TRTSS44: Tales of Ranma Who! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, Trek, DW and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story. C&C are welcomed.
Special Note: This story takes place during the events of the Seventh Series of "Doctor Who".
Author's Note: From this point on, the word count will be 2000+. Enjoy!
Part 10: "The Rings of Akhaten"
Sometime in the past…
"I don't like this," said Professor River Song, as she looked at the Pandorica, as workers began to prepare it for transport from its present location, in the London Museum of Antiquities.
"Neither do I," said Torchwood Agent Rose Tyler, even as her sister Kate Sinclair, present director of her branch of UNIT walks up to the two women.
"But if we are to initiate mother's plan, we will need…HER."
"And you do know what nuisance she was?" River replied.
"Yes, I do. But you and I both know what's at stake…"
Pause.
"So, do I have your cooperation?" Rose asked.
"MAYBE…"
"Maybe what?" Kate asked.
"It's nothing," Rose replied dismissively. "Is everything all set?"
"Yes, including a copy of this…thing," Kate replied, as she looks at the giant, blue box. "You know, that thing reminds me of the Doctor's TARDIS…"
Pause.
"Are you sure you and Torchwood will be able to handle this matter?" Kate asked, as she stares into Rose's eyes. "Time and Space is maybe YOUR thing, but the safety of this planet is MINE."
"It will work," River said, as she takes one last look at the Pandorica before preparing to leave for her "assignment". Meanwhile, I'm going to get a fob watch and a regenerative elixir…"
And, with that River turns to the area…
"What does a…watch and elixir have to do with anything?" Kate asked.
"All part of the plan, I hope," Rose replied.
Kate sighs. She, even after all this time, understands even less about what goes on with her family. Still, with Earth's safety being a priority, Kate will have to put her trust in something that defies all logic and reason.
"I hope all this effort for the Doctor is worth the safety of the world," Kate mused…
Meanwhile, in the year 1981, in a town north of Liverpool, the Doctor and Ranma Saotome were on a local bench, near a park.
"You know, when you wanted me to come with you, I assumed it was either to stop something, explore something, or have some fun doing something," Ranma replied, as he fed the pigeons. "Instead, I am doing absolutely nothing but stalking some girl…"
Pause.
"And the only reason why I know that you are the Doctor is because I remember you for 1000 years ago, or so," Ranma replied.
"And I appreciate that," the Eleventh incarnation of the Doctor replied. "You remembering and all."
"Oh, joy. So, what's the deal?"
"Well, I believe that I have a mystery on my hands," the Doctor said, as he gave Ranma a folder full of papers, pictures and alike.
"Yes, so I've been told," Ranma replied. "Apparently, you're dealing with someone who might be a Time Lord."
"Or someone who is intimately connected to Time, to the point of having multiple incarnations," the Doctor said. "And we are here today to track down the epicenter of this…mystery…"
"Whatever," Ranma said, as he swats a leaf from his face. "All I know is that it's windy, and boring, and-"
As Ranma rambles on, the same leaf manages to distract a man crossing a street…
SKRREE!
"Ranma!" the Doctor yelled, as Ranma realized what he had done.
"I'm on it!" Ranma replied, even as a local woman pulls the distracted man from the road.
"You okay?" asked the woman.
"I…I guess so," the man replied. He then stares at the woman's face…
"Are you sure?" the woman asked again.
"I never felt better," the man replied with a smile.
"See?" Ranma said, as he motions towards the couple. "That guy seems okay."
"Hmmm," the Doctor replied, as he wonders if his very presence might have changed the timeline in a pre-ordained way.
Presently, in that same town…
"And this, my good woman, is what you wanted," the Doctor said proudly, as he, Ranma and a close-eyed Clara Oswald stepped out of the Doctor's TARDIS.
"I see," Clara said with a frown. She then motions towards Ranma's direction.
"You're not going to do anything to me, are you?" Clara asked. "You know, like 'flash' me or something?"
"Look, I apologized for that…misunderstanding, okay?" Ranma protested. "And by the way, YOU and the Doctor walked in on ME, while I was training."
"Exercising while being naked is not training," the Doctor replied. "And I don't like it when you use my beloved TARDIS for your 'shenanigans'."
