Star Trek: Ranma's Story24 – By DS Wynne

Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is multi-epic story with many elements to it.

Special note: While this is a spin-off story to "Sailor Moon ST", you don't have to read that one to enjoy this one.

Part 24

Spring, 3005 CE: Starfleet Academy, Presidio, Earth (STU).

Captain Ranma Saotome was invited to speak at the graduation commencement at Starfleet Academy. Dressed in his dress whites, Ranma, thinking that he would give what would perhaps be his last official speech, summoned his courage. Standing at his podium, in front of an audience of thousands, Ranma began.

"To the graduating class of 2005, I salute you. I salute you for your courage, your bravery, and your intellect. However, I salute you most of all for your hunger. It is the hunger of one who seeks the best in life, in order to BE the best in life. After today, you are not only going to serve the Federation as members of Starfleet, but you will serve the memories of those who have served our fine organization before you. They, like you, were once idealistic and sure-footed; after being seasoned, they, your predecessors, became seasoned, as well as idealistic and sure-footed.

"Many of you know that I am 'the Old Man' of Starfleet. And many of you know that I am a repository of arcane knowledge and insight on how this fine organization is supposed to 'behave'. Of course, there is one other person that is a better repository in this regard, but we won't name names."

A few laughs were made, while Admiral Usagi Tsukino, Chief of Starfleet Administration, who was sitting in the row filled with top ranking Starfleet officers, simply shook her head. She then took her right index finger, and drew it across her neck, indicating that Ranma was in trouble. Ranma simply stuck out his tongue in response.

"Nevertheless, in the beginning, I had to learn how to be one of Starfleet's finest, from the very people who I would one day serve with…"

FLASHBACK!

Picard.

"Okay, class," Tactical Instructor Ranma Saotome says, as he sized up his class of freshmen cadets. "My name is Ranma Saotome, and I will teach you how to fight."

Ranma had taken a leave of absence from Starfleet, having gone through an inquiry on the Hensen expedition. Besides, with what happened to his family, he needed to spend more time with them. However, Starfleet Command still wanted to utilize his capabilities to further his ends.

Then, Ranma noticed a raised hand.

"Yes, Mister…?"

"Cadet Jean-Luc Picard, sir," said the young French man. "I have a question."

"Yes?"

"What's the point of learning martial arts, when a good phaser is all you need?"

Ranma arched his left eye-brow.

"Good question."

And with that, Ranma went over to a foot-locker, and tossed a hand-phaser to Picard.

"I want you to use that on me."

"Sir?"

"Yes, use it. And don't worry; it's set on 'stun'."

"Okay…"

Cadet Picard takes his weapon, and fire it on Ranma.

Casually, Ranma side-stepped the beam.

"I'm waiting."

Picard squinted his eyes, and fired again.

Ranma side-stepped the beam.

"Well?"

Picard growled, and began to fire the phaser repeatedly…and was missing at every turn.

"That'll be enough," Ranma said, as he snatched the weapon from Picard's hand, without being aware of it."

"How-?"

"Cadet, as you were," Ranma said, as he directed Picard back to the assembly. "Now, where were we? Oh. The point of learning martial arts is to be one with your body. That's the goal. The benefit is the ability to defend yourself from harm. Once you incorporate this creed into you over-all instruction, there's very little that you can't do."

"So, sir, what are you saying?" Picard asked. "That I'll be able to dodge phaser-fire with ease?"

"No, what I am saying is that when you are able enough, you won't have to."

(A/N: Just a little something from "The Matrix" thrown in!)

Riker.

"Just set your things here," Ranma said, as he and his guest walk inside his Tokyo residence. "Hoshi! We're home!"

"Coming!" said Earth Ambassador Hoshi Sato, a retired Starfleet Officer, who has been living with Ranma for the past few years. Hoshi wasn't sure he was ready to move on, after being with Usagi for so mny years. However, she will always be there for him as a friend at least.

"So, who is this?" Hoshi asked.

Standing next to Ranma was a brown-haired boy. He wore a old-style baseball cap, with the Yankees logo stitched in the fabric, a heavy coat and woodsman boot.

