"First they transplant me from my lab, bring me aboard a testbed starship that glitches all the time, then quarantines my mushrooms months into the war without telling me about it, and they expect me to be happy about it!" Stamets vented. "What are they going to take next? My sanity?"
Stamets turned about a corner while he shook his head. He spotted someone with his complexion whistling down the corridor with a hose that had curls around his shoulder. He almost paused as he went through his memory of people with very pale skin and almost blonde yet white like hair assigned to the Discovery as he was. The whistling sounded like his own except a little more cheerful and happy. Stamets picked up his pace to catch up with the look alike. When Stamets took another turn after his look alike, all he could see were familiar officers walking down the corridor. He looked both ways then stepped back into the corridor that he came down from. Stamets continued his path down the corridor feeling a bit bothered by the phenomenon.
"Paul," Stamets jumped then turning in the direction of Culber. "How is the modifications to the shuttle going?"
"Excellent," Stamets said. "In fact, I was just looking for you."
Culber smiled back.
"Oh really?" Culber said.
"Uh huh," Stamets said. "I think we are going to make it."
"This time we will, Commander," Culber said. "and hopefully, you go back to your time stream."
"Hopefully," Stamets said. "but was it absolutely necessary that they quarantine my lab?"
"It's for the best," Culber said. "we don't want anyone to die this time," Culber placed a hand along the side of Stamets's face. Culber rubbed a thumb underneath Stamets's ear. There was a strange look in Culber's eyes. Sympathetic yet sad. "We've gotten so far in this loop."
Stamets processed what he had been told while keeping the mask up.
"Let me tell you something," Stamets said. "You and my counterpart are going to have a nice day to ourselves after this variation of the war. Just other me and you."
Culber smiled widely.
"I will enjoy that," Culber said.
"How about a kiss for good luck?" Stamets asked.
"I don't know about that," Culber said.
"It wouldn't be cheating if you were kissing the same man who is your partner anywhere in the known multiverse," Stamets said.
Culber laughed then Stamets kissed him with his hands on Culber's cheeks. Culber's hands moved to Stamets's waist with closed eyes. Kram and a Vulcan yeoman walked around the two then met by each others side. Kissing Culber made a warm fuzzy feeling grow inside Stamets. It became more fuzzier everytime they touched and reduced Stamets into a sea of spores. It was Culber who broke off the kiss then slowly opened his eyes. Culber's warm, happy expression was replaced by one that was guilty and apologetic. Culber's hand strolled down to his partners shoulder then lightly squeezed it.
"Hey, good luck," Culber said. "Next time I see you, it better not be in a time loop."
Stamets softly smiled back, lovingly.
"It won't, my dear doctor," Stamets said, taking his hands off Culber's face. "You can count on that."
"Commander, where does this go?" Ensign Molina asked.
"Back end, with the open clamps," Paul said.
"Aye," Molina said.
"Just a little more additions and a generator powerful enough to tow this ship away," Paul said. "I can get away with breaking the laws of physics just this once."
"Paul, what's the plan for this miniature mushroom pocket universe?" Paul heard his voice from behind him.
Officers ignored the strange situation almost as though they were used to weird goings like this. Paul sighed then slowly turned around toward himself. Paul noticed how young he was, before, before, before he lost Hugh. He came over to the more happier man's side then towed him away from the adjusted shuttlecraft explaining to him in detail what the plan was. Stamets look of confusion slowly turned into horror. He looked at the war veteran with large upset eyes. He watched his counterpart hold his arm up to show the rank then lowered his arm down. Stamets shook his head.
"Does Commander Burnham know?" Stamets asked.
"Every time she does, she tries to go with me and then the shuttle explodes," Paul said. "It is like the Discovery is a pinto in a bad action movie, Lieutenant."
"There has to be a better way of saving one hundred thirty six crewmembers aboard this ship," Stamets said.
"I am not part of the crew," Paul said.
"You have a rank, and by Starfleet standards, you are one of us." he looked at the man strangely. "Haven't you forgotten that?" he looked in dismay at the war veteran. "That is not very Starfleet of us."
Stamets observed himself contemplating the reply.
