Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: "Apsu", the husband of Tiamat, is an elder god in Babylonian mythology, supposedly slain by Marduk and his brothers. So, how is Apsu involved in the lives of Ranma Saotome and Usagi Tsukino? Stay tune and find out!
Part 66
Location: San Francisco, California.
Behind the back of a Chinese restaurant, a man was taking out the garbage.
"Man, why do I have to do all the work?" grumbled the man, as he tosses the refuse in the bin behind the shop. He was complaining about the fact the prep-cook was out sick, thus forcing him to do a double shift.
Suddenly, the atmosphere around the man began to whip up around him. Sparks and lightning bolts danced around him. Suddenly, a rip in the space-time continuum occurs, causing a literal tear in the man's line of sight. And then, a beautiful, nude woman comes spilling out.
"An…angel?" the man wondered out loud, as the woman rises, and casually walks up to the man.
"No," the woman says. "I am a GOD."
The woman quickly grabs the man's head, opens her mouth, and kissed the man. However, it was not a kiss per se, but was her way to absorb the knowledge and memories of this world.
Besides, Apsu needed to maintain her strength, if she was to have her revenge.
The fallen elder god leaps to the top of the building, with her victim in hand. She looks over at the night skyline from her vantage point of the room.
"Once I destroy my enemies, I will reshape this world into my image."
Location: "The Sea of Tranquility Shipyards".
"…While I am glad to have your expertise along," Captain Robert April says, as he closed his folder, "I am concern about something."
"And what is that?" Lt. Ranma Saotome asked, as he and Lt. Usagi Tsukino sat in their seats. April wanted to speak to his designated senior officers in private, before making a final judgment on whether or not he should accept them.
"Well, according to my chief medical officer, you are fit for a twenty-something year old Starfleet officer."
Captain April's "chief medical officer" was his wife Dr. Sarah Howard-April. Sarah was a redheaded female whose family would one day produce Beverly Howard…the future Dr. Crusher.
"Well, we are healthy for our ages," Usagi offered.
"That is true…if you are REALLY in your twenties. And as for you, Miss Tsukino, you are not entirely…human."
"Well, I am a product of several…mishaps that altered my genetic structure, unfortunately. But I'm not a threat to you or this ship, sir."
"Very well, I believe you. In fact, 'Earth Dome' has vouched for you two."
"I'm glad to hear that, sir," Ranma says.
"I'm glad that you approve. Oh, and wait until the gym is fully operational before you do your 'sword play'."
"Yes, sir," Usagi says meekly.
"At any rate, the first official briefing will be at 0900 sharp. Dismiss."
As Ranma and Usagi walk back to their quarters, Ranma thinks back to the events that lead him to this point…
FLASHBACK!2161 CE: En route to Vulcan Sector.
The day started easy enough.
Newly appointed Federation Ambassador-at-Large and Earth delegate Usagi Tsukino had just given a speech in front of the newly assembled United Federation of Planets General Assembly, with both the new United Federation of Planets Secretary General and United Federation of Planets President in attendance. At the urging of Earth Dome, Usagi was picked to become the representative of the UFP (or simply, "the Federation") as part of a goodwill tour. The newly crowned High Queen Hoshi of Crystal Tokyo, Starfleet's Commander T'Pol of Vulcan and Lt. Ranma Saotome of Earth would accompany Ambassador Tsukino on this tour. So the four set out on their tour.
First stop: Vulcan.
"Well, that went well," said Usagi, as she sat back in her seat.
"Yes, I am impressed, Usagi," Hoshi says, as she got herself comfortable. The Regent of Crystal Tokyo, Princess Setsuna Meioh, wanted her to take a fully complimentary starship to Vulcan, but Hoshi insisted that a shuttle-pod was sufficient…especially since she and her party will use the Jumpgates for their travels.
"Thanks, Hoshi. Or I should say, 'High Queen Hoshi the First'."
"Oh, quiet."
"Lt. Saotome, program the gate to Vulcan," T'Pol says, as she relayed her itinerary to Starbase One.
"Aye, Commander," Ranma replies, as his hands danced across his control panel. He was still mourning the loss of his beloved wife, who died a few months ago. He could have taken an extended leave of absence, but his home, the Tendo Compound, reminded too much of his wife. So, after convincing his old rival Ryouga Habiki to "mind the store" while he is away, Ranma joined Usagi and his old crewmates for this tour of goodwill. "Stargate Command, this is The Serenity. I'm picking up some unusual vibrations from the warp harmonics within the 'gate."
