Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me. Otherwise, I'd be rich!
Note: This story is a side story of "Sailor Moon ST".
Special note: This is BOOK II of the "Star Trek: Ranma's Story" saga.
Part 14
Lt. Ranma Saotome was trained to handle many things. However, he was not prepared for THIS.
"We are Ulyia. We serve V'Ger."
The V'Ger probe, which combined the appearance of Ilyia of Delta and Usagi Tsukino of Earth, was in sickbay being examined on a medical bio-bed. While the probe may appear to be humanoid, every replicated "cell" was a construct.
At a meeting in the main conference room...
"This 'probe' seems to combine the traits of Lieutenant Ilyia and L. Commander Tsukino," Spock said, as he examined the probe.
"How can you be so blasted emotionless?" yelled Dr. McCoy. "This is Usagi we're talking about!"
"I am aware of that, Doctor. I am also aware that this probe may hold the key to both Starfleet officers return."
As the meeting concluded, Lt. Commander Uhura stayed behind. Even though they were no longer together, she still cared for Ranma.
"Ranma?"
"How could I fail her, Nyota?" Ranma said dejectedly.
"There was nothing you or anyone could do. But...that doesn't mean that we shouldn't give up, right?"
Ranma turned to look at Uhura, and smiled.
"You're right. I shouldn't give up. After all, I am a Saotome."
Uhura rolls her eyes.
Later, after another briefing, it was decided that both Commander Decker and Lieutenant Saotome would escort the probe throughout the ship. Captain Kirk was hoping that the tour would generate memories within the probe as a way of contacting V'ger itself. So…
"And this is the recreation room," Decker said, as he, Saotome and Ulyia entered the large room. It was there that the entire crew could assemble together. "And these are pictures of previous ships that bare the name 'Enterprise'."
Ranma's mind was in a whirl. The Captain Kirk wanted to jog the probe's memories, so he decided to do something about…HIS way. With that, Ranma suddenly grabbed Ulyia and tossed the probe towards the middle of the room.
"Saotome-!"
"Just give me a moment, sir!" Ranma said as he leaped after the probe. If Usagi was indeed there, the probe would know how to survive. If not, then he'll be there to break her fall.
Sometimes, faith manages.
Ulyia tucked in a ball, rolled and landed on her feet.
Good, Ranma thought. Now, it's time to up the tempo.
"This…exercise is not-" began Ulyia.
Ranma, using only the basic tenets of "Anything Goes", began to throw punches and feints. Almost instinctively, Ulyia responded with blocks. Then, the probe started throwing punches and kicks. Ranma suddenly trapped the probe's movements.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"I…this probe…I-"
"Wrong answer." And with that, Ranma threw a casual haymaker at Ulyia's head, which she blocked with a palm block.
"Question," Ranma began, as he began a follow through strike. "If you are a probe, why do you know the tenets of Anything Goes martial arts?"
"I…" Ulyia responded, as she blocked another strike. "…Ranma?"
"Usagi?" Ranma asked hesitantly.
Ulyia then turned towards Willard Decker. "…Decker?"
"Ilyia?" Commander Decker asked hesitantly. Maybe there was a way to get his beloved back.
"Science Log: Commander Spock reporting. I am proceeding into the maul of the V'Ger probe."
Since taking out an EVA suit, without permission, Spock has been exploring the various sectors that made up the V'ger entity. So, far, the Vulcan has seen everything that the entity has absorbed over the course of its long journey to Earth, ranging from starships and space stations to entire planets. Then, Spock saw something that took his green, blooded heart away.
Intertwined in a meditative embrace were the navigator Ilyia and the operations specialist Usagi Tsukino. Both were huge as monuments, and just as lifeless, and both had crystalline spheres embedded in their throats. Together, both were encircled by a revolving DNA strand, which consisted of binary codes. Neither on appeared to be moving.
"Science Log, supplemental. I have spotted the missing crewmembers. As surmised, when V'ger absorbed the two together, an amalgam formed. I will now attempt to communicate with them."
Spock went to Usagi, and hesitantly took her node.
Suddenly, Spock's mind was filled with images both alien and familiar. He could see V'ger's existence flash before his eyes. Then he saw Ilyia's, and then Usagi's. But before Spock suffered from overload, someone interfered.
Spock-kun.
In his mind's eye, Spock turned to see Usagi, though she was in her Princess Serenity incarnation. Her regal state was evident even within this virtual environment.
Usagi Tsukino?
Am I simply an acquaintance to you, Spock-kun?
Then, Spock was taken back to the day her daughter T'Sara, when he, Usagi and their fellow crewmates were stranded on a planet that was out of synch with time.
"Isn't she wonderful?" Usagi said, as she nursed her child.
"She is a treasure, Usako," Spock replied, as he continued to build a better shelter for his new family.
Usagi never expected that her first child would biracial. Still, she never had any regrets for her decision to mate with her beloved and friend. "So, do you have a name in mind?"
"Normally, my family would be involved, so I do not know what name to give her."
"Hmmm. What was the name of your father's mother?"
"Her name was T'Sara."
"Then that's her name. T'Sara will be her name. At least, until we return to Vulcan."
