Star Trek: Ranma's Story17 - By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "Ranma 1/2", "Star Trek", "Sailor Moon" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a spin-off to the "Sailor Moon ST" story.
Special note: This is BOOK 2 of the Ranma saga.
Part 17
The universe, being billions of years old,is full of stars; stars come, and stars go. Planets are born, and planets die.
In one particular case, a star was born artificially at the hands of a mad man, who sought to defeat a champion of light in a battle to the death. An explosion created by a unique device tore apart the two combatants on the molecular level, and scattered their atoms across the so-called "Mutara Sector". However, instead of scattering those same atoms, a secondary wave used those atoms to form both a new star and a new planet. Eventually, this planet began to produce a suitable atomosphere, which then produced all the basic elements that would bring about "life".
And in one shallow field, underneath abunch of trees, something happens.
First, a ghostly figure appears. This figure appeared as a princess of old, whose baring was both regal and majestic. Curiously, this "princess" possessed a crescent moon mark on her forehead.
The figure then bent down, touched the ground with a singular finger-
FLASH!
And was gone. And where the figure touched, a white rose appeared.
Then, the rose blooms.
Next, a bud appears in the center of the rose. It grows big, until its very weight forces it to the ground. It continues to grow, until it becomes a rather large pod.
POP!
The pod splits open, revealing a baby.
And all the while, no one knew that a hero was being reborn...
With the creation of a new world, Genesis, the Enterprise limped back to "Space Dock One" in the Terran Sector. Captain Spock had Security Chief Commander Ranma Saotome's quarters sealed, while Operations Chief Commander Usagi Tsukino mourned in private.
Meanwhile…
Welcome to 'Space Dock One', Enterprise. Traffic Control said.
"Enterprise reads you loud and clear," Spock said. "Well, Admiral, we are home."
"Such as it is," replied Admiral James Kirk.
When they were further inside the dock, they noticed a new addition to the fleet.
"Wow, that's the Excelsior!" said Sulu.
"Yeah, it suppose to be the fastest ship in the fleet," Scotty replied.
"Bite your tongue," Kirk replied.
BRRRR! BRRRR!
"Intruder in Commander Saotome's quarters! Intruder in Commander Sao- URRRK!"
A moment of silence is now occurring.
"Belay 'Intruder alert', Enterprise."
This time, the computer voice sounded like-
"Usagi," Kirk said. "Spock? McCoy? You come with me."
When they got to Saotome's quarters, they found the door smashed open. Pavel Chekov, who was the new Security Chief, had his contingent of men.
"Admiral-" began Chekov.
"Wait right here," Kirk replied.
Quietly, Kirk and company crept inside. Aside from a few workout Manuels and weights, the place was spartan.
"He shouldn't have done that. I have to go back to correct my…error."
"Lights!" Spock said, as he focused on-
"Usagi, are you okay?" Kirk said.
Usagi was huddling in a corner, wearing Ranma's Chinese clothing. She even wore her hair in a pigtail.
"He did it for me, you know," Usagi said. "A person like that should not make such a mistake."
"Bones?"
"Come here, let me help you…"
A short time later, Kirk and a few friends got together.
"Poor, thing," Uhura said. "Usagi is taking it so hard."
"I know," Kirk replied. "Starfleet is sending her to a Psychiatric ward in New Zealand, but Spock is trying to make arrangements to have taken into his parents custody on Vulcan."
A bell is rung.
"Ah, that must be him. Come."
A woman enters the room.
"Wait a minute," Pavel Chekov exclaimed. "You're-"
"Yes, it is me," said Federation Ambassador Hoshi Sato, and she did not look a day over thirty! "I need to speak with you in private about Commander Tsukino."
Kirk nodded, which let his crewmates know that he needs to be alone with the ambassador.
"Ambassador, I didn't know you knew Usagi."
"There's a lot you don't know, Kirk. I need you to get Usagi back to Genesis."
"And if I may ask why? Starfleet has closed off that planet."
"Allow me, Admiral Kirk."
