Chapter 3 version 1.1
The ship traveled as fast as he could safely let it. Picard was eager to find out what was waiting for them at Farpoint and why their fates depended on it.
"Captain, we are arriving at the Farpoint station."
"Thank you Mr. Data. Lieutenant, I'll need you in the transporter room in fifteen minutes to meet our new first officer, Commander William Riker."
"Yes sir."
_________________________________
Ranma starred at the transporter pad and waited for the ensign to power it up.
'Man, why do we have to use these things? What if they mess me up some how?...' Ranma though to himself.
"Sir, Commander Riker is signaling that he's ready."
"Beam him up ensign."
"Aye sir," as the ensign responded, the transporter pad began to glow and soon the body of William Riker appeared.
"Welcome aboard sir," Ranma said with a salute.
"Good to be aboard," Riker replied.
"The captain requests your presence in his ready room at once sir."
"The captain doesn't waste anytime does he?"
______________________________
Back on the battle bridge, Ranma waited for his orders. In the mean time, his eyes flew over the various panels.
'Weapons systems... check... shields... check... internal sensors... check... Everything's fine. Man I wish that this would end so I can do some serious thinking!' Ranma's mind went back to his encounter with Q. He was almost frightened by how similar Q felt to Saffron, yet so much more powerful. Q made Saffron seem almost like an ant by comparison.
An odd conversation momentarily brought Ranma's attention back to the bridge.
"Did I hear you correctly sir?" O'Brian asked.
"Yes, we're going to perform a manual docking with the saucer section," Riker answered back.
"Aye sir."
Ranma decided what they were talking about wasn't anything he needed to worry about, so he just kept his mouth shut and watched Riker give the orders. With only the information on the view screen, Riker correctly gave them all the directions.
'He definitely knows his stuff...," Ranma thought to himself. Soon, the show was over though.
______________________________
Later, everyone returned to their regular stations at the main bridge. Currently, Riker was in the conference room talking with Picard. Apparently, it seemed that Picard still had questions for the new first officer. At least that was the impression he got when the left the bridge. Not more then a minute after they left, Worf entered. He watched the Klingon as he took his seat.
Ranma decided to do some mental exploring while he waited for the captain and the first officer to return. He sensed the chi of the people around him. Slowly, he continued to reach out.
"Lieutenant Saotome?" he heard a female voice ask.
"Yes Counselor?" he asked.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing...," he lied.
"Now, you do know I'm half Betazoid right?"
"Yes Counselor, I am aware of that."
"Then you should know I can sense when your lying."
"Interesting," he commented. "Tell me, why should this news be important?"
"Because it seems you're doing something odd with your mind. I can sense it filling the room somehow..."
"If your asking if I'm reading other people's minds, then the answer is no. I'm just feeling the chi of everyone."
"Their chi? I wasn't aware humans could do that."
"All beings can Counselor. It's a fairly natural ability. Anytime you walk up to someone bigger then you and you feel a tingle in your spine or a buzz in your head, that's your body reacting to another person's chi."
"Very fascinating."
"Counselor... There's something that's been bothering me since we arrived in orbit..."
"There is?"
"Yes. I can't figure it out. It feels like a giant chi, but..."
"But?"
"It's big, yet weak at the same time. As if it was supposed to be bigger..."
"And you think it's coming from the surface?"
"Yes. As I said, I've felt it since we arrive, I just haven't had any time to concentrate on it."
"Perhaps if you can wait, I'll ask the captain to let you come with us on the away mission."
"I'm not sure that's a good idea. I mean, what happens if something attacks the ship?"
"Saotome, you're the head of security, not the whole team."
"Oh, yeah, you're right," he sheepishly said before thinking of who he could call up to replace him while he was on the surface.
______________________________
Thankfully, Ranma did not have to wait long as both Picard and Riker soon returned to the bridge. After a bit of friendly banter about a message he'd sent to the captain of the Hood, they received an unexpected visitor.
