Star Trek: Ranma's Story27 – By DS Wynne

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

Note: This is BOOKTHREE of the Ranma ½ saga, set in the world of "Star Trek".

Part 27

On some unknown planet…

"Well, Commander Riker?" Q said. "What do you think?"

At the moment, Commander William T. Riker surveyed the area. He and some of the command staff were put on some sort of battlefield, where they were suppose to win, as a way of going back to the 'Enterprise'. Of course, the rule was that the only way for them to return home was for Riker to accept Q's offer of omnipotence, something that he has repeatedly refused.

"I think you're nuts, Q," Riker smirked.

"Ah, but you might want to re-think those words, when you face my challenge."

And with that, Q disappeared.

"Okay, people," Riker said, as he turned to his crew. "Suggestions?"

"I say we simply do nothing," Worf says in a huff. "I will NOT play his games!"

"I agree," LaForge says. "Bad enough we're here, worse if we do what Q wants."

"Commander, if you accept the entity's offer of induction, then we could return home sooner," Data says.

Riker turned to Usagi, who was meditating in a lotus position.

"Lt. Tsukino?"

Usagi, not even bothering to open her eyes, began to speak.

"Commander, you didn't rise through the ranks by not taking chances, did you?"

"No. And your point is…?"

Usagi opened her eyes, and got up.

"Ranma took you on as a student because you liked a challenge. THAT'S my point."

Riker nodded.

"Okay. Here's the plan. We will go through Q's 'gauntlet'…and win. Simple as that."

"As much as Lt. Saotome's seminars are…dynamic, there is no guarantee that improvisation will assure success."

"And takingthe easy way out doesn't guarantee them either."

"That may be correct, but the odds of success are greatly dimensioned."

"Duly noted. Now, let's head…THAT way."

And with that, the group moved towards the East, none of who were looking forward to what awaits for them ahead.

"Ma'am," Wesley Crusher said, as he walks with Usagi. "Why can't you do…something?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, aren't you…'special'?"

"I see that you 'hacked' into my file," Usagi said with a smirk. "First, don't do that again; I'll inform the captain about your activities the next time you do. And second, as a student of 'Anything Goes' martial arts, Commander Riker is suppose to take on an insurmountable challenge. Besides, for me, not to mention Lt. Saotome, to interfere directly would be a violation of my pledge to use only 'measured' responses to a threat. And if you really want to become Lt. Saotome's student, pay attention to what happens next."

Wesley beamed.

Back on the Enterprise…

"Lt. Saotome, report."

Ranma was hooked up to an interface in Astrometrics. He was using his psychic connection with Usagi to determineher and the others' location. Picard had asked Dr. Beverly Crusher to help monitor the situation, while Counselor Troi is helping to boost Ranma's "scans".

"No good, sir," Ranma said, as he sat in a lotus position. "The ship's navigation computer is allowing me to assess each sector individually, but either I haven't found them yet, or Q is purposely causing an interference."

"I agree. Captain," Deanna Troi says, thinking that her psychic connection to Commander Riker will help in the search. "I have not sensed anything from Commander Riker or Lt. Tsukino."

"Very, keep me informed-"

"Captain," Lt. Tasha Yar says, as she andassistant walks in. "We are having…difficulty in dealing with the guests."

"Explain."

"Mr. Saotome has been pestering the crew about Lt. Saotome's background, Miss Nabiki Tendo has been trying to access sensitive data, including Lt. Saotome's, Mr. Hibiki is trying to find Lt. Saotome in order to 'challenge' him-"

"Figures he'd get lost," Ranma smirked. "Even on a starship where the computer is a part-time tour guide, he's STILL 'the Lost Boy'."

"And, strangely enough, we've been getting reports of flooding near the guest quarters."

"That would be Mr. Tendo's…emotional antics."

"Lt. Saotome, I want you be responsible for looking after our…guests," Picard says. "Understood?"

"Perfectly. Besides, I need to take a break. At least Usagi and the others don't have to deal with this nonsense."

Back to Q's games…

"Foul creature!" said the young man in a kendo outfit, while brandishing his bokken. "I do not know where I am, but surely you must be related to the foul sorcerer! Have at thee!"

