Star Trek: Ranma's Story – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: None of the characters belongs to me.
Note: This is a semi-fusion, crossover story.
Part 3
August 20, 3004: Smithsonian Institute, Air and Space Museum, Virginia
("ST-Earth").
Down a rarely used hallway, the sounds of clicking shoes. The shoes' owner
stopped at one particular door. One can hear the rustling of keys before said
door is opened.
"Ah, you made it," said a voice.
"GAH!" said Dana Saotome, the director of the Museum. Her long, auburn nearly
stood on its ends. "Grandfather, you nearly frightened me to death!"
"Hey, it's your fault for not keeping up your studies," Ranma Saotome said, as
he munched on a poki stick. "And when I say 'studies', I mean martial arts."
"Grandfather, you know how much I hate fighting," Dana said, as she began her
coffee pot. "It's so uncivilized."
"Dana, I'm hurt."
"No, you're not. You don't feel anything."
"I was speaking colloquially."
"I KNOW."
"Kids these days…"
"Hey, I guess I'm a Saotome after all."
"Feh."
"So, did you get my manifest?"
"Yeah, I did. I still don't know why you want any of my stuff."
"Well, if you leave this dimension for good, I would like to include something
for the museum's collection.
"That's right. You want to have one thing from each of the command crew-members
of the original 'Enterprise'. I don't blame ya, since I was the best of the
best."
Dana rolls her eyes. Then, she notices her readied coffee.
"You want some?"
"Is that Klingon coffee?"
"Yes."
"Sure, why not?"
"Well, if you prefer tea-"
"No, coffee will be fine."
After Ranma takes a sip, he pulls out a small box.
"Here's something for your collection."
"Oh, goody," Dana said, as she accepted the box. When she opened it, and peered
inside, she frowned.
"What?" Ranma asked.
Dana immediately puts on some latex gloves. Then, she pulls out what appeared to
be a mid-23rd century communicator.
"I got that from Tokyo. I hope that it meets your approval.
"Grandfather, why this?"
"Well, that's my first assigned communicator, Dana. After I graduated from
Advanced Training, I was able to get a posting aboard the Enterprise, though I
suspected that your grandmother had something to do with that. Anyway, because
of my scores, I was able to replace the old Security Chief-"
"Oh, I remember. Didn't he and a bunch of 'red shirts' get eaten or something?"
"Dana, you KNOW how sensitive I am about that."
"Sorry about that, Grand-father. Still, you never told me how you manage to cope
with all that 'action', especially since you were far from home."
"Well, it was easy. But, as the saying goes, 'A Saotome never looses'."
"But…didn't you loose a bet involving the Green women of Orion?"
"Don't remind me. I had carpet burns for a week-"
"Grand-father, that doesn't exactly sounds like a lose after all."
"A battle can come in all forms. Anyway, I had just been assigned to the
Enterprise, and was to complete my stint as Security Chief, just as James Kirk
was wrapping of his 'five-year' mission…"
Chapter 4: Missions
Being in charge of security aboard the Enterprise was an interesting experience.
Besides dealing with the occasional alien megalomaniac, planetary dictator, or
the run-of-the-mill psycho, I really learned how to adapt to the 23rd century.
Lt. Commander Usagi Tsukino, the ship's "Operations Chief" made things easier
for me, since we came from the same time and place. Still, she has been around
for at least a hundred years before I showed up, and yet Usagi, or "Serena" to
her close friends, didn't seem OLD. Sure, she's a lot more responsible than I
ever could imagine my myself ever becoming, but her kind spirit and goofy
demeanor made her…approachable. It's like everything I could ask in a fiancé. I
don't know why, but it's that rare gentleness that reminds me of Akane's "good"
side…which can be really, really hard to find at times.
Akane. How I wish you could be here to see the things I've seen…been to the places I've been.
Akane, no matter what happens from this point on, we WILL have that
discussion I promised, not matter what the possible consequences that may come
about because of what I have done. I owe you that at least.
After getting settled with my duties as the Enterprise's "Security Chief, I did some "R&R". I worked out, I
trained and read up on my navigation stuff. After all, I still want to be a helm
officer someday. Bored, I decided to visit Usagi. I was still smarting from that
sparring match two years ago (surprise, surprise), so I wanted to know if she
was up for another round. And what I saw made me think twice about challenging
her.
At least, for the time being…
Ranma, in his jogging suit, jogged around the ship. With Kirk's permission,
Ranma had instituted many reforms. One of which was that security teams would
train and work out more so than other crewmembers. Furthermore, there would be
more cross-training between individual members, so that there was a back-up
redundancy of skills. Specialization breeds in weaknesses, Ranma would explain,
which was one of the tenets of "Anything Goes" martial arts.