"Your wasting time!" Q announced. Ranma was surprised when Worf jumped to his feet with his phaser in hand. Thankfully Picard was able to convince him to put the phaser away.
"You have twenty-four hours to complete this task or you will risk summary judgement." With that said, Q vanished from sight.
"What do we do now sir?" Riker asked.
"We do what we would have done if we never knew this Q existed. If we're going to damned, let's be damned for who we really are," Picard stated righteously. "Prepare the away team. It's time we do some investigating."
"Captain," Deanna called out.
"Yes?"
"I'd like to recommend Lieutenant Saotome for this mission."
"Agreed. Lieutenant Saotome, we'll meet up in the transporter room in an hour. Dismissed."
"Sir?" Riker said.
"Yes Number One?"
"Why an hour?"
"I just need to do some more reading up before we leave. It's nothing you need to be concerned with."
"Aye sir."
______________________________
Picard sat in his ready room, wondering about the mystery that was his head of security. At the time Ranma request came in, he thought the young man nothing more then an ambitious youth with perfect marks at the Academy. What he ended up with was a young man that seemed to have very unnatural abilities.
"Computer, pull up all known data pertaining to Saotome Ranma."
"Accessing," the computer stated. "Data compiled."
"Computer, is this all the known data?"
"Affirmative."
"There's barely anything on him besides his Academy records and his birth certificate," he commented to himself. Tapping his com badge, he called to Ranma.
"Yes sir?" Ranma answered.
"Do you have some free time?"
"Yes sir."
"Meet me in Ten Forward."
"Yes sir."
_________________________________
Ranma entered the bar and looked around. It wasn't much to look at, but everyone seemed to be enjoying it. At least the few people that were there. Something caught his attention. Someone there had an unusual aura that felt very familiar. It took a few seconds, but he finally spotted the owner. A woman who appeared to in her thirties or forties standing behind the bar. Her eyes also happened to be locked on to him.
"Hello," she said with a smile.
"Hey, nice place."
"Thanks, but it's not the place I'm here for, it's the people."
"Yeah, guess this would be a good place to see people."
"My name is Guinan."
"I'm Saotome Ranma. Pleased to meet you."
"Saotome... Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while."
"You've heard of our family?"
"Yes. If I'm right, your father is Genma."
"Woo, your good. Can ya guess how old I am too?" This question just caused Guinan to chuckle.
"I met your father a few times. During the time he spent training with his father is when I ran into him the most. The last time I saw him, he was training with that troll Happousai."
"You know Happousai."
"Sadly, yes. Happousai and I have crossed paths a lot."
"Wow, and here I wouldn't have guessed you were a day over thirty."
"So if your Genma's boy, then you must be a martial artist like him."
"Yup. The best on the planet Earth. Heck, I'm probably the best in the universe."
"That's quite a statement to make."
"I've even defeated everyone I've meet including a demi-god named Saffron," Ranma said, purposely leaving out how close that battle with Saffron really was.
"Saffron..." The name caused her blood to run cold.
"You know him too?"
"Yes, he was once a part of the Q Continuum, but they cast him down. I never found out why though. I just heard it once from a friend."
"... Some how hearing you say that doesn't surprise me. When we ran into Q, I felt his aura and I knew it was familiar."
"Q was here?"
"Yeah and he's watching us as we speak," In response, Guinan suddenly raised her middle finger at the air. "Are you ok?"
"Just thought I'd remind Q how much I hate him."
"Ok..." As Ranma tried to make sense of this, Picard arrived.
"Ah, I see you've met Guinan," he commented.
"Yeah. Seems she knew my old man."
"Really. I'd love to hear more about your father."
"Not much to tell. He's a selfish bastard that didn't give a damn about his child. As long as I did what he told me to, I was fine."
"Did he beat you?" Picard asked, some what shocked at the possibility of such a thing happening.
"Only when we sparred, which was all day if he could muster enough energy. Some days I was so sore I couldn't move."
"You should have seen what your father's father put him through," Guinan interrupted.
