Chapter Text
Boimler was sitting at the Bridge. He was alone. The Cerritos had never been quite as lonely as this. The display panels without anyone working them. Nobody at the weapons, or at the helm. Just him. He quickly retracted the docking port. Brad maneuvered the Cerritos away from the Xindi ship. He tried getting some distance between the ships as he jumped to the Weapons Console and was powering on their shields and phasers.
The Xindi ship appeared on the Cerritos' viewscreen, looming ominously in the distance. It was a sleek, dark vessel, bristling with weapons and armor plating. The reptilian vessels were known for their power, and sturdiness.
Suddenly, the Xindi ship opened fire with a barrage of phaser beams. The Cerritos returned fire, and the two ships engaged in a deadly dance of energy and plasma. Brad braced for impact.
The two ships exchanged a volley of phaser fire, each side trying to find a weakness in the other's defenses. The Cerritos took a few hits, but its shields held up well. The Xindi ship was also holding strong, and it became clear that this battle would be a long one.
Brad slid into the pilot’s seat to do evasive maneuvers, and the ship began to dodge the Xindi ship's attacks with nimble, unpredictable movements. The Cerritos launched a salvo of torpedoes, hoping to catch the Xindi ship off guard.
The torpedoes struck their target, causing significant damage to the Xindi ship's hull. The reptilian crew retaliated with a powerful energy beam, narrowly missing the Cerritos. The two ships continued to trade blows, each trying to gain the upper hand.
The battle raged on for several intense minutes, until finally the Cerritos landed a devastating blow to the Xindi ship's engines. With its propulsion system disabled, the reptilian ship was dead in space. Immediately, Brad knocked out their weapons array, and attempted to go to warp.
“Unable to go to Warp. Warp Coil’s have not warmed up.” The computer chirped at him.
“Fuck.” Brad muttered.
Three more ships appeared on the viewscreen, and Brad quickly realized that they were outnumbered.
The first ship to arrive was an Akira Class vessel, a heavily armed starship that was known for its firepower and agility. The second ship was an old D-7 cruiser, a relic from the Klingon Empire that had been salvaged and repurposed by the Maquis. The third ship was a Maquis Raider, a small but nimble craft that was notorious for its hit-and-run tactics.
Brad sighed. He silently pleaded to anyone that was listening to save his friends. He quickly sent out a distress call. He would hold out as long as he could. He had to. For Mariner. For his friends.
Speaking of Mariner, she just stumbled out of the turbolift.
“Sounded like you need help” Mariner said.
“Mariner! Get out of here!” Brad argued. Secretly, he was happy she was there. He needed someone at his side who he could trust. He could count on Beckett. He was also very worried about her as well. But he had to focus on the problem at hand.
“Like I would let you get all the glory!” Beckett yelled back.
“Ugh! Beckett! You are going to be the death of me!”
“Better me than some Maquis ship!”
Brad grumbled but couldn’t disagree with her.
“What the hell did you do to piss off the Federation, a 100 year old Klingon Warbird, and the Maquis?” Beckett asked, while looking at the viewscreen.
“Exist.” Brad said shortly. “Get to the weapons console. I’ll pilot. You fire.”
Beckett nodded and dragged herself to the weapons console.
“Incoming!” Brad yelled.
The Akira Class unleashed a barrage of photon torpedoes, while the old D-7 raked the Cerritos with disruptor beams. The Maquis Raider darted in and out of the battle, firing phaser cannons and plasma torpedoes with deadly accuracy.
Brad tried to maneuver his way out of the attacks. They got hit by a few disruptor beams, from the Klingon D-7. The Akira’s attacks were slow. The Maquis Raider on the other hand though, was fast and nimble. He couldn’t avoid their attacks.
“Beckett! Get rid of that Maquis Raider! I can’t shake them” Brad yelled
“Trying!” Beckett was typing furiously at her console
The Cerritos was hit by multiple attacks, and its shields began to weaken. Brad tried to maneuver his way out of the attacks, and the ship twisted and turned in a desperate attempt to avoid the enemy fire.
The battle raged on for several intense minutes, with the four ships trading blows and maneuvering for position. The Cerritos was outnumbered and outgunned, but Brad was determined not to give up.
Finally, the Cerritos managed to land a well-placed torpedo on the Maquis Raider, causing significant damage to its engines. The Maquis ship slowed to a stop, disabled and vulnerable.