"Crewmen values have changed because of the war with the Klingons," Paul said. "It's strange to see myself still clinging onto the past."
"What happened to your Hugh?" Stamets asked.
"Voq killed him," Paul said. There was a long drawn out silence between the two men. "It was difficult to say goodbye in the network to my Hugh."
"Oh," Stamets said. "I see. So if he goes down on a away mission that Voq might be, Hugh has to go with security?"
"Yes," Paul said.
"I came across Hugh in the hall and I pretended to be you," Stamets said. "It shouldn't be that easy to trick him into thinking that he is talking to the right person."
Paul had a laugh.
"It shouldn't be," Paul said.
"I propose we have sex in the name of science," Stamets asked, stepping closer toward the war veteran. Paul used his hand to guide the man from his personal bubble. "and also, to give you something that Hugh gave me that really should have been given to you." Paul raised a confused eyebrow at the lieutenant.
"Maybe," Paul said. "After tests being done to be sure it's not harmful to touch a counterpart."
Stamets poked the war veteran's shoulder.
"Ah ha," Stamets said. "I didn't get shocked."
"You would get shocked if we were the same age," Paul said. He shifted toward Stamets. "Look, love to, but I can't. Modifications are nearly done."
"Looks to me they are," Stamets said. "You are making excuses. You don't want to go."
"I have to go," Paul said. "and these adjustments are not excuses."
"If you are making a system that can make its own quantum bubble, personal infinite energy generator, and a very strong tractor beam then that might be done right this minute since you did have all night to work on it," Stamets pointed out. "It's alright to be scared." he placed his hand on the war veteran's shoulder. "You need some time to you."
"I had help," Paul said. "Very good help by the way."
"You have classified mushrooms to supply for the infinite energy generator and questionable energy sources to supply for the consumption your machines need. Those additions are unnecessary because the addition is underneath the shuttle craft. You know that as I do," Paul sighed, closing his eyes feeling damned. "I know you need your mind taken off what could be your last term of service."
"If I say agree, will you stop trying to reel me in?" Paul asked.
"Yes," Stamets said.
"I hate you," Paul said, earning a smile from his counterpart. "Fine, I'll do it."
"You're me, it is okay to hate yourself!" he took the war veteran's hand. "Come on, I know a lab that is empty at this hour."
"Commander Stamets, is the shuttle craft ready?" Landry asked, as she sat down into the chair.
"Ready," came the reply, as Burnham and Culber came onto the bridge.
"Got more bad news, Number Two?" Landry asked, looking toward the second officer.
Burnham rightened her jaw raising a brow toward the first officer.
"Just because I have a tendency to come onto the bridge with unlikable news does not mean I have some available," Burnham said. "I am only here to observe the effort."
"Doctor," Landry said.
"We never got this far in the previous loops," Culber said. "It is all a mystery."
"Lieutenant Detmer, put the ship into impulse power," Landry said. "Commander Stamets, you have the Discovery."
"Literally," came the man's amused voice. "Preparing for climbing. Will climb up to the breach in thirty three minutes."
"Good timing," Culber said. "Then we're down to one hour until the loop resets itself. Forcibly or not."
"The chances are on our sides, men," Landry said.
From the bridge, the senior officers watched the modified shuttle craft hover in space in front of them.
A jet of blue tractor beam light came toward the Discovery grabbing hold onto it.
The ship jerked forward as everyone kept their balance on their feet. The ship had familiar hums coursing underneath them belonging to the engines of the ship. The familiar beeps and whirrs of the machinery around them downplayed the seriousness of the situation. Burnham observed the heavily modified shuttle craft that had more parts on it than most. It was like a flying pod encased into a shell that reinforced it. Culber patiently watched the ship going into the distance. The scene panned over to Lorca's quarters to show him cuddling with Tyler on the bed with Merkin lodged in the corner of the darker man's arm. The scene returned toward the bridge. Detmer looked up toward the view screen and looked at it in awe. Osowekun seemed to be amazed by it. There was nothing ahead except for the shuttlecraft. They stood still for thirty minutes waiting for the ship to reach the exit.
"Commander, the Horizon is requesting a view screen hailing," Bryce said.
