"Thank you for listening," Saru thanked the older woman.

"It is no problem, Saru," Georgiou's voice came off the screen. "War makes everyone feel displaced."

Saru nodded.

"Saru out," Saru said.

He placed his hands onto his face with his elbows on the desk with a sigh then rubbed the side of his forehead.

Saru kept a eye on the Shenzhou. A live feed from his office. He watched it change from a ship of exploration to a ship of war. Metal surrounded the bottom hub giving only a small view screen to see what was going on reinforcing the bridge. Several decks were reinforced. No one knew how the war was going to last but historically wars lasted years. His command was very hopeful that it would end in a couple of months. From what he knew, the Shenzhou was turning into a war vessel commanded by Georgiou. He had signed on for that before his departure to a series of commands that failed. The repairs were going quicker than he had expected. It would take one month for the repairs and quick refit to be done.

Acting as First Officer to Captain Fr'rake aboard the USS Cochrane doubling as chief science officer.

The Cochrane trembled.

"Damage report," Fr'rake requested.

"Decks five through nine have been damaged, engineering has reported power has been lost to the nacelles," Lieutenant Smart shifted toward the Andorian captain. "we are sitting ducks, captain."

"They got us," Fr'rake said.

"Captain," Saru began. "I recommend that we get out of here with impulse power and leave the colonists to protect themselves."

Fr'rake looked over toward Saru with a hard, angry expression

"If we leave them, Number One, they will die," Fr'rake said. "Self-preservation and selflessness doesn't belong in Starfleet. It doesn't belong in war, either," Saru nodded. "We got people counting on us." Fr'rake turned his attention toward the view screen. "Phaser power?"

"We got phaser power, captain," came the reply

"Fire at will," Fr'rake said.

The phasers fired on the fleet of Klingon Vessels. Suddenly, a Crossfield class appeared out into space firing on the Klingons. The Klingons changed course toward the federation vessel leaving the Cochrane to safety. One by one the Klingons were being decimated. Cochrane had suffered over a dozen blasts from the enemy ship. The bridge crew watched the Discovery rotate away with the last two Klingon vessels in a bright blue light. Saru stared at it in shock.

"Remaining Klingon vessels are retreating," came the report.

Fr'rake turned toward the chief of engineering.

"Lieutenant Briggs, wow long will it take to bring those nacelles up and running?" Fr'rake asked.

"Thirteen hours, twelve if we don't take a break and have protection," Briggs said.

"Set up your repair team," Fr'rake said. She turned toward Smart. "How many have we lost?"

"Causalities are at thirteen," Smart said, with one hand on the screw in his ear. "medical teams are checking for injured."

Fr'rake sighed in relief.

"Good," Fr'rake said. "You did good today, soldiers." She turned her attention on to Saru. "Mr Saru, you have the bridge."

Saru was not cut out for war.

What he was cut out for was exploring.

And perhaps running away if required.

His threat ganglia was tucked back into his skull.

Six months in a time of war had not been kind on him. He lost colleagues due to some of his decisions. One would think his advice would be useful in the field. Fr'rake walked right past him toward the turbo lift doors. Saru made his way toward the captain's chair. This was a newer model with a flat screen that had colorful buttons on both sides. The bridge was still colorful as the Shenzhou with buttons around the flat screens that glowed brightly. The change to screens was jarring for Saru. Not used to this kind of change. What he was used to was being constantly threatened by predators. His stubby fingers were placed on the arm rest. He was learning the ropes of command. Burnham did better than he did, Saru believed. He looked forward to his return to the Shenzhou. More experienced and better prepared for what Georgiou would have in mind.

"Commander Burnham," came the dark doctor as he entered the room.

"Doctor Culber," Burnham greeted him as she sat on the biobed.

"I have heard so much about you from Detmer," Culber said, as he took out a hypospray. "did you get your shots in the last six months?"

"No," Burnham said. "I have a very effective immune system for Vulcan."

"For the Discovery, I don't think so," Culber said. "Sleeve up."

Burnham obeyed sliding her sleeve up then he applied the hypospray.

"Is there a reason why the ship has lightning bugs?" Burnham said.

