Star Trek Half: Movie Edition! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: "Ranma ½" and "Star Trek" belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a crossover/fusion story. C&C are welcomed.
Special Note: This story strictly deals with the characters of both "Ranma ½" and from the Star Trek Franchise.
Part 4: "Nemesis!" (I)
A few years later, within the Starfleet Academy's arboretum, a special occasion was taking place…
"You know, I this is only the SECOND time I ever did this," said Captain Ranma Saotome, commanding officer of the Federation flagship NCC-1701-E "Enterprise", as he stands up and raises his champagne glass while dressed in his white, formal Starfleet-issued uniform. "That was when I was captain of the FIRST Federation starship 'Enterprise'…"
Pause.
"Man, I'm getting old…"
"Uh-hum," said his wife Akane, as she elbows Ranma's leg.
"Ow!" Ranma said. "What-?"
Just then, Ranma caught himself.
"Oh, sorry," Ranma said, as he composed himself. "Anyway, I'll you guys the secret of a happy marriage: respect. As long as you and you mate respect each other, you can do no wrong…"
Pause.
"That doesn't mean you won't get a mallet upside your head, but you will always be loved."
Ranma then raised his glass to Commander Riker and Counselor Troi, now Mrs. Deanna Troi-Riker, whom he had officiated their wedding before the wedding reception.
"William, I wish you well in both your new life as a husband and a starship commander," Ranma said. "Deanna, I will miss our counseling sessions. You have helped me adjust to this new era of ours, and, for that, I thank you…"
Pause.
"So, let us raise our glass to toast to the future happiness of the Rikers," Ranma said with a smile, as everyone in attendance raised their champagne glasses in honor of the couple. "Salud!"
"Salud!" everyone said, save for the honored couple.
Riker and Troi turned to look at each other with loving eyes…
"Well, kiss her already!" Ranma said jokingly.
And, with that, Riker and Troi did just that…
"You know, I feel good about myself," Ranma said, as he danced with Akane, on the dance floor.
"About what?" Akane asked, as Ranma led her in the dance.
"Well, I have a good job, I have good friends, I have my family back and I have my wife back," Ranma said. "Well, mostly."
"Mostly?" Akane asked.
"Kenma."
"Oh," Akane said, as she looked away a bit. She then turned to look back at her husband.
"Well, we could have more children," Akane said.
"Aren't you all old and used up?"
"Ranma-!"
"I'm kidding," Ranma said with a grin. "But, what about my career? Don't you have a problem with it?"
"Look, I'm done getting mad at you for the choices you've made," Akane said. "Besides, I realized now that you being a member of Starfleet, particularly as a starship captain is the best thing for you."
"You're not saying that just to make me feel guilty, are you?"
"You'll never know," Akane said with a grin.
"Humph," Ranma said, as he smiled back. "By the way, are you cool with attending a Betazoid wedding?"
"Sure," Akane said. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, Counselor Troi wants to have a Betazoid wedding..."
"Yes, sure."
"…That involves everyone being naked."
"Oh," Akane said, as she blushed. "Um, okay."
"So, you have no problem with that?"
"No, I don't," Akane said.
Pause.
"But if I see ANY signs of you 'reacting' to any of the female guests-"
"Hey, I got more self-control than THAT, you know…"
On the way to Betazed Prime, the Enterprise-E detours to the Kolarus Star System, after the ship's sensors picked up a positronic signature, something that was unique only to androids of Data's type.
"Sir, it appears that the energy signatures are coming from the third planet," said Lt. Wesley Crusher.
"Life signs?" Ranma asked.
"There is definitely an indigenous life on the planet surface."
"Pre-warp?" Riker asked.
"Indeterminate from this vantage point."
"Well, it looks like a mystery is afoot," Ranma said.
"Perhaps we should investigate?" Data suggested.
"Why?"
"It might be related to something that my father," Data said.
"Commander, if you are going to be Riker's replacement, you have to give me a better reason than that," Ranma said.
"Sir?"
"Since taking up command of the Enterprise, I have been reading up on your and the crew's background, and I recall numerous incidents involving your…brother Lore."
"Oh," Data said thoughtfully. "Then, does this confirm your prejudice against androids?"
"No, it doesn't. Data, I want a 'First Officer' who both thinks with his instincts and with his head. Androids DO have the capability to do both, but I'm not sure that you have what it takes to do that as well."
There seemed to be silence on the Bridge, as all eyes turned towards the Second Officer…
"Sir, with all due respect, my service record is more than capable of providing examples of how I conducted myself as the Operations Officer aboard the Federation flagship," Data said. "Secondly, if the positronic signatures are confirmed, it is in the best interest of the Federation to secure and recover the source of the signatures…"
Pause.
"And finally, unless my service record has indicated otherwise, and with all due respect, you do not have any basis to disqualify me in becoming your First Officer," Data said. "I have the experience and the training to perform the necessary command functions to serve this ship well. Should you feel otherwise, I will seek a transfer, during which I will file a discrimination complaint, which will be submitted to Starfleet Command posthaste…sir."
All eyes then turned towards Ranma, who suddenly smiles.
"Very good," Ranma said. "That's all that I needed."
"Sir?"
"Everyone knows that I am a bit of a maverick, so I need someone to ground me, with the ability to stand up to me when necessary," Ranma said, as he rises to his feet to face Data. "I apologize for the subterfuge, but it's something that I needed to know for myself, if you have what it takes to be my new 'Number One'."
Ranma then extends a hand in friendship to Data.
"It will be my honor to confirm you as my 'First Officer', Commander Data," Ranma said.
"Thank you, sir," Data said in surprise, as he shook Ranma's hand in friendship. "The honor is mine."
