Star Trek: Ranma's Story31 – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "Star Trek", "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a spin-off story of "Sailor Moon ST", though you don't have to read THAT story to enjoy THIS one.
Part 31
Commander William T. Riker, the First Officer of the "Enterprise-D", was sitting on a rock. At the same time, a young man of Japanese descent had his arms folded. Dressed in military garb, the young man tapped his feet impatiently.
"Well? Aren't going to take care of this?" the young man sneered.
"In a minute, Mr. Kumon, in a minute," Riker replied nonchalantly.
At the same time, Lt. Usagi Tsukino, the Chief Science Officer (!), was giving Riker a rub-down, while giving him a "pep-talk".
"Now, Commander," Usagi began, "You got to be wary of this one. From my reading of his aura, Ryu Kumon possesses a lot of power."
Riker looked at Ryu.
"Yeah, you're right. His aura seems 'tighter' than Herb's."
With a sigh, Riker gets up. He then began to stretch his limbs in preparation for his battle with Ryu.
Everyone else in Riker's party sat back and relaxed. They were relaxed because they were familiar with Riker's competitive record from his Starfleet Academy days.
Finally, Riker got into a loose fighting stance.
"Ready," Riker said.
Ryu simply sneered, as he got into his own fighting stance.
"You better be…you better be," Ryu replied menacingly.
Back on the Enterprise-D, two worlds were about to collide…
"I'm glad that you all decided to come," Lt. Ranma Saotome (Chief "Conn" Officer) said. He scanned his eyes across the assembled group. There, his parents Nodoka and Genma Saotome were sitting quietly, as did Soun Tendo. The Tendo daughters, Kasumi, Nabiki and Akane, were looking at Ranma with high expectations. Ranma's old friend Ukyo Kuonji and her assistant (or "retainer") Konatsu the Ninja Cross Dresser sat quietly, as did the Amazon Matriarch Cologne and her great, grand-daughter Shampoo. At the same, Ryouga Hibiki was sitting a bit away from the group. Everyone present wanted to know about Usagi Tsukino, and why they were not together…in spite of their apparently close friendship.
"So…what do you want to know, Mom?" Ranma asked.
"Well, for starters, who is 'Usagi Tsukino'?" Nodoka asked.
Ranma sighed, as he went over to a nearby mantle-piece. He reached for a framed picture wrapped in black cloth. Carefully, Ranma removed the cloth, and handed the picture frame to his mother.
"This picture was taken about a month before…the mishap occurred."
Nodoka could see an attractive young woman. The setting was in some sort of park, and she could see Ranma hugging the young woman and two little girls. Both girls had red-hair, and seemed quite spirited.
"That's Usagi, and our kids Hoshiko and Aiko. They were six years old at the time."
"So, how did you and Usagi meet?" Nabiki asked.
"Remember that trap Kuno sprung on me? Well, that 'trap' sent me to a place where time does not exist…a temporal void, if you will. In fact, it served as a 'nexus' point where any one could travel to any point of time. Since I didn't know that at the time, I ended up getting…lost."
"So…what happened?"
"Well, I ran into a monster that was attacking people. I fought it, but I had help when Usagi and her landing party arrived on the scene."
"So, did they try to help you get back home?" Soun asked.
"They said that they would help me, but an alien artifact that guarded the gateway back to the temporal void said that I shouldn't go back home."
"And you LISTENED?" Akane asked.
Ranma looked at Akane sadly.
"The Guardian said that I was needed. He even showed me why I was needed."
"And what did you need to do, Ranma?"
"Save Earth."
"…"
"Look, a martial artist's duty is to help protect the weak and helpless. Earth is now a paradise, compared to our time. However, there are plenty of freaks out in deep space that is more than willing to turn OUR home planet into a wasteland…or worse. So, do you know now why I decided to stay, Akane?"
Akane sat back down.
"Anyway, I stayed, and made plenty of friends. Usagi was my closest friend because, like me, she was taken from our time. In fact, she's from the Juuban District in Tokyo."
Mentally, Akane, Shampoo and Ukyo were thinking of paying Juuban a visit, thinking that if Usagi Tsukino was still in the past, relatively speaking, maybe they could make sure that Usagi doesn't get close to THEIR Ranma.
"We've been friends for nearly twenty years before we even became interested in each other romantically. And it was ten years after that when we decided to get married."
There was a bit of silence before Nodoka spoke up again.