Culber took out another hypospray.

"Well, we jumped into a new area of space awhile go," Culber said, then applied it against her arm. He took out another. "Biggest jump we've done so far before then."

Burnham raised her eyebrows then turned her head away, processing it. The file was not lying about her new assignment. Spore drive, out of mushrooms, through a mycelium web. It was what kept the universe together like a spiderweb that served as short cuts to point a to point b. It was all too fantastic. It could change the face of warp drive forever. Replace it, essentially. It was part of her class regarding quantum physics at the Vulcan Science Academy. Culber finished the shots placing them onto the table. He looked over toward her as she slid the sleeve down. She had a stoic mask that replaced the confused look on her face.

"For someone who handled themselves at the battle of the binary stars quite well, I am surprised you changed career tracks," Culber said. "Detmer talks like you were a captain." then he added, lightheartedly. "And taller."

"That," Burnham said. "I am not." She slid off the biobed.

"Wait, before you go," Culber darted out of the room through a open doorway. "Could you give this to Lieutenant Stamets?" Culber handed her a pot with mushrooms. "He left this in my office by accident. It's not a gift." Burnham slightly tilted her head. "His gifts are not mushrooms. He gives me . . ."

"Flowers," Burnham finished.

"Better," Culber said. "Cockspur Coral."

"I do have to go to engineering," Burnham said. "I shall take it to him."

"You're a life saver," Culber said, handing the pot to Burnham. "Thanks."

"You are welcome," Burnham said, then made her way down out of Sick Bay.

As Burnham went through the corridor, she overheard whispers. Officers walking past her looking at her with admiration. Talking about her in a highly regarded way. It was guilt and regret inside Burnham. That she didn't get killed in the battle. They saw her as a captain rather than a starfleet officer among them. She had refused the interviews that the press had tried to get during the tow back to starfleet and during her time on Vulcan. The other bridge crew members, of course, talked. She didn't need to talk as they could tell the story. Their stories were greatly exaggerated but at the core of the stories there was nothing about them that seemed false. She had studied the directions of the ship and had been taken on a tour largely in part to the yeoman Kram. Tilly went to bed last night without her pillow and snored, loudly. It was in the middle of the night that Burnham placed the pillow under the ensigns head. The atmosphere around the ship was bright and hopeful compared to the slightly dark corridors. She made her way into engineering. Engineering was, needless to say, extremely different. She looked around in awe. There was a transparent glass door that separated one half from the other. A field of mushrooms with a stair case above it. She stepped down the series of stairs with intrigue.

"Fascinating," Burnham said, softly as she turned toward the field.

"Commander Burnham," came a unique, yet odd alien voice. Burnham turned to see a Tardigrade with a specially designed Starfleet uniform that had a sash on his torso that had the starfleet badge on it. He had two zippers set below the chest in the torso. "I am the head officer of engineering. Commander Ephraim."

"I am honored to meet you," Burnham said.

"As am I," Ephraim said. "You are early for your shift."

"Doctor Culber wants the mushroom pot returned to Lieutenant Stamets," Burnham replied, factly.

"He is in the mushroom lab," Ephraim said. "Welcome to engineering . . . You can find him talking to the mushrooms. He is the loudest. " then moved himself over to a control panel.

Burnham had a look of awe at the strange alien being.

She had never seen that kind of alien Tardigrade before.

It was all quite. . . fascinating.

The doors slid back. She entered through the doors making her way down the guided path. There were various types of mushrooms all over the place. There were science officers among the scenery scanning the mushrooms with their tricorders. A few were taking care of the mushrooms. Burnham kept on her walk making the occasional turn or two. She came to a stop when she saw a lone man talking to mushrooms. He wore special gloves while taking care of them sliding something into a vile. Burnham came to a stop lingering in the background. He was in a science officers uniform. This had to be Stamets. Stamets stood up then turned toward her.

"What are you looking at?" Stamets asked.

Burnham approached the astromycologist.

"Culber wanted the mushrooms returned to you," Burnham said.

