SMST5C: Hero Ultimate! –By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 38
Meanwhile, back in the Vega Star System…
Queen Kommand'r, also known as the part-time super-villain known as "Blackfire", scoffed at Agent Orange's "proposal". Blackfire's homeworld of Tamaran is one of twenty-five inhabitable worlds that exist within the Vega Star System, the result of an experiment of a sadistic alien species of "hyper-scientists" known as Psions. Psions were the result of an experimentation project that had been authorized by the Oans billions year in the past. The Psions, without the moral fiber, conducted their species creation and evolution project. The result was the creation of a goddess named X'Hal, patron of the Vega Star System, and a mosaic of other species with a myriad of natural abilities. Over the years, warfare has taken place in the form of the empire-building Citadel on one hand, and in the form of an expansive criminal organization known as the Spider Guild on the other. Mixed in all this were the freedom loving "Omega Men", who swore to protect the people of the Vega Star System from both forces. Generally speaking, because of the history of the Oans have with the Psions, coupled with the Oans' need to sequester the Orange Light, the Oans—now known as the Guardians of the Universe—have kept the Vega Star System off limits from the jurisdiction of the Green Lantern Corp, at least until now…
It must be noted that Ranma Saotome and Usagi Tsukino have had a history with the Vega Star System, resulting in Ranma becoming a consort of Blackfire, while Usagi merged with X'Hal in the effort to keep the Citadel and the Spider Guild in check. It also must be noted that "New Cronus", the home of the Titans of Mt. Orthys on Earth, also exist in this system as well. Recently, Ranma's daughter, the Amazon Drusilla (aka Donna Troy, aka "Wonder Girl", aka "Troia") had successfully evolved into her Titan guise, by merging with the Titan Phoebe, an aspect of the Titan of the Moon. She chose to return to Earth, after her father Ranma, as Hektate, took her place amongst the Twelve Titans, thereby allowing her to return to her old teammates within the superhero team known as "The New Titans". If nothing else, Ranma would do anything for his daughter, even if it meant having to endure her role within the so-called "Titanarchy", the very ruling body that he had went to war against eons ago. Still, in spite of this separation from Earth, Ranma has Usagi and Blackfire for comfort, even though Usagi, as X'Hal, tends to be schizophrenic (due to the dual personalities), while Blackfire is, well, Blackfire.
"You're saying that you will protect Tamaran, in exchange for a fee?" Blackfire asked.
"Yes," Nabiki said. "As your own intelligence have indicated, the Oans and their Green Lantern Corp are on their way here to impose their will unto this system. The last thing you want is the status quo to be disturbed."
"Why would I need you, when I have my Ranma present to protect me?" Blackfire asked incredulously.
"Simple: Ranma still has obligations with the Green Lantern Corp, even if he has been stripped of his duties. You'll need someone who could go against the Oans without any preconceived notions of loyalty. And besides, there is always a chance of the Oans interfering enough to put your agenda at risk, especially where the Citadel is concerned. All I offer, as I have with the other rulers within the Vega Star System, that I keep the peace between the races, while you all explore other…options."
"How so?"
"With the Guardians and their new 'Fourth Law', the people of this system are no longer confined to Vega."
"I see. We can expand our influence within the Uncharted Territories."
"Yes."
"And if any of us decide to…conquer other races outside this system?"
"That is your business. My job will be to maintain the status quo WITHIN the Vega Star System. What you or any of you do outside the system is your business…and someone else's business."
"Hmmm, you make a good point," Blackfire said. "I will have to consult with my ministers on this matter, of course."
"Of course," Nabiki said. "You have the means to contact me on Okaara, correct?"
"Correct."
"Good. Good day."
And with that, the orange, holographic of the middle Tendo sister disappears.
"Mother," said Princess R'maind'r, aka "Redfire", the daughter of Blackfire and Ranma, as she steps forth. On occasion, she has gone to Earth as one of their "superheroes". These days, she is preparing for her wedding with an Earthman named Dr. William Robinson, a friend of Ranma and Usagi from their "lost" days…
"Yes, dear?" Blackfire asked.
