Star Trek: Ranma's Story 92
Disclaimer: Ranma ½, Star Trek, Sailor Moon and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 92
Location: The residence of former IA President Delenn Sheridan (City of Yedor, Minbar).
Due to Delenn's illness, it was decided that the ceremony to make the Starfleeter Ranma Saotome the new "Ranger One" would take at her home. Gather around Delenn was Princess Ami, Malenn (aka "Sailor Minbar"), the top leaders amongst the Anla'shok, and the Satai of the Gray Council. Even the son of Delenn and John were present, who managed to get time off from his duties as the latest IA president. Everyone was dressed in ceremonial clothes. And even though Ranma hated formal wear, he was proud to have been part of "The Rangers".
Ami steps forth.
"Lord Ranma Saotome of Earth," Ami began. "Do you swear to uphold the traditions of the Rangers?"
"I do."
"Please state the oath of the Rangers."
Ranma clears his throat, and begins:
I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to the service of ALL;
I will give to my fellow 'Anla'Shok' the respect and gratitude which is their due;
I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity;
I will respect the secrets which are confided in me, even risking DEATH;
I will maintain by all means in my power the honor and the noble traditions of the Ranger;
My colleagues will be my brothers;
I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing to intervene between my duty;
I will maintain the utmost respect for ALL life from its beginning even under threat and I will not use my sword for evil;
I make these promises solemnly, freely, and upon my honor.
(A/N: This is a modified version of the "Covenant of Geneva" of 1948, which is an international version of the Hippocratic Oath.)
When Ranma finished his oath, Ami steps forth.
"The 'Oath of the Anla'Shok' has been recorded on this day," Ami says.
Then, she cues everyone to stand at attention.
"Let us conclude this ceremony by reciting the 'Creed of the Anla'Shok'."
Everyone, in unison, stated the creed:
"We walk in the dark places no others will enter. We stand on the bridge and no-one may pass. We live for the One, we die for the One"
"Congratulations, Master Ranma," Delenn says. "You...have...succeeded...me..."
"Delenn?" Ranma said, as he rushed to his friend's side. "DELENN!"
David drops down to his mother's side.
"MOTHER!"
Ranma turns to Ami, who was already checking Delenn's vital signs.
"Ami...?"
"I'm sorry, Ranma."
Malenn, who was already bawling at this point, kisses her older sister's forehead.
"We will make the proper arrangements," the Satai says, as she went on to confer with her aide.
And thus ends the life of Delenn of Minbar, who would lived long enough to insure that her legacy will live on long after she has passed from this world.
Location: Universal Sector 3600.
Eons ago, the Guardians of the Universe had decided that the universe would be divided into 3600 sections of equal size, and would be patrolled by a dedicated force of "law enforcers". The first of these were the Manhunters, near-sentient androids built to last for centuries. Unfortunately, a programming error caused them to be first relegated to a support position as a means of keeping them in check. That's when the Guardians created a new force, known as "The Green Lantern Corp". This organization was founded based on the idea that sentient beings could be "taught" the virtues of the Guardians, and thereby prevent any rogue element from completely over-take the entire force. The Manhunters could easily be corrupted since each one was linked by a hive network. And thus the GLC, whose membership is made up of those sentient beings who was born without fear, or whose talents were deemed special enough to warrant the scrutiny of the Guardians.
Over the years, the Green Lantern Corp has had its prestige ebb and flow, due to some of its more illustrious members' "eccentric" natures. The most infamous was "Sinestro", formerly Green Lantern of Sector 1417. He was one of the greatest Green Lantern that the GLC has ever produced. However, Sinestro became so "ordered" minded that he ended up taking over his own home planet. It wasn't until the planet rebelled that Sinestro's crime was known, and thus was banished to the "anti-matter universe" by the Guardians. Since then, Sinestro, with his "yellow power ring", has been in thorn of the GLC for years, even so far as to "terrorize" his former protege Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern of Sector 2814 (where Earth is located), since it was HE who first brought Sinestro down.
