(Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek, nor any of the characters, places, concepts, or other aspects produced therein; I make no profit from this work.)
Integral
Scotty, unquestionably, knew that he had the highest position on the Enterprise.
No, he wasn't the captain - and, no, he had no plans to try and kill his way to that dubious post, either. He was chief engineer, and though technically he was second-officer everyone knew that Sulu would probably take over eventually if both Kirk and Spock were assassinated. And that was just as Scotty preferred it.
He had his engines, of course, and that in itself made him content. Even aside from the beauty and the technological marvel, there was something intoxicating in his position - in the knowledge that every life on the ship was, at each moment, vulnerable to his whim. The thrum of the warp drive was the heartbeat of the ship, breathing into her life and warmth and safety, limited though the last was. And in engineering, in auxiliary, he could with a flick of a switch sentence life or death. A crewmate was being troublesome? Here, let's lock down their quarters, close the vents, and let them suffocate. An ensign needs reprimanding, and the Booth isn't doing it? Let's see how they like freezing quarters, scalding showers that caused third-degree burns, and an 'accidental' electrical incident that burns their belongings.
He controlled everything. And, of course, he didn't abuse that power - didn't use it much at all, really - but that was the charm. He didn't need to threaten or stomp about or murder anyone to attain his power, and he certainly didn't need to kill in defense of it. He was unchallenged and secure. Scotty was an integral part of the ship - he kept everyone on the ship alive in a pinch, and everyone knew, and knew just as well that no one else could perform his job quite so well. He was vital to the extent that he didn't even receive threats from underlings. And that, in his mind, gave him power even greater than the captain, who, miracle worker or not, would find a dagger in his back before long - they all did.
But he was in no danger. He was part of the ship. He was as indestructible as she was.
A lieutenant passed by; Scotty turned his body just enough to keep the man in his line of sight, posture half-tense and wary until the man had moved past him.
Maybe if he told himself that enough, he'd even start to believe it...
