Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 85
Location: Relva III (a month later).
On this day, the Enterprise-D was on shore leave for some much needed R&R. At the same time, Starfleet has issued the annual Starfleet Academy Entrance Examine, which Wesley Crusher has decided to take. Furthermore, for some strange reason, Starfleet has decided to investigate the command crew of the Enterprise-D…especially Ranma Saotome and Usagi Tsukino. Why this was happening, no one but the investigators knew.
In the conference room of the Bridge…
"Tell me, Lt. Saotome," said Lt/Com. Dexter Remmick, a thin man who wore the standard cranberry-red uniform. "Tell me, why did you decide to restart your Starfleet career from scratch."
Ranma sat back, and narrowed his eyes.
"You have my statement, Remmick."
"Ah, yes. I do. According to YOUR statement, you wanted a fresh perspective career-wise."
"That is correct."
"Well, personally, I feel you are afraid of making mistakes…like you did during the 'Hansen Expedition'."
Silence.
"Well?"
"Well, first, I'm surprised that you got that information Starfleet Intelligence. Second, I know for a FACT that if you delve deeper into my records, something will pop up to bite you in the behind."
Ranma got up menacingly. He then went over to Remmick.
"Just to give you a warning, I know a lot more things than you can possibly know. And if I find out if 'The Conspiracy' is real, people are going to know my bad side REAL quick. Understood?"
"How-?"
"I know people within Starfleet Command…among other things. You don't live to be my age without developing an extensive network of friends and allies."
Ranma turns to leave.
"Wait, I'm not done-"
Ranma merely glances back at Remmick with a look.
"Um, never mind. We're…done."
"I'm glad to hear that."
As Ranma leaves the conference room, he thinks about how stressful work as been lately. First, there were the women of Angel One…
The leaders of Angel One greeted Lt. Saotome, Counselor Troi, Lt. Tsukino-Saotome, and Lt. Yar on the Promenade of the Capital. Since the planet was controlled an oligarchy of pro-feminist women, they respected only fellow women. That is why Ranma was in his female form, since he (or, in this case, SHE) was in charge of the mission.
"So you are saying that the crew of the Odin refused to leave?" Ranma asked, as he accepted her tea from Beata.
"Indeed," said the woman. "Unfortunately, they think they are entitled to change our way of life."
"Perhaps a compromise can be had," Troi offered. "Especially since some of your people have taken these men as husbands."
"Perhaps…"
"At the very least, you should give them a hearing," Usagi says.
"It can't hurt," Yar interjects. "Being unreasonable will surely cause a disruption on your world."
"I can act as mediator, if you like," Ranma says.
Beata ponders Ranma's words.
"You have a deal, Miss Saotome."
And then there was the time when the Bynars, a race of cyberneticists, stole the Enterprise-D…
Ranma and Lianna were returning home from Oa, when they noticed the passing of the Enterprise-D at high warp speed. This was odd because he could have sworn that his ship was having its computer core upgraded at Starbase 84…
"Let's see what going on," Ranma said, as he went after his ship.
Lianna shrugged, and followed her Green Lantern.
A short time later…
"HOLD IT!" Picard and Riker said, as they appeared aboard the Bridge via the transporters. Since the ship's computer was being controlled by the Bynars, Picard had ordered the self-destruct device from the auxiliary room. Since the Enterprise-D Starbase 84, Picard and Riker were being pre-occupied on one of the holodecks. Now, with phaser guns on the ready, they wanted to get the drop on the Bynar thieves. Instead, they found Ranma working on the computer controls, while Lianna was tending to the unconscious Bynars (two pairs).
"The Bynars need their homeworld to be reactivated," Lianna says, as she held one of the Bynarys (who are short people with larger than normal size brains).
Picard steps forth, as he holstered his weapon.
"Explain."
Riker quickly interrupts.
"Sir, about the self-destruct button?"
"Oh, sorry about that, Number One."
After the ship's self-destruct device was deactivated, and after Lianna explains what was going on…
"Okay," Ranma said, as he danced his fingers across the panel. "All I need to do is download the Bynars 'boot' program to restore the Bynar planet to full capacity."
"You think you can do it?" Riker asked.
"I know that Usagi was the one who knows the ship's 'operation system', and I just got back from Colu as part of my advanced training in computer operations, so I know how to do a thing or two."
"But…it'll take two people to conduct the operation," Picard says.
"I know…"
BLIP!
Now, there were Ranma had a doppelganger by his side.
"How-?"
"Picked up a trick on Chikyuu. Remember?"
"Oh, I remember now."
At rapid speed, Ranma (and Ranma) conducted the operations that would begin to restart the central computer on Bynar. It had the effect of reviving the Bynars themselves, who would take over Ranma's operations.
And thus, everything returned to normal.
