Star Trek: Ranma's Story 53 – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: This story depicts the events featured in "Star Trek: Nemesis". Also, in future chapters will cover the "DS9" and "Voyager" sagas in greater detail (though this chapter will drop "hints" as to what has happened since the previous chapter), as well as take a look at previous eras, such as the "Next Generations" and "Enterprise" eras (have to, since there is a new timeline now).
Part 53
Years ago…
A young child stands in the middle of a darkened room. Only an examination lamp shines on him.
"Is the project dismantled?" said a voice.
"Affirmative," said another. "With this 'unification' fiasco, as well as our failed attempt to break the Federation blockade, the High Command has decided to move on to…other pursuits."
Silence.
"What of the boy?"
"The SUBJECT will either be destroyed…or sent to the mines on Remus."
"But…sir, the boy- the subject has much potential as a fine warrior. You DO know who…it…is cloned from, correct?"
"True, but the order still stands."
"Very well, by your command."
And with that, the spotlight shuts off.
CLICK!
The Present: Kolarus III.
The Enterprise-E's shuttle, The Argo, lands safely on this desert world. Riker, Data, Yar and Ranma touch down safely. According to Usagi, in the role of a science officer, picked up signals on a nearby planet. And, according to her, something on the planet was emitting a "positronic" signal…the same one that is part and parcel of Commander Data's cerebrum. So, Picard sent Riker, with an "Away Team", perhaps for the last time, down to the planet to investigate.
"Man, this planet's weird," Ranma said, as he adapted his vision to the harsh light that enveloped the planet. Thanks to the planet's atmosphere, everything looked bright. "Will, I'm picking up 'locals'…"
"Well, then, break out the 'buggy'," Riker smirks.
A few minutes later…
VOOM!
A Starfleet ATV pops out of the back of The Argo.
BAM!
"The source of the signal is…this way," Data points, as he reads his Tricorder. "Heading: 0130, mark 0428."
"I'm on it," Ranma said, as he adjusted his driving goggles, and steered towards higher elevation.
"Commander," Tasha Yar says, as she spotted pursuers. "We got company!"
Riker turns, uses his binoculars to spotted two pairs of ATVs following them.
"Must be the natives," Riker mused. "Ranma, take Data to the source of the positronic signals."
"What about you?" Ranma asks.
"We got uninvited guests," Riker says, as he gets up out of his seat. "Tasha, you're with me."
Once Yar nods her understanding, she gets her phaser rifle, straps it on, and, on Riker's signal, and leaps out of the buggy with Riker. The two Starfleet Officers tuck, roll and bring their weapons the bare.
"Fire when ready," Riker says.
Yar brings her gun-sights to bear.
Steady…steady…
"Got 'em," Yar says, as she squeezed the trigger. She had no problem doing what shw is doing, since her phaser rifle was set on STUN.
BLAM! BLAM!
A few of the antagonists were "picked off", but few more were coming up from the rear of the lead attacker, and of the sides.
It was a classic "pincer" tactic.
"HA!" said one of the attackers, as he pounced on top of Yar, while another pounced on top of Riker.
Meanwhile, back aboard the Enterprise-E…
"Haruka!" Troi says suddenly, as she stood up from her seat on the bridge.
Picrad stands up, looking concerned.
"Counselor?" Picard asks.
"I'm not sure, Captain," Troi says. "I sensed Tasha in danger, but…why did I call her 'Heruka'?"
Usagi, who was monitoring the situation on the planet's surface, had already reached by this point.
"Deanna?" Usagi asked, as she held the Betazoid's shoulders. With doe eyes, Troi turns to Usagi.
"I'm not sure," Troi says. "But I feel that you know what's going on."
Usagi sighed. She knew that this day would come sooner or later…and has known this for the past 200 years…
FLASHBACK!2161 CE: Crystal Tokyo (Earth).
On the eve of the final push towards the signing of the charter that would create the "United Federation of Planets", Lt. Usagi Tsukino needed to take a break from her diplomatic efforts by visiting an old friend. Captain Jonathon Archer had just given his speech about the need to have a unified front, especially in light of the recent "Earth-Romulan War", and her friend Lt. Ranma Saotome is to be released from Tokyo General Hospital shortly. And speaking of Ranma, had it not been for a desperate gambit on his part, the Romulan Star Empire would have won the war, earning him infamy amongst those of the Romulan High Command.
At any rate, while Usagi was waiting for Ranma to be released into her care, she decided to visit "Crystal Tokyo", what used to be the "Juuban District" of the City of Tokyo…
The central throne chamber was long vacant of visitors, when Usagi came about. She tries to visit her future daughter Renee (aka Neo-Princess Serenity) whenever possible, who was incased in a self-imposed "stasis" glass coffin. Renee did so after her mother and beloved died fighting the Wiseman for a second time. She didn't have to do what she did, but her broken heart compelled her to withdraw herself from the world she has sworn to protect. However, in spite of her slumber, the Neo-Princess's life force fuels the power that is Crystal Tokyo, as well as the defensive measures of the Earth and the Moon.
"Hi, Renee," Usagi says, as she places her hand on the Neo-Princess' case. "I…just want to say 'hi'."
Silence.
"I just wish that the others could be here to see what I am trying to accomplish…with my efforts in helping to create this…Federation."
