Ephraim boarded the container. A nurse unzipped the zippers to his side then slid open the blue container. The tardigrade like alien stood upward as the nurses stepped back. There were more equipment than normal around the gray-blue container. Spores flew around Ephraim within the container as the long blade like daggers were put into his body. Ephraim was relaxed. As though he were not in pain. Burnham watched from her station. Then it felt like the ship itself had jumped with her along. She gripped onto the station. The ship came to a gentle stop. The daggers ejected out of Ephraim.
"Lieutenant Stamets, Commander Burnham, Ensign Tilly, Ensign Kowski, report to the shuttle bay," came over the intercomn.
Burnham had finished her shift when the announcement came over.
"Urgh," Stamets groaned, coming out of the mushroom section. "What can possibly be so important to drag me away from this study."
"Your interest is in mushrooms, is that it?" Burnham inquired, as he joined her to the doors.
"I am a Astromycologist," Stamets said. "It's not a special interest or a hobby. It's a career field."
"Logically, then," Burnham said. "there will be mushrooms. And it will be worth your time."
"Wait," Stamets said, finally observing the woman. "I thought the new science officer was going to be Vulcan."
"I am from Vulcan, raised among them, but that does not make me Vulcan," Burnham said.
"Okay, so a Vulcan-human kind of detail?" Stamets asked.
"None of my ancestors had a relationship with humans," Burnham said.
"A human who is Vulcan like," Stamets said. "That is not bad after all."
Burnham raised her right eyebrow as Stamets walked ahead of her.
When they arrived to shuttle bay, there were several escape pods being disembarked. There were medical officers checking on their condition. Some of hem seemed to have mushrooms growing on them. Stamets appeared to be intrigued by the sight as he was drawn over to a yeoman taking his tricorder with him. Burnham came to the lone shuttle craft with two security officers protecting it. Those two officers were Kowski and Landry. Landry was watching the last of the escape pods leave space entering the premises. Tilly was inside the shuttle craft getting familiar to a red EVA suit that was covered in sparkles all over. There were several EVA suits in total resting on the chair.
Landry turned in the direction of Burnham.
"Where is Stamets?" Landry asked.
"He is speaking with a survivor," Burnhams said, gesturing over her shoulder.
"Straal!" Stamets shouted, breaking through the crowd coming toward. Burnham shifted toward the lieutenant who sounded very happy. "Straal!" Stamets collided with the man into a hug. Straal kept his ground. Straal had little umbrella soft growing shapes along his hands. They split apart and Stamets rapidly fired questions. Culber came to the two men's side with a medical kit. Burnham turned back toward Landry.
"Looks like the EVA suits have to be used," Landry said. "Ensign Kowski, if Stamets doesn't come in five minutes, drag him back."
"Aye, Commander," Kowski said, with a nod.
Burnham came into the shuttle craft. Tilly was in her one piece red sparkly uniform that seemed to blend in with her. Tilly's boots were laid in a small cubbie located across from one of the seats. There were eight seats behind the pilots chair and navigator chair. Burnham came to the right side seating herself down on to one of the seats picking off the suit off the seat. Tilly was seated next to Burnham. Burnham took off her boots then moved the red boots over.
"How do I look?" Tilly asked, with a wide smile.
"It looks adequate on you," Burnham said, putting her feet into the suit first.
"Thanks," Tilly said. "So, are these new?"
"These are for environments that have oxygen," Burnham said. "white EVA suits are built to give oxygen in environments that do not have them."
"Coool," Tilly said. "I like these." she placed her hands onto her shoulders. "They make me feel soooo warm."
"That is their purpose," Burnham said.
"So they are for a somewhat empty environment that might have a biological contagion going on?" Tilly said. "A environment that might not have the heat on at all?"
"Precisely," Burnham said.
"Icky," Tilly said.
Burnham shared the same feeling. It was more than once she had to go into a containment that had a biohazard. The sights she had seen made the desire to puke take over briefly and only fleetingly. Burnham put her arms in to the sleeves moving the suit up gingerly. She put on the tight gloves that felt warm against her skin. Burnham placed the helmet over her head. Tilly velcrowed the back of the uniform putting it together. Tilly had a bright smile back at Burnham. A warm feeling spread through Burnham's chest. Burnham turned her attention away from the younger woman.
"Thank you," Burnham said.
"You're welcome," Tilly said. There was a short pause between them. "So. . . how does it feel to not be a first officer on a ship again?"
"Relieving," Burnham said.
"No burdens on your shoulders, leaving the worry to someone else that the mission is going smoothly, and not having to . um. . . uh. . live in the moment," Tilly said, as Burnham's eyes were on her.
