Star Trek: Ranma's Story16 - By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me.
Note: This is a stand-alone story/spin-off of "Sailor Moon ST".
Special note: This is BOOK TWO of the Ranma saga.
Part 16
The Federation starship "Enterprise" sailed along the cosmic "waves", as the cadet crew began their on-board training, once the craft left Earth orbit. Starfleet officer Commander Usagi Tsukino was doing her best to evaluate her students, while trying to avoid thinking about her spat with fellow officer Commander Ranma Saotome.
"Ma'am?" asked a cadet. "Ma'am?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry Cadet Bivens. You were about to test the diagnostic unit…"
And so, this sort thing went on, until…
All command crewmembers: please report the bridge.
I wonder what's going on-
Then, she felt IT.
In Usagi's mind, she heard the psychic screams of her daughter, Starfleet officer Lieutenant T'Sara Spocksdotter.
"Ohhhh…"
"Ma'am? Are you okay?" asked Cadet Bivens.
"I'm fine. Report to your ready station, cadet."
Once Usagi made it to the bridge, she immediately went up to Spock. Apparently, the situation was serious enough to turn over command of the Enterprise to Admiral Kirk.
"Spock, we need to talk."
"In a moment, Usagi. Admiral Kirk is trying to establish contact with the U.S. S. Reliant."
The 'Reliant'? Usagi thought. She knew that T'Sara was assigned to that survey ship, which was under the command of Captain Terrell and his first officer Commander Pavel Chekov, as it's Science Officer.
Usagi recalled a report about the possibilities of instantly "terra-forming" a dead planet. In fact, she has been corresponding with the Genesis Project head, Dr. Carol Marcus, about it. After all, Usagi was a magus who could create her own world; Marcus had hoped to use her expertise to apply scientific methodology to do the same thing.
But there was something in the back of Usagi's mind that bugged her. The last report she received from Dr. Marcus was in regard to the possible list of planetary candidates for her final test. One star system stuck out in her mind:
Ceti Alpha.
CETI ALPHA!?
"Ranma, raise shields!" Usagi screamed.
"Huh?"
"Is there a problem, Commander?" Admiral Kirk asked. Why was Usagi ordering Saotome to-?
Meanwhile, Ranma, who was not feeling any better about what had happened earlier, felt his danger senses spike up.
Suddenly…
"Incoming!" Ranma yelled, as the Reliant fired upon Enterprise.
BOOM!
The Enterprise rocked, as it was being pounded by Photon Torpedoes. And then…
SKREEE! SKREEE!
Phaser fire lanced at key sections of the ship, including the Torpedo Bay and the Engineering Room.
Spock and Kirk rushed to Operations.
"What is the ship's status, Usagi?" Kirk asked.
"We received damage on multiple decks," Usagi replied. "Back ups are also damage."
"Usagi, can you manually reroute the systems, psychically?" Spock asked.
Usagi thought for a moment. She recently learned how to perform "tele-mechanics", which would allow her to communicate with machines. However, she theorized that she could actually control machines with her mind, not unlike an operating system manipulating computer hardware. Still…
"I'll…try, sir," Usagi replied, as she mentally prepared herself for the immersion. When she touched her console, she felt her being becoming one with the Enterprise…
"It…hurts…" Usagi said, as welts began to form over her body.
"What is wrong?" asked Kirk.
"By becoming one with the ship, she is feeling the damage psycho-semantically," Spock replied. "Let me help you, Usako."
Spock lent his own psychic defenses to Usagi.
Back up systems is online Usagi said in a computerized voice, which could be heard over the PA system. Engineering reports 75 percent operational rate.
A moment later, the ship's systems went back on line.
"The shields are back online!" Ranma says. "So are Phasers! Permission to fire back, sir?"
"Permission granted," Kirk replied.
SKREEE! SKREEE!
In spite of the lack of Photon Torpedoes, the Enterprise had plenty of power for the Phasers. Still…
"Minor damage to the Reliant's shields," Ranma said. "Permission to go to the Torpedo Bay?"
