A/N: This is the original of this story. It had originally been a small challenge for me to make each chapter exactly 400 words, but that soon failed. I then decided to re-write it as I felt a lot of the information and the way I had written was just wrong. Probably the biggest change was how the scene unfolds with Archer's death. In this version I now feel that there is no sadness, no true emotion, and with the re-write... well, let;s just say even re-writing it very nearly brought myself to tears!
Nothing is the same on the Starship Enterprise anymore.
Everyone goes around silent. There's no laughter. No smiles. No love. Friendship is hardly shown. No movie night every Tuesday down in the Mess Hall. Hardly anyone eats and not many people get much sleep. The Bridge is an especially creepy place to be because he isn't there anymore.
Lieutenant Vicky Herley, my best friend, was the most upset by the tragedy. She loved him. She really did love him. None of us had seen it until that day. That dreadful that the ship lost it's most important member of the crew.
It all began when Enterprise picked up a distress call. Ensign Hoshi Sato was off duty, so I was on the COMM. Though I wish I hadn't been, not that it would've made much difference. If I had known anything like this would've happened, I would've done my best to make sure that it was me. And I certainly would've done everything in my power to protect him on the away mission.
I know that if Commander Tucker were here now he'd agree with me on that. Everyone knows that I would always put my life in front of others and so it was also one reason why Captain Archer had decided that I also take up security when I'm not needed for COMM up on the bridge.
That terrible day happened just 4 days ago. I can never get it out of my head. It will always haunt me wherever I go. What ever I do. September 4th will be a day that no one forgets.
I remember that recently Porthos had died, from old age, and Captain Archer had still not really passed the shock from that. He really did love his beagle.
Lieutenant Reed had just had his 37th Birthday. But now the fun from that has disappeared. There's nothing to celebrate anymore, and probably won't be for a long time.
No one is quite sure who will take his place. It appears to be that most of the crew feels that filling in his place right now would be wrong. If that did happen straight away he would be forgotten too quickly and no one wants that, especially Vicky.
I know that if he were here right now he would want us to remember the good times, but that is always easier said than done.
September 4th 2158
Everything was peaceful up on the bridge. Everything except for Captain Archer, Lieutenant Reed and Commander Tucker. They were talking about the Lieutenant's party that had been held two nights before.
"Come on Malcolm, the Pin the Tail on the Donkey was not that bad!"
"I'm sorry Commander but I just don't see what the point is of that game. I've never liked it."
"The point is to make people laugh when you place the tail on its forehead or something silly like that!"
"Which is exactly what I did. I'm not surprised that Ensign Reller won." At the mention of my name I looked up from the COMM desk and over at the group. Commander Tucker looked at me and we both smiled.
At that moment I heard beeping. I looked at my desk and realised that the ship's transceiver was picking up a message.
"We're picking up a distress call captain." I said looking over at Captain Archer.
"Put it up."
"To… we…." The reception was very bad and whoever was speaking was hardly audible. I began to press a few buttons to see if I could clear the sound up a bit.
"Can you get it any clearer Ensign?"
"I'm already working on it."
"There are three vessels in our convoy." Came the voice over the transceiver. It was a male's voice and he sounded rather desperate.
"I think I've got it." As the voices became clearer for the people on the bridge to hear.
"We need immediate assistance. It's tearing us apart! This is the transport ship Ko'Luar." At that moment the voice suddenly cut out. I checked my desk to see if it was something to do with our ship but nothing was malfunctioning. I looked at Captain Archer and shook my head.
"T'Pol?" He turned and looked at the Vulcan science officer who was sitting behind me.
"The Ko'Luar is one of three Rigellian transport ships."
"Where?"
"Bearing 0-0-5 mark 4-3. Distance: 5 light-years." Replied Lieutenant Reed
"Travis, get us there maximum warp!"
"Aye sir." Travis, who was sitting to the right of me, began to work.
The Star Ship Enterprise was soon heading for the co-ordinates of the transport ships. No one knew what to expect, or why these ships needed help as that part of the distress call had been fizzled out by the bad reception over the transceiver.