Hoshi took her henshin rod from pocket space.
"Earth Prism MAKE UP!"
A flash later, Sailor Terra was reborn.
"So, you're the legendary protector of Earth?"
"Indeed. One hundred years ago, Usagi invested me with the power of the planet as its protector. One of the things that I have learned from her is that she could ressurrect the dead. At least, Usagi can ressurect those who are bonded with her. Captain Spock of Vulcan is one such person-"
"And Commander Saotome is another!" Kirk said excitedly.
"But she needs the strength of her friends to pull this off. Otherwise, she, too, could perish. So, James Kirk, you must take her back to Genesis!"
Meanwhile, there was a commotion at a local dive, just outside of Starfleet Command...
"Hey, jerk!" said Usagi, as she was being grabbed by Federation Security Forces. She was still in Ranma's guise. "Let me go!"
"I'm sorry, ma'am," the undercover officer said. "But trying to find a way to a restricted sector warrants your arrest."
"Okay, then. I have no choice but to use the ultimate Saotome Secret Attack..."
"Oh, no!" the officer said. He had heard of the late Commander Saotome's prowess in unarmed combat. Thus, he was prepared to fight it out-
"THAT MAN OVER THERE IS A ROMULAN SPY!"
The officer turned to look. And then, he turned his head back to...back to...
Usagi was no where to be seen.
"D'oh!" the man said, realized that he had been tricked.
Eventutally, Federation Security would catch up to Commander Tsukino, but it was going to be a LONG night indeed.
At the same time, the U.S.S. Grissom, a dedicated science ship, was being sent to monitor things on the planet Genesis. Both Dr. David Marcus, Kirk's son, and Lt. Saavik, the adopted sister of Sarek and Amanda,Captain Spock'sparents, were sent to the planet below.
"You're sure that the lifeform is around here, Saavik?" David asked.
"Are you doubting my professionalism, Dr. Marcus?"
"For a Vulcan, you don't criticism very well."
"I do note such things...just not from YOU."
"Wait, the readings are getting stronger. Come on-"
"You don't belong here!" said a voice.
Saavik and Marcus turned to the branches of a nearby tree. Standing on a branch, clothed in leaves, was a young boy, who was holding a makeshift bow and arrow. Saavik looked closely, and then proceeded to use her tricorder to scan the boy.
"Hmmm."
"What? What is it?"
"Does the pig-tail look familiar?"
David looked very carefully.
"You don't mean-?"
"I believe that this child is the late Commander Ranma Saotome."
"Oh, boy."
"Permission denied, Jim."
Kirk was trying to get permission to take a ship back to the Mutara Sector. Unfortunately, with the word spreading of the existence of the Genesis Device, the Federation Council wanted to clamp things down as quickly as possible.
"Sir, Ambassador Sato-"
"Does not make the decision," the Starfleet Chief of Staff replied. "And I know the role in which Commanders Tsukino and Saotome has played. Still, the decision still stands."
Kirk merely smiled.
"Of course."
After Kirk leaves his meeting, he is met by Chekov, Sulu, McCoy and Spock.
"I suppose the answer is in the negative, Jim," McCoy smirked.
"Yes, but we're going anyway," Kirk says. "Both Ranma and Usagi deserve better than to be simply 'filed away' by bureaucrats."
"Since I have anticipated this," Spock began, "I have taken liberties of informing my father of our contingency."
"Count us in, sir!" said Sulu.
"Good," Kirk replies. "Now here is are plan..."
Late in the evening,Kirk and crew stage a break out. At least, that was the intention, for whenthey arrived, they saw an unusaul sight.
The guards were floating in the air, wrapped in medical straps...the kind used to bed down psychotic patients. Usagi herself was floating in the air; her eyes glowed softly in white.
"Usagi...?" Kirk asked warily.
"How dare these pigs handle me thusly?" Usagi replied, in some weird, echo-like voice.
"Spock, what's going on?"Kirk asked.
"On occassion, intimes of great stress, her...'princess' persona emerges. Youdo recall what happened years ago around the time of Gary Mitchell's demise?"