"Ranma, I read your record, and I am proud of what I have seen," Nodoka said. "But what happened to your marriage?"
Ranma gave off a far-away look before returning his gaze back to his mother.
"I had retired from active duty, after serving ten years as Captain of the 'Enterprise-B'. I really didn't want to get any new assignments, since I wanted to spend time with my…wife and kids on Earth."
Akane, Shampoo and Ukyo visibly winced at the comment.
"Anyway, Dr. Magnus Hansen wanted an experienced pilot, since he wanted to test advance theories in warp dynamics."
As Ranma began his tale, he would tell his friends and family the truth as he remembered it. However, what he did not know was that the truth would be hidden from HIM.
FLASHBACK!
At a private office in San Francisco, an impromptu meeting was taking place.
"You want to track down…the Borg?" Ranma asked. He had heard of this group from his contacts amongst the El-Aurians.
"We need to have definitive proof of the Borg's existence," Admiral Carl Johnson said. "The only other person alive that has had contact with the Borg is your wife."
"Usagi?"
"Indeed. Mrs. Saotome was serving aboard the Enterprise-NX, over one-hundred years ago, when she came across the Borg. In fact, we believe that the Borg have been on Earth since the 21st century, on the eve of 'first contact' between Earth and Vulcan."
"Does Usagi know what Starfleet wants?"
"No. However, we still want her to go out on assignment."
Ranma got up, paced, and return his attention back to the Admiral.
"Usagi won't agree to it. Heck, I don't want to agree to it."
"That's where you come in. We need you to convince her to go on Dr. Hansen's expedition. Think of the possibilities that could come about from such an excursion. Besides, Hansen will be taking his wife Erin and their daughter Annika. So it's not like there will be any REAL danger to your family."
Ranma thought for a moment.
"Okay, I'll talk to Usagi, but I won't guarantee anything."
That evening…
"No, Ranma," Usagi said, as she hurried about to set up dinner.
"But, it'll give us a chance to spend time together with the kids."
"Ranma, a met a Borg drone. One was enough."
"But you have me to protect you and the kids. I'm your Knight!"
Usagi looks at Ranma.
"And you know I well I fared against the Androids, Usako. I can protect you."
Usagi looks away for a moment.
"I believe, Ranma. Let me think about it for a while."
Six months later…
"Dr. Hansen, we are ready to enter into the Delta Quadrant," Ranma said, as he fiddled with the control panel.
"Thanks, Captain," Magnus said, as he went to check the instrument panel. "This new warp manifold will take us straight into the Lion's den."
Usagi was monitoring the engines of "the Raven", when Hoshiko comes running to her.
"Mommy, Mommy!"
"Hon, you should be seated," Usagi says, as sat her data pad down. "You shouldn't be up while Daddy and I are working."
"I know, it's just that it's neat to 'plore."
"I see. I tell you what. Thw first safe place we find, you can 'plore with us."
"Yay!"
Just then, Hoshiko's sister Aiko and her new friend Annika Hansen comes running to Usagi and Hoshiko's position.
"Daddy and Dr. Hansen said that they are ready to go," Aiko said.
"Yeah, so let's go!" Annika said excitedly.
"There you are," said Dr. Erin Hansen. "It's time to get seated."
"Awwwww!" said the girls in unison.
Usagi just chuckled to herself. Maybe this mission will be a good thing after all.
And with that, the SS Raven sail off into deep space...
Five years later...
"'Thumper', take us out of warp," T'Sara Spocksdotter says, as she directed the cabbit to do so.
"Th-OWWW!"
"Hoshi, take a look at this," T'Sara says, as she directed her mother's friend to the forefront.
Hoshi Sato steps forward, and began to take the readings. For a year now, T'Sara and Hoshi have been retracing the Raven's footsteps, in the hope finding the ship's crew. So far, they have avoided meeting the Borg.
"Th-OW! Th-OW!"
"What is it, Thumper?" T'Sara asked.
A screen pops up, and reveals what appears to be piece of Borg ship. It sailed across the vastness of space, towards the Beta Quadrant.
"I...I can't believe it!" Hoshi said excitedly.
"What is it?" T'Sara asked. Then she, too, felt IT.
She and Hoshi felt the presence of "the Moon Princess", which was in their pervue as "Sailor Scouts".
"I think that Thumper, having bonded with Mother, picked up her life signature. That is why he yowled."
"And us, too."
"Right. So, let us get our family back."
