Star Trek: Ranma's Story 75 – 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 75
Location: Axion.
In a distance, a Jedi Padawan and his Jedi Master, who is riding a "beast of burden", are running across a charred field…followed by scores of Galactic Republic Cloned Troops. Ranma Saotome, the apprentice of the great Yoda, grabbed his lightsaber…
SNAP! Hzzzzz…
KRISH! KRISH! KRISH!
Ranma deftly blocked the droid firepower, as he and his compatriots drove straight the droid columns…
"So, what was this 'Clone War' like?" Uhura asked.
"Sigh. It was a needless exercise in futility. Sure, we saved lives, and all, but in the end, the war was noting more than a set up to allow ONE man to take over the Lucas Galaxy. And trust me, I have no problem fighting for a cause…done so many times, especially in the Rifts. But it's kinda a let down when you when the battles, but end up loosing the war. Nevertheless, I fought by my old Master's side; he the 'High General', while I was the General that assist him."
"Wow."
"'Wow' indeed. Still, with the war spreading beyond Geonosis, it became apparent that more help was needed. And so a small delegation of Jedi went to Tattooine to retrieve an old friend…"
The two Jedi knights walked down the bustling streets that led to their destination. When they arrived, they saw a funny-looking creature repairing something. When they stood in front of the creature, he looked up.
"Oh, it's YOU," Watto smirked. "Want your old job back?"
"Um, we're looking for a Usagi," Ranma said. "She around?"
The creature looks at the two closely. Then he scoffs.
"No, she's not."
"He knows something," Kenobi whispers. "I don't like him."
"Wait for a moment-"
Just then, a hover truck comes rambling down the street.
Beep! Beep!
"Hey, watch where you're going!" said a store neighbor.
"Watch out for yourself!" said the truck driver, as the truck came to a stop. "Yo, Watto! Open up the shop."
"You got the stuff?" the creature replied, as he flew the cab.
"Yeah."
"Well, I want to check the stuff out before checking it in."
"Whatever," the driver said, as SHE stepped out of the cab. Her long, blond hair was tied in a single braid. She wore a pair of driving goggles, a "tank top", heavy gloves, khaki pants and boots. She also wore a utility belt full of various tools. "You check it out, while I-"
Then, the girl stopped and looked at the two girls. She then removed her goggles.
"R…Ranma?" the girl said.
"Hey, Usagi," replied Ranma.
The two old friends hug.
When they broke their hug.
"When did you get here?"
"Today, actually," Kenobi says.
"Master Kenobi," Usagi said with a nod.
"Hello, Usagi. You are looking well."
"I-"
"Well, well, well," Watto smirked. "Usagi, socialize your own time!"
"Shut up, Watto! Look, you two wait inside the shop, while bring the truck inside."
A short time later, after Usagi gets cleaned up, the three friends were having a late lunch. Usagi's pet cabbit Tho-Ohki (also known as "Thumper") sat at his spot on the table, nibbling on a carrot.
"You really made something out of yourself, Usagi," Kenobi said. "Though I am concerned about the sort of people you associate yourself with."
"Master, I'm not judgmental, you know," Usagi said. "Not everything can be tied up nice and neat."
Just then, Hoshi Sato steps out in the front.
"Hey, guys," says Hoshi.
"Hello, Miss Sato," Kenobi says with a nod.
"Hey, Hoshi," Ranma says. "How's business?"
"What do you think?"
"Oh, yeah, I forgot," replies Ranma, remembering the times HE worked for the junk man.
"So, what do you do here?" Kenobi asks.
"Mostly, I procure stuff for Watto for us to sell or repair. Mostly, it's legal, but-"
"You're a criminal?" Kenobi said shockingly.
"In some manner, yes. There are some places that prevent to shipment of certain medicines and supplies, even if lives can be saved. I rather follow the laws of these lands, but I don't blindly follow anyone just because they're in a position of authority."