Brad still had two heavy hitters to worry about though. The Akira, and the D-7. It seemed the D-7 had been upgraded, and the Akira was powerful already.
The Akira let out another photon torpedo volley, this time, they hit their target. The Cerritos shuddered.
The Cerritos had power that had started to flicker, and sparks came from the ceiling.
“Shields at 10% Boims!”
The D-7 fired it’s disruptors against the hull, and Cerritos trying to get out of harms way, but the disruptors weaving down protective barrier of the Cerritos, then the Akira fired it’s phasers, scorching its engines disabling the shields, and engines, slowing the ship to a halt.
Brad knew there was no chance. He had to get Beckett out of there.
Boimler cursed. “Beckett! You need to leave. Please.”
Beckett looked furious. “No Bradward Boimler! We are in this together!”
Then, a ship came out of warp. Then another. Brad couldn’t make out the ships, “Ah, shit. Not more problems.” Brad sighed.
Then, like a beacon of hope, the USS Titan appeared out on the viewscreen.
Riker then appeared on the viewscreen, “Carol- wait! Boimler? What happened?”
“Long story! Get their attention!” Brad told Riker.
Riker nodded, “I brought some friends as well.”
Another ship dropped out of warp. None other than Enterprise. The Legendary Federation Flagship, commanded by Jean Luc Picard.
“Is.. that the Enterprise?” Beckett asked.
“It seems so.” Brad responded. “Beckett. Engines? Shields?”
Beckett replied. “Sorry Captain. No crew to repair them.
The Cerritos was out of commission. No weapons and no engines.
“Cerritos to Enterprise” Brad said
Picard’s voice was heard, “Enterprise here.”
“Captain. We don’t have shields or weapons. We are sitting dead in the water.” Brad tried to say, without being to giddy.
“Understood. Estimated time to get them fixed?” Picard responded.
“Not available. Sorry Captain. Working with a crew of two.”
“Understood. We will protect you.”
The Enterprise stayed close to the Cerritos to shoot down any torpedo or mine that came there way, as the Titan went headfirst into combat. Knocking a Nacelle off of the Akira class, causing the power to go out throughout the ship.
The D-7 Ship made its way towards the Cerritos, with the Enterprise in between them. The D-7 then disappeared of the viewscreen. The Enterprise shot a volley of random phaser bursts, with a few of them connecting to the hull. The Enterprise then shot a volley of torpedo where the phaser hit, and a few impacted the hull of the D-7.
The D-7 then decloaked, then went to went to warp.
Then both of the ships hailed him. Riker was on the left, and Picard was on the right.
“You aren’t Captain Freeman” Picard said, dryly.
“No sir, I am not. I am Lieutenant Boimler.”
“Where is Captain Freeman?” Riker asked.
“She’s in the Cargo Bay, last I checked. I need you two to beam over so I can explain the situation in detail, especially to you Captain Riker.” Boimler said.
Captain Riker nodded. Then ended his communication with him.
Picard spoke up, “Will told me what you did. I must say, that was a risky move. Especially taking Will’s Captain’s Yacht. You listened to your instincts. Our instincts are based on our experiences, observations, and emotions, and they can often provide valuable insights that our rational minds may overlook. But never forget that the most important quality a Starfleet officer can possess is a willingness to learn and adapt. Some day, you will make a fine Captain, Mr. Boimler.”
Boimler nodded his head, unsure of what to say, “Thank you sir.”.
Picard ended the conversation. Beckett spoke up. “I think he likes you!”
Brad laughed. “Maybe.”
Beckett's eyes fluttered for a moment before rolling back into her head. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud. The sound echoed through the bridge causing Brad to panic.
At first, there was a stunned silence as Brad tried to figure out what had just happened. Then, a murmur of concern rose his throat as he rushed over to help.
"Beckett! Beckett, can you hear me?" Brad shouted, shaking her shoulders gently.
There was no response from Beckett, who lay completely still, her breathing shallow and labored. Panic began to set in Boimlers head as he realized how serious the situation was. He lifted Beckett’s head off the ground, holding her close to him.
“No. No. You can’t die. It isn’t allowed!” Brad was scared. “I have so much to tell you.” He didn’t want Beckett to die. He would be alone. He had so much to tell her. Feelings. Embarrassing moments. He had tears forming in his eyes.
