SOS Part Deux
WARNING: MAY CONTAIN POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THE SERIES FINALE
"All right people, I've been leaked a copy of the finale, and well there's no good way to break it to you, it's not pretty." Archer slapped the script down on the conference table so hard that the sound reverberated around their make shift set.
There was a dead silence around the table. Each of them envisioned the worst possible scenarios for their characters and the worst possible ending for the show. Porthos, for his part, hid underneath the table hoping no one would remember to write him into the script.
Hoshi shivered for a moment and could have sworn she could smell smoke.
Finally, Trip laughed. "Now, Cap'n, it can't be that bad."
"Yes," agreed Phlox. "We've had a superb season this year compared to last and I can't imagine the writers ending us on a negative note."
"The Doctor's right," chimed in Malcolm. "I mean how do you know you've really got the correct script? This could be the work of Section 31. It would be just like them to give us a fake script to put us off our guard when there is really a good script out there. They're just waiting until the right moment to give it to us."
"It makes sense," said Travis nodding his head. "I mean all those Save Enterprise campaigns and Trek United they can't be all for nothing. The fans are out there. I can't imagine them writing a bad series finale for all those loyal viewers who stuck with the show. There must be another script."
"Agreed. It is highly illogical that they would write a bad script. If these groups that Mr. Mayweather mentioned are successful we will be back for another season. If the company wants to save the show, logically, they would write a good script," explained T'Pol.
"She's right, Cap'n," said Trip nodding in agreement. "We're gonna be just fine. There's another script out there and we're gonna go out in a blaze of glory. The fans will love it. T'Pol and I are going to admit how we really feel about one another and we'll all live happily ever after. Until the next season or movie when of course well need drama again."
"Oh, yeah?" said Archer on the edge. "Well just in case, you'd better read what happens to you." Realizing what he had just said, Archer's voice softened. "I'm sorry, Trip. You were a fine engineer and a great friend."
Suddenly everyone turned their attention on Trip, especially T'Pol. Trip felt himself go cold. Then, ever so slowly, Trip reached for the script. As he flipped through it his face became paler and paler. When he got to the end he gasped.
"What, what! How bad is it!" exclaimed T'Pol totally out of character and unable to take the suspense any longer.
Trip, rendered speechless, could only look at T'Pol sadly. "Well remember when I said Romeo and Juliet probably had a better chance…"
T'Pol snatched the script and flipped to the end. As she read the final scenes she could feel tears threatening to pour our and she had to fight for her emotional control. "Oh, no. Oh, no this can't be right."
"I'm afraid it is," was all Archer could say.
Silently the script was passed from crew member to crew member, and each bore a pale, horrified face after reading the written words. Except for the last person to get the script, Phlox, who laughed his way through the entire script, until he realized that this wasn't a joke and quickly sobered up.
Everyone looked to their fearless leader for support, for guidance, for some sign that there was at the very least a last page missing from the script where the holodeck had a virus and all these horrible events in the script didn't come true. But all Archer could say was, "This is good-bye, my friends."
Suddenly there were angry protests.
"This can't be the end, Captain!" exclaimed Malcolm.
"The fans are fighting and so should we!" said Hoshi, even though the imaginary smell of smoke was stronger than ever.
"We need to speak to the writers!" yelled Travis.
Trip and T'Pol just stared at each other from across the conference table unable to think of a single thing to say to each other in light of current events.
"Okay, okay!" said Archer his voice rising above everyone. Once he got everyone to be quiet his face broke out into a grin. "As your Captain I've had a brilliant idea!"
Malcolm's face beamed. "Great idea, Captain! It'll be a coup! We'll need to devise a good tactical strategy but I think between the seven of us, forget the MACO's, we can kidnap the writers and lock them in a room until they pen a great script! I know they can do it! They've done it before!"
Archer just shook his head. "That would violate too many laws. I've got a better idea." Archer leaned down and brought out from underneath the table a box full of #2 pencils. "We're going to rewrite the script ourselves."
There was a stunned silence while each pondered on if their writing skills were good enough to actually pen the finale.
Archer sensed what was going through their minds. "Now I know it won't be easy, but who knows the characters better than we do?"
It took a second but soon everyone was smiling and nodding in agreement.
"Great!" said Archer as he proceeded to hand out the pencils. "First thing we do…"
Archer broke off because he was distracted by T'Pol's voice. She had a hand on Trip's shoulder watching as he busily made revisions, making comments like, "Oh, that's nice" and "No, I wouldn't have said it like that."
Archer, half amused, half annoyed, cleared his throat. Trip and T'Pol looked up embarrassed. Trip grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, Cap'n. We couldn't resist."
Archer smiled and nodded. Their enthusiasm was just what was needed. "Well what are we waiting for? The sky's the limit."
Everyone smiled, the ones who didn't already have pencils picked one up, and they began talking about how they could save the finale.
