Sailor Moon ST 1: An Enterprising Experience – By DS Wynne

Disclaimer: "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre story.

Special Note: The United Earth Force (Fleet and Mobile Infantry) and the United Earth Space Probe Agency (UESPA), departments under "Earth Dome", are the precursors to Starfleet, after the United Federation of Planets was established in 2161 CE. The UESPA is a combined military and civilian agency that is patterned after NASA. Full incorporation of the UEF and UESPA began after the Federation-Minbari War (circa 2245-2258 CE), which becomes complete in 2270 CE (the year of the conclusion of the NCC-1701 "Enterprise" historic five-year mission under Captain James T. Kirk).

Author's Note: C&C are always welcomed.

Part 18

Captain's Log, Earth Date: November 21 2151 CE. The NX-01 Enterprise has been ordered to investigate a distress call from the "ECS Fortunate", a United Earth Y-Class freighter that has been in the service of the Earth Cargo Service for over sixty years, and commanded by veteran starship captain Charles Lucia Keene. Y-Class freighters typically have a velocity of "Warp 1.8", making it one of the slowest classes of starships from Earth. One of the reasons why the "Warp Five Project" had been initiated was to allow UESPA the ability to facilitate the needs of Terran colonists. Hopefully, the Enterprise will prove that the investment in the program was worth it…

"This certainly takes me back," Ensign Travis Mayweather said, as he supervised Cadet Usagi Tsukino's turn at Helm Control.

"What does, sir?" Usagi said, as she applied the thrusters. She was nervous about her turn at piloting the Enterprise, since she didn't want to fly into anything. Then again, as nervous as she was, nothing beats out the lessons learned from the dreaded "No-Win Scenario Test"…

FLASHBACK!

Two years ago: San Francisco, Earth.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that candidates Ranma Saotome and Usagi Tsukino have failed the examination," said the proctor, as he presented the test results of the space academy preparatory course.

"Thank you," Admiral Forrester said, as he nods his head while accepting the results.

"There is…still a window of opportunity to retake the preparatory course, before the next school term begins," the proctor said. "But based upon these scores alone, I have doubts that the testing candidates will perform any better."

"I understand. Thank you…I will be in touch."

After the proctor leaves Admiral Forrester's office, he patches a direct line to his superiors…

"What is the next plan of action, ma'am?" Forrester asked. "I know that you wanted me to look after the two of them, and get them ready for admissions into the Academy, but I don't think they are capable of passing the test."

Admiral Akane Tendo curled her lips while Sailor Pluto rubs her chin, while appearing to Forrester in holographic form in his office. Both of them wanted Ranma and Usagi to pass the preparatory course, so that the pair could begin to grow and mature.

The six-week United Earth Space Academy Preparatory Course is designed to prepare potential prospects to take the academy's entrance examinations. The program participants have to undergo stress reaction, spatial orientation and deductive reasoning tests. At the end of six weeks, the participant receives a pass/fail grade for their participation in the course, which enables him or her to take the academy entrance exam…

"What aspect of the test did they fail?" Sailor Pluto asked, almost predicting the answer.

"Ranma failed the deductive reasoning, while Usagi failed the spatial orientation aspect."

"I'm not surprise," Akane said. "Ranma always had the worse poker-face imaginable, not to mention being a candidate for attention-deficit syndrome."

"And the princess…well, she is not exactly the most graceful individual, I'm afraid," Sailor Pluto replied.

"What should I do next?" Forrester asked. "The proctor did there is another opportunity to take the preparatory course before the next term at the Space Academy."

"Actually, I do have something in mind," Akane said. "We should administer the 'No Win Scenario Test'."

"Isn't that a bit extreme at this level?" Forrester asked.

"It is, but Ranma and Usagi, especially Ranma, have to learn humility, if they have a chance to grow into the people we know very well…"

Pause.

"I just hope that they understand what needs to be done…"

A few days later…

"Hey!" yelled Ranma, as he felt the hood on his head being removed from his head. He then sees the culprit.

"Huh?" Ranma said in surprise.

"You are not a prisoner of 'Terra Prime'," said a woman in a black mask. His voice sounded deep, indicating that some sort of voice modulator was in use.

"Huh. What gives?"

"Ahhhh!" yelled a familiar voice. "Help me-!"

"Where am I?" yelled another voice. "I demand that you release me-!"

Ranma focused his vision to see two doors before him…

"Wait, tell me what the hell is going on?" Ranma yelled.

"My organization represents those who seek a world where normal human beings are free from alien, paranormal and supernatural influence," the masked woman began to say. "Once we learned of you and the Moon Princess, we decided to kidnap you."

"Then that's a mistake on your part," Ranma said, as he prepares himself to break the binds that held him in place.

