Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a companion story to "Sailor Moon ST", though there is no need to read THAT story to enjoy THIS one.
Part 7
The dusty landscape of the Arizona wooden town burned the barkeep's eyes, as he packed in for the day. He then turned to the sound stirs clanging down the street.
"'Afternoon, Marshall," the barkeep said, as he noticed the mustached Wyatt Earp. "Going out to the OK Corral?"
"Yep," Earp said, as his brothers Morgan and Virgil, along with long friend Doc Holiday, brought up the rear. "Those Clantons were warned about still being in Tombstone."
And with that, Earps, plus Doc, went off to make their appointment.
The barkeep took out his pocket watch and looked at the time.
"Almost five o'clock, I reckon," the barkeep said to himself.
Meanwhile, at the OK Corral, a ritual was taken place. The air was stifling to those who are participating in it. However, if the ritual was successful, the condition of the air will have no effect on the participants.
"Man, can't you hurry up?" Security Chief Ranma Saotome whined, as he waited for Spock to "reset" his mind. According to the First Officer of the Enterprise, none of their "advanced" weaponry seemed to have any effectiveness during the testing phase. Therefore, they all must be experiencing a shared illusion.
"Vell, I certainly don't mind the vait," said crewmate and Ship's Navigator Pavel Chekov. "Illusion or not, you certainly saved my life."
"Yeah."
Earlier...
The mission to open relations with the mysterious alien race, the Melcotians, started easily enough. Ranma was in the middle of training, learning a new technique from Operations Specialist Usagi Tsukino, when contact was finally made.
"Captain, we have made contact with the Malcotian buoy," Lt. Sulu said, as he guided the ship to a halt.
"Good," Kirk said, as he pressed a button on his armchair. "Chief Saotome? Could you come to the bridge?"
Suddenly, Ranma's head popped out of the communications panel at Lt. Uhura's station.
"Yes, Captain?"
"EEEK!" Uhura cried. "Ranma!"
"Um, Chief?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Did you know that you talking from within the bridge?"
"Oh, sorry about that," Ranma said, as he fully materialized. "Man, that's tough."
"Fascinating," Spock said, as he observed the situation. "I did not know that you are able to master Lt. Commander Tsukino's skills."
"It's not that different from stuff that I learned when I was younger," Ranma replied."
"Spock, you knew about this?" Kirk asked.
"Of course. Tsukino did ask me permission to use the ship as a training ground of sorts."
"Next, inform me of your 'consent', understood?"
"Of course, Captain."
"Good. Now, chief, I need you to get ready. We're about to make 'first contact' with the Malcotians."
"Okay."
A short time later, the Enterprise achieves orbit around the planet "Melcot", in spite of the warning not to go into Melcotian space.
"Sir, why are we here?" Ranma asked, as he got ready to beam down with the landing party. Any alien species that can communicate on a telepathic level was a species not to be trifled with. Nevertheless, Kirk had orders to go ahead and make direct contact with the alien race.
"Well, think of this way," Usagi said, as she distributed the standard landing party gear to the landing party, "this is a perfect opportunity to learn the rougher edges of diplomacy."
"Yeah, right."
"And don't worry, Ranma. Just have faith in your mission."
"Hey! I DO have to worry about it! I'm a 'red shirt', remember?"
"Well, if you go down as a GIRL, then you could end up in some harem or something."
"Ha, ha."
"Well, gentlemen, I say that we are ready," Kirk said, as the group got into position. "You have the bridge, Usagi."
"I'll keep your seat warm, sir," Usagi replied.
Just then, Uhura came running into the Transporter Bay.
"Sir, may I have a moment?"
Kirk looks at Uhura, and then at Ranma. It was no secret that the two were an item of sorts.
"Sure, make it quick."
"Ranma, here," Uhura said, as she placed an African bead necklace around Ranma's neck. "For good luck."
"Thanks, Nyo-chan," Ranma replied with a blush.