"You're welcome," Ranma said, as he sits back down in his seat. "Lt. Perim, set a course to the Kolorus Star System. Warp Factor…6."
"Aye, sir," said the female Trill, as she makes her adjustments in the Enterprise-E's course.
"I have to say that it is curious as to why a positronic signature would be strong enough for the Enterprise to detect at this distance," Data said.
"You and me both, Data," Ranma replied. "You and me both…"
Upon achieving orbit around Kolorus 3, it was decided that the best way to investigate the phenomenon was by way of shuttle, since the planet's atmosphere would make transporting down to the planet a bit of a hazard. So, Ranma selected himself, Data (due to the nature of the mystery) and Ambassador Worf (who longed to do something, since becoming a Federation Ambassador) to take a shuttle down to the planet's surface. However, there was one other person that Ranma had eventually allowed to participate on the Away Mission, one that he did NOT want going…
"I'm a martial artist, too, Ranma," Akane said, as she walked with her husband to the primary Docking Bay.
"Akane, we're not going out on a fact finding mission," Ranma replied. "It will take more than just knowing martial arts for this assignment."
"Okay, fine," Akane said. "I do have a planetary survey license, I have a degree in nursing, and I have a certificate in both technical engineering and piloting."
"Wait, when did you have time to do all that?" Ranma asked, as he stopped to look at his wife.
"Hello? What else do you think I was going to do, just teach martial arts? And for the record, I did teach a class in basic cooking, as well as a class in stage acting at one point in time…"
Pause.
"You were gone for a hundred years, you know," Akane said. "A lot can happen during that time."
"Unbelievable," Ranma said, as he shook his head.
"Impressive, I know."
"No, I was just thinking that you actually taught someone how to cook, considering, well, you know."
"Ranma, can I just go on the damn mission or not?" Akane said angrily.
"Okay, okay, you can come," Ranma said defensively. "But, remember, I'm the mission lead, which means you have to do what I say at all times. Okay?"
Akane contorts her lips, but realized that her husband was correct.
"Fine," Akane said, as she spoke through gritted teeth while smiling. She knew that Ranma's professional life had to remain intact, in spite of the status of their relationship…
"Just…give me five minutes to get ready," Akane said.
"Sure," Ranma said. "Take your time."
Akane nods her head, as she walks away…
"Yes!" Ranma said, as he balls his hands to fist the air in victory. "Who's the man? I'm the man! Oh, yeah-!"
"What was THAT?" Akane yelled, as she turned back towards Ranma angrily.
"Nothing, hon," Ranma said nonchalantly, while acting innocent.
"Humph!"
After using a shuttle to go down to the planet's surface, it became apparent that the source of the positronic signature was not readily detectable upon closer inspection. Furthermore, due to the fact that the locals were a pre-warp culture, it became necessary to not reveal the presence of "off-worlders"…
"We seem to be in the clear, sir," Data said, as he checked the detail sensors on board the shuttle.
"Good," Ranma said, as he piloted the craft to a safe altitude. He then turned towards Akane, who was being suited up with the help of Worf.
"Alright, we can't take the shuttle in further, so we go to ground," Ranma said.
"I've done this before, remember?" Akane said.
"I'm just saying, okay?" Ranma replied. He then turned towards Data.
"Mister Data, we go in, find the source, and get the hell out of here," Ranma said. "Is that clear?"
"Of course, sir," Data replied. "I do not wish to jeopardize the safety of the Away Team."
"I believe that is our goal," Ranma said. "If we do run into trouble, we're bugging out of there."
"Understood, sir."
With that, Ranma and company are dropped at a safe location, where they could use the land ATV known as "The Argo". They drive a bit until they find the location of the positronic signal…or signals.
"Apparently, there are multiple signals in the area," Data said, as he scanned for signals with his Tricorder. "They are everywhere."
"That doesn't even make sense," Ranma said. "All this feels too convenient."
"What should we do?" Worf asked.
"Well, we find each individual source, that's what," Ranma said. He then turned towards his wife.
"Akane, I want you to go with Ambassador Worf, and see what you two can come up with."
"You're trying to pawn me off to someone else?" Akane asked.
"No, I want you to be there to protect AMBASSADOR Worf, while you two investigate the situation," Ranma said. "The last thing I want is Starfleet Command and the Diplomatic Corps breathing down my neck if something happened to HIM."
"Oh, so I'm Worf's 'human shield', is that it?" Akane said angrily. "I'm SO glad that you care about me…"
And, with that, Akane stalks off in anger.
"Don't worry, captain," Worf said. "I'm sure this assignment will be uneventful."
"I hope so," Ranma replied. "I don't want to lose Akane again."
"Understandable…"
Pause.
"One does wonder if your wife does have Klingon blood in her veins," Worf replied.
"No kidding…"
Eventually, the Away Team makes a startling discovery. Apparently, each positronic signal was being emanating from a Soong-type android, a fact that gave even Data pause.
"This REALLY doesn't make sense," Ranma said, as he and the others finished gathering the androids parts.
"What doesn't?" Akane asked.
"Why would android parts be strewn in this area alone, on THIS particular planet?" Ranma said. He then turned towards Data.
"Data, could these be parts from the android Lore?" Ranma asked.
"You…know about my brother?" Data asked.
"Yes, I do, since I did make it a habit to know as much about my command crew as possible."
"Who is 'Lore'?" Akane asked.
Suddenly, there was explosive gunfire in the background.
"It appears that our mission has been compromised," Data replied.
"Obviously," Worf said drolly. "Still, it IS a good day to die."
"Speak for yourself," Ranma said, as he prepared himself for what was to come...
Tbc.