"I do. It was when...Gary, Usagi and Elizabeth Dehner was exposed to that strange energy field, and ended up endangering the ship."
"Correct, Admiral. Allow me to...calm Usagi down."
Spock approaches Usagi.
"Usako, please, let these men be, and come with us. Mr. Saotome is in need of your help."
As soon as Usagi's eyes turned to normal, everyone fell to the ground.
CRASH!
"Ohhhh..." said Usagi, as she fell into Spock's arms.
"Doctor?" Kirk began. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all," McCoy said, as he gave Usagi a sedative.
"Sir, Uhura, Chekov and Scottyare in place," Sulu said.
"Alright, people, let's get out of here," Kirk says.
Eventually, Kirk and company, minus Uhura, who was to head directly to Vulcan from Earth, took the Enterprise from Space Station One out of dock. They were about to be pursued by the newer U.S.S. Excelsior. Luckily, Mr. Scott took care of THAT problem.
"Here something from one 'doctor' to another," Scotty said, as he gave McCoy the equivalent of "sparkplugs". "The more they complicate the plumbing, the easier to stop up the drain."
"Cute."
And with that, the Enterprise took off for the Mutara Sector, destination: the planet Genesis.
Meanwhile, a Klingon captain named Kruge, under confedential orders, intercepted key data pertaining to the nature of the Genesis Device. So, he used his "Klingon Bird of Prey", essentially a scout ship, to attack the U.S.S. Grissom.
Unfortunately, the attack was a bit TOO successful.
"I told you not to destroy that ship!" Kruge roared.
"It was an accident, sir," said the Klingon lackey.
Kruge took out his pistol, and shot the lackey dead.
"Animal!"
"Sir!" said the communication officer.
"What?"
"I believe we may have survivors," said the officer.
"Good.You might live yet another day."
And thusit became "The Klingons versusThe Pig-Tail Boy!", for the right to claim the Genesis Device.
DING!
Round One, fight!
The pig-tail boy, peered through the bushes, as a squad of Klingon soldiers passed by. As soon as the last Klingon passed, he activated his trap.
THUNG!
Using a series of pulleys and nets, the helpless Klingon went up, high, and tossed into the valley below.
Round Two, fight!
"I got you now, boy!" the Klingon said, as he charged forward with his knife.
The pig-tail boy merely smirked, as he held his long pole. Quickly, he side-stepped the attack, twirled, and smacked the Klingon on the back.
Round Three, fight!
The Klingon saw a little red-headed girl, who was casually picking flowers. Slowly, the Klingon crept up, knife drawn...
CRASH!
And down the bear trap the klingon went.
And thus, the score was:
Klingons: 0.
The Pig-Tail Boy: 10.
"Ranma," Saavik said, as she surveyed the captured Klingons. "You should be more careful."
"Yeah," David said. "You're making me look bad!"
Ranma merely beamed.
"WHAT?!" Kruge yelled.
"Sir, our squad has been captured!"
"Well...destroy them all!"
"Yes, sir-"
Just then, the Enterprise shows up.
"Belay that! Go to cloak, and prepare to attack that ship!"
On the Enterprise...
"Sir, do you think that distortion is a cloaked ship?" Sulu asked.
Kirk looked at the situation.
"You're right. Chekov! Prepare to fire on my mark..."
The Klingon ship appeared...
"Fire!"
The Enterprise fired its phaser banks at the Klingon ship, scoring a direct hit. Unfortunately, vey little damage was made.
"Sir," Sulu said. "I'm having problems with the manual control panel."
"Can you get it fixed, Mr. Scott?"
"Sir, I didn't know that we were going into battle," Scotty replied.
That's when the Klingon ship attacked, crippling the Enterprise in the process.
"Sir, we are being hailed,"Spock says.
"On screen."
"Well, well," Kruge said. "Starfleet, you seemed to be at a disadvantage."
"I seriously doubted it."
"But I do not. So, I will do this. Give me the information on the Genesis Device...or I will launch a bombardment on the surface below, where your people are."