Captain Archer ordered me to hail the Ko'Luar to tell them that we were on our way, but I couldn't get any response from them. I concluded that either their receiver or transceiver, or both, must've been damaged in what ever was happening with them.
Malcolm has his weapons on standby ready to fire upon any enemy vessels that may be attacking the Rigellian ships when we got to them.
We soon approached the co-ordinates of the transport ships and there they were on the screen. They seemed to be in prefect health. No evident damage on their hulls, and T'Pol could detect no damage with them.
She also couldn't detect any other ships anywhere in the vicinity of the transports. This was all just a little bit odd. I could tell that Malcolm Reed was not comfortable with the situation.
Captain Archer was just about to give Malcolm an order when suddenly 5 Rigellian officers beamed onto the bridge and shot everyone unconscious. Just before I was shot I was able to see Commander Tucker, Lieutenant Reed and Captain Archer fighting them.
The next thing in knew Travis Mayweather was trying to wake me up, and it worked. I looked around the bridge as the others were waking up. That's when I realised one person was missing. Lieutenant Reed wasn't on the bridge, and the three transport ships had disappeared.
"Get Hoshi up here now!" John's voice was filled with anger and worry. I nodded my head slowly as I was still feeling a bit dazed from the stun.
"T'Pol, I want you to locate those ships now."
"Luckily their warp trail has not fully disintegrated. It shouldn't be too hard to find out where they have gone." Very soon Ensign Hoshi Sato appeared, I got out of the seat and Hoshi took my place at the COMM desk. I moved to the other side of the bridge and sat at the tactical desk. I looked at Captain Archer but he was too busy focussing on the situation. His Chief of Security officer has just been kidnapped.
T'Pol was able to project an image of the warp trail on the screen in front of everyone and Travis set a course. Hopefully our vessel was faster than the Rigellian's and we would catch up with them and get Malcolm back. Tension on the bridge was hanging heavily in the air.
I wasn't sure what speed we were travelling at, but I knew it was a high warp. After around 3 hours of following the warp trail we came across the transport ships.
"I am detecting one human bio sign on the starboard ship." T'Pol declared.
"Ensign, take out their engines." I nodded and began to fire the plasma cannons and the torpedoes at the ship T'Pol had indicated. The transport ships fired back, but because they were only equipped with low yield particle cannons it was easy for me to take out their weapons.
"Their weapons are down."
"What about their engines?" Archer's voice was still filled with concern.
"I'm working on it." I replied, not used to be under this kind of stress. And with two other ships to try and disable it wasn't easy. "They're down on all three vessels." I finally reported.
"T'Pol, Trip. Ensign." John looked at me and I knew that meant he wanted me with him he began to head for the turbolift.
"Cap'n shouldn't we try and contact them first?" suggested the chief engineer.
"I highly doubt that they will just hand Malcolm over! Hoshi tell the launch bay to get one of the shuttlepods ready""
"Aye sir." The four of us entered the turbolift and we made out war down to the Armoury. I grabbed four plasma rifles and four phase cannons and handed one to each of us. We then very quickly made our way to the shuttlepod and climbed in. Captain Archer took the helm, and the pod left the launch bay. We headed for the starboard transport and docked with them.
I carefully moved out and opened the air lock. As the door slide back I got ready to fire, but we met no resistance. Maybe they hadn't realised what we had done. We moved out into the corridor.
"Trip, go with T'Pol. Take starboard. We'll take port."
"Aye sir." Trip looked at T'Pol and they moved off along a corridor. I looked at captain and we moved off. I checked my scanner to see which direction we should take. I looked at him and indicated with my hand which way Lieutenant Reed was being kept. And we moved off.
We were getting close, but as we turned a corner 3 Rigellians were waiting for us, with their weapons ready and aimed. John and I had nowhere to run.
The captain turned round but 3 more Rigellians appeared behind us. We were trapped and we had nowhere to run. How could Ihave missed them on my scanner? I was now certain there was a malfunction with it.
