The planet's air was cool, ticking at her senses as the breeze fluttered over her skin. Michael blinked, though she could feel that it was almost earth like in not just appearance but in plant life too. Large trees, though the flower life differed. The planet's rings though, that stood out most in the day sky. Though the sun shone down, Michael couldn't hear anyone in the immediate area but she still lifted the hood of her cowl properly, knowing the effect on her skin would have.

Owosekun was far too engrossed to their surroundings, in fact, the ops officer looked elevated to be here; eyes darting around, taking in the air, and filling her lungs with its sweet atmosphere with a smile before her attention returned quickly. The smile didn't disappear.

Michael checked herself over; her contacts were in and lasting. Thankfully, Airiam had even managed to improve upon the last ones she had developed. They'd last much longer. Under her shirt, Michael could feel the squishy blood bag she had there against her ribs. An emergency supply. The coolness of her flesh would keep it cool as if refrigerated. She doubted Pike would be pleased if they got stranded and her food source was…everyone else.

"Let's go." Pike prompted, nodding forwards towards the church

Michael nodded, her hands dropping from her sides and went to her utility bag and pulled out her tricorder. "No life-signs inside."

Pike nodded, "Keep your phasers on stun, handy but out of sight."

All three of their phasers beeped as they adjusted them though Michael couldn't help note the slider setting was far too loose on Owosekun's. She made a mental note for engineering to look into it. The last thing they needed was to accidentally slip it onto kill than stun by pulling it out too hard.

Pike took the lead inside, pausing in the doorway.

Inside, it was fairly ornate. She could smell the old scent of varnish and dust, the candles lit smelt somewhat like beeswax— assuming this planet has a similar insect— and there smell of human scents, fresh by a few hours and old hung around, stagnated with very little ventilation. There were rows and rows of wooden benches facing the end where two podiums stood and behind that, a small alter that looked to house candles and spiritual nick-knacks that she could assume were a type of offerings. All the glass, she could see where pictures of scenes of both were familiar from her studies and non-.

"Have any of you been inside a church before?" Pike's voice echoed though there was a surprisingly soft edge to his tone, his eyes swept around, taking it in.

Owosekun shook her head. "No. My family are non-believers."

"I'm familiar with Earth's texts." No, religion was never a strong suit nor interest but it had a big part of Earth's history. Conflict of belief, using religions and the innocent spiritual side of it that had cultured tied around it. All cultures had it in one form or another.

But looking around, there were clear signs of the others blended into this building. She couldn't be sure which religion they were using as a basis either although Christianity had a…more predominant place over the others. Something she knew to be wary of. Christianity had no love for Vampires if their mythos was any indication.

"Okay, let's take a closer look….see why they're calling for help."

Michael nodded, darting forwards towards the end within a heartbeat, her fingers coming to a large textbook that stood awaiting.

"Best…not to use your speed, Commander. Eyes could be anywhere." Pike called up, blinking with a mild sense of surprise on his face.

Her eyes rose from the page, resisting a smile though nodded. "There's no one in this vicinity. Only the three of us." Though she could hear steps all around and their heartbeats, there was none to suggest they were outside with their faces pressed up against the window.

Pike didn't answer but didn't look remarkably comforted by her words as he strode up towards the other stand, his attention drifting to it.

"The signal is coming from bellow, basement perhaps." Owosekun mused, her tricorder out as she scanned though she straightened up. "What if they don't know it's even on?"

Pike's head rose. "What?"

Owosekun pursed her lips thoughtfully, her fingers fiddling with the straps of her bag. "If it's been going on for 200 years, and given no one is at all panicking—right?" her eyes darted to Michael.

Ah, her hearing.

"No one." She confirmed, all too normal and quiet for any signs of a struggle. "But if that's the case, we'd have to shut it down."

Pike mulled silently, "We'd have to see what we can find here while we do that. Answers."

"We'd have to talk to the locals." Owosekun mused though her face etched with a hint of concern.

"Let's get familiar with this place and their culture before we dive in and start asking around," Michael suggested, patting the books. "What's our cover, captain?"

Pike turned his focus to his book, pulling off the fabric covering. "We're from up north, a small settlement of a few hundred, not as in touch with our religion but we're looking into our ancestry for answers on how we got here by exploring our cousin settlements."

"If anyone questions our technology, it's old and passed down to help for our location and protection," Michael added.

"Works for me."

"Providence?"

"What?" Pike looked to Owosekun.

"Our….settlement. Providence. It means wisdom or foresight, depending on your way of life." Owosekun moved ahead, slipping passed the podium to a secondary door out. "Better we're all on the same page about the details if we get separated. Might be awkward if we all gave out different names for one place we supposedly come from."

