TRT3: The Ranma Trek Voyage! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Author's Note: This chapter covers some back story that I had forgotten to include in previous chapters. Enjoy!
Part 50
A week later…
"I cannot BELIEVE this," said the being known as "Randi". Thanks to a transporter accident involving Neelix, Science Officer Ranko Tendo and Counselor Veronica Stadi (who was also a "Relief Conn Officer) were fused as one person, while Neelix and Lt. Commander Tuvok were fused as one person as well. Upon closer inspection of the problem, Operations Officer Harry Kim, Chief Engineer B'Ellana Torres and the EMH Doctor learned that a broken vial containing an alien planet had somehow interfered with the Transporters' normal functions. As a result, four people fused into two people.
Randi turned towards "Tuvix".
"Thanks a lot, Neelix!" Randi said angrily. It wasn't that Ranma had not fused with someone before. In fact, he had done so, on many occasions, back when Ranma was a member of the so-called "Z-Warriors". And, it wasn't the fact that Ranma was presently a "girl", since he was long used to being "Ranko Saotome". It was the fact that Randi was a fusion on a molecular level, which may be impossible to undo.
"I have apologized most profusely, Randi," Tuvix replied. Being Half-Vulcan and Half-Talaxian made Tuvix's appearance unsettling, but only because Neelix looked weird to begin with…and it's not because Neelix was a Talaxian either.
"And I must say that you are indeed a beautiful woman, my dear," Tuvix said.
"Thanks," Randi said, as she blushed with a smile. Then, she remembered who she was.
"Ugh!" Randi cried. "I can't believe I am all-woman now! How can this day get any worse-?"
Randi then caught the eyes of Captain Janeway and B'Ellana, while Nurse Kes looked away in embarrassment.
"Er," Randi said. Suddenly, she fakes a feinting spell.
"Oh!" Randi cried out. "I…I don't know what came upon me! It must be some 'alien' influence…"
"Anyway," Janeway said with annoyance, even as she planned to have a long discussion on Ranma's rampant sexism, in spite of the fact that she cared for him. "We know the cause of this…situation. Solutions?"
"I took to analyze how our 'dear friend' here is able to combine itself with other plants, thanks to Nurse Kes' appreciation for horticulture and botany," the EMH Doctor replied, as he observed the alien planet specimen. "It does so by taking the best elements from another plant, and incorporating it into its genetic structure."
"No wonder 'Tuvix' has most of Tuvok's 'charm'," Randi said with a smirk.
"You are obviously distress, Ms. Randi," Tuvix said. "Perhaps a cocoa will calm your human nerves?"
"I would love that," Randi said demurely. Then, she frowns.
"No, don't," Randi said.
"I do not understand," Tuvix replied, as he broke into a slight sweat. While Vulcans do not have "sweat glands", Talaxians do.
"You know that Stadi loves chocolate, 'Neelix'."
"…"
"Okay, so…?" Janeway began.
"I am working on 'unwinding' our new friends' respective genetic structures," the EMH Doctor said.
"B'Ellanna? Harry?"
"We should be able to run a test diagnostic in a day or two," Harry replied.
"It shouldn't be a problem," B'Ellanna replied.
"Okay, in the mean time, you two are off-duty until further notice," Janeway said.
"Cool, I can relax!" Randi replied.
"Actually, we are going to chit-chat for a while," Janeway said, as she begins to leave 'Med-Lab', as she beckons Randi to follow her.
Randi sighed, as she follows the commander of the Voyager out of the lab.
"I hate to be in her shoes right now," Harry replied.
"I am sure she will be fine," Tuvix said, as he turned towards Kes. "Um, do you want to have lunch with me…?"
"I don't think it is appropriate for me to do so," Kes said, as she looked away. "I…I don't want to risk getting attached to, well…"
"I think we should see a counselor," Tuvix suggested.
"I think anyone will be able to see a counselor for a while, given that look on the captain's face," B'Ellanna replied. "Besides, I seriously doubt that 'Randi' is any more good at counseling than Ranko, and she is definitely not the 'touchy-feely' type…"
Over the course of a day, key members of the crew of the USS Voyager worked on unraveling Randi and Tuvix's respective genetic structure. Well, Randi and Tuvix themselves were deliberately kept on "medical leave" thanks to Captain Janeway's orders, which didn't leave the pair much to do…
"Mind if I sit here with you?" said a familiar voice.
Randi looks up from where she was reading in the Mess Hall. She then smirked and resumed her reading.
"If you want to, Tuvix," Randi replied. "This is a free country, you know."
"I did not know that you considered Voyager a 'free country'," Tuvix said with a smile. "Perhaps, it is a principality under the watch of the benevolent Katherine the First…"
Randi smiled, and even laughed a little at Tuvix's attempt at a joke.
