"So your little toadstool engine broke down without me here to tend to it," Reno baited Stamets while visiting him in Sickbay the next day. "Not surprising."
"The mushroom motor is fine; however, its navigator is grounded for another week," Dr. Pollard interjected as she checked the monitors above Stamets. "If you can manage to behave, you are released to quarters and light activity. In no universe or network, mycelial or otherwise, do these instructions permit a visit to engineering, the spore farm, nor work of any shape or kind. Don't make me outfit you with a remote monitor," she issued a final warming with a finger wag before leaving.
"This gives me time to fix the ship up before you break it again," Reno observed.
"Perhaps it is of interest, and I remind you, you are present here today because I jumped this ship despite the peril to my well-being," Stamets retorted with a snort.
Reno sat back in her seat and cocked her head to one side. "Hmmm, yes, well done you. I must admit that was appreciated. Yet …"
Stamets raised an eyebrow.
"Yet, these calamities happen when you allow a scientist to pretend he is an engineer." She patted his hand. "Not to worry, I have decided to take you under my wing and teach you everything I know. In a decade or so you should be a credible junior mechanic."
"I am already adept with duct tape, and I abhor chewing gum. Is there anything else you have to teach?"
She chuckled. "Touché. And round one to you, since you're not at your fighting weight and I am a generous woman." Her voice quieted. "Thank you. Your heroics saved Captain Pike, who I have become fond of, and Hiten, who is now my favorite privateer."
His nod acknowledged her words and their sentiment. "Do you know many pirates?" Stamets shook his head. "Never mind, don't answer that. The less I know about your past exploits the happier I will be."
"Privateer, not pirate."
"Isn't a privateer a hired pirate?" Stamets pointed out.
Reno grinned and stood, "Of course. Take me up soon on my offer to learn you the ropes because I am considering turning pirate myself and signing up for a tour on the Vayu II. Must run. Have a date with Malie. We'll have a fungi pizza in your honor." She added with hints of mischief and awe in her tone of voice, "If I play my cards right, I could be the mother of dragons."
ooooo
"Christopher."
"Hiten. Here for medical attention after your chat with Una?" Pike asked with a wry smile.
"She is logical and pragmatic, and I am exceedingly charming. We … ah … worked it out … after a time. And a rather thunderous conversation. Una is also extraordinarily creative in the intimate arts." Hiten flexed his sore shoulder. "You are fortunate to have such a remarkable lady serving as your XO."
"On that we agree. What can I do for you?"
Hiten handed Pike a PADD. "An itemization of Vayu's replacement cost, my crew's services, the cargo we jettisoned before rushing to liberate you, and other missed business opportunities. It is, in total, a small but fair sum for compensation. After all, we did save the renowned and mighty Captain Pike, a legend in his own mind … I mean time. Evidently rescuing one of its Captains, despite the plethora of ready replacements, is important to Starfleet."
"Business opportunities?" Pike questioned in an incredulous tone. "Is that the current politically correct term for swindling and pillaging?"
"I provide important law enforcement in an area with little oversight. The goods I … procure … were, generally, stollen from those in need and enriching another's avarice. Indeed I am continually astounded no medal is forthcoming for my retrieval services. By the way ridding the rim of that particular Klingon nuisance is gratis."
"How very generous."
"Add your signature and I will return you to Dr. Pollard's excellent ministrations," Hiten urged.
"You realize I cannot see this?" Pike reminded.
"You do not trust me, Christopher?" Hiten retorted in an innocent but slightly hurt tone, his expression serious. The effect was masterful on the nearby medical staff. One doctor discretely gave Hiten her hailing frequency.
"No. Should I?
Hiten chuckled. "No."
"Starfleet will compensate market value for your lost ship. As you saved my crew, we'll make that recompence adequate for the purchase of a vessel built in this century."
Hiten mockingly placed his hands over his heart as if injured. He then narrated in an exaggerated tone, "You wound me to the quick. The Vayu may have been ancient, but she was hardy."
"That she was." Chris agreed then reminded, "Starfleet does not pay for stolen property." He paused. "However, Mr. Saru informs me there is a steep bounty for those particular renegade Klingons. I have transmitted a witness statement to the requisite authorities detailing how you and your crew defeated them. That should be enough to claim the reward."
