TRTSS31: Martian Encounters!– By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, War of the Worlds and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre limited series.
Special Note: This is a "Thanksgiving Holiday Special" story.
Part 3
After the meeting, Ranma and Usagi meet up with Akane and their servant.
"How was your shopping, Akane?" Usagi asked.
"You make it sound like I was just having a grand o' time," Akane fumed.
"According to ancient lore, a clear, calm mind is a sharp mind," Ranma said, as he smoked his pipe.
"Where did you get that from? A fortune cookie?"
"My dear, the fortune cookie will not be invented for a least a few decades," Ranma said. "So THERE. Nyah!"
"Ranma-!"
"Well, hello," said Dorian Gray, as he tips his hat. "Who is this?"
"One of my fiancées from the homeland," Ranma said.
"Humph!" Akane said, as she gets back into the carriage.
"You really have a way with women," said Tom Sawyer.
"It is not about having one's way with women; it's about knowing the feminine mystique, which is like knowing the difference between the petals and the thorns of a rose."
"How romantic," Usagi sighed.
"Really, you ought to be a bit more discerning about such nonsense," said Mina Harker, as she, Dr. Jekyll and Rodney Skinner walked down the steps with Captain Nemo.
"Just because you've hardened your heart to romance, that doesn't mean you should rain on everyone else's parade," Usagi said, before sticking out her tongue to mock her old friend. "So THERE. Nyah!"
"If dealing with your immaturity is the price of immortality, please put a stake into me now, and then remove my head from my body."
"There are other places I want to…'stake', my dear Mina," Dorian said with a knowing smile.
"Considering your proclivities in romance, I am surprised."
"You wound me…"
"So, what is first step in our mad scheme, Mina?" Rodney asked.
"For this mission, I am placing Lord Rantsu in charge," Mina replied, as she turns towards Ranma. "Ranma?"
"As I have indicated before, Earth's primary defense might be the classic germ," Ranma said.
"How will we verify this?" Dr. Jekyll said.
"We need to secure a 'sample' for verification."
"That might be easy to obtain, Ranma," Nemo said. "From the last intelligence gathering exercise, there is a flotilla of Martian vessels forming a blockade around England. Presumably, it's to isolate England's resolve, while provide a defensive rear."
"And that will our target, then," Ranma said.
"How is that going to help?" Akane asked.
"Because, my dear Akane, the Martians won't expect the Nautilus, that's what…"
Ranma then turns Nemo.
"Captain, can you make any additional space on your vessel?" Ranma asked.
"We will have to remove both supplies and equipment, but I think we can make the space," Nemo said. "Just give me an hour."
"Take whatever time you need, captain."
"What are you going to do, Ranma?" Akane asked.
"We are going to 'bag' a large 'fish', so to speak," Ranma said. He then turns towards the rest of his team.
"Dr. Jekyll, Mrs. Harker: prepare a laboratory that can be sealed away from the rest of the Nautilus. Once we have acquired a specimen, I want to see if my theory is correct."
"Of course," Dr. Jekyll said.
"We can consult with Captain Nemo on this," Mina said with a nod.
"Captain," said an older man with a scraggly beard, as he turn towards Nemo.
"Yes, Ishmael?" Nemo replied.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the chief cook is still sick."
"No doubt he is still waylaid from the illness that has waylaid Quatermain and the others from our last adventure."
"Thank goodness that we have the assistant cook to handle our eating needs," Skinner said.
"Excuse me, but I heard that you need a cook?" Akane asked, while sitting in the carriage.
"And you are, Miss…?" Nemo began to ask. He was generally annoyed by assertive females, but tolerated it since working for the British government.
"My apologies, captain," Ranma said. "This is one my fiancée Miss Akane Tendo."
"Ah, a second wife," Nemo said with a nod.
"Excuse me?" Akane said with annoyance. "I just wanted to know if you can use help in the kitchen."
"We can always use the extra help, especially since I will need my crew to make the necessary modification to the Nautilus," Nemo said.
"Then that settles the matter, then," Akane said.