"You knew my grandfather?"
"Sort of... I know his name was Torima, but beyond that, I only saw him in passing."
"Wow, that's more then I've ever heard about gramps."
"So Ranma, you said you went on some kind of journey. Could you tell me about that?" Picard asked.
"I guess so... It started when I was six..." Ranma started as he explain the various details of training in China, competing in street fights in America, and schooling in Japan while leaving out a few select memories such as the Neko-Ken and Jusenkyo. "...after the last failed wedding, I decided I'd apply for Starfleet."
"Amazing," Picard said feeling like a child listening to a fictional story. "I hate to ask you this, but how did you make it to China and North America? I did some research and there's no records of you ever taking any means of transportation or even having crossed the boarders besides the time you went to the Academy."
"That's because we swam the whole way."
"You swam?" Picard asked incredulously. "From Asia to America?"
"Yeah."
Just then, Ranma felt a splash of cold water.
"I'm sorry about that... Miss. Here let me dry you off," the offending person offered. Picard simply looked stunned.
"No thanks, I can dry myself thank you," Ranma-chan stated as she grabbed the towel. "Lousy no good rotten..."
"I suppose you can explain that?" Picard asked carefully.
"I didn't wanna, but ever hear of a place called Jusenkyo?"
"Not off the top of my head..."
"Well, that's the reason and that's all I'd like to say if you don't mind. Guinan, could you get me a cup of hot water?"
"Sure," she replied as she handed Ranma-chan the cup. Ranma-chan then poured the water on herself and changed back to a guy.
"Thanks," he commented now a man again.
"I can see this voyage is going to be interesting. It's about time. Meet up in the transporter room one."
_________________________________
The beam materialized them on the surface and Ranma almost fell to his knees to kiss the ground.
'I think I'm fine... Good god, I hope I'm ok...,' Ranma nervously thought.
"Lieutenant Saotome, are you ok?" Deanna asked gently.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm just not a big fan of transporters. It's a slight phobia I've got. Thankfully it's not the worst one I've got..."
"Still, it's something I can probably help you overcome later. Do you sense anything?"
"... Oh, yeah... I do. It's huge just like I imagined... and it's weak, but I can't tell why...," Ranma paused as he looked over the Farpoint station. "Counselor, I've never seen anything like this..."
"What is it?"
"It's like the whole city is alive. Everything here has a slight aura to it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. There's only one way something like this could happen. This has to be living is some way... What about you? Can you sense anything?"
"I'm not certain. I'm feeling a lot of emotions right now. Some of them are from the people, but..."
"But what?"
"There is an odd amount of pain. It's very distant, but it is definitely coming from within the city."
"Captain, we're reading some odd caverns below the city," Geordi interrupted.
"Lt. Saotome, take Counselor Troi and Lt. La Forge down to the tunnels and see if you can learn anything else down there."
"Yes sir."
"Mean while, everyone else will remain topside. Report if you discover anything important."
With that, the group broke into the two teams.
_________________________________
Deep below Farpoint, Ranma, Deanna, and La Forge trekked through an odd configuration of tunnels.
"I'm not sure we should be doing this...," Ranma hesitantly stated. "These walls are alive."
"That's impossible," La Forge commented.
"Trust me, nothing's impossible and this place is alive, but it's injured. Counselor, can you sense anything?"
"Yes, the pain is definitely strongest down here."
"I think we've got all the information we can get. Unless you can add anything else,?" Ranma asked as he turned to La Forge.
"Sorry Lieutenant. Most I can tell you is whatever this is, I can't recognize any of it on any detection spectrum."
"Lieutenant Saotome to the Captain."
"Captain here."
"I'm not sure how Captain, but this city is alive and in a weakened state."
"Do you have any proof to back up this claim?"
"Just the fact that the entire place is glowing with a weakened chi and the pain that the Counselor is feeling."
"Very well. I'm going to consult with the base owner, Groppler Zorn. Report back to the ship and await for further instructions."
