Disclaimer: "Ranma 1/2", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: This chapter begins the "Enterprise Saga", which chronicles the tales of Ranma Saotome and Usagi Tsukino in the early years of the world of "Star Trek" (from 2151-2281 CE).
Author's note:
Part 63
Summer, 3005 BC: Nerima District, Tokyo, Japan (Possible Future Timeline, or PFT).
Starfleet Admiral Usagi Tsukino (Administration/S1) was packing her things. True, the possibilities of being able to go to her home temporal locus was not finalized, but packing allowed her to keep her mind from reflecting too much of the past. Usagi has been living at the Tendo Training Hall for a while now, and only did so since it took no time to get to work at Starfleet Command HQ in San Francisco, California. Sure, she could have lived at the Sulu Residence, since her family owns the property, but that house was more of a museum for an old friend than a living residence. Besides, her descendant Hikaru Saotome and his new wife would be living there, once they return from the honeymoon on Risa. At any rate, her son Robert Saotome was nice enough to allow her to stay with him, since he and his father were going on yet another training journey…which, as far as Usagi was concerned, was an excuse to go drinking.
"Grand-mother?" said a voice. Usagi turns to the direction of the voice, and smiles. Standing at the door way was a girl with her young face, but with her grandfather's hair color and style.
"Hello, Keiko," Usagi replies. "What's up?"
"I…wanted to ask you if I can get a reference from you before…before…"
"Don't worry, dear, I've already made the reference for your admittance into Starfleet Academy."
"Thanks." Keiko then notices some pictures near an old-style photo album Two of them were very old. "Who's that?" Keiko asks.
Usagi turns.
"Ah. Well, THAT picture is me from back in late 20th century, and that is from the 22nd century."
Keiko takes a look at the older picture. Then she points to the one person in the photograph that had her grand-mother's hair-style.
"Where did you get this picture?"
"Your godmother Hoshi was going through her family things, in the basement at the Cherry Hill Temple, when she discovered this. She made a copy, and gave me the original."
Keiko nods, and then she points at the person with her grand-mother's hairstyle. "Is this your sister?"
Usagi takes a look and smiles.
"Actually, that's me at age 14 years."
"Wow. You look…look…"
"'Cute'?"
"Well, I wanted to say 'scrawny'…but cute is a nice way of putting it."
"I'll have you know that I hadn't come into my own yet. Humph!"
"I'm sorry. But you have to admit that you have certainly changed since you last took this picture."
And it was true. After years of enhancements, some warranted or not, Usagi stood at 6'5, built like someone who was both an Amazon and a model in appearance. In fact, she has long since evolved into a godling. After all, Usagi IS the Moon Princess Serena, of the late Moon Kingdom, who is the descendant of the Titan of the Moon Selene. And even if she wasn't, her martial training and skill in both magic and science, not to mention her talent in diplomacy and leadership, made Usagi a formidable opponent. And it was not easy to acquire such a reputation. Her years of experience as a trans-dimensional/temporal travel, a Starfleet officer and a Federation diplomat were not easy to come by. Still, it can be reasonably expected that such would be the case if one was over 1000 years old.
Not that Usagi would admit being that old, but a "girl" has to keep her secrets, right?
Nevertheless, no matter what she has purposely done, Usagi did so for the sake of peace for all. And as the "superhero" known as "Sailor Moon", she has fought for the cause of Love and Justice. Back in her youth, Usagi thought that such a thing were nothing more that cute phrases to say against "youma". Now, Usagi believed that such a cause was a necessary component in order to achieve peace. Believing in the inherent message behind it has certainly helped her in diplomatic circles.
"Think of it as a late 'growth spurt'."
"I'll say…" Keiko then picks up the second picture.
"And this…?"
"That, grand-daughter, is my first posting aboard the Enterprise…the one made before the founding of the Federation."
In the picture was Stafleet cadets Ranma Saotome and USagi Tsukino, accepting their certificates of completing, for their internship, aboard the USS Enterprise from then Captain Jonathon Archer
"So you KNEW Admiral Archer? THE Admiral Archer?"
"Indeed I did."
Keiko then compares the two pictures…and frowns.
"Wait a second. Both of you in the pictures look EXACTLY the same. Were you…immortal?"
"Not at that time."
"Then, how?"
"Time travel, thanks to your 'great-grandfather' Q."
"Wow. So how did it all get started?"
