Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½™ in any way, shape or form, nor do I own the concept of Red Dwarf™.
Author's Notes: ah, the reviews, how they comfort me so, sparking the engines within my mind and initiating the production of further chapters. No, I don't know what I'm on either. Anyway, so far the War Ship scenario is the most popular, with BTL and Berserk Curses taking second and third place respectively. So far, the most popular choice for Ranma's new psychic powers is a tie between Chronokinesis and the Photo/Umbrakinesis combo. This is your last chapter to "vote" for which scenario will be chapter 6, so if there's one you want to see happen you need to review. Of course, you can still continue to "vote" on the usage of the other ideas (including the "Alien Hitchhiker" I posted in the last chapter).
To reviewer Hiryo: I don't really know how to write romance, though I may pair off the characters in a later chapter (assuming I get that far), but if I do pairing then Ranma/Akane is the least likely to happen (unless I pair Ranma with more than one girl); as I've said before, Ranma/Shampoo is my favourite coupling, alongside my newly developed obsession with Mousse/Ukyo.
Finally, to all reviewers who asked about Sacrifice ½: I don't think I'm ever going to continue writing for that because, as I keep saying, I've no idea what to write for further chapters. If you do want me to resurrect it though, then please suggest ideas for new chapters via review (preferably reviews for Sacrifice ½, though I'll accept them if they're posted to RD ½) or PM. I have toyed with the idea of a series of "divergence" fics; fics that are tied to the universe portrayed in Sacrifice ½ but which are not officially part of them, like Twizted Matchups. The primary one that occurs to me deals with Blight's assault on the Sailor Scouts, for reasons explained in the last chapter of Sacrifice ½.
Chapter 4: Oh Ye of Fickle Faith, Part 1
It was two weeks later, and Mousse was sulking in one of the communal eating areas, which the Nerimites had adopted as both a place of dining and an impromptu meeting place to try and avoid going mad from loneliness; the sheer size of the Blue Giant made it very possible that they could actually go for weeks without seeing each other. In fact, no one had seen Ryoga since that first day. The computer had reported that he was currently somewhere in the diesel decks. Ukyo, who had come to the room to get something to eat, sighed in exasperation.
"Come on Mousse, just get over it already. You knew that it was going to happen."
"Doesn't make it any less painful. I mean, come on, I aced the written tests and the simulations!"
"But you flunked the physical. Be serious; did you really think even a computer would be dumb enough to let you pilot a ship when you can't even see an inch in front of your face?"
Mousse looked at her with a rather hurt expression, which prompted a slight twinge of guilt in Ukyo. Of course, that twinge quickly disappeared at Mousse's next words.
"And what makes Ranma any more logical a choice as a pilot then me?"
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with Ranma-honey! He's in excellent physical condition, his senses are excellent, he's focused, dedicated…"
"Dumb as a box of rocks..."
Ukyo glared at him and reached automatically for her combat spatula, hissing softly through her teeth when she recalled that she'd left it in her chambers. Her glare softened as she admitted to herself that Mousse was, in a way, right; Ranma wasn't the most likely candidate for pilot. In fact, he hadn't displayed any interest in such technical skills until a week after Ukyo had found Mousse studying astro-navigation, which was when Mousse had been dismissed on account of his impaired vision.
Ranma had offered Mousse sympathy, in his own way, then Kuno had started making his usual boastful, conceited remarks, culminating by saying that Ranma was too stupid to even begin to understand the teachings. Offended, Ranma had beaten Kuno unconscious, as he usually did when Kuno shot his mouth off about something, and had been about to leave when Akane had agreed with Kuno's statement, challenging Ranma to prove her wrong. The indignant Ranma had taken Akane up on her challenge, and to considerable surprise he actually seemed to be doing well.
To somewhat less surprise was the fact that Shampoo, on hearing what Ranma was doing, had joined the same class- to Akane's jealousy, as normal. Somewhat more surprising was that Shampoo actually seemed to be studying in the classroom, rather than trying to flirt with Ranma. Though she did sit a little closer to Ranma than Akane and Mousse thought was necessary. Kuno was the only one who still believed that the duo weren't studying at all.