"On screen," Landry said, as the officer turned back toward his station.
A Stamets appeared on the screen.
"Hey, partner," Stamets had a weak wave. "Don't get angry at me."
"Why should I get angry?" Culber asked.
"Do I have to get angry?" Landry asked.
"No, Commander," Stamets said. "Burnham and I have done the computations for what could happen with this technology inside the mushroom pocket. Theoretically this can work and we all can enjoy a nice night and morning." he smiled back toward the bridge crew. "I love you."
Stamets vanished off the screen.
"PAUL!"
The Horizon flew toward the hole leading into open space.
Except this hole was shrinking rapidly.
The Horizon then unexpectedly made a sharp right turn sending the Discovery flying toward the hole and the blue link between them evaporated.
The Discovery vanished from the pitch black.
"Admiral, report to the bridge," came Saru's voice over the intercom.
Georgiou put on her golden shirt then sped out of her quarters. It was the urgent kind of speed walk. Her normally tied hair was loose and left on her shoulders. She straightened her uniform smoothing out the wrinkles in it passing by the officers. Not often did Saru request for her presence. It had to be a very important matter to summon her right after taking a sonic shower. Calmly and with composure, she made it onto the silent bridge. Saru lifted himself off the chair then came over to the side.
"Report," Georgiou said.
"We have located the Discovery," Saru said.
Georgiou looked over warily toward the first officer.
"Are you sure?" Georgiou asked.
"Affirmative," Saru said. "we have done multiple scans to be sure."
"Hail the Discovery," Georgiou said. "and request that Captain Lorca speak to me immediately."
"Captain Lorca, report to Bridge," came over the intecomn. "report to the bridge."
"I will finish this after I get back," Lorca said.
"You better," Tyler said. "You still have a promised dance."
"Be right back, Ash," Lorca said, lightly patting on the side of Tyler's face then walked away exiting through the doors.
Burnham and Tilly continued dancing together dancing in synchronization. There was laughter from around the two. A smile on Tilly's face and a smile in Burnham's eyes looking toward the ensign. Tilly started the kiss planting it on Burnham's lips with a hand on her side. Burnham prolonged the kiss managing to continue moving slowly to the music. Other couples were dancing together that was slow drawn out. Tilly was the one who broke off the kiss with a smile back at Burnham.
"Wanna have a threesome tonight with a midshipman?" Tilly asked.
Burnham smiled back.
"Under the condition that all you do is watch," Burnham said.
Tilly nuzzled Burnham's neck.
"That I can do," Tilly said.
Lorca came onto the bridge appearing to be irritable.
"What is it?" Lorca said.
"Admiral Georgiou," Bryce said.
Lorca stopped then looked over toward Landry then toward Bryce.
"The Shenzhou is currently chaperoning Starfleet's finest delegates and ambassadors to welcome in a new member of the federation," Lorca said. "That should take more than a week."
"Shenzhou is approaching the Discovery," Osowekun reported.
Lorca and Landry turned toward the view screen to see the Shenzhou swoop into view with brand new battle scars. He looked confused toward the view screen then turned toward Landry. Landry seemed to be confused as the rest of the bridge crew on the silent bridge.
"On screen," Lorca said.
Georgiou appeared on the screen.
"Captain Lorca," Georgiou said. "where the hell have you been?"
"Having a party," Lorca said, holding a glass up with a smile. "Starfleet orders for the crew morale."
"Starfleet did not order you to be gone for fifty-six days, captain," Georgiou said.
Lorca looked on confused toward the woman.
"It hasn't been. . . fifty. . . six. . days," Lorca said.
"We have been losing the war in your absence, Lorca," Georgiou said.
"No," Lorca said. "No, no, no, that can't be right."
"That's our reality," Georgiou said. "Your ship is to report to Alpha Centauri. We need all hands on deck. You will be reassigned to the USS Isaacs as captain. Is that clear?"
Lorca was speechless at first.
"Clear, admiral," Lorca said, "Request that I can take Lieutenant Tyler to my new posting."
"Granted," Georgiou said. "Shenzhou out."
Georgiou's figure vanished off the screen.