"Yes sir. Lieutenant Saotome to the Enterprise, three to beam up," as he finished his request, he shut his eyes and let the beam take his body up.
_________________________________
Once Ranma arrived at the bridge, he didn't have to wait long for things to get harrier. First the Captain call up and informs him that he's bring up Zorn for questioning, then the long range sensors pick up an object on an intercept course.
"This ship is of an unknown configuration... Oh...," Ranma muttered. "It's huge..."
"Yes Lieutenant, we can tell that," Deanna retorted.
"No Counselor, I don't mean it's size, I mean it's aura. It's incredible. I'm feeling almost overwhelmed..."
Just then, Picard entered with Data dragging Zorn along for the ride.
"Status report."
"Sir, a giant thing has just entered into sensor range about three minutes ago."
"Thing Lieutenant? I think the word ship would be acceptable."
"But sir, it can't be a ship unless it's holding a crew full of supermen. That... thing is giving off an aura that would put any man to shame in seconds."
"In English?"
"It's alive... Just like Farpoint. Heck, it feels similar too... Only stronger... Healthier..."
"One of these days Lieutenant, you and I are going to have a talk about these auras," Picard stated. Ranma could tell from the look on his face the talk would be him trying to prove what science couldn't. "Zorn, can you confirm any of this?"
"Me Captain? Confirm what?" Zorn answered with a nervous chuckle.
"That the city Farpoint is in fact alive."
"Alive, of course not. It is just a work created by the Bandi. Nothing more..."
"He's lying Captain," Deanna said simply.
"I'll ask you again, is the city alive?" Picard asked.
"Yes, but when we found it, it was barely that."
"And then what?"
"We fed it energy to help it recover..."
"He's still lying about something Captain," Deanna said.
"I'm guessing you only gave it enough energy to keep it alive. Somehow this life form can take shape, so you kept it alive and forced it to do what you wanted. That's why your city is so... Perfect for our needs. It could have been perfect for anyone. All you had to do is threaten it..."
"Sir, the object is entering orbit with the planet," Ranma called out.
"Commander Data, reconfigure the deflector dish to deliver a low powered beam of energy to the Farpoint station."
"But there are people there Captain! At least give them a chance to evacuate!" Zorn begged.
"Make it so."
"What's this?" a disembodied voice asked. "Compassion for enslavers?"
"Q?"
"Of course mon'ami. I'm surprised your little chi hound didn't sense me sooner."
"Lieutenant?"
"He's right Sir, I did sense him, but we both know he never left, sir." Ranma answered.
"Quiet right. You did promise that you were watching us."
"Sir, all the Bandi have evacuated." Data announced.
"Fire the energy pulse when ready."
"Energy pulse firing."
Down below, the entire Farpoint station began to glow. Soon, the shops and the restaurants disappeared along with the rest of the buildings. Not long after that, the area that was once Farpoint began to lift off.
"I have it on the main viewer sir," Data stated as the viewer switched to a view of the disk shaped object.
"So, it was alive...," Picard whispered. "A space borne life form..."
"This finding would finally prove that Captain Kirk wasn't making that one up...," Ranma said without thinking.
"Lieutenant?"
"Sir, I was just remembering a bit of history about Captain Kirk. He once encountered a giant space Ameba, but it was later written off as an attempt to cover for his own actions. I think sir, we have proof now that he might have been telling the truth, sir."
"Yes, I'll be sure to note that."
"Splendid Captain," Q said as his body appeared next to the captains. This time, Q was wearing the outfit of an Admiral. "I can see now that Farpoint was too easy for you."
"So we've passed your little trial?"
"Of course and with flying colors."
"Then get off my bridge!"
"Of course, but I will not promise never to appear again...," Q stated with a laugh as he disappeared.
"We'll be waiting," Ranma muttered.
_________________________________
Ranma entered his room and went to take sonic shower.
'Our first mission, a success... I hope all of our missions aren't this dull...'
(Thanks again for reading. Next up, Ranma's first real challege. Can he face a race bred for fighting? See you then!)
