"Penny for your thoughts, Burnham?" Saru asked.
Burnham looked up from her station out of her train of thoughts.
"Saru," Michael said. "It is none of your concern."
"If it is bothering you, it is," Saru argued. Michael looked over toward the Kelpian.
Burnham folded her arms.
"Saru, I request we speak in private," Burnham said.
The two officers walked off the bridge. Their places on the bridge were replaced by two other officers. They came down the corridor. The corridors were filled with officers in colorful shirt with turtle necks that had sleeves that were either long or short. A new uniform that came in replacing the much loose variation of the same uniform. Burnham was in a yellow turtleneck that had the gray starfleet insignia with dark pants designed to her figure. A contrast to Saru's blue shirt. They had braided ranks on both sleeves. The halls of the Shenzhou were bright and colorful with a red ceiling. The halls had a unique yet futuristic design to them. They came to a stop at a corridor where there were not as many passing officers. Burnham turned toward the Kelpian.
"Captain Georgiou wishes to retire from Starfleet and I to take her place," Burnham said. That drew Saru's alarms.
"You are not ready for captaincy," Saru said.
"I am quite aware," Burnham said. "You are the most senior officer I have come to know."
"Just because I have been here longest doesn't mean I am the senior officer," Saru said.
"You are second officer," Burnham said. "that makes you a senior officer."
"Burnham, what are you planning?" Saru asked.
"Accepting a reduction in rank to serve on another ship leaving someone more qualified to captain the Shenzhou," Burnham said. "Like you."
"Being promoted to captain over two ranks takes a extraordinary measures," Saru said.
Oddly enough, his threat ganglia had yet to come out. There was no danger coming from the woman. Something was going to happen and they had no idea what it was going to be. The knowing look in the officer's eyes of fear was enough to say that she was afraid as he was. Captains were expected not to be afraid in command. In the seven years that he had known Burnham, she had grown from Vulcan demeanor to a Vulcan and Human like individual. Both of them balanced by logic and restraint in her emotions. Admiral Anderson's insistence of promoting her so quickly made sense, now, from over a year ago. Yet the only flaw in his plan was that she wasn't ready. Seven years could not pack ten years worth of starfleet training. The normally reserved woman relaxed.
"We have to expect the unexpected," Burnham said. "Shenzhou has a reputation of finding the extraordinary."
"You plan to take that opportunity," Saru said.
"Yes," Burnham said
"So you are expecting something very remarkable enough that the captain is unable to perform, you take over, and being advised by I?" Saru asked.
"Yes," Burnham said. "I hope it happens that way."
"As do I," Saru said.
"I do not wish to command without a star to sail by," Burnham said. She shook her head then her Vulcan composure came back over turning her attention onto the taller officer. "You will make a great superior officer, one day, Commander Saru."
"Now that is the Commander Burnham I know full well," Saru said.
The smallest of smiles grew on Burnham's face, briefly, then it faded.
"You're a good colleague," Burnham said, then she walked away leaving Saru behind.
Georgiou took out one of her favorite books from behind her desk.
She slid it out then sat down into the chair.
Books were often times good distractions from what was about to happen. In the next few days she was too transfer command over to Burnham then accept the rank of admiral. Which meant, in Starfleet terms, retirement. It was a acceptable tradition among starfleet officers. Officers before her had done this in the beginning. Starting from the first Enterprise in space coming back after serving in space. Admiral Archer took the first retirement and along went Thy'lek Shran. The rest of the bridge crew followed suit. She flipped a page coming to the beginning. She didn't know why Admiral Anderson had a special interest in Burnham's career going fast but she suspected that it was due to her Vulcan-like demeanor. Having not one but two Vulcans in Starfleet was deemed as having better than one. A part of her didn't like rushing a Starfleet officer so quickly through the ranks.
"Message from Starfleet command," Lieutenant Troy Januzzi came over the comn.
"Direct it to my ready room," Georgiou said. Admiral Anderson appeared on a square screen above her desk. Georgiou smiled in return, pleasently. "Admiral Anderson."
"Captain," Anderson said. "Has Commander Burnham been informed of her next command?"
"She has," Georgiou said. "I expect her to be a welcomed captain for the crew."
"That is good to hear," Anderson said.
"For now on. . ." Georgiou said. "Upon my return to Earth, let me be the judge of the Shenzhou."
"You honestly think that we are setting her up for a bad command?" Anderson asked.
"If she is, I don't want that happening any time soon to my ship," Georgiou said.
"Sure it's not because you and her are in a relationship?" Anderson asked, again.