Having sufficiently warmed up, Ranma headed for Usagi's quarters. He had heard
that Usagi had taken the day off for "self-actualization", but didn't know what
that meant. Once he arrived, Ranma rang the quarters that Usagi shared with
Science Officer Spock, the Enterprise's "First Officer". Even after accepting
that relationship, Ranma still thought that it was weird for people to be so
casual about it. Then again, HE was not exactly one to talk.
After ringing the doorbell a few more times, Ranma became concerned. Using a
priority access code, Ranma opened the door and rushed right in. What he saw,
stopped him dead in his tracks.
In the center of the room, Usagi was floating in a lotus positions, as globes of
light, nine in all, each a different color, orbiting the Starfleet officer.
Within her hands was a large chalice; floating between the lid of the chalice
and the chalice itself was some sort of glowing, medium size crystal.
Ranma extended his senses, trying to discern what this all meant. The energy
that he sensed was almost overwhelming. It almost surpassed even the godling
Saffron's "aura".
"Um…have I come at a bad time?" Ranma asked.
Usagi opened her eyes, which were glowing a translucent blue. Soon, the orbiting
globes, the crystal and the chalice disappeared. When her eyes returned to
normal, Usagi immediately fell to the floor-
"OW!" Usagi cried.
"Commander, are you okay?" Ranma asked, as he helped Usagi up.
"I hate when that happens. So, what's up?"
Ranma looks at Usagi for a moment.
"How can you be so…nonchalant about what you just did?"
"That? It's just an extension of my 'Sailor Moon' powers."
"Which is…?"
"I was meditating, trying to delve deeper into my abilities."
"Just exactly can you do?"
"Now, Ranma, I can't just give away my trade secrets. Still, I'm willing you to
teach you something, if you want to be training buddies."
"Like what? If I recall, you held your own the last we fought."
"Ah, but you seem to be an air-based fighter. You could have gotten me pretty
good, but I know that you held back."
"Me? Hold back?"
"Yes, because YOU are misogynist."
"Hey, I don't message anybody!"
"No, I mean you hate women."
"I don't hate anybody! I like you-"
"Oh, really?" Usagi replied cutely. "I'm already taken, you know."
"No, that's not what I meant!"
"Ranma, I'm just kidding. So, could I be your regular training buddy, in spite
of my gender?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Great!"
"So, what can YOU teach me?"
"Well…I can teach you how to fly."
"Yeah, right!"
"No, really. Unless, you can't learn a new…technique…"
"Yeah, well, bring it on!"
"Excellent. Hehehehehehe-!"
"…"
Over the next four weeks, Usagi and Ranma trained together. One of the first
things that Usagi did was set aside one of the storage bays for the actual
training. It was equipped with the standard training equipment and the like.
"I am waiting to be impressed," Ranma yawned.
Usagi, have warmed up, shrugged her shoulders. She then went over to the
intercom.
"Scotty, we're ready!" Usagi said.
"Okay, but I can only allocate the power for a short amount of time," Chief
Engineer Montgomery Scott replied over the intercom.
"Got it. Ranma, brace yourself."
"What do you MEAN-!"
Suddenly, Ranma fell to the floor.
"What-?" Ranma managed, as he struggled to get up.
"Sorry about that. I had Scotty alter the gravitational constant of the room,"
Usagi replied, as she walked up to Ranma rather casually. "I can adjust the rate
with this remote control."
After pressing a few buttons, Ranma felt that he could get up again, even though
he was still weighed down a little bit.
"What the hell was that about?" Ranma demanded.
Usagi told Ranma about a planet named "Chikyuu", home of some of the most potent
martial artist she has ever met. She lived there long enough to increase her own
fighting prowess and power. One of the training tools she had used there, was
training within a highly intense gravity field.
"So you see, if I can do it, so can you!" Usagi beamed.
"Alright, I see where this is going. It's certainly better than the stuff I went
through with my Pop."
Not wanting to go heavy the first time out, Usagi had the gravity increased to
ten times Earth's gravity over a fourth-week period, as well as slowly thin the
air. During that time, Ranma increased his strength, speed and endurance. He
also increased his "chi" source, which in turn enhanced his physical attributes.
Once Ranma could train in 10Gs, Usagi began her instruction in flight.
"Man, I feel awesome," Ranma said, as he stretched.
"I'm glad to hear that," Usagi said, as she got into a lotus position. "Now, we
go to the hard part."
About a few hours later…
"Man, this is boring."
"Ranma, remember when you told be how you learned your 'Moko Takibasha'
technique?"
"Yeah. This guy named Ryouga Hibiki used this depression-based technique called
the 'Shi Shi Hodoken' to challenge me with. He threw ki blasts at me before I
figured out a counter."