"My...people?"
"Yes. In fact, you may try to contact them now."
"Spock?"
Mr. Spock used the communications array to get in touch with Saavik and David; he also learned that Ranma had been reborn, and was slowly aging to his normal age, just as the planet continues to age at an accelerated rate.
"Well? Do I have to kill them, or will I get the plans?"
"Hold on, for a moment. I need to consult with my crew."
"I give you several moments."
CLICK!
"Well?"
"Our options are limited, Admiral," Spock says. "We do not have any weapons."
"Actually...there is ONE weapon that we have left."
For a moment no one knew what Kirk was talking about. Then it dawned on them.
"Jim, you don't mean..." McCoy said.
"I do. Go get Usagi ready."
The plan was a rather simple on, which was full of risks.
"Okay, we are ready to be boarded," Kirk said, just as he and his crewmates beamed off the bridge. Replacing them were the remainder of the Klingon crew, who were to take over the Enterprise. However, Kirk left them a little surprise...
"Sir, I hear something, from the ship's computer!"
"Let me hear it," Kruge said over the com-link.
"...3...2...1...ZERO."
BOOM!
And thus, the U.S.S. Enterprise, after forty years of service, blew up. What was left burned within the atmosphere of the planet Genesis.
Kirk and the crew made it to David, Saavik and Ranma's location. He took one look at the captured Klingons, before returning his attention back to the others.
"I see that you all been very busy."
"Well, it was Ranma's...doing."
Kirk looks at the teenager, who was looking back apprehensively.
"Mr. Saotome, I presume," Kirk says, as he brings up his hand to shake Ranma's. Ranma apprehensive took his hand. The two shook hands.
Then, Usagi's eyes opened.
"Pretty girl!" Ranma said, as he went over to Usagi's side.
"Sir," Spock said. "We must leave this planet, for it is breaking up-"
Usagi's hands touched Ranma's. The two began to glow...
"What's going on-" McCoy said.
The planet was being engulfed by the bright light, before expanding outward.
Kruge, who ws trying to decide whether or not he should just blow up his enemies with a well-placed photon torpedo, when some invisible form began to take over the Bird of Prey. Then, he saw a ghostly figure, who appeared to be some sort of royal with a crescent symbol on her forehead, appeared on the bridge.
"This planet and its secrets are under my protection," the figure said. "There will be no more violence on this day."
And then, she was gone.
As the ship was taken to the surface of the planet Genesis below by an unseen force, Kruge realized that no matter how he sliced it, he had failed the Empire.
When the light show was over, and when everyone could see again, they saw Usagi and Ranma. This time, Usagi was dressed in a fancy gown, while Ranma was dressed in a full tuxedo, complete with top-hat, eye-mask, cane, cape, walking stick and a white rose on his lepel. Once again, Commander Ranma Saotome was...THE MAGNIFICIENT MASK.
"Ranma?" Usagi asked. "Is this really you?"
"You're...you're Usagi, right?" Ranma said.
"Ah, such a happy ending," McCoy said.
If he could, Spock would have rolled his eyes.
"Captain, look!" Chekov said, pointing to the sky.
"Well," Kirk said, as the Klingon ship made its approach. "It looks like we have a ride."
Afterwards, Kirk and crew traveled to Vulcan, where the Klingon prisoners were placed into custody. However, Kirk and crew could not leave the planet for what they have done, so they sought political asylum.
As to Ranma Saotom and Usagi Tsukino, while Usagi was more or less herself, Ranma still suffered from gaps in his memories. Dr. McCoy deduced that the memory gaps were due to trauma more so than anything else, and that, with time, Ranma's memories would return.
However, Kirk began to become restless, even after spending time with his son David.
Sometime later on Vulcan, a decision was made.
"Okay, so it's settled," Admiral Kirk said. "We'll use the Bird of Prey to face the music."
The assembled command crew nodded grimly.
"David and Saavik will remain here, as will Usagi-"
"I will come along, Admiral," said a voice. "And so will…Ranma."
