The looks thrown at Malcolm as he passed through the ship were not happy, welcoming ones. There would have been something seriously wrong if they had been. Still, the thought of that Pace was no longer guarding his back made him skittish and more unnerved than he would usually allow himself to be. Walking as straight as he could, he walked up on the bridge.
It was strange to walk on the new bridge. Although the design was similar to their old bridge, it was… different. And many new faces were on it as well. T'Pol was gone, Forrest of course and to his surprise… Archer. The cubical commander's chair was occupied by Hoshi. It made him stop in his tracks. Was everyone from the old crew banished or dead? The scars in his face hurt as the look of surprise established itself on his face.
Hoshi must have seen his astonishment. She rose from the captain's chair and came up to him with a smile. Malcolm had learnt to see through it years ago. As she approached him, he also noticed a, to him, unknown officer sitting on his station. He gave Malcolm a quick look, without any obvious dislike in it. Deciding to worry about that later he focused his attention on Hoshi.
"Hoshi, what is this? Where is the Captain?" He eyed the room again. Someone hit him with the butt of a rifle, straight at his side. A short whimper came out of his mouth, but he managed to stay on his feet. After recovering enough to straighten, he turned. "Mayweather, what are you…?" He began in a scolding fashion.
"That's Empress Sato to you, Major." Commented Mayweather.
"Empress? How is this possible… Hoshi?" Malcolm asked, at the same time he had been alerted to Mayweather being behind his back. As he tried to lunge a strike again, Malcolm simply blocked it, snapped the rifle out of his hands and returned the favor, hitting Mayweather in the solar plexus. That would keep him down for a moment or two.
"Major… " Hoshi began. "Malcolm… come to my room, I'll explain everything."
"That thing is not coming." Said Malcolm and pointed on Mayweather.
"No, we have things to discuss in private." Hoshi concurred. That seemed to make Travis upset, but he did not say a word. Instead he gave Malcolm one of those killing glances and retreated from the bridge. Hoshi waved Malcolm on towards the Captain's quarters. Still holding a hand on his side, he followed.
He noticed Archer's things, including the pillow on which his dog used to sleep. A big nasty thing he remembered. Hoshi lead him on to the desk, where she sat down into the armchair. She nodded for him to sit down next to her on a kind of low bar stool.
"I should not…" He said.
"Really?" She responded. "You look like you need a break." She gave up a smile and pushed the stool to him. Reluctantly he sat down, but he could not deny it was a relief. "Now, that looks better… At least you won't look so stuffed up."
"Stuffed…? But no matter, where is the Captain? I thought his coup succeed?"
"Oh but it did! But Jonathan had the misfortune to be poisoned. He died very quickly." The comment made Malcolm jump up from his seat. Wide eyed he turned around, as if to assure himself that this was not some elaborate joke, and then turned back to Hoshi. A stern look fell upon his face; it was not hard to guess who poisoned Archer.
"Did you find the guilty?" He asked.
"It was established that T'Pol and Dr. Phlox had conspired against Archer, and they have been dealt with… permanently." Hoshi rose from her chair. "Archer has been avenged." Malcolm turned to the window in order not to reveal how troubled he was by these news. All his adult life he had worked his way up in the MACO and Starfleet, gaining respect and most importantly, loyalty. Archer had trusted him. They had never been friends, but there had been a professional relationship. And now it was gone! He could not believe that it was T'Pol and Phlox that had poisoned him, as they would gain nothing! Being a Commander, T'Pol would not have taken such a direct action. Phlox… was happy with his work. Malcolm had done some joint projects with him. The thoughts of Phlox poisoning Archer did not feel right to him.
"Is it right to assume that you used the superior power of the Defiant to claim the title of Empress?" He asked, crossing his arms.
"What else could I do? You know how corrupted those Admirals down on Earth are!"
"What you did was for the good of the Empire, I understand that." He lied.
"I thought you might see it my way." Hoshi responded. "That is why I am going to make you my second in command, Commander Reed. That was something Archer never did." He looked back at Hoshi, surprised. A bribe. He thought, how convenient!
"Captain!" He said. "Empress!"
"I insist, Malcolm, you've earned it!" Hoshi said and was suddenly quite close to him. "You will be my partner onboard this ship, and together we will bring Terran dominance further than anyone before us!" She let her hands slip around his waist. It was his move.
"I think I'll need a new Uniform for that." He said lightly, then put his hand on her cheek and kissed her. It seemed to surprise her for a second or two, as if she was not prepared for such a response. Malcolm found that amusing. She gave him a second look before her hands began pulling his jumpsuit off. Only then she seemed to notice the bandage strapped around his abdomen.
"You should rest." She said, tugging him to the Captain's bed.
"Is that an order?" He asked, landing on the bed with Hoshi ontop.
"Yes..." She purred.
"Then I have no choice but to comply, Captain." He said and kissed her again. She eagerly returned his embrace.