The ship traveled as fast as he could safely let it. Picard was eager to find out what was waiting for them at Farpoint and why their fates depended on it.
"Captain, we are arriving at the Farpoint station."
"Thank you Mr. Data. Lieutenant, I'll need you in the transporter room in fifteen minutes to meet our new first officer, Commander William Riker."
"Yes sir."
_________________________________
Ranma starred at the transporter pad and waited for the ensign to power it up.
'Man, why do we have to use these things? What if they mess me up some how?...' Ranma though to himself.
"Sir, Commander Riker is signaling that he's ready."
"Beam him up ensign."
"Aye sir," as the ensign responded, the transporter pad began to glow and soon the body of William Riker appeared.
"Welcome aboard sir," Ranma said with a salute.
"Good to be aboard," Riker replied.
"The captain requests your presence in his ready room at once sir."
"The captain doesn't waste anytime does he?"
______________________________
Back on the battle bridge, Ranma waited for his orders. In the mean time, his eyes flew over the various panels.
'Weapons systems... check... shields... check... internal sensors... check... Everything's fine. Man I wish that this would end so I can do some serious thinking!' Ranma's mind went back to his encounter with Q. He was almost frightened by how similar Q felt to Saffron, yet so much more powerful. Q made Saffron seem almost like an ant by comparison.
An odd conversation momentarily brought Ranma's attention back to the bridge.
"Did I hear you correctly sir?" O'Brian asked.
"Yes, we're going to perform a manual docking with the saucer section," Riker answered back.
"Aye sir."
Ranma decided what they were talking about wasn't anything he needed to worry about, so he just kept his mouth shut and watched Riker give the orders. With only the information on the view screen, Riker correctly gave them all the directions.
'He definitely knows his stuff...," Ranma thought to himself. Soon, the show was over though.
______________________________
Later, everyone returned to their regular stations at the main bridge. Currently, Riker was in the conference room talking with Picard. Apparently, it seemed that Picard still had questions for the new first officer. At least that was the impression he got when the left the bridge. Not more then a minute after they left, Worf entered. He watched the Klingon as he took his seat.
Ranma decided to do some mental exploring while he waited for the captain and the first officer to return. He sensed the chi of the people around him. Slowly, he continued to reach out.
"Lieutenant Saotome?" he heard a female voice ask.
"Yes Counselor?" he asked.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing...," he lied.
"Now, you do know I'm half Betazoid right?"
"Yes Counselor, I am aware of that."
"Then you should know I can sense when your lying."
"Interesting," he commented. "Tell me, why should this news be important?"
"Because it seems you're doing something odd with your mind. I can sense it filling the room somehow..."
"If your asking if I'm reading other people's minds, then the answer is no. I'm just feeling the chi of everyone."
"Their chi? I wasn't aware humans could do that."
"All beings can Counselor. It's a fairly natural ability. Anytime you walk up to someone bigger then you and you feel a tingle in your spine or a buzz in your head, that's your body reacting to another person's chi."
"Very fascinating."
"Counselor... There's something that's been bothering me since we arrived in orbit..."
"There is?"
"Yes. I can't figure it out. It feels like a giant chi, but..."
"But?"
"It's big, yet weak at the same time. As if it was supposed to be bigger..."
"And you think it's coming from the surface?"
"Yes. As I said, I've felt it since we arrive, I just haven't had any time to concentrate on it."
"Perhaps if you can wait, I'll ask the captain to let you come with us on the away mission."
"I'm not sure that's a good idea. I mean, what happens if something attacks the ship?"
"Saotome, you're the head of security, not the whole team."
"Oh, yeah, you're right," he sheepishly said before thinking of who he could call up to replace him while he was on the surface.
______________________________
Thankfully, Ranma did not have to wait long as both Picard and Riker soon returned to the bridge. After a bit of friendly banter about a message he'd sent to the captain of the Hood, they received an unexpected visitor.