"True." Michael mused though she began to scan through the pages with the tricorder. Her eyes ran faster, taking in the pages but not everything seemed….relevant to what they needed to know. "This settlement seems to have…blurred together a religion using Earth's primary religious as a basis."

"There's a lot of references to World War three and escape of a nuclear bomb."

"Then it's certainly no coincidences from our data…. How does a church, a large population of humans with enough genetic diversity to keep going this long stuck in the middle of a nuclear war suddenly end up 51,000 light-years away on an alien planet? With a basement intact and everything." Michael questioned, it certainly didn't seem random. "Could the original group that was taken here taken because they were about to die? No one knew they were missing of they were presumed dead?"

"Who knows but what did bring them here meant for them to survive. We need to know why and who."

They relapsed into silence for a moment though Pike drifted away from the book his attention moving to the windows. "The main window, that's not a piece to one of earth's religions." He nodded forwards.

Michael's eyes flickered up.

The main window was ornamentally red in shading, but the main figure wasn't…too defined but it was humanoid and grey that had stretched out wings from behind its back. A blank faced looked towards them and above on a separate panel was the church. Either side was scenes of bombs dropping. The right held two humans and the left panel held the shuttle, bombs falling into smoke. It pained a very dated picture but the angel in the centerpiece was… its prime focus.

Interesting.

"An angel of sorts." Though given its coloring, it didn't seem to be all divine but they didn't have the context to understand it.

Michael's attention drifted as she heard a stern set of footprints, heavy footsteps and a large heartbeat.

"A human male is coming. 23 seconds away." Michael informed, shoving her tricorder away into her bag and readjusted her hood.

Owosekun scrambled back quickly, straightening her outfit and checking to make sure everything was tucked away before she placed herself by the window with a curious expression. Pike didn't so anything except straighten up and put his hands in his pockets and frowned as if pondering something intensely.

Michael loosened up her stiff statue and shifted her weight casually as she shifted to stand next to Pike. She felt…more comfortable that way plus anyone attention would no doubt be drawn to him; no one would miss him being their 'leader', even in their cover context.

A few seconds to spare, they waited until the door opened, turning their attention to see a far balding, dark-skinned male, wind-warn and dressed less smartly than them though his brown eyes washed over them quickly, he frowned though deeply.

"Why aren't you in the fields?"

"We're not from here," Pike spoke up first, smiling softly. "We're from the north, I'm Christopher, and these two are Michael and Joann."

Though she had expected him to use first-name basic, Michael couldn't help but feel a…slither of enjoyment to hear him say her first name. Her personal name. But she squashed that down quickly. Not now.

The man's face smoothened out, understanding quickly. "I see." Though his eyes drifted to her, Michael blinked, holding his look. "We're getting ready for the evening now. We don't get visitors often so our All-mother will want to welcome you."

"Of course," Pike nodded, moving forwards towards him. "I should apologize, we're…a traveling group so we may not have the same customs as yours. I do not wish for any…misunderstandings"

"I understand, given this is your first time in New Eden. I'm Jacob, Please, follow me." He smiled though gestured away towards the door. Pike nodded though didn't hesitate to take the lead out before Jacob followed to lead the direction. Michael adjusted her cowl properly though nodded for Owosekun to lead in front.


It had been oddly pleasant as they got settled. The all-mother, Amesha had opened up with a graceful welcome speech before a communal food gathering was brought open.

Michael though sat distantly, watching with a half-empty plate; hiding the food into her bag was the best to maintain the image of eating. Owosekun was all too happy to eat and chat. She could sense the spikes of domain and endorphins to know how happy she was about it. It was probably the food, she could deduce. First non-replicated food in a while.

Michael found herself watching as Pike talked and mingled, keeping tabs on their cover. Yet here, in this atmosphere, she found her guard lowering. She could tell he was relaxed, despite the maintained cover but there was little he needed to lie about his youth—except the technology and presence of earth-animals but it wasn't hard to alter the story to fit the environment.

Here, the draw to him was still more profound. Out of uniform, the lack of formalities was tantalizing. Personal. Michael knew she shouldn't enjoy this but… she found herself unable to help up. Plus, the looser collar exposed a little more skin…

"This is delicious!" Owosekun whispered gleefully, happily biting into as baseball-sized tomato as if it was an apple. "It's been so long since I had an actual tomato, from the actual ground." Her tone quietening a fraction as she spoke the last bit.

"You can have my food later," Michael promised softly, patting her bag.

"Yes!" Owosekun's grin widened. "I'm really glad you can't eat now."

