The Emperor had watched her daughter very close the moment she stepped into her quarters. Philippa knew herself well to know something was off about her as soon as she had seen her in person. A gut feeling that had served her well as Emperor. She was trained and had to be in her position; she had almost lost count on those who had tried to kill her over the years. Aliens and humans like, to end the empire or to take over.

Hearing of her daughter's death had hurt. She had loved her. One of the few she had been able to dote enough of her affections without weakening herself in the eyes of the empire. Michael had never been a vulnerability, or at least, not to a serious degree. But she saw an orphan child that could be crafted into a position of power, under her control for succession; her legacy. Only hers. She raised that child and trained her in the Terran way. But… one mistake.

Lorca.

A trust in a man that she had misplaced and he used her daughter; then she was gone. Dead. Now she was back, under a year later. Philippa hadn't quite wanted to believe the news from Captain Maddox but the captain knew better to lie. She had to have her back; to see for her own eyes. Not just if she was alive, but her loyalties. If she was worthy of coming back… She'd not risk her empire if this was one of Lorca's schemes. Better a quick death if that was the case. A mercy she could grant her child. Only her.

But looking at her now.

Something was different. Philippa couldn't place it other than the pale sheen to her skin, dark shadows under her eyes or a lack of any real expression in her face or eyes. She looked…ill. But her behaviour didn't show it. Michael looked like…she was hollowed out.

Philippa could grant some lenience in her observations. Who knew what had happened to her in her time away but she didn't feel that trust in her now as Michael sat down confidently but looking otherwise distracted, her eyes washing over the plates, to her then away.

Unfocused.

Certainly not what she expected from her daughter.

"Leave us." The emperor spoke, met with immediate obedience though she watched Michael as she sat there and vaguely picked up her cutlery, still taking everything in as if this was the first time that had had a meal together.

Her fingers reached forwards for her glass, allowing the wash of wine down her throat. Michael wasn't going to speak. That was obvious.

"You were gone a long time. Michael. I expect you have a good explanation to why you made me think you were dead." Philippa kept her voice calm with a light and reasonable question of her interrogation. The best sort of situation, over a meal. She'd give Michael the rope; see if she'd hang herself with it. It worked well in finding moles and exposing them. Let them get comfortable. Philippa picked up her knife and fork and delicate began to cut into her Kelpien meat, awaiting the answer.

Michael paused for a moment. "It was not intentional." Her daughter responded, gently cutting the food on her plate further up, "but it sort of happened. It presented a good opportunity to go underground."

Philippa couldn't help but give her a look, though Michael's gaze was solid as she held it. The emperor though allowed it to pass, washing away her expression into something softer at the least than a glare as she ate.

Michael's expression once again blank to the point where Philippa couldn't read a single emotion running through her. Too calm. It was… almost unnerving. But, Michael was a very good liar. She must have improved. It didn't sit well with her.

Philippa scoffed slightly. "You still left me."

Michael sighed out, soft but noticeable; finally giving her an outward reaction. "I did what I had to do."

"And what did you have to do? Besides making me think you were dead? You are my daughter, do you think it was easy? Knowing Lorca got away but you…?" She forced herself to rein back the wash of anger at her…at Lorca. She intended to make him suffer for what he did, for making her think he had killed her, but justice would just come easily to her for it too. But it would at least be on her terms this time. Not his.

"But I'm back now and you have Lorca. A win/win situation and I'm glad to be back with you." Michael's tone didn't change, even with the emphasis but again that followed out too smooth for her taste,

Philippa let out a soft indigent sound. "And here I thought I taught you better…" She was just saying that. Playing it soft to wiggle back into her heart… good, but not good enough.

In the corner of her eye as she ate, The emperor still watched though it appeared her daughter's attention had once again drifted, not touching her still full plate and her hand was touching her throat.

"A lot of happened."

Though Michael didn't finish her statement or elaborate further, Philippa eyed her warily though she felt a mild welt of concern as her daughter's eyes seemed to glaze over as she stared ahead to her. She had changed, but… perhaps there was something wrong with her. Mentally, or physically… either way, this whole demeanour was too different.

"Michael!"

Focus immediately return to her gaze, and she looked away sharply but that said enough to her. Michael knew what was wrong with her, choosing not to say anything. Philippa pursed her lips, setting down her cutlery but held her knife. "You haven't touch your food."

Michael seemed to stiffen up further, if possible though kept her gaze away. "I'm not hungry."

Philippa frowned deeply, eyes narrowing. Her concern immediately diminishing, replaced this time with a quiet suspicion. "Maybe I should call our chief medical examiner… I suppose hunting Lorca took its toll after all?"