Thumper sailed close to the wreckage, and clamped it to its side. T'Sara and Hoshi then donned space suits, and beamed aboard the wreck, which was the size of a large shuttle. When they arrived, they saw that the inside was worse than the outside.
"Be careful," Hoshi said, as she made her way passed the throng of debris. "The Borg are dangerous."
"Understood," T'Sara replied.
Eventually, the two made it to what appeared to be a processing core. There, right next to it was...
"Ranma?" Hoshi said in surprise. Then she saw Usagi and one of the twins.
T'Sara could tell that Ranma, who was sitting in a lotus position, eyes glowing, was trying to maintain life-support. He was clutching an unconscious Usagi, who appeared to have various wires and nodes interwoven through her body, particularly the node in her neck. One of the Saotome twins was asleep next to her parents.
"Mother," T'Sara said quietly.
Just then, Hoshi's tri-corder rang out.
"We have a possible Borg should entering this sector," Hoshi says. "I really suggest that we get out of here."
"Right. Thumper?"
"Th-OW!"
With a wave of energy, all five persons were gone. Then, stepping out of the shadows, a certain alien appears.
"For your and your family's sake,neither of you will recall your ordeal," Q says. "You are not yet ready to face your trials."
And with that, Q, who would one day challenge Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D, disappears in a flash of light.
When Ranma and his family returned from deep space, he faced an inquiry about what had happened to the Raven. Kyle Riker, an investigator for Starfleet Commmand, exonerated Ranma of all wrong-doings. After all, how can you prosecute a man, with an impeccable record, without memories of wrong doing. And thus, the case was closed, though the cost to Ranma's family was high.
END FLASHBACK!
"To this day, I still don't know what had happened," Ranma says. "What I do know is that had I not taken the mission, my family would not have gotten hurt."
"So...was that the reason why you had gotten divorced?" Nodok asked.
"No. It was when I had to 'neutralize' our second daughter Aiko."
There was a slight pause.
"What do you mean 'neutralize', Son-in-Law?" Cologne asked.
Ranma took a deep breath.
"Ever since the mishap, I had to be strong for Usagi and Aiko. It was a long time before some sort of normalcy resumed in our lives. And part of that normalcy involved putting my family first, ahead Starfleet's concerns. However, over time, things were falling apart for us. When Aiko was old enough, she left us...but it wasn't on good terms. While I was willing to give my daughter her space, Usagi wanted to remain in close contact with her. So, we tracked her to an alternate timeline that Usagi and I had visited once before, and when we did make contact, Usagi and I recieved quite a suprise."
FLASHBACK!
Usagi and Ranma were experienced "transdimensional explorers", having explored the myriad of alternate dimensions and temporal zones since joining the "Temporal Investigations Authority" as civilian researchers. They, like other field operatives, were to observe and record their observation. And because of the possible dangers involved, the TIA operatives tend to have military backgrounds. The Saotome couple had joined, some time after Aiko's departure, as a way to mend their marriage, which was still smarting from the loss of one of their children.
What was surprising was that when they finally heard from Aiko, she was living in another timeline. What was surprising still, was that Aiko was inviting the Saotome couple to her...wedding.
Fall, 2247: Earth-Dome, Geneva ("Babylon 5" universe).
Under recently acquired identification records, Usagi and Ranma arrived at French cafe. From their previous forays to this timeline, this Earth had a similar history to the Earth the two were living on. This Earth's "Earth Alliance" had just ended a war with an alien race known as "the Minbari". What was strange about the conclusion of that war was that by all accounts, the Earth should have lost. Ranma noted that a further investigation was needed to determine the truth behind the outcome.
"Ranma, do you mind?" Usagi said, as she tried to take away his datapad. "We're here for personal reasons, not 'work'."
"I know, I know," Ranma said. "Still, you got to wonder what's going on about this planet."
"Whatever. Hey, there's Aiko now."
"Aiko" greets her parents with a hug. She seemed to have aged ten years since the last time she had seen her parents.
She was still very beautiful, nevertheless.
"Mom, Dad," Aiko said, as she sat down. "I'm glad that you came."
"We would do anything for our daughter," Usagi said assuredly.
"I am surprise that you wanted to see us," Ranma said. "Seeing how, you know-"
"I know, Dad. I was angry about what happened to Hoshiko."
Silence.
"Anyway, I want to introduce you to someone-"
A sandy-haired, blond man, wearing an "Earth Force" uniform, runs across the street to the family's position.