Worf sneered. While he loved the idea of ritual combat, he felt that his foe was a pompous wind-bag. Trained in the ancient Klingon martial art of "mok'bar", a type of tai chi "with attitude", Worf knew how to handle even the most pedestrian of combatants. Coupled with Lt. Saotome's tactical combat seminars, he might just be able to handle this so-called "Blue Thunder of Furinken High School"…whatever that meant.

"Yeoman Worf," Usagi said, as she reached into pocket space. "Catch."

Usagi tossed her "bat'leth", the standard "sword" of the Klingon, to her ship mates.

"How?" Wesley and La Forge said in unison.

"Fascinating," Data says.

"Heh, you should have seen the stuff she pulled back when I worked with her and her old beau at Utopia Planetia," Chief O'Brien says.

"Less talk, more watch," Usagi said, as she pointed to the challenge before them.

The boy, whose name was "Tatewaki Kuno", charged forward, delivering a series of strikes against Worf. Worf used a circler motion to both dodge the attacks, which was then followed by a trapping motion. The hooks of the bat'leth caught the bokken, which was then used to "pull" the bokken from Kuno's grasp.

"I have more where that has came from!" Kuno sneered, as he pulled yet another bokken from...no where. Again, Kuno began to strike. However, instead of charging forward, Kuno was causing a shift in the air. In effect, he was using air pressure to deliver his attacks.

"Intersting," LaForge said, as he used his ocular implant, known as a "VISOR", to determine how Kuno was able to effect the environment around him.

Worf grimaced, as he took the blows. He then thought up a scenario in which he could counter the attack…

"Devil's CUT!"

With one fell swoop, Worf brought down his weapon onto the ground. He used his life energy (or "chi") to split the earth in front of him.

"Augh!" Kuno said, as fell out of his attack stance.

Quickly, Worf rushed forward, and placed his blade unto Kuno's neck.

"Please, tell me that it is a GOOD day to die," Worf smirked.

Before Kuno could say anything, he disappears in a flash of light.

"Bravo!" Q said, as his voice boomed around the crew. "You're past the first ring. Here's hoping that you all will do just as well with the next."

Back on the Enterprise…

"Where is he?" Ryouga said, as he paced back and forth in his guest quarters. "That Ranma is SUCH a coward. Probably soft from all this comfort as well."

"Most likely he's with some floozy," Akane said, as she sat down in her seat, and fumed.

"Akane, you should relax," Kasumi said. "It's not everyday that we get to visit the future. And what a wonderful device this…'replicator is!"

"Tell me about it," Nabiki said, as she continued to monitor the computer. "With even the most basic technology here, I can make a fortune."

"Genma, my old friend, what are we going to do?" Soun said. "What if Ranma no longer loves my little girl?"

"We will convince him that your daughter is still right for him," Genma declares.

"Husband, Soun, we have to think of our actions carefully," Nodoka says, while sipping tea. "It is obvious that my son is held in high regard here. As much as I dread it, Ranma...may not care for either of us."

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"Um, come in?" Nabiki said.

Ranma and Counselor Troi enter the room.

"I KNEW that Ranma was with some floozy!" Akane yelled. "Ranma, you JERK!"

Out of instinct, Akane tried to mallet Ranma. However, when his eyes glowed softly, she realized that she couldn't move.

"Ulp!"

"Akane?" Ryouga said. Then he turned his attention to Ranma. "How dare you do…something…to Akane!"

Ryouga charged forward. Quickly, Ranma flowed into Ryouga's attack, and arm-locked him from behind. The lost boy tried to struggle, but realized that Ranma possessed an iron-like grip. In effect, he couldn't move.

"How…how did you get stronger-?"

"Training," Ranma replied. "There's a lot of things that I can do to you, so I want to make myself perfectly clear. I want you word of honor that you will behave yourself. If you do, I will teach you how to cure your…curse."

This got Ryouga's attention.

"Really? You're not trying to trick me, are you?"

"No."

"Fine."

And with that, Ranma released the Lost Boy.

"Okay, everyone. Here's the deal. All of you are free to visit non-sensitive areas of the ship. And Counselor Troi here-"

"Hello," said the empath.

"-Will be of assistance if you have any questions or special requests."

"Ranma," Nodoka said, as she gave Genma and Soun a knowing glance. "We should get together soon to chat."

"We will, Mom. I'll be off work in a few hours, so we can all get together then."

"Um, Saotome?"

"Yes, Nabiki?"