"Not necessary." Michael's tone was tense, grappling even.

"Are you in pain?" She rose to her feet but nothing was given away in the woman's face. "Were you injured?"

Steadily though, her daughter pushed the plate away. Her eyes flickered to the knife; untouched but Michael's eyes glazed again.

"Michael?" Her eyes narrowed shrewdly. "Are you alright?" There was no answer. It was on the tip of her tongue to call for the guards to get a medic to check her over… but she withheld. Something was too off for that. "Michael, are you even listening?"

"No." answering before her gaze returned though there was a hidden depth to those blank eyes now. Tense and coiled, awaiting, even.

The Emperor raised her eyebrow.

"I…" Michael started though stopped, "I don't feel good. I need to lie down." But she didn't get up.

Philippa pushed her own bowl away after a moment, her appetite fading now, her eyes piercing into Michael's face. "You're lying." She spoke, her tone sharp with her quip. "There's something you're not telling me."

"You don't want to know."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Oh, don't I?" The challenge was almost set in that alone. The attitude from her was wrong. Philippa moved; stepping around the table towards her daughter, her hand fiddling with her knife between her finger tips.

For a second, there was no reaction as she stood over her; no fear nor wariness that should have made her feel discomforted; Michael didn't even look up. Her eyes narrowed dangerously at her, fury starting to arise. She didn't deserve to be here like this…

"Back off."

Then the tensions suddenly shift in those two words. But Michael's voice seemed to tune out into a growl that rattled and resonated down her spine, igniting an immediate sensation in her gut…of fear.

By her own instinct, her knife raised— then it was gone in a heartbeat; hearing a clatter as it struck metal away then she felt a sudden, hard shove; sending her back but her mind barely had a second to catch up before she felt the impact.

A sharp sound was forced passed her lips, bewildered for a second but the reality caught up; training kicking in in an instant; forcing herself up than allow herself to targeted quickly in a rapid attack but even then a sudden blow shoved her down into the floor. Her head spun and pain radiated down the back but her hand searched for her dagger…

Despite the pain that ran through her head, there was a second for her brain to catch up that she was being dragged away, a squeak of her heels against the floor, a dull ache running down her lower back; her amour digging in and a painful grip on her shoulder.

"…Michael?"

She couldn't help the bemusement in her voice; startled more than anything at that had happened in the last 5 seconds though she immediately didn't hesitate to try and slip free, twisted out her daughters grip and dived to get up; adrenaline coursing through her veins until a heavy blow— too heavy thundered her down.

Philippa immediately caught herself, her hand coming to her holster, finger tips brushing nothing before hard grip suddenly pulled her back, sending her sprawling onto her front. Her world spinning then a new weight was quick to pin her down.

Her heart raced in her chest; her eyes widened as she looked up to Michael; her weight pressing her waist her down into the floor..

Except, it wasn't Michael

Her face was still the same but her brown eyes were gone, replaced with a sheer black that looked at her with hostility and longing…hunger even that she couldn't fathom; she could see her reflection back in them but for the second that hung in the air; she knew she was looking into the eyes of a predator. Her teeth… her teeth were bared; exposing sharpened tips that hadn't been there before.

A sharp gasp left her lips, her hands coming to clamp around her wrist but it did little to stop her; Michael's fingers dug roughly into the metal of her amour, twisting under to shake her off but she couldn't; she could only watch as the metal tore away; fear striking deep as she realised what she was going for.

"No!" Her strength yielded as if it wasn't there; the icy grip suddenly a hold of her jaw, forcing her neck to twist; her head being pressed back at an awkward angle with her shoulders held down and she could feel the cold air at her throat. Exposed. Pain and pressure built up as the creature's cold hand held her there, unrelenting as she pushed back. Under her ribs, Philippa could feel how rapid her heart was going, pounding a mild a minute, the adrenaline, she could feel it made her hands shake but she couldn't do anything. Her eyes widened as the woman lent down. The Emperor knew what was coming…

"Guards!"

She felt a new surge of energy; pushing up against her but her heart increased as she felt cool air brush down her skin; then the pure ice-cold of Michael's cheek; the tip of her nose as it glazed under her jaw.

The Emperor didn't allow herself to stop, biting her nails down to find some give in what flesh she could reach, but all her fingers were met was hard mass like stone, scrapping down it but nothing seemed to sway the monster on her to stop or push back….

Then she felt her bite down.