"We broke it off," Georgiou said. "Mutually." Her hands clasped together onto the table.
"Oooh," Anderson said. "You just want to make sure her first year is not going to be rocky with missions."
"Short term missions," Georgiou said. "The first year of command is very vital to every captain."
"Look at me," Anderson said. "I was rushed."
"You were not rushed," Georgiou said. "You spent fifteen years climbing the ranks. She has spent seven years."
"I remember when I was your captain," Anderson said. "More experienced by then." there was a tone of regret in his voice. Easily said on his face. "I was hard on you during the war."
"Rightfully so," Georgiou said. "those battles were difficult."
"I am trying not to repeat history with this perfect opportunity," Anderson said.
"It seems like you are," Georgiou said. "Burnham is not ready for wars. Much like you were."
"I didn't screw up," Anderson said, defensively. Then sheer realization hit him.
"Andy," Georgiou said. "She is not fully in tune to who she is. Her emotions guiding her in a time of war. . ."
"I get it, I get it, I get, Pippa!" Anderson said, shaking his hands. "You think she will get emotional about her crew and end up killing them all."
"Yes," Georgiou said.
Anderson sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Sometimes I hate you being so damn right," Anderson said. A familiar small smile appeared on Georgiou's face.
"Making her face skirmish after skirmish with no break is no way for a newly made-rushed, I should add- captain to operate," Anderson had a short nod. "Starfleet requires all its non-constitution vessels captains to be ready when someone wants it."
"I don't want a war," Anderson said. "Bad for me, bad for the commodores, fleet captains, and those dilithium mines," he waved his hand reclining into the chair now facing his side. "Bad for everyone." He faced the aged woman. "Those Klingons are getting bolder by the day." he was now facing the woman completely with his forearms on the table. The bags under his eyes easily said that he hadn't been sleeping for the past few days. Streaks of gray were earlier than expected. "We are going to enter a war one of these days and the Shenzhou will be part of it. Whether you want it or not."
Georgiou closed her eyes then reopened them with a sigh.
"Understood, admiral," Georgiou said.
"Good," Anderson said. "Enterprise is out of reach. She won't be part of it."
"She is always in deep space," Georgiou said. "That is what she was built for."
"She does it well," Anderson said, nostalgically and warmly. He sighed. "You will tell her before you hand over the ship."
"I will do even better," Georgiou said. "I will inform the crew."
"I hate war," Anderson said. "Going to turn the new explorers into soldiers. The bright eyed. The optimistic. The hopeful. . "
"So do I," Georgiou said, sadly. "Georgiou out."
Anderson was replaced by the Starfleet command symbol.
"Nambue, what brings you here?" Burnham said, as she sensed his presence enter the deck.
"Life," Nambue said. "things ending, things beginning, just the usual."
"The usual. . ." Burnham said.
"And you?" Nambue asked.
"Hope," Burnham said.
"I am transferring off to a hospital hospital after I get back to Earth," Nambue said. "The captain approved."
"Funny," Burnham said. "So am I."
"Oh, you got tired of this old junk?" Nambue said.
"Not tired," Burnham said. "I prefer continuing to serve under this rank."
"Ohh," Nambue said, in understanding. "Cold feet. The captain's promoting you in full to commander, isn't she?"
"Sort of," Burnham said.
"Hm," Nambue said. "Looks like this old girl is going to have more than a few new starfleet officers serving in her."
"Indeed," Burnham agreed.
Burnham stayed, watched the passing scenery with awe and wonder.
"It is going to be a big change for you," Nambue said. "Some officers are getting assigned to Constitution classes."
She looked off toward the doctor dressed in his medical blues.
"I have dealt with larger changes than that," Burnham said. "as most humans say, this will be a muffin compared to the cake."
Nambue laughed.
"That is not a phrase, Commander," Nambue said, shaking his head. "But I understand what you are trying to say."
She was going to miss the days serving on the Shenzhou. Her secondary family, and her captain, her best friend, . . . her T'hy'la. Burnham loved the woman with all her mind, her heart, and her very being. Georgiou had opened the woman up to a whole new world. One of service, loyalty, and love. She turned away from Nambue then made her way toward her quarters. It was nearing the hours of night duty. She made her way into her quarters. Burnham came over to the photograph of her family on Vulcan. A rather large one in fact, full of adoptive siblings after being taken in by the S'chn T'gai clan. She had a fond, small smile at the photograph then slid off her standard uniform. After getting dressed into her luxurious purple Vulcan robe, she sat down onto her standard meditation mat to clear her thoughts. She entered a light meditative trance cataloguing her emotions of the day. Logic dictated that her future was going to be prosperous.