Beckett responded by putting her hand to his face and wiping away the tears. “You are cute when you are worried.”
Riker and Picard beamed into the bridge, and they saw Brad cradling Beckett in his arms.
“What-“ Riker started.
“She needs medical attention. Please.” Boimler said, with a crack in his voice.
Picard didn’t miss a beat. He clicked on his comm, “One to beam directly to sickbay.”
A female voice, Dr. Crusher spoke. “Understood Captain.”
Mariner materialized away, in his arms.
When she fully materialized away, he tried to steel his nerves. He wiped his tears away, tried to compose himself, then looked at the Captain with a stern look.
“Come on. I’ll show you where the crew was being held.”
Riker had a concerned look on his face. Boimler looked scared. Very scared. But he did need to see the Captain, to understand what happened.
Boimler got off the ground and tried to stop shaking. He decided to take try to explain the matter at hand. He motioned the captains to follow him to the turbolift.
“The Maquis used an Xindi Reptilian ship to trick the Cerritos into docking with them. After they docked, they quickly overwhelmed the crew, and jammed any distress signal. Before then, the crew locked down the computer.”
Riker and Picard looked at each other. “The Maquis have been getting bolder. They recently acquired an Akira Class, the one you encountered.”
Brad nodded. “When I got here, they had the crew under lockdown in the Cargo Bay, under forcefield containment.”.
Riker asked. “Why didn’t you get them out?”
Brad responded, somewhat awkwardly, “I had to find Mariner.”
Picard gave a chuckle, “Reminds me of you with Deanna.”
Riker gave a dry chuckle.
Brad continued on, “We also thought the forcefield energy was being drawn from the Xindi ship.”
They eventually got to Cargo Bay 2, where the two unconscious Klingons were on the floor.
Riker looked amazed. “You did this?”
Brad shrugged. “Yeah. I stunned one and knocked out the other.”
They opened the door, and ½ the crew was there. The forcefield was still up. Brad got to work to release the forcefield. As the forcefield disappeared, the two captains went in. The crew was huddled in the corner. He entered the cargo bay, where most of the was looking at him strangely. They eventually got to Captain Freeman.
“Captain, are you okay?” Picard asked.
Freeman nodded. “Is Mariner okay?”
Brad spoke up, “Uh, yes sir. She’s in the medical bay on the Enterprise.”
Freeman nodded. “You did this crew a great service today, Mr. Boimler. I am not sure what would happen if you didn’t come.”
Brad used to get extremely happy when he got recognized. Now? His thoughts were consumed by Beckett. If she was okay. He just gave a small nod.
“Thank you sir.”
Riker then said, “Jean Luc, I will be right back. I have to talk to Mr. Boimler here alone for a second.”
Captain Picard nodded.
Riker led Boimler to the outside of the room.
“You were extremely reckless today. You disobeyed my direct orders. You took my yacht without special authorization from me.” Riker said.
“I am sorry, Captain Riker.”
“Let me finish, Lieutenant.” Riker interrupted Brad. “I could not be prouder of you. You trusted yourself. You knew the Cerritos was in trouble, and I didn’t listen to you, for that I am sorry. But you turned a new leaf today. You trusted your instincts. You trusted your friends. Protocol is great and all, but what makes a good Captain is his ability to trust his crew and his instincts. You have proved yourself today Lieutenant Boimler. One day, you will be a great Captain.”.
Brad smiled. “Thank you sir.”
Riker smiled. “When you are captain of the future Enterprise, I want you to make sure I get a tour.”
Brad chuckled. “You got it sir.”
Brad then stopped to ask. “Captain. This is difficult for me to ask, but I belong on the Cerritos. I want to transfer there. Back with Beckett.”
Riker had a small smile, like he knew that he was going to ask this. “I thought you might ask that. Consider it approved.”
“Thank you, Captain.” Brad smiled.
“You got it Mr. Boimler. If you are ever in the area, you should come and say hello. I’d love to have a drink with you.”
Brad smiled. “I’d like that.”
Riker smiled. “Get some rest.”
Riker walked back into the Cargo Bay, to help the survivors. Brad walked away. It had been a long day, but he couldn’t just. Forget about Beckett. What she said. Did she actually like him? Did she actually care about him? He thought he was on the opposite spectrum of where Beckett would date.