"We read you loud and clear, Serenity," came the reply. "Please stand by…"
"Ranma, how are you holding up?" Usagi asked, as she leaned forward. She was wondering if he was still upset at her for not being able to bring back his wife.
"I'm…okay, I guess," Ranma said. "It's just that, with what we all went through, I was hoping for some peace and quiet for a change."
"We survived the Earth-Romulan War because of YOU, Ranma. Everyone on Earth has you to thank for. Admiral Tendo would be proud of you."
"Yeah, I suppose…"
"So, I bet that you can't wait until you see your daughter, T'Pol," Hoshi says.
"It will be nice to see my daughter Elizabeth, Hoshi," T'Pol replies. "My mother T'Les has been content in looking after her, but she feels that Elizabeth should be with her father on Earth."
"And how do you feel about that?"
"I will do what I can to make the life of my daughter a happy one."
Hoshi looks at her long time friend.
"Wow, I didn't know you could be so…"
"What?"
"So…human."
"Bite your tongue."
Meanwhile, a lone technician aboard the Jumpgate auxiliary center makes his final adjustment. In reality, he was a member of the now-defunct xenophobic group called "Earth Prime". Since the day of the crashing of an alien fortress on Earth in the year 1999, there has been a movement to keep non-humans out of the Sol System. It was only after the Xindi attack that Earth Prime that the movement against aliens reached its zenith; they even tried to forcibly recruit the High Queen of Crystal Tokyo to rally around their cause. Captain Archer and his crew of the starship Enterprise put a stop to Earth Prime's agenda after some missteps.
Unfortunately, there were those agents who wanted some payback, so…
"For 'Terra Prime', traitor," the technician says quietly. If his plan works, the High Queen and her entourage will no longer be a factor.
Meanwhile, aboard the Serenity…
"Hmmm…"
"What is it, Ranma?" Usagi asked.
"I'm getting some weird readings. Maybe it's nothing. T'Pol?"
T'Pol checks the instruments readings.
"I see no reason to not proceed," T'Pol replies.
"Alright then. Everyone, prepare for insertion…"
WHISH!
There was a slight disorientation at first, after experiencing some choppy "weather" mid-transit, but nothing that was out of the ordinary. However, when the shuttlepod re-entered normal space, everyone on board realized something.
They were not orbiting Vulcan.
At first, they thought that the planet below them WAS Vulcan, since Vulcan was a desert planet. However…
"Something is not right," says T'Pol, as she began try to get a reading.
Hoshi went to the comlink, and tried to hail someone from below. No response.
"I've lost the transponder signal," Ranma says. He then compared his star charts with what the shuttlepod's sensors were reading.
"Uh, oh."
"What is it?" Usagi said, as she looked over Ranma's shoulders. Her eyes widened.
They were not orbiting Vulcan. For one thing, Vulcan did not have Moons.
"What are we going to do?" Usagi asked. "What are we going to do?"
"First thing we do is land," T'Pol says. "And establish our presence discreetly."
T'Pol then turns to the rest of her fellow travelers.
"For the time being, I recommend that we do away our normal hierarchal functions, just in case of some unforeseen circumstance. Agreed?"
"I agree," Hoshi says. "I'm still uncomfortable with my role as 'High Queen' as it is."
"Ranma?"
"Whatever works, ma'am."
"Usagi?"
"I agree for the same reasons Hoshi gave."
"Alright…Ranma, take us in."
And with that, the four would begin a journey that would span years…
Arrakis ("Dune").
The Usa'Dib, the Right Hand of the Muad'Dib scanned the vast wastelands of the dunes. Her now-translucent blue eyes picked up the movement of a transport flyer belonging to one of her contacts. She rose from her position, and signaled her fellow Fremen to prepare for the arrival of a key ally, in their war against Emperor Shaddam, and the supply relief.
The Usa'Dib, dressed in her mask and desert clothes, wait for the pilot and his crew to come to her.
Ranma, who was maintaining the supply lines for the Muad'Dib with T'Pol and Guerny Halleck (a friend of the Muad'Dib), exited his flyer, as the Usa'Dib's retainers meet him.
"Here is what you wanted," Ranma said, as he handed his manifest to the lead retainer.
"Thank you, Lord Saotome," came the reply. "The Usa'Dib would like to see you."
Ranma rolled his eyes, as he did as he was told. When he stood in front of the Usa'Dib, she removed her mask.
