Edge of Darkness ✶ Star Trek '09

02: Pike is Dead. . .

I stood on behind Pike, while Chasity was back in Daycare, luckily they did overnights for me so I could be here. I was still in my attire listening to everyone chatter about everything that is happening with John Harrison. I had a feeling that this was something more, but I couldn't say a thing. I trusted my gut, I always did. But I feel like something was amiss, I wonder if my father ever talked about him? I racked my brain just to think about it, but nothing was popping up.

"Thank you for meeting on short notice." Marcus said to everyone in the room as he walked in and put his hand out quickly. "Be seated." And everyone took a seat and I stood there behind James and Pike, listening. "By now some of you have heard what happened in London. The target was a Starfleet data archive, now it's a damn hole in the ground. Forty-two men and women are dead. One hour ago, I received a message from a Starfleet officer who confessed to carrying out this attack, that he was being forced to do it by this man."

A photo of John Harrison shows up in front of everyone on their computer monitor. He looked. . . kind of familiar. . .

"Commander John Harrison. He's one of our own and he is the man responsible for this act of savagery. For reasons unknown, John Harrison has just declared a one man war against Starfleet and under no circumstances are we to allow this man to escape Federation space. You here tonight represent the senior command of all the vessels in the region. And in the name of those we lost, you will run this bastard down. This is a manhunt, pure and simple, so let's get to work."

Something caught my attention, but I ignored it. There was a pause while Marcus continues speaking.

"Earth's Perimeter sensors have not detected any warp signatures leaving the system, so we know he can't be far." as Marcus talks Kirk looks at his monitor and the data gathered on Khan and his attack in London. "You will park your ships in a blockade formation and deploy search vehicles and landing parties to run down every lead. This man has shown willingness to kill innocent people, so the rules of engagement are simple. If you come a cross this man, and fear for your life and the live of those nearby, you are authorized to use deadly force on the subject."

'Deadly force?' I thought in silence. 'He must be that dangerous if we have to use deadly force.'

As Marcus is talking Kirk looks at the reconstructed images of Khan at the London attack, Kirk notices Khan carrying a bag, Kirks whispers to Pike. "What's in the bag?"

"James, not now." Pike hisses back.

"It doesn't seem odd to you that he targeted an archive? It's like bombing a public library." James retorts making me look at him in wonder. I will always trust his instincts, but something was not adding up.

"Chris, everything okay there?" Marcus questions seeing them not paying attention to what he was saying.

Pike clears his throat quickly and responds. "Yes, sir. Mr. Kirk is just acquainting to his new position as first officer."

"You got something to say, Kirk, say it. Tomorrow is too late." Marcus tells James now making me slightly uneasy.

"I'm fine, sir, my apologies." James replies and Marcus shakes his head.

"Spit it out, son, don't be shy."

I take a deep breath as James speaks. "I ju. . ." Something was certainly weighing down James' mind about this. "Why the archive?" questions James. "All the information is public records, if he really wanted to damage Starfleet. . . this could be just the beginning."

"Beginning of what, Mr. Kirk?" questions Marcus, very interested and very curious to what the ex-Captain had to say.

"Sir, in the event attack protocol, all mandates." James responded quickly. "In Senior Command all Captains and First Officers in Starfleet HQ right here. . ." James was silent while Spock was speaking.