Star Trek: Ranma's Story37 – 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 37

Spring, 2005: Nerima, Tokyo, Japan.

With Captain Ranma Saotome's arrival, Soun Tendo and Genma Saotome felt that they had a chance to finally unite the two families.

Ranma, of course, had other plans in mind, some of which involved getting his ship and crew ready to engage an intergalactic menace known as "the Borg".

As for the rest of the well-known residence of the District of Nerima, the reaction was mixed:

Akane Tendo was hoping that Ranma would stay with her, so they could finally be together.

Nabiki Tendo, Akane's older sister, sought to see if there was a way to make money out of the situation.

Kasumi Tendo, the eldest Tendo sister, was thinking about whether or not she should pursue Ranma. After all, he was older, mature, and, based upon his Starfleet record, was perhaps one of the most respectable military officers in the history of his "United Federation of Planets". This does not include the fact that Ranma had been an accomplished diplomat and famed explorer. Ranma was certainly more "seasoned" than Dr. Tofu Ono, who lacked the courage to ask Kasumi out, which was a complete turn-off. Besides, if Kasumi played her cards right, maybe she could be with Ranma if and when he returns to the future; she did like those handy "replicators" after all.

Of course, with the presence of Counselor Usagi Tsukino at the Tendo compound, things were getting complicated rather quickly.

"So, who's this 'Eowyn', Saotome?" Nabiki asked, as she sat down.

Ranma looks at Usagi, and sighs.

"Remember when I mentioned that I had been trapped as a girl, and that a girl from Rohan was still interested in me, even though I was a girl half the time?"

"Yes, I do recall that."

Ranma looks at Akane.

"Akane, that girl I mentioned is, in fact, your previous incarnation, and her name is Eowyn."

"WHAT!"

"It's true, Miss Tendo," said Usagi. "I am gifted with 'True Sight', a psychic ability that allows me to read auras and stuff."

"YOU are a psychic?" asked Nabiki.

"And a mage."

"Please. I can deal with Saotome's 'curse', but true magic? Please."

"How about this. I will conjure up something you have lost. That should prove it, right?"

"Hmmm. Okay. Shortly before my mother died, I had lost a locket that had a picture of her and Daddy on one side, and myself and my sister on the other. If you can give that back to me, I'll believe you."

"Okay, deal."

From nowhere, Usagi pulls out a top-hat.

"What year and place did you last see it?"

"My room, and roughly ten and more years ago or so."

"Okay. Here goes nothing. Em ot emoc, Ikiban fo tekcol!

POOF!

Smoke wafted into the air from the hat, as Usagi reached inside.

"Here, catch," Usagi said, as she tossed an object into Nabki's hands.

Nabiki took one look at it, and gasped.

"This is…this is…"

"Yes, your locket."

"But…how-"

"'How did I do it? Well, the process itself is a trade secret, but if breaking the laws of physics is a form of magic, then what I did was, well, magic."

Ranma shook his head. Leave it Usagi to make a simply rote involving the mystical sphere "Time" and "Correspondence", which allowed her to reach into the past and get Nabiki's locket, thus ensuring that Nabiki loosing her locket.

"Okay, Nabiki has her locket," Akane said. "So, how am I supposed to be this 'Eowyn' person?"

Usagi looks at Akane, and steps forth. She sniffs around Akane's neck, creeping Akane out a bit, and then grabs her face.

"You have her scent. You have her attitude. And, looking into your eyes, I see her soul."

Usagi steps back, while Ranma steps forth.

"Sorry about that, Akane. Usagi can get weird sometimes."

"Hey!"

Ranma chuckles.

"Well, shortly after you and the others were gone from the Enterprise-D, Usagi and her landing party had come back. Since you have a strong aura, she was the first to pick it up. And after talking to a few of her friends, Usagi confirmed her suspicion."

"So, why would you believe her?"

"Akane, she was my WIFE, at one point."

"But she left you!"

"Aye, she did. And no matter what, I would trust her with my life."

"Oh."

"Uh, that's all well and good, but you are obligated to marry Akane," Genma says.

Ranma looks at his father.

"Dad, I don't want to burst your bubble, but I don't have time for such things."

"Why is that, Ranma?" Kasumi asks.

"Yes, what's so important that you cannot marry my daughter?" asked Soun.

Ranma looks at Soun hard.