"Lucky man," Dr. McCoy said with a smile.
Pavel Chekov sighed. In a way, Chekov was jealous that Chief Saotome rivaled the Captain in the "ladies' man" category, and he has just gotten here.
"Now, if the personal business is taken care of," Kirk began, "let's get going."
"Energize, Mr. Kyle," Usagi said.
"Energizing, ma'am," Transporter Chief Kyle says, as he activated the transporter.
The next thing the Landing Party knew, they appeared in some sort of fog bank.
"Mr. Saotome? Mr. Spock," Kirk asked.
"Sensors are non-functioning," Spock said.
"I'm sensing something off," Ranma says. "It's like my mind is saying one thing, but my gut instinct is saying something else."
"It could be transporter disorientation," Dr. McCoy says, as he used his medical instruments on Ranma. "Yep, I was right. Let me give you a shot."
Once Ranma received his shot, his senses were dulled a bit.
A short time later, the Landing Party came across a floating head.
"YOU HAVE NOT HEEDED OUR WARNINGS!" the alien "thought".
"We have come to open relations with your people," Kirk said. "Hear our proposal first, and then we will leave peacefully."
Ranma was ready for anything.
"WE TOLD YOU WHAT WE WANTED! NOW, YOU WILL BE PUNISHED IN THE MANNER OF YOUR RACE!"
The next thing the Landing Party knew, there appeared in some dusty town.
"Captain, look!" Chekov yelled.
The Landing Party looked at the sign at the town's entrance. It read:
WELCOME TO TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA.
"Oh, boy," Ranma mused. Then he looked to see that his weapons and equipment was missing; they were replaced with old weaponry and a weapons belt.
"It looks like we may have a problem, gentlemen," Kirk says.
"You think?" Dr. McCoy said sarcastically.
"Vhat should we do?" Chekov says.
"Well, Spock?" Kirk asked.
Before Spock could answer, a dusty man comes running up to the Landing Party.
"You guys shouldn't be here!"
"Pardon me?" Kirk said. "Do you know us?"
"Know ya? Well, you're the Clanton gang, Ike!"
"And do you know the rest of us?" Spock asks.
"Why, sure thing, Frank! You're Billy Clayborn-"
The man points at Chekov.
"You're Billy Clanton, Ike's younger brother-"
The man points at Ranma.
"No, I'm not!" Ranma says in protest.
"Sure you are! And you're Tom McCloury-"
The man points at Dr. McCoy.
"And you, Ike owned the OK Corral, though, the way I hear about, it won't be for long!"
"What do you mean?"
"Mean, I hear that the Earps are gunning for ya!"
The Landing Party looks at each other.
"Well, I gots to get going. Nice seeing ya!"
And with, the man leaves in a hurry.
"Well, gentlemen, what do you all think?"
"I think I ought to go have a talk with that guy!" Ranma said. "He's as blind as another jerk I know."
"Belay that for now. Spock?"
"The Melcotians said that we were to be punished your race. Since this place is not Vulcan, I assume that this place is based on Earth."
"So, ve didn't go back in time?" asked Chekov.
"I seriously doubt it, since the Earth of the 19th century did not include Starfleet uniforms."
"Especially since I am not this 'Billy' guy!"
"Give it a rest, Chief. We got to know what we are up against."
Once inside the town proper, the Landing Party goes to the local saloon, just in time to see a man gunned down.
Ranma did like weapons per se, so he cracked his knuckles in preparations for his fight. Strangely, as soon as he tried to make his move, he seemed sluggish.
"Chief, wait-" cried Kirk.
Ranma was staring at the open end of a gun.
"So, I guess you're the first of the Clanton gang to die," the man said.
Kirk quickly looked at the man, and saw his badge.
"Marshall, he's just a concerned citizen," Kirk says.
"Thanks funny coming from you, Ike," the man said, as a lowered his weapon. "Be glad that you have backup, 'cuz I won't be alone when we next meet."
