Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 84
Location: Torona IV (a week later).
Ever since the Federation sought to open dialogue with reclusive insectoid race known as the Jaradan (pronounced using the Spanish inflection), Captain Jean-Luc Picard was selected to open talks, since he was the captain of Starfleet's flagship Enterprise-D. Since Lt. Usagi Tsukino had diplomatic experience, and had experience with the being part of a hive (vis-à-vis her xenomorphic heritage), she was going over protocol with Picard.
"…And you must pronounce their language using the Spanish inflection," Usagi said, as she handed her documentation to Picard, as they sat in the Ready Room. "From my experience, the Jaradan are a complete jerks when it comes to perceptions of respect."
"I see. Say, how come YOU are not doing this?"
"Because, I'm not the Captain of the Enterprise-D," Usagi said. "If I did the negotiations, that would be, to the Jaradan, a show of disrespect. Besides, I'm not ready to go back to the Diplomatic Corp."
"Great…"
"Why don't you take a break for a while? I work with Counselor Troi to do the heavy lifting, while you relax."
"You may have a point there. I'll do it!"
And so Picard decided to indulge himself in a holodeck fantasy. With that in mind, he invited, Lt/Com Data and Dr. Crusher, along with on-staff historian Dr.Whalen and-
"Sir, why do I have to participate in your…'Dixon Hill' fantasy?" Lt. Ranma Saotome said, as he straightened out his suit and tie. "I just wanted to relax today."
"Think of this as form of relaxation, Mr. Saotome," Picard said.
Before Ranma could respond-
FWISH!
Lianna appears in front of Ranma, still dressed as something out of a 'Heavy Metal" magazine cover.
"Ranma Saotome, I would like to go over your next assignment-"
"Forget it, Lianna. As I was trying to say to Captain Picard, I want to RELAX today."
Lianna looks around, and then at the group.
"What matter of activity is going on here?" Lianna asked. Her stature towered over everyone on the ship.
"We are about to participate in a holodeck activity," said Data.
"You are invited to come along, Miss Lianna," Picard said. "However…you must be in the attire similar to Dr. Crusher."
"I can help you find the proper clothing-" Crusher began.
"That will not be necessary," Lianna said, as her eyes flashed…
FLASH!
Lianna was now dressed in the clothes that would be suited to a female from the mid-1930s. In fact, her clothes looked EXACTLY like Dr. Crushers.
"Impressive," Dr. Whalen says in amazement.
"I am ready to…indulge myself in your activity, Jean-Luc Picard."
"Okay, then. Let's be off…"
The scene where the story of Dixon Hill took place was on the eve of World War II, in the city of San Francisco. As far as the characters in the "holo-novel" was concerned, they were the friends of "Dixon Hill" (i.e. Picard). Still, Data and Lianna's presence needed to be explained…
At a local police precinct…
"So, Dix," said the desk sergeant. "Who are your friends?"
"This is Data, he's from…er…"
"South America," Data replied, using a slightly Latino accent.
"And the dame in blue?"
"This is my…sister Lianna," Crusher says.
"Hello, human," Lianna replies flatly.
"We're from…Kansas."
"I can see how…healthy your sister is, but why is she blue?"
"She was born that wayfrom a lack of…oxygen."
"Ah, I see…"
Meanwhile, a routine maintenance program uncovered a faulty power coupling (basically, a junction box). While fixing the problem, a surge in the power occurred. Unfortunately, some of the ship's systems malfunctioned…including the holodeck. At the same, one Dixon Hill's enemies shot Dr. Whalen…for real.
"What…happened?" Whalen said, as he dropped to the floor. Ranma caught the man, as Data began to rush the shooter.
"I don't think so," the shooter said as he pointed his gun at Lianna.
Picard smiled.
"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you," Picard said.
"Oh, what is this GIRL is going to do to me?"
Lianna examined the shooter.
"You are nothing more than a hard-light construct," Lianna said. Then, she raised her right palm…
"What are…you…doing…?"
Streams of light particles began to unravel within the shooter, until the shooter evaporated.
"Impressive," Data says.
"We have to get Whalen to 'Sickbay'," Crusher says, as she worked on Whalen's wound.
"And with the safeties apparently offline, the holodeck can't be opened," Data says.
Picard looks at the holodeck exit, and then at Ranma.
"Ranma, can you-?"
"Already on it," Ranma said, as he stood up. He then extended his aura to envelop his companions…
FWISH!
Ranma and company reappeared in Sickbay.
"Well, that's that," Ranma said, as he turned to leave. "I'll get Geordie's attention on the problem."
"I will accompany Ranma," Data says, as he turns to leave.
"You'll be okay," Picard said, as he helps Crusher to put Whalen on a nearby bio-bed.
"Thanks for the good…time…"
"Shh, it will be okay," says Crusher. Dr. Soren (a Vulcan) and Nurse Ogawa appeared to relieve her.
