Star Trek: Ranma's Story 54 – 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).
Author's note: Feedback time!
To "Jerry Unipeg" and "Wonderbee31", I wanted to fulfill those people's wishes that Akane and Ranma should get together. Well, that got together, had a life and one of Ranma's enemies took out the love of Ranma's life. However, there is a reason I put that scene there, and it does have something to do with what's Ranma and company will have to do very shortly (hint: "Shinzon"…my version, at any rate!).
To "Innortal", if Ranma asks for the help of the Prophets, he might have to pay a price that may be too much to bear. So, will he make the ultimate sacrfice? Stay tune for further details on that score. Also, the gathering of the Sailor Scouts is well under way, so you'll find out who is "The Senshi of Revolution" real soon.
To "Adyen", I know I was stating the obvious, but I got to cut Ranma a break sometimes by at least warning of the impending doom.
Finally, to "Jago Li Son Shiruni", I hope that you're still with us. C&C are always welcomed.
Part 54
Years ago…
The planet "Remus" was already "occupied" with sentient life, when their "neighbors", the Romulans, invaded that world. Remus was a curious planet, whose planetary axis faced towards the only star shared by the Romulan homeworld. Rich with dilithium crystals, the substances that make warp engines workable, the Romulans turned the once peaceful planet into a mining world. Eventually, Remus also became a penal colony for both the criminals and the enslaved, prompting the notion that being sent there was a fate worst than death.
Such was the fate of the boy who would become a warrior amongst warrior…a man amongst men.
When the Romulan Star Empire entered the fray against the Dominion, the Romulan Senate was forced to conscript not just fellow Romulans, but also other "citizens" within their holdings. That included the slaves labor on Remus. Seeing an opportunity, the boy, now a young man, took the opportunity to push for the freedom of his "people", in exchange for his loyalty. Due to the fact that the Dominion proved to be a relentless foe, the young man got his way, and thus was able to fight for his and his people's freedom. This young man, named "Shinzon", would prove his brilliance in combat, racking up an impressive amount of victories throughout the war.
Unfortunately, the Romulans proved their duplicitous nature, by reneging on their deal. As far as they were concern, all was fair in love and war, and not honoring a deal with Shinzon was a part of that. So, Shinzon decided to do something about it.
He murdered the entire Romulan Senate, using a device that evaporated the moisture within the cells of its victims.
In the end, with the backers of those Romulans who sought to forge an alliance with the Remans as equals, Shinzon, the boy who would be a warrior, became "Praetor", and thus became ruler of the Romulan Star Empire.
Unfortunately, a combination of years of abuse, ambition and a degenerative disease as a result of being a clone turned Shinzon's eyes towards the homeworld of the one person that stands between him and fulfillment: Earth.
The game, as they say, is a foot.
The Present: Kolarus III.
While Commanders Will Riker and Tasha Yar dealt with the hostile locals, Commanders Ranma Saotome, and Data drove to the source of the positronic-based signal.
"There," Data said, as he pointed to a junk-pile.
Ranma nodded, as he pulled his ATV to a skid and a stop.
"Alright," Ranma said, as he pulled off his goggles. "What are we looking for?"
"I believe the source of the signals is within the old cargo bin."
Ranma nods, as he increases his "ki" levels. The last thing he would need is to be caught by surprise. With a sigh, Ranma opens the lid, and peers inside.
"Woah," Ranma said.
"What is the matter, Commander?" Data asks.
Ranma looks at Data, then inside the bin, and then he pulls the pin to the side.
CRASH!
Machine parts are strewn all over the place, including-
"Oh, my," Data says, as he looks at what appears to be…
…His head.
Meanwhile, a silvery spacecraft, of Minbari design, takes off from Crystal Tokyo, and leaves Earths behind. It was bigger than Sailor Mercury's spacecraft, and was modeled within the mode of the "White Star" class, the class of ships used by the Anla'Shok.
"Well, we are on our way," Ami says, as she turns her attention towards her old friend. "Once we enter the jump gate, we will head first to 'Sector Z', and then to the Federation Station Deep Space Nine to pick up the others."
"'Z'Ha'Dum'?" Sailor Jupiter asked. "Why THERE?"
"Because we need to pick up 'Sailor Z'…the Senshi of Shadows. And yes, I KNOW what she represents, but if what Sailor Pluto says is true, then we will need all the help that we can get. After we get HER, we will pick up Sailors Vulcan, Bajor, Trill, Borg and Q'onos at DS9, along with Sailors Minbar, Narn, Centauri, Galaxia and the Sailor Starlights."