Admiral Kirk looked at Ranma and then to Spock. Spock nodded.
"Proceed."
Ranma immediately went to the emergency access hatch, and slid down the ladder. About five minutes later, Ranma went into the starboard (i.e. right) Torpedo Bay.
"Get the main hatch open," Ranma ordered, as he tied himself to an emergency harness.
"But, sir-"
"You have your orders, Crewman."
Once the hatch was vented, the vacuum of space began to draw Ranma out…
"READY!" Ranma yelled headset, as he readied his chi-based weapon.
"FIRE!" Kirk yelled.
"MOKO TAKIBASHA!"
As the energy attack left Ranma's hand, the energy sphere went into the Torpedo Bay chamber. Now the chamber used a magnetic coil to both energize and speed up the Photon Torpedo to near light-speed. So, what was the effect of an unknown weapon on a ship's shield?
BOOM!
Standard ship shields are keyed to KNOWN energy signatures. Ranma's attack, now amplified, was not known. So…
"Sir! The Reliant's shields are shallowing!" Sulu said.
"Fire Phasers. Full POWER!" Kirk yelled.
The Enterprise concentrated on the weakest part of the Reliant's shields…
BLAM!
"Direct hit!"
The Reliant went careening out of control, as it passed by the Entrprise. Somehow, it righted itself before moving off at warp speed.
"Sulu, follow them!"
"Can't sir! We cannot maintain a proper warp field!"
"Usagi?"
Warp engines are offline due to damage to the warp nacelles.
"Damn. I should have not let whoever it was catch me with my pants down!"
"Oh, no!" Uhura cried.
Chief Engineer Scott was carrying the charred body of his nephew Peter.
"Help him…" Scotty pleaded. He knew that Usagi had amazing healing powers.
One moment, please.
Usagi forced herself to dis-engage from the Enterprise.
"Oh…"
"Usagi?" Spock asked.
"Bring Peter over here," Usagi requested.
Scotty brought his nephew over to Usagi. She applied her healing technique onto the injured cadet.
"Wha…?" Peter said, as he got back to consciousness.
"Thank you, Usagi," Scotty said.
"No problem…"
Usagi fell into unconsciousness.
When Usagi came to, she found herself in Sickbay. She saw many injured crewmembers and cadets. She attempted to get up.
"No, you can't," said Dr. McCoy, as he attempted keep Usagi down.
"Doctor, I'm fine," Usagi said. "You're over-taxed as it is. Besides, I'm immortal, remember?"
"Ah, fine, fine. Just get some rest as soon as you can."
"Sure thing, doctor."
With that, Usagi placed her hand onto her bed. A light glow began spread from her hand and out onto the entire Sickbay area.
Once the glow subsided, Usagi relaxed.
"That should do that. Wake me up as soon as you can."
And with that, Usagi feinted.
Dr. McCoy shook his head.
A few hours later, Usagi was well enough to help with the repairs. In the meantime, the Enterprise was on its way to the Genesis Research station to investigate the possibility that something was wrong there. The reason was something that was bugging Usagi. The Reliant was on a mission for the Genesis Research Project, it was surveying planets for field testing, which includes planets from the Ceti Alpha star system, and Usagi was receiving psychic screams from her daughter T'Sara. She was hoping that her suspicions were not merited, but if it's who she thought it is…
At the very least, the Enterprise could use the station's research facilities to help repair the ship.
"We have achieved standard orbit, sir," Sulu said.
"Good," Admiral Kirk said. "Uhura?"
"I'm not getting any return hails, sir."
"Hmmm. Spock, you have the Bridge. Saotome, McCoy- Come with me."
"Sir? You may need a technical person on your landing party," Saavik said.
"Okay, you're with me."
With the landing party away, Usagi continued her repairs. At least, she tried to.
"You are worried about Ranma," Spock said.