"Look, Usagi said to meet her at the TARDIS for a special surprise," Ranma said. "I just wanted to get ready for her arrival, you know."
"Well, WE were surprised," Clara replied. "By the way, nice physique, by the way. Not that I am into that sort of thing."
"Thanks, I guess…"
"Doctor, can I open my eyes?" Clara asked, as she tilted her head towards the Doctor.
"Now, you can open your eyes," the Doctor said proudly.
Clara opened her eyes to see a giant, glowing orange sun, where there a billion asteroid-sized objects circling it.
"Wow," Clara replied with amazement. "This is so awesome!"
"It's only the tipping point," the Doctor said with a smile. "Seven worlds circling the Akhaten star, with many, if not all, inhabitants and visitors believing that all life originating…here."
"Did it?"
"Well, they believe it," the Doctor replied.
"Actually, all life originating on the First World," Ranma said, as he scans the rings.
"Really?" Clara asked.
"Really, as far as the stories go," the Doctor said, as he gave Ranma a look of disapproval. "You were speaking metaphorically, yes?"
"Whatever," Ranma replied, as he rolled his eyes. "And by the way, that doesn't mean these people are wrong in their beliefs."
"Really?" Clara replied.
"Yeah," Ranma said, as he turns towards Clara. "The First World only exists, well, used to, on a higher dimensional plane. According to the 'stories', when the First World was destroyed by a great cataclysmic event, 11 dimensions were created. From there, you get everything else, starting with the Big Bang…"
Ranma steps forward to look at Akhaten.
"This place is a nexus of the energy that created THIS Universe," Ranma said. "In fact, every planet that has sentient life is a nexus point of that energy, so, technically, this place is where life began…for THESE people."
"Technicality indeed," the Doctor said.
"So, what's next?" Clara asked. "What awesome thing you can show me, Doctor?"
"It's a surprise," the Doctor said with a broad smile. "Come, let's go to Market, and see what we can find…"
"Most likely trouble," Ranma said with a shrug.
"Are you the cynic?" Clara replied sarcastically.
"Hey, it DOES happen, you know…"
Over the next hour, the Doctor and his two companions go to the market. Apparently, they had arrived during the Festival of Akhaten, when the Queen of Years would ascend to her station during a special ceremony. Naturally, the Doctor wanted to see it, even though he has been there before…
"And here is the program schedule," the Doctor said, as he passes a copy of the schedule to Clara.
"I got popcorn," Ranma said, as he gets himself comfortable. "And some beer."
"Wait, where did you get beer?" Clara asked with a quizzical look on her face.
"Never mind THAT," Ranma said. "You just had to get yourself involved with the Queen of Years, didn't you?"
"How did you know that?"
"Elementary deduction," Ranma replied.
"What?"
"Ranma fancies himself as Sherlock Holme," the Doctor replied.
"What are you talking about?" Ranma replied. "I WAS Sherlock Holmes, you know. Arthur was my Watson."
"WHAT?" Clara asked again, now even more confused.
"Technically, a number of you were 'Sherlock Holmes', including a certain Silurian noblewoman."
"Oh, please," Ranma scoffed. "I am a much better detective than Vastra ever was-"
"Guys, we're about to start?" Clara asked. For some reason, the name Vastra seemed familiar to her…"
"Oh, you're right," the Doctor said, as he straightens himself. "Now, on to the performance…"
Unfortunately, as young Mary, the newest "Queen of Years", began her performance, something went wrong, even as she was being taking away by a glowing, translucent sphere.
"Ahhhh!" Mary screamed, as she was being taken away to the mysterious Pyramid of Akhaten, where the remains of the Ancient One, known as Akhaten, were kept.
"Doctor, we got to do something!" Clara replied, as she and her companions ran through the market. "We can't go!"
"Clara, if there is one thing you need to know about me, is that I never leave anyone who needs my help," the Doctor replied forcefully. His features then soften up.
"But we need to get to the Pyramid, and the only way we can do so if by sled."
"You mean, the one from earlier?" Ranma replied. "You know that these people don't use currency, for currency."
"The only thing I have on me is my Sonic Screwdriver," the Doctor said. "Surely, you have something to give?"