"Anna, sorry I'm late," the man said, as he sat down. "HQ wanted to give me my assignment early-"
"'Anna'?" Usagi and Ranma said in unison.
"John, these are my parents, Usagi and Ranma Saotome. Mom, Dad- this is...my Lt. John Sheridan."
"Nice to meet you folks," John said, "though I never knew how young you two look."
Usagi and Ranma looks at John, then look at each other, and then looks at Aiko.
"I guess you need an explanation," Aiko says.
Aiko explains that upon getting her independence, she changed her name to "Anna". She worked as a curator of Tebetan artifacts, when John entered into her life. John, a Bhuddist, took a likign to Anna. And it was John who convinced Anna to contact her parents, and to tell them of their impending neputials.
Now, Ranma could accept John into the family, since he was not prejudice against non-Japanese. However, Aiko changing her name rubbed him raw.
That night, in John and Anna's apartment...
"Aiko-"
"I told you not to call me that, Father! It's Anna now!"
"You shouldn't abandon your heritage like that!"
"Well, it certainly didn't protect me and Hoshiko, eh?"
"Ranma…'Anna', please!" Usagi exclaimed. It had been years since she last seen of her daughter Aiko. She was willing to accept whatever conditions Aiko was willing to set in order to be with her.
"But Usagi-"
"No 'buts', Ranma. Anna was willing to invite us to her wedding, so that is that. Please, Ranma, do it for me?"
"Oh alright. So, ANNA, are you ready to marry John?"
"Well, he's a member of Earth Force. He's a hero of this Earth's "Earth-Membari War. That's soemthing that you can understand, right?"
"Didn't these people start that war?"
"Ranma…." Usagi warned.
"Okay, okay. I was just asking. As you were saying…?"
"Anyway, bottom line...I love him, Dad."
Ranma thought for a moment, and sighed.
"Fine. Bring him here."
Anna called John back from the kitchen.
"Dad wants to say something to you."
John stood still, as Ranma extended his hand.
"Welcome to the family...son-in-law."
John took Ranma's hand. He could have swore that his future father-in-law had a vise like grip.
"Thank you, sir," John said. "I'll do right by your daughter."
When Ranma released his grip, Usagi immediately hugged John.
"Just make lots of babies with my daughter, and I'll be happy."
"MOM!"
And thus, a family was reborn...even if for a short while.
Years later still…
"I'm sorry for your lose, ma'am," said Captain Sheridan.
SLAP!
John felt the sting of Usagi's slap.
"You don't know about my lose, John. How dare you presume much, son-in-law."
"Is there some indication where Anna's ship disappeared to?" asked Ranma.
"We're not sure, but some where near the Outer Rim. All signals were lost since their last signal."
"If you can, send us that telemetry to our home on Earth."
"Will do, I promise."
Spring, 2062: Station Babylon 5.
Ranma and Usagi stayed in that timeline, and lived as a citizen of the Earth Alliance. They did so because they wanted to know what happened to Anna.
The other reason was the arrival of a dark, alien menace known as "the Shadows", a race of spider-like creatures who felt that Chaos was the way to evolve lesser species. As Sailor Scout and Knight, the Saotome couple was obligated to stop a destructive species, even though their Starfleet "Prime Directive" specifically forbade them from gettng involved. Thankfully, the Saotomes did not tell Starfleet of their plans, forcing them to go underground.
In the mean time, Ranma hooked up with a group of paladins known as "the Rangers", who, with the help of their sponsors, the Minbari, took the fight for freedom to the Shadows and their minions. The Minbari, whose society was divided into three "castes"- worker, religious and warrior caste- were fascinated by "the human of both male and female persuasions".
It did help that Ranma was more than capable of taking down a standard Minbari cruiser all by himself.
Usagi, on the otherhand, worked as a civilian doctor aboard Space Station "Babylon 5". This station was originally an Earth Alliance space station dedicated to an open forum between all the alien species in the galaxy. With the advent of the so-called "Shadow War", Captain Sheridan, now the station's commander, declared Babylon 5 an independent sector. It was the right thing to do, since it was learned that Earth was now under the influence of the Shadows.
And then, something new happened...
"Is it true? Is my daughter still alive, John?" asked Doctor Usagi Saotome. For the past year, Usagi has been working as a medical doctor on staff, while her husband Ranma worked with the elite "Rangers" on Minbar.
