Star Trek: Ranma's Story 90 – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: Ranma ½, Star Trek, Sailor Moon and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: Though "Star Trek: Ranma's Story" is a spin-off of the "Sailor Moon ST" series, it is the first of my "Star Trek/Ranma One-Half" trilogy (not to be confused with my "Half Trek" stories featuring, which feature a collection of alternative "Ranma-in-the-world-of-Star-Trek" stuff). FYI.
Part 90
After a night of heavy drinking, Ranma woke up in a strange place.
"Ah, man," Ranma said, as he tried to get up, only to realize two things.
One, he was bound to the Klingon version of a bed.
Second, he was without clothes.
"Usagi's going to kill me."
"Not if we do so first, Lord Ranma," said a female voice. "And do not bother getting up. Though it did cost some money, that bed you are lying on is specially modified to neutralize both your strength and your paranormal abilities."
Ranma turned to see the silhouette of an obviously "disrobed" female lounging on a sofa chair. He used his 'night vision' to see who was speaking to...
It was the bar maid.
The woman saunters over, as she presses a pendant that was wrapped around her neck. Her image briefly shimmers, revealing the face of-
"YOU?"
"Yes, me," said Lady B'Etor, one half of the infamous Duras sisters. Ranma had briefly met the Lursa and B'Etor, when they challenged Gowron's claim of leadership during the "Rite of Ascension" ceremony at the Great Hall.
"Man, I thought your cleavage looked familiar," Ranma smirked.
"Humph, I knew I caught your attention," B'Etor says, as she dragged her index finger across the contours of Ranma's body. "For a human, your stamina is magnificent, even after using enough drugs- to get you here -to subdue a Targ. Too bad after we interrogate you for information, you will be disposed of..."
She suddenly bit Ranma on the cheek.
"Ow!"
"Now we can resume our mating...properly-"
BOOM!
B'Etor quickly turns her head. She then gets off the bed,puts on her robes, and proceeds to walk towards entrance of the room, only to be met by her sister Lursa.
"We must leave now!" the Klingon says. "Lord Kang's forces have arrived!"
"Do we have time to-"
"No, we must leave! The son of Mogh is almost upon us!"
"A pity," B'Etor says wistfully, as she takes one last look at Ranma.
"You and human infatuations," Lursa says, as she pressed her communications wristband, activating a site-to-site transporter.
BRRRING!
Just as the Duras sisters leave, Worf enters the room.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"I will be once I get released."
Just then, Kang himself enters the room.
"Ah, my blood brother," Kang said with a smirk. "Once again, I see that you are trying the sample Q'onos bounty."
"Ugh! Worf, just get me out of this thing, so we can go after the Duras. Please?"
Worf nods, as he tries to activate the release button
CRICK!
"Not too tight! Not too tight!" Ranma managed to say, as the choker around his neck tightened.
"Sorry..."
Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise-D...
Commander Data was in one of the holodecks, searching for some one. He felt that it would have been rude to suddenly deactivate the jungle simulation so suddenly.
"Commander Tsukino," Data says. "This is Data. I need to speak to you about a mission..."
While Data was looking for Science Specialist Usagi Tsukino, a pair of eyes was watching Data.
CLICK!
The owner of the pair of eyes had adjusted its vision to make out Data's form, since the Operations Officer was an android. Now, Data appeared as a hole in the infrared, caused by the hot environment of the jungle. The...hunter began to set its sights on Data, a three, red dots (together forming a triangle) began to slowly "crawl" up Data's face-
BLAM!
At the last minute, Data dodges the attack.
Quickly, the android looks around.
Nothing.
Then, he heard a whining sound...
Data ducks, just as his head was about to take his head.
CHOK!
