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 34
A week later…
"Absolutely NOT!" Kira yelled, as she and the other command staff aboard Deep Space Nine discussed the latest crisis.
"I don't see why not," Usagi replied.
"That's because you didn't have non-Bajoran occupying Bajor!" Kira replied. "And if I think allowing Skreeans to live on Bajor is a bad idea, I doubt that the Provisional Government will take kindly to having non-Bajorans on Bajor."
The Skreeans were a refugee species that had recently entered the Alpha Quadrant through the Bajoran Wormhole from the Gamma Quadrant, thanks to a mysterious alien race that, for some reason, the Skreeans didn't want to talk about. All Skreeans were humanoids with bad acne and flakey skin, something that Quark complained about…
"I understand your sentiments, Major, but, remember, the Federation took on many Bajoran refugees during the Cardassian Occupation," Sisko said.
"Thank you for reminding me of that, sir," Kira said sarcastically.
"Sir, I could petition the Provisional Government to use the moon of Jerrado, as representing the interests of the Federation," Usagi said. "At least, until we acquire a more permanent solution."
"Okay, that could work, especially since most Bajorans think that particular moon is…haunted," Sisko said with a frown. He was never a man given to superstition, but he found it strange that, as tranquil and habitable as the moon of Jerrado was, it was never fully settled, due to some interesting legends he has learned over the course of months, since becoming the Emissary of the Prophets…
"Sir, I will protest this move," Kira said.
"Noted, though, need I remind you that Jerrado is under direct Federation jurisdiction, thanks to a certain matter we shall not name?"
"How can I forget?" Kira replied, as she glanced at Usagi, who was looking like an innocent victim of Fate.
"Besides, the Skreeans are good farmers, who know techniques that could help with the drought," Dax said. "Which, I must say, is impressive."
"Will see about that…"
In the end, the Bajoran Provisional Government allowed Jerrado to be the home of the Skreeans, in exchange for helping Bajor's agriculture industry. With years of strip mining on the part of the Cardassians, recovery would go faster with the help of the Skreeans than without it. And though the Skreeans were disappointed that they couldn't live on Bajor, which they called the mythical promise land of "Kentanna", en masse, they were happy to find a place to settle after being refugees for so long.
A week later…
"I know I could have beaten him in racket ball!"Chief O'Brien said, as he laments the fact that he lost a game to Dr. Bashir.
"Well, I know I should have won at dabo," Quark said, as he glanced over at his casino rival, located across the Promenade aboard DS9, from "Quark's".
"What are you guys talking about?" Usagi asked, as she looked up from her reading from her tablet.
"I tell you what," O'Brien replied. "Ever since that El-Aurian-"
"Who?"
"Mazur," Quark replied.
"Okay," Usagi replied, as she sits down her pad. "Go on…"
"Anyway, I've always been good at racket ball, but ever since I played Julian, I suddenly, well, suck at it."
"Old age?"
"Bloody unlikely. You check the holosuite records to see what my scores and levels are, if you don't believe me."
"I believe you," Usagi replied. She then turned towards Quark.
"And what's your problem?"
"The fact is that I've been on a losing streak at the dabo table," Quark replied. "It is statically impossible to lose 100 percent of the time."
"I'm surprised you haven't cheated by now," O'Brien said.
"Don't you think I would have, er, done something about it, along those lines by now?" Quark said quietly. "And more to the point, I haven't been attracting that much in the way of business, outside of dabo."
"Interesting," Usagi said, as she pulls out a coin. She then flips it ten times in a row…
"What are you doing?" O'Brien asked.
"Checking on something," Usagi said. "Most curious."
"What?" Quark asked.
"Quark, Miles…call it," Usagi said, as she flips her coin.
"Heads," O'Brien said.
"Tails," Quark replied.
The coin that Usagi flips lands on its edge.
"Thought so," Usagi said.
"What, what is it?" Quark said. "Somebody has affected probability," Usagi replied. "Apparently, anyone within Quark's place will run a string of bad luck at 100 percent."
"How is that even possible?" O'Brien replied.
"Well, that's for you two to find out," Usagi replied, as she motions towards Mazur's place, as the source of the mystery. "Me? I got some reading to do."
"What are you reading?" O'Brien asked.
"Just…stuff…"
"Then why are you reading text in Romulan?" Quark asked, recognizing the script.
"Oh, what? I'm not allowed to read non-Standard literature?"
"If you are reading 'literature', why does it say 'CLASSIFIED' and 'FOR THE EMPRESS' EYES ONLY'?"
"I think I better go," Usagi said, as she quickly gathered her things, and left the bar…
"I didn't know you could read Romulan, Quark," O'Brien said.
"I can't," Quark replied. "Somehow, I just…knew, by figuring the script."
"That…is odd," O'Brien said, realizing that whatever was happening to Quark and company had tilted the odds in Quark's favor to ridiculous levels.
Later, it would be learned that Mazur had acquired a machine that indeed affected probability in the favor of Mazur. Unfortunately, doing so for so long would proved to be a danger to everyone on board the station, with the station's power core nearly going critical, with a possible explosion as a result.