Years ago, after Sailor Cosmos (Sailor Moon's ultimate form) freed Sailor Galaxia from the clutches of Sailor Chaos, Galaxia re-seeded many of the Sailor Star Seeds across the galaxy; needless to say, Bajor, Trill, Vulcan, and Q'onos (the creation of Sailor Borg was a "fluke" caused by the machinations of the so-called "Borg Queen") are but a few of the recipients of this past act. There were many more Star Seeds out there, waiting to be awakened, but, for now, only a small number of Sailor-suited warriors are needed for their upcoming mission.
"Fine," 'Jupiter says, as she turned her attention to the stars.
Meanwhile, Sailor Mars sat quietly. She was still stiff from her stasis, and was taking aback by what has changed since her slumber. She looks over to Neo-Sailor Moon, who was talking to Sailor Venus. Sailor Pluto had went on ahead to DS9, in order to prepare their allies.
"So…Usagi has returned?" 'Mars asks Sailor Earth. She wasn't sure HOW she feels about, since 'Earth was the reincarnation of her late husband King Endymion. She especially didn't know how she felt about a Usagi who has yet to assume her role of "Neo-Queen of Crystal Tokyo".
"Indeed she has," 'Earth says. "At the moment, she is a Starfleet captain who is in temporarily in charge of Deep Space Nine."
"'Temporarily'?"
"Yes. The Federation wants to assign Usagi to the post of 'ambassador' to the Dominion-"
"'Dominion'?"
"Long story short, we just got through a war with an alien power, and, as a part the peace process, Usagi will be serving in another part of the galaxy. Everything else is just a formality."
"Oh," 'Mars says. Ever since Neo-Queen Serenity had sacrificed her life for hers, 'Mars felt the weight of years of guilt for not believing in her capabilities as a soldier of Love and Justice. Maybe…just maybe…she can prevent the Neo-Queen's death from happening.
If Sailor Pluto doesn't stop her first, that is.
Location: En route to the Romulan Neutral Zone.
Meanwhile, in one labs of the Enterprise-E's Engineering Section…
"Achoo!"
"Gesundheit," Commander Geordie LaForge says, as he examines the head of Commander Data's doppelganger. Ever since Ranma and Data discovered the disassembled pieces of the Noonan-type android, the command crew of the Enterprise-E wondered how it had gotten there.
"Thanks," replied Captain Usagi Tsukino, as she rubbed her nose. "I think someone's talking about me…"
"Uh, right," Geordie says. "Take a look at this."
"Okay," Usagi says, as she peered closer. Like Geordie's cybernetic eyes, Usagi adjusted her vision to microscopic levels…and then to nanoscopic levels. She possessed a combination of cybernetic and bio-wizardry enhancement (from her years in the Splugorth slave pits) that allowed her to see things that Geordie's visual implants and Data's ocular vision could pick up. "I see a very familiar imprint…"
A short time later…
"So, someone broke into the Starfleet vault on Earth?" Captain Picard asked, as he sipped his tea.
"Indeed, Captain," said Admiral Kathyrn Janeway. With the recent return of the Voyager from the Delta Quadrant, Janeway and her crew became somewhat a celebrity. Also, with the return of Voyager, both Ranma's and Usagi's doppelgangers merged back with their originators. Interestingly, the seven years of separation ended up a good thing. Those doppelgangers had trained first to stay alive, and then later picked up more power over the course of years; the originators, weakened by the separation, did the same thing. Thus, when Ranma and Usagi's selves merged, they were stronger than ever. In Ranma's case, his aura had become strong enough that he no longer needed a space suit to survive hard vacuum, though he still needed a breathing apparatus to take in oxygen after an extended amount of time without air.
At any rate, Janeway's hero status granted her the rank of "Admiral", and was assigned to Starfleet Operations. That means that Janeway was Picard's "boss".
"We weren't sure WHAT was taken, since none of the major 'artifacts' had been stolen. Still, it is good that you have recovered the android 'Lore'."
"I'm sure," Picard said dryly, think about how Data's psychotic "brother" had tried to kill him and his crew, especially after obtaining a colony of Borg drones for his personal use. "We'll make sure that he is properly packed and ready to go back to Starfleet."
"Thank you," Janeway says. "Oh, can I speak to Commander Saotome?"
"Oh, sure. Please stand-by, Admiral. Picard to Saotome."
On the bridge, Ranma was going over a routine propulsion systems diagnostic, when nhe received the call.
"Saotome here. What's up?"
"You have a message from Admiral Janeway, Commander."