"I see."
So…what brings you by?" Usagi asked as she was wiping her hands of oil and grease.
"We are here to formally ask for your return. The Jedi Council has agreed to lift your suspension early, in light of the developing problem regarding the Separatists."
"Besides, Usagi, I doubt Dooku can do without eccentric humor," Ranma smirked.
"Usagi, whatever you may think of my opinion of you as a Jedi, know this: I have never disliked you," Kenobi says. "That is why I came here personally to ask for you to return to the fold."
"We need you, Usagi," Ranma says. "I need you."
"Hmmm," Usagi mused. "Okay."
Usagi then turn to Hoshi.
"Can you manage the store while I'm away?"
"Sure…but don't you want me to come with you?" Hoshi asked.
"I don't want you to get hurt. Besides…SOMEbody has to watch Watto's cash flow."
"Hey!"
A few days later, Usagi stood in front of the Jedi Council on Coruscant, the capital of the Galactic Republic. She was dressed in her Brown/tan Jedi outfit. Her hair was back into its Odango hairstyle, with the Padawan "rat's tail". Standing next to her was her mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi. Behind them was Jedi Padawan Ranma Saotome and Ami Mizuno.
"Padawan Usagi Tsukino," Master Yoda began. "Of your return, glad we are."
"I am glad as well, Master Yoda," Usagi replied. "I promise to uphold the traditions of the Jedi Order."
"Good," Master Windu interjected. "See that you do that."
After the meeting, Usagi stepped outside into the hall. There, waiting for her was Ami and Luna, as well as her old friend-
"Anakin!" Usagi cried, as she hugged Padawan Anakin Skywalker. "How's it going?"
"I've been doing fine, Usagi," Anakin replied. "I'm glad that they decided to let you back in earlier."
"Me, too, Ani."
"If you excuse me, I need to see Master Jinn. But we'll talk later."
"For the next few months, Usagi continued her training and performed her duties. For her probation period, she went on various missions with Kenobi and Anakin, since there were no other Jedi Masters available. I was busy with Ami on various reconnaissance assignments, so I learned of what Usagi and the others did from second hand sources. At any rate Usagi, Obi-Wan and Anakin led their contingent of cloned troops of the Galactic Republic on various battlefields. And then, disaster struck."
During a supply run on the icy planet Ca'Tana, Trade Federation Troops set up an ambush for the Forces of the Galactic Republic. Usagi grabbed the nearest troop transport.
"Usagi!" Kenobi yelled, as he directed the supply line.
"I'll hold off the robot assault team!" Usagi yelled, as she took the controls of the transport.
"Damn that girl!" Kenobi swore. "Alright, Anakin! Help redirect the rest of the troop movements."
"But, Master, Usagi-!"
"No, 'buts', Padawan! Padawan Usagi is given us the opportunity to make a strategic retreat. Let's not waste this opportunity."
Anakin looks up at the departing transport ship.
"I'm on it."
Meanwhile, Usagi was holding her own, trying to draw fire away from the supply lines.
"Here goes nothing…"
A few minutes later…
BOOM!
"USAGI!" Anakin cried, as his transport ship sped away.
Kenobi looked down.
"Damn."
Later, after the GR troops have moved on…
"What a mess," Count Dooku, the leader of the separatist movement, said, as he surveyed the battlefield. "Still, we continue to control this planet."
"Sir, we found something," said a robotic aide.
"Oh?" Count Dooku said, as he walked to a medical transport. When he arrived, he face turned from an expression of surprise to happiness.
"It looks like the game is a foot," Dooku said, as he smiled at what he saw. What he saw was an unconscious Padawan Usagi Tsukino. Somehow, she had survived the downing of her transport while trying to provide a distraction.
"You will serve our purposes well, girl."
Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant.
"I'm telling you, Usagi is alive," Ranma said, as he stood across from the Jedi Council. "I just need time to track her down-"
"We do not have the resources to devote to her location," Master Windu says. "As soon as we have the time-"
"No, we MAKE the time."