Saru walked around the halls eating his bowl of blueberries.
Becoming first officer, finally, after years of serving under Georgiou was relieving.
Soon, it would happen. One way or another.
The universe hated Saru so he expected it to be thrown out of the airlock of what he expected.
Either way, he was relieved. What was relieving was that the two women were not going to be pinning at each other, yearning, or sharing heart eyes during a diplomatic events. He didn't understand they had broke up last year. He suspected it was because of the incident where the USS Enterprise had to help them. It was likely Georgiou's idea to end their relationship as it was a bad idea for a captain to be involved with someone who must take over should the worst case scenario happen. One in which she was lost on a way mission. He could picture it, Burnham ordering to keep the Shenzhou in orbit in a emotionally compromised state of mind. Heartbroken, dismayed, and upset. It hurt to be able to visualize it.
Saru took another blueberry out of the bowl. He was light as a feather. Things were finally going his way. If he could fly in the air and twirl without any consequences, Saru would have taken that opportunity. He was gleeful. Being first officer of the USS Shenzhou. He was elated, thrilled, and a number of things. He took another blueberry out of the bowl making his way down the corridor. If could bounce on his hooves the way humans seemingly bounced then he would be bouncing on every step. There was a doctor in starfleet who bounced, visibly, pleased or angry. It was at a starbase a few years ago had he came across the southern man. He took a turn in the corridor then went through a doorway entering a science lab. Several officers were observing a new lifeform beneath the microscope. A highly specialized one.
"Mister Saru," he was greeted by Cadet Decker. Bright eyed and bushy tailed.
"At ease," Saru said, placing the bowl onto the table. "Has the lifeform been identified?"
"It is nothing that we have ever seen," Decker said. "I can't believe we came across a creature shaped like a kite."
"A kite does not a definitive shape, cadet," Saru reminded.
"I mean the original kites," Decker said. "Have you ever flown a diamond shaped material with a string in the sky?"
"Oh, that," Saru said. "the academy calls them wind flyers."
"Those were kites," Decker said, Saru looked down with his eyes looking through the microscopic lens. "all respect, sir, I think you had a instructor who was messing with you."
"If that were true," Saru said. "That would have been. . . ." Saru stopped speaking as he stared at the lifeform.
"Yeah," Decker said. "It is what it looks like."
"Are you growing a finger on this lifeform?" Saru asked.
"No," Decker said.
"It is growing a finger," Saru said.
"A. . . a finger," Decker said, in disbelief.
"A finger," Saru said. Decker blinked, rapidly, baffled. "Where did we get this?"
"It was on the hull," Decker said.
"What deck?" Saru asked.
"Deck five," Decker said.
"Sick bay. . ." Saru looked puzzled. "How could that happen." He looked over toward Decker. "Send it to Sick Bay and inform Anton that his patients finger is in progress. . . However it survived being on the hull is a mystery better left not investigated." He took another blueberry out then munched on it taking the bowl with him leaving the room.
"Yes sir," Decker said, to empty air. He looked over toward the small plate. "For a growing lifeform, you don't look like a finger."
The Vulcan way meant being able to control ones emotions and not let it control them.
Burnham had seen children in her childhood be blinded by their rage toward a outsider among them.
Taunting her that she was not good enough and she will not pass her peers.
Instead of displaying her anger and fighting the bullies, unlike her adoptive brother, she used her intelligence to make herself useful. The rage was in the children's hands, their voices, and their logic. More pressing in the hands of adults trying to eliminate her in attacks at Vulcan Learning Centers. She survived that, as had Sarek, with the first known soul-graft to be known to be applied to her. Sarek knew her parents, and someway, he felt responsible for the loss. He didn't say he felt responsible, but it was what he did that convinced her. She had seen him before the attack during formal visits. Before he had Amanda with him. The Vulcan way brought a civilization from the brink of self-destruction to a whole new diplomatic, stoic, cautious era full of unknown and xenophobia from the species themselves.