"Hello, Ranma," Usagi said, as she hugged him. "I take it that Baron Harkonnen's forces didn't give you any trouble?"
"Naw, they're a piece of cake, once you get past their sentries. And Usagi, I REALLY wish you do away this act of yours."
"It can't be help, Ranma. It's not my fault that I got roped into Bene Gesserit as a fellow Sister, just because of some prophecy of the Fremen!"
Three years ago, the Serenity landed in the deserts, not knowing that they would be involved in a contest of wills between political factions. One such faction, the House of Atriedes, was perhaps the noble of the "great houses", so much so that the ruler of the known universe, Emperor Shaddam, of the House of Corrino, used the House of Harkonnen to do away with the Atriedes line. And since Baron Vladamir Harkonnen hated Duke Leto Atriedes, the Baron was all too willing to do the dirty work for the Emperor.
At the same time, the crew of the Serenity was taking in by Leto and his family, after the Atreides family received word of a group of strangers performing for the desperate kids in the streets of the planet's capital city of "Arrakeen". In fact, Leto's son Paul took a personal interest in Usagi in particular, causing Ranma to be somewhat overly protective of her. And, after getting into a sparring session with Paul, who introduced a very interesting style of martial arts to Ranma, Ranma took a liking to Paul, as Paul was to him. Unfortunately, during the night when the Atreides family was hosting a party with other noble houses, Emperor Shaddam and Baron Harkonnen's forces launched a surprise attack on the House of Atriedes. The result was the death Duke Leto, and the scattering of the crew of the Serenity. Ranma and T'Pol were separated, and ended up as mercenaries and smugglers with Leto's "man of arms" Gurney Helleck", while Paul and Leto's wife Jessica took Usagi and Hoshi into the deserts of Arrakis. For nearly three years, Ranma and T'Pol helped to wage a guerrilla war with the survivors of the House of Atriedes against Houses Corrino and Harkonnen. It was only recently that Ranma had learned of Usagi and the other's fate. He still couldn't believe that Usagi ended up as the equivalent of a "space nun" (for lack of a better term).
Since then, Ranma was becoming more familiar with the likes of the Fremen, whonm he respected greatly for better a hardy people, which allowed him to learn how to ride those gigantic worms that roamed the landscape. And he is able to learn a new martial arts skill to boot.
"Come," Usagi said, as she picked up Ranma's pack. "Let me help you to relax in our home."
Ranma nods. Whenever he is around Usagi, he feels himself opening up to her. Both of them still have feeling for their respective beaus, but that didn't mean that they couldn't have some relationship with each other. They were more than friends, but not quite lovers. Sure, they can lounge around in their makeshift hot tub that Usagi and Hoshi had built for their adopted desert tribe, but that's about it.
At least, for now, that is.
Chi-Town Burbs ("Rifts").
"Chi-Town" was built on the bones of the City of Chicago, a metropolis that existed before the time of the apocalypse. It was the capital city of the fascistic "Coalition States of America", which sought to promote human supremacy hegemony, in a world filled with non-humans and monsters. It was perhaps the most technologically advanced city-state on the North American continent.
The Burbs, on the other hand, was the mosaic of the so-called worthless within society, including non-humans (commonly known as "d-bees"). It is a frequent hunting ground of Coalition "Psi-Stalkers" and "Dogboys", who were genetically engineered to serve their human masters.
"You got it, man?" said "Dutch", a "City Rat", as he leaned on an ally.
"I do," said "Wild Horse", as he presented the man his "credit unit", which is basically an electronic purse/wallet. Wild Horse needed to purchase a shipment of cybernetic parts for a "Cyber-Doc", to be used for charity cases. Unfortunately…
"Freeze, deviant!" said a "Coalition Grunt", as a squadron began forming around the pair. All Coalition soldiers where black armor with a skull motif, designed specifically to scare their opponents.
Wild Horse looks at his intruders and smiles.
"I don't think so," he said, as he pressed a button on his wristband…
TING!
Armor began to form around Wild Horse…
"It's a 'Cyber-Knight'!" said one of the Coalition soldiers.
"FIRE!" said the squad leader.
"Get down," Sir Ranma Saotome said, as he pushed Dutch behind him.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Energy discharges bounced off his armor, as Ranma returned fire with his blaster.
"Ahhhh!" yelled the squad leader, as he and his men ducked. "Fire the tank blasters!"