A week later…
The Federation runabout, the Rio Grande, exited the Bajoran Wormhole, and entered the Gamma Quadrant.
"You know, I haven't gone on a mission in quite a while," Usagi said, as she stretched her legs. "Don't get me wrong; I like being a counselor, but space exploration is my first passion."
"Well, my dear, you are in for a treat," said the Bajoran scientist, Dr. Mora. "It's not every day that one discovers a unique species."
"I would hardly say that I am…unique," said Odo, whose dislike for Mora was all-too-apparent. It was Mora who discovered Odo, and it was Mora who had Odo trained to adopt humanoid shapes, including the one that Odo was using at the moment.
"Surely, there has to be more like me out here," Odo said.
"At the same time, we have to be aware that there might not be anymore…Changelings, like you," Mora said. "Your canister was nearly two hundred years old, when it was found."
"Usagi, didn't you meet a Changeling before?" Dax asked.
"Yes, but that was a hundred years ago," Usagi replied.
"Wait, you met a Changeling?" Odo asked in surprise.
"Um, maybe," Usagi said. "At the time, I was stuck on a prison planet, Rura Penthe, located in Klingon space."
"Oh, that's right," Dax said, recalling the story from her life as "Qurzon Dax". "I remember trying to free you, Ranma, James Kirk and Admiral McCoy through diplomatic channels."
"What ever happened to this Changeling?" Mora asked.
"Not sure," Usagi asked. "We escaped prison, and then went our separate ways."
"Oh, I see," Odo said with disappointment.
"I'm…sorry, Odo," Usagi replied. "But I'm sure that if I met two Changelings in my life time, I'm sure there are others out there."
"Well, hopefully, you're right," Odo said with a simulated sigh, since he, technically speaking, didn't have lungs.
"Well, we're about to find out," Dax said, as they approached the planet L-S VI, where Bajoran probes had scanned the planet for possible lifesigns.
"What do you think we'll find?" Usagi asked.
"Hopefully, some answers," Odo replied.
Down on the planet surface, underground, the Away Team makes a discovery.
"Look at this!" Mora asked, as he scans some stalactites. He then reaches into his pouch to get a sample container.
"What is it?" Dax asked.
"What looks like moss is actually material similar to Odo's DNA structure," Mora said.
"That can't be related to me, can it?" Odo said with a frown.
"Only similar structures," Mora replied. "All life native to a single biosphere will have some similarities, but I doubt that this sample is anywhere as complex as yours, Odo."
"Harumph…"
"Hey, Odo," Usagi said, as she slowly turned around with a shining on her face from below.
"What?"
"Ooooooooooo! Scary!"
"Oh, please. Spare me you humanoid eccentric behavior…"
"I don't think we should stay down here too long," Dax said, as her Tricorder began to beep. She had her reader ready to signal to her any instability that might occur while they were in the caves…
"I just need a bit more time," Mora said, as he continued to take the samples.
"I better have the transporters ready," Dax said, as she began to program the transporters above the Rio Grande…
"Too bad we can't stay here longer," Usagi said. "I would love to see more of this planet-"
Suddenly, the ground began to shake.
"Yep, unstable," Dax replied. "We better-"
A hidden formation vent of some kind, most likely due to previous volcanic activities, erupts, spewing dust into the air.
"Aggh!" Mora said, as he and Dax began to cough violently.
"Bunny!" Dax yelled, even as unconsciousness began to claim her.
"Dax!" Usagi yelled, just as part of the cavern began to collapse.
"No!" Odo yelled, just as he was about to act in some fashion to help his team mates.
THOOM!
"Urgh!" Usagi groused, as she held up the collapsed section of the cavern.
"Counselor?" Odo said in surprise.
"I'm…stronger than I look!" Usagi yelled, as she used her back and arms to carry the weight of the collapsing cave section. "But I can't hold on forever-!"
"Got it!" Odo yelled, as he gathered the now-unconscious Dr. Mora and Dax. He then created a tendril from his chest to activate his combadge.
CHIRP!
"Computer, emergency beam out!" Odo yelled. "All!"
In the nick of time, the Away Team beams to safety…
Back on DS9, Dr. Bashir checks out the Away Team…
"Well, you won't be carrying anything for a while, counselor," Dr. Bashir said, as he completed his examination.
"I feel fine, doctor," Usagi replied. "I heal real fast."
"All the same, I want you take it easy, so avoid the ducts for a while."
"You think I live underneath the deck plate or something?" Usagi asked. "Or have adventures down there?"
"Well…"
"Never mind, I get it," Usagi said, as she hops off the medical bed. "Can I go now?"
"You may," Dr. Bashir replied, wondering just how strong his colleague was…
Usagi returns to her quarters, ready to get a good night sleep.
"Ahhh," Usagi said, as she begins to doze. Dax had offered to spend the night with her, but was turned down in favor of getting some real sleep for a change.
As the Moon Princess began to drift off to sleep, some kind of multiple-tentacle creature began to crawl from the ducts in her room…
"Well, good night, Julian," Dax said, as she was about to turn in for the evening. The command staff had quarters on the same deck, in the same section, which made Dax, Usagi and Dr. Bashir neighbors.
