Star Trek: Ranma's Story 74 – 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.
Part 74
"So anyway, I got roped into-" Ranma began.
"'Roped'?" Uhura replied.
"Alright, alright. I WANTED to join because of what Jediism stood for. Besides, it reminded me of the various 'codes of conduct' that I have studied, when I joined up other such organizations. The 'Hospitallers" of Wormwood were perhaps the most humanitarian of the knighthoods. Joining the Jedi was my way of experiencing yet another philosophy on what it means to be a 'knight'."
"Oh. So, what happened after you joined this…Jedi Order?"
"Well, I went through a period of training under Master Yoda, lasting ten years."
"Was it tough?"
"Let's say that it was…interesting, to say the least."
Location: Dagobah.
Ranma leaped and somersaulted about the jungle with Yoda on his back. When he landed on a high branch, he turns to his master.
"Are we done yet?"
"Done you are not, young one," Yoda says. "Gather ingredients for first meal of the day, we must."
"Fine," Ranma says, with rolled eyes. Every time he is "training", it's usually in the guise of running errands for the aged master. And after kicking his butt in swordplay, Ranma was honor-bound to at least listen to him. "Let's go…"
Over meal…
"Return to Coruscant tomorrow, we will," Yoda says, as he ate his stew. "Meet old friends, we will."
"Cool," Ranma says, as he finishes up his bowl. "It will be good to see the others again…"
Location: Coruscant.
The capital of the Galactic Republic could be thought of more as a single city than a planet. Buildings seemingly run straight into the ground, and rise high above the surface. On this particular day, Ranma was assigned to partner up with Ami, both of whom are to rendezvous with Jedi Masters Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi for security detail. Apparently, someone tried to assassinate Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo en route to Coruscant. Not taking any chances, Yoda sent Ranma, who was experienced in such matters to the Naboo emnbassy, taking fellow Jedi Padawan Ami Mizuno with her.
"It's nice to see you again, Ranma," Ami says, as she adjusted her blue robes (over her white Jedi outfit).
"Likewise," Ranma replied. Ranma wore redwood-red robes over his tan Jedi outfit. "I hear that you are going to work for the chief archivist at the Jedi Temple."
"That's true," Ami replies. "Master Windu thinks that I should go ahead and begin my training in that regard."
"Well, we all do have roles to play, I guess…"
Soon, the two make it to the correct floor, and sees-
"Ranma!" Usagi says, as she hugs the martial artist. She was dressed in white robes over pink/black Jedi clothes. She then hugs Ami. "Ami!"
"Hi, Usagi," Ami replies likewise.
"Hey, Usa," Ranma says. Then, he scans the room. He could see Jinn and Kenobi, Attendants Hoshi Sato and T'Pol of Vulcan, and he could see this tall kid…"
"Hey, Ranma!" the kid in the dark brown-red/black Jedi clothes said, as he ran towards Ranma.
Ranma squints his eyes.
"Ani?"
"Yep, it's me!"
"Whoa. You've certainly have grown, kid."
There was a moment of hesitation.
"Well, I've been through a lot, Ranma. But…can you not call me kid? I'm almost twenty years old."
"Sure. Can I still call you 'Ani'?"
"We're friends, Ranma. Of course you can!"
"Well, then it will be my pleasure!"
"We staked out for the evening, making sure that no one bother Padme. She was certainly a sexy creature that's for sure. And if I wasn't dedicated to my training, I might have gone after her. Unfortunately, I may have not pursued her, but Ani certainly did. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
"Anyway, it turned out that someone had tried to slip in some parasitic creatures into Padme's room that night. Since Usagi and Ami happened to be girls, they were in the room when the attack happened, and were the first to deal with them. I don't know what happened after Usagi gave chase, since I remained behind to re-secure the place with Master Jinn, but I wouldn't be surprise if she dealt with it in her typical fashion…"
"YAAAAAAAAAAH!" said Usagi, as she held on to the assassin's probe. She had gone to check on her friend Padme, when she spotted the worms slithering to her friend. A good scream later, followed by Ami's "worm dicing" action, Usagi found herself trying to hold on the probe. So trying to redeem her worth by doing a foolish thing wasn't such a good idea, but it was the instinctive thing to do. After all, it was the second assassination attempt on Padme's life.
"Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy…"
Soon, Usagi could make out a lone figure…a figure that was running away!
POW! POW!
The would-be assassin began firing on Usagi, who deftly dodge the shots before falling…
…Into Anakin lap! Apparently, Anakin was able to use his senses to keep track of his friend's movements.
"Oh, my hero!"
"Knock it off, Usagi," says a perturbed Obi-Wan. Expecting foolishness from his padawan was as natural as the rising and setting of Coruscant's sun.
"Yeah, and get off my lap."
"Okay, okay…"
The chase went on throughout the heavy traffic of Coruscant.
"Hey! My hair!" Usagi exclaimed, as she now sported a perm, thanks to going through a screen of electricity.
"Its just electricity, Usagi."
"Still…"
Just when the trio thought that they had lost assassin, Anakin stopped the vehicle, and jumped out…high above the nearest walkway.
"See? I'm not so bad."
"Oh, be quiet," Kenobi chided.
Eventually, the assassin was stopped at a local sports bar. Unfortunately, another assassin assassinated the assassin, but Usagi was able to get a good look at him.
"You okay?" asked Anakin.
"Sure," Usagi replied. "And Ani?"
"Yes?"
BOP!
"Don't scare me like that! I almost had a heart attack because of your stunt!"
"Okay, okay. You win."
"I'm sorry. Let's not fight. Ever. Friends?"
"Friends."
"I just had a thought," Kenobi says, as he turns to face Usagi.
"What?"
"You can fly, can't you?"
"That's right," Anakin says. "You could have caught up to the assassin. Why didn't you?"
"Um…I forgot?"
"…"
"According to what I was told, Master Kenobi and the others did manage to catch up to the would-be assassin, but SHE had been eliminated by another assassin. From the reports he turned out to be the infamous bounty hunter Jango Fett of the Mandalorians, a group of skilled warriors who were made up of many races. It was decided that Padme and her crew would go back to Naboo, using a civilian transport ship as a means of travel, with Anakin and Usagi to stand watch, while the rest of us solve the mystery concerning Fett. Jinn, myself and Kenobi were able to track him down to the bio-tech planet of Camino, thanks to some much needed help from Ami…"
"So, what do you have?" Master Jinn asks Ami, who was looking up information in the Jedi Archives at the 'Temple.
"I'm getting some interesting 'facts'," Ami says, as she scrolled the data. "There should be a planet in this sector…"
Ranma, being bored, leaned on a stack of book…
CRASH!
"Shhh!" said the Jedi Librarian.
"Sorry about that," Ranma replies sheepishly, as he picks up the books.
"Then, that is where we go," Kenobi says.
"I must say that you have certainly changed, my former apprentice," said Jinn with pride in his eyes.
"I had a good master," Kenobi replied with a smile.
Ranma rolled his eyes.
"Masters, take a look at this," Ami says. "Officially, this place doesn't exist, and yet a manifest exist of a Jedi Sifo-Dyfus going to these coordinates specifically."
"Well," Ranma says, as he goes over to his companions. "It looks like we have a road trip."
"How are we going to get there?" Ami asked.
Ranma places thumb and index finger together, and against his lips, and whistled.
"Shhhh!"
Thumper, who tends to sleep on the librarian's right shoulder, whenever Usagi was off world, perks his attention.
"Th-ow?"
"I need your help, buddy."
"Th-ow!"
"Okay, okay. I promise you a bushel of carrots when we get back. 'Kay?"
"Th-ow! Th-ow!"
"Well, we got our ride."