"Well, before I begin, we better get some snacks."
A short time later…
"Where was I? Oh. So it all started when I was late meeting my friends at the temple. As you know, my name means 'rabbit' in old Japanese. Funny how fate, or Q, has a sense of IRONY…"
FLASHBACK!
Summer 2005 CE: Juuban District, Tokyo, Japan: Juuban District.
"Luna, we got hurry!" said 16-year old Usagi ("Sailor Moon") Tsukino.
"I don't want to late, you know."
"YOU don't want to be late?" replied Luna the Royal Moon Cat. "I am the one who had to wake you up!"
"Biiiiii!" Usagi said, as she turned the corner. She and Luna were trying to make it to the latest Sailor Scout meeting.
At the same time, a young martial artist was skipping along the edges of the wall. He was Ranma Saotome, a man amongst men, who happens to have a curse that turned her into a teenaged girl. Still, it did allow him (as "Ranko Tendo") to spend time with his Mom without revealing his shame.
"Man, at least I got some good food for a change," Ranma mused. "And Mom promised to actually teach that tomboy fiancee of mine how to cook, so all's well."
And it was.
Even after the failed wedding, Ranma didn't have to worry about the usual suspects getting into his business, especially where Akane Tendo (his "tomboy fiancee") is concerned.
The Amazons, having learned of Ranma's victory over the legendary Saffron, the Phoenix godling, decided to respect his wishes of not being interfered with. That didn't mean that Shampoo, the Amazon cat-changling, won't try to be nicey-nice. Besides, Ranma had finally convinced Mousse to actually train hard to win Shampoo's affection, rather than fight him all the time for a girl HE didn't want to date. In addition to that, the visiting Amazon matriarch Cologne has indicated that she was more than willing to accept Ranma as an ally of the Joketsu, if it meant getting him to be part of the tribe. Negotiations on that score is still pending.
Ukyo Kuonji, the cross-dressing okonomiyaki chef, pretty much accepted that Ranma and Akane are an item. Luckily, Ranma still wanted to be friends with her, which left a measure of happiness in her life.
Ryouga Habiki, Ranma's long-suffering rival, still wants to fight Ranma all the time, but such battles are for training purposes rather than acts of vengeance. Besides, he has given up his "claim", such as it is, of Akane, and is currently dating the pig farmer Akari. Only time will tell if such a thing will blossom into something more.
Tatewaki and Kodachi Kuno, the insane Kuno siblings, are the only ones that are either attacking or pursuing him, depending on Ranma's gender at the time. Thankfully, Tatewaki is leaving for college, so that Rannma wouldn't have to deal with the screwball.
All in all, life was normal...which, unfortunately, such a thing would not last very long.
Suddenly-
"I have you now, foul sorcerer!" said the young faux-samurai, as he presented Ranma with some weird-looking talisman. Unknown to Tatewaki, the talisman was actually an alien object that found its way to earth eons ago.
"What-?" Ranma began, as he got into a fighting stance.
"Say good-bye to this world!"
FWOOSH!
Ranma found himself being sucked up into a vortex. He held on to a tree, but saw a hapless girl being sucked into the vortex.
"Luna, help!" Usagi cried, as she found herself being swept up into the hole.
"Usagi!" Luna cried, while trying to reach her mistress.
Ranma saw the source of the two sounds. One was definitely from the girl, while the other was...was...
"C-C-Cat!"
Ranma's childhood fear of cats seized him, causing him to let go.
And both teens were sucked into the vortex...and was gone.
"PRINCESS!" Luna cried in anguish.
"Ah ha!" roared the older teen triumphantly. "I have banished my foe-"
"YOU!" Luna yowled, as she proceeded to pounce of the teen who caused her ward to disappear.
"AHHHHHHH-!" scream Tatewaki.
As Usagi and Ranma tumbled across time and space,they seemingly split into two people. One version of the pair would move onto a "positive" timeline, while the other would move on to a "negative" timeline. This was nature's way of assuring balance between a positive universe and it's polar opposite. Thus, while Ranma and Usagi would find virtual paradise,the otherswould discover hell. The oneswho went to the positive side of universe fell through the end of the vortex.
"Oof!"
"Owie!"
"Who are you people?" said a voice.
The teenslooked up to see a man, who was dressed in some sort of blue jumpsuit. He kind of looked like he would fit in as some sort of mechanic.
"Huh?"they replied.