"Really? I suppose that I should tell you that if you attempt to escape, Admiral Akane Tendo and the Moon Princess will be harmed."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Of course we would. Admiral Tendo has been a problem for us for a long time, but could not be touched. However, once she learned that you and the Moon Princess were within our clutches, she attempted to lead a MACO team to free you and your little friend. We anticipated her actions, and laid a trap, and a successful one at that. Now, all we have to do is wait until our demands are met."

"And they are-?"

"All aliens and the remaining paranormal and supernatural elements are to be removed from the planet," the mysterious woman said. "Failure to meet our demands will be met with unfortunate consequences to all three of you."

The masked woman turns away.

"Do not try anything, or else."

And, with that, the woman disappears in the shadows…

'I can't sense her anymore,' Ranma said, as she struggles through his bonds. 'The only way that they could detect my movements is by motion sensor or some junk. Hmmm…'

Drawing within himself, Ranma dropped his internal temperature, and began to apply the Ume Senken Methods to appear virtually invisible…

'Now, to free Akane and Usagi,' Ranma thought, as he extended his senses further. He could tell which aura was whose based upon the fact that Akane's aura was colored "red", while Usagi's aura was colored "white". Ranma assumed that Akane being angry all the time was the result of her particular colors.

"I got to free Akane, then Usagi," Ranma said, as he made a fateful decision...

Akane eyes widened, as Ranma rushed into the room.

"Akane!" Ranma yelled, as he rushed over to his beloved's side.

"Ranma, you're an idiot!" Akane yelled. "Why did you come for me first?"

"Don't worry, I'll save the both of ya," Ranma replied, as he unties Akane's binds. "And why are you now recognizing me? You've been ignoring me ever since I got here."

Before Akane could reply, she and Ranma hear Usagi scream again.

"Ahhhhhhh-!"

"Usagi!" Ranma yelled.

"Princess!" Akane yelled, as she and Ranma rushed into the other room…

"You should have done what you were told, Ranma Saotome," the woman said, as she lowers her pistol, and places it in the back of Usagi's head. "Now, a price has to be exacted."

"Ranma, you have to get out of here," Usagi said, as she hyperventilates.

"You try it, and I'll…I'll…"

"You'll do NOTHING. I read about your file. The great Ranma Saotome, the BOY who cannot lose…"

The woman then turned towards Usagi.

"And you're the fabled Moon Princess, return from the past to shower the world in love and justice. How pathetic is that?"

"There is nothing pathetic about love and justice!" Usagi yelled.

"Oh, really? Then whatever happened to your much vaunted Sailor Scouts?"

"I…I don't know," Usagi stammered.

"But I do. They don't exist anymore, scattered to the four corners of the Universe."

"Um, but there aren't any corners in space, I think."

"That's not the point! They did the world a favor by disappearing after the Second Dark Age, with only that Sailor Pluto being the last to remain active."

"But look what they built? That has to count for something, right?"

"The only thing that counts is the wealth that Crystal Tokyo accumulated, thanks to the Sailor Scouts being the only ones to have it after the Second Dark Age. Face it, 'princess', the legacy that you built up is nothing more than a sham!"

"That's not true!" Usagi said, as she started crying. "We saved the world from destruction at the hands of Chaos!"

"Yes, for yourselves."

"Stop it!" Ranma said, as he steps up. "Stop hurting her-!"

"Oh, I'll do more than that," the masked woman said, as she slides into a rear room. She then presses a button near the doorway, causing two glass screens to pop down, separating Ranma from Akane, and Ranma from Usagi."

"The game is afoot," the woman said, as she leaves the room, and closes the rear door behind her.

"Ranma, the door is locked behind us," Akane said, as she tried to open the door where she and Ranma had just entered.

Just then, tanks open up from above, allowing tons of water to pour into the partitioned sections of the room, leaving Ranma dry.

"What the heck are these traps for?" Ranma replied in annoyance.

"Ranma, focus on the Princess," Akane said, as the water rose rapidly.

"Ranma, focus on HER!" Usagi said. "These people want me out of the way, not her!"

"No, no, no!" Ranma replied. "I'm not going to let either of you guys get hurt because of me."

"Why?" Akane asked. "You don't want to lose?"

"No, because I don't want those jerks to win!" Ranma replied. He examines his situation, and realizes that he couldn't switch back and forth is focus so easily. By the time he saves one person, the other person could die.

Time to improvise…

"This is going to hurt, a lot," Ranma said, as he braced his footing. He then pulled a trick from Ryouga Hibiki, but in a manner that was characteristically Ranma.

"Shi-Shi-Hokodan," Ranma said, as he combined the thought of failing Akane and his new friend, with the confidence that he would do whatever it takes to save them in the end. "Moka Takabisha no Kanpeki!"

And that's when everything went white…

When Usagi woke up, she realizes that she was in some sort of hospital room.