Michael couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm before a young girl skipped towards their table and sat down with a near-empty, obviously, curiosity getting the better of her

"I'm Rose. Your friend said you were visiting from up north." The girl said, picking up a carrot stick from her plate and crunching into it. "What's it like?"

"Cold." Michael started, earning a light jab in the stomach from the lieutenant though she got a raised eyebrow from the girl.

"I know that."

Owosekun snorted, "It is cold but we bundle uptight and keep working."

"What do you do there?"

"I worked in textiles. You know, clothes and tents, even knitting. But I decided I wanted to travel, see more of this planet and our people. You can get a lot of…inspiration from other places." The way she spoke was filled heftily with passion in its undertones. Michael found herself a little more pulled into it.

"What about you?" Rose's eyes were lit more with interest.

"I'm…. a scientist. I'm trying to…understand more of how we got here. Before I worked in our library, my parents helped make books."

"You have a library? That's cool. We've just been able to develop a better printing press in my parent's workshop so we'll have more books soon." Rose spoke, eating the rest of her carrot. "My Mom's been able to print a few copies of our bible and history, so none of us forgets it."

Michael's head turned. "How many?"

Rose shrugged, "Five, I suppose."

Michael sat back though she felt a sense of importance. That was a lead…. If they could get their hands on a book, then they shouldn't need to ask too many people.

"Is…there a chance you could show one to me?"

"Don't you know it already?"

Michael shook her head. "No, Providence…doesn't hold a lot to faith at the moment so it's lost a little on us through the years. It's…why we're here. To learn more."

Rose pursed her lips. "I'll… have to see. My parents are at another place to help with setting up their own press and construction. I'm still trying to get our lights up going at the church with Jacob."

"Of course." Though that did leave more of an opening. She knew the teenager's scent to know her home; it'd be easy to track through the place.


It wasn't long before the food was consumed and they all helped in cleaning it up until they were called to fellow-ship meetings, to the topic of their beginnings. Michael had a hunch that Amesha was humoring their interests but was glad to share it nonetheless.

Though Michael airily listened, allowing the human to speak their story of how they arrived. Allowing herself to ask a few…specific questions. She felt…sceptical about an angel but what they claimed to be divine, it was more likely alien intervention, though Jacob's answer was what pulled her full attention.

"We have a…old helmet camera that recorded footage, unfriendly….it's broken. Our relics are rotting by age." Jacob spoke, disappointed but Michael couldn't help but note there was a shift in his posture, how he spoke, even a shift of how he was looking at them.

Her eyes narrowed a fraction though nodded.

"We have no need of proof," Amesha spoke, her eyes flicking over to Jacob with a slight frown—displeased a little. "We're guided by something much bigger than ourselves. Our Faith." She straightened up.

Pike shifted as he moved, the low cracks of a joint echoing though it added to what he said next. "It's…getting late. We're setting out early tomorrow." He rose to his feet properly, pulling the creases from his shirt as he did so and grabbed his jacket. "Would you mind if we take shelter in your church?"

Amesha shook her head. "Of course not."

"Thank you for the fellowship."

Amesha smiled with a nod, "Peace be with you."

"And with you," Pike responded with before he departed. Michael smiled and followed suit.


They were almost at the church when she heard feet running after them. She paused, turning to see Rose's small figure pelting towards them.

"Michael!"

The other two behind her turned back, Pike's expression masking his surprise though Michael gave him a tight smile.

"I'll handle her, sir." She whispered.

Pike nodded, "Once you're done, meet us back here. We'll wait for your arrival before we beam back."

"Yes, sir." Michael nodded before she moved to meet the teenager hallway.

"How early will you be going?" The girl's breath slightly labored, her small heart pounding fast from the spurt of exercise. "Because I won't be able to get you that book you wanted to read if you leave too soon."

"Quite, I'm afraid. It's a sixteen-hour long journey back to Providence, it's not wise to camp in the wilderness for too long." Michael responded with, allowing an apologetic expression to cross her face.

"That long?" Rose pulled a face, mulling for a second. "Come with me, you can help me find my dad's much-less loved copy he won't miss. You could take that."

Michael's head tilted though Rose didn't wait for an answer before dashing off. Michael followed easily though as they got further into the settlement, she couldn't help but notice the houses got a little closer together. The water of the near lake much louder and there was a low grinding of wood and water. A mill, perhaps.

"Here's the workshop. It should be bound by a…wooden cover. The pages are quite springy so we have to use a clasp to keep it shut." Rose spoke, opening up a set of large double doors.

