ACT TWO
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE
There are fewer Boomer ships present as we open with the establishing shot and keen observers will note that the ships absent are the ones that were being fired upon by the Boomer privateers. Once again, however, Enterprise is the stationary eye of the storm as Lexington slowly prowls the region.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY
Still stretched out on the biobed, Major Reed sighs heavily. An expression of abject misery is on his face as Doctor Phlox bustles into the scene, a cheery expression on his face.
PHLOX
Feeling better, Major?
REED
Hardly. I feel bloody awful, like I'm going to vomit.
The doctor gives him a normal-sized smile as he studies the biobed's readouts.
PHLOX
Not surprising. Doctor Lucas was worried about some of your readings and gave you the full detoxification treatment.
REED
(muttering)
So he's the one I need to kill.
PHLOX
(smiling)
I would give you an antiemetic, Major, but given your past record, I'm afraid it would only make things worse.
Reaching down, Phlox picks up and then offers a small waste receptacle.
PHLOX
In case you do feel the urge, however, please use this.
(with a smile)
One never knows what can be salvaged from such detritus.
Reed gives the doctor a disgusted look.
REED
Please tell me you're joking.
Instead, Phlox smiles broadly and turns away. Reed watches him depart before glancing at the small trashcan. He swallows.
FEMALE VOICE 2 (OS)
Hello, Malcolm.
Reed looks to the speaker in surprise, having been too distracted to notice her approach. This is MAJOR CHARLOTTA HOLMBERG, one of the Lexington officers. Dark-skinned, she speaks with a slight accent that identifies her as an Austrian born native. Reed is obviously surprised to see her.
REED
Charlotte. Uh...hello.
HOLMBERG
(smiling)
Still the same Malcolm, I see.
Reed gives her an awkward smile.
REED
Afraid so.
(beat)
I didn't know you were aboard Lexington.
HOLMBERG
For the last year and a half.
Reed & Holmberg are silent for a BEAT as they look at one another.
REED
You're looking well.
HOLMBERG
Thank you.
(beat)
How's Maddie?
REED
Doing well. She finally married that idiot boyfriend of hers.
HOLMBERG
That's nice.
Another LONG BEAT passes in awkward silence.
HOLMBERG
This is awkward, isn't it?
Reed smirks.
REED
Just a little bit.
(beat)
How long has it been?
HOLMBERG
Since Mars. Two years, six months.
They share a sad smile before Holmberg dons her professional mask once more.
HOLMBERG
General Bernard wanted me to coordinate some things with you but...
(with a glance around the sickbay)
...if you're injured...
(with a sudden hint of concern)
Are you injured?
REED
No.
LUCAS
(approaching suddenly)
Yes.
The doctor gives Holmberg a grim look.
LUCAS
I'm afraid Mister Reed isn't quite up for visitors, Major.
(off of Reed's glare)
Perhaps in a few hours.
HOLMBERG
All right.
(to Reed)
Who’s your second?
Still glaring at Lucas, Reed answers.
REED
(tightly)
First Lieutenant Picard. He should be on the bridge.
HOLMBERG
(nodding)
Picard. Got it.
(with a smile)
I'll see you soon, Malcolm.
Reed watches her depart sickbay as Lucas studies his readouts.
LUCAS
Old girlfriend?
In reply, Reed glares at the doctor and, off his look, we
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIEFING ROOM
It is a council of war. General Bernard is seated, along with several of her senior officers including Major Holmberg. Captain Archer is also seated along with Commander Tucker, First Lieutenant Picard, FIRST LIEUTENANT SUN CHEN, First Lieutenant Alves, and Sergeant Major Hayes. ENSIGN TRAVIS MAYWEATHER sits quietly at the back of the conference room as Sub-Commander T'Pol stands before the active main display: star charts fill the viewer.
We enter the scene already in progress
T'POL
(pointing to a flashing star on the chart)
-is the most likely destination within range of the Orion frigates.
ARCHER
Can't we just use that trick you and Trip worked out to track their warp signatures?
The Lexington officers react to that with some surprise.
TUCKER
No, sir. They covered their trail with some sort of countermeasure.
T'POL
Analysis indicates a dilithium hyrdoxil and ionised pyrosulfate mixture. The countermeasure effectively eliminated their warp signature.
Archer frowns.
ARCHER
How would they know to do that? I thought this was still an experimental technique.
T'POL
It is experimental.
(beat)
To the Vulcan Science Directorate. It is entirely possible - and in fact, highly probable - that the Orions have been in contact with a species that already possess such tracking capability.
Archer glowers at the screen, clearly not happy to hear that.
BERNARD
What do we know about this system?
T'POL
We have minimal intelligence on the destination system. It is what human scientists refer to as a red dwarf and, based on our observations of its radial velocity, is presumed to have at least three planetary bodies.
PICARD
But we have no idea which one is the target planet?
T'POL
No.
There is a LONG BEAT of silence as everyone digests this news. Finally...
ARCHER
General, I recommend that Enterprise sneak into the system and scout it out. Our sensors are better equipped for this sort of thing than yours.
Bernard nods.
BERNARD
I'll have Lexington take up a station-keeping orbit outside the system.
(to T'Pol)
Does this system have an Oort cloud?
T'POL
(quirking an eyebrow)
Unknown, but it is a logical assumption.
BERNARD
Then we'll use that for cover.