The man with the sandy-blond hair frowned.
"Great," said Chief Engineer Charles "Trip" Tucker III, of Panama City, Florida. He then walked over to the communications unit, and tapped the call button.
"Cap'n, we have…guests," Trip says. "And bring Lt. Sato with you, too."
A short time later,the pairfoundthemselves is some sort of medical bay. She was being personally isolated, ever since she freaked out upon seeing Dr. Phlox; Ranma, thinking that he was facing a demon, tried to attack the doctor, but was stunned into submission (before being strapped down on a medical bed as a means of calming him down). At the moment, the only one who was seeingthem was Lt. Hoshi Sato, a Japanese linguist and communications officer. Captain Jonathon Archer, the Captain of the NX-01 "Enterprise", Earth's first advanced starship in years, looked at the girl.
"So, how did Mr. Saotome and Miss Tsukino end up in Engineering?" Archer asked.
"That's just it, sir," Trip says. "They…fell from the ceiling."
Archer, who was tall, and imposing, and had sandy-blond hair turned his attention to the stoic female with the pointy ears.
"T'Pol, did you detect anything unusual?"
"I have run a complete diagnostic of the ship systems, and found no clue as to howthey came to be here."
"Great," Archer said. Ever since they were assigned to take back the Klingon back to his home planet of Q'onos, they have been attacked by the mysterious Suliban, a race of chameleons who seeks to impede the progress of Earth's push towards deep space exploration. Archer did not know why, but he wouldn't be surprised if the crew of the Enterprise will run into them again. Heck, he wasn't sure ifthe teens'appearance was a sign of things to come. Then, he notices that Hoshi was leaving the room.
"Well?" Archer asked.
"Well,Usagi and Ranmaare indeed from Earth…circa early 21st century," Hoshi says. "However, Ranma told me that one of his enemies sprung some trap that opened upa vortex to here. He told me that this happened near the Cherry Hill Temple in Tokyo, Japan."
"Doesn't your family run that temple?"
"Yes. Maybe they know what's going on…"
END FLASHBACK!
"And that's howit got started," Admiral Tsukino says. "Hoshi great-grandmother was an old friend of mine named Rei Hino, who was the original 'Sailor Mars'."
"What ever happened to her?"
"I'm not sure. As you know, temporal mechanics is a tricky thing. Thus, as far as this timeline is concerned, the Sailor Scouts disappeared in the late 21st century, after the war of the war between their fight with the Black Moon Family on Nemesis."
"Oh," Keiko said. "Wait a minute! Aren't YOU supposed to be the Neo-Queen Serenity of Crystal Tokyo?"
"Yes, and no. Originally, the Earth was supposed to have plunged into a second Ice Age that was to last 1000 years. However, thanks to the Black Moon Family, the timeline changed, and thus prevented the 1000-year Ice Age from happening. Unfortunately, the Third Impact occurred when the angel "Lilith" was activated inside the Moon Jump Gate by terrorists, plunging the world in a 20-year Ice Age. Not that it really mattered, since the Earth was had went to war with the Martians, and the Zentraedi and their 'Robotech Masters', not to mention the Fourth World War, which was caused when Genom Corporation's corruption and practices were exposed. I am truly surprised that Zephraim Cochran was willing to trust the Vulcans, when they established 'first contact' with the Earth. And I don't know about you, but I'm glad that the Vulcan High Command was heavy-handed in their dealings with us, since it allowed us to get our own house in order."
"And the 'Scouts?"
"Well, no one knew what happened to them when Ranma and I arrived in the 22nd century. They simply…disappeared. For all I knew, they simply left for parts unknown."
Usagi turns her attention to the center region of the mega-metropolis that was the city of Tokyo, where "Crystal Tokyo", sometimes referred to as Azabu Juuban . It, and "Neo-Tokyo" and "Old Tokyo" (where Nerima was located) co-existed as monuments to ages past. At the heart of Crystal Tokyo, was the Moon Palace, which was a re-creation of the castle from the old Moon Kingdom. And at the center of the palace, was the tomb dedicated to the Neo-Princess Serena…the grown up version of Usagi's daughter Rini Chiba. Rini was in her Neo-Sailor Moon grab, and was encased in a glass coffin.
Usagi regretted not releasing her daughter when she first learned of her predicament, but she knew Rini's sacrifice was a necessary one. Then again, she wouldn't have been around to save Shinzon if she had been released earlier...