The skin gave effortlessly, searing with a white hot agony flaring immediately down her neck; unable to stop the cry of pain as it escaped her unsure to even how loud it was but the pain was like acid, burning her flesh like a torch, like an agonizer. Even as the initial pain died, it lingered as one part of her mind she could vaguely feel as the creature lapped at her throat; mouthfuls at a time…the burning pain smothering the

"Mich…Michael.." Her voice hoarse, gasping quietly as the cold woman shifted, her arms snaking around her, pulling her more against her cold body; as if she was being embraced by a statue. A cold grip knotting into her hair, keeping her head in place at her shoulder; Michael's cold ear pressing up at her hot flesh under her own. Her hand pushed up against her underbelly… Her eyes fluttered closed. "Michael…" A part of her mind taking in the sound Michael made as she greedily drank; the moan that made her feel surprised that there would be any pleasure derived from this… certainly nothing sexual, even with her position.

"Mmmi…Michael." Philippa groaned out, the tiredness that was starting to grow around her… her head was spinning, energy was being sapped out. "Stop…please.." she could feel her body already succumbing to the more she fed… her heart racing faster in her chest; beating rapidly to make up for the loss but she could feel Michael wasn't going to stop..

Her daughter was going to kill her…

The emperor's mind was teetering on the edges of consciousness when suddenly, a voice calling out and a growl stopped her from blacking out but she couldn't move, her body betraying her by laying limp now; her head resting back into her daughter's arms, barely feeling the warmth of escaped blood as it seeped into her clothes… her mind feeling groggy though she groaned out as the grip constricted around her… tightening around her ribs and the remainders of her amour; though she could barely feel the edges of twisted metal as it dug in with the pressure.

Though the Emperor gaze up, her daughter's face swimming into view but she barely saw anything passed the sharp teeth and blood that coated her mouth and chin…dripping down… Her eyes fluttered, another groan leaving her lips again then suddenly, Michael lurched away but everything turned black as her head cracked down again onto the floor.

It was the burning pain that seemed to bring her back around…different now than before. It burned more intensely, seeping and spreading further… her body felt otherwise numb, like she was floating under a deep sea but she could taste the familiar sensation in her mouth of a sedative… she couldn't feel other pain than the burning; but she couldn't move.

"She's awake, Doctor."

"Already?"

"Yes, sir."

The Emperor almost groaned out but she couldn't quite find her lungs… it infuriated her. She was weak. Vulnerable. An Easy target. She could make out that it was Dr Culber and Dr Pollard with her. Her personal physicians but uneasy nonetheless.

A sharp sensation pieced her side and immediately, she felt her body return to her control. Sucking in a deep breath, her hand shot to her neck; her fingers touching over the neck brace briefly then to her throat; feeling the dressing that was taped there but she could feel the burning sensation continued… low enough that she could hold in any signs on the pain, eyes fluttering open to see the two doctors hovered.

"Emperor." Dr Culber greeted. "I apologise for the delay in waking you. You lost an incredible amount of blood and sustained a fractured skull. We've been trying to flush your blood stream of the venom that was injected but it keeps eating through it all." Straight to business and to the point. One of the few things she liked about him that made her trust his medical care over Pollards.

"We were informed on what happened by the guard that brought you in. A search is underway for Burnham." Pollard spoke, moving away from her bed side and filled a glass of water up.

"Ho.." Her voice cracked but she pushed past it, "How long was I out?"

"Five hours."

Philippa's eyes narrowed, turning to Culber. "Five hours?"

"It was necessary. Your council, or what's left are running the search and corning off decks. Since your attack, Lorca also escaped and—"

A welt of fury rose within her as Pollard continued her run down… Lorca. Of course. Her dead daughter must have freed him after attacking her. A plan to seize control. As her daughter; she had the legitimate position as her heir to take over her position. Become the new Emperor.

Whatever she was now, it was clearly superior. Philippa could almost feel her weight on her; the stone grip around her body that made her feel weak and soft; strength that seemed impossible… She never felt weaker than then; helpless in her arms as she fed from her…. It disgusted her.

Right now, Micheal was too dangerous right now to attack head-on. Once Lorca was dead, they'd have to make their retreat to escape pods and blow the Charon to hell to make sure she didn't survive. Whatever she was, she was far too gone. Her daughter had died, this was just a monster with her face. One that was loyal to Lorca, not her. Lorca had clearly trained it after what was done to her. Promised Michael blood.

Her blood.

She needed to take control; not let this attack weaken her image. The emperor turned her focus back to Culber who flipped a PADD over to show her the scans of her neck; skin level to muscle of her neck in different shades but she could see the infection had been tinted a darker shade and she could feel it's burning under the skin; it progression matching to what she was seeing. Philippa glowered, suppressing the wince.