Suddenly, a Coalition "Troop Transport" (which looks like a black skull with tank wheels) burst through an abandoned building. It moves into position, and takes aim with its gun turrets…
Suddenly, a muscle-bound, green-skinned Amazon lifts the transport high into the air.
"You shall not harm Sir Ranma, fiend!" the hulk-like creature proclaimed, as she tossed the tank quite a distance. "Have at thee, villains!"
"Let's get out of here-!"
When the soldiers leave the scene, the green-skinned Amazon reverted to her true form.
"Good thing I saw these guys coming, Ranma," Usagi said, as she hugged a now non-armored Ranma.
Ranma nods, thinking about the day when he rescued Usagi from the mysterious "Maestro", a Gamma-radiated madman who sought to recreate Usagi into his bride using Gamma-radiation as a means. The result was a Usagi who, if angered, can transform into a super-strong, Amazon-like female…green skin and all. Strangely, whenever Usagi does transforms, her entire disposition changes from flighty yet serious girl to regal adventurer. Ranma hopes to find a cure for his friend's condition, but Usagi likes her new power too much to consider such a thought.
Years ago, when the crew of the Serenity left Arrakis behind, T'Pol tried to recreate the same conditions that brought them to Arrakis in the first place. She combined the space technology of the Spacing Guild with her knowledge of wormholes. The result was a partial success. Sure, they made it back to Earth, but it was to an Earth that was the hub of a trans-dimensional nexus that served as a gateway to countless worlds, realms and dimensions. Though disappointed at first, the crew of the Serenity saw an opportunity to figure out which "door" would lead them back home, while exploring strange, new worlds. Like last time, the group took on new roles, though, unlike last time, those new roles continually changed.
For example, Ranma became a Cyber-Knight before becoming a "Temporal Warrior", while Usagi started out as a Cyber-Doc (i.e. a medical doctor who is also trained in cybernetic procedures), and ended up a "Cosmos-Knight". Something similar happen to his and her companions as well. And this was just the tip of the ice burg for a group who would spend twenty years in a place called "The Rifts".
Ranma sighed, as he turns his attention to his contact.
"Well, since my partner is here, let's get those parts…"
Middle Earth ("The Hobbit").
Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit wondered why Gandalf the Grey insisted that humans accompany the group. After all, all they wanted was to steal Smaug the Dragon, and steal its treasure. Then again, if it hadn't been for Lord Ranma and his entourage, those Orcs wouldn't have been so lucky enough to catch them unawares. Unfortunately, in his haste to hide from the fight, Bilbo fell into a cavern near the river. Even though it was dark, he knew that he wasn't alone…
"What's this?" Bilbo asked himself, as he came across…a ring?
Meanwhile, "Lord Ranma" was gathering a repel rope from his sack.
"Will you'll be okay?" Usagi asked, as she tended to her fellow travelers' wounds.
"I'll be okay, Usagi," Ranma said, as he tied one end of his rope to a sturdy vine. "Just keep these clowns out of trouble."
"Hey!" said one hobbit. "I resent that remark!"
"Yeah, whatever…"
As Ranma lowered himself, he grumbled. He and Usagi were to rendezvous with T'Pol and the others at Rivendall. For some strange reason, they took a liking to T'Pol, citing that the elves and the Vulcans had a common ancestry. Go figure.
"Ahhhhh-!"
Screw this! Ranma said, as he let go. He didn't like using his paranormal abilities for two reasons. One, this environment made his abilities all wonk-y, and, two, using them was the equivalent of turning on a neon sign to the magically versed. Still, if Gandalf-sama says that Bilbo was an important figure, then it would be up to him and Usagi to see to his protection.
As Ranma floated down to the ground, he could see that a disgusting little creature was about to pounce on Bilbo…
"Time Stop!" Ranma commanded, as he willed time around the area to cease. Thank temporal magic for that!
Though everything in the cavern didn't move, Ranma did. So he pulled Bilbo into his personal aura.
"What-?"
"Come, let's get out here," Ranma said, as he took to flight.
"Let's," Bilbo replied, as he fingered the ring he had just acquired…
Tbc.
Author's note: More glimpses of Ranma and Usagi's adventures coming soon. See Ranma and Usagi interact with the legendary Hercules and Xena the Warrior Princess! See Ranma and Usagi fighting off the minions of Morgana Le Fey and Mordred during the fall of Camelot! See Ace Pilots Ranma and Usagi explain the comforts of love…and its crescendo, while fighting off giant soldiers of war in transformable machines! All this and more will be revealed next time. See you then!