by
fanDANgo
Note: This story takes place immediately after the episode Broken Bow.
Captain Jonathan Archer settled back into
the Captain's chair with heavy sigh. A sigh heavy enough that even
if the ship's artificial gravity were decreased it was still fall with
a notable thud. The sigh did not escape the attention of Ensign Travis
Mayweather seated at the helm. Mayweather threw a slight glance over
his left shoulder to check on the Captain who waved him off with a light
shaking of his head.
"It's nothing, Ensign," Archer assured
the young helmsman who returned to his task of piloting the newly commissioned
Enterprise.
If it was nothing Archer wondered, then
why was that sigh so heavy? He was caught of guard by a feeling he
could not put his finger on. Was it fatigue? It sure as hell
could have been with what he and the rest of the crew had just been through
on the NX-01's maiden voyage. But, the notions of fatigue
were dismissed. Even though the events of the past few days would
have taken its strain on the hardiest of individuals, the mere fact that
Archer had finally made it out further beyond the stars than he had ever
imagined was enough to subdue in feelings of fatigue.
The Enterprise and her crew had
successfully completed their first mission, albeit with some unforeseen
complications such as the Suliban and an introduction to a temporal cold
war. Yes, it had been anything but a routine mission, something Archer
was beginning to feel would happen more often then not when exploring the
final frontier.
Perhaps it was the uneasy relationship
with Sub-Commander T'Pol. Although they had been successful with
their first mission, it was anything but simple routine. And now
he had extended the invitation to the Vulcan to remain on board as Science
Officer. If his invitation surprised T'Pol she showed no evidence
of it, but he did surprise himself with the offer. Had that been
the right choice? Was he ready to work with a Vulcan is such a capacity?
Captain Archer adjusted in his chair.
While comfortable enough, it still did not quite feel like his own.
It had the feeling as if he was perhaps seated upon the stand of some trial.
A trial that would decide whether or not he truly was the man he would
need to be in order to rightfully succeed as Captain of the Enterprise.
He leaned to the left. He shifted to the right. He tried crossing
his legs. If trying to decide how to fill the Captain's chair were
this difficult, how would the actual role of Captain be?
Archer shook his self-imposed question
off. Perhaps it was just the hour. It was well past oh-two-hundred
hours. He and Ensign Mayweather were the only two actual crewmembers
currently on the bridge. Prothos was quietly lying at the side of
the Captain's chair, a breech in protocol that the Sub-Commander would
definitely not approve of. The Captain had wanted to run a minor
diagnostic check regarding he helm's main controls. It was a test
that while simple enough needed to be run when little else would interfere.
And, no point of having a lesser crewmember suffer through what the ship's
Captain was not willing to endure himself. Mayweather on the other
hand, had to suffer along with the Captain. He was the helmsman after
all.
"Point eight, check," the Ensign reported.
"Point eight, check," Archer echoed as
he verified the checklist on his PADD.
Mayweather continued to scan the various
controls of the helm. "Point nine, check."
"Point nine, check," the Captain reiterated
as he tapped the PADD. "That outta do it."
Ensign Mayweather turned in his seat to
face the Captain. "She's running smoother than the ass of Korridian
concubine."
Archer smiled. "And, exactly how
smooth is that, Ensign?"
Mayweather returned the smile slightly
embarrassed before opening his mouth to reply before he knew how he would.
"Uh..."
Archer let the young Ensign off the hook.
"No need to elaborate, Travis. I've got a pretty good idea."
The Captain reached down and gently scrubbed
between Prothos' ears. "When is your relief scheduled?"
Mayweather looked back over his shoulder.
"Oh-four-hundred hours, sir."
"Why don't you go ahead and cut out early.
I'll mind the store."
"Sir? Isn't it against regulation
for a single officer to…"
Archer stood and headed for the helm.
"Not to worry Ensign. I think I can manage for a few hours," the
Captain assured his helmsman. "Besides, anyone that I may need is
just a com call away. Besides, I've got Prothos to keep me company."
Mayweather rose from his seat. "I
don't think the Sub-Commander would be too crazy about that."
Archer smiled back at the Ensign.
"Something tells me that there is going to be a lot that we'll do in which
T'Pol is not going to be crazy about." Archer maneuvered around the
helmsman and seated himself behind the helm. "Go on, get out of here."
Mayweather shrugged, knowing it was pointless
to argue with the Captain. "Thank you, sir." And, with that
Mayweather made a quick exit from the bridge while Archer proceeded to
get comfortable in yet another chair.
It felt good to actually be the man behind
the controls piloting the Enterprise. Archer was truly envious
of the Ensign. His hands glided over the various controls, making
minor adjustments. The Captain smiled to himself knowing that if
T'Pol knew he was on the bridge alone with "the canine" no less that she
would flip her Vulcan lid. And, in all honesty, that made the experience
that much better.
Captain Jonathan Archer soaked in as much
of the current situation that he could. The ongoing mission of the
NX-01 had just begun. He had finally realized his dream of
journeying to and beyond the stars. He was not only exploring the
final frontier. He was exploring his dreams.
Note: Enterprise and all related characters are the property of Paramount. I only like to play with them for my own personal gratification.