And then there was a problem concerning his old friend Admiral Mark Jameson…
Ranma stood in the way of Governor Karnas of Mordan IV's disrupter fire. Karnas' target was retired Admiral Mark Jameson, and old friend of Ranma and Usagi from the old days. Karnas had lured Jameson out of retirement out of a need for revenge. Why? Years ago, Karnas blames Jameson for his decision to give advance weaponry to the Mordanians as a condition for the release of Federation hostages during the" Mordan Civil War". Karnas was hoping to lure Jameson out of retirement to kill him, but was stunned to see that Jameson had some how made himself youthful again; he was equally stunned to see that Ranma Saotome was alive as well.
"Don't do this, Karnas!" Ranma says angrily. "If you want to kill anyone, then kill me!"
"Ranma, no!" Usagi said, as Jameson's wife Anne was holding her back.
"No, I made the decision to allow Jameson to go ahead with his plan. Remember?"
Usagi remembers that decision well. After all, Karnas held a close friend of Usagi from the Diplomatic Corp, a protégé of hers, hostage.
Karnas was now more determined to end Jameson and Ranma's lives.
"Then BOTH of you will die for 50 years of this…misery!"
"Wait!" Jameson managed to say. His renewed youth was taking toil on his body. "How dare you put this all on us? If you weren't so close-minded back then, forty-five years of pain and suffering would not have happened! You- ARGH!"
Jameson fell down, and clutched his chest in pain.
"Let me heal you-" Usagi said.
"Don't!" Jameson said. "I know that you can heal me, but…someone needs to pay for all this…"
Ranma knelt down, where his dying friend was being held in his wife's lap.
"Ranma…"
"I'm here, buddy," Ranma replied.
"Take care of Anne for…me…"
And with that, Admiral Jameson dies.
Karnas, seeing this, backs off from his threat.
"You're free to go, Ranma Saotome."
Ranma simply looks at Karnas, and then returns his attention to his friend. In the days ahead, Jameson would be buried on Mordan, where he would be saluted as a hero for his sacrifice.
Then there was the incident in the Epsilon Mynos system…
The Enterprise-D was requested to meet with the mysterious Aldeans, who were rumored to be related to the equally mysterious "Ancients". So when the crew went to investigate this race, they discovered a people with the ability to cloak their own planet.
"I sense thousands of minds nearby," Counselor Troi says.
BRIIINNG!
And entire planet suddenly appears. And then-
"Welcome to Aldea," said Radue, as he and his young protégé Rashella suddenly appear on the bridge of the Enterprise-D. "Sorry about suddenly appearing on your Bridge like that."
"We are glad that you have come," Rashella says. "We need help to solve a problem…"
It turned out that some ambient radiation from their power generator, the same one that allowed the Aldeans to hide their planet, was the cause of their sterility. Unfortunately, they didn't want to remove the source of the problem, but decided to kidnap the kids from the Enterprise-D…including Aikiko Saotome. To add insult to injury, the Aldeans knocked the Federation ship back to the heart of the Federation.
Big mistake.
Ranma Saotome hovered over the capital city of the Aldeans…with a Spirit Bomb.
Radue turns to Usagi and Picard.
"You have to stop him!" Radue says. "He…he is about to unleash a destructive force that could damage this planet's ecosystem for years to come!"
Picard steps forward.
"Ranma is a family man, Radue. And he will do anything to save his child."
Radue wanted to save his people, but the risks outweighed the rewards.
"Very well. Rashella? Bring the children."
Rashella brings all the kids, including Aikiko and Wesley Crusher. Aikiko comes running to her mother's arms.
"Mommy!"
"My baby!" Usagi said, as hugged her child.
Picard tapped his combadge.
"Picard to Saotome, it's over. The children are safe."
"Okay," Ranma replies, as he punts his weapon into deep space, where it can explode harmlessly.
"It's over for us…"Radue says.
"If you had listen to us the first time, we could have helped you," Picard said. "But you felt that you were SO superior, that you wouldn't accept our help."
"Well…we are a prideful people, I'm afraid," Rashella says.
Radue sighs.
"Can you still help us?"
Picard smiled.
"Always."
And finally there was yet another crystalline entity problem…
Ranma was part of the investigation to determine the cause of the industrial accidents on Vellera III. The colonists there were in the process of "terraforming" that planet, when the workers suddenly began to die at inexplicable ways. Thus, as an experienced investigator through both Starfleet Intelligence and the Inspector General Office, Picard assigned Ranma to work with both Worf and Riker to spearhead the search.
Thus far, Ranma's findings were coming up with an unusual pattern.
"I'm detecting a peculiar wave front," Ranma said, as he used his Tricorder to decipher his findings. "Worf, check this out."
At the moment, Worf and Ranma were inspecting the generators that were being used to change the planet's bio-sphere to an "M-Class" state. All M-Class planets are classified as "Earth-like".
"Notice the residue patterns-"
Worf looks at the cabling.