"I don't know about the others…but I'm proud of you," said a voice.
Usagi turns around to see-
"Ami!"
The Senshi of Mercury, who was dressed in a suit, and wore a pendant indicating her status as a teacher at the University of Tokyo, comes up to hug her old friend. These days, Dr. Ami Mizuno wears her blue hair long.
"Hi, Usagi," Ami says, as she hugs her old friend. "How's it been?"
"I'm doing okay, I guess," replied Usagi. She then took one last look at her "future" daughter. "Come, let's get out of here."
Ami nods, bows towards the Neo-Princess, and then the old friends turn to leave.
Meanwhile, at Tokyo General Hospital…
"Come on, Ranma!" said retired Starfleet Admiral Akane Tendo, as she helped her husband Starfleet Officer Lt. Ranma Saotome pack his things. "You're WAY younger than me to be this slow, you know."
"Geez, 'tom boy'," Ranma retorted, as he helped himself to his crutches. "Don't you know that you're talkin' to the hero of the planet Earth?"
The white-haired Akane, who has kept much of her strength and youth for the past 100 years, looks at her husband with "the Look".
"Oh, shut up!"
Ranma merely grins.
"So…you don't have a problem with Usagi visiting?" Ranma asked.
Akane sighs. She didn't like the fact that Usagi has been a part of her husband's life for nearly forever, but…at least Akane has gotten a chance to be with him now. That's why she has worked hard to stay "youthful", even so far as to attempt to take on a pregnancy. And, after many years of trying…Akane has learned that she is pregnant with their first child. And since Ranma's birthday was coming up shortly, she'll make the official announcement.
"Sure, Ranma. She can come."
Ranma frowns, and then draws Akane close to him.
"Akane, you're the one I love. I've told you that. And she happens to be my best friend."
Ranma then kisses Akane intimately.
"Okay, Ranma. I believe you."
Meanwhile, outside in the hallway, a female 'candy-stripper' exits the service elevator. Before she moves further, she opens up the lid of what appears to be a dinner tray. She then examines a cylinder flask, lifts the flask up, presses a small button on the bottom, sets it down, and places a simple flower into the to top of the flask.
"For Romulus," the woman said quietly, as she moves towards her target: the hero of Earth, Lt. Ranma Saotome!
Meanwhile, in "Café Americana"…
"…So Makoto STILL doesn't want her 'Jupiter Kingdom' to be involved in the delegations?" Usagi said, as she sipped her café latte.
"It's true, I'm afraid," Ami said, as she sipped her drink. "She still hates you for your decision to remain neutral during the start of the 'Colonial Wars'."
"Then, why-?"
"Because of the mutual threat of the Wiseman, on both occasions, plus when the 'Lunar Gate' exploded, and Makoto did her part in the humanitarian efforts soon after."
Usagi merely shook her head. What could have gotten into her to warrant a neutral stance?
"I miss the days when we were just fighting 'youma'," Usagi lamented. Then, something came to mind. "Setsuna told me what happened to the 'Inners' a long time ago, but she never mentioned what happened to the 'Outers', and has been vague about their whereabouts."
A pain look fell on Ami's face.
"Ami…?"
"The Outers- Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru –were…killed in their final assault against Wiseman's final attack."
"Oh. Oh, my."
"But you know how we are…we get ourselves killed, and are reborn…sometimes as 'aliens', I bet!"
"I guess so-"
BOOM!
"What the-?" Usagi said, as she looked over in the direction of the blast.
Ami immediately tapped into the local network.
"There's…an explosion at…Tokyo General Hospital!"
Usagi was confused.
"That's where Ranma is!"
Ranma was slightly dazed, but was able to see the fog and haze of the burning hospital room. The force of the explosion had knocked him into a nearby broom closet.
"Akane? AKANE!"
Ranma, who was still injured, scampered over to Akane's prone body.
"Akane, please wake up!"
"R-Ranma…?"
"Don't worry, Akane, I'll get you out of here-"
"No, Ranma…it's too late for me…"
"Don't say that!" Ranma said, even as he realized that Akane's wounds were fatal. The bomb was designed to shred flesh. Unfortunately, Akane took the full brunt of the blast.
"Ranma…promise me that you will live…for the future…"
"My future is with YOU!"
"Ranma," Akane said, as she places her hand to Ranma's face. "You can be such an idiot…"
And with that, the legendary Starfleet Admiral Akane Tendo-Saotome…dies.
"Akane…"
A subsequent investigation revealed that a rogue operative within the Romulan intelligence agency, known as the "Tal'Shiar", caused the bombing; the operative hoped to kill Ranma in the hope of re-igniting the war between Earth and Romulas. At least, that was the "official" explanation.
Ranma wanted to go after those who were truly responsible for Akane's death, but he was honored bound to respect the peace treaty between Earth and Romulus.
At the same time, Usagi had managed to convince Setsuna to tell her if the remainder of the Outer Senshi will return, and in what form. And after much prodding, Setsuna revealed Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru's next incarnation, after making Usagi promise, on an oath, to not do anything to disrupt the natural course of events.
END FLASHBACK!"Well?" Picard asked.
"Nothing, Captain," Usagi replied. "There is nothing that I am permitted to tell at this time."
Tbc.