"Oh!" Stamets speeded over toward Burnham. "I wondered where I put them." Burnham slid the pot over into the man's hands stepping back. "You can go on now." Stamets added in a dismissive tone. Stamets held the pot to one crook of his arm then performed a scan on the mushrooms.

Burnham turned from Stamets then walked away. She felt like she was walking through a garden of aura lights with gorgeous sights here. But it was freaky at the same time that made it this way. Burnham made her way out of the mushroom lab. The doors closed behind her. She noticed there were blue spores on her uniform so she dusted it off coming to the center of the room. She looked up sensing someone's eyes was on her. There was a strong odor coming from across. There was Tilly at the entrance waving back at her excitedly in engineering reds. Engineering was like a unique blend of advanced technology with old. There was a container from across with two machines that had drills facing the floor. There were computers decorating the darkly lit room. There were fewer stations than expected in engineering manned by officers of different species. Burnham came over to the side of Tilly.

"So what do officers here do usually?" Burnham asked.

"We find code that is wrong and remove it," Tilly said, as a holographic screen appeared above her station. "fix code."

Burnham turned on the station and the holographic screen appeared.

"This resembles a computer virus," Burnham said. She looked over in intrigue. "Care to explain that?"

"It is a hybrid version that works with the spores," Tilly said, highlighting a section to the screen.

Yeoman Kram came down the stairs.

"Ensign Tilly, your medically recommended breakfast," Tilly looked over and grimaced. "It helps you get more nutrition."

"Over hot dogs, burgers, and soda?" Tilly asked.

"Correction, that is sliced sausage," Burnham said. "not a hotdog."

"I am not having that," Tilly said.

"Doctor Soval said that your require nutrition with the exercise you do to replace what you lost," Kram said. "He has changed your access to this kind of food in the mean time. Such as having salsa. And burritos."

"All right," Tilly said, taking the tray. "Smoothies can wait."

"And Tilly, get the exercise uniform out. You smell," Kram said. "Sincerely, your yeoman."

"Sorry," Tilly said, apologetically. "I was excited on my first day of duty with my roommate."

"Do you get lonely without company?" Burnham asked, as the Andoran yeoman left the same way he came.

"No-um-maybe, I-I-I am used to not having company," Tilly said. "Mom used to be so picky with me that I go out of my way and not be in her company. Dad didn't help a bit," she looked down toward her hands. "Having a roommate is like having a friend put in there organically and I don't know how to keep that friend when I am so new."

"Perhaps I can join you in your daily exercise," Burnham said.

Tilly had a surprised expression.

"Join me?" Tilly said. "You'll outrun me."

"Not if you outrun me," Burnham said. "You require a mentor and you are very ambitious."

"I plan to become captain, with the war or without the war," Tilly said. "Maybe the youngest. But no one is going to be in my way. They are getting trampled over these fists."

"You mean feet," Burnham said.

"Yes, that," Tilly said, nodding proudly.

"I can help you with that," Burnham said. "How about tomorrow morning we start with running down to the simulation deck."

"That is awesome!" Tilly said. "I like you."

Tilly balanced her tray on the station then reached forward grabbing the woman into a hug. Burnham's hands were linked her back so Tilly's hands were wrapped around the woman's waist. Tilly radiated joy that made the mysterious link grow between them. Burnham distinctively felt the link. It was as strong and firm as the one with Georgiou. She had more than one soulmate? T'hy'lara? But that was astronomical to find a soulmate in ones lifetime. Finding someone to love was less astronomical than finding a T'hy'la. There were bed time stories about T'hy'la's and the great lengths they did to reunite. Most of these stories were about warriors. Burnham was frozen where she stood letting the hug go on. Tilly let go of the woman.

"You okay, Vulcan friend?" Tilly asked.

"Adequate," Burnham said. "I recommend you eat your breakfeast." Tilly reached forward. "After your shower."

"Aww," Tilly said. "I will," she picked up her tray then headed her way out.

Burnham had a small smile watching the woman walking away. She caught herself rubbing her shoulder then took it off. The healers had told her to cut the habit out after her arm was able to move as normal. She was still working on it. Burnham turned toward her station then began to work on the code.