"Oh, my head," Usagi said, as she rubbed her head. "Owie…"

She then noticed Akane sitting on the hospital bed while Ranma was apparently unconscious.

"Is Ranma…?"

"Ranma will be fine," said Akane, as she gets off the bed, before straighten out her uniform. "He tired himself out pulling off that stunt of his…"

"Oh. What about…Terra Prime?"

"Terra Prime was not involved," said Princess Setsuna Meioh, as she enters the door with Admiral Forrester. Unlike Forrester and Akane, Setsuna was dressed in a skirted business suit…

"Then…what happened?"

"We gave you and Ranma the 'No-Win Scenario Test'," Forrester replied. "You were placed into a position where the odds are so great, that you would be forced to accept defeat. Or, in other scenarios, you would have to sacrifice a life to save another."

"But…that's so mean!"

"We apologize for giving you and Ranma the test," Akane said tiredly. "We had to be sure that you had what it takes to be admitted into the Space Academy."

"But…why that test?" Usagi asked.

"The journey that you and Ranma will undertake will be a difficult one," Setsuna replied. "As I've told you before, when you first arrived to this temporal era, I can't simply send you back. YOU and Ranma Saotome have to make the effort yourself. I suggested enrolling in the Space Academy will enable you two the ability to find a way back home."

"But…but we failed the preparatory course, 'Suna," Usagi said with a sniff.

"Yes, under normal circumstances, you two would have," Akane said. "That is why I authorized that you and Ranma take the 'No-Win Scenario Test', so that you two make up the poor score that you and Ranma received…"

Pause.

"Amazingly enough, you two passed a test designed to test failure."

"You mean…we got extra credit?" Usagi said, as she blinked her eyes.

"In a manner of speaking, yes you two did," Setsuna replied. "You and Ranma can enter the Academy without further delay-"

"No," Ranma said, as he sits himself up.

"Ranma, be careful," Akane said.

"Please, let me say this," Ranma said. "I've been listening to you guys, and…well, if going to the Academy is that important, then I'll take the preparatory course seriously."

"You will," Akane said.

"Yes, if…if you tell me why you avoided me ever since Usagi and I got here," Ranma said.

"Because, Ranma, you're not MY Ranma," Akane said quietly.

"Huh?"

"The Ranma that I know is not the brash, inexperience boy who relies on instinct to solve problems. The Ranma that I know is the seasoned, thoughtful man I will know, and love."

"But, but…"

"I wanted you to enroll into the Space Academy so that you can be that man," Akane said, as she briefly looks away. She then forms a look of determination on her face.

"Can you be that man, Ranma?"

"Yeah, I can," Ranma replied. "Fine, if it means so much to you, then I will complete that preparatory course, again, beat the Academy entrance exam, and finish this…Space Academy in three years."

"Son, the Space Academy is not an easy school to enroll into, let alone get into," Forrester said.

"Just watch me, Admiral."

"Well, Princess," Setsuna said, as she turns towards Usagi. "Do I really need to stress the importance of why you need to do better?"

"Okay, okay, I get it," Usagi pouts. "If it means not taking that stupid No-Win Scenario Test again, I'll do better."

Setsuna raises an eyebrow.

"I really mean it!"

"Good," Setsuna said, as she nods her head approvingly.

"We'll leave you two to get some rest," Forrester said with a smile. "After all, the next preparatory course begins in a week."

"Yes, sir," Ranma and Usagi said in unison.

"I'll come by and visit you tomorrow, Ranma," Akane said. "Okay?"

"Yeah, okay," Ranma said with a smile. "Um, about us…"

"We'll take it one day at a time, okay?"

"Alright…"

"I'll see you tomorrow, Princess," Setsuna said, as she steps back.

"What are you going to bring tomorrow?" Usagi asked anxiously.

"A tutor."

"Awwww, no fair!"

And that was that. With renewed vigor, the time lost martial artist and magical girl would go on to complete—and pass—the preparatory test, but would pass the academy entrance exam, albeit barely. Still, based upon the pair's progress, it did seem that they were on track to graduate within three years, since they were assigned to spend their non-Academy time aboard the NX-01 Enterprise, instead of simply going on vacation…

END FLASHBACK!

Just then, Captain Archer steps unto the Bridge.

"How is our helm trainee doing?" Archer asked, as he sat down in his seat.

"She's doing fine so far, sir," Travis said. "By the way, we should be within range to dock with the Fortunate."

"Good," Archer said with a smile. "I would be interested to see how well Usagi does with docking procedures."

"Sir?"

"ME?" Usagi exclaimed.

"Well, as they say, you have to learn how to dock sometimes, right?"

"Um, yes, sir," Usagi swallowed. "I'll…do my best…"

Tbc.