"I have been taking the human token of 'Living life to the fullest' since getting a starfleet commission," Burnham said. "The last part that you mentioned was not right. The last. . . I am grateful I do not have to be in the position of command. Can you imagine enjoying fighting a Klingon?"
"Uh, no, but I can try," Tilly said, her hands cupped in her lap.
"Getting revenge is at the tip of your fingers. . . for everything they've done to people or to yourself.. . ." Burnham said. "I was going to do that as Captain Tallachus approached me. But then I realized, a warrior in Klingon culture would be deemed with honor. And it would seem I have reason to kill Klingons. Give them a reason to die. So I resorted to not doing it at all."
"You survived," Tilly said. "With your morals."
"That I did," Burnham said. "But it made me question who I was."
"Like your identity?" Tilly said.
Burnham nodded.
"Am I a victim seeking vengeance? On the Shenzhou, I was a first contact specialist. . ." Burnham said. "A officer who was unsure of command. Then I was sure of commanding a vessel . . . But now? Right this moment? No."
"Do captains have revenge agendas?" Tilly asked.
"Not usually," Burnham said.
"It makes sense," Tilly said. "I am not going to have any grudges when I become a captain."
Burnham had the briefest of smiles turned toward Tilly.
"I am sure you will not," Burnham said, then turned her attention away from the engineer.
Stamets, and Kowski entered the vessel. Kowski came over to the piloting chair.
"Remain seated," Kowski said. "This is going to be a bumpy ride. Doors closed, all people board, and we're going."
The shuttle lifted out of the shuttle bay then flew out of the Discovery. Burnham saw in the distance ahead that there was a replica of the Discovery except it looked different. There were things growing along the hulls. Mushrooms. Stamets seemed to be in awe as he observed them and babbled about it talking about the rate of growth. One half of the hull seemed to be popping out. Raised, even, that wasn't lightning bugs. Burnham stared at it in fascination. Tilly leaned to her side then situated herself into the chair getting herself comfortable moving her tricorder onto her lap.
"How long has this been happening?" Stamets asked.
"According to the distress call, around twenty four hours," Landry said. "you have one hour to find out what is going on this ship."
"One hour isn't enough," Stamets said.
"One hour is all you get, Lieutenant," Landry said. "We are going to destroy this vessel if it can't be saved."
Stamets looked over toward the window that showed the paneling that was broken in the shuttle bay.
"Well," Stamets said. "Looks like we are destroying life. Ephraim would love this."
Kowski opened the side door. Stamets was the first to exit in a rush with his medical tricorder. Burnham, Tilly, Kowski, and Landry came out. There were discarded equipment scattered about the scenery. Padds were left on the floor. There were a few shuttles left behind as though not everyone had escaped. The scenery was dark. They turned on their equipment. Light poured out of the device being held by Kowski. They came toward the familiar doors. Landry pried them open with a loud, high pitch metal screech. The group made their way down down the hall with Kowski to the side of the group. Stamets was looking around seeing the sight of small mushrooms growing. Landry stopped in her tracks.
"What are they feeding off?" Landry asked.
"I would say dead bodies and soil but growing on metal would take years of abandonment," Stamets asked. "Or someone be changing it."
"Are you implying that we may have a mushroom loving entity turning this ship into a corpse to grow off?" Burnham said.
"It sure beats a time dilation," Stamets said. "Straal didn't look a day older."
"A mushroom loving entity?" Landry asked.
Burnham and Stamets looked toward the first officer.
"It's more likely than you think," Stamets said.
"I once came across a entity obsessed with algae turning a cargo ship into a environment rich for it," Burnham said.
"That sounds beautiful," Tilly said. "being so in love with something that you want your personal collection of it? Good hobby."
"This hobby has shut down a starship and been afflicted to the crew," Landry said. "It's not a hobby. It's a threat. Let's go on." Landry resumed her trek. "We are going to the bridge and find out what happened. Officers logs should all be there to access."
Tilly and Burnham exchanged a glance as Stamets grimaced.
"I am going down to engineering," Stamets said.
"No, you are not," Burnham said, grabbing him by the shoulder. "It is not logical."
"Besides, we got two security officers, and us," Tilly added, as Kowski went past them. "On we go."
"No, seriously," Stamets said as he was towed after the two security officers. He dug his heels into the floor to no avail. "we have a member of Ephraim's species on this ship and no one knows where he is. I didn't see him in the shuttle bay."
"Maybe he left," Tilly suggested.
"He wouldn't leave by a escape pod," Stamets said. "he takes too much room."
"Perhaps he warped out," Burnham said.
"Warped out?" Stamets laughed. "Warped out. Ridiculous."