Data looks at the flying disk, which was stuck in a boulder, and examines it. It bore the familiar markings of the Yautja, a predatory species that roam the galaxy hunting pre-warp civilizations, and, occasionally, disaster areas. No one knows where they come from, but are typically seen around the fringes of the Alpha Quadrant. There have been attempts to rein this species in, but no conclusive efforts have been made. Still, as long as the Jedi Order, the Green Lantern Corp, the Federation Marshal Service and the Anla'Shok are around, major incidences have been kept at a minimum.
Was Data facing a..."Predator"?
Suddenly, a slender, yet toned and tanned, form jumps down from out of nowhere. She was obviously a female, and wore the clothes typified by the Yautja. Her long, blond hair was done up in long dreadlocks, wore a hunter's mask, wore no shoes, and carried her metal spear in one of her hands. She used her free hand to remove her mask.
"Data, I'm sorry!' Usagi said, as she went over to her friend. Her face had tribal markings all over it. "I thought that you were one of the combat droids."
"Apology accepted, Commander," Data replied, as he brushed himself off. He then got a good look at the Starfleeter. "I was not aware that you were familiar with the Yautja."
"Ranma and I were adopted into one of their clans, sometime back in our 'youths'," Usagi said, as she unstuck her flying disk from the boulder. "So, what's up?"
"Captain Picard wanted me to inform you to assemble a crew to man...The Serenity."
"Ah," Usagi said, as she packed her gear away. "So Starfleet got my old ship out of mothballs. Computer, end program."
SHHHH...
Now, they appeared on the holodeck grid.
"So, who's to be my operations, engineering, weapons and helm officers?" Usagi said, as she carried her gear out of the holodeck, with Data in tow.
"I will be your operations officer, as well as your 'XO', Ensign Crusher will serve on 'helm', Commander Yar will be on 'weapons', and Lt. Sonya Gomez will be the engineer."
Usagi turns to face Data.
"'BUTTERFINGERS' is MY engineer?"
Ever since Gomez was known for her clumsiness, after spilling hot chocolate (with minted whipped cream) on Captain Picard, she has been known for her being her clumsiness...which is ironic since it was Usagi, who USED to be known for her own clumsiness, who gave her the nick-name "Butterfingers".
"Indeed," Data says. "The Captain says that we should arrive at our rondevouz shortly."
"Okay then,' Usagi said, as she turns towards one of the turbolifts. "Have our team ready for a briefing in an hour. Oh, and be sure to tell Miss Gomez to relax. Though I expect competency in everyone, no one need to be nervous about what needs to be done."
"Aye, aye...ma'am," Data says.
Meanwhile, back in Klingon space...
BOOM!
"We are having trouble trying to stabilize the thrusters!" Ranma yelled, as he tried to compensate the pitch of the Klingon "bird of prey" The Claw. He, Worf, his brother Kurn was serving aboard Captain Martok's ship, while fighting Gowron's rivals who supported the renegade House of Duras. Technically, Ranma should not be serving on any ship, since, officially, he is suppose to be on Q'onos dealing with the diplomatic front for Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. Of course, Klingon-style diplomacy meant having a knife ready during the "negotiations".
"I need more power!"
"Belay that!" Kurn says. "We need more power to weapons!"
Ranma shakes his head. Leave to the Klingons to focus on the ship's weapon system-
Then it dawned on him.
"Captain Martok, I need Wrof's help for a moment."
Martok looks over to his first officer.
"Kurn?"
"We can spare the resource."
"Proceed."
"Worf?"
"Right," Worf said, as he was relieved from his station. "What's up?"
"I need for you to modify the photon torpedoes for bursting action, while I get the transporters ready."
"Sir, if I do that, the yield strength will decrease."
"If I pull this off, then the rewards will greater."
Worf nods, and gets to work on the spare torpedoes, while Ranma re-routes every remain non-essential joules of power into his transporter matrix...
Meanwhile, B'Etor and Lursa, the titular heads of the House of Duras were pleased with the progress that their forces were making.
"Soon, with the fall of Martok's ship, the control of the Klingon High Council will be ours, my sister," B'Etor says.