This had resulted in a vital life's lesson for the Nerimites; never call a Chinese Amazon a bimbo. Especially if said Chinese Amazon happens to be standing behind you at the time. The computer had reported that morning that Kuno was well on his path to recovery, and would probably be up and about within two to three more days. Not that anyone really cared.
The reason Mousse was still sulking over his dismissal, other than the fact it was his nature to do so, was because today was the "final exam"- which meant that Ranma and Shampoo had taken one of the small ship-to-surface vessels and flown off in a practical final exam to get their official license. Ukyo had been miffed, and Mousse –as said before- was sulking, but Akane had gone ballistic when she'd found out. In the end, her scuzz-bot (easily distinguishable by its new bright red paintjob) had led a massed assault of scuzz-bots on its mistress, bearing her to the ground through sheer weight of numbers and injecting her with enough tranquillisers to keep her asleep for the next week or so.
Not that this turn of events was known to the two individuals who could (and more than likely would) be blamed for it. Ranma and Shampoo were currently piloting the 'Starspike #1', one of the plethora of ship-to-surface vessels docked within the cavernous hull of the Blue Giant. The Starspike model of ship had an elongated shape, somewhat of a hybrid between a pyramid and an oval, which, combined with the "bubble"-like cockpit section and the six spindly multi-flexing legs used for landing, gave it an insectile appearance.
The computer, connected to the ship's mainframe via remote-link, was acting in the role of instructor. Currently, it had Ranma and Shampoo heading on a steady course towards a nearby planetoid, intended to have them "slingshot" back towards the Blue Giant through use of the planetoid's gravitational field. As they undertook their course, the computer tested them on intergalactic "road signs", which the two answered in turns whilst retaining a careful eye on the ship's controls, lest it escape their control.
"What is this symbol?" asked the computer, displaying a holographic image of the black silhouette of a naked, faceless woman performing an erotic dance against a white background.
"Danger: space mirages and/or psionic parasites ahead." Droned Ranma in a disinterested tone, clearly trying to convey the image that he was not fascinated (or scared) by the image depicted- likely out of a desire to avoid attracting Shampoo's ire.
"Correct. Now, what does this image mean?" The image displayed this time was a blue rectangle containing three white arrows, two pointing up and the third pointing down.
"Heavy space traffic; keep to your space lane." Said Shampoo.
"Excellent. Now, what's this-" the computer's words were cut off as the ship suddenly jolted violently, the startled Nerimites instantly lunging for the controls.
"What was that?"
"Scanners say gravitational distortion. But we no close enough to planet for that yet…"
Two more jolts rocked the ship in quick succession as the ship's control flashed and flickered, Ranma and Shampoo tapping at frantic speeds.
"Something's wrong; some kind of external signal is disrupting our controls- something's taken over the ship! Our engines are being boosted, our thrusters have been engaged!"
"Course changing; we no slingshotting now, we being pulled down to planet's surface! Can't stop it!"
To Be Continued…
Okay, I know, I know; cliffhangers aren't my usual style and this chapter especially isn't done the way I normally would do things. Unfortunately, I've had a nasty bit of writers block in regards to details, and I've been at this chapter so long that I thought I might as well make it a two-parter and ask you reviewers for advice.
Basically, in case you haven't figured it out, Ranma and Shampoo are about to crash on an alien world. There, they have to deal with the primitive locals, who want to sacrifice them to "The God of the Pyramid" and figure out a way to get back to the Blue Giant with their ship toasted and their radios on the fritz.
What I need advice with here is, primarily, designs for the local aliens and their "God", who in actuality is an exiled alien tyrant who's been dominating these primitives for quite some time. Some ideas on what might happen to Ranma and Shampoo on the planet, or to the others aboard the Blue Giant, would also be appreciated.