During Sinestro's "colorful" career, he managed to take over Sector 3600, the then living portion of the universe. Years before, this sector, also called "the Mad God T:D:T:D", was the home of trillions of sentient beings, including gods. One such god decided to fuse his essence with the entire sector, thereby gaining control of everyone and everything. Unfortunately, it went mad in the process, and proceeded in becoming a threat to the entire universe. The Guardians managed to contain this being by being put into a state of slumber...until Sinestro woke it up. The end result was the sector's destruction, and the deaths of hundreds of Green Lantern corpsmen. And since that day, Sector 3600 has been known as the "Dead Sector", a virtual gravity well of all the decay, death and entropy in the universe. Two Green Lanterns are assigned to patrol this sector from other sectors, as a means of keeping what remains within that sector, while keeping everyone not authorized OUT.
And now, it has become a battleground between two women, who, for different reasons, love the same man.
POW!
Sailor Moon was knocked backward, and slammed hard through a stray asteroid. She righted herself, and floated in a stable position.
"You don't need to do this!" 'Moon said, as she tried to wave off another attack.
FWOOSH!
'Moon was engulfed in a green-colored energy blast. The force of the blast sent her into another asteroid. With the dust settled, 'Moon was lying still, her armor cracked. She was breathing hard from shortness of breath.
"You are making this too easy, Usagi Tsukino," Lianna says, as she landed nearby. "At the very least, you should defend yourself."
'Moon manages to stand up.
"If you destroy me, Ranma will hate you."
Lianna turns away slight. Then, she returns her attention back her prey.
"I am sorry, but that is a chance that I have to take."
FWOOSH!
As Lianna lowered her hand, she surveyed the scene. Where she blasted, there was no sign of Sailor Moon.
"It is...finished," Lianna says, as she turns to leave. She'll have to adjust things with Ranma, but he'll come around-
Suddenly, she felt a presence. Using her abilities, she tried to track down the source of the presence, to no avail.
"I TRIED TO REASON WITH YOU," said the voice. "BUT IF YOU WANT ME TO FIGHT BACK, THEN I WILL COMPLY WITH YOUR WISHES."
SLICE! SLICE! SLICE! SLICE! SLICE-!
"Ah!" Lianna cried out, as slashed marks suddenly appeared all over her body. However, even she realized that the markings were deliberate, since each one avoided a vital point.
Lianna, ignoring the gushing of blue blood, lashed out wildly.
"Where are you?" Lianna demanded.
"I'D LOOK UP, IF I WERE YOU..."
Suddenly, huge asteroids were being knocked from their positions, raining down upon the Guardian. Lianna knocked away a few, blasted others and moved out of the way. When an asteroid the size of a planetoid was about to slam on top of Lianna, she erected a forcefield and began to push the object back.
"Fight...me...in...person...damn it!" Lianna said, as she pushes the "planetoid" away.
"Fine," said a voice.
Lianna turns to see Sailor Moon, fully revitalized.
"If you want to fight me, then I am much obliged," Sailor Moon says.
Lianna huffed.
"Good!" she said. "I WILL prove to Ranma of my love!"
Meanwhile, on the planet "Za'Ha'Dum" of "Sector Z"...
"I'm glad that you could stop by, Father," High Queen Anna says (also known "Sailor Z"), as she and Ranma went out to the shooting range for target practice. Lately, Anna (or, "Aiko", the name she was born with) has taken upon herself to revitalize the entire planet, as a means of making it more hospital in the Earth sense. Still, while the surface of the planet looked "Earth-like" (in fact, the planet looked like an exact duplicate of Earth), underneath the surface was the same "horror-show" that made the planet notorious, rivaling even the planet Apocalypse' reputation. That is why the target range that they were at looked like a park. "What's up?"
"Well, I'm on my way to Coriana 6, to deliver Delenn's body."
"Oh," Anna says, as she loads her rifle.
"So, how are things here?"
"Well, as you know, I'm trying to give a 'make-over' to Za'Ha'Dum."
"Oh. So how are your minions handling things?"
"I prefer to think of them as MY people, Father. I'm in charge of their welfare after all, so I'm going to take care of 'em. PULL!"