Jinn nod his head with approval.
Location: Camino.
"Man, I hate this," Ranma-chan said, as she wiped the rainwater from her face. The water planet was the premier site for bio-medical research, and thus proved to be a mystery as to why such a place would have been wiped clean from official star charts.
"Ah, not to worry, Ranma," Kenobi says, as he, Ranma-chan and Jinn dried off in the receiving room. "I'm sure that they have hot water around here…"
While Ranma's Jusenkyo curse was not a secret, it was nevertheless not widely known. Furthermore, there are numerous sentient species that regularly changed genders, so it wasn't abnormal to see Ranma change into a girl per se.
"Master Jinn," said a tall, aquatic nurse, as she entered the foyer. "We were not expecting to see a representative of the Jedi Order so soon."
"Pardon?" Jinn replied.
"We were processing your order, as per Master Sifo-Dyfus' instructions."
"Perhaps we should inspect this…order," said Jinn.
"Very well then. Follow me…"
"Um, is there a place to dry off?" Ranma asked.
"Of course, miss. Just follow this protocol droid, and it will take you to a changing room…"
A short time later, Ranma-chan took off her cloak to dry it out. She then waited for her kettle of hot water to dry off…
"Huh?"
…And a young boy comes in.
"Hey!" Ranma-chan yelled, as she quickly covered up. The last thing she wanted to corrupt an innocent kid. "I'm in here, you know!"
"Oh, sorry, miss," said the boy.
"Boba!" said a dark-haired man, as he rounds the corner. "I asked you not to wander off like that."
"Sorry, Dad," the boy said. "I was just…you know…"
"Hey, it's okay," Ranma-chan says. "No harm, no foul."
"I'm glad to hear that," the man replies, as he takes his son by the hand. "My apologies."
After the man leaves with his son, Ranma-chan was finally able to return to normalcy…such as it is…
"Well, it turned out that the boy's father was Jango Fett, the bounty hunter whom we were trailing."
"Why didn't you confront him then and there?" Uhura asked.
"For one, I didn't want to needlessly traumatize the boy, and I didn't think that it was necessary to stop Jango then and there. Jinn wanted to capture Jango, but I suggested that we track him down to his 'employer'."
"So, what was he doing there in the first place?"
"Apparently, he was serving as the template for some 'cloned army'. A Jedi Master named Sifo-Dyfus had placed the order, so, technically, they were Galactic Republic 'property'. Ugh."
"Anyway, we tracked the Fetts to 'Geonosis', where the Trade Federation and its allies were forming the basis of a 'Separatist Movement', under the leadership of Count Dooku, a former member of the Jedi Order. HE believed that the Galactic Republic was slowly being taking over by a powerful Sith Lord. And since Master Yoda is convinced that there are always TWO of them at any given time, I believed him."
"So, what happened next?"
"Oh, we got captured."
Ranma grabbed his 'inhibitor collar', which was purposely keeping him weak. He and Masters Jinn and Kenobi were equally incapacitated. Ranma strained, as he tried to release himself from his restraints. Curse him for falling for such an obvious trap!
"Oh, don't bother, my young friend," said an elderly, bearded man, as he emerges from the shadows. He was dressed in dark clothes (with cape) "You are quite helpless."
"Count Dooku, my old master," Jinn says. "How could you do this?
"I do this for those who wishes to be free, my former student. It seems to me that you should join me instead."
"I will always fight for what I believe in, but always within 'the system'."
"What are you going to do with us?" Kenobi asks.
"I will give you until noon tomorrow to consider my offer of joining my cause. Otherwise…you will have to be sacrificed for it."
And with that, Dooku turns to leave…
"Wait!"
Dooku turns back.
"At least give us a last meal or something."
"Very well, you shall have it."
A guard allows the captured Jedi to have food and water…
"Thanks," Ranma said, as he dumps his cup of water over his head, triggering his curse. Now slightly smaller, Ranma-chan manages to pull his head through the inhibitor collar, and flings the collar at the head of the guard.