"I beg your pardon?"
"When I joined the Order, I did so with the notion that the Jedi represent something bigger than ourselves. I have NO problem fighting for you or for the principals that we strive for, but I'll be damned if I'm going to abandon a comrade simply for the sake of convenience."
Windu arches his eyebrow, and then nods his head towards Yoda. Yoda then rose from his seat.
"All rise," Yoda said, as the Jedi Council members stood. Each one brought out their lightsabers to bear.
SNAP! Hzzzz…
"Padawan Ranma Saotome knell."
Not sure of what's going on, Ranma did as he was told.
"By standing up for the beliefs of this Order, you have shown your worthiness of being a full fledge Jedi Knight."
Yoda then placed his 'saber close to Ranma's left shoulder.
"By the right of the Jedi…"
Yoda moves his 'saber over to Ranma's right shoulder.
"By the honor of the Jedi, I name you 'Knight-"
In a single stroke, Yoda slices off Ranma's Padawan braid.
"-Of the Republic."
"Rise, Master Saotome," Windu said.
"'Master'?" Ranma queried, as he did as he was told.
"Taken into account of your other experiences, we have," Yoda says. A moment later, Ami enters the council chambers.
"Padawan Mizuno, Master Saotome will be your teacher until further notice," Windu says.
"Yes, sir."
"Master Saotome, you will work with Master Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker on Muunilist. Once you all have successfully taken that planet, we will devote the resources towards your search."
Ranma nods, thinking that at least he got some sort of promise from the council.
And so the battle for Muunilist begins.
Meanwhile…
"Impressive. You have successfully hid your true presence, but my host has no need for a spy."
Count Dooku was on some unknown planet, looking for the instrument for which Darth Sidious, a Sith Lord, needed to implement. For the past two months, he worked on preparing that instrument for use. So, he wanted to evaluate that "instrument".
Dooku's robed companion, who used illusionary means to hide from Dooku's senses, turned towards Dooku, nodded, and leaped into the arena of mercenaries and monsters.
When the robed figure landed on the floor below, the person's robes were thrown away. Underneath those robes was girl. Bald with severe-looking beauty, the girl wore a long, black, flowing (pleated) skirt that was parted in the middle. A long, cloth-like belt wrapped around her waste and down the front, which was held by a black buckle. Black ribbons (also black and white stripes) were wrapped around her forearms. Much of her body was wrapped in bandages, while a second layer of white cloth, attached to a striped (black and white) turtleneck, covered her torso. She also sported heavy eyeliner that highlighted her blank expression.
The girl quickly surveyed the arena, as the other combatants rushed her. With a casual wave, two of the combatants flew back, while a third tried to torch the girl. With a flip, the girl leaped over the robotic flamer. The droid then switched to missiles to blast her. Then, at super speed, the girl ran away, drawing fire to the lesser combatants, killing them instantly. With yet another leap, the girl got behind the droid. When it tried to turn around, the girl flicked her wrist, sending the droid up into the ceiling, destroying it instantly. The other combatants were stunned at first. However, the girl beckoned them to come after her. As they rushed her, the girl rained down boulders onto her foes. Only one foe, a huge monster, survived the "raining". It twirled its weapon, a huge ball and chain, at the girl, forcing her to draw her own weapons: a pair of blue and green light sabers.
SNAP! SNAP! Hzzzzzzz…
The monster roared, and tried to swing its weapon onto the girl's head. As the girl leaped, she cut the chain in half. Now standing on opposite sides, the girl and the monster rushed each other in a final assault…
SLICE!
A moment later, the monster collapsed onto the ground.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
The girl looks up at Count Dooku, raises her weapons in salute, and bows.
"You are more powerful than I have sensed," Count Dooku says from her perch.