"Akane, I really think you shouldn't," Usagi said.
"And why not?" Akane said angrily.
"Akane, your skills in the culinary arts are, shall we say…lacking?" Ranma said.
"Ranma, I can't wait until I get you alone," Akane said through gritted teeth, mindful of not messing up her chances to be Nemo's substitution cook…
"Akane, I'll help you in your endeavors," Usagi said with a gentle smile.
"You know how to cook?" Akane said in disbelief.
"Well, I should hope so, after attending 'La Cuisinière Cordon Bleu' in culinary arts in Paris a few years ago."
"I see. Then, why don't you be the cook?"
"I'll have to devout part of my time to this mission, that's why. But doesn't mean I can't help you set things up."
"Then it's settled," Nemo said. "When you are able, have Ishmael send for your things."
"Okay, and thank you, captain," Akane said with a smile. "You won't regret it."
"We'll see about that," Ranma said, as he felt a thrown umbrella to his head. "Ouch…"
For the next two days, the Nautilus shadowed the Martian submerged fleet. They only had one more day before the Martian began their push into London. However, the real threat may be from within the ranks of the League itself…
"Dinner's served!" Akane said, as she sets the plate in front of the assembled League.
"Um, what's that?" Tom asked. "I've honestly never seen that dish before, and I've been all over."
"Well, I wanted to make something special for you guys, for your hard work," Akane said. "And, since it is Thanksgiving in America, I figured that we can have a special meal, even though I couldn't find any turkey on board."
"Huh," Ranma said, as he uses magnifying glass to observe the strange dish. He then turns towards his wife Usagi.
"WHAT are you doing?" Akane asked.
"Nothing, nothing," Ranma said, as he leans over towards Usagi.
"Um, dear, is it…safe?" Ranma asked.
"I don't know, hon," Usagi replied, as she sipped her water. "She made the thing without my supervision, when I did the sanitation inspection for the lab Mina and Dr. Jekyll was setting up."
"Oh."
"Well, American, after you," Dorian Grey said with a smirk, as pans towards Tom. "After all, it's your holiday."
"Um, right," Tom said, as he swallowed hard. He could have sworn that Akane's special dish moved somehow…
"May I have a piece, ma'am?" Tom asked, as he swallowed hard while presenting his plate.
"Sure!" Akane said happily, as she goes to cut the dish. However, as soon as she attempts to do so, it gets up, and runs away.
"Hey!" Akane yelled. "Come back here-!"
"My word!" Nemo said.
"Oy!" Skinner said. "Did that plate of food…move?"
"I am SO glad that I don't have to eat these days," Mina replied, as she sipped on her goblet of blood, thanks to Dr. Jekyll and Nemo's efforts to appease the monster in her.
"In the future, Akane is NOT to be alone in the kitchen," Ranma said.
"Um, sure?" Usagi replied, as she broke out into a sweat.
"Captain!" Ishmael said, as he runs into the dining hall. "We picked up a lone Martian vessel on radar."
"It may be the stray we've been looking for," Nemo said. "Prepare to catch this craft."
"Aye, sir!" Ishmael replied, before running out of the dining room.
"Dinner is thankfully over," Dorian said, as he gets up.
"But…what about that…thing that had ran away?" Tom said.
"Don't worry, Tommy," Skinner said, as he slaps Tom on his back. "I'm sure it'll show up sooner or later."
"Hopefully, never," Dr. Jekyll replied.
"I just wanted to please people," Akane said with a sigh.
"Miss Tendo, a wise man once said, 'To admit not to know is the beginning of wisdom," Nemo said gently. "If you continue to do things in willful ignorance, you will continue to repeat the same mistakes."
"It's just that I want to be as good as Ranma at something," Akane said, as she begins to clear the dining table.
"Then don't try to. Develop you own talents irrespective of Lord Rantsu's presence or abilities."
"Really?"
"Really. If you want to be a good cook, then learn how to cook because YOU want to be a good cook. Same goes with anything else you want to do."
"Well, I want to be a good cook, and a better martial artist, Captain Nemo."