CHUCK!
A member of the hated Drakh species is flung up into the air.
"Ahhhhhhhhh-!"
BANG!
"..."
"What?"
"Is that necessary?"
"Hey, I DID say that I was going to take care of them. Besides, HE was a condemned prisoner anyway. You want to give it a try?"
"Um, no thanks."
"Suit yourself. PULL!"
CHUCK!
Yet another member of the Drakh species is flung into the air.
"Ahhhhhhhhh-!"
BANG!
Ranma simply shakes his head.
(A/N: Just a little Mel Brooks humor!)
Meanwhile, back in Sector 3600...
"I am not afraid of you, Usagi Tsukino!" Lianna bellowed, as she began to channel all of her potential energy into her power.
Sailor Moon merely looks at Lianna with a quizzical eye. After a few centuries of training and enhancements, codified by becoming a "Cosmos Knight" (and later a "Jedi Knight"), 'Moon more than prepared to defend herself.
(A/N: A "Cosmos Knight" is a character class from the Rifts role-playing game, that is a part-Silver Surfer, part-Rom the Space Knight, part-Jedi and part-Green Lantern in concept. They are chosen by a force known as "The Forge", which is the source of power of this group. A wielder wears "space" armor that can take the appearance of anything he, she or it likes; Usagi Tsukino chose a form fitting version that is like a second skin, which is why she ends up looking like a female Silver Surfer with design patterns- i.e. Sailor Moon related -etched into her metal skin.)
Of course, this does not include the fact that training with the Bene Gesserit or with the "Z Warriors" of Chikyuu enhanced her already potent abilities. Why do you think 'Moon can blow up planets so easily?
"Alright, show me what you got!" Lianna says.
"If you wish..."
'Moon gets into a fighting stance, and begins to "power-up". Her form brightens to the point of blinding magnificence, forcing even the Lianna, one of the Guardians of the Universe, to shield her eyes. When she was able to, Lianna was shocked as to what she saw.
Now, normally, Sailor Moon was lithe and lean, since she regularly works out. Now, 'Moon appeared stocker, and was at the seven feet height ranged. She still looked feminine, but was that of the "Gammazon" variety, which is why her armor took on a more green hue. Her metallic 'hair' was spiky and long, longer that it normally is. However, instead of "falling" to the ground (if there was a gravitational field present, the tail formed a single ring around her body, yet gave her plenty of room to move about.
"LET'S BEGIN." Sailor Moon said, as she rushed a surprised Lianna…
Meanwhile, in the Coriana Sector…
"You didn't have to come," Ranma said, as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He took his old ship, The White Star 007, to deliver Delenn's body to the prescribed site for contact with Delenn's younger sister Malenn. "You want one?"
Malenn shook her head.
"I…I need to see to it that my sister is taken care of," replied the Senshi of Minbar.
"As do I," interjected David, as he drank his coffee.
"Ah, you need verification. By the way, why didn't you come down with me for my visit with my daughter?"
"With all due respect, Lord Ranma, that woman has caused my sister nothing but grief."
"Yeah, she's something alright-"
Suddenly, the entire ship is engulfed in light...
"What's going on?" Malenn says with wonder.
"Some kind of wonderful," said a voice. When the light died, Ranma was surprised to see-
"John! John Sheridan!" Malenn cried.
"Dad!" David cried out.
"The one and only," said the former Earth Force officer and IA leader. "It's good to see you again, Ranma."
"Same here, John," Ranma replied. "I take it that everything is in order?"
"Indeed," said a familiar voice.
Everyone turns to see the revitalized body Delenn, who was still in her burial shawl.
"My love," John said, as he went to embrace the demi-Minbari.
"My beloved," Delenn replied. "How I looked forward to the day when we can be as one."
John broke from his embrace and hugged his only son.
"David, you're looking good."
"I had good genes," David smirked. "There's…there's so much to tell you-"
"Son, I know," John says. "Even from where I am now, where your mother will be, I have watched over you. I'm proud of you, my son, and of the family and accomplishments that you have made."
