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 33
A week later…
"…And so, I can't sleep, counselor," said Ben Sisko, as he paced back and forth in Usagi's office.
"Because of dreams concerning the death of your wife," Usagi said, as she continued taking notes. She was surprised that her commanding officer wanted a genuine counseling session, considering the type of antics Usagi was known to display…
"Yes," Sisko said, as he stopped his pacing a bit. He then turned towards Usagi.
"I know that you were on the Enterprise-D during the 'Wolf 359 Incident'," Sisko said, referring to the first Borg invasion of the Federation.
"I was," Usagi said evenly. "As you know, I was the Science Officer on board during the attack."
"And how did you feel about the deaths that the Borg had caused?"
"At the time, I had to steel myself by undergoing the 'Null State'," Usagi said, referring to a technique that Ranma had taught to Starfleet Officers who participated in the Advanced Tactics Course years ago, which is still a requirement of command-level officers. "Otherwise, I don't think I would have function very well."
"But…you had the power to deal with the Borg then and there," Sisko said.
"Sir, the Borg KNOWS about me and Ranma, and would have been prepared to mount a defense against us," Usagi replied with a sigh. "Not only did they have Captain Picard, but…but…"
"But what?"
"Sir, I lost a child to the Borg," Usagi said, as Sisko was taken aback by the revelation.
"You?"
"Yes. I was part of a long-range exploration project that ventured well into the Uncharted Territories. We interacted with species that were previously unknown to Federation…"
Pause.
"Unfortunately, one of those species was the Borg," Usagi said with finality.
"Why weren't we warned?" Sisko asked angrily.
"What makes you think Starfleet was not? You think improvements in weapons technology and power output happened just because? Starfleet Command was very much aware of the potential threats out in the Uncharted Territories, including species like the Borg…"
Pause.
"Unfortunately, developing a policy around first contact opportunities, particularly when threat assessments are part of the process, tends to get caught up in the muck that is bureaucratic red tape," Usagi replied. "Sir, I know how you feel; first hand, in fact. However, even I know that there was nothing that could have been done to avoid the inevitable encounter with the Borg."
"That doesn't make me feel any better, even if I know that you are right," Sisko said, as he relaxed a bit. "But what about these dreams I have been having?"
"You loving your wife will never go away, nor should it," Usagi said. "But you have to move on."
"And what about Jake?"
"He'll adapt if you are willing to move on," Usagi said. "Jake's a good kid and I know he will be alright."
"Well, if you say so," Sisko replied. "We're done?"
"If you say so," Usagi replied with a broad smile. "You can always come back here to talk to me any time you want."
"Of course," Sisko replied, as he turns to leave Usagi's office. "I am running this place, after all."
Usagi could only giggle in reply, as Sisko walks away…
Later, Sisko and the command staff is on board the Nebula-class, Federation starship USS Prometheus, where a dinner is taken place in honor of a celebrity scientist.
"…And that, my dear, is how I will be able to ignite a dead star," said Professor Gideon Seyetik, as he recalls his process.
"Well, do admit that you have expanded beyond just terra-forming planets, doctor," Dax replied, as she took a sip of her drink.
"How did you solve the proto-matter problem?" Usagi asked.
"Huh," Seyetik replied. "I wasn't aware that a Starfleet counselor would know that term."
"Our counselor is a trained scientist herself," Sisko replied. "In fact, I do believe Counselor Tsukino was involved with the 'Genesis Project'."
"Tangentially at best, sir," Usagi replied. "And that was over ninety years ago or so."
"Ah, so you knew Dr. Carol Marcus, then," Seyetik said.
"Well, when I say 'tangentially', I mean the part where a rogue Augment had illegally stolen the Genesis Wave Torpedo before it was ready for operations," Usagi said.
"Wait," Seyetik said. "You must be the 'Moon Princess'."
"I am."
"I have to say that I am honored to make my acquaintance," Seyetik said with a smile.
"This is a change," Dr. Bashir said quietly, having known Dr. Seyetik for being an egomaniac in the sciences.
"Weirdly so," Dax whispered back.
"You do not understand," Seyetik replied. "Your counselor has first-hand experience in how the Genesis Wave Effect acted upon biomatter."
"You got caught up in all this?" Chief O'Brien asked.
"No, but Ranma did," Usagi replied with a sigh.
"Wait, what?" Kira asked out of concern.
"Yeah, when the wave had set off, Ranma was, um, 'gone', as a result of the detonation," Usagi said. "Amazingly, when the Genesis Planet formed, so did his body. However, due to the use of proto-matter within the Mutara Sector, the planet and everything on it was unstable. To counter that, I used transporter technology to stabilize the environment long to prevent the planet's total destruction."
"Precisely my line of thinking," Seyetik said. "I developed a method to utilize the energy-matter matrix that transporter technology uses to create an improved method to deploy proto-matter…"
Pause.