Location: The Flying Dutchman.
Ranma Saotome and his son Robert were having drinks at a bar that Ranma frequentedsince he first moved into the future. It was where he celebrated his graduation, and where hecelebrated thebirth of hisfirst child. At the moment, father and son were having a heart-to-heart aboutRanma's early years in Starfleet.
"So, I assume that things were set straight,"Robert Saotome says, as he and his father, StarfleetCaptain RanmaSaotome, moved their conversation to a booth.
"Well, I suppose so," Ranma replies, ashe sits down with his drink. "I quickly adjusted to the situation, but quickly found myself being homesick."
FLASHBACK!
The NX-01 "Enterprise" was on its way back to Earth, primarily to get its hull plating repaired. They also had to deliver two special guests as well.
"I wanna go home!" Usagi cried. "Wah!"
"Get me out of here!" Ranma raged, as he tried to break some invisible force. "Or someone is going to get hurt."
"Sir, may I ask Dr. Phlox to give our guests a sedative?" asked T'Pol dryly.
"Now, T'Pol, you have to understand how frightening this must be for Mr. Saotome," said Hoshi Sato.
"I want my mom and dad!"
"I ain't scared of nothing!"
"Hoshi, is the universal translator up and ready?" asked Captain Jonathon Archer.
"Yes."
"Well, then, I'll introduce myself."
Meanwhile,Ranma was looking about the Sickbay. It was nice that there was someone that was from her hometown, but to be in the future made things even more difficult for her. Then, she notices that the door to the medical ward opens up.
"Hello?" Ranma asked.
A tall, sandy blond-haired man enters the room, carrying a dog in his arms.
"Hi," said the man. "My name is Jonathon Archer, and this is my friend 'Porthos'. We just wanted to make sure that things are okay."
"I see..." Ranma says.
"Oh, he's cute!" Usagi beams.
"Well, he's popular with the crew, that's for sure."
"May I…pet him?"
"Sure."
Usagi patted the hound, and smiled. The hound, in turn, began to lick her hand.
"He likes you."
Usagi beamed in appreciation.
Archer turns his attention to Ranma.
"I would like to release you, but you attacked one of my crewmates."
Ranma squints his eyes, trying to judge Archer's characters.
"I promise to...behave."
"Do I have your word of honor, Mr. Saotome? Give it to me, and I promise you an explanation."
"You have my word as a martial artist, that I will hear you out."
"That's all I want."
True to his word, Ranma did not bolt from his position once released. And after hearing Archer out, Ranma sighed.
"Why does this happen to me?"
"I don't know how you managed to be here, Mr. Saotome, but I'll do what I can to help you find your way home."
"Call me 'Ranma'...and sorry about my behaviour earlier."
"Not a problem. In fact, I would have done the same thing."
When Dr. Phlox finally cleared teens(i.e. not a threat to ship and crew), the time-lost girl roamed the ship. Security Chief/Weapons Officer Malcolm Reed followed Ranma and Usagi around, while Lt. Hoshi Sato provided escort.
"So what are you going to do now?" Hoshi asks.
"I don't know, Hoshi," Usagi sighed. "I mean, the last time I traveled through time-"
"YOU traveled through Time?" Ranma asked.
"Yeah. Well, I met my future self, so I must have. Anyway, usually SOMETHING occurs to send me back home, but only after I've done something. I don't know WHAT, but still…"
"Maybe your presence has to do with this 'Temporal Cold War' the Captain mentioned," Hoshi comments.
"Hmmm," Usagi thought. Archer had asked her if she was involved with the Sulibans, who mentioned this strange conflict. Did Sailor Pluto send her here for a purpose? Otherwise, wouldn't she have gotten her back by now?
"Nope, got nothing," Usagi replied.
"Well, I'm sure something will come along…"
Ranma's only thought was that this girl he ended up being with could be his ticket back home.
When the Enterprise dropped Ranma and Usagi off to Earth,they were amazed at how pristine the planet was. Archer's friend and boss, Admiral Forrest, was given the honor of beingtheir guardian until further arrangements can be made.
Location: San Francisco, California (a few months later).
Ranma looked at the night-time sky, from his balcony that was over-looking the San Francisco Bay.He has been living in Admiral Forrest' residence for a while now, and wondered what he was going to do.
He and Usagi had gone back to Japan, to see how much his home-town had changed. And boy, has it changed!