"The dark side is strong within me. For I am…SITH," Usagi Tsukino says, as she raises her head. She had a wicked smile plastered on her face.
"During the campaign on Muunilist, a Sith Acolyte attacked Anakin, and drew him off-planet to Yavin 4. It turned out that this Sith was a brain-washed Usagi, whose sole purpose to eliminate Anakin, as a means of proven her loyalty to the Sith. Thankfully, Ami and I followed him and were able to prevent an even worse tragedy from happening. Restored to normal, Usagi returned to the fold, and the battle against the Separatists continued. Heck, she even got a promotion afterwards, along with Ami and Anakin…though he resented the fact Usagi was made 'Master' before he did."
"I see. How long was the war anyway?"
"Man, it went on for a few years. Or it went on for thirty, depending on whether or not you want to count the subsequent Rebellion or not as a separate thing. But the turning point occurred after Count Dooku had ordered his freaks to capture Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. At that point of the war, our fleet was returning to Coruscant, after destroying a research base that wanted to create super-soldiers for the Separatists. I mean, I've seen some pretty messed up operations that make the Nazi death camps look like an inconvenience, but to mutate a less sophisticated people into monsters were unforgivable…which is why I had NO problem when Anakin, in a fit of rage, slew the scientists responsible for what they had done. Sigh."
"What?"
"I should have been more on top of the situation where Ani was concerned. His mother was nearly killed by Tusken Raiders, and would have died if Usagi weren't there with him. And on our way back, we received word that some freak named General Grievous, with the help of his acolytes, had murdered several Jedi Masters in the process of kidnapping the chancellor…including Master Jinn. Anakin took his death particularly hard, since he was like a father to him. So with that in mind, we returned to Coruscant, ready to rescue Palpatine from Dooku's clutches."
"Did you succeed?"
"What do you think?"
"I guess not…"
"No, we DID defeat Dooku's forces at Coruscant. Usagi and Anakin were the first to board 'The Invisible Hand' and deal with Dooku. Unfortunately, Anakin disobeyed his orders by needlessly taking his life. Grievous, who turned out to be a multi-armed, fully converted 'cyborg' that took down many of the Jedi's ranks, had managed to escape before Usagi had a chance to deal with him. It wasn't until later that Usagi and I tracked down Grievous, and learned exactly how he was able to take down…"
Location: Utapau.
Jedi Knights General Usagi Tsukino, General Ami Mizuno and General Ranma Saotome accompanied Jedi Knight High General Obi-Wan Kenobi to the last stronghold. Since Jedi Knight General Anakin Skywalker was selected by the chancellor to represent him on the Jedi Council, Anakin stayed behind on Coruscant.
"I guess that you would want to lead the troops, Master Kenobi," Usagi says.
"Only if I need to, Usagi," Kenobi replied. "You've earned that right…you all have."
Usagi smiles at that.
Upon touching the surface of the planet, the final assault on the forces of General Grievous was fierce. The war was at a crossroads of sorts. During the fight, Ami, who was in a mobile command unit, was wounded in the crossfire, and had to be evacuated to The Serenity, there flagship. After hours of fighting, Kenobi Ranma and Usagi had Grievous cornered.
"This is the end of the line, General," said Kenobi, as he and his fellow knights do battle.
Grievous merely snarled, as he charged forward.
Working as one, Usagi and Kenobi blocked the attacks. Then, they countered the attacks; Ranma took the high road, Usagi took the low road and Kenobi went straight for the center.
And then, something happened.
At the last second, Grievous kicked Usagi down. Taken advantage of this, Grievous bared down on her, like a spinning blade of death…
"No!" yelled Kenobi, as he moved to intercept the attack.
SLICE!
Grievous was able to hold Ranma back with his other arms, as he finished off Kenobi.
Just as Usagi could see again, she saw what had happened Kenobi.
"No…NOOOOOOO!" Usagi cried.