"You remember Kyle Riker?"

"Oh, yes. Wasn't he the guy who testified on your behalf at that Hansen hearing?"

"Yes. This is his son, William."

Hoshi turns to the boy.

"Hello, William."

"Will."

"Pardon?"

"My name is 'Will', ma'am."

"So it is. Welcome to our home...Will."

Later…

"Poor, thing," Hoshi says. "Loosing a mother at such an age can be a terrible thing."

"Yeah, I know how he feels, which is why I volunteered to take him off of Kyle's hands."

"So, how long will he be staying here?"

"Well, he does have an interest in joining Starfleet, so I'll get him ready for that."

The Crushers.

"Honor UP!"

BOOM!

A Starfleet honor guard fire their weapons, to signify the salute of a fallen comrade.

At the Presidio, Commander Jack Crusher, "First officer" of the USS Stargazer, was being laid to rest. In attendance was not only Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the former commander of the Stargazer, but so was Ranma Saotome. Both Jack and Jean-Luc were fellow classmates who met when they both first attended Ranma's tactics course.

"Thank you for coming, sensei," Picard said, as he turned to his old friend. "It means…a lot that you have come here."

"Jack was a good man, Jean-Luc," Ranma replied. "And a worthy student of the Art."

"Indeed. If it hadn't been for his 'ki control', the radiation would have killed him sooner, and many more lives would have been lost."

Picard nodded. He was under investigation about what exactly caused the destruction of the Stargazer, though the report that it had been attacked by an unknown alien ship was validated.

Ranma then turned his attention to the family that Jack had left behind. Leaving behind a fresh grave marker was Jack's wife Beverly, a civilian medical doctor, and her young son Wesley. He didn't know the two very well, only having met them on occasion.

Well, it's time to fulfill a promise, Ranma thought.

"Hello, Beverly," Ranma said, as he stepped forward.

"Oh, it's you," Beverly replied. "You're…Jack's friend, Ranma Saotome."

"Indeed. Well…I hope so."

Ranma then knelt in front of young Wesley.

"Hello, Wesley."

Wesley looked up. He had recognized his father's former martial arts instructor.

"Hello, Mr. Saotome," Wesley replied.

Ranma smiled while nodding his head. He'll be there for Jack's son as long as he can.

Troi.

Man, I hate this, Ranma thought, as he straightened his suit. As a favor to an old friend in Starfleet, he would work private security at a party held at the Betazed Embassy.

"Hello, Ranma-sama!"

"Gah!" Ranma screeched, as he jumped. He almost had forgotten that Betazoids were race of potent telepaths, that can mask their presence.

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Betazed Ambassador Laxwanna Troi, one of the few royals who have chosen the life of a diplomat. "I didn't know that I had…frightened you so."

"Hey, you should know me by now, Lax-chan," Ranma replied.

"Well, had you not married that ex-wife of yours, you would know me VERY well."

Ranma had met Laxwanna's family as the captain of the Enterprise-B, when the Federation wanted to officially admit Betazed into their ranks. Over the years, Laxwanna has proved to be an "interesting" person indeed, which is why Ranma was glad that she had finally settled down.

"Well, I must attend to my guests. At least they will appreciate my sense of style."

"Yeah, right."

A short time later, Ranma decided to step outside on the balcony. He was surprised to see a familiar face.

"Deanna, what are you doing here?"

The dark haired teen turned to see Ranma walking behind her.

"Oh, Uncle Ranma," Deanna said. "I didn't sense you coming."

"Well, thanks to your mom, I have to put up my 'guard'."

"Well, I apologize for my mother's behavior."

"Ah, don't be. Anyway, I know why I'm out here, so why are you?"

"Well…I want to apply for enrollment at Starfleet Academy. But…but…"

"But you don't know how your mom will feel."

"Yes. I just don't know how to approach her about it."

Ranma looked at her for a moment.

"I tell you what. I'll talk to her about it. But you owe me on this one!"

"Thanks, uncle!" Deanna said, as she hugged Ranma.

"Urk!"

Tbc.