"Your wasting time!" Q announced. Ranma was surprised when Worf jumped to his feet with his phaser in hand. Thankfully Picard was able to convince him to put the phaser away.
"You have twenty-four hours to complete this task or you will risk summary judgement." With that said, Q vanished from sight.
"What do we do now sir?" Riker asked.
"We do what we would have done if we never knew this Q existed. If we're going to damned, let's be damned for who we really are," Picard stated righteously. "Prepare the away team. It's time we do some investigating."
"Captain," Deanna called out.
"Yes?"
"I'd like to recommend Lieutenant Saotome for this mission."
"Agreed. Lieutenant Saotome, we'll meet up in the transporter room in an hour. Dismissed."
"Sir?" Riker said.
"Yes Number One?"
"Why an hour?"
"I just need to do some more reading up before we leave. It's nothing you need to be concerned with."
"Aye sir."
______________________________
Picard sat in his ready room, wondering about the mystery that was his head of security. At the time Ranma request came in, he thought the young man nothing more then an ambitious youth with perfect marks at the Academy. What he ended up with was a young man that seemed to have very unnatural abilities.
"Computer, pull up all known data pertaining to Saotome Ranma."
"Accessing," the computer stated. "Data compiled."
"Computer, is this all the known data?"
"Affirmative."
"There's barely anything on him besides his Academy records and his birth certificate," he commented to himself. Tapping his com badge, he called to Ranma.
"Yes sir?" Ranma answered.
"Do you have some free time?"
"Yes sir."
"Meet me in Ten Forward."
"Yes sir."
_________________________________
Ranma entered the bar and looked around. It wasn't much to look at, but everyone seemed to be enjoying it. At least the few people that were there. Something caught his attention. Someone there had an unusual aura that felt very familiar. It took a few seconds, but he finally spotted the owner. A woman who appeared to in her thirties or forties standing behind the bar. Her eyes also happened to be locked on to him.
"Hello," she said with a smile.
"Hey, nice place."
"Thanks, but it's not the place I'm here for, it's the people."
"Yeah, guess this would be a good place to see people."
"My name is Guinan."
"I'm Saotome Ranma. Pleased to meet you."
"Saotome... Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while."
"You've heard of our family?"
"Yes. If I'm right, your father is Genma."
"Woo, your good. Can ya guess how old I am too?" This question just caused Guinan to chuckle.
"I met your father a few times. During the time he spent training with his father is when I ran into him the most. The last time I saw him, he was training with that troll Happousai."
"You know Happousai."
"Sadly, yes. Happousai and I have crossed paths a lot."
"Wow, and here I wouldn't have guessed you were a day over thirty."
"So if your Genma's boy, then you must be a martial artist like him."
"Yup. The best on the planet Earth. Heck, I'm probably the best in the universe."
"That's quite a statement to make."
"I've even defeated everyone I've meet including a demi-god named Saffron," Ranma said, purposely leaving out how close that battle with Saffron really was.
"Saffron..." The name caused her blood to run cold.
"You know him too?"
"Yes, he was once a part of the Q Continuum, but they cast him down. I never found out why though. I just heard it once from a friend."
"... Some how hearing you say that doesn't surprise me. When we ran into Q, I felt his aura and I knew it was familiar."
"Q was here?"
"Yeah and he's watching us as we speak," In response, Guinan suddenly raised her middle finger at the air. "Are you ok?"
"Just thought I'd remind Q how much I hate him."
"Ok..." As Ranma tried to make sense of this, Picard arrived.
"Ah, I see you've met Guinan," he commented.
"Yeah. Seems she knew my old man."
"Really. I'd love to hear more about your father."
"Not much to tell. He's a selfish bastard that didn't give a damn about his child. As long as I did what he told me to, I was fine."
"Did he beat you?" Picard asked, some what shocked at the possibility of such a thing happening.
"Only when we sparred, which was all day if he could muster enough energy. Some days I was so sore I couldn't move."
"You should have seen what your father's father put him through," Guinan interrupted.