"Then, I tell you what. If you are willing to learn how to be a good cook, I will teach you my craft: Kalaripayattu."
"'Kalaripayattu'?" Akane replied.
"It is one of many martial arts that my nation of India is known for. Normally, I would not teach a woman my Art, but I have been…impressed by the presence of Mrs. Harker and Lady Rantsu."
"Oh, thank you, Captain Nemo!" Akane said, as she goes to hug the rogue mariner. She then notices her breaking of decorum.
"Er, sorry, captain," Akane said in embarrassment.
"Accepted," Nemo said. "No, please return to your quarters. I will have the steward deal with your…work."
"Um, okay," Akane said, as she nodded her head while backing way. "And thank you…"
After Akane leaves, Nemo turns towards Ranma, the last to remain behind.
"It appears that your plan is working, Ranma."
"Indeed," Ranma replied. "There would have been no way Akane would take my advice, due to our mutual history."
"Miss Tendo is certainly a firebrand. Maybe she is avatar of Agni?"
"I hope not…"
Soon, the Nautilus was in position.
"Range: 100 meters," Ishmael said, as he double-checked his sensors. He then turned towards Nemo.
"Sir, that cloak of Lady Rantsu's is firmly in place. There's no indication of detection."
"Excellent," Nemo said. He then signals the shipboard communicator to establish a connection between the Bridge and Auxiliary."
"Bridge to Auxiliary."
Down in Auxiliary, Usagi was floating in a lotus position above a rune circle that had been etched into the floor. "Auxiliary" was another word for Inner Sanctum, especially built to both fulfill the resident sorceress' needs, as well as maximize Usagi's contribution for her team. Lining the walls and floor was a mixture of ancient mysticism and Victorian era techno-magic.
"This is Auxiliary," Usagi said, while she kept her eyes closed.
"Your 'Field of Invisibility' cloak is still firmly in place, Lady Rantsu," Nemo said.
"That is good, because I won't be able to assist you further."
"Is there a problem?"
"The Martian's hive mind is rooted in telepathy, so I am also performing double-duty in making sure that the crew's thoughts were not detected, as you make your approach. I won't be able to discern the status of the Martians themselves, other than emotions."
"Understood, and thank you. Bridge: out…"
Nemo then signals the communications officer to connect with the hanger deck.
"Bridge to Hanger Deck."
"Hanger Deck: here," Ranma said, as he, Tom and Dr. Jekyll's alter-ego Mr. Hyde continue to get suited up. "What's our prognosis?"
"Just a moment," Nemo said, as he turns towards his First Officer. "Ishmael?"
"We're fifty meters from contact, sir," Ishmael said.
"Did you catch that, Ranma?"
"We got it. We'll be ready in a few minutes-"
Just then, Akane enters the hanger deck.
"Ranma, I want to come."
"As what?" Hyde said with a sneer, as he looms over Akane. "As bait?"
"Ah!" Akane said, as she jumps back. "A 'dojo destroyer'!"
"Akane, never mind that," Ranma said. "Look, you can't go because you can't swim."
"I can, too, Ranma! While you were away, Little-Wolf-With-Big-Howl taught me how to swim."
"She did?"
"Yes, she did."
"Well, you're not rate to go on this dive," Ranma said.
"Well, we can always use another spotter," Tom said. "Those waters are going to be murky enough, and the pods are easy to drive."
"Yeah, and that fop Dorian doesn't want to participate in this mission anyway," Hyde said.
"And I DID learn how to drive, you know, before being stuck in the later 19th century, you know."
"Tom, you're not helping," Ranma said. He then looked at the wall clock that was built into the hull.
"Fine, get suited up, Akane. But once we're out there, you have to listen to what I say. Those waters out there are treacherous enough as it is."
"Thanks, Ranma!" Akane said with a smile. "You won't regret it!"
"Why do I think otherwise?"
"What was that?"
"Nothing…"
Tbc.
Author's Note: I have two or three more chapters to go, but this story will be concluded within a few days. Until then, have a Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble, gobble!