"We have reports that the Green Lantern Corp have just arrived on Okaara," Redfire said.
"Well, then," Blackfire said. "We will see if the Agent Orange will live up to her word…"
Meanwhile…
"And there you have it," Usagi said with a sigh. "In order to give the Skrulls a new purpose, as well as to make sure that they are no longer a threat, I merged with Sl'gurt."
Ranma sighs, as he rubs his forehead in silence.
Ukyo looked worried, as did Kasumi…
"Ranma…?"
"Usagi, how many times do I have to ask you to let me know about these things?" Ranma said.
"Ranma, I did all this while under duress, you know." Usagi replied.
"DURESS?" Ranma yelled. "Do you know how much crap I have to deal with because you, again, do stuff behind my BACK?"
"Don't yell at me! And don't tell me about 'crap', Ranma, because I'm always knee deep in it! I KNOW my responsibilities to my actions, which is why I don't tell you these things."
"Guys, back down, both of you," Ukyo said, as she intercedes between Ranma and Usagi.
"But, but-" Ranma said.
"Ranma, it is not productive to get into an argument, while we have the Kree to deal with at this point in time," Kasumi said gently. "This does not include the other matters we have to deal with."
Kasumi then turns towards Usagi.
"And regardless of what Usagi's actions, her mistakes have always been misguided, rather than nefarious."
Ranma closes his eyes. He then turns towards Usagi, who was giving him sad eyes…
"Please don't do that," Ranma said. As much as he wants to continue to yell at his wife, he should know by now to expect the un-expectant where Usagi was concerned…
"Please, Ranma," Usagi said, as she gets on her knees, as she begins to beg. "Forgive this unworthy soul…"
"Okay, okay," Ranma said, as he helped his wife up. "I GET it. Sheesh…"
"Heh," Usagi said, as she hugged Ranma. "You like me…you really, really like me."
"Of COURSE I like ya, Usa. I just wish you tell me these things AHEAD of time."
"Ranma, I can't help it," Usagi said with a sigh, as she lets go of her husband. "I've done so many things, that I can't keep up with it all."
"Yeah, for better or for worse, I guess-"
CHUNK!
"Speaking of which, it sounds like we are about to be boarded," Ukyo said, as she rubs the facing of her ring.
"Well, if it's indeed the Kree, we might be able to take advantage of the Mar-Vell name," Usagi said.
"'Mar-Vell'?" Kasumi asked.
"The second man to bare the name 'Captain Marvel', who is the cloned off-spring of the first Captain Marvel and Beautia Sivana, thanks to Mister Mind disguised as the Supreme Intelligence of the Kree," Ranma said.
"Oh."
"Well, we better get ready for guests, then," Usagi said, as Ranma prepares to open the hatch…
A minute later, someone unexpected appears.
"Phyla-Vell?" Ranma said incredulously.
"Wait," Usagi said. "I thought you were the new Quasar?"
"A lot has happened lately, Moon Princess," Phyla-Vell said, as strolls onto the deck wearing a black body suit (with a pair of thigh-length red boots), similar to Wonder Woman's, red arm bracers (similar to the Marvel Family's), a cloak (red with a black lining), and a silver dagger on the chest underneath a flattened, silver skull.
"Who is this?" Ukyo asked.
"I have been many things," Phyla-Vell said, as she brushed back her white hair, as her right eye glowed. "At the moment, I am the avatar of Oblivion, known as 'Martyr'."
"And the Quantum Bands?" Usagi asked.
"Wendell Vaughn returned from the dead to reclaim his mantle, though he is now an energy construct."
"And your powers?" Usagi asked.
"Save for the fact that I no longer can create energy constructs like the Green Lantern Corp, with the exception of my Quantum Sword and mastery over Entropy, my powers are the same."
"Why have you stopped us, miss?" Kasumi asked.