"If he can transport the ship then why not himself?" Burnham asked.
"Because . . ." Stamets stopped. "That is a good question."
"What was going on likely sent him running." the two looked over toward the woman. "That means he is back at his home planet or somewhere else other than here."
"Ephraim is not going to like this," Stamets said.
"No one likes war," Burnham remarked.
"You know, you can let me go," Stamets said.
"Not taking the risk," Tilly said. "You could pull a trick and go into engineering and could get killed by the scary entity."
"Don't be condescending," Stamets said. "That is my role."
"I am not," Tilly said. "It might be scary. Genuinely, purely scary."
"I bet it is not," Stamets said.
"Burnham, tell him that it is not logical to go to the belly of the beast to see a even bigger beast," Tilly said
"Given that we are on a simple mission to find out what is going on, I am inclined to say that engineering might be the best place to start," Burnham said. "Mushroom could be where it started."
"Might not be scary at all," Stamets said.
"But we have to follow orders," Burnham said. "Disobeying a direct order could either lead to court martial, reprimand on file, or being dressed down by the superior officer. Neither are pleasant experiences."
"Didn't Surak say not to let fear control you?" Stamets said.
"He did," Burnham said. "I am not afraid."
"Neither am I," Tilly said.
"Your decisions say otherwise," Stamets said. "we might be walking into a nest of corpses. The entity might have killed the bridge crew. The entity might be willing to talk with someone who shares his feelings about mushrooms. If you let me do all the talking, we might reach a understanding and might get him out of the Glenn without needing to destroy it."
Burnham glared back at him.
"That is a lot of might, Lieutenant," Burnham asked.
"Yes, I know," Stamets said. "But are you willing to take that chance, Commander?"
The camera turned toward Burnham.
"Gabe, how is your new second officer doing?" Cornwell asked.
Lorca was petting Merkin as he leaned into the chair.
"I know as much as you do," Lorca said. "this test mission is going great, by far, maybe, I can't be sure."
Cornwell sighed, slightly shaking her head.
"Georgiou has been in discussions regarding the Discovery's missions," Cornwell said.
"Give me the bad news," Lorca said.
"The further involvement of Ephraim's species," Cornwell said. "They want to put them on other classes."
"We're on shaky grounds as it is with his species," Lorca said. "I don't recommend it."
"We are losing this war," Cornwell said. "if you can turn this around as it is . . ."
"We will," Lorca said.
"Then it will be a miracle," Cornwell said. "Honey, this is too big of a miracle."
"We have the first officer who was part of the battle at the binary stars," Lorca said. "It's a miracle that she and the crew survived it."
"A very big miracle," Cornwell said.
"She is the embodiment of miracles and hope while clinging onto starfleet ideals," Lorca said. "Did you read her files?"
"I have," Cornwell said, on the computer screen.
"Georgiou was sure that she could help us win the war and I am trusting that mind," Lorca said. "Whatever happens down aboard the Glenn, I am certain that she will not disappoint us." Merkin cooed, easing his mind.
"She only transferred Burnham aboard your ship to make use of a soldier who should be part of it," Cornwell said.
"That I admit," Lorca said. "It would have been wasted potential leaving her alone."
"I want to believe that she will help in some way," Cornwell said. "Georgiou is certain the Shenzhou will play a hand in ending the war."
"A old exploration ship turned warship," Lorca said. "I admire her tenacity."
"Did you really send her off to the Glenn?" Cornwell asked.
"Yes," Lorca said.
"Gabe, honey, you just don't send a second officer to a experimental starship that has been evacuated," Cornwell said. "You lose the best officers that way." Lorca laughed, light heartedly at Cornwell's reply.
"Hey, we survived the Buran," Lorca said. "We can surely survive this."
"If she comes back," Cornwell reiterated with emphasis. "have her on a leash, desk bound, ship bound. Starfleet doesn't care. Keep her off Glenn cases."
"Orders heard, Kat," Lorca said, with a smile. "Now, what are the good news?"
"We found the USS Yeager," Cornwell said.
"Good!" Lorca said.
"Bad news is that it was empty," Cornwell said. His grin faded. "There were signs of struggle."
"Klingons don't take prisoners," Lorca said.
"Rogue Klingons did this," Cornwell said. "Evidence indicates it was done by Voq, son of none."
"We'll find them and bring them home," Lorca said.
"You better," Cornwell said. "That is one of your long-term missions."
"Mission accepted," Lorca said, continuing to pet Merkin.
"Wherever you are, out there, be careful," Cornwell added. "Cornwell out."
Lorca looked down toward the large, purring furball in his lap.
"Mommy misses you too, Merkin," Lorca said.