Boimler was so confused, yet he wasn’t confused? He knew exactly what his feeling were for Mariner. It’s why he called her. It’s why he came here. It’s why he risked everything to come and save her. He had to make sure she was okay. He clicked his combadge.
“Boimler to Enterprise”
“Enterprise here.” A Male Voice called out.
“Uh. May I beam aboard your ship?” Boimler asked nervously
“For what purpose?”
“To get see my friend. She is in your sickbay.” Boimler said, panicked.
“Granted.” The male voice said.
He couldn’t place who the male voice was. Maybe Commander La Forge?
As Brad materialized to the Enterprise, he was transported directly to Sickbay. Brad Boimler stepped into the Sick Bay of the USS Cerritos, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over him. As an ensign on the lower decks, on one of the least impressive ships in the fleet. He had never been to this high tech, futuristic sickbay. The sterile smell of antiseptic and the sound of medical equipment beeping only added to his unease.
He looked around the room, taking in the gleaming medical instruments and the rows of biobeds, each one occupied by a patient in various states of distress. A team of doctors and nurses were bustling around, attending to the needs of the crew members. He quickly tried glancing for Mariner.
A redheaded female asked, “Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Uh, sorry if I am intruding. I just wanted to see if Ensign Mariner is okay.” Brad explained quickly. T’Ana would yell at him if he was in the sickbay for any longer than needed.
“Please, right this way. She is recovering now. She is unconscious, but she is okay.” The doctor explained.
“I am sorry, I never introduced myself, I am Brad Boimler.” Brad tried to be pleasant.
The Doctor smiled at him, “I am Beverley Crusher.”.
Brad smiled. “If it were any other day, I would definitely be psyched out to meet you. I am just worried about Beckett.”
Dr. Crusher nodded. “I understand. She was heavily sedated by a multitude of things. She should be coming around anytime soon. She should be okay now.” She gestured for Brad to follow her.
Brad followed her and his thoughts started to get louder, and his anxiety continued to ramp up. Dr. Crusher was saying something about what her symptoms were. What drugs she was injected with. His thoughts were consumed with Mariner. The majority of his thoughts being what he was going to tell her. Or if she was okay. Or if she needed anything.
The two came up on Beckett’s biobed. She was resting peacefully in the bed. Breathing normally.
Dr. Crusher put a hand on his shoulder. “I will leave you two alone. Call me if you need me.”
Boimler nodded, then sat on the chair that was beside her. He looked at Mariner. Vulnerable, a whirlwind of emotions sweeps through him. Concern grips his heart, manifesting as a tightness in his chest as he takes in her weakened form. Worry lines crease his forehead.
His gaze lingers on Mariner's face, searching for any signs of pain or discomfort. He feels a deep sense of empathy, imagining the discomfort she must be experiencing. A mix of helplessness and determination swirls within him, driving him to offer his support in any way possible. He reaches out for her hand, and holds it.
As he holds her hand, a mixture of tenderness and affection surges through him. The warmth of her touch brings a glimmer of hope, a silent reminder to him that their bond is unbreakable. He finds solace in the simple act of physical connection, hoping that his presence brings her comfort and reassurance. He isn’t sure if this is for Beckett, or if this is for him.
"Beckett," Boimler called softly, his voice filled with worry. He approached the bio bed and gently took hold of her hand, his touch meant to provide comfort and reassurance. Mariner turned her head slightly, her eyes still closed.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Boims" she whispered weakly, her voice barely audible. "I'm glad you came."
Boimler squeezed her hand gently, his concern evident in his eyes, but inside his mind he was relieved. "Of course, I came, Beckett. You're my friend, and I couldn't just leave you here alone. How are you feeling?"
Mariner's smile grew a bit stronger. "Better now that you're here," she replied, her voice filled with gratitude. "It's nothing serious, just a minor injury. I'll be back on my feet in no time."
“I call bullshit.” Boimler laughed.
“Okay, maybe.” Mariner chuckled.
His gaze lingers on Mariner's face, and he finds himself captivated by her features—the soft curve of her smile, the sparkle in her eyes even in moments of vulnerability. The concern he feels for her health is entangled with an underlying attraction, causing his pulse to quicken whenever their eyes meet. Boimler was about to go insane. If he didn’t ask what Mariner thought of him, he might just explode.