"Usagi, I-"
"Mother? Is that you?"
"Anna!" exclaimed Usagi, as she hugged her daughter fiercely.
"Mother, it's okay now. I was away for a while, and I know I wasn't the best daughter and all, but I met some people who helped me see the errors of my ways."
"That's good to hear. John, you don't mind if I spend some time with Anna for a bit?"
"Sure, why not?"
As soon as Usagi and Anna left, Security Chief Gharabaldi walks into the doctor's office. The bald, tough guy handsJohn a data pad.
"Here's what you wanted. I still say that what you want to do is dangerous."
"It doesn't matter. Correction, it really does matter. There are things that I can't tell you about Dr. Saotome, but if my suspicions are correct, Anna will be the death of my former mother-in-law."
The next day,Usagi and John leaves with Anna on "the White Star", a fast, attack that was being dsigned to combat the Shadow's spider-like, black warships.
Thankfully, the Minbari Ambassador Delenn, who purpose fused human DNA to cement peaceful relations between humans and her people, had contacted Ranma to return to B-5 immediately.
Soon...
"This is White Star 007, we are in final approach," said Ranger Ranma Saotome.
"This Ivanova speaking. Ranma, please report to Ambassador Delenn's office as soon as possible."
"Roger that, Susan." Ranma said.
After docking...
"Thank the 'Great Maker' you have arrived!" exclaimed Delenn.
"What's up? I know I've been gone for a while, but-"
"Please, listen!"
Ranma's eyes widened at what she had told him.
"Which of the Scouts are here?"
"There's my younger sister, and G'Kar's niece and Lando's daughter-"
"Get them. And if G'Kar and Lando have any objections, send them to me."
"Do you think they'll be ready?"
"They better be, because we may have a battle to deal with. But I promise you that we'll bring John and Usagi…and Anna too."
While in this timeline, Usagi had initiated a new set of Sailor Scouts, who represented their homeworlds. Called "the Sailor Trio", these teens sought to do what's right in the galaxy...
...if they don't kill each other first.
Meanwhile, on Za'Ha'Dum, the homeworld of the Shadows…
"Doom's DISTRUCTION!" yelled Sailor Za'Ha'Dum, as she released a volley of dark energy at her mother. For a long time, Usagi was shielding John's body from her daughter's attacks.
"ARRRRRGGH!" screamed Usagi.
Upon reaching Za'Ha'Dum, John and Usagi had walked straight into a trap. Apparently, the Shadows had awaken Anna latent Sailor Senshi abilities. Now known as "the Senshi of Shadows", Sailor Za'Ha'Dum (or simply "Sailor Z"), Anna was determined to advance teh Shadows' agenda.
"Really, Mother, if only you accepted our offer, I wouldn't be punishing you like this."
"My daughter wouldn't do this!"
"Of course I would! I simply was shown the error of my ways. Now, either you change your mind, or I'll have to get…mean."
High above the planet…
"We are in position, sir," said Sailor Mimbar.
"I wish we hurry with this," said Sailor Centauri.
"Stop thinking about yourself for once!" snapped Sailor Narn.
"Enough!" yelled "the Magnificent Kamen", Ranma's Solar Knight persona. "You are to be the back up plan. Watch out for any Shadow vessels that WILL pop up."
"Right!" yelled the Sailor Trio.
"Excellent!"
Ranma switched on his full, mystic armor, armor that is used in space, anddisappeared in flash of light.
It's good to have "Instant Transmission".
Below...
"Stay down!" yelled Sailor Z, as she delivered blow after blow after blow.
"No…I won't give up," Sailor Moon as she wiped the blood off her mouth. "I took worse punishment than this."
"Then…die." Sailor Z began to power up to fire upon her mother.
"MOKO TAKIBASHA!"
"Arrggh!" screamed the Dark Senshi, as she was sent backwards.
"Sailor Moon, are you okay?"
"I…will be fine. How is John?"
"I'm fine. Ranma, did-?"
"Yes, I am. Look out!"
Several Shadow creatures begin to converge on the trio.
"Grrrr!"
High above…
"Several Shadow vessels are converging on our position!" yelled Sailor Mimbar.
"Great, just great!" yelled Sailor Centauri, as she adjusted White Star Seven's course and position.
"Great!" yelled I can't wait to take a few Shadows out!"
Suddenly, another ship appeared.
"YEE-OWWWW!"
BOOM! BOOM!
Two Shadow vessels are sliced in half.