"Drop your weapons." John looked and he nodded his head at me. He slowly placed his weapons on the floor in front of him.
"Do it ensign." Reluctantly I put my weapons on the ground in front of me. 2 Rigellians then moved forward and grabbed each of us, but as soon as they were close enough to me I began to fight them.
I grabbed one of them and then pushed him up against the wall of the corridor, I then kicked him in the face and that left him unconscious. The other jumped on me knocking me onto the floor. Archer then began to fight the two he was being held by, but I was too preoccupied with my own fight to notice much about what he was doing.
I tried to push the Rigellian off me, but his weight was far too much and I was beginning to find it hard to breathe. He then began to try and strangle me, his weapon wrapped around my neck. What I hadn't noticed was that T'Pol and Tucker had arrived and were taking care of the other two Rigellians.
Using all my strength I managed to roll to one side and I was ontop of my attacker. I quickly stood up with him following. I spun round and punched him a couple of times, but he managed to punch me in the stomach. I double over in pain giving him the chance to punch me in the face. As I fell I tried to grab a couple of the handles, but I missed. Being on the floor gave me a slight tactical advantage and I was able kick him round the face and then push him back. He hit his head and was rendered unconscious. I then quickly turned my attention to Captain Archer who was still trying to fight two Rigellians. I jumped on one giving John a bit of help.
Lucky the energy from the one I jumped on was leaving him and I was soon in control of the situation and had him sitting on the floor with my phase pistol pointing at him. Trip came over and took over guarding him. I looked around to find out where Captain Archer had gone. I moved off down the corridors, turned a corridor and that's when I saw it.
The Rigellian and Captain Archer were locked in combat, both trying to strangle each other, finally the Rigellian managed to punch Archer and he fell back. I began to move forward to fight him, but quick as a flash he drew a dagger and stabbed the Captain in the chest.
"No! Captain!" I quickly grabbed my phase pistol from my side belt and fired at him. He fell on the floor unconscious. I ran forward to Archer and checked for a pulse.
Trip soon came round the corner after hearing my scream. "Cap'n?" He called over, but I didn't take any notice of him. I was just staring at the dagger and where it had entered his body. Right through the heart.
"Captain? Please, wake up! Captain?" But I got no response. I found no pulse. The dagger protruding from Captain Archer's body. He was dead and there was nothing anyone could do for him. I heard more phase pistol fire as Trip shot more coming towards us. He quickly moved over to me. I was in so much shock as he put his hands on my shoulders and tried to drag me away.
"June come on." I tried to resist him, but Trip was stronger and was finally able to pull me away. "T'Pol! Find Malcolm. We'll get back to the pod."
"What about Captain Archer?"
"I'll help him out." I could tell she sensed something was wrong but she didn't question anything. T'Pol nodded her head and quickly ran off. Trip ran back to John and soon he came round the corner carrying him on his shoulders. I was doing my best to stop myself from crying as we made our way back to the airlock. Fortunately we were not attacked again. He laid him on the floor of the pod and quickly sat in the pilot's seat. After a few minutes T'Pol and Malcolm soon appeared. When they both saw Captain Archer they were in shock at seeing what was on the floor in front of them. neither of them spoke and neither of them knew what to say. The shuttlepod left the transport ship and made its way back to Enterprise. Once it had left the transport Trip moved out of the Pilot's seat and Malcolm took over. He moved over and comforted me.
I don't remember anything else about the journey back to the ship or heading up to sickbay to get our wounds looked at by Doctor Phlox. I think I may have cried myself to sleep. When I woke up I was lying on a bed in sickbay with Trip standing over me. I was hoping all that was a dream, but when I sat up and saw the white sheet over a body in a corner I knew it wasn't, or I was hoping that all this was a dream and I would wake up soon. If it is a dream it's going on a long time and it feels very real.
I just hugged Commander Tucker, I didn't know what else to do. But I guess it was a normal reaction. I had witnessed the death of the captain, something which no one should have to witness, especially when trying to rescue another officer, a friend and life long companion.