"What was injected into your flesh seems to have spread deep into your tissues and traveling along your blood vessels. Cutting it out would have been our viable option but it's spread too deep into your tissues and major arteries. "

"Fix...it." She grunted, the pain stabbing down towards her collar bone and up towards her head; she could feel it spreading.

"I can't, if it had been snake venom then we have a general antidote but this isn't like something I've seen before. It's rapidly spreading."

Her eyes narrowed into slits but he didn't backtrack; a statement in itself what this wasn't an option; that he couldn't lie to her either. She was infected. End of.

"What can you do?"

Culber moved to his station and pulled out a new hypospray carriage. "I can numb your pain receptors. This is a semi-experimental concoction, it's the strongest Pain medication I have and what I have put into your system is already being eaten out by the venom."

"Side effects?"

"Your ability to feel any sort of pain will be diminished but not completely nulled. You may be prone to accidental self-injury though you may feel the sensations of said injuries. Your sensory of temperature may also be reduced."

Philippa sucked on her teeth but it'd have to do. She doubted she could do much worse than this pain she was experiencing. It was a sacrifice she had to play; she just needed to be cautious. Dr Culber was efficient and experienced enough with it to even offer it to her. He knew the risks if it didn't work.

"Do it."

"Yes, Emperor, but this isn't permanent. The Venom too may adapt and eat through."

"I don't care. Do it." She could deal with the problem later. Maybe there could be a cure. But she wasn't a fool to not know what was happening.

She had heard plenty of stories, all cultures of blood-thirsty monsters that craved human blood and flesh… yet to have that exist now…on her ship, and her own daughter was one of them and now she had been infected. Tainted and no doubt the turning process. No. She was born human and she'd die human. But she had greater things to do today than turn or die.

"Get me new armour and clothes." Philippa snapped to Pollard, who obediently nodded and disappeared but she forced herself to sit up, taking off the brace though her head spun as the pain flared.

"Here, My Emperor." Her head turned to see Culber holding out the hypospray again but she allowed him to press it into her neck, just under her ear lobe though it felt much colder than expected but it easily seeped around the burning sensations under her skin, like a barrier, pain almost numbing away though it still pickled at the edges of the burning. Good enough. "Refills. You'll need to administer it for every hour to keep your pain nulled. This is my current stock but I'll get more to immediate development"

In his hand were refills though she took them without a work of thanks and pushed herself up. Nausea flooding her system but she held it back. She had spent enough time in bed. She had Lorca to take down and her job to do.

"I assume you've got some of this…venom?" If not, containing Michael for her venom would be hard; to find a cure for it was her only option.

"Not a lot, I'm afraid the tainted flesh made it impossible to extract but I got remnants from the scars of the bite."

Her hand came to her neck, disappearing under the dressing, the skin felt like it was blistering but to touch… it was cooler in comparison. But a lot less painful now the nerves were dulled, But the bite; she could feel and the ridges of the scars…sealed. Interesting.

"Get a cure." She ordered swiftly, dropping her hand though it pleased her to see a new set of identical golden amour arrive as well as her black leathers, pulling them on quickly as well as the vest,— she could see the blood still coating her skin but she'd clean up later. Philippa slid the hypospray into her cleavage and the refills into a pocket. Culber knew not to try and get her to stay; there was little more he could do.

A new guard appeared; his face solemn as always though she took his weapon as she walked, leaving the doctors to their study. "Status?"

"No sign of Captain Burnham, we're unable to track her life signs."

Of course. That didn't surprise her. Michael was too dead to be picked up on sensors… her skin too cold. It almost made her shiver; at the memory of the attack.

"We have however…found the bodies. Not all drained but all quick and effective kills. I've advised all battalions to kill on sight."

"Good." But futile with her speed. It made her angry though. To be brought down by her, after everything she had given to her, this was her reward? To be assaulted, her men slaughtered and all for blood?

Philippa knew something had been off about Michael as soon as she had seen her; she hadn't looked well; her skin too pale and shadows under her eyes that looked like she hadn't slept for days. Too quiet…

The way Michael had sat; stiff as a board; not touching her food— because now she realised it was because she couldn't eat it— and not looking at her. At least not trying but when she did…the expression in her eyes, the hunger that lay beneath them… she knew something was wrong much more but she never assumed to be at the end of her teeth in a second.

Blood lust. An Insatiable desire. Killing her daughter would have to be out of mercy; she couldn't afford to put her through the agonisers and prolong it on the chance of escape. She did love her daughter, a quick death was the only option she could give for her dead daughter; to end the torment and cravings.