"Hey, Thumper's here!" exclaimed Sailor Mimbar.
"Hang on girls, help is here," said Sailor Vulcan. Thankfully,T'Sara hadn't return to Vulcan when Ranma contacted her from "Mars Dome". "Look alive, we are still in this one deep."
Below…
Just as the Shadow were about to converge, Usagi looks up and wave them back. An unseen force pushes the creatures back into a wall, and was slowly being crushed by it.
"For you, Aiko…" SailorMoon says, as unconsciousness claims her.
"Damn," theSolar Knight exclaims.
"Did Delenn send you?" John asked.
"Yeah, and it's a good thing she did. I also know what you're planning. It's not necessary."
"I need to do this for Anna. These bastards corrupted her, and I don't think neither you nor Usagi can go against her. She is your daughter."
"And she is your wife."
"Who died a long time ago. You know I'm right."
Ranma thinks before making a decision.
"Very well. John, good luck." And Ranma teleports back to WS7.
"Sir, you're back!"
"Yes, Sailor Mimbar. Sailor Vulcan, Sailor Centauri- let's get the hell out of here."
"What about Anna and John?" asks Sailor Vulcan.
"They're already dead."
Below...
"John, you know you can't escape," says Anna.
John activates the automatic systems on White Star One, as well as the nuclear warheads. Slowly,
John, jump! said a voice. NOW!
John jumps off the ledge and into a bottomless pit.
Sailor Z looks up and sees an incoming vessel…and it was coming straight down on her head.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH-!"
BOOOOOMM!
Thus, the life of Anna Sheridan, formerly known as Aiko Saotome, ends in fire.
"No! NOOOOOOOOO!" screams Usagi, as she suddenly wakes up. Ranma could only watch helplessly as his wife sobs. I have to remain strong for her, he thought to himself. Aboard Thumper, Sailor Vulcan, maybe the first time since achieving perfect logic, sheds a tear.
A year later…
"We are here, John," says Delenn. She hates being forced to work with a cretin like Bester. But as long as her friends are nearby, the situation is tolerable.
"Thank you. Well, we are here to get that cure of yours."
"Excellent. The sooner we're done the better."
"Sir, there's a convoy of ships heading out of Za'Ha'Dum space!" yelled a crewmember.
"What? Why are they leaving the planet?"
"NO!" yelled Usagi suddenly, as she decks Lyta. She goes down.
"Doctor!" yelled Delenn.
"Usagi!" yelled Ranma, as he rushed over to Usagi's side.
"This witch was about to blow up the planet!"
"It should be destroyed!" screamed Lyta.
"The ONLY reason why you are doing this is to get back at Bester."
"Is this true?" asks Sheridan.
Lyta suddenly goes silent.
"My daughter's resting place is there, and I'll be damned if you push your agenda by destroying that planet. You ever pull this stunt again, you will regret it."
The look in Dr. Saotome's eyes told Lyta that she was serious.
"Anyway, Mr. Bester, we have an agreement to fulfill?"
Ranma remained quiet, opting to observe the situation before acting. He was surpised that "Bester", a psychic operative for Earth-Dome, looked like his old friend Chekov. And yet, THIS guy was a virtual bastard.
Besides, he was more concerned about Usagi's welfare than anything else.
A month later...
"Usagi, you don't mean it!"
"Ranma…I can't deal with this now. I…don't know if I love you anymore, and I can't be reminded of my failure as a mother."
"Usako, you and I both know that Aiko was beyond saving."
"You don't know that! I saved my future daughter once, and I know we could have saved Aiko!"
"Usako-"
"Please, after all this...after what happend to our children, I need some time. Alone." With that, Usagi takes off her wedding band.
"Usagi, please."
"I'm sorry Ranma." With that, Usagi leaves Babylon 5 behind. When the days turn into weeks, and the weeks turn into years, it became all too apparent that she wasn't coming back.
And Ranma Saotome was alone.
Or so he thought.
Hoshi Sato, a family friend, and T'Sara Spocksdotter, his step-daughter, were there for Ranma, as he slowly got out of his funk. Though he remained a civilian, Ranma did perform assignments for both Starfleet and the Federation. And when the marriage divorced happened, which occurs after the seventh year of separation, Ranma finally moved on. However, he vowed to be there for Usagi if and when it is necessary to do so. And it was only after Starfleet "drafted" Ranma and Usagi back into service that the two began anew as friends.
