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. C&C are welcomed.
Author's Note: Due to a mistake on my part, here is the epilogue…of sorts. Enjoy!
Part 7
All in all, Ranma Saotome's connection to Mars will always be a peculiar one, even obliquely, as noted by the company he keeps…
FLASHBACK!
1994 CE: Nevada, USA.
Upon receiving some rather cryptic news from a sister clandestine program, the Blackwood Group sends out an agent to check out the situation…
"Gee, imagine ME getting the call," Ranma said, as he drives into a heavily guarded, and highly restricted site in Nevada, dubbed "Area 28". Officially, it no longer exists on any maps. However, it is there that advanced alien research is conducted by the SETI Institute, which was based out in Las Angeles, California…
"It better be a good reason why I was dragged all the way out here," Ranma grumbled to himself, as he is allowed unto the premises…
"Okay, let me get this straight," Ranma said, as he paced back and forth. "You copied instructions from an alien transmission, used that to create a human being-"
"Xenomorph," said Dr. Xavier Fitch, who was the head of the SETI project that had called help in dealing with their problem. "She isn't human."
"Ah, it's a 'she'," Ranma said. "Go on."
"We designated the creature as 'Sil', which stands for 'sentient intelligent lifeform'. We wanted to learn about the aliens who sent the transmission through the creature."
"Right. You know, this is precisely why I can't stand scientists most of the time. They do stuff without thinking about the consequences of their actions, all in the name of science. Bah."
"I would expect something like that from a soldier. You have no idea what it takes to create a lifeform such as Sil."
"Oh, really? Well, then, let me explain to you what I think…
Ranma shocks Dr. Fitch with his knowledge of DNA assembling techniques, and even explained the process in detail.
"And any geneticist worth his or her salt would have recognized aggressive genetic strands BEFORE the procedure," Ranma said.
"You…have me at a loss, I admit," Dr. Fitch said. "I apologize for my presumption."
"No problem. Believe me, it does help to have a wife who is a scientist, by the way. Well, she's into weird science, but still…"
"Well, then, if nothing more, let me introduce to you your team…"
Upon tracking down Sil, Ranma turns to his teammates.
"Okay, here's the drill," Ranma said. "I would rather capture Sil alive than dead. But, considering the fact that she can morph into an alien killing machine, I don't want to put your lives and the lives of others at risk. So, be careful out there."
"Why do you insist that Sil is to be captured?" asked Dr. Fitch. "The creature is dangerous."
"Why do we put murderers on trial?" Ranma said. "Where I come from, I believe in giving even the worse of us a chance at redemption. And as far as I'm concerned, that 'creature' is 'human'. A killing machine bent on mating indiscriminately, but still…"
"He got you there, doctor," said Dr. Stephen Arden, the team's anthropologist said.
"Fine, but remember that I call the final shots," Dr. Fitch said, as he deactivates his active comlink.
"I don't think he looks too happy about any of this," said Dr. Laura Baker, the assistant to Dr. Fitch on the SIL Program.
"Doesn't matter WHAT he thinks," Ranma said. He then turned towards an empathy named Dan Smithson, a New Age African-American.
"Have you picked up some thoughts, friend?"
"She is definitely in that hotel," Dan said, as he spaced out a bit.
"You think?" Dr. Arden said. "We KNOW she's in that hotel, trying to find a man to mate with."
"We also know that she can adjust her looks at will," Dr. Baker said, as she hands a document over to Ranma. "You were right, Ranma."
"Xenomorphs are natural adapters," Ranma said, not wanting to get into the fact that Usagi, his wife, was, technically, a xenomoprh, thanks to being experimented upon by Weyland-Yutani, circa late 22nd century. No doubt, the research that would pave the way for what happened to Usagi was based on the work done by SETI.
"And some can even shift completely into new forms."
"You're talking about something right out of 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'," Dr. Baker said.
"Ha, if only you knew the truth about THAT."
"Huh?"