CRACK!
After knocking the guard out, Ranma-chan was about to free her masters, when…
"No," Jinn said.
"Huh?"
"Leave us here, and do a reconnaissance of this place. I have a feeling that there will be plenty of action soon enough."
Ranma nods her, and scampers off…
"I ended up scouting the planet, avoiding the insect-like Geonosians in the process. When I learned that Usagi, Anakin, Padme, Hoshi and T'Pol had come to Geonosis, I assumed that the emergency beacon from my transponder had made contact with Usagi's. Unfortunately, they fell under the same trap that I, Jinn and Kenobi fell in."
"So, what happened next?"
"Well, with everyone captured, and placed in a gladiator's arena, I knew I had to act fast. However, I was about to ambush Count Dooku, when someone else did it for me…"
"Let this act be the first sign of our defiance against the yoke of the Galactic Republic!"
SNAP! Hzzzzzzzz…
"I don't THINK so," said Jedi Master Mace Windu, as he held his purple light saber to Count Dooku's neck.
"Master Windu!" Ami cried.
"Master Windu," Dooku smirks. "As you can see, you are heavily surrounded."
"Wrong again," Ranma said, as he and scores of Jedi Kinghts appeared throughout the stands. He then leaped over to where Usagi and the others stood.
"You guys okay?"
"I'm fine…okay, let's do this!" Usagi said, as she and the others, albeit reluctantly, took out their henshin rods.
"Oh, no!" Ranma yells. "I ain't doing this!"
"Just take out your rose, silly!"
"Oh. Oh yeah."
Ranma tends to forget that his "male form" could transform into "The Magnificent Mask", having focused more on the horrors that is being "Sailor Helios".
Ranma takes out his white rose.
"Moon Prism MAKE-UP!"
"Mercury Planet POWER!"
"Earth Planet POWER!"
"Sigh. Vulcan Planet Power…"
FLASH!
Once again, Magnificent Mask, and Sailors Moon, Mercury, Earth and Vulcan are back in the fore.
Stepping forth, and standing defiantly in front of the Count and his allies, Sailor Moon spoke
"Count Dooku! Using others for political gain is wrong! On behalf of the good people of this galaxy, the Jedi Order and the Moon, YOU WILL BE PUNISHED!"
So, this is the one the Master spoke of, the Count thought. "Pretty words, Jedi. But I was more than prepared for your arrival."
"Wha-?"
BOOM! BOOM!
Using his abilities, Dooku created a distraction that enabled him to free himself from Windu's grasp. With the start of the melee, Sailor Moon pulled out another 'saber and sliced the ropes that held her friends. She then passed out spare light sabers to her friends.
"What took you so long?" Anakin asked, as he got himself into a defensive position.
"You knew Usagi was faking it?" asked Padme.
"Just a Juraian parlor trick. That's all."
"Senator, Padawans, if you all may…?" Qui-Gon said, as started to fend off one of the creatures that was attacking them.
"Yes, we can discuss this later," Obi-Wan said.
"Quite," 'Moon says. "Sailor Scouts…GO!"
'Mask simply cringes, but proceeds to wade through the throng of battledroids.
The battle was intense and fearless. Unfortunately, the combined might of the robotic forces and the insect-like natives cut the Jedi's forces to pieces. Still, they persevered.
During the battle, Mace Windu, in an effort to eliminate a key asset of the Count's forces, went for the head of the bounty hunter Jango Fett. However, something in the back of Usats mind told her that Jango's fate should not unfold there. This had to do with her combined training as a Bene Gesserit and a Temporal Wizard. Now normally, she would take the time to interpret those impressions, but seeing how Master Windu was about to kill Jango Fett, she had to act…NOW!
Effecting probability, Usagi activated Jango's damaged rocket pack, sending the bounty hunter up and away into the stadium's stands.