And with that, the man left.
"Oh, Billy!" said a salon girl, who rushed from behind the counter. She grabbed and hugged Chekov. "You should be careful about Morgan Earp's words."
"'Earp'?" Chekov said.
"That's it!" Kirk exclaimed. "We're the Clanton gang…this is Tombstone…there's the OK Corral…that's Morgan Earp…"
"Yes, of course!" Dr. McCoy says.
"What's going on?" Ranma asked.
"Apparently, the Melcotians have picked an era where WE will have a sure death," Spock said.
"And if I'm not mistaken, that death is suppose to take place during the 'Gunfight at the OK Corral!" Kirk said.
"Great, just great," Ranma said. "I'm suppose to protect you guys from harm, and now I can't!"
The madder Ranma got, the more visible his battle aura became. And then, it suddenly shuts off.
"Uggh!" Ranma said, as he almost passed out.
"Chief, you got to calm down," Dr. McCoy says. "That drug in your body is still there."
"Billy, what's going on?" the girl says.
"Um, vell…who are you?" Chekov asked.
"Now, don't you tell me you have forgotten about me Sylvia, your fiancée?"
"Buddy, I'd run, if I were you," Ranma said. "Trust me, I'll lead you to trouble!"
"Um, Sylvia, could you excuse us?" Kirk asked.
"Sure thing. Billy, I'll be seeing you."
And, with a kiss, Sylvia leaves.
"Gentlemen, we have a problem," Kirk said. "There are too many inconsistencies to leave it up to chance."
"I'll say," Ranma said, as he stretched his arms. "There is no way that I could be sluggish, especially since I've been metabolizing Dr. McCoy's drug."
"That's impossible," Dr.McCoy said. "That drug should have been in effect for a least a few more hours."
"Well, it's like this…"
Ranma told the rest of the Landing Party that Usagi was teaching him advance regeneration techniques using bio-feedback. It was part of the training used that Usagi had learned as a member of a future order of nuns known as the "Bene Gesserit". He had to learn that technique first before moving on to actually phasing one's self through solid objects. That is to say, Ranma had to have complete mastery over his body in order to complete his training.
"What I don't understand is why my training is failing me now," Ranma mused. "In fact, no jerk with a gun should be able to stop me."
"What are you? Faster than a speeding bullet?" Dr. McCoy asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, why? At least, I should be."
"…"
"Well, in light of this information, we have to have alternatives," Kirk says. "So, Mr. Saotome, do you know how to construct a non-lethal grenade, or something to that effect?"
"Um, yeah," Ranma replied, while recalling his weapons training. "I'll need Mr. Spock's help in mixing the ingredients."
"Spock, get on that. Bones, if I recall, Doc Holiday is a dentist."
"I'm on it. I'll simply say that I'm on 'consultation'."
"You do that. Chekov, you assist Dr. McCoy in acquiring his supplies."
"And what are you going to do, Jim?" Dr. McCoy asked.
"I'm going to see if I can see a man about avoiding this nonsense."
A short time later, while Ranma and Spock were working on the device, they heard a commotion outside. They rushed outside to see what was going on.
"She is MY girl!" yelled Chekov. "Get your hands off of Sylvia!"
"Then make me!" yelled Morgan Earp.
Ranma saw the familiar twitch of a man that was about to make his move. He had to do something! He can't loose a crewmate under his watch. Then, he remembered Usagi's words while he was in training:
"'Power, without perception, is spiritually useless…and therefore of no true value'." Usagi said. "Those of the words that one of my old masters once said to me."
"Yeah, the guy probably worked at a fortune cookie company," Ranma smirked. He hated this part of their meetings. "I rather learn a new technique to use in a fight."