"And thus far, I have proven to be a success in that regard," Seyetik said. "And I have you to thank for, counselor."
Usagi nods her approval, when she notices that Sisko was virtually staring at Seyetik's wife…
"Sir?" Usagi asked quietly, as she leaned over towards the station commander.
Sisko continued to stare at Seyetik's wife, with the look of a jealous man…
"SIR?"
"Hmmm?" Sisko asked, before realizing what he was doing. "Oh, sorry. It's just that Mrs. Seyetik reminds me of someone…"
Usagi arched her eyebrow, but decided to wait until later before wondering if and when Sisko was going to talk to her about the object of his desire.
She didn't have to wait long.
"Counselor, I need to speak with you," Sisko said the next day, as he walked into Usagi's office. "It's…embarrassing that I have to talk about, well…"
"You're in love with a married woman," Usagi said.
"How did you know?"
"I could tell by the look of scorn and jealousy on your face, at the dinner last night," Usagi said.
Sisko raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, Quark told me, when I was picking up my monthly stash of Romulan Ale," Usagi said with a shrug. "But I could tell that the object of your desire was Mrs. Seyetik, which was apparent on your face during the dinner."
"Does everyone know about my infatuation?" Sisko asked, as he sits down on Usagi's couch.
"Kira and Odo probably do not know, though I doubt she is incapable of knowing what romance is, even if it came with instructions attached," Usagi said with a giggle.
"Easy," Sisko said. "But what am I going to do? One minute, she wants to be with me, and the next she acts like she doesn't know me."
"I noticed that Mrs. Seyetik had pointy ears," Usagi said. "But she doesn't seem to be a Vulcan."
"No, she is a 'Halanan'," Sisko said. "They do possess telepathic abilities, but…"
"But what?"
"Supposedly, they can create telepathic projections of themselves and other things from their minds-"
Suddenly, a thought dawned on the station commander.
"Of course," Sisko said, as he stands up. "Maybe, Mrs. Seyetik is projecting a telepathic image of herself, which is why she can deny never having met me before the dinner?"
"Uh-huh," Usagi said with a nod.
"I can get Dax and Chief O'Brien to build a spectral sensor to prove that Mrs. Seyetik has been on the station before, even though she herself has not," Sisko said. Pause…
"But you knew this already, didn't you?"
"Sir, my job as counselor is to walk you to the point where they can solve the problem yourself," Usagi said. "Plus, it does help that I am a member of the Federation Diplomatic Corps, so I have to keep abreast of the various species that humans interact, especially telepathic ones."
"I see," Sisko said, as he turns away. "And thank you."
"Anytime, sir," Usagi said with a smile, as she resumes her work.
The next day, the USS Prometheus is ready to deploy Dr. Seyetik's prototype on Epsilon 119, a dead star that had the right conditions for the genius's latest project.
"Well, here we are," said Dr. Seyetik, as he observed the dead star from the ship's observation. "If I am successful, a whole new area of terraforming could open up."
"You mean 'star-forming'?" Usagi said.
"Cute. But I am glad that you are here, to witness a crowning achievement that had begun with the Genesis Project…"
Seyetik then turned towards Sisko and Dax.
"Now, if you can excuse me, I want to see if Nidell is well enough to participate in the final phase of this operation," Seyetik said, before excusing himself…
"Impressive," Dax replied, as she examined the readings.
"That Seyetik is on the verge of history?" Sisko asked.
"No, that he has yet to say anything about his wife's mental capabilities," Dax said, as she showed Sisko a tablet.
"Ah," Sisko replied, as he sees the readings. "Proof positive that Mrs. Seyetik has been using her telepathic abilities to get around."
"Yes, but it seems that the energy signatures are getting stronger-"
Just then, Mrs. Seyetik comes running into the observation room.
"Benjamin, you have to help me!" Mrs. Seyetik exclaimed.
"Fenna?" Sisko asked. "Or am I talking to Nidell?"
"I do not understand," said Mrs. Seyetik, as she looks at the Starfleet officers. "It's me, Fenna. We met at the station-"
"Bashir to Sisko," said Dr. Bashir over the comlink. "Please come to Sickbay. Emergency."
"What is the nature of the emergency?" Sisko asked.
"It's Mrs. Seyetik, sir."
Sisko turns towards "Fenna" before the object of her desire disappears.
"Ben-!" Fenna said, before fading from view.
"We got our proof," Dax replied, as she read the readings on her Tricorder, which was secretly monitoring Nidell Seyetik's bio-signatures. She then turned towards Usagi.
"Since the mind is, well, your area expertise-"
"I know, I know," Usagi replied. "I'll see if I can do something to help Mrs. Seyetik deal with her condition."
"What condition?" Sisko asked.
"It's obvious that Mrs. Seyetik is suffering from some form of multiple personality disorder," Usagi said.