"I see. What other chi-based techniques did you encounter besides that?"
"Well, there was this technique that this guy named Herb used. In fact, he used
it to propel-"
That's when it dawned on Ranma.
"Well?"
"Just a second."
Using his confidence, fueled by his inflated ego, Ranma began to internalize his
chi. Then, he pushed at his aura in a single direction: down. Slowly, Ranma
began to rise…
"That's it, Ranma. You can do it…"
By the time Ranma rose to the ceiling, Ranma opened his eyes.
And then fell right back to the ground.
"Ranma, are you okay?" Usagi asked.
"I'm alright," Ranma said, as he got back into his lotus position. "I'm going to
get this thing down pat."
Usagi smiled.
By the end of the day, Ranma was able to float around the storage bay at
moderate speeds.
"Man, this is awesome," Ranma said.
"Well, I'm glad. Practice, and you will be able to move as fast as you WANT to."
"Hey, the day I can't handle a challenge, is a day I stay a girl!"
Usagi just rolls her eyes.
About a week later, the Enterprise received a visitor…
Personal Log: Stardate 5431.4.
Everything seemed right in the world. I learned a new technique, and I had a
valuable training "buddy" in Lt. Commander Tsukino. In spite of my age, Captain
Kirk placed his faith in me, that I could do my job as Security Chief. I thought
that there was nothing that could jeopardize this.
And then this girl shows up, and pooches the whole thing.
I should have moved on her right away, since she suddenly shows up. Apparently,
she came from the ship that had been tracking us for a few hours. I actually
didn't take her as a serious threat, until she brought out something from behind
her back. The next thing I knew, I had a major headache.
And I learned that Commander Spock was missing his brain.
At a conference meeting, the senior officers were discussing the situation of
their predicament.
"Opinions, people?" James Kirk asked.
"Well, we can maintain our present course, and track the ion trail," Usagi said,
as she tried to maintain her concentration. "Finding the planet of origin where
that…witch came from is easy enough."
"I know that it's been difficult for you, Usagi. Just remember that we all are
affected by what has happened to Mr. Spock."
Usagi merely nodded.
"Mr. Scott, how are the ship's system?"
"Fully operational."
"Dr. McCoy, is Mr. Spock's body ready for transport?"
"Well, after receiving Usagi's permission, Spock's body is ready."
"And Mr. Saotome, is security ready to deal with any additional surprises?"
Ranma looked down for a moment.
"Yes, sir. I ain't going to get fooled twice."
Kirk smiles.
"I'm glad to hear that. Just remember to tread carefully."
"I'm very mindful of that, sir."
Eventually, the Enterprise tracked the ion trail to a little known star system.
"We have arrive in Sigma Draconis system," Mr. Sulu says, as he brings the ship
out of warp.
"Tsukino, give me the status of the system."
Usagi looked into the main scanner of the science station.
"Three of the planets are habitable, yet I'm picking up the source of the ion
trail."
Usagi looks up.
"It's coming from the sixth planet."
"That's odd," Uhura said. "I'm not picking up any communications traffic from
that planet."
"It is possible that an advanced civilization is on the planet, capable of
building an advance ship," Mr. Scott says.
Kirk muses for a moment.
"Saotome and Tsukino, you're with me. Uhura, have Dr. McCoy meet me in the
Transporter Room."
"Aye, sir," said the three in unison.
A few minutes later…
"Man, I still can't get used to this," Ranma said, as he checked himself over.
He then turned to see Usagi, who was checking on Spock's body with Dr. McCoy. He
could feel the chill within the air-
"Mr. Saotome?" Kirk said, as Ranma's thoughts were interrupted.
"Oh, sorry sir," Ranma said, as he checked his Tricorder. "There are a few
nomadic life-forms around here, many of which are primitive in nature-"
Ranma's sixth sense spiked.
"Captain, we have company," Ranma said quietly.
Kirk nods, as he gives Dr. McCoy and Usagi the "trouble is coming" hand gesture.
Both nodded, as Usagi bought out her phaser.
Suddenly, the Landing Party was swarmed by primitives. That appeared as dirty
men who wielded clubs.
In return, Kirk landed some solid blows, as did Ranma. Usagi, covering for both
McCoy and Spock's body, shot anyone who tried to get at them. Finally, those
primitives who were still awake, fled.
"I got one, Captain," Ranma said, as he joint-locked one of the primitives.
"You strangers will pay!" said the primitive.
"We come in peace, but we need to ask you some questions."
"I know nothing. SHE is one of them!"
The primitive was pointing at Usagi.
"What do you mean?"
"She is 'Imorg'! I am Morg!"
"What is 'Imorg'?"
The primitive looks at Kirk as if he was crazy.