"But of course, my sister," said Lursa. "And through our nephew Toral, we will be unstoppable-!"
Fft-!
BOOM!
"Ma'am!" said one Klingon flunky said. "I am receiving reports of multiple impacts resulting from photon torpedo detonations...from within our defense grid!"
"WHAT?" the Duras sisters yelled.
From The Claw's vantage point, there were multiple explosions near the bows of the enemy's ships.
"Observe," Ranma said. "While cracking the enemy's shield frequency codes, I had Worf modify the spare photon torpedoes for bursting effect. Essentially, he's modifying ONE slug into multiple pellets."
"But...we are outnumbered four to one!" Kurn exclaimed.
"True, which is where finesse comes in play. Once the torpedoes are ready, I sent them on multiple wave lengths, essentially 'cloning' them. Like anything, the more you replicate from a single source, the less effective the copies they become. Hence, I needed to time the enemies' shielding cycles, insert the copies close to the most vulnerable part of their ships, and BLAM! It's shredding time."
"Most impressive, Master Ranma," Martok says with approval. "You would have been the greatest Klingon since the rise of Kahless...if you weren't born 'human'."
"Gee, thanks."
"Sir?" Kurn asked.
Martok sits back.
"Resume course of action," Martok says. "We have a war to win."
Meanwhile, at the Klingon territorial border...
A few hours meeting with her makeshift crew, Usagi Tsukino was going over the latest intelligence from Starfleet. Apparently, Ranma's role as a military adviser, something that Picard expressly did not want, is now known. Leave it to the Klingons to 'blab' about their victories in this Klingon Civil War. Still, she knew that Picard would need to address this situation in order to save face. In the mean time, she has received word that Commander Sela was about to make her move as a means of resupplying Duras' forces. Usagi's job, along with other available command officers, was to create a net, using the same trick employed by the Tholians. If any of Sela' Romulan "warbirds" cross the energy field, even if cloaked, the sensors would be tripped...and they were calibrate to record the necessary evidence needed to help Gowron's side.
On a side note, because Usagi is a full Commander, in spite of not being in the direct chain of command, and was an experienced starship captain herself, Usagi did not need to receive an honorary rank of "Captain". The minimum rank requirement to helm a starship was "Commander", so that was that.
FSSS!
"What the-?"
"Apparently, Engineer Gomez is having trouble realigning the deflector shields to help create the energy field," Data says.
"Sigh," Usagi says, as she presses down her combadge. "Miss Gomez, is there a problem?"
Down in engineering...
"Cough!" Gomez says, as she brushed the smoke from her face. Though The Serenity was still in pristine conditions, from being in mothball status, it was an older ship. Unfortunately, for Gomez, this would be the equivalent of a java programmer trying to remember how to program in COBOL.
"Uh, it's nothing. I'm just trying to feel my way around these systems."
Usagi sighed.
"Miss Gomez, I know that the ship is older, but we are not going into battle. So, all you need to do is remember your basics. That's all."
"Um, right. Yes, ma'am!"
"Good. Tsukino sigining off."
Wesley turns to Usagi.
"Do you want me to-"
"No, we'll be fine. Believe or not, she reminds me of me, back when I was her age."
"Man, I bet that was hundreds of years ago!"
"Don't remind me."
Just then...
WRRRR-!
"We have full operations," Data says.
"See?" Usagi said, as she sat back. "Mr. Crusher, put us into alignment with the other ships."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Commander Yar, open a secured channel to the 'Fleet Captain'."
"Hailing frequencies are open."
CHIRP!
"Captain Picard, we're in place," Usagi says.
Back on the Enterprise-D...
"Excellent," Picards says. "Attention all ships: prepare to initiate the 'tachyon net' on my mark...NOW."
FWISH!
Using the deflector grid of each ship, an energy net is formed.
"Now we wait."
Meanwhile, on the border that separates the Romulan Empire from the Klingon Empire...
"Commander Sela," began the Romulan first officer. "What shall we do?"