"We weren't able to remove the bodies but…Lorca's escaped and is rounding up his tropes and has begun to attack. We've lost 17 decks due to a biochemical weapon and we're about to have company, here. Lorca anticipated your survival. He also has the throne room and controls."

Philippa glowered. She had missed out on this? She should be in the Throne room with his head off his shoulders. Not here, not infected and certainly not to be ambushed. "Head them off and execute them all." She'd give then the fight for their lives. After all it was the Terran way. She wasn't the Emperor nor stayed Emperor if she was easy to kill. Even with the venom in her veins, she'd fight.

Michael found herself back in the tunnels. She had spent enough time in them now, avoiding detection from both Lorca and the guards; in their search for Lorca, plans, Lorca's too but she hadn't dared ventured out to help either side. She was not Lorca's lap dog… not any more. She didn't owe him anymore, but she couldn't kill everyone on this ship either. Those she had already, that had to be enough. That wasn't her fault, not really.

But the fact was, Discovery was unaware. Their crew was waiting for them. For her… they needed the truth. She had to give it to them; before she was forced into anything. That, was her side.

Her fingers tapped along the screen, working her way to tap into the communications lines. It didn't take long through but she could feel herself preparing for the reaction she'd get; she still looked like a literal bloody mess, it wouldn't escape any of the bridge crew to what she had done.

"Burnham to Discovery." Her fingers tapping to try and boost the signal. "Discovery, do you read?"

For an agonising moment, there was nothing; then the screen lit up; an image flickering up into the panel.

"Discovery here. We're reading you."

Relief pouring through her gut as she saw not just Saru, but Paul too standing beside him on the bridge

Paul's face showed a lot of cracks, hundreds of them but fainter so he had been up and about for a bit; his blond hair had a slight reddish tinge to it but his eyes were a clear red and his skin an opaque pale white. He looked good for someone that had been in a few thousand pieces.

"Discovery here." Then, the expressions crossed over their faces; taking in her appearance. Saru's face softened though he frowned ever so slightly. Paul's face remained as usual though he seemed to be…unaffected by her appearance; what her actions were. Michael looked away shamefully.

"It seems your situation has become dire." Saru's voice softer. "Are you okay?"

Michael nodded. "I'm fine…"

"What happened? Is the captain with you?"

Her gaze returned though she couldn't help the felt of anger, her eyes darkening in an instant and not missed by anyone. "Captain Lorca is Terran." Her voice turning bitter. "He… He starved me purposely so I could snap."

Immediately, she could see them look at each other, startled by the news.

"That's not possible. Surely we would have sensed it… at least you or I would have." Saru reasoned but she shook her head. They could discuss it more later given it would easily explain how they got here. Lorca was a good actor. Now, they needed a plan. She couldn't stay in the vents or Jefferies tubes.

"We had no idea, Sir. But he's starting a coup against the Emperor….. Logic tells me that Lorca wants to use me… or at least my nature to take control." That itself did show a darker image on what could happen here. Vampires didn't exist here and they shouldn't. Even if Philippa was to survive and turn; it shouldn't be here.

"We cannot allow that."

"I agree. But I can find a way to blow up the ship; take us all out and the problem will go away."

"That'd certainly kill you."

"It's better than the alternative, Sir." Michael argued. "When I snapped, I attacked and bit the emperor. She's turning now. I can't risk my nature being used like this, not for her, not for him and I can't risk Discovery either. You need to leave."

"We're not leaving you behind, Burnham." Saru stood up, shaking his head. "I won't consider it but, we're on our way to you. Let us work a way to take out the ship and get you back."

It was clear Saru wasn't going to move from his stance so Michael nodded. "What do you need me to do?"

"We've already been looking into it," Paul spoke up, moving into frame more. "After my head shattered, my mind was drawn into the network. There's a corruption happening that needs to be resolved. The Orb that powers the ship is our target."

"I've also ran some simulations." Tilly called though. Michael's eyes flickered off screen to her general direction. "But there's a containment field surrounding the orb."

Michael nodded. "Then I need to turn it off?"

"Yes, but it'll take us time to get to you. You also need to stall the coup and ensure that Lorca has no idea."

"Yes, sir. I'll signal you when I'm ready, Burnham out."

hehe okay, the next chapter will a done a lot later; I have other writing i've been neglecting to get another chapter out here so I'll need to catch up on those first before i get to another chapter here.

as usual, drop from love and some comments.

although, would anyone be against writing up some... vampire smut? Not necessarily from THIS universe I've created but there's always some subtext to relationships that I could briefly look into, even if it's not my canon.

If so, feel free to post a ship (s1 or s2 era) into my comments ( like MichealxAsh or MichalxPike)