"Sir, perhaps if I can persuade him-"
"Belay that, Saotome. Let him go."
"But sir-"
"You have your orders."
Frustrated, Ranma threw the man away…dozens of yards away.
"Remind me to talk to you about restraint later."
"Aye, sir."
"Captain, I'm getting some interesting readings," Usagi said. "There's a power
source about several klicks north from here."
"Well, doctor?"
"Jim, we're ready."
Using a remote control device, Dr. McCoy walked Spock's body in the direction
where the Landing Party was going.
"Usagi, why didn't you fight?" Ranma asked.
"YOU'RE the security, aren't you?" Usagi replied.
Ranma nodded in understanding.
"Besides, I didn't think you'd need my help or anything."
"Hey, I can handle things just fine, thank you very much!"
"If you say so, Ranma."
"Yeah, I- hey!"
Usagi giggled. She liked using circular logic sometimes, and Ranma just became
the latest victim.
A short time later, Usagi tracked down to the source of the energy reading. The
source came from a cave.
"Hmm," McCoy said. "This seems a bit on the ordinary side."
Ranma inspected the cave. The inside was as big as a master bedroom. He felt
around the edges and the walls.
"Captain, I believe that this leads to wherever we need to go."
"Explain."
Ranma told Kirk that the features appeared too regular to be natural. It was as
if someone purposely tried to make the place to LOOK like an ordinary cave.
"So, how do we get in?"
Before Ranma could explain, the entrance suddenly closed up.
"Well, that explains how," McCoy quipped, having over-heard the conversation.
Usagi steady Spock's body, as everyone felt a descent motion.
"Down the rabbit hole we go," Kirk says.
When the motion ceased, the entrance to the cave opened, revealing a well-kept
corridor.
"And the plot thickens," Kirk says, as the Landing Party continues.
As the group went down the corridor, a side entrance opens. A young adult female
walks out, only to be startled by the presence of the Landing Party. Seeing
them, the female was about to pull out a stunner…
Not taking any chances, Kirk stuns the female with his mini-phaser.
"Captain, was that necessary?" Ranma asked. A simple pressure point technique
would have been sufficient.
"We can't take any chances," Kirk says, as he picks up the female. "We have to-"
Suddenly, the entire group was stunned by some mysterious energy beam. Usagi
tried to call upon her powers, but went unconscious before she could. Ranma
struggled to remain conscious. As he went under, he could see that their
attacker was the same one who had boarded the Enterprise in the first place.
"No, not again…" Ranma said weakly, as he summoned his chi reserves. With an
outstretched hand, Ranma performed his patented "Moko Takibasha' technique.
A ball of chi-based energy left Ranma outstretched hand, and made its mark,
sending the female attacker against the wall. Sufficiently satisfied, Ranma went
over to Usagi, and infused what remained of his energy reserves into her. The
process worked, because the Operations Officer had reawakened. Usagi blinked her
eyes, as she surveyed the scene.
"Ranma?" asked Usagi, just as Ranma fell into unconsciousness.
When Ranma came to, he found himself back aboard the Enterprise, in Sickbay.
"Ah, you're awake," Nurse Christine Chapel said, as she took Ranma's medical
readings.
"What happened?" Ranma asked.
"Well, see for yourself," Chapel said, as she motioned towards the other side of
the medical ward.
From his vantage point, Ranma could see Usagi talking to Spock, who apparently
had his brain reintegrated into his body. He could tell that the two were being
quite affectionate with each other. Well, as affectionate as a Vulcans were
capable of being.
"So, they managed to take care of things."
"Indeed. Captain Kirk said that you should review the after-action report."
From what Ranma could gather, the planet was run by the "Imorg", the female half
of the male "Morg". Apparently, they needed a new brain to run their
civilization, so they chose the nearest one that was capable of handling the
various sub-systems: Spock's. After Ranma went down, Usagi was able to glean
information from the Imorg who started this whole nonsense, named "Kara". Once
she completed her interrogation, Usagi was able to revive the remainder of the
crewmembers, locate Spock's brain and assisted McCoy in reintegrating the brain
into Spock's body. The only reason why Ranma was not revived was because he had
over-taxed himself in trying to revive Usagi.
As for the Morg and Imorg of Sigma Draconis 6- well, with Spock's brain removed,
the two would be forced to work together for the first time in years. And it was
Kirk's hope that Federation intervention would make the transition less painful.
As Ranma sat back, he wondered if he'll ever get used to this strange, new world
that was the 23rd century. Then again, he was up to the challenge.
Tbc.
Author's note: C&C are always welcomed.
Next time: "Missions" continues, as Ranma must deal with lost love, love lost
and love misbegotten. Oh, and plenty of Klingon action in between. See you
there!