This is my version of In a Mirror, Darkly part 2 after Archer takes command of the Avenger as well as the Defiant. I did it so it would include my favourite character (I was very upset he wasn't in the canon version!) I hope you enjoy. And don't forget to review:-)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, or the show, they belong to Paramount… sadly.
Chapter 1
Captain Archer was pacing around as he waited for the arrival of the Avenger's doctor. He had things he wanted to discuss regarding the doctor's most recent experiment. Most importantly he wanted to know if it had worked. There was a chime and he called sharply,
"Come!" The doctor was a small skinny terran, with dark, pointed features and a mad scientist air about him that made Archer think of Dr. Frankenstein. He looked calm at the moment though as he stepped inside giving Archer the Terran Empire salute.
"You wished to speak to me sir." His voice was surprisingly deep for such a small man. Archer had expected a squeak.
"I did." Archer picked up a padd, and glanced at it as he strode around the room. "I was just examining the monthly report of the Avenger and I read about the chief engineer and his crime. I'm intrigued by your punishment experiment and I want a progress report." The doctor drew himself up straighter
"Well, sir, as you read in the report no doubt, the chief engineer questioned Admiral Black's orders and since he's a non-terran he needed to be severely punished. I had recently come up with an idea for his species. Have their loyalty and hardworking tendencies, but give them the strength and aggressiveness of the Klingons. I had a Klingon blood sample which I had been experimenting with and I believed I had discovered a method of blending the sample with another species and it should have effects, although what they would be I had no idea. The Chief Engineer's crime and need for punishment was a perfect opportunity to try the experiment so I injected the sample into his bloodstream. I obviously needed to make slight adjustments to the sample to make it aggressive enough to attack his own blood."
"And?" Archer prompted impatiently.
"And it failed I'm afraid to say."
"Why did it fail?" Archer was bitterly disappointed,
"Well sir I'm still looking into it, but that doesn't mean there weren't effects."
"Such as?"
"Such as great pain, the 'patient' was in agony for almost twenty hours straight, and he developed faint Klingon ridges on top of his own and his skin colour changed slightly. His… smell became worse then ever also."
"That's it? Twenty hours worth of pain, ridges, skin colour change, although that's good, change the freak's abnormal colour tone, and a bad smell? That was it?"
"There was also a change in his temper, he became much more volatile and aggressive, and he attempted to bite one of my assistants on the throat."
"That sounds more like it." Archer chuckled heartlessly then frowned. "So why did it fail?"
"The blood sample was eradicated, I'm still trying to determine how exactly, so he recovered a few days ago. He'll be out of the isolation chamber by tomorrow."
"When he does I want to talk to him, make sure he knows his place." Archer tossed the padd down and said
"You're dismissed." The doctor gave him a salute and then left. Archer poured himself a drink and swallowed it all in one gulp, the liquid burning his insides. He then slammed the glass down so it shattered, the pieces flying everywhere like the glass had exploded.
T'pol sipped her tea her eyes fixed on the table, her mind wandering. She had intended to go speak with her old associate Soval but he had told her he wasn't able to at this time. He had mentioned having to work on repairs to the Avenger, and then he was going to spend some time with his closest… friend, who was in isolation due to some punishment. Soval had been vague on the details regarding the matter. As much as she wished to speak with him she respected his need to help consol his friend. Thy'lek and he had worked together for years before she'd met either of them. She remembered saying to Soval that Vulcans don't have friends, but he reminded her that Vulcans weren't really supposed to do a lot of the things they did since the Terrans took over. That had been a fair point to say. Soval had introduced her to Thy'lek years ago and she found his presence interesting. He was a clever man and he always thought very carefully before he spoke. She had… enjoyed the discussions they'd had about a vast amount of subjects. She wished to speak to both Thy'lek and Soval about this 'Federation of Planets'. The very idea stirred something within her. The idea of having complete freedom of opinion, choice, life was very tempting. Phlox had told her it was dangerous to think of it but she couldn't help it. She knew this was the way the Empire needed to go. But she knew Archer, he'd never agree with it, not after that speech he'd made to the crew. She had a plan in her mind, slowly forming but she needed Soval and Thy'lek to help her.
The door chimed and Archer smirked maliciously to himself, he was going to enjoy this. He always did.
"Enter!" The door slid open and the alien nearly stumbled into the room. He managed to straighten up and stay like that but he was obviously still ill. His antennas were drooping farther then Archer had ever seen them. His blue skin was pale and on his forehead, along with faint Klingon ridges on top of his already existing ones, were blotchy brown spots all over. He managed to give a proper salute to him. "You can go." Archer told Mayweather who looked disappointed but obeyed. He looked back at the Andorian and looked him over. "You look more of a freak then ever." he spat, "And they couldn't even improve that ridiculous skin tone of yours!" He saw the Andorian stiffen slightly but he said nothing, "What's your name?"
"Lieutenant Shran sir." The Andorian's voice was strong despite his ragged appearance.
"You're the Chief Engineer of the Avenger, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Tell me why this experiment was performed on you."
"It was a punishment, sir."
"Why were you punished?" Archer barked
"I questioned the orders of Admiral Black, sir."
"So I heard." Archer paced around him slowly, then with out warning he reached out and grabbed the antenna and pulled them back. The Andorian yelled in pain and his knees gave out and he fell to the ground on them. Archer pulled him back by the two antenna, and hissed
"I've heard that the antennas are the most painful thing to lose for your kind. I've never had a chance to cut one off before. Maybe I should now to make sure you never question my orders." The Andorian's mutated face scrunched up in pain
"No, please, I won't question your orders sir, I swear it!" Archer threw him back so he fell over onto his back. Archer walked over to his desk and picked up a padd and walked back to him. He put his booted foot on the Andorians chest to hold him, putting enough pressure on it so he had difficulty breathing. He held out the padd in front of his face, he watched with enjoyment as the Andorian's eyes widened and fear entered them. It wasn't easy to scare an Andorian, so this was delightful.
"I'm sure you recognise your own sister." The eyes moved from the picture to Archer's face. "If I get a single whisper that suggests you're questioning my orders, I will have her killed, understood?" The eyes moved from him to the picture, and back. He nodded
"I understand sir." Archer lifted his foot, and kicked him hard in the side, listening to the satisfying crack of at least one rib.
"Get down to engineering and assist Mr. Tucker in repairs of the Avenger and Defiant." The Andorian scrambled to his feet and gave him the Terran Empire salute and nearly ran out of the captain's ready room, one hand pressed to his side. Archer tossed down the padd and smiled at the other occupant of the room as they snaked their arms around him.
"That was fun to watch." Hoshi purred, "I like it when you put a slave in his place."
"We both do." Archer answered before kissing her.
Like it? Hate it? Review and let me know.
Night's Darkness