Whalen on nods her response.
Lianna stood there for a moment, as she went back to her usual attire (or lack there of).
"Captain Picard, thank you for…inviting me on your excursion," Lianna says.
"You are quite welcome, Miss Lianna. We can always use another contributing member of the crew."
Lianna thinks for a moment.
"I will…consider your words. Until then, I bid you farewell."
FWISH!
And Lianna was gone.
Eventually, the Jaradan show up. Still dressed in his Dixon Hill costume, Picard is successful in opening up the very first stage of dialogue between them and the Federation.
Location: Omicron Theta III (a week later).
"So…we're back," Ranma said, as he parked the Enterprise-D around the planet. The Enterprise-D was on a routine re-supply run, when Riker noticed their flight path. Upon closer scrutiny, Riker learned that Ranma was part of the original team that investigated the disappearance of the colonists on Omicron Theta.
"So…you've really been here before?" Commander Riker asked.
"Yes," Ranma replied. "We didn't stay long because of concerns over an unusual form of ambient energy."
"Also, Lt. Saotome was the one who found me," Lt/Com. Data interjects. "It was he and his step-daughter Ambassador T'Sara of Vulcan that found me in Dr. Noonien Soong's laboratory."
"Well, since we are here…Number One, take an Away Team to see if anything has changed since Lt. Saotome was last here."
"Aye, sir."
On the mission were Riker, Worf, Yar, Saotome, Data and Tsukino. When they rematerialized on the planet surface, they noticed sparse patches of vegetation.
"I thought that what ever caused this colony's demise also took away both plant and animal life?" Riker asked.
"Before my team left, we scattered several tons of spores on the planet, in an effort to restore its ecosystem," Ranma says. "This world is still a long ways from being a sustainable world."
"I agree," Usagi said, as she took her readings. "I could accelerate the process for re-growth-"
"We'll see," Riker says, as he looks around.
"Sir," Worf says, as he and Yar goes up to Ranma. "Where is Dr. Soong's laboratory?"
"Yes, there might be traps around, if there have been scavengers around," Yar says.
Ranma nods. Even though he resealed Dr. Soong's lab, it's been thirty years since he has last been here. And since the Ferengi are starting to move into this region of space, he wouldn't be surprise if they visited this place.
"Okay, people, let's move on…"
Thanks to newer sensors, more of Dr. Soong's lab was discovered, including a trunk of disassembled android parts…including a fully realized 'positronic brain'.
"What do you think?" Riker said to Usagi, who was a trained cyberneticist.
"Well," Usagi said, as she examined the brain. "I'm sure that whatever is not available, we can synthesize parts. What do you think, Commander Data?"
Data picks up the head…HIS head.
"It would be good to have a…brother."
"This place is 'clean'," Yar says.
"What shall we do next?" Worf says.
Riker looks around.
"Ranma, Worf- you two should conduct a thorough search of the area. Whatever happened here might return…"
After breaking orbit, the Enterprise-D resumed its original course. Meanwhile, Usagi, Geordie, Dr. Crusher and Data were in "surgery". Data would serve as the blueprint for which Usagi and Geordie would assemble a new Soong-type android; Dr. Crusher would serve as their eyes and ears (as well as casual observer). After all, Data was a member of the Enterprise-D crew, so Dr. Crusher had to know how the android worked.
"Scalpel," Usagi said. She was dressed in medical clothes. She was a certified medical doctor, after all.
"Scalpel," Geordie replies.
"Pliers."
"Pliers."
"Lemon iced tea."
"Lemon…iced tea?"
"Yeah, I'm thirsty."
Nurse Ogawa pours tea into Usagi's mouth from a sports bottle.
"Okay, Doctor, I need a play-by-play on the assembling of the nervous system."
"Very well," Dr. Crusher says. "I'm ready for the mapping process…"
Thus, after Data gave some of his "blood", to serve as the basis for the replicators to make more, "Lore", Data's twin brother, was born.
And there lies the problem.
While Lore was being assembled, Ranma was going over the old encryption files that he had original discovered on Omicron Theta III. He could have used his Power Ring to solve the problem of the encryption, but this was something he needed to do himself.
"Problem?" Riker asked. He was suppose to have took in some training with Ranma, but, at the last minute, he abruptly cancelled all of his classes, and thus left it up to Yar to teach the classes in his stead.
"I'm not sure," Ranma said, as he scanned throngs and throngs of data. "I never solve the mystery concerning what happened to the colonists on Omicron Theta III, but it strikes me as odd as to what happened. At least with a planetary bombardment, there would have been some noticeable signatures."
"And this file…"
"Actually, these are Data's "memories".
"Really?"
"Yes. Apparently, Usagi discovered that what was thought of as 'background' noise, where actually the colonists' memories patterns installed in Data's brain. So now that I have them as 'copy', although encrypted, I am comparing them with what data I have gathered from my investigation."
