SMST: Deep Space Moon! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story. As always, C&C are welcomed.
Special Note: This story takes place during Seasons 1 through 3 of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". "The Ranma Trek Chronicles" takes place during Seasons 4 through 7.
Author's Note: This story is designed to be short, and will focus mostly on Sailor Moon, though Ranma Saotome (of "Ranma ½") will make a cameo from time-to-time.
Part 29
A few weeks later…
Personal Log, Stardate: 47250. First of all, I hate the fact that the Provisional Government is making the Bajoran Militia switch to the Federation's "Stardate", even when making personal logs. Second, I hate the fact that I'm recording my thoughts of late, thanks to a certain annoying Starfleet "counselor". But, as Vedek Bareil would say, "Ease of the mind means expression of the pen or word". Since I don't have anyone to talk to up here on Deep Space Nine, formerly "Tarok Nor", I since I don't want to talk to Counselor Tsukino about how I feel about her, I guess keeping a journal is a happy medium of sorts. And only the Prophets know how much I need to feel happy, even as the time of the Cardassian occupation of Bajor is slowly becoming a distant memory…
Anyway, where to begin? Ever since my sabbatical to the monastery where Bereil is overseeing, I am haunting by the visions I received from one of the Tears of the Prophets: The Orb of Prophecy. I can accept the idea that I could see myself as a Vedek, but as a Sailor Scout? I have heard of these legendary "planet guardians" that have kept peace throughout the galaxy, only to fall at the might of Chaos. And I know that Sailor Scouts consisted of girls and women of royal birth. But if I am to be one of these Sailor Scouts, then it confirms what my mother told me: that I am a descended of the House of Ashalla, the first princess of Bajor, and the first to be a planet guardian. In fact, the capital city was named after Princess Ashalla…
Still, as intriguing an idea as being "royalty", I never liked the idea of being "blue blooded". In fact, my family was a part of a caste of artists before the Cardassians came, and, in some way, I have to thank the invaders for allowing us, the survivors of this invasion, the ability to choose what we can do with our lives. And right now, I like being the Bajoran liaison to the Federation here on the station. But, I digress…
From what I know about Counselor Tsukino, is very little. I do know for a fact that she has been around for a very long time, even going as far back to when the Federation first formed. I don't know what she has done between the times when she was either active in Starfleet or as a member of the Federation Diplomatic Corps. And, amazingly enough, Counselor Tsukino has had an illustrious career in both organizations. As for what she has done outside of those aforementioned organizations, I have heard of rumors about her more wilder and outlandish exploits, always in the vicinity of her husband Ranma Saotome (yes, THAT Ranma Saotome, with whom I had been…intimately involved with during the Cardassian Occupation). Together, those two spent a lot of time either hanging out in the outlying Federation colonies or in the Uncharted Territories doing who-knows-what.
I mean, really. I can't picture Counselor Tsukino having authority over an army of Necromongers, or combating demi-gods that can destroy a planet with ease with some "Monkey King" at her side. And I can barely see her being a starship commander, let alone having the ability to forge alliances with different space-faring species…
But there is one thing I do know: Usagi Tsukino, in spite of my reservations about her personally, is indeed a fine example of a dedicated member of Starfleet, and is willing to do anything to succeed in her goals as such.
With the anniversary of the liberation of Bajor well-underway, much of the traffic through the Federation space station "Deep Space Nine" was slowed to nearly a crawl, much to the consternation of the owner of "Quark's".
"This is ridiculous," Quark said, as he looked at his spreadsheet on his personal access data device ("PADD").
"What is?" asked Science Officer Jadzia Dax, as she sipped her brew of Klingon coffee (called "Raktagino").
"I go out of my way to put in the time and effort to cater to Bajorans for 'Liberation Day', and yet the only Bajoran here on the station is Major Kira," Quark said.
"Maybe if you delved deeper into the Bajoran culture, you would have understood that ALL Bajorans are to return to Bajor to give thanks to the Prophets," Major Kira said, as she sits down at the bar in Quark's.
"Then, why are YOU here?" Dax asked.
"Well, Bareil is going to be busy today, and I could bear thinking how lonely Quark will be," Kira replied.
"Very funny, major," Quark said. "But leave the comedy to those who are known for it."
"Speaking of 'comedians', where is Counselor Tsukino?" Kira asked.
As if on cue, a floor deck is lifted up…
"…What?" Kira began to ask.
"Ah," Usagi said, as she lifts herself up from the open space, wearing a forehead flashlight with cables wrapped around her shoulders. She looked around.
"Oh, you guys are here," Usagi replied, as she reaches for Dax.
"Why are you down there?" Dax asked, as she helps her ex-girlfriend up to her feet.
"Well, since the Bajoran workers are on holiday, Miles asked for my help to run some cable," Usagi said, as she leans on the bar. "Quark?"
"Romulan Ale or Saurian Brandy?" Quark asked.
"Klingon Blood Wine, this time," Usagi replied.
"Coming right up…"
"You know you're not supposed to drink while on duty," Kira said.