Sela looks at the interstellar grid. With several dozen Federation ships forming a "net", it will make things difficult to re-supply Duras' forces.
"Hmmm," Sela mused, as she looked at the tactical screen. "What ship is that?"
"Let's see...that would be the Federation starship The Serenity," said the assistant.
"Ah, yes," Sela smirks. "Prepare this ship to 'run' the blockade...at THAT point."
"Yes, ma'am."
"We'll see if one of Starfleet's oldest members have what it takes to stop me."
Back on The Serenity...
"...So you are your own clone?" Wesley Crusher says.
"Pretty much," Usagi replied. "I knew that I could be reborn as my best friend's 'baby'...which makes it bizarre family reunion. At any rate, the original plan would be for me to be born, and grow up like a normal person. However, thanks to Ripley being a clone herself, and thanks to her possessing Xenomorphic genetic structure, due to the effects of Xenomorphic gestation, I ended up possessing enough Xenomorphic traits to accelerate not only my growth to maturity, but my original memories returned as well."
"Whatever happened to Miss Ripley?" Tasha Yar asks.
"Well, she's still around," Usagi replied. "She became a bounty hunter for a long time, before signing up with Earth Force back in mid-23rd century as a career officer. When the Shadow Wars hit, she ended up as a member of the Anla'Shok. Since then, she and her companion 'Call' has been living with the Minbari, and has only visited Earth from time to time. In fact, she and Call were there for my birthday on Risa, remember?"
"Oh, yeah..."
"Commander, I'm picking an unusual reading," Data says. "There is a 'tweak' in the background."
"You sure it's not solar or cosmic-based?" Usagi asks.
"There is no way to be sure without diverting more power to the sensors."
"Lt. Gomez, can we get more power?" Usagi asked over the intercom system.
"We can, but not by much," Gomez replied.
"Damn. Okay then...Tasha, prepare an anti-tachyon torpedo."
"Ma'am?"
"If I'm correct, our friend Sela is trying to make a run for the border. My guess is that she will use our own tachyon net to hide in, as she crosses over. Mr. Data, work with Commander Yar on the modifications."
"Aye, Commander."
Tasha and Data feverishly makes the modifications on their photon torpedo.
"We're ready," Yar says.
"Good," Usagi says. As she sits back. On my mark...FIRE!"
"Firing away, ma'am," Tasha says.
FWOOSH!
The torpedo launches. As it reaches the coordinates, the make-shift crew of The Serenity wanders if Usagi's plan would turn out to be correct.
BOOM!
The blast radius erupts outward. Sure enough, Sela's flagship appears.
"Got 'em!" Usagi exclaims.
"No apparent damage detected," Yar says with relief. She was still confused as to how she was to react to having a daughter, but she certainly did not want to see her harm.
"Good. Mr. Data, relay the data of our encounter with the Romulans to the Enterprise-D, so that a report can be prepared for Gowron to use against the insurrectionists."
Meanwhile, on Sela's ship...
"But Commander, we still can make it through-!"
"No," Sela said, as she sat back in her command seat. "Even if we do make a break for it, I've just received a report that Duras' side is on the verge on collapsing. Besides, there is a 'Plan B' in mind. Take us. I will be in my ready room..."
Once Sela arrives, she secures her space. She then kneels before the symbol of the Romulan Empire.
"Oh, Mistress, strong, swift and wise, appear before my seeking eyes..."
An astral projection appears in front of the Romulan commander. The projection was that of a robed, young woman, who appeared as an evil version of Usagi Tsukino.
It was Empress Serenity of the Lucas Galaxy...otherwise known as the Sith Lord "Darth Lune".
"You have failed in your mission, my acolyte," Serenity said.
"I know that, Great Mistress," Sela replied nervously. "However, I have other plans that I have yet to initiate."
"That I know. And that is why you still yet live."
"If I fail with my plans to unify Romulus with Vulcan, there there is the matter pertaining to Shinzon."