Mace turned to see Usagi turning away, apparently in the middle of battle. He was sure that the Padawan had something to do with what had just happened, but now was not the time to deal with the matter. Thus, the battle continued.
The two Jedi Masters, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, both followed Count Dooku to a hidden fortress far beyond the actual battle. Luckily for the Jedi that had engaged the forces of the Trade Federation, Jedi Master Yoda had activated the hidden "clone army" from Camino. While Anakin assisted and protected Padme, Usagi assisted Yoda in coordinating the forces.
"Master Yoda," 'Masks says, as he joined Yoda's side. "Glad that you could make it."
"Never miss a 'party', I will," Yoda smirks, as he hoped on his apprentice's shoulder. "Onward, my Padawan."
Eventually, the fight had spread outside of the arena, where an assemblage of Cloned Troops and Trade Federation forces.
"Okay, Squad Leaders Alpha through Foxtrot, head over to the left flank," Ranma spoke through a head mike. He and Yoda were on one of the lead troop transport, while Mace Windu was with the troops on the ground. Both Yoda and Windu were familiar with Ranma and his compatriot's military background, so, in spite of their Padawan status, they were allowed to command some of the forces. "Bravo Company! Pull up the flank! Pull up!"
"Proud, we are," Yoda said.
"Thank you, master," Ranma said, as he held onto the gunship. "I haven't had this much fun in years."
Suddenly, Ranma felt a great lost.
"Master-?"
"Felt it too, I have. Pilot, change course, you must."
"Aye sir."
Usagi! Ranma thought. Did you-?
Yes, I felt it too. I'm on my way.
Ranma, Usagi, Yoda, and Anakin came just in time to see Count Dooku plunge his red lightsaber into Obi-Wan's body, which then fell on to Qui-Gon's prone body.
"Ah, I see that the young turks are with the old master," Dooku smirked. "Care to take up you friends' cause?"
SNAP! Hzzzzzzzzz…
"You BASTARD!" yelled Anakin, as he prepared himself for battle.
"You must be stopped, Count," Ranma said, as he prepared himself for battle as well.
"Careful, you must be," Yoda said, as both he and 'Moon stepped back.
"Good luck, you two!" 'Moon yelled.
Thus the battle was on.
KRISH! KRISH!
Ranma and Anakin moved as if they were of one mind and body, as they assaulted Count Dooku. Dooku, being a much more experienced swordsman, deftly weaved, ducked and parried the deadly strokes.
Damn! Ranma thought. He moves better than Yosho! I better try something new…
It was at this point thatRanma made a calculated mistake. What he didn't know that certain interested parties had been watching Ranma for a long time, and had observed his in action. One of those people was the Count, and was perfectly prepared for his patented move…and it didn't help the situation when Ranma didn't warn his partner of his next move.
"Dragon Ascension Revised: Whirl Wind Whip!"
Ranma used his light saber to create a vortex of energy strands that was 1/3 the power of a standard lightsaber, essentially creating a tornado of death.
Count Dooku smirked, as he willed the Force to change its trajectory.
SWISH!
CHOP!
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Anakin screamed, as he clutched the stump of his severed hand.
"ANAKIN!" screamed Usagi, as she was about to go to Anakin's aid
"Interfere, you must not," Yoda said.
"No…" Ranma said, as he dropped his weapon.
"You honestly didn't think I wasn't prepared for your special abilities, Padawan Saotome? I've been watching you and your friends for a long time, and I knew that I would have to face you one day. And now-"
"Nothing, you will do," interjected Yoda, as he came forward. "Stop you, I will."
"But of course, old Master. I would not have it any other way."
Snap! Hzzzzzzz…
After Yoda took out his 'saber, Dooku saluted. Then, the battle was on.
Almost immediately, Dooku was on the defensive, as Yoda swarmed all over the former Jedi. Meanwhile, Usagi ran over to Anakin to see if he was okay.