"Ah, you are smiling," Tuvix said. "I must be doing something right."
"Just because you made a funny joke, albeit a mild one, that doesn't mean you are out of the woods, Neelix," Randi said.
"I am more of a 'Tuvok', if you ask me," Tuvix said, as he sits down.
Pause.
"Well, this is quite the predicament, we are in," Tuvix said, as he looks at the stars, that could be seen through the observation window.
"Yeah, it is," Randi said, as she takes a sip of her drink. "You know, I have to admit it, I am not as…enthusiastic in going back through the transporter."
"What do you mean?"
"The risks involved in separating ourselves are ridiculous," Randi said with a sigh.
"With a success rate of 1 in 1.2 million, I do not blame you, for your misgivings," Tuvix replied. "And that is assuming if the models that Ensign Kim and the others are working on are sound."
Randi looks at Tuvix.
"You sure?" Randi asked.
"Positive, though I do wish that we had access to the computer," Tuvix said.
"Maybe…we can," Randi replied, as she closes her book.
"We are specifically not allowed to be on duty, captain's orders.
"Tuvix, since when have I listened to the captain on anything non-serious?" Randi said. "Besides, what makes you think that I can't come up with a plan to hide our…activities?"
"On one hand, we should listen to the captain, and obey her orders," Tuvix replied. "On another, I am intrigued by what you have in mind."
"Oh, it's an interesting plan," Randi said, as she did the villain thing with the hunched shoulders and hand rubbing. "It will be SO interesting that no one, not even the brilliant Captain Janeway will figure it out. HOHOHOHOHOHOHO-!"
"Did you say something, Randi?" Janeway said, as she stopped in mid-stride while getting her morning coffee.
"Er, nothing," Randi replied, while trying to looking innocent. "I was just telling Tuvix that we should NOT go on our own and do…stuff, on account that we should trust your wisdom and leadership."
"Tuvix?" Janeway asked, as she turned towards Tuvix.
"Er, yes," Tuvix replied, as he broke out in a sweat. "I was in error. Forgive me."
"I see," Janeway replied. "Just remember: YOU and HER are off-duty on medical leave, and that means that I don't want either of you to be working on solving your respective conditions."
"Of course."
Janeway takes a look at a now-meek Randi, before going on her way…
"Whew, that was a close one," Randi said, before turning her full attention back towards Tuvix.
"So, you're in, or what?" Randi asked.
"I am not so sure now," Tuvix mused. "But-"
"Great!" Randi said with enthusiasm, as she takes out a PADD from her ample bosom. "According to Harry, we have until next week before they make the first real attempt at separating a living organism. That should give us plenty of time to figure this out on our own."
"Um, this might be improper, but how did you manage to hide an entire data pad from your…person?" Tuvix asked.
"Why, you're interested in finding out?" Randi said with a wink and a nod. She then frowns.
"Ugh, never mind! Just meet me in Holodeck 3 in a few hours."
"I was unaware that there was a 'Holodeck 3'," Tuvix replied.
"That was the point, 'Tuvok'," Randi said, as she gets up from her seat. "Just ask the computer for the directions in about an hour."
"As you wish…?"
An hour later…
"Okay," Tuvix said, as he exits Tuvok's quarters. "Now, to begin…"
Tuvix steps forward and presses a computer panel on a nearby corridor wall.
"Computer, I need directions to Holodeck #3," Tuvix requested.
CHIRP!
A giant handprint with a downward arrow appears on the darkened panel.
"Please press the 'handprint' to begin your journey," said the feminine computer.
With a shrug, Tuvix places his hand on the panel.
"Initiating transition in three, two, one…"
"What?" Tuvix said, before realizing the floor under him. "Ulp-!"
The next thing Tuvix realized, he was sliding down a tube of some kind, before landing on a giant pillow.
FWOOMP!
Tuvix manages to get his bearings straight, and sees that he was on a giant pillow, in the center of a genuine holodeck.
"Welcome to Holodeck 3," Randi said, as she smiles broadly. "From here, we can recreate any environment necessary to help us on our research."
"Was this…arrangement necessary?" Tuvix said with a mild annoyance, as he gets up. Upon standing on his feet, the giant pillow disappears…
"No, but the means of getting here is a lot more fun…for me, of course."
"…"
"Anyway, the main reason why no one can get here is because this room is a 'tesseract'," Randi said, as she waves her hand around to demonstrate the scope of the place.
"So…?"
"I basically put a 'pocket dimension', a small one, in one of the utilities closets below deck," Randi replied. "I also managed to 'mislabel' the ship blue prints, so that the computer, or anyone else, will be unable to find it…"
Pause.
"And, I made sure that the rate of time within this tesseract is faster than outside of it," Randi said. "A day outside could be a year within."