Inside was dark, though her eyes could take in the clear indications for the workshop. Piles of wood, log and refined were stacked at the far side, tools of the trade were hung up on shelves and a large frame sat in the center, paper; plain and printed sat all other the place. The smell of ink and pine were the most prominent smells that hung in the air.

"You start there, I'll look here." Rose directed. Handing over a candle for her to see

Michael nodded though she allowed her nose to guide her first for the stronger smell of pine and ink, lifting up a few sheets of paper to find two hard-cover cases, only a few pages inside. Not complete.

"This one?" Michael's eyes rose to see a spine sticking out on the shelf pulling it free. It was thick but not too long and it smelt like its cover was fresh and the ink smell was faded.

"Let's see." Rose abandoned her side of the room before taking it from her and flicked it open. Immediately, the pages sprung up like a coil. "Yep!" She flipped the cover back over, clasping it shut.

Michael smiled softly, "Thank you."

Rose smiled though she handed it back. "There are a few errors in this version but…should be what you're looking for."

"I appreciate it." Michael spoke, genuine as she settled the page to rest comfortably in her arms, but as she went to say something else, she felt a sudden sensation run through her head. It wasn't sharp, nor painful but uncomfortable. Like a jolt but… she could feel where it had come from…echoing from her weak bond. From Pike. It filled her with a sudden sense of urgency.

Michael's jaw snapped shut, the protective urge suddenly spiking through her… Pike was hurt… had to be to feel something so profound.

"We need to get back…"

Rose's eyes widened, her change of demeanor noticeable but she nodded. "Is everything okay?"

Michael didn't answer but she took the lead to a jog, forcing herself slow as Rose ran with her. It took a few minutes before the Church came into sight, even in their distance, they both sat Pike and Owosekun running out of the doors and back towards the tent at the center

"The visitors are from the first earth!" Jacob's voice echoed. "They brought amazing things, technology…err weapons, science, and data collection equipment. Look, you'll believe."

"Jacob." Amesha echoed with great contempt.

"What happened to 'thou shall not steal'?" Pike's voice thundered, his heart racing in his chest as he slowed down inside

Michael slipped into the tent, startling Owosekun though she gave the lieutenant an odd look. She was clearly missing something. "What's going on?" She questioned, pretending to pant a little for breath from her run. Drawing all their attention.

"Indeed." Amesha agreed, stepping back from the table.

"Look, I just want you to see the truth! These people aren't from here, they're from a starship! They can take us home" Jacob started, his eyes darting around, begging even for the answer to be positive.

Michael frowned, posing the expression of confusion on her face. She could tell ordinarily, she'd feel more to what this guy wanted to hear. But she felt…nothing. Perhaps it was her nature that stopped that…deeper connection. She wasn't human, she couldn't be swayed like that. She hardly knew him to grow to care for it.

"But our home is here," Michael responded. "Earth is gone… it's not possible. Our stuff is old, passed down from our parents to help us in our travels."

"Michael is right." Amesha spoke, "I know you live in the old way but that's not ours. You cannot create the fantasy of any and all new guests to be…part of something that doesn't exist just because of their heirlooms that aren't ours. They are not of our culture, Jacob"

Jacob huffed out, shaking her head. "No."

"He attacked us, All-mother, it violates everything the faith holds dear." Pike spoke up, "Give us back what you took, we'll leave. Now."

It was the sound that caught her attention from behind. Michael's head turned to see Rose bending down, picking up the phaser but to her horror, the motion alone as flicked the blue stun onto a deadly red.

"Oh shit." Owosekun's attention moving as the sound echoed

Michael knew the moment that Pike was going to take action before his body even moved. Impulse on her own part took over; she could not allow him to get hurt; the blast, she could hear the energy riling up; while she was not fireproof and she did anticipate a burn, better her skin than Pikes, she'd survive but she'd have to play dead; a human would not be conscious and she couldn't receive medical treatment that any of the people he could provide. Her skin was cold enough and she lacked a pulse; they'd assume and Pike and Owosekun would have to follow that.

It took a fraction of a second to move ahead, pushing Pike back before she grabbed the whining phaser and threw herself down— her back to the young girl to protect her from the blast; then she felt it go.

Immediately, she felt the force plow into her stomach, the heart that seared her clothes, burning through her side; singing the stone flesh, her nose smelling the burning plastic and singed blood from the blood-bag, her weight though kept her from flying away but it flipped her onto her back.

Michael stayed still, keeping her eyes clothes and breath baited as she felt Pike's hot hands, Owosekun too on her shoulder.