"Will T'Sara be fine without you?" asked Spock.
"She has decided to take a leave of absence from Starfleet. Amanda will be looking after her."
Captain Spock looked at Usagi, who was wearing her Vulcan robes. For the past 18 months, she was healing both her mind and body. And she was trying to get to know Ranma Saotome better.
Earlier…
Usagi went into the Vulcan training hall to see Ranma performing katas. He really appreciated the aesthetics of the place, though he still couldn't believe that he was on another planet and time.
"Ranma, how are you today?" Usagi asked.
"Oh, I'm fine," said Ranma. "It's just so weird being in this place. I bet Akane would be amazed at the predicament that I'm in."
Usagi winced at the statement.
"Well, if you want, you can come with me back to Earth. Here or there, I'm sure that you could find a way home."
"Yeah, if you say so. Say, you wanna spar?"
Usagi nodded, thinking back to win she and Ranma first spared on the mat.
"You're on," Usagi said, after taking off her robes. She wore an athletic outfit that she uses to exercise in. When Ranma sees this, he gulps.
"You're not nervous, are you?" Usagi asks.
"Uh, no. I'm okay. Heh."
"Good. Defend yourself!"
Ranma immediately examined his opponent's style, which was loosely based upon his own. He definetly had to take his new friend seriously.
Usagi, casually, bobbed and weave through Ranma's punches and kicks. When he tried a leap attack, Usagi swatted him out of the air.
"Oof!"
"Is that all, Ranma-CHAN?"
"Grrrr!"
Ranma picked up the tempo of the attack, which seemingly did not break through Usagi's defenses. Finally, he decided to play hardball…
"Chestnut-on-an-open-fire-STRIKE!"
BLOCKED by a "wall" of hands.
"Grrrr! Tiger STRIKE!"
A wave of energy, laced with pure confidance left his hands.
Usagi simply reached up, grabbed the energy ball, and absorbed it!
"Wha-?"
And then, with a flex of her muscles, a powerful force went outward. The pressure was enough to send Ranma back, and pin him to the far wall. Try as he might, he lacked the strength to break Usagi's will.
And then, the sparring session stops.
"Oof!" Ranma said, as he fell onto the ground.
"Thank you for the exercise," Usagi said, as she bowed. "Anyway, get clean up. We're getting ready to go back to Earth."
"Hey, I'm not done yet!"
"Don't worry. There will always be a next session."
Somehow, Ranma was comforted by that remark.
Back on Earth…
Hoshi Sato was having tea, while preparing for her testimony in front of the General Assembly, when she felt a disturbance. She left her desk, and looked up into the sky.
A visitor has come to the planet, looking for a species of whale that has been extinct for years.
And because of no reply, the alien has deemed the Earth unfit. Thus, it has decided to restart the planet's evolutionary chain.
While Hoshi could certainly defend the planet, she knew that a more important solution was needed. So, with her hands pressed on her temples, Hoshi called out for Usagi.
Usagi…USAGI…
Meanwhile, on the Bird of Prey, Usagi felt Hoshi's summons.
"We need to find some whales that don't exist anymore," Usagi said.
"Well, I guess we need to do something about it, then," Kirk said.
"And to do that, we must go back in time."
Ranma was excited. He could finally return home!
Usagi, on the other hand was not, for there was no guarantee that the past was HER past.
Once everyone was ready, the Bird of Prey employed the so-called "Sling-Shot Effect". In theory, by traveling at "infinite" speed, one can travel back in time. In order to do so, one must use the gravity of a star to "sling" the ship around it. And so…
"Warp 1…Warp 2…Warp…3…!"
Usagi gently squeezed Ranma's hands, feeling it for the last time…
"WARP…10!"
FLASH!
When the crewmembers awoke, they were high above the Earth. It was the year 1986.
"Okay, let's get some whales," Kirk said.
However, it was not easy. Somehow, people from the Mishma Financial group were harassing the crew.
Scene One: Ranma was being confronted by an android in North Beach, San Francisco.