"Perhaps."
Was I simply a bed warmer to you, Spock-kun?
Spock found himself in the present again, emotions slowly bubbling to the surface.
Even after T'Pring gave up her claim to you, you still were distant. I stayed at your parent's with our daughter so I could be with you…and you remained distant. Why?
Spock could not answer. Did he unconsciously reject Usagi for rejecting him? Before he could answer…
I am sorry for not accepting your proposal for marriage, but you knew that you would have been disgraced. I could not do that to you. I am sorry for not having faith in you to do what's best, and I am sorry for what you have become.
Slowly, Usagi began to fade.
"Usako!" Spock cried. "Don't…!"
Tell our daughter that her mother loved her…
"No…!"
And then, everything fades to white…
"This is Kirk, I'm heading towards the mouth of the maul."
Having learned of Spock's mission, Captain Kirk went after his science officer. Just as he was about to go inside…
"Captain!" said Security Chief Chekov over the communications speaker. "Something is coming out of the maul!"
Kirk could see Spock's body floating towards him.
"Spock! Spock!" Kirk cried, as he held his unconscious friend.
"I was wrong. I was wrong about everything…"
Spock was in sickbay, attending to the emotional shock of his encounter inside V'Ger.
"Jim, take it easy," Dr. McCoy interjected. "He's still recovering."
"Spock, did you find anything that we can use to stop the entity?"
"Jim, I was wrong about trying to use logic in understanding the entity. It can't be reasoned with."
"What do you mean, Spock?"
"We are dealing with a child that has needs and wants. More importantly, we are dealing with a child that wants-"
"Captain?" said Decker over the intercom.
"Yes, Commander?"
"We have trouble."
"Jim, may I…?"
Kirk simply nodded.
With the arrival of the V'ger probe, Earth was helpless. Already, the probe, having failed to get a response from its initial contact, has begun to send the equivalent of planetary bombs to key points above the Earth.
"Since V'ger has not received a response, all carbon life forms on the Creator's home world will be processed."
"You can't kill 10 billion people!" Kirk cried.
"If V'ger cleanse the Creator's planet, V'ger will not get the desired information of the nature of its existence."
Soon, the Enterprise was being bombard by energy lashes.
"Captain, we're taking damage!" Decker responded.
"Well, it looks like the child is throwing a tantrum," McCoy quipped.
Just then, Ranma enters the Bridge.
"Spock, I got it."
Spock merely nodded, before he allows Ranma to continue.
"Usagi, look at me."
Ulyia turns towards Ranma, who slowly walks towards the probe.
"You were a champion of love and justice. You were Sailor Moon. You protected the Earth. Don't you remember?"
A tear slowly seeps down her face.
"Ran…ma?"
From a wooden case, Ranma brought out Usagi's henshin rod.
"Be that hero again."
Everyone on the Bridge saw Ulyia grab hold the rod. Immediately, a glowing crescent appeared on her forehead. Decker's only thought was how this would affect his beloved Ilyia.
"Say the words, Usako," Spock said with a smile.
"Jim, is Spock okay?" asked McCoy, who noticed to smile.
"Let it go, Bones," Kirk replied.
"Cosmic…Moon…MAKE-UP…"
Then, Ulyia's body flashed bright. At the same time, within the bowels of V'ger, both Ilyia and Usagi's body flashed bright. The brightness continued to expand until it overwhelmed V'ger itself. When the light dimmed, Sailor Moon stood once again.
"Sailor Moon…" Uhura said quietly, remembering the times that her long time friend had saved her.
"I apologize for what has happened, Captain," Sailor Moon said in voice that sounded like an echo. "I…sought the answers to my life-affirming questions in an inappropriate manner."
At that point, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Decker, Ranma and Sailor Moon found themselves on a platform, surrounded by darkness. On the center of the platform was an old Earth space probe. As Sailor Moon stood next to the probe, Kirk and Decker immediately examined the machine, both having recognized the design. Meanwhile, Spock examined the probe, Ranma checked the surroundings for danger and habitation, and McCoy checked on Sailor Moon.
"V'Ger…" Decker said, as he read the control.
Kirk then scrapped off the grime, and made a discovery.
"Voyager 6..." Kirk said.
"Who are you?" asked Decker.
Sailor Moon smiled. "I am V'ger."
"Will you end your attempts at 'processing'?" asked Kirk.
"I will. In fact, thanks to you all, Princess Serenity, Usagi Tsukino and Ilyia of Delta, my answers have been answered. And now, I must leave this plane of existence to continue my exploration."
"What about Usagi and Ilyia?" asked Spock.
"I can return only one of them to you, and one of you must make sacrifice for this to happen."
"Are you making a threat?" asked Ranma.
"No. I am merely stating that the nature of my new form has to maintain equilibrium. Without it, I will loose cohesion, which cause a great disaster to the people of Earth.
"Spock?"
"It's true. The energies that Sailor Moon holds is enough to destroy this entire system."
"I can trade places with Usagi."
Everyone turns to see Willard Decker.
"Will, you don't know what will happen!" Kirk said.
"You said that we have to be explorers. You have the ship, I can have this."