"Thanks, Dad," David says, remembering all the times he had almost messed things up, when he was in the thrall of a Shadow symbiotic life-form called a Drakh Keeper. Sailor Z, being the avatar of the Shadows, knew how to remove the Keeper safely, but told the procedure as a "quid pro quo" for more favorable treat post-Shadow Wars. She may have hated being confined to Sector Z, but even she realized that the Drakh reciprocity went a little too far. The irony was that the "Drakh War" was started as a way of currying Z's favor, since the Shadows left her in charge of Za'Ha'Dum, but instead was nearly wiped out when she and the IA tracked down the Drakh. The Drakh are still around, but Sailor Z's version of the Drakh Keeper keeps the Drakh in check.
"I love you."
"I love you, son."
John turns to Ranma.
"Take care of my family for me, Ranma Saotome."
Ranma took John's hand.
"I promise…as I always have."
Delenn hugged Ranma, her sister and her son.
"Take care of your selves," Delenn said. "And Ranma, PLEASE stay out of trouble."
"Hey, this is RANMA SAOTOME you're talking to!"
"…"
"Okay, okay. I promise."
And with another burst of light, John and Delenn Sheridan were gone.
Ranma sighed.
"Let's head for home,"Ranma said.
"Sure," Malenn replies.
As The White Star 007 head back Minbar...
"David, if you ever want to talk, just let me know," Ranma says.
David looks at Ranma, and smiles.
"I'd like that."
And thus the end of one particular tale comes to a close.
Meanwhile...
BOOM!
Lianna was smashed into the surface of the planetoid. As she looks up, she sees Sailor Moon readying herself to deliver a final blow.
"This will hurt you more than it will hurt me, Lianna of Oa," 'Moon says, as she suddenly brings her right fist.
Lianna braced herself for the death blow...only to find her nose being pinched.
HONK! HONK!
"Huh?"
'Moon chuckles, as she straightens herself.
"Rise."
Lianna hesitantly rises.
'Moon hugs Lianna, as she resumes her natural form.
"I forgive you."
"Huh?"
"You know, I've been so stressed out from the whole Klingon Civil War, and then what happened to Ranma and his near-philandering...I just needed to vent. Thanks."
"You...you are not angry at me for my actions?"
"At first, yes. But then I realized that if you wanted to fight for Ranma, then Ranma is still a keeper. Thanks for reminding me why I married him in the first place."
"Um, you are welcome?"
Sailor Moon turns to leave, and then slightly turns her head back to Lianna.
"Oh, and if you are REALLY serious about your feelings for Ranma...well, I don't mind sharing on occasion. Just ask MY permission FIRST."
"I was not aware of your preferences."
"My dear Lia-chan, you DO know that I've lived with a man with a GIRL curse, right?"
"You have a point."
And with that, Lianna and Sailor Moon takes off, and head back to Sector 2814, both satisfied with their new understanding.
Some time later, in the residence of the Saotome family aboard the Enterprise-D...
FLASH!
"Honey, I'm home!" Ranma said, as he sat down his packages. He wanted to bring back some stuff for his family before concluding his business on Minbar for good.
"How was your trip, dear?" Usagi said, as she gave Ranma a peck on the cheek.
"I'll tell ya later. Where's everyone?"
"Well, Molly will be staying over at Keiko andMiles tonight, and Lianna...well, let me show you. But first, close your eyes."
"Alright," Ranma said, as he did as he was told. He was then lead to the bed room.
"Now, open them."
Ranma did as he was told, and recieved a shock.
Lianna, his Guardian, was lounging seductively on HIS bed, surrounded by lots and lots of fruit of many varieties.
"Hello, Ranma Saotome," Lianna says.
"What the-?"
"Shhhh!" Usagi says, as she pulls off her clothes with one stroke. "I'm still mad at you for letting that trollop B'Etor seduce you, so YOU owe me on this one, Ranchan."
Usagi goes up to Ranma, and kisses her husband.
"And I want ALL of you to...'pay', Ranchan!"
"Oh, boy..."
Tbc.