"Hey, not all battles takes place in a battlefield, you know. You'll see…"
Ranma began to push his mind and body into convergence mode. With every push, he felt pain, as he ran to Morgan Earp's position. Just as Morgan was about pull out a gun, Ranma bowled Morgan over. Before Morgan could get up, Kirk and Spock come running over.
"You got lucky, Clanton," Morgan said, as he got up to leave. "You all are DEAD."
And with that, Morgan disappears.
"Oh, Billy," said Sylvia, as she hugged Chekov.
"Man, what was that?" Ranma said, as he got up.
"Glad you're alright," Kirk said. "Next time, be a bit more careful, okay?"
"Aye, sir."
However, the Landing Party faced a set-back. Not only did Kirk fail to get Wyatt Earp to back off from his vendetta, but the chemicals in the make-shift hand grenade had no effect during the testing phase. And when the Landing Party could not break through the apparent forcefield that surrounded the town, Kirk decided that they should all stay where they were.
"We are not leaving from this spot," Kirk proclaimed.
DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG!
Everyone turned to see the large clock ringing up 5:00 on the mark.
Suddenly, they appeared on a ranch, with the name "OK Corral" emblazoned on the barn door.
"So, I guess we have to fight after all," McCoy says.
"Perhaps not," Spock said. "We saw that the chemicals did not work. We also saw that Mr. Saotome was being deliberately held back when he tried to use his extraordinary abilities. It is reasonable to say that all this is nothing more than a grand illusion designed to be the means of our execution."
"We already figure that out, Spock," Dr. McCoy says. "So what can we do about it?"
"Is there a way for us to discipline our minds?" Kirk asks.
"Indeed there is. I can help each of you achieve a zeta state. Mr. Saotome will need help in that regard as well."
"Hey! I can meditate."
"Then think of my assistance as a form of 'spotting'. It will make things a lot easier for all concerned."
"Fine."
And back to the present…
"So, Clanton gang," Wyatt Earp says. "Draw!"
The Earps and Doc Holiday made it to their appointed time.
"No, we will not," Kirk says, as he unbuckled his gun belt. "The rest of you do the same."
The Landing Party did the same.
"Fine by us," said Wyatt, as he drew his weapon, as did the rest of his men.
In spite of the fire power that was displayed, none of the Landing Party members were hurt. As soon as the Earps ran out of ammo, the Landing Party went to town on the Earps.
In other words, Kirk and company kicked butt.
"Point guns at me, will ya?!" Ranma said, as poked Morgan in the stomach, knocking him on the ground.
When given the option, Kirk refused to finish the Earps off. When that happened, everything faded…
"What?!" Ranma said, as he woke up. He was back on the bridge of the Enterprise.
"I'm glad you're awake," Usagi said, as she went up to the Security chief. "As soon as we figured out that you and the Captain were being tested by the Melcotians, the crew and I simply watched the show."
"Dumpling head, we were in danger, you know!"
"Really? See for yourself."
Usagi pointed to the view screen, just as the Malcotian probe disintegrated.
"Apparently, the probe was emitting a field of energy that led us to believe in the events of the past few hours," Spock says, as he examined the data from the sensors.
"Well, what are we going to do next?" asked Dr. McCoy.
"Captain!" Uhura said, as she interrupted the conversation. "We are receiving a message from the Malcotians. They are extending an invitation to open relations with the Federation."
"Well, it looks like we were tested against our own history…and won." Kirk said.
"Indeed," Spock replies.
"And Ranma, we will continue our training," Usagi said. "I mean, really. You should have figured out that you were in an illusion a long time ago. If I hadn't given you a clue-"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You know, 'Power without perception…', yadda, yadda, yadda."
"Oh. That was YOU?"
"Sure. I'm not training you for nothing, you know. And besides, I got to keep Uhura's investment solvent."
Ranma turns to look at a busy Uhura, who turns to Ranma, and smiles.
"Yeah, I guess."
Tbc.
Next time: Hallowed worlds, haunted starships, and KLINGONS! See you there!