Another tremor tore through the walls of the ship. Sparks fell like rain from the crushed power cells on the roof. The rest of the ship's crew were fleeing around them their screams echoing off the dark walls. Scotty grabbed Chekov's shoulder.

"We cannae stay here a second longer!" He shouted over the noise. "We need to get off the ship!"

Chekov pulled away and turned back to the console. He worked frantically, his hands nearly flying over the control panels as he adjusted the settings. The device was still connected to the ship's computers, but the code kept switching it's sequence to different processors before it could be fully targeted and deleted, thereby shutting off the device.

"We can't leave yet! We must stop the sequence from replicating in other systems!" He told the chief engineer. "If there is even a minimal chance the code for the device survives it will continue to power the device and the entire star system will be destroyed! Billions could die!"

Scotty grabbed the young man's arms and tried to yank him away from the console. Chekov fought back, pushing the him away with unexpected force. Scotty stumbled back a few steps, looking at the young navigator.

"I have to do this!" Chekov told him, holding out his hand as a warning.

"Have you lost your mind?" Scotty shouted. "You can't stay here!"He shouted as as the walls around them gave another powerful tremor. The ship was quickly crumbling to pieces around them.

Chekov paused for a moment, his shoulders heaving with each breath. Scotty  could see it in his eyes. The kid knew exactly what was going to happen if he stayed.

"I have to." Chekov repeated in a much quieter voice.

He turned back to the control console. There was no amount of doubt in his voice. His shoulders were held back in determination, his eyes fixed solely on the task at hand. The kid knew his fate and was ready to accept it.

Scotty wasn't. "Not if I have something to say about it!" Scotty started forward, all but ready to toss him over his shoulder and haul him out of there.

"This is more important!" Chekov tried to tell him.

"Nothing is more important! We're talking about your life!" Scotty yelled, rushing at Chekov just as a cloud of dark purple surrounded him and he vanished.

Chekov completed the transportation sequence, the coordinates set to teleport the chief engineer into one of the launched escape pods. He couldn't be sure of anything with the ship's systems quickly failing, but he hoped it worked.

The young navigator suddenly found himself very much alone in the collapsing ship. His heart pounded in his chest. He was scared. No, terrified. But his job was far from over. He closed his eyes tightly, searching for something, anything to hold onto. There was nothing but the heavy weight of responsibility.

Taking a deep breath, Chekov continued to target the replicating activation sequence, implanting one of his own to drain the device's power. The metal floors shivered and buckled with each tremor of explosions. He was barely able to stay standing as the ship itself began to warp beneath him. He held tightly to the console to steady himself.

One of the display screens was cracking and sparks flew from several of the controls. The air pressure was dropping as the hull began to fracture under the strain.

Chekov finished deactivating the sequences, the device now set to release the energy at a specific time sequence, giving the Enterprise enough time to go to warp. He stepped away, wiping sweat from his brow and admiring his handiwork. He hadn't thought he would actually be able to pull it off.

He suddenly realized he had enough time to transport himself to safety.

He smiled, his eyes lighting up with relief. He typed in the coordinates for the transporter room and readied the activation code when suddenly another large tremor ran through the ship and a display began to flash.

Several of the escape shuttles were unable to jettison.

The failing systems had damaged the release mechanism.

The people inside were trapped.

Chekov put the transportation sequence for himself on hold and quickly ran to the next display. The screen showed the inside of the pods. There were normal people in there, children even. They were screaming and pounding on the sides of the small metal pods. If he did nothing, they would die.

Chekov forced himself to think. The ship's failing transporter system would be unable to lock onto a target from that far of a distance. He tried to run a quick trial run, but the transporter couldn't lock onto anything from that distance. The manual override for the release mechanism was locked and he would need another way to...

"I have it!" He shouted. He could blast open the airlock and it would provide enough momentum to push them away from the ship!

He studied the strange controls, trying to figure out how that could be done.

  "I can do that." He mumbled to himself, going to the next display console and flipping several switches. "I can do that. I can do that."

Another large tremble shook the ship and Chekov stumbled to the ground. He pulled himself up as the lights around him pulsated and the sparks rained from the crushed metal frame. He flipped another switch and suddenly the display indicated that the pods were successfully departed from the ship.

Chekov looked at the now broken display that held the transporter code. A small glimmer of hope flared to life. Maybe if he could...

No.

It was broken.

He knew there wasn't any time left.

A tear rolled down his cheek as he closed his eyes.

As the ship began to fall apart around him, he thought of home.

He thought of his family.

Russian whizkid, what's your name? Chanko? Cherpov?

Ensign Chekov, Pavel Andreievich, sir.

Wait a minute, kid. How old are you?

Sewenteen, sir.

Oh... oh, good, he's seventeen.

When are ya gonna get off that milk diet, lad?

Did you know scotch was inwented by little old lady in Leningrad?

You're my closest friend.

Excellent work Mr. Chekov.

Keptin on ze bridge...

You would be proud of me, he thought, looking up at the roof. He could almost see the endless ocean of glimmering stars beyond the thick metal.

So proud...

Chekov smiled to himself as the systems overheated and went into critical. The display blinked, a transport code flashing across the screen as it flickered out.

There was a slight change in air pressure, and the ship exploded.

✵ ✵ ✵

Kirk and Faaren materialized in the crowded transporter room. Hordes of people from the escape pods sat in and around the room, still shocked at everything that had transpired. The technicians stood by the consoles.

"Is that everyone from the escape pods?" Kirk demanded.

"Yes sir," One of the transporter technicians reported.

Kirk ran to the nearest console. "Sulu, maximum warp! Now!" He yelled.

"Captain!" Scotty called from the doorway just as the ship shot forward. Kirk stumbled back as the explosion from the Oblivion slammed into the ship, pushing it forward with tremendous force. Alarms began to blare, but the ship had gone to warp just in time. Kirk climbed to his feet, turning to his chief engineer, whose face had grown pale.

Kirk glanced around the room, uncertain as to what he was looking for. Moreover, why he felt that nagging feeling that something was missing. Then he realized what it was. "Where's Chekov?" He asked.

Scotty opened his mouth to say something, but he couldn't find the words. He hung his head.

  "He got off the ship, right?" Kirk asked. 

Leaning against the doorframe, the suddenly weathered and weary chief engineer shook his head.