The Death of Archer

Rating: PG-13

Mentions character death, although not graphically.

~~~

I watch as the shuttlepod explodes and cannot help the very human smile that overcomes my face. He is dead.  The man who hurt my mother and ruined any chance at her happiness is dead.  The man that treated my mother as though she were his own private concubine lives no more.

I am glad.

I wish his death could have been a more extreme one.  A more painful death to the Captain of the Enterprise would have been enjoyable to observe.  Watching him writher in pain, crying out in agony – oh, yes, I would have liked to have seen and heard that. They are scenes that I have seen for years in my head, as I quietly contemplated his death and the manner in which I would carry it out. 

You see, I have always hated him. 

I do not understand the grief that crosses Tucker's face. Ah, but they were friends once.  Perhaps that explains it.

Friendship could be blind.  Perhaps I should tell him what that friendship would cost him, in the long run. Perhaps I should tell him what the future with Archer alive would hold.

No, I must return to my own time now.  Before I go, I sneak a glance at my mother. Watching her, I am reminded of the greatness that I have done.  I have done the universe a favor in killing Captain Archer.  The favor has been multiplied tenfold by killing him years before he can achieve the heartache he would otherwise inflict upon my mother or the rest of his crew.

Turing to go, I watch in delight as my mother steps down beside her lover to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder.  A smile again forms on my face as I signal to my awaiting ship that I am ready to go.

Beaming aboard, my colleague scoffs at the lower technology of the NX-01 that allows us to escape undetected and travel to the twenty-fourth century.  I ignore him, too happy with the death of Captain Archer to know anything else.

I regret only that his murder was so impersonal. I would have rejoiced in feeling my hand clench around Captain Dunsel's throat as the oxygen supply was cut off.

Ah, well, we all have regrets, do we not?

Still, a good day's work has been accomplished. I believe I shall take some time off from Section 31 to visit Vulcan as a means of celebration.  It is not often that I am able to return home.

**

A "dunsel" is a part which serves no useful purpose.  See TOS for more info.