Star Trek: Ranma's Story36 – 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 36

Spring 2005: Hong Kong, China.

As the day moved from morning to mid-day, this eastern metropolis was becoming more frantic with the daily traffic of people and moving vehicles. At one particular establishment, two people are having a meal and a discussion.

"Mmmmm," said a young man, as he slurped his noodles. The young man, apparently of Japanese descent, wore a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, black pants and semi-dressed shoes, and sported a medium-length pig-tail. "You know, one can forget how wonderful food tastes when corporeal form is assumed."

The young man's apparently older companion scoffs.

"You would think that an entity such as yourself would refrain mortal concerns," the man said with an English accent. He wore a long coat, a longer scarf, and sported long, curly hair. "Do you not have a galaxy to form, rather than bother me with your problems?"

"Doctor, please," the young man replied. "That's next on the agenda."

"Funny."

"Quite."

The man simply known as "The Doctor" leans forward.

"Tell me, Q, why did you sent for me?"

"Look, you know the story. My past self…well, a possible past self, if I can help it, needs to get back to the future to face 'The Terror', and your considerable expertise would be most welcomed in this regard."

"I see. The Terror. Would this be the third time a Ranma Saotome fought this creature?"

"Very perceptive. But I need to back up for a moment and tell you the rest of the story."

"Oh?"

Q began to tell the story how another colleague of his, also named "Q" had decided to perform a favor for an ancient queen, mainly by giving her daughter her a special "gift". Princess Serena was this daughter, who had died while an evil force was being sealed away for 1000 years. However, Serena would be reborn as young teenaged girl Usagi Tsukino, and when the evil force returned to Earth, Usagi would become the heroine "Sailor Moon". And it was after defeating the living embodiment of "Chaos" that Q gave Usagi her gift:

A "walkabout".

According to the aborigines of Australia, a walkabout is a journey of self-discovery, in which the participant would learn and grow on this journey. Presumably, the participant gains an epiphany at the end of this journey, and becomes a better person because of it. Now, Q, being what he is, decided to give his version of a walkabout. So she stuck Usagi in a possible future, where she would learn how to be a leader without the influence of her proper time and place. However, Usagi, being who she is, tried to return home on many occasions, prompting an impromptu trip to other times and places, some of which were in entirely different dimensions and universes altogether. In the end, Usagi did become a stronger person because of her experiences, and is well on her way to become the ruler of the universe in the very distant universe.

And this is where the problem lied.

The others in the Q Continuum feared that Usagi would one day surpass them as a dominant force to be reckoned with. Certainly, Usagi was an offspring of Q, so she was destined to be omnipotent. So, they did what they could to prevent that from happening.

Enter: Ranma Saotome.

If Usagi represented "order" in the grand scheme of things, then martial artist sensation Ranma Saotome was "the chaos factor". As long as he was around Usagi, Usagi's destiny could be tempered. However, Usagi and Ranma's relationship only helped to insure that Usagi would still become a potent force in the future, and something had to have happened in order to prevent this.

Enter: "the Terror".

The Terror was in fact an old foe of Usagi, back during the days of James Kirk's tenure as the captain of the Enterprise. After 100 years, this foe was freed from his imprisonment, thanks to an entity name "Trelane", another old foe of Usagi's, and sought revenge against Usagi. However, in the process, Ranma died fighting this Terror. However, the unintended consequences was the ascension of Usagi, who went mad with grief, evolved into the Imperial Neo-Queen Serenity, the Shogun of Japan circa 21st century. The Q Continuum analyzed her reign of terror, and concluded that one day, Usagi would STILL surpass them…but in a brutal fashion. So it was decided that the Terror would return, and deal with Usagi during the so-called "Demon Tournament".

Fortunately, there were allies of Usagi who saw through this, and decided to intervene.

During a Q-sponsored trial involving Picard, Amanda Rogers, another "Q", revealed the truth to a Ranma circa 24th century. Amanda explained that it was necessary for him to protect her, not only from harm, but from herself. That Ranma had to insure that Usagi had the will to survive Earth's "first contact" with the Borg, as well as defeat the Terror thoroughly; if not, this entity would follow Ranma and Usagi into the past, when they are supposed to, and assume a potent guise as a contestant of the "Demon Tournament". It will be up to that Ranma to set things right once and for all, and on HIS terms.