"Well, that's one Jedi," Grievous smirked, as he began to laugh maniacally.
Ranma, seeing his comrade down, fought harder. Using Grievous' own weapons, the pig-tailed Jedi guided his own weapon against Grievous' and…
SLICE!
Ranma managed slice off an arm.
"Why you-!"
SLICE! SLICE!
"Argh!" Grievous says, as he runs away.
"Usagi, take care of him!" Ranma said, as he ran after Grievous…
"I did manage to take down Grievous eventually," Ranma says. Unfortunately, things would go from bad to worse. Evidence had mounted that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine had masterminded the events that led to the Clone Wars. In fact, it was Jedi Masters Mace Windu and Yoda hadn deduced that Palpatine was, in fact the dread Sith Lord Sidious. And when Windu went to arrest Palpatine, he revealed his true prowess by slaying Windu and his entourage…with Anakin Skywalker's help. I didn't find this out until later that Palpatine was grooming Anakin to fight on his side, and was more than willing to sacrifice Darth Maul, Count Dooku (aka "Darth Tyrannus"), and Sith Acolytes Asajj Ventress and General Grievous to succeed in this endeavor. And when Anakin stabbed Windu in the back, he became his new apprentice- Darth Vader. And thus, the purging of the Jedi began, when Palpatine initiated 'Order 66'."
A day later…
"Usagi," said a voice.
"Uhhh," Usagi says, as she wakes up. Ever since that fight with Grievous, she's been in and out of sleep, not wanting to deal with the loss of Obi-Wan. With her were Thumper, Yoda and Ranma were on the Alderaan ship helmed by Bail Organa
"Oh, Master Yoda."
"Listen well, young one," Yoda says. "Made their move, the Sith have…"
"And we need to take care of a few things on Coruscant," Ranma says grimly. "But first, we need to go to the Jedi Temple to find out what the hell happened."
With Ami left in Bail's care, Yoda, Ranma and Usagi went to the Jedi Temple…
SLICE!
"Argh!" yelled a Clone Trooper.
Hzzzz-SNAP!
Ranma shuts off his lightsaber, as he, Yoda and Usagi enters the security records room, where they discovered the truth behind Palpatine's schemes, and how Anakin was involved.
"DAMN!" Ranma roared, as he punched a fist through a wall…after seeing the security recordings of what took place in both the temple and in Palpatine's office.
"Stop, they must be," Yoda says.
"Then let me be the one to do so," Ranma says. "I…owe it to him."
"Master, let me go after Palpatine," Usagi says. "I am a Cosmos-Knight-"
"No, confront Palpatine I will," says Yoda. "The honor of the Jedi, it is."
"Very well, Master," says Usagi dejectedly.
"Good luck, young ones."
After going underground, Ranma and Usagi paid Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo a visit…
"You…you can't be telling the truth!" Padme laments.
"As irresponsible as Usagi tends to be," T'Pol begins, as she hands Padme her tea, "she has always been truthful."
For a while, she has been serving Padme as her assistant in matters of state.
Padme looks at Usagi, and then at Ranma, who was doing his best to avoid looking at her.
Usagi then clasped Padme's hands. Earlier in the month, Usagi, T'Pol, Hoshi and Padme had gotten together to give Padme a baby shower.
"All we want to bring Anakin back from the Darkside. If he is willing to surrender, I'm sure he'll be fine."
"Yes," Ranma says. "You'll have my word that he won't be harmed. We just need to find him first."
Padme looks at T'Pol, then at Ranma and finally at Usagi.
"I…I don't know where he is."
Usagi sighed, as she stands up.
"Thank you for the tea, Padme."
"But-" Ranma began.
"No, Ranma, let's go."
As Usagi and Ranma leave in an air speeder, Padme turns to T'Pol.
"I want you to inform Naboo that I will take a personal leave of absence; Ambassador Binks shall take over my duties for the time being. And I will take C3-P0 with me."