"Akane?"

"Oh, I almost forgot," Ranma said, as he snapped his fingers.

FLOMP!

"Oh, what happened?" Akane said, Kasumi helped her little sister up.

"Just a little hypnotic trick I picked up years ago. Sometimes I forget stuff."

"You're certainly full of surprises," Nabiki smirked.

"Anyway, I got to run. See you this evening."

After Ranma and Troi leaves, the resident civilian botanist comes running up to Ranma.

"So, have you told them about…me?"

Ranma sighed.

"Counselor, if you can-"

"Of course, Lieutenant. We will talk later."

Once Troi leaves…

"Well?"

"Keiko, I haven't got to that part yet," Ranma said, as he walked down the corridor with Keiko Saotome, Ranma's grand-daughter.

"I can't wait to meet your mother," Keiko says.

"Now, don't be hasty. It may not even be THEM."

"Still, I mean, the whole experience is neat."

"I suppose so. So…did I hear correctly that you are going out with Chief O'Brien?"

"Miles? Well, he did ask me out last week. And he is a nice guy and all, but-"

Ranma stops and turns to Keiko.

"Keiko…'Peaches'…Miles is a good man. Once her returns from...wherever,you two should go out on a date."

"Okay," Keiko said with a smile. "I'll do it. Thanks!"

With a hug, Keiko leaves.

For a moment, Ranma looks out into space.

"It's hard to believe that our two families would produce a wonderful girl, Sulu," Ranma said, thinking how his son Ranmak and Sulu's daughter Damora got together. "Wherever you are, may you rest in peace."

Back in the guest quarters...

"Nodoka, we have to-" Genma began.

"We will do nothing," Nodoka said. "I want to get to know my son, and I do not want you or Soun to ruin this."

At the same time, across the room...

"Akane, you got to take a look at this," Nabiki said, as she went over Ranma's public record.

"Why? What other awful news do I have to hear now?" Akane said, as she went over to the computer terminal.

"According to this, our little Ranma has made quite a name for himself. He's been a part of this...'Starfleet', off and on, for the past 100 years, even to go on to command his own starship, called the 'Enterprise'."

"Oh, my!" Kasumi said. "So, Ranma was in charge of this ship?"

"Probably got in trouble with his leaders or something, which is why he's not in charge now," Akane interjected.

"Actually, there have been several ships in the history of Starfleet to be called 'Enterprise'. He was the captain of the Enterprise-B, a ship that had been launched 60 years ago."

"Nabiki, then...why isn't he a captain now?" Kasumi asked.

"The record does not give any details, other than he sacrificed his seniority for the chance to become a student at Starfleet's military academy for the second time."

"Wait a minute," Ryouga said, as he began to pick up the details of the conversation. "If Ranma isone-hundred years older, then why is he so young looking? Is he, in fact, OUR Ranma?"

Akane was worried now. If this person was not Ranma, what did happen to him? Sure, Ranma can be a womanizing jerk, but he was HER womanizing jerk.

"Please be real," Akane spoke softly.

Above it all, Q was watching everything with glee. However, he began to notice that he was being watched.

"Probably I have an audience from the Q Continuum," Q spoke softly.

He was getting bored when he realized how much fun he'll have when he brings in more people from Ranma's past. As soon as he initiated his plan, he felt a shift in the etherial plane.

"Q."

Q turned to source of the disturbance.

"Q," Q said, as he eyed her companions. "I see that you brought friends, the Emissary and the Sailor of Pluto.

"Q, your meddling runs the risk of disrupting linear time," the Starfleet captain-turned-Prophet replied. "The once-and-future Captain Saotome has a role he has yet to play."

"Not to mention the risks to the Moon Princess that could occur, if Lord Rantsu does not fulfill his obligations," Sailor Pluto says.

"And I don't want you change Ranma's future," the blond Q entity said. "Otherwise, we may not meet in the future."

"Feh. I KNOW about 'the Terror' that Ranma Saotome has to face in the future. I know that Ranma has to make it to his next 'evolution'. And I KNOW that you want to make sure that your past self meet HER future husband."

"See that you remember that. I don't want Akane Tendo to convince Ranma to go backwith her before it's time for him to return to his native Earth."

And with a flash, Q's visitors disappears in a flash of light.

"There's always someone out there to ruin my fun!" Q pouts.

Tbc.