SMST: The Avenging Moon! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST, DC/Marvel Comics and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 2
A few days later…
"Well, that was 'interesting'," said Usagi, as she and Dr. Blake walked out of the medical conference hall, at a hotel in Oslo, Norway.
"Well, I don't know," said Blake, as he secured his brief case in hand. "Radiation therapy can be a good thing."
"Trust me, using radiation for ANYTHING has its drawbacks," Usagi shivered, thinking about her most recent exposure of gamma radiation six months ago, which had briefly locked her in her Gammazon form, all because of some sabotage by enemy agents. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Reed "Mister Fantastic" Richards and the Fantastic Four, the excess gamma radiation was removed from her system. For now, Usagi won't be able to become the Delightful Hulkusagi anytime soon…
"But form of radiation will allow for molecular bonding," Blake said. "Think about the prospects of advances in prosthetics, as demonstrated by Dr. Octavius."
"It was impressive, though," Usagi said. Dr. Otto Octavius was a former student of hers, as was Dr. Donald Blake. However, unlike Blake, who was authorized to know of Usagi's true identity, Octavius did not recognize Usagi through her "disguise". Funny how all it takes is slumped shoulders, a change in hairstyle and glasses to fool anyone. Certainly, the disguise worked for one of her former husband…
"But I am glad that Dr. Octavius accepted to invitation to judge New York's city-wide 'Science Fair' expo in the fall," Usagi said. "It's not easy getting kids—or anyone, for that matter—interested in science and technology."
"Indeed-"
"Hey!" Ranma yelled, as he and Jane waved their hands in the lobby.
"Hello, Ronnie," Blake said with a nod. "Nurse Foster."
"Doctor Blake," Jane said.
"So, you guys ready to go?"
"Go where?" Usagi asked.
"I know a nice place where we can get some rest and relaxation," Ranma said. "We can get some nice treks done."
"Ronnie, I can't walk very well, remember?" Blake said. He had received a war wound during the Korean War, when he was a medic with the US Army's 4077th MASH Unit. In fact, it was during that conflict that Ranma and Usagi had met him…
"Don't worry, Doctor Blake, I'll be at your side," Jane said.
"Yeah, Doc," Ranma said. "The fresh air will do ya good."
"Well…okay," Blake said with a sigh. "Let's go…"
A few days later…
"…Look at this, Ranma," Usagi said, as she, Ranma, Dr. Blake and Jane hiked near a little known valley in the heart of Norway. "This certainly takes us back a ways…"
"Yeah, no kidding," Ranma said, as he took pictures.
CLICK!
"Let's see. Over there is where a 'lake troll' sleeps. And over there is the base where the 'rainbow bridge' of Asgard used to appear."
"You think Odin is still mad at us for shattering the bridge in the first place?" Ranma asked. "I mean, it was the only thing we could have done to prevent Nazi Germany's Thule Society from summoning the WORST aspects of the Norse gods."
"Strangely, Odin was…glad," Usagi said with a shrug. "I recall how he turned to me, and said that he was glad that someone of his lineage showed wisdom that day. Weird. It was implying that I was kin. But…I don't recall ever being related to Odin or any of the Norse. I know that I AM of the Olympians, though…"
"Maybe he was speaking figuratively," Ranma said.
"Perhaps…"
"Dr. Blake, are you okay?" Jane asked, as she helped Dr. Blake along the trail.
"Maybe we should turn back," Blake said.
"Ah, come, Doc," Ranma said. "I remember you helping Dr. Pierce in OR with a bullet still stuck in your leg."
"Ranma, hush," Usagi said. "Don, we can turn back if you want, but, well, it's not every day we get a chance to be out here."
"Okay, lets do it," Blake said.
"Alright!" Ranma said excitedly. "Let's move out!"
Usagi could only shake her head in amusement.
Meanwhile, a dozen flying saucers land in the same valley that Usagi and her companions were walking through. Using stealth technology, the would-be alien invaders land unannounced. Minutes later…
"We have finally arrived, brothers!" said an alien, as he steps unto Earth soil. He and his fellow "Saturn-Men" were big, had orange, rocky skin, and had military gear on.
"Soon, we will begin our conquest of Earth!"
"Sir, I don't think we should invade this planet," said another alien.
"Why not?"
"There is the Kryptonian and the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to worry about, not to mention the fact that there are the Men-in-Black and their Technocratic 'masters' to worry about as well. And intelligence reports have indicated that this world's metahuman populace are starting to organize, as they did twenty cycles ago during this planet's 'world war'."
"Nonsense! Once we have established a 'beach-head', it will be difficult to root us out. Besides, we are Saturn-Men. Are strength rivals the strongest of these weak T'auri!"
Pause.
"Besides, as long as there isn't a Gao'uld 'System Lord' around, we will have a free hand."
"If you say so, sir…"
"I KNOW so. Now, let's set up a parameter, for the invasion of this world…begins."
As the day goes on, Usagi and her party trek through the woods. As the day goes on, Ranma suddenly stops.
"Ronnie, is there something the matter?" Blake asked.
Ranma sniffs the air, as he holds up his hand.
"Usagi, you smell that?" Ranma asked.
Usagi knew that Ranma's ranger skills, developed during the age of Middle Earth, had kicked in.
Usagi sniffed the air as well.
"Ew," Usagi said. "Ozone."
"Ozone?" Jane asked.
"I remember this," Blake said. "Back in the war, I learned that the smell of ozone was when heavy machinery was used for flight. It was the burning of oxygen molecules."