"What shall I tell them about destination?"
"Tell them nothing. This is a personal matter."
"Very well," T'Pol says, as she secretly activates the micro-homing device that was planted in Padme's clothes. Earlier, Usagi and Ranma about what had happened, and made some arrangement in the event that Padme would try to find Anakin contacted T'Pol; their visit was for the express purpose of prompting the much-needed response necessary to locate Anakin…
"We waited until Padme left Coruscant before following her. We ended up in Mustafar, a literal hellhole that served as both a home for a refinery station. Anakin was sent there to get the Separatists to surrender…while conveniently eliminating them. We came upon the scene to see Anakin choking Padme, accusing her of betraying his trust. Attacking Padme was bad enough, but when he attacked Usagi, using the 'Force Lightning' technique on her for trying to help Padme, that was the end of the line for me where Anakin was concerned…"
Location: Mustafar.
BLAM! BLAM!
Ranma blocked Anakin's blows, as they leaped upon the hover platforms that dotted the river of lava.
"You will pay for your lies!" Anakin said, as he swung his sword to take Ranma's head.
Ranma moved to block.
"Open your damn eyes, Anakin! The Emperor is EVIL!"
"No, I don't believe you!"
Anakin managed to slice off one end of Ranma's lightsaber, just as Ranma leaps off to a nearby ledge.
"It's over!" Ranma said, as he threw his weapon into the river of lava. "I got the high ground!"
"That doesn't matter. I will be victorious!"
Anakin somersaulted over to Ranma, intent on cutting him down…
FWISH!
A blade made of light appeared in Ranma's hand. In a single stroke, Ranma cut off Anakin's arms and legs with his 'psi-sword'.
Anakin had forgotten about his "Cyber-Knight" background.
"AHHHHH-!"
Anakin rolled close to the river of lava, and began to burn…
RANMA!
Usagi? Ranma thought telepathically.
HURRY!
Ranma took one last look at Anakin burning before turning to leave…
"Anakin was a good man who gave into his anger one too many times…and Palpatine used that to his advantage," Ranma says, as he tosses his cup of coffee into the trash bin. "He didn't die from his wounds, by the way. He ended up in an environmental suit that made his 'Darth Vader' persona all the more horrific and menacing."
"So, what happened to you and Usagi after your encounter?"
"Anakin had caused Padme to asphyxiate to the point of near death. We needed to act quickly if we were to save Padme's babies. So we moved them to another…womb."
Uhura arched an eyebrow.
"Which 'womb'?"
"Mine."
"You didn't!"
"Well, Usagi was the only medically trained Jedi out of the two of us, and I couldn't take the chance to allow Anakin's legacy to die out."
"Couldn't Usagi, um use magic to heal Padme?"
"There was no telling if the process of saving Padme's life would jeopardize the twins'-"
"'Twins'?"
"Yep. When they were born, they were named 'Luke' and 'Leia', as Padme wanted them to be named."
"And Padme…?"
"We had stabilized her condition. However, when we learned that Anakin was still alive, we knew that the twins' lives would be jeopardized. So…with Bail and Master Yoda's permission, we had Padme placed in suspended animation until 'the heat' was off of us. After the twins were able to be moved, I took Leia to Alderaan, and would pose as her nursemaid and nanny-"
"You purposely remained…female?"
"For the most part, I had no choice. When Palpatine defeated Master Yoda in battle, he used his victory as a rallying cry 'proving' that the Jedi needed to be destroyed. So, he instituted a pogrom to finish off what was left of the Jedi. Usagi stayed put on Tattooine, primarily to watch over Luke, while I used my female form, since very few people knew about it, to watch over Leia and move around the galaxy. Yoda, from his place on Dagobah, guided me, as I formed a 'Jedi Underground' with the few remaining Jedi out there. I would face…'Darth Vader' many times before Fate intervened…"
Tbc.
Author's note: More to come ASAP. Later!