Michael was sat back against the sofa in the ready room still. They hadn't left for a while and the doors were secured but neither of them needed to move just yet, so they hadn't. Chris was leaning against her side, his head resting on her shoulder and his eyes were closed though she knew he was still conscious.
She knew that…he was adjusting to varying degrees now. The imprint bond was fully formed now but its sudden nature of the bonds repairing had been unexpected on Chris's part so she felt that it had much more of an impact on him, more so on the fact he was human. But…she felt that these hours after had been necessary for him as much for her to adapt to this…link between them.
It had resumed its former glory of golden threads, its warmth was…enticing and she could just…feel a part of Chris's mind there. Nothing…intrusive as of yet but it fed back impressions from him, emotions mostly; she could feel his mental fatigue, excitement…calm, and a mild sense of hunger—either a missed meal or this had played a part in burning up some energy. She could assume he'd get more…intuitive towards her now, even if he wasn't able to feel as much as she did but Michael was not displeased about this.
She couldn't deny her curiosity…with their bond, their relationship would no doubt be much more ahead but…she felt ready. Confident. This was real and…she couldn't deny it to herself nor Chris now, even with the caution that came with it.
Still, Saru had been right…
"We…we should probably get ready for the shuttle," Chris spoke quietly up, breaking the silence between them but didn't open his eyes or move. He was far too comfortable; he wanted to stay here all day.
It made her smile somewhat before she gently moved to stand and pulled the creases from her uniform, leaving Chris to sit up though took the hint because outside of these walls was a ship to run and a Vulcan to confront and rescue. Both of their responsibilities as commander and captain while Saru was recovering.
Chris took a second longer to compose himself, running a hand through his hair and straightened out his jacket as well before nodding swiftly.
"Do you think we could…see each other later, off duty?"
Michael nodded. "I think that'd be wise." They had a lot to properly address, even if they had otherwise expended that time now but later seemed prudent; out of uniform, they could feel more…free to speak and not hold up in the captain's ready room when they were still, technically on duty.
Entering the bridge, the little bubble that had lingered around them popped and Michael immediately darted to the monitor, relieving Linus though she caught up easily on the data coming in from the sensors.
All around there was a buzz, not necessarily of anticipation but there was definitely some adrenaline pumping, more so with Detmer given her pursuit of the warp trail; she could see how the human was sitting at the helm and how focused she was.
"Captain, I've picked up the trail of Spock's shuttle," Detmer called out.
"Alter course and intercept," Pike called out.
While it was a redundant request, Detmer was smart enough to anticipate the order though she picked up speed quite quickly.
On the viewscreen, there white, the medical shuttle was attempting to dart away, though she could see the red haze of the nebular; large though it almost the illusion of being much closer than it actually was.
"Distance is five thousand kilometres and closing," Owosekun spoke.
Pike moved, his attention casting to Rhys's screen though a deep frown lining his face, edged with mild confusion as the tactical officer spoke
"Sir, his shields are up and weapons are hot."
Michael frowned deeply, though she couldn't quite understand why Spock would make such an aggressive stance when logically, a ship verses a shuttle wasn't on the same playing field. Well, a shuttle could quite easily outmanoeuvre them and slip away but they had the trail now to follow. A shuttle couldn't outlast a ship. What was he doing?
"Why the aggressive stance?" Pike asked, more so to himself as he headed to the captain's chair though didn't sit.
"Is Spock aware that you're on this ship?" Michael proposed softly, "By all accounts, he could assume that we're here to take him in."
"I did inform him when I left the Enterprise in case he needed to communicate with me from the facility."
"Sir, I'm not picking up any life signs from the ship."
Michael froze. On the screen, the ship picked up speed; clearly manoeuvred in a way that an autopilot could not. By all account, the nebular could distort signals but they were too far out.
"Spock's not on that shuttle."
Within a second, all head turned to her, even Pike's that turned into a more in-depth frown.
"What?" he asked.
"A vampire is on that shuttle. We don't have life-signs and that shuttle is too far from the nebular to be distorted." Michael spoke. "It's clearly being navigated by a manual pilot."
"Then we still have to get more answers to what they're doing there." Pike decided swiftly. "Ideas?"
"The vampire will anticipate our actions, I suggest to we slow but launch a torpedo but detonate it before impact. The blast will cause some of the gas to ignite which is disorientating to our vision."
"And it'll knock the shuttle out of commission in the process" Pike finished, "Bryce, launch one class one torpedo and detonate it 100 meters from the shuttle."
"Aye Sir,"
Michael turned away from the view screen, for her eye sake before the bridge was lit up, she could feel the light against her skin, no doubt casing off her flesh like a discoball before the light faded, she turned back around though she could see the shuttle now flying off, adrift.
"The shuttle's been disabled."
"Burnham, recommendations with this?"
"Evacuate the shuttle bay and activate the jammers." Now she was thankful now that new implant but… was this work exposing to the unknown vampire? She'd have to see. "I'll make first approach."
"Commander Nhan, get a team together and meet us at the shuttle bay," Pike added to the Barzan in question who had been stationed on a near tactical monitor. She nodded quickly, jumping up from the monitor.
