*cool news*
R&R?
I wake up to my PADD buzzing. It's set to do that when the name Jim Kirk pops up in the headlines. I skim the article, only to find Jim and a few of the Enterprise's crew members missing from the base.
"You're kidding me," I groan. I just saved Jim's butt and now he's in trouble again! And I can't lose him. He's the only family I have left. I grab a gold uniform and boots, not even bothering to put my hair in a ponytail, like regulation states.
"ASHLEY!" I bang on her door.
"Emily Alana Pike. It is only nine AM. Go to sleep." Amber pokes her head out of her room.
"No. ASHLEY!"
"What now, Pike?" Ashley asks, opening the door.
"Kirk is missing." I sigh. "We're going to find good old Admiral Archie."
So that's what we do. We wait outside his office, and Amber nudges me.
"Hey. I think you're getting a little too attached to Jim." Amber laughs. "Don't do anything rash."
"What will I do if I'm left alone?" I ask.
Ashley opens her mouth to reply, and add in, but Archer's assistant calls my name, and I walk into his office, only to find Spock and Bones.
"You're here too?" I ask.
"Yes," Spock answers.
"Alright, Ensign Pike, have a seat." Archer points to a chair next to Bones, which I sit in. "It seems the captain's best friends have not been abducted with him. Security footage shows nothing- it's like someone got there from inside and turned off the cameras."
"Admiral Archer is also getting a search going." Bones tells me. "That goddamn ship just... disappeared, but, there is one lead: a ship in the Neutral Zone."
"We're going into the Neutral Zone?!" I ask.
That's seriously pushing the limits. Even for Admiral Archer. Like, he's got a lot of power but not even he has the power to cross the Neutral Zone.
"No, we're going to stand on the edge of it and scan. Ensign Pike, you will be assigned to the search party. The one thing we are needing is a ship before we can go."
"What about Enterprise NX-01?" I ask. "Your ship?"
Starbase 238 had a museum on it, and with it, the first Enterprise- Admiral Archer's. It was on display, but if you were special, you could get a tour of the inside. I'd seen it before, and it was a pretty ship. However, it could not go faster than warp 5. But warp 5 would be good enough.
"We have been considering it," Spock answers. "However, it does not have advanced warp drive or weapons."
Bones has this look on his face like, Are you or of your prehistoric minds?! This is like riding a 250 year old bike from San Francisco to Canada! (Okay, I admit it, Bones is better with the metaphors.)
"Yeah? So? Where's another ship?" I answer. "Ji- the captain could be a hostage. Every second could count."
Spock considers it for a moment, before Archer speaks. "Alright. Repairs have been performed NX-01 just to keep it in shape, and she'll still work. Spock, for this mission, I'm promoting you to captain. Have you chosen your first officer?"
"I volunteer as tribute!" I exclaim, remembering an old book called The Hunger Games.
"She does know the ship well. Maybe even better than me," Archer adds.
Spock looks at me, and I smile. "Judging by how she acted on Exaltron, a rash and illogical decision such as her... goddess decision... could cost, especially on a ship that is not advanced as the rest of the fleet."
"Alright. Let's get a move on," Bones mutters.
"Yeah," I agree. "Thanks, admiral."
"A few things before you go- one, take Lieutenant Millard and Miss Sulu with you. Two, the shuttles have been upgraded to the ones like on the Enterprise, with warp 7. Third, Pike, just for this mission, you'll be promoted to lieutenant commander." Archer smiles at me. "Now go find your captain."
"Yes, sir!" I exclaim, following Spock. "Come on, Bones! It's going to be fun!"
Bones mutters his space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence speech. I roll my eyes and head into history.
"Alana?"
I turn around, and Admiral Archer stands up. "Yes?"
"Be careful."
"I will."
He waves his hand and I open the door. Both Amber and Ashley stand up.
"So?" Ashley asks.
"How'd it go?" Amber asks. "And just going to say, I will not steal another shuttle."
"We're going to find Jim," I answer. "Also, I'm a lieutenant commander, just for this mission."
"Lieutenant Millard, are you familiar with the navigational system of NX-class ships? Specifically, Enterprise?" Spock asks.
"Yes, sir," Amber replies.
"Good. Welcome the new helmsman!" I exclaim.
"I'll monitor you guys from the base." I can tell Ashley's kind of sad that she has to stay behind. But she doesn't!
"You get to come too." Bones replies. "If there are any more kids on this ship, it'll be a cruise ship!"
"You know you love us!" I exclaim.
Walking onto the old Enterprise feels like a dream, even though I've been here before. Spock sits in the captain's chair, with Amber at the helm. I just stand on the bridge, Ashley next to me.
"This ship is amazing," Ashley says.
"I know." I smile, walking around a little. "Oh my god, Ashley! I love this ship!"
"I like this ship!" Ashley replies in a Scottish accent. "That's how Scotty would say it."
"Lieutenant Millard, take us out," Spock orders.
"Yes, sir." Amber replies.
"Don't worry, darlin'," Bones says. "We'll find him."