“So, uh. What’s the last thing you remember?” Boimler asked, quietly, trying to see if she remembered admitting all of those things.
“Getting dragged off. A lot of it is fuzzy. I remember seeing you. A few times. Then I woke up here.” Mariner said.
She wasn’t entirely lying per say. But she did remember a little more than that. She remembered seeing Boimler, and her heart skipping a beat. A lot of it was fuzzy though. A lot.
Boimler couldn’t help but feel disappointed. He was not going to let Beckett see that. “I’ll fill you in on all the details, briefly.”. He forced a smile.
“I stole Captain’s Riker Yacht, and went to the Cerritos, bluffed my way past the Maquis, beat some people up, saved you, had an really awesome space fight, and now we are here!” Boimler laughed.
“No way in hell did Brad Boimler do any of that.” Mariner.
“Nope. It is all true!” Boimler smiled.
“Prove it. What did I say when I saw you?” Beckett gave a pointed look.
“You said, something about me being Capitan Boimler of the Experience, second only to the Enterprise.” Boimler had a smug face, while trying to hide his blush.
Beckett blushed a deep red. “Uh. Yeah. That checks out. I believe you.”
“Mind letting me in on what that was?” Boimler prodded Beckett, hoping she would shed some light on why they all thought he was a captain.
“It’s what I imagined our ship to be called. You as the Capitan, and me as your first officer. Just what I thought of. Nothing too serious” Mariner said, while hiding her head, and hiding her blush from Boimler.
Brad thought this was cute, but didn’t want to interrogate her any further. A swell of emotions overwhelms him as he ponders the complexities of their relationship. In her audacious spirit, he finds a magnetic pull that defies logic. Their shared adventures have forged a bond, igniting a fire within his heart. Without thinking, he just hugged Beckett. Tight.
Their bodies intertwine, and Boimler wraps his arms around Mariner's waist, pulling her closer. The hug is filled with a delicate intensity, tinged with a hint of romantic longing. They cling to each other, seeking solace and reassurance in this rare moment of vulnerability. She smelled.. like home.
Time seems to stand still as they hold each other, their embrace speaking volumes about the unspoken desires they have kept hidden for so long. For a fleeting moment, the weight of their responsibilities and the complexities of their relationship fade away, leaving only the pure connection between them.
“Don’t you ever scare me like that ever again, Beckett. I thought I lost you.” Boimler pleaded, with tears in his eyes. His heart was in shambles . Their bodies intertwine, and Boimler wraps his arms around Mariner's waist, pulling her closer. The hug is filled with a delicate intensity, tinged with a hint of romantic longing. Boimler clings to Beckett, seeking solace and reassurance in this rare moment of vulnerability between the two.
Time seems to stand still as they hold each other, their embrace speaking volumes about the unspoken desires they have kept hidden for so long. For a fleeting moment, the weight of their existence had completely been wiped from their minds.
“You can’t get rid of me that easily, Boims.” Beckett tried to comfort.
The two melted into the hug. The touch and affection reminded Boimler why Mariner meant so much to him. He had a short burst of confidence, and Brad wasn’t about to waste it.
“Beckett. I need to tell you something.” Boimler said, nervously. He was already visibly shaking.
“Hopefully it’s something good.”
“Yeah, of course it is.” Boimler gave a nervous laugh, and then continued on. “Well. When I was on the Titan, and you needed help, I realized something. Something about you. How I felt about you.”
Mariner silently watched as Boimler tried to tell his feelings.
“I’m just gonna say it, instead of making it this long-winded confession. I like you Mariner. More than a friend. If you don’t feel the same way tha-“
Boimler was interrupted by Mariner kissing him.
“You are stupid and clueless, and you are an idiot. But you are my idiot. I like you too, Boims. I was wondering when you would figure it out.”
Boimler sighed a breath of relief and buried his head into Beckett’s lap.
“You are a dork.” Boimler said.
“I’m your dork.” Beckett smiled.
Brad wasn’t sure if this was a dream, but if it was, he wasn’t complaining. He was cuddled up with Mariner. Life couldn’t be any better. He smiled, and looked Mariner directly in the eyes, and said. “Dork. Who knew you had these feelings?”
“If you tell anyone I have these soft mushy feelings, I will kill you.”