The doors to sickbay slid open and in walked Malcolm with Vicky. I looked deeply into her eyes and she moved over to us. Trip moved back and I just hugged Vicky.
"I could've prevented it, but I didn't!" I cried into her arms.
After a while Phlox allowed me to leave, and I was thankful. I just couldn't stand to be in the same room as the body any longer. Trip decided that I should get to the Mess Hall and have some food, but I couldn't eat, not after what had just happened! Instead I just walked away from him and went to my quarters.
As soon as I entered my quarters my faithful companion greeted me. But when I moved away from her and sat down on my bed crying she knew someone was wrong. She jumped up onto bed next to me and I just hugged her. I was glad that Captain Archer had allowed me to bring her on board. I don't know what I would do if she weren't with me. Cassie, my 4-year-old Labrador has always been there for me when I have most needed her.
I don't know what it was that stalled me from shooting him, but something did. It should be me lying down in sickbay with a white sheet over me. I was supposed to be protecting the captain, but I failed.
Commander Tucker wants me to say something at his funeral because I was the last person to see him alive, but I have no idea about what I'm going to say. I wish I didn't have to, but I can't ignore a superior officer's order. What does someone say at a time like this?
Everyone keeps on coming round to see how I am and in some ways I'm glad to have the company. My most frequent visitor has been Trip, he really does care about me.
Vicky, my best friend and room mate, has been spending a lot of time hidden away somewhere on the ship, but everyone knows better than to go off looking for her.
September 8th 2158
When I think of all the times that I have been close to death, such as when the Osaarians attacked us in the Delphic Expanse, and when I was badly beaten up in a prison camp, I have been grateful that Captain Archer and his very close friends have always been able to help me, but now he's gone.
I think now I know what I can say at his funeral about him. It may not be much as I'm sure I might start to cry before too long. Maybe all that needs to be said is just a few words….
Captain Jonathan Archer was a wonderful leader and friend to us all here on the starship Enterprise and he will be greatly missed, but we shall always remember him in our hearts.
I think that would be appropriate, nothing else has come to mind.
Trip had the painful duty of contacting Starfleet Command and telling Admiral Forrest what had happened that mission, what was even more painful was the fact that Trip needed someone with him and I was there too. Admiral Forrest was deeply upset, although he tried not to show it over the COMM link.
The Admiral will contact us in 4 days time when he has decided what shall happen about the command situation on Enterprise.
The funeral will be held in 2 days time and for the whole day everyone will be allowed the day off to pay their respects to our fallen Captain.
I'm guessing that when Admiral Forrest calls back he'll say that Trip will be promoted to the field rank of Captain, I can't imagine him saying anything else. I think Commander Tucker would make a great captain, but I know he would miss being with his engine. Then there's a question of who he would promote to be Commander. He may choose Malcolm, or maybe even T'Pol. They would both be good candidates.
When I first came aboard this ship Captain Archer was surprised, seeing as it was when the Enterprise took its dangerous mission into the Delphic Expanse. I was 31 at the time, just over a year later, when we returned, my father gave me a Labrador for my birthday and Captain Archer agreed that she could come onto the ship. I chose the name Cassie in remembrance of my mother who was killed in the Xindi attack back in 2153, the reason I wanted to go on the mission to the expanse.
Captain Archer had been a very good friend of my family over the last10 years or so,and i know my father shall be upset when he reads my next letter
September 10th 2158
The funeral had come all too soon for us. Archer's body lay in the coffin for all to see.
It was surprising to see Vicky crying so much, no one else knew of the relationship that was going between her and John, and now because of me, that relationship is over. Of course Vicky forgives me, she told me that she probably would have acted the same way I did, but she's just an exo-biologist.
Trip was the first to speak. He spoke of all the good things that Captain Archer had done on the ship, and back at earth before he was given command of the first warp 5 vessel. He soon finished his speech and then turned to me.
"June. I believe you have a few words to say." I looked at him and nodded my head. I took a deep breath and stepped forward. What I had planned to say completely left my mind. I was facing 20 odd crewmen and I didn't have anything to say, my mind was a blank.
