[Ranma/DS9]

May You Live in Interesting Times.

Standard disclaimer.  Ranma is copyright Takahashi Rumiko and Star Trek DS9
is a registered trademark of Paramount Studios.  I have not recieved
permission to use their characters but hope sincerely that this story will
be seen for what it is.  A tribute to two great story lines.  Authors notes
and pleads for C&C come at the end of the story.

Opening scene.  Deep Space Nine's promenade.  Worf and Jadzia are walking
side by side.


Worf and Jadzia stepped off the promenade and into Quarks.  After scanning
the bar for a moment
they see the Ferengi and walk over to him.

"How is the married couple doing today?  Can I get you something to drink,
half-priced as a late
marriage gift?  Dax, I still can't believe you married this big lug; I mean
you could have had
m*urk*."

Quarks ramblings came to a sudden and complete stop when he realized Worfs'
bat'telh was inches
from his jugular.

Dax pushes Worfs' blade before turning towards the Ferengi, "Now now boys,
no shedding blood
over little ol' me.  Quark, we were wondering if any holosuites were open;
it's been a while
since we had a good workout."

"Didn't you two just finish your honeymoon?  I would have thought-" Quark
notices Worfs'
glare, "Uh, what was I saying? Oh yes, holosuite four is available.  Oh!
Someone was asking
about you earlier Worf.  Well, not personally.  She wanted to know if there
were any really
strenuous workout programs.  I gave her a copy of your calisthenics
program.  She's up in holosuite
two as we speak.  I offered her one of my better programs but she just
scowled when I mentioned
dancing boys.  *mumbles* I offered her a good price too... *louder*  Now,
if you will excuse me.
I have a bar to run and you two don't seem to be ordering anything."

Worf and Jadzia share 'the look' and then head up the stairs towards the
holosuites.

Of course, Jadzia is curious and drags Worf over to check out their mystery
person.  They
stop outside of holosuite four and Jadzia calls up the program information.

"Worf?"

"Yes?"

"What level do you usually run your calisthenics program on?"

"Level seven.  Why?"

"This program is set to level twelve.  And Worf, the safety protocols are
turned off!
Computer! Open the doors to holosuite four.  Authorization Dax-Omega-Pi!"

The doors *swish* open and the couple run inside only to stop dead in their
tracks.

The interior is a cleared section of jungle.  There are mountains in the
background complete
with snowcaps and puffy clouds.  The mountains are void of technology and
appear to just be
their majestic selves.

In the middle of the clearing stands a lone female.  She appeared to be
about 45 years old and
is dressed in a black gi that is tied shut with a yellow scarf.  The scarf
appears to be old and
ragged and poorly made but the woman pats it lovingly and then turns
towards her opponents.

There are fifteen Nausicaans surrounding the female and they all have
various weapons in
their hands.  There are no disrupters or any other sort of energy weapon,
but the knives,
staves, and clubs that are in appearance do not look any better to Dax.
She is about to order
the computer to "freeze program" when the Nausicaans make their move.  They
rush the
woman as a group and before Jadzia can utter one word the lady... flowed...
for lack of any
better word towards her attackers.

Worf could barely believe his eyes.  He could barely follow the fight for
that matter.

She moved with a grace that is seen once a generation.  Her moves made
those of a
professional dancer look the clumsy fool.  The first Nausicaan saw his
victim blur towards
him before he realized he had been sent flying.  The experience was a new
one and it
unfortunately ended abruptly when he face-planted the wall next to Worf.
The rest of the
attackers soon followed.

Dax was attempting to follow the sub-lightspeed battle.  Battle.  Hah, it
could not even
be called a battle, this was a massacre on a grand scale.  A spin kick was
swiftly followed
by a foot sweep which flowed into an uppercut that sent an unlucky alien
flying.  Then she
started switching styles.  Each attacker was met with a new style; Tai Chi
became Mui Tai
and then Kempo turned into <does anyone know the name of any alien styles
of fighting?
Vulcan? Klingon? Cardassian?  anything?> <how about lesser known styles?>.

The whole fight had not lasted more then a minute!  The Nausicaans were
strewn about
the jungle floor and their weapons were in were shape than they were if
that was possible.
Dax was sure she had seen a metal bo staff shatter into a million shards.
And the woman!
She was not even breathing hard.  Amazing.

And then for the first time, Dax and Worf heard the woman speak.

"Computer, one bucket of luke-warm water please."

A bucket materialized next to the woman who then dumped it over herself.

"Computer, end program."

Everything vanished and in its place was a square room whose walls and
floor were
covered in a glowing yellow grid. All of the occupants disappeared as well
except for
Dax, Worf, and the mystery fighter.

The woman had her back turned to the couple but then said aloud, "Well, did
you enjoy
the show?"

"That was amazing!  The whole battle didn't even last a minute! And it was
LEVEL TWELVE!
Worf himself doesn't go past eight.  How long have you been training?  How
many styles do
you know?  Do you only know martial arts?  How many years have you been
practicing?  What..."

Jadzia's questions came to a stop when Worf cupped his hand over her mouth.

"Very impressive," Worf stated before turning to Dax.  "I am certain she
will answer
your questions if given the chance."

Dax glared at Worf and then looked sheepish, "I'm sorry, I do get carried
away sometimes.
My name is Jadzia Dax and this is my husband Worf.  That was his program
you just,
uh, decimated."

The lady bowed to Jadzia and then Worf, "I am pleased to meet you, my name
is Ranma
Saotome.  I'm sorry about your program.  That Ferengi said your
calisthenics program
was the best program to train in.  I will do for now I suppose. Anyways, I
will answer all
your questions but first let me change into something more comfortable."

Dax was about to move out of her newfound friends way when she realized
Ranma was not
moving.  Instead she had closed her eyes and had a look of concentration on
her face.  The
water covering Ranma began to steam and evaporate.  On top of that, from
that Ranma
began to change as well.

She gained about a foot in height, her hair lost its reddish tinge and
became pure black,
and then her breasts began to recess and she became a he.

Worf immediately went into a defensive stance and muttered, "Shape shifter."

Dax had seen many things in her 300 years of living but this was one of the
stranger
moments she had to admit. She also knew that they had no chance of
defeating this stranger
in combat but took a battle ready stance anyway.

Ranma relaxed from his concentration and upon noticing Worfs' position, took an
unassuming pose. "I am sorry if I frightened or surprised you.  I am not a
shape shifter,
I merely have a different... physiology than most.  Here, come join me for
dinner and
we can get to know each other better.

Worf relaxed, as much as he ever does, looked to Jadzia who nodded yes, and
then agreed.

End Chapter One.


Authors notes.  Well C&C is always nice so I'll just beg for it right now.
: ) I am not sure
how far I am going to take this but I had to write this much as last night
about 2am the line
of thought entered my mind and wouldn't leave until I wrote this much.  I
plan on at least another
chapter or two but depending on feedback, well, we will see.

I plan on explaining how Ranma got to where he is now, how he lived for so
long, which should
be fairly obvious.  I mean look at Happi and Cologne.  That combined with a
few things...

Anywho, thanks to anyone who has read this far.  By the way, can anyone
tell this was my first fanfic?  <G>  Rather obvious I thought.

Warren