END FLASHBACK!
"And that's what happend," Ranma said. "I can fight to win, but all my victories did nothing to prevent the lost of my family. I guess that's why I am so fussy about Keiko, since she is the only family that I got left."
Some of the women were visibly sheddiing tears, while Soun and Genma looked away. Akane stood up, and went over to hug Ranma.
"I understand now, Ranma," Akane said.
"Me, too, Sugar," Ukyo, as she joined Akane in the hug.
"Shampoo understand," said the young, Chinese Amazon.
"Son," Nodoka began.
"Yes, Mom?"
Nodoka went up to Ranma, as the girls parted. She then hugged her son.
"Ranma, never feel that you are alone," Nodoka said. "Genma, dear?"
Genma hesitantly went over to Ranma, and placed his right hand on Ranma's left shoulder.
"Son, no matter what, I'm proud of you," Genma says.
"Thanks, Pop," Ranma said.
"I still expect you to marry Akane, though," says Soun.
"Figures," Ranma said, as he rolled his eyes.
Cologne, the Amazon Matriarch steps forth. Though she is no longer the aged crone, she still carried around her staff proudly.
"Son-in-law, I accept your story without reservation," Cologne says. "I still extend my offer to accept you in the tribe."
"Thanks, Cologne," Ranma replied.
Kasumi and Nabiki steps forth.
"Ranma, I-" Nabiki began. She appeared to have actual remorse on her face.
"Forget about it," Ranma says, in his best "Italian mob" impersonation.
"Oh, Ranma," Kasumi says, as she hugs the Starfleet officer. "I'll always be there for you!"
"Thanks, Kasumi," Ranma replied.
Konatsu looks both relieved and anxious. The cross-dresser always saw Ranma a potential rival. With the admission, perhaps he has a chance.
Ryouga the Lost Boy motions Ranma outside the suite.
"Excuse me, ya'll," Ranma said.
"Ranma, if you need anything-" Nodoka began.
"Relax, Mother. I'm simply stepping outside."
"Oh. Okay."
Ranma steps outside the suite with Ryouga. Ryouga looks away for a minute, and then back at Ranma.
"Ranma, I just want to say that if you need a favor, you can always ask me."
"Thanks, Ryouga, I really appreciate that-"
"Just don't tell anybody I said that...I got a reputation to maintain."
"Uh...RI-IIIIIGHT," Ranma smirked.
Just then...
"Grand-father!" Keiko Saotome says, as she ran down the hall towards Ranma.
"What is it?"
Commander Riker is on every screen of the ship...and he's fighting!"
"What!"
"LT. SAOTOME, PLEASE REPORT TO THE BRIDGE!" said Captain Picard via the intercom.
"Saotome here; I'm on my way!"
Ranma turns to Ryouga.
"Take Keiko back to the suite. I got emergency duty to attend to."
"Right."
When Ranma gets to the main bridge, he could see a familiar face in mortal combat with the First Officer.
"RYU KUMON?"
Picard turns toward Ranma.
"You know that man?"
"Yes, I do. I fought him for the right to ensure that he would never used my family's forbidden techniques."
Picard looked shocked.
"You don't mean-?"
"I do."
Picard nodded in understanding. He knew of the "Saotome Forbidden Arts" very well. After all, HE studied them!
Back on the unknown planet below...
Ryu Kumon threw a series of punches, all were blocked by Riker. Ryu then performed a spin kick, which was then trapped by Riker. Riker, in turn, used this oportunity to flip the martial artist by the leg.
"Oof!"
Ryu got up angrier than ever.
"I don't care if I did make that promise to that half-woman! I'm going to put you down!"
Ryu charged up, and threw a volley of "vacuum" blades at Riker. He leaped out of the way, to avoid the strike. However, this move was anticpated by Ryu, who leaped after Riker. Ryu then grabbed Riker, and tried to bear hugged the First Officer.
CRACK!
"ARGH!" Riker said, as Ryu tried to crush the First Officer.
"How do you like that?" Ryu sneered.
Riker, now focused, began to head-butt Ryu.
"Ow!"
Ryu dropped Riker, who resumed a loose fighting-stance.
"So," Riker began. "You know the 'Saotome Senken Arts'."
"So what?" Ryu sneered. "How's THAT going to help you?"
"Well, I do know it's mate."
"The 'Umi-Senken'."
"Correct."
"Well...it looks like I have to get serious then."