"Mr. Tendo, I'm in the middle of a war with a powerful, alien force bent on taking over the planet Earth. Right now, I have a ship and crew to get ready, so that we can finish what these aliens have started. And I don't have time for nonsense."

Ranma looks at Akane with sad eyes.

"I know that I promised see you again, but now is not the right time."

"Then when, Ranma? How long do I have to wait?" Akane countered.

"For you, maybe not long. Time travel is a tricky thing, Akane. You just have to be patient with me."

Akane gets up and turns away.

"Take as much time as you like, Ranma. But I can't do this anymore."

And with that, Akane runs from the dinning room.

"Akane…"

Soun was livid with anger.

"Just leave! If you can't fulfill your responsibilities, then I don't want you anywhere near here!"

Ranma gets up, and bows.

"I'm sorry for this, Mr. Tendo. I really am."

And with that, Ranma walks away.

"Ranma-!" yelled Genma.

Usagi looks around nervously, before getting up.

"Thank you for the tea, Miss Tendo."

"You're quite welcome," Kasumi says, while trying to put on a good face.

Nabiki looks at the locket that Usagi had retrieved for her. She'll have much to think about.

Meanwhile, outside the Tendo compound…

"I'm sorry about that, Ranchan," Usagi said, as she hugged Ranma. "I know that she was your first love and all…"

"Aw, I'll live. It's just that it's not fair for Akane to wait for me."

"I see."

"Say, you want something to eat? I know a great Okonomiyaki restaurant nearby."

"I'm game."

As the two walked down the street, Ranma spots someone VERY familiar.

"Kuno," Ranma said simply.

Usagi looks at Ranma, and then at the person in question.

"Isn't he the guy who sprung that trap on you years ago?"

"Indeed."

"So, how do you feel?"

"Strangely, I'm not sure. It has been a 100 years ago, Usako."

But before Ranma could make his next move…

"YOU!" yelled the young Samurai warrior. He was on his way to see Nabiki about the whereabouts of a certain pig-tail girl, since the fair Akane Tendo has yet to return his affections.

"Huh?" Ranma said.

Upperclassman Tatewaki Kuno drops his bouquet of roses, brought out his bokken, and charged. "I had thought that I had vanquished thee!"

Usagi looks at Ranma.

"Go gentle, dear."

"Whatever."

To the untrained eye, Kuno was a virtual whirlwind, having trained hard over the years to defeat Ranma. However, Ranma has over 100 years worth of combat and tactical experience. As a result, Kuno was moving at a snails pace to HIM.

Still, Ranma has seasoned a bit to the point that he'll never pick on the weak. He'll humiliate him instead.

"Let's see," Ranma mused. "I could beat his brains out, or I can give him what he wants in spades."

Ranma looks at Usagi.

"Take out your 'red case'."

"Ranma, you know that case has magical stuff in it."

"I know. I just want the item related to my CURSE."

Usagi sighed, as she took out her red case from 'pocket space'. She was just thankful that Ranma did ask her for the BLACK CASE, otherwise…

At any rate, Usagi opened her red case (which looked a tool box), and went inside…in spite of the green tentacle that was thrashing about. She quickly handed a vial to Ranma.

"I hope that you know what you are doing."

"I do, Usako. I do."

Just as Kuno was about to make contact-

"HAVE AT THEE!"

Ranma uncorked the vial, and threw the contents in Kuno's face.

Kuno felt a shock to his body, as he felt suddenly weird.

"What…what did you do to me, fiend?"

Kuno realized that his voice sounded different. In fact, it sounded just like-

Ranma took out a pocket mirror, and showed it to him. Or, should it be, HER.

"AHHHHHHH!"

And Kuno fainted, realizing that he looked EXACTLY like his "pig-tail goddess".

The vial was the result of an experiment that Usagi had done, while attending the infamous "Illuminati University" (or "IOU"…and the "O" is a secret). The college exited in a trans-dimensional nexus in the Rifts, where Usagi was getting her archmagus status; Ranma attended to perfect his Martial Arts. Ranma had volunteered to get his "essence" extracted, which included his curse, through the sweat glands. Both had originally attended while waiting for the Doctor to complete his "emeritus" status.

"So, what are we going to do with him?" asked Usagi.

"Let's take to Ucchan's. She'll put up with him until he…SHE comes to her senses."