"Yeah, I do, but he can make me so mad sometimes…"
"Well, believe it or not, he stayed with you in Sickbay during your 'nap'."
"Oh? Really?"
"Yes, really. Just give him some time."
"So…you really are fine with this?"
Spock looked at his former beau with loving emotion.
"We spent a lot of time together…and it did not work out between us. Of that, I am regretful. However, I will not hold you to our past relationship, so you have my blessing."
"Oh, thank you, Spock!" Usagi said, as she hugged her former beau.
"Um, Usagi?" Spock said.
"Oh?"
Then, Usagi noticed the audience.
"Oh, sorry, sir."
Spock merely smirks.
Meanwhile, Kirk, McCoy, Saotome and Saavik beams down to the station.
"Fan out," Kirk orders.
Ranma and Saavik looks around the quiet station. While neither Ranma's senses nor Saavik's equipment detected life-signs, Ranma did feel the resonance of death all around him.
"Lord Rantsu."
Ranma quickly looked around, but no one was there.
"Sir?" Saavik asked. "Are you well?"
"I'm fine, Lieutenant. It's just that I get the vaguest feeling of being watched."
"Death can be a disturbing experience to humans-"
"No, I mean, I really feel as if I am being watched."
"I'll make a note of it."
As Ranma and Saavik past by computer panel, a pair of eyes pop open from nowhere. Then the eyes' owner appear as well.
"Lord Rantsu," Khan says with a smirk. "It will be a pleasure of ridding myself of the bane of my existence."
And then Khan fades into the darkness of the shadows.
When the landing party meets in the central hub of the station, they find not only Commander Chekov and Captain Terrel, but the remains of the research staff, minus Carol Marcus and her son.
"Where did they go?" McCoy asks.
"Saavik, Saotome, check the crew logs," Kirk says. "Maybe you can find some clues there."
Meanwhile, aboard the pirated "Reliant".
"Sir, whynot simply TAKE the Genesis Device?" Joto said. "You KNOW where it is."
"That, I do, Joto," Khan said. "However, in matters of revenge, I like to savor the satisfaction. I personally could lay waste to an entire planet, and still not feel sated. No, my friend, I want to HURT both Captain Kirk and Lord Rantsu for what they have done to me. And I'll start by destroying the Enterprise..."
Eventually, Usagi and crew helped to get the ship operational again, just in time to hide from the Reliant. Thanks to Uhura, who was monitoring the communication lines, it turned out that Usagi's haunch was correct: Khan Noonian Singh has returned.
Usagi recalled meeting the 20th century dictator. In the 1990s, several wars broke out. One of which, called "The Eugenics War", was the result of 100 so-called "supermen" rose up to take over 1/3rd of the world (much of the strife occurred in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia). Khan himself was an absolute dictator in India, having trounced the local governments in the region. Thankfully, the inherited arrogance in these genetically superior human beings proved to be their undoing. In the end, Khan and his followers were forced off planet on a sleeper ship known as "The Botany Bay". A few hundred years later, the Enterprise, under the command of the then-Captain James T. Kirk, discovered the ship. In the spirit of goodwill, Khan was revived and treated as a guest. Strangely, Khan took to Usagi. He admired her beauty and the fact that she had royal blood. Most importantly, Khan swore that they knew each other, something that Usagi flatly denied. At any rate, Usagi would not accept his advances, since she was still in love with Spock.
Rejected, Khan used the infatuation of a Starfleet historian, Lt. Marlene Gibson, to revive the rest of his followers, and to take over the ship. When captured, Khan threatened Spock's life unless Usagi would be his mate. This caused the Marlene to become jealous of Usagi. So, the historian secretly sabotaged Khan's efforts, and Khan, thanks to the tag-team effort of Kirk and an injured Ranma, was finally defeated. In the end, Khan and his followers chose exile, rather than being subjugated to the Federation penal colony system, to the planet Ceti Alpha Five. Marlene chose to go with Khan, rather than face possible court-martial.