Kirk looks at Decker before nodding his head.
"Okay, I'll make the trade."
Sailor Moon nods as she cradled Decker's face in right palm, as she put out her left hand.
"I will need an anchor," Sailor Moon says.
Both Spock and Ranma look at each other. Then, Spock nods his head in tacit approval, knowing that he has lost his chance at being Usagi's beau. Ranma nods back and turns to hold Usagi's hand.
"We may begin."
As Sailor Moon glows, Decker and Ranma do likewise. But as Decker's form brightens, Ranma's clothes begin to change. First, Ranma appears to be wearing a suit of polished golden armor breastplate (with black trim and etching), with red cape, white pants and black bracers, black boots, gold jerkin with black trim, black leather belt with gold buckle, and gold headband/crown. Included was a sword with a golden hilt. The hilt, buckle, cape and the breastplate had the symbol of the sun on them. (A/N: Think Roy's gold armor from "Super Smash Brothers Melee.) Then, Ranma's clothes changed again, revealing an all-white top hat, suit and cape, complete with a white rose. (A/N: Think of white version of Tuxedo Mask's clothes). Then, from nowhere, everyone could hear a disembodied voice.
"RANMA SAOTOME, SON OF GENMA AND NODOKA, YOUR ARE NOW CHARGE TO PROTECT THE MOON PRINCESS SERENITY. DO YOU ACCEPT THIS ROLE?"
Ranma, stunned by this news, was hesitant. He always felt that he owed Usagi for rescuing him from Kuno's mystic trap, though he would hesitantly not admit this. Still…
"I accept…whoever you are."
"MAY YOU USE YOUR ABILITIES IN THE SERVICE OF THE PRINCESS…"
And thus, the Solar Knight, also known as "The Magnificent Kamen", was born.
A sudden flare of light later, and the party found themselves back on the bridge.
"Captain!" Sulu exclaimed.
"You're alright!" Chekov exclaimed.
"Uhura, how is the home front?" Kirk asked.
"Starfleet Command reports that the entity has disappeared. No word on any additional casualties."
"Usagi, it's alright," said Dr. Chapel, as she and an aide attended to Commander Tsukino's welfare. Ranma had carried Usagi back to the ship, and placed her in Science Officer Spock's seat.
"Usagi…?" Ranma asked tentatively.
"Ranma…is Spock okay?"
"I am here, Usagi," Spock said, as he placed his hand on her left shoulder.
"I'm glad that you are, Spock-kun."
Ranma was about to leave, when he felt a soft hand in his.
"And I'm glad that you are here, too, Ran-chan."
"…Me too, Usa-chan. Me, too."
That girl is so lucky to have two beloveds, Christine Chapel thought, remembering how infatuated she was with Spock in days past.
"Well, Jim, with the return of our favorite soap opera, things are getting back to normal."
"Bones, knock it off."
"Captain, Starfleet wants to know if there are in casualties," Uhura asked.
"Yes. Captain Willard Decker, and Lieutenant Ilyia of Delta. Wait! Belay that. Report them as 'missing in action'."
"Aye, aye, sir," Uhura replied, as she relayed the statement.
"Any final words, Bones?"
"Well, I'm just glad that we had a successful delivery," McCoy replied.
"How are you holding up, Usagi?"
"Feeling better, though this cybernetic node in my neck leaves much to be desired."
"I can have it removed…" began Chapel.
"That's okay. Before V'ger left, told me how to hide it. Watch."
With everyone watching, the node went inside her neck, leaving virtually no scars behind.
"Ewwww!" Chekov said.
"I keep the interfacing node," Usagi said.
"Nevertheless, I want a full physical from you," Kirk said with concerned. "Scotty, status on the ship?"
"All systems check out, Cap'n," the Scotsman replied. "Heck, we could swing by Vulcan in no time."
"Spock?" Kirk asked.
"My quest for logical perfection is over. I have no need to return-"
"Uh-hum," Usagi interjected.
"I suppose we can make a quick stop on Vulcan, to visit my daughter and my parents."
"Certainly. Mr. Sulu? Plot a course to Vulcan."
"Sir, I need the assistance of a navigator."
"Of course. Usagi, if you are up to it?"
"Aye, aye, Captain."
As Usagi took her position next to Sulu, she gently squeezed Ranma's hand.
Usagi… Ranma thought to himself.
"Plot laid in, course set."
"So, I guess you and Usagi will be staying with us," McCoy said.
"It is a possibility. T'Sara will be leaving my parent's compound for school soon, and Usagi has concluded her studies. All she needs to do is to take the examination for her full credentials.
"You don't mean…" began McCoy.
"Yes. Usagi will be a Doctor of Medical Science, Botany and Engineering Science, though how she is able to balance her studies with being a full time parent…"
"At least, SOMEONE was, Spock-kun," Usagi chided playful.
"Uh-hum. Anyway, take us out of here, Mr. Sulu," Kirk said.
As the Enterprise moved on to its next destination, Ranma wondered what the future would bring. Just because he pledge his life and limb to Usagi, that doesn't mean that they would get together. Still, anything was possible.
And thus, a new era begins.
Fin.