"Since when do YOU care, major?" Usagi said, as she nods her thanks upon receiving her drink.
"Look, I know that you tend to do stuff just to get under my nerves, but I am supposed to be the executive officer around here," Kira replied. "What if a civilian sees you being this way?"
"Major, trust me, nobody cares, when nobody is looking," Usagi said. "And look, since there are only a few of us around, 'goofing off' can be included in the itinerary, so to speak…"
Usagi downs her drink, and slams her mug on the counter.
"Thanks, Quark."
"No problem, counselor," Quark replied with a nod.
"Well, it is back to work," Usagi said, as she jumps back into the hole. Her hand could be seen, as she reaches for the grate.
"Be seeing you all," Usagi said, as she pulls the grate in place.
THOK!
"Maybe it's not too late to change posts?" Kira said, as shakes her head, only to have Dax giggle in reply.
Later, a roving plasma storm intercepts the station, but not before taking on new people…
"Welcome to the Federation Space Station 'Deep Space Nine'," said Commander Sisko, as he greets the new arrivals. "I am the station commander, Ben Sisko, though, I have to say, that it is a good thing you arrived here just in time."
"We are glad, too," said a woman named Mareel, originally from the planet Khefka IV. For the most part, Khekans appeared to be humanoid, like humans and Bajorans, but had a distinctive forehead and bone-structure (slightly raised that looked like the letter "Y" in the center)…
"We were actually looking forward to the Liberation Day Festivals on Bajor, but wanted to stop by to see the Wormhole."
"Well, I'm sure that we can provide accommodations," Sisko said, as he observes two Klingons (male and female), a Trill male, who seemed to keep to himself in the rear, and an assortment of non-humans...
"Thank you, commander," Mareel said, as she glances at her companions. "I do wonder what you have here."
"Well, we do have the Promenade to start with," Sisko said. "This way, please…"
A short while later…
THOK!
"There," Usagi said, as she finished replacing the old power coupler with a new one. "I think that's the last of it, Miles."
"I hope you're right," said Chief O'Brien, as he sipped his coffee. "We've been down here for hours."
"Hey, it's better to get this project of yours out of the way, so you can get that week off you and Keiko had been planning for some time."
"True, true," Miles said, as he picks up his PADD. "Now, I think this next section of the station could be fixed up in no time-"
Suddenly, Usagi clutches her head in pain.
"Ah!" Usagi yelped, as she squeezed her eyes.
"Bunny?" Miles asked out of concern.
"I don't know," Usagi said with worry. "I felt…a loss for a moment."
O'Brien was not a superstitious man, but he knew that his mother-in-law (of sorts) had a funny way of knowing that something bad was happening…
"Miles, can you patch into the station's surveillance system from here?" Usagi asked.
"Normally, no," O'Brien said, as he looked around the junction area to see a signals box. "But, I think I can make some modifications, so that I can pick up a signal on my PADD…"
Pause.
"You think something is wrong?" O'Brien asked, as he removes the aforementioned panel.
"I don't know, but why take the chance?" Usagi replied.
"You're right about THAT…"
A short time later...
"Don't worry, Jadzia, I promise to get you through this," Dr. Julian Bashir said with assurance, as his friend and colleague rested. Thanks to the station's latest guests, the skeleton crew was overpowered, starting with Constable Odo, who was placed in a sealed container, which was now in a sealed holding cell in Odo's office, which was now under guard by one of the Klingon mercenaries. Making matters worse, the Dax symbiotic organism was removed from Jadzia, and was placed within Mareel's Trill lover Verad, now called Verad Dax. Unfortunately, because Dax was removed from Jadzia, Jadzia's body was going through a state of shock. In fact, there was a good chance that Jadzia could die, of the Dax organism is not returned to her…
"I'm not…Julian," Jadzia said, as calmly as possible. "I know you will…do what it takes to help…me…"
Pause.
"And I know that SHE will be there to help me," Jadzia said tiredly.
"Who?"
"She might be referring to Usagi," said Verad Dax, as he and Mareel enter the infirmary. Unlike before, Verad was now clean-shaven, calm and confident, with his hair properly combed and facial hair groomed.
"What makes you say that?" Dr. Bashir said with disgust.
"She and Chief O'Brien are unaccounted for," Mareel replied. "For now, the plasma storm is preventing us from leaving the station, but, until then, those two, especially Usagi, pose a significant threat to Verad Dax."
"There is still time to change your mind and save Jadzia's life," Dr. Bashir said.
"No," Verad replied. "I like the new me. The Trill Symbiosis Commission was wrong to think that I, Verad, was unsuited from joining."
"I wonder why," Dr. Bashir replied.
"Nevertheless, we need to flush Usagi and O'Brien out," Mareel said. "Thankfully, Verad knows much in the way of internal environmental systems."
"I do hope that they come out before it is too late," Verad said. "I would hate to see more people die because of…this situation."
And, with that, Verad Dax and Mareel turn to leave Infirmary…
"It looks hopeless," Dr. Bashir said, just as a hand-written note flutters onto his head.
"Julian?" Jadzia asked.
