Kirk stepped up to the podium to give the eulogy.
I can't believe he's dead.
It was so sudden.
Transferred to the Bradbury.
Sent on the patrol.
Brutally killed in a freak accident.
How many times he had seen such happen. How many times it was still a shock- a horrible terrible nightmare. How many times it was still all- too- real.
He cleared his throat.
He tried not to think about the transmission- a helpless form pinned to a bulkhead by a stray torpedo.
"Today we pay homage to a friend. He was an ensign, a crewman, a colleague, but most of all- he was a good friend." His voice rang out through the gathering of people, hollow and dead to his own ears.
"Pavel Andreievich Chekov was stationed on the Enterprise since it's first sailing so long ago. He served well and made many good friends among the crew. He had his entire service... his record... his career... His life ahead of him. But it was not to be."
"Pavel was transferred..." His voice cracked. "To the USS Bradbury two weeks ago. I can only presume that he served his new starship with all of the love and dedication with which he served mine. He was killed several days ago as only he would be. At his post, serving his ship and his captain."
"I-I have a letter here with me, written by the crew, that... That describes some of what Pavel Chekov meant to us." He held the letter up for all to see.
"Dear Pavel, there has been so much that you have done to help us in our missions, ever in the background, yet ever appreciated. We will miss your laughe, and your smile. We will miss your accent, and the way you were so proud of Russia. We will miss the way that we could never understand you, but went along with your plans anyways. We will miss the way you look, and your wisdom, your boyishness. Everything that made you who you were, and made you mean so much to us. In short, we will miss you, Pavel Andreievich Chekov, and we wish you fair sailing... The Enterprise crew."
Kirk slowly placed the letter back on the podium.
"I also think, though," Kirk said after a slight pause. "That he isn't really gone. I believe that a little bit of him lives on in us, but that we must strive to carry on his legacy. We must keep him with us, wherever we go. Where we go, where he will go with us- Space. The Final Frontier."
Anton Yelchin,
There is so much we would have wanted
To say, to give, to tell you, show you,
How much you were Appreciated.
With so many years ahead of you.
And so many more things to do, to see...
To make your life a full and happy one,
Cast off within a single moment...
But please know, you were loved, and cared about,
And we will miss you very, very much.
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