Upon hindsight, it was clear to Usagi that Khan was a student of Anything Goes, which was impossible since Ranma Saotome had not yet arrive on the Enterprise. He challenged Captain Kirk to a duel, and defeated the starship captain in short order. Thus, it fell upon Usagi's shoulder to defeat the once-world conqueror, using her own martial prowess, such as it was, and Sailor Senshi powers to defeat Khan. Thankfully, Khan was defeated by Usagi, who barely survived the experience, and was sent into exile on Ceti Alpha 5.
Unfortunately, due to a celestial event, Ceti Alpha Six exploded, causing an orbital shift in Ceti Alpha Five. Though slight, the shifting of the planet was enough to lay waste to the entire ecosystem. Many died from the event, while Marlene and a few others died when worms bore into their collective ears. Later, Khan would learn that the worms made great tools in the torture market, which was applied on Captain Terrell and Commander Chekov; they were mistaken when they assumed that Ceti Alpha Five was Ceti Alpha Six, and paid for it. Once Khan took over their ship, the Reliant, he proceeded to locate and hunt down ADMIRAL Kirk. He was also using T'Sara, thanks to the alien worms, to nullify much of Usagi's powers. Strangely, it was not his original intentions to destroy the Enterprise; he still wants Usagi, and he's willing to destroy many lives to get what he wanted.
And now, the Reliant and the Enterprise were in the Mutara sector, in a stand-off of sorts.
"I…have to go to him," Usagi pleaded. "If he listens to me, then T'Sara and the others can be freed."
The assembled command crew looked at each other.
"I can't allow that, Commander," Admiral Kirk said. "I would not put it past him to use the situation to his advantage."
"But my daughter is there! Spock, you certainly-"
"At ease, Commander," Spock said sternly. "I am well aware of the circumstance behind this situation. However, we cannot blindly allow this situation to go out of hand."
"Wait, there may be a way," Ranma said.
"And what plan is that?"
Ranma told Kirk and crew of the plan.
"Usagi" requested permission to beam over to the Reliant, and was granted permission. She beamed over to the waiting Khan.
"Hello, my dear," Khan said smoothly. "Welcome to my ship, such as it is."
"Usagi" looked around, and saw many of Khan's followers.
"Where's T'Sara?" "Usagi" asked.
"She is in the medical bay. Do you accept my terms?"
"Usagi" knew that Khan had the Genesis Wave device, which was basically a bomb that terra-forms an entire planet.
"I will accept, only if I see my daughter, Khan."
Khan nodded, and had "Usagi" escorted to the Ready Room. There, tied in a chair, was a semi-unconscious T'Sara.
"Usagi" took her medical Tricorder and examined the girl.
"As you see, your daughter is functioning."
"How did you know she is my daughter, Khan?"
"When I was in your old quarters, I saw a picture of a little girl with her mother and father. I, being a superior being, can deduce her older appearance."
"Usagi" nodded.
"Tell me, why were you so familiar with Ranma and I? Up until 15 years ago, neither of us has ever met you before."
"Ah, but that is the paradox. We have met…Sensei."
"Huh?"
"Do you honestly think that your seeming would hide your true might? After all, you, a grandmaster of 'Anything Goes' martial arts, taught me how to see beyond illusions."
"Usagi" de-activated the disguise field.
"I see," Ranma-chan said. "I still don't know why-"
"Well, I will tell you. But first-"
CLICK!
"Sir?" asked Joto, Khan's second. Both he and Ranma-chan knew that Khan had just activated the Genesis device.
"You are to go and submit yourselves to the Federation authorities. Maybe THEY can bring you the peace I tried to give you."
Joto nodded, and began the preparations for the crew to disembark the ship.
"And T'Sara?" Ranma-chan asked.
"She may go, too."
"Admiral?"
"We understand the situation," came the response on the com-link. "We will be ready for our...guests."
When the Reliant was cleared of people, Khan turned his attention back to Ranma.