"It's a note," Dr. Bashir said, as he looks up to see another grate. He then looked down to read the note, after opening it:
Ye of little faith, doctor.
XOXO, Usagi.
"Huh," Dr. Bashir said thoughtfully.
"What does it say?" Jadzia asked.
"It 'says' that we're about to turn our situation around," Dr. Bashir said with a broad smile.
Later, on the command deck, Verad Dax and Mareel pace back-and-forth, observing the changes in the atmosphere within the crawl space underneath the station decks.
"Soon, we'll flush Usagi and Chief O'Brien out of their hiding space," Verad Dax said somberly.
"You are not a killer, Old Man," Sisko said warily.
"You'd be surprise what a person would do to truly live, Benjamin," Verad Dax replied.
"Verad, I just got a text from one of our men," Mareel said. "We have Chief O'Brien."
"Good," Verad said. "See that he is brought here, and begin sweeping those hatches."
"You don't think Usagi is still…alive, right?" Kira asked.
"We both know to take her seriously," Verad said. "And we do not have time to wait until the plasma storm has run its course. Bunny needs to be found immediately."
Kira turned towards Sisko, who merely shrugged his shoulders in reply. She wondered why the station commander could be so nonchalant about the matter…
Once the personnel ducts were cleared of the toxic gas, Mareel sent men into the ducts to retrieve Usagi, alive or dead. From the command deck, they could see what was going on via the sensors and the map overlays of the deck.
"Okay, check junction point C-23," Verad Dax said, as he spoke through a secured channel.
"You're paying us enough to do this," said one of the men, as he and his fellow mercenaries moved deeper into the bowels of the station.
"You'll be paid a bonus, once we are out of here," Mareel said.
"I wouldn't go down further, if I were you," O'Brien said, as he is watched by guards.
"I suppose THAT area is where Bunny is?" Verad replied.
"Maybe," Sisko said. "We haven't had a chance to clear out that area, since taking over the station."
"Proceed to C-23, and be ready for anything," Mareel said.
A few minutes later, sonar begins to pick up…something.
"We got a hit!" said the mercenary, a Klingon named T'Kar, as he scanned the area before him. "But, I don't see anything."
"Well, there IS something ahead of you!" Mareel yelled. "It's about…ten meters…nine meters…eight-!"
"I don't see anything!" the mercenary yelled, as he begins shooting into the darkness.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM-!
"Whatever it is…it is right in front of you!"
"No!" the mercenary yelled, just as a Cardassian vole comes into view, with a transponder attached to it.
"Huh?" T'Kar said, feeling dumb that he was tricked. He then tapped his earpiece.
"It's just a Cardassian vole!" T'Kar replied.
"A vole?" Mareel said.
Verad Dax frowns, then realizes something.
"Anyone available, head down to the station's holding cell!" Verad yells, just as the elevator to Ops reaches the command deck…
"I think that it would be appropriate that you surrender, Verad Dax," Constable Odo replied. Just behind and near him was Quark.
"You…were involved?" Kira asked Quark.
"A favor for the counselor," Quark said, as he smiles in his typical smug matter.
"And that means that I'll have to review my security precautions…again," Odo said, as steps forth. He wondered how Quark knew how to break into his holding cell. Then again, this was Quark, who was only a seminar class away from being a master criminal…if he didn't have a business to run.
"I see," Sisko said, as he turned towards Verad. "Now, the next plan of action is yours."
"But, Benjamin, I need this!" Verad Dax replied.
"Sorry, but you do not get a choice in the matter," Sisko said, as he directs Odo to apprehend Verad. "And you have not earned the right to call me by my first name, Verad."
A shocked Verad Dax is forcefully removed from the command deck, even as Mareel and the others are forced to follow, thanks to O'Brien and Kira.
"So, you set things up to trick these guys into chasing Usagi, using a fake signal, thinking that Usagi would not have gotten Quark's help to release Odo," Kira said.
"Actually, Bunny got me to get Quark's help," O'Brien said. "That's how I got caught."
"So, where did the counselor go?" Kira asked.
Down in the Infirmary, Usagi was using her healing powers to sustain Jadzia's life, by lending her life-energy to hers. She hoped that by having Odo released, the crisis could be settled as quickly as possible. In the mean time, she was doing her part to keep Jadzia alive long enough to get the Dax organism put back into her stomach…
"This is amazing," Dr. Bashir said, as he recorded his observations. "So, you are transferring her your energy to Jadzia."
"Yes," Usagi replied, without opening her eyes. "Chi manipulation is a known fact, even amongst humanoids."
"And you need to touch someone to transfer this energy?"
"Not necessarily. Not for me or anyone who is experienced at doing this, anyway."
"Then why are you touching Jadzia…there?" Dr. Bashir asked, noticing where Usagi was touching Jadzia's chest.
"Um…well…"
"For once, I don't mind," Jadzia said tiredly, which resulted in Usagi sticking her tongue at Dr. Bashir.
"Nyah!" Usagi said.
Dr. Bashir merely sighed in reply.
Tbc.