"You will be terminated!" Jack said, as he tried to pound Ranma into the ground. Ranma returned the favor by utilizing the "Breaking Point" technique.
SKREEE!
Scene Two: Down near the Embarcadero, Usagi was seemingly down, thanks to an assassin's poison. A blond, leggy female was poised to deliver the final blow. However, she was intercepted by…
"Lord Ranshin?" Nina Williams exclaimed. "How-?"
CRACK!
"My name is RanMA," the pigtail teen said. "Sheesh, that's the second time someone claimed to know me, when I never met him or her before!"
Eventually, Kirk was able to secure some whales, from the Marine Mammal Institute, in Marin, thanks to the generosity of the Rantsu Foundation, who secretly helped him and crew secure the creatures. They would never know that Ranshin and Usashinko Rantsu, of the Rantsu Foundation, had been the ones to secure the release of the whales to Kirk and crew. It was too bad that the process was hindered somewhat by Heihachi Mishma, who saw the arrival of the younger version of his silent partners into the past, as an opportunity to eliminate them; he had learned of Ranma and Usagi's arrival thanks to some stolen files he had "acquired" from the Rantsu Foundation's vaults. What he did not know was that because Ranma actually cared for Usagi's safety, he would be compelled to go with Usagi back to the future. Neither Usagi nor Ranma knew that they were only twenty years off the mark.
When it was time to leave, back to the future with the whales, Usagi said good-bye to Ranma…
"Well, I guess this is it," Usagi said, as she hugged her friend. "I hope that you find what you are looking for."
Ranma thought for a moment.
"I'm going with ya."
Usagi looked at Ranma strangely.
"But why? You'd be more happy here in the 20th century than in the future."
"But I don't know if I could be happy not knowing that you're happy, Usagi," Ranma said. "Besides, it's 1986. Akane won't be born yet, and…I'm not sure if I want to violate that Prime Directive-thing."
"You know about that?"
"Well, yeah. I also know that we've been friends for a long time."
Ranma shows a data file to Usagi.
"You figured out how to access your logs?"
"Spock-san helped me. I know that I said that I didn't want to 'gum up' the situation by knowing my…past, but after you getting poisoned, I needed to know why I felt compelled to protect you."
Ranma turns back towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
"Look, I don't know if I'll ever remember everything. But…I owe you for saving my life. No matter what, I'll stand by your side."
Usagi looks at Ranma lovingly.
"I don't know if we'll ever get back to the past again. Time travel is a tricky thing."
"It's a chance I gotta chance. After all, you're the Moon Princess."
Usagi smiles.
"Thank you…Ranchan."
Ranma blushes.
After Kirk and crew leaves…
"Curses!" Heihachi fumed, as he sat and drank his brandy in his hotel suite. "Coming to America was a waste of time!"
"On the contrary, I think not," said a voice from the shadows.
Heihachi looks over to the shadows.
"When did you arrive, Lord Ranshin?"
"The wife and I arrived yesterday," Ranshin said, as he came out into the light.
"Brandy?"
"Yes, please."
As the two men drank, both savored the moment.
"You certainly went out of your way to eliminate Usagi and I," Ranma said.
"Well, you can't help but admire my…tenacity."
"Perhaps."
Suddenly, Ranma grabs Heihachi by the neck and lifts him in the air.
COUGH!
"I will make this very clear. It is bad enough that honor demands that I tolerate your criminal activities, but you crossed the line with this latest nonsense."
"You…HYPOCRITE!" Heihachi managed. "You're the one who created that monster Khan!"
"Oh? Let's see: who here has much to gain by manipulating someone to be the next Hitler? It took me a while, but guess who helped sown the seeds in Khan's rise to power?"
Heihachi looks at Ranshin.
"Now you get the picture, eh 'Hachi?"" Ranshin said, as he drops Heihachi.
"How-?"
"While my younger self was here, I managed to acquire their ship's data logs. The missus did the data analysis, and came up with the cause."
"So, you know. What are you going to do now?"
"To you, I will do nothing. You make a useful pawn, and I wouldn't deprive your SON of his revenge."