"When I was a young boy at the Institute, you came to us as our Physical Education instructor. The Institute, through the sponsorship Mishma Financial group, wanted to see how much power could be harnessed by those who were genetically enhanced. While the results were impressive, I was one of the few of YOUR students who surpassed ALL expectations. I was proud that you considered me to a practitioner of your Art, since I never had a…father of my own."
Then, Khan's face turned to that of man in the midst of a pleasant dream.
"You took me into your home to further my training. Both you and Lady Rantsu took kindness on me. And…I liked that."
Wife? Usagi? Ranma thought.
Then, Khan's face turned to rage.
"And it was all a lie. I was nothing more than a notch in your ego, thanks to someone from your organization telling me the truth about what type of person you really are."
"I really don't know what you are talking about."
"I suppose not. At any rate, I left your care, went back to my native India, and began to amass power and influence. I suppose I was a bit greedy, when I kidnapped Usagi for myself, especially after learning about her 'destiny'."
Khan turned away for a minute.
"I should have expected you to challenge me, especially with the planet Earth in a state of yet another war. You led your mercenaries and freedom fighters right to my doorsteps, while you personally challenged to combat. I must say that the rumors of you defeating the godling Saffron were vastly under-appreciated."
Khan looked back at Ranma.
"I don't hate you for what you did to me; I hate you for not giving the honor of a worthy death! Do you know how humiliated I felt when I was forced to flee the land of my birth?"
Khan rose from his seat.
"It will give me great honor to finally defeat the great Ranma Saotome. Back then, I was but an student, but now I will be the master!"
"Well, I guess this is round two, then," Ranma said with cracked knuckles.
"Yes, it is," Khan said, before flying at Ranma…
POW!
Meanwhile, back aboard the Enterprise…
"We got to do something!" Usagi replied, as she cleaned herself up. She had just removed the parasite from her daughter's ear.
"We cannot," Spock said. "Saotome made sure that the control panel would be locked, once we had taken on passengers."
"Well, I see about-"
"Sir, we are about to go into-" Sulu began.
WRRRRRRRRR-!
BOOM!
Back on the Reliant…
Ranm-chan and Khan exchanged blows, as they tore through the decks. At this point in their martial development, calling out attack phrases were silly.
"Arggh!" Ranm-chan screamed, as Khan used his legs to lock her left arm and used their collective weight to break it.
"You see, Sensei, I had fifteen YEARS to perfect my Art, in the harshes environments in the universe. No doubt that you have had the sweat, soft life. I think that it is appropriate that you have that cursed form 'on', since you are not a man among men."
This caught Ranma-chan's attention. No matter what state she was, no one insulted her prowess!
Ranma stuck her palm in Khan's face.
"Eat THIS!"
FWOOSH!
Khan screamed, as Ranma stood up, feeling a little bit wobbly. Ranma wiped the blood from her mouth with her good arm.
"This is not over until it's OVER!"
Ranma rushed over, and flew into Khan with a flying kick. When Khan recovered, the two began to exchange blows.
"If I can't win, neither can YOU!" Khan declared.
"If that's the way it's going to be…then so be it."
And the fight continues.
When the Enterprise arrived into normal space, Usagi tried to reset the ship's control panel. Unfortunately…
BOOM!
From the Enterprise vantage point, a new star was born…
"Ranma, I'm so sorry…"
Tbc.
Author's note: Okay, this was the toughest of the Ranma saga, the TWOK portion. I wanted Ranma to make the sacrifice because it will answer the question on how Ranma and Usagi finally got together. Also, I wanted to make Khan more like Akuma (from the "Street Fighter" series) in order to make him a credible threat. And now, you are wondering how Khan first met Ranma (or "Lord Rantsu", as he is called), and all the related stuff. Well, those questions will be answered during the "The Voyage Home" part of this story. If you have ANY questions or comments, feel free to let me know. I don't want to screw up thisthing by straying too far off the mark. Later!