"And notice how the wave front pattern changes when a closer inspection is made; it's no longer just 'background noise'."
Worf takes a sampling of the residue.
"It is a crystalline-type matter."
"True."
"And…the patterns are much too complex to be anything but near-sentient-"
Ranma's senses rang out, as he detected a dangerous presence in the room.
"Worf, I need for you to take this sample directly to Riker," Ranma said, as he slowly gets up.
Worf stares at Ranma with a quizzical eye for a moment. However, he begins to understand what Ranma was implying.
"Understood."
After Worf leaves, Ranma flicks his right wrist, producing his lightsaber…
SNAP! Hzzzz-
BLAM! BLAM!
With fluid movements, Ranma blocked the energy discharge from a small, crystal-like object. He then forced the object into a corner, where his yellow-bladed 'saber was drawing and reverberating energy from the entity.
Ranma was thankful for taking that "seminar" from Jedi Master Mace Windu, who did the same thing to the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, during the waning days of the Old Republic in the Lucas Galaxy.
"Call off you attack," Ranma said, as he pressed forward. The Starfleeter has long since understood how handy a lightsaber was when dealing with energy-based entities. If he used his fists, he'd get creamed. If he used his chi-based attacks, he gets creamed. If he used a conductor like a sword, he runs the risk of getting creamed. A light saber is one of the few energy-based weapons that cannot be easily manipulated, and thus made a wonderful tool against the likes of the entity he is fighting now.
The entity began to crack…
"I know that you can understand me, so call off your attack, and you might live."
The entity then disappears.
Riker and Worf enter the room.
"Ranma, what happened?" Riker said, with phaser weapon raised.
Ranma looks at Riker with a confidant smile.
"I know what's going on…"
It turned out that the crystalline entities were actually a native species that lived within the planet itself. The process of terraforming had disturbed them to the point where they went out to attack the terraformers. In the end, Picard had the planet quarantined until further notice.
Man, what a month, Ranma thought, as he bumped into Wesley.
"Hey, Wesley," Ranma said. "What's up?"
"I…I didn't make it," Wesley replied dejectedly. "The examiner said that they wanted to invoke an 'affirmative action' policy, since one of my competitors is from a newly admitted Federation member world."
"Bummer. I guess the higher-ups believe that we 'hu-mons' breed like rats or something."
"I hope not," Wesley replied.
"You know, from my experience, there is a little-known rule that might help you. At least, until the next opportunity to go the Starfleet Academy…if you want one, that is."
Wesley thinks for a moment.
"Okay, what is it?"
A few days later…
"Well, let's be off," Picard said, as he sat back in his seat. On his right were Counselor Troi and Dr. Beverly Crusher. On his left were First Officer Commander Riker and the new Starfleet Strategic Officer Ranma Saotome (ironically based on Remmick's recommendation). Above Picard were Yeoman Worf (who was the designated "Bridge Chief"), Science Officer Usagi Tsukino and Chief Engineer Geordie LaForge. And in front of Picard were Operations Officer Data and the new CONN officer Wesley Crusher. Wesley, due to Ranma's recommendation (and test results) was given a field commission. And since Ranma has been training him in helm control and navigation, that's where the new Ensign Crusher field lays…at least for now.
"Well, we certainly have a full house," Riker says with a smile. "And it's going to get mighty crowded real quick."
Picard nods his head, and then turns to Ranma.
"I do hope that your latest protégé doesn't mistake a black hole for a star cluster," Picard says jokingly.
"Don't worry sir," Ranma replies. "Mr. Crusher will be a success…under MY watch. Besides, I have bet riding on him."
"Hey!" Ensign Crusher says.
"Well, we will certainly live in interesting times. Mr. Crusher: set a course for the New Tamaran, post-haste."
"Aye, sir."
And with that, the Enterprise-D warps for a new adventure.
Tbc.
Author's note: If King Kai can teach a chi-based attack, then anyone can learn it, as long as he or she has the will and the power to pull it off. Besides, Ranma did achieve "Super Human" status during his time on Chikyuu. Basically, the color of a person's aura will reflect a person moods. If he or she can perfect the power of his or her aura, then it becomes a white aura. When that person takes the next level, an "Ascended" level, that aura becomes gold/yellow like a star. How powerful Ranma is, I leave that to you. But let's say that at Ranma's peak, Ranma has a good chance at beating Goku at HIS peak (remember, Ranma has this innate ability to beat stronger opponants, on skill and craftyness alone). This is not to say that Ranma would win everytime, but Goku has a better chance at beating Ranma more times than not. Only Usagi (if you have read my other story "The Rabbit, the Monkey and the Dragon", you'll know why) has an equal chance at beating Goku. But Ranma prides on the fact that he doesn't get, need or desire enhancements to make himself stronger. However, as you will learn in later chapters, sometimes that need to perfect himself can and will cause him problems. Later!