"Ranma, check to see if Masters Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are okay."
"…"
"Ranma"
"OH! Oh. Okay."
While this was going on, Dooku began using electricity as an attack.
Yoda responded in kind.
Then, in an effort to make a clean getaway, Dooku used telekinesis to move a girder onto the Ranma, Usagi and the rest of the gang.
Thankfully, Yoda stopped a would-be obstacle by using his won impressive skills. However, it did give Count Dooku the opportunity to make his escape.
"Anakin! Anakin!" Usagi yelled. "We're getting help!"
"Master Yoda? Master Qui-Gon's-"
"I know. Die, Obi-Wan will soon as well…"
"No! No! Master, please don't die!" Usagi cried.
"Hey, after being…with…you, after all this time, a little nick won't kill me."
"Hang on, Master," Usagi said, as she rolled up her left sleeve, reveling a phoenix tattoo. She had acquired a magic tattoo (among other things) when she and her old shipmates were trapped in an extra dimensional realm known as "The Rifts". When she touched it a glow enveloped her. Then, the glow spread outward, enveloping the entire room with a light. Then, when the light subsided, Usagi collapsed.
"What…what happened?" asked Anakin.
"Anakin! Your arm!"
Sure, thanks to the magic of the tattoo, Anakin's hand was back on his arm.
"Wow…what about-"
"I am fine," said Qui-Gon, as he steadied himself.
"Jinn, welcome back," said Yoda.
"Thank you. It was a rather interesting experience being dead."
"Frankly, being injured so is something I do not want to repeat," quipped Obi-Wan. "Usagi, is she?"
"She's fine," said Ranma. "Doing this tends to wear her out."
"I see that Dooku has escaped," Qui-Gon commented.
"No matter. Bigger problem, we must face."
Unknown to all, someone was using a high-powered scope on an unconscious Usagi. However, the owner was not planning on using it.
"Dad?" asked Boba Fett. "We got to get out of here."
"I know, son," Jango Fett, as he lowered his scope. "Boba, until I say otherwise, we owe a blood debt to the Jedi Usagi Tsukino. Remember that."
Boba, not really understanding what his father meant, nevertheless nodded.
"Good. Let's go."
In the aftermath of the battle at Genosis, the Jedi and the Cloned Soldiers were victorious. However, it was just the beginning. This battle between the Separatists and the Galactic Republic was the spark that would lead to the so-called "Clone Wars". Meanwhile, Count Dooku secretly returned to Coruscant, and arrives at a very little traffic section of the Industrial sector. His ship arrives at an abandoned factor in tact. Dooku then exits the craft and is greeted by a robed figure.
"Lord Sidious," said Count Dooku.
"Greetings, Count Dooku," replied Sidious. "Or, should I say, Darth Tyrannus."
"It is an honored to be designated as a Sith, my lord."
"Excellent. I take it that the plan was a success?"
"Indeed, it was. Not only has the Separatist movement been sparked, the plans for the Death Star are safe. And I have the samples that you desire."
Darth Tyrannus hands over the genetic samples of Ranma Saotome, Usagi Tsukino, Ami Mizuno and Anakin Skywalker.
"Good, good. Come. We have much to discuss."
And thus, the dark future is as Darth Sidious has willed it. Since knowing of the existence of these "Sailor Scouts", the Sith Lord has seen them as a thorn in his grand design. If all goes according to plan, they will become a tool in this up coming "Clone War", using Dooku's so-called Confederacy of Independent Systems as a front for his grand scheme.
Location: Naboo.
As Ranma, Usagi and their friends stood nearby, enjoying the small ceremony between her two friends, Padme and Anakin, Ranma's mind drifted to Usagi's audience with the Jedi Council a few days before…
"Padawan Usagi Tsukino," Jedi Master Mace Windu began. "Before we declare judgment, do you have anything to say in your defense?"