"Yes, Sir"
"Burnham, with me."
Michael all but zoomed to the shuttle bay, beating the teams down there and leaving Captain Pike jogging before Nhan tapped a monitor by the door. Immediately though, the familiar ring of the resonators echoed. Michael pulled a face as she felt the shudder down her body but she nodded and the doors opening.
She took the lead, the team and Pike spread out behind her, near the door but she was glad they knew to keep a distance. There was no movement on the inside, at least, none she could detect. She tapped the panel, authorising her access before the doors opened though, before the full draw-back of both doors, the scent that came out immediately flowed out given how saturated it had been inside. There were two other scents, one human and one Vulcan though she didn't pay that too much heed given the overpowering vampire scent
Her eyes darkened and her fangs sharpened though she didn't hesitate to dart in and straight to the pilot's seat.
Philippa Georgiou was sat frozen, her hand gripping the monitor and the seat, the posture suggesting she had been in the verge of getting up. Her eyes were black as well and between her lips, her teeth had sharpened.
"Really?" Michael growled dryly, knowing full well the woman could hear here. "Computer, disable the jammers."
Within a second, the buzz was gone but within that moment, Michael didn't hesitate to grasp the vampire by the throat and pulled her out the seat and quite literally, tossed her out the shuttle. Georgiou rolled then landed on her feet, knees bent into a full crouch though her eyes glistened with unkempt excitement and aggression.
"Well, this isn't the welcome I quite expected." She hissed.
Michael hissed though she zoomed towards her and intercepted her fist and pulled her towards her in the same motion and kicked her leg out from under her, though the emperor seemed mildly surprised as she shoved her straight into her back.
"You're losing your touch," Michael replied, kneeling on her chest, a hand to her throat though she vaguely heard Captain call her attention, most of it was to Philippa. Her hands coming to her wrist, trying to prise her off but they both knew this wasn't a serious fight. Simply re-establishing their positions. If the emperor wanted a proper fight, Michael knew she would have tried harder than allow her to win so easily and quickly.
Under her, Philippa smirked and shrugged. "It's been a while and I'm thirsty." Though after a second, her hands dropped from her wrist, palms out to her and her head rolled back, exposing more of her throat, despite the expression in her face, this was enough signs of submission to let go and get up.
"What the hell was that?" Nhan asked, her hands on the phaser but looked a little bemused. Pike, on the other hand, his face had lost the frown and was replaced with caution and in that there was curiosity as his eyes flicked between them.
"Captain Georgiou." He acknowledged though his eyes lingered on the vampire who got up and dusted herself off. Her reddening eyes flicking to him than to Michael though her lips pulled up into a grin that really rubbed Michael in the wrong way, the tip of her fangs much more obvious.
Clearly, Michael realised, she could smell Pike's scent all over her, and her own all over him. She could imagine the Emperor enjoying those implications of that.
"Captain Pike." Georgiou replied, "Let's take this…somewhere private."
Pike had a lot of questions. More so on the recent actions of Burnham and Captain Georgiou; the sight of the two little scuffles was clearly that but if he had read correctly, it should have been expected of two members of the same clan. He didn't know the details and he wasn't sure if he wanted but… he hadn't quite known that…Philippa Georgiou had been the new-born vampire Michael had been looking for prior to his arrival.
She herself was a whole new stack of questions; everything from her wardrobe to her attitude wasn't what he expected, nor what he remembered of the one he had worked with in the past. It seemed more than…just what she was to jump to that conclusion. If he could guess, Michael knew exactly had happened to her to to get the results he was walking besides now.
Unlike Michael or Commander Stamets, her presence resonated a different tension in the air. He was uneasy. This vampire certainly felt like the predator in the room but… with Michael here, he felt more protected. Almost comforted. He couldn't quite explain the feeling but… it felt good.
"What were you doing on that shuttle?" Michael asked, "We were expecting Spock to be on there, not you."
Pike spared a glance though the smug look hadn't lifted from Captain Georgiou's face as they entered the turbolift.
"I was assigned to hunt down a Starfleet officer wanted for murder." The captain answered brightly though her hand went to her pocket, pulling out a small black and silver badge. "Or, you know, multiple murders." Her eyes were to Burnham, almost a goad if he could see her face to observe her expression but the darkening hue in Burnham's eyes only rose his suspicions about this vampire. What wasn't she saying? "I caught up to his craft but it was adrift and he was gone."
His eyes went to the badge in her hand, though he knew what division that was from.
"You're with Section 31." Black ops, threat assessment, intelligence gathering; not the type he thought Georgiou would ever go to but he gut felt that this woman, at the very least, had some sort of place there and enjoyed it. Clearly her area. But, it gave reason to her placement, her lack of a response of an answer and mission. Spock was her mission. Perhaps Michael's hostilities were
"Fun times," Georgiou answered though it was gone within a beat, tucked away though he was glad to see the doors open to his ready room though Pike felt a welt of surprise to see a holographic form waiting for him behind his desk, casually standing and waiting.
"Christopher," Leland spoke.