"I already gave up Master Yoda's lightsaber," Ranma said.
"So, wait, THAT little rod is a…lightsaber?" Clara asked. "You're telling me that Star Wars is REAL?"
"Long story short, George Lucas used some of my adventures as the basis for his films," Ranma said.
"Including the prequels?"
"Hey, that's ALL on him," Ranma scoffs. "Yes, I did know Jar-Jar Binks, but he was NOT the clown that Lucas wrote him as-"
"People, time is of the essence?" the Doctor said.
"Alright, fine," Ranma replied, as he took out Captain America's first shield, which was a triangular shape with rounded edges.
"That looks like Captain America's shield," Clara said.
"It's his first," the Doctor replied. "I believe that there is a second like it at the Smithsonian?"
"Yeah," Ranma said with a sigh, as he prepares himself to part with it. "I can make another like this, but, this shield was given to me by Cap, as a token of our friendship."
"I'm sure he would have wanted this…to happen," Clara replied with comfort.
"I know, but it doesn't hurt any less…"
During the course of the rescue of the Queen of Years, new revelations on the nature of the Rings of Akhaten are made.
It turned out that Ranma was correct, when he said that Akhaten was a major nexus point that was created by the destruction of the First World. What he got wrong was that Akhaten itself was the pure form of Akhaten, one of the few "Old Ones" who survived the destruction of the First World. It would be these Old Ones who would later become the Creation Gods of many worlds, including Earth. And thanks to the Doctor's ignorance, Akhaten was fully awake, and was angry, to say the least.
"What are we going to do?" Mary said. "We can't let the Rings of Akhaten be destroyed! People can get hurt!"
"Then…we have to quench Akhaten's rage," the Doctor said. He then turned towards Ranma.
"Ranma-"
"Way ahead of you," Ranma said, as he prepares himself. "If you don't convince Akhaten to release his rage, I'll deal with him."
"YOU?" Clara said. "What can YOU do that the Doctor can't?"
"The Doctor will make his case, as an advocate for the people here," Ranma replied. "But if Akhaten proves himself to be a threat, I am to stop him…here."
"What can I do?" Mary asked.
The Doctor turned towards Mary.
"Oh, Mary," the Doctor said with a gentle smile. "Just sing the songs that you were taught, and be the representative you were born to be."
"You ready?" Ranma asked.
"As ever, and then some," the Doctor said, as he steps forward to face Akhaten himself…
Later, with the crisis over, life moves on for the people of the Rings of Akhaten. Thanks to the Doctor, along with Ranma's threat of violence, Akhaten went back to sleep. After all, a life time of memories from the Doctor, was the equivalent of consuming a feast. That would have put anyone into a food coma for days, or, in the case of Akhaten, for as long as the Universe exists.
"So, what now?" Clara asked, on the return trip home.
"Well, we drop you off, of course," the Doctor replied.
"No, I'm talking about the Rings of Akhaten."
"Oh, that," the Doctor replied. "Well, Mary and her people will continue to honor the Festival of Akhaten, but as a matter of tradition. There won't be any need to feed off of the psychic energy of other beings, anymore."
"Besides," Ranma said. "If Akhaten was destroyed, the people would no longer be protected by the atmosphere that Akhaten was generating."
"Which makes sense, considering that none of the worlds within the Rings of Akhaten are actual planets," the Doctor said.
"That's nice to know," Clara said, as she turned to see Ranma polishing Cap's first shield. "And, I bet you are glad to have that shield back."
"Yeah, I am," Ranma said, as he finished his polishing. He then gets up, and walks over to Clara.
"I want you to have it," Ranma replied, as he presents the Union Shield to Clara.
"What for?" Clara asked. "I'm no superhero."
"Considering that you stood up against an Old God, that makes you super, hero," Ranma said with a smile. "See what I did there…?"
"Yes, I see that," Clara said, as she takes the Union Shield. "You sure about this?"
"I am. I think Cap wouldn't mind. After all, you did stand up for the Queen of Years, back on Tiaanamat as her defender."
"Thanks," Clara said with a smile, as she smiles. "I'll defiantly treasure this moment…"
Tbc.
Next Time: "Cold War"