"And now, with the Defiant in the past, everything is up in the air," Q said. "Who knows what's going to happen now."

"Wonderful!" the Doctor mocked. "You beings are certainly on top of this sad game!"

"Hey, don't blame us," Q countered. "If THAT Ranma is successful, he'll live, Usagi won't become a despot, and the Terror will be defeated once and for all. And the reason why I or my allies can't directly be involved, is because if WE become involved openly, then there will be others like US will be involved as well. Heck, there is already a "Temporal Cold War" in effect. Now imagine what would happen if that war turns HOT.

The Doctor shook his head. He could imagine the Timelords being involved.

"Very well. I will help, but I will help in my own fashion."

"Fair enough. Just make sure that my past version is pointed in the right direction."

Then, Q turns his head towards a nearby waiter.

"More noodles please!"

The Doctor simply shakes his head.

Tokyo, Japan: Juuban District.

Ami ("Sailor Mercury") Mizuno runs up the stairs of the Cherry Hill Temple, where she's is greeted by four other girls.

"Guys, I came as soon as I could confirm this," Ami said.

"What is it?" asked Rei ("Sailor Mars") Hino. In spite of her ill-temper at times, she wondered if they will ever see Usagi Tsukino again.

"You know that I recorded Usagi's energy signature into the Mercury Computer?"

"Right," said Minako ("Sailor Venus") Aino. "It will allow us to find Usagi if she's ever on Earth."

"Are you saying that Usagi here?" Makoto ("Sailor Jupiter") Kino asked excitedly.

"I detected her signal last night, after that weird meteor shower," Ami said, as she showed her computer screen to her friends. "Her last location was here, near Okayama."

"We have to find her," said Luna, the talking black Moon cat.

"Yes, we don't know if she is well or not," said Artemis the talking white Moon cat.

"Then we have to determine her status, then," Minako said.

"Road Trip!" yelled Makoto.

Meanwhile, Grandpa Hino looks outside the temple from within the shrine. He smiles, and then turns to touch the belly button of a nearby Buddha.

A virtual window appears on the screen. The screen clears up, and a woman with red, spiky hair appears.

"Moshi, moshi!"

"Lady Washu, this is Akira Hino."

"Ah, Akira-kun! How's it going? Still chasing the young women?"

"I get by. Listen, my grand-daughter and her friendsmight be heading to Okayama. Has Lady Usashinko decided to reveal her presence?"

"Naw, she's still safely hidden away. Actually, her younger self is around."

"Oh?"

The alien, super-genius tells her old friend that the younger Usagi Tsukino had accidentally traveled into the past, and had looked her up in order to help repair her ship.

"And right now, 'young' Usagi is starting the process of getting her ship up and running. Quite a piece of work, if you ask me."

"So, should I stop my grand-daughter?"

"Naw. Usashinko gave her permission to allow the Sailor Scouts to interact with her younger self. So it's all good."

"I see. Well, I guess that's that then. Tell Katsuhito I said hello."

"Will do, old friend."

Okayama: Masaki Shrine.

The Defiant was perhaps Starfleet's most powerful warship. Unfortunately, it had suffered serious damage when it crashed in the Sea of Japan, forcing the evacuation of the ship's crew. Once things were arranged for Washu to help repair the Defiant, it was time get the ship ready for the shop…

A lone figure swam to the auxiliary bay, which was in the central section of the Defiant. So far, the figure had jury-rigged what was left of the internal systems to begin the first phase of the repairs.

"O'Brien," thought Counselor Usagi, as she manually prepped the control. She took out the control rod, and replaced it with another. "I'm ready to vent the water from the ship."

"Understood," O'Brien replied, as he sat at the operations bay in Washu's Lab. "We're ready, ma'am."

"Excellent," Washu said, as she prepared to remove the water from within the Defiant. "I'm removing the water…now."

As the water levels began to be lowered, Usagi tapped her combadge.

"To the crew of the Defiant. As soon as the ship has been dried out, we will begin decontamination procedures."