With that, Ryu yelled his next attack.
"Flight of the Tight-Bind Golden Threads!"
Ryu snaked out a rope, binding Riker. At the same time, Riker released a star-studded cloth, and wrapped Ryu's head. Ryu, using his remaining senses, charged forward.
"Fang Fingers of Steel Welcome Gate!"
Ryu delivered a devastating blow into Riker's chest, knocking him back, and down into the ground.
"Well, I win," Ryu smirked, as he removed the cloth from his head, and retracted his rope.
Riker simply got up.
"How-?"
"Simple. Before the battle, I applied pressure points that changed the flow rate of my heart. In other words, your technique is strong, but YOU are very weak."
"Humph! Then I will have to RIP your heart out then! Fierce Tiger Gate Open!"
At the last minute, Riker blocked the attack, preventing Ryu from opening up his chest. Riker responded by side-stepping a second Ryu attack, and snake-striking Ryu's back.
Fttt! Fttt! Fttt-!
"Argh!" Ryu cried. Undaunted, Ryu turned to face.
"Well?" Riker smirked.
"Why you-! Violent Dance of the Demon God Horde!"
Ryu released a tornado of Vacuum blades.
"Commander!" Usagi called out. "Stop playing around, and finish him!"
Riker nodded, and then returned his attention. It was not too late to perform the counter...
Riker then fade from view.
A moment later, Ryu realized what Riker has done, especially when he saw the First Officer was standing there with a huge star-studded sack.
"Huh, you think I'll be tricked again?"
Ryu threw a volley of vacuum blades, hoping to cause Riker's attack to fail. Just as the 'blade made contact, Riker leaped out of the way...
BOOM!
Riker had placed a "chi" sphere inside his cloth, designed to go off upon being released. He had captured enough of Ryu's vacuum blades to "hold" his sphere in suspension. When Ryu upset the delicate balance that was created by Riker, the sphere was released at it's weakest point...and sailed straight at Ryu.
"How-?" Ryu asked, before slumping to the ground in a state of unconsciousness.
"I guess I win," Riker smirked.
In a flash, Ryu Kumon disappeared.
In another flash, the entity Q appears.
"Bravo, Commander Riker," Q smirks. "It seems that you are right about not needing MY help."
"You got that right," Riker said. "And even if I did, I was taught by my 'sensei' to precieve every avenue BEFORE asking for help."
"Humph. I guess 'fem-boy' did okay after all."
Q straightens himself.
"Consider this 'game' over, Commander. Until next time..."
FLASH!
Riker and the rest of the landing party appears on the bridge.
"Commander Riker, it's good to see again," Picard said, as he went up to shake Riker's hand. "And congratulations on your victory."
Riker then turn to Ranma, who simply responds with a "thumbs up".
"Hey, Ranma," Usagi said. "Boy, am I gald to see-"
Ranma gets up and hugs Usagi. When he lets go, Usagi has a surprised look on her face.
"What's that for?" Usagi asked.
"Well...'cuz i wanted to."
"Oh."
"Say, you got to meet someone-"
"Grandfather, please come down to the family suite," Keiko says urgently over the intercom. "Hurry!"
Ranma gives a worried look to Usagi.
"I'm on my way. Sir?"
Picard nods.
When Ranma and Usagi make it down to the Saotome suite, they saw a perplexed Keiko.
"Where are they-?"
"When Commander Riker won his fight, everyone disappeared."
Ranma almost stumbled before catching himself.
"Ranma?" Usagi asked.
"They were here...I know that."
As Usagi comforted Ranma, Keiko looks on...
Epilogue.
Spring, 2005: Nerima District, Tokyo, Japan.
Akane Tendo was on the roof looking at the stars. As she did so, her older sister Nabiki Tendo climbs onto the roof.
"Kasumi wanted you to know that dinner is almost ready."
"Thanks, Nabiki."
Before Nabiki goes back down, she looks at hewr sister.
"Do you think we'll ever see Ranma again?"
"I don't know...but here's hoping."
"Yeah. Say, don't you feel...different after experiencing that strange future?"
"A little. Maybe a lot."
"I'll say. I know I have."
Before leaving the roof, Akane looks at the stars.
"Come home, Ranma," said Akane. "Come home."
Fin.
Next time: As an end of an era draws near, Ranma Saotome learns more about his destiny. Be here, as Ranma's tale is intertwined with the events in "All Good Things...", the last episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generations". See you then!