"You knew my grandfather?"
"Sort of... I know his name was Torima, but beyond that, I only saw him in passing."
"Wow, that's more then I've ever heard about gramps."
"So Ranma, you said you went on some kind of journey. Could you tell me about that?" Picard asked.
"I guess so... It started when I was six..." Ranma started as he explain the various details of training in China, competing in street fights in America, and schooling in Japan while leaving out a few select memories such as the Neko-Ken and Jusenkyo. "...after the last failed wedding, I decided I'd apply for Starfleet."
"Amazing," Picard said feeling like a child listening to a fictional story. "I hate to ask you this, but how did you make it to China and North America? I did some research and there's no records of you ever taking any means of transportation or even having crossed the boarders besides the time you went to the Academy."
"That's because we swam the whole way."
"You swam?" Picard asked incredulously. "From Asia to America?"
"Yeah."
Just then, Ranma felt a splash of cold water.
"I'm sorry about that... Miss. Here let me dry you off," the offending person offered. Picard simply looked stunned.
"No thanks, I can dry myself thank you," Ranma-chan stated as she grabbed the towel. "Lousy no good rotten..."
"I suppose you can explain that?" Picard asked carefully.
"I didn't wanna, but ever hear of a place called Jusenkyo?"
"Not off the top of my head..."
"Well, that's the reason and that's all I'd like to say if you don't mind. Guinan, could you get me a cup of hot water?"
"Sure," she replied as she handed Ranma-chan the cup. Ranma-chan then poured the water on herself and changed back to a guy.
"Thanks," he commented now a man again.
"I can see this voyage is going to be interesting. It's about time. Meet up in the transporter room one."
_________________________________
The beam materialized them on the surface and Ranma almost fell to his knees to kiss the ground.
'I think I'm fine... Good god, I hope I'm ok...,' Ranma nervously thought.
"Lieutenant Saotome, are you ok?" Deanna asked gently.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm just not a big fan of transporters. It's a slight phobia I've got. Thankfully it's not the worst one I've got..."
"Still, it's something I can probably help you overcome later. Do you sense anything?"
"... Oh, yeah... I do. It's huge just like I imagined... and it's weak, but I can't tell why...," Ranma paused as he looked over the Farpoint station. "Counselor, I've never seen anything like this..."
"What is it?"
"It's like the whole city is alive. Everything here has a slight aura to it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. There's only one way something like this could happen. This has to be living is some way... What about you? Can you sense anything?"
"I'm not certain. I'm feeling a lot of emotions right now. Some of them are from the people, but..."
"But what?"
"There is an odd amount of pain. It's very distant, but it is definitely coming from within the city."
"Captain, we're reading some odd caverns below the city," Geordi interrupted.
"Lt. Saotome, take Counselor Troi and Lt. La Forge down to the tunnels and see if you can learn anything else down there."
"Yes sir."
"Mean while, everyone else will remain topside. Report if you discover anything important."
With that, the group broke into the two teams.
_________________________________
Deep below Farpoint, Ranma, Deanna, and La Forge trekked through an odd configuration of tunnels.
"I'm not sure we should be doing this...," Ranma hesitantly stated. "These walls are alive."
"That's impossible," La Forge commented.
"Trust me, nothing's impossible and this place is alive, but it's injured. Counselor, can you sense anything?"
"Yes, the pain is definitely strongest down here."
"I think we've got all the information we can get. Unless you can add anything else,?" Ranma asked as he turned to La Forge.
"Sorry Lieutenant. Most I can tell you is whatever this is, I can't recognize any of it on any detection spectrum."
"Lieutenant Saotome to the Captain."
"Captain here."
"I'm not sure how Captain, but this city is alive and in a weakened state."
"Do you have any proof to back up this claim?"
"Just the fact that the entire place is glowing with a weakened chi and the pain that the Counselor is feeling."
"Very well. I'm going to consult with the base owner, Groppler Zorn. Report back to the ship and await for further instructions."