The Vulcan way had brought Burnham so far in her life. Getting up, cataloguing her emotions after awaking, and analyzing her feelings. Dreams had unique significance on how she felt representing her emotions. She took a sonic shower, put on her new uniform of the day, and velcrowed the side of her pants. She applied her normal make up routine until she looked prepared for the day. Her hair re-prepared for the day. She nodded back to herself linking her hands behind her back. She walked out of the room then headed down the corridor. Her morning shift would begin in thirty-three minutes. In those thirty three minutes, she will take her time eating in the senior officers mess hall. Saru was putting salt into his tea alongside the dish prepared for the morning. The Vulcan way would keep her going. Whatever happened in the next few day, she would follow the Vulcan way to keep herself together. Burnham feared that what Georgiou had opened for her would consume her and be overwhelming, compromising, even. It was a relief when Georgiou had been the one who ended the relationship. Gratitude and relief were all she felt after it was all said and done.
Nambue was speaking with the captain holding a padd. He did not seem to be happy. Georgiou had the smallest of smiles on her face, bemused. She had a short lived laugh at the man's comment then took at it for herself. Her eyes directed over toward Saru then toward the security officer, communications, engineering, and to Burnham. The smile that Georgiou had in Burnham's direction made her feel like she was standing in the starlight surrounded by the nightsky on Vulcan. It was a wondrous feeling. Burnham had the smallest of a smiles back at the captain's direction. She ate her breakfast then put away the plate and cleaned her hands. She was not the type to speak during eating. A tradition picked up from Vulcan. Not always did Amanda have discussions at the table but when it was held then it was for a good reason. Very important. She made her way toward the bridge in the corridors that she called home. A place she knew for seven years. Seven years that had brought her out of the Vulcan shell.
"Commander Burnham!" Januzzi called.
Burnham stopped, turning in the direction of Januzzi.
"Lieutenant," Burnham said.
"You got a message last night from Ambassador Sarek," Januzzi said. "Your comn terminal is glitching with mine again."
"My apologies," Burnham said. "I should change the address."
"Uh huh," Januzzi said. "I am not your personal spam box."
"Amusing," Burnham said. "I will rectify this immediately."
"Thank you," Januzzi said.
"You are welcome," Burnham said, then she made her path away from the man returning to her quarters. "Computer, activate comn terminal." She clasped her hands in front of her. "Turn on latest message from S'chn T'gai Sarek."
"Message opened," the computer said.
Amanda, older, yet a little bit wiser with graying hair appeared.
"Michael," Amanda said.
"Mother," Burnham said.
"You look beautiful today," Amanda said. "I want you to know that we picked up a little boy."
"Another?" Burnham asked, raising a eyebrow. Amanda's face brightened up.
"Yes," Amanda said. "A andorian/Vulcan hybrid. Sarek is quite taken after him. In fact, he loves the little boy. The little boy looks up to him so much." A little boy came running up along her legs. The little blue boy spoke in a small, tiny voice. Amanda had a kind laugh then looked up toward Burnham. "you know, this time Sarek got him over a race. Our Sarek, racing, against another diplomat. Claimed he was not treating the boy right. We decided to name him T'shay. He likes that name." Burnam looked down toward the young boy. "He is following the main milestones for a hybrid."
"Does Spock know?" Burnham asked.
"We decided that Spock get to know last," Amanda said.
"Hmm, quite illogical given that someday he might cross paths with them," Burnham said.
"I know what you are thinking," Amanda said. "But we are considering of telling Spock after he comes back from deep space."
"Understandable," Burnham said. "I look forward to my new adoptive brother during my visit."
"I wish you'll visit and meet your new siblings," Amanda said. "Taluhk nash-veh du." Amanda's figure vanished.
Red alert swept the room as the ship shook. The wail from the Klaxons echoing through the ship. Burnham speeded her way out of her quarters. She rushed onto the bridge where the air was still. The sounds of the equipment on the bridge filled the air. The bridge was glowing a light shade of red. Everyones eyes were stuck on the view screen. Georgiou stood there without a word. She was sitting in the chair unable to say a word. Burnham stepped forward as recognition came through her mind. Saru's threat ganglia came out in full force. Burnham came to the captain's side. The bird-of-prey was floating in space menacingly across from the starship.
"Captain," Burnham said. "Klingons will not respond to normal peace hailing," the screams of the Vulcan outpost came to her mind. Her Vulcan training, follow the Vulcan way, follow the Vulcan way, follow the Vulcan way, echoed in her mind. Detaching herself from her personal feelings regarding the Klingons. "Recommend firing first."
"They want war," Georgiou said. "then we won't give it."
Burnham looked over toward Georgiou.
"What will we give?" Burnham asked, as all eyes shifted toward the captain.
"A good battle, Number One," Georgiou said. Burnham nodded in agreement.
"Now, we are speaking in their language," Burnham said.
"Fire at will," Georgiou said.