(to Archer)
We'll be standing by to warp in on your signal.
(beat, frowning)
How are you planning on running this?
ARCHER
As much stealth as possible. We need confirmation that our people are down there before we pull the trigger on this one.
The general glances at Major Holmberg who nods in response to an unasked question.
BERNARD
I'd like to have Major Holmberg augment your SF teams for this operation.
Archer's expression darkens slightly.
ARCHER
I don't think that's a good idea. We don't need to go in there guns blazing.
The general gives him a long suffering look as every member of the UEM frowns. It's pretty clear that most of them have heard this sort of thing in the past and are tired of it.
BERNARD
(slightly annoyed)
Contrary to what you may believe, Captain, we're not all barbarians eager to rape and pillage.
(beat)
Major Holmberg's team will be there to provide additional support.
Archer glances away, recognizing that the general isn't going to accept "No" as an answer.
ARCHER
(hiding his frustration)
All right.
(to Holmberg)
Coordinate with Major Reed.
Holmberg nods in acknowledgement of the instruction and we ZOOM toward the troubled face of Ensign Mayweather as he sits quietly at the back of the conference room. He looks down, then glances up and we...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HORIZON - AIRLOCK ACCESS
...PULL BACK, revealing that he is now in the airlock access of his old ship. Power is back on, though there are constant flickers, an indication that work is still ongoing. As he stands outside the airlock, Travis has an expression of uncomfortable remorse on his face. He studies a blackened stain on the nearby wall for a LONG BEAT.
As we continue to PULL BACK, we can RIANNA MAYWEATHER, Travis' mom, studying him from the edge of the main corridor.
RIANNA
Didn't expect to see you so soon.
Her voice startles him and he turns to face her instantly. The sadness in his face only deepens at her less than welcoming expression.
MAYWEATHER
Mom...
(beat, off her grim expression)
I just wanted to let you know that we'll be casting off soon.
RIANNA
We?
Travis looks away, breaking eye contact.
MAYWEATHER
Enterprise.
(beat)
We're going to go and get them back. All of them.
From her expression, Rianna appears doubtful.
RIANNA
Including Nora?
Travis nods, appearing momentarily sickened.
MAYWEATHER
Everyone they grabbed.
He looks up at his mother, appearing like nothing more than a lost puppy in that moment, and we can see that Rianna is fighting to keep her facade of indifference intact.
MAYWEATHER
Was this because of me? Because I left?
Rianna is taken aback at the question and gives him a look of confusion.
RIANNA
What are you talking about, Travis?
He's starting to get a little angry now.
MAYWEATHER
This piracy crap.
(slightly hotter)
The crew of the Horizon that I knew wouldn't have sunk so low.
His anger is infecting her and she gives him a dark look.
RIANNA
You have no idea what you're talking about.
MAYWEATHER
Then explain it to me!
RIANNA
Things changed after you left! We had to adapt or die!
Travis stares at his mother for a BEAT, aghast at her reasoning.
MAYWEATHER
(horrified)
By becoming pirates?
(off her flicker of embarrassment)
I don't know you anymore. I don't know any of you...
Rianna looks at him, sadness in her eyes.
RIANNA
No. You don't.
(softly)
Not anymore.
Travis is silent for a BEAT before inhaling sharply. As he inhales, he appears to push aside his anguish. He offers his mother a clipboard.
MAYWEATHER
(coolly)
Captain Archer wanted me to give you this. It's a subpoena.
(beat, off her look)
Paul has already been remanded to General Bernard's custody and will be held in their brig until they can arrange for transport back to Earth.
Rianna stares at the clipboard for a BEAT before looking up at Travis.
MAYWEATHER
We'll contact you once we have retrieved Nora and the others.
Without another word, Travis turns and steps back through the airlock hatch, sealing it behind him. We momentarily FOCUS on Rianna's expression of remorse as she turns away.
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - AIRLOCK ACCESS
It is a nearly identical expression to the one that Travis wears as he seals the airlock behind him. For a BEAT, he rests his hand on the outer door as if attempting to recapture the innocence of his youth.
MAYWEATHER
(softly)
Goodbye.
Dropping his hand, he turns away, once more wearing a resolute expression. Off this, we...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
...PULL BACK, revealing that Travis is now seated behind the helm controls. Picard stands at the tactical station, Major Holmberg at his back studying the board with interest. Trip is manning the damage control board and T'Pol sits patiently in front of her own console. Expressions are determined (except for T'Pol, of course, and she appears politely disinterested as usual). On the main viewer is an image of General Bernard aboard the Lexington.
BERNARD
We're standing by to receive realtime telemetry, Captain.
ARCHER
Sub-Commander...
T'Pol inputs a command into her console and Bernard reacts.
LEXINGTON BRIDGE OFFICER (OS)
Receiving telemetry readings. All systems are go.
BERNARD
Good.
(to Archer)
Ready when you are, Captain.
Archer nods.
ARCHER
Then let's go get our people back. Enterprise out.
The main viewer changes to a forward starscape and Archer leans forward in his chair.
ARCHER
Ensign Mayweather, take us to warp.
EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE
Cruising alongside the Lexington, Enterprise's nacelles suddenly flare and the EX-01 leaps forward, disappearing almost instantly. A BEAT later, Lexington does the same. And, off of their disappearances, we...
FADE OUT.
ENE OF ACT TWO
Continue to Act Three