"Captain Archer put a lot of trust in me the day that Lieutenant Reed was taken, putting me on tactical, and then covering for him when we were on the ship. But something went wrong, something happened to my scanner and it didn't pick up the aliens that were waiting for us…" I was finding it extremely difficult to concentrate and think of things to say. My mind just kept racing back to the moment that John had been stabbed.
"Err… Captain Archer has saved my life about 10 times…" And that was it, I couldn't say anymore. Apart from 5 more words…. "We shall miss him dearly." At that moment Trip stepped forward and put his hands on my shoulders and I knew at that point I didn't have to say any more. I was slightly relieved when I felt his hands on my body and could step back. I retook my place next to Lieutenant Reed and Sub-Commander T'Pol.
They placed the lid over the coffin and prepared to jettison it out into space. Malcolm moved over to the control panel. Trip gave him a slow nod and he pressed the button. The coffin went into the torpedo tube and was fired out. At that moment I remembered what I wanted to say, the simple few words I had thought of two days before, but now it was really too late to say anything.
If I hadn't attacked the Rigellians Captain Archer would probably still be alive. I don't know what it was that made me attack them, it may very well have been adrenaline from being on a rescue mission and I wanted some action to happen, test out my combat skills that Malcolm had recently been teaching me.
September 12th 2158
Commander Tucker had spent an hour or so talking to Admiral Forrest about the command of Enterprise. He had gathered us all in the meeting room where we were waiting for him. Once Doctor Phlox had arrived Trip was able to speak to all seven of us. For the whole time I was just looking at the floor, still remembering the momentI let the Captain loose his life.
"As you all know I've been speaking to Admiral Forrest and…" he stopped and sighed. "… I have been promoted to the rank of Cap'n, so I am now in command of Enterprise."
"I guess congratulations are in order." Malcolm said. Trip just nodded his head slightly.
"But then there is also the question of who to promote to become Commander. It wasn't an easy decision, but I'm gonna need someone who is a close friend and someone who I can implicitly trust to take command if for some reason I'm out of action. So as you can probably imagine that was a very hard choice for me cause you are all my friends and I can trust you all. But I have finally made a decision." He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "June." I looked at him in surprise when he said my name. "I've decided it should be you." i was in complete shock, i never thought he would choose me to be hisCommander, his number one.
"Trip… I...i don't know…" I had no idea what to say, I was just an ensign, a lot for me to take in. I didn't think anyone could be promoted by 2 ranks in one go.
"I've already suggested it to Admiral Forrest, and he said it was all right, if you agree that is." I looked deeply into his blue eyes. I finally nodded my head, as words just didn't feel right at the time. "All right. That's all I have to say to you all. Dismissed." Phlox, T'Pol and Travis all left the room leaving Hoshi, Malcolm, Trip and me there.
"Congratulations June." Said Hoshi.
"Thank you. I promise I won't be hard on either of you. Or anybody for that matter." Malcolm patted me on the back and I thought a caught a glimpse of him smiling, but I couldn't be sure. Hoshi hugged me, and I needed it because I felt as if the ship was spinning so fast I could hardly stand and needed something to support myself on.
"Come on let's go and get some dinner." The four of us headed to the Mess hall, Trip and Malcolm in front of Hoshi and me. We didn't eat in the Captain's Mess, we felt it best not to. Everything was going to feel odd, I was now a Commander, and so I was going to have to order most people around. Although I was now a higher rank than Malcolm and a member of security I told Malcolm the he could keep his job as head of security, so I will still have a little bit of orders to take from a Lieutenant.
The change in rank has now meant that Lieutenant Hess has become the Chief Engineer, and as I get used to the change in rank it makes me wonder why Trip chose me to be a Commander. Maybe it's because I can really be trusted with important decision, or maybe it's just because of our relationship with each other. I'm also not sure why I agreed, maybe it's because I want to progress further with my career, or maybe once again it is the love that I feel for Commander Tucker.
What else can we do but move on...?