"Something big landed near here," Ranma said.
"Then we better turn back then," Jane said.
"Good," Blake said. "We might be in the middle of a-"
"Halt, human!" said a guttural voice.
Everyone turns to rocky creature that remind them of the Thing.
"Ben?" Usagi asked.
More rocky creatures step unto their path. They were clearly armed.
"Unless they are Ben's relatives, and that is always a possibility, I think not," Ranma said. He then turns towards his fellow travelers.
"I suggest we make a strategic retreat."
"Good idea," Blake said, as he was suddenly lifted into the air.
"Ulp-!"
"Sorry, Donald," Usagi said. "We have to run fast."
Ranma turns towards Jane.
"Jane-"
"Okay, but I get to be carried on your back," Jane said, as she climbs onto Ranma's back.
"No problem," Ranma said. He then turns towards Usagi.
"We'll separate and circle back around.'
"Right," Usagi said, as she huffed down the path.
"Stop!" said the squad leader, as his men discharged their weapons.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM-!
A short time later…
"Whew," Usagi said, as she huffed a bit, as she and Blake rested for a minute. They went down towards the base of the mountains, while Ranma and Jane went towards the lake.
"Just like Korea," Blake said, as he stretched his limbs. "Except with lasers."
"Yeah-"
"I think two of those humans went that way!" said one of the aliens, as he led his men around the bend.
"Uh-oh," Usagi said. She then scours the landscape with her vision until she sees a cave. "Maybe we should hide in there?"
"I suppose so," Blake said, as he gets up. "Lead on…"
Quickly, before the Stone Men arrived to investigate the area, Usagi and Blake ducks into the cave.
Meanwhile, Ranma and Jane weren't as fortunate.
"Alright, humans," said the lead Stone Man. "Prepare to be neutralized."
"Wait!" Ranma yelled.
"What is it?"
"I declare Section 15 of the 'Shadow Proclamation Convention Agreement'. I want to know your name, rank and purpose."
"What?" the Stone Man yells. "How-?"
"The human has us there, sir," said the assistant.
"Grrrrr-!"
"What's going on, Ronnie?" Jane asked.
"Basically, there is a 'rule of conduct' called the Shadow Proclamation Convention Agreement, which, like the Geneva Convention Agreement on Earth, states that I am afforded some latitude when dealing with space-faring races," Ranma said. "Section 15 allows me a chance to negotiate with someone in a superior position."
"Oh."
"Very well human," said the Stone Man. "My name is Korg, leader of the invasion force of this planet."
"Space invaders?" Jane said.
"Silence, human female!"
"Look, Korg, you don't want to invade a planet that is already a target of a number of interested parties, not to mention the fact that Earth has its counter-measures. I'm SURE you heard about the Martian invasions?"
"Ah, yes, we have," Korg said. "We, however, factor in the fact that your resources will not be enough to deal with the likes of us."
"Then, I will have to stop you," Ranma said, as he gets into a fighting stance. "My name is Ranma Saotome. I am the grandmaster of the Indiscriminate Grappling Style of Anything Goes Martial Arts…and I challenge you to a dual for the fate of this world."
The Stone Men looked at Ranma, and then burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAH!" the Stone Men bellowed.
"Fine, human. Let's see what you got…"
Meanwhile, Usagi and Blake walk deeper into the cave, until they reach a dead end.
"Well, it looks like it's the end of the road for us," Blake said, as he leans on the far wall-
RRRRRUUUUUMMMMMBLE!
A secret door opens to reveal an antechamber of some kind.
"Careful about the air," Usagi said. "It could be toxic."
CLICK!
Usagi shined her mini-flashlight within the cave.
"Nothing here," Usagi said, as she notices Blake staring at her. "What? I like to be prepared, you know. I even got a survival knife that Ranma got me for my last birthday."
"Okay, okay," said Blake, as he looks around, until he spots a gnarled. "Huh, a walking staff."
"Well, the only way we can get out of here is through there," Usagi said, as she points her flashlight at a boulder that was blocking the exit.
"Wait, and there's a silver box next to it," Blake said.
"Well, can do the archeology thing later. Right now, I got to move it."
With that, Usagi braces herself. These days, in her normal state, she was as strong as any other Amazon, which gave her the ability to lift at least a car over her head. Unfortunately, the boulder was heavier.
"Erg-!"
The boulder moved just a little bit.
"Dang it," Usagi said. "If it was night time, might be able to tap into my vampire powers…"
"Huh?"
"Never mind that. The thing is, we have to get out of here through THAT boulder, or risk going back the other way…and face Stone Men."
"Oh…"
Blake says nothing. He looks at the boulder again.
"Wait, I see an inscription on the wall," Blake said. "It's in an ancient text."
"Runic, actually," Usagi said. "Let's see. 'Only the son of the Earth and the daughter of the Moon can together lift the veil that blocks the glory of Asgard'. Interesting."
"How do you it says that?"
"Obviously, it's not about some chicken soup recipe," Usagi said tersely. "I taught linguistics and cognitive science, at Yale University, remember? Before that, my field was archeology and antiquities at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I only did that stint as a lecturer in the philosophy of science as a temp, you know."
"Um, sorry. I'm just so frustrated that I'm not useful."
"Well, let's see what we have…"
Usagi turns towards the gnarled cane and the silver box. She knells down and sees the inscriptions on both objects. She sensed magical properties from them…
Tbc.