"I did what I had to do. I can't explain it, but it was necessary for me to take the assassin out of the battle."
"And you had the right to defend a known bounty hunter and apparent assassin?" interjected another Jedi council member. "The Jedi do not do such a thing."
"Masters, but has my Padawan been wrong before?" asked Obi-Wan Kenobi. "Her intuition has been valuable to us and her training."
"Not to mention that her 'bag of tricks' saved my life," said Qui-Gon. "I say that makes up for her lack of protocol etiquette."
"Yeah!" yelled Anakin, who was thankful that Usagi saved his hand, even though she was the cause for the lost of her hand in the first place.
"Be quiet, Anakin!" admonished Jinn.
"Sorry, master..."
"And we have taken this into account," said Windu. "But an example must be set."
"Padawan Saotome," Yoda began. "Do you have a statement to make?"
Ranma, who was standing in the back with Ami, steps forth.
"If I may," began Ranma, "I would like to propose something that will help everyone here."
"Idea, you have?" asked Master Yoda.
Later, after the wedding ceremony on Naboo…
"I still can't believe that Jedi Council has placed you on suspension," Anakin said, as he waited for his bride Padme to finish thanking the minister who married them. It was bad enough that he and her married in secret, but it really sucked to have Usagi receive a discommendation as part of the suspension.
"I can see their point, Ani," Usagi replied. "They want a clear hierarchy with enforceable rules. I just hated seeing Master Jinn being roped into being a member of the Jedi Council as a condition for me to not be booted out of the order entirely."
"Well, I don't see why Ranma sold you out like that."
"I didn't sell her out," Ranma says. "I said that perhaps Usagi could go on leave for a while."
"But with the Clone Wars-" Anakin begins.
"I agree with Ranma, Ani," Usagi said. "The Jedi Order doesn't need to have any distractions right now. Besides, this is just a temporary thing. I'll be back before you know it."
"I'll definitely make a formal complaint to the Jedi Council on your behalf, Usagi," Padme said, after she concluded her conversations with the Justice Minister.
"Don't worry about me. Just look at it as a much needed vacation."
"But what if the council needs you?" Anakin asks. "What if Master Kenobi needs you? What if… I need you?"
"I assured the council that they can always contact me through a special transceiver that I gave to Master Kenobi. Speaking of which, he'll take over your training, so you will be WAY too busy to think about little ol' me."
"If you say so…"
"Well, I'll definitely look after Ani," Ranma said, as he punched Ani in the shoulder.
"Ow!"
"But visit us when you are ready to do so," Padme said. "And don't be a stranger."
"Don't worry, I won't be," Usagi said, as she hugged her friend.
"Please, be careful…Usagi," said Anakin, as he hugged his long time friend.
"I do just that," Usagi said, followed by a long kiss on the mouth.
"USAGI! THAT'S MY HUSBAND YOU'RE KISSING!"
"Relax, Padme. It's just a kiss."
"Yeah, right," Anakin replied, as he rubbed his lips with his hand.
"Yeah. THUMPER! Time to go."
The cabbit, who was sad that he was leaving his friends C3-P0 and R2-D2, yowled sadly.
"BEEB-BEEP-beep-be-rr-BEEP!"
"We will miss you as well, little one," Threepio says.
"Wait! Let's get our picture taken, before you go," Padme said, as she directs an attendant to take their picture.
"Alright," said Usagi, as she gets into position. "Say 'cheese'!"
"What's 'cheese'?" asked Anakin.
"Sigh. Nevermind."
Just as the photograph was taken, Usagi gave Ranma a smooch on the cheek, causing his patented pigtail to stand on its end.
CLICK!
As it stands, T'Pol will remain with Padme, while Hoshi goes back to Tattooine with Usagi. Ranma will further his Jedi studies under Obi-Wan, until Usagi returns.
"In the end, I knew that the Clone Wars were a prelude for much dark times, but there was nothing I or anyone else can do about."
Tbc.