SMST: Journey to Adventure
SMST: Journey to Adventure! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "SM", "R1/2", "ST" and other concepts belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 8
Meanwhile, back in the past…
The T-X paces around the area where the conference was taking place on Tamaran. As part of the so-called "Security Detail", Captain Ben Bowmen (USAF) was assigned to keep a look out for any suspicious activities. However, the T-X was recording its surroundings for future filing. After all, if humans have friends beyond the stars, the SkyNet may want to decide to extend its "Machine War" beyond terra firma…
"Captain Bowman?"
The T-X turns to face one of its subordinates.
"Yes, Lt. Tyler?"
"The Tamaranians were nice enough to provide us with the schematics of the surrounding cities, though that Prime Minister Galfore is one scary dude."
"I'm sure," the T-X replied, as he takes the schematics. "Carry on."
"Yes, sir," says Tyler, before turning to leave.
'Typical human,' the machine thought, as it began to examine the schematics. Ideally, it hopes to sabotage to trap the Moon Princess between two points of within the Stargate network. However, if it can cause an interstellar incident between Tamaran and Earth, well, all the better…right?
Inside the conference room, Colonel Usagi Saotome was finishing her presentation.
"…And so you see, along with a security pact, Homeworld Security will enable access in matters of trade and services within the Terran Sector," Usagi says.
Queen Kommand'r, also known as "Blackfire", looked practically bored. She turns to her daughter Remaind'r (known as "Redfire").
"Dear, what do you think?"
The daughter of Ranma (Usagi's husband) and Blackfire swallows a bit. She knew that her mother, as loving as she was a parent, tend to be temperamental…where her rivals are concerned.
"I think Tamaran should request more from the Tau'ri, Mother," Redfire replied.
"I agree," Blackfire says, as she suddenly raises her left palm and-
BLAM!
Usagi was blasted off her feet, and through several walls.
"Huh," Daniel says, as he turns his head to see where Usagi went. "That didn't take long…"
"I will go see if the Moon Princess is 'okay'," Teal'c says, as he gets up to go to where Usagi went.
"Hey!" Lt/Colonel Cameron Mitchell yelled, as he and his party stood. "What the hell-?"
"Stay out of this, human," Prime Minister Galfore commands. He looked like a golden-skinned Viking of old.
"The queen has issued a challenge, and to interfere could be considered to be an act of war between our peoples."
"Then I shall intercede, Tamaranian," Osiris says, as she prepares her hand weapon known as a "Ribbon". It was a glove-like weapon that allows the Gao'uld to channel his or her personal energy to perform various things, including blasting one's enemies.
"You can certainly try, Gao'uld-"
"Hey, stop!" says a familiar voice.
Everyone sees Usagi, now wearing only underwear, calf-length stockings and shoes, entering the conference room with Teal'c in tow.
"Good," Blackfire says, as she stood up. "You are still as annoyingly durable as EVER."
Usagi rests her hands on the conference room.
"I take it that you want to fight me?"
"Observant, are you not?" Blackfire says with a smirk. "My daughter is correct: I DO want to…sweeten the deal."
"Okay, so what do you want to do?"
"I will sign the treaty, if you fight me for the right to be Lord Ranma's number one woman."
Redfire slaps her head in embarrassment.
"You're kidding, right?" Cameron says. "You mean…?"
"It's exactly what she meant, Cameron," Daniel says.
"Man, how does Ranma do it?"
Usagi closes her eyes.
"So, what are the stakes…exactly?"
"Simple: I fight you and win, Ranma is mine…and no deal. YOU win…you keep Ranma and I'll sign the treaty."
"This witch seems confident enough to warrant such a challenge," Osiris says into Usagi's ear. "It could be a set-up."
"I know," Usagi says, before reopening her eyes. She then looks squarely in Blackfire's eyes.
"You have a deal."
"Good," Blackfire says. "You have one-hour to prepare for mortal combat. My daughter will show you to the proper facilities."
And with that, Blackfire and her entourage turn to leave.
Cameron turns to face Usagi.
"So, you have a plan?"
"Nope."
"Then why agree to the challenge?" Teal'c asked.
"Because this treaty is more important than my marriage, and Homeworld Security definitely needs this treaty signed. And besides, win or lose, I know that Ranma's heart will belong to me."
Silence.
"Um, Usagi?"
"Yes, Daniel?"
"About your…underwear?"
"What about it?" Usagi says, as Osiris covers up Usagi with her coat.
"Your uniform got shredded, but you still have underwear on."
"Why do YOU want to know, Daniel?" Usagi says with a wink and a nod.
"Just tell me, okay?"
"If you want to know, I typically treat my clothes with 'unstable molecules' spray."
"Huh?" Cameron replied.
"Look, you know that I go through weird changes, right?"
"Yeah…"
"Well, I get tired of losing clothes. So I asked Dr. Reed Richards if he could treat my clothes, so that my clothes could adapt to my body."
"Oh, I see. And since your 'aura' creates a field that simulates high-end invulnerability, the molecules in your clothes will adapt to the properties of the aura."
"Bingo. The only reason I'm left with my underwear, is because I didn't get a chance to treat my new uniform…especially since I can't stand them."
"Huh."
"What do you think Lord Ranma is going to do when he hears of this?" Osiris asks, hoping that, to her shame, Usagi would lose her upcoming fight with the Tamaranian royal.
"That…I don't know," Usagi says with a sigh. "I just hope that he doesn't mind being off-world…"
Meanwhile, back on Earth…
"Ah-Choo!" Ranma says, before sniffing.
"Colonel?" asked Dr. William Robinson, as he stops his work. These days, Will sports long, red hair (tied into a ponytail when he is working), thin-rimmed glasses (which also double as a multiple optic lens of alien design, and a goatee. He and Ranma were up upgrading the ship's Environmental Control Robot "B-9", J-Series, though everyone simply refers to the machine as simply "Robot". Although the body was the latest in robotic design, the CPU has been the same since the original launch of the Jupiter II.
"Ah, it's nothing," Ranma says. "Either I'm catching a cold, or I have some problem that I'll end up dealing with later in the near future."
"Do you have that positronic matrix ready?"
"Oh, yeah," Will says, as he unseals a case carrying the new node. Will needed help making sure that Robot's upgrade will be a smooth one, so that its personality will not be affected.
"Um, Ranma?"
"Yes?"
"I…I wondering if I can ask for your permission to ask for Redfire's hand in marriage?"
Ranma turns to look at Will.
"You're saying that because she's presently away on assignment, are you?"
"N-no, sir," says Will with a nervous laugh. "I love Redfire…and I want us to spend my life together."
"Well, it's a big step," Ranma says. "Tamaranians are 'hot-blooded' folks, and Remaind'r is no exception."
"Of course."
"Did you talk to your parents about this?"
"They approve…especially it means getting Penny to cease her infatuations of you."
"Then I most certainly approve you marrying my daughter, Will…"
Tbc.