Heihachi bristled at the notion.
"When I am ready to confront my student, I will be ready. As for you, you cross me again, and we will have our final battle. Is that clear?"
"Perfectly."
A moment of silence occurs.
"Say, there's a great Mexican restaurant down in the Mission district. Usashinko wants to invite you to dinner."
"And you're fine with that, after all that?"
"Usashinko is a lot more forgiven than I. So why bucked that?"
"I see."
As the two men left the suite, there was only one thought in his mind.
But this is not over! Heihachi thought. Not by a long shot!
The Kirk's command crew was assembled before the General Assembly and the Federation President. They had returned just in time to stop the alien probe from flooding the planet, be releasing the whales into a pristine environment within the Earth's oceans. Furthermore, thanks to Federation Ambassador Hoshi Sato, most of the charges against the crew were dropped. As for Ranma Saotome, well, he's SLOWLY getting his old memories back, which disturbed him a little bit ("I did THAT?").
Once the crew marched in, everyone waited for the proclamation from the Federation President.
"Commander Saotome, you are not charged with any crime," said the Federation President.
"I know, sir, but I'll stick by my comrades."
Ranma looks at Usagi. Usagi looks back at Ranma and smiled.
"Very well, then. So be it. You all have been charged with treason, theft, assault, and disobedience to a direct order. All charges have been dropped, save for one: disobedience to a direct order. We, as a society, cannot allow Starfleet finest to become rogue agents. James Tiberius Kirk, as the superior officer, you are supposed to set the example for your crew. Therefore, as the Federation President, I authorize Starfleet to demote you to the rank of 'Captain', where you can best serve the will of the Federation."
After the Assembly was concluded, Ranma goes to Kirk.
"I'm sorry that you took the fall for me, Kirk-san," Ranma said.
"Just promise me that you'll make Usagi happy. She's a special person."
Ranma looks over to Usagi, who was talking to her old friend Hoshi. Usagi responds by looking at Ranma, and smiling.
"Yeah."
Later…
"Well, what ship are they going to assign us?" Sulu asked, as he piloted the shuttlepod within Space Dock One.
"Hopefully, not a garbage scowl," Dr. McCoy says.
"Hey, as long as we have a ship, it's all good," Kirk replied.
"Ranma, how's it going?" Usagi asked.
"Oh, nothing. Well, now that I got my memories back, I have just one question."
"Go ahead, shoot."
"Did you REALLY have 'relations' with Kirk on his birthday?"
Everyone on the shuttlepod groaned.
"Ranma, Ranma, Ranma…we're adults here. And that was a year ago, by the way."
"So?"
"Alright, fine. All the girls here, at one point or another, have had 'relations' with Kirk."
"Usagi!" Uhura exclaimed.
Usagi winked at her long-time friend.
"I see."
"You don't understand. I said, ALL the girls here."
Ranma was looking at strangely, until it dawned on him. With his memories in swiss cheese mode still, he wasn't sure if his female side did-
"Oh, Kami! Oh, no!"
"Captain, did you-?" Spock whispered to Kirk.
"Of course, not! It's not like I have 'relations' with everything that is remotely female, you know!"
"Well, with your reputation as a ladies' man-" Dr. McCoy began.
"Bones…" Kirk warns.
"Sir, we're here," Sulu exclaimed.
Even though the U.S.S. Excelsior was coming into view, Captain Kirk and crew were not heading there.
They were heading for the newly refurbished U.S.S. Enterprise.
Everyone's eyes lights up
Now aboard the "new" ship…
"I think I could get used to this," Kirk said, as he sat in his command chair.
Uhura sat at the Communication station, Sulu sat at "Helm", Chekov sat at Navigation, Saotome sat at Security, Tsukino sat at Operations, "Scotty" sat at Engineering and Spock sat at Science.
"So, can I," Dr. McCoy said, as he stood behind the Captain.
"Yes," Kirk replied. "Mr. Sulu, let's go to warp, and see where we end up."
And thus, a new chapter begins.
Fin.