"Yes sir. Lieutenant Saotome to the Enterprise, three to beam up," as he finished his request, he shut his eyes and let the beam take his body up.
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Once Ranma arrived at the bridge, he didn't have to wait long for things to get harrier. First the Captain call up and informs him that he's bring up Zorn for questioning, then the long range sensors pick up an object on an intercept course.
"This ship is of an unknown configuration... Oh...," Ranma muttered. "It's huge..."
"Yes Lieutenant, we can tell that," Deanna retorted.
"No Counselor, I don't mean it's size, I mean it's aura. It's incredible. I'm feeling almost overwhelmed..."
Just then, Picard entered with Data dragging Zorn along for the ride.
"Status report."
"Sir, a giant thing has just entered into sensor range about three minutes ago."
"Thing Lieutenant? I think the word ship would be acceptable."
"But sir, it can't be a ship unless it's holding a crew full of supermen. That... thing is giving off an aura that would put any man to shame in seconds."
"In English?"
"It's alive... Just like Farpoint. Heck, it feels similar too... Only stronger... Healthier..."
"One of these days Lieutenant, you and I are going to have a talk about these auras," Picard stated. Ranma could tell from the look on his face the talk would be him trying to prove what science couldn't. "Zorn, can you confirm any of this?"
"Me Captain? Confirm what?" Zorn answered with a nervous chuckle.
"That the city Farpoint is in fact alive."
"Alive, of course not. It is just a work created by the Bandi. Nothing more..."
"He's lying Captain," Deanna said simply.
"I'll ask you again, is the city alive?" Picard asked.
"Yes, but when we found it, it was barely that."
"And then what?"
"We fed it energy to help it recover..."
"He's still lying about something Captain," Deanna said.
"I'm guessing you only gave it enough energy to keep it alive. Somehow this life form can take shape, so you kept it alive and forced it to do what you wanted. That's why your city is so... Perfect for our needs. It could have been perfect for anyone. All you had to do is threaten it..."
"Sir, the object is entering orbit with the planet," Ranma called out.
"Commander Data, reconfigure the deflector dish to deliver a low powered beam of energy to the Farpoint station."
"But there are people there Captain! At least give them a chance to evacuate!" Zorn begged.
"Make it so."
"What's this?" a disembodied voice asked. "Compassion for enslavers?"
"Q?"
"Of course mon'ami. I'm surprised your little chi hound didn't sense me sooner."
"Lieutenant?"
"He's right Sir, I did sense him, but we both know he never left, sir." Ranma answered.
"Quiet right. You did promise that you were watching us."
"Sir, all the Bandi have evacuated." Data announced.
"Fire the energy pulse when ready."
"Energy pulse firing."
Down below, the entire Farpoint station began to glow. Soon, the shops and the restaurants disappeared along with the rest of the buildings. Not long after that, the area that was once Farpoint began to lift off.
"I have it on the main viewer sir," Data stated as the viewer switched to a view of the disk shaped object.
"So, it was alive...," Picard whispered. "A space borne life form..."
"This finding would finally prove that Captain Kirk wasn't making that one up...," Ranma said without thinking.
"Lieutenant?"
"Sir, I was just remembering a bit of history about Captain Kirk. He once encountered a giant space Ameba, but it was later written off as an attempt to cover for his own actions. I think sir, we have proof now that he might have been telling the truth, sir."
"Yes, I'll be sure to note that."
"Splendid Captain," Q said as his body appeared next to the captains. This time, Q was wearing the outfit of an Admiral. "I can see now that Farpoint was too easy for you."
"So we've passed your little trial?"
"Of course and with flying colors."
"Then get off my bridge!"
"Of course, but I will not promise never to appear again...," Q stated with a laugh as he disappeared.
"We'll be waiting," Ranma muttered.
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Ranma entered his room and went to take sonic shower.
'Our first mission, a success... I hope all of our missions aren't this dull...'
(Thanks again for reading. Next up, Ranma's first real challege. Can he face a race bred for fighting? See you then!)