"Leland." Pike felt a somewhat wash of nostalgia… it had been a long time since he had seen him. Years even, given he had otherwise dropped off the known face of the galaxy. He hadn't tried to look for him and…he had hoped he had survived the war. He couldn't help but feel some sense of relief. "It's good to see you."
Leland smiled, though it didn't look quite as genuine, he let it pass. "Is that grey hair, I see."
"Well, it's one of the trade-offs of having actual hair," Chris joked, his eyes flicking to the shaved nature of Leland's head though Leland chuckled softly. "Last time I heard about you, you were up to your ass with Alligators on Cestus III."
"One of the reasons I transfer division to Starfleet intelligence. I've been heading up Section 31." His eyes flickered passed him, following the motion of Georgiou who had taken up residents on his sofa, sitting up on the back of it with boots in the seats though she looked very disinterested in their conversation. "I see you've intercepted one of my agents."
"We've been getting caught up but I wouldn't mind knowing why you assigned a vampire to capture a Vulcan. I was under the impression Vampires were carefully governed." He hated how that sounded, but he had looked into what Michael had requested. He could fathom that there were many reasons of why Section 31 would want a vampire and none seemed more than to exploit their abilities as immortal and a predator.
"I think you already know the reason, Chris."
The tone was hung back, despite the friendliness of his expression. His relief at seeing Leland died somewhat but he kept his faced more composed as he drifted further in, crossing his arms
"I also have a reason to believe that Spock has knowledge of the signals that we're investigating. Is if, after all one of mine and I cannot reconcile the charges with the man."
"I can respect that but that's also the reason that with you interfering, it won't look good, as his commanding officer and his sister involved. It may look like I'm doing an old friend a favour."
Pike felt very aware of the stiffness of Michael, a low sound echoing in a manner that suggested warning though he held up a hand, to stop any remarks she may have because now was not the time.
"I'm sure Admiral Cornwell would be open to negotiating a resolution of our interests if you're not up to it. Agent Georgiou might be your agent but she's still part of Commander Burnham's Clan, and part of the VL. Section 31 doesn't quite cover that jurisdiction." Pike answered, his eyebrow perking up as he folded his arms again.
Leland's jaw tightened though his face darkened a few shades before he nodded. "How about I'll send a liaison over, talk him through what you know. We can…work together on this."
"Alright."
Then the hologram flickered away and died. He checked to see if the line was gone before his attention turned to see Georgiou with a very smug expression.
"Well that was an unexpected twist." She laughed then in a blur, he flinched to see her by the lift. "I haven't seen Leland go that colour since he caught his balls in his zipper."
Pike nodded though opted not to open that ungodly image she was presenting. "You're free to go, captain. Burnham…" He nodded to the other vampire as a silent request to escort her off ship but he felt confident that this was going to be resolved. Soon.
A liaison. While he didn't doubt it was to escape that little loophole he presented, at least now they could actually move ahead with catching up to Spock. He just had to make sure to keep Spock away from anything questionable that might be presented from the darker side of Starfleet.
"Section 31, Really?" Michael pressed drily as they walked. "You're giving them first-hand experience of vampires just by being there."
Philippa shrugged, "As opposed to what? Join Starfleet and do the exact same thing. A little hypocritical, don't you think?"
"You know what I mean. I know Section 31 is far more developed with their weapons and technology. I wouldn't be surprised if they developed our anti-vampire technology and improved them. With a click of a button, you're a statue. A vulnerable, statue."
If anything she could poke, it was their weaknesses and the Emperor's distaste of that. Not even as Human or vampire, it didn't matter.
"You don't think I have ways around that and section 31, Michael, how unimaginative. You know me better than that."
"While I may have sired you, that doesn't cement absolute trust, Philippa."
"Then stop assuming the worse of me because of who I was. You brought me here against my will in the throes of the transformation you forced on me." Georgiou growled, all good mood dying in a heartbeat, eyes returning to black with an edge of aggression. "You have no foundation of high ground here, especially with your attempt of satisfying your urge to repent to a lost captain."
That struck a nerve. Michael growled, her teeth sharpening again. "That's irrelevant."
"Is it?"
Michael shoved her back into the bulkhead, though Philippa's teeth bared at her, eyes narrowed. "I do my job, you do yours but if you so lay a hand on my brother, I can promise you it will not end well."
"If you're gonna fight, take it to the designated area." A new voice called.
Michael's head turned to see Nhan a few feet away, her blue eyes baring into them and a hand on a phaser on her hip but held the sense of authority.
Philippa's lips closed over her fangs though Michael released her and stepped back, her arms folding over her chest. The emperor's eyes flickered to Nhan, eyes washing down her form for only a few moments before she darted away.
Michael's head followed, hearing her fast steps into the shuttle bay before the doors closed.
"I'm almost afraid to ask," Nhan said, her arms coming to fold over her chest. "You two are much more hostile together than Stamets."
"It's nothing." Michael tried. "We haven't seen each other in months."
"Hm." Nhan didn't look convinced. "Next time, not here." Gesturing around before pointing to the wall where Michael saw was a slight indent in the metallic surface.