"Um, good night, Jadzia," Bashir replied. He sighed, as he was about to enter his quarters…
"Eeeeeek!" yelled a scream.
"That's coming from-"
"USAGI!" Dax yelled, as she and Bashir raced to Usagi's quarters.
Since Dax had an open invitation to go into Usagi's room, her doors open with ease.
"Usagi!" Dax yelled, only to see Usagi in the grip of a tentacle monster.
"Dax!" Usagi yelled.
"What are we going to do?" Dr. Bashir asked.
Dax looks around to see Usagi's weapons case hung on the wall. She goes over, removes a phaser, charges it, and-
ZAPPPPP!
The tentacle creature withers in pain, before letting Usagi go, dropping her in the process.
"Oof!" Usagi yelps in pain.
The creature then escapes back into the vent from which it came.
"Counselor, are you alright?" Dr. Bashir asked, as he scans for injuries.
"I'm okay, I guess," Usagi shivered. "But…why did I get attacked?"
"I don't know," Dax said grimly. "Hopefully, it won't attack anyone else…"
The next day, Usagi was in her office, reading reports, when-
SLLURP!
"Ahhhhh!" Usagi yelled, as she was attacked by the same tentacle creature. However, this time, Dax was ready.
"I got a lock on the creature!" Dax yelled, as she beamed the creature into a holding cell.
"Strange that the creature has shapeshifting abilities," Dr. Bashir said.
"But it is caught, yes?" Sisko said.
"We do have it contained, Ben," Dax replied.
"Maybe I can determine if this creature is a shapeshifter," Dr. Mora said. He then frowned.
"What is it, doctor?" Sisko asked.
"I can't believe I didn't see this before…"
It turned out that the attacking creature was Odo, who had been infected by the dust on planet L-S VI.
"Odo is suffering with the equivalent of having rabies," Mora said somberly, as Odo thrashed about in the holding cell.
"Can something be done to help him?" Kira asked sadly.
"I don't know," Mora replied. "My knowledge on shapeshifters is great, but there is still a lot more to determine the precise nature of Odo's species…"
"Then, let me try," Usagi said, as she steps forward.
"Counselor?" Sisko asked.
"Odo is a friend, and if science is limited, then perhaps a bit of magic will help?" Usagi replied.
"Oh, please," Kira replied.
"I have to agree, counselor," Sisko said. "'Magic' is nothing more than parlor tricks played for the benefit of children."
"Then think of magic as a phenomenon that science has yet to understand," Usagi said, as she raised her right hand in the air. "Moon Eternal Make-Up!"
One transformation later, after many years, the Eternal Sailor Moon has returned.
"I am Sailor Moon, champion of Love and Justice!" Eternal Sailor Moon proclaims, as she begins her sentai pose of awesomeness. "And in the name of MOON…I shall punish you!"
For a moment, what seemed to be an eternity, everyone looks at their counselor with wonder…
"Counselor, who are you talking to?" Sisko asked.
"Um, I just say that out of habit, sir," Eternal Sailor Moon said, as she giggles.
"You know, the more I learn about you, the less I want to know," Kira said flatly.
"Um, how are you going to help Odo, if I cannot?" Dr. Mora asked.
"I can cure Odo," Eternal Sailor Moon replied. "At least, I hope so…"
Eternal Sailor Moon turns towards Dax.
"Dax, lower the force field," Eternal Sailor Moon said, as she prepares her 'Moon Power Tiare', which was really a scepter, by the way.
"Are you sure?" Dax asked.
"Trust me, I know what I am doing," Eternal Sailor Moon said with a smile. "When I launch my attack, lower the forcefield."
"Okay," Dax said.
"Everyone, stand back," Sisko said.
"Okay, now," Eternal Sailor Moon said, as she begins to twirl her scepter…
"STARLIGHT…HONEYMOON…THERAPY…"
"Now, Dax!" Sisko yelled, as Dax deactivated the holding cell's force-field.
Once the field goes down, Odo charges at the Moon Princess…
"KISS!" Eternal Sailor Moon yelled, as she delivered her attack.
For what seemed to be a moment in time, Odo was caught in Eternal Sailor Moon's attack…
"Ooof!" Odo yelled, as he fell on to the floor, in his solid state.
"Odo!" Kira yelled, as she ran to her friend's side.
"He should be…alright," Eternal Sailor Moon said with a sigh. "I haven't done THAT in years…"
Dr. Bashir runs a brief scan on Odo's body…
"He appears fine," Dr. Bashir said, as he ran his scanner up and down Odo's body.
"But what could have caused Odo to be this way?" Sisko asked.
"It had to be the dust on L-S VI," Dr. Mora said. "It must have contained residue Changeling DNA, but at primitive levels."
"Like a bacterial strain," Dax said.
"I'm willing to go for that as an answer," Dr. Mora said. "But, I do not detect any traces of the bacteria."
"I hope so," Usagi said. "Fighting evil by moonlight takes work."
"I'm sure," Sisko said, deciding that it was better not to ask for any more details for the time being.
Tbc.