"Oh. I'll take it in the conference room."
"Understood."
A short distance away, Ranma sat down and activated the view screen.
"Ah, Admiral Janeway, how's it going?"
"I'm doing fine, Commander Saotome. I missed you…'Ranchan."
"And I, you…'K-chan'. Look, I know that I haven't called back, but…it's just that-"
"I know, I know. You warned me that when the two of you merge to become ONE, you may…change. I understand, though it still kinda hurt."
"And I feel the same way."
To understand the relationship between Katheryn Janeway and Ranma Saotome, one mustgo back to a time long before Janeway was born. The Janeways was a pioneering family during the early days of the Federation, when it took months, not days to travel in "warped" space. Back when Ranma served aboard the very first starship Enterprise, the "Earth-Romulan War took place. It was during this conflict that the Romulans, while en route to the colony world of "New Scotland", attacked the Janeways' ship. The Enterprise and its task force proved to be victorious, but the colonial ship was still in danger of a warp core breach…
FLASHBACK!
"Captain, we got as many of the people back to the Enterprise as possible," said Ensign Ranma Saotome. Though he was the Navigation Officer, leaving Lt. Lee Merewether as the Helm Officer, he was assisting Weapons and Security Chief Malcolm Reed in the evacuation proceedings.
Before Captain Archer could say anything-
"Where's my baby!" said a distraught woman. She goes up to Archer. "My baby is not here!"
"Calm down, ma'am," Archer says. "What's going on?"
Mary Janeway told Archer that she had last seen ten-year old daughter Kathy in the botanical gardens. She had sent her husband Roger to retrieve her. However, the ship's disruptions had caused some debris to knock him out before he could make the attempt.
"You got to help her!"
"Captain," said the Vulcan science officer T'Pol, as she steps forward. "Mind I remind you that there is a warp core breach in progress, and that we need to get the ship away from here."
"Sir," says Ranma, as he stands ready to move into action. "Let me go get her. We have to try."
Archer looks at his Navigation Officer for a minute.
"You do know that the path between Mrs. Janeway's daughter from the air-lock is NOT a straight line."
"I know, sir, but I have to try."
"Sir, I can mentally link up with Ranma, and guide him," Usagi said, as she stands besides her best friend.
Archer looks at the two, and then nods.
"Do it. I'll give you three minutes, but no more."
"Thank you, sir," Ranma said, as he bolts for the transporter bay…
A short time later…
Okay, Ranma, go left!
Ranma nods, as he turns to corner, only to see acid being poured out of disrupted pipes.
No good! Acid! Ranma thought.
Okay, circle, and go to the previous hatchway that you just pass.
Ranma nods, runs back, opens the hatch, and slides inward…
…And right into the botanical garden. The only reason why it was near the engine room was to take advantage of the heating system.
Ranma tucked and rolled, and scanned the area. A little girl was huddling in a corner.
I found her!
Ranma slowly goes over to the girl.
"It's okay, Kathy," Ranma said, as he knelt by the girl, who was holding a stuffed pink bunny.
"I only wanted to get 'Mr. Floppy'," the girl says.
"Well, let's get you and Mr. Floppy out of here. Let me take you back to your mother."
The girl looks up and nods.
And with that, Ranma picks up the girl, and takes off.
I'm on my way!
Hurry, Ranma! Warp core breach has started!
You think!
Ranma had to find an alternative way to the least interfered part of the ship, since radiation is now contaminating the ship. Just as Ranma and the girl reached the safe zone for "beaming out", the ship explodes…
"Ranma!" Usagi said, as she went over to her friend.
"Uh, man," Ranma said, as he let's go of the girl, to be examined by the medical technicians. "I feel like HECK."
"Well, that should be understandable," began the alien Dr. Phlox, "since you and Miss Janeway were essentially…'blown up'."
"WHAT?"
Ranma looks at Usagi.
"We were able to catch enough of your patterns to reassemble you and Kathy," Usagi replied. "Good thing those patterns of yours weren't TOO depleted."
"Were…were there any side-effects?" Ranma asked fearfully.
"Well, other some molecular exchanges, there's nothing to worry."
Ranma looks at the girl, whom he had just saved, and noticed that her hair was a bit more reddish. Then again, Kathy was Scotch-Irish, so it wasn't much of a difference.
The girl turns back to Ranma. Ranma merely waved. And with that, the Enterprise went to the nearest starbase for relief support.
That girl was the ancestor of Starfleet Admiral Katherine Janeway.
