, at least we can honor our commitment to Caprica."

"Huh. Have you noticed that a lot of these people's style is similar to that of present-day Earth?"

"I noticed that," Ranma replied. "I wouldn't be surprised if THAT was a result of the Colonials excursions to Earth or something."

"Maybe…"

Finally…

"We should be coming up to Roslyn's fleet shortly," said Lt. Sharon ("Boomer") Valerii, or, should that be, a copy of the original Boomer. Ever since it has been revealed that Boomer was a Cylon infiltration unit, everyone has been on edge. Usagi was more than ready to activate her "auto-shutdown" device, if need be. In fact, she has been designing a special virus that would be so pervasive, so insidious, that, in theory, could shut down the entire Cylon network. However, the Starfleet in her wanted to believe that these automatons were capable in becoming something more. So, for now, Usagu will keep her mouth shut. After all, she could shut Boomer down by remote control if need be.

As soon as the Cylon transport ship lands on Roslyn's ship, Crichton, his friends and Boomer were surrounded. Deposed President Roslyn used her quiet strength to interrogate them.

"I take it that you are the leader, Mister…?"

"Saotome…Ranma Saotome, Miss…?"

"I am President Laura Roslyn, the elected leader of the Twelve Colonies of New Kobol."

Roslyn looks over Ranma, and then at his companion Usagi.

"I was told that there would be more than two people here."

"Well, the others had other plans," Ranma replied.

And then, suddenly, everyone hears a commotion in a different part of the ship.

"Just shut up!" said a young man with short black hair. He then goes up and points a pistol at Boomer's head. "This THING shot my father!"

"Hey!" Lt. Helo said, as he tried to intervene, only to be held by Roslyn's men. "She's carrying my child!"

"THIS is an interesting development," Roslyn replied with a bemused smirk.

"Everyone, settle down," Ranma interjects. "Boomer is helping us, and that's good enough for me."

Apollo wildly turns his pistol towards Ranma.

"Ranma-!" Usagi began to say, only to have Ranma signal her to stay calm.

"How do I know if YOU are not a Cylon?" Apollo says.

"You don't know, which is why you should trust your instincts."

Apollo looked straight into Ranma's eyes…

"Fine," Apollo says, as he lowered his weapon. "But don't make me regret this!"

Roslyn returns her attention to Ranma.

"Obviously, you are representing your interests here. So tell me, why I shouldn't have you thrown out of an airlock? Besides, you tried to convince Captain Adama that you weren't a Cylon."

"Let me see. One, it would be rude for you do THAT to your guests. Two, my associates are still out there here, so I DO have back up. And three, with the press of the button on this transponder-"

Ranma holds up a "clicker" in his hand. Roslyn's guards immediately raise their weapons.

"-You'll have Cylons on your doorstep in NO time. And from what I can see, I doubt you have the fire-power to hold off a full assault."

"You're bluffing."

"Lady, I spent the past three years on the run from criminals and tyrants. I had my head messed with by the sadistic and the twisted. And lady, I don't give a damn about anything but my freedom…even if it means my DEATH."

Roslyn looks into Ranma's eyes. She wasn't sure if he was bluffing or not, but at this stage in her life, with the colonists depending on her, Roslyn was not about to take a chance.

"Fine. What do you want, Mr. Saotome?"

"First, Lt. Helo keeps his girlfriend-"

"Unacceptable."

"Hear me out. Helo keeps his girlfriend, only if Boomer is willing to get 'tagged'."

"'Tagged'?"

"Yes," Usagi says, as she steps forth. "I designed a device that will cut Boomer from her Cylon network. As long as she wears it, it's all good."

"Intriguing. What else, Mr. Saotome?"

"Usagi will fill in the rest."

"Lt. Thrace told me that you needed to find some 'Tomb of Athena', correct?"

"Yes, Miss…?"

"Call me Usagi…everyone else does. Anyway…?"

"Well, I sent Lt. Thrace to find the 'Arrow of Apollo', which will point the way to Earth."

"'Earth'?"

"Yes. Supposedly, once the 'Arrow of Apollo is placed inside the Tomb of Athena, it will show the way to the ancestral home of all humans."

Ranma, Usagi thought telepathically. Wasn't the name of Caprica's mother "Athena"?

You know, you might be right about that, Ranma thought likewise.

"Mr. Saotome?" Roslyn says, seeing that Ranma had zoned out a bit.

"I was asking you if you would like to go planet-side with us."

"Sure," Ranma replied "And also, as Lt. Thrace had indicated, there's Cylons planet-side. Boomer will help in spotting Cylon traps."

"I see. Alright, 'Boomer' can stay, but under 'protective' custody."

Roslyn looks at Usagi, then at the young man who was threatening Boomer.

"Captain Apollo, what do you think?"

Captain Lee ("Apollo") Adama looks Ranma and his companion.

"Fine. But they better watch their step."

"Agreed. Mr. Saotome, you have yourself a deal."

"Please…call me 'Ranma'."

"Ah, no, not until you've gained my trust."

"Fair enough."

A short time later, Ranma and Usagi were allowed to private quarters, until it was time to go planet side.

"So, should we tell them that WE are from Earth, Ranma?" Usagi asked, as she lay on the bunk with Ranma. As much as they wanted to, the situation was not conducive to having sex in a hostile environment.

"Heck, no! The last thing we need is more extraterrestrial activity to knock on Earth's door."

"I agree. There's something weird going on around here, and I want to know more about it before letting them know what we know. And I certainly don't want the Cylons to get to Earth and destroy. Not that they COULD at this point, but still…"

"You're right. Wait, what do you mean by that?"

"Well, ever since the Technocracy and the Traditions signed the Compact of Concordia in 2000, there has been a concentrated effort in establishing a planetary defense network."

"Wait, how did you know that?"

"I've kept in contact with Earth ever since John and I were able to establish a micro-wormholes."

"Ah, sub-space frequencies."

"Exactly."

Ranma held his wife tightly.

"I just hope that we don't mess things up even more so…"

Meanwhile, a man named Tom Zarek shuts off the microscopic "bug" that was placed in the Saotome couple's room.

Zarek was a freedom fighter from the colony world Sagittaria, but ended up being elected as a council member of the Quorum (the council that represents the Twelve Colonies of Kobol) when the Cylons committed genocide. Still, old habits are hard to break, which is why Zarek wanted his fellow Sagittarians to be utterly divorced from the rest of the colonies, as well as get revenge for what had happened years ago.

"Hmmm…"

With what he has learned, it might prove to be to his advantage.

Meanwhile…

"We have a problem," says the beautiful blond-haired humanoid Cylon model known as "Six".

"Perhaps," said "Boomer". "From the archives, the ones designated as 'Usagi Saotome' and 'Ranma Saotome' have proven themselves to be obstacles in our plans."

Six muses for a moment. She then turns to her associate with a smile.

"Do you KNOW what this means?" Six says excitedly.

"Indeed. If we are able to…co-opt the Saotome couple, then we will be much further in our grand design."

"And upon further investigation, both have insatiable sexual appetites that could be put to good use."

The Boomer humanlon raises an eyebrow.

"MUST you always think about sex…Six?"

"You know…I'm just saying."

"Yes, I KNOW what you are saying."

"Spoil-sport."

Tbc.

Author's note: Sorry, folks, but I have ONE more LONG flashback scene to go. And THEN we'll move forward. Man, doing a major re-write can be a pain sometimes…