"So, instead of dealing with another personality within the same person, we might be dealing with a woman who is projecting and manifesting another persona AND body, made out of ecto-plasma," Sisko replied.
"Ben, I didn't know you were verse in paranormal activities," Dax replied.
"After learning which species 'Fenna' belonged to, I decided to do a bit more research on telepathic projections," Sisko said, as he turns to leave the observation deck with his officers.
"And here I thought the only research you like doing is on old baseball stats," Dax replied, causing Usagi to giggle, which resulted in Sisko giving Usagi a stern look…
"Sir, you got to admit that what Dax had said was funny," Usagi replied.
"Perhaps, but I want know why Mrs. Seyetik began projecting her image of herself," Sisko said. "And why 'Fenna' is so infatuated with me…"
Outside of sickbay, Dr. Seyetik confides in Sisko and the others.
"It's my fault," Seyetik said, as she breathes a sigh of relief.
"How so?" Usagi asked.
"I'm sure you all know that I have been married many times before."
"So, we heard," Sisko said. "But that doesn't explain why your wife was projecting her self-consciousness."
"Simply put, my Nidell is looking for love, after being in a loveless marriage with…me," Seyetik said. "In most things, I am a celebrated scientist, painter and chef, but the one thing I cannot be is a good husband."
"But you didn't cheat on her or anything?" Usagi asked.
"No! I love her too much, even if she doesn't love me."
"Then why haven't you and Mrs. Seyetik divorce?"
"Even if I could grant her a divorce, Halanans mate for life," Seyetik said. "And every day she remains with me, the more stress she goes through…"
Pause.
"And stronger her projection of her inner self becomes," Seyetik said.
"Surely, this would cause your wife a lot of stress," Dax said.
"Yes, it does, which is why my wife is dying," Seyetik said. "In my selfishness, in my need to have a wife, I've condemned her to a slow death, not realizing that she can't ever leave me while I still live."
"Hmmm," Usagi said, as she mulls over her thoughts. "You know, I might have a couple of ideas to save your wife's life, but it will cost you a lot."
"At this point, I am willing to do anything to save her," Dr. Seyetik replied.
"What do you have in mind, Bunny?" Dax replied.
"And will it be illegal to do?" Sisko asked.
"Okay, I have an idea to save your wife's life, Dr. Seyetik," Usagi replied, as she nearly broke out in a sweat.
"Then, by all means, let me here it," Seyetik said.
That's when Usagi revealed a plan that would save Nidell's life at the expense of Dr. Seyetik's…
A short time later…
"Dr. Seyetik, you can't do this!" Sisko yelled, as Seyetik flew the shuttle into Epsilon 119, with the bomb.
"Yes, I can, and I WILL," Dr. Seyetik replied confidently. "Besides, I've already forwarded my obituary to the Daystrom Institute of Science-"
The signal is cut off, even as Seyetik's device goes off.
WHOOM!
The shockwave hits the Prometheus.
"Dax?" Sisko asked.
"We're at a safe distance," Dax said somberly. "It's done…"
Sisko turns towards Fenna, as she begins to disappear.
"Ben, I'm sorry," Fenna replied, as she fades from view.
"I know," Sisko replied.
A moment later, Dr. Bashir tells everyone that Mrs. Seyetik is fine, is awake, but has no knowledge of anything that her Fenna persona had done.
"Ben, I'm sorry," Dax said. She knew that Sisko liked Fenna, but knew that it wouldn't be right to pursue Mrs. Seyetik, especially after losing her husband.
"So, am I, Old Man," Sisko said. "I just hoped that wherever Dr. Seyetik is, he'll be happy…"
Meanwhile, Dr. Seyetik, wearing a space suit, is being carried through space to a secret rendezvous site, thanks to Usagi herself.
"That was…a close one," Seyetik said, as he held onto Usagi, who, at the last moment, teleported the scientist to safety. Right now, Usagi was in her Cosmo-Knight armor, which was both form-fitting and styled with a look that was a cross between Usagi's magical-girl, sailor fuku and knight of old Europe. Her helmet had bunny ears, while only her glowing eyes were seen.
"It was," Usagi replied. When she speaks, she had an echo affect to her voice.
"Timing it was tricky, but, my plan should work."
"So, what's next? I mean, I know I was suppose to 'die' so that my wife can be free of me, but…I'll miss being the celebrity genius the Federation has ever produced."
"Well, you get a new identity, of course," Usagi replied, as she rolled her eyes. "My contacts within the Interstellar Alliance's 'Anla'Shok'—the Rangers—should help you in that."
"But…to give up my life's work, well, what can I do now?"
"Hey, if you can be genius in painting AND cooking, I'm sure you can figure something out. Unless, of course, you're not the genius you are pretending to be."
"HA!" Seyetik said. "You just watch me. I'm talented enough to create a brand-new discipline. Just you wait and see!"
"Well, see, alright," Usagi replied. "We'll see…"
Tbc.