As Ranma puts Kuno-chan on his back, he looks at Usagi.

"You DID give me the temporary extract, right?"

Usagi gave a thoughtful look.

"Define 'temporary'."

"Nevermind," Ranma replied. "Come on, let's go."

And on that note, Usagi and Ranma, with Kuno-chan on his back, went to get something to eat.

Meanwhile, in Juuban, a young man is entering his apartment.

"Sigh," said Mamoru Chiba, male model-turned-graduate engineering student. He had just come home from his internship at the Mishma Zaibatsu, and was feeling dejected. Ever since his girlfriend Usagi Tsukino had disappeared recently, Mamoru was barely attentive at work. Noticing this, his project manager, Kenshin Saotome, had requested him that he was to take some time off. Seeing no other option, Mamoru took up the offer.

Upon entering the apartment, he notices that his answering machine's "message received" light was on. Mamoru activates the proper function.

BEEP!

"This is Ami. I believe that we may have discovered Usagi's location. Call me as soon as possible."

BEEP!

Mamoru's eye lightened up, and a zillion questions crossed his minds.

And on that note, Mamoru picks up the phone…

Meanwhile, in another building across from Mamoru's apartment, a young woman is looking at the Earth Prince through the window. Her blond hair was tied in a bun, while her blue eyes sparkled. She wore leather pants, a black baby t-shirt, and a long, leather, black duster.

"Beloved Mamoru," the young woman says quietly. "Though we are destined to rule the Earth as King and Queen, MY fate is my own."

"That remains to be seen, Moon Princess," said a voice from behind.

The young woman turns around. Standing there was Sailor Pluto.

"Or do you prefer to be called 'Lady Usashinko Rantsu'?"

Lady Rantsu leans on the railing of the roof.

"Don't patronize me, Setsuna. I am YOUR princess after all."

"Princess, you need to fulfill your obligations to your mother."

"Hump. If you didn't notice, my mother has long since departed from this mortal plane. And I'm old enough to make my own decisions."

Pluto knew that she should broach the subject too much. So, she changed tactics.

"I…need to know why you are doing this. Why are you avoiding the Earth Prince?"

Usagi gave off a far-off look.

"Do you remember why I snuck behind Mother's back, by secretly inviting Endymion to the ball?"

"Actually I don't. But I do remember that Endymion's action sparked the war."

"Yes, a war started by a young girl's crush…a young girl who liked the excitement of doing something 'wrong'."

Pluto narrows her eyes.

"So, all this…is out of anger? Spite?"

"No. I want to make sure that Mamoru is worth it. I want to make sure that is worthy of MY attention."

Pluto steps back.

"What has happened to you?"

"Growing up is what happened to me. Living for 1000 years, is what happened to me. Being with Ranma Saotome is what happened to me. For a person who was born a commoner, HE is a prince among men."

Lady Rantsu steps forward and take Pluto's free hand.

"Look, I will marry Mamoru if I must. As you say, it's my duty to insure the future of Crystal Tokyo. I will be his wife, and bare his child, as part of obligation. However, if I am to LOVE him, I need to feel it in my heart. Testing him is my way of seeing if I can…love him again."

Silence.

"So, have you decide not to clone your late husband, Lord Ranshin?"

"I have decided not to, since that may not be necessary. Ever since the U.S.S. Defiant has come to this particular temporal locus, the time line has changed. On one hand, I do not ever recall ever coming to the 21st century on the Defiant. And yet, a new set of memories is forming in my hand, even as we speak."

"So there is a temporal paradox at work here."

"You're the expert on matters of time travel. You tell ME."

Pluto rubs her chin.

"You being a child of a Q are not bound by normal time and space, in a conceptual sense. Your younger self has yet to make her decisions, and you will recall them because of what you are, but no matter what happens, the time lines will simply run parallel with each other. Essentially, they will overlap."

'Thereby preventing the problems of temporal paradox. If necessary, both myself and my younger self can co-exist, if necessarily."

"But Princess, who will marry the Earth Prince? You or your younger version?"

Lady Rantsu smirked, as she puts on her black shades.

"If I told you how the story ends, it wouldn't be a surprised, right? But rest assured, old friend, you will have your Crystal Tokyo…if Mamoru is found worthy of my attention."

And with that, Lady Usashinko Rantsu takes off into the air, leaving a perplexed Sailor Pluto behind.

Tbc.