Tokyo was a mega-metropolis, which consisted of three cities in one. There was "Old Tokyo", which featured the style of architecture that Usagi was familiar with back in the late 20th century. There was "Neo-Tokyo", the cutting-edge town of science and technology, where cyber-punk and super-sciences is the norm. And then there was "Crystal Tokyo", which was a mixture of many European Renaissance, Victorian and Meiji Japan styles are rolled up in one.
While Usagi explored Crystal Tokyo, Ranma visited the site where the Tendo Compound once stood, in what was called "Old Tokyo". In fact, it looked exactly like it was before his strange trip into the future. And what was weird, was that part of it was a functional dojo and museum, dedicated to the Anything Goes Martial Arts style. What shocked Ranma was when he learned who was the present caretaker...
"Akane?"
The white haired girl did not look shocked to see who was to arrive on that particular day.
"Hello, Ranma," Akane said, as she hugged the teen. "I am glad that you have finally made it home."
Ranma was taken aback. THIS was his violent, uncute tomboy?
"How-?"
"It's a long story. Here, let's have tea on the patio..."
Akane looked like a twenty-year old with white hair. Once seated, she tells the story of how her future self visited her family and Ranma's family, before Ranma began his ten-year training journey,to stop one of his future enemy's scheme fo revenge, by awakening the Tendo sisters' "Sailor Senshi" powers. THAT Akane Tendo would sacrifice her life so that the future can live.
"And we called ourselves 'The Sailor Trio'," Akane said, as she takes a sip of her tea. "I was 'Sailor Artemis', Nabiki was 'Sailor Athena' and Kasumi was 'Sailor Hestia'. We had lots of adventures before and after you entered into our lives."
"Wait a minute. How come I didn't know about this?"
"Because we learned to hide our heroic guise well. You do tend to be oblivious to everything except where your Art is concerned. At any rate, I have lived for the past 150 years waiting for your return."
"Then...this means that we can be together!"
"It does not, I'm afraid."
"Huh?"
"Sigh. Ranma, I love you. That is for certain. But I'm not IN love with you. I...never married. So I devoted my life to our Art and to my career. And to be honest...as attractive as you are, you are still a child."
"No! I won't accept this!"
And with that, Ranma leaps out of the compound.
"You did the right thing, Admiral Tendo."
Akane turns to see Lady Setsuna, the Regent of Crystal Tokyo, otherwise known as "Sailor Pluto". At the moment, she was dressed in a simple, gray business suit.
"I know, Setsuna. In my head, I know I did the right thing, but in my heart...I feel nothing but pain."
"I promise you that I will allow you to take Ranma as your mate...again."
Akane sighed. In fact, Akane, 150 years ago, DID marry Ranma Saotome. But in order for THAT to happen, she had to lie to him in order to set him on the path of his destiny: that of the protector and companion of the future "Neo-Queen of Crystal Tokyo". She hated to think of him being with another woman, but she knew that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
Or the one.
Still...'Pluto did promise her one more chance at being with her "jerk" before her work is done, so the price was worth it.
"Only then, will your obligations to the House of Serenity will be fulfilled," 'Pluto says.
"And when that happens, I can join my sisters at the place 'Beyond the Rim', where I can finally rest," Akane says with finality, as she looks over at an old photograph of her and Ranma (which she took out of "pocket space"), taken shortly before they had finally exchanged their wedding vows.
At any rate, Ranma would later learn that Akane was the founder of "Starfleet", a paramilitary organization dedicated to peaceful exploration.
But that didn't console his wounded art very much.
Back in the "present"...
"Ranma?"
Ranma turned his head to Admiral Forrest.
"Yes?"
"Well, have you made a decision?"
"Yes. I would like to enroll at Starfleet Academy."
Forrest smiles.
"You're the second person to request enrollment."
"Huh?"
"Usagi asked permission to do the same thing."
"Oh. It would be nice to have a familiar face with me at school."
"I'll have the paper work drawn up then."
END FLASHBACK!
"And that was that," Ranma said, as he sipped his drink. "Usagi and I got ourselves enrolled."
"So, what happened after that?" Robert asks.
"First year was hard, but our Summer internship was much harder. Say! I'm hungry. Son, order up some grub, and I'll continue my story."
"Sure thing, Dad!"
Tbc.
Next time: More on Ranma and Usagi's early years. See you next time!