"Good. I am glad to hear that you have thought things through. But remember this: while my mercy is GREAT...so is my temper. Understood?"
"Yes, Mistress, I DO."
"Excellent. But do not despair on the failure of your first plan. The Duras sisters' treachery knows no bound. Even as we speak, the hands of Fate is creating a scenario that could prove to be the undoing of my enemies. So, I want you to maintain your friendship with Lursa and B'Etor until further notice."
"By Your Command, Mistress..."
Meanwhile, back on Q'onos at the Great Hall...
"Toral, son of Duras, you have lost your war against ME," Gowron smirked, as he sat back on his throne. "What say you before I pass judgment?"
"As long as the House of Duras is around, we shall prevail!" Toral said, as the teenager bellowed.
"Perhaps, someday...but NOT today."
Gowron looks at Worf.
"Worf, son of Mogh, I give Toral's life to do as you please."
Worf picks his bat'leth, and begins to twirl it around. He then goes in for the kill...
"Worf, no!" Picard says, only to be stopped by Ranma. "What-?"
"It'll be alright, Captain," Ranma says.
Picard turns his head back to scene at hand, and notices that Worf had stopped his blade close to Toral's ear.
"YOU shall live with the memory of being a disgraced House," Worf says.
"Brother, what?" Kurn exclaims. "What about satisfaction? What about our honor?"
Worf tosses his weapon to Ranma. He then places a hand on Kurn's shoulders.
"We have already earned back our honor, brother. And humiliating the Duras clan in IS satisfaction."
Worf then turns to leave.
"And for that, it IS a good day to LIVE."
And with that, Picard, Ranma (who already said his good-byes) and Worf leave.
"Too bad that the Duras sister got away," Ranma mused to himself...
Meanwhile, somewhere in deep space...
"This is a disaster!" Lursa screamed, as she pounded on the table that was in the quarters that she shared with her sister B'Etor.
"Uh-huh," B'Etor says, as she was conducting a blood test.
"Are not you listening?"
DING!
"Oh, I am, my sister," B'Etor says, as she looked at the test results. "It's a girl!"
"What? What are you talking about?"
B'Etor shows Lursa the test results.
"You are pregnant with that human's child? I knew that you have fetish for the Lord Ranma, but to have a child by him?"
"My sister, we've gone about this the wrong way. It's not the Klingon High Council that is the problem; it's the entire Klingon society that is the problem. I've studied Lord Ranma's background, and found him more than worthy of siring the future leader of our people."
"But...your child is a female!"
"So is the ruler of Za'Ha'Dum...and EVERYONE fears her."
Lursa nods. High Queen Anna, also known as "Sailor Z", was a person to be reckoned with. Even at her most humane, Sailor Z possessed a level of ruthlessness that made Klingons look "human". Even the Yautja, known for their love of the hunt, fear this person, especially after an entire clan of hunters ended up as trophies on HER wall...which is the real reason why Usagi and Ranma were adopted into their society as fellow hunters, for fear of Sailor Z's wrath.
"Our mistake was placing all of our hopes on our late brother's bastard son. I think my way, though long term, will succeed where Toral has failed."
"Very well, then," Lursa says. "I'll prepare a place for you to...gestate."
And with that the future is set.
Tbc.
Author's note: As an aside, what do you think Ranma's daughter Anna "Aiko" Sheridan/Sailor Z? On one hand, Anna loves her parents, and is willing to take advice from them from time to time. On the other hand, she is "aberrant evil", meaning that while she is a mixture of Dr. Doom, Lex Luthor, Scar Face and the Godfather, Anna is an honorable person.
In other words, she'll give the offender a head start before "gutting" said offender.
Anyway, let me know what you think of these turn of events.
Next time: Everything changes for the Saotome family aboard the Enterprise-D, as Usagi leaves for a new assignment...but not before she gets into a fight with the Oan Guardian Lianna! See you then!