The Ensign Without a Name by Puck
	I can't believe it. Lying here on this biobed, the hologram scurrying all around me, the feeling of my own systems giving out. And after all this time, I never thought that I would be The Ensign Without a Name. Too many of us are forgotten. We die meaningless deaths in the field, meaningless deaths in the line of duty. And because we are so young that we haven't yet had a chance to prove our worth, most of us go unnoticed. We die, and our families are left to grieve without ever having their questions answered. We lose our identities, we lose our sense of self. In twenty-six years, I always thought my death would have meaning. I always assumed that I would die for a purpose. Yet here I am, lying on this blasted bed, losing my life as quickly as she gave it back to me. And then she's there. Even as I can feel my own heart slowing, my eyes flutter open to reveal her face. Her beautiful face, framed by that auburn hair, smiling sadly upon me. She's saying something, but I have to struggle to understand. "How goes your day, Ensign?" I smile weakly and try to give some strength to my voice. I fail. "I've seen better, Ma'am," I choke out, my throat a horrifying scorched volcano. Every breath, every vibration feels like someone pointing a phaser rifle down my throat and firing at maximum settings. The Doctor is saying something in the background. I can't make it out, but I know it's coming. I can feel time gaining on me, and I know I don't have much left. "Captain," I wheeze, ignoring the pain as I hear the monitors began to bleep wildly all around me. The Doctor rushes forth with a hypospray and lets the medication whoosh into my bloodstream, but I know it won't help. "It's ...too late for me, Captain..." She takes my hand, though it is badly mangled, and gently strokes her thumb alongside what's left of my index finger. Ironically, I've never actually had a conversation with her. I never needed to. I knew as soon as I saw her, and as soon as she sacrificed Earth for the wellbeing of a helpless people, I knew that she deserved the best, and I work to give her everything. I will always be loyal, even if she forgets me. She's looking at me, but she's blurring, I can't see, I blink and blink and flutter my eyelids, desperate to have an unobstructed picture of her in my mind before I go. She senses my panic and places a hand on my shoulder, soothing and gentle. "Ensign..." she says my name, but I can't make myself hear it... I'm The Ensign Without a Name. "...you saved us all down there. The entire away team. I'm so proud of you." I can see her eyes welling with the same tears I am shedding, tears of anger over an empty death. I saved them, but it was "...my job, Captain," I try to choke out fragments of my thoughts, but it's getting harder and harder to keep my throat from closing in on itself. "You gave... me my life... back... it's only right that...I should.... protect yours...." I can see that The Doctor has plainly given up, but I shoot him a grateful look for holding out as long as he did. "You..." I can't talk, I can't speak, gods, please let me say this one last thing... "you... you... are everything I wanted to be. You... you're the bravest woman I've ever met... and you saved... my life... I hope... we will meet again... some...day... I will always be loyal to you..." I know now that I won't say another word, and as I can see the light fading out through the tears invading my eyes, I also spy her tears dropping silently onto my charred uniform. She leans down, and I can smell her grief as she whispers, "you will never be forgotten..." I can feel a small smile tugging at my lips as I shudder and feel cold. It's so cold... colder than any sickbay should be... And as I close my eyes for the last time on my Captain's strong face and noble demeanor, I shiver slightly... I'm cold, Captain... I try to reach out with my thoughts, but I'm no telepath, just a lowly ensign without a name.