The girl would grow up to become an adventurer herself, by joining Starfleet. She had hoped to see Ranma again, but he had all but disappeared during the intervening years. No one but those in the highest echelons of Starfleet Command would know what had happened to either Ranma Saotome or Usagi Tsukino. Eventually, She would become a mother herself, and would tell her daughter of the dashing young man who saved her life. That story would be passed down from mother to daughter throughout the generations. Each little girl would grow up wondering if she would ever meet such a person. There have been rumors and legends surrounding famous "Chaos Factor". Ranma did surface to serve prominently as a member of the Enterprise during the time of James Kirk, and would later become famous as a starship captain in his own right. Still, time and fate prevented those "Katherine Janeways" from meeting Ranma in person. It was only the latest Katherine Janeway that received an opportunity to meet Ranma…when they were at Starfleet Academy together…
"Oof!" Cadet Janeway said, as she dropped her research material. She was studying to become a Science Specialist, and was in the middle of trying to keep her materials together. Unfortunately, she wasn't paying attention, when she rounded the corner.
CLATTER!
"Geez," Kathy said, as she began to pick up her things.
"Here, let me help you with this," said a voice.
Janeway looks up, and sees-
"YOU?" At last, she has met the man that the women in her family have been clamming. Not HER of course; she was too intellectual for that sort of thing. "You're…you're…"
"Ranma Saotome," Ranma said, as he helped Kathy with her things. While not in Starfleet, he does regularly train Starfleet cadets in tactical operations at the 'Academy, as well as teaches a class in "Anything Goes Martial Arts" in the Nerima District of Tokyo, Japan (thank goodness for transporter technology!). "Sorry about that…"
And that was that.
Throughout Kathy's time as a cadet, Ranma was her personal instructor. A teacher-student relationship had to remain professional at all times, however. In the end, Kathy became one of Ranma's best students, in spite of being so brainy.
Ultimately, it was the night after Kathy's graduation that their relationship had changed…
Location: Tokyo, Japan.
"…So, you think I should go back?" Ranma asked, while the two were having cocktails at this sushi bar. He and Usagi were contemplating on returning to Starfleet.
"I don't see why not," Kathy says. "Think about it: 'Starfleet Legends Returns'."
"Oh, is that something you're going to publish as the outgoing editor of the Starfleet Academy Gazette?"
"Ha, ha. No, I'm serious Ranma. It would be good for morale. And besides, Starfleet has been so bland since, well, you know."
"Yes, I do. But I don't want to just GO. I want to enjoy myself."
"Then why not go back as a 'cadet'? That way, Starfleet Command has no choice BUT to wait until you're finish."
"You know, you got a point. All right, I'll do it!"
Janeway hugged Ranma…and lingered there for a bit. She then kissed him on the lips.
"Kathy, I-"
"I know, Ranma. It's just that…I've always felt close to you. There's some sort of bond between us. Besides, I've finished my studies, and I completed my training."
"I know. It's just that once I go back when the new semester begins, we can't be anything more than friends, especially since YOU would be my superior officer."
"Then, until the new semester begins, let us be…together."
Kathy kissed Ranma intimately. Eventually, Ranma returned the favor.
"Wait!" Ranma said, as he broke off the kiss. "You DO know about my curse, right?"
"Hey, that's nothing more than a challenge to overcome, mister!"
"Oh, all right."
And that was that.
The Summer Semester was a happy one. For Kathy, she was with Ranma for both herself and for the women in her bloodline. For Ranma, he was with Kathy for when he needed someone to be intimate with; Usagi was still recovering from years of trauma, and needed a friend in Ranma to pull through, and Hoshi had left Ranma's side, since she could not give Ranma what he needed.
Since their break-up, Ranma and Kathy continued to be friends, so it's was a good thing when he was there when Janeway's ship, Voyager, went missing, while in the pursuit of terrorists. How that turned out is a different story.
END FLASHBACK!"Just be careful, Ranchan," Janeway said. "By the way, your daughter misses you. You should visit more often."
"I know, I know," Ranma said. "I…just need to get my head straight first."
Janeway nods.
"Then I'll tell her that her father will see her as soon as possible. Janeway OUT."
CHIRP.
Ranma sighed. The last thing he wanted to be is a bad father. Ever since he and Janeway had become parents, that was his greatest fear. He failed with his other children Aiko, Hoshiko and Akiko (who actually turned out to be the reincarnated "Aiko"), so he was hesitant in trying to be a real father to her daughter Katherine Janeway-Saotome.
Sigh.
And with the news that the android parts that was found on the planet they had just left, Ranma was just waiting for the other shoe to DROP.
Tbc.