"An equitable offer, I accept." Hiten held out his hand. It hung motionless in the air for a few seconds before he remembered Chris could not see the gesture. Saddened at the likelihood the vision would not return, Hiten withdrew his hand and clasped Pike's shoulder. He said softly, "I am here, my friend, for whatever you may need."
ooooo
"I thought this only happens in the movies!" Tilly exclaimed to those sharing a table in the mess hall. She was fully healed and rested from her ordeal, and riding survivor's high plus the euphoria that Captain Pike was not, after all, killed in action. With this rush she could gratefully push her romantic feelings for their commander and her egregious actions on the Vayu out of mind, at least for a few hours. She thought, I'll deal with that later, before continuing, "A commander saves his recently promoted ensign at the peril of his own life. And, at the very last second, just as the Vayu begins to break apart, in jumps Discovery and transports us to safety. Add the rescue attempt, Keyla flying a shuttle like a glider, the crash, our heroic Captain carrying the unconscious Keyla, Bonnie, and Reno off the shuttle, the ice shelter to ride out the storm he builds after being blinded! And the angst! The fear! The warm cave! A modern-day Robin Hood pirate! Bipedal baby dragons! Really, if we could sell it, it would be a blockbuster. I wonder who would play me?"
Detmer, Bonnie, and Tilly were updating Owo, Rhys, Bryce, and Airiam. The later four had believed their colleagues perished in the rescue attempt.
"Don't forget your own heroics, saving the Captain from plunging into that icy pond and inserting that chest tube," Detmer said.
"I only helped him find the right location, Captain Pike told me what to do and he pushed it in," Tilly corrected.
"Don't downplay it!" Bonnie scolded. "You made sure he survived the night."
Detmer added, "And in quite a provocative way." Tilly shook her head and waved her hands. Detmer continued with a grin, "Still, whatever works. Duty calls. And all that."
Trying for a change of subject Tilly asked, "Have you met Una? Though it's not like she of all people needs an introduction! She is amazing! … Oooops, I mean Commander Una. And she is the ultimate badass. She scares me a bit. I can't imagine anyone on Enterprise steps out of line when she is within ear or eye shot."
"New role model?" Owo inquired.
"Maybe. She's brilliant, successful, beautiful and XO of one of the most well-known ships in the fleet. Captain Pike trusts her implicitly. She'll be a Captain one day soon. What's not to emulate?" Tilly answered.
"Where's Michael? I thought she was coming." Airiam said.
"In our quarters, she's … I think perhaps she and Saru butted heads during the mission. She asked for a few minutes to herself."
"Circling back for a moment," Bonnie started then paused unsure whether to continue. Maybe it's better to let this go, she thought. Instead she forged ahead, "Inserting that chest tube, that's battlefield medicine. Where does a Captain learn that?"
"Night school?" Bryce responded. When the others stared he said, "It was a joke. Isn't that part of the advanced medic course?"
"No. Well, not all of them. Not unless …" Bonnie's voice trailed off.
"Go on," Owo prompted.
"Captain Pike knows how to treat wounds typically only seen after accidents or in armed conflicts," Bonnie replied.
"On the planet, he repelled down the mountain facing out rather than towards the rock. At the time he insisted it was the only method fast enough to reach me before I tumbled off the ledge," Tilly explained with wide eyes. "When I asked, he brushed it off as 'a little extra training'. But I don't remember that from the Academy."
Owo went next. "On New Eden he was lightening quick, fast enough to grab that overloading phaser and get far enough away before containing the explosion using his body. All without endangering the rest of us."
"His piloting techniques are standard training for combat maneuvers," Rhys added.
"Command kept him and Enterprise away from the Klingon war," Airaim pointed out.
"They were too far away to be of any help, to get home in time," Rhys answered.
"No, the data doesn't support that," Airaim countered.
Bonnie summed up for the group, "I think there is a great deal more to our new Captain than we know."
ooooo
Late that evening, Saru entered Sickbay. Unsure if his commander slept, he started to retreat.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Saru?" Pike asked.
The Kelpien edged closer to the biobed.
Pike added, "A problem with the ship or one of the crew?"
"No sir. How did you know it was I?"
"A sixth sense. And your very quiet footsteps," Pike responded before asking, "What's up?"
"It is personal. I should not have disturbed your rest, but I established a habit of coming to you with these questions and you have given useful advice."
Chris propped on an elbow and then gingerly rose to a sitting position. "Go on. I appreciate the company."
Saru's cheeks heated. "Very well. What is the significance of a human third date?"