"Michael!" He knew, of course, she was not fatally injured. But she knew it probably looked worse. The gambit had been played, he just needs to sell it. His hand went to her throat, checking for a pulse. "Michael!"

"Is she…" Amesha spoke, her voice high with worry, hovering back.

"She's gone."

Michael took that easily, keeping her breath held though she heard him shift, could hear how fast Pike's heart was and the others.

"Let… Let's take her to the church." Owosekun decided quickly, her voice light "Decide what to do from there."

"Can't you use your technology? Revive her?" Jacob's voice was light, almost as if he was ready to faint but there was a forced edge of pleading; fear settling into his system on what had occurred.

"That technology is old. Passed down, Jacob." Pike hissed, his head shaking "I should have realized…."

"I'm sorry…" It was the little girl, her voice quiet.

Pike shifted, the tense grip against Michael's flesh softening. "It's not your fault." After a moment, he moved, his hands slipping under her shoulders and knees. "Joann, take our stuff. Leave us to our grief, Jacob." His tone left little to debate as he pushed himself up. The solid mass under her disappearing though Michael forced herself to remain limp, her head lolling back and her arm dangling out. He didn't wait before she felt his muscles ripple and the wind with the motion as he began walking.

Though she stayed quiet, feeling the light of the tent fade away, hearing the other's heartbeats…tracking how far they were getting

"I would have been okay with injured." Michael mused quietly, though didn't otherwise move as she was carried, eyes could see further than sound.

Pike huffed out. "Get the door." Owosekun moved forwards, the sound of the door echoing and the familiar scent of the candles increasing before she felt the lights change against her eyelids.

"Amesha's hurrying our way," Michael noted, hearing the other set of feet, in case the two wondered why she maintained her position. Carefully, though, she felt Pike start to lower her down, the warm pine and old varnish quickly informed her of it being a bench.

"You're burned."

She felt his touch careful to edges of the burned material.

"It's fine." Michael assured, her eyes flickering open a fraction "my forms starting to compensate but cover any exposed skin, the blood on contact will be…absorbed. Fluid will build up"

"I can't contact discovery." Owosekun hissed out, the sound of the communicator chirping but was faced with a static sound. "What if we're stuck?"

"Then I can be buried for a while."

She could feel the scathing look she got but she heard the doors open again, forcing her to retain her new deceased appearance.

"I am so sorry!" Amesha's voice was wrapped with guilt, "I'm so terribly sorry this had happened for you."

Pike moved, kneeling beside her though she felt his hand slip into hers; holding it tightly; playing a grieving friend.

"Do not blame yourself, All-mother." He assured, inhaling heavily. "This was our fault. We had that weapon for protection on our journey… its age must have caught up as soon as it turned on."

"Is there anything that we can do?" Amesha pressed, "I will certainly pray to our angel but there must be something we can do?"

Pike sighed, staying quiet for a long moment. "I want to take her back to the north to be buried with her parents… but I don't think that is possible."

"It's a long journey." Owosekun agreed softly.

"We can bury her here," Amesha offered. "It'll take us a few hours to get the grave dug but we'll do it. For her."

Michael gently squeezed his hand subtly, a hint to agree.

He sighed, relenting to circumstance. "Yes, please but may you leave us? We have to say our goodbyes."

"Of course, anything you need, just ask." Amesha hovered for only a few more seconds before she left, shutting the doors after her.

Both humans let out a heavy breath, Pike moved, letting his hand slip free though it left hers feeling empty and cold. Almost disappointing. Michael opened her eyes though she pursed her lips as she felt her brown contacts dissolve, blinking up to see the captain pace close by.

"Owosekun, try Discovery again."

Owosekun shook her head, her fingers fiddling with her communicator "Something's interfering with our communications. I can try and boost it with the distress signal from the basement, I might be able to get through to Discovery."

"Do it." His attention turned back to her, his attention solid with a mixture of emotions. She could feel ebbs of anger, irritation, and frustration taint his bloodstream but there were partial relief and calmness that evened it out. "You shouldn't have done that, Michael."

Michael shrugged. "I did. I can play dead for days but that damage would have killed you." She held his stare. "Discovery can still beam me back as long as I have a communicator on me. Even 6 feet under. The prime directive can still be upheld if I'm buried and you two leave. No one will see us go. I can always dig myself out, you know."

Pike sucked his teeth but he gave a nod to her fair point. "Our 'north' customs should be enough for us to put you in the box ourselves. We can't risk them looking at the injury and wonder why you're so cold so soon."

"Rigor mortis will be easy to mimic."

"Burnham…" Pike's eyes closed, "Let's…not go there. I need to think."

Michael nodded, closing her eyes once again.