"Wait, she found someone," Dan said. "She's beginning the mating process!"
"Okay, everyone, be careful. Do not engage Sil. That's MY job."
"What can you do?" Dr. Arden asked.
"I'll think of something."
With that, the team climb out of the surveillance truck, determined to prevent Sil from mating. Unfortunately, they would be too late…
"I'm going down to the basement level," Ranma said, as he takes off his jacket and shirt.
"But…you'll get killed!" Dr. Baker said, referring to how Arden was maimed by Sil, even as he was being tended to by Dan.
"So?" Ranma said with a cocky smile. "Fitch didn't ask for my help just for me to play nice."
"Just…be careful," Dr. Baker said, as she goes up to Ranma, and gives him a big kiss.
"Dr. Baker?" Ranma said in surprise. "Not that I don't mind, but still…"
"For good luck, I guess?"
"Um, right."
And, with that, Ranma goes down into the basement, before going into the sewers below…
"We have you tracked, thanks to the local water people providing us an overlay of sewer system," said Dr. Fitch, as he and the team looked at a digital display of the map in the team's van.
"How are you doing down there?" Dr. Baker said.
"Smelly, but okay," Ranma said, as he wades through the sewers. "I'm going to need a bath everyday of the week if I'm going to get rid of this smell…"
"Ranma, I sense Sil presence," Dan said, as he used a computer tablet to mark the area.
"Captain Saotome, that's fifteen meters north of your present position," Dr. Fitch says.
"I can see why Sil would pick this area," Ranma said, as he emerges in an open area. "This particular spot would make a perfect hive, with its access to the LA basin and its humid temperature-"
"Ranma, Sil's moving towards your position!" Dr. Baker yells, using Ranma's personal GPS unit, and portal scanner.
"I don't see her," Ranma said. "I'm going 'silent mode'. You don't hear from me in five minutes, it means I've been compromised, and that there is a good chance that Sil's alive. Ranma: out."
"Ranma, wait-!"
CLICK!
Ranma steeled himself, as he goes from hunter mode to killer mode. Already, he could feel Sil's presence up close.
"I know you can hear me, so I will only say this once: give yourself up, and I will protect you from Dr. Fitch," Ranma said. "Do not give up, and your life will end here. This is your final warning-"
Suddenly, Sil rises up out of the sewer water, and tackles Ranma from behind. She was determined to get access to Ranma's body, by immediately incapacitate him by causing brain death, and then force his body to give what she needs by manipulating his body. Once impregnation has occurred, Ranma will be disposed of, and the next generation of Sils will be much stronger…
SPLASH!
Ranma is grabbed from behind, and both fall into the sewer water. There was tremendous splashing before all is still once more.
Dr. Baker was pacing back and forth, as the team waited for Ranma's signal.
"Trust me, he's alive," Dan said.
"I rather be sure that he's alive AND well, if you don't mind," Dr. Baker said.
Just then, the sewer lid near the van pops up, and is moved to the side. Armed soldiers immediately go on alert, as Ranma sticks his head up.
"Um, is there a problem?" Ranma said, as he climbs himself up onto the street.
"And the body?" Dr. Fitch said.
"Yeah, about that," Ranma said with a sigh, as he hulls up a body bag of a dead Sil. "I didn't want to risk further contamination of the bio-sphere, so…here I am with her."
"You okay!" Dr. Baker said, as she helped Ranma to his feet.
"Ow," Ranma said, as he placed his hand over his ribs. "Not exactly."
"You have done good work, Captain Saotome," Dr. Fitch said, as he looked at the body bag containing Sil. "We can handle the situation from here."
"Yeah, whatever," Ranma said dismissively. "Just remember this: no more answering the equivalent of a 'fishing e-mail', okay? I don't want to deal with this sort of nonsense again, you know."
Two years later…
"Major Saotome, we have a situation," said Dr. Fitch.