"Understood, Counselor," said Worf, who was having lunch upstairs with the Masaki with the crew. Sasami was kind enough to wipe up lunch for thirty people. "Miss Sasami, this is a dish worthy of a Klingon."

The young princess of Jurai blushed slightly.

"Thank you, Mr. Worf," the turquoise haired girl replied.

Worf then noticed that he was being starred at by a young man of Japanese descent.

"Yes?"

"Uh, nothing," Tenchi Masaki said, as he turned away.

"Humph."

However, one of the regular house guests looked perturbed at the affect Worf's potent aura.

"Hey!" yelled the cyan-colored, spiky-haired space pirate Ryoko. She had run-ins with the Klingons before, and felt the contempt for their tactics. Unfortunately, that attitude was being thrust upon Worf. "Don't you try to scare MY Tenchi, ridge-head!"

Worf merely grunted. He would have to be care about his actions in the past.

"Well? Aren't you going to do something?"

"Ryoko, stop!" Tenchi said. "I can handle things myself, you know."

"Humph!"

Nerima, Tokyo.

"Ah, thanks," Commander Ranma Saotome said, as he sipped his tea. "And sorry for my…dishevel look. I have yet to change clothes after crash-landing in the Sea of Japan."

Kasumi, Soun and Genma were still in shock at seeing Ranma again. Other than a slight change in his uniform's design, Ranma was the same person whom they only just saw a month before.

"Am I invited to breakfast?" Ranma asked.

"Of course, Ranma," Kasumi said. "Let me make you a plate."

Kasumi was amazed how handsome and mature Ranma has become. Maybe, she'll talk to Akane about certain things…

"Boy, now that you are here, we can discuss your future!" Genma declares.

"Yes, you will marry Akane!"

Before Ranma can respond…

"Dad, did you call me?" Akane said, as she enters the dining hall. Then, she sees someone VERY familiar.

"R-Ranma?"

Ranma looks over to Akane.

"Hey, Akane, how's it going-"

GLOMP!

"Oh, Ranma!' Akane cried, as she hugged Ranma. "You're back!"

"Uh, yes. About that-"

"Ranma, please say that you'll stay?"

"Sigh. Akane, I can't say that."

"But why?"

Before he could answer-

"Ranma, this is Usagi. Where are you?"

Ranma taps his combadge.

"I'm at the Tendo compound. What's up?"

"We're about to begin ship decontamination, which will take a day to complete. Worf and O'Brien got the troops hunkered down at the Masaki Shrine."

"Understood."

Meanwhile, Genma leans over to Soun, and whispers into his ear.

"We should invite this Usagi girl here for breakfast. It'll give Akane a chance to prove herself to the boy."

Soun nods.

"Say, Ranma, why not invite this Usagi person to breakfast?" Soun asked "We never got a chance to meet her."

Ranma shrugs, and taps his badge.

"Usagi, you're hungry? Mr. Tendo is inviting you for breakfast."

"Really? I'm on my way."

FLASH!

"I'm here." Usagi said, who was dressed casually, minus her shoes. She pops into the dining room. She then turns to the adult males.

"Thank you for inviting me for breakfast, sirs," Usagi says, with a bow.

Akane gets up, beat red with anger.

"You….YOU THIEF!"

Akane charges at Usagi, fueled by feelings of inadequacy. She vowed to make this witch pay for stealing HER Ranma.

Usagi looks at Akane with puzzlement. Then her eyes widened.

"Eowyn? Yes, it IS you!"

Usagi intercepted Akane, and hugged her like a ragged doll, taking Akane by surprise.

"It's good to see you!"

"What…what's going on?" Akane said, amazed of Usagi's iron-like grip.

"I miss you so," Usagi said, as she held Akane in her arms.

"Usagi," Ranma said impatiently. "Akane is not 'Eowyn'. You should not have told her that."

"Oh, sorry about that. Sometimes, my 'True Sight' gets ahead of myself."

Meanwhile, Nabiki Tendo, who had been following Akane to the dining hall, was observing the situation, before she decided to intervene.

"Well, Saotome, it looks like you have some explaining to do," she smirked.

Tbc.

Next time: As Akane finds out her past, the Sailor Scouts find the Moon Princess. See you next time!