"Yeah, we're on our way to stop an invasion in the Vega Star System," Ranma said.
"I apologize for this…subterfuge," Martyr said. "A week ago, the Shiar and the Kree have declared war on each other. Such a decision will engulf many worlds."
"I've heard," Ranma said.
"Phyla, are you a part of this war?" Usagi asked.
"My business is to stop the war…on both sides," Martyr said. "With the death of the Skrull Empire, King Vulcan and the Supreme Intelligence seek pick up the pieces by dominating what is left of the galaxy…"
The galaxy that Martyr was referring to was what astronomers call a "dwarf galaxy", a smaller galaxy orbits a larger one. The one that Martyr was referring to specifically was one of the dwarf galaxies that orbited the Andromeda Galaxy. Human contact with the denizens of the Andromeda Galaxy, and its dwarf galaxies, has been limited to secret governmental programs, secret societies, alien interaction and metahuman activities. In one particular case, the American "Stargate Program" has a base in the Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy, a small galaxy that orbits the parent Andromeda Galaxy. As for the parent galaxy, thanks to Annihilus's invasion of the Andromeda Galaxy, the galaxy's stability has caused a mass exodus to the neighboring dwarf galaxies, with some going to other galaxies altogether. That is why the Skrulls had invaded Earth, because they needed a new home. But with the Skrull Empire gone, due to their defeat on Earth, the remaining powers, the Shiar and the Kree, are now fighting for what was left…
"I know that you have another agenda, but I implore you to help," Martyr asked. "Please."
Ranma looks at Martyr. He then turns towards Usagi, Kasumi and Ukyo, all of whom who were nodding their collective heads.
"Then, that's that," Ranma said.
"Indeed," Usagi said, as turns towards Martyr. "If we have a 'war of kings', then you are speaking to the right people," Usagi said with a smile.
"You heard her," Ranma said. "And besides, I doubt we cou
"Thank you," Martyr said, as she bows slightly. "Perhaps we can deal with this crisis without the loss of life."
"That would mean that we would have to take a detour, however, Ranchan," Ukyo said.
"Is there a way to keep schedule?" Kasumi asked.
"Ranma, we do have counterparts in the Vega Star System, right?" Usagi said.
"What do you mean?"
"Hektatema and Ux'Hal, remember?"
"Oh. I forgot about that."
"Ranma, if they are you and Usagi's counterparts-" Ukyo began to ask.
"Why I would forget?" Ranma asked. "A merging of another entity gives the fusion form a degree of autonomy."
"Oh."
"Would they work with us?" Kasumi asked.
"That is the problem," Usagi said. "While those doppelgangers do have our core memories and mental patterns are the same, they are filtered through the merged personality."
"That's sound schizophrenic," Ukyo said.
"Indeed it is."
"Oh, my," Kasumi said.
"Correct," Ranma said. "Still, I'm sure that it won't be a problem with getting their help on this…situation."
"If nothing else, then we should depart soon," Martyr said. "We have to rendezvous with our allies, so that our mission of mercy."
Meanwhile…
Wonder Woman sighs, as she looks at her chains…while tapping her shackles against each other in Morse code…
"Friend, why are you doing that?" Herakles asked.
"It sounds like you are using code to contact…Trigona?" Cho asked, as he turns towards Wonder Woman. "Your wife?"
"Yep," Wonder Woman said, as she continued to tap her shackles.
"Who is this…'Trigona'?" Achilles asked.
"Usagi, in her demon form," Wonder Woman said.
"WHAT?"
Somewhere in the Chinese Hell, known as Diyu, Trigona looks up.
"SO, MY DEAREST HUSBAND SEEKS MY HELP," Trigona said. "WHO EVER HAS HARMED HIM SHALL FEEL MY WRATH. HOHOHOHOHOHOHO-!
Trigona gets up from her throne of skulls, and steps off…trips over a loose skull.
TRIP!
SPLAT!
"Owie…"
Tbc.