"You could just let Data handle this."
"True, but because he is too close to the source, Data may not be helpful. And…I need to have some sort of 'completion'."
"Oh. Well, keep me informed."
"I'll do that."
As Ranma reassumed his work, there was something about Lore that was nagging him. In each entry, there was a log concerning problems that the colonists had problems with one of Dr. Soong's creation…
Meanwhile, Lore was up and about, admiring everything that his 'brother' Data was doing. What was striking was how emotional Lore was behaving.
"You have a good life, brother," Lore says jovially. "I want a uniform, too!"
"You will need to be properly acclimated first before joining Starfleet," Data says. "And then it will take some time before you can achieve a similar status like myself."
"I think that it will be easier for me to achieve your status, with me having emotions and all."
"Perhaps."
Then, the two androids see Usagi.
"Hi guys," Usagi says. "I just wanted to check on you, Lore."
"I'm quite alright, Miss Tsukino," Lore says. "I don't feel that there is anything out of place…"
"Excellent! Just be sure to let me of any serious problems, okay?"
"I'll do that," Lore said, as he takes a glance at Usagi's…chest.
After Usagi turns around, Lore began to lick his lips, in appreciation of what he could see of Usagi's backside.
"Lore, I think that it is inappropriate to behave in such a matter," Data says.
Lore huffs, as he turns to Data.
"See what I mean? You don't appreciate anything around here. That female would appreciate someone like ME."
"Lt. Tsukino is a married woman, so I do not think that what you are saying is a possibility."
As Data turns to leave, Lore looks positively angry.
"We'll see, my brother."
Later…
"Riker," Ranma said, as his body away from the control panel and towards the seated First Officer on the Bridge.
"What?"
"We got to find Lore. He's the key to what had happened to colonists!"
Ranma, after much effort, discovered that Lore was an earlier model of Dr. Soong's work. However, the emotional module was also a prototype, which was prone cause psychotic behavior. In fact, after being shunned, Lore, in an act of revenge, attracted the attention of an alien entity to the planet.
"Riker to Lore," Riker says.
Nothing.
"Riker to Data, please respond."
Still nothing.
"Riker to Lt. Yar, please assemble a security team. Yeoman Worf, you have the bridge."
"Aye, sir," Worf says, as he gets up from "CONN" to sit in the Captain's seat.
"Ranma, you're with me."
Meanwhile, in one of the cargo bays…
"Finally, we're here…Usagi," Lore says, as he drags Usagi's unconscious body. "I read all about you. In spite of you being a fleshy thing, you 'organic' cybernetics are enough to make us…compatible. They certainly were enough for me to figure out a way to take advantage of you. But first…"
Lore reroutes the ship's systems to tap directly into the deflector dish. He had an old friend to contact.
Meanwhile, Picard, having received word of what was going on, assumes command of the bridge.
"Status," Picard said, as he sits down in his command seat.
"We were trying to locate Lore, when this showed up," Worf says.
"On screen."
A white, crystalline entity appears. It looked like a mirrored Christmas tree.
"What is that…?" Counselor Troi asked. Then, she felt intense pain.
WHOOSH!
The entity stops, and began to fire upon the Enterprise-D.
Meanwhile…
"I've set the transporter coordinates to take us out into space as pure energy beings, my dear," Lore says. "Together, we will become ONE-"
"Hold it!" Yar says, as she and her security detail, and Ranma and Riker filed into the cargo bay.
"Let go of her!" Ranma demands.
"No!" Lore says, as he stepped unto the transporter pad with Usagi…and vanished.
"NO!" Ranma says, as he rushed over to the transporter panel with Riker. Desperately, he began to readjust the controls. He was trying to re-establish Usagi's energy patterns. After much effort, Ranma was successful.
"Oh…" Usagi said, as she collapsed in Ranma's arms.
"It will be okay."
Meanwhile, the crystalline entity, unable to take over the ship, moves off. Later, it was learned that Data was disabled long enough for Lore to copy his memories and files, which is why he was able to get access to the ship.
In Sickbay…
"Well, there is nothing wrong with Usagi," Dr. Crusher says. "She'll be okay."
"Then…why do I feel as if I lost something?" Usagi replied.
Sometime later, a trader ship picks up a complex energy pattern. Out of curiosity, the ship's crew uses their transporters to reassemble the pattern. Only, it turned out to be more than just one pattern.
It was Lore and his bride "Info"…who looked like Usagi, but with the same skin color as a Soong-type android.
Lore and Info were in their assigned quarters, deciding on what should be their next course of action. But first…
"There," Lore said, as he popped Info's skull and skin back into place. "State your function."
"My function is to serve you, my Master," Info smiled blankly.
"Excellent. Together, we will forge an empire…TOGETHER!"
Tbc.