"Let me guess: you created another Sil, and so SHE is on the loose?" Ranma said with annoyance. He hated the fact that his training for the Jupiter Project, on the eve of the launch, was being interfered with by nonsense…
"Actually, you're only half right, Ranma," Dr. Baker said. "Apparently, SETI had authorized the creation of TWO Sils. However, the second Sil has more human DNA than xenomorph."
"Wait, it sounds like this other Sil hasn't escaped," Ranma said, as he turns to the military attaché for the program. "Colonel, why am I here?"
"You are here to capture this man," Colonel Carter Burgess, Jr, (USMC) said, as he hands Ranma a file. He takes one good look at the title, and, with a frown on his face, Ranma opens the file to see its contents…
"This can't be right," Ranma said. He then looked up at the general.
"They shouldn't have allowed for THIS mission to move forward. Don't you know what this means?"
"Yes, but the fact of the matter is that this mission was already approved of by the highest authorities."
"Well, Colonel, you leave me no choice but to get extra-help on this one," Ranma said.
"And that is why I insisted on your inclusion in this assignment, Captain," Dr. Fitch said. "You know more about Mars than anyone here, including how to remedy any problems that originate there."
"Well, that is true. But for the record, Mars, like Earth, has had several space-faring races originating from there, as well as different species going there to live. You know that transmission, the one that created Sil? It came from a race that used to call Mars home."
"How do you know this?" Dr. Baker said.
"I checked with an expert on all things Martian: J'onn J'onz, the Martian Manhunter. He's an old friend from my days with the Justice League of America."
"We did wonder about his origins," Burgess said.
"Well, he IS of Martian decent, as well as other people. And I'm not going to divulge their identities to you, after this latest fiasco with you guys."
"I could make you," Burgess said.
"I'm sure, if you manage to get past SHIELD's objections."
"Humph."
"At least, we should meet with Eve, Sil's 'sister'," Dr. Baker said. "Come, let me introduced you to her…"
A short time later, in a containment field, Ranma meets Eve.
"Hello," Eve said, as she straightens out her dress, and presents herself.
"Um, hello," Ranma said. He was taken aback how similar Eve was to Sil, in spite of Eve having shorter hair and a kinder face…
"You must be 'Ranma'," Eve said, as she pressed herself against the glass. "I…I would very much like to get to know you better."
Eve gave her best 'come hither' look…
"Is she okay?" Ranma said.
"Well, unfortunately, Eve, like Sil, is attracted to strong males," Dr. Baker said. "That's why all the guards in this area are women."
"Oh, I dropped something," Eve said, as she bent down to pick up a tennis ball that was lying on the floor. "I better…pick it up…"
Eve turns around to pick up the tennis ball while making sure that Ranma saw her rear-end.
"Frisky, isn't she?"
"It can be an embarrassment, sometimes," Dr. Baker said. "We've been trying to train Eve on female modesty, and I am afraid that she might be overwhelmed by other males."
"Then, why am I here?"
"We want you to bond with the creature," Dr. Fitch said. "Once bonded, she can help us track down the mutated astronauts, particularly Astronaut Patrick Ross."
"Yeah, the one who has become a xenomorph, and is raping women into bearing his brood," Ranma said grimly. He could recall how Usagi's own heightened senses were extended to her own sexuality, although, thanks to having mildly acidic blood and intense martial arts training, the Moon Princess was able to keep her body from being exploited by her own personal desires…
"We are lucky to have Astronaut Dennis Gamble being the only one not infected, due to his Sickle Cell Anemia," Burgess said.
"Where is he now?"
"He is waiting for us at the SETI Institute," Dr. Fitch said. "When you're done here, we can proceed."
"Great, just great," Ranma said, as he looked at Eve, whose hunger for him made him very nervous indeed…
Tbc.
Next Time: Will Ranma succumbed to Eve's charms? Will Ranma become a xenomorph as a result of his encounter? What about the threat that Patrick poses to the unsuspecting women population? Stay tuned! Later…