"Most curious," Tuvix said. "This…place certainly has its uses."
"Precisely. It essentially replaces my old office, thanks to 'Tuvok' finding out about it, and telling Janeway."
"You mean the crawlspace behind the bulkhead of your quarter's bathroom?"
"Yes."
"And what makes you think that I will not inform the captain of this latest venture?" Tuvix asked.
"Let me ask you this question," Randi began. "Do YOU want to be stuck having Neelix being a part of you?"
"You have a good point," Randi said. "Very well. You have my word that I will not reveal the location of Holodeck 3."
"I do appreciate that," Randi replied. "So, ready to begin?"
"Of course. We will have to set up a lab first."
"Of course," Randi replied, as she looks up slightly towards the ceiling. "Computer, create a basic laboratory, the emphasis on biological and xenomorphic research…"
And thus, the long process to resolve Tuvix and Randi's respective predicament begins. And thanks to their dedication, in part due to being in Holodeck 3 the equivalent of weeks on end, their research had gotten far. However, the closer they were in resolving their goal, the more distasteful achieving their goal became…
"No," Randi said, as she steps away from her terminal. "I can't do this…"
"What are you talking about?" Tuvix said.
"This," Randi replied. "All this. I don't want to be…him again."
"I…do not understand," Tuvix replied.
"I don't want to be Ranma Saotome again," Randi said tearfully. "For the first time in a long time, I don't feel chaotic in my life. In fact, I don't feel like I am either him or Stadi, anymore…"
Pause.
"I don't want to sacrifice my life for their sake!" Randi replied, as she was about to discharge a ki-sphere to destroy the terminal.
"Wait!" Tuvix said, as he grabs hold of Randi's delicate wrist.
"Let me go-"
"Please, hear me out," Tuvix said, as Randi slowly calms down, deflating her ki-sphere.
"Okay, fine," Randi said as she snatches her wrists away from Tuvix. "Talk."
"I agree with everything that you are saying, Randi," Tuvix said. "I do not WANT to lose my life in the process, either. But think of the lives that will be affected if Tuvok, Neelix, Veronica Stadi…or Ranma Saotome is forever gone."
"But-"
"What about Ranma Saotome's daughter Katrina?" Tuvix said. "What happens to her?"
Randi wanted to protest, but realized that Katrina Janeway-Saotome, who is presently building a colony on Briotri III with Lt. Carey and a few other former crewmembers, had made Ranma promise that he would take care of her mother, as well as see to it that the USS Voyager would return home safely…
"Okay," Randi said with a sigh. "Fine. We better let the captain know what's up…"
"Not yet," Tuvix said. "I might have a plan that will allow us to keep our lives, but allow the others to live."
"What plan do you have in mind?" Randi replied.
With that, Tuvix proceeds to tell Randi his idea…
A week later, Ensign Ranko Tendo stands before Captain Janeway in her Ready Room.
"I'm not surprise you would do this," Janeway said. "However, knowing you for years, and in light of the circumstances, I will let this one sly."
Thanks to Randi's experiences involving numerous "Transporter Room" accidents, a duplicate of both Tuvix and Randi were made. Afterwards, Randi confessed to Janeway of what she and Tuvix had done. Though slightly ticked off, Janeway decided to wait until after everything has been resolved, before tabling the matter...
"Why would you do that?" Ranko said.
"Well, you mean a lot to me, 'Ranma'," Janeway said. "And…I don't want 'Kat' to think that you could not fulfill your promise to keep me and the crew safe, while we head back home."
"I see," Ranko replied. "You know, I am glad to be back to my old self, thanks to Harry and B'Ellana's efforts."
Just then, Tuvok, Stadi and Neelix enter the Ready Room with Tuvix and Randi.
SHOOP!
"Mr. Tuvix, Ms. Randi," Janeway said, as she gets up. "I see that you are ready to leave the ship."
"We are, and thank you for giving us a shuttle to use," Tuvix said.
"Are you sure you want to leave?" Neelix asked. "We just got to know each other."
"Too well, in my opinion," Tuvok said emotionlessly.
"We want to find our own identities," Randi said. "Besides, I don't want to get people out of their jobs."
"Yes, like Lt. Paris did to ME," Stadi said. She was getting better as Ship's Counselor, but she still hated the fact that she was just the Relief Conn Office these days…
"Besides, I know as much as 'Ranko' does," Randi said. "If you guys need us, we can get back here instantly."
"Well, don't think YOU will be as good as me," Ranko scoffed. "I'll just train to be even more unique."
"Challenge accepted," Randi replied. "You're on…"
Janeway merely shakes her head in reply. Yes, maybe TWO Ranma(s) being around was too much for one ship to handle…
Tbc.
